Royal Caribbean Blog

Alexa H. Bluth is a writer, living in Sacramento with her husband, two sort of well-behaved teenaged daughters and two not-at-all well-behaved dogs. She took some time to write this guest post entry about what she's learned to share with other first timers who are anxiously awaiting their embarkation date.

In summer 2019, I stepped foot on my first-ever cruise ship gangway, headed with my husband and pre-teens on a new kind of adventure.

This was a bucket-list trip to Alaska on a beautiful ship with all the bells and whistles. I researched the daylights out of it. I stressed over every detail, watched hundreds of YouTube videos, and memorized ship deck plans. It was overkill, to be sure, although some of that planning did come in handy. 

The cruise was an amazing, life-changing experience, but not because of any of the reasons I’d anticipated. It was the unexpected surprises and the unplanned moments that hooked me for life on cruising.

Cruises are fun and unique. You can travel to several different destinations, while only unpacking once. The feeling of a comfy stateroom and ready-made dinner plans after a long day exploring is priceless. The people in general - both crew members and fellow travelers - are typically interesting and friendly. Once you’re fully soaked in the music, game shows, and ocean breezes, it’s impossible not to have fun.

I’ve learned much since that first sail away to Alaska. Here are some lessons and tips in hopes that you, too, will love your first cruise. 

Do some basic research

On our first cruise, I wanted to know every granular detail beforehand, but by our third I was more relaxed and wanted to be surprised by some things.

I don’t advise overdoing it. Some basic research can be of help and will ignite excitement for your trip. You can read blogs and watch YouTube videos about your specific ship. You’ll even find room tours of the specific category of stateroom you picked.

Dig deep enough and you can find detailed deck plans and dining menus and daily activity newsletters from previous sailings. All of this can be a bit much, but there are a handful of areas that I do advise researching before and after booking your first cruise.

Before booking, research where the stateroom you’d like is located on the ship, and what generally are the activities and food options the ship offers to make sure it will meet your needs. The ideal room location will be midship, surrounded by other staterooms on all sides (including above and below), near-ish to the elevators but not right next to them, and not directly under a pool deck, buffet or dance club.

Ships vary from older, smaller ships with traditional activities and fewer crowds, to mega ships with trapezes and ice skating rinks and bumper cars, oh my!

After booking, find out if you need to make reservations for dining or entertainment before you board. These things do book up.

It also helps to know: How to get to the pier on embarkation day (and parking options if you are driving), what excursions are offered in your ports of call, and the basic ship layout.

You don’t need to memorize every deck but at least it’s helpful to know if your room is near the aft or forward elevators. On our most recent trip, I dug up where we needed to go once on board to get show and dinner reservations and we headed there the moment we got on board  By the time we had our reservations all set, the lines were out the door and we were glad we’d done that research.

Learn some lingo

You don’t need to memorize a whole new vocabulary. Just a few terms, including stateroom (cabin), MDR (main dining room), aft (back) and forward (self explanatory), and port (left) and starboard (right).

Also you will do a “muster drill,” usually by watching a video on your phone or in your stateroom and going to your designated “muster station,” which is the spot where you’d gather in an emergency. 

Bring incidentals

When packing for your cruise, you will want to make sure that you bring things like sunscreen, ibuprofen, bandages, diapers, etc.

Some items will be available in the ship’s main gift shop or in a vending machine near the medical facility, but what is available there and at the ports will be pricey. Onboard, there is often a limited supply, too. You won't find a full pharmacy, so it is best to bring everything from home. 

Don’t overpack

I have overpacked on each and every cruise. I always end up with clothes and shoes I never wear.

For warm weather cruises, you likely will wear the same shorts/dress/bathing suit repeatedly, and you definitely don’t need multiple outfits per day.

Cruises aren’t as formal as they once were, so you can even wear the same breezy outfit you wore to explore during the day to dinner if you want (just no swimwear, tank tops, or flip flops). You also don’t need to go gadget and gear crazy.

But do bring some heavy-duty magnetic hooks to hang things likes hats and sweaters on the metal cabin walls, a non-surge protector outlet extender with USB ports, and binoculars (you’ll love spotting dolphins, whales, and other cruise ships, which is weirdly exciting when you’re on a cruise). 

Decorate your stateroom door

Because, why not? Get into the spirit. Magnets and magnetic dry erase boards with fun messages are perfect to adorn metal cabin doors. You can mark special occasions with door decorations too. Plus, it helps you to easily identify your stateroom in those really long hallways.

Expect to get a little lost onboard, at least for the first couple of days

Cruise ships are like massive, confusing floating cities. But every ship has plenty of maps and, again, crew members around to help. Plus, you get the hang of it after a few days. 

Prepare for crowds

Crowds are inevitable in the elevators on embarkation day and after shows, in the buffet at peak lunch and breakfast hours, and at the guest services desk (a ship’s equivalent to a hotel’s “front desk”) pretty much all of the time.

But after the first day of the cruise, people disperse to various spaces, and the elevators aren’t so crowded. And there always are quiet spots onboard, often along the outside decks away from the pool, in the far aft of the ship, or in adult-only areas.

Related: How to beat the crowds on your cruise ship

Go to the sail away party

I mean it. Go. Even if it’s not your style to do the Cupid Shuffle, grab a glass of champagne or fruity drink and a spot along the top deck railing. It is impossible not to catch the spirit while listening to party music, watching people dance, and experiencing the ship gliding away from the pier (bonus if it’s at sunset!)

Go to the welcome aboard show

It’s typically either advertised specifically as a welcome show, or it will be the earlier (and more family friendly) showing on the first night of the evening headliner, such as the comedian or magician.

This is a fantastic opportunity to see the cruise director and cruise staff for the first time and to absorb the excitement of the fact that you’re on a cruise!

Be mindful of showtimes when planning meals

Ships feature a headline show each night, which typically are Broadway-style shows, magicians, musicians, or comedians. The headliners usually are shown at around 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., so though 6:45 is a lovely dinner time, it won’t work if you want to see the earlier and typically more family-friendly show.

Get the streaming internet package if you can

Cruise internet is notoriously slow, so if you can spring for the “fastest” and unlimited package, do. If your whole party has iPhones, you will be able to iMessage each other while onboard, and you can use FaceTime and FaceTime Audio to connect with folks back home.

You can post about your adventures on social media, or stream your favorite movie before bed. Of course, you still can unplug if you wish, but you’ve left your options open.

Research drink packages before you buy

They might be worth it, they might not. It depends how much they cost and how much you drink.

For us, on Royal Caribbean the unlimited drink package wasn’t worth the cost because we only ordered about two alcoholic drinks a day, but it was well worth getting the soda package because it included premium coffee drinks (hello, vanilla latte!) and mock-tails.

We also got our kids the soda package-- Nothing is more fun for kids than to be able to belly up to the bar anytime they want and flash their room card for a Shirley Temple or strawberry daiquiri. Honestly, don’t underestimate the ability of a paper umbrella or pineapple wedge to make a kid’s day.

Related: 2023 Royal Caribbean Drink Package Info, Tips, Pros & Cons

Watch the morning show on your stateroom television

Cruise lines typically have a channel on your stateroom television that offers a morning show that replays for most of the morning, featuring the cruise director highlighting some of the day’s activities or discussing logistics such as time changes and information about the day’s port.

I confess, there was nothing more relaxing for me than sipping my morning mocha and watching the morning show. 

Don’t be afraid to order another appetizer, entree or dessert in the main dining room

No-one will judge you, except perhaps your own family.

I’m not advocating wasting food; I simply am saying that it’s widely accepted in cruising to order a couple of courses in the main dining room, no questions asked. So go ahead and try the cheesecake and creme brûlée if you can’t pick just one.

Don’t be afraid to ASK

Ask for what you need, from directions to the soft serve machine to a couple extra pillows for your bed.

Need help or advice? Tap your fellow travelers. Experienced cruisers love to offer advice, even a little too much sometimes, and there will nearly always be a crew member within a few feet from you that will be willing to help.

Relax and go with the flow

Inevitably, something irritating will happen. A rude cruiser will swoop in front of you to grab a roll at the buffet or someone will cut you off to jump onto the elevator you’d patiently awaited.

A show you wanted to see might be sold out or a port might even get canceled because of weather.

Things won’t go exactly as planned. They just won’t. But the more you try to see the bright side and enjoy the positives, the better your overall experience will be.

Be prepared for people to try to sell you stuff

Onboard, you’ll be hawked drink packages, photos, canvas tote bags, art, and jewelry.

You’ll get lots of pieces of paper with your daily planner advertising jewelry sales and art auctions. Just toss ‘em if you aren’t interested.

On many beaches while in port, there are streams of vendors selling bracelets, hair braiding, and photos with iguanas. Jewelry store salespeople tend to be zealous in trying to get you to come in and be dazzled by their sparkly stuff.

In most if not all cases, a friendly but firm “no thank you” typically does the trick.

Do cruise-line sponsored excursions in ports

Rather than trying to go out on your own, it’s worth to book a Royal Caribbean shore excursion that has built-in transportation to your destination, fewer logistics to plan, and peace of mind knowing you are guaranteed to get back to the ship on time.

Note: the ship does not wait for late travelers in port. It will leave you if you miss all-aboard time.

Don’t be shy! Chat up your room steward and other crew members

Crew members come from all over the world and many have fascinating stories.

On our most recent cruise, one tween boy sat at a bar for the better part of an hour, entranced by the bartender’s tales about the ships he’d worked on and the places he’d been.

A fun activity for kids is doing a “country scavenger hunt,” where you bring a list of countries and, for the duration of the cruise, they look for crew members from around the world (crew members’ home countries will be printed on their name badges). It’s like the license plate game for the high seas! 

Also chat up fellow cruisers! Cruises come with a special camaraderie, more so in my opinion than other types of travel. Don’t be afraid to ask where someone is from or how many cruises they’ve been on, or to compliment their matching T-shirts.

You could learn some tips, make new friends, or at least mitigate the drudgery while waiting in line for something.

Participate!

Go to the game shows and activities (and show up a little early to get a good seat). If these look silly, it’s because they are silly, but they’re also fun and entertaining.

I especially like the Newlywed Game-style shows, but I caution against bringing younger kids to this (or even older ones because, let’s be real, they don’t want to sit with their parents listening to people talk about making whoopee).

Get your kids involved from day one

Encourage (bribery works) your kids to participate in activities in the kids and teens clubs and take part in the family activities such as scavenger hunts and game shows. On each of the cruises we’ve taken, my daughters met friends from various places with whom they’ve kept in touch after the trip.

Bring a lanyard

The best kind are the ones that stretch, with a plastic card holder attached. This will conveniently hold your SeaPass card, which you use to buy anything onboard (and obviously to open your stateroom door).

If you forget one, you can visit the gift shop once your ship has set sail and purchase one. 

Prepare for the pool deck reality

I imagined a cruise would be mostly spent by the pool, or in the pool, or at the pool bar. I was wrong.

The pools are very crowded and the hot tubs are often, if not always, jam packed. If the weather’s nice, deck chairs generally are nearly all occupied or saved with towels. My kids still swam and had fun doing it, and I still managed to visit the pool bar a few times, but it was anything but serene.

Related: How to beat the chair hogs on your cruise ship

Don’t obsess about “marquis” activities such as onboard sky-diving, zip-lining, or go-karts

These are what you’ll see in the cruise line commercials, but they sometimes cost an extra fee, nearly always are crowded or booked, and, almost guaranteed, won’t be your favorite memories from your cruise.

My kids were determined to do the wave simulator on our Alaska cruise, so they shivered in their swimsuits in line for a half-hour for 30-second boogie boarding experiences that ended in wipeouts.

We waited almost an hour to experience ice-skating on a cruise ship, and my children gave up after about three minutes of frustration.

We rushed the moment we stepped aboard to make reservation for go-karts, and two teens racing each other kept bumping past us first-time go-kart drivers and nearly made my daughter cry. Bumper cars and roller skating on a cruise ship sounded awesome, but we missed the sign ups. Nevertheless, on each of these cruises, we had the times of our lives.

Bring some small bills

You’ll typically tip a porter to take your luggage immediately when you get to the port, and there are always opportunities to cash tip on excursions. They will ask. I promise.

Don’t miss a sunset over the ocean

Drop everything and head to your balcony or the upper deck at least once. Bring your camera, so you can create your phone’s new wallpaper and enjoy.

Don’t over schedule your days

Don’t bring a highlighter (I mean it, don’t!) for the daily planner, and do try to become zen about skipping some things.

Sometimes it’s nice to just take a nap in your stateroom or stand at the railing to watch the sea go by.

If you are traveling with multiple families or in a big group, it can be stressful, so plan to let people do what they want when they want. You’ll see them plenty, I promise.

Embrace the experience, every part of it

One time in the Bahamas, we thought we had found a reputable jet-ski rental company, only to find ourselves unwittingly riding through questionable neighborhoods in a beat-up minivan with kid-inappropriate music blaring.

We jet-skied off of a remote, trash-strewn beach where a few men quietly sat sharpening their machetes. It was dicey, to be sure, but we ended up having an amazing time jet skiing in the perfect blue-green sea that day and forever will have that story to tell.

In Mexico, a “jeep safari” turned out to be a dusty, harried, traffic-snarled caravan along major city streets and highways, with a prison and tequila factory as highlights. Not what we expected, but the tour guide was fabulous, and we saw parts of the culture we never would have otherwise. And, yep, we’ll always have the story to tell.

I’m not endorsing this type of expedition. In fact, it’s another reason to do your research and to go on cruise line sponsored excursions, but we went with the flow and didn’t let these unexpected turns of events ruin our trips.

The bottom line is that cruises are fun-filled vacations. Expect a few hiccups and hitches, crowds and lines, but also look forward to wonderful surprises, new friends and jaw-dropping sunsets.

Embrace the unplanned and even the cheesy moments. You might even find yourself dancing or hopping on stage to participate in a trivia game. And I can almost guarantee you’ll love it!

If you are sailing on a Voyager, Oasis, or Quantum Class ship in the future, you will find that Jamie's Italian by Jamie Oliver has a brand-new menu. 

As of August 4, the new menu is available onboard Symphony, Harmony, Mariner, Navigator, and Anthem of the Seas. It will be available on Quantum and Ovation soon; however, no date was provided. 

"I can't wait for you to all start tucking into this menu. I know that you're gonna love it," says Jamie Oliver. 

Related: 5 things you will love about Jamie's Italian on Royal Caribbean

Note that the title of the dishes on the menus below may be different in the United States, as they were taken on a European sailing to Norway onboard Anthem of the Seas.  

What's different on the lunch menu

All veteran cruisers know that eating lunch in a specialty restaurant is cheaper than dinner, and usually, you will have similar offerings. On a future sailing onboard Quantum of the Seas, the current onboard pricing for dinner is advertise to be $54.99, while lunch is only $24.99.

Of course, you can often get better rates if you book in advance on the Cruise Planner.  

Starting with the lunch menu, you will no longer find the Garlicky Prawns. Similarly, the Penne Pomodoro is no longer available. Instead, there's the Penne Vodka Arrabbiata, which Oliver says is one of his family's favorites. 

(Pictured above is the Penne Vodka Arrabbiata on Anthem of the Seas)

The biggest differences are evident in the main courses, with the removal of the JI Burger, Calabrian Chicken, and Jamie's Caesar Salad.

(Pictured above is the Avocado Caesar Salad on Anthem of the Seas)

These three menu items have been replaced by the brand-new Crispy Chicken Burger and Avocado Caesar Salad, meaning that instead of six options, you will only have five. 

(Pictured above is the Crispy Chicken Burger on Anthem of the Seas)

Similarly, there are only four sides on the menu instead of five: Rocket Salad, Charred Broccoli, Skin-on Fries, and Polenta Chips.

In terms of what is returning, Oliver said that the recipe for the bruschetta has been changed.

What's different on the dinner menu

On the dinner menu, you will have seven appetizers to select from.

(Pictured above is the Truffle Burrata on Anthem of the Seas)

Like the lunch menu, the Garlicky Prawns are no longer offered. It was replaced by the Crab & Avocado dish, which is described as "freshly picked crab, whipped avocado, heritage tomatoes, and Sardinian crackers." 

(Pictured above is the Tomato Bruschetta on Anthem of the Seas)

You will also have six pasta dishes to choose from, rather than five like on the lunch menu. The singular addition is the Risotto Rosso, which was not on the old menu. If you like creamy burrata, you'll love this dish that's also served with sun-dried tomato rice, slow-cooked cherry tomatoes, veggie Parmesan, and fresh basil. 

(Pictured above is the Eggplant [Aubergine] Parmigiana on Anthem of the Seas)

Like the lunch menu, the JI Burger is no longer on the dinner menu. Instead of a Crispy Chicken Burger, though, you will find Chicken Parmigiana. The Avocado Caesar Salad is available for dinner, too. 

The sides are the same as what you can order during lunch, with the addition of a Green Salad. 

Other menu changes onboard Royal Caribbean ships

This is not the first time Royal Caribbean has changed some menus this year. In early 2023, Royal Caribbean introduced brand-new Main Dining Room menus. 

The company began testing new menus in late 2022, and after receiving positive feedback from guests, they announced that they were going to change the menus fleet wide by February 2023.

Now, there is a more cohesive theme each night that highlights different cuisines and cooking styles. You may, for instance, have a Caribbean night, Mexican night, Italian night, USA night, and more. 

With this change, the “classics” section, which offered a subset of menu options that never changed and were available each night, was removed from the menu. 

Related: I tried Royal Caribbean's new main dining room menus, and here's what I thought

A new update to Royal Caribbean's app could save you time waiting in line on your cruise ship.

Souvenir photos have long been a cornerstone of the cruise ship experience, where passengers pose in front of backdrops with the ship's photographer to possibly purchase a print or digital download later.

Royal Caribbean's app now has a photos option on at least one ship that could make reviewing these photos much easier.

RoyalCaribbeanBlog reader and forum moderator Lovetocruise2002 spotted the new icon while sailing on Wonder of the Seas.

It's not clear which ships support this new feature in the app. It's not uncommon for some ships to support certain app features.

When you click the icon, photos you've taken that have been tagged by facial recognition appear in the app.

Guests can favorite the photo by clicking the heart icon, which makes it easier to spot the best photos later for ordering.

In testing on Wonder, Lovetocruise2002 reported guests would still need to go to the photo area if you had purchased a photo package.

Providing copies in the app potentially saves time for guests, as they no longer need to go to the photo station to review photos.

Not only is there only one area on the ship to go to review photos, but the photo area becomes inundated with other guests on the final day who all want to see how their photos came out.

Royal Caribbean has taken steps to speed up this process over the years, including going to digital copies instead of prints, utilizing facial recognition to group photos quicker, and adding more photo kiosks.

The app could potentially reduce demand for kiosks.

Cruise fans seem to love the new approach. LandstromCruise wrote on the Royal Caribbean Blog message boards, "This will be so much easier than running to the crowded photo area to try and view them.  This will make my wife happy! "

Jax also liked it, "This makes me very happy. I suggested improving this process on my post cruise survey last time."

asquared17 also likes how much more convenient this new option is, "This takes out a lot of the guess work when it comes to finding out which ones we will keep!"

Is a photo package worth it?

You could buy individual photos on your cruise, or buy a photo package that includes unlimited prints or digital downloads. But is this a good investment?

Given that a single 8x10 print will cost about $20, a package sounds like a more affordable way to get more for your dollar.

The price of a photo package will vary from ship to ship, but prices for an upcoming Independence of the Seas cruise are:

• 5 photos: $79.99
• 10 photos: $127.99
• 20 photos: $174.99
• 50 photos: $209.99

The photo package will include any photo that you, or anyone else from your cabin, are in the photo. Meaning, as long as someone from your cabin is in the photo, it could be included in your photo package.  If you have multiple cabins booked, you'd need another photo package for people in those cabins (unless someone from your cabin happens to be in their photo).

Just like Royal Caribbean drink packages, if you take the time to get enough photos for your photo package, it could be a great investment.

There are photo stations set up around the ship each evening, along with photographers on the dock when you disembark the ship.

In order to get enough photos for the package to make financial sense, you'll need to coordinate your plans so that you have time to stop for at least a few photos each evening. 

The evening photographers are the main draw to souvenir photos, and they're only around in the evening right around dinner time. Lines can sometimes be quite long for photos, especially on formal night.

While you could certainly take your own photos, many guests enjoy the fun backdrops you can only find at the photo stations. Moreover, the photographers have above average cameras, professional lighting, and do a good job of positioning everyone to produce great looking results.

One issue with the photo package is if you're traveling with a large group. While a photo package for a family staying in the same cabin makes sense, photo packages for groups spread across multiple rooms can make things quite pricey. So either your friends and family also buy a photo package, or only you come home with the printed memories.

If you want to get a photo package, always pre-purchase before the cruise to save money.  There's almost always a discount offered online, and it makes a difference.

You'll also want to plan your day around getting photos taken, so you can get the best value out of the cost. This sounds easy while you're still at home, but there's so much happening on a cruise, you'd be surprised how difficult it can be to muster the motivation to get everyone dressed and ready for photos every day.

When you see a cruise ship in person, you can't help but marvel at just how big these things are and how much bigger they are than you expected.

Icon of the Seas will be Royal Caribbean's next new cruise ship when she launches next year, and she's currently under construction at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Turku, Finland.

At 250,800 gross tons, Icon will be the biggest cruise ship in the world. There's an entire water park, spa, surf simulator, shopping mall, arcade, casino, gym, three theaters, seven pools, 20 dining venues, and 15 bars onboard. 

It will have 20 decks and enough room for nearly 10,000 passengers and crew members.

Cruise ships are the biggest passenger vessels that humans have ever built.  They can fit a small town's worth of people into a single vehicle, and they certainly have a look to them that is different from ocean liners of 100 years ago.

How did the biggest ships today end up looking like this?

Origins with ocean liners

Before we had the cruise ships of today, there were ocean liners. These vessels were about simply getting you from one place to another.

Ocean liners were built to offer comfortable accommodations across oceans at the highest speed possible.

Of course, crossing a vast ocean, such as the Atlantic, means sea conditions could be miserable if the weather did not cooperate.

Ocean liners were divided up into classes, with the first class areas looking a lot like a fancy hotel you might see on land.

The SS Normandie could cross the Atlantic in a record 4.14 days, and was beautifully designed. She had an Art Déco and Streamline Moderne design, and had first class amenities such as a dining room, first-class lounge, grill room, first-class swimming pool, theatre and winter garden.

Normandie's first-class dining hall was the largest room afloat. At 305 ft, it was longer than the Hall of Mirrors at the Palace of Versailles.

For first class passengers, the idea was to deliver a luxurious experience that you might find on land. First-class suites were given unique designs by select designers. The most luxurious accommodations were the Deauville and Trouville apartments, featuring dining rooms, baby grand pianos, multiple bedrooms, and private decks.

A vacation at sea

Once air travel became a popular method to cross oceans, ocean liners started to slowly become obsolete.

In the 1960s, it became very apparent that falling ocean liner numbers were not an anomaly and that compelled a change in the market.

By the late 1960s, some liners would head south to the warmer regions in the winter months to offer a different kind of trip. Instead of transportation, these ships offered a vacation.

The idea of a cruise ship started here, but the product would take some time to evolve into what we know today.

Ocean liners were not well acclimated to a leisure product. They were designed to go fast and consumed a lot of fuel. They sat low in the water, which kept them stable in rough seas, but meant they could only access ports with deep harbors. 

They had separate sections for first, second and third class, but that left a lot of passengers without access to amenities and limited everyone's freedom of movement throughout the ship.

And compared to the full time cruise ships of the time, ocean liners were huge. So they'd have to attract a lot of vacationers to be profitable.

In short, ocean liner's optimal design to make for a quick commute through rough waters hindered its ability to be attractive for a calm ocean at a slow pace.

Royal Caribbean started its operations up in 1969, and the company launched the first ship purpose-built for warm-water cruising. 

A milestone in the transition from ocean liner to cruise ship came in 1979 when Norwegian Caribbean Line bought the S.S. France with the intention of transforming it into a cruise ship.

The new owners spent $80 million to make the ship better at offering leisure cruises. 

The new ship would have larger and more numerous public spaces for the cruise-type recreations, had two propellors removed to reduce fuel consumption, and was given a complete set of bow/stern thrusters to make it easier to dock in port.

 A large lido deck was created at the very back of the ship. They built it wide enough to accommodate as many sunbathing passengers as possible.

The First Class Smoking Room was converted to an outdoor buffet restaurant, and the Patio Provençal on the Sun Deck was filled in with a top-side swimming pool.

Renamed as the S.S. Norway, the new ship started sailing in 1980 and it sailed to  just The Bahamas and St. Thomas, because the ship itself was marketed as the destination (rather than the places you could visit).

The cruise industry was transformed with the launch of the TV show, "The Love Boat" because it made the idea of cruising mainstream to the general public.

The Norway proved that size worked for cruise ships and it kicked off a race to build bigger and bigger ships that would change the look of a cruise ship.

In order to fit more cabins and amenities, everything above the deck became taller to fit all the amenities and that hid smokestacks that used to be an iconic feature on any ship.

To fit even more cabins and amenities, superstructures became wider, which shortened the front part of the ship (bow).

The bow didn't need to be long and pointed to cut through intense waves like on transatlantic liners. So builders rounded them out, giving even more square footage for amenities.

Big and bigger

With the model proven, now ships could grow to meet demand.

Over the next few decades, cruise ships would grow immensely. While the S.S. Norway had an internal volume of 70,000 gross tons, Royal Caribbean's cruise ships today are three times the size.

Icon of the Seas' gross tonnage is over 250,000 gross tons and she follows in many ways the tradition of the first ships.

When Royal Caribbean wanted to build its first mega ship, they had never built a cruise ship with an indoor café, a casino, a champagne bar or a health club; and having made the decision to include those options inside a suitably large hull, the scale of an inevitable new prototype emerged. Thus, Sovereign of the Seas, the world's largest purpose-built cruise ship at the time, was conceived.

The passenger count would be 2,673 total occupancy, more than double Song of America's capacity.

The launch of Sovereign of the Seas in 1988 introduced the era of the mega ship, and vessels became larger and larger. 

Royal Caribbean pushed the envelope of possibilities with the Voyager and Oasis Class ships in the decades to follow.

Is it worth spending extra on a nicer cruise cabin? Many people planning a cruise have to debate if it's worth it to book an inside cabin or a balcony cabin. The choice isn't always simple.

If you're on a tight budget, an inside cabin is certainly a good choice. These cabins come in at the lowest price, but still include access to the same amenities around the cruise ship as someone in a balcony cabin. However, will a room without any natural light or views be satisfactory?

Balcony cabins are probably the most popular type of cruise ship cabin because they offer more living space than interior rooms, and have a private veranda that guests can use all day and night. In many cases, these rooms are affordable for most budgets and not nearly as expensive as a suite. But you'll still spend considerably more for a balcony than an inside room, so is spending extra worth it?

If you're considering which type of accommodation to book, here's what you need to know to make the choice between a more expensive balcony cabin and a windowless inside room.

What are the differences between an inside and balcony cabin?

A balcony room will be larger, and that means more living space both inside the room and on the balcony itself.

In addition, a balcony room will have natural light, whereas inside rooms have no windows or doors to an outside view. Moreover, there's no fresh air in an inside cabin. The only illumination in an inside room is from the lights.

Most inside and balcony categories are designed for double occupancy, although you can find some variations that can accommodate up to four passengers. You'll find in either room two twin beds that can convert into one king-size bed, a vanity area with mirror and chair, and a private bathroom. There's usually a sofa or loveseat as well in the room. Rooms that can sleep more than two will likely have pullman beds that drop down from the wall or ceiling.

You can also expect to find a television, closet, minifridge, safe, and hair dryer in both rooms.

Cost

It should come as no surprise that interior staterooms are usually cheaper than balcony staterooms. The added room size, balcony, and view of a balcony come with a higher cost. The thing is, how much more expensive can vary.

The price gap between an interior stateroom and a balcony will vary from ship to ship and sailing to sailing. Sometimes it is measured in the thousands of dollars, and other times it is just a few hundred (or less).

When considering the price difference, one should look at the nightly price and what that gets you. Nearly everyone who books a Royal Caribbean cruise is on some sort of budget, so even if they want to book a balcony stateroom, it may not be financially viable. It is important to at least consider the options because there are many scenarios in which the difference in price is quite low.

Often inside staterooms are the least expensive option, which means guests can spend less money on their cruise vacation or have more money to spend during the cruise on things like drinks, shore excursions, specialty restaurants, or anything else for sale.

The difference in price will depend on factors like itinerary (balconies on Alaska itineraries are more expensive than Caribbean itineraries), time of year (peak vs low season), and ship class (newer ships have more balconies, so more supply).

Living space

Balcony staterooms are significantly larger than interior staterooms. As an example, on Allure of the Seas, a standard interior stateroom offers 150-172 square feet of space, whereas a Superior Ocean View Stateroom with Balcony comes in at 182 square feet, plus a 53 square foot balcony.

Room size is hard to quantify in a blog post, but every extra foot you have of living space does make a difference and it becomes noticeable quickly. It all adds up to more room for everyone to maneuver in and makes the entire experience less crowded.

Beyond the size difference, balcony staterooms have natural light, which makes the room feel less dark and gloomy. You also get fantastic views of the ocean and ports you are visiting.  

Even the most ardent interior stateroom fan will be hard-pressed to debate the virtues of an interior stateroom over a balcony. Personally, I think the best part of an interior room is the fact it can get pitch dark, which makes for excellent sleeping conditions.

Is it important to book a balcony on certain sailings?

While it's always nice to have a balcony cabin on any sailing, certain itineraries might lend themselves more to a balcony.

On a shorter cruise, an inside cabin is more than satisfactory given how limited your time onboard is and how likely it is you'll spend more time on the pool deck or around the ship enjoying everything there is to do. On these cruises, people end up just using their room for sleeping and changing clothes.

In fact, if you're the type of person who spends most of their time on a cruise out and about, not having access to your own veranda probably won't matter since you won't be in the room that much. Plus, there are plenty of places on public decks to take in the views, sunsets, and ocean breeze. The extra money you would have spent on a balcony could be reallocated towards a drink package or specialty restaurant.

However, if you're going to take a longer cruise with more sea days (and think you might spend time in your cabin during the cruise), then you'll want the view and extra space that comes with a balcony room. On Alaska or Mediterranean itineraries, it's great to be able to take in the scenic views without having to run upstairs to the pool deck.

In fact, cruises that take you on more scenic journeys where you can see glaciers or fjords are when spending extra for a balcony cabin is more important.

Having your own balcony is really nice when you can sit in a chair and read a book, have your room service delivered to the veranda, or enjoy sail away.

Should the number of people in your cabin determine which cabin I choose?

The more people you are sailing with, having enough space makes a difference in the room you book.

Both types of rooms are large enough to fit everyone, but on a longer sailing, being in an inside room could be more problematic. On short cruises, there's more than enough space for two people in an inside room considering how busy you'll be around the ship and on shore. On a longer cruise, a balcony could be more useful to have time away from the public decks.

Sharing a standard inside cabin for families can be an issue because of how small those rooms will feel. You may determine that a larger room that costs extra is worthwhile considering you'll also get additional beds and more space.

If you're cruising with kids, the extra space from a balcony room really pays off. It's great to have the outdoor balcony as a place to go to while kids are inside.

For someone cruising solo, the decision between a balcony or inside cabin comes down to cost. You'll pay double due to the single supplement fee regardless of which room you book (although some ships have cabins designed for solo cruisers). Depending on your budget, the extra cost could dictate which option you can afford.

Advantages of an inside cabin vs. a balcony cabin

People who prefer inside cabins usually talk about how much better the sleep can be in an inside cabin.

Sleeping in a pitch-black room of an interior stateroom means you won't be woken up by the sun. Many of us go on vacation to catch up on sleep and the notion of "quality of sleep" really means something when you avoid getting woken up by natural light entering the room. This is a good reminder to bring an alarm clock with you because you won't know what time it is when waking up.

Something else to think about is if you are prone to motion sickness. If the seas start getting rough, having access to fresh air and being able to see the horizon can help substantially in feeling better. While you could go up to a public deck and get the same thing, many people prefer the comfort of being in their own bed (especially if you want to sleep off the feeling a bit). In this case, spending extra on a balcony cabin may be worthwhile.

What are the best inside cabins?

In addition to the run-of-the-mill inside cabins that make up most of the cabins on a Royal Caribbean ship, here are a few variations worth considering.

A fun inside room upgrade is a virtual balcony room, which is an inside stateroom with an 80-inch LED television that provides live high-definition views from outside the cruise ship, right into your stateroom.

On Icon of the Seas, there is a new type of interior cabin you might be interested in.

The Interior Plus room is an inside room that doesn't compromise on space. It comes with 157 square feet of space, and that includes much more storage space.

What are the best balcony cabins?

Because balcony cabins are so popular, Royal Caribbean has quite a few balcony choices beyond a standard oceanview balcony.

There are balcony staterooms that do not face the ocean, but instead offer views of the Boardwalk and Central Park neighborhoods. These balcony staterooms have the same balcony experience as ocean-facing balconies, but often at a discounted price and perfect for people watching.

Another "secret" balcony choice among people who cruise a lot are the aft balconies.

Located on the back of the ship, these rooms lack the cookie-cutter design most balcony cabins have and tend to be elongated or oddly shaped, providing extra-large verandas. Aft balcony cabins are a great choice when you want more space inside and out.

Another option if you want a larger balcony space is a hump balcony, which is a fan-generated term for balcony rooms located on the ship's outward bulges. Cabins located where the ship begins to jut out often have extra-large balconies to accommodate the curve or angle of the ship’s superstructure.  To find these balcony rooms, look at the deck plans and you’ll see where these special balcony cabins are located. 

Conclusion

Depending on how you vacation, the choice of cabin may not matter much. Those who prioritize being out and about to enjoy their trip may prefer to save money on cruise ship extras rather than use that money for a nicer cabin. In that case, an inside cabin may be the way to go.

However, if you prefer to have the views that only a private balcony can provide (along with the seclusion), booking a balcony cabin will be a better choice.

In addition, if you have more than two people in your group, a balcony would be a better choice for the additional space it provides. A balcony will cost more, but if you're flexible with your travel dates and where you sail, there are deals to be found on balcony cabins that will be less expensive.

Planning a cruise? Start here:

• 8 cruise tips for first-time Royal Caribbean cruisers
• What’s included in your Royal Caribbean cruise fare
• 5 quick and easy tips for finding a great shore excursion on your own
• Food on a Royal Caribbean cruise
• Which is the best Royal Caribbean cruise ship?
• What is the best time to go on a Caribbean cruise?

Have you ever wondered what it is like for crew members to eat onboard a cruise ship?

Passengers have a seemingly endless number of dining options, especially on the newer ships. Whether you want more complimentary options or are hoping to splurge on specialty dinners, there is something that will satisfy everyone! 

In August 2023, Bryan James, who was a musician on Wonder of the Seas at the time, shared insight into what crew member life is like on social media while he performed on Wonder of the Seas. 

In the past, he has posted videos about secret crew-only areas, cabin tours, and more. Plus, he has talked about the crew buffet quite a bit!

Where and what do crew members eat?

According to James, every single crew member onboard Wonder of the Seas eats at the crew buffet, which is located below deck.

In one video, he showed what options were available for breakfast. 

"You, of course, have your staples like sausage and eggs," he says, "[but] It's an International crew so lots of rice in the mornings, as well as beans and tomatoes..."

He even showed pastries, pancakes, and a toppings bar! In other words, there's no shortage of options for crew members, either. 

In another TikTok, James showed a crêpe station at the buffet. He he explains it sometimes offers other made-to-order dishes like fried rice or pad thai. 

Regardless, quantity is not the most important thing, it helps that James claims the food is pretty good. There are even some dishes that he would say are amazing. In a separate video, he panned to bibimbap that he would rate 10 out of 10. 

All of the food is free, whether it is breakfast, lunch, dinner, or just dessert! Because of this, James says that it is really easy to overindulge or not think too much about the nutritional value of what he is eating.

What if they get hungry in between meals?

Crew members are able to pick up snacks and other day-to-day essentials at the crew store. Here, crew are able to buy toiletries, detergent, and a wide variety of snacks, ranging from chocolate to Takis, nuts, and more. 

James recalls a time in which this was important during the pandemic when they were not allowed off of the ship for eight months. 

"It was like Christmas morning every single time the store got restocked," he says. 

Crew dining on Icon of the Seas 

Royal Caribbean redesigned the crew buffet for Icon of the Seas, which debuted in January 2024 and surpassed Wonder as the world's largest cruise ship.

Related: Royal Caribbean is adding the best crew member cabins and areas on its next new cruise ship

"The crew can looking forward to in the crew Windjammer a lot of the same options that we serve to our guests," said Rebecca Burns, Senior Manager of Restaurant Operations for Royal Caribbean International, "That was something that was very important to us when developing the menus."

Like onboard older ships, the buffet will have both hot and cold food stations. She will, however, stand out in that she will be the first to feature live cooking stations in the crew buffet.

Plus, the crew will actually be able to look outside at the ocean through the porthole windows. 

Cruise ship cabins usually fall into four main categories, but some ships feature unique variations that set them apart from the standard options.

While most balcony and inside cabins share similar designs, certain ships offer exclusive cabin layouts tailored to fit the ship's specific design. These distinctive cabins have gained popularity among frequent cruisers due to their extra space, special perks, or unique benefits not typically found in standard rooms.

These extraordinary cabin layouts have become sort of a hidden gem, known only to insiders, and they tend to sell out quickly. It's akin to a "secret menu" at a restaurant that attracts those in the know.

Whether you're interested in booking one of these cabins for yourself or simply curious about their offerings, let's explore a few rare cruise ship cabins that stand out from the rest and are in high demand.

Sky Junior Suite

As soon as Royal Caribbean announced an upgraded Junior Suite with better suite perks, it got a lot of attention.

Located in the Suite Neighborhood on Icon of the Seas, this is the first Junior Suite that has Sky Class benefits.

Sky Junior Suite benefits include Suite Neighborhood access, all-day dining at two suites-only restaurants, free wifi, and concierge service.

Sky Junior Suites are only available on Icon Class cruise ships, and there are only 8 of them on each ship.

Ultimate Family Suite

Believe it or not, there is a huge amount of demand for one of Royal Caribbean's most expensive suites.

As an example, the Ultimate Family Townhouse on Icon of the Seas is going for an average price of $80,000 and it's completely sold out of every sailing in 2024.

This cabin is a 1,772-square-foot mega-suite that is three decks high and sleeps up to eight people. There's just one on Icon of the Seas.

It features an in-suite slide, movie-viewing room, karaoke machine, and a "backyard" with a ping pong table, outdoor seating, and a white picket fence leading directly to the Surfside area.

It's super expensive and super in demand.

Solo cabins

On some Royal Caribbean cruise ships, there are a few staterooms meant for someone traveling by themselves.

These studio staterooms are smaller than a traditional cabin, but they have just enough space for one person. Best yet, they do not get charged the single supplement fee.

The single supplement fee is traditionally charged to someone booking a cruise alone because cabin pricing is based on double occupancy.

When Royal Caribbean added these rooms, they designed them to be respective of the ship's business model. This means solo cruisers do not have to pay double the cost of what the cruise should be.

Depending on the ship, there could be as few as two studio rooms or as many as a dozen.

You can view a list of which ships have studio cabins and if you want one, book it early.

Hump balconies

Most balcony cabins across the fleet look the same, but you might be able to get a larger balcony if your room is positioned perfectly.

The so-called "hump" balcony cabins are the rooms on the outwards part of the curvy outline of the ship. If you look at a deck plan, you'll notice around mid-ship, the hull design jets outward. 

On many ships, balcony cabins in these areas are significantly larger than other balcony cabins. And usually, the price is the same.

You'll find hump balcony rooms with massive balconies on Radiance, Voyager, Freedom, Oasis, or Quantum Class ships, but look closely at the deck plan to see which balconies are larger.

Aft balconies

Similar to the aforementioned hump balcony rooms, some ships have rather large balcony rooms on the back of the ship.

There are aft balcony rooms on every Royal Caribbean ship, but some of the rear-facing cabins on Vision Class, Radiance Class, and Freedom Class cruise ships have very large balcony space.

This means you not only get an interesting vantage point to enjoy, but much more living space outdoors.

People who cruise a lot will book up the aft balcony cabins on an Alaska cruise for the viewing opportunities.

Four Bedroom Family Suite

If you have a big family, you might be eyeing one of the biggest suites available on any Royal Caribbean ship.

This is one of the best-kept secrets within the Royal Caribbean fleet, because you can get 4 separate bedrooms and 5 different sleeping areas. And it comes with the Star Class benefits, such as a Royal Genie.

The Four Bedroom Family Suite is available on Symphony, Harmony, and Liberty of the Seas, formerly known as the Presidential Suite on some ships. 

Surprisingly, some cruisers have found that off-season sailings, combined with certain sales and promotions, can make the Villa Suite pretty affordable. Some have found the sailings for as little as $1,000 per person, which is extremely affordable for a Star Class Royal Suite.

Extra large Central Park Balcony rooms

Ever since I learned about the handful of Central Park balcony rooms on Oasis Class ships, I always look to book these first.

There are two Central Park balcony rooms on each deck that have almost double-width balconies for the same cost as other Central Park balcony staterooms.

The cabin numbers are on decks 10, 11, and 12:

• 10229
• 10629
• 11229
• 11629
• 12229
• 12629

Why do these rooms have extra space? There's no actual cabin next door because the area is used by Royal Caribbean for something else.

Having that extra balcony space is a very nice benefit during your sailing.

Family cabins

If you have two or three kids with you, it could be a great idea to try out one of the family oceanview and family inside cabins available on select ships.

While these cabins don't have a balcony, they do offer a ton of living space.

First and foremost, these cabins offer a bedroom for the parents, and either an additional bedroom for the kids, or a nook with bunk beds for the kids.

There are also two bathrooms, which can be a godsend for parents sailing with older kids.

These cabins are typically located at the very front or very rear of the ship and offer a ton of living space, meant to be shared by families of 4 or more guests. 

Family rooms are cheaper than a suite, and in many cases, offer more space.

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I sailed onboard Royal Caribbean's Navigator of the Seas and booked an interior cabin, which was the cheapest available option. 

Measuring 139,999 gross registered tons, Navigator of the Seas was the largest cruise ship in the world when launched in 2002.  

In early 2019, she completed a $115 amplification, adding new dining venues, water slides, activities, and more that are round on newer ships in the fleet. 

Today, Navigator is the only Royal Caribbean ship deployed out of Los Angeles, operating 3-, 4-, and 7-night cruises to Baja California and the Mexican Riviera. 

In mid-June, I went on a 7-night cruise that visited Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlán, and Puerto Vallarta and paid a little over $2,280 for two people to stay in an interior stateroom, including port fees and gratuities. This broke down to $1,140 each, or about $162 per night, per person.

To save a little extra money, I chose a guarantee rate, so I was not assigned my cabin until closer to the sail date. 

Not only was this my first time on Navigator of the Seas, it was my first-ever cruise on a Voyager Class ship! Since this was going to be the oldest Royal Caribbean ship that I had ever sailed on, I was interested to see the condition of cabins that were over twenty-years-old!

The first thing I noticed upon walking into my stateroom was that there was a small loveseat that was not pushed up against one side of the wall. Instead, it stuck out in the already tight walkway of the 160 square foot cabin. I am glad that I had the beds separated, as I feel like the floor space would've been minimal if they were pushed together!

The length of the loveseat exceeded the length of the wall, meaning that even if we wanted to try to rearrange the layout, it would have been impossible. 

Overall, I appreciated the lighter decor compared to the dark greens found in most staterooms on Freedom Class ships. It made the room feel newer than cabins I have stayed in on both Liberty and Freedom of the Seas. 

Beside of each bed was a small nightstand that had a single drawer with additional storage space underneath. 

While there were no outlets beside of the beds, there were two reading lights. Had the beds been pushed together, the nightstands would've been directly underneath them, rather than on the center of the wall.  

The only two American outlets were located on the vanity. There was one additional European plug; however, neither my travel companion nor myself had an adapter. Thankfully, she brought a cruise line approved power strip, so we had access to multiple USB ports through a single outlet. 

Since the plugs are located far away from the bed, I recommend bringing a longer cord, so you are able to use the device from bed! 

The vanity area itself had plenty of storage, with nine drawers and two cabinets "hidden" behind the mirror. Above the television was the safe and another larger cabinet.

Stateroom mini-fridges are hit or miss in that some keep your beverages colder than others. While this was not the strongest mini-fridge I have had while on a cruise, it kept a couple bottles of water cool. 

The bathroom in my inside cabin was exactly what I expected. Although it was dated, it had everything that was necessary.

There were two cups attached to the backsplash, and between the shelves behind the mirror and the large shelf underneath the sink, there was enough space to hold all of our toiletries, makeup, and hair products.

As someone who cruisers frequently, I was not surprised by the size of the shower; however, it was my travel companions first-ever cruise, and she could not get over how small showers are on ships!

In terms of closet space, there were plenty of hangers for both of us to hang everything that needed to be hung. That, coupled with the shelving, meant there was enough space to unpack a week's worth of clothes. Had the safe been in the closet like on other ships, we would have had one less shelf to use. 

My stateroom (#8447) was located on Deck 8 in the forward of the ship. We loved the location because it was not a far walk from the elevator bank.

Plus, it was only three decks above the Royal Promenade, making our morning coffee commute relatively painless! Three decks above us was the pool deck, so we did not have to rely on elevators much at all. 

While I am still a fan of the larger Royal Caribbean ships, I wouldn't hesitate to book another cruise on a Voyager Class ship, especially if the ports of call were places I had never visited before, such as those in the Mexican Riviera! 

Unfortunately a cruise ship passenger fell overboard after allegedly climbing and sitting on a cruise ship railing meant to keep passengers safe.

The Strait Times reported on Monday a guest from Royal Caribbean's Spectrum of the Seas fell overboard. The ship's security footage captured the guest  sitting on the ship's railing at about 4 a.m. 

The incident occurred on the last day of a 4-night cruise from Singapore.

The report cited the person is a 64-year-old woman who was traveling with her husband.

The husbands says he woke up in the middle of the night and discovered his wife was not in their cruise cabin. 

After notifying the ship's security, video footage was checked to see that the woman was sitting on the ship's railing.

The outlet also reports the ship's overboard detection system alerted that something or someone had fallen overboard the ship.

Royal Caribbean issued a statement regarding the incident, "the ship and crew immediately reported the incident to local authorities and launched a search and rescue operation."

"The shipboard team is working with local authorities and our Care team is now offering assistance and support to the family."

The danger of being somewhere off limits

The report indicates the woman who fell overboard was a result of being on top of a safety railing, which is not permitted.

Deck railings on Royal Caribbean cruise ships are at least 42-inches high, which comply Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act (CVSSA) of 2010.

Royal Caribbean's guest-conduct policy says, "Sitting, standing, laying or climbing on, over or across any exterior or interior railings or other protective barriers, or tampering with ship's equipment, facilities or systems designed for guest safety is not permitted." 

Breaking the rules can result in being kicked off the ship at the next port.

In past similar incidents, guests have not only been kicked off the ship but also banned for life from the cruise line.

A woman that stood on her balcony railing in 2019 was banned for life.

How cruise ship overboards happen

Media reports of man overboard situations get shared a lot, but if you aren't familiar with cruises, you may not understand how it could happen.

A 2022 article from The Points Guy points out that cruise ship railings are sufficiently high enough on all decks and balconies to ensure someone does not slip and fall overboard.

"The only way you risk a fall is if you're standing on furniture to peer over the side or climbing somewhere you're not supposed to," the article's author states.

"It's not possible for you to trip over a door frame or slip on a wet deck and fall off of a vessel."

Not being somewhere you're not supposed to, or doing something you're not supposed to, is key to safety at sea, "Play by the rules and remain in control of your actions, and you don't have to worry about inadvertently falling overboard from a cruise ship."

What happens when someone is overboard?

As is the case with the incident this week on Spectrum of the Seas, the first thing the ship's crew will do is attempt to ascertain when the man overboard situation occurred.

The ship will also contact local authorities to help conduct a search.

In the United States, the Coast Guard is contact, but since this occurred in Asia, the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre Singapore was the agency Royal Caribbean contacted to assist in the search.

The ship and local authorities will attempt to search an area based on where the person likely hit the water, and where they are likely to be.

While there's a lot of advice shared on the internet about how to take a cruise, some of these tips are rooted in a different time and since then, the experience has evolved.

In many cases, cruise tips last a long time because they simply work. As an example, packing layers for an Alaska cruise remains to this day one of the best Alaska planning tips because it's as true today as it was a decade or two ago.

Other pieces of advice may have changed over years, and some tips just don't apply to today's generation of cruise ships. Thanks to bigger ships that have lessons learned applied to them, there are some cruise tips that aren't necessary anymore.

I wanted to point out a few cruise tips I see shared still that just don't apply to modern cruise ships, especially in Royal Caribbean's fleet.

You need a balcony cabin to be able to enjoy outdoor scenery

When I took my first Alaska cruise, everyone said I needed to book a balcony cabin because it was the best way to enjoy Alaska's beautiful landscape.

The rationale for booking a balcony stems from two arguments.

First, if you don't have access to your balcony, you'll be relegated to public areas that can get crowded, especially on glacier viewing days.

Second, the convenience of being able able to go out to your balcony is wonderful.

Read more: Best cabins to book for an Alaska cruise

A big reason why I don't think a balcony is as critical as it used to be is ships are bigger, and there's more public space than ever to enjoy the views.

Royal Caribbean has steadily put larger ships in Alaska, and I've found plenty of public space to enjoy the views of glaciers, wildlife, and the surroundings.

Moreover, being on a public deck is easier to go from one side of the ship to another if there's something else to see. In fact, I find the pool deck a much better viewing spot on glacier day because of how much easier it is to go from side to side.

In the Caribbean, while the water is certainly quite pretty, the need for a balcony to enjoy the view is significantly lessened.

I won't argue the merits of being able to enjoy your own balcony, because it is very nice to have a private balcony.  But don't book a balcony because you think you'll miss out on seeing the sights otherwise.

Don’t book a cabin near an elevator

No one wants a noisy cabin, so there's often tips about avoiding a cruise ship cabin near the elevator.

In my experience, this is not an issue on any Royal Caribbean ship I've been on to date.

The elevator lobbies on Royal Caribbean are sufficiently far away from the first rooms that I've never heard the "ding" of an elevator arriving, nor have I heard any elevator machine noise.

In fact, I prefer a cabin near an elevator for the convenience it provides.

Being near an elevator lobby makes it faster to get around the ship, especially on Royal Caribbean's biggest cruise ships.

Royal Caribbean only has elevators in the forward and middle parts of the ship. On Oasis Class or Quantum Class ships, this means cabins located towards the back of the ship will have a much longer walk.

While there will be more foot traffic near a cabin closer to an elevator than further away, I've rarely found this to be a problem in terms of being disturbed by it.

Basically, I think the convenience of an elevator is more important than the off chance someone is loud walking past your cabin.

Don't rely on cruise ship wifi because it's slow and expensive

Thanks to Royal Caribbean's partnership with Starlink, I think ship wifi is finally turning the corner to becoming far more useful than in the past.

While I'm not sure we will ever see cruise ship internet become free, I do think the cost is far more affordable on Royal Caribbean than some other lines.

I've read cruise tips that suggest skipping wifi all together as a means of saving money and to avoid frustrations, but I think Royal Caribbean's internet plans are far more useful than ever.

It's not perfect yet, and I do think wifi on Alaska cruises in particular are quite painful still due to the mountains interfering with the signal, but on a Caribbean or European cruise, buying a wifi package makes more sense than ever.

Being online doesn't mean you're working.  For a lot of people, being on the internet is a way to keep up with friends and family, and it's as a casual experience similar to reading a magazine or watching TV. 

Ask to have your mini bar emptied

One of the first cruise ship tips I remember reading and applying to my cabin was asking my stateroom attendant to empty the mini bar fridge.

The fridge is tiny, and emptying it means opening up more space to keep bottles of water or other snacks cooled. Plus, it avoids getting accidently charged for a mini bar item I didn't actually consume.

On a Royal Caribbean cruise, the mini bars are now automatically emptied and have been that way for a few years. Instead, there's a form you can fill out to have your stateroom attendant stock your fridge with items you want.

Other cruise lines may still stock their mini bar, but you don't have to worry about this on Royal Caribbean.

More cruise advice

• Cruise tips that make sense until you're on the ship
• 12 things I'd tell anyone new to cruise ship travel
• The 10 commandments of a great cruise ship vacation
• 5 Costly lessons learned on a cruise (and how to avoid them!)
• Our best 75 travel tips to make you the world's most savvy cruiser