Celebrity Cruises has officially announced the two Godmothers for Celebrity Ascent, the cruise line's newest Edge Class ship launching in November. 

Captain Sandy Yawn, who is known for her appearance on Bravo TV’s reality show Below Deck, alongside her sister Michelle Dunham, founder of the Jacksonville School for Autism (JSA), have been chosen to be the co-Godmothers of the brand-new ship.  

"We are honored to have Captain Sandy and her sister Michelle join the legacy of Celebrity’s Godmothers, as they are both inspirational women who have dedicated their lives to making a positive impact in the world,” says Laura Hodges Bethge, Celebrity Cruises’ President.

“Captain Sandy’s life story is one of resilience, leadership and strength, as a pioneer in the maritime industry and as an inspirational role model for young women. Her sister Michelle is a tireless advocate for children with autism and shows us what is possible when you follow your vision for a better world. Both women live by Celebrity’s values, and we have no doubt they are the perfect choices for Ascent.” 

Both Captain Sandy and Michelle will join a group of other women who hold the title of Godmother for other Edge Class ships, Simone Biles of Celebrity Beyond in 2022, Reshma Saujani of Celebrity Apex in 2021; and Malala Yousafzai of Celebrity Edge in 2018.

When Celebrity Ascent is officially named on December 1, 2023, the sisters will bless and christen the ship. This is meant to bring good luck and protection for the crew and all passengers onboard.

Related: New Celebrity cruise ship will have whiskey tasting and plant-based multi-course dinner

Captain Sandy Yawn

Prior to launching her career in the yacht industry, Sandy Yawn survived a life-threatening accident, cancer, and struggles with addiction. 

In addition to her outstanding reputation, she received the prestigious Distinguished Crew Award from the International Superyacht Society in 2006 due to her leadership and bravery during a fire and pirate threat off the coast of Yemen. 

Captain Sandy Yawn says, “As I embark on this remarkable journey as a co-godmother of the Celebrity Ascent, I am deeply honored to represent not only the spirit of leadership but also the strength of women empowerment."

“This role serves as a reminder that women can steer their destinies with grace and determination, commanding the seas of possibility and inspiring others to follow their own paths with courage and conviction. I am so honored that my sister and I can share this distinction. She has always been my biggest inspiration in her selfless pursuit to help my nephew and other families impacted by autism.” 

Related: 20 Celebrity Cruises Tips & Tricks

Michelle Dunham

Michelle Dunham co-founded the Jacksonville School for Autism (JSA) with her husband Mark in 2005 in order to give her son, Nicholas, better educational opportunities. 

JSA is a not-for-profit private school that serves grades K-12. Students and young adults with autism spectrum disorders are eligible to attend, and the school focuses on whole child development and individualized programs that encourage both family and community involvement.  

The school highlights the necessity for each student to develop independence while improving the quality of their lives. In order to accomplish this, they have created an inclusive environment for each student to be themselves in order to educate, engage, and inspire.

In March 2020, JSA relocated to a larger campus with more outdoor space, both introducing a vocational gardening program and giving students frequent opportunities for engagement with the outdoors. 

“It fills my heart with immense pride to stand as co-godmother of the Celebrity Ascent, alongside my sister, Captain Sandy Yawn. As we embark on this journey, much like Celebrity Cruise’s commitment to delivering exceptional vacations and enriching lives, we embrace the same spirit of compassion and positive change,” says Michelle Dunham.

“Together, we aspire to elevate lives, create boundless possibilities, and set sail towards a brighter, more inclusive future for all who grace our path through the charities we founded, Jacksonville School for Autism and Captain Sandy’s Charities.”

Related: First Timers' Guide to Celebrity Edge

The sisters are joining brothers Dimitrios and Tasos Kafetzis, the industry's first brother Captains

Greek brothers Dimitrios and Tasos Kafetzis will be co-captains of the highly-anticipated Celebrity Ascent. This will be the first time that the cruising industry will see brother Captains. 

Captain Dimitrios' entire maritime career has been spent exclusively with Celebrity Cruises. In 1990, he began working for the company as an Apprentice Office onboard Celebrity's first-ever ship, the Horizon. 

Eight years later, Captain Tasos joined the company. He grew up watching his brother work on cruise ships and followed in his footsteps. Since he began working for Celebrity Cruises in 1998, he has been involved in the opening of Celebrity Summit, Solstice, Equinox, and Reflection. His most recent position was Captain of Celebrity Edge. 

The pair of brothers will alternate who is working onboard Celebrity Ascent in three-month rotational periods. 

Alexa H. Bluth is a writer, living in Sacramento with her husband, two sort of well-behaved teenaged daughters and two not-at-all well-behaved dogs. She took some time to write this guest post entry about what she's learned to share with other first timers who are anxiously awaiting their embarkation date.

In summer 2019, I stepped foot on my first-ever cruise ship gangway, headed with my husband and pre-teens on a new kind of adventure.

This was a bucket-list trip to Alaska on a beautiful ship with all the bells and whistles. I researched the daylights out of it. I stressed over every detail, watched hundreds of YouTube videos, and memorized ship deck plans. It was overkill, to be sure, although some of that planning did come in handy. 

The cruise was an amazing, life-changing experience, but not because of any of the reasons I’d anticipated. It was the unexpected surprises and the unplanned moments that hooked me for life on cruising.

Cruises are fun and unique. You can travel to several different destinations, while only unpacking once. The feeling of a comfy stateroom and ready-made dinner plans after a long day exploring is priceless. The people in general - both crew members and fellow travelers - are typically interesting and friendly. Once you’re fully soaked in the music, game shows, and ocean breezes, it’s impossible not to have fun.

I’ve learned much since that first sail away to Alaska. Here are some lessons and tips in hopes that you, too, will love your first cruise. 

Do some basic research

On our first cruise, I wanted to know every granular detail beforehand, but by our third I was more relaxed and wanted to be surprised by some things.

I don’t advise overdoing it. Some basic research can be of help and will ignite excitement for your trip. You can read blogs and watch YouTube videos about your specific ship. You’ll even find room tours of the specific category of stateroom you picked.

Dig deep enough and you can find detailed deck plans and dining menus and daily activity newsletters from previous sailings. All of this can be a bit much, but there are a handful of areas that I do advise researching before and after booking your first cruise.

Before booking, research where the stateroom you’d like is located on the ship, and what generally are the activities and food options the ship offers to make sure it will meet your needs. The ideal room location will be midship, surrounded by other staterooms on all sides (including above and below), near-ish to the elevators but not right next to them, and not directly under a pool deck, buffet or dance club.

Ships vary from older, smaller ships with traditional activities and fewer crowds, to mega ships with trapezes and ice skating rinks and bumper cars, oh my!

After booking, find out if you need to make reservations for dining or entertainment before you board. These things do book up.

It also helps to know: How to get to the pier on embarkation day (and parking options if you are driving), what excursions are offered in your ports of call, and the basic ship layout.

You don’t need to memorize every deck but at least it’s helpful to know if your room is near the aft or forward elevators. On our most recent trip, I dug up where we needed to go once on board to get show and dinner reservations and we headed there the moment we got on board  By the time we had our reservations all set, the lines were out the door and we were glad we’d done that research.

Learn some lingo

You don’t need to memorize a whole new vocabulary. Just a few terms, including stateroom (cabin), MDR (main dining room), aft (back) and forward (self explanatory), and port (left) and starboard (right).

Also you will do a “muster drill,” usually by watching a video on your phone or in your stateroom and going to your designated “muster station,” which is the spot where you’d gather in an emergency. 

Bring incidentals

When packing for your cruise, you will want to make sure that you bring things like sunscreen, ibuprofen, bandages, diapers, etc.

Some items will be available in the ship’s main gift shop or in a vending machine near the medical facility, but what is available there and at the ports will be pricey. Onboard, there is often a limited supply, too. You won't find a full pharmacy, so it is best to bring everything from home. 

Don’t overpack

I have overpacked on each and every cruise. I always end up with clothes and shoes I never wear.

For warm weather cruises, you likely will wear the same shorts/dress/bathing suit repeatedly, and you definitely don’t need multiple outfits per day.

Cruises aren’t as formal as they once were, so you can even wear the same breezy outfit you wore to explore during the day to dinner if you want (just no swimwear, tank tops, or flip flops). You also don’t need to go gadget and gear crazy.

But do bring some heavy-duty magnetic hooks to hang things likes hats and sweaters on the metal cabin walls, a non-surge protector outlet extender with USB ports, and binoculars (you’ll love spotting dolphins, whales, and other cruise ships, which is weirdly exciting when you’re on a cruise). 

Decorate your stateroom door

Because, why not? Get into the spirit. Magnets and magnetic dry erase boards with fun messages are perfect to adorn metal cabin doors. You can mark special occasions with door decorations too. Plus, it helps you to easily identify your stateroom in those really long hallways.

Expect to get a little lost onboard, at least for the first couple of days

Cruise ships are like massive, confusing floating cities. But every ship has plenty of maps and, again, crew members around to help. Plus, you get the hang of it after a few days. 

Prepare for crowds

Crowds are inevitable in the elevators on embarkation day and after shows, in the buffet at peak lunch and breakfast hours, and at the guest services desk (a ship’s equivalent to a hotel’s “front desk”) pretty much all of the time.

But after the first day of the cruise, people disperse to various spaces, and the elevators aren’t so crowded. And there always are quiet spots onboard, often along the outside decks away from the pool, in the far aft of the ship, or in adult-only areas.

Related: How to beat the crowds on your cruise ship

Go to the sail away party

I mean it. Go. Even if it’s not your style to do the Cupid Shuffle, grab a glass of champagne or fruity drink and a spot along the top deck railing. It is impossible not to catch the spirit while listening to party music, watching people dance, and experiencing the ship gliding away from the pier (bonus if it’s at sunset!)

Go to the welcome aboard show

It’s typically either advertised specifically as a welcome show, or it will be the earlier (and more family friendly) showing on the first night of the evening headliner, such as the comedian or magician.

This is a fantastic opportunity to see the cruise director and cruise staff for the first time and to absorb the excitement of the fact that you’re on a cruise!

Be mindful of showtimes when planning meals

Ships feature a headline show each night, which typically are Broadway-style shows, magicians, musicians, or comedians. The headliners usually are shown at around 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., so though 6:45 is a lovely dinner time, it won’t work if you want to see the earlier and typically more family-friendly show.

Get the streaming internet package if you can

Cruise internet is notoriously slow, so if you can spring for the “fastest” and unlimited package, do. If your whole party has iPhones, you will be able to iMessage each other while onboard, and you can use FaceTime and FaceTime Audio to connect with folks back home.

You can post about your adventures on social media, or stream your favorite movie before bed. Of course, you still can unplug if you wish, but you’ve left your options open.

Research drink packages before you buy

They might be worth it, they might not. It depends how much they cost and how much you drink.

For us, on Royal Caribbean the unlimited drink package wasn’t worth the cost because we only ordered about two alcoholic drinks a day, but it was well worth getting the soda package because it included premium coffee drinks (hello, vanilla latte!) and mock-tails.

We also got our kids the soda package-- Nothing is more fun for kids than to be able to belly up to the bar anytime they want and flash their room card for a Shirley Temple or strawberry daiquiri. Honestly, don’t underestimate the ability of a paper umbrella or pineapple wedge to make a kid’s day.

Related: 2023 Royal Caribbean Drink Package Info, Tips, Pros & Cons

Watch the morning show on your stateroom television

Cruise lines typically have a channel on your stateroom television that offers a morning show that replays for most of the morning, featuring the cruise director highlighting some of the day’s activities or discussing logistics such as time changes and information about the day’s port.

I confess, there was nothing more relaxing for me than sipping my morning mocha and watching the morning show. 

Don’t be afraid to order another appetizer, entree or dessert in the main dining room

No-one will judge you, except perhaps your own family.

I’m not advocating wasting food; I simply am saying that it’s widely accepted in cruising to order a couple of courses in the main dining room, no questions asked. So go ahead and try the cheesecake and creme brûlée if you can’t pick just one.

Don’t be afraid to ASK

Ask for what you need, from directions to the soft serve machine to a couple extra pillows for your bed.

Need help or advice? Tap your fellow travelers. Experienced cruisers love to offer advice, even a little too much sometimes, and there will nearly always be a crew member within a few feet from you that will be willing to help.

Relax and go with the flow

Inevitably, something irritating will happen. A rude cruiser will swoop in front of you to grab a roll at the buffet or someone will cut you off to jump onto the elevator you’d patiently awaited.

A show you wanted to see might be sold out or a port might even get canceled because of weather.

Things won’t go exactly as planned. They just won’t. But the more you try to see the bright side and enjoy the positives, the better your overall experience will be.

Be prepared for people to try to sell you stuff

Onboard, you’ll be hawked drink packages, photos, canvas tote bags, art, and jewelry.

You’ll get lots of pieces of paper with your daily planner advertising jewelry sales and art auctions. Just toss ‘em if you aren’t interested.

On many beaches while in port, there are streams of vendors selling bracelets, hair braiding, and photos with iguanas. Jewelry store salespeople tend to be zealous in trying to get you to come in and be dazzled by their sparkly stuff.

In most if not all cases, a friendly but firm “no thank you” typically does the trick.

Do cruise-line sponsored excursions in ports

Rather than trying to go out on your own, it’s worth to book a Royal Caribbean shore excursion that has built-in transportation to your destination, fewer logistics to plan, and peace of mind knowing you are guaranteed to get back to the ship on time.

Note: the ship does not wait for late travelers in port. It will leave you if you miss all-aboard time.

Don’t be shy! Chat up your room steward and other crew members

Crew members come from all over the world and many have fascinating stories.

On our most recent cruise, one tween boy sat at a bar for the better part of an hour, entranced by the bartender’s tales about the ships he’d worked on and the places he’d been.

A fun activity for kids is doing a “country scavenger hunt,” where you bring a list of countries and, for the duration of the cruise, they look for crew members from around the world (crew members’ home countries will be printed on their name badges). It’s like the license plate game for the high seas! 

Also chat up fellow cruisers! Cruises come with a special camaraderie, more so in my opinion than other types of travel. Don’t be afraid to ask where someone is from or how many cruises they’ve been on, or to compliment their matching T-shirts.

You could learn some tips, make new friends, or at least mitigate the drudgery while waiting in line for something.

Participate!

Go to the game shows and activities (and show up a little early to get a good seat). If these look silly, it’s because they are silly, but they’re also fun and entertaining.

I especially like the Newlywed Game-style shows, but I caution against bringing younger kids to this (or even older ones because, let’s be real, they don’t want to sit with their parents listening to people talk about making whoopee).

Get your kids involved from day one

Encourage (bribery works) your kids to participate in activities in the kids and teens clubs and take part in the family activities such as scavenger hunts and game shows. On each of the cruises we’ve taken, my daughters met friends from various places with whom they’ve kept in touch after the trip.

Bring a lanyard

The best kind are the ones that stretch, with a plastic card holder attached. This will conveniently hold your SeaPass card, which you use to buy anything onboard (and obviously to open your stateroom door).

If you forget one, you can visit the gift shop once your ship has set sail and purchase one. 

Prepare for the pool deck reality

I imagined a cruise would be mostly spent by the pool, or in the pool, or at the pool bar. I was wrong.

The pools are very crowded and the hot tubs are often, if not always, jam packed. If the weather’s nice, deck chairs generally are nearly all occupied or saved with towels. My kids still swam and had fun doing it, and I still managed to visit the pool bar a few times, but it was anything but serene.

Related: How to beat the chair hogs on your cruise ship

Don’t obsess about “marquis” activities such as onboard sky-diving, zip-lining, or go-karts

These are what you’ll see in the cruise line commercials, but they sometimes cost an extra fee, nearly always are crowded or booked, and, almost guaranteed, won’t be your favorite memories from your cruise.

My kids were determined to do the wave simulator on our Alaska cruise, so they shivered in their swimsuits in line for a half-hour for 30-second boogie boarding experiences that ended in wipeouts.

We waited almost an hour to experience ice-skating on a cruise ship, and my children gave up after about three minutes of frustration.

We rushed the moment we stepped aboard to make reservation for go-karts, and two teens racing each other kept bumping past us first-time go-kart drivers and nearly made my daughter cry. Bumper cars and roller skating on a cruise ship sounded awesome, but we missed the sign ups. Nevertheless, on each of these cruises, we had the times of our lives.

Bring some small bills

You’ll typically tip a porter to take your luggage immediately when you get to the port, and there are always opportunities to cash tip on excursions. They will ask. I promise.

Don’t miss a sunset over the ocean

Drop everything and head to your balcony or the upper deck at least once. Bring your camera, so you can create your phone’s new wallpaper and enjoy.

Don’t over schedule your days

Don’t bring a highlighter (I mean it, don’t!) for the daily planner, and do try to become zen about skipping some things.

Sometimes it’s nice to just take a nap in your stateroom or stand at the railing to watch the sea go by.

If you are traveling with multiple families or in a big group, it can be stressful, so plan to let people do what they want when they want. You’ll see them plenty, I promise.

Embrace the experience, every part of it

One time in the Bahamas, we thought we had found a reputable jet-ski rental company, only to find ourselves unwittingly riding through questionable neighborhoods in a beat-up minivan with kid-inappropriate music blaring.

We jet-skied off of a remote, trash-strewn beach where a few men quietly sat sharpening their machetes. It was dicey, to be sure, but we ended up having an amazing time jet skiing in the perfect blue-green sea that day and forever will have that story to tell.

In Mexico, a “jeep safari” turned out to be a dusty, harried, traffic-snarled caravan along major city streets and highways, with a prison and tequila factory as highlights. Not what we expected, but the tour guide was fabulous, and we saw parts of the culture we never would have otherwise. And, yep, we’ll always have the story to tell.

I’m not endorsing this type of expedition. In fact, it’s another reason to do your research and to go on cruise line sponsored excursions, but we went with the flow and didn’t let these unexpected turns of events ruin our trips.

The bottom line is that cruises are fun-filled vacations. Expect a few hiccups and hitches, crowds and lines, but also look forward to wonderful surprises, new friends and jaw-dropping sunsets.

Embrace the unplanned and even the cheesy moments. You might even find yourself dancing or hopping on stage to participate in a trivia game. And I can almost guarantee you’ll love it!

If you are sailing on a Voyager, Oasis, or Quantum Class ship in the future, you will find that Jamie's Italian by Jamie Oliver has a brand-new menu. 

As of August 4, the new menu is available onboard Symphony, Harmony, Mariner, Navigator, and Anthem of the Seas. It will be available on Quantum and Ovation soon; however, no date was provided. 

"I can't wait for you to all start tucking into this menu. I know that you're gonna love it," says Jamie Oliver. 

Related: 5 things you will love about Jamie's Italian on Royal Caribbean

Note that the title of the dishes on the menus below may be different in the United States, as they were taken on a European sailing to Norway onboard Anthem of the Seas.  

What's different on the lunch menu

All veteran cruisers know that eating lunch in a specialty restaurant is cheaper than dinner, and usually, you will have similar offerings. On a future sailing onboard Quantum of the Seas, the current onboard pricing for dinner is advertise to be $54.99, while lunch is only $24.99.

Of course, you can often get better rates if you book in advance on the Cruise Planner.  

Starting with the lunch menu, you will no longer find the Garlicky Prawns. Similarly, the Penne Pomodoro is no longer available. Instead, there's the Penne Vodka Arrabbiata, which Oliver says is one of his family's favorites. 

(Pictured above is the Penne Vodka Arrabbiata on Anthem of the Seas)

The biggest differences are evident in the main courses, with the removal of the JI Burger, Calabrian Chicken, and Jamie's Caesar Salad.

(Pictured above is the Avocado Caesar Salad on Anthem of the Seas)

These three menu items have been replaced by the brand-new Crispy Chicken Burger and Avocado Caesar Salad, meaning that instead of six options, you will only have five. 

(Pictured above is the Crispy Chicken Burger on Anthem of the Seas)

Similarly, there are only four sides on the menu instead of five: Rocket Salad, Charred Broccoli, Skin-on Fries, and Polenta Chips.

In terms of what is returning, Oliver said that the recipe for the bruschetta has been changed.

What's different on the dinner menu

On the dinner menu, you will have seven appetizers to select from.

(Pictured above is the Truffle Burrata on Anthem of the Seas)

Like the lunch menu, the Garlicky Prawns are no longer offered. It was replaced by the Crab & Avocado dish, which is described as "freshly picked crab, whipped avocado, heritage tomatoes, and Sardinian crackers." 

(Pictured above is the Tomato Bruschetta on Anthem of the Seas)

You will also have six pasta dishes to choose from, rather than five like on the lunch menu. The singular addition is the Risotto Rosso, which was not on the old menu. If you like creamy burrata, you'll love this dish that's also served with sun-dried tomato rice, slow-cooked cherry tomatoes, veggie Parmesan, and fresh basil. 

(Pictured above is the Eggplant [Aubergine] Parmigiana on Anthem of the Seas)

Like the lunch menu, the JI Burger is no longer on the dinner menu. Instead of a Crispy Chicken Burger, though, you will find Chicken Parmigiana. The Avocado Caesar Salad is available for dinner, too. 

The sides are the same as what you can order during lunch, with the addition of a Green Salad. 

Other menu changes onboard Royal Caribbean ships

This is not the first time Royal Caribbean has changed some menus this year. In early 2023, Royal Caribbean introduced brand-new Main Dining Room menus. 

The company began testing new menus in late 2022, and after receiving positive feedback from guests, they announced that they were going to change the menus fleet wide by February 2023.

Now, there is a more cohesive theme each night that highlights different cuisines and cooking styles. You may, for instance, have a Caribbean night, Mexican night, Italian night, USA night, and more. 

With this change, the “classics” section, which offered a subset of menu options that never changed and were available each night, was removed from the menu. 

Related: I tried Royal Caribbean's new main dining room menus, and here's what I thought

Have you ever wondered what it is like for crew members to eat onboard a cruise ship?

Passengers have a seemingly endless number of dining options, especially on the newer ships. Whether you want more complimentary options or are hoping to splurge on specialty dinners, there is something that will satisfy everyone! 

In August 2023, Bryan James, who was a musician on Wonder of the Seas at the time, shared insight into what crew member life is like on social media while he performed on Wonder of the Seas. 

In the past, he has posted videos about secret crew-only areas, cabin tours, and more. Plus, he has talked about the crew buffet quite a bit!

Where and what do crew members eat?

According to James, every single crew member onboard Wonder of the Seas eats at the crew buffet, which is located below deck.

In one video, he showed what options were available for breakfast. 

"You, of course, have your staples like sausage and eggs," he says, "[but] It's an International crew so lots of rice in the mornings, as well as beans and tomatoes..."

He even showed pastries, pancakes, and a toppings bar! In other words, there's no shortage of options for crew members, either. 

In another TikTok, James showed a crêpe station at the buffet. He he explains it sometimes offers other made-to-order dishes like fried rice or pad thai. 

Regardless, quantity is not the most important thing, it helps that James claims the food is pretty good. There are even some dishes that he would say are amazing. In a separate video, he panned to bibimbap that he would rate 10 out of 10. 

All of the food is free, whether it is breakfast, lunch, dinner, or just dessert! Because of this, James says that it is really easy to overindulge or not think too much about the nutritional value of what he is eating.

What if they get hungry in between meals?

Crew members are able to pick up snacks and other day-to-day essentials at the crew store. Here, crew are able to buy toiletries, detergent, and a wide variety of snacks, ranging from chocolate to Takis, nuts, and more. 

James recalls a time in which this was important during the pandemic when they were not allowed off of the ship for eight months. 

"It was like Christmas morning every single time the store got restocked," he says. 

Crew dining on Icon of the Seas 

Royal Caribbean redesigned the crew buffet for Icon of the Seas, which debuted in January 2024 and surpassed Wonder as the world's largest cruise ship.

Related: Royal Caribbean is adding the best crew member cabins and areas on its next new cruise ship

"The crew can looking forward to in the crew Windjammer a lot of the same options that we serve to our guests," said Rebecca Burns, Senior Manager of Restaurant Operations for Royal Caribbean International, "That was something that was very important to us when developing the menus."

Like onboard older ships, the buffet will have both hot and cold food stations. She will, however, stand out in that she will be the first to feature live cooking stations in the crew buffet.

Plus, the crew will actually be able to look outside at the ocean through the porthole windows. 

I sailed onboard Royal Caribbean's Navigator of the Seas and booked an interior cabin, which was the cheapest available option. 

Measuring 139,999 gross registered tons, Navigator of the Seas was the largest cruise ship in the world when launched in 2002.  

In early 2019, she completed a $115 amplification, adding new dining venues, water slides, activities, and more that are round on newer ships in the fleet. 

Today, Navigator is the only Royal Caribbean ship deployed out of Los Angeles, operating 3-, 4-, and 7-night cruises to Baja California and the Mexican Riviera. 

In mid-June, I went on a 7-night cruise that visited Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlán, and Puerto Vallarta and paid a little over $2,280 for two people to stay in an interior stateroom, including port fees and gratuities. This broke down to $1,140 each, or about $162 per night, per person.

To save a little extra money, I chose a guarantee rate, so I was not assigned my cabin until closer to the sail date. 

Not only was this my first time on Navigator of the Seas, it was my first-ever cruise on a Voyager Class ship! Since this was going to be the oldest Royal Caribbean ship that I had ever sailed on, I was interested to see the condition of cabins that were over twenty-years-old!

The first thing I noticed upon walking into my stateroom was that there was a small loveseat that was not pushed up against one side of the wall. Instead, it stuck out in the already tight walkway of the 160 square foot cabin. I am glad that I had the beds separated, as I feel like the floor space would've been minimal if they were pushed together!

The length of the loveseat exceeded the length of the wall, meaning that even if we wanted to try to rearrange the layout, it would have been impossible. 

Overall, I appreciated the lighter decor compared to the dark greens found in most staterooms on Freedom Class ships. It made the room feel newer than cabins I have stayed in on both Liberty and Freedom of the Seas. 

Beside of each bed was a small nightstand that had a single drawer with additional storage space underneath. 

While there were no outlets beside of the beds, there were two reading lights. Had the beds been pushed together, the nightstands would've been directly underneath them, rather than on the center of the wall.  

The only two American outlets were located on the vanity. There was one additional European plug; however, neither my travel companion nor myself had an adapter. Thankfully, she brought a cruise line approved power strip, so we had access to multiple USB ports through a single outlet. 

Since the plugs are located far away from the bed, I recommend bringing a longer cord, so you are able to use the device from bed! 

The vanity area itself had plenty of storage, with nine drawers and two cabinets "hidden" behind the mirror. Above the television was the safe and another larger cabinet.

Stateroom mini-fridges are hit or miss in that some keep your beverages colder than others. While this was not the strongest mini-fridge I have had while on a cruise, it kept a couple bottles of water cool. 

The bathroom in my inside cabin was exactly what I expected. Although it was dated, it had everything that was necessary.

There were two cups attached to the backsplash, and between the shelves behind the mirror and the large shelf underneath the sink, there was enough space to hold all of our toiletries, makeup, and hair products.

As someone who cruisers frequently, I was not surprised by the size of the shower; however, it was my travel companions first-ever cruise, and she could not get over how small showers are on ships!

In terms of closet space, there were plenty of hangers for both of us to hang everything that needed to be hung. That, coupled with the shelving, meant there was enough space to unpack a week's worth of clothes. Had the safe been in the closet like on other ships, we would have had one less shelf to use. 

My stateroom (#8447) was located on Deck 8 in the forward of the ship. We loved the location because it was not a far walk from the elevator bank.

Plus, it was only three decks above the Royal Promenade, making our morning coffee commute relatively painless! Three decks above us was the pool deck, so we did not have to rely on elevators much at all. 

While I am still a fan of the larger Royal Caribbean ships, I wouldn't hesitate to book another cruise on a Voyager Class ship, especially if the ports of call were places I had never visited before, such as those in the Mexican Riviera! 

With a gross registered tonnage of 156,271 and maximum passenger capacity of 4,515, Freedom of the Seas is not a small ship by any means. In fact, when launched in 2006, she was the largest cruise ship in the world and the first to feature the FlowRider surf simulator!

Today, she is surpassed by Oasis and (in 2024) Icon Class ships. While you will not find all the bells and whistles on Freedom that you do onboard newer ships, there is still a lot to appreciate about this beloved vessel. 

Here are 10 things you should know before cruising onboard Freedom of the Seas.

Related: What it's like to cruise on Royal Caribbean's Freedom of the Seas in 2023

Utilize the Cruise Planner ahead of time to take advantage of pre-cruise discounts 

Once you have placed your deposit, you will gain access to Royal Caribbean's Cruise Planner site. This is your go-to place to see everything that is available onboard Freedom of the Seas. 

Here, you will have the option to book shore excursions, drink packages, specialty restaurants, internet packages and more.

You can also decide whether you want to book any for-a-fee activities, such as a FlowRider surf lesson, sushi making class, or All Access Ship Tour. 

By purchasing items and packages in advance, you can take advantage of Royal Caribbean's pre-cruise sales. While the actual discount varies, it is not uncommon to see drink packages marked down anywhere from 20% to 40%. 

If you want until you get on the ship, you will be stuck paying the onboard pricing for everything! 

She underwent a $116 million dollar renovation in 2019, meaning there is more to see and do onboard than before

Freedom of the Seas underwent an extreme bow to stern makeover in 2019. New features, such as the Perfect Storm water slide duo, updated Caribbean resort-style pool deck with The Lime & Coconut Bar, Giovanni's Italian Kitchen, and dedicated spaces for kids and teens, were added. 

Other restaurant additions include the complimentary poolside El Loco Fresh, as well as specialty Izumi Hibachi and Sushi and Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade. 

Younger children will love the Splashaway Bay aqua park, while teens will appreciate Social033, a teens-only hangout with private outdoor deck. 

Many public areas got a fresh too, including the adults-only Solarium and Boleros.

You will not find any Broadway-style shows on Freedom of the Seas

While Royal Caribbean is known for their entertainment, not all cruise ships have the advertised Broadway-style musicals or water shows with high drivers, aerialists, and dancers. 

From the ice skating show called FreedomIce.com to two Royal Caribbean original productions, headlining acts, and numerous game shows, there's no lack of entertainment options onboard Freedom of the Seas.

The first original production is called Marquee and showcases a collection of Broadway songs with sets that try to replicate the specific show. The second, Once Upon a Time, highlights different fairytales including Cinderella, Rapunzel, Pinocchio, Sleeping Beauty, and Little Red Riding Hood. 

Adults can (and should) relax in the cantilevered hot tubs

Freedom of the Seas was the first cruise ship to add cantilevered hot tubs onboard. Now, you can find them on other Freedom Class ships, as well as Oasis Class ships, too. 

In the Solarium, you will find two hot tubs that jet out over the side of the ship. One is located on the port side, while the other is across the ship on the starboard side. 

They are enclosed with glass panels, making it so that you are able to look out at the surroundings while relaxing in the whirlpool. 

Plan on bringing a portable charger or cruise line approved power strip

Like most older cruise ships, Freedom of the Seas' staterooms are not equipped with endless outlets. You will only find two American plugs in standard staterooms located near the desk, meaning that there are no charging options if you want to use your device in bed. 

There is a third European outlet if you have a converter handy. Even so, you may want to be able to charge multiple devices at once, whether that be phones, tablets, or smart watches.

If you have more than two people staying in one room, you will definitely want to ensure that you have a way for everyone to be able to at least charge their phones at the same time. 

Related: I paid $1500 for an inside cabin on the Freedom of the Seas: take a look inside my tiny windowless room

There is a sun deck at the aft of the ship behind the FlowRider that offers great wake views 

I did not venture up to the FlowRider until the final afternoon of my 4-day cruise. To my surprise, I found there to be an empty sun deck at the back of the ship right behind the surf simulator! Sure, the noise from the sports deck was noticeable, but it was not much different than that found at the pool deck. 

If you are unable to find chairs near the pool or simply want to soak in better ocean views with fewer people around while still sitting in the sun, head to the aft of Deck 13. There, you will find a staircase leading down to this area! 

Take time to familiarize yourself with the deck plans ahead of time, especially for shorter sailings

On a similar note, you should always explore the ship as early as possible. You never know what hidden areas you will come across. 

Prior to boarding the ship, take some time to look over the deck plan. Do you know where your cabin is located in proximity to the Windjammer? What about the Royal Promenade and Adventure Ocean? 

When check-in opens, you might want to consider booking an earlier arrival time, as this will give you more time on embarkation day to wander around the ship before the sail away festivities begin. 

Related: 15 ways to speed up the embarkation process and board your cruise ship faster

Through July 2024, you do not have much variety in itineraries

From now until July 2024, Freedom of the Seas is mostly making 3- and 4-night Bahamas cruises to Nassau and Perfect Day at CocoCay. 

In December, there is a single 5-night sailing to Mexico in CocoCay, while Royal Caribbean is also offering one 4-night cruise to Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic in April 2024. 

Starting next summer, she will begin making 6- to 8-night cruises to the Eastern, Western, and Southern Caribbean. You will be able to visit anywhere from Castries, St. Lucia and Basseterre, St. Kitts & Nevis to Grand Cayman and Falmouth, Jamaica. 

If you are sailing soon, you should expect to find a brand-new port area in Nassau 

In May 2023, Nassau opened the first phase of their upgrade cruise port. This cost $300 million and meant not only the addition of new berths to accommodate more ships, but a new port area that no longer immediately exits into the hustle and bustle of Nassau. 

Instead, you can enjoy a leisurely walk through the plaza and browse the local stores, wait in line for a cab to Atlantis, Cable Beach, and Baha Mar at the decided taxi stand, or grab something to drink. There is even a gelato shop!

Related: Nassau, Bahamas opened the first phase of its cruise port revamp. Here's what's new and different

Onboard, you will find five complimentary dining options, ranging from the three-story Main Dining Room to El Loco Fresh for poolside tacos

Food is a major component of any cruise vacation. Some guests like to get their base fare worth and only dine at complimentary venues, while others prefer to splurge on specialty dining. Regardless of your preference, there are plenty of dining options to choose from.

In addition to room service, which is complimentary if you order continental breakfast during certain hours, you have the Main Dining Room, Sorrento's, Windjammer, Café Promenade, and El Loco Fresh.

None of these venues cost you anything extra, and you can eat as much from them as you'd like! 

Specialty restaurants include Izumi Hibachi and Sushi, Chops Grille, Giovanni's Italian Kitchen, Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade, Chef's Table, and Johnny Rockets. 

Royal Caribbean's cruise prices are higher today than in 2019, and the company wants to raise those prices even more.

Historically, cruise vacations have, in addition to their convenience, been popular because of their value. For one price, you get unlimited food, accommodations, entertainment, and transportation between destinations across the world. 

This price gap between the cost of a cruise vacation and a land vacation grew significantly during the cruise industry shutdown. Since then, cruise fare prices on Royal Caribbean have gone up at the same time demand was also rising.

In the second quarter of 2023, the percentage of guests on Royal Caribbean who were new to the brand or new to cruising in general surpassed 2019 levels. Additionally, those considering future cruises is near an all-time high.

Over the last couple of months, airfare and hotel prices have decreased; the price of a Royal Caribbean cruise, however, has increased.  

Royal Caribbean International's CEO Jason Liberty spoke with CNBC's Seema Mody about the price gap between cruise and land vacations after their Q2 earnings call on July 27. 

"In the earlier part of this year, that value gap was somewhere around 45%. And today, we've closed that value gap by about ten percentage points, so we still think there's a lot of runway that is still there to close," he said. 

This means that the value of a land-based vacation and cruise vacation are becoming more comparable, while you'll still get more bang for your buck on a Royal Caribbean cruise. 

The comment surprised one of the panelists on the CNBC show, Tyler Mathisen, who asked Mr. Liberty doesn't he want to maintain a value gap in order to attract customers and keep demand up.

Mr. Liberty responded, "We always want to be as competitive as we possibly can be, but of course, we want that gap to be much smaller."

"We were able to close that gap to about 10-15 points pre-covid, we think there's a lot of opportunity for us to close that gap even further."

Royal Caribbean is known for having dynamic pricing for their cruise add-ons, such as drink packages. This model extends to their cruise fares, too. They change their prices back and forth based on the demand. As they have continued to increase the cost of their cruise fares this year, they have seen that their customers continue to book into 2024. 

In the earnings call with investors on Thursday, he noted that it's clear that Royal Caribbean guests continue to spend more on their overall vacation experience. 

Additionally, customers continue to book cruise add-ons in advance through their online Cruise Planner, which is essentially passengers' go-to place to see what is available on their upcoming cruise.

You can make dining reservations, look at available onboard activities, and even pre-book drink and internet packages, as well as shore excursions. 

"We know that if we can get them to spend a dollar before they get on the ship," Liberty remarked, "we'll get them to spend somewhere around seventy cents on the dollar more when they get on and enjoy their vacation experience."

Royal Caribbean always wants to be as competitive as they can; however, they are striving to really close to value gap between the cost of a cruise and land-based vacation, and they believe that there is room to close it even more than they already have this year. 

"...cruising remains an exceptional value proposition," Liberty said during the Q2 earnings call, "allowing us to outperform broader leisure travel as we seek to further close the gap to land based vacations, drive better revenue and welcome even more happy customers." 

Onboard Royal Caribbean's newest ship, you will find a larger, wider, longer, and higher Royal Promenade.

The second you step foot on Icon of the Seas, you will be greeted by sweeping ocean views and the first-ever multi-sensory super structure called "The Pearl." 

"The Royal Promenade is a classic with Royal Caribbean and has evolved significantly. It's an amazing hub for the entire community onboard the ship," said Michael Bayley, President and CEO of Royal Caribbean."

"...it always has been this place where people meet and have fun together, and that is certainly true for Icon." 

At 362 feet long, the Royal Promenade onboard Icon of the seas is longer than a football field, and for the first time, it brings ocean views into the ship's main thoroughfare through floor-to-ceiling windows and the 4100 Lobby Bar the connects the neighborhood to the outdoors. 

Related: The Ultimate Icon of the Seas Dining & Lounges Guide

"The number of the hull on every ship is unique to that ship," explained Linken D'Souza, Vice President of Food & Beverage for Royal Caribbean International. 

"On Icon of the Seas that number was 4100, and so the 4100 Lobby Bar is a tribute to all of the hardworking folks who built this amazing and iconic ship." 

During the day, you'll find delicious tropical juice-based drinks. In the evening, the menu will feature pre-prohibition cocktails in the evening, focusing on classics like Old Fashioneds and Manhattans. 

In order to fully open up the Royal Promenade, though, Royal Caribbean had to navigate numerous structural changes and come up a creative solution: The Pearl. This three-deck high sphere is a multi-sensory experience built with 3,000 kinetic tiles. 

"When guests walk onboard, they will see a massive structure that we call 'The Pearl.' They may not know what it is, but the scale of it alone is enough to take your breath away," remarked Jennifer Goswami, Director or Product Development for Royal Caribbean International.  

On Deck 6 behind The Pearl, guests will find the Pearl Cafe in place of Cafe Promenade. In addition to the familiar grab-and-go bites, the Pearl Cafe will serve up freshly toasted croissants, hot chocolate croissants, croissant sandwiches, sweets, and other specialty desserts. 

While the Royal Promenade will be full of firsts and unlike any other Promenade it in the fleet, it will be home to many fan-favorites, too, such as Giovanni's Italian Kitchen and Wine Bar.

Usually, specialty restaurants are in quieter areas onboard the ship. On Oasis Class vessels, for instance, you could find the majority of them in the Central Park neighborhood. Placing this venue in the Royal Promenade will allow guest to be in the middle of the action. If you want a quieter experience, there will be intimate seating in the back of the restaurant. 

Related: Royal Caribbean will offer swanky supper club and food hall on new Icon of the Seas when it launches

There will also be Sorrento's that will feature antipasti on a rotational basis and beer on draft. 

In addition to the restaurants, this neighborhood will be a lively hotspot thanks to the other bars and lounges that can be found here, including Boleros and Schooner Bar.

To enhance the overall experience, both of these Royal Caribbean classics will have a more open layout, so the music and energy are able to spill into the Royal Promenade. 

Similarly, Point and Feather, the onboard pub, will pull the bar into the center space of the neighborhood. 

Another first for the cruise line will be the Dueling Pianos bar on Deck 6. This is not your average piano bar. Each night, two pianists will take requests and go key-to-key in a friendly competition. 

Directly below Dueling Pianos is Spotlight Karaoke, which debuted on Oasis of the Seas after an extensive $165 million revitalization in 2019. Onboard Icon, though, you will find the best karaoke stage in the fleet! Plus, there will be private rooms for those who want a more intimate karaoke experience. 

Since Icon is meant to be the ultimate family vacation, it makes sense that Adventure Ocean can be accessed from the Royal Promenade, too.

Located in the heart of the ship, there are dedicated venues for children and teens, such as the brand-new Social 020, which offers teens an escape from parents that features state-of-the-art video game systems and movie room. 

For younger guests between the ages of 6-months and 12-years-old, Royal Caribbean is bringing back (and upgrading) their Adventure Ocean facilities.

Here, they will find age-appropriate rooms and activities, including a workshop that incorporates arts, crafts, and fun science experiences. There will even be an Adventure Ocean theater! 

In terms of entertainment, the Royal Promenade will be home to the largest ice arena at sea -- Absolute Zero -- with over 2,850 square feet of ice. It is different from other ice rinks on older Royal Caribbean ships, too, as it has been redesigned in an oval space that has two hidden entrances, allowing performers to enter the rink at high speeds and get right into the action! 

When not being used for shows, guests will have the opportunity to go skating. It can also be converted into a laser tag arena. 

Located in the forward of the ship is the Royal Theater. All of their past developments with technologies have been integrated into this space, allowing for the ultimate storytelling experiences at sea. 

"The Royal Promenade has been a staple of ours since the Voyager Class ships," said Jason Liberty, President & CEO of Royal Caribbean Group.

"Watching it grow not only in size but experience through the Freedom Class, Oasis Class, and now onto Icon Class is really remarkable. So you're going to see a larger, wider, longer, higher Promenade that's going to have a lot more experiences."

How much longer until Icon of the Seas sets sail?

In June, Icon of the Seas successfully completed her first round of sea trials.

During these tests, she traveled hundreds of miles, during which the main engines, hull, brake systems, steering, noise, and vibration levels were all tested. 

Related: 11 reasons Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas will change the cruise industry

Between preparing for the trials and the tests themselves, there were over 2,000 specialists who put in more than 350 hours of work in helping Icon of the Seas pass this important milestone. 

There's around round of sea trials scheduled for later in 2023 to make sure that Icon of the Seas is in tip-top shape before she is delivered to Royal Caribbean prior to her January 27, 2024 maiden voyage. 

With five months left in 2023, there is still plenty of time to plan another cruise vacation. 

The fall months bring cooler temperatures and lower prices than peak summer cruises. Plus, even if the cruise itself is fully booked, there are less land-based travelers, meaning that there will be fewer crowds in port. 

You might even be able to find a once-in-a-lifetime itinerary that is not offered throughout the year. 

Here are the best 2023 fall cruises that you should take. 

Alaska

Royal Caribbean's Alaska's season wraps up in September, and this month just so happens to mark the region's transition from summer to fall. The earlier you cruise, the better weather you have have, including more daylight. 

On September 3, Brilliance of the Seas is departing on a roundtrip "Multi Glacier Experience Cruise" from Vancouver, Canada, with prices starting at $966 per person for an interior cabin. If you want to upgrade to a balcony, expect to pay a minimum of $1,842 per person. 

During this 7-night voyage, the ship will dock in Sitka, Juneau, and Ketchikan, Alaska. You will also have three different sightseeing opportunities in Hubbard Glacier, Tracy Arm Fjord, and the Inside Passage. 

In comparison, the 7-night Alaska Glacier onboard Quantum of the Seas that departs on September 11 only has one glacier viewing: Endicott Arm & Dawes Glacier. This does, however, mean that you will have more time in port, visiting Sitka; Icy Strait Point; Juneau; and Victoria, British Columbia. 

Pricing is similar, with an interior cabin starting at $906 per person. 

Asia

Currently, most cruises onboard Spectrum of the Seas are only 3-5 nights. This fall, however, there are two 12-night cruises that sail from Singapore to Tokyo and vice versa that are each unique in their own way. The itineraries for both sailings are different, with the first cruise visiting fewer ports than the second. 

The first sailing departs on September 19 and sails from Singapore to Tokyo, making stops in Nha Trang, Vietnam; Hong Kong, China; and Nagasaki, Kumamoto, and Kagoshima, Japan before arriving in Tokyo. Currently, pricing for this cruise currently starts around $1,800 per person for either a balcony or interior stateroom.  

The latter sailing is more expensive visits one more port of call. Throughout the 12-night voyage, the ship will visit Mt. Fuji (Shimizu), Kobe, Okinawa (Naha), and Ishigaki, Japan; Hong Kong, China; and Hue / Danang (Chan May), Vietnam.

Bahamas and Caribbean

While fall is still part of the Atlantic hurricane season, you are less likely to be impacted by inclement weather in late October and November.

In those two months, Royal Caribbean has twenty ships deployed here, meaning that you have a variety of different itineraries to choose from from embarkation ports ranging from Cape Liberty, New Jersey to Galveston, Texas and even San Juan, Puerto Rico. 

If you are looking for a quick getaway, consider sailing on Allure of the Seas. She begins making 3- and 4-night voyages out of Port Canaveral on October 30 to Nassau and Perfect Day at CocoCay. 

The fall is also one of your last chances to sail on Wonder of the Seas while she is the largest cruise ship in the world, a title no other Oasis Class ships will ever hold again once Icon of the Seas launches in January. 

In October and November, she will be making 7-night roundtrip cruises to the Eastern and Western Caribbean, all including a stop at CocoCay. 

With twenty ships, though, you don't have to sail on some of the largest in the fleet. Some of the smallest, such as Vision of the Seas, will be sailing on unique and longer itineraries to the Southern Caribbean, visiting ports like St. Croix, St. Maarten, St. Lucia, Barbados, and St. Kitts & Nevis.

You will find better rates on the older ships, too. A 12-night cruise on Vision of the Seas starts at $1,199 per person, while a 7-night cruise onboard Wonder of the Seas starts at $1,246 per person.

Bermuda

September is a good month to visit Bermuda, as daily highs will still peak into the 80s. This means that you will be able to enjoy the warm summer temperatures with fewer crowds. 

Liberty of the Seas sails to Bermuda from Cape Liberty through October. In September, there are three 5-night sailings, each has two days at sea and two days docked at the Royal Naval Dockyard. 

While not the largest ship in the fleet, this Freedom Class ship offers plenty of activities and things to do, including water slides, a FlowRider surf simulator, an ice skating rink and Broadway show, specialty dining venues, pools, and more. 

Currently, the cheapest sailing departs on September 30 and costs $609 per person. 

Canada and New England

Fall foliage cruises are popular because they allow passengers to enjoy the beautiful scenery of the changing hues of the trees of Canada and New England. 

This year, Royal Caribbean is offering four "fall foliage" cruises onboard Jewel of the Seas. For the best chance of seeing the most transformation, take one of the earlier two, as you are more likely to experience peak foliage through mid-October. 

The first is an 11-night northbound cruise from Cape Liberty to Quebec City on September 28 that starts at $949 per person. This itinerary focuses on Canadian ports of call, visiting Halifax and Sydney, Nova Scotia; Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island; Corner Brook, Newfoundland; and Sept-Iles and Saguenay, Quebec. 

The following 10-night southbound cruise from Quebec City to Cape Liberty is more port intensive, with only three days at sea. Additionally, you will dock in Portland, Maine and Boston, Massachusetts. This sailing starts at $749 per person for an interior room. 

And while not advertised as fall foliage cruises, there are two sailings onboard Liberty of the Seas where you are likely to experience some of the northeast's fall magic: October 5 and 19. Both sailings start at under $650 per person. 

The ports of call include Boston, Massachusetts; Portland and Bar Harbor, Maine; Halifax, Nova Scotia; and Saint John (Bay of Fundy), New Brunswick. 

Europe

Unlike the Caribbean, you can expect to spend long days in port exploring European cities, rather than lounging on the beach. In the peak of the summer, it can get to be miserably hot. In the fall, you will be greeted with cooler temperatures and fewer crowds in port. 

In July, for instance, it is not unusual for the daily high to reach the high 80s and 90s in places like Rome, while in October, the daily temperatures range from the high 60s to mid 70s. 

For a 7-night Western Mediterranean cruise onboard Symphony of the Seas, the sailings range from $1,295 to $1,755 per person for an interior room in October. You can sail from either Barcelona, Spain or Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy; however, the cheapest port of embarkation is Barcelona. 

During your voyage, you will visit Naples/Capri, Italy; Palma De Mallorca, Spain; Provence (Marseille), France; and Florence/Pisa (La Spezia), Italy. If you sail from Barcelona, you will have a day in Rome, and if you sail from Rome, you will be able to explore Barcelona for a day. 

Mexico

October and November are two of the best months to visit the Mexican Riviera, as you will find pleasant weather compared to the summer months.

Moreover, October marks the end of the region's rainy season; August and September have higher rainfall averages. Temperatures will still be in the 80s, meaning that you can sunbathe and enjoy other water activities in port. 

Consider a 7-night cruise to Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlán, and Puerto Vallarta onboard Navigator of the Seas, a Voyager Class ship that received $115 million in renovations in early 2019, and visit beautiful beaches, try the local cuisine, and see world-famous landmarks, including the El Arco rock formation in Cabo.

Due to less overall demand, you will find some great deals, too. All dates in October begin under $700 per person for an inside stateroom. 

Read more: What it's like to cruise on Royal Caribbean's Navigator of the Seas in 2023

Panama Canal

The fall is one of two times throughout the year that Royal Caribbean offers sailings through the Panama Canal. This year, there are three cruises that you can choose from, all of which are on Radiance Class ships. 

The first is a 16-night cruise onboard Radiance of the Seas that departs on October 7 and sails from San Diego to Tampa. The next two are not until November, and they are both 14-night cruises onboard Serenade of the Seas. 

On November 7, Serenade will depart from Miami, arriving in Los Angeles on November 21. That same day, she will leave on another Panama Canal cruise to return to Miami. 

Pricing varies greatly, with the most expensive being the 16-night cruise onboard Radiance. This cruise starts at $1,646 per person for an interior room. At the time of writing, all ocean view, balconies, and suites were sold out. 

The cheapest Panama Canal cruise in Fall 2023 is the 14-night sailing on Serenade of the Seas from Los Angeles on November 21. An interior room begins at $936 per person.  

After these three sailings, there will not be another opportunity to cruise the Panama Canal onboard a Royal Caribbean ship until April 2024. 

Transatlantic and transpacific cruises

The fall is also a common time for transatlantic and transpacific cruises, as ships are being redeployed after cruises in seasonal regions, such as Europe and Alaska. 

The larger the vessel, the more you will have to do onboard during the long stretch of sea days. Symphony and Odyssey of the Seas will offer the most to do, with the latter visiting more ports of call. 

When Symphony of the Seas departs on her transatlantic cruise on October 29, she will only stop at two different ports in Europe -- Valencia and Seville (Cadiz), Spain -- before crossing the ocean. Before docking in Fort Lauderdale, she will visit Nassau. Currently, the price for this cruise begins at under $740 per person. 

Odyssey of the Seas' return to the Americans will begin on October 27. On this sailing, you can visit Florence/Pisa (La Spezia), Italy; Nice (Villefranche), France; Palma De Mallorca and Valencia, Spain; Ponta Delgada, Azores; and Bermuda. The price for this cruise is substantially more than Symphony, though, with interior cabins starting at $1,750 per person. 

In total, there are nine transatlantic and transpacific to choose from in October and November 2023. If you want a transpacific cruise that visits Hawaii, you will want to skip these itineraries in the fall. They only depart from Honolulu, rather than island hopping like spring voyages from Honolulu to the Pacific Coast. 

Transpacific sailings on October focus more on the islands of the South Pacific, such as Vanuatu, French Polynesia, and Tahiti. Upon arrival in Australia, the ships -- Brilliance, Quantum, and Ovation of the Seas -- will begin their seasonal deployments in the South Pacific, where they will remain until Spring 2024. 

Given how close it is to the major cruise ports, The Bahamas is a very popular cruise year-round destination. Ships visit tropical ports as well as cruise line private islands.

Deciding the best month to cruise to the Bahamas is dependent on a few factors, such as weather, price, and crowds. You might also want to know will it be too crowded in the summer or rainy in the winter? When is the cheapest time to sail to the Bahamas?

Even if you are not taking a cruise specifically to The Bahamas, there is a good chance that you spend at least one day of your 7-night Caribbean cruise here. Often, Royal Caribbean will include a stop at their private island Perfect Day at CocoCay on their longer Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries that sail to ports like Cozumel, Roatán, St. Maarten, and St. Thomas.  

Best time to cruise based on weather

Since The Bahamas is located further north than most Caribbean ports (think Jamaica and St. Maarten), the islands are more prone to temperature fluctuation. In fact, The Bahamas is not even located within the Caribbean. 

The driest weather can be expected between November and April, with the wettest months being June through September, which is also Atlantic hurricane season. 

While hurricane season officially runs from June 1 to November 30, you are most likely to encounter storms in August and September. Do not let this stop you from booking a cruise during this time, though. If a storm does pop up, the cruise ship captain will do everything they can to ensure smooth sailing, meaning that it is more common for itineraries to be changed instead of being flat out cancelled. 

If cruising in the winter -- think December and January -- you might be subject to colder temperatures due to the possibility of a cold front. When this occurs, the seas will get a little rougher than usual, and temperatures will be in the 60s and 70s. 

In January, for instance, the average high in Nassau is in the high 70s, while the average low drops to the mid 60s. 

Earlier this year, I sailed to CocoCay twice in January. Both times, the weather was not as warm as I would have preferred. Once I got in the water, I had to stay submerged, otherwise the wind chill made it uncomfortably chilly!

When I returned mid-February, though, it was pleasant, and I did not mind sitting in my swimsuit, rather than feeling like I had to bundle up in a towel to hang out on the beach. 

The weather is subject to change; however, the months of March, April, May and November are the most likely to see comfortable temperatures with the least chance of rain. 

Best time to cruise based on crowds 

The Bahamas is a popular cruise port and tourist destination year-round. On February 27, 2023, Nassau set a new single-day record with 28,554 cruise ship passengers in port in a single day!

Regardless of when you choose to sail, you are likely going to be in port with more than one ship. In fact, thanks to Nassau's recent port expansion, they are now able to accommodate 30,000 cruise passengers per day. By the end of 2024, it is estimated that Nassau will see four million cruise visitors.

The busiest times of year coincide with American school holidays. Not only will ships be sailing close to maximum capacity, but the island's themselves (excluding CocoCay) will also see more tourists. These holidays include spring and summer break, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's. Three day weekends, such as Memorial Day and Labor Day, are subject to seeing more crowds, too.

Best time to cruise based on price

While you should never book the cheapest cruise you can find without doing additional research, you can find great deals on cruises to The Bahamas, especially those that are only 3- and 4-nights. The price per night will be more expensive than longer cruises, but the overall cost will be lower.

At the time of writing, a 3-night sailing on Allure of the Seas is advertised at $282 per person for The Bahamas cruise that leaves on November 1, 2024. In comparison, a 7-night Bahamas & Perfect Day cruise onboard Radiance of the Seas starts at $565 per person. This amounts to a difference of roughly $15 per day, before taxes, port fees, and gratuities are even added, for the shorter cruise. 

You are more likely to find a cheaper sailing if you cruise during the following times: 

• January (with the exception of New Years' week and Martin Luther King Jr. Weekend)
• February (with the exception of Presidents' Day Weekend)
• May 
• September

• October
• First two weeks of November
• First two weeks of December 

March and April see an increase in pricing due to spring break, while three day weekends (i.e., Presidents' Day) are popular since they require one less day off of work.

A 4-night cruise onboard Allure of the Seas that departs on February 19, 2024 (Presidents' Day) is currently priced at $543 per person for two guests staying in an interior cabin. If you sailed two weeks earlier on February 5, you could book a balcony cabin for roughly the same price!

Other factors that will impact your price include the stateroom category you choose, as well as the age of the ship. Sailings on the brand-new Utopia of the Seas, for instance, will be more expensive than those on Allure of the Seas. 

Of course, the best way to ensure that you are getting the best price on your cruise vacation is to book it as soon in advance as possible. If you notice that the fare does drop, you can either consult your travel agent or call Royal Caribbean, and they will honor the lower price. If you book after a price increase, however, there is no way for you to get price that you missed out on. 

Related: How to get the best cruise deals: 15 easy tips

What is the best time to take a cruise to the Bahamas?

When taking into consideration the weather, crowds, and cost of the cruise fare, the most ideal time to sail to The Bahamas is either May or early November. 

In regard to the weather, the average high and low in Nassau during the month May are in the mid-80s and mid-70s. November tends to be similar, with the average being a few degrees colder than in the spring. Either way, you will avoid the peak humidity and high temperatures that accompany sailing in the summer months. 

Similarly, both May and early November fall outside of the peak season for crowds. While neither the cruise nor port of Nassau will be empty, there will be fewer travelers than in the summer since the majority of American families will be preoccupied with school and other obligations. 

Fewer crowds means that there is less demand, too. Less demand means a decrease in cruise fares, which is great for those looking to sail on a budget or stretch their vacation fund as far as possible. 

You cannot go wrong with a cruise to The Bahamas, though, regardless of when you are able to sail! Just make sure you do your research in advance, so you know what to expect.