Royal Caribbean Blog

It's only been two years since Royal Caribbean launched Odyssey of the Seas, yet many seem to forget about this new cruise ship.

Perhaps our perception is clouded by the massive hype around Icon of the Seas, which will be the newest ship debuting for Royal Caribbean in early 2024. This groundbreaking vessel is already making waves in the cruise industry for its unconventional design and unparalleled amenities onboard. 

Not to mention, Royal Caribbean welcomed the brand-new Wonder of the Seas in early 2022, not long after Odyssey of the Seas entered service. This only gave Odyssey of the Seas just a few short months to hold the title as the cruise line’s newest vessel. With delays due to the pandemic, these two cruise ships debuted uncharacteristically close together. 

Odyssey of the Seas is the second ship in the Quantum Ultra-class for Royal Caribbean. The ship is also the final vessel for the Quantum class, which was originally slotted to debut in 2020.

Regardless, you should not write-off Odyssey of the Seas when planning your next cruise. I just sailed on this Quantum Ultra-class ship back in October 2022 for a fabulous 12-night sailing to Israel - and it really blew me away. 

Here are 10 reasons why I think Odyssey of the Seas is absolutely worth your attention. 

Impressive Itineraries

One of the biggest advantages that Odyssey of the Seas has over other new vessels is the impressive itineraries offered. Because the ship spends her summers in Europe sailing from Rome, you can visit some incredibly historic and culture ports. 

Most of the time, if you want to sail on a more unique and port-intensive itinerary, you’ll be looking at sailing on a smaller and older vessel with Royal Caribbean. This is mostly due to size restrictions with Oasis-class ships when it comes to accessibility with ports.

On Odyssey of the Seas, you can sail on itineraries to Israel, Greece, Turkey, Italy, France, Portugal and Spain during the summer European season. 

You won’t find destinations like this onboard Royal Caribbean’s newest (and upcoming) ships, including Icon of the Seas, Utopia of the Seas and Wonder of the Seas. Each of these will be sailing to the Bahamas and Caribbean for the foreseeable future. 

In fact, the sole reason we booked our cruise on Odyssey of the Seas was because of the specific itinerary we wanted to sail on. My family and I had been wanting to do a Holy Land itinerary for years, and we were thrilled to see a newer vessel sailing this type of itinerary.

Odyssey of the Seas offered a 12-night itinerary with two overnights in Israel. This gave us three full days to explore the country, which is unusual for an itinerary. Being able to sail on an exciting itinerary onboard a brand-new ship was invaluable!

Quantum Ultra Class

As mentioned, Odyssey of the Seas is considered a Quantum Ultra Class cruise ship, which is a subset of the Quantum Class for Royal Caribbean. Odyssey of the Seas is the second ship in this class, along with Spectrum of the Seas. 

Unless you plan to sail in Asia on Spectrum of the Seas - which you absolutely should, I can personally say that it’s incredible - sailing on Odyssey of the Seas is your best bet to try out this amplified ship class. 

Quantum Ultra Class ships have a few differences compared to the original Quantum Class ships. The most notable difference is the size of the ships, as the Ultra Class ships are slightly longer and taller. 

Another difference is the addition of the SkyPad to the Sports Deck, which is a circular structure that hangs over the side of the ship with a glass floor walkway, featuring views of the ocean below. Although Royal Caribbean is removing the trampolines from SkyPads in the near future, the structure will remain as an activity venue and is still unique to Ultra Class ships. 

You can also find unified dining rooms on Quantum Ultra Class ships, which is an improved design choice from the earlier Quantum Class ships with separated dining rooms. 

Finally, Quantum Ultra Class ships feature an entire dining venue dedicated to the Teppanyaki restaurant. This is in addition to the specialty restaurant, Izumi Sushi, which has become one of the most popular dining venues for Royal Caribbean. This dedicated space will allow for more guests to enjoy the specialty Asian dining onboard. 

Stylish, functional staterooms

When we sailed on Odyssey of the Seas, I was surprisingly impressed with our stateroom’s design and functionality. Prior to this, I had mostly been sailing on Radiance and and Voyager-class ships, which are around 20 years old now. 

Odyssey of the Seas features Royal Suite classes onboard, which allows cruisers to choose between Star Class, Sky Class and Sea Class. These luxurious staterooms can provide lucrative amenities and spacious accommodations onboard and Royal Suites are only available on Royal Caribbean’s newer ships. 

During our Odyssey of the Seas cruise, my sister and I bid on a Junior Suite during the Royal Up process for just $300 each to upgrade from our inside cabin. We were shocked to see our minimal bid accepted, but we were anxious to try out an entry-level suite on one of Royal Caribbean’s newest ships.

Our stateroom was not just beautiful, but very thoughtfully designed. We had two separate bathroom spaces - one with a large bathtub with a walk-in shower and another space with a separate sink and toilet. This is certainly a modern approach to bathroom design and it was much appreciated when we were both getting ready in the morning. 

New dining options

Like most new cruise ships, you’ll experience the best of the best when it comes to dining onboard. With 17 different dining options onboard, including specialty and complementary choices, you’ll be experiencing some of the best cuisine Royal Caribbean has to offer.

One of the most exciting dining options that debuted on Odyssey of the Seas is the first Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen and Wine Bar. While Royal Caribbean has always had Giovanni’s Table, the new and reimagined Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen features a younger, fresher and more contemporary design. The cruise line also expanded to include hand-tossed pizzas on the menu. 

Onboard Odyssey of the Seas, you can also enjoy El Loco Fresh, which is one of Royal Caribbean’s newer complimentary dining options. This quick and casual eatery is located on the pool deck and includes Mexican offerings, such as tacos, quesadillas, burritos and nachos. 

After sailing on many older and smaller ships recently, having so many eateries available onboard truly enhanced our 12-night itinerary. Dining at Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen was a highlight for us, as the fresh Italian food tasted excellent. Additionally, I grabbed a quick lunch at El Loco Fresh on many days when we returned to the ship and wanted a little something to eat on the pool deck. 

Resort-style pool deck

Unlike other Quantum Class ships, the cruise line opted to remove the indoor pool feature on Odyssey of the Seas. Instead, you’ll find a resort-style pool approach with two outdoor pools. This is all in addition to the adults-only, enclosed Solarium onboard. 

Odyssey of the Seas' pool deck is vibrant and colorful with Caribbean-infused decor all around. The design of the pool deck is fantastic, as the layout breaks up crowding on the top deck with the two outdoor pools separated by a structure in the middle. 

You can also enjoy the hot tubs on the second level, with an infinity-style design, that overlook the lower pool deck. With additional hot tubs on the bottom pool deck, you shouldn’t have trouble finding a hot tub spot during your cruise. 

Another feature of the resort-style pool deck is the multilevel bar venue called Lime and Coconut. This Caribbean-themed bar offers its signature Lime and Coconut drink - one of my absolute favorites.

We enjoyed happy hour while watching the sunset at Lime and Coconut almost every evening, including the unforgettable sunset over Santorini.

Advanced technology

Odyssey of the Seas is one of the most technologically advanced cruise ships in Royal Caribbean’s fleet. You can find the technical innovation across the ship, including Odyssey of the Sea’s design, artwork, activities and overall guest experience. 

In fact, Odyssey of the Seas is one of two cruise ships in Royal Caribbean’s fleet that features the use of digital keys. This is of the perks that comes with being designated as a “smart ship” for the cruise line. This advancement allows guests to open their stateroom doors by opening the Royal Caribbean app and placing their phone against the key reader on the door. No longer will you need to fumble in your bag to find that SeaPass card that has slowly made its way to the bottom of your purse!

Virtual balconies are also available on Odyssey of the Seas if you are looking for an affordable, but unique, stateroom option. This floor-to-ceiling television screen provides live footage of the cruise ship’s outside views.  

Next-generation SeaPlex

Because Odyssey of the Seas is one of two Quantum Ultra Class ships, the popular SeaPlex space received a major facelift. The ship’s SeaPlex is the largest indoor and outdoor activity center that you’ll find at sea. This versatile space is where you can do things like ride bumper cars, play glow-in-the-dark laser tag or partake in a virtual reality game. 

When Odyssey of the Seas was built, Royal Caribbean reworked the design and layout of the SeaPlex. Pods were removed, along with the addition of large screens and new venues added. Inside the SeaPlex, you’ll find the conveniently located Playmaker’s Sports Bar. Odyssey of the Seas was the first ship to combine the two venues into one convenient area. 

Even better, you’ll find 56 television screens in this area to watch all of your favorite sporting events. 

Awe-inspiring entertainment

Sailing on a newer ship, you can also enjoy such a wide variety of entertainment, including fantastic production shows. Onboard Odyssey of the Seas, there are two main production shows for you to enjoy. These include The Book, located in Two70, and Showgirl: Past, Present and Future.

“The Book: Seven Chapters, One Adventure" is a visually-impressive, highly-technical production located in the outward aft-facing venue called Two70. This show follows the storyline of a librarian who explores different book chapters through music, song and dance. With many different elements and performing styles, The Book is seriously a one-of-a-kind show. I have a hard time describing it other than you simply need to see the show for yourself. 

Showgirl is a flashy production show in the main theater inspired by Las Vegas showgirls. This energetic show features dance styles from all eras of the showgirl-type dance. This upbeat production is a lot of fun to watch.

Another unique venue on Odyssey of the Seas is the Music Hall, where you can find live bands most evenings onboard. It’s probably the closest that you will find to a rock concert onboard a cruise ship!

Endless activities and attractions

Odyssey of the Seas is one of those cruise ships that simply has a little something for everyone when it comes to activities. While you can still enjoy the traditional cruise ship activities, like bingo and trivia, there are other onboard thrills and attractions that are notable. 

For example, the iFly skydiving simulator can be found on Odyssey of the Seas. Although it’s not complimentary, this is one of the few cruise ships in the world where you can partake in a skydiving simulator. 

Additionally, the North Star observation pod is uniquely found on Quantum Class ships. We chose to ride the North Star on our embarkation day while docked in Civitavecchia, Italy. This was my first time riding in the North Star and it was such a fun and unique experience. Rides are complimentary while the ship is docked in port while sea day rides require an additional cost. 

Finally, you can try Zone Zero onboard Odyssey of the Seas. This is an immersive virtual reality experience where you will walk around in the real world while seeing and experience a completely different virtual world. This is something completely unique that you can experience on Odyssey of the Seas. 

Other attractions you can find is the FlowRider surf simulator, rock climbing wall, bumper cars, SeaPlex activities and Splashaway Bay aqua park area for kids. 

Can you believe it's the last days of July already? It is the middle of Summer and there is a lot of Royal Caribbean news to catch up from during this week.

Royal Caribbean might be considering building a smaller cruise ship.

While they are best known for building the biggest cruise ships in the world, Royal Caribbean is building a new smaller cruise ship is "deeply in our consideration", according to the CEO of the cruise line.

President and CEO Michael Bayley told cruise fans there is a lot of conceptual work going on regarding a new class of smaller ships.

Royal Caribbean News

• Royal Caribbean Group smashes expectations with second quarter earnings
• Photo shows kids dangerously sitting on cruise ship balcony
• Bahamas raises cruise ship passenger taxes in 2024
• Royal Caribbean is doing better now than it ever has in its history, even after a two year shutdown
• Royal Caribbean will host next Presidents Cruise on Oasis of the Seas in summer 2024
• 10 things you should know before cruising onboard Freedom of the Seas
• I cruised on the oldest and newest cruise ships to Alaska: here’s how they compare
• Best fall cruises to try
• Best time to cruise to the Bahamas
• New Celebrity cruise ship will have whiskey tasting and plant-based multi-course dinner

New RCB Video: 5 worst things about cruising with Royal Caribbean: should it stop you from booking?

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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 worst things about cruising with Royal Caribbean: should it stop you from booking? — Plus 1 to break — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 506th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available, with advice on when to buy those cruise add-ons.

From the drink package to wifi, when is the best time to pre-purchase your cruise add-ons? Matt shares his opinion on when you can get the best price for these extras.

Please feel free to subscribe via iTunes or RSS, and head over to rate and review the podcast on iTunes if you can! We’d appreciate it.

Royal Caribbean wants to raise cruise fares even higher

Even though the price of a cruise is probably higher today than in 2019, Royal Caribbean would love to see prices go even higher.

In comparing the "value gap" between a cruise vacation and land vacation, Royal Caribbean International's CEO Jason Liberty thinks there's more room to narrow that gap.

He wants the value of a land-based vacation and cruise vacation to be much closer.

Icon of the Seas will have a radically different Royal Promenade

When Icon of the Seas launches next year, expect to find a different looking Royal Promenade.

At 362 feet long, the Royal Promenade onboard Icon of the seas is longer than a football field, and for the first time, it brings ocean views into the ship's main thoroughfare through floor-to-ceiling windows.

You'll also find The Pearl on the Promenade, which is a three-deck high sphere built with 3,000 kinetic tiles. 

Could Royal Caribbean be looking to restart cruise ship upgrades again in 2024?

Is the Royal Amplified program on its way back?

Nothing has been officially announced, but cruise line executives hinted at upgrades for ships that did not get upgrades during the shutdown of 2020 and 2021.

Food truck concept coming to Utopia of the Seas

The pool deck food game is about to change with a new food truck coming to Utopia of the Seas.

Known as The Spare Tire, guests will find a food truck-style eatery near the main pools.

While we don't have a menu, expect "handheld favorites" to be served up.

Anthem of the Seas Guide & Review

Anthem of the Seas is a popular Royal Caribbean cruise ship because of her innovations and fun itineraries.

If you have a cruise booked on Anthem, here's a full rundown of what to expect onboard!

Why Wonder of the Seas might the perfect cruise ship for a first timer

Know someone that has resisted trying a cruise ship for one reason or another? Wonder of the Seas might be the perfect first cruise ship for them!

Whether they think they'll be bored, overwhelmed, or stuck at sea, Royal Caribbean designed Wonder of the Seas to address all those concerns.

With a gross registered tonnage of 156,271 and maximum passenger capacity of 4,515, Freedom of the Seas is not a small ship by any means. In fact, when launched in 2006, she was the largest cruise ship in the world and the first to feature the FlowRider surf simulator!

Today, she is surpassed by Oasis and (in 2024) Icon Class ships. While you will not find all the bells and whistles on Freedom that you do onboard newer ships, there is still a lot to appreciate about this beloved vessel. 

Here are 10 things you should know before cruising onboard Freedom of the Seas.

Related: What it's like to cruise on Royal Caribbean's Freedom of the Seas in 2023

Utilize the Cruise Planner ahead of time to take advantage of pre-cruise discounts 

Once you have placed your deposit, you will gain access to Royal Caribbean's Cruise Planner site. This is your go-to place to see everything that is available onboard Freedom of the Seas. 

Here, you will have the option to book shore excursions, drink packages, specialty restaurants, internet packages and more.

You can also decide whether you want to book any for-a-fee activities, such as a FlowRider surf lesson, sushi making class, or All Access Ship Tour. 

By purchasing items and packages in advance, you can take advantage of Royal Caribbean's pre-cruise sales. While the actual discount varies, it is not uncommon to see drink packages marked down anywhere from 20% to 40%. 

If you want until you get on the ship, you will be stuck paying the onboard pricing for everything! 

She underwent a $116 million dollar renovation in 2019, meaning there is more to see and do onboard than before

Freedom of the Seas underwent an extreme bow to stern makeover in 2019. New features, such as the Perfect Storm water slide duo, updated Caribbean resort-style pool deck with The Lime & Coconut Bar, Giovanni's Italian Kitchen, and dedicated spaces for kids and teens, were added. 

Other restaurant additions include the complimentary poolside El Loco Fresh, as well as specialty Izumi Hibachi and Sushi and Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade. 

Younger children will love the Splashaway Bay aqua park, while teens will appreciate Social033, a teens-only hangout with private outdoor deck. 

Many public areas got a fresh too, including the adults-only Solarium and Boleros.

You will not find any Broadway-style shows on Freedom of the Seas

While Royal Caribbean is known for their entertainment, not all cruise ships have the advertised Broadway-style musicals or water shows with high drivers, aerialists, and dancers. 

From the ice skating show called FreedomIce.com to two Royal Caribbean original productions, headlining acts, and numerous game shows, there's no lack of entertainment options onboard Freedom of the Seas.

The first original production is called Marquee and showcases a collection of Broadway songs with sets that try to replicate the specific show. The second, Once Upon a Time, highlights different fairytales including Cinderella, Rapunzel, Pinocchio, Sleeping Beauty, and Little Red Riding Hood. 

Adults can (and should) relax in the cantilevered hot tubs

Freedom of the Seas was the first cruise ship to add cantilevered hot tubs onboard. Now, you can find them on other Freedom Class ships, as well as Oasis Class ships, too. 

In the Solarium, you will find two hot tubs that jet out over the side of the ship. One is located on the port side, while the other is across the ship on the starboard side. 

They are enclosed with glass panels, making it so that you are able to look out at the surroundings while relaxing in the whirlpool. 

Plan on bringing a portable charger or cruise line approved power strip

Like most older cruise ships, Freedom of the Seas' staterooms are not equipped with endless outlets. You will only find two American plugs in standard staterooms located near the desk, meaning that there are no charging options if you want to use your device in bed. 

There is a third European outlet if you have a converter handy. Even so, you may want to be able to charge multiple devices at once, whether that be phones, tablets, or smart watches.

If you have more than two people staying in one room, you will definitely want to ensure that you have a way for everyone to be able to at least charge their phones at the same time. 

Related: I paid $1500 for an inside cabin on the Freedom of the Seas: take a look inside my tiny windowless room

There is a sun deck at the aft of the ship behind the FlowRider that offers great wake views 

I did not venture up to the FlowRider until the final afternoon of my 4-day cruise. To my surprise, I found there to be an empty sun deck at the back of the ship right behind the surf simulator! Sure, the noise from the sports deck was noticeable, but it was not much different than that found at the pool deck. 

If you are unable to find chairs near the pool or simply want to soak in better ocean views with fewer people around while still sitting in the sun, head to the aft of Deck 13. There, you will find a staircase leading down to this area! 

Take time to familiarize yourself with the deck plans ahead of time, especially for shorter sailings

On a similar note, you should always explore the ship as early as possible. You never know what hidden areas you will come across. 

Prior to boarding the ship, take some time to look over the deck plan. Do you know where your cabin is located in proximity to the Windjammer? What about the Royal Promenade and Adventure Ocean? 

When check-in opens, you might want to consider booking an earlier arrival time, as this will give you more time on embarkation day to wander around the ship before the sail away festivities begin. 

Related: 15 ways to speed up the embarkation process and board your cruise ship faster

Through July 2024, you do not have much variety in itineraries

From now until July 2024, Freedom of the Seas is mostly making 3- and 4-night Bahamas cruises to Nassau and Perfect Day at CocoCay. 

In December, there is a single 5-night sailing to Mexico in CocoCay, while Royal Caribbean is also offering one 4-night cruise to Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic in April 2024. 

Starting next summer, she will begin making 6- to 8-night cruises to the Eastern, Western, and Southern Caribbean. You will be able to visit anywhere from Castries, St. Lucia and Basseterre, St. Kitts & Nevis to Grand Cayman and Falmouth, Jamaica. 

If you are sailing soon, you should expect to find a brand-new port area in Nassau 

In May 2023, Nassau opened the first phase of their upgrade cruise port. This cost $300 million and meant not only the addition of new berths to accommodate more ships, but a new port area that no longer immediately exits into the hustle and bustle of Nassau. 

Instead, you can enjoy a leisurely walk through the plaza and browse the local stores, wait in line for a cab to Atlantis, Cable Beach, and Baha Mar at the decided taxi stand, or grab something to drink. There is even a gelato shop!

Related: Nassau, Bahamas opened the first phase of its cruise port revamp. Here's what's new and different

Onboard, you will find five complimentary dining options, ranging from the three-story Main Dining Room to El Loco Fresh for poolside tacos

Food is a major component of any cruise vacation. Some guests like to get their base fare worth and only dine at complimentary venues, while others prefer to splurge on specialty dining. Regardless of your preference, there are plenty of dining options to choose from.

In addition to room service, which is complimentary if you order continental breakfast during certain hours, you have the Main Dining Room, Sorrento's, Windjammer, Café Promenade, and El Loco Fresh.

None of these venues cost you anything extra, and you can eat as much from them as you'd like! 

Specialty restaurants include Izumi Hibachi and Sushi, Chops Grille, Giovanni's Italian Kitchen, Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade, Chef's Table, and Johnny Rockets. 

Despite being shutdown for almost two years, Royal Caribbean is doing so well in 2023 that it's already outpacing its previous high water marks.

Royal Caribbean Group reported incredible results for the second quarter 2023 that demonstrate a common theme: demand for cruises is higher than ever, and people are willing to pay more for it.

The company's resurgence is remarkable considering the low point it found itself in during the global health crisis between 2020 and 2021.

Royal Caribbean had already started the year off with good numbers, but the second quarter really saw the resurgence come full circle.

More people cruising

Royal Caribbean Group CEO started off the earnings call with some incredible numbers, highlighting how strong demand is for cruises.

The company saw positive indicators in May, and the second quarter proved to be even more fruitful than anticipated.

"During the second quarter, we delivered a record 1.9 million memorable vacations at exceptional guest satisfaction scores. We achieved record yields that were 12.9% higher than 2019."

Yields refers to revenue coming in, and that means people paid more for their cruises than in 2019.

2019 is an important statistic to Royal Caribbean, because it represents the previous high water mark for demand and profits.

Perhaps the most important segment of cruisers Royal Caribbean wants to see grow are people that have never cruised before, and they did just that.

"In the second quarter, the percent of guests who were either new to brand or new to cruise surpassed 2019 levels by a wide margin."

Getting people that have never cruised before is important because it's how to grow the customer base since the vast majority of the public has never been on a cruise before.

Not only are they attracting new cruisers, these new cruisers are coming back for more.

"And we have seen post-cruise repeat booking rates nearly double 2019 levels," Mr. Liberty said to illustrate that they are booking more cruises after trying their first cruise.

The higher demand coupled with higher prices than in 2019 is at the heart of why Royal Caribbean wants to continue to raise cruise prices.

Europe is back

Perhaps a surprising fact is how strong demand was for European cruises in the second quarter.

"While the Caribbean remains the standout performer this year, we were particularly pleased with the strength and quality of close in demand for European itineraries," Mr. Liberty said near the beginning of the call.

Essentially, more European consumers looking to book a summer cruise vacation came to Royal Caribbean.

Royal Caribbean Group Chief Financial Officer, Naftali Holtz, talked about the increase in revenue from Europe, "The better than expected performance has mostly been driven by our European customers, which underscores our nimble and global sourcing model."

Later in the call, Mr. Liberty said Europeans were ready again to travel and spend, "their willingness to spend was very competitive with the North American consumer."

"We expected Europe to be a little bit lighter versus '19 in terms of load factor. And it came roaring back."

"And that's a story of one of the North American consumer just feeling that they needed to for certainly certainly vacation in Europe. But also the European consumer was very much part of that story."

Doing better than ever

If you listen to just what Royal Caribbean Group's CFO had to say about the quarter, it pretty much sums up the demand environment.

The company delivered 17% higher adjusted earnings than they expected to with their prediction in May. Capacity overall was at 105% and net yields up 12.9% comparted to 2019 numbers.

In fact, booking volumes since the last earnings call significantly exceeded 2019 for both North American and European consumers.

So what drove this incredibly high demand?

Mr. Holtz said, "half of the yield growth was driven by new hardware and half driven by a significant increase in rates on like for like hardware, despite being a bit behind on load factors."

This translates to new cruise ships brought in more revenue, and there were higher prices on smaller, older cruise ships.

In addition to more revenue, cost cutting seemed to have an effect too.

"Our operational and commercial teams are doing an exceptional job, driving strong top line growth and maintaining focus on operating expenses to expand margins."

Caribbean and European sailings saw strong demand, and Alaska cruise capacity is up about 60% versus 2019.

Great cruise ships + Great destinations

Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley talked about the company's new strategy to attract new cruisers by positioning impressive cruise ships on itineraries with well-received ports.

"We've been very thoughtful...about the strategy of putting really outstanding hardware combined with excellent destination into the short product market because it truly is the on ramp for new to cruise and also first to brand."

Read more: Royal Caribbean has a plan to dominate short cruises with a new ship and private destinations

"Utopia will be the first Oasis-class ship that will be entirely focused on short cruises in the Caribbean, supporting our strategy of competing with land-based vacation alternatives and driving new-to-cruise customers into our vacation ecosystem as we seek to close the value gap,” Liberty said.

"Demand and pricing for Utopia has far exceeded our expectations."

Demand for CocoCay

Royal Caribbean's private island in the Bahamas is certainly doing its part to bring in cruisers.

Mr. Bayley talked about how much customers are clamoring for sailings that visit Perfect Day at CocoCay.

"Perfect Day is that, it really is perfect, and it is driving a lot of the demand and people are booking the ships and the itineraries that sail to Perfect Day."

"We see the repeat rates going back to Perfect Day accelerating."

He also mentioned the plan is to open the new adults-only beach area at the end of December of this year, "that'll come online at the literally in December of this year."

Royal Caribbean's cruise prices are higher today than in 2019, and the company wants to raise those prices even more.

Historically, cruise vacations have, in addition to their convenience, been popular because of their value. For one price, you get unlimited food, accommodations, entertainment, and transportation between destinations across the world. 

This price gap between the cost of a cruise vacation and a land vacation grew significantly during the cruise industry shutdown. Since then, cruise fare prices on Royal Caribbean have gone up at the same time demand was also rising.

In the second quarter of 2023, the percentage of guests on Royal Caribbean who were new to the brand or new to cruising in general surpassed 2019 levels. Additionally, those considering future cruises is near an all-time high.

Over the last couple of months, airfare and hotel prices have decreased; the price of a Royal Caribbean cruise, however, has increased.  

Royal Caribbean International's CEO Jason Liberty spoke with CNBC's Seema Mody about the price gap between cruise and land vacations after their Q2 earnings call on July 27. 

"In the earlier part of this year, that value gap was somewhere around 45%. And today, we've closed that value gap by about ten percentage points, so we still think there's a lot of runway that is still there to close," he said. 

This means that the value of a land-based vacation and cruise vacation are becoming more comparable, while you'll still get more bang for your buck on a Royal Caribbean cruise. 

The comment surprised one of the panelists on the CNBC show, Tyler Mathisen, who asked Mr. Liberty doesn't he want to maintain a value gap in order to attract customers and keep demand up.

Mr. Liberty responded, "We always want to be as competitive as we possibly can be, but of course, we want that gap to be much smaller."

"We were able to close that gap to about 10-15 points pre-covid, we think there's a lot of opportunity for us to close that gap even further."

Royal Caribbean is known for having dynamic pricing for their cruise add-ons, such as drink packages. This model extends to their cruise fares, too. They change their prices back and forth based on the demand. As they have continued to increase the cost of their cruise fares this year, they have seen that their customers continue to book into 2024. 

In the earnings call with investors on Thursday, he noted that it's clear that Royal Caribbean guests continue to spend more on their overall vacation experience. 

Additionally, customers continue to book cruise add-ons in advance through their online Cruise Planner, which is essentially passengers' go-to place to see what is available on their upcoming cruise.

You can make dining reservations, look at available onboard activities, and even pre-book drink and internet packages, as well as shore excursions. 

"We know that if we can get them to spend a dollar before they get on the ship," Liberty remarked, "we'll get them to spend somewhere around seventy cents on the dollar more when they get on and enjoy their vacation experience."

Royal Caribbean always wants to be as competitive as they can; however, they are striving to really close to value gap between the cost of a cruise and land-based vacation, and they believe that there is room to close it even more than they already have this year. 

"...cruising remains an exceptional value proposition," Liberty said during the Q2 earnings call, "allowing us to outperform broader leisure travel as we seek to further close the gap to land based vacations, drive better revenue and welcome even more happy customers." 

If your cruise is headed to The Bahamas next year, you'll probably need to pay a bit more for your vacation.

Royal Caribbean informed passengers booked on cruises to The Bahamas that due to a change in Bahamian taxes imposed on cruise passengers, the cost will go up.

The Bahamian government has implemented a change to their departure tax amounts for all cruise guests visiting the Bahamas on or after January 1, 2024.  As a result, Royal Caribbean will be updating reservations with the new amount.

An email was sent with the update, indicating the exact amount you'll be charged extra will depend on a variety of factors:

"Your adjusted taxes and fees will reflect on your booking before your final payment due date. Your tax amount may have changed from $1 to $14, depending on the itinerary you booked, and your travel partner has been notified of this update. Bookings are being updated in phases based on the sailing date."

What do you have to do?

If you have a 2024 cruise that visits The Bahamas, there's nothing to do right now.

Royal Caribbean's email is simply to inform passengers of what to expect if the price for final payment goes up a few dollars.

Sizeable impact to Royal Caribbean cruises

It's likely a lot of cruises will see a change in the taxes given how often Royal Caribbean visits The Bahamas.

Nassau has always been a traditional port stop for many cruises, and the development of Perfect Day at CocoCay has driven many more millions of passengers in recent years.

In fact, more than half of the cruise line's Caribbean sailings visit Perfect Day at CocoCay.

Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley told Wall Street earlier this year that CocoCay receives approximately 11,000 cruise passengers per day.  Once the new adults-only beach opens, they will be able to add another 2,500, 3,000 guests per day.

Impacting Celebrity Cruises too

Sister brand Celebrity Cruises will also feel the pinch with the new tax.

For the first time, Celebrity Cruises ships will call at Perfect Day at CocoCay in 2024. Celebrity Beyond and Celebrity Reflection have visits to Royal Caribbean's private island from April through November 2024.

Both ships will sail from Fort Lauderdale, with Beyond's visits to CocoCay will be included across 40 Caribbean itineraries. Reflection will begin sailing short weekend cruises.

New Nassau port upgrade

While no one likes to pay more in taxes, at least there's some comfort in the fact The Bahamas is taking its port experience more seriously.

Nassau spent $300 million upgrading their cruise port, with the first phase of this redevelopment opened to the public on May 27, 2023. 

The revamp includes a new terminal building, Junkanoo museum, 3,500-person amphitheater, living coral exhibit plus more entertainment, food, beverage and retail space. Once complete, the port’s capacity will jump to more than 33,000 passengers per day. It has been around 20,000 a day.

Read more: Nassau, Bahamas opened the first phase of its cruise port revamp. Here's what's new and different

Last year the island had 2 million cruisers visit it, and Mr. Bayley expects to send around 2.5 million passengers to CocoCay this year.

The port is now able to accommodate up to six cruise ships per day, including three Oasis or Icon Class ships. 

Nassau set a record on February 27 when 28,554 passengers visited in one day.

The upgraded port is expected to bring in 4 million passengers by the end of 2023 and 4.5 million in 2024.

Onboard Royal Caribbean's newest ship, you will find a larger, wider, longer, and higher Royal Promenade.

The second you step foot on Icon of the Seas, you will be greeted by sweeping ocean views and the first-ever multi-sensory super structure called "The Pearl." 

"The Royal Promenade is a classic with Royal Caribbean and has evolved significantly. It's an amazing hub for the entire community onboard the ship," said Michael Bayley, President and CEO of Royal Caribbean."

"...it always has been this place where people meet and have fun together, and that is certainly true for Icon." 

At 362 feet long, the Royal Promenade onboard Icon of the seas is longer than a football field, and for the first time, it brings ocean views into the ship's main thoroughfare through floor-to-ceiling windows and the 4100 Lobby Bar the connects the neighborhood to the outdoors. 

Related: The Ultimate Icon of the Seas Dining & Lounges Guide

"The number of the hull on every ship is unique to that ship," explained Linken D'Souza, Vice President of Food & Beverage for Royal Caribbean International. 

"On Icon of the Seas that number was 4100, and so the 4100 Lobby Bar is a tribute to all of the hardworking folks who built this amazing and iconic ship." 

During the day, you'll find delicious tropical juice-based drinks. In the evening, the menu will feature pre-prohibition cocktails in the evening, focusing on classics like Old Fashioneds and Manhattans. 

In order to fully open up the Royal Promenade, though, Royal Caribbean had to navigate numerous structural changes and come up a creative solution: The Pearl. This three-deck high sphere is a multi-sensory experience built with 3,000 kinetic tiles. 

"When guests walk onboard, they will see a massive structure that we call 'The Pearl.' They may not know what it is, but the scale of it alone is enough to take your breath away," remarked Jennifer Goswami, Director or Product Development for Royal Caribbean International.  

On Deck 6 behind The Pearl, guests will find the Pearl Cafe in place of Cafe Promenade. In addition to the familiar grab-and-go bites, the Pearl Cafe will serve up freshly toasted croissants, hot chocolate croissants, croissant sandwiches, sweets, and other specialty desserts. 

While the Royal Promenade will be full of firsts and unlike any other Promenade it in the fleet, it will be home to many fan-favorites, too, such as Giovanni's Italian Kitchen and Wine Bar.

Usually, specialty restaurants are in quieter areas onboard the ship. On Oasis Class vessels, for instance, you could find the majority of them in the Central Park neighborhood. Placing this venue in the Royal Promenade will allow guest to be in the middle of the action. If you want a quieter experience, there will be intimate seating in the back of the restaurant. 

Related: Royal Caribbean will offer swanky supper club and food hall on new Icon of the Seas when it launches

There will also be Sorrento's that will feature antipasti on a rotational basis and beer on draft. 

In addition to the restaurants, this neighborhood will be a lively hotspot thanks to the other bars and lounges that can be found here, including Boleros and Schooner Bar.

To enhance the overall experience, both of these Royal Caribbean classics will have a more open layout, so the music and energy are able to spill into the Royal Promenade. 

Similarly, Point and Feather, the onboard pub, will pull the bar into the center space of the neighborhood. 

Another first for the cruise line will be the Dueling Pianos bar on Deck 6. This is not your average piano bar. Each night, two pianists will take requests and go key-to-key in a friendly competition. 

Directly below Dueling Pianos is Spotlight Karaoke, which debuted on Oasis of the Seas after an extensive $165 million revitalization in 2019. Onboard Icon, though, you will find the best karaoke stage in the fleet! Plus, there will be private rooms for those who want a more intimate karaoke experience. 

Since Icon is meant to be the ultimate family vacation, it makes sense that Adventure Ocean can be accessed from the Royal Promenade, too.

Located in the heart of the ship, there are dedicated venues for children and teens, such as the brand-new Social 020, which offers teens an escape from parents that features state-of-the-art video game systems and movie room. 

For younger guests between the ages of 6-months and 12-years-old, Royal Caribbean is bringing back (and upgrading) their Adventure Ocean facilities.

Here, they will find age-appropriate rooms and activities, including a workshop that incorporates arts, crafts, and fun science experiences. There will even be an Adventure Ocean theater! 

In terms of entertainment, the Royal Promenade will be home to the largest ice arena at sea -- Absolute Zero -- with over 2,850 square feet of ice. It is different from other ice rinks on older Royal Caribbean ships, too, as it has been redesigned in an oval space that has two hidden entrances, allowing performers to enter the rink at high speeds and get right into the action! 

When not being used for shows, guests will have the opportunity to go skating. It can also be converted into a laser tag arena. 

Located in the forward of the ship is the Royal Theater. All of their past developments with technologies have been integrated into this space, allowing for the ultimate storytelling experiences at sea. 

"The Royal Promenade has been a staple of ours since the Voyager Class ships," said Jason Liberty, President & CEO of Royal Caribbean Group.

"Watching it grow not only in size but experience through the Freedom Class, Oasis Class, and now onto Icon Class is really remarkable. So you're going to see a larger, wider, longer, higher Promenade that's going to have a lot more experiences."

How much longer until Icon of the Seas sets sail?

In June, Icon of the Seas successfully completed her first round of sea trials.

During these tests, she traveled hundreds of miles, during which the main engines, hull, brake systems, steering, noise, and vibration levels were all tested. 

Related: 11 reasons Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas will change the cruise industry

Between preparing for the trials and the tests themselves, there were over 2,000 specialists who put in more than 350 hours of work in helping Icon of the Seas pass this important milestone. 

There's around round of sea trials scheduled for later in 2023 to make sure that Icon of the Seas is in tip-top shape before she is delivered to Royal Caribbean prior to her January 27, 2024 maiden voyage. 

After having to pause its cruise ship upgrade program in 2020, Royal Caribbean hinted they're re-thinking those improvements.

In 2018, the Royal Amplified program was announced to bring new enhancements to the Oasis, Freedom and Voyager Class cruise ships.

Many cruise ships received upgrades, but a number of vessels did not because the cruise industry shutdown in 2020 and the company had to shore up its finances by cutting costs.

The company hasn't announced a resumption of those upgrades, but executives tip-toed around the idea they might spend more on ship upgrades on vessels that missed their upgrades in 2020 and 2021.

During Royal Caribbean Group's second quarter earnings call with investors, Chief Financial Officer Naftali Holtz talked about an increase in spend on dry docks next year as it relates to costs.

"We are now in the planning process obviously for '24 and we're considering all the the dry docks that we we need to do next year. And that could be more elevated than than than this year, which obviously will will impact some of the costs and a little bit on the yield."

That alone wasn't much of a hint, but then Royal Caribbean Group CEO Jason Liberty jumped in with an additional comment that seemed to point in the direction of more upgrades.

"The elevation on the dry dock is just a reflection of ships that came out of Covid that had missed those windows. And so it will be a little bit more elevated in 2024."

Mr. Liberty did not refer to the Royal Amplified program by name, but he certainly talked about the ships that missed their opportunity to get enhancements. This would likely refer to possibly four ships:

• Explorer of the Seas
• Allure of the Seas 
• Liberty of the Seas
• Adventure of the Seas

Allure of the Seas was scheduled to undergo a 58-day, $165 million transformation that would have added new features, including the Ultimate Abyss, the tallest slide at sea; The Perfect Storm trio of waterslides, completely redesigned Adventure Ocean kids and teens spaces, the first Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar, and Music Hall.

Similarly, Explorer of the Seas was planning to get a $110 million amplification that would have added a number of changes from bow to stern.

Specific upgrades were never announced for Liberty or Adventure.

The important takeaway for guests is Royal Caribbean may finally be reconsidering finishing those upgrades.

Why amplified cruise ships matter

In comparing cruise ships that were amplified versus those that were not, there is a noticeable experience difference.

The purpose of upgrading these ships was to add back in features and amenities newer cruise ships already had so that the guest experience was more consistent and enjoyable across the fleet.

Amplified ships drove up revenue as a result of higher guest satisfaction with the changes.

In 2019, former Royal Caribbean Group CEO Richard Fain talked about how lucrative the changes were, "Our vessel modernization program is driving strong results. These upgrades are expensive, but our guests love them and reward us accordingly."

What Royal Caribbean changed on other ships

It remains to be seen what changes ships going into drydock in 2024 would get, but other ships that were upgraded ended up with quite a number of features.

Royal Caribbean did not apply the same changes to all the ships that were upgraded between 2018 and 2020. It seemed the cruise line took an opportunity with each ship to look at what features and changes would most benefit that particular vessel.

Read more: What was added to each Royal Caribbean ship during its Royal Amplified refurbishment

The program focused on three key areas:

• Pool deck & attractions
• Bars & nightlife
• Dining

Depending on the ship, there could be new specialty dining added, revamp of the pool deck, new water slides, or completely new retail venues added.

Water slides were one feature every ship received as part of its upgrades. Royal Caribbean adopted water slides as a must-have feature on its ships in recent years. In fact, they managed to add water slides to Explorer of the Seas as part of a regularly scheduled dry dock earlier this year.

Royal Caribbean Group reported its second quarter earnings on Thursday and reported stronger than expected earnings that forced the company to pump up its guidance for the year.

The company had total revenues of a record $3.5 billion, with net income at $458.8 million. Adjusted EBITDA was a record $1.2 billion and Operating Cash Flow was $1.4 billion.

Why the fantastic results? Demand was better all around.

The cruise giant is seeing higher prices for cruise fares for North America and European itineraries, along with a lot of its customers spending on extras, such as drink packages, wifi, shore excursions and more.

Consumer spending onboard, as well as pre-cruise purchases, continue to significantly exceed 2019 levels driven by greater participation at higher prices.

The better-than-expected results compelled the company to make a significant increase in the company's full year outlook for revenue and earnings.

Royal Caribbean Group CEEO Jason Liberty celebrated the results, "Our brands continue to fire on all cylinders, resulting in record yields and second quarter earnings significantly exceeding our expectations."

"Demand for cruising and our brands is exceptionally strong and we have seen another step change in booking volumes and pricing, leading us to now expect double-digit net yield growth for the full year. We also expect to achieve record Adjusted EBITDA per APCD and Return on Invested Capital this year and are well on our way toward achieving our Trifecta goals."

Breaking down the second quarter

Net Income for the second quarter of $458.8 million compared to a Net Loss of $(0.5) billion for the same period last year.

Higher Caribbean and European cruise fare pricing along with higher shipboard revenue drove the higher revenue. The average capacity for the second quarter was 105%.

Booking volumes in the second quarter remained significantly higher than the corresponding period in 2019 and at record pricing levels. 

"Demand for 2023 sailings has significantly exceeded expectations and bookings for 2024 sailings are up significantly versus all prior years at record prices. Demand from the North American consumer has remained incredibly strong throughout the year, and booking volumes from European consumers who are booking European cruises this summer have accelerated."

Cash situation

Between 2020 and 2022, Royal Caribbean Group took out a number of loans to keep the company going during the cruise industry shutdown.  Here's an update on paying them back.

As of June 30, 2023, the Group's customer deposit balance was at a record-high $5.7 billion.  

As of June 30, 2023, the Group's liquidity position was $3.7 billion, which includes cash and cash equivalents and undrawn revolving credit facility availability.

During the second quarter, the company generated $1.4 billion in operating cash flow and repaid $1.6 billion of debt

As of June 30, 2023, the scheduled debt maturities for the remainder of 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026 were $1.0 billion, $2.0 billion, $3.3 billion, and $2.8 billion, respectively.

New cruise ships

Royal Caribbean Group has plans to spend $4.2 billion on capital expenditures, which usually are related to new ships or new construction projects.

The Silver Nova cruise ship was delivered to Silver Sea, and Icon of the Seas and Celebrity Ascent will be delivered later this year. All ship orders have committed financing in place.

Non-new ship related capital expenditures are expected to be $0.5 billion.

With five months left in 2023, there is still plenty of time to plan another cruise vacation. 

The fall months bring cooler temperatures and lower prices than peak summer cruises. Plus, even if the cruise itself is fully booked, there are less land-based travelers, meaning that there will be fewer crowds in port. 

You might even be able to find a once-in-a-lifetime itinerary that is not offered throughout the year. 

Here are the best 2023 fall cruises that you should take. 

Alaska

Royal Caribbean's Alaska's season wraps up in September, and this month just so happens to mark the region's transition from summer to fall. The earlier you cruise, the better weather you have have, including more daylight. 

On September 3, Brilliance of the Seas is departing on a roundtrip "Multi Glacier Experience Cruise" from Vancouver, Canada, with prices starting at $966 per person for an interior cabin. If you want to upgrade to a balcony, expect to pay a minimum of $1,842 per person. 

During this 7-night voyage, the ship will dock in Sitka, Juneau, and Ketchikan, Alaska. You will also have three different sightseeing opportunities in Hubbard Glacier, Tracy Arm Fjord, and the Inside Passage. 

In comparison, the 7-night Alaska Glacier onboard Quantum of the Seas that departs on September 11 only has one glacier viewing: Endicott Arm & Dawes Glacier. This does, however, mean that you will have more time in port, visiting Sitka; Icy Strait Point; Juneau; and Victoria, British Columbia. 

Pricing is similar, with an interior cabin starting at $906 per person. 

Asia

Currently, most cruises onboard Spectrum of the Seas are only 3-5 nights. This fall, however, there are two 12-night cruises that sail from Singapore to Tokyo and vice versa that are each unique in their own way. The itineraries for both sailings are different, with the first cruise visiting fewer ports than the second. 

The first sailing departs on September 19 and sails from Singapore to Tokyo, making stops in Nha Trang, Vietnam; Hong Kong, China; and Nagasaki, Kumamoto, and Kagoshima, Japan before arriving in Tokyo. Currently, pricing for this cruise currently starts around $1,800 per person for either a balcony or interior stateroom.  

The latter sailing is more expensive visits one more port of call. Throughout the 12-night voyage, the ship will visit Mt. Fuji (Shimizu), Kobe, Okinawa (Naha), and Ishigaki, Japan; Hong Kong, China; and Hue / Danang (Chan May), Vietnam.

Bahamas and Caribbean

While fall is still part of the Atlantic hurricane season, you are less likely to be impacted by inclement weather in late October and November.

In those two months, Royal Caribbean has twenty ships deployed here, meaning that you have a variety of different itineraries to choose from from embarkation ports ranging from Cape Liberty, New Jersey to Galveston, Texas and even San Juan, Puerto Rico. 

If you are looking for a quick getaway, consider sailing on Allure of the Seas. She begins making 3- and 4-night voyages out of Port Canaveral on October 30 to Nassau and Perfect Day at CocoCay. 

The fall is also one of your last chances to sail on Wonder of the Seas while she is the largest cruise ship in the world, a title no other Oasis Class ships will ever hold again once Icon of the Seas launches in January. 

In October and November, she will be making 7-night roundtrip cruises to the Eastern and Western Caribbean, all including a stop at CocoCay. 

With twenty ships, though, you don't have to sail on some of the largest in the fleet. Some of the smallest, such as Vision of the Seas, will be sailing on unique and longer itineraries to the Southern Caribbean, visiting ports like St. Croix, St. Maarten, St. Lucia, Barbados, and St. Kitts & Nevis.

You will find better rates on the older ships, too. A 12-night cruise on Vision of the Seas starts at $1,199 per person, while a 7-night cruise onboard Wonder of the Seas starts at $1,246 per person.

Bermuda

September is a good month to visit Bermuda, as daily highs will still peak into the 80s. This means that you will be able to enjoy the warm summer temperatures with fewer crowds. 

Liberty of the Seas sails to Bermuda from Cape Liberty through October. In September, there are three 5-night sailings, each has two days at sea and two days docked at the Royal Naval Dockyard. 

While not the largest ship in the fleet, this Freedom Class ship offers plenty of activities and things to do, including water slides, a FlowRider surf simulator, an ice skating rink and Broadway show, specialty dining venues, pools, and more. 

Currently, the cheapest sailing departs on September 30 and costs $609 per person. 

Canada and New England

Fall foliage cruises are popular because they allow passengers to enjoy the beautiful scenery of the changing hues of the trees of Canada and New England. 

This year, Royal Caribbean is offering four "fall foliage" cruises onboard Jewel of the Seas. For the best chance of seeing the most transformation, take one of the earlier two, as you are more likely to experience peak foliage through mid-October. 

The first is an 11-night northbound cruise from Cape Liberty to Quebec City on September 28 that starts at $949 per person. This itinerary focuses on Canadian ports of call, visiting Halifax and Sydney, Nova Scotia; Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island; Corner Brook, Newfoundland; and Sept-Iles and Saguenay, Quebec. 

The following 10-night southbound cruise from Quebec City to Cape Liberty is more port intensive, with only three days at sea. Additionally, you will dock in Portland, Maine and Boston, Massachusetts. This sailing starts at $749 per person for an interior room. 

And while not advertised as fall foliage cruises, there are two sailings onboard Liberty of the Seas where you are likely to experience some of the northeast's fall magic: October 5 and 19. Both sailings start at under $650 per person. 

The ports of call include Boston, Massachusetts; Portland and Bar Harbor, Maine; Halifax, Nova Scotia; and Saint John (Bay of Fundy), New Brunswick. 

Europe

Unlike the Caribbean, you can expect to spend long days in port exploring European cities, rather than lounging on the beach. In the peak of the summer, it can get to be miserably hot. In the fall, you will be greeted with cooler temperatures and fewer crowds in port. 

In July, for instance, it is not unusual for the daily high to reach the high 80s and 90s in places like Rome, while in October, the daily temperatures range from the high 60s to mid 70s. 

For a 7-night Western Mediterranean cruise onboard Symphony of the Seas, the sailings range from $1,295 to $1,755 per person for an interior room in October. You can sail from either Barcelona, Spain or Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy; however, the cheapest port of embarkation is Barcelona. 

During your voyage, you will visit Naples/Capri, Italy; Palma De Mallorca, Spain; Provence (Marseille), France; and Florence/Pisa (La Spezia), Italy. If you sail from Barcelona, you will have a day in Rome, and if you sail from Rome, you will be able to explore Barcelona for a day. 

Mexico

October and November are two of the best months to visit the Mexican Riviera, as you will find pleasant weather compared to the summer months.

Moreover, October marks the end of the region's rainy season; August and September have higher rainfall averages. Temperatures will still be in the 80s, meaning that you can sunbathe and enjoy other water activities in port. 

Consider a 7-night cruise to Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlán, and Puerto Vallarta onboard Navigator of the Seas, a Voyager Class ship that received $115 million in renovations in early 2019, and visit beautiful beaches, try the local cuisine, and see world-famous landmarks, including the El Arco rock formation in Cabo.

Due to less overall demand, you will find some great deals, too. All dates in October begin under $700 per person for an inside stateroom. 

Read more: What it's like to cruise on Royal Caribbean's Navigator of the Seas in 2023

Panama Canal

The fall is one of two times throughout the year that Royal Caribbean offers sailings through the Panama Canal. This year, there are three cruises that you can choose from, all of which are on Radiance Class ships. 

The first is a 16-night cruise onboard Radiance of the Seas that departs on October 7 and sails from San Diego to Tampa. The next two are not until November, and they are both 14-night cruises onboard Serenade of the Seas. 

On November 7, Serenade will depart from Miami, arriving in Los Angeles on November 21. That same day, she will leave on another Panama Canal cruise to return to Miami. 

Pricing varies greatly, with the most expensive being the 16-night cruise onboard Radiance. This cruise starts at $1,646 per person for an interior room. At the time of writing, all ocean view, balconies, and suites were sold out. 

The cheapest Panama Canal cruise in Fall 2023 is the 14-night sailing on Serenade of the Seas from Los Angeles on November 21. An interior room begins at $936 per person.  

After these three sailings, there will not be another opportunity to cruise the Panama Canal onboard a Royal Caribbean ship until April 2024. 

Transatlantic and transpacific cruises

The fall is also a common time for transatlantic and transpacific cruises, as ships are being redeployed after cruises in seasonal regions, such as Europe and Alaska. 

The larger the vessel, the more you will have to do onboard during the long stretch of sea days. Symphony and Odyssey of the Seas will offer the most to do, with the latter visiting more ports of call. 

When Symphony of the Seas departs on her transatlantic cruise on October 29, she will only stop at two different ports in Europe -- Valencia and Seville (Cadiz), Spain -- before crossing the ocean. Before docking in Fort Lauderdale, she will visit Nassau. Currently, the price for this cruise begins at under $740 per person. 

Odyssey of the Seas' return to the Americans will begin on October 27. On this sailing, you can visit Florence/Pisa (La Spezia), Italy; Nice (Villefranche), France; Palma De Mallorca and Valencia, Spain; Ponta Delgada, Azores; and Bermuda. The price for this cruise is substantially more than Symphony, though, with interior cabins starting at $1,750 per person. 

In total, there are nine transatlantic and transpacific to choose from in October and November 2023. If you want a transpacific cruise that visits Hawaii, you will want to skip these itineraries in the fall. They only depart from Honolulu, rather than island hopping like spring voyages from Honolulu to the Pacific Coast. 

Transpacific sailings on October focus more on the islands of the South Pacific, such as Vanuatu, French Polynesia, and Tahiti. Upon arrival in Australia, the ships -- Brilliance, Quantum, and Ovation of the Seas -- will begin their seasonal deployments in the South Pacific, where they will remain until Spring 2024.