Florida is widely regarded as the cruise capital of the world, with some of the busiest cruise ports anywhere. Between Port Miami, Port Everglades, and Port Canaveral, I rarely need to travel far to cruise as a Florida resident.

In this way, cruising from Florida is extremely convenient and budget-friendly for me. Like any Florida resident, I am fortunate to have easy access to some of the world’s newest, biggest, and most advanced cruise ships. That said, I never limit myself to just sailing from Florida. 

I am always eager to explore new destinations, even if it means flying across the world for a bucket-list sailing. For example, I recently flew all the way to Singapore for a 12-night cruise through Asia, and last fall, I traveled to the Land Down Under for an Australian cruise from Sydney. I've even traveled all the way to Mauritius for a once-in-a-lifetime safari cruise across South Africa.

While Royal Caribbean has a heavy presence in Florida, the cruise line operates globally with sailings all over the world. That's why I was especially excited when Royal Caribbean announced Ovation of the Seas would be sailing from Los Angeles, California as the biggest ship to ever sail from the port.

After sailing on every ship in Royal Caribbean’s fleet, I’ve found the Quantum class to be one of my favorites. These cruise ships feature a sleek, modern design, plenty of amenities, and often sail to more exciting destinations. I’ve sailed on nearly every Quantum class ship in Royal Caribbean’s fleet, so I was especially excited to finally check Ovation of the Seas off my list.

Additionally, I hadn’t cruised from the West Coast in more than 15 years. In fact, my last West Coast cruise was in 2008 on the now-retired Monarch of the Seas from San Diego. Needless to say, I was overdue for a West Coast cruise! And I couldn’t resist a great deal on a 5-night cruise to Cabo San Lucas for one of Ovation of the Seas' inaugural sailings from Los Angeles.

Even better, this itinerary featured an overnight port stay in Cabo San Lucas, which is one of my favorite itinerary features! Having an overnight allows you more time to experience the destination, and you typically aren't as rushed during your time ashore. I was thrilled that my mom wanted to join this cruise for our first mother-daughter cruise together!

Although we had a great time during our cruise from California and loved visiting Cabo San Lucas for the first time, I probably won’t be sailing again from the West Coast anytime soon. 

First, it wasn’t easy getting to the West Coast for this cruise.

I live in the Florida Panhandle, so I usually prefer cruising from Port Canaveral in Central Florida. It’s just a 6-hour drive, so this port is the most convenient with many different itineraries and cruise lines to choose from. I also have family in Orlando, so I never need to spend extra money on a hotel room the night before a cruise. 

However, there are only so many destinations you can visit when you cruise from the same disembarkation port. You tend to repeat a lot of the same itineraries aboard the same cruise ships. Don’t ask how many times I’ve been to Cozumel, because I’ve lost count!

For this itinerary, I planned to fly into LAX the night before the start of our cruise (as you always should). My local airport is on the smaller side, so I usually have to connect through Atlanta, Georgia. Between my four hour layover and two different flights, my total travel time was over ten hours from Florida!

Since I don’t fly to the West Coast very often, I honestly just forgot how long it takes to get from Florida to Los Angeles! I was naive to think my travel day wouldn’t be that long.

In hindsight, I probably should’ve done a little more planning. I did end up needing to take an extra day of PTO just to account for the long travel day. By the time I landed in LAX, I realized the travel time was almost as long as flying to Europe!

To top it off, this flight wasn’t cheap either. It ended up costing close to $500 for the round-trip airfare. That’s nearly what I paid for my upcoming trip to Denmark later this summer. 

At the end of the day, I just want to make the most of my time and money when I travel. For me, that often means discovering new places to explore if I am going to spend more than ten hours at the airport!

Navigating the massive LAX airport was also more stressful than I anticipated.

I’m no stranger to navigating big airports, but I definitely appreciate the ease and convenience of smaller airports. For example, when I cruise from Miami, I actually prefer flying into Fort Lauderdale’s Hollywood International airport instead. It’s close to PortMiami and far easier to navigate than the busier Miami airport.

For this cruise, my mom and I flew separately into LAX, as she was traveling from South Dakota and I was coming from Florida. Knowing how hectic large airports can be, especially when navigating them alone, my mom decided to wait in the Delta SkyClub lounge until I landed a few hours later.

I was thankful she had a comfortable and safe place to relax until I arrived. I’m also glad my mom didn’t try to navigate the airport on her own, as it was more stressful and complex than either of us anticipated. After I landed in the late evening, we made our way to the hotel before boarding Ovation of the Seas the following day.

We eventually found the free airport shuttle to the designated ride-share and taxi area, but the signage was a little confusing, especially considering it was late at night. It didn’t help that other travelers on the shuttle didn’t seem too eager to offer directions. To make matters worse, my mom and I were both exhausted from a long day of flying across the country.

The ride-share area at LAX was unlike anything I’ve seen before, featuring a slew of temporary-looking white tents scattered across the parking lot. Ride-share prices were also unusually high for such a short distance. I was being quoted over $40 for a quick 5-minute ride, which is outrageous!

We ended up taking a taxi instead for $20 to the hotel, although the experience wasn’t exactly warm and welcoming from our taxi driver. All that to say, we couldn’t wait to go to sleep and board Ovation of the Seas the next morning for our cruise!

Since LAX offers the most flight options and is the closest airport to Royal Caribbean’s World Cruise Terminal, it’s definitely the most practical choice. However, I think most can agree the size and chaos of the airport can be overwhelming. Next time, I’d plan to arrive earlier in the day and prearrange a transfer to make the experience smoother.

Cruise options are still pretty limited from the West Coast.

Royal Caribbean is planning to expand its West Coast presence in the coming years, and operations are already ramping up! Before Ovation of the Seas arrived, Royal Caribbean had previously deployed Navigator of the Seas — an older Voyager class ship — as the largest ship to depart from Los Angeles in 2021. Prior to that, Royal Caribbean hadn’t operated in California for over a decade.

Navigator of the Seas started offering shorter itineraries to Mexico, and there’s clearly a strong demand for it. Now, the addition of new ships will provide even more opportunities for West Coast locals to cruise with Royal Caribbean.

In 2026, Serenade of the Seas will be sailing from San Diego as the third ship for Royal Caribbean to operate in California. In addition, Quantum of the Seas and Voyager of the Seas will also have a stint calling California home this fall when both ships arrive in October 2025.

Although Royal Caribbean is expanding its presence, itineraries are still limited largely to Mexico. These sailings feature ports of call to Ensenada, Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallarta, and Mazatlan, along with one unique repositioning cruise back to Asia. 

With just a handful of cruise ships offering mostly short getaway itineraries to Mexico, these sailings tend to be better suited for local California residents. Comparatively, I’m lucky to have a variety of itineraries from Florida throughout the Caribbean, Mexico, Central America, Bahamas, and South America. You can even cruise all the way to Europe on transatlantic cruises from Florida! 

There are still some destinations that I haven't visited throughout the Caribbean, such as the ABC Islands of Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao. Rather than flying to the West Coast, I’d prefer to focus on visiting new ports of call that are more easily accessible from Florida.

However, Royal Caribbean has the largest West Coast presence.

Compared to other cruise lines, Royal Caribbean’s commitment to the West Coast is unmatched. Loyal Royal Caribbean cruisers now have more chances than ever to set sail on some of the cruise line’s best ships.

For example, sister-brand Celebrity Cruises only offers limited sailings from Los Angeles, primarily consisting of one-time Panama Canal repositioning cruises. Additionally, Carnival Cruise Line and Norwegian Cruise Line operate sailings from California, but typically with just one or two ships throughout the year.

With Royal Caribbean expanding its West Coast presence, cruisers can now explore Baja Mexico on a wider variety of itineraries. For the summer, Ovation of the Seas will rotate between 3-night, 5-night, and 6-night cruises until she repositions to Southeast Asia in the fall. Until then, guests can experience some of the most popular ports of call throughout Mexico.

During my recent 5-night cruise to Cabo San Lucas, my mom and I were blown away by how beautiful the city was. We were pleasantly surprised by the port, including how clean, safe, and well-maintained it was. The scenery was also absolutely breathtaking, making Cabo San Lucas one of the nicest places I’ve visited in the country. 

In hindsight, I wish I had booked a longer itinerary to experience more of the region during my trip to the West Coast, as I haven’t visited ports like Puerto Vallarta or Mazatlan.

Even still, I’m not sure if I’ll cruise again from California anytime soon.

Royal Caribbean is deploying more mega ships to cruise from California, which is great news for those living on the West Coast. With an increasing number of amenity-packed ships sailing from the region, the cruise line is clearly making a long-term investment in the West Coast market.

However, I’ll probably stick to cruises from Florida. For me, this is mostly due to the distance and cost to travel to California. 

During our sailing, nearly everyone we met was from the local area, which likely reflects Royal Caribbean’s target audience for these itineraries. Most people hadn't traveled as far as we had for the 5-night sailing to Cabo. That said, I had a fantastic time on the cruise itself, and I loved experiencing Ovation of the Seas for the first time. The entertainment, dining options, and onboard amenities are some of Royal Caribbean's best. My mom and I had a wonderful mother-daughter vacation together and cherished our time onboard.

As a frequent cruiser, I’ve found that some itineraries are best enjoyed once, and that’s perfectly okay. For me, it just makes more sense to stick with cruises from Florida for convenience. If I want a quick weekend getaway cruise to Mexico, I can do that without flying across the country. 

However, for those living on the West Coast, Royal Caribbean’s California sailings are a convenient and appealing option. Just like I wouldn’t want to fly across the country for a short cruise, I imagine many Californians feel the same about flying to Florida. I’m genuinely excited that West Coasters get to experience, in my opinion, one of Royal Caribbean’s best ships with Ovation of the Seas. 

A virtual balcony is a different kind of inside cabin, because Royal Caribbean wanted to fix the biggest problem cruisers have with it.

After two decades of Royal Caribbean cruising, I’ve sailed in many different cabins. This includes everything from cheap interior staterooms on the oldest ships to a Junior Suite on the newest cruise ships.

When booking my recent cruise aboard Royal Caribbean’s Ovation of the Seas, I was intrigued by the option to book a Virtual Balcony stateroom. Of all the cabins I’ve sailed in, I’ve never booked the unique stateroom.

When Quantum of the Seas debuted as the flagship vessel in Royal Caribbean’s new Quantum class, every interior stateroom featured a virtual balcony. As the Quantum class expanded with new cruise ships, Royal Caribbean continued incorporating the technology. Now, you can find virtual balconies on a select number of cruise ships in Royal Caribbean’s fleet.

As such, I was surprised to find a decent price for one of the inaugural voyages on Ovation of the Seas from Los Angeles. For $1,411, I was able to book a 5-night cruise in an interior cabin with a virtual balcony. This would also be my mom’s first time sailing with a virtual balcony.

We were curious if the virtual balcony would feel gimmicky, or if the technology would actually enhance our stateroom experience. After five nights onboard Ovation of the Seas, I’m not convinced the technology is worth the hype. However, I would probably book one again if the price was right.

Royal Caribbean invested heavily in the virtual balcony technology.

Although technically still considered an interior cabin, Royal Caribbean first introduced virtual balconies on Navigator of the Seas before expanding to other vessels. Surprisingly, the cruise line said at the time that focus groups found the technology to enhance their stateroom experience, with many preferring the virtual balcony over an oceanview cabin.

The virtual balcony technology was considered groundbreaking when it first debuted over 10 years ago. The floor-to-ceiling HD screens stream real-time views from outside the ship. Interior cabins have no window, so you typically can’t see outside views until you physically make your way to an outer deck.

The screens are 80 inches and are designed to have the illusion of a true balcony experience by making the cabin feel less cramped. Royal Caribbean invested heavily in the technology with a continuous feed from RED Epic cameras that are mounted around the ship.

The complex technological process involves cameras capturing real-time footage, which is transferred to a server room and then onto each individual cabin screen. With this, your virtual balcony screen matches the ship’s actual movement.

Royal Caribbean collaborated with experts from MIT and Harvard to design the technology. The cruise line claims it can even reduce motion sickness. Royal Caribbean describes the virtual balcony as “having crystal clear imagery on the screen” to depict a lifelike view.

Truthfully, I had no idea Royal Caribbean invested significant resources into the virtual balcony technology. Because of this, I had some higher standards for my stateroom experience on Ovation of the Seas.

I wasn’t immediately blown away by the virtual balcony.

After boarding Ovation of the Seas in Los Angeles, we were excited to see what the virtual balcony experience would entail. When we first entered the stateroom, we could see the live footage of the ship docked at the Los Angeles World Cruise Center with a direct view of the Battleship USS Iowa Museum.

The video feed accurately portrayed the grey sky outside, which we learned is called “June Gloom” in California. There was a fake balcony superimposed onto the live footage, which added to the balcony illusion. But, you really couldn’t mistake the virtual balcony for an actual one. It’s pretty obvious that you’re looking at a TV screen, essentially.

After reading about Royal Caribbean’s investment in this technology, I did expect the video quality to be more impressive. Ovation of the Seas was built in March 2015, so the technology is more than 10 years old at this point. This could be contributing to some of the graininess on the screen. Either way, I did expect the feed to feel more realistic.

We couldn’t figure out how to turn the screen off before going to bed.

By the time we returned from dinner, the virtual balcony was showing the darkness outside of the ship. According to Royal Caribbean’s website, guests have the option to turn off the virtual balcony. We looked for an easy mechanism to turn the screen off during the first night, but we didn’t have any success.

Instead of turning off the screen at night, you can pull curtains in front of the screen, just like you would with a real balcony. We did find this to be a little comical that we had to draw the curtains each night. It almost felt like putting my fake baby dolls to bed when I was a kid!

There was still a small glow coming from the screen, so we used a fridge clip that my mom had packed to keep the curtains closed. We were thankful she packed the clip, as we prefer the room to be pitch black. After all, this is one of the biggest perks of booking an interior cabin!

We decided to clip the curtains together each night to ensure our room would stay dark. The small glow could be a nice illumination for those who need to navigate the cabin throughout the night, though.

The virtual balcony was more impressive once we arrived in Cabo San Lucas.

During our day at sea, the virtual balcony feed was unsurprisingly boring with the grey sky. We noticed the screen would glitch occasionally and even show a black screen a few times. However, once we arrived in Cabo San Lucas, the screen was more exciting with actual footage of our port.

Our virtual balcony showed a stunning view of the rugged mountains near the beach. Because we had an overnight in Cabo San Lucas, we were able to enjoy the beautiful view of the beach on our virtual balcony for two days!

It was easy to see the weather was beautiful and sunny with our virtual balcony - one of the biggest perks of having this technological feature in your stateroom. Although we had sunny weather for both days of our cruise, this could be particularly useful when cruising in more rainy climates, such as Alaska.

Instead of navigating to one of the outer decks to check the weather, you can simply check your virtual balcony. Of course, you won’t be able to actually feel the temperature, and it’s no substitute for a real balcony’s fresh air.

Other than our virtual balcony, the stateroom was a standard interior cabin.

I’ve cruised in many different interior cabins, and Royal Caribbean has some of the best in the cruise industry. Ovation of the Seas is one of Royal Caribbean’s newer ships, relatively speaking.

As such, the cabin reflected the ship’s modern design, with a clean, functional layout and smart use of space. The color palette was modern with blue hues, soft neutrals, and light wood finishes. This made the cabin feel clean and fresh while still being warm and welcoming.

Our interior cabin on Ovation of the Seas was surprisingly comfortable and spacious. The layout featured two twin beds, which were already separated upon our arrival. We each had our own small nightstand with a few small shelves to use, which we appreciated. By pushing the nightstands together, we felt like we had more space for storing our bedside belongings.

Connectivity was another design element that we appreciated in the cabin.

On the vanity, there was a charging strip with multiple plugs and outlets. As newer cruise ships continue to include more USB options, just be sure to pack any necessary cords or adapters, like USB-C converters, so you’re covered. We still packed our European outlet extender for more plugs, as most of our cords are now USB-C instead of traditional USB.

There was also an outlet located next to the bed, but only on one side. If you choose to separate the beds, this setup isn’t the most convenient, especially if you’re the one without access to the outlet. 

Because of this, I usually charged my phone in the evening while winding down, then unplugged it before falling asleep. Because the location made it a bit awkward to keep plugged in overnight, this could be inconvenient for some.

There was also plenty of storage.

One of my favorite features of Royal Caribbean’s newer cabins is the storage above the bed. The overhead storage is particularly useful, although storage is plentiful throughout the cabin. Under the flat-screen TV was a dresser with multiple drawers, which my mom used for unpacking.

I ended up using the majority of the closet, which included more shelving and hanging space. This is also where the cabin safe was located. I was able to unpack my carry-on suitcase comfortably and used the bottom of the closet for dirty clothes.

There was also a small cooling fridge, and we used this mainly for keeping our bottled water chilled. I always appreciate Royal Caribbean providing bottled water in the stateroom for loyalty members. We were surprised to find an electric kettle with a selection of tea and coffee on the counter, as I’ve typically only seen this on European sailings.

While the stateroom wasn’t huge by any means, the cabin felt thoughtfully arranged. We had room to unpack and move around without constantly bumping into each other. 

The addition of the chair for sitting was a nice touch, although it quickly turned into a place for us to throw our clothes and bags. Overall, our stateroom was a well-designed space that made the most of its square footage.

The bathroom in our cabin was compact but efficient.

Our virtual balcony cabin included a standard in-suite bathroom for an interior cabin. Just like the rest of the stateroom, the design felt clean and modern. The bathroom featured a warm-toned tile floor, a glass-enclosed shower, and a long, narrow sink counter that made smart use of the limited space. 

Storage was better than expected thanks to open shelving beneath the sink and a couple of shelves beside the mirror. We had plenty of room for toiletries, although we both utilized our hanging cosmetic bags on the doors.

The shower had decent water pressure and came with a handheld wand, which was great for rinsing off after a long port day. We noticed the shower drained slowly on the first night, so we requested our cabin steward to have this looked at. By the next evening, the shower was draining like normal.

Most importantly, the bathroom was well-maintained. For an interior stateroom, it definitely checked all the boxes, and the larger shower was appreciated. It’s still a cruise ship bathroom, so you won’t be stretching out, but it didn’t feel cramped.

Our cabin location under the kids’ club was the worst part of the experience.

For this cruise, our cabin was 10521, which was located on Deck 10 towards the front of the ship. I don’t mind being located further towards the front or the back. However, our stateroom was located directly under Adventure Ocean: Royal Caribbean’s childcare and youth programming club.

Thankfully, I packed my travel-sized sound machine to play (or blast) white noise each night. I also packed earplugs to drown out the noise further. The noise was minimal in the night, but we could start to hear ruckus around 8 a.m. each morning. Thankfully, it wasn’t too disruptive, and we were glad we came prepared to make sure we got a good night’s sleep.

Our neighbors weren’t as lucky, though! We met a nice family from Australia staying in our hallway. By the second morning, she told us they could hardly sleep from all of the noise in Adventure Ocean above them.

In the future, I definitely wouldn’t choose to book another room under Adventure Ocean. I prefer booking cabins that are surrounded by other staterooms to eliminate noise and disruption. I want to sleep on vacation, and not return from my cruise feeling drained and sleep deprived.

It's a nice change from a standard inside room

Overall, we enjoyed our stay in the Virtual Balcony interior cabin. It was our first time trying this type of cabin, and the live footage from outside the ship definitely made the space feel less closed in. The screen was a unique touch that added some pizazz to a standard interior cabin.

Additionally, being able to see the live footage from outside the ship enhanced our experience. We enjoyed watching the ocean, but it was especially fun when we arrived at our port of call in Cabo San Lucas in Mexico.

The virtual balcony also served a practical purpose. We found ourselves checking the virtual balcony in the mornings to get a sense of the weather before heading out for the day. It was also a quick way to tell if the ship had arrived in port yet.

However, we couldn’t figure out how to turn the screen off. It would be nice to have a switch where you can easily turn it off before going to bed. Instead, we relied on the curtains and our chip clip to keep the glow from being too distracting. Pulling the curtains in front of the screen each night made the experience feel a little gimmicky, and I would have preferred just turning it off at night.

Because of Royal Caribbean’s investment in this technology, I did expect the footage to be crisper. The video looked grainy at times, which could be related to the ship’s age. Technology can age quickly, so this could be contributing to the lower quality footage.

Ultimately, I wouldn’t spend extra to have a virtual balcony in the future. If the price were the same, or even cheaper, I would definitely book this type of interior cabin again. It certainly doesn’t replace a traditional cabin balcony with fresh air, but it does jazz up a standard interior stateroom.

Not every cruise can go exactly as planned. I’ve learned that while it’s important to plan ahead, it’s just as important to stay flexible when the unexpected happens. As a matter of fact, traveling has made me more adaptable when plans go awry.

Being able to pivot during my recent cruise proved helpful when things didn’t go as planned. This spring, I embarked on a bucket-list sailing aboard Anthem of the Seas from Singapore to Tokyo, Japan. Traveling with my parents and sister, we couldn’t wait to explore new destinations like Vietnam, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea, and Japan.

As one of Royal Caribbean’s most unique itineraries, I had a hard time finding other reviews while preparing for this trip. While you can find plenty of resources about cruising to the Caribbean, Alaska, and even Europe, this itinerary is far less popular.

Actually, the cruise line only operates this itinerary once or twice each year, particularly when ships are repositioning between Alaska and Australia. Anthem of the Seas was repositioning for her season in Alaska after cruising from Singapore.

I tried my best to plan accordingly for this port-intensive sailing across multiple countries in Asia. Even so, I made a few big mistakes during my recent cruise on Anthem of the Seas, and I learned valuable lessons along the way.

Mistake: I should have planned tours further in advance.

One of the biggest mistakes I made when planning this trip was not arranging all of our planned tours in advance. And when I say in advance, I mean several months before embarkation.

Although we had the majority of our excursions planned, there were a few days during our cruise that we left without plans. Sometimes, it can be nice to have flexibility in your schedule. However, we unfortunately waited too long to plan a tour for our disembarkation day in Tokyo, Japan.

I typically like to take advantage of disembarkation tours offered by the cruise line, especially when I have an evening flight. They’re a great way to spend the morning and early afternoon exploring before heading to the airport. These tours offer several benefits, including priority disembarkation, luggage storage, and convenient airport drop-off.

We kept waiting to see if Royal Caribbean would offer a disembarkation tour in Tokyo, but this was never offered. When we finally started to look for alternative options a few weeks before the cruise, we realized quickly that we should have planned months in advance. Little did we know our cruise would arrive in Japan during Golden Week, one of the country’s busiest tourist periods.

Instead of arranging tours with experienced guides for our time in Tokyo, we struggled to navigate the train stations on our own. When it came time to disembark, we couldn’t find a local company to provide the tour we were hoping for. Instead, we settled for Royal Caribbean’s transfer and spent most of our day waiting at the airport.

Read more: 5 things I wish I knew before trying a Royal Caribbean cruise in Asia

Lesson: I learned the importance of booking cruise-sponsored excursions.

Booking excursions through the cruise line can be expensive, and multiple tours on a longer itinerary can add up fast. Because we hadn’t visited many of these ports before, we opted to book Royal Caribbean excursions exclusively. In particular, some of the ports were located almost two hours from the actual city, such as Vietnam.

I was thankful we booked excursions with Royal Caribbean for these ports. First, we were able to enjoy our tours without stressing about returning for all aboard time. Some of the tours were hours late because of congested traffic in Vietnam, and I would have been stressed navigating heavy traffic on an independent excursion.

In addition, Royal Caribbean provided a refund on our excursion in Jeju Island, South Korea, when we arrived at the port an hour later than planned. When it was pouring rain, we even had the option to get a full refund due to the weather.

Mistake: I struggled to apply for the correct visa.

For this itinerary, Royal Caribbean provided guidance for visa applications. Like always, guests need to meet all entry requirements for countries on their cruise. As a United States citizen, we were told all Americans needed a Vietnam visa for this cruise. We were told to apply online for an electronic visa and to bring a printed copy for boarding in Singapore.

I followed the instructions for the visa, but my payment kept failing on the Vietnam government website. I panicked that my visa wouldn’t be approved in time. After charging a different credit card, I realized that my previous application had actually been approved when my credit card was charged twice. I ended up with two separate visas for Vietnam and paid more than necessary.

After warning my parents of the tedious and slightly confusing application process, they decided to use a consulate visa service. This was pricey at $200 each, but they received their visas without issue. Comparatively, my sister applied without issue and received her visa quickly.

Nonetheless, I wish I had applied earlier for the visa to allow more time for issues. I probably wouldn't have been in such a rush to submit a second application and avoided being double-charged.

Lesson: Make sure you always triple-check boarding requirements.

I’m a frequent cruiser, but I almost forgot to confirm all of my boarding requirements before heading to the airport. In an email, Royal Caribbean specifically provided guidance to bring multiple copies of your passport to board in Singapore. For some reason, I missed this email entirely.

Luckily, my dad sent a reminder in our family group chat for everyone to make copies of their passport before heading to Singapore. I was thankful for this reminder, as I would have completely missed this boarding requirement. During embarkation, it appeared Royal Caribbean would assist passengers who didn’t have the correct documentation. This would have slowed down the boarding process significantly, and it was a good reminder to always confirm the necessary documentation for a cruise.

Read more: I spent $6,773 to cruise on Anthem of the Seas. Here's what everything cost

Mistake: I should have pre-arranged transportation in Singapore.

My family isn’t exactly known for packing light, and with a two-week trip ahead of us, we ended up with even more luggage than you might expect! Because of this, we normally pre-arrange transportation from the airport and to the cruise port through a tour company, like Viator.

Although we had arranged transportation to the hotel, we hadn’t made plans for embarkation day transport. I tried to book numerous shuttles online, but every company was either booked or couldn’t transport all of our luggage.

It turned out to be more stressful than we expected, and we ultimately had to arrange two separate vehicles — one for us and another just for our luggage! It would have been better to prearrange our transportation to the cruise port so we didn’t need to worry about logistics on the morning of embarkation day.

Lesson: Get an early immigration ticket or waste your day waiting around.

For most cruises, you won’t need to worry about immigration requirements. However, some countries do require face-to-face immigration to disembark the ship, such as Japan. Royal Caribbean announced that immigration tickets would be handed out early in the morning before our arrival in the afternoon.

Luckily, my sister was ambitious and woke up early to wait in line for the immigration ticket. The line weaved across the entire Royal Esplanade! She was able to get us tickets for Immigration Group #3, allowing us to disembark quickly after our ship had arrived.

This proved to be crucial, as others in the later boarding group waited for hours for their immigration number to be called! We were able to visit Tokyo from Yokohama for a few hours and return to the ship before some passengers were able to immigrate. If you don’t want to waste time ashore, you should plan to wait in line for an early immigration ticket.

Mistake: I wasn’t prepared for the bad air quality.

Although I’ve visited countries across Asia before, I had never visited places like Vietnam or Hong Kong. As an asthmatic, I always travel with multiple inhalers, although my asthma rarely flares up.

I was surprised by the air quality’s impact on my asthma during this trip, especially in Vietnam and Hong Kong. Even sailing between these countries seemed to irritate my breathing. I used my inhaler more during this cruise than I have all year! My chest was tight, and I found myself wheezing in the mornings.

I should have prepared better for the air quality, and even considered bringing my additional inhaler for daily use. While I might not need to use this at home, I don’t want to find myself abroad without this. I should have planned better for this, but it wasn’t something that crossed my mind.

Lesson: Having travel insurance is crucial.

I learned just how valuable travel insurance can be during this cruise! I have an annual policy with Allianz, which provides coverage for all of my trips throughout the year. My return flight from Tokyo to Atlanta was delayed for 24 hours, leaving me and my sister stranded for the night.

Because of the busy tourist week in Japan, hotel rooms for the night were more than $400. To my surprise, Delta Air Lines only covered up to $250 for accommodations. Luckily, my travel insurance policy covered everything that the airline didn’t pay for. I was grateful knowing I was covered in these unexpected situations.

Moreover, my dad ended up visiting the medical facility onboard. Because he also has the same annual insurance policy, he didn’t hesitate to visit the shipboard doctor for a round of antibiotics when he needed.

If you travel more than once or twice each year, I highly recommend investing in an annual travel insurance policy so you are always covered while away from home.

Mistake: Booking a cruise right after dry dock.

Anthem of the Seas was scheduled to receive routine maintenance in Singapore during her spring dry dock. When we booked this cruise, we didn’t realize our sailing would be the first itinerary immediately after her dry dock.

I wasn’t worried about this until fellow Royal Caribbean Blog writer, Jenna, mentioned her Allure of the Seas sailing was delayed. She was also cruising on the first itinerary after Allure of the Seas’ major refurbishment dry dock. For this reason, Jenna said she typically avoids cruises right after dry dock because delays with maintenance can happen.

Thankfully, our itinerary wasn’t delayed. However, our ship did need to operate at a slower speed, which caused us to lose time in Jeju Island and Japan. We heard this was because of maintenance from the ship’s dry dock, although this wasn’t confirmed.

Even still, I hadn’t considered the risks of booking a cruise immediately after dry dock. Now, I will definitely keep this in mind when booking future itineraries.

Lesson: Having connecting rooms made all the difference on our cruise.

For this cruise, my sister and I chose to book a connecting balcony cabin with our parents. We had never purposely booked a connecting cabin before, so we were eager to see if we would like this stateroom arrangement.

To our surprise, this was one of the best decisions we made! When my dad was run down with a cold and coughing throughout the night, my mom ended up sleeping on our couch. Having the connecting stateroom allowed her to easily move from one room to the next. She ended up spending a few nights on our couch!

Overall, it was incredibly convenient to be able to pop in and out of each other’s cabins. We were even able to share our balconies together, which made the stateroom experience even better. We are already planning to book connecting balconies again in the future. 

Cruises are packed with opportunities to spend more than your original cruise fare. With the constant temptation to upgrade your experience, it can be easy to blow your cruise budget with add-on expenses.

Recently, a new cruiser shared on Reddit a detailed cost breakdown for their family’s 7-night cruise on Royal Caribbean's Symphony of the Seas. According to the post on the r/Cruise subreddit, this family of four spent nearly $7,000 on their entire cruise vacation. 

Included in the post was a transparent list of seven different add-ons this family chose to splurge on throughout their cruise. The cruiser titled the post, “Family of 4 cruise pricing, what are you paying? Here’s my breakdown."

In total, the cruiser shared the family paid for seven different upgrades during their Royal Caribbean cruise. The seven cruise upgrades included:

1. Photo Package (10 pictures)

2. Deluxe Drink Package for two

3. Classic Soda Package for two

4. CocoCay Waterpark admission for four

5. Internet package for two

6. Spa treatment for one

7. RoyalUp stateroom upgrade

The overall cost for the vacation totaled $6,960.55 for a 7-night sailing in a balcony stateroom, which included taxes, fees and prepaid gratuities. This breaks down to $1,740.14 per person, or roughly $248.59 per night for the family's week-long cruise.

“Just curious how that compares to what others are spending. Feel free to share your costs or any tips you’ve picked up. Appreciate any insight!” shared the poster on Reddit. As expected, commenters weighed in with a wide range of opinions on the family's spending choices and add-ons for their cruise. 

And as someone who has cruised with Royal Caribbean more than 30 times, I wanted to break down each of these added expenses myself. I’m a self-proclaimed budget cruiser, but I also know when it's worth splurging to enhance your cruise experience. 

Here’s my take on the seven upgrades this family splurged on, including what I think was worth the money and what I’d personally skip.

Skip it: Photo Package

Within minutes of completing your cruise check-in at the terminal, you’ll be asked to have your picture professionally taken. This continues throughout the cruise. You will have photographers often snapping pictures in the dining room, on the pool deck, during formal nights, and even as you disembark for your ports of call.

Although the cruiser on Reddit doesn’t share how much they spent exactly on the photo package, my upcoming Royal Caribbean reservations show the photo package with an original price of $159.99. The sale price is showing between $95.99 to $119.99 for my specific reservations. Regardless, I’d skip the photo package for a few reasons. 

First, Royal Caribbean’s professional photos are absurdly expensive, in my opinion. Even if you purchase a photo package, the cruise line has some restrictions on what's included. For instance, any specialty dining photos are excluded from your package.

Additionally, you can take hundreds of photos on your phone for free! Pictures on your phone are extremely high quality these days, and many fellow cruisers are happy to take a family photo if you ask. You could even try using the self-timer on your phone.

Finally, there’s no guarantee that you will even like ten different photos from the professional photographers during your cruise. You could pay more than $100 for a photo package and not end up liking enough pictures to make the investment worthwhile. Instead, I'd suggest taking a few of the professional photos throughout your cruise. If you really like one of them, consider purchasing the photo. But, if you don't like any of the pictures, you have no obligation to purchase. 

Worth the splurge: Deluxe Drink Package

Royal Caribbean's drink packages can easily add hundreds of dollars to your cruise cost. But, when you decide to splurge on this extra, you are provided with unlimited access to cocktails, wine, beer, soft drinks, specialty coffee, bottled water and more.

If I had to guess, the cruiser likely spent hundreds of dollars purchasing the Deluxe Beverage Package for two people during their 7-night cruise. For instance, both of my upcoming Royal Caribbean cruises show a daily price of $62.99 per person for the Deluxe Drink Package. On a 7-night cruise, the total cost with an 18% gratuity would be $1,049. Based on this daily cost, you’d need to drink about 5 cocktails or more each day to break even.

For a first-time cruiser, I do think splurging on a Royal Caribbean Deluxe Drink Package can be worthwhile. If you’re someone who can drink enough to justify the cost, or you simply want peace of mind that you won’t rack up a huge bar bill, then the drink package can be a smart choice.

While Royal Caribbean only offers drink packages as an add-on cost, sister brand Celebrity Cruises offers All Included pricing. This provides a bundled deal with a drink and internet package included in your cruise cost. I’ve been able to take advantage of this pricing bundle through my MEI travel agent using group rates, and the added cost has been surprisingly minimal. Splurging on a drink package can make sense for many people, but it's important to remember this isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach.

Worth the splurge: Classic Soda Package

Royal Caribbean provides the option to purchase a Classic Soda Package for your cruise with unlimited cans of soda, fountain soft drinks and Coca-Cola beverages. You’ll also be provided with a Coca-Cola souvenir cup that you can use onboard and take home as a souvenir.

Additionally, Royal Caribbean features Coco-Cola Freestyle Machines on their cruise ships, including fountain soda, sugar free soda, lemonade, VitaminWater, ice tea, fruit punch, still water and sparkling water. The Soda Drink Package is quite popular for Royal Caribbean cruisers, as you are only provided with basic water, lemonade, coffee and tea for free with your cruise fare.

My cruise planner is showing the Soda Drink Package priced daily for $12.99 per person, or $181.86 for two people on a 7-night cruise. Presumably, the cruiser purchased the Classic Soda Package for their two children, aged 8 and 15, according to the Reddit post.

The Classic Soda Package can be a fun upgrade for kids, especially if they enjoy having easy access to drinks throughout the day. Since Royal Caribbean charges about $4 per soda, having just three or four sodas each day can make the package worthwhile. Even for adults who don’t drink alcohol, the Classic Soda Package can be a justifiable splurge thanks to the variety of options available at the Coca-Cola Freestyle machines.

Skip it: CocoCay Waterpark Admission

Royal Caribbean’s private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay, offers plenty of free activities and amenities to enjoy. That said, there are also many different ways to splurge and upgrade your private island experience. You can purchase everything from excursions and private cabanas to the upscale Coco Beach Club and the adults-only Hideaway Beach.

In addition, Royal Caribbean offers optional admission passes to their Thrill Waterpark for guests looking to add even more excitement to their day at CocoCay. The waterpark at CocoCay is packed with high-energy attractions, including the tallest waterslide in the Caribbean, Daredevil’s Peak, and the largest wave pool in the region. You can also race down multi-rider raft slides, try side-by-side racing slides, or explore the kid-friendly Adventure Pool with rope swings. 

Thrill Waterpark is a full day of fun designed for families and thrill-seekers. Unfortunately, entrance to Thrill Waterpark is not cheap. According to future Royal Caribbean reservations visiting CocoCay, the price per person ranges from $87.98 to $95.48. For a family of four, that adds up to anywhere from $351.92 to $382.72 for four people to visit the waterpark.

The cruiser shared, “My kids are 8 and 15. There’s no way they see those slides and aren’t going to want to go on those. I got 50% off on Black Friday.”

Even still, many commenters recommend skipping Thrill Waterpark because CocoCay already has so much included, meaning it's not necessary to splurge on the offered add-ons. For many families, the free beaches, pools, and splash areas offer more than enough entertainment without the added expense of a waterpark pass.

I’d have to agree with this sentiment, as the price to visit Thrill Waterpark can feel steep. If you’re able to snag a good deal on admission, it could be worth it for a fun day ashore. However, it’s important to consider that many Royal Caribbean ships already have waterslides and splash zones included in your cruise fare. For example, Icon of the Seas features the largest waterpark at sea, which might make spending extra at CocoCay feel unnecessary.

Worth the splurge: VOOM Internet Package

One Royal Caribbean add-on that I will absolutely always purchase is the VOOM Surf and Stream internet package. This cruiser shared they purchased the internet package for two people, mostly for their kids to use in the stateroom. 

For some, purchasing internet is not usually necessary. However, the speed and connectivity for onboard internet have improved vastly within the last few years. I also work remotely throughout the year. Unfortunately, I can’t always take vacation from some of my work obligations that need to be complete each week. Moreover, I prefer to stay connected while cruising instead of disconnecting entirely.

When asked why the kids needed internet, the cruiser explained, “I got divorced a couple years ago. Per my divorce agreement my kids need to have an open line of communication with their mom, as do I need with them. So yeah, they need the internet if she wants to call them for whatever reason.”

Royal Caribbean’s internet has a daily cost of $30.99 per day, but you can save money by bundling up to four devices when purchasing the internet package. This is typically cheaper than purchasing separate internet packages for everyone in your travel party. 

It’s best to purchase your internet before your cruise, as Royal Caribbean often features pre-cruise sales with discounts. Right now, my upcoming cruise is showing a daily cost of $22.99 for a 25% discount. Internet can be expensive, but it's always worth the splurge for me. 

Skip it: Spa Treatment

All of Royal Caribbean’s ships feature a Vitality Spa, where guests can indulge in a variety of luxurious treatments. You can splurge on various services like massages, facials, pedicures, manicures, hair treatments, and even acupuncture for a truly relaxing experience at sea.

This cruiser mentioned purchasing a single spa treatment during their sailing, although pricing can vary based on the service received. Regardless, Royal Caribbean’s Vitality Spa treatments typically start at $100 or more.

While it might be tempting to sign up for a spa treatment while you’re cruising, the prices are typically much higher than you’ll find on land. I’ve had a few cruise ship massages, but I’ve truthfully never been too impressed with the experience. In fact, I once had such a disappointing spa experience that I ended up speaking with the manager, and I was promptly given a refund due to the circumstances.

If you are determined to book a spa treatment, consider scheduling your treatment during a port day to save money. It’s often cheaper than sea days, and they typically run specials to bring down the cost. Even better, consider splurging on a thermal spa pass so you can indulge in relaxation throughout your entire vacation.

These passes typically grant access to exclusive areas like heated loungers, steam rooms, saunas, and hydrotherapy pools. This allows you to unwind as often as you’d like throughout your cruise with unlimited access. It can be a more cost-efficient way to enjoy the spa multiple times instead of paying for an individual treatment, which is one-and-done.

Worth the splurge: Royal Up

Finally, the cruiser shared how they were able to upgrade their stateroom to a balcony cabin through Royal Caribbean’s Royal Up program. This is a bid-based upgrade program that allows cruisers to score great deals on stateroom upgrades.

However, the cruiser shared their awarded balcony was facing the inside of the ship. This is likely either a Central Park balcony, which overlooks the ship’s open-aired Central Park, or a Boardwalk Balcony with aft-facing views of the ship’s Boardwalk.

Royal Up can be worth the splurge depending on the minimum bids and how much you initially paid for your cruise. You can get a great deal on a stateroom, but there are some risks to consider. Most importantly, you typically can’t choose your cabin’s specific stateroom. You’ll have to accept that your upgraded cabin might be in a worse location. You might also have to pay higher gratuities if you upgraded into a suite.

I’ve only used Royal Up once, but the deal was fantastic. I paid $300 to upgrade from an interior cabin to a junior suite while cruising the Mediterranean on Royal Caribbean's Odyssey of the Seas. Granted, this was back in 2022 when cruising was still rebounding from the pandemic. However, you can find some great deals if you are smart about your bidding.

If you’ve sailed with Carnival Cruise Line, chances are you’ve indulged in a burger from the beloved and iconic Guy’s Burger Joint. While Royal Caribbean doesn’t offer a comparable venue, there is one surprising place onboard where you can find a burger that holds its own - the main dining room.

One of the most popular dining venues on Carnival Cruise Line is Guy’s Burger Joint, and it’s become a staple for many loyal Carnival cruisers. You can find this burger joint across Carnival's fleet, even on their older vessels. The venue quickly became a fan favorite after launching in 2011 through a partnership with celebrity chef Guy Fieri.

Most cruisers would argue this poolside eatery serves up some of the best burgers at sea. As a burger lover myself, I’d have to agree! After sailing with Carnival Cruise Line multiple times, I’d consider myself a bit of a Guy’s Burger Joint aficionado. 

The crafted burgers at Guy's Burger Joint are far from basic. They're served with bold flavor and indulgent toppings, such as bacon patties, onion rings, melty cheese and more. Even better, it’s fully included in your cruise fare, so you can enjoy as many juicy, freshly made burgers as you want throughout your sailing. All burgers are served with well-seasoned and hand-cut, crispy French fries.

Although Royal Caribbean serves basic build-your-own burgers daily in the Windjammer buffet, the cruise line lacks a dedicated burger stand like Carnival. 

If your ship has a Johnny Rockets or Playmaker’s Sports Bar, you could pay extra to have a top-notch burger during your cruise. In addition, you could treat yourself to lunch at Chops Grille, one of Royal Caribbean’s specialty restaurants, where they serve an elevated and higher quality burger for an extra charge.

However, there is one underrated venue that serves one of the best burgers for free on Royal Caribbean. During lunch or brunch in the main dining room, keep an eye out for a hidden gem on the menu: the Royal Burger.

Even though I’ve cruised with Royal Caribbean more than 30 times, I’ve rarely visited the main dining room for lunch. However, while cruising on Anthem of the Seas earlier this spring, I decided to have lunch in the main dining room before our afternoon arrival in Tokyo, Japan.

One of the entrees caught my attention immediately, the Royal Burger. While I’d seen other Royal Caribbean cruisers praise the Royal Burger, I had yet to actually try it myself. My mom and I decided to order this crowd favorite for our lunch, and we were honestly blown away!

On the menu, Royal Caribbean describes the Royal Burger as, “A 1/4-pound patty served on a brioche bun with lettuce, tomato, pickles, fried onions, cheddar cheese, special sauce and a side of fries.”

To start, the Royal Burger features an impressively large 1/4-pound beef patty, and it’s cooked to your preference. I prefer ordering mine medium well, with just a little bit of pink in the middle. The toppings are stacked high with flavorful fried onions and sharp cheddar cheese, along with fresh lettuce, tomato, and pickles. There’s even a special burger sauce drizzled on top!

I ordered my Royal Burger with a side of ranch for both the burger and the crispy fries. In addition, I skipped the lettuce, tomatoes, and pickles, instead opting for a side of bacon. My mom ordered her Royal Burger as advertised. After taking one bite, we both said, “Wow! This is wonderful!”

The Royal Burger was super flavorful and juicy, and the special sauce gave it a small kick that pulled everything together. The fries were served hot and crispy, just as I would have hoped! I also added a little ranch to my burger, and it was a delicious touch that paired perfectly with the other flavors. 

My mom and I absolutely loved the Royal Burger, and couldn’t stop raving about it throughout the day. Sadly, this was our final day onboard so we couldn’t return for another Royal Burger on this cruise. Because of this, we couldn't wait to try the Royal Burger during our recent cruise on Ovation of the Seas. 

Overall, the Royal Burger was everything you could want in a good burger during a cruise. The patty was well-seasoned and cooked perfectly, with a nice sear on the outside that added great flavor and texture. I loved how the bun was lightly toasted, and I prefer the hint of sweetness with brioche buns. 

The Royal Burger is definitely a step up from the build-your-own burgers in the Windjammer. The patty feels much heartier, and I’d guess it’s about twice the size of the burgers served at the buffet.  The overall quality is also noticeably better in the main dining room. 

In my opinion, the Royal Burger easily rivals the burgers served at Guy’s Burger Joint on Carnival Cruise Line. In fact, I actually prefer this more elevated option compared to Carnival's burgers. While this certainly comes down to personal preference, I appreciated how the Royal Burger wasn’t quite as greasy as the burgers served at Guy’s Burger Joint.

With the Royal Burger, I was able to enjoy the rest of my day without any gastrointestinal repercussions. I enjoyed my afternoon exploring Tokyo on foot without feeling weighed down from a greasy lunch. Now that I’ve experienced the hyped Royal Burger myself, I will definitely look for this crowd favorite on every future Royal Caribbean cruise. After all, one of the biggest highlights of cruising is indulging in all of the delicious cuisine onboard.

Celebrity Edge recently broke loose from its mooring while docked in Juneau, Alaska, after the ship was struck by a strong wind squall.

(Photo Left: Celebrity Edge drifting during storm in Juneau, Alaska. Shared on YouTube by user The Undead Kennedy)

The incident occurred on June 16, 2025 while Celebrity Edge was sailing on a 7-night cruise around Alaska, which departed on June 13, 2025 from Seattle, Washington. The scary episode was caught on video by passengers both onboard Celebrity Edge and ashore in Juneau when the wind squall struck.

In the videos, the mooring lines on Celebrity Edge can be seen snapping dramatically as wind gusts pick up. According to a video shared on YouTube by user Jonkelley7255, the forward lines on Celebrity Edge snapped first, which triggered a cascade of snapping lines along the ship. 

(Celebrity Edge drifting during storm in Juneau, Alaska. Shared on Youtube by Johnkelly7255)

As the lines break, the ship begins to drift away from the dock amid heavy rain and strengthening winds. Guests waiting on the pier can be heard gasping in the video while the ship’s mooring lines snap one by one. Because of the strong winds, Celebrity Edge drifted into the harbor near other ships.

In a statement made to USA Today, a spokesperson for Royal Caribbean Group stated, “The ship drifted from the pier due to a sudden wind squall. Our Captain maneuvered the ship back to the dock where passengers and crew boarded to resume the scheduled itinerary.”

Fortunately, no injuries were reported and the ship did not sustain any damage from the storm. According to USA Today and AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Chad Merrill, Juneau experienced heavy afternoon rain and wind gusts between 30 and 35 miles per hour during the mishap.

(Celebrity Edge drifting during storm in Juneau, Alaska. Shared on Youtube by Johnkelly7255)

CruiseMapper shows that Celebrity Edge has continued with its intended voyage, as the ship is currently docked in Skagway, Alaska as scheduled. The 7-night itinerary features stops in Ketchikan, Tracy Arm Fjord, Juneau, and Victoria in British Columbia. Celebrity Edge is scheduled to return to Seattle, Washington on June 20, 2025.

Guests aboard the sailing shared their first-hand accounts on social media. 

(Celebrity Edge drifting during storm in Juneau, Alaska. Shared on YouTube by user The Undead Kennedy)

Following the mishap in Juneau, many of Celebrity Edge's guests shared their videos on social media. For instance, one user posted on the r/Cruise thread on Reddit about their experience and titled their post, "Celebrity Edge Alaska Juneau Bay broke away from the dock."

The user explains, “Ship broke away from [mooring] and supposedly [slammed] back into the dock. No communications from Celebrity whatsoever. Celebrity has an app but [is not] posting any communications.”

The user continued, “The bus driver to take us back to the has ship has been giving us some updates. If we weren’t on the bus we wouldn’t know anything that is going on."

“I'm on the ship. The are going to re-dock on the port side. First, they need to remove the snapped ropes from the water. That is what has been reported over the announcements,” replied another cruiser.

(Celebrity Edge drifting during storm in Juneau, Alaska. Shared on YouTube by user The Undead Kennedy)

Other guests shared that rumors were swirling about potential damage to the ship, and lack of communication from Celebrity Cruises was frustrating.

One cruiser shared, “The problem was the telephone game. Heard from one bus driver that the ship was damaged and slammed into the dock. Thankfully that wasn't true. But that's probably why you saw so many dramatic posts. No one knew what was going on”

In particular, one Reddit user commented on Celebrity’s perpendicular docking position contributing to the incident’s cause: “Doesn’t help that Celebrity’s docking position is the most exposed, and almost perpendicular to the wind down the valley (versus say Holland America’s ship in the video taking the wind head on).”

(Celebrity Edge drifting during storm in Juneau, Alaska. Shared on YouTube by user The Undead Kennedy)

“There was a huge, extreme wind storm with hail that came in. We were on the ship next to it as it drifted towards us,” shared one cruiser in the comment section.

In many of the videos, other vessels docked in Juneau at the same time can be seen remaining secure to their dock. However, others praised the crew on Celebrity Edge for handling the situation swiftly. One Reddit user commented, “The crew handled this like a boss. Felt like they got the ship staple pretty quickly and kept everyone onboard pretty chill.”

Celebrity Edge isn't the first ship recently to encounter this type of scary mishap. 

This incident with Celebrity Edge follows a series of other ships that have broken loose from their mooring recently because of severe weather. Just a few weeks ago, in Ketchikan, Alaska, Holland America’s Westerdam drifted away from the pier and after the ship's mooring lines snapped during a storm. This caused the gangway to collapse with wind gusts up to 60 knots before tugs secured the vessel.

The same week, MSC Seascape was docked at Ocean Cay, Bahamas, when it was hit by a sudden wind squall. This also caused the ship's mooring lines to snap and the gangway fell into the water. According to reports, one passenger had minor injuries because of the mishap.

Finally, just a few weeks ago, Norwegian Epic broke loose from its moorings because of strong winds while docked in Catania, Sicily. This caused the gangway to collapse into the water with one guest plummeting into the sea. The passenger's husband supposedly jumped into the water to save her, and both were transported to the hospital. Boarding was delayed for several hours with guests stranded on the pier as the ship sailed back to sea temporarily.

One woman’s bizarre stunt in Juneau, Alaska caught the attention of Royal Caribbean passengers, and her dangerous jump into the harbor was captured on video.

Royal Caribbean’s Anthem of the Seas was docked in Juneau, Alaska when passenger Bailey Shelton recorded a woman purposely jumping into the harbor. The viral video, which has almost 500k views, was shared on TikTok by Shelton on June 14, 2025.

In the recording, Shelton shows a woman sprinting across the wooden pier before leaping into the cold harbor water below. Surprisingly, she was dressed in only a t-shirt, shorts, and sandals. Other guests in the background can be seen wearing pants, coats, and hats. 

Shelton can be heard in the video gasping, “No way! No way! No way!” as the woman begins running. The woman clearly leaps off the edge of the pier, plunging more than a few feet into the icy harbor below. Following a large splash, the woman eventually surfaces in the green, murky water and begins swimming back towards the pier. Along with Shelton, many other cruise guests on the pier watched in shock.

Shelton captioned the TikTok video, “She was a local clearly. I had layers and I was still cold.” However, it’s unclear if the woman was a local Juneau resident, as she technically could be a guest aboard Anthem of the Seas. 

Based on Shelton’s post, the stunt likely occurred when Anthem of the Seas was docked in Juneau on June 8, 2025 after departing from Seattle, Washington on a 7-night cruise through Alaska. Anthem of the Seas is offering round-trip itineraries to Alaska over the summer. The 7-night itinerary visited ports of call throughout Alaska, including Juneau, Skagway and Tracy Arm Fjord, along with a stop in Victoria, Canada.

Even in the summer, Alaska can still be quite cold. For mid-June, the average temperature in Juneau can drop in the 40s with highs only in the mid-60s.  However, the water temperature in the harbor is often much cooler, averaging between 48 degrees Fahrenheit and 52 degrees Fahrenheit.

While the stunt itself is dangerous, there are also increased risks of jumping into water that cold. Hypothermia can set in within minutes without proper thermal protection, such as a wetsuit. This condition occurs when your core body temperature drops below 95 degrees Fahrenheit. You also risk triggering cold shock or losing control of your muscles due to the cold water temperature.

The viral TikTok video has left many viewers shocked by the deliberate and dangerous stunt. 

Most of the time, these incidents are accidental when cruise passengers fall into harbor water. However, the video shows this was clearly not an accident, as the woman takes an obvious running start across the pier before jumping into the water.

In the comment section, many viewers state the obvious dangers of jumping into a cruise ship harbor. Some of these risks include polluted water, hidden debris, pilings beneath the surface, and risk of electric shock from stray currents.

“Harbor water is super gross,” reads the top comment. “So dangerous. You have no idea what is lurking right under the surface, could be a steel rod [or a] sunken wooden pillar,” replied another viewer.

One commenter replied similarly, “Nice. You do realize electricity could be present in that water, right?” Another echoed this sentiment, “So dangerous. Electrical power could have killed her”.

Electric shock drowning occurs when an electrical current leaks into the water, often from a nearby boat or marina. The shock then passes through the person’s body while in the water. This can cause muscle paralysis, numbness and even cardiac arrest. For this reason, swimmers are discouraged from jumping into harbor water.

“As someone who grew up in Juneau, YES it’s super dangerous because of obstacles under the water,” stated one responder. One local replied, “I live in Alaska and you could not PAY me to go into that water.”

Not to mention, there have been cruise ship passengers who have fallen into harbor water and sustained serious injuries. Some have even been killed when falling into the harbor. Just a few weeks ago, a woman fell from the gangway on Norwegian Epic when the cruise ship broke loose from its mooring in Sicily. The woman plunged into the ocean water and was rushed to the hospital with injuries from the incident.

Along with the physical risks of jumping into the harbor, the woman could also be in trouble with port authorities or the cruise line itself. While it’s unclear whether she was a passenger, Royal Caribbean could choose to ban her from future sailings if she was indeed a guest. Cruise lines have previously banned passengers for reckless behavior that puts the safety of others at risk.

At the time of publication, the woman did not appear to have sustained any injuries from the stunt. In addition, Royal Caribbean has not commented publicly about the incident.

A scary incident occurred aboard Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas when a large glass window suddenly shattered over the pool deck. Fortunately, one crew member’s quick actions likely prevented a more serious outcome.

Nitin Kumar, a waiter at the Coastal Kitchen, is being praised as a hero for alerting guests relaxing on the sun loungers beneath the window. Coastal Kitchen is the suites-exclusive restaurant located on Deck 17 on Symphony of the Seas, with windows overlooking the ship’s expansive pool deck.

When Kumar reportedly noticed small cracks forming in the window, he raced down to the pool deck to clear the area. Guests who watched the incident unfold say that within 15 to 20 seconds, the large window pane completely shattered and shards of glass were sent flying across the pool deck.

Because of Kumar’s quick thinking and courageous action, there were no injuries from the incident.

Symphony of the Seas, an Oasis class vessel, is one of the largest cruise ships in the world. The massive Royal Caribbean cruise ship was sailing a 7-night itinerary from Cape Liberty, New Jersey when the incident occurred on June 8, 2025. The itinerary includes stops in Port Canaveral (Florida), Nassau (Bahamas), and Perfect Day at CocoCay (Bahamas).

According to guests onboard, Symphony of the Seas was positioning to dock at its first port of call, Port Canaveral, Florida, when the scary accident occurred. Guests onboard report the ship was vibrating heavily right before the glass broke, which could have placed strain on the window. Those on the pool deck reported hearing a loud crash when the window shattered.

In a comment on Reddit, one guest onboard shared, “They said they have no idea what happened. Theory is that some micro cracks were in the glass and when we were turning 180 to dock, the vibrations caused it to break.”

“Was definitely a freak accident and shows that you need to ALWAYS listen to crew members when they ask you to do something. It may save your life,” the commenter continued.

Another guest on Reddit shared, "We were in Coastal Kitchen 3 windows over from where it broke. We were in the middle of our 180 spin and the ship was vibrating pretty good. Most people seem to think that the vibrations/micro cracks in the tempered glass caused it. Thankfully, no one was seriously injured, other than one person cutting their foot."

Vibrations are not uncommon while cruise ships are docking at ports of call. While a cruise ship is maneuvering with precision to position at the dock, there can be strong vibrations felt onboard. This is typically caused by the use of thrusters and propulsion systems, along with the ship's engines changing speed or direction.

Because the window on Symphony of the Seas was made of tempered glass, the broken pieces shattered into small, pebble-like fragments rather than sharp shards. Tempered glass is designed this way to reduce the risk of serious injury. Cruise ships are built specifically with tempered glass for increased safety and strength, as it’s considered much stronger than regular glass.

Guests onboard Symphony of the Seas state many of the ship’s officers were on-scene immediately to secure the area. In addition, the glass was cleaned up quickly and the window was already replaced by the following day.

The freak accident has many guests online praising Kumar as “Hero of The Seas” for his actions.

In the aftermath of the incident, numerous passengers aboard Symphony of the Seas are praising Kumar for acting quickly and preventing guests from potential injuries. With Kumar clearing the area and warning guests to move from their lounges on the pool deck, no one was seriously injured in the accident. 

For instance, one guest onboard posted on Reddit that they were only a few windows over when the glass shattered. “The waiter, Nitin, saw it cracking and sprinted down to the pool deck and told the people in deck chairs to move. 15 seconds later this happened. Dude saved some lives for sure,” the passenger wrote.

In the same Reddit thread, another guest shared, “I’m onboard. It was a freak thing, but nobody got hurt. A waiter noticed the cracks and moved everybody below about 20 seconds before it fell. It’s tempered, so it wouldn’t have killed anybody, but it could have caused some moderate injuries from that height.”

“We were in Coastal Kitchen when this shattered and for Nitin to have foresight to run to the pool to get everyone out of the way is remarkable. RCCL should give him an accommodation for his actions,” shared another cruiser.

One guest also posted on Facebook, "Thanks to the fast thinking of one of the best Nitin, these seats were vacant when the safety glass gave way. You are truly an asset to Royal Caribbean and a hero to the many people you removed from harm's way.”

“HUGE kudos to Nitin for putting safety first! I was in [Coastal Kitchen] when this happened. I wrote a complimentary letter that included the Vice President of Safety and Marine Operations. Nitin ensured safety when it mattered most,” commented another cruiser aboard Symphony of the Seas.

In the replies section, Kumar responded to the accolades and praise, emphasizing his passion and commitment to Royal Caribbean. He stated, “Thank you so much everyone for appreciation. You all are my family, what I did I did for family.”

“What I did, I learn[ed] from this company how to take care of my guests like family, so thank you so much. Enjoy your vacation,” he continued.

Previous cruisers are also praising Kumar's dedication and service. One prior cruiser shared, “We had that waiter in [Coastal Kitchen] in April on Symphony and that guy is a rockstar. He was the best waiter we have had in [Coastal Kitchen], and now I hope they recognize him for keeping something really bad from happening.”

Another previous cruiser shared, “I hope you get a promotion and a large bonus. You’ve always been a great waiter, I’ve dined with you several times before.”

“Nitin IS wonderful. We were so lucky to have him take excellent care of us on May 16 cruise. Not surprised at all that he took care of everything when needed,” shared another previous passenger.

Although not unheard of, it’s rare for cruise ship windows to shatter.

(Viking Polaris with broken balconies, shared on ABC News by Beverly Spiker)

Modern cruise ships are built to withstand severe weather and rough sea conditions, such as rogue waves and powerful storms. When windows shatter on cruise ships, it’s typically because the ship is navigating stormy waters. Rogue waves are unusually large waves that occur suddenly and without warning.

For instance, the expedition cruise ship Viking Polaris was sailing in South America in December 2022 when it was struck by a rogue wave. The powerful storm caused glass to shatter on the lower decks, impacting multiple cabins and injuring several passengers.

Tragically, one 62-year-old American woman was killed by the glass debris that shattered in her cabin when the rogue wave struck. According to reports, the fatally-injured woman received blows from a glass window that collapsed in the middle of the storm.

A similar situation occurred back in 2016 on Royal Caribbean’s Rhapsody of the Seas. The Vision class ship was hit by a rogue wave while the cruise ship was sailing near Santorini, Greece. In the early morning hours, the powerful wave struck the ship and broke windows in multiple passeneger cabins. 

Some staterooms on lower decks were also partially flooded during the incident. Luckily, there were no serious injuries reported by the cruise line and Rhapsody of the Seas.

Hurricane season is upon us, and as a Florida resident myself, I’m already starting to prepare for the worst. 

After moving to Florida five years ago, my husband and I were hit with Hurricane Sally just months after we moved into our new home. As Midwesterners who had never lived in the South, this felt like a rite of passage!

Now, with another season underway, it’s important to be prepared, whether you’re getting your home ready or finalizing plans for an upcoming cruise. If you’re planning a Caribbean cruise this summer, you might be wondering how to best prepare for hurricane impacts. One of the smartest steps you can take is to invest in travel insurance to protect your plans in case of unexpected disruptions.

Personally, I have an annual travel policy through Allianz AllTrips, and it’s already paid for itself this year. I combed through my personal policy with Allianz to see what exactly is covered in relation to hurricanes for purposes of this article.

But, all insurance policies have different coverage and it’s important to understand exactly what’s covered in a policy before purchasing. The fine print in an insurance policy is just as important as the stated policy! 

Most travel insurance policies don’t list hurricanes as a separate category. Instead, they’re typically included under broader terms like “natural disasters” or “severe weather.” It’s a good idea to review how your insurance provider defines these terms before buying a policy.

No matter which company you choose, there are a few essential things to look for in any travel insurance plan. Here’s what to pay attention to in your travel insurance policy, and what the experts are predicting for this year's hurricane season. 

Read more: Travel insurance for a cruise: Why you need it for a Royal Caribbean cruise

First, check what’s included under your Trip Cancellation coverage.

Most travel insurance policies will include Trip Cancellation protection. This type of coverage provides reimbursement for non-refundable expenses if you need to cancel your trip for a covered reason. These covered reasons typically include natural disasters and severe storms, such as hurricanes.

If your policy includes Trip Cancellation coverage, you’ll want to see exactly what’s defined for covered reasons and whether natural disasters, including hurricanes, are mentioned. For example, my personal insurance policy provides Trip Cancellation coverage for the following hurricane-related events:

• Your destination or primary residence is uninhabitable due to a natural disaster
• Your travel carrier cannot get you to your original itinerary’s destination for at least 24 consecutive hours due to a natural disaster or severe weather
• Government authorities order a mandatory evacuation at your destination that is in effect within 24 hours prior to departure date

In the event that I experience one of these covered reasons, I can be reimbursed up to my policy limit for nonrefundable expenses. Considering I live in Florida and cruise often, this comprehensive coverage gives me peace of mind. 

Next, consider what’s included for Trip Interruption protection.

Another section of your travel insurance policy that you’ll want to check is the Trip Interruption section. This type of coverage kicks in after your trip has already started, and it helps reimburse for unforeseen costs during your trip. If you encounter a hurricane during your cruise, your Trip Interruption coverage would likely cover related expenses.

In my Allianz policy, I would receive hurricane-related coverage (under the natural disaster terminology) for the following scenarios:

• You miss at least 50% of the length of your trip due to a natural disaster
• Your primary residence or destination is uninhabitable due to a natural disaster
• Your travel carrier cannot get you to your original itinerary’s destination for at least 24 consecutive hours due to a natural disaster or severe weather
• Government authorities order a mandatory evacuation at your destination that is in effect within 24 hours prior to departure date
• A road closure prevents you from arriving to your final destination for at least six consecutive hours

When it comes to hurricanes, you might find that your original cruise itinerary has been shortened or extended because of impending storms. In this case, your Trip Interruption policy would cover the unexpected costs related to the natural disaster.

In addition, Travel Delay coverage could provide protection during hurricane season.

Another important coverage that I’ve actually used with my travel insurance policy is Travel Delay coverage. This type of protection kicks in for smaller, but still disruptive, delays. For my specific policy, the Travel Delay coverage provides reimbursement for a delay longer than six consecutive hours. My policy would pay for meals, accommodations, and transportation up to a daily limit due to the delay.

In addition, my Travel Delay policy specifically includes coverage for a delay that would cause me to miss the departure of my cruise. In this instance, reasonable expenses to help rejoin the cruise would be covered if the delay occurred for a covered reason, such as a natural disaster. In this case, any delays due to hurricane activity that cause you unforeseen expenses would likely be covered.

You could also purchase missed port coverage.

Although not as common, some insurance companies provide coverage for missed ports or cruise diversions. For instance, Travel Guard’s Preferred Plan appears to cover cruise diversions and river cruise diversions (based on the policy provided online). According to the policy guideline, cruisers would receive $250 for a missed port during their cruise.

However, missed port coverage isn’t as common as it used to be. As explained on Allianz’s website, travel insurance is meant to cover financial loss. Missing a port or having an itinerary change, even when caused by a storm or hurricane, is still providing the same value without financial loss.

For example, Allianz states on its website that, “If a hurricane causes a cruise line or tour operator to offer an alternate itinerary — whether a different destination or different dates — you must accept the change.”

“Travel insurance is designed to protect you from financial loss, and if the substitute itinerary is the same value as your original trip, you haven't suffered a loss,” continues Allianz. However, the insurance provider notes that if the itinerary change causes you to incur additional costs, such as purchasing new airline tickets, those expenses may be covered under your travel insurance.

Finally, consider opting for a “Cancel for Any Reason” policy.

Your standard travel insurance policy will provide a list of covered reasons that will protect you under specific travel mishaps and problems named in the plan. But, not every possible thing that could go wrong with your trip will be covered.

Most importantly, if you decide to cancel your cruise because you’re worried about a potential hurricane or bad weather, that fear alone typically isn’t covered under a standard policy. For this reason, you might want to consider purchasing a policy called “Cancel for Any Reason” type of coverage. 

This type of insurance can help reimburse prepaid expenses when you cancel a trip for any reason that isn’t named specifically in your plan. Generally, Cancel for Any Reason insurance is an add-on option to a standard travel insurance policy. 

There are other guidelines you need to follow too. You often need to buy this type of coverage within a specified window after making your first deposit, typically around 10 days to 21 days after booking. You can normally cancel your trip for any reason up to approximately 48 hours before scheduled departure.

But, this type of policy isn’t cheap. If you want the maximum flexibility, you’ll need to pay a significantly higher premium. This type of coverage can increase your policy cost by 50% due to increased flexibility. 

For example, if you book a cruise for $4,000, your travel insurance policy might cost around $200. To add Cancel for Any Reason coverage, you might need to pay an additional $100, bringing your total premium to $300. If you decide to cancel and receive reimbursement of 75% of your prepaid expenses, you would receive $3,000 back. In that case, instead of losing the full $4,000, you’d lose $1,000 on the cruise fare and $300 for the insurance, a total loss of $1,300.

With this type of policy, you have the flexibility to decide whether or not to travel in the event of a hurricane. Everyone has a different level of risk tolerance, and a vacation should feel enjoyable, not anxiety-inducing. For many travelers, the extra peace of mind is well worth the added cost.

Unfortunately, the experts are predicting an active hurricane season this year.

Each year, The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) issues its outlook for the coming Atlantic hurricane season. This year, NOAA’s outlook indicates we are likely to experience an above-normal season with a 60% chance and only a 10% chance for a below-normal season. That leaves just a 30% chance for a near-normal season.

NOAA’s 2025 outlook shares there is a 70% change for 3-19 named storms, 6-10 hurricanes, and 3-5 major hurricanes this year.  NOAA states in their report, “These expected ranges are centered above the 1991-2020 seasonal averages of 14 named storms, 7 hurricanes, and 3 major hurricanes.”

In addition, NOAA explains the prediction is based on two main factors, including an unusually warm temperature in the Atlantic Ocean and neutral El Niño conditions. Both of these factors create an environment that favors stronger storm formation and intensification.

So, what does this mean for cruisers? Royal Caribbean Group’s Chief Meteorologist, Craig Setzer, recently spoke on the subject of hurricane activity at the 2025 Seatrade Cruise Conference in Miami, Florida. 

During one of the sessions, Setzer explained, “They’re calling for an above-normal season. But from a marine perspective, we prepare every year with the possibility we could have an impact.”

“We don’t say, ‘This year it’s a low number, so we’re going to relax now.’ Every year it’s the same level of preparation because even in low years like 1992, South Florida got [Hurricane] Andrew. In high years like 2022, we didn’t get anything. So you never know,” he concluded.

Read more: Meet the meteorologist who decides if your cruise gets rerouted

And of course, timing is important when buying travel insurance.

Like any insurance, travel insurance is meant to cover unforeseen circumstances. That means you shouldn’t plan to purchase coverage for your cruise after a hurricane has already been forecasted. By this time, the hurricane is usually considered a "named event" and it’s probably already too late to purchase travel insurance coverage.

Instead, it's better to be proactive and purchase insurance when you start planning your cruise and place a deposit. As we mentioned above, if you want Cancel for Any Reason coverage, you will need to purchase this shortly after you make your first deposit, typically within 14 to 21 days (depending on the policy).

If you want to have full protection and flexibility, it’s best to purchase a policy at the time of booking your cruise. This ensures you will be covered for unforeseen incidents, including hurricane-related cancellations, delays, or interruptions.

Some credit cards also include travel insurance as one of the main card perks, including the American Express Platinum Card and Chase Sapphire Reserve. Although these might not be as comprehensive, this additional coverage can be helpful if you’re already paying the annual fee for one of these cards.

Finally, you could consider purchasing an annual travel insurance policy. My policy through Allianz Travel Insurance costs less than $300 for the year and covers all trips when I am at least 100 miles from my primary residence. Because I travel almost every month, this insurance is well worth the investment. 

I’ve even convinced my parents to purchase annual travel insurance policies considering they cruise a few times each year. Knowing I am covered for hurricane-related events, or any other unforeseen circumstances, gives me peace of mind while traveling. It's also one of the best ways to protect yourself financially while traveling or cruising. 

Disclaimer: This post is based on my personal experience and interpretation of my Allianz travel insurance policy. Coverage details can vary depending on your provider, plan and purchase timing. Always review your policy documents carefully and consult directly with your travel insurance provider for questions about your specific coverage. Nothing in this article should be considered legal or insurance advice.

Royal Caribbean’s newest cruise ship, Utopia of the Seas, made her long-awaited debut last summer in Port Canaveral, Florida. Unlike her sister ships that sail more traditional Caribbean and Mediterranean itineraries, Utopia of the Seas was built specifically for weekend getaway sailings - with a big emphasis on partying!

For the last year, Utopia of the Seas has been sailing exclusively on 3-night and 4-night cruises to the Bahamas. The itineraries include stops in Nassau, Bahamas and Royal Caribbean’s private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay. 

Branded as the “World’s Biggest Weekend” for the cruise line, Utopia of the Seas has a more upbeat and party-centric atmosphere onboard compared to other ships in Royal Caribbean’s fleet. The cruise line has intentionally leaned into the party-vibes aboard Utopia of the Seas with more late-night entertainment, deck parties, and nonstop fun.

Although Royal Caribbean has offered weekend cruises for years, this marks the first time the cruise line has explicitly marketed one of its ships as a “party” ship. In this way, Utopia of the Seas represents a strategic shift in how Royal Caribbean targets younger travelers. This is certainly a bold move that sets Utopia of the Seas apart - not just within the Oasis Class, but across the entire fleet.

After sailing for nearly one year, we wanted to see what real cruisers are saying about Utopia of the Seas. We combed through our Royal Caribbean Blog forums to find feedback and comments from those who have sailed on this party ship. Here’s what people are saying with recent reviews of Utopia of the Seas.

The ship is the destination.

Typically, Oasis class ships have sailed on 7-night itineraries, allowing for ample time to explore everything the ships have to offer. Because Utopia of the Seas only sails on shorter cruises to the Bahamas, many Royal Caribbean Blog readers mention they choose to stay onboard while the ship is docked.

In particular, cruisers say they prefer skipping the port of call in Nassau, Bahamas and instead enjoy the quieter ship. One fan said, “We don't plan to get off the ship in Nassau” when discussing plans for their upcoming Utopia of the Seas cruise.

In addition, another Royal Caribbean Blog fan responded to one question, “I am not getting off the ship, so I will try to scope out the situation for you.”

One more fan on the forum responded that they aren’t planning to disembark in Nassau while sailing on Utopia of the Seas. The cruiser shared, “Going to Paradise Beach next month might be the last time we get off the ship. No interest in Nassau.”

In fact, when I sailed on Utopia of the Seas earlier this year, I also chose to stay aboard the ship and skipped Nassau entirely. I was shocked by how many other people had the same idea, as the ship was quieter, but not as quiet as I expected. By lunchtime, the pools were already full. 

With only a few days on Utopia of the Seas, our forum indicates that guests prefer skipping Nassau, and instead taking advantage of the ship’s amenities.

Mason Jar is a favorite for our readers.

Mason Jar is a big conversation topic on our forums. Utopia of the Seas is one of the few ships with this newer specialty dining concept, which serves a very popular brunch with a focus on Southern cuisine.

In particular, many of our readers praise Mason Jar for their brunch experience. When one cruiser asked about Mason Jar on their Utopia of the Seas sailing, another fan responded, “I vote brunch and I know several regular posters here are also big fans. Never actually did dinner but have done brunch every time… and will be sticking with it on Utopia in the future.”

“We're cruising on Utopia this December, and I've heard some very good things about Mason Jar,” replied one commenter on the forum. One fan on the forum also responded, “Going by the forums (small sample size, my own impression, not scientific), I feel like brunch gets a lot of love but dinner is more of a mixed bag.”

Although Mason Jar serves brunch and dinner, the venue also features a bar with live music in the evenings. This is quite popular, and many of our readers praise the Southern-inspired cocktails served at Mason Jar Bar. 

“The bar at [Mason Jar] on Utopia is chaos but the dining side I would say is a bit more organized chaos. I am sure you will enjoy those Mississippi moonlights,” replied one cruiser on our forum. Another reader included, “We were on Utopia in January and the Apple Pie Old Fashioned from the Mason Jar was my favorite! Ordered it a few times. It definitely was something more to savor, taking my time, and letting it melt.”

In general, specialty dining is a highlight for Utopia of the Seas cruisers.

Royal Caribbean has some of the best specialty dining restaurants in the cruise industry. On a massive ship like Utopia of the Seas, many of the comments on our forums highlight the specialty dining experience. Guests rave about all of the specialty dining restaurants available on Utopia of the Seas, and many love their experiences during their cruise.

One cruiser shared, “Dinner tonight [on Utopia of the Seas] was Giovanni’s. Love this new location where Wonderland was. Food was delicious. We were so stuffed! Service also fantastic!”

Izumi also receives a lot of praise on our forums, especially the bubble waffles for dessert. “The bubble cone is pretty much the thing I look forward to by doing Utopia. I love Izumi,” shared one cruiser.

In fact, thanks to the ship’s wide variety of specialty dining options, many of our readers choose to purchase the Ultimate Dining Package for their cruise. The shorter itinerary helps prevent the “food coma” fatigue that can set in on longer sailings.

One commenter explained how dining packages can feel overwhelming on longer cruises, noting, “The cumulative effect of that much food over that long a period is just overwhelming.  We can, however manage to splurge for a couple of shorter consecutive days/nights, knowing that it will end soon enough.  We had the [Ultimate Dining Package] on the 3 night Utopia cruise (of a B2B) back in the spring and it worked out great.”

Additionally, Utopia of the Seas is the only ship in the fleet to offer Royal Railway, an immersive dining experience designed to feel like a journey by train. Although not included in the Ultimate Dining Package, our readers enjoyed the unique dining production.

One cruiser shared, “On the ship now and we did the Royal Railway tonight and thought it was fantastic. The cast and servers are all great and so many good puns throughout. The motion effects are pretty darn convincing.”

However, many who tried Royal Railway stated they wouldn’t necessarily return for a second time given the cost and fixed menu.

The Spare Tire food truck is a mixed bag for many.

Speaking of food, one of the more common topics of discussion for Utopia of the Seas is the introduction of the Spare Tire food truck. Located on the pool deck, multiple readers discussed Spare Tire, noting the lackluster grab-and-go food choices. Some even mentioned sailing on Utopia of the Seas multiple times and still not trying the Spare Tire.

“I'll try anything once but that's about the least exciting food venue I've seen. The running joke seems to be that it serves gas station food,” commented one cruiser.

However, one of the favorites for our readers is the raspberry cheesecake dessert option. “I tried the raspberry cheesecake several times. It was great on the balcony watching the sunset,” shared one cruiser.

People love the Aqua80Two diving production, while All In and YouTopia are less popular.

Oasis class ships are renowned for their entertainment, including unparalleled production shows that you won’t find anywhere else in the cruise industry. Aboard Utopia of the Seas, you can see the classic Oasis-style shows, including a high-diving show called Aqua80Two, an ice-skating spectacle known as YouTopia, and the new headliner theatre show All In!

Our readers absolutely love the Aqua80Two show, with many commenting on the ship’s incredible production and the talented performers. One cruiser commented, “As a big fan of 80’s music and the original Aqua80 show, we loved it!” Another commenter responded, “Would definitely see Aqua80Two over and over again.”

However, some of our readers mentioned disappointment with the other entertainment available on Utopia of the Seas. In particular, some found the YouTopia ice show underwhelming compared to other ships.

“I would say this was more traditional ice skating rather than some of the productions on newer ships like [Wonder of the Seas] and [Icon of the Seas]. No drones, no special effects, just a whole lot of skating,” explained one cruiser. Another replied, “I sort of didn’t quite get what the entire show was trying to convey. The balancing act was probably what grabbed my interest the most and there was not even ice skating involved!”

Finally, multiple readers commented on the new theatre show, called All In! One reviewer said, “All In was all something, but not all great. It’s a mixed bag of reviews from the family. My parents did not like it. You can probably guess, too loud for them. My sister also did not like it. In her words, it was a mess.”

Some of the most common complaints included the loud noise onboard Utopia of the Seas.

One of the most common concerns shared by our readers about Utopia of the Seas is the excessive noise levels. Considering Royal Caribbean’s branding and focus on partying, the louder noise and music isn’t entirely surprising. However, many of our readers mention the loud noise as their biggest complaint.

In one thread dedicated to the noise on Utopia of the Seas, one reader commented, “Every venue, show, and space was pushed to very, very uncomfortable levels. When you have to order your drink by writing your order down because the bar tender can’t hear you and you can't hear them, even yelling your order… this is ridiculous.”

“Strange that ship is that loud. I mean it's a short cruise, but still. Seems really odd it's that loud and annoying,” shared one fan. Another replied, “We had a Central Park view balcony on the front end of our [back to back cruise] in October and it was very loud even with the door closed.”

“Just got off Utopia today.  The only problem we had with loudness were the shows.  Both All In and Youtopia were so loud you couldn't enjoy the show itself,” shared one cruiser.

Another fan even replied they won’t be sailing on Utopia of the Seas again due to the loud noise. “This is 100 percent correct.  We left the ship last week and it was, by far, the least enjoyable cruise ship that I have sailed. We avoided the pool areas due to noise, and it was unbearable at the water show.  If you're into that environment, this is the ship for you.  If not, keep looking.”

However, other fans mentioned that Utopia of the Seas is meant to be a party ship, and the louder music is part of that experience. 

One fan responded, “It’s certainly loud but it’s a wild party weekend (especially for NYE). If “party ship” was the intended goal then RC hit a home run. We really enjoyed the entire experience and will be sailing her again in a couple weeks.”

“Anyone going on a 3/4 night Bahamas cruise who's looking for a quite "normal" low key cruise experience is on the wrong ship,” emphasized another commenter.

Finally, our fans love Utopia of the Seas’ design and innovation.

Overall, our fans seem to enjoy cruising on Utopia of the Seas. Although the party vibe isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, the newest Oasis Class ship has plenty to offer. Not to mention, many of our readers commented on the ship’s beauty, design and innovation.

“Just got off a cruise trying out the new Utopia ship.  Beautiful ship,” shared one fan.

Another reader commented, “The color scheme on Utopia is much better than the other ships, those rooms look clean and gorgeous. I am obsessed with the shower tile.”

Similarly, many mention the innovative destination elevators that Royal Caribbean implemented aboard Utopia of the Seas. One reader shared, “The destination elevators are the best thing that has happened to cruising, in my honest opinion. They work really well."