Royal Caribbean Blog

As hurricane and tropical storm watches go up around the Gulf Coast of Florida, Royal Caribbean has already made changes to its cruise ship plans.

The National Hurricane Center is monitoring the path of Hurricane Helene and is predicting already a category 3 storm with winds of 120-125 mph.

This would make Helene a major Category 3 storm, and it's headed north from the Yucatan peninsula through the Gulf of Mexico.

Helene was upgraded on Wednesday to a category 1 hurricane with 80-mph sustained winds. The storm was centered about 85 miles east-northeast of Cozumel, Mexico, early Wednesday.

So far, Royal Caribbean has changed the four of its ships paths to avoid going anywhere near the projected path of the storm.

Wonder of the Seas

One of the biggest cruise ships in the world is getting re-routed to avoid Hurricane Helene.

Royal Caribbean has changed itineraries for Wonder of the Seas and she will go from a Western Caribbean sailing to an Eastern Caribbean one.

RoyalCaribbeanBlog reader David Elliott is on Wonder of the Seas and reported, "Captain has just announced that we will be cancelling all current stops on the Western route to go to the East route.  We will be going to St. Thomas and St. Maarten."

Wonder of the Seas is sailing from Port Canaveral on a 7-night cruise that began on September 22.

Passengers sailing on the ship posted in a Facebook group their relief at the change, "And the announcement is in. Glad we will all be safe," wrote Karen Henschke.

Tim Johnson added, "Thanks Captain Rob for keeping us safe"

Rachel Majure wrote she didn't like the new itinerary includes one less port of call, "So bummed they cut out a stop."

Serenade of the Seas

Royal Caribbean also changed the itinerary of Serenade of the Seas.

Just like Wonder, Serenade will swap out her original Western Caribbean itinerary for something else.  In this case, the ship will head to The Bahamas.

John Edwards is on Serenade and shared a copy of the letter given to passengers in their cabin.

"Along with our Chief Meteorologist, Craig Setzer, we’ve been monitoring inclement weather along our intended path due to a developing tropical storm in the Yucatan Channel. In order to stay safe and well clear of this tropical system, we have decided to head to the Eastern Caribbean instead of Western Caribbean for this sailing. 

"As a result, we will skip our visits to Cozumel and Puerto Costa Maya, Mexico, and visit Nassau and Grand Bahama Island, Bahamas instead. While this wasn’t the original itinerary planned, we know you’ll have a memorable time!"

Serenade will now visit Nassau, Bahamas on September 24 and Grand Bahama Island on September 25.

Mariner of the Seas

The September 21st sailing of Mariner of the Seas will also skip a stop in Mexico due to Helene.

While Mariner of the Seas made it to Costa Maya, Mexico on Monday, the ship will skip a visit to Cozumel in order to get clear of the area.

Guests sailing onboard the ship received a letter informing them of the change. Reddit user dawson33944 posted a copy of the letter.

"In order to stay safe and well clear of this tropical system, we have decided to skip our visit to Cozumel and enjoy a Sea Day instead," the letter read.

Mariner is scheduled to return to Galveston, Texas on Thursday.

Independence of the Seas

Just like Serenade of the Seas, Royal Caribbean skipped a visit to Cozumel and will instead remain in The Bahamas.

The September 21st sailing of Independence was scheduled to be a 5-night Western Caribbean cruise to Cozumel and Perfect Day at CocoCay.

While the ship did make it to CocoCay, the ship will remain in The Bahamas and visit Nassau instead.

Staying ahead of the storm

In the letters sent to guests aboard cruise ships with an altered itinerary, Royal Caribbean reminds passengers that, "being onboard is one of the safest places because we are faster and can move out of the way of any inclement weather."

Royal Caribbean Chief Meteorologist Craig Setzer shared an update on X on Tuesday expressing his view on the intensity of the storm as it comes closer to the United States.

"I never say "prepare for a cat 4", just "prepare for a hurricane" but there is major hurricane possibility," he wrote.

According to Setzer, the disturbance continues to experience wind shear from an upper low over southern Mexico. This has kept quick organization of the cyclone restricted overnight.

But the models show a major storm, and the question is always where it will go. He thinks one concern is how far east it will veer and impact the Tampa Bay area with storm surge, "The members on the right/east side of the track are all notably stronger, meaning if the storm favors a more east track then it will likely be more intense.  This implies significant storm surge risk to the Florida west coast including Tampa Bay."

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis on Monday declared a state of emergency for 41 counties along and near Florida's Gulf Coast because of threats from the storm.

Royal Caribbean has cancelled an upcoming cruise on the largest cruise ship in the world for maintenance reasons.

In a rare situation where an entire sailing is cancelled, guests booked on the cruise were informed that their voyage will not happen.

The September 28 sailing of Icon of the Seas is now cancelled. In an email to travel agents, Royal Caribbean explained, "We are currently conducting unplanned maintenance onboard Icon of the Seas."

Icon of the Seas launched earlier this year in January, and made headlines for assuming the title of world's largest cruise ship. She surpassed Wonder of the Seas in gross tonnage, passenger capacity, and length.

At maximum occupancy, she carries 7,600 guest passengers and 2,350 crew members, equaling a total occupancy of nearly 10,000 people.

Royal Caribbean did not specify what issue is affecting the ship, or any details related to any incident.

The ship will need to remain in dock for the work to occur, "while our crew is working hard to address this as quickly as possible, there is still some work that needs to be done over a few days while the ship is docked."

The cruise line went on to apologize and explain passenger's options going forward, "As a result, we'll be cancelling our upcoming September 28, 2024, sailing. We understand the disappointment this news may bring and we're truly sorry for the impact to your vacation plans."

Icon of the Seas sails year-round from Miami, offering 7-night cruises to the Eastern and Western Caribbean. 

Refunds and credits for the cancelled cruise

A cancelled cruise is quite rare, and even though it's for some kind of mechanical issue, the cruise line wants to do its best to make it right.

Anyone booked on the Icon of the Seas September 28 sailing will get a 100% refund, including taxes and fees.  In addition, all pre-paid packages and gratuities, amenities, and shore excursions will be refunded.

On top of the refund, Royal Caribbean will also provide a Future Cruise Credit worth 100% of the cruise fare paid to be used towards another sailing.

That means anyone on the cruise got their money back, and equivalent credit to use on another cruise.

Future Cruise Credits will be available in approximately 14 business days.

Passengers that booked flights directly through Royal Caribbean will have those flights automatically refunded. However, if they pre-purchased air and transfers independently, Royal Caribbean will reimburse any travel change fees up to $200 USD per guest for domestic travel and $400 USD per guest for international travel.

What happened to Icon of the Seas?

Royal Caribbean did not specify the issue the ship encountered, but the current sailing is still happening.

Reddit user ArrogantAlmond posted, "I'm on Icon now, and we just got word that we're skipping St Thomas (which was Wednesday) because the ship has maintenance issues. We have to sail slower, so we need the extra day to get back."

Royal Caribbean Blog reader Chris Hodnett also confirmed the change in a X tweet.

Guests on the current sailing of Icon of the Seas received a letter with the update.

The letter said, "The ship is currently undergoing maintenance and will sail at a reduced speed. Unplanned maintenance happens, and our teams are hard at work to quickly address."

Guests on the current sailing are receiving onboard credit equivalent to one day of the cruise fare paid.

A slower speed is usually indicative of propulsion issues the ship.  It's not unheard of for a cruise ship to lose one of its engines or propellor systems (known as Azipods) that require the ship to sail at a slower speed.

The ship is still seaworthy and can get passengers safely back to port, but a slower speed means it cannot complete its itinerary in time, and perhaps that's why Royal Caribbean feels it best to keep the ship out of service for a week to make repairs.

In past examples, some ships have been able to operate at a slower speed, while others went immediately into dock for work.

Earlier this year, Radiance of the Seas had to cancel cruises because of propulsion problems that slowed the ship.

In 2023, Anthem of the Seas adjusted her speed as a result of engine problems and was able to continue operating. Oasis of the Seas also had a similar issue around the same time. 

In the case of Oasis, work was done while the ship kept operating with her other engines.

Cruise ships have redundant engines

While Royal Caribbean decided to take Icon of the Seas out of service, cruise ships are designed with redundancy in mind.

Cruise ships have multiple engines, and often not all engines are running even when there are no issues. This allows the ship to give engines a break, and have backups when a situation like this arises.

In most cases, the ship is able to continue operating safely, albeit at a reduced speed.

Royal Caribbean's highest loyalty program tier offers the very best onboard perks a cruiser can get.

Pinnacle Club requires 700 points to reach, and it's 525 points more than the next tier down.  It may seem like a lifetime of cruises away to reach the level, but every time I cruise, I'm grateful to have made it.

I have taken almost 100 cruises with Royal Caribbean, and accumulated over 800 points within the Crown & Anchor Society. My point total is pretty small compared to most other Pinnacles I know, but it still counts!

Read more: How to earn Crown & Anchor points quicker

I was never one to cruise just for loyalty status, but the benefits as you get towards the top are undeniably nice to have.  Royal Caribbean's benefits offer easy ways to save time and money, and it's difficult to imagine cruising without them.

Here's a glimpse at the exclusive perks that come with Pinnacle Club membership.

Priority everything

One thing that changed a lot when I moved from Diamond Plus to Pinnacle is you truly feel like you're cruising first class, even when you're not in a giant suite.

Royal Caribbean grants Pinnacle Club members priority boarding with suite guests, which means you have a special boarding line and lounge area in the cruise terminal.  When it comes time to board the cruise, you're among the first to board too.

Once onboard the ship, Pinnacles are allowed access to the Suite Lounge for the duration of the cruise (assuming there aren't too many onboard). This is a less busy alternative to the Crown Lounge, and also comes with great views too.

Access to Coastal Kitchen on the new ships is a tremendous benefit too, as it adds a new complimentary restaurant choice.  I've started eating more often at Coastal Kitchen than I ever did when I stayed in a suite.  Maybe it's because of the added value, or maybe it's because they have French onion soup on the dinner menu every night.  You decide.

Pinnacles have the option of wear a gold name tag that's given to them when the turn Pinnacle. Personally, I've never worn it, but many Pinnacles swear by it because they notice enhanced service from crew members.

I think my gold colored SeaPass card for being Pinnacle stands out enough, but you can't deny it crew members tend to do a double take when they see you're Pinnacle.

Just like embarkation, the suite concierge will escort you off the ship on the final day of the cruise, and you'll get luggage tags for the first group too.

Special added events

As a Pinnacle Club member, you'll get invited to various events during your cruise. Depending on your sailing length, there can be different events to choose from.

On my most recent sailing on Anthem of the Seas in Europe, I was invited to a Pinnacle lunch event where we had a group meal with other Pinnacles onboard and the chance to meet the officers.

Known as "Cheers with an officer", it's basically the Chops Grille lunch served in the Main Dining Room, and since everyone is a Pinnacle Club member, there are a lot of "war stories" being shared among big time cruisers.

Topics of discussion included favorite itineraries, upcoming cruises booked, and pretty much anything relevant happening in cruising right now.  It's like a super cruiser discussion thread in real life.

Pinnacles are also invited to other events, such as behind the scenes tours, Top Tier events, and more.

It's optional to attend any of them, but going adds a dimension of community you won't find at the other tiers.

So many free drinks

I thought getting 4 free drinks a day as a Diamond member was nice, but having 6 as Pinnacle makes a big difference.

Royal Caribbean gives free drink vouchers to use at any bar, restaurant or lounge every day of the cruise. It's an incredible benefit:

• Diamond: 4 drinks per day, per person
• Diamond Plus: 5 drinks per day, per person
• Pinnacle: 6 drinks per day, per person.

My kids get free drinks too, albeit they're at Diamond Plus level.

Since moving up to Pinnacle Club, I haven't bought a drink package since turning Pinnacle because I get so much value from my free drinks (and casino benefits).

Even if I use up all my drink vouchers for the day and pay out of pocket for 3 or 4 drinks, I'm still saving money compared to a Royal Caribbean drink package.

Free cruise incentive

If you think once you hit Pinnacle that you max out the rationale to continue cruising with Royal Caribbean, think again.

Besides wanting to take advantage of the added perks I already mentioned, Royal Caribbean will continue giving Pinnacles free cruises in the future.

When you hit 700 points, you'll get a free seven night cruise to the Caribbean in a balcony cabin to use. If you choose a cruise that matches all three of those conditions, then the base cruise fare is free except for port fees, taxes and gratuity.

If you want something else, then you have the choice to take a $2400 value to use towards any cruise, which means you could upgrade to a suite, or do a 9-night cruise, or simply sail elsewhere in the world.

You'll get another free cruise every 350 points after that, which means there's a good reason to keep going.  For example: 700, 1050, 1400, 1750, 2100, et al.

Incredible status matching with Celebrity

Royal Caribbean recently updated its status matching with sister line Celebrity Cruises, and the result is incredible.

I just sailed on Celebrity Reflection and was granted full Zenith level membership, which is Celebrity's top loyalty level.  

I was given a complimentary premium drink package, premium one-device wifi package, access to The Retreat (suite lounge), priority embarkation/disembarkation, and more.

I was blown away by how lucrative being a Zenith member is, and I got it all simply for being a Pinnacle Club member.

I sailed on Celebrity Apex last year before the status matching change, and the updated benefits make sailing on Celebrity so much more tantalizing.

Moving up to Pinnacle means you not only reach the top level of Royal Caribbean, but also Celebrity. That adds a major bonus to the value.

Reaching Pinnacle has changed how I cruise

While I don't think chasing loyalty status is a good reason to cruise, I can't deny I've enjoyed the benefits that have come with being Pinnacle.

In short, it's made me feel more valued by the cruise line for my loyalty, and meeting other Pinnacles has been a real highlight.

I think the benefits you get at Diamond are plenty good on their own, but if you find down the line getting closer to that 700 point threshold, it might make sense to think about a strategy to get there given how nice these added perks have been for me.

The food is one of the best parts of any cruise, and I was looking forward to the dining experience onboard Vision of the Seas. 

Overall, the food on Vision was better than some of the larger ships I've sailed on within the past year, namely Freedom of the Seas and Symphony of the Seas. Izumi, in particular, was out-of-this-world, with the fresh sushi and drool-worthy appetizers making it a must-visit. 

Still, not every meal was a home run. Here's a breakdown of everything I ate during my 5-night cruise aboard Vision of the Seas, including a few dishes I'd skip next time. 

Of note, I'm not a food critic and am not classically trained in anything cuisine-related. Others may come to their own conclusions, as everyone has different taste buds and preferences.

Embarkation Day Lunch

Though I'm no stranger to Royal Caribbean cruises, this was my first time sailing on a Vision Class ship, and I was worried that the buffet would lack variety—similar to my experience on Carnival Elation, a ship similar in size and age to Vision.  

Thankfully, that wasn't the case. While the buffet wasn't as expansive as those on newer and larger ships, I always found something appealing, starting with the chicken curry on embarkation day! It had a nice flavor and was a little spicy, something I rarely say as someone with an above-average spicy tolerance. 

To complement the chicken and rice, I made my own salad and tried a few polenta fries. You can never go wrong with a refreshing salad; however, the polenta fries were just okay. Nothing to necessarily write home about. 

The biggest disappointment of the meal was the pineapple upside-down cake. The flavor was nice, but it was dry. 

After sailing away, my friend and I headed to Park Cafe for some pizza to hold us over until dinner.

Perhaps an unpopular opinion, but Royal Caribbean's pizza is just fine. I've had better cruise ship pizza on other lines—namely MSC. 

Embarkation Day Dinner

My favorite, and I mean favorite, meal on Vision of the Seas was at Izumi. It was the only specialty restaurant I ate at, and it did not disappoint. Everything was mouthwatering, from the refreshing edamame to the creamy firecracker shrimp roll and savory miso ramen.

Since we pre-booked through the Cruise Planner, we had the option of one appetizer, two large plates, and one dessert. If you're more interested in a light meal, you can always order à la carte. 

Between the spicy miso ramen and champagne lobster roll, the latter was my favorite. 

It was unlike any sushi roll I've had before, and I appreciated how the flavors came together. The blanched lobster was tender and sweet, perfectly complimented by the champagne sauce. 

Read more: Royal Caribbean changed the sushi roll sizes for its fixed price menu

The spicy miso ramen was tasty, but I'd probably skip it next time in favor of another sushi roll. 

The noodles seemed slightly undercooked, but the broth had that expected rich umami flavor that's always comforting. 

For dessert, I went with the crispy sesame balls. Served warm, the outer layer was perfectly crispy, giving way to the soft red bean paste filling. It was both sweet and savory.

Breakfast Day 2

Unfortunately, I woke up feeling a little seasick the next day, and my motion sickness patch hadn't kicked in by the time we went to breakfast. We were sailing through some pretty choppy waters, with the Solarium pool drained and closed the entire day. 

Since I wasn't feeling great, I went with a lighter breakfast consisting of eggs, some fruit, and a small piece of avocado toast. As expected, the eggs were standard cruise ship buffet eggs. They were a little cold, but I attribute that to our late arrival ten minutes before closing. 

The fruit tasted fresh, but it was the avocado toast that stood out the most. The avocado topping was creamy and ripe. 

Lunch Day 2

Despite the pool being closed because of the rough sea conditions, I spent the greater part of the first sea day in the Solarium. It made for a convenient setup, especially after learning the sauna and steam room were complimentary. 

For lunch, my friend and I didn't gravitate far, joining the line at Park Cafe shortly after it opened. Compared to my salad in the Windjammer the day before, I was much happier with my new creation. Honey mustard dressing is so underrated! 

I also got the signature Kummelweck sandwich with spicy mustard and horseradish. The roast beef was perfectly cooked, and it was a great complement to the salad. 

My mid-day sweet treat wasn't as disappointing as the pineapple upside-down cake. The pistachio pound cake was so moist with a subtle pistachio flavor that wasn't too overwhelming. 

In fact, I thought it was so good I got it again that evening as a late-night snack before bed. 

Dinner Day 2

For dinner, we went to the Main Dining Room. At first, I was a bit weary of dining during the 5:00pm seating, but it worked out, as it allowed us to work up an appetite for pizza after enjoying the evening entertainment. 

I started with the French Onion Soup, and do I really have to say anything else? I don't think the soup has ever left something to be desired. It really is just that good. 

Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for my entrèe. I tried the Seafood Linguine earlier this year on Quantum of the Seas, and I should have learned my lesson then. 

Though the sauce was creamy and the shrimp was cooked well, everything else about the dish was pretty bland. Next time, I know to go with the Roasted Beef Tenderloin. 

The Warm Apple Cobbler is one of my go-to desserts. 

I'll usually debate switching things up and ordering the Cappuccino Chocolate Cake or Toasted Almond Creme Puffs, but there's something so satisfying about warm apples and cold ice cream. 

Read more: How Royal Caribbean's Main Dining Room works

Breakfast Day 3

The next morning, I was feeling much better and eager to arrive in Bermuda! The weather, however, still wasn't in our favor. Despite the yucky conditions, we made the most of our time ashore, venturing to Hamilton and exploring the local stores. 

When it comes to breakfast, I'm a bit predictable and tend to avoid the sugary stuff. As such, I went with scrambled eggs, the tried-and-true hash brown patty, and peaches. 

This was my favorite breakfast in the Windjammer. Though the eggs were a little cold again, the hash brown patty was crispy, and the peaches were juicy and sweet. 

Lunch Day 3

Since we didn't arrive in Bermuda until around 1:30pm, we decided to fuel up with lunch from the Windjammer buffet before making our way onto the rainy island. 

Overall, I was happy with my lunch! While the veggie sandwich could have had more than two small pieces of cooked squash on it, the slathering of pesto mayo made up for it with a burst of flavor. 

Not only that, but I found the stir fry to be tasty, too. I will say, however, that it wasn't as good as the made-to-order station on Celebrity Ascent. Nonetheless, it was still satisfying, with a variety of vegetables and small bites of chicken. 

For dessert, I went with a small Oreo treat. It was only after my friend tried it and said how delicious it was that it caught my eye. After the first bite, I was hooked—the fluffy filling was nicely balanced with the crunch of the crumbled cookie bits. 

Dinner Day 3

That night, we decided to have dinner off the ship, maximizing our time ashore. We stumbled upon a small restaurant in Hamilton offering $35 lobster rolls. 

I don't think my New England-born-and-raised fiancèe would have approved, but I thought the dish was decent for the price—especially considering that Bermuda is known for being pricey.

Breakfast Day 4

It was back to the Windjammer the next morning. Unfortunately, this was perhaps the most disappointing meal onboard. 

The heat lamp made the shell of the hardboiled egg almost too hot to crack. When I finally succeeded, I didn't take more than two bites, finding it overcooked, dry, and rubbery. The most upsetting part was the hash brown. I was looking forward to the satisfying crunch. Instead, it was on the soggy side. 

That said, the fruit and chicken sausage were pretty average, and I tried a bite of my friend's banana streusel muffin that was surprisingly good. 

Lunch Day 4

I was worried our shipwreck snorkeling excursion would get canceled due to the inclement weather. However, luck was finally on our side. It didn't start storming until sail away! 

When we got back onboard, we had worked up an appetite and headed straight to the Solarium for lunch at the Park Cafe. 

Once again, I went with a custom salad topped with honey mustard dressing, and as I'm writing this, I'm thinking it's something I need to purchase!

I also ordered the tomato, mozzarella, and pesto sandwich. 

While the tomato was juicy, embodying the perfect balance of sweetness and acidity, I wish the sandwich had been toasted a few seconds longer. The mozzarella was strangely warm and cold. 

Dinner Day 4

When we sat down for dinner, I advised my friend that the Crispy Coconut Jumbo Shrimp had never been a letdown. 

She decided to go with the Asian-Style Pork Bao Buns, and after trying one of my shrimp, she immediately flagged down our waiter to get an order. 

Read more: Royal Caribbean Menus: Main Dining Room, Specialty Restaurants, & More

For my entrèe, I was torn between the Stuffed Grilled Eggplant and Rustic Chicken Korma. Both sounded intriguing, albeit with very different flavor profiles. In the end, I went with the Chicken Korma and was happy with my decision!

When it arrived, I was struck by the fragrant aroma of the spices. Each bite of chicken was tender, and the rice soaked up all the flavors of the curry. 

The dish was served with a side of crispy poppadum and raita. 

The Blueberry Cobbler was the perfect sweet treat. The vanilla ice cream added a nice contrast to the tart blueberries. However, I wish it had been served a little warmer. 

Breakfast Day 5

After a few disappointing experiences in the buffet, we decided to try the Main Dining Room for breakfast. The overall ambiance felt a world apart from the bustling buffet. 

I ordered a classic Eggs Benedict, a dish I find indulgent and comforting. The presentation wasn't anything worthwhile, but it tasted great! 

I was, however, displeased with the hash brown. Even in the Main Dining Room, it wasn't as crispy as I would have liked. 

Lunch Day 5

Once again, we opted to have lunch at Park Cafe. I went with a turkey wrap and the same salad creation as the day before. 

I found the wrap pretty dry; the lack of a creamy dressing or juicy tomato left something to be desired. 

Dinner Day 5

Before we knew it, we were heading to our table in the Main Dining Room for one final dinner. The menu on Day 5 was Italian, and I settled on the Golden Polenta Fries, Lasagna al Forno, and Tirasmu. 

The polenta fries were much better than the ones from the buffet on embarkation day, but despite the description on the menu, I didn't find the dip spicy. It tasted more like standard marinara sauce! 

Out of all the entrèes in the Main Dining Room, the Lasagna al Forno was the most disappointing. 

I had high hopes for a comforting dish layered with rich meat sauce, creamy béchamel, and gooey cheese, but what arrived felt lackluster. 

While the flavors were decent, the sauce was a little bland and could have used extra seasoning. 

That said, the BEST thing I ate in the dining room was the Tirasmu. The layers of coffee-soaked cafe and creamy mascarpone melted in the mouth!

Disembarkation Breakfast

We skipped the buffet on disembarkation day, as we weren't in any rush to get to the airport for our 3:30pm flight. Instead, we enjoyed a leisurely breakfast in the Main Dining Room. 

The scrambled eggs were served at a much better temperature than those in the Windjammer, but the hash brown patty was a different story. Instead of a golden, crispy patty, I got a sad, soggy one. 

The fruit cup was a great complement to the meal, though. It included a mix of watermelon, pineapple, grapes, and cantaloupe. Each bite was refreshing! The pineapple, however, was the true star. 

Explore the hidden benefits of cruising outside peak travel periods, such as fewer crowds, better deals, and unique itineraries.

You can take a cruise vacation throughout the year, but there are some great advantages to going during a less busy time.

According to Royal Caribbean Group CEO Jason Liberty, he expects cruise prices to go up over the next few years, which means finding a lower fare cost will become more difficult.

One strategy to go on a cruise while spending less is to book a cruise in the off season or shoulder season.

I always book a few Caribbean cruises in September or October because there are lower prices. The combination of peak hurricane season and kids restarting school brings a welcome price dip after the busy summer season.

All forms of travel see ebbs and flows, and going when others cannot travel is a top strategy for getting a better deal.

No matter where in the world you want to take a cruise, you'll find times of the year when demand wanes and that's good for consumers.

Here's a look at the hidden benefits of cruising outside peak travel periods.

When are off season cruises?

Depending on which region of the world you want to take a cruise, there are a few months to target for off peak demand.

One common thread among all off season times is the fact that school is in session. Family cruising is a big component to cruise demand.  Even if the kids aren't going on the cruise, a lot of parents skip vacations because they are unwilling to pull them out for a trip.

The shoulder season and off peak times to cruise by region are:

• Caribbean: September and October, January, May
• Alaska: May or September
• Europe: April, May, September, October
• Australia: October, November, March, and April

Read more: When is the best time to go on a cruise?

In the Caribbean, cruising during hurricane season (especially after August) is a double edged sword.  On the one hand, you'll get better prices than earlier in the summer. However, you run a higher your itinerary being modified or completely changed because of a tropical storm.

Don't worry, your ship will avoid the worst of any storm, if there is a hurricane present. Royal Caribbean actually has its own meteorologist on staff to provide expert guidance of where ships should go if there are any weather issues.

Better deals

If you take a cruise during any of these months, there's consistently lower prices. It's even when you might be able to find a last minute cruise deal.

In general, pricing tends to be lower for an off season cruise because less people want to sail.  It could be because of school or work schedules, or cooler temperatures.

If you're very flexible, you could watch Royal Caribbean's Going, Going, Gone rates for a super last minute deal.  I find consistently every year great prices on Alaska cruises in September or European cruises in October and November. However, it requires you to be nimble in the booking process.

When you compare the price of a summer season sailing vs one earlier or later, it could save you hundreds of dollars.

As an example, a 7-night Royal Caribbean cruise to Alaska on Anthem of the Seas September 5, 2025 starts at $811 per person, whereas the same cruise on July 11, 2025 starts at $1235 per person.

That's $2,469.68 for two people in July vs $1,621.88 in September. And that's just for an inside cabin, which will cost more since a lot of people prefer a balcony on an Alaska cruise.

You'll often find Kids Sail Free deals on a cruise during these lower demand times, which can really rack up savings for families.

Off season cruising has other financial benefits beyond the cruise fare.

There's a good chance your flights will be cheaper too, as peak summer pricing affects airfare just as much as cruise fare. Ditto for hotels for a pre- or post-cruise stay.

If you happen to go during the tail end of a season (September in Alaska or Europe), you may find deals on end of season merchandise too.

Smaller crowds

I love going to Alaska in May or Europe in September because of how uncrowded the places your ship visits will be.

While saving money is indeed a great reason to pick an off season cruise, I think the lower crowd numbers is the best reason.

What you'll discover during the shoulder seasons is there are fewer ships, as well as fewer land tourists to contend with. This means less people in your port, and shorter waits for museums, natural wonders, tours, and more.

In Alaska it's very apparent the difference between a cruise in June vs July when you walk into a port like Sitka or Skagway and notice far fewer tourists.

With smaller crowds, you can do more with less wait and my satisfaction rate with the experience is much better.

Unique itineraries

Another advantage of going on a cruise at the very beginning or very end of the cruise season are the special sailings you can book.

Seasonal cruise markets have to move ships into position, and then return them at the conclusion of their time there.  This means cruise lines will offer repositioning cruises that begin in one region, and end in a different one.

You could sail from Australia to Hawaii, or Hawaii to Vancouver.  There are also transatlantic crossings that feel like the classic ocean liner voyages of the past.

These cruises visit ports not usually included on a typical sailing, and in some cases it's the only opportunity to go to these places on a cruise ship.

Plus, repositioning cruises are longer cruises, which means they tend to be cheaper per night than other cruises and it's a great way to earn more loyalty program points.

Happy Sunday, and welcome back to an edition of our Royal Caribbean news round-up. We'll summarize all the latest news from the cruise line, so just sit back, relax, and read on.

Royal Caribbean has quietly updated its banned item list to include something many people bring on a cruise.

The list has many items you'd expect to find on the list, such as weapons or illegal drugs, but the latest change is a headscratcher.

The inclusion of multi-outlet plugs on the list means keeping devices charged in a cabin on older cruise ships will be more of a challenge going forward.

Royal Caribbean News

• See the massive record-breaking 367-ton dome Royal Caribbean added to its next megaship
• I stayed in the cheapest cabin on Vision of the Seas.
• Royal Caribbean luggage tags & holders you must have
• Hidden Gems: Lesser-Known Features on Royal Caribbean's Smaller Ships
• Boardwalk vs. Surfside: What to expect in Royal Caribbean's family neighborhood
• Strange Texas law could limit your drinks on the first day of your cruise
• How Royal Caribbean's Crown & Anchor Society works for kids and teens
• 5 things to know before taking a European cruise
• The secrets to achieving Diamond status quickly on Royal Caribbean
• Best cruises to maximize Crown & Anchor loyalty benefits

New RCB Video: 5 things to avoid on Royal Caribbean (and what to do instead)

Have you subscribed to the Royal Caribbean Blog YouTube Channel? We share some great videos there regularly, all about taking a Royal Caribbean cruise!

This week, we are sharing our latest video—5 things to avoid on Royal Caribbean (and what to do instead)—and don’t forget to subscribe here.

Influencers left kids alone in cruise ship cabin sparks controversy

Two famous social media influencers recently sparked outrage after leaving their children alone in a cruise ship cabin.

While onboard Navigator of the Seas, Matt, and Abby Howard posted that they left their 1 and 2-year-old children unattended during dinner.

The Internet had a lot to say regarding the matter.

What cruisers are doing instead of buying a drink package

Drink packages have never been more expensive, and cruisers are starting to look for other options.

Deluxe drink packages are a popular add-on, but prices are regularly rising to over $100 a day, per person. 

Many cruisers are moving on to other, less expensive ways of purchasing alcoholic and specialty drinks onboard.

How to earn Crown & Anchor Society points faster

Looking to move up in the loyalty society levels?

Royal Caribbean's Crown & Anchor Society provides some great benefits for its loyal cruisers, and there are strategies one can use to earn more points.

From staying in a suite to cruising solo, you can move up the loyalty ladder faster with a few tricks.

Cruise mistakes you’ll only make once

There's a good chance these cruise mistakes are so bad, that if you ever made them, you'd never do it again.

Among the many things you could do differently on a cruise vacation, a handful stand out as major oopsies.

You can easily avoid these mistakes by knowing what to do instead.

Royal Caribbean's loyalty program offers some of the best benefits in the cruise industry, but you can only utilize them while on a cruise.

As much as you might want to cruise frequently, vacationing is a luxury, and it can be hard to find time to plan your next sailing.

So while on those infrequent cruises, how can you best maximize your Crown and Anchor Society benefits? 

The program offers great value at every level: you can expect to receive discounts, vouchers, and even free cruises as part of your rewards.

Specific cruises will offer the best value for loyalty members who want to utilize their benefits.

If you'd like your next sailing to use all the advantages available from the Crown and Anchor Society, certain cruise ships, itineraries, and ship classes will help you maximize your experience.

Icon and Oasis Class ships offer more ways to redeem

When booking your cruise, you'll want to think about the amount of opportunities you'll have to redeem your reward vouchers and discounts.

Depending on your tier of the loyalty program, you'll get discounts on drinks, complimentary specialty beverages, free casino plays, and even BOGO dinners at specialty restaurants.

Every tier of the Crown and Anchor Society receives:

• 50% off coupon for any glass of wine, beer, or soda
• 25% off any coffee beverage
• 10% off any wine, beer, or soda by the glass

Ships with more venues will offer more opportunities and varied choices when it comes to redeeming these coupons, so Royal Caribbean's mega-ships (such as its Oasis and Icon Class) are your best bet for maximizing these benefits. Plus, kids get these benefits too.

From the amount of casino machines to bars onboard, everything about these ships offers more ways to cash in.

Read more: How to earn Royal Caribbean's Crown & Anchor Society points faster

Icon of the Seas, for example, has 14 specialty restaurants and 18 bars and lounges—offering a wide selection of menus and themes.

Throughout the length of your cruise, you could redeem complimentary daily drinks at an assortment of bars.

Use drink vouchers on a stop at a private island

Those drink vouchers turn into complimentary daily drinks once you reach the Diamond, Diamond Plus, and Pinnacle tiers of the Crown and Anchor Society.

And since drink discounts and packages also apply while on Royal Caribbean's private destinations, booking a cruise that visits Perfect Day at CocoCay or Labadee, Haiti will grant you extra time to take advantage.

Since most discounts only apply on the ship, you might be tempted to stay onboard during port days to make the most of free WiFi and drinks.

However, stopping off at a Royal Caribbean private destination allows you to still use both while enjoying beautiful beaches and luxurious cabanas.

Booking a sailing that stops at Perfect Day at CocoCay or Labadee, Haiti is a great way to maximize even more benefits.

Read more: What being a Pinnacle member means to me

Get discounts when you book a balcony or suite

The Crown and Anchor Society also offers discounts to its members who are booking balcony cabins or suites, so look at upgrading when you book your next cruise.

Starting at 30 points, cruisers can get discounts when booking balcony and suite staterooms.

While spending more on a cabin might not sound like a good deal, you'll be rewarding yourself with more luxurious accommodations while also taking advantage of loyalty offers.

Not only that, but cruisers also receive an increased discount for making a reservation more than six months ahead.

Royal Caribbean tends to reward guests for booking further ahead of time, so booking a balcony or suite stateroom far in the future will give you extra deals.

Consider the Crown Lounge onboard 

Royal Caribbean has a dedicated area on all of its ships just for passengers that have reached at least Diamond level.

Access to the Crown Lounge is included in benefits for the Diamond, Diamond Plus, and Pinnacle tiers.

Open 24/7, this exclusive area features complimentary food, coffee, access to the Diamond concierge, and nightly happy hours.

To ensure that you're making the most of this benefit, you can research the Crown Lounge onboard specific Royal Caribbean ships.

Cruisers like to discuss their preferred size, layout, and style of the Crown Lounge, so look for a ship that best suits your preferences.

Some members prefer a bigger lounge, where they can spread out and enjoy some peace and quiet.

Others visit the exclusive venue for the social aspect, enjoying meeting other loyal Royal cruises, so they look for a more intimate experience.

Whatever your tastes, look for a specific ship to meet those needs.

Book an Alaska, Asia, or Europe sailing for your free cruise

The highest tier of the Crown and Anchor Society is rewarded with a free cruise.

Once passengers reach 700 points, they receive a free 7-night cruise in a balcony cabin (at the prevailing rate of a Caribbean cruise). Once they reach 1,400 points, the 7-night cruise is upgraded to a Junior Suite.

A free cruise sounds like a dream come true.

Royal Caribbean does not allow guests to book this sailing on a brand-new ship (it must be more than a year old), so you'll want to maximize these benefits by booking more expensive itineraries. 

The cruise line visits destinations like Australia, New Zealand, Alaska, France, Spain, Greece, Singapore, and Japan—all of which can be booked on your yearly free cruise.

Read more: I planned out 6 years of cruises so I could reach Royal Caribbean's highest loyalty tier

However, the free sailing doesn't include taxes, fees, or transportation, so you'd still have to pay for travel to and from the cruise port.

Use package discounts on shorter cruises

3-5 night sailings are a great opportunity to save money on WiFi and drink packages—with fewer days onboard, the daily packages cost even less.

When purchased onboard Diamond Plus members get 30% off deluxe drink packages, while Pinnacle members get 40% off.

Gold, Platinum, and Emerald members get discounts on Internet packages purchased onboard, while Diamond guests get one free day of internet access.

Diamond Plus cruisers earn two free days of Surf & Stream internet package per sailing, and Pinnacle Club members get a free Internet package for the length of the cruise.

Royal Caribbean just finished installing an architectural and engineering feat onto its new cruise ship.

The AquaDome is one of the signature areas onboard Star of the Seas, which will be one of the biggest cruise ships in the world.

The ship is being built at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Turku, Finland, where Icon of the Seas, Oasis of the Seas, and Allure of the Seas were also built.

The installation of Star of the Seas's AquaDome made history as the largest glass and steel structure ever lifted and installed onto a cruise ship, a Herculean task that took 80 hours to complete.

Photo by Niko Alakoski.

The multiple-day process took months of planning for a single feat of huge proportions.

Now, its completion marks the beginning of the next phase of construction. 

Royal Caribbean can start to bring it all to life, building out neighborhood restaurants, bars, and entertainment venues.

Star of the Seas will debut in August 2025, out of Port Canaveral, Florida.

Even lifting the dome off the ground was a massive undertaking. 

Photo by Niko Alakoski.

Royal Caribbean had to build a custom, 155-ton rig to move the dome into place.

1,640 feet (500 meters) of suspension cables connected the rig to the dome. These cables are longer than the height of the Empire State Building!

To complete the lift, the shipyard had to rely on the wind to stay calm. If wind speeds reached 10 miles per hour (or 16 kilometers per hour), the entire operation would come to a halt.

In the end, the dome traveled over 1,200 feet (366+ meters) in the air and rested on top of the vessel.

Workers completed 6 hours of precise welding and other work to fully attach the dome.

The dome was first built alongside Star of the Seas, a process that allowed it to be constructed in tandem with ship construction.

This strategy is commonly used in cruise ship building to complete multiple facets of the process at the same time.

Read more: Royal Caribbean unveils changes to make Star of the Seas even better than Icon of the Seas

Cabins, ship blocks, neighborhoods, and other features are often built elsewhere, then assembled and added later at the shipyard.

The AquaDome is 82 feet (25 meters) tall, 164 feet (50 meters) wide, and weighs 367 tons (332 tonnes). 

The dome has 12 modules that were assembled over 8 months, composed of 673 glass panels and 712 aluminum panels.

But installing the dome is just the beginning. 

Next, the cruise line will work to bring the AquaDome to life.

Construction must add all the interior pieces, such as lighting, bars, lounges, restaurants, sculptures, seating, the central waterfall, and the AquaTheater.

The innovative, beautiful space will serve as a peaceful gathering place during the day and a lively, entertaining spot at night.

Once the AquaDome is complete, guests will experience 220-degree ocean views, restaurants, bars, nightlife, stunning entertainment, and a 55-foot-tall waterfall.

The AquaDome was first introduced on Icon of the Seas as a completely new neighborhood concept that was built on the AquaTheater in Oasis-Class ships.

Located atop decks 15 and 16, the neighborhood includes innovative features like the brand-new AquaTheater and the cruise line's first AquaDome Market.

Photo by Mediascope Productions.

Construction on Star of the Seas began in February of 2023 when steel was first cut in the shipyard.

Once construction is complete, Star of the Seas will sail to Port Canaveral, Florida.

The ship was originally scheduled to be delivered in mid-August of 2025, but delays in production and construction forced the cruise line to push back her original inaugural sailing.

Photo by Mediascope Productions.

The inaugural sailing will now take place on August 31st, 2025.

Cruisers can expect Star of the Seas to stay around the same dimensions as Icon of the Seas.

Jay Schneider, Royal Caribbean's Senior Vice President and Chief Product Innovation Officer has stated that the ship's attractions are more important than the total size. 

"That's never been a focus for us," he said. "The world's best family vacation was never about size for us. It still isn't."

That places the cruise ship at around 250,800 gross tons total, with a capacity for 5,610 passengers (or up to 7,600 passengers at maximum occupancy).

The Icon Class has been specifically marketed to draw in the family vacation market, especially appealing to families with younger children.

The cruise line has already ordered another Icon Class ship, due to be delivered in 2026. No further details have been revealed about Icon 3.

Recently, I sailed on my first-ever Vision Class cruise ship and stayed in the cheapest stateroom possible: a standard interior cabin. 

Costing just $1,396.76, my friend and I jumped at the opportunity to book a 5-night cruise to Bermuda from Baltimore, Maryland. Not only was this our first time visiting the beautiful island of Bermuda, but it was her first cruise in general! 

My travel agent assigned us Cabin 3543, a category 2V interior stateroom located in the forward of the ship, extremely close to the elevator bank. 

I remembered my motion sickness patches at the last minute, and I'm glad I didn't leave home without them! Since we weren't in the middle of the ship, we felt quite a bit of movement from our cabin. In general, our sailing was quite rocky, with the Solarium pool being closed for the first two days! 

We boarded a little later than usual embarkation day, enjoying a quick lunch in the Windjammer before making our way to our stateroom to drop off our carry-on bags. 

Overall, I was impressed by the size of the cabin. I assumed since Vision of the Seas is an older ship, the cabin would feel tight and cramped. To my surprise, it felt more spacious than some interior cabins I've had on newer vessels, namely Symphony of the Seas and Carnival Celebration!

Though certain aspects of the cabin certainly felt dated, I wouldn't go as far as saying it felt like it was a 26-year-old ship. However, you may think otherwise if you're used to sailing exclusively on Oasis Class ships. 

Read more: Royal Caribbean ship classes ultimate guide

In particular, there wasn't a mini-fridge. While not a huge deal, I was disappointed that I didn't have a place to chill my wine. 

In retrospect, we could have asked our cabin steward for ice; however, I'm so used to having a mini-fridge in my cruise ship cabins that I forgot this was an option. Hindsight is 2020, though. 

Read more: 16 things to ask your cruise ship cabin attendant

Personally, I found the storage space to be pretty average, especially for an older vessel. We didn't struggle to comfortably unpack for our 5-night cruise, and my suitcase weighed over 40 pounds! 

There was just one closet, but it came stocked with more than enough hangers for our clothing. 

I'm thankful for the amount of floor space, too. My suitcase was a little too large to fit underneath the bed, so I had to keep it in the closet during the cruise. 

Had the floor space been tight, I would have had to squeeze it between the loveseat and my bed, and that became my favorite spot to store my shoes for easy access. 

That said, while the closet lacked built-in shelves, there were enough drawers to help keep our stuff organized. 

Read more: 115 item Ultimate Cruise Packing List

However, one of the drawers in the nightstand lacked a proper back. We were afraid if we stored anything that it might accidentally slide out. 

Moreover, the top drawer of my nightstand had issues staying shut—though this could have been caused in part by the choppy seas. 

On a positive note, I appreciated how there wasn't anything taking up space on the nightstands. This became a catch-all place for our books, water bottles, glasses, etc.

Each bed had a wall light placed directly above our heads. I didn't use mine too often, but my friend utilized it nearly every evening to read before bed. 

I appreciated the small light, as I could fall asleep unbothered while my friend was winding down from the day's adventure. If the overhead light had been on, I'm sure I would have had more issues drifting off. 

I've stayed in a few inside cabins—mostly on Carnival Cruise Line—without a small couch, and I hate having to sit on the bed in my dirty clothes. Thankfully, that wasn't a concern in my stateroom on Vision of the Seas. 

Throughout the 5-night cruise, the couch became another catch-all place. Truthfully, we were too lazy to put our souvenir bags and raincoats away, so they found a home on the small loveseat before being packed away in our suitcases. 

Read more: 15 Royal Caribbean boarding process tips for a fast embarkation

The vanity area was standard. There were two hidden compartments behind the mirrors that we used to store jewelry, sunscreen, and other miscellaneous things. For an older ship, the lighting was pretty good, too. 

As expected, there were limited outlets in our cabin, with just two American and two European plugs near the desk. Perhaps this is one area where I'm more fond of Carnival's older ships, as many have been outfitted with extra charing options near the bed, whether an American outlet or USB plug. 

Still, it wasn't an issue, as I brought three (not two!) European power adapters, so we could take advantage of all four available outlets. 

Above the television was a cabinet that housed the safe, which is where I immediately put my passport, wallet, and other important valuables on embarkation day. 

Read more: How much cash should you bring on a cruise?

The vanity area was also where the cabin's telephone and thermostat were found. 

On embarkation day, I was worried we'd have issues with the temperature, as the room stayed relatively warm, even after we set sail. Within a few hours, the room had cooled down substantially, though. 

In addition to the absent mini-fridge and lack of outlets, the cabin's true age was evident in the tiny bathroom. Although it served its purpose, I really, really (did I say really?) despise clingy shower curtains.

I have no complaints about the showerhead or pressure. In fact, when comparing my experience on Carnival Elation to Vision of the Seas, well, there's no comparison! 

The showerhead on Carnival Elation was, for lack of better words, completely and utterly disgusting. It desperately needed to be replaced months before I stepped on board. 

Not only that, but the showerhead broke during my cruise! The small piece that attached the showerhead to the rod fell off. It took over a day before it was fixed, so whenever we showered, water went everywhere! 

Read more: 4 things I loved about Carnival Elation (and 4 I didn’t)

Since the bathroom was slightly more compact than those on newer ships, there wasn't as much storage. 

That said, between my hanging toiletries organizer and my friend's ability to pack light, we didn't need to use the cubbies beside the mirror! 

Read more: 7 bathroom hacks to use in your cruise ship cabin

Overall, our inside cabin was the perfect home away from home during our short getaway to Bermuda

All in all, it was your standard interior stateroom. It was functional and practical, allowing us to cruise on a budget and splurge on a fun shipwreck snorkeling excursion in Bermuda, as well as a specialty meal at Izumi. 

I would have preferred a location that was more midship or closer to the aft, as we spent the majority of our time in the Solarium (which, yes, is located in the back of the ship on Vision of the Seas!). Those are just minor complaints, though. 

Being on Deck 3 meant we were close to many important venues, such as the Main Dining Room on Deck 4, the Casino on Deck 5, and—most importantly—Cafe Latte-tudes on Deck 6. Since we had the Cafe Select Coffee Card, Cafe Latte-tudes was our first stop every morning while onboard. 

Read more: 2024 Royal Caribbean Drink Package Prices, Tips, Pros & Cons

Would I book another interior cabin on Vision of the Seas? Absolutely! In fact, I was a bit hesitant to sail on such an old ship, loving the variety of dining options and Broadway-style entertainment on newer vessels. 

However, the experience completely surprised me. Everything from the dining to the relaxed Solarium and friendly staff made me understand why these small ships remain a beloved favorite within the fleet.

Drink packages are such a popular cruise add-on, but they've also never been more expensive. This has lead to a growing trend of cruisers opting out of them and looking for other options.

You can expect to pay at least $100 per person, per day for a Royal Caribbean drink package if you buy it on your ship. And while there are discounts off that price if you buy it before the sailing begins, it still represents a major upfront cost.

For a 7-night cruise on the world's largest cruise ship, Icon of the Seas, the Deluxe Beverage costs $85.99 per person, per day if purchased on the Cruise Planner site. That comes out to $601.93 per person or $1,420.44 for a couple after adding gratuities, as all adults in a cabin need to buy a drink package if one does.

"Price of the deluxe package is absolutely out of control," wrote Stuart Etheridge on a Facebook post discussing the drink packages.

Brian Levor added, "With the package around $700 per person for a week, or single measured shots on the rocks $14+20%, it's just not worth it to me."

With such a high cost, some cruisers are seeking alternative strategies for enjoying drinks on board without overspending.

Here's what people that cruise a lot are doing instead of buying a costly beverage package.

Relying on rewards drinks

Those lucky enough to have cruised a lot already fall back on their daily drink vouchers.

If you reach Diamond level in Crown and Anchor Society, Royal Caribbean gives you 4 drink vouchers per day to use at any bar, lounge, or restaurant.

If you do the math and assume you'll use each of the vouchers for a drink worth $13 each, you'll save about $50 per day on drinks by relying on them exclusively.

Tony Diaz posted in the Royal Caribbean Dining Facebook group, "Use my 5 diamond drinks," and it echoed what a lot of other people said.

Ron Williams wrote, "I’m Diamond Plus, so I don’t get a drink package."

Michalena Vitucci also doesn't see a need to buy a drink package because of the vouchers, "Diamond points so never needed a drink package .. between my husband and I that’s 8 free drinks a day so we never needed to look into other options."

While the Diamond drink vouchers are indeed a fantastic benefit, the downside to this strategy is it won't help new cruisers at all.

In order to make it to Diamond, you need to have at least 80 cruise points.

Drink for free in the casino

A growing trend among cruisers is qualifying for the Prime status in Royal Caribbean's casino loyalty program.

To reach prime, you'll need to accumulate 2500 points between April 1 and March 31. Once you do, you can enjoy unlimited drinks at the casino bar on any Royal Caribbean ship. It even comes with a free cruise too.

While you can only get free drinks at one bar, it provides a tremendous cost savings opportunity considering it will work on any cruise you take while you still have Prime status.

Veteran cruisers that are also Diamond members love to combine the casino drinks with their aforementioned Diamond drinks to truly get the best value from their loyalty.

The downside to the free drinks in the casino is you first need to gamble enough to qualify.  Each casino point is equivalent to about $5 wagered, so there's a higher barrier to entry. Plus, gambling is addictive and despite the rules, the casino on Royal Caribbean ships tends to become a defacto smoker's lounge.

Pay as you go

Instead of a costly drink package, many cruisers are opting to pay as they go.

Drinks can be purchased on a Royal Caribbean cruise a la carte, and it's what everyone did prior to the introduction of drink packages.

The advantage of paying for each individual drink is if you're not much of a drinker.  Charging two or three drinks per day to your SeaPass card is going to be cheaper overall than a beverage package.

Plus, you can take advantage of drink specials and even the occasional free drink around the ship.

"I only have 1 drink per day typically. I’m not a big drinker and prefer water or iced tea," wrote Jeannie Grant.

Kevin Lewis added, "If I really want to have a couple drinks it's not gonna add up as much as the drink package." He also pointed out drinking at bars in the ports of call the ship visits is cheaper.

There's also a psychological effect of not having a drink package, as explained by Ken Kerby, "[I'll] drink less since I won’t be trying to make the most of what I already paid for."

The problem with paying as you go instead of a drink package is that your bar tab can quickly grow out of control if you get carried away.

Hope for a drink card to be offered

On some sailings, Royal Caribbean will offer a drink card that can only be purchased onboard the ship.

The drink card is a punch card that you can buy for a flat fee and it includes 10 drinks per card. It has the same allowances as a drink package, with drinks up to $13/$14 value on beer, wine, soda, or cocktails.

 Plus, you can share the drink card with other guests (unlike the drink package).

"On the Wonder last week you could get a card for 10 alcohol drinks for $90 or $106 with gratuities," wrote Amy Greive.

The problem with a drink card is there is no way to know if it will be offered on your cruise at all. That's because the ship's revenue department will offer it if alcohol sales are not meeting the goal for that voyage.

If it is offered, it's usually towards the end of the cruise.  This makes it impossible to plan or budget for prior to it showing up.

BYOB drinks

A smart idea for any cruiser is to bring non-alcoholic beverages with them onboard, as Royal Caribbean allows up to 12 bottles/cans of water, juice, or soft drinks.

Not only can you bring your own drinks, you could also bring water drink mixes to enhance the flavor of the water included with your cruise fare. (Contains an affiliate link, which costs you nothing extra to use).

Amy Burch wrote, "I bring those Mio flavor water enhancers to add to both tap water and lemonade on the ship."

You're also allowed to bring one bottle of wine per adult on the ship, providing a great alternative for light drinkers.

Book a suite

Royal Caribbean includes beer, wine, and cocktails during certain hours while in the Suite Lounge.

If you're booked in a Grand Suite or higher, Royal Caribbean includes admission to the Suite Lounge, where you can enjoy a happy hour selection of drinks, every day of the cruise.

Depending on the Royal Caribbean ship class you sail on, the hours vary for when you can get free drinks in the lounge.

• Icon & Oasis Class ships: Beer and wine available 11am to 11pm; Happy hour with all drinks for 3 hours in the evening
• All other ships: Happy hour with all drinks for 3 hours in the evening. Hours vary by ship.

The problem with this strategy is it's only available for a few hours each evening, and only in the Suite Lounge.  It's not convenient if you're elsewhere on the ship and/or outside of the time window.