Calista is back from her first sailing on Icon of the Seas and gives her review of this brand new ship.
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What would you do to reach the top tier of Royal Caribbean's customer loyalty program?
The Crown and Anchor Society is Royal Caribbean's member rewards program, and there are enviable benefits for those at the top.
For every night a cruiser spends onboard a Royal Caribbean ship, they'll gain one point (or double points if they've booked a suite).
The highest level is Pinnacle, and it requires a total of 700 points.
The small percentage of cruisers who reach this level gain a host of attractive benefits.
To gain these benefits, one couple made a detailed plan—complete with an Excel spreadsheet.
They use a spreadsheet and a host of other tools to track their progress and plan the cruises they need to take to reach the Pinnacle level.
Read more: Pathway to Pinnacle: How I reached the top of Royal Caribbean’s Loyalty Program
Dorothy and Steve Notarnicola took their first Royal Caribbean cruise on Independence of the Seas, in 2016.
They took the cruise as a way to celebrate their older son's graduation and were immediately hooked.
"We realized early on that we love cruising and knew that we were going to be taking cruises a lot in our future."
Onboard Royal Caribbean ships, they've come to love music in the Pub and Schooner Bar.
The family appreciates any venues "where we can engage 'cruise brain,' have a cocktail, and relax."
Neither of them grew up cruising, but Steve had some experience on big ships as a Surface Warfare Officer in the United States Navy.
The Notarnicolas are very goal-oriented and want to enjoy all the benefits of the Crown and Anchor Society.
The Pinnacle level includes the following benefits:
Read more: Royal Caribbean adds new benefit for Pinnacle Club members
The Notarnicolas especially love breakfast in Chops Grille every morning, spending time in the Suite Lounge/Concierge Club, and dining at Coastal Kitchen.
Additionally, since Steve works as an operations analyst and Dorothy as a librarian, having early embarkation and disembarkation allows them to get to their cruises or back to their jobs quickly, using maximum vacation time.
The Notarnicolas told us that the Pinnacle members they've met on their cruises are "the most engaging, personable, friendly, and helpful people."
"We just really thought it would be great to join that group."
To become part of the Pinnacle membership level, the Notarnicolas came up with a unique plan.
In 2021, they had 33 points and were still at the Platinum level.
That spring, while the pandemic forced cruises to come to a stop, they realized that "getting to Pinnacle might be possible if we planned it out."
With his experience as an analyst, Steve enjoys figuring out multiple scenarios to achieve a specific result.
Since the family had already been tracking their cruises, building and implementing a plan felt organic for them.
They planned to book up to ten 3-night weekend cruises and two 7-night cruises throughout 2022 and 2023, all in Junior Suite cabins.
They estimated that booking these cruises would give them a total of 88 points per year.
They started with an Excel spreadsheet with multiple tabs, and finding a quality travel agent.
The spreadsheet tracks every cruise, past or future—the ship, length of the cruise, date, excursions, ports visited, stateroom type, and points earned per night.
They also have a page that projects how many points they'll need to earn per year, and what year they expect to reach Pinnacle.
As of August 2023, The Notarnicolas had 310 Crown and Anchor points, with 21 more cruises planned.
They project that they will have 508 Crown and Anchor points by March 2025.
"Obviously we’re not there yet, but we are comfortable with our plan," Steve Notarnicolas said.
The Notarnicolas work with Kelley from MEI Travel, who calls herself their "enabler" when it comes to the cruising scheme.
With Kelley's help, they find good deals and fill in any gaps to maximize their cruises.
For example, Kelley helped them rebook a 15-night Transatlantic cruise from a guaranteed balcony to a guaranteed suite stateroom.
Thanks to this change, they ended up gaining double points on the 15-night cruise!
With a detailed plan to reach Pinnacle status, the Notarnicolas have a fun but focused way to keep cruising and maximize future benefits.
They also began planning to start a legacy of cruising.
"As our kids start having kids, we really want to introduce and reinforce with them how great cruising is," Steve Notarnicolas said.
It's not all just for the points.
"We really love cruising with Royal, and as such, we are always open to experiencing new ships and new itineraries."
When the Notarnicolas see group cruises or new ship itineraries that interest them, they're willing to adjust the plan and add another sailing.
They are booked to sail on both Icon of the Seas and Utopia of the Seas in 2024, ships that were launched after they first developed the spreadsheet.
For any cruisers who want to try a similar plan (or are simply looking forward to reaching Pinnacle), the Notarnicolas advise enjoying the journey.
"The best advice is to not look at the plan as an absolute," they told us.
"Don't get too focused on points."
They also extended other tips for planning ahead and gaining those extra points.
For example, the Notarnicolas use the Shipmate app to track past cruises as well as upcoming cruises on one single screen.
This helps them find any gaps in their cruise booking schedule, and fit in more sailings.
The Notarnicolas also take advantage of the Club Royal at the Casino, earning benefits and complimentary cruises there.
The Casino Royale has its own loyalty program that offers benefits like discounts, free drinks, and even a free cruise!
Read more: I gambled enough in Royal Caribbean's casino to get free drinks and a cruise
This has accelerated their Pinnacle Plan by adding even more cruises to the schedule.
The Notarnicolas love cruising with Royal Caribbean and say that they would still be cruising even if there was no Pinnacle level to achieve.
Thus, they look forward to continuing cruising even after they reach this ultimate Crown and Anchor achievement.
They might even have a double Pinnacle plan in the works!
Status or no status, the Notarnicolas aren't going to stop cruising anytime soon.
When you book your Royal Caribbean stateroom, you can select between various categories.
Royal Caribbean cruises promise luxury of every sort, and this includes the staterooms.
Different stateroom categories, from suites to ocean views, allow you to choose a cabin that suits your preferences.
Whether you value a gorgeous view, a huge space, or sticking to a smaller budget, several options will fulfill your needs.
But while booking, you may come across some puzzling terms and run into several confusing acronyms.
It’s crucial that you clearly understand the differences between all the categories so that you can choose exactly which cabin will meet your needs.
If you’ve ever wondered what “GTY” means, and whether you should book it, this is your guide to demystifying the term.
Here's what stateroom GTY means, and how it can enhance your cruise experience.
“Stateroom GTY” stands for “Stateroom Guaranteed,” a category also known as a guarantee stateroom.
When you’re booking your cruise on the Royal Caribbean website, this option also shows up as “We pick your stateroom.”
It means you select a certain stateroom category (interior, oceanview, balcony, or suite) on your booking.
Instead of selecting the exact cabin, this guarantees that you will receive one in that category.
When you select a GTY stateroom, the exact stateroom, number, and location will be assigned by Royal Caribbean based on availability.
You are promised at least your chosen category of cabin.
If there is none available, Royal Caribbean will upgrade you to a higher category.
However, upgrades are rare and never promised. It is most likely that you will receive the cabin category you booked.
The promotional GTY categories also have acronyms that could confuse cruisers.
They are as follows:
On Oasis and Icon Class ships, you could be assigned a neighborhood view balcony stateroom with a view of Central Park, the Boardwalk, or Surfside.
Essentially, by booking a stateroom GTY, you opt for a guaranteed type of cabin, leaving the cruise line to assign you one from their selection of available inventory.
The main draw to booking a stateroom guarantee is that it usually comes at a cheaper price than selecting your own stateroom.
A guarantee cabin is an excellent option for flexible cruisers who want to save money on their cruise cabin.
By leaving the stateroom selection up to the cruise line, you give up control of the cabin’s location but gain a good deal and the excitement of a mystery cabin.
A guarantee cabin suits cruisers who enjoy being flexible and adventurous, and who don’t have their heart set on a particular cabin type or location.
However, there are several details you should consider before jumping into this type of booking.
As with any decision, it’s important to weigh the pros and cons.
First, ensure that the deal makes sense with your budget.
The discount you get from booking GTY varies, so first check that the difference is worth it for you.
Next, keep in mind that you won’t be able to select the cabin’s location at all.
If you have certain preferences, like wanting your stateroom to be away from elevators, in the middle of the ship, or have an unobstructed view, all of these will be out of your control.
Cruisers who experience seasickness could be assigned a far-forward or far-aft cabin that may worsen their symptoms.
Other than the stateroom categories, you have no way to ensure that your preferences are met.
Guarantee staterooms are also usually unbooked cabins, meaning that they are probably less desirable.
You’ll be receiving the “leftovers” essentially, locations that are far back or far forward, or close to a noisy location like the nightclub.
If you need a particular type of cabin, such as an accessible cabin or connecting rooms, you should opt to select your own cabin instead.
Also, if you are traveling with family or friends, and want to stay close to them, remember that booking a guarantee cabin will leave this out of your control.
If you book several different staterooms, they could be spread out all over the ship!
Additionally, if you are sailing on a back-to-back cruise (two or more cruises taken consecutively) and book a guarantee cabin, you could be assigned different cabins on each cruise.
This means you’d have to move staterooms in between your back-to-back cruises.
Before the sailing, Royal Caribbean assigns an unbooked room to its guaranteed cruisers.
The Royal Caribbean website reads that this could happen “at any time up until checking in at the port.”
After booking, most cruisers find that they receive their cabin assignment around 5 days to 4 weeks before the sailing.
This timing is influenced by factors such as availability, popularity of the sailing, and cabin category.
After your stateroom is assigned, no particular email or notification will be sent out.
You simply have to check the website or app to see if you’ve received your assignment.
Usually, this shows up in the form of the cabin category and the room number.
Once you receive this, you can look at the ship’s deck plans online to determine where the room is located.
Something to note, as well, is that you can still do Royal Up with a guaranteed cabin.
Royal Up is the process of bidding on a stateroom upgrade.
After booking your cabin and receiving a stateroom assignment, you can browse through further options.
You then select the amount you’d be willing to pay for each category upgrade. The more money you put down, the more likely you are to get an upgrade.
For example, if you’re interested in upgrading to an oceanview cabin, you can select that you’d be willing to pay $300 to receive one.
This is a bid priced per person, based on two guests per stateroom, and lasting for the entire length of the cruise.
You can bid on multiple rooms (this increases your chances of getting upgraded) but you’ll only pay for one.
If your bid is accepted, you’ll be charged the amount for the upgrade. If not, you keep the stateroom you have.
Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas is the world's largest cruise ship and has 27 places to eat.
More than half are included with your cruise fare, including a giant dining room, buffet, pizzeria, and taco bar.
On top of that, there are 12 spots which cost extra. These range from sushi bar, to steakhouse, to classic Italian.
I recently spent a week on Icon of the Seas, and tried to eat as many different dishes as I could in that time.
Because I'm always looking for a budget-friendly cruise, I also challenged myself to only eat at complimentary venues on this cruise.
Even with limiting myself to free dining, there were more options onboard than I had the chance to try on my 7-day cruise.
I thought the food onboard was the best of any Royal Caribbean ship I've tried before.
Of course, food is subjective, and different people have their own opinions when it comes to dining. From my perspective, here's how I'd rate each venue I dined at.
Read more: Icon of the Seas restaurant and dining guide
Royal Caribbean's Main Dining Room is the complimentary, sit-down dining venue on all ships. It serves 6,000 guests in a three and a half hour time frame for dinner alone.
Dinner is the most popular meal to attend in the Main Dining Room, and I elected to dine there with the traditional dining option. This means we had a the same table assignment, dinner time, and waiters every night of the cruise.
The Main Dining Room has a set menu for its four-course dinners that varies for every day of the cruise.
Because of that, I was familiar with most of the meals and could compare them to the ones I've tasted on other Royal Caribbean ships.
We started with a selection of tasty bread buns and ordered an appetizer from the menu.
The appetizers were tasty, and the portion sizes were pretty large.
The main course was about equal to the ones I've tried on other ships, but it did come a lot faster and warmer than I'm used to. The speed of service and temperature of the food was a big improvement.
I also saw a lot more vegan options available in the Main Dining Room.
I usually order vegan ice cream for dessert, but on previous ships, they've only had a few flavors available (mostly chocolate and vanilla).
On Icon, however, they had unique vegan flavors of ice cream, like chocolate praline crunch.
Pros:
Cons:
The Windjammer on Icon felt vastly improved compared to other ships I've been on. It seemed to have an endless choice of dishes available, and was huge.
The complimentary buffet was open for three meals a day, every day.
Whether you enjoy waffles, hamburgers, salads, curry, roast beef, fruit, or grilled vegetables, there's something for everyone to try a taste of.
I also thought that the meals were of much higher quality than on other ships in the Royal Caribbean fleet.
One thing I always look for is Asian food, and I loved this Windjammer's selection of Asian food—from Indian curries to Chinese sweet and sour chicken.
My only complaint was that, while some of it was flavorful, none of the food was very spicy. However, I understand that they have to appeal to a wider audience.
On the last day of the cruise, they also laid out a delicious charcuterie spread of fruits, olives, meats, and cheeses.
Pros:
Cons:
Read more: 12 reasons to eat at the buffet instead of the dining room on your cruise
The AquaDome Market is an entirely new venue on Icon of the Seas, and I think they did an amazing job with it.
Located at the entrance to the ship's AquaDome, this dining location is a complimentary food hall—the first of its kind on a Royal Caribbean ship.
It features unique dishes at five distinct stalls: crépes, Asian food, mac and cheese, Mediterranean food, and sandwiches and salads.
I thought all of the food here was awesome, from the sweet crépes to Mediterranean bowls with chickpeas, to bacon mac and cheese.
The AquaDome Market was also conveniently open in the late afternoons when the Windjammer is usually closed and guests might be searching for a late lunch or snack.
Read more: I ate at every new restaurant on Icon of the Seas and here's how I would rank them
Pros:
Cons:
The Pearl Cafe is complimentary and located near the Pearl over the Royal Promenade, quickly became my favorite venue on board.
Because it's open all through the day and even late at night, the Pearl Cafe is a great, quick stop for coffee, snacks, drinks, or desserts.
Icon of the Seas upgraded the cafe with a wider variety of snacks and juices. I loved walking up to the open fridges and just picking out a snack.
I especially kept coming back for the portable containers of hummus, ranch, and vegetables; the perfect quick bite for me to sit down and eat or take back to my room.
Pros:
Cons:
The Park Cafe is somewhat of a hidden gem onboard Icon, and I heard about it from a crew member at the Pearl Cafe.
He recommended eating at the complimentary venue for breakfast, and I am so glad I took his advice.
Located in the beautiful, sunny Central Park, the Park Cafe is a free venue that serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner—including the popular Kummelweck sandwiches!
I tried both breakfast and lunch at this location and thought the food was pretty regular.
However, there were a lot of choices available (especially if you like pastries for breakfast or sandwiches for lunch) and Central Park is the perfect location for a meal.
Pros:
Cons:
Read more: The 10 Essential Dishes to Eat on Icon of the Seas
El Loco Fresh is Royal Caribbean's venue for Mexican cuisine, and it's also included in your cruise fare.
They serve grab-and-go food like burritos, tacos, nachos, quesadillas, and salsa.
I loved the bright, fun decorations of this venue, and the easy access to the pool decks onboard.
However, my travel buddy and I thought the food was nothing special.
While I love Mexican food at home, the selections I tried at this venue were tasteless and chewy.
Perhaps I made a mistake in grabbing the pre-made packs of food and should have built my own meal instead, where I would have the ability to add all the sauces and seasoning I desired.
Pros:
Cons:
Sorrento's pizza is a Royal Caribbean staple.
This free pizza place is the perfect late-night stop when you need a bite to eat or are craving something warm and cheesy.
Although this venue is fun and convenient, I'm of the opinion that there's nothing special about the pizza itself.
The crust is thin, and the top develops a layer of oil.
I was riding in the elevator one night when I saw a boy holding a plate covered with napkins.
When we asked why he had napkins over his food, he took them off to reveal a few slices of Sorrento's pizza.
"The pizza's too oily, so I'm tryna get it off," he said.
Sure enough, three of the napkins were soaked through with oil.
For the record, Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley went on record to say his favorite food on Icon of the Seas was a slice of pepperoni pizza from Sorrento's.
Pros:
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Happy Mothers Day! All the moms out there deserve a big hug, thank you, and hopefully a new cruise booking too.
The next new Royal Caribbean cruise ship is on her way to completion.
Utopia of the Seas began her sea trials this week, which is a major milestone in the construction of any cruise ship.
On May 7, Utopia of the Seas departed from the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in France for a 5-day sea trial during which the ship will sail more than 1,000 miles.
The 533rd episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available!
With a special guest, Emma, we discuss how to approach planning a European cruise for the first time.
Please feel free to subscribe via iTunes or RSS, and head over to rate and review the podcast on iTunes if you can! We’d appreciate it.
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 — 10 Fun Royal Caribbean upgrades under $50! — and don’t forget to subscribe here.
How can you stay safe while trying a new tour in a foreign location?
Royal Caribbean cruises take you to fascinating ports of call, but it still takes preparation and an alert awareness to protect yourself.
Here are some extra tips before your next cruise ship shore excursion.
A cruise to Europe could be cheaper than you'd think.
With these easy ways to save money on your cruise, you can customize your experiences for any budget.
European cruises don't have to break the bank, and a few adjustments, there are countless ways to save money.
Calista recently sailed on Royal Caribbean's newest ship, but she noticed it takes some adjustment from everyone.
To make the most of your cruise on the world's largest vessel, it's important to prepare and learn from others' mistakes.
From what to pack to how to use the elevators, here are 6 mistakes you shouldn't make.
Crew members on Ovation of the Seas saved a passenger's life after he had a cardiac arrest.
Thanks to the swift response of crew members, they successfully stabilized the patient and coordinated with the US Air Force for a medical evacuation via helicopter.
The passenger's daughter posted her thanks to the medical professionals, saying she is "in awe" of Royal Caribbean's response.
You've probably heard lots about Icon of the Seas by now, but what makes the ship so highly celebrated?
I sailed on Royal Caribbean's newest cruise ship this month on a 7-night Western Caribbean sailing.
I wanted to see exactly why this ship has been so hyped over the past few months, and if all the praise is deserved.
Initially, I expected the ship to feel like a bigger version of an Oasis-Class ship, with tons of amenities and huge crowds.
Other than knowing about the ship's size and focus on providing a fun experience for younger families, I didn't know what to expect.
But by the end of the sailing, I think I was just as impressed as everyone else. Icon of the Seas felt more like a mix between an Oasis-Class and a Quantum-Class ship.
Yes, she's big, but the vessel has more to offer than just size.
From the moment you step on board, it's evident that Royal Caribbean wanted to improve upon previous problems while creating an entirely new class of ship.
Read more: 14 improvements Royal Caribbean developed just for Icon of the Seas
What justifies all the hype around this ship is that the improvements and new ideas are well-designed, well-executed, and extremely celebrated throughout your time onboard.
Of course, Icon's size cannot be overlooked.
Since the vessel debuted, I've seen graphics and photos of how large the ship is. However, it's hard to comprehend once you're onboard.
Especially with the wide-open public spaces, it hardly feels like you're on a cruise ship.
Icon of the Seas feels more like a small city.
Part of her novelty is that you can almost forget you're floating in the ocean (until you glance outside, that is).
I think Royal Caribbean wanted to lean into this aspect because, at the beginning of the cruise, they announced that there wouldn't be any daily event announcements or updates from the captain.
Without a direct connection to the bridge, the ship felt less like a cruise ship and more like a theme park.
I won't say that everyone will enjoy this aspect, but it made for a unique and interesting experience that you can't get anywhere else.
Read more: First look Inside the World's Biggest Cruise Marvel, Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas
When I first walked up the gangway, and onto deck 5, I was immediately struck by the bright colors and cheerful style of decoration.
This is most evident in Surfside neighborhood, an area focused on families with young kids that pops with neon colors and bright pinks and blues.
However, all areas around the cruise ships are filled with these vibrant colors.
I even mentioned it to our stateroom attendant, and she agreed.
"It's so cheerful!"
However, the playful colors were combined with elegant designs onboard.
For example, art pieces were in every corner of the ship.
The Pearl brought a smooth, graceful atmosphere to the Royal Promenade.
The entire design of the ship, from decorations to layout to art pieces, perfectly mixed the vibe of young and old, fun and elegant.
The biggest difference I noticed from other large Royal Caribbean ships I've sailed on was the lack of crowds.
Of course, you could still tell there were a large amount of people onboard. But the ship's layout ensured that no one would ever be squished into one place, and we never ran into any traffic jams.
I noticed that high-traffic areas, like the Royal Promenade and the Windjammer, were built a little wider than usual, helping to create space for a large amount of people.
There was also a ton of seating everywhere on the ship, so everyone found a place to sit and rest.
I also really liked the large amount of central staircases onboard, such as in the Royal Promenade, going up to Central Park, or down to Surfside neighborhood.
Lastly, the destination elevators helped to alleviate crowds as well.
These all helped to ease foot traffic and calm crowds.
Excitement is contagious, and I think that's another part of why Icon has been so heavily hyped.
Even though it's been a few months since the ship's inaugural sailing, crew members and cruisers were still extremely excited about being onboard.
Wherever we went, staff welcomed us, saying: "Have an Iconic cruise!"
My cruise embarked the day after Royal Caribbean's partnership with Hard Rock Casinos was announced, so we were greeted at the port with live music, dancers, and free T-shirts!
Throughout the cruise, I saw everyone wearing their "Hard Rock 'n' Royal" T-shirts. A common uniform is a great way to build camaraderie, so this move also added to the energy onboard.
Not only that but on night one, the ship's cruise director, Gemma Hugo, made a speech to everyone gathered on the Royal Promenade for the balloon drop.
She made everyone solemnly swear to have fun and eat tons of food while onboard.
Such intentionality and care lends itself to an infectious air of excitement.
Even as someone who doesn't have kids, I could tell that Icon of the Seas was the perfect ship for families with young children.
A lot of fun areas focused on families with young kids, like the Surfside neighborhood, water slides, and even a playground on deck 15.
Icon of the Seas provides an awesome family experience, and I could tell when I was onboard.
Kids were included in tons of events onboard, like silent discos or being allowed to compete in trivia games.
One night in the Main Dining Room, I saw a waiter bring two kids a lobster folded out of dinner napkins! They were overjoyed.
I loved how much kids were included in the fun onboard—it lent a vibrant, playful atmosphere to the cruise.
Seeing babies dance at the silent parties and children sing at "finish the lyric" challenges genuinely warmed my heart.
Cruise ships offer exciting shore excursions to unique areas, but how can you make sure they’re safe?
Royal Caribbean cruises have the appeal of taking you to multiple exciting ports of call, from the gorgeous landscapes of Alaska to the ancient ruins of Greece.
But when you’re traveling to a new and foreign location, safety is always a top priority.
Ensuring that you have a safe, enjoyable experience during your shore excursions takes some careful preparation.
While most shore excursions come with safety in mind and experience tour guides, being smart and proactive is the best way to stay safe.
Especially if you have special concerns (like pregnancy or a disability), are traveling alone, or haven’t been on a cruise before, some extra research and preparation will help you stay protected throughout your cruise.
Here are our top tips for safely taking a cruise ship shore excursion at any port of call.
One of the simplest ways to tour a port of call is by purchasing a shore excursion through Royal Caribbean.
Although more expensive, shore excursions sold through Royal Caribbean have been carefully reviewed.
The tour groups and guides have been vetted.
Not only that, but the cruise ship will also wait for your excursion if it runs late.
You’ll be perfectly safe from being left behind in a foreign place!
Read more: 8 cruise ship shore excursions our readers tried and instantly regretted
Before you even purchase your preferred shore excursions, take your time to research each aspect of the experience.
Investigate each port of call you’ll be visiting. Even if you have multiple stops in the same country, don’t assume that they’re all the same.
Research will tell you about the safety level, available activities, the landscape, weather, and other important information.
You’ll also need the specific details for your shore excursion: the price, duration, activity level, and dress code.
Knowing all this beforehand helps prepare you for a safe and fun experience.
Read more: Is Royal Caribbean still going to Labadee, Haiti?
I was on a cruise that stopped at Cozumel, Mexico, and was walking through the busy tourist port, when an older man approached me and offered me an already-opened bottle of beer.
When I politely refused, he started to insist that I drink, saying it didn’t matter if I was underage.
I firmly said no, and kept quickly walking.
Can you imagine what might have happened if I had gotten nervous, hadn’t said no, or even agreed to drink the beer?
Being firm, smart, and unafraid to speak up when something seems wrong is a key way to protect yourself.
Of course, you want to be aware of cultural differences, and be careful that you don’t degrade any local customs.
Read more: Top 10 cruise ship shore excursion mistakes to avoid
But your safety is what’s important here, so speak up if something feels wrong!
Trust your intuition, and don’t let anyone make a sucker out of you.
Your shore excursion’s tour guides will be the best source of knowledge about your port of call.
They are extremely trained and experienced in doing exactly what you need: keeping you safe while giving you a fun experience!
Listen to their safety briefings, which will involve important information about safety, meeting points, and any potential hazards.
Take note of any guidelines they give you.
When you’re in any unfamiliar or remote area, listening to experts is the best way to keep yourself safe.
If you do experience any problems or feel unsafe at any time, let your guide know that you need help.
You're probably going to need cash during your shore excursion, whether to pay the tour, tip someone, or purchase souvenirs. So how do you keep that safe, especially when you're on a beach or snorkeling trip?
As a tourist, try to keep a low profile, and don't wear jewelry or hold large amounts of cash.
Your best bet is to treat valuables, such as cash, like you would normally at home. Keep it in a wallet, and ensure it's out of sight in either your pants, purse, or backpack.
If you prefer, there are various types of waterproof wallets you can purchase. A simple dry pack that can fit your cash, identification, SeaPass card, and a credit card is all you need (Note, this link is an affiliate link that costs you nothing extra to use).
No matter where you store your cash, keep it out of sight. Put valuables in a bag, and then cover it up so a passerby cannot see it easily.
If you're somewhere where pickpocketing is a concern, you can carry valuables in a hidden pocket worn under your clothing.
For additional safety, try to stay with your group.
Traveling with a larger group—one of whom is an experienced tour guide—ensures that no one can single you out or take advantage of you.
While some tours do have opportunities for you to explore along, try not to wander too far.
There’s safety in numbers.
Not only that, but a Royal Caribbean shore excursion will consist of other people on the same cruise ship, and who likely speak the same language as you. They’re a great source of help if you run into any problems.
Even when in a big group, make sure you also stay vigilant of your surroundings!
This is where doing research ahead of time really comes in handy.
To keep yourself safe, you need to understand the context of where you are traveling.
What is considered polite and respectful? What should you wear? Who should you speak to—and who should you not?
Familiarizing yourself with the local traditions and laws ensures that you don’t accidentally do anything considered disrespectful or offensive.
You are a visitor to this country, so make sure that you educate yourself and respect all cultural differences.
Read more: 5 quick and easy tips for finding a great shore excursion on your own
While this isn’t required—and it’s certainly trickier when you’re in a new country—having Internet access can really ease your mind when it comes to personal safety.
You have an easy way to do immediate research. You’ll have access to Google Translate, local maps, and a way to call or text anyone if you’re in an emergency.
There are a few ways you can get an Internet connection when you’re off the cruise ship in a foreign country.
You can try to find a restaurant or cafe that has free WiFi. Many areas understand that tourists may need Internet access, and they’ll be happy to provide it to you if you purchase something.
You could also buy a SIM card to get local data. These are sold everywhere, such as in airports or near currency exchanges.
If you need an e-SIM, there are several ways to buy them online. I like to use the app Airlo, which allows you to buy an e-SIM for any country and choose a specific timeline for it to be activated.
After crew members assisted a passenger who was having a heart attack, the US Air Force rescued a man in the open Pacific Ocean last Tuesday.
No one wants the worst to happen while on a cruise ship, but this week's events show that Royal Caribbean staff is well-prepared.
User ChedderCheeseCheetah posted to the Royal Caribbean sub Reddit page that staff onboard Ovation of the Seas saved her dad's life.
"My dad had a cardiac arrest onboard the Ovation two days ago and RC staff responded immediately with excellent CPR and successfully resuscitated him with an AED, stabilized him, and kept him alive for 36 hours," she wrote.
The user shared on Reddit that her dad made it to the hospital safely.
"[He is] safe and stable but still critically ill."
She credits the cruise line's crew members for making a difference. Without the quick response from Royal Caribbean crew members, ChedderCheeseCheetah's dad may not be alive today.
She commented that she wanted to sing their praises publicly because of this.
"I am just in awe of Royal."
Ovation of the Seas was on a 9-night one-way cruise from Honolulu, Hawaii to Vancouver, Canada when the medical emergency happened.
Built-in 2016, she has a capacity for a total of 4,905 guests and 1,500 crew members.
She became the first Quantum Class ship to offer cruises to Alaska in 2019. Ovation of the Seas is also the newest Royal Caribbean ship to cruise to Alaska.
Read more: Comparing the Royal Caribbean ships sailing to Alaska in 2024
The unnamed man who suffered the cardiac arrest was onboard celebrating his upcoming 40th wedding anniversary with his wife.
At the time, Ovation was located in the middle of the sea, with no time to sail to land.
The patient had to be stabilized by medical staff and then evacuated off the ship via helicopter.
After his evacuation, the wife remains onboard and will have to wait until the ship disembarks in Vancouver.
The Reddit user ChedderCheeseCheetah reported that, after her father's cardiac arrest, medical staff onboard Ovation of the Seas resuscitated and stabilized him, then placed him in a medical coma for the helicopter recuse.
Once the US Coast Guard could get within range of the ship, they were able to send a helicopter to lift the father to a hospital in California.
ChedderCheeseCheetah said the United States Coast Guard and Air Force worked together to coordinate and complete the medical evacuation.
Videos show the evacuation involved a military-grade Pave Hawk helicopter and a C130 to refuel it in the air.
That way, the helicopter could fly hundreds of miles out to sea and back.
This rescue involved complex coordination between Royal Caribbean, USCG, and USAF. It is an impression accomplishment that the evacuation could take place to save this man's life.
Reddit user jpchopper added that the evacuation was "no small thing... and it's an even bigger accomplishment that they were able to coordinate all of this in 2 days."
ChedderCheeseCheetah also said she found it "funny but not funny" that her father is an Army combat veteran.
"[He] would be beside himself with pride at the job well done by our military men and women for this rescue. And he would have loved the helicopter ride if he hadn’t been medically sedated for it."
Many Redditers commented, sending their prayer to the poster's father and applauding Royal Caribbean staff members.
"I got the chills reading this," HurryAdventures8335 said. "It’s so amazing that everything turned out okay."
The Reddit post also served to connect passengers who are currently on the Ovation of the Seas cruise.
Mfhicks wrote to the original poster: "I am so glad you have shared this! My uncle sat with him [in the Main Dining Room] throughout the week and was very concerned when he wasn’t there a couple of days ago.
"We would love to keep up with his progress and offer any assistance possible."
Users also pointed out that, in addition to the fast medical response, Royal Caribbean is doing its part to reimburse passengers on the current sailing and the next for the cruise ship delays.
"This couldn’t be cheap for Royal because they are reimbursing passengers for missed flights and hotel stays. They are doing the right thing and willing to absorb a loss for it," pharmecist commented.
At the time of this article, Cruise Mapper showed Ovation close to the North American West Coast, making its way to Vancouver.
The cruise ship's arrival at port was delayed by nearly 12 hours.
Guests booked on Ovation's next sailing also commented on Reddit that their cruise had been delayed.
I spent seven nights on Icon of the Seas and noticed cruisers making some avoidable mistakes.
Icon is Royal Caribbean's newest ship and exemplifies the cruise line's effort to go above and beyond and solve problems on previous ships.
Because of that, the ship is full of innovations and designs, and it can be hard to get used to.
On my cruise, I witnessed people making silly mistakes—and I made a few myself!
Read more: 14 improvements Royal Caribbean developed just for Icon of the Seas
Whether you're a veteran cruiser or new to this type of travel, Icon requires some new adjustments.
To make the most of your experience on the largest cruise ship in the world, here are some mistakes you can learn from.
Take this as a guide to what not to do when you get onboard.
Icon of the Seas debuted a new elevator system for Royal Caribbean.
Instead of pressing an up or down arrow, and choosing your floor once you enter the elevator, you select your specific destination on tablets outside the elevators.
The tablet then tells you which elevator to wait at (a letter from A-L) and when the elevator arrives, it takes you directly to your deck.
I witnessed a couple of people still adjusting to this elevator system.
Once, I saw a lady walk right onto an elevator without choosing her destination floor.
I’m not sure if she knew which direction the elevator was going, but I knew she would be stuck with no way to choose her floor from the inside.
She mostly likely had to get out at the next stop, select her destination on a tablet outside, and then enter the indicated elevator.
This seems like common sense, but some guests can get carried away with the air of casual relaxation on a cruise ship.
It’s easy to go in between the pool and lunch, or the hot tub and your afternoon snack.
When you go from the pool deck to a dining area, however, it’s important to wear a cover-up over your swimsuit and make sure that you have shoes on.
I was entering the Windjammer for lunch when I saw the Washy-washy crew member turn away a young boy.
“I can’t let you in without shoes on,” he said.
I turned around and, sure enough, the boy was barefoot.
He had to walk away and find shoes before he was allowed to enter the dining venue.
Icon of the Seas provides an awesome family experience, and I could tell when I was onboard.
Even though I don’t have children, I noticed a lot of fun areas focused on families with young kids, like the Surfside neighborhood, water slides, and even a playground on deck 15.
However, not every area is intended for children, and parents should still be mindful of where their children are and what they are doing.
I was in the gym when I saw a child wander into and start playing with the free weights. With no parents in sight, he started jumping on the machines and grabbing random weights.
I was worried that he might fall or drop something and hurt himself!
I’m not sure where his guardians were—maybe they had no idea their son had slipped away—but they should have been mindful of where he was.
The gym does not permit any children under 12, and guests under 16 are supposed to be accompanied by an adult.
While the families with young children lent a vibrant and playful atmosphere to the cruise, I didn’t think it was safe to leave kids unattended around the cruise ship.
My travel buddy said they most regretted not packing a water bottle on this cruise.
It would have been helpful to carry drinks from the dining venues back to our stateroom, or out of the ship when we left on excursions.
I always pack a large Hydroflask water bottle on my cruises, and it helps me stay hydrated.
If you don't pack a water bottle, you'll have to resort to carrying cups of water around or paying extra for plastic water bottles.
Before my cruise, I went onto Royal Caribbean's Cruise Planner.
I decided to buy the cheaper shore excursions that I saw offered there on the website.
Since I love birds, I was excited to see an aviary tour on Costa Maya, Mexico, offered for $59 per person. I bought it without a second thought.
When we arrived at the tour, the guide walked us just a few steps into the port and guided us into the aviary.
At the aviary itself, I saw that tickets were being sold for only $14 per person.
My heart dropped with regret.
If I had just waited until we got to the port and walked up to the aviary myself, I could have saved $45!
Read more: 8 things I love about Icon of the Seas (and 3 I didn't)
It's not easy to remember to pack everything you need—especially for longer cruises—but I wish I'd made more of an effort.
I forgot to pack sunglasses on my cruise and realized my mistake as soon as I got onboard.
Whether I was sitting at the pool, walking around the deck, or even sitting inside a sunny area, I found myself squeezing my eyes shut to protect myself from the sun.
Even though I knew the cost would be high, I gave in and started to peruse the shops onboard, looking for any pair of sunglasses at all.
A saleslady asked my budget and I told her I would pay up to $50 for them, thinking that already it was a steep price to pay for the $10 pairs I had left behind.
However, she let me know they didn't have anything in my price range and proceeded to show me sunglasses ranging from $119-$150.
I was so frustrated that I walked out of the store, and had to wait until we stopped at a port to buy some new, cost-effective sunglasses.
Packing isn't always easy, but this mistake was a further reminder of what I already knew: if you leave anything behind, it won't be worth it to buy onboard.
InterContinental Miami is one of the top pre-cruise hotels in Miami, so I decided to try staying there.
We always recommend you fly into the city your cruise leaves from the night before embarkation day. This ensures that any delays won't impact your cruise, since the ship won't wait for you.
A quick Google search will show you that many cruisers recommend InterContinental Miami, an IHG Hotel located in downtown Miami just 0.7 miles (a 7-minute drive) from the cruise port.
InterContinental Miami is listed on TripAdvisor as the second-best hotel close to the port of Miami, with a total of 4.5 stars.
In preparation for my Royal Caribbean cruise out of Miami, I decided to give the hotel a try.
I booked a classic room with one king bed and an ocean view.
The total cost (for two guests staying for one night) was $349.17, plus a $37.29 resort fee due upon arrival.
I had a late flight and arrived to the hotel's bright glass doors at11:00 P.M.
While I didn't expect anyone to help me with my bags, a valet stopped me and told me that someone would come to help.
I stood there and waited for about 15 minutes, watching valets continue to pass me by, before giving up and lugging my bags into the hotel myself.
I was disappointed with the speed of service, but understood that it was late and they probably didn't have many staff on duty at the time.
Check-in was quick and smooth, and the staff at the counter informed me that check-out time was noon, but I could call them if I needed to get that extended.
The hotel felt huge, as my room was located on the 24th floor.
When I arrived at my door, it was already open a crack, which put me on high alert. Had someone already walked in? Had staff left it open for the next guest?
I took some time to walk around and examine the room to make sure it was completely safe.
It was a huge, spacious area, with a counter in the entryway. The counter held bottles of water, an ice bucket, and a coffee machine.
Below this counter, two mini fridges held a stunning variety of snacks and drinks.
In the entryway, I also found the door to the bathroom.
It was huge, nearly the size of the Royal Caribbean stateroom I would later stay in!
The sink was wide enough for three people to stand at together, with a bright light around the mirror.
The bathroom also came with one matching bathrobe for guests to wear during their stay.
The marble floor matched the walls of the shower.
Opposite the shower, there was also a large closet that held the safe, an iron, and storage space for clothing.
I thought the bathroom was almost unnecessarily large and luxurious.
However, I kept hearing strange gurgling noises throughout the night.
At first, I couldn't pinpoint what was making such loud noises, until I realized it was the hotel's toilet.
There must have been something wrong with its mechanics, but I'm not sure why they wouldn't get that fixed before putting new guests in the room.
I saw that we had a large, comfortable king bed. It was decorated with half a dozen fluffy pillows and a tall blue headboard.
I shared the bed with my friend who was traveling with me, and when we woke up, I told them the bed was so large I could barely tell they were in it!
Each side of the bed had a bedside table and lamp beside it.
A large flat-screen TV also faced the bed.
Beside the bed, there was a comfortable L-shaped couch with a series of artful pictures and a lamp above it.
Opposite the couch, there was also a round table where we could sit and eat.
Between the two sat the long window, decorated with two automatic shades: a blackout curtain and a lighter-toned shade.
Both were controlled by buttons on the right side of the bed, so you just had to push one button to bring them down, or another to pull them up.
My friend said that the blackout curtains helped them sleep so well that they decided to get some at home.
That night, we headed out to the city to grab some dinner. When we returned, a man was getting arrested and pulled into a cop car directly in front of the hotel lobby.
While I'm sure this wasn't the hotel's fault, it added to the general anxiety for my safety that I'd already been feeling.
When we got back into the room, I noticed that we could hear our neighbors on the other side of the wall.
However, we slept comfortably and all was well.
In the morning, I woke up excited to see the view from the hotel window.
Since our room was designated as an "oceanview" I had expected a direct ocean view.
However, directly in front of our window faced another side of the hotel.
I had to lean to the right to see a sliver of the ocean on the side.
As we prepared to pack and check out of the hotel, we started our search for food.
To receive complimentary breakfast, you have to book the hotel's InterContinental's Breakfast for 2 offer.
Otherwise, the hotel has room service nearly 24/7 and several restaurants onsite where you can pay to dine.
These include Ole!, Starbucks, Bluewater, and Toro Toro.
It was quick and easy to checkout; despite everyone having the same checkout time there weren't many lines to the elevator or in front of the counter.
While we waited in the lobby for the Uber, I noticed the abundance of comfortable seating and the fun, jazzy house music playing.
As we exited the hotel, a staff member immediately took our bags from us and helped us into the Uber.
