Sailing on the inaugural cruise of the largest ship in the world has a premium price tag. After all, to be one of the first people to sail on a brand-new ship comes at a big price.

From the initial cost of the cabin, plus airfare, many rideshares, a hotel, and onboard purchases, this once-in-a-lifetime trip came out to be almost $8,000.

Read more: I took the inaugural cruise on Royal Caribbean's newest ship

Here’s what everything cost during my seven-night Eastern Caribbean & Perfect Day cruise on Icon of the Seas, as well as how much I spent to get to and from Miami, Florida.

The price of my Spacious Infinite Central Park View Balcony cabin was $5,179.62

I booked a cabin on Icon of the Seas as soon as bookings became available for the ship.

I chose a Spacious Infinite Central Park View Balcony on deck 10, midship. This cabin cost $5,179.62 for two people, including pre-paid gratuities. Of course, this was the largest expense during my inaugural trip.

Icon of the Seas is the first ship in the Royal Caribbean International fleet to have infinite verandas, so that was the main reason why I selected this type of cabin. For research purposes, I wanted to see if an infinite balcony cabin was different from a traditional balcony cabin, and after sailing on Icon, I definitely think they are.

While I liked being able to open and close the veranda, I much prefer to have an actual balcony where I can fully step outside. The veranda did allow me to get some fresh air, but it just wasn't the same as a regular balcony.

I had several onboard purchases during my week on Icon, and this totaled $1,014.17

When you go on a cruise, you can choose to not spend anything extra. It is possible to not spend an additional dime on cruise add-ons, but while on Icon of the Seas, I made a number of onboard purchases.

Before the cruise, I purchased Wi-Fi for one device. This was $23.99 per day, or $167.93 for seven days. If I had purchased the Wi-Fi more in advance, I probably could've gotten a better deal. While onboard, I thought that the Wi-Fi was quick; I had no problems streaming videos or posting on social media.

I splurged on two specialty dining experiences while on Icon: Dinner at Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen and dinner at the new Empire Supper Club.

Since I am a Diamond Plus cruiser, I was able to utilize my BOGO offer when I dined at Giovanni’s on the first night of the cruise. The total for my meal was $37.44, and it was well worth it!

On the second night, I dined at Royal Caribbean's most expensive restaurant, Empire Supper Club. This meal was pre-paid and cost $200. This is the most expensive restaurant in the Royal Caribbean fleet.

During this formal dinner, I enjoyed four appetizers, a main course, three desserts, six cocktails, and other starters and palate cleansers not listed on the menu. Throughout the meal, the American Standards Trio played jazz music which was lovely to listen to while I was eating my many courses.

Read more: I dined at Royal Caribbean’s most expensive restaurant: I didn't expect to like it as much as I did

After attending the Ladies Pamper Party on the second day of the cruise, I decided to treat myself to a massage at the Vitality Spa. Because I attended the party, I got $50 off a Swedish massage (along with other “mini” massages that focused on my arms, shoulders, etc.) that was originally $210. Again because I am a Diamond Plus cruiser, I also got a complimentary add-on spa treatment, so I opted for a foot exfoliation. In total, the massage cost $188.80. This included a service charge of $39.80.

Another brand-new experience I wanted to try was renting one of the daybeds at The Hideaway, the adults-only area onboard Icon of the Seas. Before the cruise, I purchased a daybed for a sea day, and this cost $350. The cost is an all-day rental and can hold a maximum of four people.

The cost does fluctuate depending on when you buy the rental and whether you choose a sea day or port day (port days are cheaper). 

My sister collects Starbucks mugs from around the world, so I bought the exclusive Icon of the Seas mug for her, which cost $20.

My last expense was tips for various crew members, including my cabin steward, and this totaled around $50. 

I went on one excursion to St. John for $85

During the seven-night cruise, we visited St. Kitts, St. Thomas, and Perfect Day at CocoCay. While docked in St. Thomas, I decided to purchase an excursion to St. John. This excursion was called “St. John On Your Own.”

This excursion cost $50 and covered the cost of a ferry that took me between St. Thomas and St. John. The two islands are close, so the ferry ride was fairly quick and took around 20-30 minutes.

We were docked in St. Thomas from 7 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., so everyone on the excursion had to meet at the Royal Theater at 7:30 a.m. and get on the ferry around 8 a.m. By the time we got off the ferry in St. John, found a taxi to the beach, and then had to allocate time to get back to the ship, we were at the beach for only an hour and a half.

Once the ferry arrived in St. John, I took a taxi to Trunk Bay. The taxi ride cost $20 roundtrip, including a tip. Upon arrival to Trunk Bay, I had to pay a $5 admission fee. I also wanted a beach chair, and this cost $10.

The beach was stunning and the water was a perfect temperature. I loved this short beach getaway. I wish we had more time docked in St. Thomas so I could've stayed at Trunk Bay longer!

Getting to and from my cruise

Let’s just say it was quite an ordeal for me to get to Miami!

I originally spent $638.21 on airfare, but ended up spending $715.62 because of winter weather delays and rebooking flights so I could make my cruise.

Flying to Fort Lauderdale appeared to be the cheapest option for my Miami cruise. I booked United flights for $578.21, plus $60 roundtrip for a checked bag, totaling $638.21.

However, my journey didn’t go as planned. On a chilly January morning, after boarding, the captain announced a delay due to a frozen fuel tank, causing a six-hour wait. I missed both my original and backup connections through Denver and couldn’t retrieve my checked bag from the plane.

With limited options, I booked a last-minute direct flight on Allegiant to Fort Lauderdale for $416.02. Though Allegiant is known for low fares, the last-minute booking was costly, and I had to travel without my luggage.

Once I finally made it to Miami, I stayed with family before the inaugural cruise, so I took the Brightline train for $168.

The Brightline Smart fare (the cheapest option) was $59 each way; this included a carry-on and my backpack as my personal item. I had my 50-pound bag too, so I had to pay $25 each way to get that checked. 

I took the Brightline back to Miami so I could stay in a hotel the night before my cruise. This was $260.73

It is highly encouraged to get to your embarkation city the day before your cruise just in case of travel delays or cancelations. Because of this, I arrived back in Miami on January 26, the day before the inaugural sailing of Icon of the Seas.

While there are lots of hotel options in Miami, I chose Courtyard Miami Airport. This hotel is perfect for those flying in and out of the Miami International Airport because of its close location. I chose this hotel because it was the cheapest option for me: $260.73. This price included my dinner, which was $17.78.

I had to use many rideshares throughout my trip, and this totaled $405.84

Whenever I had to get somewhere like the airport, hotel, train station, or cruise port, I used the rideshare Lyft.

The rides that cost the most were the ones from the Orlando train station to my family’s house and vice versa. Each of these rides cost $90, including a tip, since it was a nearly 50-mile drive.

Another costly trip was going from the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport to Miami and vice versa. Both of these trips cost between $50 and $60, including a tip, and were 27 miles of driving. I still prefer to fly in and out of the Fort Lauderdale airport over the Miami International Airport, even though the ride is 30-40 minutes between the two cities.

The rides within Miami (like from the hotel to the cruise port or the train station to the hotel) were close and only cost around $20 each way. 

The total Icon of the Seas price for the inaugural cruise was $7,828.98

I knew that my trip on Icon of the Seas would cost a lot, but I didn't think the price would be almost $8,000!

The largest expense was the cost of the cabin at $5,180, and when looking at prices throughout the year and into 2025, it appears that I got a decent price. For example, looking at the same itinerary in the same cabin for January 2025, my Infinite Central Park cabin would cost $7,360 - more than $2,000 more!

There were many times when I could’ve saved money, like saying no to specialty restaurants, Wi-Fi, or the spa treatment. But, these cruise add-ons made my trip more enjoyable.

I really liked a lot of the free entertainment onboard Icon of the Seas, including The Wizard of Oz, the ice skating show, Starburst, and the diving show, Aqua Action! I also took advantage of the many free dining options, like AquaDome Market and Park Café, for most of my meals which I thought were delicious.

Overall, I had a blast onboard the maiden voyage of Icon of the Seas. I can now say that I was one of the first people to sail on the world's largest cruise ship! It was an experience I will never forget.

If you’re planning a cruise on Utopia of the Seas, you may want to verify your cabin is in a good location before putting down the final deposit.

Utopia of the Seas, Royal Caribbean’s newest cruise ship that launched in July 2024, has 2,834 staterooms for guests to choose from, including 572 interior cabins, 168 oceanview cabins, 1,918 balconies, and 176 suites. Although Utopia of the Seas offers short 3- and 4-night cruises, you’ll want to make sure your travel party picks the best cabin for your vacation.

Choosing the right cruise ship cabin can make or break your experience. You don’t want to be kept up all night or woken up early because of loud noises or lots of foot traffic.

Here are the cabins you should avoid booking on Utopia of the Seas.

Cabins below the pool deck

Cabins located on deck 14, one deck below the pool deck on deck 15, are subject to noises galore.

These cabins may seem like a convenient option since you'll be close to all the fun on the pool deck, but you’ll likely hear the sounds of deck chairs being moved early in the morning and the hustle and bustle of poolside activity throughout the day.

The pool deck on Utopia of the Seas is one of the main hubs of activity on the ship. While it’s the perfect place to enjoy the sun and attend one of the many pool parties onboard, cabins located beneath the pool deck hear constant noise. Not only that, but the Windjammer buffet is also on deck 15, so it will likely be noisy below this venue too.

Lastly, there is a large TV screen and DJ booth on deck 16 near a few balcony cabins on deck 14. These cabins, 14249-14253 and 14649-14653, will be quite noisy because it is near both main pools, the music, and TV.

If you value quiet mornings or plan to sleep in after enjoying activities late into the night, steer clear of cabins on deck 14.

Cabins near entertainment venues

One of the highlights of Utopia of the Seas is its wide variety of entertainment options, including lively shows, theatre productions, and more. If you want to avoid hearing music throughout the night, especially when you’re trying to sleep, avoid booking cabins above the Royal Theater and below Studio B.

While there are no cabins on decks 4 and 5, try to avoid booking cabins on decks 3 and 6. Cabins on deck 3 are below venues like Studio B, the comedy club, and the casino. Cabins on deck 6 are above the Royal Promenade, which is full of activity and noise. Deck 6 cabins in the forward of the ship are above the Royal Theater, which will be noisy as well. 

It may also be wise to avoid booking cabins near the Music Hall on decks 8 and 9 in the aft of the ship. Music Hall often hosts late-night concerts with music that may bleed into the halls and into the nearby staterooms.

Cabins next to Giovanni's terrace

Utopia of the Seas is the first Royal Caribbean ship to have an outdoor terrace at Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen and Wine Bar. This terrace, located on deck 11, overlooks the Boardwalk neighborhood below.

There are two cabins next to this terrace that make you feel like you're part of the restaurant because you're practically on the terrace! These Boardwalk view balconies are cabins 11293 and 11693.

If you value privacy and don’t want people looking into your cabin every night while they're eating their meal, avoid booking one of these cabins.

Read more: Icon of the Seas vs. Utopia of the Seas: Comparing Royal Caribbean's newest and biggest cruise ships

Neighborhood interior view cabins

A unique cabin you can select on Utopia of the Seas is a neighborhood view cabin. These include cabins that overlook the Royal Promenade, Central Park, and Boardwalk neighborhoods. These neighborhoods are bustling areas of the ship featuring shops, restaurants, and live entertainment. Cabins nearby may experience noise from parades, parties, and music events, especially during evening hours.

The cabins you should avoid booking are the interior cabins directly above and below these neighborhoods. These interior cabins offer windows looking inward toward the ship’s neighborhood instead of the ocean. While these cabins provide an interesting view, they are subject to noise due to their placement near busy venues.

There are a few Promenade view cabins on deck 7 that are below Central Park and overlook the Royal Promenade. These cabins will be noisy from both the Promenade and Central Park, so definitely avoid booking these.

• 7185-7205
• 7587-7607

However, if you're a people watcher and don't like to be in the middle of the activity in the Promenade, you may enjoy the view from one of the above-listed cabins. 

There are also a handful of interior view cabins that overlook the Boardwalk neighborhood on deck 7, but are right above restaurants like Playmakers and Johnny Rockets. These cabins are 7319-7325 and 7719-7725.

Similarly, having a Central Park view interior cabin above a restaurant, like 150 Central Park, Chops, Izumi, or Park Cafe, could be prone to noise. Try to avoid these cabins on deck 9, including:

• 9177-9255
• 9577-9655

Read more: What a room on Royal Caribbean's Utopia of the Seas looks like

Obstructed view cabins

Utopia of the Seas offers a variety of balcony cabins, but some come with less-than-ideal views due to structural elements blocking the way, like the Ultimate Abyss slide. While you may be able to get a good deal on one of these cabins, you may feel disappointed if you were hoping for completely unobstructed views.

Before selecting a cabin, you can try to Google search the cabin number and ship to see if others have posted about their experience in the obstructed cabin you're considering.

General cabins to avoid

If you haven't learned already, it is very important to do research before selecting your cabin on a cruise ship. In addition to these Utopia of the Seas-specific cabins, try to avoid booking these cabins as well.

Cabins towards the front of the ship

Cabins located in the forward of the ship tend to experience more movement than other areas of the ship, leading to a rockier experience. If there are rough seas, the movement can be even more noticeable.

Guests prone to motion sickness may feel uncomfortable in a cabin that is located too far forward. Additionally, these cabins may experience noise from the anchor when arriving at a port of call.

For those sensitive to motion, mid-ship cabins on lower decks offer the most stability.

Cabins near high-traffic areas

While it may seem ideal to stay close to elevators and staircases, cabins nearby may be susceptible to more noise. Cabins located near the elevators and stairs tend to experience heavy foot traffic from passengers passing by. The convenience of being close to these spaces is tempting, but you might sacrifice tranquility for accessibility.

Also, if you are traveling without children, it may be worthwhile to not book a cabin near the Adventure Ocean kids club on deck 14. Adventure Ocean is fantastic for families traveling with children, but cabins near this area may experience loud foot traffic from excited young passengers.

Interior cabins on deck 12 below Adventure Ocean include 12137-12153 and 12537-12553. There are also four interior cabins on deck 14 near Adventure Ocean and the Solarium that may experience noise and foot traffic. These cabins are 14531, 14533, 14535, and 14537.

Connecting cabins (if you are not in a group)

Connecting cabins, which are designed for families or groups traveling together, come with a shared door to the next cabin. These doors are not as soundproof as regular walls, and noise from your neighbors may travel through them.

If you’re not booking both sides of the connecting cabins, you may hear more noise from the adjacent room than you would in a standard cabin. Even though the door remains locked, knowing that another cabin is just a door away might be unsettling for some cruisers.

Guarantee cabins (if you care about location)

Selecting a guarantee cabin often means you can save money when booking a cruise cabin. But, when you elect for a guarantee cabin, you lose the ability to select where your cabin is located. That means you will most likely be assigned a cabin at the very front or back of the ship since these cabins are the last to be booked. This is a good option for budget-conscious cruisers.

There is a possibility you can upgrade your cabin via RoyalUp, but this doesn't always ensure a better cabin location than the guarantee cabin Royal Caribbean assigned.

All in all, avoid booking a guarantee cabin if you want to select where you want your cruise ship cabin to be during your vacation.

Cabins to avoid on other Royal Caribbean ships:

• Icon of the Seas cabins to avoid
• Wonder of the Seas cabins to avoid
• Oasis of the Seas cabins to avoid

Happy weekend! We have a look back at all the Royal Caribbean news from this week to share with all of you.

Royal Caribbean cut Icon of the Seas' trip a stop early and canceled its upcoming voyage.

Royal Caribbean did not specify what issue is affecting the ship, just stating it had to do it due to "unplanned maintenance."

Anyone booked on the Icon of the Seas September 28th sailing got a 100% refund, including taxes and fees, and Future Cruise Credit. In addition, all pre-paid packages and gratuities, amenities, and shore excursions were refunded.

Royal Caribbean News

• Unexpected perks of cruising during the off-season
• I spent 5 days eating on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship. Here's everything I ate, including some dishes I'd skip
• Exclusive benefits for Pinnacle members: What makes it worth it?
• Future Hurricane Helene path forces Royal Caribbean to change cruise ship itineraries
• Top 5 largest Royal Caribbean ships: Why size matters
• Royal Caribbean banned outlet extenders on its cruise ships. Its change started a debate what's allowed
• Oasis vs. Quantum Class: Which is right for your next cruise?
• The ultimate guide to freebies on a Royal Caribbean cruise
• Comparing Royal Caribbean balcony cabins: Standard vs. spacious vs. virtual
• Is a cruise concierge worth it? Here's what you really get
• 4 lesser-known perks of Royal Caribbean's Crown & Anchor program
• Hurricane Helene taught 3 important lessons about taking a cruise
• Royal Caribbean clarifies ban it made to a commonly packed travel item
• 5 things everyone gets wrong about Perfect Day at CocoCay

New Royal Caribbean Blog Video: Cruise expert answers Alaska cruise tips from Reddit

Have you subscribed to the Royal Caribbean Blog YouTube Channel? We share some great videos there regularly, all about taking a Royal Caribbean cruise!

This week, we are sharing our latest video: Cruise expert answers Alaska cruise tips from Reddit.

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 545th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available!

Matt went back on Celebrity to give it another try. This time, he took a 3-night cruise on Celebrity Reflection that visited Perfect Day at CocoCay.

Don't forget to subscribe for more updates via iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, or RSS.

You can also leave a review on iTunes, so go ahead and check it out.

Hurricane Helene forces Royal Caribbean to delay cruise ship return

Cruise ships are making all sorts of changes to avoid the path of Hurricane Helene, including cruises from Tampa. Serenade of the Seas was delayed returning to port by two days because of the storm.

A letter given to guests explained, "Due to the planned closure of the Port of Tampa and to stay clear of the hurricane, we'll have to delay our return to our homeport. We'll now arrive in Tampa on Sunday, September 29th, and enjoy some extra sea days along the way."

Here's when Royal Caribbean will put new 2026-2027 cruises on sale

We now know when Royal Caribbean will open up the first set of new 2026-2027 bookings.

The cruise line posted the dates the public can begin booking new cruises beyond what's currently available.

Royal Caribbean will release the new sailings in two parts: in the fall and again in the spring. The good news is the first deployments will come out a bit earlier than usual, beginning in October.

Royal Caribbean to add Back to the Future musical 

Royal Caribbean has not made any announcement yet, but the entertainment team posted an ad for auditions that indicates what the company's plans may be for Star of the Seas.

According to a post on the Royal Caribbean Productions Facebook page and its own website, the cruise line is holding auditions for Back to the Future: The Musical next month in London.

The open call for auditions says, "All performers hired for BACK TO THE FUTURE (3-4 performances weekly) will also perform in an original Royal Caribbean Signature Production onboard the STAR of the Seas (3-4 performances weekly)."

Icon of the Seas and Utopia of the Seas are the two biggest cruise ships in the world, and they are the newest cruise ships for Royal Caribbean.

Both cruise ships offer the latest and greatest Royal Caribbean features, like waterparks, ice skating spectacles, escape rooms, destination elevators, and more. Royal Caribbean classics like the Royal Promenade, FlowRider, and Windjammer are also found onboard these ships.

While Icon of the Seas and Utopia of the Seas have a lot in common, there are some key differences between these two mega ships that prospective cruisers should know.

Let’s take a look at how Icon of the Seas compares to Utopia of the Seas.

Overview of cruise ships

Icon of the Seas is the first ship in the Icon Class while Utopia of the Seas is the sixth Oasis Class ship.

Cruisers who have been on Royal Caribbean’s Oasis Class ships will find that Utopia of the Seas is very similar in terms of layout, design, and offerings. In contrast, Icon of the Seas is a completely new and different cruise ship since it is the first in its class.

Both of these cruise ships debuted in 2024. The inaugural sailing of Icon of the Seas was on January 27, 2024, from Miami, Florida. This 7-night cruise visited Perfect Day at CocoCay, St. Thomas, and St. Kitts. Utopia of the Seas’ first sailing was on July 19, 2024, from Port Canaveral, Florida. During the 3-night voyage, guests visited Perfect Day at CocoCay and Nassau.

As the biggest cruise ship in the world, Icon of the Seas can hold 5,610 guests at double occupancy, as well as 2,350 crew members. In fact, Icon of the Seas can carry 7,600 passengers at maximum occupancy! Utopia of the Seas can hold 5,668 guests at double occupancy and 2,290 crew members.

As far as other specs, Icon of the Seas is heavier, longer, and taller than Utopia of the Seas. On the other hand, Utopia of the Seas is wider than Icon of the Seas.

Here are more stats for each cruise ship:

Read more: Royal Caribbean ship classes ultimate guide

Neighborhoods

Both Icon of the Seas and Utopia of the Seas are split into eight distinct neighborhoods. These cruise ships are so big that they need to be broken down into neighborhoods to help passengers navigate them.

Utopia of the Seas has the same neighborhoods as Wonder of the Seas, the third newest Royal Caribbean cruise ship and the third biggest ship in the world. All the other Oasis Class ships (Oasis, Allure, Harmony, and Symphony) have seven neighborhoods because there is no Suite Neighborhood.

Icon of the Seas has new neighborhoods that are not found on other Royal Caribbean ships, including Surfside, AquaDome, Chill Island, Thrill Island, and The Hideaway.

Here are the neighborhoods on Icon of the Seas and Utopia of the Seas:

Dining and bars

All Royal Caribbean ships have The Main Dining Room and Windjammer buffet, but Icon of the Seas and Utopia of the Seas have so many other options to choose from, including never-before-seen venues. With over 20 places to eat on both cruise ships, you will not go hungry during your vacation!

Restaurants that can only be found on Icon of the Seas include:

• AquaDome Market
• Basecamp
• Pearl Cafe
• Surfside Eatery
• Surfside Bites
• Empire Supper Club
• Celebration Table
• Pier 7
• The Grove (for suite guests)

Venues that can only be found on Utopia of the Seas include:

• Royal Railway - Utopia Station
• The Spare Tire

Utopia of the Seas features a new two-story Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen and Wine Bar with a terrace that overlooks The Boardwalk neighborhood. Also, Utopia is the first Oasis Class ship to have Izumi in the Park (Icon of the Seas was the first ship to have Izumi in the Park on any Royal Caribbean ship).

Icon of the Seas’ Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen and Wine Bar is the first to be located in the Royal Promenade.

Cruisers will find a variety of complimentary dining venues and specialty restaurants on both ships. It’s possible to cruise on Icon and Utopia and not spend an extra dime on food because there are seemingly endless options. But, visiting one of the specialty restaurants onboard is sure to be a treat with higher-quality food and ambiance.

Here is a full list of the restaurants and casual dining spots you can find on Icon of the Seas and Utopia of the Seas:

Icon of the Seas and Utopia of the Seas share a number of bars, like the Schooner Bar, Playmakers Sports Bar, and Boleros. However, Icon of the Seas has more unique bars while Utopia of the Seas has almost all of the bars that the other Oasis Class ships have.

Bars that can only be found on Icon of the Seas include:

• 1400 Lobby Bar
• Bubbles
• Dueling Pianos
• Hideaway Bar
• Lou’s Jazz ‘n Blues
• Rye & Bean
• Swim & Tonic
• The Lemon Post
• The Overlook

Pesky Parrot is a bar that is unique to Utopia of the Seas. Similar to The Bamboo Room on Mariner of the Seas and Navigator of the Seas, the Pesky Parrot is a tiki bar that serves fruity cocktails in a tropical setting. This bar replaced the Bionic Bar.

Here’s a list of every bar found on Icon of the Seas and Utopia of the Seas:

Read more: Icon of the Seas vs other Royal Caribbean cruise ships

Entertainment and activities

Icon of the Seas and Utopia of the Seas have dazzling entertainment options for guests to enjoy in the Royal Theater, AquaTheater, and Studio B.

Utopia of the Seas has an outdoor AquaTheater while Icon of the Seas has an indoor one (the first on any Royal Caribbean ship). Here, Utopia of the Seas has a show called Aqua80Too, which is a sequel to Oasis of the Seas’ Aqua80 show. On Icon of the Seas, there’s a show called Aqua Action! There is supposed to be another show on Icon called Pirates vs Mermaids, but it hasn’t premiered yet as of mid-2024.

Both ships have an ice skating rink onboard with different names - Icon’s is called Absolute Zero while Utopia’s is called Studio B. In addition to open ice skating, there are shows guests can attend during the cruise. On Icon of the Seas, there are two shows called Starburst: Elemental Beauty and Once Upon a Time: A King’s Royal Ball. The latter is a show meant for families with kids. On Utopia of the Seas, the ice skating show is called Youtopia!

Lastly, there are various shows held in the Royal Theater on most nights of the cruise. Icon of the Seas has a few featured productions, including The Wizard of Oz, The Effectors: The Origin Story, and Showband. Utopia of the Seas has one production show called All In!

Both cruise ships also have adult comedy shows in The Attic. Be sure to make reservations for these shows as soon as they open because the venues are small with limited seating.

Other activities you can find on Icon of the Seas and Utopia of the Seas include:

Cabins and suites

Although Icon of the Seas is the biggest cruise ship in the world, she actually has fewer staterooms than Utopia of the Seas. Utopia of the Seas has a total of 2,834 staterooms while Icon of the Seas has 2,805.

Here’s a breakdown:

Icon of the Seas is the first ship in the Royal Caribbean fleet to have infinite balconies, which are essentially verandas. Don’t worry, Icon of the Seas also has traditional oceanview balconies.

Since Icon of the Seas is a cruise ship meant for families, there are many new stateroom options, like the Family Infinite Ocean View Balcony and Surfside Family View Balcony, that can accommodate three to four people.

Utopia of the Seas features two Solarium Suites at the front of the ship above the bridge wings. These suites are only found on Utopia.

Both ships offer Royal Suite Class cabins. This includes Sea, Sky, and Star class suites with varying levels of perks. For those booked in a suite, a Suite Neighborhood will be available. This neighborhood includes a Suite Sun Deck, Coastal Kitchen, and Suite Lounge.

In addition, The Grove, a Mediterranean restaurant only on Icon of the Seas, is available for Sky and Star class guests. 

Itineraries and pricing

Perhaps the biggest difference between Icon of the Seas and Utopia of the Seas is its itinerary offerings.

Icon of the Seas is marketed as “The Icon of Vacations.” This cruise ship is heavily geared towards families because of the tremendous amount of activities and entertainment onboard. Cruisers can select from various 7-night options that leave from Miami, Florida, and visit the Western and Eastern Caribbean.

Western Caribbean sailings visit Mexico (Cozumel and Costa Maya) and Roatan, Honduras. Eastern Caribbean sailings visit a combination of St. Maarten, St. Thomas, St. Kitts, Puerto Rico, Labadee, and the Dominican Republic.

Every sailing on Icon of the Seas and Utopia of the Seas visits Perfect Day at CocoCay.

On the other hand, Utopia of the Seas is marked as “The World’s Biggest Weekend.” A first for an Oasis Class cruise ship, Utopia only offers 3 and 4-night sailings from Port Canaveral, Florida. These sailings visit Perfect Day at CocoCay and Nassau or Cozumel. Some sailings only visit CocoCay.

Utopia of the Seas is being marketed towards first-time cruisers who want to experience a cruise for a short period of time on a ship with the best of the best Royal Caribbean features. However, if you are a seasoned cruiser and want to spend more time onboard the newest Royal Caribbean ship, you could book a back-to-back sailing that combined would be a week-long trip.

Both of these new ships are considered to be destinations in and of themselves. Icon of the Seas offers more exotic itinerary options compared to Utopia of the Seas because Utopia’s sailings are shorter than Icon’s.

Now let’s compare pricing on both of these cruise ships. I will compare pricing on both ships for three sailings in July 2025. I looked at the cheapest price for an interior cabin, oceanview cabin, and balcony cabin. I calculated the average price per person per day based on the stateroom category.

Based on the data I collected from the Royal Caribbean website, it is easy to see that on average, Icon of the Seas is more expensive than Utopia of the Seas. This makes sense for a few reasons.

Icon of the Seas is the first of its kind. It is the biggest cruise ship in the world, and demand is high because people want to experience this massive, record-breaking ship for themselves. In contrast, Utopia of the Seas is nearly identical to her sister ships in the Oasis Class. There isn’t a ton of new things to see on this ship.

Michael Bayley, President and CEO of Royal Caribbean International, even commented that Icon of the Seas is the most successful new ship that Royal Caribbean has ever launched. The hype is real for Icon!

Based on the data, a 3-night cruise on Utopia of the Seas will have a more expensive nightly cost per guest compared to the 4-night itinerary. However, paying for a 3-night cruise could still be cheaper overall than a 4-night cruise because the itinerary is shorter.

I also found that sailing on Icon of the Seas for seven nights in a balcony cabin was on average $500 more per person than spending seven nights on Utopia of the Seas (on a back-to-back sailing) in a balcony.

If you're looking to sail on a newer Royal Caribbean ship for a smaller price tag, Utopia of the Seas, or even Wonder of the Seas, is the way to go. You will definitely have an awesome vacation on either of these Oasis Class ships. But if you want to sail on the most “iconic” Royal Caribbean cruise ship, you will have to pay a pretty penny.

I was lucky enough to cruise on the inaugural sailing of Royal Caribbean’s newest cruise ship, Utopia of the Seas. While onboard this weekend cruise, I got to experience everything this sixth Oasis Class ship has to offer, including the beautiful staterooms.

Back in early November, my fellow Royal Caribbean Blog co-worker and I booked a guarantee balcony for $2,223 for three nights. This included prepaid gratuities for two people. Approaching the sail date, Royal Caribbean assigned us cabin 10198, a balcony on deck 10, midship.

This oceanview balcony has a larger balcony than a standard balcony onboard. For context, I stayed in a standard oceanview balcony during a preview cruise on Utopia of the Seas the week prior, and the balcony was 50 square feet. In this cabin (appropriately named an “oceanview with large balcony”), the balcony is 80 square feet. The extra 30 square feet is seen in how long the balcony is.

The living area of the cabin totaled 191 square feet.

Walking into the cabin for the first time, I was in awe of how pretty it was. There were accents of blue throughout the cabin, from the carpet and the blinds to the headboard and pillows. Even all the doors in the hallway are blue.

The first thing you see when walking into the cabin is the light switch and slot where you place your Seapass card to generate power. Without a card in this slot, there will be no electricity or air conditioning in the cabin. On this sailing, there was already a card there. Oftentimes, I use an old Seapass card to put in this slot, but I didn't need to do that on this cruise.

On the opposite side is a full-length mirror that is near the vanity area. The vanity is quite spacious and includes many outlets, including two European outlets, one USB outlet, one USB-C outlet, and three standard U.S. outlets. The chair is also comfortable, as I found myself sitting in it while using my laptop or looking at the Cruise Compass.

Attached to the vanity is a large dresser. There are five drawers, including one on top of the mini cooler. The drawers were deep enough to place my packing cubes.

I hardly ever used the mini cooler, but it’s always handy to have one just in case!

I thought the wall above the dresser felt empty. I wish there was a floating shelf or a piece of artwork here. To make use of this space, I used magnetic hooks to hang up some cruise paperwork so it didn't clutter up the vanity.

Across from the vanity and dresser were the couch and closets. This couch can be transformed into a double sofa bed, making the cabin able to fit four people.

On both sides of the couch was a closet. One closet was wide open and contained 20 hangers to hang up long outfits like dresses and jumpsuits. This closet can even store your suitcase, backpack, and other luggage.

The second closet had five shelves along with a safe to store valuables. There was also a small area to hang up a few long outfits. Below this closet were two large drawers. I used one of these drawers for my shoes.

I really appreciated having two large closets on this new cruise ship. While on Icon of the Seas, I was surprised at how small the closet area was. There was enough space for me since I was traveling alone, but with more than one person, I think the storage would've been lacking. On Utopia of the Seas, you won't have to worry about running out of storage space, as there was plenty for the two of us. Having two closets is a game-changer!

Next to the balcony was the “bedroom.” The king bed can be split into two twin beds (as seen below).

Each of us had a small nightstand next to the bed. On top of both nightstands was a light that had a U.S. charging outlet and a USB outlet. This was perfect for charging my phone and watch while I was sleeping, and I could easily see what time it was by checking my phone. Each nightstand had two shelves for additional items that you would need close to you while in bed.

On one nightstand was the cabin’s phone which took up the majority of the top shelf. This was easy to move to one of the bottom shelves. On this side of the bed, there's a light switch that controls all of the lights in the cabin.

Across from the bed was a large flatscreen TV. The one time I turned on the TV, I noticed there was not an option to stream videos from my phone to the TV. I wish it had this option like on my recent Odyssey of the Seas cruise.

Below the TV were five built-in hooks to hang up various items, like hats or bags. I’ve never seen these hooks on other cruise ships before, and I thought they were an interesting design choice. I like having more options to hang up things, but the hooks are lower on the ground, which may not be as helpful for those who cannot bend over easily.

The balcony had two chairs and a small table. The balcony was very spacious and I could tell the difference in the size between a regular balcony cabin and this “large balcony.” This is the perfect place to sit, relax, and watch the ship sail away from port.

Lastly, the most exciting part of this cabin tour, the bathroom. I felt that there was enough storage in the bathroom for two people. There were three shelves by the toilet, a shelf below the sink, two towel racks, and two hooks on the door for hanging cosmetic organizers.

The shower had only one shelf inside, though I wish there were more. While this shower doesn't have the new design as the showers on Icon of the Seas, I didn't mind because I thought this shower was just as spacious. I could even put my elbows out and not bump the sides of the shower.

Something else I liked about the bathroom was the blue floral backsplash. It really tied in with the blue theme of the cabin.

There is a built-in nightlight in the bathroom so you can easily navigate to the bathroom in the middle of the night when it is dark inside the cabin.

Overall, I would recommend this oceanview balcony on Utopia of the Seas. It was spacious, well-designed, and perfect for two travelers. The cabin may feel cramped with more than two people, but it can certainly work.

I believe this oceanview with a large balcony cabin is extremely similar to the traditional oceanview balcony cabin, so either option would be a good choice. Truly, the only difference is that extra 30 square feet on the balcony, which isn't a drastic change.

Eating all the delicious food is one of my favorite parts of cruising, and I was excited to get on Independence of the Seas to try it all out.

Independence of the Seas has a variety of quick casual and specialty restaurants onboard for guests to enjoy. While there aren't as many options as the larger Oasis and Icon Class ships, I thought this Freedom Class ship offered a solid selection.

After Independence of the Seas was revamped in 2018, newer features were added, like The Perfect Storm waterslides, FlowRider, an escape room, and more. In addition, new restaurants were added, including Playmakers, Izumi, and Fish and Ships. 

Below is a summary of the dining venues on Independence of the Seas.

Complimentary dining:

• Windjammer buffet
• Main Dining Room
• Cafe Promenade
• Sorrento’s
• Fish and Ships
• Sprinkles

Specialty restaurants and for-charge options:

• Chops Grille
• Giovanni’s Table
• Izumi Hibachi
• Johnny Rockets
• Playmakers Sports Bar
• Sugar Beach
• Scoops by Sugar Beach

Here’s everything my mom and I ate while on our five-day cruise onboard Independence of the Seas, along with our thoughts on each dish.

Main Dining Room

Night one: Welcome Aboard

The “Welcome Aboard” menu features mainly American cuisine. The chef’s recommendations include the crispy crab cake, southern fried chicken, and key lime pie.

For the starter, I ordered the spinach and artichoke dip while my mom got the escargot and crispy crab cake. The crab cake is her favorite Royal Caribbean appetizer, and it did not disappoint.

My mom commented that she wished there was more garlic in the escargot and she would've liked it to be served warmer. I also found that the spinach and artichoke dip wasn't as warm as I would've liked.

For the main course, I got the Southern fried chicken while my mom got the slow-roasted prime rib. The chicken came with mashed potatoes and corn on the cob. The chicken was moist, and the honey dipping sauce complemented the flavor. 

My mom liked her medium-well prime rib, which came with mashed potatoes and vegetables.

For dessert, I got the key lime pie while my mom got the Boston cream pie.

We also shared the no-sugar-added dark chocolate custard. My mom is diabetic, so she felt obligated to try the no-sugar-added desserts. 

I always enjoy the key lime pie; it was delicious on Independence. My mom thought the Boston cream pie was OK but nothing to get excited about. We thought the custard was pretty good, especially for being a no-sugar-added dessert, but it would've been even better with some more whipped cream on top.

Night two: A Taste of Italy

Italian night is one of my favorite menus on a Royal Caribbean cruise. The chef’s recommendations for this menu included minestrone, lasagna, and tiramisu.

I ordered the parmesan arancini for a starter while my mom got the garden salad and minestrone. I liked the arancini, but I wished it had more romesco (tomato) sauce.

My mom was surprised at how much flavor the minestrone soup had, so she was happy. She also thought the salad was light and crispy.

Since we had eaten a lot of great food while at Perfect Day at CocoCay, we decided to share the chicken parmesan for our main course. We agreed that the crispy chicken parmesan was good but the spaghetti was not outstanding.

I loved the dessert selections on this menu, so I got the tiramisu and lemon curd tartlet. 

My mom also got the lemon curd tartlet as well as the no-sugar-added coffee pot de creme. 

They were all very good, but the lemon tartlet was the winner for us!

Night four: A Taste of Mexico

The chef's recommendations for this menu were the roasted poblano soup, chili-lime-crusted salmon, and tres leches.

For our starters, we got the grilled sweet corn cakes, tortilla soup, and escargot. The corn cakes are something I would never think to eat while on land, so I liked trying something new. 

My mom thought the tomato-based soup had a nice flavor. She also thought the escargot was better because it had more of a garlic flavor, but it still wasn't as hot as she would've preferred.

I was boring (because I am not a Mexican food fan) and got the grilled chicken breast. This was served with roasted potatoes and vegetables. I was afraid the food would be lackluster, but I was pleasantly surprised with how much I liked it. 

I also ordered the mac n cheese from the kid's menu because it sounded too good not to try! Yum!

Mom got the pulled pork enchilada based on our waiter’s recommendation. She thought it was very good and just spicy enough without being too overpowering.

I enjoyed my dessert selection, which was the tres leches with layers of creamy sponge cake.

Mom got the no-sugar-added coconut layer cake. This came with whipped cream and a raspberry sauce, but she was glad she also ordered the no-sugar-added vanilla ice cream to eat with it since the cake was a little dry. She wished the cake had more raspberry sauce.

Every night in the Main Dining Room, we were served a bread basket before the starter. I always had a cheese bun - my favorite!

Day five: Breakfast

On our last sea day, my mom and I had breakfast in the Main Dining Room. Like dinners, this is a sit-down service. On our cruise, breakfast in the Main Dining Room was offered every day, but they served later on sea days. We prioritized coming here for breakfast because it was something different than the Windjammer.

I ordered the ham and cheese omelet along with a fruit cup. My omelet also came with a hashbrown potato and white toast. I thought the omelet tasted the same as the one I would've got in the Windjammer, but I still thought it tasted good.

Mom ordered the market vegetable breakfast bowl, which had two eggs served on top of a bowl of vegetables, cheese, and potatoes.

The whole meal was great, in my opinion. Mom really enjoyed her breakfast bowl and was glad to try something new. In addition to the nice breakfast, we had great conversations with the two tables on both sides of us.

Day five: Lunch

The last meal we had in the Main Dining Room was lunch. On this cruise, lunch in the Main Dining Room was only served on sea days from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

I ordered the mozzarella sticks as an appetizer. I loved these mozzarella sticks, and I think they're better than the ones at Perfect Day at CocoCay!

For the main course, I got the grilled beef quesadilla while my mom got the seafood sandwich. I wasn't sure if I was going to like the quesadilla, but I was happy with how good it tasted. I was impressed! 

Mom enjoyed her seafood sandwich, which included fried shrimp, cod, calamari, coleslaw, tartar sauce, and pickles.

For dessert, we both got the white chocolate mousse, which was garnished with raspberry coulis and ladyfingers. This dessert was amazing and one of our favorites from the entire cruise. I wish they served this at dinner too!

I highly recommend trying the Main Dining Room for lunch at least once during your cruise.

Windjammer

Breakfasts

What we got at the Windjammer for breakfast was similar each morning we ate there.

I would usually order a custom omelet and then grab a hashbrown round along with some cranberry bread. 

Mom would usually get bacon, eggs (either scrambled or overhard), fruit, and cranberry bread. She also gets lots of coffee! 

One morning, she tried the avocado toast and bran muffin. She really liked the bran muffins but she found that the avocado toast was bland.

Night three: Dinner

This night was formal night. We normally eat in the Main Dining Room for formal night, but since we wanted to go to Grease (it was showing during our regular dining time), we decided to go to the Windjammer.

The theme in the Windjammer was “Savor La France” and was described as having, “croque madame, coq au vin, chicken cordon bleu, and french desserts.” Most of the food offered in the Windjammer was also served in the Main Dining Room since it was “A Taste of France” night.

The Windjammer was not super busy, so we were happy to grab a table near the window and watch the sunset while we ate dinner.

Related: Caribbean cruise outfits for women

I definitely wanted to try the chicken cordon blue, so I got that along with some potatoes, green beans, and quiche Lorraine. 

My mom also got chicken cordon bleu, as well as green beans, pineapple, quiche, and a Caesar salad. We agreed that everything tasted fine but not exceptional, which is to be expected at a buffet.

A fun dessert option this night was a crepe bar! I got a crepe with chocolate and strawberries while my mom got one with just strawberries. She also noticed there were no-sugar-added desserts in the Windjammer like there are in the Main Dining Room. 

In addition to the crepe, I tried the apple cobbler which I thought was OK. It just tastes better in the dining room, in my opinion!

Giovanni's Table

We were only planning on eating at Giovanni’s Table once, but it was so good that we came twice! Lunch was $22.99 per person while dinner was $54.99 per person.

Day three: Lunch

We started the meal with a bread basket along with oil and cheese for dipping.

For the "primi," I selected the minestrone while mom had the Caprese salad and crispy calamari. I thought the minestrone was delicious and much better than the Main Dining Room minestrone. 

The Caprese salad, which included heirloom tomatoes, creamy truffled burrata, pesto, and basil, was very good, but we wished there was more pesto.

As for the calamari, my mom loved it! The calamari was huge, probably five times the size of what you’d find in the Main Dining Room. The huge, meaty chunks had a light and crispy coating and were served with tomato sauce, lemon, and garlic aioli. The calamari was out of this world and she couldn't stop talking about how good it was (even to this day)!

Both of us got the seared filet mignon for an entree. This was served with a wine sauce, creamy mashed potatoes, and broccolini. Our waiter challenged us to compare this filet to the one at Chops Grille. He guaranteed it would be better, and we certainly agreed.

The filet was cooked to perfection and was so tender. The mashed potatoes were beautifully presented and tasted great. I thought the broccolini was fine, so I ate more of the meat and potatoes.

In addition to the filet, we selected two pastas to share: tagliatelle carbonara and gnocchi gorgonzola. We both agreed the gnocchi was better than the carbonara. The carbonara was satisfactory but it needed more flavor.

The gnocchi was tossed in a creamy sauce and had spinach and parmesan cheese. It was the best gnocchi I’ve had in a long time!

Now for the best part of the meal. I was excited to get the tiramisu, which had layers of espresso, Kahlua-soaked ladyfingers, and sweet mascarpone cream. It was so much better than the Main Dining Room tiramisu, and it was huge!

Mom wasn't sure what to order, so she tried the lemon and tutti frutti ricotta cream cannoli. She thought it was dull and would never order it again. 

She wanted to try something else so she ordered the "Assorted Italian Ice Cream." We both loved this dessert, as it had layers of chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry Italian ice cream with delicious toppings, including chocolate chunks, strawberries, and pistachios.

Night five: Dinner

Our waiter convinced us to come back to Giovanni’s Table for dinner on the last night of the cruise. He offered us a BOGO offer, so we couldn't say no!

The dinner menu is extremely similar to the lunch menu with only a few small changes. The eggplant parmesan was an appetizer during dinner while it was a main course option on the lunch menu. Also, the beef carpaccio was a new appetizer option during dinner, and the Ossobucco (veal) was a new main entree option during dinner.

I ended up having almost the same meal at dinner as I had for lunch, but I tried a new pasta and main course.

Read more: 7 reasons to eat at specialty restaurants instead of the Main Dining Room on your cruise

For the appetizer, I had the minestrone soup again while my mom got the calamari again (it was still amazing). 

She did try the beef carpaccio too. This thinly-sliced beef tenderloin was tender and flavorful, so she really enjoyed it.

Mom got the filet mignon once again while I tried the chicken piccata. The chicken was served with gnocchi, spinach, and cherry tomatoes. I would recommend it, but I think the filet mignon was better.

We were happy we tried a new pasta this time, the wild mushroom risotto. We also got the gnocchi gorgonzola again because it was that tasty! Comparing the two, the gnocchi was still our favorite.

I got the tiramisu for dessert again and I absolutely loved it. Mom also got the tiramisu and she could hardly eat it after our big meal. Nonetheless, it was still so delectable!

Fish and Ships

This complimentary dining venue is available only on Independence of the Seas and Ovation of the Seas. I had never eaten here before, so I was excited to see what it was like!

Everything here is included, except for the $12 “Fried Lobster Tail Basket and Chips.” There is a selection of:

• Fish and chips
• Chicken fingers and chips
• Fried shrimp and chips
• Crispy fish sandwich

We chose to eat here once we got onboard during embarkation day because we wanted to avoid the busy Windjammer. There was no line at Fish and Ships, so we made the right decision. I ordered the chicken tenders while my mom got the fish sandwich and shrimp. We also shared a creme brulee dessert.

The tenders were so tiny that they shouldn't been called chicken nuggets! They were served with honey mustard and fries. Overall, I thought it was a yummy snack, but definitely not filling unless I went back for more.

Mom’s fish was breaded, fried, and tasty when dipped in the tartar sauce. The coasting was very thick.

I wish more Royal Caribbean ships had this dining venue because having more quick casual, complimentary dining options is ideal, especially on the pool deck.

Sorrento’s

I usually like Sorrento's on a Royal Caribbean cruise. On this cruise, however, I wasn't impressed. Every time I stopped by, there weren't many pizza options and if there were any available slices, they looked dry like they had been sitting out for a long time.

I tried a slice of pepperoni and cheese pizza when I wanted a snack. I thought the pizza was mediocre so I didn’t go out of my way to get it again.

Johnny Rockets

While we didn't have an actual meal at Johnny Rockets, I went there twice to get a milkshake. 

I appreciate that I can use my Diamond Plus drink vouchers on these milkshakes. The first time I got the Oreo milkshake and the second time I got the strawberry one. I loved both of them, but if I had to pick one, I would pick the Oreo shake as being the best.

Mom tried the vanilla shake, which she found to be refreshing.

Crown Lounge

Since my mom and I are Diamond Plus cruisers, we would sometimes stop by the Crown Lounge for a snack. This lounge was never busy because there were only about 125 Diamond cruisers on our sailing.

For breakfast one morning, we wanted to see what the options were. I had a fruit bowl and chocolate croissant while mom tried the bran muffin, fruit plate, and yogurt parfait. She also got a latte at the coffee machine.

We stopped by the Crown Lounge before dinner one night so we could try some appetizers, like chocolate-covered strawberries and chicken wings.

The Diamond Lounge on the Independence of the Seas has such a beautiful view, making anything you eat there just a little better.

Room Service

On the last sea day, my mom wanted to order room service. Room service continental breakfast is free every day of the cruise. She selected an arrival time of 9-9:30 a.m. At 8:50 a.m., she got a call to our stateroom to verify that she was awake and ready to receive her food. Within five minutes, the food was delivered.

She ordered an English muffin, fruit, two pots of coffee, and chocolate milk (for me). She expected the English muffin to be cold but to her surprise, it was still warm because it was wrapped in a napkin. The coffee also arrived hot, which she appreciated.

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

Bonus: Hideaway Beach at Perfect Day at CocoCay

During our time at Perfect Day at CocoCay, we had some great food!

We spent our day at the adults-only Hideaway Beach. This new area of the island features a pizza venue called Slice of Paradise as well as a Snack Shack that offers unique dishes.

Mom and I got lunch at Snack Shack, which consisted of the crispy chicken sandwich for me while mom got the coconut shrimp. I made sure to order my chicken sandwich with the secret ingredient: mozzarella sticks! It was quite tasty.

Mom loved the coconut shrimp because they were large, hot, and crispy. She definitely got her money’s worth because she got 18 of them throughout the day! She had been looking forward to the Hideaway Beach coconut shrimp the entire cruise.

Mom also decided to try ceviche for the first time since this is only offered at Hideaway Beach. She found it to be spicy and sour. After one bite, she knew she didn't want anymore!  

We split a funnel cake for our dessert. We loved the crispy texture with the powdered sugar dusting on top. Every visit to CocoCay, we look forward to having a funnel cake.

Before we left to go back to the ship, I wanted to try a slice of pizza. I got the barbeque chicken pizza and thought it was OK. I felt that it tasted similar to the pizza you would find at Sorrento’s, which is nothing to rave about.

More Royal Caribbean dining information:

• 21 Tips for the Best Cruise Ship Main Dining Room Experience
• How does Royal Caribbean dining work?
• Dinner on Royal Caribbean: Early Dinner vs. Late Dinner

Are you packing for a Caribbean cruise and not sure what outfits to bring? Are you looking for some cruise outfit inspiration?

Well, I just returned from a five-night Caribbean cruise on Independence of the Seas with my mom, and we are here to show you the outfits we wore during our voyage. Our cruise visited Perfect Day at CocoCay and Cozumel, Mexico.

Of course, you can wear whatever you want on a cruise (within reason). While there is a dress code on a Royal Caribbean cruise, it isn't strictly enforced. Gone are the days of dressing up in your finest ball gown and fanciest tuxedo, though you can still do this if you want. You will often find that people dress casually rather than formally.

My mom and I are certainly no fashion icons, but if we can help make your packing easier by giving you ideas of what to wear, then that is our goal. If you are a woman searching for some cruise outfit ideas, you’ve come to the right place.

Please note that I’ve linked items on Amazon, which contain an affiliate link. This affiliate link costs you nothing extra, but Royal Caribbean Blog makes a small commission if you purchase it. You can shop more on the Royal Caribbean Blog Amazon Storefront.

Embarkation day outfits

On embarkation day, I tend to wear something not too dressy, but also something not too casual like what I wear in my day-to-day (which is usually t-shirts).

I chose to wear a white top with some navy high-waisted shorts. These shorts are actually ones that my grandma wore when she was young. I am also wearing a cross-body bag from Amazon. I love this bag for many reasons, but mainly because I can keep valuables, like my passport and phone, close to me.

My mom wore a casual outfit as well, including a navy top and capris, a light jacket, and tennis shoes. You wouldn't think you’d need a jacket when cruising to the Caribbean, but it is always smart to bring at least one because indoor venues tend to get chilly.

Many cruisers who are vacationing with family and friends like to wear matching t-shirts on embarkation day. This is something I have never partaken in, but it’s a fun way for large groups of family or friends to celebrate the beginning of their vacation.

It's always smart to pack an additional outfit in your carry-on luggage on embarkation day. There have been times when I couldn't change clothes before dinner because my large suitcase hadn't arrived at my cabin yet. On this cruise, we didn't have to worry because our luggage arrived hours before our early dining time.

Dinner outfits

Getting dressed up for dinner during a Royal Caribbean cruise is one of my favorite parts of cruising. Because I work from home, I rarely get the opportunity to dress up, so when I cruise, I take advantage of it.

For three of our dinners, we ate in the Main Dining Room. Every night of the cruise, there was a dress code in the Main Dining Room, including casual, dress to impress (formal), and Caribbean.

On our particular cruise, the dress code was very casual, even in the Main Dining Room. Personally, I wear a dress or jumpsuit every night, and that is acceptable for all of these dress codes. On formal night, I like to wear my nicest outfit. 

Honestly, formal night varies quite a bit, so you can get away with almost anything.

Read more: What to wear to dinner on your Royal Caribbean cruise

On the first night of our cruise in the Main Dining Room, I chose a black floral dress from H&M while my mom sported a dressy black top from Anne Klein with coral pants from Costco.

On night two in the Main Dining Room, I wore a pink ruffle dress from Amazon. My mom wore a burgundy dress from 32 Degrees.

Night three was formal night, and while we decided to dress up, we actually had dinner in the Windjammer buffet. We did this because we didn't want to miss the musical Grease that was showing during our normal dining time.

I wore a blue jumpsuit from Charming Charlie while my mom wore a long black dress, also from Charming Charlie. What a coincidence!

Night four was back in the Main Dining Room. I opted to wear a long green dress from Old Navy while my mom wore a green floral dress from Ross Dress for Less.

On the last night of our cruise, we ate at the specialty restaurant Giovanni’s Table. Specialty restaurants have a different dress code from the Main Dining Room, which is usually smart casual and formal. In my experience, I’ve noticed specialty restaurants are not strict about what you wear. Just try not to wear t-shirts and swimming suits in these venues.

I opted to wear a tropical dress from H&M while my mom wore a red sleeveless top from Express and black faux leather pants from H&M. She wore these pants because they have a stretchy waist, which is essential when you are eating at a specialty restaurant!

Sea day and port day outfits

Our first port of call was Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean’s private island in The Bahamas. My mom and I decided to splurge on a day pass to the new adults-only area on the island called Hideaway Beach, so this is where we spent our “perfect” day.

This is the swimming suit I wore while on the island. I love this swimming suit because it covers my arms and I don’t have to worry about them getting sunburnt. I also wore high-waisted shorts from Old Navy when getting on the island and coming back to the ship. My mom wore a swimming suit as well, though she barely got in the water. On top of her swimming suit, she wore an Aztec-style dress as a coverup.

Our next (and last) port of call was Cozumel, Mexico. Since we did not have an excursion planned, we decided to walk around the pier area and do some shopping. There are lots of shopping opportunities close to the pier.

This is the romper I wore while out and about in Cozumel. This romper is one of my favorite cruise outfits, though I wish it had pockets. As for shoes, I am wearing my favorite black Birkenstock sandals. These shoes can be dressed up or down, and the material is waterproof and so comfortable. My mom decided to wear a neon athleisure top with some jean shorts from Old Navy and closed-toe shoes from Clarks.

When we weren't docked in port, my mom and I wore casual outfits during our sea days.

I chose to wear a black top from Old Navy along with some high-waisted shorts from Costco. My mom wore a white top along with lightweight, elastic-waisted pants. This is another pair of pants my grandma (her mom) used to wear. We are leaning into the vintage style, especially since high-waisted shorts are back in style.

For this cruise, I packed three pairs of shoes: Birkenstocks, dressy sandals, and tennis shoes. My mom brought five pairs, including various heels and flats, as well as tennis shoes.

Read more: What to wear on a cruise that works for all dress codes

Did we wear all of the cruise outfits we packed?

If you’re curious about how much we packed, it greatly varied between me and my mom.

Since this was a five-day cruise, I felt I could get away with just a carry-on suitcase and a backpack. I was able to successfully pack everything I wanted in just these two items, mainly thanks to packing cubes.

My mom on the other hand packed a 50-pound suitcase and a carry-on suitcase. No matter if it’s a 3-night cruise or a 12-night cruise, she will pack a large suitcase!

She packed around 70 pieces of clothing (including 15 pairs of socks!) while I packed about 25 total. While I wore most of what I packed, my mom found that she could’ve easily packed ⅓ less of what she brought. She admitted that she changed her outfits several times because she felt compelled to wear most of the items she packed!

She also noted that she packed too many dressy tops, jackets, and t-shirts. She only packed three dresses, and she ended up wearing all of them rather than dressy tops and pants. Of the seven jackets she packed, she only wore three or four. I only packed one sweater and one jacket, and that was all I needed.

When it comes to packing, it’s important to minimize the amount of clothes you pack that get easily wrinkled. Remember: Irons and steamers are not allowed onboard.

You should also pack for comfort, especially shoes and pants. You will find that you walk a lot when you are on a cruise (especially on large ships) so comfortable, broke-in shoes are a must. You don't want blisters on your cruise.

Once again, we are not fashion consultants, but hopefully this blog can give you an idea of what cruise outfits to pack for your vacation!

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While on Independence of the Seas for a five-night Western Caribbean and Perfect Day cruise, I stayed in the cheapest cabin available.

Normally when I cruise, I choose to stay in cheaper cabins. My reasoning is that I only need a place to sleep, store my belongings, and get ready for the day. I don’t feel the need to spend more money to stay in a cabin I don't spend much time in!

For this particular cruise, my mom and I chose an interior guarantee cabin. These types of cabins are “guaranteed” because Royal Caribbean selects the interior cabin's location on the ship. Luckily, shortly after booking, we were assigned a cabin towards the aft of the ship. I much prefer having aft cabins because you tend to feel more movement when situated in a forward cabin.

Booking this cruise about a month before the sail date, we ended up paying $2,075 for the two of us. This included pre-paid gratuities.

We were assigned cabin 6447, on deck 6. Our cabin was just one deck above the Royal Promenade, but we were far enough away that we never heard noise from this busy area of the ship.

Cabin 6447 wasn’t located on one side of the ship (starboard or port) and was considered midship. This meant to get to our cabin, we had to go through a separate hallway.

We quickly discovered there was a door we could use that was three cabins down from us that would lead us near the elevator and stairs. We used this door every time we left or came back to our cabin because it was much more convenient than going down the two hallways.

Also, being in this separate hallway away from most of the other cabins, we found that there was little to no hall noise (except for our neighbors who had a loud baby). We were afraid we would hear people coming in and out of the public door near our cabin, but it was never noisy.

Walking into the cabin for the first time, I was instantly struck by how light everything was. I was expecting the cabin to be similar to the ones on Adventure of the Seas and Voyager of the Seas, but I liked that it felt more modern with lighter colors.

The bed was separated into two per my request before the cruise. Each of us had a large nightstand next to our bed, and we had a small light above our heads. There was a switch in the middle of us that controlled all the lights in the cabin.

After reading a Royal Caribbean Blog article about questions to ask your cabin steward, my mom wanted to request a few things from our cabin steward. She requested:

• A mattress topper
• Printed copies of the Cruise Compass
• Additional hangers
• A new bed configuration
• Extra pillows
• Extra towels

My mom requested a new bed configuration because she wanted her bed (on the right) to be pushed against the wall. That way both of us could sleep against a wall. This made the twin bed feel wider, too. I really liked how this configuration created a larger walkway between our beds!

The extra pillows and mattress topper made a huge difference in the quality of sleep my mom got while on our cruise. She had never requested a mattress topper on previous cruises, so I think she will start doing this on future cruises.

Our cabin had a nicely sized couch and a glass table in front of it. We sparingly used this couch, but it was great to have another place to sit if we wanted the option.

There was a light near the couch, but it didn't work. I guess it is nice for decoration!

Across from the couch was the vanity and closet area. This included the TV, outlets, mini cooler, safe, and many drawers. The three large drawers were great for storing our clothes. There was another small drawer behind the chair, but we didn't use it.

The flat-screen TV was able to extend outward and swivel so my mom could watch TV while lying in bed or sitting on the couch.

The vanity had three outlets: Two three-prong outlets and one European outlet. I packed my adapter and I was super thankful I packed it so we could utilize the European outlet.

Next to the closet were two handles that opened up more storage spaces. The bottom drawer held the hair dryer. This drawer was small and couldn't hold much, so we didn't use it. The top drawer included three shelves - one was for the cabin’s safe. These shelves were perfect for our miscellaneous things, like hats, bags, sunscreen, medicine, etc.

Below these shelves was the mini cooler that we used to keep our water bottles cold throughout the cruise.

The closet was large and had three built-in shelves for clothes. There were only 10 hangers for the two of us (and we packed a lot of clothes), so we requested more hangers from our cabin steward. This was much appreciated!

There was someone who complained on the cruise's Facebook group about their air conditioning not working in their cabin, but ours worked great!

Next up, the bathroom. At first glance, the bathroom was updated nicely and offered lots of storage, but we did run into a few problems.

First, our toilet wouldn’t flush twice during our cruise. We had to call our cabin steward to let him know that we tried flushing numerous times with no success. He even told us other cabins around us were having similar problems. Once we reported the issue, it was fixed within an hour.

Also, the heat in the shower was quite confusing. I would turn the handle towards the heat and it would take at least five minutes to get warm. Sometimes, it would be warm and then get cold and then warm again without touching the handle. My mom and I had difficulties trying to get the knob at just the right spot so we could consistently get warm water. When it was warm, it was a pleasant shower experience.

Lastly, a small thing to point out, every time my mom and I wanted to use some toilet paper, the toilet paper would fall off the holder! We realized that we had to place our thumb on the holder so the toilet paper wouldn't fly off.

On newer Royal Caribbean ships, there is a built-in nightlight in the bathroom so when the cabin is pitch black, you can still navigate to the bathroom. However, our cabin on Independence of the Seas did not have this. We did pack a nightlight to use in our cabin and that helped tremendously.

Overall, my mom and I had a comfortable stay in our cozy cabin. Although we had some bathroom issues, this did not ruin our vacation by any means. We never felt the ship moving, and our cabin’s location proved to be ideal since it was located near the Royal Promenade and other lower-deck activities.

I took a friend on her very first Royal Caribbean cruise, and while she has cruised before, this was her first mega-ship experience.

Your first Royal Caribbean cruise is one you will (most likely) never forget.

My first Royal Caribbean cruise was back in 2006 on Enchantment of the Seas. I was very young, but the memories I made on this cruise and the others I went on growing up will stay with me forever.

Recently, one of my good friends, Kate, was able to join me on her first Royal Caribbean cruise. We chose a cruise on Harmony of the Seas, an Oasis Class ship built in 2016, for a seven-night Western Caribbean voyage out of Galveston, Texas. 

You learn a lot when embarking on a new cruise line. Kate has cruised in the past, including sailings on Norwegian Cruise Line and Regent Seven Seas Cruises, but she was intrigued to see how her experience on Royal Caribbean would compare to these other cruise lines.

Here are Kate’s honest thoughts and opinions about her first Royal Caribbean cruise.

Prior expectations and cruise preparation

As soon as we booked our cruise, Kate dived into researching everything about Harmony of the Seas.

“Watching Royal Caribbean Blog’s ship tour video was very helpful before the trip. They had the most thorough video I could find on YouTube, and I watched it several times,” Kate said. “It heightened my excitement about the trip since I knew exactly what to look forward to. Plus, it made it less overwhelming when I boarded the ship since I knew what to expect onboard.”

Although Kate was excited to experience all of the amenities of a large cruise ship, she was worried that having so many passengers onboard would create big crowds or long lines, which could detract from the experience.

“To my pleasant surprise, I rarely encountered large crowds on the ship! The most crowded places were for the shows or popular events, but if you arrived early, you could still get a good seat.”

As for packing, Kate decided to start packing a week in advance. “I didn’t end up wearing everything I brought, so in hindsight, I could’ve packed fewer clothes,” she said. “It was most helpful to pack various clothes to fit all the activities on the ship, from activewear for rock climbing to formal wear for dinner. I recommend thinking about how to layer, mix, and match your clothes when onboard.”

Check-in was easy

A great surprise to Kate was how easy the check-in process was at the Galveston cruise terminal.

For context, our check-in time was at 11:30 a.m.

“Once we dropped off our large luggage, we went to the check-in area where we didn’t have to wait in any line to be checked in. I was so shocked by the quick and easy process that it almost felt like we were missing a step,” Kate explained. “It was so lovely to get through the check-in so quickly that we could get right on the ship and enjoy our vacation.”

Read more: Harmony of the Seas review: What this cruise ship is like in 2024

An interior cabin was better than anticipated

Since we wanted to book the cheapest cabin for our cruise, we decided on an interior guarantee cabin. This type of cabin offers no natural sunlight because there are no windows. Shortly after booking, we were assigned a cabin on deck 10 towards the back of the ship.

“This cruise was my first time experiencing an interior cabin, so I wasn’t sure what it would be like," Kate said. "Although my first impression of the cabin was that it was small, I found throughout the week that we didn’t spend much time in it, so the space worked well for what we used it for, which was just getting ready and sleeping at night."

“The biggest perk of our interior cabin was that it was very easy to sleep in since it stayed dark until you decided to turn on the light. Thankfully, I didn’t hear much outside noise while in the cabin, which I worried about because of the many passengers and kids onboard. Also, since our cabin was toward the aft of the ship, I didn’t feel much of a sway, which was nice.”

Kate’s least favorite part of the cabin was the small bathroom. “The only thing I struggled with in the cabin was how small the bathroom was. I would frequently bump my elbows on the walls while getting ready. There also wasn’t a lot of bathroom counter space, which made it challenging to get ready.”

Another interesting comment Kate made was how she felt it was a lot of work to find spots onboard to see the ocean. 

“Especially staying in an interior cabin, I felt like I had to continuously try to find places to watch the waves go by. At times, it was easy to forget that we were at sea since there were primarily interior spaces within the large ship.” Kate's favorite place to watch the ocean was in the Solarium.

Overall, Kate would consider an interior cabin again since her experience was better than she anticipated.

Cabin review: I stayed in the cheapest cabin on Royal Caribbean's Harmony of the Seas for $463 a night. Take a look inside my 172-square-foot cabin

The food is great, even for vegetarians

One aspect of the cruise Kate was looking forward to was the food.

“I love trying new restaurants, but my options can be limited as a vegetarian. I was both looking forward to the cuisine onboard and nervous about whether they would have enough options for me,” Kate said.

“I was very impressed with the quality and variety of the complimentary food. I was also impressed with the Main Dining Room for many reasons! They had a vegan option for each course every night, so I knew there would always be something I could eat. I found the quality of the food to be exceptional. Each dish was tasty and came out hot. With a party of two people, our three-course dinner usually took around an hour which was nice so we had time to experience more evening entertainment.”

Kate liked the new themed menu every night. “Having variety and trying different foods was nice,” she said. “Plus, it’s a great way to try new foods because if I didn’t like something I ordered, the staff would be happy to bring something else out for me. The staff would bring me additional servings if I asked for them, which was a fun treat to have so much flexibility without the fear of running up a bill.”

During our seven-night cruise, we ate at two specialty restaurants: Jamie’s Italian and Johnny Rockets. Kate said she was quite satisfied with the vegetarian options at these venues, especially the Aubergine Parmigiana and Truffle Tagliatelle at Jamie's Italian.

Read more: Vegetarian and Vegan Guide to Royal Caribbean

“Jamies’s Italian was definitely my favorite meal of the week. Every dish was superb. However, you could find plenty of quality food throughout the week without the specialty dining. I loved the salad bar at the buffet because I was able to get exactly what I wanted.”

Kate’s only feedback would be to have labels on the signs at the buffet to easily identify which dishes are meat-free. 

Impressive entertainment

Another aspect of the cruise Kate loved was the entertainment offered on Harmony of the Seas. She greatly enjoyed the live music that was performed throughout the night, like the piano music in the Schooner Bar and the jazz bands in Dazzles.

In addition to the traditional theater entertainment, Kate was impressed by the unique entertainment options such as the ice skating and aqua shows.

“I had never seen performances like these on land, so it was even more impressive that they could perform on the sea. I was truly in awe when I left those shows because of how unique and talented the performances were,” Kate said.

Attentive service

With so many passengers on the ship, Kate was initially worried that the service from staff would not be as attentive and personal as she would like it to be.

“The staff definitely exceeded my expectations with how personal they made the experience,” Kate said. “I was highly impressed that not only did we get to meet our stateroom attendant on embarkation day, but he also greeted us by name every time we passed him in the hallway.”

Kate was also wowed by how knowledgeable every bartender was onboard. “They always knew precisely what drink I requested and made it quickly without hesitation. I even had one of the best Amaretto Sours on the ship - my favorite!”

Some aspects of the cruise could’ve been better

Not everything on a cruise is perfect, and Kate did have a few things she pointed out that could’ve been better.

First, Kate was surprised that the Solarium isn’t really adults-only like it claims to be.

“Although I understand it was a family-friendly cruise, it was frustrating that the adults-only rule wasn’t enforced,” Kate commented. “It took away from the relaxing retreat that the space is designed to be. It also would have been nice to have a pool in the Solarium to relax in since the regular pools were so packed with kids that you were constantly being kicked and splashed on. I was also surprised that the hot tubs often were allowed to be over-capacity.”

Harmony of the Seas is actually the only Royal Caribbean ship without a pool inside the Solarium. Instead, there is a mister that guests can use to cool down.

Next, Kate wished there were more water stations around the ship.

“I understand they don’t want you to fill water bottles at the stations for sanitary reasons. I don’t want to have to carry a water bottle everywhere. However, I found it hard to find water stations where I’d often have to travel several decks to find water. Sometimes, I would have to wait in line at a bar just to get a glass of water, which was inconvenient. Plus, I felt bad for slowing down the bartenders.”

Next, Kate and I encountered a few issues with the Royal Caribbean app while on our cruise.

“I admired how much information you could find on the Royal Caribbean app. However, I found that it would take a lot of time to load every time I opened the app. This can be frustrating, especially with how often I wanted to reference it. I also found it inconsistent in which activities were being offered each day. I usually needed to exit and reload the app to ensure I saw all the activities. I would definitely appreciate some updates for the app.”

Lastly, we had an unexpected event occur while on our cruise. Our seven-day cruise had planned stops in Roatan, Honduras; Costa Maya, Mexico; and Cozumel, Mexico. Unfortunately, we were not able to dock in Costa Maya due to poor weather, so we only had two port stops and the rest were sea days. Kate had planned excursions in every port.

“The tour company canceled the excursion I was booked to go on in Honduras a week before the trip, which was a bummer. But, I appreciated that Royal Caribbean gave me a discount to book another excursion, which is what I ended up doing. The other excursion I had booked in Costa Maya was automatically refunded on the day we couldn’t make it into port.”

Read more: I went on Harmony of the Seas and these are the 7 mistakes I saw people make

Visiting new countries was a highlight

Kate’s favorite part of the cruise was getting to visit and experience different countries and cultures.

“I went horseback riding in Honduras and explored ancient Mayan ruins in Mexico. I booked both excursions through the cruise line, which I highly recommend doing,” Kate said. “Both excursions were well organized and ran smoothly. It put me at ease to know we would be picked up and dropped off by the ship, and Royal Caribbean had vetted the excursions. The tour guides who led my excursions were very friendly and knowledgeable. Plus, I felt safe in the countries since I was with the tour group.”

Another aspect Kate loves about cruising is that it’s very flexible when traveling with a group and it’s easy to plan.

“Due to the various activities and excursions, you can find something interesting for everyone! It’s easy to go off alone to experience what interests you but then come back together with your group for dinner or whatever else. The other aspect I love so much is that all the logistics are taken care of for you, so you can enjoy it! I love planning, but knowing that everything will be taken care of for you is a nice break for me.”

Would Kate cruise with Royal Caribbean again?

So, did Kate like her cruise on Harmony of the Seas and would she consider another cruise on Royal Caribbean?

“I would definitely cruise on Royal Caribbean again! Overall, I had a fantastic experience and a great vacation. There were a wide variety of excursions to see the world, and they were well done. I greatly enjoyed the quality food and unique entertainment onboard. I had a great customer experience with all of the staff. I trust that Royal Caribbean would provide another solid experience if I booked another trip with them.”

“Personally, I would prefer a more inclusive price model, like Virgin Voyages or Regent Seven Seas. This would allow me to access all the food and experiences without considering additional costs on vacation. I would especially prefer that all the food be included so you don’t have to consider prices and payment while on vacation.”

Kate’s last quote is one that I also agree with. “If you’re looking for a trustworthy cruise line with a large variety of experiences, I would definitely recommend Royal Caribbean!”