One cruiser was surprised how much they enjoyed Carnival after cruising with Royal Caribbean for years.

Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Line are two of the most popular mainstream cruise lines in the world. Royal Caribbean is known for building some of the biggest and most advanced cruise ships in the world. On the other hand, Carnival Cruise Line has just started constructing mega cruise ships in the last five years. 

Carnival's focus on fun can be misconstrued as a party-centric experience. For this reason, many cruisers tend to be either loyal to Royal Caribbean or diehard fans of Carnival Cruise Line. As two of the top competitors in the industry, the cruise lines have more in common than you might think. 

Both Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Line offer affordable cruise fares onboard their family-friendly vessels. Some argue that Carnival’s newest and most innovative ships in their Excel class rival Royal Caribbean’s Oasis class ships. With many dining choices and plenty of onboard thrills, the two classes are quite similar.

One cruiser recently shared their first-time experience on Carnival Cruise Line after being loyal to Royal Caribbean for years. The user, @Itwo_Inokam, detailed their first impressive Carnival cruise onboard Carnival Jubilee on Reddit in the r/Cruise subreddit.

Carnival Jubilee is the newest and biggest ship in Carnival Cruise Line’s fleet. The Excel class vessel was launched in 2023 and holds 6,500 passengers at capacity. Prior to sailing on Carnival Jubilee, the cruiser stated they sailed twice on Allure of the Seas.

In the post, the first-time cruiser shared, "I am SO SO glad we booked! We had been loyal to Royal previously and have Emerald status. We will still do Royal, and eventually want to try Icon [of the Seas], but I feel like my first cruise on Carnival has beat my last two on Royal.”

Here’s why the first-timer’s family cruise with Carnival Cruise Line exceeded expectations after cruising with Royal Caribbean.

One of the most pleasant surprises from cruising with Carnival was the inclusion of so many restaurants onboard

Many cruisers praise Carnival Cruise Line for having a multitude of casual dining options included in their cruise fare. The majority of restaurants on Carnival’s Excel class ships are complimentary, with only a few select specialty options for splurging.

The first-time Carnival cruiser said, “The food was incredible! We ate at Chibang, Cucina del Capitano, and did all of the Street Eats, Guy’s [Burger Joint], Big Chicken, and BlueIguana Cantina.”

The cruiser found some of the complimentary dining options on Carnival were comparable to specialty dining on Royal Caribbean. The first-timer said, “We just can't believe how many choices there were that weren't an up-charge, and all delicious. Some definitely would be considered specialty dining on Royal Caribbean.”

With this, the cruiser found Carnival to be better value for the money. They commented, “Because Carnival includes so much at no up-charge, we came out with a significantly lower bill. Experiences with our kids at dining options that would have been a per-person charge on Royal, weren’t on Carnival.”

Further, the cruiser said they attempted to try all of the food during their cruise, but nearly ran out of time because there were so many options.

“We tried so hard to try everything, and it was just too much. And we were amazed at how good it all was. The type of quality was what you'd expect from specialty dining or an up-charge. Also, even items that were an up-charge like Emeril’s [Bistro] were so cheap for the quality! Same with the seafood station on the lido deck,” concluded the cruiser.

Read more: Royal Caribbean vs Carnival: Which is a better choice?

On prior cruises with Royal Caribbean, the cruiser stated that their main dining room and buffet experiences were somewhat disappointing. The long-time Royal Caribbean cruiser said they have personally noticed a decline in the dining experience, including the Windjammer buffet and main dining room.

The cruiser explained, “It’s so sad - [Royal Caribbean] wasn’t always like it is now. One of my favorite parts of cruising is eating and trying new foods. [Now], you’re pushed into getting the specialty dining because the Windjammer is a miss more than a hit. On our last two [cruises], the dining room was unbelievably slow only to receive warm to cold food.”

Carnival’s Camp Ocean was particularly impressive and accommodating for the first-time cruiser and his kids

Along with Carnival Jubilee’s expansive dining options, the family was especially wowed by the youth programming onboard. With a focus on family fun, Carnival Cruise Line has a well-established childcare program across its fleet, including a state-of-the-art facility on Carnival Jubilee.

In their experience, the cruiser stated, “My kids are 9 and 10, and they were actually mad when we picked them up from [Camp Ocean]. There is a room with over a dozen [Playstation consoles] and they also have structure, and do crafts and other activities with the kids.”

Additionally, the cruiser noted how the interactive staff also enhanced their experience. “My kids were the ones that pointed out how happy [the staff] seemed and they shared the staff played with and amongst the kids, and it made [Camp Ocean] even more fun.”

The family also preferred Carnival’s structure for its youth programming, as the experience aligned better with the family’s needs

Although Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Line both provide childcare options onboard their ships, each cruise line takes a slightly different approach. For this family, Carnival’s approach to youth programming was preferred.

“The hours on Carnival’s kids’ club aren’t broken up where you need to find additional activities for kids. You can leave them in there, if they want to stay, as soon as it opens,” the parent explained.

In contrast, the cruiser stated Royal Caribbean had more strict hours for drop-off times on their cruises. ”On Royal Caribbean, you need to get them out for all meals. It closes at 12 and then reopens at 2, I think, and closes again at 5 - and opens back after dinner,” stated the cruiser.

Because they limit screen time and tablet use, the cruiser said filling these gaps during the day on Royal Caribbean can be taxing. To keep their kids entertained on Royal Caribbean, the poster said they often found activities, classes, or events that required an extra cost. This often resulted in the cruiser’s kids not wanting to return to Adventure Ocean on Royal Caribbean.

Clarifying this perspective, the cruiser stated, “I am not saying that people shouldn't want to spend time with their kids, I'm just sharing that for us, we'd have to find or pay for activities for the kids and they often didn’t want to go back once we picked them up for lunch.”

Because the kids enjoyed their time at Camp Ocean, the cruiser was able to relax more and save money during their Carnival cruise.

The poster shared, “Even though Carnival has classes you can pay for, we didn't need to because they have so many free things for kids, and [Camp Ocean] on Jubilee made the kids want to stay in it so we didn't need to find or pay for as many options for them."

In the end, Carnival’s flexible hours and attentive staff helped facilitate a welcoming and fun environment for the family’s children. Compared to prior experiences with Royal Caribbean, the first-timer preferred Carnival’s childcare for the value.

Along with childcare, the first-time cruiser also loved all of the free activities available for everyone

During their cruise on Carnival Jubilee, the family was also blown away by all of the activities and entertainment available. The cruise line is known for having a lively and energetic atmosphere with nonstop fun from the moment you get onboard. Part of this includes a variety of events while sailing, especially on larger vessels with more guests to entertain.

“The amount of free activities for everyone, but especially the kids, will definitely keep us coming back. The adult entertainment and amount of varied activities was incredible,” shared the cruiser.

During their time on Carnival Jubilee, the cruiser said they enjoyed watching gameshows as a family, including Love & Marriage, Family Feud, and Deal or No Deal. The first-time Carnival cruiser said, “We couldn't keep up with all of the choices and options for shows each evening.”

Read more: Is Carnival Jubilee worth the hype? My honest review

After sailing on Carnival Jubilee, the family has already booked another Carnival cruise

Even though the family was hesitant to venture from Royal Caribbean, the first-time Carnival cruiser was happy with their experience. From the snazzy ship design to the impressive dining experience and Camp Ocean, the family plans to return to Carnival Cruise Line.

As for Carnival’s bad reputation, this first-time cruiser said Carnival doesn’t deserve the bad rap. “I'm sorry to admit that I used to contribute to it and had never even sailed the line. I just believed what others would say…and justify avoiding them even though we hadn't been pleased with Royal on the last two cruises.”

In the end, the family had an overwhelmingly positive experience on Carnival Jubilee. The cruiser stated, “For the affordability and quality, I feel like we more than got our money's worth! If you're on the fence about Carnival, I'd encourage you to try it on a newer ship sailing 7+ days.”

In fact, the poster shared in the comment section that their family has already booked a future sailing with Carnival.

In the comments, many cruisers agreed with the first-time Carnival cruiser

After detailing their first Carnival cruise onboard Carnival Jubilee, the Reddit post resonated with other cruisers. First, one of the most common opinions in the comment section involved the food. Many cruisers preferred Carnival’s complimentary dining compared to Royal Caribbean’s dining options.

“The Windjammer had constant lines to get in. The pizza and burgers were bad - cafe style patties put out on a tray with half stale buns. Nothing like Guy’s [Burger Joint] on Carnival,” shared one Carnival cruiser.

Another responder said, “My wife and I took our honeymoon cruise on Jubilee’s sister ship, Celebration, in 2023 and we had the time of our lives. Service was amazing, so many incredible food options that we didn’t even get to try them all (Big Chicken was our go-to).”

One commenter noted how they felt Carnival’s complimentary food surpassed even some of Royal Caribbean’s specialty dining. The cruiser explained, “Really irritating [Johnny Rockets] was not included, yet I could get Guy’s [Burger Joint] and BlueIguana Cantina, which were pretty darn good (better than the paid-for stuff at Royal), for free."

In particular, Carnival fans agreed that Excel class ships rivaled Royal Caribbean’s newest and biggest ships. One cruiser stated, “The Excel Class ships are really nice. Much closer to the Royal experience, but with far better food. We love doing them but just wish they had better entertainment.”

Another overarching theme in the comment section involved Carnival Cruise Line getting a bad reputation compared to Royal Caribbean. Each cruise line offers a different experience, which can align with some travelers better than others. For some, Royal Caribbean is a better option while others prefer Carnival's experience. 

One responder said, “Glad you enjoyed it. Carnival undeservedly gets a bad rap and it's created by those who have never cruised with them.”

Similarly, another cruiser shared, “So tired of seeing the same lame ‘Walmart of the Seas’ comment. Yes, the average customer base is not the same as Celebrity or Princess, but that’s the point! There’s something for everyone with cruising.”

A medical emergency has delayed the return of a Royal Caribbean ship to its home port.

Royal Caribbean’s Vision of the Seas will be delayed returning to Baltimore, Maryland, due to a medical evacuation. Because of the emergency, Vision of the Seas unexpectedly diverted in San Juan, Puerto Rico to evacuate the passenger before continuing its sailing.

The docking in San Juan has caused Vision of the Seas to be delayed on its current voyage, which will push back the ship’s return by one day to Baltimore. This diversion will also cause the ship's following 12-night itinerary on January 16, 2024 to depart one day later. 

According to guests onboard the current sailing, Vision of the Seas will now return to Baltimore on Friday, January 17, 2025 at 7:00 am. Guests will be able to disembark the vessel at this time. 

The Vision class ship was sailing on a 12-night round-trip itinerary from Baltimore, Maryland to the Caribbean. Ports of call included St. Croix, St. John’s, St. Maarten, Martinique and St. Kitts & Nevis. 

Vision of the Seas departed St. Kitts on January 12, 2024 to begin sailing back to Baltimore, Maryland. The ship was scheduled to have three sea days before returning to Baltimore on Thursday, January 16, 2025. Guests currently aboard Vision of the Seas reported the captain made an announcement in the late afternoon about diverting towards Puerto Rico for an emergency airlift.

(Current location at time of publication for Vision of the Seas. Source: CruiseMapper)

“We are turning around to go to San Juan, Puerto Rico. It's 150 nautical miles from where we are. They're trying to get the coast guard involved and will notify us more once we have more information,” commented one passenger onboard on the Vision of the Seas Facebook page.

Those onboard reported the captain later announced in the evening that the Coast Guard deemed an airlift was not possible. “They just announced that [the] Coast Guard cannot do an airlift, so we have to go all the way to San Juan to get this person off. We should be there tomorrow morning,” shared one guest on Facebook.

Instead of the airlift, Vision of the Seas would sail to San Juan, Puerto Rico to dock and evacuate the passenger. After arriving in San Juan, guests reported the passenger was successfully transferred to the hospital and the ship resumed the sailing almost immediately.

(Photos shared from passenger on Facebook)

“We docked in San Juan at 5:00 am, the passenger and her family were taken off, we are all praying for her!” commented one guest on Facebook. 

Royal Caribbean sent communication to guests on the impacted January 16, 2025 sailing about the delay. The cruise line said, “Due to our previous sailing’s delay in arriving at the Port of Baltimore, our sailing will now take place on Friday, January 17th.” 

Vision of the Seas was originally scheduled to sail on an 8-night itinerary from Baltimore on January 16, 2025. The original itinerary would sail to Charleston (South Carolina), Port Canaveral (Florida), Grand Bahama Island (Bahamas) and Nassau (Bahamas) with three sea days. To make up for the delay, Vision of the Seas will skip its first port of call in Charleston, South Carolina with an additional sea day.

One passenger shared in a post on Reddit, “We received an email stating we are now boarding Friday morning instead of Thursday and an updated itinerary. No more Charleston (sad). Getting pro-rated for the day we will miss and any packages that were purchased in the form of onboard credit for that day.”

In addition to the medical evacuation, Vision of the Seas might need to navigate choppy waters with an Atlantic storm passing through the area. One guest onboard commented, "Captain was trying to go around a storm, but now that we are changing course for the medical evacuation, we may end up having to sail into the weather system.”

Royal Caribbean states that all guests will receive refunds for shore excursions booked in Charleston, South Carolina to the original form of payment. Those with booked flights through Royal Caribbean will automatically be rescheduled. Those with independent airfare will receive $400 USD for international travel and $200 for domestic travel, on a per person basis.

If you’re a frequent cruiser, it’s not uncommon to find yourself in the same cruise routine. Humans are creatures of habit and gravitate towards familiar, comfortable experiences. This can be true even while traveling when you’re already outside of your normal comfort zone!

For one Royal Caribbean cruiser, switching things up during her recent Royal Caribbean cruise was an eye-opening experience. Seasoned cruiser, Patty, recently sailed onboard Royal Caribbean’s Independence of the Seas on a 5-night sailing to the Western Caribbean.

Patty explained that she’s been cruising for over 30 years with her first cruise in 1992 with Norwegian Cruise Line. She has cruised around the world, including a recent sailing to Australia and Bali with her family. In addition, she has cruised to Europe and Asia with Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises. However, she has visited the Caribbean more times than any other port of call in the world.

During her 5-night sailing, Patty visited Cozumel, Mexico, and Royal Caribbean’s private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay. For some cruisers, the ports of call will always be the highlight of any sailing. However, Patty normally finds the onboard experience to be her favorite part of any cruise. From the delectable dining to the onboard activities and show-stopping entertainment, Patty finds herself enjoying the ship as much as she’s exploring ashore.

Looking to expand her cruising horizons, Patty decided to try a few new things instead of sticking to her 30-year cruising routine. Some changes were small while others were more significant. Overall, these new experiences resulted in an “exceptional” Royal Caribbean cruise.

Skipping the buffet and heading straight to the bar

When boarding a cruise ship, embarkation day can be quite hectic. Between busy cruise terminals, muster drill requirements, unpacking your suitcase, and getting settled, some might be surprised by the chaotic nature of embarkation day.

To kick off her vacation on the right foot, Patty decided to head straight to the bar after boarding. It’s not an unusual stop for most vacationers, but Patty shares she often doesn’t have a cocktail until later in the evening when cruising. Normally, she is in a hurry to visit the Windjammer buffet after boarding, along with dropping off carry-on luggage and checking her table location in the Main Dining Room.

Speaking of the Windjammer, Patty decided on the first day of her cruise that she wanted to skip the crazy buffet for lunch. Most cruisers head straight to the buffet on embarkation day, creating long lines. Sometimes, it’s hard even to find a table for lunch during this time!

Instead, Patty decided to visit a new quick-casual dining option on Independence of the Seas: Fish and Ships. As a seafood lover, Patty was eager to try the new-to-her restaurant. The complimentary dining option is only available on Independence of the Seas and Ovation of the Seas.

Located on the pool deck, Patty found there was no one in line at Fish and Ships. This was a welcomed change from the crowded buffet. The menu included a few no-cost options, such as fried shrimp with chips, fish sandwich, fish and chips, and chicken fingers.

Patty was excited to try the fish and chips, along with the breaded shrimp. She found the fish to be very tasty and fried with a thick breading. Although the shrimp was smaller than expected, these were enjoyable as well. Patty’s travel companion was not a seafood fan, so instead, she ordered the chicken tenders with French fries. The tenders were so small, Patty said they seemed mislabeled and should have been called chicken nuggets.

Visiting the sauna and steam room in the spa

After visiting Cozumel more times than she can count, Patty decided to stay aboard Independence of the Seas rather than heading ashore. In addition, the weather was hot and muggy. With this, Patty wanted to experience a quieter cruise ship while most guests decided to go ashore.

Even after cruising for more than three decades, Patty had never been in the spa to visit the sauna or steam room before. Without allocating dedicated time to try the spa’s amenities, it’s always too busy for her to stop by. In addition, some cruise ships charge to visit these spa amenities, so Patty was happy to try both for free.

Unsurprisingly, Patty was the only person in the women’s sauna and steam room. As suspected, most passengers had disembarked for the itinerary’s port of call, especially with only two stops on the sailing. Patty shared that the facilities were clean, as she anticipated, and she appreciated being the only person in the space. “It was calming since I had no idea what I was doing,” she explained.

Although she had some questions, Patty stated the spa had signage with instructions and warnings for passengers. While some might glaze over these, Patty felt it was important to understand the facilities.

First, she decided to try the sauna. The instructions stated to add water to the coals, so Patty did as instructed. The rules also advised that spa visitors should only stay in the sauna for 10 minutes or less. To be safe, Patty shared she only stayed in the sauna for 7 minutes due to being alone and having high blood pressure.

Up next, she ventured over to the steam room in the spa. She described the space as having a single-tile seat to rest on. Unfortunately, the steam room was claustrophobic to Patty because the steam was so thick. Again, she decided to only stay in the steam room for less than 10 minutes - not that she wanted to spend any extra time.

To complete her spa visit, Patty cooled off in the shower. She shared how she enjoyed using the extra-large shower in the spa compared to her interior cabin’s tiny shower. Although she was glad to try the sauna and steam room for the first time, Patty doesn’t necessarily need to visit these facilities again.

Enhancing her interior cabin

Staying in an inside stateroom, Patty wanted to try a few small changes to enhance her cabin experience. After reading a blog post on our site about questions to ask your cabin steward, she learned about the option to ask for mattress toppers. Because cruise beds are often too firm for her liking, Patty wanted to see if the mattress topper would enhance her quality of sleep.

After boarding on the first day of her cruise, Patty asked the cabin steward if she could have a mattress topper added to her bed. She returned that evening to find the mattress topper already on her bed. Patty was pleased with the mattress topper, stating how she slept better on the softened mattress.

To optimize the cabin space, Patty wanted to try another new strategy. Originally, she explained her interior cabin had one nightstand on both sides of the bed. Patty decided to rearrange the cabin so each bed was against the cabin wall, allowing more space between the beds for navigating the room.

By pushing the beds against the wall, Patty was also able to stack pillows along the side of the wall for comfortable side sleeping. This prevents the pillows from falling all over the floor as well, so Patty will continue separating her bed like this in the future.

See more: I stayed in the cheapest, smallest cabin on Independence of the Seas. Look inside my 162-square-foot room

Other small changes included extra pillows and more hangers for the closet to provide more hanging space for her clothes. Finally, Patty requested a paper Cruise Compass to be delivered daily because she doesn’t always enjoy using the Royal Caribbean app.

Luckily, their cabin steward was happy to accommodate these requests and Patty found the small enhancements to make a big difference during her cruise.

Repeat specialty dining visits

When Patty cruises, she typically only visits a specialty dining restaurant once during her sailing. Never before had she thought to revisit the same specialty dining restaurant more than once during the same cruise.

During her time on Independence of the Seas, Patty had onboard credit to spend before the end of the cruise. She opted to try Giovanni’s Table for lunch on the first sea day for only $22.99 compared to $54.99 per person for dinner to save money. 

Patty described the lunch as fantastic, starting with the crispy calamari. She felt the serving size was easily five times the size of what the Main Dining Room would serve. The lightly breaded calamari had a crispy coating and was served with lemon garlic aioli and tomato sauce. In fact, she couldn’t stop talking about how good the heavenly calamari was!

For her main entree, Patty decided to try the fillet mignon after her waiter highly recommended it. She decided to try the fillet with smaller pasta dishes for the sides. Patty said the waiter was right and the steak was incredible, cooked to perfection, and very tender. She argues the fillet is better than what she’s had in Chops Grille Steakhouse on Royal Caribbean.

After a wonderful first visit, they returned to Giovanni’s. On the last day of her cruise, Patty shared how her waiter from lunch was promoting the restaurant. He remembered her and offered to make her a deal to return that night. To her surprise, the waiter offered a BOGO deal for both Patty and her guest to dine for only $54.99 each.

Read more: Everything I ate on Royal Caribbean's Independence of the Seas: Food review and pictures

After a subpar experience in the Main Dining Room, Patty didn’t hesitate to accept the BOGO offer. Normally, she enjoys connecting with the waitstaff in the dining room throughout her cruise, but found this wasn’t the case on her short cruise. She stated, “This was the first time I can ever remember not wanting to be in the Main Dining Room on the last night of a cruise.”

As such, Patty dined at Giovanni’s for the final night of her cruise and ordered nearly the same meal. She couldn’t resist ordering the amazing calamari once more, along with the fantastic fillet.

Trying new breakfast options

When cruising with Royal Caribbean, Patty normally enjoys breakfast in the Windjammer or Main Dining Room. While she’s considered ordering room service before, she had never found the right opportunity to do so.

On this cruise, she wanted to splurge and try Royal Caribbean’s complimentary room service option for breakfast. She ordered her breakfast to be delivered between 9 and 9:30 a.m., hoping her must-have coffee wouldn’t be served lukewarm. Patty also ordered an English muffin and fruit plate for breakfast.

At promptly 8:50 a.m., the room service department rang her cabin to ensure she was awake to receive the order. A few minutes later, the meal was delivered to her stateroom. Patty was delighted to find her coffee was in a carafe and served very hot - just the way she likes it. She anticipated the English muffin might also be served lukewarm, but found it was still warm as well.

Overall, she was very impressed by the experience and found it was a nice way to start the day while her roommate wanted to sleep in. Patty questioned why she had never ordered room service before and will definitely continue doing so in the future!

Another thing Patty wanted to try was the light breakfast in the Diamond Lounge for top-tier loyalty members. She describes how breakfast was served until 10 a.m. on sea days and this particular sailing had very few top-tier loyalty members. Patty was the only person in the lounge for breakfast, so it was quite relaxing.

The lounge served a nice continental breakfast, which included pastries, yogurt, fruit, juice, and specialty coffee. Even better, the lounge featured a beautiful view of the ocean!

Formal night at the buffet

During her sailing on Independence of the Seas, the musical Grease was showing at 7:00 p.m. on formal night. Patty was looking forward to seeing the Broadway musical during her cruise, although the time conflicted with dinner in the Main Dining Room.

Instead, Patty opted to skip the dining room to have dinner in the Windjammer buffet on formal night. This was the first time Patty had ever skipped formal night in the dining room after 30-plus years of cruising. Following the musical, she made her way to the buffet for a late dinner. While she is usually pleased with the Main Dining Room, Patty enjoyed trying something different on formal night.

To start, she was surprised to find that the buffet had a similar theme as the Main Dining Room. The formal night theme in the main dining room was “Savor La France” while the Windjammer theme was “A Taste of France.” Because of this, most of the food being served in the Main Dining Room was also available in the buffet.

One of the highlights of their casual dining experience was finding a nice window seat to enjoy the aft-facing views of the ship. Patty was able to watch the sunset during her dinner in the Windjammer; in comparison, her Main Dining Room table was smack-dab in the middle of the large dining hall, far away from any ocean views. Being able to savor the sunset without battling any crowds made for a memorable dinner.

The Windjammer offered a crepe bar with tasty toppings to try, so Patty opted to try the strawberry and chocolate crepe. Although the food was fine, she likely won’t return to the buffet for formal dinner when given the option. 

In the future, Patty also concludes she probably won’t get dressed up for formal night if she isn’t heading to the dining room anyway. Grabbing buffet food in her gown seemed too casual for formal night, and Patty shared she missed having a longer meal in the dining room.

Other small changes that added to the cruise experience

During this short cruise, Patty challenged herself to do little things differently in hopes of creating some new cruise traditions and routines. You never know unless you try!

Patty is a relatively new diabetic and wanted to see how Royal Caribbean could accommodate her dietary needs. As such, she ordered the low-sugar options in the dining room for dessert. These included vanilla ice cream, coffee pot de creme, coconut cake, and dark chocolate custard.

Of course, Patty found the desserts were not as good as full-sugar desserts. But, she was happy to see options provided as a choice for those trying to watch their weight or needing to monitor their blood sugar. Even as a diabetic, Patty was able to enjoy one of her favorite things about cruising, which is always the food!

In the same way, Patty found Johnny Rockets was accommodating to her dietary requests. She felt guilty ordering a full milkshake because of the sugar content, but she didn’t want to be wasteful. Instead, she inquired about whether she could order a half-size milkshake instead of the full-size. To her surprise, the crew was happy to accommodate the request and the smaller size satisfied her sweet tooth.

Additionally, Patty shared how she sat on the promenade deck one evening after sunset and gazed at the stars. This was a new way to relax while finding a serene place away from other cruisers. It almost felt like having the ship to herself.

Finally, Patty decided on disembarkation day to visit the coffee shop while waiting for their numbers to be called. She was surprised that her Diamond voucher was accepted for the specialty coffee, and felt this was a wonderful way to end her vacation. She never considered this as a possibility, but she was glad she asked about using her voucher before heading home.

“Maybe it's my age, but it's funny how you can get in a rut doing the same routines while cruising. I enjoyed pushing myself to make some changes. They were small, but they added to the overall experience on our Independence of the Seas cruise. Anytime I can cruise with one of my daughters, I’m in,” concluded Patty.

When it comes to cruising, I’m a hard-core budget traveler. The more money I can save, the more often I can travel - and that's always my goal!

Although traveling has become increasingly more expensive in the last few years, I still find incredible value from cruising. With accommodations, meals, entertainment, and onboard amenities included in your cruise fare, it offers exceptional value for your money. My budget can be stretched further while cruising with so much included in the fare. 

However, there are always opportunities to splurge while cruising. Expensive add-ons and upselling both seem to be more prevalent than ever. Because of this, budget travelers might find constant temptation to splurge on cruise extras, including drink packages, internet purchases, specialty dining, and excursions. 

For me, 2024 was a big year of travel. I sailed on eight different cruises across four continents. These far-flung itineraries required long international flights, during which I flew on nearly 100 separate flight segments in 2024. This amounted to 135,206 miles of flying, with 13 days of the year spent in the air.

I was able to check a few major destinations off my bucket list this year by cruising, including South Africa, Madagascar, Belgium, Indonesia, and Australia. I was able to reach these countries while cruising on four extremely port-intensive itineraries. 

This included two sailings on Norwegian Cruise Line to South Africa and New England. I also cruised twice with Celebrity Cruises to Norway and Australia in 2024. Other sailings included weekend cruises with Carnival Cruise Line.

Between credit card points, cheap interior cabins, and my remote work jobs, I was able to stretch my vacation budget significantly this year. With a few big splurges in 2024, some purchases were absolutely worth the expense, while others felt like a waste of money.

Worth it: Balcony stateroom

One of my favorite cruises of the year was a 7-night Norway fjord sailing on Celebrity Apex with my husband. We departed from England and visited three ports throughout Norway, including one stop in Belgium.

Although we typically book cheaper cabins like interior guarantee staterooms, we decided to splurge on a more expensive balcony cabin for this cruise. We knew Norway would be incredibly beautiful with stunning views of the fjords throughout the week. Because of this, we wanted to have our own private balcony so we wouldn’t miss any of the sights!

Our deluxe porthole balcony stateroom was pricey at $4,200, which is certainly on the expensive side for a 7-night itinerary. But, the splurge was absolutely worthwhile! With extra space in the cabin and our own veranda, our cabin felt like a slice of luxury.

We also decided to splurge on choosing our specific stateroom instead of booking a balcony guarantee. Although we saved money last year booking this kind of cabin on our Jewel of the Seas cruise with Royal Caribbean, our stateroom was above the nightclub. We couldn't sleep until midnight each evening because of the loud noise! 

This time, we strategically picked our stateroom because it was nestled among other cabins. This was worth every single penny! 

The highlight of our balcony was sailing through the fjords from the privacy of our veranda. After bringing two bottles of wine onboard for embarkation day, my husband and I enjoyed a relaxing happy hour on our balcony each evening, sipping wine as the ship sailed away from the ports of call. Watching the awe-inspiring fjords drift by made the splurge unforgettable. 

Waste: Spa treatment

During our cruise through the Norwegian fjords, my husband and I decided to splurge on a couple’s massage. Cruise ship spas are notoriously expensive, so the $400 cost for our spa treatment was not surprising.

Unfortunately, the overall experience fell short of expectations. The massage itself was wonderful, but I expected more for the price. I had high hopes for the Edge class spa, which is often advertised as a top-of-the-line amenity for Celebrity Cruises. As a premium cruise line, the onboard experience is centered around modern relaxation and rejuvenation.

First, the massage room lacked ambiance - it felt very plain and resembled a basic spa in a shopping mall. Some of the aspects of the experience also felt cheap. For instance, the masseuse placed a rolled-up paper towel over our eyes for the facial portion of the massage. For the cost of the spa treatment, I would expect at least a warm towel for my eyes.

In the future, I will probably prioritize thermal spa passes that can be used throughout the duration of the cruise. While cruising in Africa, I spent about $200 on a thermal spa pass to use for the 12-night voyage. This was the first time I splurged on a thermal spa pass - and it was definitely worth it!

This was one of the best splurges I made during that itinerary. I enjoyed the heated loungers with my book every afternoon, often resulting in a nap. This purchase felt far more worthwhile, as I could enjoy the spa amenities every day of the cruise. On the flip side, massages only last about 60 minutes. 

Worth it: Drink packages

As a frequent cruiser, I hardly ever splurge on a drink package because they’re extraordinarily expensive. Before 2024, I had only purchased Royal Caribbean’s drink package once and struggled to get my money’s worth. Keeping up with the required level of drinking throughout the cruise felt excessive, and I ultimately lost money on the drink package.

Also, with my Royal Caribbean loyalty status, I receive five daily drink vouchers for complimentary beverages priced up to $14 each. This perk is more than sufficient for me, essentially providing the benefits of a drink package without the added cost.

However, one of the cruises I booked this year included a drink package in the cruise fare. I cruised with Norwegian Cruise Line to Africa onboard Norwegian Dawn in January 2024. The cruise line’s “Free at Sea” pricing included a drink package, in which guests only needed to pay for the gratuities on the package. I had never tried this package before, but I thought the price was reasonable. 

For the 12-night cruise, I only paid about $500 in gratuities for Norwegian’s standard drink package. This included most of the drinks that I wanted to order, such as mojitos, martinis, and piña coladas.

Being able to indulge throughout this port-intensive itinerary was worth the splurge. I appreciated not having to worry about paying for every drink consumed, although I do wish specialty coffee was included in Norwegian’s standard drink package. Even still, I easily drank more than $500 worth during the 12-night cruise - and I would splurge on Norwegian’s drink package again.

Waste: Specialty dining

Specialty dining is typically a splurge I enjoy. When sailing on longer itineraries, a specialty restaurant can provide a change of pace from the main dining room. Specialty restaurants on cruise ships include higher-quality entrees and more attentive service for a reasonable surcharge. However, this wasn't always the case during my 2024 cruises. 

While cruising in Norway with my husband, he was especially interested in dining at Raw on Five onboard Celebrity Apex. As a sushi-lover, we heard rave reviews about the upscale experience. During our first sea day, we booked Raw on Five for lunch to try this raved-about restaurant.

Read more: I tried Royal Caribbean's new loyalty match program. I missed having drink vouchers, but it saved me hundreds of dollars

Unfortunately, Raw on Five did not live up to our expectations. My husband tried two sushi rolls and one plate of oysters for lunch. While the food was edible, the meal was not particularly impressive. Similarly, I tried the pork butt and felt the meat was rubbery and tough. For $60, our money could have been spent elsewhere.

Not all specialty dining was disappointing, though. My husband and I also dined at Rooftop Garden Grill during our cruise and had one of the best meals on any cruise! I also tried Tuscan Grill on Celebrity Solstice, which is one of my new favorite cruise ship restaurants. In fact, the meal was so delightful the first time that we returned for a second visit during our 15-night cruise in Australia.

Worth it: Cruise line excursions

I’m a destination-focused cruiser, so I usually pick my sailings based on the ports of call. If I am going to spend time and money to travel, I want to make sure I'm visiting destinations that I actually want to see. Because of this, I plan my days ashore meticulously to maximize the time in port.

While excursions through the cruise line can be undeniably expensive, my splurges in 2024 on these tours were absolutely worthwhile. Cruise-sponsored excursions provide added security that your cruise ship will not depart without you. This means unexpected traffic or delays aren’t a cause for concern during your time ashore.

In addition, I’ve discovered that cruise-sponsored almost always receive priority for disembarkation. If you’re docked in a port that requires tendering ashore, cruise-sponsored excursions will be among the first to head ashore. These tours also receive priority for ports of call that require face-to-face immigration.

Throughout 2024, I splurged on excursions offered through the cruise line - even if the cost was significantly more than booking an independent tour. While cruising around South Africa, we booked multiple safaris throughout our itinerary. Most of these safaris were hours away from the ports and required significant travel. Not to mention, we were required to do face-to-face immigration in South Africa.

I felt Norwegian’s excursions would be the safest option for touring, especially while traveling to an unfamiliar part of the world. We also received priority disembarkation in every port, which allowed us more time ashore. Because we were booked on a Norwegian excursion, we also avoided the chaotic immigration line with those going ashore on their own. 

Throughout 2024, I found myself booking more excursions through the cruise line for these reasons. I also booked the Flam Railway during our Norway cruise through Celebrity Cruises. In addition, we visited the Great Barrier Reef while cruising in Australia. Instead of looking to save money with an independent tour, we opted for Celebrity's snorkeling excursion because we would be traveling far from the anchored ship. 

Worth it: Disembarkation tours

Disembarkation tours became a new favorite splurge of mine in 2024. These excursions allow guests the opportunity to tour the disembarkation city before heading to the airport or continuing on with their travels. Instead of waiting around at the airport all day, you can utilize your time to explore the surrounding area.

The first disembarkation tour I booked was in Cape Town, South Africa, which was through the cruise line. Because our flight did not depart until 11 in the evening, we had an entire day to tour the city. I was ecstatic to see a tour of the Cape Peninsula to visit Cape Point and Cape of Good Hope, which are the southernmost points in Africa. Of course, I couldn’t wait to also see the precious penguins waddling around Boulders Beach!

With just two days to explore Cape Town, I was thrilled with this all-day excursion, as it made the most of our limited time in the city. We were able to venture around the Cape Peninsula all day and still arrive at the airport with plenty of time. In addition, we didn’t need to worry about storing our luggage somewhere in a secure location on the coach bus.

After this positive experience, I decided to utilize the same strategy in Singapore after disembarking from my cruise around Australia. We only had one day to explore Singapore before flying home the following day, so we organized a disembarkation tour through Viator. 

With four people, we had a private van that shuffled us around the city to the main sights. We were able to keep our luggage in the car safely before checking into our hotel later that night. This was the best way to end a fantastic cruise. 

With future cruises, I will continue to book disembarkation tours if the right opportunity presents itself. I’d rather see more of the local sights than wait around all day at the airport!

Every cruise line has an app, but Royal Caribbean's is by far the best one in the industry right now.

Whenever you're comparing apps, it's a subjective exercise. But I think Royal Caribbean's is so much better because of how many features they've rolled into it.

While the app has existed in various forms since 2017, a renewed focus and push to make the app really useful began in 2020 and has continued to today.

It's not a perfect app, but I think some of the features added over the last two years have really stood out from other lines.  And that's given the app separation from the pack, given how other cruise line apps lack so many of this functionality.

Royal Caribbean’s app is free to download for Apple and Android users - and it’s quickly become a must-have for cruising. 

From a streamlined onboarding process to improving the onboard cruise experience, here’s why Royal Caribbean’s app has become the gold standard of cruise technology.

1. So easy to plan everything before the cruise begins

One of the key features that sets Royal Caribbean’s app apart is its functionality prior to even stepping onboard your cruise ship. 

Before your vacation begins, you can use the Royal Caribbean app to plan excursions, purchase internet, reserve specialty dining and buy drink packages. This means you don't need to go online to the cruise planner, instead utilizing the app for quick purchases. This allows you to plan more conveniently from your phone, such as when you’re on the go and away from your computer.

In comparison, I find Norwegian Cruise Line’s app worthless before you sail onboard. Even with a recent refresh, many report constant glitches and freezing with attempting to pre-cruise plan. 

Additionally, Carnival Cruise Line’s app only redirects you from the app to the browser online for pre-boarding planning, making the app feel less functional.

2. A digital safety drill is inside the app

Embarkation day has greatly improved because of the eMuster with Royal Caribbean's app. 

Perhaps one of the least parts of cruising, all cruise passengers are required to complete a safety briefing under law before the ship can set sail. Gone are the days of crowding onto the promenade deck in the scorching heat for the mandatory muster drill. This painful safety drill never felt like the best way to start your vacation. 

Royal Caribbean revolutionized the way muster drills are conducted by incorporating the drill into its app. to Now, guests watch the pre-cruise safety video, hear the emergency horn sound and accept safety guidelines on Royal Caribbean’s app. 

Guests can complete the safety briefing at their convenience now, as long as all requirements are completed by a certain time on embarkation day (usually in the late afternoon). You have to visit your muster station in person once onboard, but you have a timeframe to complete this step.

3. It can get you into your cabin

Some of Royal Caribbean’s newest cruise ships allow guests to unlock their staterooms with a digital key through the app. For example, Royal Caribbean’s Odyssey of the Seas and Icon of the Seas, allow guests to use the app to unlock their stateroom. Although this functionality has been available in the hotel industry for a while, Royal Caribbean is one of the first cruise lines to integrate this technology. 

The digital key setup is straightforward and only requires three steps before you can start using the app for your stateroom key. This means you don’t need to fumble around a beach bag looking for your SeaPass card.

Also, some new ships allow guests to use the Royal Caribbean app in their stateroom. You can also use the Royal Caribbean app to control the stateroom TV, including streaming content from your phone directly to the TV. In addition, you can control the room temperature, lights and curtains in some staterooms.

4. Going "curb to bar" quickly

Boarding day can be hectic regardless of which cruise line you’re sailing with. Luckily, Royal Caribbean’s app provides easy access to check-in, upload security photos, complete the health questionnaire, scan your passport photo and generate a mobile boarding pass. You can also select your arrival times for embarkation.

Once you’re at the terminal for cruising, you can continue accessing your boarding pass within the app or download the pass to your phone’s wallet. 

Unlike Carnival Cruise Line, which still requires guests to print their boarding passes for embarkation day, Royal Caribbean’s app is much more convenient in this way.

5. Free chatting onboard

Another major perk of Royal Caribbean’s app is being able to chat with other guests during your cruise - for free! Starting in January 2023, Royal Caribbean announced that all guests could use the chat feature on its app as a complimentary perk moving forward. 

This allows for easy communication onboard the ship, especially when you're at sea and away from cell service. After all, internet on a cruise ship is still very expensive. Guests can chat with their travel group without needing to purchase internet access. On select ships, guests can also chat with Guest Services through the app, avoiding long lines at the desk

Other cruise lines, including both Carnival Cruise Line and Norwegian Cruise Line, charge each guest to access onboard chat while cruising. Carnival Cruise Line charges $5 per person to use their HUB app's chat feature. 

6. Future cruise planning

Not only does Royal Caribbean’s app provide an enhanced onboard experience, but you can also book future vacations! One of the newer features of Royal Caribbean’s app is the ability to plan a future cruise directly on your phone. With a new search functionality, prospective cruisers can easily look for their next cruise vacation. 

This feature makes it easy to plan your next cruise directly from your phone, avoiding the need to navigate a browser. You can even purchase gift cards in the app for your future cruise and have your new reservation booked with just a few clicks.

If you're sailing on a Royal Caribbean cruise, you can also take advantage of NextCruise deals without needing to visit the office on the ship. There's no better way to get over the post-cruise blues than booking your next sailing before disembarking!

7. See your photos without the crowd

Remember when cruise lines would print out every photo taken and display them in a gallery each evening? While some older vessels still use traditional photo galleries, Royal Caribbean’s app integrates digital photo capabilities for your sailing. The app provides extremely easy access to your professional photos taken during your cruise. 

While onboard, you will provide the photographer with your stateroom number after photos are taken. This will link the digital photos directly to your profile, which is accessible in your Royal Caribbean app. You can view all of the photos you’ve taken, along with downloading and purchasing photos on the app. Now, you don’t need to waste time combing through hundreds of photos of strangers to find your pictures!

8. Manage your loyalty status

Royal Caribbean’s loyalty program - the Crown and Anchor Society - is also accessible in the cruise line’s app for all loyalty members. Considering Royal Caribbean has one of the best rewards program for loyal cruisers, it's important to keep track of how many points you have and the benefits you're entitled to. 

First, cruisers can now enroll in the Crown and Anchor Society though Royal Caribbean’s app. This feature makes enrollment quick and convenient for newer cruisers. Directly on your phone, you can also view your current loyalty tier and associated benefits for the Crown and Anchor Society. The app also displays your total cruise points and number of cruise nights for quick access, so you can stay up-to-date on your status.

9. Book restaurants with a few clicks

One of the biggest highlights of cruising with Royal Caribbean is having so many dining options to choose from, including both complimentary and specialty restaurants. However, the larger the cruise ship, the more important it is to plan your dining reservations in advance. With more guests vying for reservations at the restaurants onboard, waiting until the last minute for making specialty dining reservations isn’t a good strategy.

The Royal Caribbean app allows you to browse onboard restaurants, reserve specialty dining, and schedule My Time Dining reservations. This can be especially helpful for those wanting to avoid a long line for My Time Dining in the main dining room each night.

Those who purchase a dining package, such as the Ultimate Dining Package, can also reserve all restaurants in Royal Caribbean's app as well. This latest update has been a highly-anticipated change, as many cruisers scrambled to make reservations on embarkation day.

10. Check out everything happening onboard

Before Royal Caribbean launched its app, the cruise line handed out daily schedules, known as the Cruise Compass. With the inception of the app, Royal Caribbean has essentially ditched the physical Cruise Compass (unless guests request one specifically) for its digital platform. The app allows you to browse daily activities, headliner showtimes, themed parties and more.

With Royal Caribbean’s app, guests are empowered to manage their cruise experiences and daily onboard activities. Cruisers can bookmark certain activities to create a custom, personalized schedule for each day. The app also sends 15-minute reminders for your bookmarked events, ensuring you won’t miss a thing.

11. See the menus to decide where you want to eat

While it may seem like a small detail, I love that I can see the menu in the Main Dining Room for every day of the cruise in advance.

Instead of having to wait to see the menu until you show up, you can access each menu for the duration of your sailing. 

The advantage here is being able to plan out when you want to skip the main dining room and book specialty restaurants instead. For instance, I plan to book our specialty dining on the evenings when the main dining room menus are less appealing. But, no one wants to miss lobster night in the dining room!

Although Carnival Cruise Line has the same feature for their app, Norwegian Cruise Line does does not provide nightly menus for their main dining room in their app. Instead, the evening menu is only available for viewing outside the restaurant, posted in the afternoon on the same day. This isn’t a huge issue, but it is a nuisance!

12. Book flights

Another feature that differentiates Royal Caribbean’s app from competitors is the ability to book flights for your upcoming sailings. Royal Caribbean’s app has a new feature to book flights directly in their app. The app also includes options for exploring transportation and lodging, though these redirect users to an online browser.

Air2Sea allows you to book flights for your cruise through Royal Caribbean. This provides additional assistance if issues arise with your travel, which can be helpful if you encounter unexpected travel challenges tying to get to and from the cruise port. 

Booking a cruise is undoubtedly exciting, but the thrill can quickly fade when you start thinking about all the planning involved. Before your vacation can begin, there are some important steps that all cruisers should take.

Although one of the perks of booking a cruise is having minimal logistics, some preparation is usually necessary. Theoretically, you could show up on embarkation day without any prior planning and still have a great time. However, this doesn’t mean you should plan to show up to the cruise terminal without doing some basic planning.

After booking your cruise, you may find the planning process a bit overwhelming. Modern cruise ships rival floating cities, bustling with thousands of other guests and offering endless options for things to do. Between excursion planning, airfare, dining reservations and more, there are many details to iron before setting sail.

After sailing on 50 cruises, I’ve learned that a bit of preparation goes a long way. Here are 20 tried-and-true steps I always take before cruising to ensure my vacation is seamless and stress-free.

1. Verify travel documents

If you are planning a cruise, you should absolutely make sure you have the appropriate travel documents. Whether you are planning to cruise using your passport or your birth certificate (which is only allowed for certain sailings departing from the United States), confirming travel documentation is my top priority.

Double-check that your passport is not expiring within the next six months, which is often a requirement to visit other countries. If your passport is expired or expiring soon, you should start the process of applying for a new passport. This can take anywhere from a few weeks to a couple months depending on the current backlog. 

Finally, confirm whether any visas are needed for your itinerary. For instance, my recent cruise from Sydney to Bali and Singapore required a tourist visa to visit Indonesia. If you’re sailing on a more exotic itinerary, this is especially important.

2. Book airfare, if needed

Some cruisers are lucky enough to live within driving distance of a cruise port; however, it’s not uncommon for vacationers to fly to their cruise embarkation port. However, you should always fly into your cruise port at least one day before departure to ensure you don’t encounter any delays or cancellations.

Most of my itineraries require airfare, so I usually look my flights shortly after reserving my cruise. I prefer to book further in advance to have the most options that align with my travel needs and the cruise schedule. 

3. Research itinerary and ports of call

As a destination-focused traveler, I extensively research every port of call on a cruise itinerary. I want to ensure my time in each port is maximized to the fullest, especially when I am on a tight schedule. For each port of call, I always spend time researching the top things to do in each destination to make sure I can see and do everything I want. 

For instance, some cruise ships will dock far from a city center, such as Le Havre, France or Civitavecchia, Italy. Le Havre is a port city that is advertised as the gateway to Paris while Civitavecchia is the closest port city to Rome, Italy. 

Without researching these ports of call, you might assume touring the famous cities of Rome and Paris are convenient and easy. However, Paris is more than two hours from Le Havre and Civitavecchia is one hour from the city of Rome.

4. Book cruise-line excursions

For any cruise, it’s important to look at the excursions offered by the cruise line. First, this can give you a good gauge on the top things to do in each port of call. Personally, I like to read the tour descriptions to see what each port has to offer, including which activities or attractions are feasible to visit from the port.

Second, I prefer to book excursions through the cruise line for certain destinations or itineraries. Cruise-sponsored excursions are convenient and provide a guaranteed return to the ship. Because of this, shore excursions through the cruise line can be very popular and sell out quickly.

It’s best to book your excursions as soon as possible, especially considering you can cancel your tour if you change your mind. The added flexibility and convenience of cruise line excursions is often worthwhile, in my opinion.

5. Prebook add-ons

In addition to excursions, it’s important to budget for other add-ons needed for your cruise. This could include drink packages, internet access, specialty dining reservations, spa treatments and other onboard experiences.

It’s usually best to prebook your add-ons before setting sail, as cruise lines offer pre-sailing discounts. Once onboard, you will often find higher prices for these add-ons (especially drink packages!).

6. Find a hotel for the night before

Because I usually need to fly to my embarkation port, I also need to book a hotel for the night before. Following the golden-rule of cruise travel, I always book a flight that arrives at least one night before my cruise embarks. If I am wanting to explore the embarkation port for longer, I will fly to the city a couple days in advance.

In this way, booking a pre-cruise hotel is one of my must-do items. You can book a hotel months in advance, and I prefer to secure my reservation using credit card points. The further in advance you can book a hotel, the more options you have for utilizing these redemptions.

7. Plan transportation to the port

After arriving to the embarkation city, you will also need to consider transportation to the cruise terminal. Sometimes this is easy and convenient, while other times require planning and research. If you are driving yourself to the cruise terminal, make sure you know where to park and how much you can expect to spend.

If you need to travel further, consider prearranging your transportation. This has proven useful in many occasions, especially for terminals located far from the city. Take into account how much luggage you’ll be traveling with as well.

For example, I’ve cruised from Southampton, England many different times for cruises. I always spend time in London before embarkation, which is about 80 miles from the Southampton cruise terminal. There are a few options for transportation, but I always book the direct train from London to Southampton beforehand.

8. Monitor pricing for a better deal or upgrade

Although this has become less common with increased prices and demand for cruising, I continue to monitor my booked cruises for better deals. If I find a cheaper cruise fare for my itinerary before final payment, I simply contact my travel agent and ask for a reprice. This has saved me thousands of dollars over the years!

If the final payment deadline has passed, you might be able to upgrade your cabin to a higher category. Even if I am unable to reprice my reservation, I’ve been able to upgrade my interior cabin to a balcony or suite when prices decreased closer to the sail date.

9. Check-in for cruise

It might seem obvious, but make sure you check-in for your cruise before heading to the terminal! Last year, I forgot to check-in for my cruise onboard Grandeur of the Seas before embarkation day. Although I was able to complete my check-in at the cruise terminal, this was a huge headache. 

I had to spend extra time confirming my documentation at the terminal, which delayed the start to my vacation! In addition, I had to confirm with guest services that my payment account was up-to-date onboard. Now, I always check-in for my cruise after receiving the reminder email from Royal Caribbean. This ensures I can choose the best arrival time for my schedule. I also find I am less likely to forget checking in for my cruise if I do this right after being reminded.

10. Confirm health requirements

Depending on your cruise itinerary, you might have health requirements that need to be met before embarkation. While most cruises in Europe, the Caribbean and Alaska do not typically have health requirements to consider, other destinations around the world do.

For example, you might need a Yellow Fever vaccine to visit certain countries around Africa or South America. Malaria medication might be recommended for cruises around Asia as well. Confirm you have proper documentation for any medication based on entry requirements for your itinerary as well. It’s best to check with your doctor about health requirements before your cruise begins, even if this simply entails routine vaccination.

11. Replenish my travel pharmacy

Speaking of health requirements, another thing I religiously do before cruising is replenish my travel pharmacy. Because onboard medication is expensive while cruising, it’s best to bring some over-the-counter medication onboard with you in case you need it. No one wants to think about getting sick on vacation, but even minor ailments can be a nuisance while cruising. 

For my travel pharmacy, I ensure I have everything from pain relief, antihistamines, seasickness medication and basic first aid necessities. I will pack a few extra doses for longer itineraries to make sure I don’t run low on any medication. It’s always best to be prepared for the worst case scenario, even if you don’t thing you will need it.

12. Print baggage tags

One must-do item that I tend to forget is printing baggage tags. Cruise lines will provide downloadable tags for you to print before arriving at the embarkation port. These are attached to your suitcases before handing your luggage to the cruise ship porters at the terminal.

The baggage tags are available either through the cruise planner or app. You print the tags and attach them to your suitcase using either tape, staples or a luggage tag holder. I prefer to use a luggage tag holder to keep my printed tags secure, minimizing the chance of the tag falling off.

13. Bring cash and small bills

Cruise ships are essentially cashless for purchases, but I always make sure I pack some cash before setting sail. This also includes smaller $1 bills for tips, which I often provide to the bar tenders throughout the cruise. In addition, I prefer giving cash tips to my cabin stewards and dining room waiters on the final day of the cruise.

Moreover, cash is sometimes needed throughout your sailing in different ports of call. Although credit cards are widely accepted, you shouldn’t be cashless while traveling. Having some cash on hand can be necessary for transportation or souvenir purchases.

14. Download Royal Caribbean app

The cruising experience on Royal Caribbean is almost entirely digitalized now in the post-pandemic era. Everything from the muster drill to daily schedules can be found on the app while cruising. Royal Caribbean’s app is very handy for not only the onboard experience, but also before you set sail. While some cruise lines only have apps that are usable onboard, Royal Caribbean’s app is a good resource for your cruise planning as well. 

You can see the deck plans, dining reservations, excursions and more when using Royal Caribbean's app. Therefore, I highly recommend adding the app to your phone before cruising. Royal Caribbean’s app is available to download in the iTunes Store for Apple products or in the Google Play store for Android devices.

15. Make dining reservations

When sailing on larger cruise vessels, such as Oasis or Quantum class ships, I always make sure I reserve specialty dining before embarkation. With so many people sailing onboard these bigger ships, specialty dining reservations can be hard to come by after boarding. These restaurants fill up quickly, so I want to make sure I can secure a booking that works for my schedule.

Also, it’s easy to change reservations once you’re onboard your cruise if you need to. I’ve had to adjust specialty dining bookings after embarkation, and it’s never been an issue. Although you might not have many options for time slots, you do have flexibility onboard.

16. Start packing list

After taking 50 cruises, I consider myself an expert cruise packer. I have my go-to cruise outfits and essentials, including cabin must-haves. Even still, I prefer to make a list of everything that I want to remember to pack for my cruise. This is especially important if I am sailing on a port-intensive itinerary or a longer cruise to a new destination.

In the notes app on my phone, I create a simple packing list of the essentials that I cannot forget to pack for my cruise. Everything from electronics to chargers and passports are typically on my packing list. 

17. Check the weather

In the same manner, I also religiously check the weather before packing anything for my cruise. Although the Caribbean and Mediterranean are typically sunny and warm, other destinations around the world are less predictable.

For example, Alaska cruising can bring blistering cold weather or clear sunshine on a beautiful day. I don’t want to pack the wrong attire for the climate, so monitoring the weather gives me a good idea of what to pack. Packing appropriately is essential for a smooth cruising experience - and preparing for a variety of weather changes can ensure you are prepared for anything.

18. Watch itinerary-specific YouTube videos

I’ve visited many popular cruising destinations over the years, including Europe, Asia, Caribbean, Bahamas, Mexico, Alaska and Canada. However, if I am sailing to a new destination, I find YouTube to be an excellent resource for planning.

YouTube is full of useful, first-hand experiences for cruisers. This is especially true for more unique destinations, such as my upcoming cruise to India and Sri Lanka next year. Many different creators and local experts share practical tips for travelers and cruisers on YouTube. I find these videos help me set my expectations appropriate for my upcoming cruise, allowing me to plan more efficiently.

19. Join the Facebook group

Most itineraries have a dedicated group on Facebook to join. By searching your cruise ship and specific sail date, you can request to join these groups before cruising. These groups are very resourceful and allow cruisers to connect before setting sail.

The Facebook groups provides a place for cruisers to share tips and updates, along with asking questions about your specific sailing. Some cruisers will even plan meetups for their upcoming cruise!

20. Allocate enough time to pack

Last-minute packing can be very overwhelming for some people. I prefer to pack the weekend before my cruise to be certain that I have enough time to pack everything I need. I do not want to be rushed while packing, as this often leads to forgotten items and unnecessary stress.

Generally speaking, packing usually takes me longer than I anticipate. For longer itineraries with varying climate, such as my 12-night cruise to Iceland last summer, I easily spend four to five hours packing. Waiting until the last minute or running out of time only leads to more stress right before your vacation.

Is booking a cruise late still a good idea to get a deal?

Booking a cruise at the last minute used to be one of the easiest ways to save money. However, with record-high cruising demand, booking a last-minute sailing might not be the best strategy for everyone.

Last-minute cruising refers to bookings made after the final payment deadline has passed. For most Royal Caribbean cruises, final payment date is 90 days before the sailing is scheduled to depart. When you book a cruise within this timeframe, you’ll usually need to pay for your cruise in its entirety at the time of booking.

You might think you are likely to snag a sweet deal with this strategy, but that’s not always the case anymore. Here’s why you might want to rethink booking last-minute cruises and whether these sailings are actually cheaper. 

Are last-minute cruises in high demand?

You might have noticed that cruise prices have continued to rise in the last few years -  and don’t expect the fares to lower in the near future. With cruising demand at record-high levels, it’s becoming harder to find last-minute cruises in general.

Earlier this year during the cruise line’s second-quarter earnings call, Royal Caribbean President and Chief Executive Officer, Jason Liberty, discussed the sky-high demand for cruising throughout 2024. He said, ”2024 bookings have consistently outpaced last year throughout the entire second quarter and into July, despite the fact that we have significantly fewer staterooms left to sell.”

With fewer staterooms to sell, Royal Caribbean is able to continuously sell cruises at higher prices. Liberty also hinted during the call that Royal Caribbean will continue to raise prices in 2025 with such high demand for cruising.

Royal Caribbean’s third-quarter 2024 earnings call specifically highlighted the rising prices of last-minute cruises. Reporting better-than-expected earnings in October 2024, Royal Caribbean attributed the strong quarter to vacationers booking last-minute cruises for a higher price.

Do cruise prices drop as the departure date approaches?

Last-minute cruising deals occur when cruise lines struggle to sell cabins for a particular sailing. If demand is low, cruise lines will drop prices to sell excess staterooms. To reduce unsold inventory, cruise lines might run flash sales and offer reduced pricing as the sail date approaches.

However, people are more interested than ever before to book cruises for their vacation. In the post-pandemic era of heightened travel spending, Royal Caribbean is selling more cabins over the years, often at higher prices. Basic economic principles show that prices rise as supply decreases and demand increases.  Because of this, you’re less likely to find a good deal on a last-minute cruise. 

In particular, Royal Caribbean's growing popularity has been propelled by the recent launch of Icon of the Seas. The revolutionary cruise ship is unlike anything Royal Caribbean has built before, leading to sold-out bookings and surging prices. We are seeing many itineraries for the brand-new Icon class ship being completely sold out for months in advance. 

People are demonstrating how they are willing to pay higher prices for Royal Caribbean cruises. As a result, last-minute cruise deals have become much less common due to the surge in booking demand. With popular itineraries, you might not even have the option to book a particular sailing because cabins are filling up faster. 

For example, I am booked on a cruise for April 2025 sailing on Anthem of the Seas from Singapore to Tokyo. Although this sailing is more than four months away, the remaining cabins were high-end suites that are selling for upwards of $10,000 per person!

How can I find last-minute cruise deals?

Although last-minute deals are far and few between, you can still find some reduced prices occasionally. But, you should expect to dig around for these last-minute deals, along with being extremely flexible with your plans.

First, look for last-minute deals right after final payment is due for a particular sailing. This is when already-booked cruisers will need to pay the entire balance of their reservation. If plans change, cruisers cancel their booking or might move to a different sailing.

Within about 30 days of final payment date, cruise lines have a better idea of passenger load to determine occupancy levels for a particular sailing. This is when last-minute deals begin to emerge. Cruise lines could continue to drop prices until the sail date approaches if cabins do not sell.

You’re more likely to find a last-minute deal during the offseason or shoulder season. Generally speaking, shoulder season includes sailing in off-peak months like September through November. This is when demand is lower and prices tend to drop as a result.

Depending on the destination, you might be able to find cheaper deals for the first and last sailings of a certain season, such as cruising to Alaska in late April and early October. For the Caribbean, check out peak hurricane season for last-minute deals after kids are back in school.

Less popular itineraries might be another good option to snag last-minute deals. For instance, repositioning cruises, along with transatlantic or transpacific crossings, could have more cabins to book at the last minute. These longer sailings with additional sea days typically see lower demand, making them ideal for last-minute bookings.

Also, Royal Caribbean’s website has a Last Minute Cruises page where you can look at sailings departing within the next few months. When clicking the “Book now” button, you can see a promotional offer applied to the search function with a “Promo Last Minute Deals” code applied. 

In addition, Royal Caribbean also offers Going, Going, Gone deals on its website. These promotional offers are often last-minute sailings departing within the next few weeks or months. Either way, you’ll need to have major flexibility for the best outcome.

What else should I consider when booking a cruise last minute?

Last-minute cruising can be quite lucrative if your schedule allows for flexibility. If all the stars align and the right opportunity presents itself, you can save hundreds to thousands of dollars on a short notice cruise. However, you should consider a few things before booking a last-minute cruise.

One of the biggest perks of booking a last-minute cruise is knowing the certainty of your schedule, minimizing the risk of needing to change or cancel your reservation. When booking years in advance, it’s hard to know what unexpected circumstances could occur. Changing or cancelling your nonrefundable reservation could be expensive.

Speaking of expenses, you’ll want to consider how last-minute cruising limits the amount of financial planning you can do ahead of your vacation. Your budget should allow for spending hundreds to thousands of dollars to book the cruise within a short timeframe. If you want to book any add-ons, including onboard internet access, drink packages or specialty dining, you will want to account for these expenses as well.

Airfare is another consideration. Those who live within driving distance of cruise ports are in a better position to snag last-minute deals than those who need to book airfare. If you need to fly to a cruise port for a particular sailing, you’ll want to consider the cost of airfare as well.

Because last-minute airfare can be astronomical these days due to increased travel demand, your cheap cruise might be offset by expensive airfare. But, similar to last-minute cruising, lower demand routes could have reduced pricing. 

Also, you should expect to have limited options for staterooms on a last-minute cruise. Leftover cabins can often be located in less desirable locations onboard, so you will need to anticipate having minimal stateroom choices. You might need to be fine with any stateroom, such as the very front of the ship with excessive motion or directly below the pool deck with screeching chairs early in the morning.

Additionally, keep in mind that your options for shore excursions may be limited. If you book a last-minute cruising, many travelers have likely already booked their excursions for the entire itinerary. This could leave you with very few options for tours within each port. However, if you are comfortable booking independent excursions, this factor might not be an issue for you. 

Last-minute cruising can present logistical challenges too, such as needing to arrange pet care or securing time off work. Make sure you’ve confirmed your schedule allows for the last-minute itinerary before booking a non-refundable sailing.

Finally, ensure your travel documents are up-to-date and all necessary travel requirements can be met. Most countries require at least six months of passport validity while others might require a visa to visit. Vaccines could also be a consideration for more exotic itineraries in Africa, South America and Asia. 

When should I avoid trying to book a last-minute cruise?

Booking a last-minute cruise is not for everyone. First, those on a tight budget should especially avoid last-minute cruising. Sailings are released years in advance, so this provides plenty of time to plan and budget appropriately for your vacation needs.

Also, you’ll want to avoid peak travel periods if you hope to find a last-minute cruise deal. This includes avoiding holidays, spring break and summer vacation. During these times, families tend to book early to align their vacations with school breaks, leaving fewer opportunities for last-minute availability.

Typically, there is higher demand for holiday sailings at Christmas, New Years, Easter and Thanksgiving. Summer months from June to August are usually considered peak vacation time for families when kids are not in school. Finally, spring break is usually in March for many, including college students. This is a popular time to go cruising, meaning you are less likely to find a last-minute deal. 

Further, those looking to visit a specific destination or sail on a particular itinerary should not wait for a last-minute deal to book. Some unique itineraries are extremely popular and sell out months in advance. For this reason, destination-focused vacationers are not the best candidates for last-minute cruising.

Other reasons to avoid last-minute cruising would include group travel and accessibility needs. If a sailing has limited cabin options, it could be difficult for group travel to be successfully booked. Also, those needing accessibility accommodations might find limited stateroom options for accessible cabins. 

Moreover, brand-new cruise ships will be especially difficult to find last-minute deals because of higher demand. For instance, the soon-to-debut Star of the Seas is seeing strong demand for bookings. This means you might not be able to find a last-minute deal on the latest Icon class ship for a while.

Special occasions or events should also be considered, such as anniversary trips or themed itineraries. You wouldn’t want to risk having a special occasion ruined because you are unable to find a last-minute itinerary. Similarly, themed sailings, such as Royal Caribbean's upcoming Solar Eclipse cruise in August 2026, often sell out far in advance.

Bottom Line: Is booking a last-minute cruise cheaper?

Although booking a last-minute cruise used to be quite lucrative, those days are long gone. With more people eager to cruise and fewer cabins to book, finding a last-minute cruise for a great price is becoming more difficult. In particular, Royal Caribbean’s skyrocketing demand continues to drive up prices, even for last-minute sailings.

Of course, this isn’t to say you can’t find a last-minute deal. Those with flexible schedules who can sail during off-peak times could save hundreds of dollars by booking last-minute. Less popular itineraries with low demand are the best option for last-minute savings.

However, last-minute booking isn’t the best option for everyone. There are many factors to consider when booking a last-minute cruise, such as airfare costs, limited excursion availability and fewer stateroom options. Those who are on a tight budget will likely benefit from booking their cruise far in advance, allowing time to pay off their sailing and even reprice if the cost goes down.

At the end of the day, if you are very flexible and simply want to get on a cruise ship, you could benefit from last-minute cruising.

Royal Caribbean has cancelled more scheduled visits to San Juan, Puerto Rico on one of its largest cruise ships, and cruisers are not happy.

Symphony of the Seas - measuring at 228,081 gross registered tons - was scheduled to visit San Juan on the two upcoming voyages, including the December 28, 2024 and January 12, 2025 sailings. However, due to ongoing construction at the pier, large cruise ships have been unable to dock for months in the capital city.

Cruisers sailing on both itineraries were alerted recently about itinerary changes because the Oasis class ship is still unable to dock in San Juan. However, both itineraries have been significantly altered due to the port change.

For the December 28 sailing, guests received the following email from Royal Caribbean:

“We wanted to inform you about some changes to your upcoming cruise. Due to ongoing construction at the pier in San Juan, the port authority has advised us that the port will not be ready in time for our visit. We understand how important each destination is to your vacation, so we have worked diligently to find the best alternatives for you.”

The 7-night itinerary will visit Perfect Day at Coco Cay as planned, but visits to St. Maarten and San Juan are cancelled. Instead of visiting San Juan, Puerto Rico, the revised itinerary has Symphony of the Seas will now be visiting Labadee, Haiti.

As one of Royal Caribbean’s private destinations, Labadee was recently reopened following violence in the country this year. The cruise line suspending visits to Labadee when tension began to rise in the spring; however, the private destination’s location is completely operated by the cruise line.

Royal Caribbean also added a new port stop in Nassau, Bahamas on the December 28, 2024 sailing, which will replace one of the sea days.

In addition, vacationers on the January 12, 2025 sailing onboard Symphony of the Seas received a similar email from Royal Caribbean about itinerary changes. The 7-night Eastern Caribbean sailing was meant to visit San Juan, Puerto Rico on January 15, 2025.

The Oasis class vessel was scheduled to visit Perfect Day at CocoCay and Phillipsburg, St. Maarten on a roundtrip itinerary from Miami, Florida. However, the continuous issues with San Juan have caused the cruise line to revise this itinerary too.

Guests booked on the impacted itinerary were told the cruise would no longer sail an Eastern Caribbean itinerary. Although Symphony of the Seas will visit Perfect Day at CocoCay as planned on January 13, 2024, the rest of the port visits are altered.

Instead of visiting Puerto Rico, the ship will now dock in Labadee, Haiti. Additionally, the new itinerary features a port visit to Falmouth, Jamaica instead of St. Maarten. The remaining two sea days on the itinerary remain unchanged. Symphony of the Seas will return to Miami, Florida as scheduled.

Ongoing issues docking in San Juan, Puerto Rico

Prior to these recent changes, Royal Caribbean also adjusted Symphony of the Seas’ itineraries in December that were meant to dock in San Juan. Sailings throughout November and December were also altered significantly to replace San Juan, Puerto Rico because of the pier issues that persist.

Unfortunately, there is no end in sight for the port cancellations in Puerto Rico due to “technical issues” with San Juan’s pier.

Royal Caribbean explained in communication earlier this month, “We’ve recently been advised by the port authority in San Juan, Puerto Rico, that due to technical issues with the pier and the work that must be done and cleared by the United States Coast Guard for accepting a ship our size, we’ll have to adjust our itinerary for our sailing.”

Currently, there is no timeline for when the pier will be completed. The dock is located in San Juan’s old town, making it one of the more popular destinations for cruisers in the Caribbean. Neither the Port Authority in San Juan nor Royal Caribbean have stated when the pier will be cleared for larger vessels, indicating the pier might not be fixed for some time.

According to local reports from elnuevodia, San Juan’s Pier 3 was damaged by MSC Meraviglia in April 2024. This forced the port to close down the west side of the facility until further notice because of the extensive damage to the pier. Neither Royal Caribbean nor the Port of San Juan have confirmed the pier damage by MSC Meraviglia.

Luckily, San Juan has two docks for cruise ships to use. Smaller ships are able to use the Pan America pier; however, Oasis class ships are only able to use the damaged pier due to the large size. As such, Royal Caribbean is technically at the mercy of San Juan to repair the damaged pier before they can resume normal operations.

Disappointment and frustration from many impacted cruisers

Although Royal Caribbean is technically not responsible for the damaged pier repairs, many cruisers are frustrated by the continued last-minute changes. The repeated itinerary adjustments are disappointing for most cruisers scheduled to vacation on Symphony of the Seas.

Cruisers impacted by the sailing have taken to social media to voice their frustrations, including a thread on Reddit and forum post on Royal Caribbean Blog.

In particular, some have expressed their dismay with Royal Caribbean choosing to replace San Juan, Puerto Rico with less-desired ports. For example, the U.S. State Department has Haiti as a “Level 4: Do Not Travel” advisory for the region. Others are not pleased with the elimination of St. Maarten for Falmouth, Jamaica.

“Skipping St. Maarten for Jamaica, Haiti and Nassau would make me cranky,” commented one user on Reddit.

Others found the wording of the communication comical considering the political unrest in Haiti. “[Haiti is] so stunning that there are armed guards who stop you from leaving the private port,” responded one commenter.

“Telling us that being diverted to Haiti (during a level 4 do not travel advisory) is suddenly safe is an insult. RC stopped visiting Labadee in March, 2024… but now 'the safety and security of our guest remains our main priority' — and just like that it’s safe again?” commented one frustrated cruiser.

“Ugh. Nassau and Falmouth in exchange for San Juan and St. Martin? That’s the downgrade of downgrades,” responded another user.

“Love how they try to make roses out of turds,” exclaimed one responder.

Others are frustrated by Royal Caribbean’s lack of planning considering the ongoing issue, especially considering the cruise line continues to advertise Oasis class cruises visiting San Juan in early 2025:

“RCCL continues to look bad on this issue. They have to know the pier issue is going to take time to get back to operations that support Oasis class ships. Rhapsody docked just fine this morning. Highly recommend the itinerary she is running right now.”

The poster replied, “Definitely knew, feels like a bait and switch to private islands. The money grab from Covid downtime is so very apparent. At least try to substitute with another eastern island.”

Which Royal Caribbean ships are impacted?

Reports of issues with docking in San Juan, Puerto Rico were reported by Royal Caribbean cruisers as early as April 2024. Guests sailing on Wonder of the Seas reported the captain chose to divert the ship from San Juan and Dominican Republic to visit St. Thomas and St. Maarten instead. At the time, guests were told the pier was damaged by an MSC ship and Oasis class ships could not dock.

After the diversion of Wonder of the Seas, Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas has faced the greatest impact. Since the spring, every itinerary that included a stop in San Juan has been modified.

Looking ahead to next year, Symphony of the Seas has planned visits to San Juan, Puerto Rico, throughout early 2025. While January itineraries have already been modified, no updates have been shared regarding changes to additional sailings. If the pier’s repair timeline remains unclear and adjustments continue, more itineraries could be affected.

For instance, Royal Caribbean’s Odyssey of the Seas, a Quantum class ship measuring 167,000 gross registered tons, is also scheduled to visit San Juan on January 30, 2025. Currently, this sailing has not been impacted.

Finally, Rhapsody of the Seas is home-ported in San Juan and sails roundtrip itineraries from the capital city to the Southern Caribbean. Because Rhapsody of the Seas is one of the cruise line’s smallest ship, the vessel operates at the alternative San Juan dock. Therefore, the Vision class ship has not been impacted and continues to operate as scheduled. 

Are impacted cruisers receiving compensation?

Even with the adjusted sailings, cruisers on impacted itineraries are not being offered the opportunity to cancel for a refund. This has created additional frustration for vacationers who are visiting ports of call they did not originally plan to visit. 

"They sold and marketed this New Years Holiday Cruise as an Eastern Caribbean itinerary knowing that it was unlikely that the San Juan port would be fixed,” argued another cruiser online.

Itinerary changes are not uncommon in the cruise industry, especially for weather-related changes. However, because cruise lines have the power to make itinerary changes as needed for any reason, guests are not currently being offered any sort of refund or compensation for the change.

For previous itinerary changes caused by the pier issues in San Juan, Royal Caribbean announced that guests would automatically be refunded to their original form of payment for any prepaid excursions at the canceled ports. Additionally, new excursions will likely be offered through Royal Caribbean for ports of call in Falmouth (Jamaica), Nassau (Bahamas) and Labadee (Haiti). 

One of the most popular Caribbean destinations will be increasing port fees for cruise passengers in 2025.

During a public hearing on December 17, 2024, the Virgin Islands Port Authority announced that cruise ship fees in the St. Thomas–St. John district will increase across three separate categories. Along with higher port dues, guests will also face increased wharfage fees in 2025. 

According to the Virgin Islands Port Authority, generated revenue from the higher cruise fees will support necessary dredging and marine operations next year. Technically, the Virgin Island Port Authority is responsible for harbor dredging in St. Thomas, but currently lacks the financial resources to complete the project. Therefore, the increased port fees for cruise ship passengers are necessary to ensure vessels can safely dock and navigate the harbor. 

To raise funds, port dues for the St. Thomas - St. John district in U.S. Virgin Islands will be increasing by $3 for each cruise passenger. This means port fees will increase from $6.84 to $9.84 per person, which will be used to directly fund the Charlotte Amalie Harbor Dredging Project. The higher port fee will go into effect by April 1, 2025 for cruise ship guests.

The dredging project will help support larger vessels at the St. Thomas cruise port and allow for improved navigation for vessels. The Charolette Amalie Dredging Project will take approximately two years and is expected to be completed sometime in 2026.

According to NOAA’s National Ocean Service, dredging involves the removal of silt and debris from the bottom of harbors to increase the water depth. “It is a routine necessity in waterways around the world because sedimentation—the natural process of sand and silt washing downstream—gradually fills channels and harbors,” explains NOAA.

Wharfage fee increases begin in January 2025

In addition to hiked port dues, the island is planning to increase wharfage fees for cruise ship passengers starting as early as January 1, 2025. 

According to the Virgin Islands Port Authority, the increased wharfage fees will be used to support marine operations and maintain docking facilities. All cruise ships docking in the district will be subject to the increased wharfage fees.

Cruise ships visiting the West Indian Company Dock (WICO) will increase port fees by $0.44 on January 1, 2025. The new fees will increase from $7.80 per person to $8.24 for the WICO dock. Ships that dock at Crown Bay in St. John will pay the same higher fee in 2025, but this change will not go into effect until April 1, 2025.

The wharfage fees will be collected by the West Indian Company (WICO) or the Virgin Islands Port Authority depending on the ship’s docking location. For ships docking at the West Indian Company Dock in Havensight, WICO will collect the fee. On the other hand, the Port Authority plans to collect the fees for ships docking at the Austin ‘Babe’ Monsanto Marine Terminal in Crown Bay and on St. John.

Cruise ship passengers already pay a $1 marine tax for visiting St. Thomas, which remains unchanged in 2025. It’s also important to note that St. Croix will not impose tariffs to cruise ships entering the district. Currently, St. Croix charges a port fee of $3.45 and $3.55 wharfage fee per person.

Why the Virgin Islands Port Authority is increasing fees

St. Thomas is one of the most popular cruise destinations for Eastern Caribbean itineraries. Most of the major cruise lines visit the island year round, including some of the industry’s newest and biggest cruise ships. For example, Royal Caribbean’s brand-new Icon of the Seas regularly visits St. Thomas on its Eastern Caribbean & Perfect Day itinerary.

According to a local report from St. Thomas, Disney Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line and Carnival Cruise Line requested the harbor to be dredged to 40 feet deep in the port’s main channel. This will allow the port to accommodate larger vessels and maintain St. Thomas’ competitiveness for cruise lines as one of the top destinations.

However, no dedicated funding was initially allocated to complete the dredging project. While the U.S. Virgin Islands government has provided approximately $17 million for the effort, this amount falls short of the total required funding. As a result, the increased cruise ship fees will only partially cover the project’s costs.

Local reports indicate that some stakeholders and businesses have voiced concerns about raising port dues for the project, fearing that the higher fees might discourage ships from docking in the district altogether. However, the Virgin Islands Port Authority emphasized that the dredging project is essential for ensuring the long-term sustainability of port operations and accommodating larger cruise ships in the future.

The public information officer for the port authority stated in a released statement, “This significant development will ensure improved access and navigability for cruise traffic, benefiting the local economy and supporting continued growth and development in the region.”

The Virgin Islands Port Authority has also emphasized that cruise ship operations should not be impacted by the dredging projects. With careful coordination, the project should be complete while cruise ship operations continue as scheduled. The port authority is also addressing environmental considerations with the project, such as relocating coral and a historic shipwreck.

Additionally, cruise ships visits are expected to increase by nearly 20% in 2025. With more passengers visiting the Virgin Islands than ever, improved infrastructure and routine maintenance are necessary to ensure smooth operations. 

Theoretically, guests could be subject to multiple fee increases if their itinerary docks at both St. Thomas and St. John. This would include the increased port dues, along with higher wharfage fees for visiting both docks.

Other Caribbean destinations raising fees

Rising port taxes have been a hot topic recently for destinations throughout the Caribbean. Just recently, Mexico announced a new tax that was scheduled to begin in early 2025. The immigration tax would be known as the “Non-Resident Fee."

At $42 per person, the significant fee increase for visiting Mexican ports was highly criticized by the cruise lines. In addition, critics questioned why more than two-thirds of the expected revenue from the tax would be allocated to the Mexican Army. Instead, many argued the revenue should be used to maintain port facilities, harbor infrastructure and general port operations.

“If this measure is implemented, it would make Mexican ports of call among the most expensive in the world, severely affecting their competitiveness with other Caribbean destinations,” the Mexican Association of Shipping Agents said in response to the tax.

Other critics included the Florida Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA), a not-for-profit trade organization that currently represents 23 different cruise lines. The association expressed concerns on behalf of the cruise lines to the Mexican president in a letter, including Royal Caribbean, Carnival Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line and MSC Cruises.

According to a local news source, the FCCA stated that cruise lines were already considering itinerary adjustments to avoid Mexican ports because of anticipated costs increasing. Nearly 10 million passengers could be deterred from visiting the Caribbean destination over the increased cost, explained the association.

Mexico relies heavily on tourism for its economy, including multiple cruise ports across the region. With the new tax implications, the FCCA warned that massive investments from the cruise lines could be at risk. Notably, Royal Caribbean is planning to build Perfect Day Mexico at the Costa Maya port as its next private destination in the Caribbean. The massive investment is scheduled to be complete in 2027.

The significant pushback from the cruise industry caused the Mexican government to defer the new tax by six months. Now, the Non-Resident Fee is scheduled to go into effect on July 1, 2025.

If you’re on the hunt for the best cruise products this holiday season, you’ve come to the right place. I consider myself an expert cruiser after taking more than 50 cruises before the age of 30. With the holiday season upon us, now is the perfect time to find great deals on cruising essentials for your upcoming travels.

This year alone, I embarked on eight cruises across the world on four different cruise lines. These bucket-list itineraries whisked me away to five different continents: North America, Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia. It was a busy travel year for me, to say the least!.

Whether I was transiting through the airport, boarding trains, or sailing on the open sea, I spent much of my last year traveling. While unconventional for the average 29-year-old, my flexible remote work and role as a cruise writer allow me to travel often

Because of this, my suitcase is never stored away. My cruise cosmetic bag is always packed with travel-sized products, always ready for the next adventure. With my on-the-go lifestyle, I tend to pack the same travel essentials for all of my travels. This is especially true when I pack with just a carry-on, as suitcase space is limited.

In my opinion, not all cruise products are worth the hype. I’ve had a few products that fell short of expectations, which is always disappointing. However, some cruise essentials have changed the game for me and, therefore, I never leave home without them.

After trying dozens of cruise products this year, here are the top cruise products I would recommend purchasing this holiday season. If you choose to purchase from the affiliate links below, we will receive a small commission from your purchase - at no extra expense to you!

1. Magnetic Hooks

One of the most hyped cruise products has to be a set of magnetic hooks. Cruise cabins are often small and lack adequate storage, but magnetic hooks can provide additional space. I wasn’t sure if magnetic hooks would be worthwhile, considering this would be another item to pack away when cruising.

However, I finally ordered a set of magnetic hooks before sailing to Africa last January. If you’ve ever traveled to Africa, you’ll know that packing is difficult. You need to bring many non-standard items on your cruise, such as safari hats, DEET bug spray and scarves for protection.

In preparation for traveling two weeks in Africa, our cabin was quickly stuffed with our belongings. Having these magnetic hooks provided so much more space for us to hang items around the cabin without cluttering the small space.

If you’re looking for the perfect stocking stuffer, or you want to purchase your own set of magnetic hooks, now is the best time! This set of 10 hooks is only $5.85 right now

Link: Neosmuk Magnetic Hooks,30lb+ Heavy Duty Earth Magnets with Hook for Refrigerator, Extra Strong Cruise Hook for Hanging, Magnetic Hanger for Cabins, Grill (Silver White, Pack of 10). 

Price: $5.85 (51% off)

2. Portable White Noise Machine

Cruise ships are inherently noisy. Whether you have a rowdy neighbor or you’re listening to the clunking of a lifeboat, it can be difficult to sleep. As someone who sleeps with white noise every night, I decided to splurge on a potable white noise machine for my cruises.

Before, I was relying on my phone to play white noise through an app, which was draining my battery. Even still, I wasn’t sure if this product would be worthwhile before packing it on my first cruise. Although minimal space was used to pack, the small size didn’t seem like it would have much horsepower to drown out the ship’s noise.

I was pleasantly surprised by how powerful this small machine was. With a variety of 15 looping sounds that can be played, I slept so much better during my cruises. Even on the noisiest of cruises, the white noise machine created a more peaceful environment for restful sleep. Now, I don’t cruise without it!

Link: White Noise Machine Babelio Mini Sound Machine for Adults Kids Baby | 15 Non-looping Sounds | Timer | Easy to Pocket and Travel - White. 

Price: $15.98 (20% off)

3. Foldable, Compact Charging Station

A recent purchase I loved is this compact, magnetized charging station. With Royal Caribbean’s newest restrictions on outlet extenders, I was exploring different ways to charge my devices without breaking the rules. Also, many older cruise ships only have one or two useable outlets, which can be frustrating when trying to charge multiple devices between everyone in the stateroom.

I’ve seen many travelers rave about these charging strands to simplify packing and save space. But, the price had always deterred me from pulling the plug. With a recent Prime Day deal, I decided to splurge on the purchase - now, it’s an essential item for my travels!

The charging stand is designed to charge Apple products, including your iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods. I’m not one to wirelessly charge my products, but this handy station charges devices quicker than any of my other cords from Amazon.

Additionally, the charging station allows your phone to be propped upwards to display the time like a clock. This is especially helpful for cruisers who want to be able to see the time in their stateroom.

Finally, the charging station is extremely compact and folds easily. Instead of needing to pack multiple chargers and cords, the magnetized charging station is all you should need. Being able to charge multiple devices quickly will be a game changer for your stateroom!

Link: Anker MagGo 3-in-1 iPhone 16 Charging Station, MagSafe-Compatible Wireless Charger Stand, Qi2 Certified 15W Foldable Charger for iPhone 15/14, AirPods, Apple Watch 9 (40W USB-C Charger Included). 

Price: $82.49 (25% off)

4. Compression Packing Cubes

Cruisers have been raving about packing cubes for quite some time now. Although I hopped on the bandwagon for packing cubes, I just ordered my first set of compression packing cubes this year. If you love packing cubes, then you need to purchase a set of compression packing cubes for your upcoming cruises!

Compression packing cubes squish down your clothes to save space in your luggage. With an extra zipper to compress the cube tightly, you can save so much space when traveling. If you prefer traveling with a carry-on, consider opting for compression packing cubes over standard ones.

For instance, I packed my large puffer jacket for a recent cruise to Norway. I was shocked at how much I could compress the coat with my compression packing cube. The cube allowed me to squeeze the coat into my carry-on bag, which I thought would be impossible.

In addition, you can stay organized in your luggage with separate packing cubes for your belongings. As someone who struggles to stay organized, I find that packing cubes allow me to fit everything in my luggage easily and neatly.

Getting settled in your cruise cabin is a breeze with packing cubes, too. You can simply remove the packing cubes from your suitcase and place them in your cabin’s closet, drawers or shelves. At the end of the sailing, you can place the cubes back in your suitcase (with one designated for dirty clothes, of course).

If you like to shop for souvenirs during your cruises, compression packing cubes will allow you to fit more in your suitcase as well. I’m always thankful that I can compress my belongings to make space for new treasures!

Link: BAGSMART 6 Set/4 Set/2 Set Compression Packing Cubes for Travel, Lightweight Vacation Travel Essentials, Travel Accessories for Suitcase Organizer Bags Set, Durable Luggage Organizer Travel Bags

Price: $31.99 (26% off)

5. Luggage Tag Holders

Another very popular item among cruisers is a set of luggage tag holders to attach on your suitcase. Most cruise lines require you to print out baggage tags so the crew members can easily locate your stateroom when delivering luggage.

These holders ensure your luggage tags remain secure and protected during embarkation. To be honest, I never understood the hype around these luggage tag holders and didn’t see the need for many years. I’ve never had issues with my tags falling off or getting damaged.

However, my parents decided to purchase these tags before our recent cruise in Australia - and now I won’t cruise without them! My dad let me borrow one of his tags to place on my suitcase before heading to the cruise terminal. It was pouring rain during embarkation in Sydney, but my luggage tag stayed intact thanks to the holder!

I was so thankful to have a protective covering on my luggage tag, as I saw many others get destroyed during the downpour. My tag was in perfect condition even during the rain and my bag arrived on time to my stateroom. I decided to purchase my own set of cruise luggage tags to use going forward!

Link: Royal Caribbean Cruise Luggage Tag Holder by Cruise On [4 Pack] Fits All Carnival & Royal Caribbean Ships & Tags, Cruise Ship Essentials 2024 & 2025 - Clear Luggage Tags for Cruise Ships. 

Price: $12.99

6. Hanging Cosmetic Bag

One of my all-time favorite travel products is a hanging cosmetic bag to stay organized. Not only do I bring my hanging cosmetic bag on every cruise, I also never travel without it. These hanging cosmetic bags are especially helpful for cruising, though.

Cruise cabins often have tiny bathrooms and limited counter space, making these bags with built-in hooks ideal for hanging on bathroom doors. This keeps your counter and vanity space less cluttered with all of your cosmetics in a convenient location.

There are multiple pockets to store your toiletries in clear pockets, including full-size products if you want. This makes organization a breeze while cruising. Also, if one of your bottles of shampoo decides to leak while in-transit, you won’t have damaged or wet clothes in your suitcase.

I’ve had my hanging cosmetic bag for years now, making it one of the best investments I’ve made for my cruising gear. If you’re looking for a thoughtful gift for the frequent cruiser or traveler in your life, then consider purchasing a hanging cosmetic organizer to simplify their travels.

Link: NISHEL Travel Toiletry Bag for women, Portable Hanging Organizer for Full-Sized Shampoo, Conditioner, Brushes Set, Makeup Accessories, Large Size, Pink. 

Price: $16.99 (39% off)

7. Travel Medicine Kit

Something I never cruise without is my travel pharmacy with a variety of over-the-counter medication. Purchasing medication onboard can be prohibitively expensive due to inflated prices. The medical center is also expensive to visit, so I try to prepare for the worst when cruising with a variety of medication.

Because of this, my small “pharmacy” is always fully stocked for my cruises. Without fail, I use something in my medication kit while cruising. My pharmacy includes Tylenol, Pepto or Tums, NyQuil, DayQuil, Imodium and Afrin. I also pack seasickness medication, antihistimems and sleep aids, along with bandaids and electrolyte packets. It may seem excessive, but I’ve never regretted being prepared.

One practical purchase to make for your upcoming cruise is a variety of OTC medication to pack for your travels. Of course, you could pack your own medication from home or purchase each medication. But, if you’re looking for a variety of medication to bring on your cruise, this kit should have you covered.

Even better, each medication comes individually wrapped, which is perfect to place in your suitcase or purse while cruising. You can’t beat the compactness and convenience for traveling.

Link: Travel Essentials Medicine Variety Pack with Travel RX Kit & Travel Medicine Kit for Travel, Camping, Cruises, 37 Individually Wrapped OTC Medications (2 Pack)

Price: $29.99 (9% off)