After a 12-night cruise to New Zealand with my husband, I flew directly to South Dakota to spend a week working in the office. While I normally work remotely from Florida, I always appreciate the opportunity to be in the office and connect with coworkers in person. 

In addition to freelance writing, I also work as a data analyst for my regular job. This meant I needed to plan for my New Zealand cruise and a week in the office while strategizing my packing plans. 

Of course, I absolutely love to shop for my outfits before vacation. Yes, I have a closet full of clothes, but it’s so fun to pick out new cruise outfits for any upcoming vacation. For me, it’s all part of the fun of planning and preparing for a vacation.

All of this meant that my back-to-back trips of cruising to New Zealand, and then visiting the office for work, created a unique packing challenge. As such, I needed to prioritize pieces that could transition easily from cruise wear to office attire. Every item had to earn its place in my suitcase, which meant focusing on versatility rather than packing separate outfits for each part of the trip.

It’s also important to note that my office environment is fairly casual. For example, jeans are definitely considered office appropriate. Needless to say, I wasn’t planning to pack my pencil skirt or blazer!

Moreover, New Zealand and South Dakota were both on the chilly side (although northern New Zealand was warmer). Because of the cooler weather, most of these recommendations would be for cold-weather cruising. This would include destinations like Alaska, Norway, Northern Europe, New England, New Zealand, Iceland, and more.

If you’re looking to invest in clothes that feel stylish and practical for both an upcoming cruise and time in the office, consider this your go-to shopping list. Below are my top outfit recommendations for women that transition seamlessly from cruise vacation to office attire.

Note: If you purchase from our Amazon links below, we receive a small commission. This is no extra cost to you, but it does help support our website. You can always check out our Amazon Storefront for all cruise essentials and must-haves.
 

1. Long Sleeve Swing Dress

Link: MOLERANI Women's Casual Simple Long Sleeve T-Shirt Loose Dress

Price: $19.99

One of my favorite outfits to bring on a cruise is a long sleeve swing dress. It’s comfortable, easy to wear, and works well for a variety of settings. Whether I’m walking around a port of call or getting dressed for a day in the office, this is one of my go-to outfits. 

I wore this style of dress multiple times during our cruise and packed it in a few different colors because it's so versatile. It was especially perfect for our sailaway from Sydney, Australia, which I wore later that evening as a cute, comfortable dinner outfit. Once I returned to South Dakota, I continued wearing the same dress to the office, but I styled it with leggings and boots for colder weather. It ended up being one of the most practical outfits that I packed.

2. Denim Jacket

Link: Amazon Essentials Women's Jean Jacket (Available in Plus Size)

Price: $23.90

Another classic piece in my cruise wardrobe is a denim jacket. I love how easy it is to throw on when exploring ports on cooler days or during breezy evenings onboard. It’s one of those layers that works with almost anything and can be dressed up or down while still providing just enough warmth.

A denim jacket like this is also a staple in my office wardrobe. In the summer, I often layer it over a lightweight dress for an easy, comfortable work outfit. In the winter, it works just as well paired with a casual top and darker trousers for a typical workday. It’s a versatile, reliable piece that every woman should have, in my opinion!

3. Romper with Pants

Link: PRETTYGARDEN Jumpsuits for Women 2026 Spring Summer Casual Dressy Short Sleeve Romper Airport Vacation Travel Outfits

Price: $29.99

Rompers are one of my go-to outfits for cruises because they’re effortless to wear and always look put-together, especially when paired with a simple set of heels. Whether I need an easy dinner outfit onboard or something comfortable for exploring a port, a romper works perfectly. I find it can be dressed up or down with just a few accessories.

I’m also a big fan of wearing rompers like this back at the office. I stick to styles with pants to keep things work-appropriate, and they’re easy to layer for a more professional look. I often pair my romper with a denim jacket or a light sweater. This outfit is easy for the office while still being comfortable enough for a full workday.

4. Lightweight, Button Down Cardigan

Link: Yincro Women's Lightweight Crewneck Cardigan Long Sleeve Soft Knit Cardigans Sweater

Price: $14.99

My mom’s number one rule for cruise packing is always to bring a light sweater. It hardly takes up any space in your suitcase, but it’s one of those items you’ll end up using constantly. A nice cardigan or sweater is an easy layer to throw on in the evenings or inside the ship, and it can quickly pull an outfit together. If you tend to get cold easily, cruise ship air conditioning can feel especially brutal, so a light sweater is a must-have.

In addition, a lightweight cardigan is also something I wear all the time back in the office. It layers easily over just about anything while also adding warmth, without feeling too bulky. In the summer, I love tossing a light cardigan over a dress for an easy, comfortable work outfit that still feels appropriate for the office.

5. Sweatshirt Dress

Link: KISSMODA Womens Sweatshirt Dress Fall Long Sleeve Pullover Tops Patchwork Casual Mini Dresses

Price: $19.99

One of my favorite cruise outfits for New Zealand was this casual sweatshirt dress from Amazon. It was warm, cozy, and easy to wear with a pair of leggings and white sneakers for sea days and cooler port stops. It was one of those pieces I kept reaching for because it was comfortable, but still looked cute.

I’ve also worn this dress plenty since getting back home. In the office, I layer it with leggings and heeled boots to make it feel a bit more professional for the office. It’s been perfect for winter workdays in the cold Midwest, as it’s cozy all day, but still work-appropriate.

6. Dark Wash Jeans

Link: Sidefeel Women's Wide Leg Jeans High Waisted Stretchy Raw Hem Zimbaplatinum Denim Pants

Price: $39.99

Jeans are a great option to bring on a cruise, whether you decide to wear them for dinner or during your time ashore. Whether you pair the jeans with a dressier top or a casual t-shirt, jeans are versatile for your vacation. I prefer a looser pair of jeans when cruising, as there’s nothing worse than a tight pair of pants after a week of cruise food!

For my office, jeans are acceptable for work attire. I try to avoid jeans with lighter wash or holes to maintain professionalism. This style is a great option to wear to the office, especially in the cooler winter months to stay warm!

7. Casual Trousers

Link: IWOLLENCE Women's Wide Leg Pants with Pockets High Waist Adjustable Knot Loose Casual Trousers Business Work Casual Pants

Price: $19.99

If you’re not really a jeans person, casual trousers can be a great alternative for both a cruise and the office. A looser pair of trousers is comfortable but still looks classy. This makes it easy to wear for dinner onboard, or as a more put-together outfit while exploring a port, especially in cooler weather. They’re also easy to style up or down depending on your plans for the day.

Trousers are also a staple for my trips to the office. A pair of trousers is something I can wear to work year-round, whether I’m pairing them with a blouse for a more classic office look, or a simple top for an easier workday outfit. They’re comfortable and versatile!

8. Midi Dress

Link: BTFBM Womens Summer 2025 Casual Midi Maxi Dresses Lightweight Short Sleeve V Neck Elastic Waist Boho Beach Dress Pockets

Price: $49.99

Another cruise staple for me is a midi dress. This is one of those items that I’ll wear both ashore during the day and again for dinner onboard, just styled a little differently. A change of shoes can make all the difference from casual daytime outfit to a dressier look at night.

Like most of my cruise clothes, I usually go for a looser fit so it stays comfortable all day. Most importantly, it doesn’t feel restrictive after enjoying all that great cruise food!

For the office, midi dresses are especially nice in the spring and summer when the weather starts to warm up. While I didn’t really wear my midi dress during colder winter days at work, they’re absolutely something I pack and reach for once the weather starts to warm up. I find midi dresses are easy, comfortable, and work well for the office.

9. Flowy Skirt

Link: HUSKARY Women's Summer Casual Elegant Smock Layered Tiered Maxi Skirt High Waisted A Line Flowy Long Skirts with Pockets

Price: $18.99

While I’m not really a fan of pencil skirts for the office, I do love a flowy skirt! This style is lightweight and comfortable, which makes it especially easy to wear on a cruise, particularly in warmer destinations where staying cool is important. The relaxed fit makes it practical for walking around port or spending a full day exploring without feeling restricted.

Paired with a cute top, a flowy skirt creates an effortless outfit that works just as well for a casual day ashore as it does for dinner onboard. At the office, I like to wear a flowy skirt with a sweater in the fall or spring. It's cute and stylish pretty much all year! It’s a great addition to any cruise or office wardrobe. 

10. Oversized Turtleneck Sweater

Link: LILLUSORY Women's Oversized Batwing Sweaters 2025 Fall Outfits Trendy Crewneck Knit Side Slit Fashion Pullover Tops

Price: $32.99

You might not immediately think to pack a turtleneck sweater for a cruise, but if you’re sailing to cooler destinations like Alaska, Norway, or Iceland, warmer layers are a must. A turtleneck is great for chilly days exploring ports of call and also works well paired with jeans for dinner onboard.

During the winter, I basically live in oversized sweaters when I go to the office. I usually wear my sweaters with a pair of leggings and heeled boots for a comfortable, but still office-appropriate look. You could just as easily pair this type of sweater with jeans or dress pants for a more traditional work outfit, which makes it a really versatile piece to have in your closet.

Royal Caribbean has launched a new feature inside its mobile app called Vacay Market, and it’s not your typical cruise souvenir shop!

Vacay Market is a built-in shopping marketplace that you can now find directly on the Royal Caribbean app. The new marketplace allows users to purchase everything from Royal Caribbean–branded merchandise to vacation outfits, beauty products, kids’ clothing, toys, luggage, and pickleball gear!

Even better, it’s all shipped directly to your home, meaning you don’t need to be onboard now to purchase Royal Caribbean merchandise.

The new Vacay Market appears as a pop-up on the Royal Caribbean app’s homepage. Royal Caribbean describes Vacay Market as a place to “shop for stunning fashion, gifts, branded merch, and travel essentials,” with the added perk of direct, free shipping.

Vacay Market has hundreds of items available for purchase already, making it the perfect place to shop before your next Royal Caribbean cruise.

What you can buy from Vacay Market

Vacay Market is divided into different categories, including Branded Merch, Royal Badges, Apparel, Travel Essentials, Accessories, Home, Beauty & Wellness, Kids, Toys & Games, and Footwear.

While I expected to find mostly Royal Caribbean merchandise, I was surprised by the wide range of items available in Vacay Market. It felt more like shopping on Amazon, with a mix of cruise essentials and vacation necessities.

Of course, this is a great place to stock up on branded Royal Caribbean merch with the classic Crown & Anchor logo. You can find insulated tumblers, wine cups, notebooks, cosmetic cases, tote bags, passport wallets made from real leather, jewelry organizers, fanny packs, cooler totes, embroidered fleece blankets, and more. 

Prices range from the low $20s for smaller items up to $70 for premium drinkware sets and specialty bags. You can even find pickleball equipment, including branded paddles and pickleball bags priced around $55–$60.

Vacay Market offers Royal Badges to bring home your cruise memories

One of the more interesting sections within Vacay Market is the Royal Badges collection. This appears to be Royal Caribbean’s attempt to turn cruise experiences into physical, collectible souvenirs.

Royal Badges include items like pins, T-shirts, premium baseball hats, and shot glasses, all themed around specific destinations or experiences. Currently, Perfect Day at CocoCay is the only available badge option, although we can likely expect to find more options in the future!

For example, the Royal Badges Pin Set of 2 is priced at $14 and labeled as “exclusively available in app” for purchase. The product description leans heavily into collectibility, describing the pins as keepsakes that are meant to showcase “earned badges and bragging rights” from past voyages.

The Vacay Market also includes apparel, beauty, home, and more

In addition to branded merchandise and Royal Badge items, Vacay Market also offers apparel, beauty products, and travel essentials for your upcoming cruise. The apparel section includes dresses, cover-ups, sarongs, jumpsuits, swimsuits, polos, and rashguards, with many items priced between $68 and $98. However, some items are priced close to $200.

Additionally, footwear includes flip-flops, slides, jelly sandals, handmade leather shoes, and loafers, with several items priced between $100–$200.

In the Beauty & Wellness section, you'll find plenty of travel-size beauty products and cruise must-haves. Options include sunscreen sticks and sprays, aloe cooling mists, grooming kits, oral care bundles, hair tools, essential oil rollerballs, and toiletry kits. Many of these items are practical for cruising, although you might find them priced higher in the Vacay Market than other retailers.

Finally, kids’ offerings include cruise outfits, UPF-rated swimwear, toys, puzzles, building block sets, STEM kits, kids’ tablets, headphones, and games.

How checkout works

Purchases from the Vacay Market are completed entirely inside the Royal Caribbean app. Items are shipped to your home and standard shipping is listed as free. The app indicates that shipping is typically within one to five business days after purchase.

In addition, some items will be fulfilled by third-party vendors rather than Royal Caribbean directly. Items will indicate which vendor will fulfill the order. Payment is handled like standard e-commerce checkout, with sales tax applied depending on location.

Some items are labeled app-exclusive, including many of the Royal Badge items, so be sure to check your Royal Caribbean app if you’re interested in beginning your collection!

Your cruise cabin quickly becomes your home away from home, but this month, I splurged on decorations to make our cabin feel even cozier for Christmas.

The holiday season is always magical with twinkling lights, Christmas trees, and seasonal decor everywhere you look. My husband and I look forward to decorating our house each year for the Christmas season. Once November hits, our home stays festive through January with decorations!

Because we were jetting off to Australia for a 12-night cruise to New Zealand, I decided to stop by my local dollar store to pick up some seasonal decorations for our cabin. It might seem frivolous or unnecessary, but my husband and I are huge fans of the holiday season.

More importantly, we’ve spent multiple Christmases apart over the years because of my husband's military deployments. So, we truly cherish the time we’re able to spend together during the holidays.

I figured the dollar store would have plenty of inexpensive options to bring onboard for decorations, and I was right! Our local Dollar Tree was filled with holiday decor, and I was pleased to find many lightweight, easy-to-hang items that would work perfectly in a cruise cabin. Some items were more than $1.25, and I also purchased other cruise-related essentials to bring along. 

My plan was to bring the decorations aboard, enjoy them for the duration of the cruise, and leave them behind at the end of our trip. Because everything was so affordable, I didn’t mind parting with it at the end of the cruise. But, in the end, I gave our Blu hostess a bag filled with decorations and Christmas goodies for her to enjoy. 

In addition, leaving the decorations behind meant freeing up extra space for shopping on the way home. I love bringing back treasures from my travels, so I knew that space would be put to good use.

Here’s how I spent $40 at the dollar store to decorate our cabin and get into the Christmas spirit during our cruise. 

First, Celebrity Edge was decorated beautifully for the holidays around the ship!

If you’ve ever cruised during the Christmas season, you know cruise lines truly deck out their ships from head to toe in holiday decor. Throughout December, you’ll find beautiful displays, festive garlands, and massive Christmas trees placed all around the ship. It's pretty much impossible to forget that it’s the most wonderful time of the year, even on a cruise ship!

The Grand Atrium on Celebrity Edge was covered in garland and warm, glowing lights when we boarded. I was so excited to see that the decorations were already up when we boarded right after Thanksgiving. 

Walking into the ship immediately felt festive and cozy, which set the tone for the entire cruise, despite the hot Australian heat! It truly felt like we were in the Christmas spirit from the moment we boarded.

In addition, there was a huge Christmas tree in the atrium, decorated with beautiful ornaments and twinkling lights. It quickly became one of our favorite spots onboard. 

The massive Christmas tree made the perfect backdrop for happy hours or after-dinner drinks while enjoying live music in the atrium. I also loved seeing it lit up in the mornings when we stopped by Cafe al Bacio for our daily coffee, making our early mornings feel special and festive.

As the cruise went on, even more holiday displays appeared around the ship. Toward the end of the sailing, a beautiful, over-the-top gingerbread display popped up outside of Eden. The display included intricately detailed gingerbread houses and spectacular Christmas decorations. Almost every passenger walking by stopped to admire the display and take a picture!

We booked an AquaClass Infinite Veranda stateroom for our cruise, which gave us plenty of space to decorate.

For this sailing, we decided to splurge on an Infinite Veranda cabin with AquaClass perks. We booked cabin 9268 on Deck 9 aboard Celebrity Edge, and it turned out to be a great location. Our cabin was quiet and tucked away from heavy foot traffic. In addition, it was conveniently located on the ship so we never felt far from restaurants, lounges, or elevators.

Our stateroom included a couch, vanity, king bed, and the Infinite Veranda space. The bathroom was also surprisingly spacious, and we were impressed by how much extra room the Infinite Veranda added to the cabin. Unlike a traditional balcony, the Infinite Veranda features floor-to-ceiling windows and a small sitting area that blends seamlessly into the living space.

This layout made the entire cabin feel open and more spacious than a standard stateroom. Because the walls are magnetic, I packed my magnetic hooks to hang Christmas decorations and lightweight items around the cabin. 

I also brought a few heavy-duty metal clips from the dollar store for extra flexibility, knowing we’d likely have more to hang on the walls than normal. My husband was surprised these heavy-duty clips were from the dollar store, as he was impressed by the quality. 

I decorated our cabin after unpacking our suitcases and immediately wished I had brought even more decorations.

On embarkation day, I was eager to unpack my belongings and get settled in our stateroom. After unpacking my clothes and feeling organized, we started decorating the cabin for Christmas. 

For decor, I packed tinsel-style Christmas trees to hang around the stateroom. They were simple, but lightweight to pack and festive for our stateroom. Because they weren't expensive, I didn’t worry about them getting damaged. 

I actually purchased even more decorations to pack, but I decided not to bring them since they didn’t fit well in my suitcase. Some decorations already looked bent before packing, so I didn't trust they'd survive the flight to Australia! The tinsel pieces ended up being the easiest and most practical option.

The first thing we added was a large red Christmas bow on our cabin door. I didn’t bring Christmas magnets for the door, although that would have been another easy option. One of our neighbors used magnets on their door, which I thought looked really cute.

We loved having the big red Christmas bow on our door because it made our cabin easy to spot in the hallway. The glittery bow felt festive without being too much. I used a heavy-duty clip from Dollar Tree to hang it, and it stayed in place for all 12 nights without any issues.

Inside the cabin, we placed a small snowman near the entrance, so we were greeted by him every time we came back. Across from it, Edge-class staterooms have a small cubby with a built-in light that usually holds a piece of decorative art. We swapped that out for two small Christmas trees that fit perfectly in the space. With the light above them, they added a nice little holiday touch.

I also brought Christmas window clings to decorate the mirror. They weren’t traditional stickers, which was important because I didn’t want anything that could leave residue or damage the cabin. If you plan to decorate your cruise cabin, it’s always worth double-checking the rules and sticking with removable options.

That said, the window clings didn’t hold up very well. They slowly fell off throughout the cruise, and after putting them back up several times, we eventually gave up and tossed them.

We added two more tinsel Christmas trees to the main wall of the cabin, hanging them with magnetic hooks. Because they were so lightweight, one hook per decoration was enough. If you plan to bring anything heavier, you’ll probably want stronger or extra hooks. I loved waking up each morning and seeing those little Christmas trees on the wall.

When you’re cruising in warm weather, especially during summer in New Zealand, it’s easy to forget that it’s actually Christmas. Having a few simple decorations in the cabin helped it feel cozier and a bit more like home.

I also packed a few other Christmas-themed cruise essentials from the dollar store.

Before every cruise, I make sure to bring a handful of must-have products I rely on. One of my non-negotiables is a bottle of liquid hand soap for the bathroom. I absolutely hate using a bar of soap to wash my hands on a cruise, especially during a longer itinerary. 

Liquid soap just feels cleaner to me, and bars of soap tend to get mushy after a few days. It’s a small upgrade, but it makes a noticeable difference in your cabin experience. 

While shopping at the dollar store, I found an adorable bottle of liquid soap shaped like Santa. It was a fun change from my usual Softsoap and fit right in with the Christmas theme in our cabin. And for $1.25, it was a steal! We ended up using most of the liquid during the cruise and tossed the bottle before disembarkation.

The dollar store is also a great place to pick up self-care items. I like bringing face masks and body scrubs to make evenings in the cabin feel a little more relaxing. Instead of spending a lot at the spa on a facial, I’d much rather do a face mask at night while watching a Christmas movie.

In addition to face masks, I packed these seasonal winter berry shower fizzies for the cabin. They're similar to a bath bomb, but dissolve on the shower floor instead and release a light scent as the steam builds. This is an easy way to make a standard cruise ship shower feel a little more luxurious! I’d use one at the end of the day after dinner, and it was a nice way to wind down before bed.

Similarly, I always stock up on these $1.25 antibacterial wipes from Dollar Tree by Biopure. They come in a pack of 40 and are surprisingly good quality for the price. The small pack is easy to travel with, so I keep it in my bag at all times. I bring them on excursions, to the buffet, to the pool deck—basically everywhere!

My dollar store had some fun seasonal scents that I couldn’t resist. I picked up the sugar plum and cherry pie scents, which were a nice change from the regular wipes! 

I’ve even written a full article about why these wipes are a cruise must-have. For example, these wipes contain aloe and vitamin E, so they don’t dry out my hands like some sanitizers do. Studies have also shown that sanitizing wipes can be more effective than hand sanitizer alone, especially when handwashing isn’t available. 

I was determined to stay healthy on this cruise, and I made it home without getting sick. I honestly credit those wipes for doing their job, and I loved the festive Christmas scent as a bonus.

I loved decorating our cabin for Christmas, and I would do it again!

I didn't plan to decorate the cabin to look over-the-top, but we appreciated having a cozy, festive space that felt like home during our 12 nights aboard Celebrity Edge. Coming back to a festive cabin after a long day in port or a sea day made it feel more personal and relaxed. This truly became our home away from home! 

I liked that everything was inexpensive and easy to pack from the dollar store. I didn't feel bad leaving it behind at the end of the trip. In fact, our hostess at the Blu restaurant was excited to use the decorations for her cabin! The extra space in our suitcase was quickly used for the many different treasures we purchased in New Zealand. 

I spent around $40 on everything at the dollar store, including some other cruise-essentials like toothpaste, sunscreen, and hand sanitizer. While it might seem unnecessary, bringing Christmas decorations brought us extra joy during our cruise without adding stress or clutter. 

If you love the holidays and you're planning to cruise in December, I'd highly recommend adding a few basic decorations to your cabin as an easy way to make the experience feel even more magical.

Royal Caribbean is preparing to unveil its brand-new Royal Beach Club Paradise Island next month, and we just received a sneak peek of the new resort on social media!

Over the weekend, Royal Caribbean shared an exclusive look at the new Royal Beach Club Paradise Island in Nassau, Bahamas. On Royal Caribbean’s official Instagram page, a short reel was shared to showcase the beach club’s progress as the cruise line makes final touches.

The caption reads, “The beach day of your dreams is almost ready for you. Which sport are you most excited about?”

The video's narrator says, “Come with us for a construction sneak peek of Royal Beach Club Paradise Island, just over a month before it opens."

The behind-the-scenes video tour reveals major progress at the new beach club, including the massive oceanfront infinity pool, colorful cabanas, stunning beaches, custom water shuttles, and hand-painted murals from local Bahamian artists.

Royal Caribbean originally announced plans for the private resort in Nassau back in June 2023. After more than two years of planning, environmental approvals, government partnerships, and construction, Royal Caribbean appears to be entering the final stretch before the beach club’s opening.

Royal Beach Club Paradise Island is scheduled to open on December 23, 2025. Royal Caribbean guests will receive exclusive access to the 17-acre resort. While we’ve seen plenty of renderings and construction photos, this sneak peek is one of the most comprehensive looks yet at how the resort is coming together in real life.

Custom ferries will take cruisers to Royal Beach Club Paradise Island

Royal Caribbean’s sneak-peek video opens with an exclusive look at the vibrant, colorful ferries crossing the harbor.

Before we can even see the beaches or the massive infinity pool, we’re introduced to the colorful fleet that will soon deliver guests to Royal Caribbean’s newest destination. Our first glimpse of the beach club experience!

“These private ferries will take you straight from the pier to the island. They’re custom-made and looking so good already!" says the video's narrator. 

Read more: Royal Caribbean is trying to elevate cruise ports passengers complain about

The colorful fleet of brightly painted water ferries is one of the most charming additions to Royal Beach Club Paradise Island.

Royal Caribbean confirmed that it will have five custom-built ferries operating the short route across the harbor. Each one is designed to reflect the lively personality and tropical culture of The Bahamas.

Each vessel features a bold color scheme and a fun, themed name: Flirty Flamingo (pink), Sassy Starfish (blue), Coral Calypso (orange), Twisted Turtle (green), and Lucky Lizard (turquoise).

Beyond the aesthetics, Royal Caribbean announced the ferries were engineered for efficiency. Built with lightweight aluminum hulls and equipped with advanced navigation and propulsion systems, they’re designed for quick turnaround times and smooth, reliable travel. The ride is short, as it will take just a few minutes to cross the harbor. But, the elevated design and colorful presentation is a fun way to begin your day at Royal Beach Club Paradise Island.

Chill beach features custom cabanas with uninterrupted ocean views

Once you arrive at the beach club, you can explore three different zones: Chill Beach, Family Beach, and Party Cove. The construction sneak peek video gives an exclusive look at the new Chill Beach zone.

The video states, “After a quick and cute ride, we head straight for Chill Beach. These cabanas make the perfect spot to set up your beach day home base. The pool here is over 400 feet long with a shallow ledge to soak up the sun and ocean views.”

Chill Beach is designed for guests who want to slow down and enjoy a quieter, more refined slice of the Royal Beach Club experience.

This peaceful stretch of shoreline will offer a relaxed atmosphere compared to the lively, energetic Party Cove. This area is intended to feel like a true retreat focused on relaxation where guests can enjoy the scenery and amenities without distraction.

At the heart of this area is The Deep End Pool, which is a serene, resort-style pool featuring a swim-up bar. Guests will be able to sip cocktails or mocktails while remaining comfortably in the water, surrounded by palm trees and stunning views of the Atlantic.

Because Chill Beach is meant to be calming, guests will find a more subdued poolside experience here.

Along the shoreline, beach bars provide convenient access to tropical drinks throughout the day. Umbrellas will provide some much-needed shade for comfortable loungers so you can enjoy your drinks all day long.

Nearby, the Paradise Grill will serve a selection of fresh and flavorful dishes, offering beach-friendly meals with a Bahamian twist. Its location will make it easy for guests to grab lunch without having to leave the comfort of their spot on the sand.

And for those seeking a more elevated experience, Chill Beach also features a collection of beach and pool cabanas available for an additional cost.

These private retreats are outfitted with comfortable seating, shaded lounging areas, and even a personal attendant for quick service. With uninterrupted views of the ocean or the pool, the cabanas provide an extra level of comfort and privacy. This will allow guests to settle in and enjoy a full day of relaxation in one of the most tranquil corners of the beach club.

Local artwork will showcase Bahamian culture

Next, we can see some of the beautiful artwork that will bring Bahamian culture to Royal Beach Club Paradise Island.

“And then we had to stop and check out the incredibly talented local artists at work, adding to their custom pieces all around the island,” says the video.

Royal Caribbean is placing a major emphasis on Bahamian culture at Royal Beach Club Paradise Island, and one of the most distinctive ways that comes to life is through the resort’s extensive local art program. The cruise line has expanded its Artist Discovery Program, which was originally launched onboard Icon of the Seas. The program will bring 11 Bahamian artists to create murals, sculptures, and large-scale installations throughout the beach club.

These designs will appear across 25 different locations, transforming the property into an immersive, open-air gallery that reflects the colors, energy, and traditions of The Bahamas.

According to Royal Caribbean, the artists were chosen not only for their talent, but also for their deep connection to Bahamian culture.

Their creations will follow three themes that define the destination experience. First, the Underwater Adventures will highlight the country’s vibrant marine life. Next, Junkanoo Jubilee will celebrate the island’s rhythmic music, dance, and festival traditions. Finally, Bahama Bliss will bring tranquility and escape that draw millions of visitors to the islands each year.

Each artist will bring a unique interpretation of Bahamian life to the Royal Beach Club Paradise Island. Royal Caribbean says the program was designed to give local artists with a global platform, offering grants and additional support to emerging and established artists. The cruise line emphasized how the beach club will showcase the authentic culture rooted in the Bahamian community.

Family Beach will be a laid-back, kid-friendly escape

Another zone at the Royal Beach Club Paradise Island will be Family Beach, which is designed to be a relaxing, safe space for kids to spend their day. The Instagram video provides a behind-the-scenes look at the pool and cabanas at Family Beach.

“We then head over to Family Beach, where you can snag one of our picture perfect cabanas and the amazing ocean views,”

This part of the Royal Beach Club will offer convenience, shade, and open space, making it easy for families to enjoy the day without feeling rushed or overwhelmed. The shoreline here is calm and inviting for kids who want to swim in the ocean. There will also be plenty of loungers and umbrellas throughout, so parents can keep an eye on the water while still having room to unwind.

One of the highlights of Family Beach is The Shallow End, a zero-entry pool that offers effortless access for all ages. This pool will have an easy wade-in spot for young kids and a comfortable lounging area for adults.

You can also take advantage of a swim-up bar with tropical cocktails, mocktails, and frozen drinks - all without ever leaving the water! The design is intentionally simple and intuitive to create a space that feels safe, open, and enjoyable for families of all sizes.

Food and beverages will also be close by, thanks to beach bars and a convenient location of the Paradise Grill. Guests of the beach club can enjoy made-to-order dishes and snacks with Caribbean influences, including everything from salads and island-seasoned meats to kid-friendly bites.

For those looking to elevate their day, Family Beach features some of the most impressive cabanas on the island. 

The standout option is the Ultimate Family Cabana, a two-story retreat designed with small groups and families in mind. This premium cabana includes luxury amenities, spacious seating areas, and private nooks for both relaxation and play. It’s the beach club’s most exclusive family offering on the island for an additional cost.

Additional beach and pool cabanas are available throughout the area, offering shaded lounge spaces, plush furnishings, and personal attendant service.

These cabanas give families a dedicated home base for the day, allowing parents to relax while kids enjoy the nearby pool and beach. Whether guests choose the massive two-story retreat or a more traditional cabana, Family Beach is sure to bring unforgettable memories for the entire family!

It’s the final countdown to Royal Beach Club!

With construction nearly complete, Royal Caribbean’s Royal Beach Club Paradise Island is quickly transforming from a long-awaited concept into an exclusive resort destination. 

The narrator ends the video saying, "We ended the day with a look at the pool being filled. That's all for now!"

It’s a fitting end to the sneak peek tour, as the beach club’s three distinct zones will ensure that every type of cruiser can have their perfect resort day in Nassau, Bahamas. From the quiet escape of Chill Beach to the kid-friendly Family Beach with The Shallow End and the playful energy of Party Cove, there’s a little something for everyone.

For years, Perfect Day at CocoCay has been the brand’s signature private-destination experience. Now, Royal Beach Club Paradise Island marks the start of a new era. In fact, Royal Caribbean has plans for more Royal Beach Clubs to redefine the in-port experiences for cruisers.

Just a few weeks ago, the cruise line announced a brand-new Royal Beach Club Santorini in Greece. Royal Caribbean describes how they will introduce an innovative system designed to alleviate the island’s notorious congestion by distributing guests across three arrival points. This approach will maximize time ashore while helping preserve the character of one of the world’s most iconic destinations.

Royal Beach Club Santorini is just one part of Royal Caribbean Group’s rapidly expanding portfolio. The cruise line plans to expand with Royal Beach Club Cozumel in 2026 and Royal Beach Club Lelepa in 2027. The cruise line will also unveil a brand-new Perfect Day Mexico in Costa Maya, Mexico.

Royal Caribbean is emphasizing a strategic push toward creating more exclusive, premium experiences on land that complement the next generation of Royal Caribbean ships.

Booking a last-minute cruise was once an easy way to save money on your vacation, but is that still the case?

We’ve all heard the stories of travelers scoring last-minute cruises for unbelievably low prices. In fact, multiple posts recently circulated online showing ridiculously cheap cruise fares for last-minute sailings aboard Freedom of the Seas.

One Reddit user posted an unbelievable $7 cruise fare for a 5-night cruise that departed the following week, on November 15, 2025. Even with the extra $236 for taxes and fees, this cruise deal seemed too good to be true.

One commenter, who was also booked on the same sailing, provided additional context for the low price point. The cruiser shared, “I am on this cruise. Just to give you some background... originally we were scheduled to go to Labadee, then we got rescheduled to go to Puerto Plata. 

Then there was a scheduling conflict with the dock so they moved us to Falmouth.  Then the hurricane hit Jamaica.  We are now being rerouted to Cozumel instead of Falmouth. So every time the schedule has changed, everyone has complained and cancelled.”

Although few travelers can book a cruise just one week before departure, this example shows how shifts in supply and demand can dramatically influence cruise pricing. In this case, demand for Freedom of the Seas’ itinerary continued to fall, which allowed more cabins to become available.

With lower demand comes lower pricing, as cruise lines aim to sail as close to full capacity as possible. And once guests are onboard, Royal Caribbean expects to generate additional revenue through alcohol sales, specialty dining, spa treatments, shore excursions, and other onboard spending.

For many years, it wasn’t uncommon for cruisers to book last-minute sailings like this to save money. In fact, it was one of the easiest ways to save money on a cruise vacation a few years ago! Now, it isn’t exactly a guaranteed way to bring down your cruise costs.

Here’s a deep dive into Royal Caribbean’s last-minute cruising, and whether you can actually save money if you wait to book your cruise.

Royal Caribbean continues to report record-breaking demand, which drives up pricing.

Throughout 2025, Royal Caribbean has continued to report strong financial results. In April 2025, Royal Caribbean Group reported a 109% load factor, meaning ships sailed with full cabins, often with more than two guests per room.

Revenue and pricing both moved higher. Total revenue reached $4.0 billion, and the cruise line specifically credited the quarter’s earnings to stronger than expected pricing on close-in demand. This refers to late-booking passengers that pay higher rates than Royal Caribbean anticipated.

Royal Caribbean also reported record bookings during wave season, which runs from mid-January to March each year. The cruise line also stated that April 2025 bookings were also ahead of last year, with “booked load factors at higher rates.”

What does this mean for the average cruiser? In practical terms, this means the company is filling ships earlier and at better prices, which leaves fewer empty cabins that would normally be discounted close to sailing.

CEO Jason Liberty summed up the demand by noting that “bookings for 2025 have remained on track, cancellation levels are normal, and we continue to see excellent close-in demand.”

With fewer cabins to book, last-minute deals are harder to find

From an economics perspective, it’s easy to see how supply and demand plays into pricing here. Cruise ships have a fixed number of cabins, and Royal Caribbean is selling a larger portion of that inventory at higher prices.

When demand is strong and cabins are nearly full, there is little reason to mark down the remaining staterooms at the last minute. Last year, the trend was similar, as Liberty summarized in the cruise line’s second quarter earnings calls.

The cruise line's CEO stated, “Bookings have consistently outpaced last year… and we have significantly fewer staterooms left to sell.”

With significantly fewer staterooms left to sail, Royal Caribbean has no incentive to discount cabins at the last minute. From a business perspective, the strategy makes sense to maximize revenue. For the average cruiser, this means waiting to book your cruise could end up costing you more money than booking further in advance.

That’s why last-minute deals in 2025 have been mostly limited to shoulder-season sailings where demand drops and supply is in excess.

Holiday sailings are extremely popular with increased demand.

If you’re looking to sail during the upcoming holidays, you likely won’t find a great last-minute deal over Christmas or New Year's Eve. I reviewed pricing data from Gangwaze.com for upcoming late-November and December sailings to look for last-minute pricing trends, for the purposes of this article. 

Across multiple ship classes, there was one undeniable trend: Christmas and New Year’s sailings rarely get cheaper as the departure date approaches. These weeks remain the most expensive for most of the year, which is driven largely by families booking cruises around school breaks. Even older ships, like Jewel of the Seas, show elevated pricing during this period.

For example, the December 20, 2025 itinerary aboard the new Icon of the Seas has inside cabins selling for $2,601, an 11% increase from the overall average for that itinerary. Moreover, prices for the sailing reached an all-time low in mid-July at $1,600 per person. However, those booking within the last few weeks would be paying nearly $1,000 more per person compared to booking four months prior.

In addition, the brand-new Star of the Seas shows similar last-minute pricing trends. Cruisers booking two weeks before the November 30, 2025 sailing would be paying 26% more than the average price of $1,881 for a balcony cabin. Earlier in the year, the sailing hit its lowest point at $1,500 in June 2025. But, by mid-November, fares had climbed nearly 60% to just under $2,400.

As you can see, holiday sailings around Christmas and New Year's Eve have peak demand across the fleet, and last-minute deals are highly unlikely. For the newest and most popular ships, like Icon of the Seas and Star of the Seas, prices continued to climb all the way until departure date.

Before and after the holiday season, pricing trends look completely different.

While holiday weeks are essentially immune to last-minute discounting, the weeks before and after Christmas tell a very different story. Early November through mid-December actually showed some of the steepest price drops for last-minute sailings, even on Royal Caribbean’s newest ships.

Let’s look at Icon of the Seas’ January 10, 2026 sailing. With the sailing less than two months away, pricing has fallen drastically for balcony cabins. The average cost of this sailing was $1,869 per person, which has decreased by 37% to $1,177.

Even the newest vessel, Star of the Seas, has some last-minute deals available. The November 23, 2025 sailing, which is departing in less than one week, has seen interior and balcony prices drop by more than 40% in recent weeks. The November 30, 2025 sailing also shows a 23% decrease for interior staterooms, falling from a September high of $1,750 to $1,344 this week.

Looking at Royal Caribbean's website, some of the cruise line's cheapest sailings are actually within the next few weeks. For example, Grandeur of the Seas has pricing starting at $244 per person for a 7-night sailing departing on November 29, 2025. According to Gangwaze historical pricing, this is 58% cheaper than the average price of $579 for an interior cabin.

We often see cruise prices drop in general between September and November, meaning this is a good time to look for last-minute deals. However, we might not anticipate a last-minute deal like this for Thanksgiving weekend.

Additionally, the weeks following New Year’s Eve are another underrated time to cruise. Once the holiday rush ends, demand drops sharply, and fares in January and early February are often far more affordable. With fewer travelers sailing, cruise lines may have extra cabin inventory, making last-minute deals more likely during this period.

What could be contributing to current pricing fluctuations?

Cruise pricing in late 2025 is being shaped not only by strong consumer demand, but also broader macroeconomic factors. For instance, travelers are grappling with elevated airfare costs, ongoing economic uncertainty, and lingering inflation that is making it more expensive to vacation. However, this also drives prospective travelers to book further in advance and search for higher value vacations, including cruises. 

“Consumers continue to prioritize experiences and make room in their budgets for meaningful vacations. Our independent research, combined with millions of daily customer interactions, continues to show positive sentiment towards travel and leisure and continued growth in spend,” explained Liberty in Royal Caribbean's October 2025 earnings call.

He continued, “Roughly three-quarters of consumers intend to spend the same or more on vacations over the next twelve months, a level that has remained consistent for several quarters. While the broader consumer environment has normalized from the exceptional strength over the past two years, demand for experiences and leisure travel remains intact.”

“Cruising offers superior value for money versus alternative options, driven by the high-quality onboard amenities and services, pricing inclusive of meals and entertainment, and the opportunity to visit a variety of destinations with the convenience of having everything in one place,” concluded the cruise line's CEO.

At the same time, broader financial uncertainty has made some travelers more cautious, leading to occasional waves of last-minute cancellations or shifts in travel plans. These competing dynamics, with surging demand on one side and sporadic disruptions on the supply side, help explain why pricing has been less predictable.

For instance, some of the last-minute deals appearing this fall and winter may stem from cruisers canceling or shifting their plans. Recent airline schedule disruptions have forced some travelers to adjust or scrap their vacations altogether. When enough guests change their reservations, a wave of newly available cabins can create unexpected opportunities for last-minute discounts.

In addition, the powerful Hurricane Melissa recently hit Jamaica and forced cruise lines to adjust their itineraries. And, as mentioned in the Reddit post about Freedom of the Seas’ $7 cruise fare, some passengers canceled their sailing after too many itinerary changes. 

All of these factors influence the availability of last-minute cruise deals, even around the holiday season. For travelers with flexible schedules, it’s still entirely possible to find cheap cruises closer to the departure date, but flexibility is still the key.

How can you find a last-minute deal for Royal Caribbean?

If you’re determined to snag a discounted fare, expect to hunt around and stay extremely flexible with your travel plans.

First, look for last-minute deals during shoulder seasons and during off-peak months. As we just discussed, this is when you’re most likely to find an excess of cabins available. Your odds of finding a deal increase during the offseason or shoulder season, when demand naturally dips. For most Royal Caribbean itineraries, this includes the quieter months of September through November and January.

In addition, keep an eye out for potential price drops right after a sailing’s final payment deadline. This is when booked guests must pay their remaining balance for their vacation. If someone’s plans change, they may cancel or switch to a different cruise around this time, which causes unexpected inventory to open up.

You might even see some last-minute deals right before final payment date when cruise lines have a better idea of expected occupancy. If cabins remain unsold, that’s typically when last-minute price reductions begin to appear, and fares may continue dropping as the sail date approaches.

Certain destinations also have price-sensitive windows. For example, Alaska often sees cheaper fares on the first and last sailings of the season, which usually include late April, early May, and early October. For the Caribbean, hurricane season can lead to occasional last-minute markdowns once school is back in session.

Additionally, consider less popular itineraries with longer routes. Some itineraries have inherently lower demand, which can open the opportunity for last-minute availability. Repositioning sailings, especially transatlantic and transpacific crossings, can offer some incredible deals and last-minute savings.

These longer voyages with extra sea days attract a smaller audience, increasing your chances of finding discounted cabins closer to departure.

Moreover, Royal Caribbean has multiple promotional categories on its website for last-minute deals. Be sure to check out the Last Minute Cruise page on Royal Caribbean’s website for a quick look at the best short-notice deals. Another promotion is the “Going, Going, Gone" sales, which offer pop-up promotions for sailings leaving within the next few weeks or months.

Regardless of which route you take, the biggest key to securing a last-minute deal is flexibility. You won’t be able to get your heart set on a specific sail date, ship, or itinerary. Additionally, don’t expect to have many options for cabin selection. This means you might find yourself in a less desirable cabin category or location onboard. 

However, these sacrifices can be worthwhile for those looking to cruise for a cheaper fare. The more you save on your cruise fare, the more you can spend on shore excursions, specialty dining, or poolside cocktails during your cruise!

A 67-year-old man from Malaysia has been convicted of sexually abusing a child while cruising aboard the world’s largest cruise ship.

According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, a federal jury in Miami has convicted passenger Lay Ong for abusive sexual contact of a minor while cruising aboard Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas this spring.

The press release states that Ong was found guilty on October 23, 2025 for the crime. According to WPLG Local 10 News, the federal criminal complaint reports the incident took place on April 2, 2025 while Icon of the Seas sailed through international waters, en route to PortMiami.

The Justice Department stated, “According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Lay Ong, 67, was walking down a stateroom corridor when he encountered two boys, ages seven and nine, playing outside their cabin. Evidence showed that Ong began speaking with the children while touching the seven-year-old’s head and chin, then reached down and squeezed the child’s genitalia before walking away.”

NBC6 South Florida reports that, according to the affidavit, the boys told the 7-year-old’s parents about the incident. The parents then notified cruise ship security to investigate the crime.

Additionally, the affidavit states that the boys told investigators Ong asked whether they were boys or girls, then said “let me check” before inappropriately touching the child. After the encounter, Ong supposedly walked away from the children.

The affidavit reports that Icon of the Seas’ security cameras also captured the encounter, according to NCB6 South Florida. Ong said he was “playing” with the boys when the incident took place, and claimed he only touched the 7-year-old’s stomach.

Ong was found guilty of abusive sexual contact with a minor and faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison for the crime. A judge will determine his sentence at a later date after reviewing federal sentencing guidelines. Authorities said Ong will also be subject to deportation after serving his sentence.

“Abusing a child is an unforgivable act,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones in the press release. “This verdict makes clear that anyone who preys on a child—anywhere, and under any flag—will be held to account.”

The FBI’s Miami Field Office investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ilana Malkin and Yeney Hernandez prosecuted it.

According to Gangwaze, Icon of the Seas was sailing a 7-night Western Caribbean and Perfect Day cruise from Miami, Florida when the crime occurred. The Icon class vessel departed from PortMiami on March 29, 2025 for the sailing. The itinerary included two sea days and visits to Roatan (Honduras), Costa Maya (Mexico), Cozumel (Mexico) and Royal Caribbean's private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay, in the Bahamas.

Pack your bags, Swifties — another Taylor Swift-themed cruise is on its way!

Fans looking to step into their cruising era will be excited to learn that another Taylor Swift–themed sailing is planned for next year. Hosted by Straight Away Travel, the 4-night Girlhood Getaway will be called “Karma is a Cruise".

The upcoming Taylor Swift–themed cruise will set sail on Royal Caribbean’s Liberty of the Seas from February 16–20, 2026. “Karma is a Cruise” will depart from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, with ports of call in the Bahamas, including Nassau and Royal Caribbean’s private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay. The sailing also features one day at sea, which is expected to include themed activities and events for Taylor Swift fans.

The upcoming cruise follows the success of last year’s Taylor Swift–themed sailing aboard Allure of the Seas. Now, fans can set sail again for another group cruise filled with friendship bracelets, themed events, and nods to the singer’s discography.

Jamie from Straight Away Travel has curated the private group experience aboard Royal Caribbean's Liberty of the Seas. According to the agency’s website, Girlhood Getaways are known for cultivating an inclusive community centered on empowerment, authenticity, and fearlessness.

(Photo from In My Cruise Era sailing. Photo credit: Marvelous Mouse Travels)

“Get ready for something truly special — this isn’t just a cruise, it’s a celebration of All Things Girlhood! Jamie is planning a lineup of exclusive onboard experiences just for our group, all designed around friendship, empowerment, and embracing who we are — loud, proud, and unapologetically our true selves,” states the website.

While the full schedule is still being finalized, Straight Away Travel has outlined a variety of themed activities planned for the group that include:

• Welcome meet-and-greet reception

• Friendship bracelet-making sessions and trading

• Themed trivia and lyric-based games

• Costume night inspired by various Taylor Swift eras

• Karaoke and dance events

• Curated photo stations and onboard photo opportunities

(Photo from In My Cruise Era sailing. Photo credit: Marvelous Mouse Travels)

According to Straight Away Travel, the organized event is meant to build a sense of community among Swifties by encouraging participation and recreating the fan experiences that have become central to Taylor Swift’s cultural influence.

In addition to the organized events, Taylor Swift fans can take advantage of the many amenities available aboard Liberty of the Seas. The Freedom class vessel features popular onboard attractions, multiple pools, world-class entertainment, and a wide selection of complimentary and specialty dining options.

Cabins are available for booking with double occupancy rates for the February 2026 sailing. Prices start at $594 per person for an interior stateroom, $746 for an Oceanview stateroom, and $829 per person for balcony cabins. 

Taylor Swift fans wanting to secure their spot will need to provide a non-refundable deposit of $200 per stateroom at the time of booking. Rates include the stateroom, taxes, and port fees but exclude gratuities, travel insurance, drink packages, dining packages, and optional Royal Caribbean activities.

This isn’t the first Taylor Swift fan cruise.

(Photo from In My Cruise Era sailing. Photo credit: Marvelous Mouse Travels)

Straight Away Travel isn’t the first travel agency to organize a Taylor Swift-themed cruise. Back in October 2024, Marvelous Mouse Travels hosted another successful fan-focused event for Taylor Swift fans. This group cruise was called “In My Cruise Era” and took place aboard Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas.

That voyage brought together Swifties from across the country for a 3-night sailing built around the same core themes of connection, community, and mutual love of Taylor Swift. 

Swifties sailing aboard Allure of the Seas enjoyed organized fan meetups, friendship bracelet exchanges, dance parties, and late-night karaoke. In addition, Taylor Swift fans attended nightly eras-themed parties where cruisers dressed up as their favorite album era.

Royal Caribbean’s Oasis class ships are among the most activity-packed cruise ships in the world. With only 4 days aboard Wonder of the Seas, I challenged myself to try every complimentary activity.

Wonder of the Seas is Royal Caribbean’s newest megaship to sail short getaway cruises. Building on the popularity of the party-focused Utopia of the Seas, the cruise line is clearly leaning into the trend of weekend party sailings.

I was lucky to be among the first to sail aboard Wonder of the Seas for the ship’s very first 4-night sailing. After a fun-filled cruise on Utopia of the Seas earlier this year, I was eager to see how the experience would compare.

Our itinerary included two ports of call in the Bahamas: Nassau and Perfect Day at CocoCay. We also had one sea day to enjoy all of the ship’s amenities and onboard attractions.

Typically, I prefer spending my sea days in the adults-only Solarium. With only one sea day in our short itinerary, I didn’t have much time to check everything off my bucket list.

Although I tried my best to attempt every activity, I did have some limitations. Essentially, I didn’t want to hurt myself and ruin my vacation. My 30-year-old body isn’t quite as nimble as it once was. Luckily, I’ve been cruising with Royal Caribbean for two decades, so I’ve tried many of the activities on prior cruises.

I always crushed climbing on the rock wall and could, at one point, do tunnel flips on the FlowRider (those days are long gone!). The zip line is another favorite activity on Oasis class ships; however, the line was always long and wrapped around the activity deck. I was committed to zip-lining, but I couldn’t find the energy to stand in the scorching heat for more than an hour for a 5-second ride.

Ice skating is another unique activity on Royal Caribbean’s ships, but this requires long pants for skating. I completely forgot to pack pants so I could ice skate, as an August cruise to the Caribbean doesn’t exactly require pants. With just a carry-on suitcase and no pants available, I skipped ice skating.

All that said, I hit the ground running and crammed as much as I could into my sea day. I spent nearly 12 hours of nonstop activity running around the ship. It was exhausting, but tons of fun, and I would definitely do it again!

10:30 a.m. - Windjammer Breakfast

Our morning started later than we expected, but that’s the beauty of a sea day! We had nowhere to be, so we didn’t set an alarm. My friend is a mom of young kids, so she was happy to sleep in.

By the time we got out of bed and dressed, the Windjammer was our only option for breakfast. In my opinion, the Windjammer buffet space is too small on Oasis class ships. Although there are many different places to dine, the Windjammer is your only option for late breakfast. Considering Wonder of the Seas’ focus on late-night partying, I’d like to see more options for brunch or late-morning breakfast.

We navigated the packed buffet for a quick breakfast, along with many other guests doing the same. Despite the crowd, we enjoyed our selections, and the food was served hot and fresh!

11:30 a.m. - The Ultimate Abyss

Following breakfast, I decided to ride the Ultimate Abyss — the world’s tallest dry slide at sea! Because we were finishing breakfast on the ship’s top deck, the Ultimate Abyss was an easy activity to knock off my bucket list.

My friend wasn’t interested in riding the slide with me, so I ventured on my own to experience the 10-story slide. I positioned myself on the slide for a wild ride in the provided snack. It reminded me of the burlap sacks used for slides at a fair, but this one was more padded. We were given a small demonstration on how to position ourselves, and I listened intently.

The slide was so much fun! I was concentrating on following the instructions that I started to slide sideways from being so stiff. I slightly scraped my knee, but nothing that left a mark. I screamed the entire way down.

12:00 p.m. - Boardwalk Carousel

The Ultimate Abyss brings you from the ship’s top deck down to the Boardwalk on Deck 6. After the exhilarating ride, I noticed the Boardwalk’s signature carousel was offering rides. Although we didn’t have any kids with us, we asked if we could ride, and the operator said it was no issue.

I’d passed by the carousel countless times but had never actually taken a ride. In fact, I couldn’t even remember the last time I’d been on one — maybe Disneyland about eight years ago.

We hopped onto two horses for a fun ride. I expected a slow, boring spin, but the carousel moved faster than I anticipated. We laughed along with the kids, and before we knew it, the ride was over after just a few lively turns.

12:30 p.m. - Trivia: Who Wants to be a Caribbeanaire

As we wandered around the ship, I popped into an energetic game in the Karaoke Spotlight lounge in the Royal Promenade. The lounge was packed, so I knew it was going to be a fun game.

This game is similar to the classic ‘Who Wants to Be a Millionaire’ game show with multiple-choice questions that gradually get more difficult as the game progresses. Although I didn’t participate, I enjoyed watching the game and trying to answer the questions myself. The crowd was super engaged and interactive, which is always fun. I would definitely attend this show again!

Read more: I went to 5 different parties on my last Royal Caribbean cruise. One was clearly the best

1:00 p.m. - Relaxing on the Back of the Ship

Wonder of the Seas is a busy ship, so we were always on the lookout for a quiet, comfortable place to relax. One of our favorite spots on the ship was at the very back of the ship on the walking path.

Oasis class ships have a dedicated walking and running path around the entire ship on Deck 5. Where the ship wraps around the ship’s aft, you can find some chairs that overlook the ship’s wake.

We relaxed here for about an hour while enjoying the beautiful, sunny day. There were only a few other people relaxing here, so it’s a great spot to retreat if you appreciate ocean views! We retreated to this spot multiple times a day, and it’s a great spot to watch the sunset each evening.

2:00 p.m. - Lunch at El Loco Fresh

One of my favorite casual eateries on a Royal Caribbean cruise is El Loco Fresh. The Mexican cuisine is served buffet-style, but everything tastes freshly made. You can find an assortment of burritos, quesadillas, tacos, nachos, and desserts.

My go-to at El Loco Fresh is a chicken quesadilla with sour cream and Mexican cheese — it’s divine! My friend loved the nachos, and we both tried a taco with tender, flavorful pork. Everything was delicious and we hardly had to wait in line.

3:00 p.m. - Mini Golf

This one is a cruise classic! Wonder of the Seas has a miniature golf course on the back of the ship. Mini golf is a great family-friendly activity to keep both kids and adults entertained. You simply grab your own club and golf ball to start your game. It wasn’t entirely clear which hole was meant to be first, and there didn’t seem to be any particular order that we were meant to follow.

The miniature golf course is brightly colored and ocean-themed with a giant octopus, whale, and stingrays. I loved the theming, even though my miniature golf game isn’t anything to write home about.

5:00 p.m. - Dinner in Main Dining Room

After a rousing game of miniature golf, we ventured back to our cabin to relax, shower, and get ready for dinner. We were assigned a lovely table right by the window with excellent wait staff (shout out to Bayou and Gino). We looked forward to our dinners in the main dining room each evening. The food was also fantastic, and the service was attentive! In fact, it was one of the best main dining room experiences that I’ve had in a while.

8:00 p.m. - inTENSE AquaTheatre Show

Oasis class ships have some of the best entertainment in the cruise industry, including high-diving productions in the AquaTheatre. With a giant amphitheater at the back of the ship, you can watch jaw-dropping shows with divers, synchronized swimmers, acrobats, and aerialists.

Our show on Wonder of the Seas was inTENSE with an all-woman cast of performers. The production was outstanding with high-diving stunts from crazy heights and acrobatics like I’ve never seen. The energetic performance was so entertaining that we returned for a second show the following night.

9:00 p.m. - Pizza at Sorrento’s

Is it really a late night on a cruise ship without a slice of pizza? Because our dinner was early at 5:00 p.m., we enjoyed our late-night stop at Sorrento’s in the Royal Promenade. This was one of the most popular restaurants on our cruise, as there was always a line that wrapped around the restaurant.

Luckily, the line moved quickly, and we were happy to gorge on pepperoni pizza. I also love that Royal Caribbean provides ranch dressing for pizza dipping — it makes my Midwestern heart so happy!

9:30 p.m. - Voices Production Show

Our last activity of the night was attending a show in the Royal Theatre called Voices. I had never heard of this show before, and I was eager to see what the a cappella production would be like.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t my favorite show during our cruise. I looked forward to the a cappella performance, but most of the vocals were pre-recorded. The visual displays were impressive and the singers were very talented, but the show wasn’t my cup of tea. I really appreciated the concept of an a cappella performance, but the pre-recorded vocals were distracting from the live performers.

I cruise multiple times each year, and I constantly notice fellow passengers making the same mistakes over and over.

Cruises are designed to be one of the most stress-free vacations you can take. With minimal planning and logistics involved, you can focus on letting loose and having fun instead of sticking to a strict agenda. 

For example, you won’t need to worry about sorting transportation between the various destinations you want to visit. Additionally, each port of call also includes a list of excursions for daily touring, meaning you won’t need to sort through tour operators if you don’t want to. Finally, meals, entertainment, and accommodations are conveniently located in one place to simplify your vacation even further.

However, cruising can be different than other ways of traveling. There are certainly more quirks than you might find with other vacations. First-timers and seasoned cruisers alike can make mistakes that end up putting a damper on their cruise experience. A little bit of preparation and awareness can go a long way to ensure a smooth cruise.

Last month, I set sail on a 4-night Wonder of the Seas with my best friend from Miami, Florida. This was her first sailing, while I’ve been on over 50 cruises and took charge of planning most of our vacation. Between her fresh perspective and my seasoned expertise, I noted how easy it was to make small mistakes that can make a big difference during your cruise.

Here are some of the most common mistakes that I saw cruisers make during my recent cruise, including things you can do to avoid these missteps.

1. Not downloading your boarding pass for embarkation day

You’ll be required to check-in for your cruise prior to embarkation day. Royal Caribbean requires that guests check-in online or in the app between 45 days and up to 48 hours before sailing. If you fail to do this, you will be required to complete the process at the terminal, which can be lengthy and delay the start of your vacation.

If you check in online, you will be able to download your SeaPass card directly to your phone. Think of this like a boarding pass for your flight, as it’s required to board the cruise ship. This allows the cruise terminal employees to easily scan your phone during the check-in process. You can also print your boarding pass, but this isn’t necessary.

However, I was surprised by how many cruisers at the terminal did not have their SeaPass cards downloaded to their phones or printed. In fact, there was an entirely separate check-in line for people who had not printed or downloaded their boarding pass.

Embarkation day is already hectic enough, so it’s important to have everything prepared for a smooth check-in. Without the proper documentation, this delays your boarding and, subsequently, your vacation!

2. Not knowing what’s included in your cruise fare

Wonder of the Seas is an Oasis class vessel, meaning it has world-class amenities and top-notch attractions. As one of the world’s biggest cruise ships, there’s no shortage of activities and thrills to keep you busy. While many of the attractions are already included in the cost of your cruise fare, there are always opportunities to spend extra.

Compared to other cruise lines, especially Norwegian Cruise Line and Carnival Cruise Line, I find that Royal Caribbean has the most complimentary attractions. However, it’s still important to know what exactly is included in your cruise fare and what costs extra. When you’re already spending thousands of dollars on your vacation, you want to get the most value of your money.

For instance, I decided to try the Ultimate Abyss dry slide during our sea day. This is the tallest dry slide on a cruise ship at more than 150 feet above sea level. It’s certainly a wild ride — and even better, it’s included in the cost of your cruise! You can ride as many times as you want for free.

I couldn’t resist trying the slide for myself, and it was so fun. I screamed the entire way down! As I was walking across the Boardwalk, a woman approached me and said, “Excuse me, how much does it cost to ride the slide?”

I was shocked, and said in response, “Oh, it’s free! You should go try it for yourself.” The woman was surprised to learn the slide was included in the cost of her cruise. This interaction made me realize how important it is to know what’s included in your cruise fare.

If you’re interested in a certain activity or attraction, make sure to double check if there is any charge. In addition, some of Royal Caribbean’s attractions offer free "sample rides" during port days. For instance, you can ride the North Star on Quantum ships for a shorter “Basic Experience” for 15 minutes. If you choose the extended ride or want to ride during sea days, you’ll need to pay extra.

Additionally, my best friend didn’t realize that the ice cream machines were complimentary! As a first-time cruiser, she mentioned how it’s difficult to know what’s free versus what costs extra. In my experience, it’s best to check the cruise line’s app to see which attractions, amenities, and restaurants are already included in your cruise fare.

3. Forgetting to make reservations for the entertainment

One of the downsides of cruising aboard Royal Caribbean’s biggest ships is needing to book reservations for the nightly entertainment. With some of the best production shows at sea, you won’t want to miss the shows aboard the cruise line’s newest and biggest vessels.

Wonder of the Seas features both an AquaTheatre show and ice skating production - two of my favorites! In addition, the Royal Theatre is home to Effectors II: Crash and Burn, which is a Royal Caribbean original show with Broadway-style singing and dancing. You can find comedy shows and other productions aboard too.

However, reservations are required on Oasis class ships for most of these production shows. You can reserve your spot before embarkation either online in the Cruise Planner or in Royal Caribbean’s app. Unfortunately, I haven’t had the best luck being able to reserve shows beforehand, as the app always gives me an error message.

As such, I reserve shows on embarkation day immediately after boarding. The cruise ship will open more reservations once the sailing actually begins, and I’ve found this to be the best time to book the shows. Once I am connected to the ship’s internet, this is the first item on my to-do list.

I was able to secure our spots for all of the headliner shows with plenty of options available. However, one of the most common mistakes I see cruisers make is not reserving their entertainment. Instead, they often line up in the standby line for the show they wish to see. However, there is no guarantee that you will be able to see the show you want. This can make it difficult to plan your evenings aboard the ship compared to having a confirmed, reserved slot.

Avoid making this mistake by prioritizing entertainment reservations whenever possible. This ensures you’ll get to see the top-notch shows onboard at a time that works for your schedule. If you aren't able to secure reservations prior to embarkation, make sure to reserve them as soon as you get onboard. 

4. Only eating breakfast and lunch at the Windjammer buffet

Wonder of the Seas, along with all Oasis class ships, feature a wide variety of dining venues. With a selection of complimentary and specialty dining restaurants, you’ll probably run out of time to eat at all of the options!

On our cruise, I noticed many passengers making the mistake of only eating at the Windjammer buffet for breakfast and lunch. This makes sense, as the Windjammer is undeniably one of the most convenient places to eat with a self-serve buffet and endless options for cuisine.

However, this can often make the Windjammer difficult to navigate with big crowds and long lines. For this reason, I’d suggest cruisers try other options for breakfast and lunch, especially on Royal Caribbean’s biggest ships.

Instead of eating breakfast at the crowded Windjammer, we chose the quieter Park Cafe in Central Park, where you can grab breakfast sandwiches, build a bagel, or pick up grab-and-go snacks like fruit and yogurt. Johnny Rockets also serves breakfast at no additional cost on Oasis Class ships, while the Solarium Bistro is another hidden gem that often isn't busy. 

Additionally, we preferred visiting El Loco Fresh for a late lunch instead of heading back to the Windjammer buffet. This is a quick-service eatery on the pool deck with Mexican food, including burritos, quesadillas, tacos, and nachos.

We never encountered crowds or lines at these restaurants, making the experience more enjoyable and relaxing compared to the bustling buffet. Don’t make the mistake of only visiting the Windjammer during your cruise, especially if you’re cruising aboard Royal Caribbean’s biggest ships.

5. Arriving late for all-aboard time

While docked in Nassau, Bahamas, I told my friend that people often cut it close for all-aboard time. These people are infamously known as “pier runners” who sprint down the pier to make the cut-off time. All-board time is no joke, as the cruise ship will not wait for late passengers. In this way, it’s best to leave plenty of time for unexpected delays or traffic when returning to your cruise ship.

My friend was excited to see if we had any pier runners during our cruise; and as expected, the ship started paging a group of passengers. It was 15 minutes after the all-aboard time, so we concluded these were missing guests.

Sure enough, people came running down the pier and boarded our ship around 30 minutes late. My friend couldn’t believe that guests would be so nonchalant about the all-aboard time. Not only is this inconsiderate, but it’s also quite risky.

If you are stranded and left behind in a port of call, you need to spend your own money to either reunite with the ship or return to the disembarkation port. If you left your passport on the ship and it departs without you, this could cause an even bigger issue.

If you plan to venture far from the cruise port, it’s best to book a shore excursion with the cruise line. This guarantees the cruise ship won’t depart without you or the cruise line will organize logistics to get you back onboard. Whatever you do, make sure not to arrive after the all-aboard time while docked in a port of call. 

6. Only relaxing on the busy pool deck

The pool deck is one of the busiest and liveliest places on a cruise ship. From sunrise to sunset, you can often find passengers lounging in the deck chairs, hanging out in the pool, or soaking in the hot tub. It’s not uncommon to hear live music playing on the pool deck either, along with dance classes, poolside games, and belly flop competitions taking place.

However, the pool deck can be extremely busy during sea days, as many cruisers want to join in the fun! But if you’re wanting to relax in a quieter location, consider looking for other places to lounge.

During our cruise on Wonder of the Seas, my friend and I often retreated to the aft of Deck 5, which I would consider a hidden gem on Oasis Class ships. These massive vessels feature dedicated walking paths around the promenade deck, and at the very back of the ship, you’ll find some chairs perfect for unwinding.

This became our go-to spot during our cruise. It was a quiet place with hardly any other people and offered uninterrupted views of the ship’s wake. We ended up spending time here almost every day, retreating in the afternoons to read or relax in the shade while enjoying the ocean breeze.

In the evenings, this also became our favorite spot to watch the sunset. With comfortable chairs always available and a calming atmosphere, this was one of the most underrated areas onboard! I encourage all cruisers to look for these hidden spots, as it can make your sailing feel even more special.

7. Booking the wrong flights

I was shocked at how many people seemed to book flights that made their travel more stressful. Like always, I joined our sailing’s Facebook page with other cruisers.

One of the biggest mistakes that I see cruisers make is booking flights the same day as embarkation. Not to mention, our cruise in late August is considered peak hurricane season. This means Florida can experience sudden, unexpected rain showers throughout the day, leading to flight delays or cancellations.

A few people posted on Facebook that they were flying into Miami the morning of our cruise, and they were concerned about potential weather delays. 

This is one of the most important rules for cruising: you should always arrive at least the night before your cruise departure. If your flight has issues, you risk missing your entire cruise vacation!

In addition, some people were worried about the ship’s return time in Miami for their flights home. This is another important consideration, as you don’t want to book your flight too early after the ship returns. Disembarkation can take a while, along with customs and immigration. If you encounter traffic on the way to the airport, this can delay you further.

Avoid the mistake of booking flights at inconvenient times that only add stress to your vacation. Give yourself plenty of time to arrive at your embarkation port, and make sure your return flight isn’t scheduled too early on disembarkation day.

Royal Caribbean announced plans for a new beach club to open in 2026, and it's part of a trend to improve the ports that passengers complain the most about.

Earlier this week, Royal Caribbean unveiled plans to open a brand-new beach club on the Greek island of Santorini. While some were surprised by the announcement, it could be argued that the new beach club was only a matter of time.

In recent years, Royal Caribbean has made significant investments to enhance the in-port experience for its guests, particularly in destinations that have been ranked as cruisers’ least favorites. By enhancing onshore experiences, Royal Caribbean can capture more spending from passengers while delivering a smoother, safer, and more appealing visit for cruisers. It's a win-win situation for the guest and cruise line.

Earlier this year, we reported on the ports travelers said they’d never want to visit again, with Santorini, Nassau, and Costa Maya topping the list. While these ports each have their own drawbacks, guests cited logistical frustrations in Santorini, pushy vendors in Nassau, and the entire tourist trap of Costa Maya’s port.

As such, Royal Caribbean has seen an opportunity to address these pain ports for customers, leading to targeted investments from the cruise line. And the company’s latest investment with Royal Beach Club Santorini is a prime example of this shift.

Santorini is infamous for its logistical challenges.

Santorini, Greece is easily one of the world’s most photographed cruise ports, but the Greek Island is also one of the most frustrating. 

Santorini’s blue-domed churches and cliffside villages attract millions of visitors each year, but this inevitably creates a gridlock along the narrow streets of Oia and Fira. Not to mention, it’s common to have multiple cruise ships anchored in Santorini during peak summer months, leading to even more crowding on the small island.

Because ships must tender passengers ashore, simply getting into town can be a challenge. The steep cliffs mean cruisers must choose between waiting in long lines for the cable car, hiking hundreds of steps, or taking a controversial donkey ride, which many avoid due to concerns for the animals.

Although the island is stunning, the logistical challenges can often overshadow Santorini’s beauty. With this in mind, Royal Caribbean saw an opportunity to build the Royal Beach Club to offer a more relaxed alternative for cruisers. The experience will be offered as a shore excursion with visits to Oia and Fira, along with a few hours lounging at the beach club by the Aegean Sea.

The cruise line stated in the press release, “As Royal Caribbean Group prepares for the beach club’s opening next summer, the company’s ultimate beach club experience will feature a new innovative way to alleviate congestion throughout the island by better distributing guests arriving to Santorini. Vacationers can start their journey in one of three locations, minimizing crowding while maximizing time spent enjoying sights and sounds.”

In doing so, Royal Caribbean aims to ease some of the logistical challenges of visiting Santorini while simultaneously creating new opportunities to capture guest spending ashore.

Cruisers also cite Nassau as their least favorite cruise port.

Nassau, Bahamas, might be one of the most visited cruise ports in the world, but it’s also one of cruisers' least favorite destinations. Because of its proximity to Florida, Nassau appears on many short Caribbean itineraries. This means frequent cruisers have visited Nassau repeatedly, leading many guests to stay onboard rather than disembarking.

The city has tried to change its reputation, recently completing a $300 million cruise port redevelopment. The project greatly modernized the cruise terminal area by adding performance spaces, local shops, restaurants, and bars. However, the city itself remains polarizing.

Cruisers regularly complain about aggressive vendors, safety concerns, and a lack of authentic experiences. Excursions can also be expensive in Nassau; for example, visiting the famous Atlantis resort can cost hundreds of dollars for just a few hours.

To tackle these complaints, Royal Caribbean is building its brand-new Royal Paradise Island Beach Club. The new venue will require guests to purchase admission, along with a drink package if they want open-bar access. The private-style experience is only for Royal Caribbean cruise guests and will feature multiple pools, dining options, and the world’s largest swim-up bar.

Royal Caribbean hopes to give cruisers a relaxing and secure alternative to the hectic city while still generating revenue ashore. This mirrors the success of the cruise line’s Perfect Day at CocoCay, which offers an elevated, controlled environment designed to rival the onboard experience.

In Cozumel, vacationers want something new

Royal Caribbean's research told them that while Cozumel isn't poorly rated by guests, it's grown a bit tiresome.

That's why Royal Beach Club Cozumel will open in December 2026 in an attempt to fix a different "problem" that cruise passengers have with the port.

Jay Schneider leads the Product Development team, and during a preview event for the opening of the beach club, said that Cozumel is great, but lacks something fresh.

"What we've heard from research is a lot of guests have been to Cozumel. They're looking for something new," he explained.

"They love Cozumel, but they want diversity of the offering."

Royal Caribbean wants to bring something new that will excite passengers to add onto an island that's already well-regarded.

Finally, Royal Caribbean will give the tourist trap of Costa Maya a major makeover.

Along with Nassau, Costa Maya in Mexico is often considered one of the least favorite cruise ports for many travelers. This Western Caribbean port is frequently called a massive tourist trap, with a cruise terminal built entirely for passengers.

Visitors must weave through crammed shops, restaurants, wildlife encounters, and a swim-up bar just to exit the terminal. The entire port area feels like one giant, endless maze. Beyond the cruise terminal, the small beach town of Mahahual offers a more relaxed vibe, but even then, options are limited.

To address this, Royal Caribbean purchased the port of Costa Maya to build its newest private destination, Perfect Day Mexico. The new project will span 200 acres and offer an all-inclusive beach experience for cruisers, modeled after its private island in the Bahamas.

This new development will transform the underwhelming port into a destination itself. Instead of being a least favorite destination for cruisers, Costa Maya could soon be a highlight for Royal Caribbean guests. The cruise line plans to offer shaded cabanas, snorkeling, water activities, and controlled access designed to avoid the current tourist chaos.

It’s only a matter of time before Royal Caribbean rolls out more plans to upgrade problem ports, creating new opportunities to boost revenue while improving the guest experience on land.