What if there was an easy fix you could apply to your next cruise that would make a big difference?

After all my years of cruising, I've found sometimes a very small change can have a big impact on my enjoyment of a cruise. Think of it like discovering a new marinade that invigorates a tired meal you're used to, or perhaps a supplement that makes your gym workout less tiresome.

Cruises are a very personalized experience, because everyone chooses a different way to enjoy it.  I could spend weeks on the same ship and never try one aspect of the cruise that someone else did.

I asked our readers for an easy thing they do to make their cruise better, and wanted to share the tips, hacks, and alterations they came up with for an even better Royal Caribbean cruise.

Skip the buffet for breakfast

A great example of a "do this, not that" in order to enhance your cruise is where to have breakfast.

Most people default to hitting up the Windjammer buffet for breakfast. That's fine, but it can be quite crowded.

Fred Hazelton recommended a sit down breakfast and skip the buffet.

Royal Caribbean opens its Main Dining Room for breakfast every day of the cruise, including the final morning.

Not only is the pace more relaxed, but you're assigned a table and have the choice of traditional American breakfast items: scrambled eggs, omelettes, pancakes, and more.

It also won't take a long time to enjoy breakfast in the Main Dining Room.  You can expect to complete the meal in less than hour.

The only potential issue is breakfast isn't served as long in the Main Dining Room as it is in the Windjammer, so you'll need to get going early for it.

On Oasis of the Seas, breakfast is served between 8:00am and 9:30am in the Main Dining Room.

Put the kids in a connecting stateroom

I've been cruising with my kids since they were each 6 months old, but there's no doubt sharing a room with them isn't always idyllic.

Krystal Sodaitis recommended booking connecting rooms so the kids have their own room, and I couldn't agree more.

Booking connecting rooms instead of a larger single room is one of my favorite family cruise hacks.

This strategy gets you an extra bathroom, separation with a common door, and so much more privacy and living space.

The older your kids get, the more important this is.  When my kids were young, they needed a perfectly dark and quiet environment to fall asleep (and stay asleep).  This meant my wife and I had to go bed early and had to keep lights and noise to a minimum as not to disturb them.

As they got older, having an extra bathroom went from "nice to have" to "must have" because of how much time girls need to prep and pamper before they're ready to go out.

Plus, the separate bedroom gives everyone privacy.

I love my kids, but sharing one cabin with them isn't necessarily the best setup for a cruise.

It's also worth mentioning booking two connecting smaller cabins may actually be cheaper than a single larger higher category stateroom, such as a suite.

Don't live out of your suitcase

It's tempting to get on the cruise and start all the fun as soon as possible, but I agree putting away your clothes makes a difference.

Stephen Dennis wrote, "Keep your cabin clean. Don't live out of your suitcase!" and I think he's right.

On shorter cruises I'd sometimes just leave everything in my suitcase because the effort to unpack and pack it all back later seemed silly.

The truth is unpacking makes the room less cluttered and easier to find what you actually need.

I didn't want to admit that unpacking mattered because my laziness and pride was blocking it. But once I started unpacking, I realized the cabin does feel different.

Moreover, keeping the stateroom tidy is more than just being proper.  Having things put away means you can actually enjoy the furniture in the room, like the couch.

Cruise ship couches seem to be magnets for junk, discarded clothing, and paperwork.  Not being able to sit on the couch because there's too much stuff really limits the usable space.

When I keep my couch clear, I find it almost liberating how much more expansive the cabin feels.

Pay everything ahead of time

Early on in my cruising career, I used to dread the final morning of the cruise because of the final bill waiting outside my door (and my vacation ending too).

One solid strategy for limiting onboard spend is to pre-purchase as much as you can, which is exactly what Paul Fossetti recommended.

"Pay everything ahead of time. Once onboard, don’t have to worry about anything," is what he wrote and there's truth to this.

Not only does this reduce the final bill at the end of the cruise, but it allows you to spread expenses out.  

After booking the cruise, you could split up purchases on different credit card billing cycles to take the sting out of the costs.

Equally important is how much cheaper it is to pre-pay for these things compared to buying it onboard.

Royal Caribbean has so many pre-cruise sales that you're almost certain to save money by pre-booking, especially on drink packages, shore excursions, internet access, and specialty dining.

Many readers recommended a beverage package as an easy thing to do for a better cruise, and using Paul's tip will save so much money on that.

You can find discounts of up to 40% off a drink package when pre-purchased.  

Relax and don't sweat the small stuff

So many readers posted tips related to going onboard with the right attitude.

• "Go on it and forget about everything"
• "Don't worry about unexpected plan changes"
• "Don’t sweat the small [stuff] and enjoy yourself"
• "Attitude! Don't worry"

Cruises are designed to be fun, enjoyable, and relaxing, but you've got to let it all come to you.

Jeff Page wrote, "Relax and don't sweat the small stuff," and that's terrific advice for any cruiser.

Like any vacation, it may not all go exactly as you thought.  It might rain, your kids might have a bad day, your steak might not be cooked to order, and the Bills might blow another AFC Championship game.  You can't let those things ruin your cruise.

On one cruise I had grandiose plans for visiting St. Thomas and my plans backfired almost immediately and I got so frustrated and angry.  My wife took me to a nearby bar for a drink to regroup and it served as a good lesson that you can't let things like that go from a small problem to a major one.

We had a couple drinks, found something else to do, and salvaged our day.

My experience is akin to what many recommended with anything that doesn't go your way on the cruise. Go with the flow, and make the best of the situation at hand.

Cruise solo

I saw a few people recommend to cruise solo, and it's actually solid advice.

Cruising alone may not be ideal, but it's better than not cruising at all. Sometimes there are situations where friends and family can't join you for the cruise, but the chance to go is worthwhile.

On the surface, comments of "cruise solo" sound like a preferred way to travel. But I think it's a reminder if the choice is cruise solo or don't cruise at all, there's value in cruising solo.

This isn't a free pass to ditch your family in favor of a cruise, but there are situations where it may make sense to take a leap and try a cruise alone. 

I can tell you from experience cruising alone isn't as limiting as you might fear.

Royal Caribbean has seven types of cruise ships, and each has its own distinct style.

The Icon, Oasis, Quantum, Freedom, Voyager, Radiance, and Vision Class ships come in different layouts, sizes, and onboard features.

Think of ship classes like models of cars. There are many similarities, but also a few ways they're different in how they look and function.

I've got tips and tricks to make the most of any of them, regardless of which ships you prefer or are sailing on next.

Icon class tips

There are two Icon Class cruise ships in service (plus a few more on order): Icon of the Seas and Star of the Seas.

Book shows before the cruise begins: The shows on Icon Class ships are incredible, so don't miss out on them by not having a reservation.

You can make a reservation for shows on Icon Class ships up to 30 days before the cruise begins.  Right now there isn't an exact cadence to when they are available to book, but usually it's about a month or less before your cruise sails.

Go on the water slides on a port day: The Category 6 waterpark is impressive, but your best bet is to try to ride the slides during a port day.

Either stay on the ship when your ship is docked in port, or plan to hit the slides before or after your tour. 

There are more free (and better) dining choices: While I love indulging in specialty restaurants, you really don't have to spend extra for them.

Royal Caribbean invested more in convenient included restaurants, including my all-time favorite: Aquadome Market. There's also El Loco Fresh, Basecamp, Pearl Cafe, and of course Windjammer, Main Dining Room, and Sorrento's.

Oasis Class tips

Some of the biggest ships in the world, the Oasis Class ships include: Oasis, Allure, Harmony, Symphony, Wonder, and Utopia of the Seas.

Try the Solarium Bistro: One of the least-crowded spots for a sit down meal that's included in your fare is Solarium Bistro.

It's a combination of buffet and plated meal, but most people are unaware it exists and it's a great alternative to the more crowded venues.

Don't miss the Mason Jar bar: My favorite bar experience on any ship is the country bar on Utopia, Allure, and Wonder of the Seas.

The Mason Jar is a Southern American restaurant, but it has a really fun country music bar that has great music, and even better cocktails.

Catch an AquaTheater show: I think the must-see performance on any Oasis Class ship is in the Aquatheater.

Plan to arrive at least 30 minutes early so you can get a really good seat.  Keep in mind the first two rows are the "splash zone".

Quantum Class tips

Think of the Quantum Class ships like a mash-up of big ship size with refined tastes. There are five ships in total: Quantum, Anthem, Ovation, Spectrum, and Odyssey of the Seas.

Two70: The don't miss venue on any Quantum Class ships is Two70, which has different events throughout the day.

This beautiful space has shows at night, and demonstrations involving its impressive roboscreens.

Book a North Star and Ripcord reservation before the cruise: Royal Caribbean opens bookings for its two most popular top deck activities before the cruise begins.

North Star pod and Ripcord by iFly require reservations, so get one about a month or so before the cruise begins.

North Star is free if you book a port day (like embarkation day), and in my opinion, you're not missing much for a paid one on a sea day.

Bumper cars are a lot of fun: It might seem like a gimmick to offer bumper cars on a cruise ship, but I really think they're worth trying.

It's a lot of family fun and worth the wait!

Freedom Class tips

There are just three Freedom Class ships, but I think they're some of the best options for value, size, and fun things to do onboard: Freedom of the Seas, Independence of the Seas, and Liberty of the Seas.

Go to the helipad for sailaway: I love the helipad location for sailaway, and most guests don't know you can go there.

The perfect views from deck 14: If you want a great spot to sit, have a drink, and watch the world go by, I'd recommend the lounge on deck 14.

It goes by different names depending on which ship you're on, but it's the lounge on deck 14 accessible by the aft elevators.

Each ship has a special dining venue: Depending on the Freedom Class ship you sail on, Royal Caribbean has one restaurant you should seek out to eat at because it's impressive.

• Freedom of the Seas: Giovanni's Italian Kitchen ($)
• Independence of the Seas: Fish and Ships
• Liberty of the Seas: Izumi Teppanyaki

Voyager Class tips

Arguably the best value in Royal Caribbean right now, the Voyager Class ships have the big ship feel, but without the premium price tag: Voyager of the Seas, Adventure of the Seas, Explorer of the Seas, Mariner of the Seas, and Navigator of the Seas.

Free sauna: Voyager Class ships offer saunas and steam rooms in the fitness area.

When you enter the gym, there should be an entrance on the left.

Visit the helipad: As one of three cruise ship classes offering access to the helipad, it's worth going there for a photo.

You can access it on deck 4 at the outside area and then walking forward.

Bring your bathing suit on embarkation day: Whether you want to hit the water slides, pool, or FlowRider surf simulator, the best time to go is on boarding day.

Pack your bathing suit or simply wear it to the cruise terminal and then go right to the pool deck. You'll find non-existent lines.

Radiance Class tips

Small in size, the Radiance Class offer sailings to fantastic places around the world.  They're a mix of versatile and relaxing.  

There are a total of four ships in this class: Radiance, Serenade, Brilliance, and Jewel of the Seas.

There's a water slide for young kids: If you children are under the age of eight, take them to try the water slide.

The water slide on deck 12 is basic, but it's something young children should relish going down over and over.

There's a rotating bar: The Radiance Class has a bar up on deck 13 in the Viking Crown Lounge, and theoretically it spins.

At night, it has the capability to slowly rotate.  It's often broken, but if it does work, it's a neat effect.

Thermal spa pass: You can buy a thermal spa pass, which gets you unlimited access to the steam room, sauna, and heated stone chairs.

You can buy it at the Vitality Spa, and it also includes a Rasul treatment session.

Vision Class tips

The oldest and smallest of Royal Caribbean's ships, there are just four of these left in service: Enchantment, Vision, Rhapsody, and Grandeur of the Seas.

The best Schooner Bar: All Royal Caribbean ships have a Schooner Bar, but I think the one on the Vision Class is the best in the fleet.

It's massive, has lots of seating, and fantastic ocean views too.  Plan to visit at least a couple of evenings.

Park Cafe is hidden: You might miss Park Cafe if you didn't know it was in the adults-only Solarium.

This is where you can get sandwiches, salads, and even late night pizza. Don't worry, kids can go in to get a bite to eat too.

Free sauna and steam room: Inside the Fitness Center is a free sauna, steam room, and very large showers for anyone to use.

The showers are great for families, and the sauna and steam rooms are lesser-known amenities open to guests.

Discovery Class tips

Just kidding, there are no Discovery Class ships. 

Or are there?

For most people, a cruise is a week or so vacation and then it's back to reality.  For Greg Brockman, a cruise is more like his second house.

He spends roughly six months onboard Royal Caribbean ships, booking a series of cruises in a row in a sort of "binge" to stay onboard for weeks at a time before a brief return home.

Naturally, people have questions about how he can manage to do this. Greg isn't retired and still works. 

Here’s what Greg says about the reality of living at sea for months at a time, including the perks, the drawbacks, and the strategies that make it possible.

Do you get tired of visiting the same places?

Royal Caribbean ships tend to repeat the same itineraries often. While the cruise line welcomes repeat cruisers, the sailings aren't designed for someone to effectively live onboard.

"When it comes to traveling onboard ship, after several weeks, it feels more like home than living in a floating hotel room," Greg says.

He picks a ship based on what it offers to maximize his time onboard, "You look for entertainment options, dining options, and local activities that are appealing and align with your interests."

Even if the ports repeat, the experience changes. "Although the ports might be the same, consecutive cruisers can attest, there can be a dramatic difference in the experience based on your fellow passengers. Some crowds are more active and outgoing than others."

How Greg pays for all those cruises

You might be wondering how he can afford to pay to cruise for half the year, and the casino is his secret weapon.

You can earn complimentary cruises by gambling enough in Royal Caribbean's casino, and he maximizes that perk.

"The casino plays a huge role in my ability to travel as much as I do on the budget I set for myself," he explains.

"I took 100% of my cruise fare as my budget for the casino and I played just enough to earn a complimentary interior cabin. Then I stop playing." 

From there, he uses "Pay Now, Book Later" to lock in future freeplay, then books consecutive cruises.

"It’s cheaper to pay to upgrade to a balcony than play the points, unless I am on a big winning streak," Greg says. 

According to Greg, the casino loyalty program has let him cruise "30+ sailings a year for usually far less than 50% of the cruise fare."

The casino does require 200 points on comp cruises to keep the offers coming, but Greg has even “earned the cruise certificate completely on their money and spent none of mine."

Working from a cruise ship

Since Greg isn't retired, he still needs to put in work and he does it from onboard.

For the last three years, Greg has worked as a real estate trainer and coach. Since most of his job can be performed remotely, he's able to take Zoom meetings and phone calls from the ship. 

He gets free internet packages from both his Pinnacle status and casino perks, which not only keeps him connected but reduces the out of pocket costs.

Sometimes, he even works from unconventional spots: "Occasionally, I was able to use vacant rooms in the conference center in a pinch, with guest services approval."

Greg believes cruise lines could take this further: “With more and more careers offering remote work options, Royal could get a jump on ‘Remote at Sea’ to accommodate a growing number of remote workers."

Do you get sick of the food?

"The food can be tricky, but there are so many options," Greg explains. He cycles between specialty dining, the Main Dining Room, Windjammer, and other restaurants like Cafe Promenade, or Park Cafe.

"With more cruises come more Crown and Anchor points. I’m fortunate to have Coastal Kitchen access on Oasis, Quantum, and Icon Class ships," he says. 

He claims the chefs sometimes even go off-menu for back-to-back guests: "They have offered some custom dishes and meals they do not often make."

Over time, his eating habits shift, "After 7–10 days onboard, I’m less interested in breads and the pizzas, but find I am eating more often but far smaller portions."

"It’s been a few days since anyone has starved on a cruise ship, and I find I am skipping the cookies for a banana, kiwi, pineapple, or other fresh fruit option."

The drawbacks of cruising so much

It's not all rainbows, unicorns, and Sorrento's pizza when you cruise for an extended period of time.

One downside is trying to balance his social life at home versus onboard, "I have land friends that never cruise, and then I have fellow travelers who I see onboard. This can strain relationships with both over time if you don’t work to try to maintain both."

Cruise friendships, he says, are "the most forgiving for not staying in touch directly."

Being apart from his dog is also a negative to how much he travels, "I have a dog at home — Sasha, named after a Royal Caribbean ice skater I met on Liberty — a 6-year-old Samoyed that I leave with friends while I’m gone. That is also why I break up my trips into 3–6 week blocks so I can spend time with her."

And just like his friends at home, cruising means being apart from family, "My sister and husband have visited me on various ships, including the recent 8-night Northern European Cities sailing on Independence on June 19, 2025. My mom stayed on with me for the next two. My brother and his family joined me on Ovation for an Alaska sailing.”

Crew members matter even more when you're onboard so often

Being on a cruise ship for such a long period of time has afforded him the opportunity to get to know a lot of crew members, and he values those friendships.

"The bonus on top of the amazing travel adventures are the friendships I have with crew," Greg says. "Some even play a role on which ships I book because I know the Hotel Director or the Cruise Director onboard."

He’s also a self-professed Royal Entertainment junkie, "In November/December 2024, I spent 6 weeks on Allure and watched almost every showing of Mamma Mia."

When he boarded Independence of the Seas this summer, "I was recognized by 3 crew members I have sailed with in the past. There is a complete feeling of relaxation when you see a familiar face."

I tried a little-known hack on my cruise ship’s disembarkation day, and it made the last day of my trip so much better.

Like most passengers, I don’t love the final morning of the cruise. Not only is my vacation coming to an end, but I need to make my way from the cruise terminal to the airport with my luggage.

With thousands of other (grumpy) passengers doing the same thing, too, disembarkation day is anything but enjoyable.

So, on my recent Alaska cruise, I tried Royal Caribbean’s Luggage Valet service—also known as Port Valet—and it greatly improved my experience traveling home.

It’s something I’ll use again and again when I cruise. Best of all, the service was completely free.

Royal Caribbean’s Luggage Valet service brings your suitcase to the airport for you

Royal Caribbean offers a service called Luggage Valet, which puts the easy button on disembarkation day.

Passengers who sign up for this service place their luggage outside their cabin door the evening before disembarkation. The next morning, their luggage is transferred directly from the cruise terminal to the airport and onto their flight.

This means that once passengers place their suitcase in the hallway, they won’t see it again until they arrive at their home airport.

Currently, the program is offered at three airports: Seattle (SEA), Miami (MIA), and Fort Lauderdale (FLL).

Related: Royal Caribbean is bringing back a luggage perk its customers loved

In Seattle, the program is called Port Valet, and it’s a partnership with Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The service in Seattle is offered free of charge aside from any applicable baggage fees from the airline.

In Fort Lauderdale and Miami, Luggage Valet costs $29 per person in addition to airline baggage fees.

I signed up for Seattle’s Port Valet program during my cruise

On the second day of my cruise, I received a sign-up form for Port Valet in my cabin.

The form had general information about baggage fees and logistics about which flights are eligible for the program. Not all flight departure times qualify, and while most US airlines participate, international airlines are not included on the list.

You can register for Port Valet ahead of time on the Port of Seattle’s website here, but it was just as easy to register onboard my ship.

Related: Guide to Seattle cruise port for Alaska cruises

My Alaska Airlines flight departed from Seattle at 9:30PM on disembarkation day. I filled out the form with my flight information and brought it to Guest Services to be registered.

Because I was flying First Class, my checked bag fee was waived by Alaska Airlines. If I were in economy, I would have paid $35 for the bag, but the Port Valet service itself remains free regardless of your flight class.

Registering took just a few minutes, and I was hopeful that Port Valet would take the stress out of traveling to the airport with my big suitcase.

I received my luggage tags and boarding pass on the last evening of my cruise

After I finished dinner on the last evening of my cruise, I headed back to my stateroom to pack my belongings.

On my bed were my Port Valet luggage tags, which I placed on the handle of my suitcase. In addition, my boarding pass for my flight was also delivered at this time.

I was already checked in for my flight and I hadn’t even left the ship yet!

I placed my suitcase outside my cabin door — I wouldn’t see it until I landed in my home airport

Passengers participating in Port Valet must place their suitcase outside their cabin door by 10PM on the evening before disembarkation.

On most cruises, I do self-disembarkation, which is when you bring your own suitcase off the ship with you on disembarkation day. Therefore, it was a bit of an adjustment to pack everything the night before.

I had to make sure I had enough toiletries for the morning, and, of course, a change of clothes so I didn’t walk around the next day in my pajamas.

Related: How disembarkation day works on a Royal Caribbean cruise

However, I also had to ensure I packed my carry-on backpack appropriately, too. Because I wouldn’t see my suitcase until I got home the following night, I needed to make sure I had everything necessary for my day in Seattle and trip to the airport.

If I forgot anything important, my suitcase would not be accessible on disembarkation day.

After carefully packing my carry-on and checked bag, I placed the checked bag outside my cabin door with the appropriate luggage tags.

I waved goodbye to my suitcase hoping that everything would go to plan. If so, I would see my trusty purple suitcase when I landed at home.

On disembarkation day, it felt strange to leave the cruise terminal without my suitcase

As your vacation comes to an end, disembarkation day is anything but fun. Nonetheless, getting off the ship and through the cruise terminal was a breeze without carrying my heavy luggage.

When I walked out of the cruise terminal, I felt like I was missing something. All I had was a small backpack, and my suitcase was headed off to the airport in Seattle.

With twelve hours until my flight departed, I felt free to explore the city without worrying about where to store my luggage. I walked around downtown, grabbed coffee at a quaint cafe, and enjoyed lunch at a delicious dim sum restaurant in the city.

When it was time to head to the airport, I hopped on the light rail, which conveniently travels from downtown to the terminal in just under 40 minutes. For only $3 per person, it was cheaper than ordering an Uber or Lyft to the airport.

With luggage, I would have opted for the private ride, but having just a small backpack made it easy to take the cheaper public transportation option.

Once at the airport, I breezed past the baggage kiosks

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport is one of the busiest airports in the US, with over 52 million passengers transiting through the airport each year.

Crowds can be expected virtually anywhere, but especially at check-in desks and security lines.

Luckily, because I already sent my luggage off with Port Valet, I could go straight to security once I entered the airport.

I noticed long lines and crowds near the terminal’s luggage drop off desks and kiosks, and I was so grateful I didn’t need to worry about dropping off my bag.

After a relatively quick security line, I headed to the lounge to relax before my flight. It felt odd to have not seen my luggage for nearly an entire day, but I trusted that it would be placed safely onto my flight home.

I picked up my suitcase from the luggage carousel at my home airport

My 90-minute flight home was short and effortless. Once I landed, I walked to the luggage carousel hoping that my bag had made it all the way from outside my cabin door to my home airport.

Like clockwork, my bag was one of the first on the carousel. I was pleased everything went as planned, and I promptly grabbed my bag and ordered an Uber home.

I couldn’t believe how convenient my disembarkation day was because I used Port Valet. I also couldn’t believe the service, aside from any airline baggage fees, was complimentary.

It seemed crazy that such a useful travel hack was offered free of charge by Seattle’s airport, but I’ll take any opportunity I get to make my travel days less stressful.

Because the service is complimentary, I really can’t see a reason to not use Port Valet for an Alaska cruise. If you’re paying the fee to check a bag anyway, why deal with the hassle of bringing your bags to the airport yourself?

Instead, you can simply place your luggage outside your cabin door and pick it up once you return home.

The convenience is simply unmatched, and it’s a hack I’ll use on every Alaska cruise I take.

Before you cruise, I want to share the best Royal Caribbean secrets that you can take advantage of on your sailing!

These are the things the cruise line doesn't tell you, but they're a thing you can still do. These are the sort of things only people that cruise a lot would know about.

Because a cruise is a very personalized experience, certain elements of the vacation can be enhanced based on your preferences. Meaning, there are secrets here that might be more valuable to you than someone else.

I came up with a list of things Royal Caribbean doesn't necessarily advertise, but you should know about before you sail.

You'll earn more loyalty points booking solo cruises

Every cruise point represents a night on a ship, although there are some ways to get more points quicker.

Royal Caribbean will give you an extra cruise point per night if you book any suite.

You can also earn an extra cruise point per night if you happen to cruise alone in a cabin. 

When you stay in a suite by yourself, you'll earn 3 points per night. This is the most points you can earn per night on any cruise.

Some people actually book two cabins just to earn points faster.

How to get a table for two in the Main Dining Room

Want a table for just you and your family without sharing it with strangers?

Seating in the Main Dining Room can sometimes involve being seated with other cruisers.  It's a cruising tradition going back decades, and some people really like it as a way to meet new people and make dinner more interesting.

If you booked Traditional Dining and prefer to sit alone, send an email to [email protected] about 2-3 weeks before your cruise and ask for a smaller table for just your party.

Visit the helipad

If you're on a Radiance, Voyager, or Freedom Class ship, the best spot for sailaway is the helipad at the front of the ship.

Located on the bow, guests can walk to the helicopter pad and enjoy the unobstructed views that you can only get from the helicopter pad. The perspective from this spot is hard to beat and many guests do not know it is possible to go here.

To access the helicopter pad, go outside on the outdoor promenade deck and then walk forward, climb up a set of stairs, and continue walking forward until you reach the helicopter pad.

Balcony dividers can be removed

On most Royal Caribbean ships, the balcony dividers are removable.

This is useful if you book two balcony cabins next to each other. By removing the divider, you get an extra large balcony space that feels significantly more spacious.

You can ask your stateroom attendant to do this.  As long as you booked cabins next to each other, they can do this.  

Pack socks and pants for ice skating

On ships that have a ice skating rink onboard, there's open skate sessions offered.

It's free to participate, but you need to wear socks and pants.  On Caribbean cruises, you might not have these items packed with you. 

Use your TV as a nightlight

If you booked an inside cabin, there's no natural light, so a workaround is to use your television.

Tune the TV to the bridge view channel, mute the sound, and you've got a nightlight when the sun comes up.

You can order as much as you want at most restaurants

A lot of new cruisers are unaware there's no limit to the amount of food you can order at the Main Dining Room.

You can order multiple entrees, appetizers, or desserts, and there's no extra charge.  

If it sounds gluttonous, it's really not for two good reasons: first, you might want try a new food or are unsure which dish you might prefer.

Second, serving sizes tend to be on the small side compared to restaurants on land.  I find ordering two entrees is a must-do because I might not feel full with just one.

Moreover, you can order multiples of the same dish.  If you love the French Onion Soup, ask for a second or third!

Your cabin walls are magnetic

Cruise cabin doors and walls are made of metal, which means you can affix magnets to them quite easily.

Heavy duty magnets are helpful to bring on a cruise because you can use them to hang things up, which helps tremendously with clutter around your cabin.

I bring a pack of magnetic hooks with me so I can hang swimsuits, hats, or jackets.  It not only keeps things off the floor or couch, but also frees up space in drawers.

There's a free breakfast room service option

Royal Caribbean charges for room service, except for one breakfast option.

It's easily overlooked, but there's a continental breakfast room service choice that is immune to the normal fee.

This includes pastries, fruit, coffee, and juice and can be delivered to your stateroom free of charge. 

Secret sandwich

On Perfect Day at CocoCay, there's a menu item you have to ask for by name because it's not on the menu.

The Snack Shack has a secret, off-the-menu dish you can ask for by simply requesting "the secret sandwich."

You can top the crispy chicken sandwich with mozzarella sticks and marinara dipping sauce, and you'll end up with a tasty chicken parmesan sandwich.

Try the cooking stations

My favorite thing about the Windjammer are the cooking stations.

The food is here is made the way you want it, and it's cooked on the spot fresh.

At breakfast there is an omelet station. For lunch and dinner, there's usually a rotating option of stir fry, pasta, and more.

Fresh food will always be a step ahead of prepared food, and the cooking stations are my first stop in the Windjammer on every visit.

Johnny Rockets is free for breakfast

Johnny Rockets is a specialty restaurant with a cover charge for lunch and dinner, but it's actually free for breakfast.

On Oasis Class ships only, Johnny Rockets is open for breakfast and it's complimentary.

For breakfast, Johnny Rockets serves up fried or scrambled eggs, breakfast sandwiches, pancakes, French toast, omelets and more.

Juice, milk, coffee, tea and hot chocolate are included in the meal as well.

The tap water on a cruise ship is drinkable

Believe it or not, the tap water is not only safe to drink, but probably the cleanest water you'll ever drink.

Every Royal Caribbean ship has a meticulously maintained water treatment/storage system that supplies all of the ships potable water.

Relying on the tap water (or water provided at various drink stations or fountains) is a great money saving strategy.  

One issue with the tap water is it may not be very cold, so ask your room attendant to bring ice to keep in your cabin.

The best time to hit the water slides is embarkation day

Pools, whirlpools, and water slides are available to use on embarkation day, and you’ll often find that they are much less crowded than other days onboard. 

I recommend bringing your bathing suit with you on embarkation day to hit the water slides as soon as you get onboard. The lines will be non-existent because a lot of people packed their bathing suits.

You can change in one of the public restrooms on the pool deck.  Or simply wear your bathing suit onboard as you embark!

How to go faster down the water slides

Royal Caribbean's water slides are fun, but you can make them more thrilling by doing two things.

Cross your arms and legs while going down the slide and arch your back. The less resistance in the water (and slide) that you have, the faster you will go.

You also want to have the least amount of clothing as you go down the slide. Rash guards, t-shirts, and more elaborate swimsuits will result in you slowing down. 

Get cash from the slot machine to avoid a fee

Royal Caribbean charges a fee for cash withdrawals in the casino, unless you're a Prime member or higher in the casino loyalty program.

However, anyone can avoid the fee by going to a slot machine and pulling cash from there.

For some reason, there's no fee when you use the banker feature on a slot machine to get cash. You can then immediately cash out, go to the cashier and exchange it for cash. 

At that point, you can go to the Blackjack table and try your luck, and you'll be up 5%!

There are so many cruise tips for Royal Caribbean, and I bet a few make new cruisers wonder if they really work or not.

I'm so used to relying on many tricks and better approaches to things on a Royal Caribbean cruise that I take it for granted that they simply work.

When I was getting back on Utopia of the Seas after a fun day with friends, I told them to walk past the first set of elevators to the next set. It seemed like we were walking more than we needed, but we waited no time to get one because the other elevator bank was empty.

Tips like this seem almost crazy, but when you try them out, they work a lot better than imagined.

I went through a number of tried-and-true cruise tips and advice to come up with the ones that might sound weird, but they really do make sense once you're on the ship.

Ordering multiple entrees

In almost every restaurant on Royal Caribbean, you're welcome to order more than one entree.  It sounds like the most gluttonous piece of advice, but it works!

Generally speaking, entree sizes are smaller on a cruise ship than you might find on land.  I find this to be true in the Main Dining Room primarily.

Ordering more than one entree is a really good idea to ensure you're not hungry.

Better yet, it's nice to sample different dishes.  Odds are there's going to be more than one thing on the menu that sounds good.

Your waiters will encourage this practice too.  If you even hint at trying to decide between dishes, they'll usually insist on bringing you both.  Or three. 

This is part of why I love to cruise. You get to try new foods and indulge in ones you love.

As a new cruiser, ordering more than one entree feels so unnatural. I rarely, if ever, do that at a land restaurant.

Once you realize it's commonplace on cruises, it becomes a great way to enjoy the very best food Royal Caribbean serves.

Splitting beds makes a small room feel bigger

When someone that cruised much more than me told me they split their beds when they cruise solo, I thought they were crazy.  Turns out, they're right.

Most Royal Caribbean staterooms come with a Royal King bed that can be separated into two twin beds upon request.

When you're in an inside cabin, splitting the beds instead of keeping them together is a cruise hack meant to make it the room feel bigger.

I think the rationale is with the beds split, you get a walkway in the middle of the room between them, which is more useful than a sliver of space around the edges of the cabin.

I've experienced inside cabins with the beds split and together, and I do think it works better with the beds apart.

On newer Royal Caribbean ships, there are cabinets above the bed mounted to the wall, and it's easier to access them with the beds split.

You can ask your Stateroom Attendant to split or combine the beds at any time.

Of course, separate beds may not be your idea of conducive sleeping conditions.  But it will probably help open up the room a bit more.

Staying on the ship while in port

The number one reason people book a Royal Caribbean cruise is the destination, so it might feel wrong to want to not visit the places you're cruising to.

A lot of veteran cruisers will advocate skipping a port and taking advantage of a less crowded ship.

I went on Icon of the Seas with my family for spring break and later regretted we didn't have more time to enjoy what this amazing ship has to offer because we were busy in every port of call.

Some people might struggle with what to do in one particular port, because there isn't an activity or tour that jumps out as a must-do for their taste.

Staying onboard during a port day allows you to take advantage of significantly less crowds, especially at the pool or for the top deck attractions. Water slides, the zip line, rock wall, and more are all far less busy on port days.

When you try it, it feels like being home from school in a way because everyone else is off doing something else. But the advantages are lovely for having the pools (virtually) to yourself.

Magnets add more storage capability

I resisted the advice of so many people to buy magnets for their cruise cabin because I couldn't believe it would help, but I was wrong.

Many people recommend bringing magnets to use in your cabin as a way to improve the storage options, and it's something you'd never consider at any land hotel.

Part of the reason why magnets and not something else is because the walls in your cabin are metal, and you can't use adhesives or anything else that would damage the walls.

A pack of heavy duty magnetic hooks will last forever and you can re-use them on future cruises. (Link is an affiliate link that costs you nothing extra, but I make a small commission if you buy)

It allows you to hang up dresses, hats, bathing suits, shirts, and pretty much a lot of other stuff that would otherwise take up space in drawers or on furniture.

I was skeptical how effective it would work, but it really does the trick.

Take photos of crew member name tags

Royal Caribbean truly values customer feedback, and it's not just a corporate cliché.

In fact, a lot of cruisers often want to give the cruise line their thoughts, and the post-cruise survey is the best way to do that.  

That survey is also the best way to recognize outstanding crew members, but if you're like me, you forget how to spell their name or in some cases their name all together.  

I saw cruisers taking photos of crew member name tags and thought that's silly.  But in reality, getting home and not remembering that amazing bartender or cabana host's name is silly on my part.

Ask them to take a photo of their name tag so it's easier to remember later for the survey.  They'll be more than happy to let you do that.

There are so many cruise tips shared across the internet, but not all of them are ones that make sense.

Some of these tips are based on personal preferences, and no matter how effective they are, if they don't jive with your style, it's not very useful.

Someone on Reddit asked cruise fans which cruise tips do they disagree with and why.

It sparked hundreds of comments touching on many aspects of a cruise vacation.

Here are the top ones and the rationale behind each, so you can decide if it's good for you or not.

You never spend time in the room except to sleep

The advice of picking a small, inside room instead of a balcony because you won't get as much use out of it was the top tip people disagreed with in the thread.

The argument is because there's so much to see, do, eat, and explore on Royal Caribbean's cruise ships, you simply won't be in your room much to take advantage of the perks.

"My favorite thing on a cruise is to sit on the balcony and read. We do stuff yes, but not sunrise to sunset and spend time in the room just relaxing." Sea_Voice_404 posted.

I can understand why some people would say that, especially vacationers that have cruised a lot. 

I think it may also depend on the ship. There's a big difference between things to do on Icon of the Seas vs Wonder of the Seas vs Enchantment of the Seas.

One major reason to get a balcony cabin was for the opportunity to have breakfast there, as there's a complimentary continental breakfast from room service.

The idea is you have the food delivered to your room and enjoy it on your balcony with the sun rising and open sea around you.

I can see both sides of the arguments, and I agree with this tip, but it's based on which ship you're sailing on and how much more it is to upgrade to a balcony or suite.

Book a later check-in time because it's less busy

What time should you book a check-in time for? Some people recommend a later time to avoid longer check-in lines at the cruise terminal.

"I'm getting on at 10AM and starting my drinking and relaxing at 10:05," said avamore, and I couldn't agree more.

The cost of your vacation is the same whether you board at 10am or 1pm, so I'll always pick the earlier time to get on and start enjoying the ship.

Plus, what are you going to do in the intermediate time? Hotels kick you out by 11am in most cases, and lunch is included in your cruise fare whereas you'd have to pay for lunch somewhere else.

The way to get an early check-in time is to do your check-in exactly at 45 days before the cruise sets sail. The earliest check-in times go first.

I also disagree with the premise of the tip that the terminal is really busy. Yes, there will be people there, but I find Royal Caribbean has the easiest and fastest check-in across the industry. Their use of the mobile app along with procedures in the terminal keeps people moving, provided you take the steps to check-in before the cruise begins.

Book a room away from the elevators

The rationale for this tip is to avoid noise from the elevator lobby where people will be walking, talking, and generally making noise. Instead, book a room at the end of the hall where you won't have nearly as much noise bleed issues.

I think the notion a room near the elevator is noisy is a false narrative to begin with.  My travel agent always books my cabin near the elevator and I love it for the convenience, whether I'm taking the elevator or the stairs.

"It’s just nice not having to walk from the direct middle or end of the ship to be anywhere quickly," said tyranski332.

The impact of a short walk is more apparent on Icon, Oasis, and Quantum Class ships where cabins at the very end of the hall can seem like the walk never ends.

Skip the Main Dining Room and buy the unlimited specialty dining package

The logic behind this tip is to indulge in specialty dining because food in the Main Dining Room isn't good, isn't as good as it used to be, or specialty dining food is just better.

JH12214 wrote, "In reality, I thought that every dinner I had was great. I was well-taken care of, and perhaps because I was lead to believe it was microwave-quality, I was pleasantly surprised."

I really like the Main Dining Room overall, and I'll eat there on some nights and work in specialty on other nights.

But I would never go as far as to tell anyone, especially new cruisers, that they should avoid the Main Dining Room.

I love the service you get in the Main Dining Room. Waiters getting to know you and your family are one of the reasons I fell in love with cruising in the first place.

And while not every dish in the Main Dining Room is going to be the best you've ever had, there are definitely some that I'll order every single time.

My advice for a new cruiser is to try one or two specialty restaurants, but rely on the Main Dining Room otherwise. Then after trying both, make a decision for yourself.

You need to buy a package to have a good cruise

Piggybacking on the previous tip, goinhungryyeah wrote buying various packages is necessary for a good cruise.

This goes back to how you like to cruise. I agree you don't need to buy any extra cost package to have a good time.  There's enough included you won't go hungry and still have a fun vacation.

The value of the packages are for those that prefer to vacation in a certain way.  If you want to have five to six drinks a day, a drink package is going to save you money.  If you love teppanyaki dining, steak, and lobster, a dining package might be a good fit.

However, don't automatically assume you need one.

I'd advise to read through what each package offers, and what Royal Caribbean includes.

In some cases, you can decide on the ship if you really need it. You can buy an internet package or drink package onboard, but you'll pay more per day than if you prepaid.

Over the door shoe organizers

One of the top cabin hacks out there is to bring an over the door hanging shoe organizer to add more storage space to your cabin.

I tried this hack out myself and found it really didn't work for me. In fact, I was more annoyed by it jostling around a lot.

I think this tip is rooted in the old days of cruise ships (ships built before 2010) that truly lacked storage space.  If you sail on any ship built more recently, I'm always amazed how much storage space there is.

Some readers point out the value here is for toiletries, which unless you're in a suite, always lacks places for everyone's bathroom accessories.  This is especially true the more people you have in the room.

Avoid the Windjammer on embarkation day

Embarkation day is busy, and it seems everyone goes to the Windjammer buffet for lunch. So the advice is to skip it to avoid lines.

lemon-actually explained, "I find it way more crowded at peak breakfast time on any other day. If you want Windjammer when you get on the ship, go to Windjammer. It’s busy but truly not as horrific as people say (in my experience anyway)."

This is one of those tips where I can see both sides of the logic. 

Yes, the Windjammer around 1pm is going to be very busy on embarkation day. However, it's not impossible to get food or a table. 

The other reason I'll still go is for the variety of food.

I have picky eaters in my family, so the widest selection is always welcome to simplify things.

I also find if you get an early check-in time and board early, it's less chaotic than going later on in the day.

Don't bring kids because it’s not fun/you’re just parenting on a ship

I cannot disagree with a tip more than this one that bringing kids is a mistake.

With apologies to ashmcdonald88 who wrote a good post explaining why it's a bad tip, I'd like to get on my own soap box.

Taking your kids, even babies, on vacation is one of the best things you can do as a parent.  One of your jobs is to surround them in positive experiences and share in life journeys.  Vacation is a huge one of those.

Plus, Royal Caribbean is a family cruise line. They specialize and cater to families: always have and always will.

I hate to paint with a wide brush, but this tip usually comes from people who don't want to hear, see, or be near children. I'll never understand this logic when they choose to cruise on a family cruise line.  

Not to mention Royal Caribbean offers adult-only areas, as well as areas that tend to lean into adult spaces.

Only use ship excursions, you might be left behind

There's truth to the fact Royal Caribbean promises if you book a shore excursion with them, they'll guarantee to get you back on the ship if the tour is late.

I think this is one of the top concerns cruisers have, especially new ones.  I remember the first time we did a non-Royal Caribbean tour and left our kids in Adventure Ocean. The level of paranoia was insane.

However, I think you're doing yourself a disservice if you rule out all third party tours.

I'd recommend considering both kinds of shore excursions, and then making a choice for you.

In Cozumel, I'll always book a tour on my own, unless I ever did an excursion on the mainland that requires a ferry boat.  Then, I'll only go through Royal Caribbean because of how notorious that ferry is being delayed.

A mix of both kinds of tours is probably where you should be.

Don't get Wi-Fi.  Turn off from the world.

This is another tip I totally disagree with because there's more downtime on a cruise than you might think.

I'll always buy a Wi-Fi package because it's just as relaxing to me to have the internet. I want to play Wordle, check out new YouTube videos, message friends and family, or follow my social feeds.

I think this tip comes from folks who associate internet with work.  Meaning, their phone being connected will inevitably draw in work emails or messages.

That may be true, but before I went full time with this blog, I would purposefully not check my work email. 

Stay on the ship in Nassau

Royal Caribbean actually agrees with this tip, in the sense they're trying to do something about it.

Nassau consistently ranks as one of the worst ports in terms of guest satisfaction. It's why they're building a brand new beach club to address the issue.

Royal Beach Club Paradise Island opens in December 2025, and will be an extra-cost option where the cruise line is promising "the ultimate beach day."

I'm eagerly looking forward to seeing what the final product looks like, but plans I've seen so far indicate they're taking the best lessons they've learned from Perfect Day at CocoCay and their ships, and applying it to an all-inclusive experience that will jump out as exciting.

Use a travel agent

Reddit user mritty disagreed about the value of a travel agent, "Most of the time they do nothing for you and serve as nothing but a middle man, a roadblock to you making any changes to your reservation."

I disagree that using a travel agent is a bad idea.  I love using them, and always recommend them to friends and family.

When I see arguments like this, I'm reminded of restaurants.  

If you go to a bad restaurant, do you swear off every going to another restaurant? Do you swear off Italian restaurants? No, of course not.

Not all travel agents are equal, but the good ones make managing your cruises and issues you run into so much easier.

I saw a comment from Billy from CruiseHabit.com that I thought really put the roadblock comment into perspective, "I've never seen it as a road block. Instead of calling a call center and waiting on hold, I text or email my agent, or call, whatever I prefer, and they make it happen."

"No holding, no escalating to a supervisor, etc. Plus they're worth their weight in gold if you run into an issue and need an advocate or someone to scramble changes for you."

The summer cruise season is about to begin, and it brings a series of changes cruisers should be aware of before they travel.

I have five cruises planned for this summer (and maybe more to come), and as I started planning things out, it became clear there are some new things to take into account.

I'm an over planner and I like to prep as much as I can in the months leading up to my cruise. I actually think it's fun to plan a cruise out, as it gives me an outlet for my pent up excitement about the vacation.

Here are 4 changes coming to cruises this summer anyone with a sailing should think about before the trip starts.

Real ID matters, but not for a cruise

The hot button change coming to all of travel in the United States this summer is the Real ID rule mandate.

Beginning May 7, there will be new security standards for driver's licenses and state identification cards. The change applies to enhancing federal standards, including passing through airport security checkpoints.

This means if you're flying within the United States for your cruise vacation, you need to double check your driver's license meets this standard or you'll be denied entry at the airport.

If you have a passport, you can use that instead.

While these rules apply to air travel, you don't need a Real ID for a cruise vacation specifically.

Cruise lines, including Royal Caribbean, allow U.S. citizens sailing round trip from the same U.S. homeport (that doesn't include a visit to Panama, Colombia, or Martinique) can sail with government-issued photo ID  and a birth certificate.  

I strongly recommend everyone cruise with a passport, but technically there's an alternative for Americans on select itineraries.

Don't wait to book a last-minute cruise

If a summer cruise sounds like a great vacation, don't wait another minute to book it.

Royal Caribbean executives said prices go up for last-minute cruise bookings, and it's a good enough reason to book your cruise as early as possible.

The cruise line doesn't slash prices of unsold cabins at the last minute. Rather, they're hiking prices to take advantage of anyone trying to squeeze a cruise in right before it starts.

Royal Caribbean Group CEO Jason Liberty explained this tactic during his company's first quarter earnings call last week, "We see...an uplift in demand as we get very close in. Not only do we see an uplift in demand, we're also about to raise our pricing during that period of time."

This means you're going to want to book that summer cruise now, and now try to wait it out any longer.

Even if you don't care about higher prices, the reality is cabins left for a summer cruise are dwindling.

The company said about 86% of the 2025 cruise inventory is booked already. 

You're going to want to act quickly and book a vacation now before prices go up again.

US citizens now need to pay to enter the UK

If you are cruising the United Kingdom or your ship visits a UK port, there's a new fee and step to take.

As of January 2025, travelers coming into the UK need to obtain a new electronic travel authorization to enter the country. This applies to all visitors (regardless of age) who can travel there visa-free, including Americans.

The ETA application cost is 10 pounds ($13) and will be valid for multiple visits up to a maximum duration of six months over two years.

You need to apply before your start travel and there's a requirement to upload a photo.

Officials claim it will take up to 3 business days to obtain clearance, but in our experience, it's complete in a matter of minutes.  Regardless, don't wait until the day before your trip to do it.

It's easy to apply using the ETA app, available on iOS and Android.

Don't bring your speaker to CocoCay

A new rule change that was first spotted during Spring Break is Royal Caribbean doesn't want you bringing your speakers to its private island.

There are four rules the cruise line posted in its digital Cruise Compass on the day your ship visits Perfect Day at CocoCay.

1. Swim diapers are required for pools and Splashaway Bay for toddlers and infants
2. Don't feed the seagulls
3. No fishing
4. No glass bottles or personal speakers

While the other rules aren't that new, the prohibition on personal speakers is a change to be aware of for your visit this summer.

I can assume this rule is in place to prevent someone's music impacting someone else's ability to enjoy their day.

Cruise vacations aren't necessarily cheap, especially on the new Royal Caribbean ships. 

Depending on when you sail, how many people are going with you, and the specific itinerary you select all contribute to driving up the cost of your cruise fare.

Then there's the price of food, which may increase your vacation budget. Royal Caribbean includes a lot of meals in your vacation, but there's the option to spend more too.

However, there are a few strategies to do Royal Caribbean on a budget and advice you can follow to keep some extra money in your pocket to spend on a fun shore excursion or even a new sailing.

Here are five Royal Caribbean food hacks that will save you money.

Bring a reusable water bottle

You're going to get thirsty on your cruise, even on sailings to not-so-warm destinations.  And if you're headed to the Caribbean, all that heat and humidity will drain you quickly.

You could spend money on buying water by the plastic bottle onboard, but there's an easier option. To save money, bring your own refillable water bottle instead.

There are water stations that cost nothing to use around your ship.  There's always one at Cafe Promenade/Cafe Latte-Tudes/Pearl Cafe that you can use.  

Royal Caribbean won't allow you to directly fill the water bottle, but you can easily use one of the plastic cups to transport it into your cup.

The top favorites among cruisers are the same ones you probably have seen at home: Stanley Cups, Yeti Cups, or Hydroflask are all excellent ideas. (Contains an affiliate link, which costs you nothing extra to use). 

If you are bringing one of these cups, I've seen more and more cruisers also getting a water bottle holder with them so you don't have to hold it all the time. This makes taking it around the ship far more convenient.

Not only will bringing a reusable water bottle save you money on paying for water bottles, you will be able to stay hydrated a heck of a lot easier.

You can bring snacks from home

You won't go hungry on a Royal Caribbean ship because of how much is included in your cruise fare, but that doesn't mean your favorite snacks are offered.

It wasn't until I had kids that I saw the value in bringing snacks on my cruise.

It's so convenient to have the snacks my kids like in my cabin.  I'm talking Goldfish crackers, Pringles potato chips, toddler snacks, and more.

The rule is it just has to be a sealed snack bag, so unfortunately, you cannot bring leftovers or fruit with you onboard.

For adults, how about your favorite chocolates, protein bars, nuts, and other handy snacks you might like to have in your room?

One tip is to not bring those snacks off the ship with you.

Many countries have strict rules about taking food off the ship, so keep them to enjoy in your stateroom.

Look for wandering waiters trying to sell you a reservation

Specialty restaurants all cost extra, but there could be a way to enjoy them without paying full price.

This is a "YMMV" type hack, but if you ever spot a restaurant waiter walking around the Royal Promenade, Centrum or near the Windjammer and he or she is offering to make a reservation, you should be prepared with this question:

"Can I get a discount if I book with you right now?"

Their job is to drum up business for new restaurant bookings, so it doesn't hurt to ask for a discount.

They may offer you half off, a free bottle of wine, or some other money saving option.

Sometimes they need to call their manager to ask, but you won't know until you ask.

Typically, I see most of these waiters on embarkation day.  The first day of a cruise is usually the least busy at specialty restaurants, so keep an eye out for them.

Eat at lunch instead of dinner

Another specialty restaurant tip is to consider lunch to save money.

In some cases, the cost of lunch is cheaper than dinner and it's practically the same menu.

Plus, it’s usually less crowded then going for dinner.

A great example of this is Izumi Hibachi, where dinner costs $70 onboard the ship for dinner, but lunch costs $40.  It's the exact same menu and experience.

Giovanni's is usually cheaper too for lunch, and it's menu is nearly identical.  Ditto for Chops Grille or Hooked. 

The Mason Jar has a different brunch menu from dinner, but it's also cheaper for the former than the latter.

Skip dining packages

Don't assume you need a dining package to have great meals on your cruise.

From a pure money saving perspective, you'll find lots of good food in both the Main Dining Room or Windjammer buffet.

The Windjammer has a lot of international cuisine offered, including fabulous Indian options and even cooking stations.

If thou wants a great vacation, thou shalt follow the most important pieces of travel advice.

I'm asked every week for cruise advice when I host a YouTube live video every Monday night. It's an opportunity to give recommendations to specific situations, but there are certain truths that are applicable to just about everyone.

While some advice is going to vary on how effective or useful it is based on the person, there are a core set of travel guidelines I think everyone should follow because the consequences could be dire for your vacation.

The beauty of a cruise vacation is you don't have to plan a lot to have a great time. However, the more you do plan ahead, the better your experience will be overall and you'll probably save money too. Plus, you're far more likely to avoid common pitfalls.

In thinking about the breadth of cruise advice I can provide, I came up with the 10 most important cruise tips possible that apply to just about everyone. 

I hope these tips will save your sanity, reduce your vacation cost, and get you time back during your vacation.

1. Book your cruise early to get the lowest price

There are a lot of approaches to getting a better price on your cruise, but the one that seems to work the best is to book as early as you can.

Prices tend to go up over time, so if you can book a cruise a year or more in advance, you'll probably get a better price.

Cruise lines price their sailings based on a few factors, but how quickly a ship sells and the amount of remaining unsold cabins are among the top considerations. As more people book a cruise, there are less cabins left and the price goes up.

If you can book a cruise more than 12 months early, you'll be able to take advantage of a wider selection of cabins and competitive prices. 

There are last-minute cruise deals out there, but they rarely line up with the exact week you want to vacation. Worse yet, the choice of staterooms is likely going to be crummy.

For residents of the United States, Canada, Australia, and other select countries, you can re-price the cruise up until final payment date if there's a price drop.

2. Book your flight a day early and your flight home late

One of the worst mistakes you can make is to book your flight the same day your cruise begins.

You never want to fly the same day your cruise is scheduled to depart because a flight delay or cancellation means you could miss your cruise vacation, and there's no refund when you no-show for it.

Instead, fly in at least one day before the cruise begins. For international cruises, I'd bump that up to two or three days ahead of time.

Yes, coming in earlier means extra hotel and incidental costs, but it's better than risking your entire vacation on flights being on time.

There are horror stories of travelers who failed to heed this advice and ended up missing their cruise. It's something I unfortunately see all the time, and it's easily preventable.

3. Buy everything you need before the cruise begins, and re-price it along the way

There are lots of add-ons for a cruise, and you'll want to buy them all before it begins.

Instead of waiting to buy it on the ship, you should buy it before it begins on the Royal Caribbean app or website for two important reasons.

First, you'll save money because Royal Caribbean regularly discounts its offerings before the sailing.

There are sales and pre-cruise discounts offered on drink packages, shore excursions, wifi, and more. So book it when you know you need it and lock in the price.

The second reason to pre-book is if there is a new sale that lowers the price, you can always cancel and rebook it.

If you're thinking why not wait until closer to the cruise to actually book the add-on, the issue is prices can go up.  

By booking early and re-pricing later, you assure you always have the best price.

Moreover, some things will sell out before the cruise begins, such as shore excursions or dining packages.

4. Buy travel insurance for any cruise you take

I know travel insurance is an extra cost, but it's worth protecting your family vacation with it.

Insurance is super useful for many scenarios you never expect to run into, and then it's the best money you ever spent.

Travel insurance covers your medical needs, as well as travel delays, injuries, family obligations, and all sorts of reasons why you need to end your vacation early.

I've see too many situations where a family encountered bad luck and it could have made the issue better with travel insurance to back them up.

5. Do the entire online check-in

The last thing you want to do when you arrive at the cruise terminal on the first day is waste time instead of being on the ship.

Just like an airplane, you can complete the online check-in via the cruise line app to expedite the process when you arrive on embarkation day.

Royal Caribbean wants to get you on the ship as fast as possible, so they've enhanced the app to speed up boarding. 

If you take a few minutes at home to do all the check-in steps, you'll spend less time in the cruise terminal and get on the ship faster.

That means filling in all your personal information, scanning your passport, taking a selfie, and entering your credit card information.

6. Use a travel agent to book the cruise

Do you want to save money and time? Using a good travel agent is a must-do, in my opinion.

The value of a travel agent goes beyond booking the cruise, because anyone can do that.  It's the depth of experience they bring, and ability to find the lowest possible price that are why they're so useful.

While travel agents aren't as popular in other forms of travel as they used to be, they remain quite useful with cruises because a cruise vacation is such a personalized vacation.

There are many decisions related to fare types, cabin selection, discount, ship choice, and more. New cruisers can easily miss an important factor, while those that cruise a lot could benefit from wasting less of their own time going back and forth with the cruise line.

If you've tried a travel agent but didn't like that, that just means you haven't found the right one yet.  It's like a good restaurant, you can't give up eating out completely because you went to one bad restaurant.

Ask friends and family which travel agents they use and recommend, and work with one.

7. Pick your ship based on what you want to do

Too many cruisers pick a cruise based on it being the newest, biggest, or cheapest, without realizing they're picking the wrong ship for them.

There isn't an inherently bad Royal Caribbean ship to sail on, but there might be a better ship for your family.

Every cruise ship is not the same, and they don't all include the same activities, dining choices, or things to do onboard.

So what you want to do is research what the ship has to do, and what it doesn't have, and then pick one based on your needs.

When you chase the lowest price and end up on a small, old ship, it's not going to have many restaurants and very few top deck attractions.

Likewise, the newest ship is going enormous and sail to places you might not care about.

I can't tell you how many times I hear someone was disappointed in a cruise ship because it didn't measure up to the one they expected or sailed on previously. Having the right expectations is important.

8. Find and book excursions before the cruise begins

There are going to be dozens of things to do in any port your ship visits, and it's so much easier to find the right one when you research it from home.

The destinations a cruise go to are among the top reasons anyone books a cruise vacation. With only a few hours in each port, that leaves little wiggle room for disappointment.

My advice is take some time and look up ideas for what to do, and the right tour operator. You can book shore excursions with Royal Caribbean or with a third-party company. There are advantages to both, but you need to do your homework.

9. If your ship allows you to pre-book entertainment, do it

On Royal Caribbean's biggest cruise ships, you'll be able to book tickets to the shows onboard and you really should do it as soon as possible.

There is limited capacity for these shows, and no cost to pre-book, so you'll want to do so.  Usually entertainment opens up about 30 days before a cruise begins, and it's only available on the Oasis, Icon, and Quantum Class ships.

If you're sailing on other classes of ships, you can't and don't need to book entertainment.

Reservations will sell out, but don't let that stop you from going anyway. There's a standby line for each show, and you can usually get in if you arrive at least 30 minutes before the show begins.  Moreover, there can be additional tickets you can book once you get on the ship and connect to the ship's WiFi and then open up the Royal Caribbean app.

10. Be flexible

You can follow every commandment so far and still run into a problem or unexpected issue during your cruise, so it's critical to be flexible.

The spontaneity of a vacation is part of it's appeal, but it's also why sometimes things don't go as planned. 

The key is roll with the punches and not let an issue ruin the rest of your trip.

You'll want to mitigate the problem and speak to a crew member to help, depending on the severity of it.  

But if it's out of your hands, like bad weather, choosing the wrong tour, or wasting money on something onboard, you should chalk it up to bad luck and move on. Grab a drink, sleep it off, or laugh about it and try to make the rest of the trip better.

I've run into very frustrating experiences over the years while I've cruised, but I've made an effort to never let it get to me and become a major disaster.