Royal Caribbean offers Alaska cruises from the Port of Seattle each summer season, as thousands of passengers depart the city en route to the Last Frontier.

Alaska cruises depart from both Seattle, Washington and Vancouver, British Columbia each year, with the fleet’s Quantum Class cruise ships sailing almost exclusively from Seattle.

If you have an Alaska cruise booked on a Quantum Class ship next summer, here’s what you need to know about cruises from the Port of Seattle.

In this guide:

• Where is the Port of Seattle?
• How to get from the airport to the cruise port
• Parking at the Seattle cruise port
• Where to stay the night before your cruise
• Luggage Valet
• Which Royal Caribbean ships sail from Seattle?

Where is the Port of Seattle?

Royal Caribbean ships depart from Pier 91 in Seattle. Located just three miles from downtown and sixteen miles from the airport, the Port of Seattle is conveniently located near many of the city’s main attractions.

Royal Caribbean Seattle cruise port address:

• Smith Cove Cruise Terminal 91, 2001 West Garfield Street, Seattle, WA 98199

How to get to the Port of Seattle

If traveling by air, you’ll want to book a flight to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), otherwise known as Sea-Tac.

Seattle's airport is a major US airport, offering direct flights to 91 domestic and 28 international destinations. The airport serves as a hub airport for both Alaska Airlines and Delta Airlines, but all major US carriers offer flights to Seattle.

If arriving via car, you can follow the driving directions on Royal Caribbean’s website here.

How to get from the airport to the Seattle cruise port (and vice versa)

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport is located 30 minutes by car from the Pier 91 cruise terminal. There are many ways to travel from the airport to the cruise port, from rideshare services to taxis and the light rail.

Rideshare services & taxis

Uber and Lyft are both accessible from the Seattle airport. Expect to pay around $60 each way for an Uber or Lyft from the airport to port. If you’re traveling from the airport to downtown, fares should cost around $50 each way.

Taxi service is also available, with fares priced at $40 from Sea-Tac airport to downtown Seattle. If traveling directly from the airport to Pier 91, expect to pay around $60 one way.

Rideshare and taxi services are priced per ride, not per person, so they can be an economical way to travel to the Seattle cruise port if with a larger group.

Light rail

Seattle’s light rail system connects the airport to downtown, and tickets cost between $2.25 and $3.25 depending on how far you ride.

Trains depart every day of the week, leaving every 6 to 15 minutes from 5AM to 1AM (12AM on Sundays). This makes the light rail a convenient and cheap way to reach downtown from the airport.

Please note that the light rail does not correct directly to the Pier 91 cruise terminal. Therefore, it’s better used for those travelers arriving the day before their cruise en route to a hotel in downtown Seattle.

Alternatively, you can ride the light rail to Pioneer Square station and then order a rideshare service to reach the cruise terminal.

Shuttles through Royal Caribbean

Royal Caribbean offers shuttle service to and from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport with seats priced at around $25 per person each way. Using a rideshare service or taxi is recommended over a Royal Caribbean shuttle, as the price will be cheaper for larger groups and you’ll have more flexibility over departure times.

What time should I schedule my return flight after the cruise?

We recommend booking flights from Seattle’s airport no earlier than 12 PM on disembarkation day. As the airport is located 30 minutes from the cruise port, you’ll want to provide extra wiggle room for traffic and other delays.

Parking at the Seattle cruise port

If you’re driving to Pier 91, the most convenient parking option is at the terminal’s official parking lot. There are 1,000 spaces available at the lot for $27 per day. You can book a spot in advance here.

Because the ports are located right downtown, there are few other options available. You can choose to park at a lot near the airport for as low as $13-15 per day, but the cost of transportation from the airport to the cruise port may negate any savings.

Where to stay the night before your cruise

Seattle is a dynamic city, combining urban life with picturesque scenery in every direction. While we always recommend arriving in your cruise departure port the day before your cruise, this is especially true in Seattle.

Arriving the day before your cruise provides ample time in case of any travel delays, but it also gives more time to visit Seattle’s attractions including the Space Needle and Pike Place Market. 

We recommend staying at a hotel in downtown Seattle before your cruise. Staying in the area between downtown and the Space Needle is convenient for sightseeing.

Royal Caribbean Blog readers have suggested the following hotels on our message boards:

• Four Points by Sheraton Downtown Seattle Center
• The Edgewater Hotel
• Crowne Plaza Seattle Downtown
• Mayflower Park Hotel

Luggage Valet at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport

Seattle is currently the only cruise port to offer Luggage Valet. This is a service offered onboard Royal Caribbean ships in which guests can bypass the check-in process at Seattle’s airport.

Through the Luggage Valet program, guests receive the following benefits:

• Check-in for flights onboard
• Airline boarding passes and luggage tags delivered to stateroom
• Luggage transported directly from stateroom to the airport and onto the flight

Through Luggage Valet, travelers can save time by avoiding long lines to check in at the airport. 

Luggage Valet is currently offered on flights through Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta (domestic flights only), JetBlue, Southwest, and United. The service comes with a minimal fee in addition to any airline baggage fees. The fee is waived for guests in Grand Suites and above.

Which Royal Caribbean ships sail from Seattle?

Two Royal Caribbean cruise ships, Quantum of the Seas and Ovation of the Seas, sail from the Port of Seattle. They sail only during the Alaska cruise season, which runs from April to September.

Quantum of the Seas departs the Port of Seattle each Monday whereas Ovation of the Seas offers cruises starting on Fridays. Both sail roundtrip 7-night cruises to Alaska each week, with destinations including Juneau, Sitka, Skagway, Ketchikan, and Victoria.

Related: All about Quantum Class ships

These two ships are both in the Quantum Class, which are some of the largest, most modern vessels in Royal Caribbean’s fleet. Highlights of the Quantum Class include an indoor SeaPlex sports arena, Two70 lounge and entertainment space, indoor skydiving, and more. These ships make great choices for families and passengers of all ages.

More Royal Caribbean cruise port guides:

• Guide to cruises from Fort Lauderdale
• Guide to cruises from Miami
• Guide to cruises from Galveston
• Guide to cruises from New York

Some of Royal Caribbean’s best deals can be found on the cruise line's older cruise ships, but how much money can you expect to save by sailing on an older ship?

Everyone loves finding a great cruise deal, and finding a cheap cruise on a 20 year old cruise ship is more common than finding a deal on one of Royal Caribbean’s newest cruise ships like Wonder of the Seas.

A $2000 interior stateroom on a new ship might be priced at only $1200 on an older ship. You’ll often see savings in the hundreds of dollars when cruising on an older ship. This means you're able to stretch your vacation budget much further, whether that means splurging on a dining package, booking a spa treatment, or planning a luxurious port day.

Let’s take a look at how much you can expect to save by sailing on an older cruise ship.

Old versus new Royal Caribbean ships

Royal Caribbean has 27 cruise ships in its fleet. The oldest, Grandeur of the Seas, launched in 1996 and the newest, Icon of the Seas, is currently under construction and set to launch in January 2024.

These ships belong to seven ship classes, which are categorized for their unique layouts, onboard offerings, and size:

• Vision Class
• Radiance Class
• Voyager Class
• Freedom Class
• Oasis Class
• Quantum Class
• Icon Class

Related: Royal Caribbean’s 7 ship classes ultimate guide

Most passengers consider Vision and Radiance Class ships to be older ships, with Voyager and Freedom Classes somewhere in the middle. Oasis, Quantum, and Icon ships are all considered new ships by comparison.

Why sail on an older cruise ship

Older cruise ships lack many of the onboard activities that Royal Caribbean is known for, such as waterslides, Broadway shows, zip lines, and a plethora of specialty dining venues. The adrenaline-filled features you’ll see on Royal Caribbean’s TV commercials are unlikely to be found on the oldest ships in the fleet.

Related: Things you’ll notice when cruising on an older cruise ship

Nonetheless, older and smaller ships still offer a classic cruise experience, bringing guests to beautiful ports around the world while providing Royal Caribbean’s signature cuisine, entertainment, and hospitality.

Cruising on an older ship can offer a more intimate feel than a ship with 6,000 passengers. In addition, the ports you visit tend to be more unique. Whereas newer and bigger ships often visit the same ports over and over, smaller, older ships sail to unique destinations such as Costa Rica, Fiji, and Montenegro.

Related: 15 countries you didn’t know you could cruise to on Royal Caribbean

Plus, older cruise ships tend to be priced lower than newer ships in the fleet, with the potential to save you hundreds (or even thousands) of dollars on a cruise vacation.

Putting it to the test: how much can you save by sailing on an older Royal Caribbean cruise ship?

Just how much money can you expect to save by sailing on an older Royal Caribbean ship? Unfortunately, there's no set price difference between older and newer ships. Cruise pricing changes day to day based on the demand on any particular ship, itinerary, or stateroom category.

Related: How to plan a Royal Caribbean cruise on any budget

You’ll usually see a trend of older ships offering lower prices, but occasionally you can come across fantastic deals on newer cruise ships. To determine just how much you can expect to save on an older ship, I priced out cruises in three different locations: Europe, the Caribbean, and Alaska.

In each location, I selected ships of varied ages and sizes to compare the pricing between each. Pricing is based on a 7-night cruise for 2 adults. The cruise fare includes taxes and fees, but does not include gratuities.

European cruise: comparing prices by ship

Traveling to Europe is a dream for many cruisers, and Royal Caribbean sends both old and new cruise ships to Europe each summer season.

Let’s take a look at the prices you can expect to see on different classes of Royal Caribbean ships in Europe. These prices are for a European cruise in June.

Rhapsody of the Seas (Vision Class ship)

• Interior: $1,522
• Balcony: $3,356
• Grand Suite: $7,750

Explorer of the Seas (Voyager Class ship)

• Interior: $1,756
• Balcony: $3,312
• Grand Suite: $7,148

Symphony of the Seas (Oasis Class ship)

• Interior: $2,397
• Balcony: $3,551
• Grand Suite: $8,779

Thoughts

There is little price difference between Rhapsody of the Seas (Vision Class ship) and Explorer of the Seas (Voyager Class ship). While these two ships are older, Explorer of the Seas is a much larger vessel with many of Royal Caribbean’s signature features, such as the Royal Promenade and an ice-skating rink.

Symphony of the Seas, as one of the fleet’s largest and newest ships, comes at a higher price than the smaller ships. However, the price difference between Symphony and the two smaller ships is not outrageous, especially if planning to cruise in a balcony cabin.

Related: Symphony of the Seas Guide & Review

Smaller ships (Vision and Radiance Class) have far fewer balconies compared to new ships, making the price of a balcony cabin on these ships higher. The balcony price on Rhapsody of the Seas is nearly the same as on Symphony, for example.

It’s also worth noting that, while a suite is over $1000 more on Symphony of the Seas compared to older ships, you’ll receive many more benefits by cruising in a suite on an Oasis (or Quantum) Class ship. These ships are part of the Royal Suite Class, with benefits including complimentary VOOM internet, private Suite Sun Deck, and meals at Coastal Kitchen, a suites-only restaurant.

Caribbean cruise: comparing prices on Oasis Class ships only

While we tend to categorize Oasis Class cruise ships as new cruise ships, there is a 13 year gap between the oldest Oasis Class ship and the newest. Therefore, you can expect to see lower prices on the two older Oasis Class ships (Allure of the Seas and Oasis of the Seas).

Let’s compare cruise fare pricing on three Oasis Class ships to determine how much of a price difference you can expect in the same ship class. These prices are for a Caribbean cruise in June.

Allure of the Seas

• Interior: $1,404
• Balcony: $2,372
• Grand Suite: $6,024

Oasis of the Seas

• Interior: $1,848
• Balcony: $2,212
• Grand Suite: $5,884

Wonder of the Seas

• Interior: $2,179
• Balcony: $2,823
• Grand Suite: $8,237

Thoughts

Wonder of the Seas, Royal Caribbean’s newest cruise ship, has some of the highest cruise fares in the fleet. You can expect to spend several hundred dollars more per person on Wonder of the Seas compared to other Oasis Class ships.

Allure of the Seas, while still an Oasis Class ship, doesn’t have all the features and amenities found on other ships. Her Royal amplification has been postponed, so you won’t find features like waterslides or updated specialty restaurants on the ship.

Related: Is Allure of the Seas the “worst” Oasis Class ship? I went onboard to see for myself

What you will find, however, are lower fares. You can expect to save a few hundred dollars per person on Allure of the Seas compared to sailing on a new Oasis Class ship like Symphony or Wonder of the Seas.

Alaska cruise: comparing prices by ship

Cruising to Alaska is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for many cruisers, and you’ll want to make the most of your Alaska vacation. Royal Caribbean offers cruises to Alaska on Radiance and Quantum Class ships, so you’ll find itineraries on both old and new ships.

Related: Ultimate Alaska cruise guide

Let’s compare the cost of sailing on a Radiance Class ship versus a Quantum Class ship to Alaska. These prices are for an Alaska cruise in August.

Brilliance of the Seas (Radiance Class ship)

• Interior: $1,851
• Balcony: $2,455
• Grand Suite: $6,529

Ovation of the Seas (Quantum Class ship)

• Interior: $2,141
• Balcony: $3,043
• Grand Suite: $9,413

Thoughts

Cruising to Alaska on an older ship (Radiance Class) compared to a newer ship (Quantum Class) will almost always save you money. And while older ships may not have as many unique features–such as indoor skydiving and bumper cars–many passengers cruise to Alaska for the destination as opposed to the ship itself.

One factor to consider before booking a cruise on an older ship, though, are flight costs to Seattle versus Vancouver. Older Royal Caribbean ships sail from Vancouver, which may bring higher airfare prices for those flying from the United States.

Regardless of airfare, you should expect to save $300-600 on cruise fare in an interior and balcony room when booking far in advance.

Conclusion

There’s no denying that cruising on an older Royal Caribbean ship can save you money, but it isn’t so black and white.

As you can see in the examples above, cruise prices do not follow any set rules. Just because a ship is ~20 years older than another ship does not guarantee that you’ll see lower prices in every stateroom category.

Prices change from sailing to sailing and can fluctuate daily. You might be able to snag a suite on an older ship for the price of an interior cabin on a newer ship. On the contrary, however, you might end up paying more for a balcony on an older ship than a newer ship.

It’s typical that you’ll save a couple hundred dollars per person on an older ship compared to a newer ship, especially if you book far in advance. That being said, you’ll want to weigh the pros and cons of sailing on an older ship versus a newer ship before booking to ensure you don’t end up surprised or disappointed on embarkation day.

More cruise tips & tricks:

• 30 Do's and Don'ts for the first day of your cruise
• 8 cruise tips for first-time Royal Caribbean cruisers
• What’s included in your Royal Caribbean cruise fare
• 5 quick and easy tips for finding a great shore excursion on your own
• Food on a Royal Caribbean cruise
• Which is the best Royal Caribbean cruise ship?
• What is the best time to go on a Caribbean cruise?

Choosing an Alaska cruise itinerary doesn’t boil down to just cruise ports. You’ll also want to consider which of Alaska’s colossal, majestic glaciers you’d like to visit.

Two of the most beloved places visited on an Alaska cruise are Hubbard Glacier and Glacier Bay National Park. While visiting either location offers the chance to see some of the most spectacular scenery in Alaska up close, they each offer different experiences, pros, and cons.

Let’s take a look at what each glacier experience has to offer so you can decide which glacier you want to visit on your Alaska cruise.

Hubbard Glacier

Imagine standing directly in front of a 30-story building made of ice. That’s what you’ll experience from a cruise ship visiting Hubbard Glacier, and you’re sure to be awe-inspired.

Hubbard Glacier is located in Wrangell-St.Elias National Park and Preserve. It starts in Canada’s Yukon Territory at Mt. Logan, the second tallest peak in North America at 19,850 feet. The glacier flows over 75 miles to reach Disenchantment Bay in southeast Alaska.

At 400 feet tall and six miles wide where it meets the ocean, Hubbard Glacier is the largest tidewater glacier in North America. Unlike many other glaciers in Alaska, Hubbard Glacier is rapidly advancing at around 80 feet per year.

Due to its rapid growth, Hubbard Glacier has been nicknamed the Galloping Glacier. Its fast advancement results in frequent calving as chunks of ice break off the glacier.

Visiting Hubbard Glacier is a multi-hour experience, with ships sailing first into Yakutat Bay followed by Disenchantment Bay en route to the glacier. Sightseeing occurs for about three hours as the ship makes a 360 turn in front of the glacier, allowing guests to view its magnificent face from anywhere onboard.

Glacier Bay National Park

Glacier Bay National Park is the 6th biggest national park in the United States. At over 3 million acres, the national park is roughly the size of Connecticut!

There are a whopping 1,045 glaciers located in Glacier Bay National Park. While most glaciers are located far into the mountains, cruise itineraries can visit up to 6 glaciers in one day in the park.

Here are the glaciers most commonly visited on a scenic cruising day in Glacier Bay:

• Margerie Glacier
• Grand Pacific Glacier
• Red Glacier
• Lamplugh Glacier
• Johns Hopkins Glacier
• Gilman Glacier

The longest glacier in Glacier Bay National Park is the Grand Pacific Glacier at 40 miles long. The fastest is Johns Hopkins Glacier, which can advance up to 15 feet per day.

When you visit Glacier Bay, park rangers will board the ship to provide information on the park’s scenery and wildlife.

Depending on the cruise line, this can include formal presentations in onboard lounges, commentary on the loudspeakers, a children’s educational program, and an informational desk you can access throughout the day.

Itineraries to Glacier Bay include a full day of sightseeing in the National Park. Ships typically enter the bay in the early morning, cruising slowly for two hours before reaching the glaciers.

Once at the glaciers, cruise ships spend around four to five hours exploring the scenery before turning around and making the two hour journey back into the open ocean.

Does Royal Caribbean offer cruises to Glacier Bay?

Royal Caribbean does not currently offer cruise itineraries to Glacier Bay National Park. While the cruise line was offered an agreement with the park to offer Glacier Bay itineraries from 2019 - 2029, Royal Caribbean did not sign the agreement.

That being said, you may be able to book a flightseeing shore excursion to Glacier Bay. These tours typically depart from Icy Strait Point and fly over the park.

Related: How to choose the right Alaska cruise itinerary

There are many other glaciers you can visit on a Royal Caribbean cruise to Alaska, however, including Hubbard Glacier, Dawes Glacier, and the twin Sawyer Glaciers. There’s also the chance to visit other glaciers while in port, such as the famous Mendenhall Glacier in Juneau.

Which glacier is better for wildlife?

Both Hubbard Glacier and Glacier Bay offer the chance to spot wildlife including harbor seals, humpback whales, and seabirds. While wildlife sighting is never guaranteed, you have the chance to spot wildlife while visiting either glacier.

Related: What is the best time of year to see wildlife in Alaska?

A plus of visiting Hubbard Glacier is the chance to book the “Hubbard Glacier Wilderness Explorer” excursion. This tour brings passengers aboard a small excursion boat, allowing guests to travel closer to the glacier while spotting wildlife. A guide is onboard to provide insight on the region’s ecology and wildlife calling the region home.

If we have to pick the best glacier for wildlife viewing, though, it would be Glacier Bay. As cruise ships spend more time in Glacier Bay than at Hubbard Glacier, you have more time (and chances) to spot wildlife.

Which glacier should I pick for my Alaska cruise?

Deciding between Glacier Bay National Park or Hubbard Glacier comes down to a few main considerations.

The first decision you’ll have to make if you’re a loyal Royal Caribbean cruiser is whether or not you are open to sailing on another cruise line. Because Royal Caribbean does not sail to Glacier Bay, you’ll have to sail on a cruise line like Princess, Holland America, or Norwegian.

Glacier Bay is undoubtedly impressive, however, and if visiting the park is on your bucket list, it’s worth sailing on a cruise line other than Royal Caribbean.

Related: Best things to do on an Alaska cruise

Hubbard Glacier, on the other hand, can still make for an excellent addition to an Alaska cruise itinerary. While only one glacier instead of multiple glaciers, Hubbard Glacier dominates the landscape more dramatically than any glacier at Glacier Bay.

Plus, while Hubbard Glacier may offer shorter sightseeing times compared to a day in Glacier Bay, this can be perfect for families. Days at Glacier Bay are long, often starting in the early morning and lasting until dinnertime. Kids may not want to spend the whole day looking at the scenery, so Hubbard Glacier can be a more condensed yet still beautiful experience.

While there’s no ‘best’ Alaska cruise itinerary, you can’t go wrong visiting either glacier. In fact, you may even be able to find itineraries visiting both glaciers in one cruise!

Tips for visiting glaciers on an Alaska cruise

No matter which glacier you visit on an Alaska cruise, you’ll want to make sure you’re prepared so that you have the best viewing experience possible. Here are our top tips & tricks for viewing glaciers on an Alaska cruise.

Find the best spot to watch the scenery

Whether visiting Hubbard Glacier, Glacier Bay, or any of Alaska’s other magnificent glaciers, be sure to find the best spot to watch the scenery.

You can view the scenery from your balcony, the pool deck, Promenade deck, the helicopter pad, or any other place onboard with windows.

Prior to your itinerary’s scenic glacier viewing day, scout out a few of the best places to view the glacier. While you may opt to view glaciers from your balcony, you might want to consider somewhere onboard with more panoramic views, such as the pool deck or helicopter pad.

Be flexible

Nothing is guaranteed when cruising, and it’s always important to be flexible to ensure you don’t end up disappointed.

Alaska’s weather is unpredictable, and it’s not entirely uncommon for cruise ships to cancel or modify glacier viewing times in order to keep guests, crew, and the ship safe.

While ships successfully visit glaciers more often than not, there’s always the chance your glacier viewing day may not occur.

Bundle up

Packing for an Alaska cruise means layers, layers, and more layers.

When preparing to view a glacier on an Alaska cruise, be sure to bundle up to ensure you don’t get too cold while viewing the glacier.

Related: Alaska cruise packing list: What to pack for your sailing

Our advice is to wear pants (leggings or jeans), a base layer (long-sleeve shirt or sweater), a rain jacket, and a hat. It’s always better to wear more than you need and take layers off rather than be too cold while viewing the glacier.

Most importantly, don’t forget your camera!

Planning an Alaska cruise? Discover our best advice:

• 50 Alaska cruise tips you should use
• How far in advance to book an Alaska cruise
• When should I book my Alaska shore excursion?

Payments on cruise ships have almost entirely gone digital, but there are still a few situations where cash comes in handy. Knowing how much cash to bring on a cruise can help you plan your vacation budget and avoid pesky ATM fees along the way.

Here’s what you should know about cash on a Royal Caribbean cruise.

Do I need cash on a cruise ship?

Cash is rarely required on a Royal Caribbean cruise, as all payments onboard are made via your SeaPass account. Prior to your cruise, you’ll connect your onboard account with a credit or debit card, and all payments will be charged to that card at the end of the cruise.

You won’t require cash for 99% of purchases on a cruise, whether specialty restaurants, cocktails, or souvenirs. Plus, you’re never required to make any extra purchases in the first place if you take advantage of the complimentary options available on a Royal Caribbean cruise.

Related: What’s included in your Royal Caribbean cruise fare

When will I need cash on a cruise ship?

Although cash isn’t required for onboard purchases, there are a few scenarios where you’ll want to have cash available.

Tipping crew members

Something you will need cash for on a Royal Caribbean cruise are any extra tips you give to crew members.

While you pay daily gratuities before your cruise ($16 per person, per day in most staterooms), many cruisers like to give something extra. Whether $2 to a bartender, $20 to your waiter, or $50 to your stateroom attendant, it’s common to tip crew members extra for excellent service.

Tipping extra is not necessary, and there’s no right or wrong amount to give a crew member. Some guests may bring $200 extra for gratuities whereas others may bring $50.

Having small bills handy is helpful if you plan to tip crew members throughout your sailing.

Port days

The time when you’ll need the most cash on a cruise vacation is when you’re in port. Whether in Mexico, St. Maarten, Italy, or Vanuatu, having cash is recommended. Although cards are widely accepted, you may still encounter establishments that do not accept card payments.

And while you don’t need to visit a port with $1000 in your wallet, you’ll want to make sure you have enough money to account for expenses throughout the day.

Depending on what you plan to do in port, you might need cash for the following:

• Taxis
• Restaurants and cafes
• Museum entrance fees
• Beach chair rentals
• Souvenirs

We recommend bringing around $100-200 in cash with you on a port day. This should provide enough money for transportation, food, and small souvenirs in port.

Can I use my credit card while in port?

You’re welcome to use a credit or debit card to make purchases in ports of call whenever possible. However, you’ll want to make sure you’ve notified your bank that you will be out of the country.

If you haven’t notified your bank, they will usually send you a fraud alert or temporarily freeze your card.

How to get cash on your cruise ship

If you forgot to bring cash on your cruise, there are a few ways to get it once onboard.

First is the ATM. All ships have at least one ATM onboard, which is usually located in the Royal Promenade or Centrum. ATMs usually charge a $5-6 fee per transaction.

Depending on your bank, the ATM transaction fee may be waived. If you want to avoid any ATM charges, though, you can theoretically take money out via the casino.

If you go to any slot machine, you’re able to transfer money to the game via your onboard account, which is connected to your credit or debit card.

If you transfer money to the slot machine and immediately cash out, you can take your cashout slip to the casino cage and receive the listed amount in cash.

Which currency do I need on a cruise?

Which currency you should bring with you on a cruise depends on your departure port and itinerary.

If you’re sailing from the United States to the Caribbean, US dollars are widely accepted in popular cruise ports. You can choose to pay in local currency, too, but obtaining money in 3+ currencies before a cruise is not necessary.

You’ll often receive change back in local currency even when paying with USD. If you buy a $5 souvenir with a $20 bill in Mexico, for example, you’ll receive change in Mexican pesos.

Cruises from Europe and Australia will still use the US dollar as the official onboard currency, but you should make purchases in port with the destination’s local currency. If cruising from Australia to the South Pacific, Australian dollars are widely accepted.

To avoid currency confusion, especially if you’re traveling to multiple countries on one cruise, we recommend using a credit or debit card to make purchases in port whenever possible.

More tips & tricks for planning your Royal Caribbean cruise:

• 30 Do's and Don'ts for the first day of your cruise
• The 20 worst cruise mistakes that will ruin your cruise vacation
• The best cruise itineraries for every type of traveler
• How to plan a Royal Caribbean cruise on any budget
• Best shore excursion in every Caribbean cruise port

Planning your first cruise is always exciting, but it can be difficult to know what to expect. From packing to embarkation day and exploring new ports, there’s a lot to consider when preparing for a cruise vacation.

In order to make sure you have the best cruise possible, you’ll want to avoid the common pitfalls and mistakes many newbie cruisers make. Even a small mistake can have a negative impact on the enjoyment of your cruise, and you’ll want to avoid making decisions that can ultimately ruin your time onboard.

Here are the top 20 worst cruise ship mistakes that will ruin your cruise vacation.

Packing important items in your checked luggage

When you arrive at the cruise terminal on embarkation day, you have the option to check in your luggage with porters. Most passengers opt to do this to avoid the hassle of lugging their suitcases around the ship on embarkation day.

Before handing off your suitcases to the porters, double check to make sure you have everything you’ll need to embark the ship in your carry-on bag.

Related: The Ultimate Cruise Packing List

It’s important to keep identification, medication, items for your kids, etc. in your carry-on bag to ensure they’re handy on embarkation day.

Bringing the wrong documentation

One of the top ways to ruin a cruise is by being denied boarding in the first place! Before you book a cruise, make sure to review which necessary documentation is required for your sailing.

Related: Do you need a passport for a cruise?

Necessary documentation for your cruise depends on your citizenship, residency, and from where in the world you are embarking a cruise ship. Review Royal Caribbean’s official policy on necessary identification here to ensure you have the proper documentation for your cruise.

Having an expired passport

In addition to having proper documentation for a cruise, make sure it will be valid at the time of travel. You don’t want to realize your passport expired as you’re packing for the cruise!

You must ensure your passport is valid for at least 6 months after your cruise. If your cruise is in June but your passport expires in July, you may be denied boarding.

Be aware of when your passport (or driver’s license) expires and plan accordingly if it will expire before the cruise. Passport renewals can take several weeks, so it’s important to plan ahead to ensure you don’t miss your cruise.

Not researching anything in port

We don’t recommend “winging it” when it comes to visiting a new cruise port. With limited time in each destination, you’ll want to make the most of your time and have the best experience possible.

While you don’t have to plan your port day down to the minute, knowing the basics of what your port has to offer can help you plan the perfect day.

Related: Best shore excursion in every Caribbean cruise port

Research the port’s top attractions, culture, food, and language. It’s better to be knowledgeable about what you can do in port so you don’t regret not experiencing something in the destination later on.

Not putting your phone in airplane mode

One of the most expensive mistakes you can make on a Royal Caribbean cruise is forgetting to put your cell phone in airplane mode. Leaving your phone’s data on can lead to expensive international roaming charges, and no one wants to be surprised with a huge bill.

Cell service on cruise ships is not covered even if you have a phone plan with international coverage. Therefore, regardless of your phone provider or where in the world you are cruising, always make sure to put your phone on airplane mode when your ship is sailing.

Booking a flight the same day your cruise begins

One piece of advice we give over and over again is to arrive in your embarkation port the day before your cruise.

Booking a flight that arrives the same day of your cruise is risky. Weather delays, technical issues, and unexpected mishaps can easily cause you to miss the ship. Booking a flight that arrives the day before your cruise provides extra wiggle room in case of any travel issues.

Airline travel has always been unpredictable, so be sure to plan for extra travel time.

Booking flights too early on disembarkation day

Just like traveling to your cruise port, you’ll want to plan wiggle room for any delays you might encounter on disembarkation day.

Most cruise ships return to port around 6AM on disembarkation day. This does not mean, however, that you are able to disembark the ship at 6AM.

Disembarkation usually starts around 7AM, with most guests off the ship by 9:30AM. Disembarkation, travel to the airport, checking bags, and going through security can take a few hours, especially if the port is far from the airport.

We don’t recommend booking a flight before 12PM, although it’s important to research travel times from your cruise port to the airport. Some airports, like Fort Lauderdale, are located just a few minutes from the cruise terminal whereas others require more travel time.

Picking the cheapest cruise you see

Everyone loves finding a good deal, but don’t book a cruise based solely on price. Booking a cruise based on price ignores other important factors like ship size, itinerary, activity options, and stateroom choices.

Related: Why you shouldn’t book the cheapest cruise you can find

Before you book the cheapest cruise you can find, be sure to consider these factors. You don’t want to book a cheap cruise only to realize the itinerary isn’t what you wanted or that there are limited activities for kids onboard.

Do research before booking to make sure your cruise vacation is as amazing as possible.

Picking the wrong ship

Royal Caribbean cruise ships may all offer a classic Royal Caribbean experience, but amenities, size, and activity options vary widely. Although you can have an excellent cruise on any ship, you might prefer one style of cruising over another.

If you’re traveling with kids, for example, you might want to consider a ship with an abundance of family-friendly activities. Voyager, Freedom, Quantum, and Oasis Class ships have activities like waterslides, Splashaway Bay, a FlowRider, zip line, and ice skating.

Related: 8 questions to ask yourself before picking a cruise ship

If your main goal is to visit exotic ports, you’ll want to look for a cruise on a smaller ship. Royal Caribbean deploys its older, smaller cruise ships on more unique itineraries to places like Fiji, the Panama Canal, and Croatia.

The more research you do on Royal Caribbean ships before booking your cruise will help avoid any disappointment upon boarding.

Not packing sunscreen

No one likes getting sunburned, and a bad burn can severely impact the enjoyment of your cruise vacation.

If you’re cruising to a warm destination, you’ll probably be spending much more time in the sun than you’re used to. Whether lounging on the beach or sightseeing in a city, it’s important to apply and reapply sunscreen throughout the day.

Booking shore excursions in every port

If you’re new to cruising, you might assume you should book shore excursions in every port you visit, but this isn’t necessarily the case.

While shore excursions can offer a stress-free way to see the top sights of any port, they come with several drawbacks. Large tour groups, little time spent in each destination, and a higher price than exploring independently are just some of the cons of booking a shore excursion.

Many ports can be easily explored without an organized tour. Plenty of passengers prefer disembarking the ship and spending their day exactly how they want to spend it. Whether that means taking a taxi to a local beach or shopping downtown, there are many ways to spend time in port without an excursion.

If you’re debating between booking an excursion or exploring on your own, these tips should help you make a decision:

• 7 ways to have a great time in port without a cruise ship shore excursion
• Top 10 cruise ship shore excursion mistakes to avoid
• 5 quick and easy tips for finding a great shore excursion on your own
• 5 cruise ship shore excursions I tried and instantly regretted
• What to do if Royal Caribbean’s shore excursions are sold out

Getting upset about itinerary changes

Itinerary changes are possible on a cruise, so it’s important to understand that the cruise you originally planned for may encounter changes.

Changes can occur due to weather, port restrictions, medical emergencies, unrest in a port of call, etc. Therefore, it’s extremely important to be flexible with any itinerary changes.

Instead of declaring your cruise “ruined” due to an itinerary change, view the change with excitement instead of anger. If you will be visiting a new destination, research the best things to do in port, local cuisine, and culture. If your port stop was replaced with a sea day, plan something special for the extra time onboard, such as visiting the spa or reserving dinner at a specialty restaurant.

As with everything in life, changes can happen unexpectedly, but you shouldn’t let an itinerary change ruin your cruise.

Being rude to crew members

Royal Caribbean’s crew members work extremely hard on their multi-month contracts. Most crew work 7 days a week while still maintaining a positive attitude and helping guests in every way they can.

While most ship operations run smoothly, there’s always a chance something will go astray. If your dining room waiter accidentally brings you the wrong appetizer or a bartender charges for the wrong drink, approach the situation politely.

Being rude and yelling at crew members is never a nice way to go about your cruise vacation. If something bothers you, you can calmly ask a crew member to resolve the problem.

Missing the cruise ship

A surefire way to ruin any cruise vacation is by missing your cruise ship and being left behind in port. Whether you arrived late on embarkation day or lost track of time at the beach in Mexico, missing the ship is an unfortunate scenario.

Related: What happens if you miss your cruise ship?

Missing your ship is, more often than not, an expensive and time-consuming ordeal, especially if you’re traveling without a passport.

Visits to the US embassy for emergency identification documents and last-minute airline prices are not ideal. Be sure to keep track of time when in port to ensure your cruise ship doesn’t leave without you.

Not purchasing travel insurance

Another way to ruin your cruise vacation is by not purchasing travel insurance.

Traveling can lead to many surprises, from canceled flights to emergency doctor visits. Having travel insurance ensures you are financially covered in the most unpredictable situations.

Related: Should you buy annual travel insurance plans?

In fact, Royal Caribbean’s onboard medical services are not covered under most insurance plans that work at home. Travel insurance, on the other hand, should cover any medical services you may require once onboard.

Not leaving clothes out for disembarkation day

Before you put luggage outside your stateroom door the night before disembarkation, be sure to leave clothes to wear the following morning.

The night before disembarkation, you can opt to place luggage in the hallway which will be transported to the cruise terminal for pick up the next morning. Although this is a hassle-free way of moving your luggage from place to place, be sure to leave daytime clothes for disembarkation day.

You don’t want to disembark the ship in your pajamas!

Forgetting medicine

One of, if not the most important thing to pack for a cruise is any prescription medication you require. Check and double check to make sure all necessary medication is in your carry-on bag before leaving for a cruise.

While you’ll find pharmacy options in port and in the ship’s medical center, there’s no guarantee your specific medication and brand will be stocked.

It’s a good idea to pack over-the-counter medications with you as well, such as motion-sickness medication, ibuprofen, anti-nausea tablets, etc.

Selecting the wrong cabin type

One surefire way to negatively impact your cruise vacation is by selecting the wrong cabin type or location.

Before booking the cheapest or first cabin you see, consider what you’re looking for in a cruise vacation.

If you plan to spend the whole day outside of your cabin, an inside room can be a budget-friendly option. If you’d rather enjoy the privacy of a balcony, however, consider booking a higher category room.

Related: Guide to balcony staterooms on Royal Caribbean

Your cabin location is another important factor to consider before booking a cruise. Some cabins may be more prone to movement than others, whereas some are located closer to certain venues onboard.

Before picking a cruise ship cabin location, be sure to read our guide on the best cabins on a cruise ship.

Arguing with other passengers

Did you know every Royal Caribbean cruise ship has a jail onboard? Make sure you don’t end up there.

With thousands of passengers on any cruise ship, arguments and conflict can occasionally occur.

Just like in any land-based setting, it’s best to avoid conversations about politics and controversial topics with fellow passengers. Be courteous of those around you on a cruise and you’ll avoid any major issues.

Not checking your bill at the end of the cruise

Every purchase you make onboard is charged to your SeaPass card. You can check your account balance throughout the cruise via the Royal Caribbean app, and we recommend looking at the balance periodically to check for any errors.

You may occasionally encounter an incorrect charge, and it's always better to catch this mistake while onboard instead of at home. If you don't check your invoice until the cruise ends, you'll have to call Royal Caribbean and wait on hold. It's much easier to go to Guest Services while onboard to take care of any billing issues.

More cruise tips & tricks:

• 30 Do's and Don'ts for the first day of your cruise
• 8 cruise tips for first-time Royal Caribbean cruisers
• What’s included in your Royal Caribbean cruise fare
• 5 quick and easy tips for finding a great shore excursion on your own
• Food on a Royal Caribbean cruise
• Which is the best Royal Caribbean cruise ship?
• What is the best time to go on a Caribbean cruise?

There’s no denying that there is plenty of unlimited, complimentary food on a Royal Caribbean cruise. Many guests, however, prefer spending extra to dine at Royal Caribbean’s specialty restaurants, and one of the best ways to do this is by purchasing an Unlimited Dining Package.

With Royal Caribbean’s Unlimited Dining Package, you can dine at specialty restaurants for brunch, lunch, and dinner every day of the cruise. A dining package is almost always a more economical option than purchasing restaurant reservations individually, making it a nice value for those hoping for a more upscale dining experience.

Let’s take a look at everything you need to know about Royal Caribbean’s Unlimited Dining Package.

How much does the Unlimited Dining Package cost?

The Unlimited Dining Package can vary per sailing, but here are a few sample prices you can expect for an Unlimited Dining Package (no gratuity added):

• 3-night cruise: $115 per guest
• 4-night cruise: $150 per guest
• 7-night cruise: $260 per guest

An 18% gratuity will be added to the total cost of the Unlimited Dining Package upon checkout.

How and when should I book the Unlimited Dining Package?

The Unlimited Dining Package can be booked prior to your cruise via Royal Caribbean’s Cruise Planner website. Royal Caribbean may also sell dining packages on embarkation day once you board the ship if they have availability.

If you want to book an Unlimited Dining Package for your cruise, however, it’s best to do so as soon as possible.

It’s never a good idea to wait to book a dining package hoping the price will drop. Royal Caribbean allows guests to cancel and rebook any pre-cruise purchases on the Cruise Planner website up to 48 hours before their cruise.

Related: The Ultimate Guide to the Royal Caribbean Cruise Planner site

Therefore, if you purchase a dining package for $200 and later see the price dropped to $150, you can cancel and rebook the package at the lower cost with no penalties.

À la carte vs cover charge restaurants

There are two types of specialty restaurants: those with a cover charge and those with à la carte options. With an Unlimited Dining Package, you won’t have to worry about paying a cover charge for each restaurant individually, as everything is included in the cost of the dining package.

Cover charge restaurants usually charge between $35 and $60 for dinner per person. Therefore, an Unlimited Dining Package is cheaper than paying for all cover charge restaurants individually if you plan to enjoy several meals during the cruise.

Cover charge restaurants

Cover charge restaurants include an all-you-can-eat meal for one set cost. For these restaurants, you can choose as many appetizers, main courses, and desserts as you’d like.

With a dining package, you won’t have to consider the individual cost of each item when dining at a cover charge restaurant.

Cover charge restaurants include:

• Jamie’s Italian
• Giovanni’s Table
• Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen
• Chops Grille
• The Mason Jar
• Wonderland
• Izumi Hibachi/Teppanyaki
• 150 Central Park
• Hooked Seafood
• Samba Grill
• Sabor
• Johnny Rockets (sit-down location)
• Chef’s Table

À la carte restaurants

À la carte restaurants, on the other hand, put a price on each menu item. Instead of offering one set price per meal, you’ll have to pay for each individual item.

How does this work with a dining package? Depending on the restaurant, you’ll receive either $20 or $35 in food credit. You can put this credit toward appetizers, main courses, or desserts.

With the exception of Izumi Sushi, you can only dine at à la carte restaurants once per day. You cannot break up the $20 food credit in multiple trips to the restaurant on the same day.

À la carte restaurants include:

• Portside BBQ
• Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade
• Izumi Sushi
• Johnny Rockets Express
• Fish & Ships

Are there any limitations with the Unlimited Dining Package?

The Unlimited Dining Package comes with a few basic rules that you should know about before your cruise:

• Guests with a dining package must wait to make reservations at specialty restaurants until they board the ship
• One reservation must be used on the first or second night of the sailing
• For restaurants with à la carte pricing, you receive a $20 credit which can only be used once a day
• Izumi Hibachi has a $15 surcharge on top of the dining package, which will be charged onboard
• Certain venues are excluded from dining packages (Chef’s Table, Vintages, etc.)
• You’ll receive a discount of 40% off bottles of wine under $100 and 20% off bottles above $100 while dining in specialty restaurants

Which restaurants are NOT included in the Unlimited Dining Package?

Special dining experiences like Chef’s Table, wine pairing dinners, and the Mystery Dinner Theater are excluded from the Unlimited Dining Package.

Tapas and small bites offered at venues like Vintages and The Bamboo Room are also not included in a dining package. These small bites will be priced à la carte and charged to your onboard account.

For ships with Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar, the dining package covers food when dining at the Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen restaurant. However, it does not include food ordered from the Giovanni’s Wine Bar menu.

Starbucks, Ben & Jerry’s, La Patisserie, and Sugar Beach are also not included with the Unlimited Dining Package.

How can I make dining reservations with the Unlimited Dining Package?

If you purchase a dining package, you must wait until you board the ship on embarkation day to make reservations. We recommend that you do this as soon as possible once onboard to ensure you can book the restaurants and times that work best for you.

Once onboard, head to any specialty restaurant to make reservations for the duration of your cruise. You do not have to visit each restaurant individually. If you visit Chops Grille, for example, you can make reservations for all other restaurants at the same time.

The only exception to this rule is with Izumi Hibachi. If you plan to dine at Izumi Hibachi during your cruise, reservations must be made at the restaurant itself. Therefore, we recommend making all dining reservations at Izumi Hibachi and heading to the restaurant right after boarding.

When can I dine at specialty restaurants?

You can dine at specialty restaurants for breakfast (brunch), lunch, and dinner. All specialty restaurants are open for dinner each day, whereas the availability of brunch and lunch can differ by restaurant and ship.

The Mason Jar–Royal Caribbean’s southern-inspired restaurant–is only open for brunch on sea days, for example, and does not offer lunch. 150 Central Park and Wonderland, on the other hand, are only open for dinner.

Related: The Mason Jar Southern food restaurant review on Wonder of the Seas

Most specialty restaurants that offer lunch will be open for lunch on sea days and select port days.

Should I purchase an Unlimited Dining Package for my kids?

If you’re sailing with children under 12 and plan to dine at specialty restaurants, you don’t necessarily need to book a dining package for them.

Children 5 and under dine at specialty restaurants for free, and children aged 6-12 can be added to a dining reservation for only $10 per child.

If you do want to purchase a dining package for kids, though, you’ll find it’s offered at a much lower price than for adults. A 7-night Unlimited Dining Package, for example, may be priced at $260 per adult and only $77 per child.

Pros & Cons of the Unlimited Dining Package

If you’re trying to determine whether or not the Unlimited Dining Package is worth it on Royal Caribbean, it’s helpful to take a look at the pros and cons of this package before booking.

Check out our YouTube video on the Royal Caribbean Blog YouTube Channel to learn more about the pros and cons of a Royal Caribbean Unlimited Dining Package:

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Want to learn more about dining on a Royal Caribbean cruise? Here are some helpful tips:

• Food on a Royal Caribbean cruise
• Top Ten Royal Caribbean Dining Tips
• What is the best Royal Caribbean specialty restaurant?
• I tried Royal Caribbean’s least well-known specialty restaurant: here’s what I thought

Purchasing travel insurance is crucial before going on a Royal Caribbean cruise, and if you travel frequently, you’ll want to consider an annual travel insurance plan.

Protecting your cruise vacation in the case of medical emergencies, travel delays, or other unforeseen mishaps should not be overlooked. Having travel insurance ensures you’ll be covered if things don’t go to plan at any point during your trip.

Instead of purchasing travel insurance for each individual trip, though, you might want to purchase an annual travel insurance plan. Let’s take a look at what these plans offer and how they can be an excellent value if you travel several times throughout the year.

What is annual travel insurance, and why should you consider it?

Annual travel insurance plans provide insurance coverage for one year of travel, therefore providing coverage for multiple trips as opposed to a trip-by-trip basis. For one set price, you’ll receive travel insurance on a full year's worth of trips (provided the destination is 100+ miles from your home).

You should consider annual travel insurance if you travel more than 2-3 times during the year. Annual travel insurance works not only for cruises, but all types of traveling and vacations. Even if you only plan to take one cruise per year, your annual travel insurance plan will work for any other trips you have booked throughout the year, whether short weekend getaways or business trips.

The cost of an annual travel insurance policy will vary depending on the specific coverage you require, your age, and where you live.

My Allianz Annual Travel Insurance plan, for example, costs $280 for the year, which I find to be extremely reasonable considering purchasing insurance on a trip-by-trip basis can easily be much more expensive in the course of a year. 

What does travel insurance cover while on a cruise, and why should I get it?

It’s never a good idea to go on a cruise without travel insurance. While you may want to save the added expense and put the money toward something fun on your cruise vacation, such as a shore excursion or dining package, don’t underestimate the importance of travel insurance.

Many passengers partake in active activities on a cruise vacation that they may not do often at home, such as jet-skiing, zip lining, kayaking, and horseback riding. Any active activity comes with a risk, and you cannot predict if you’ll need medical attention while in port or onboard.

Because regular medical insurance will not usually cover medical services onboard or in port, it’s recommended to have travel insurance.

Additionally, a cruise vacation, like any other type of travel, poses a risk for trip interruption, delays, and other unexpected issues. From a bag getting lost in transit to flight cancellations, it’s always better to be protected than to not have insurance when you need it most.

Travel insurance benefits can vary by policy, but you can expect to see the following items covered:

• Trip cancellation (you have to cancel a trip before you depart)
• Trip interruption (travel plans interrupted while on a trip)
• Travel delay coverage (with a minimum required delay)
• Baggage delays/loss (lost or delayed bag by an airline, cruise line, or other travel carrier)
• Rental car damage and theft coverage
• Emergency transportation coverage
• Emergency medical/dental coverage
• Medical expenses on a cruise
• Travel accident coverage
• Epidemic/pandemic coverage

What's the downside of an annual travel insurance plan?

One difference worth noting about an annual travel insurance plan versus purchasing individual travel insurance policies is the coverage amounts.

The total coverages can be less with an annual plan compared to an individual plan.  Certainly an annual plan will cover the essentials, but if you are looking to add the utmost coverage in terms of liabilities, individual travel insurance plans can often include higher amounts.

Our Annual Travel Insurance Plan recommendation

Here at Royal Caribbean Blog, we protect our trips with an annual travel insurance plan through Allianz. Allianz Travel offers travel insurance for individual trips, annual plans, and car rentals.

To be clear, Royal Caribbean Blog has no affiliation with Allianz. We just like what they offer.

They offer three types of annual travel insurance plans: Executive, Prime, and Basic. We recommend the Prime option for the best balance of affordability and coverage.

It’s important to note that trips longer than 45 days are excluded from coverage under these plans. Unless you’re planning six back-to-back cruises in a row, this shouldn’t be an issue for most travelers.

You can read more about the annual travel insurance plans on Allianz’s website here.

What if I have a credit card with travel benefits?

Select premium credit cards offer travel insurance perks–provided you book the trip with that credit card. However, you should weigh the benefits offered through your credit card versus a traditional travel insurance plan before relying on your credit card’s insurance.

Not all cards offer emergency medical coverage or higher limits of trip cancellation protection. Check the following details before using only your credit card’s travel insurance before a cruise:

• What is covered under your credit card’s travel protection?
• What is the limit on reimbursement for both individual trips and the maximum reimbursement per year?
• Does this card cover medical expenses on a cruise ship?
• What is the maximum amount of days covered per trip through your credit card insurance?
• Does the card cover just you or anyone on the trip reservation you booked through the card?

It’s unlikely a credit card’s travel protection will offer as much protection as a standard travel insurance plan, but you should contact your credit card policy to check.

Other cruise tips & information:

• 25 best Royal Caribbean tips, tricks & hidden secrets
• Top 20 things to do before going on a cruise
• How to prevent seasickness on a cruise
• Royal Caribbean ship classes guide & explanation
• 9 incredibly easy cruise mistakes to avoid

Royal Caribbean has revealed its Black Friday and Cyber Week sale with savings of up to $600 on cruise fares.

Royal Caribbean’s Black Friday and Cyber Monday cruise deals will run between November 18 - November 22, 2022. The sale will open a day early on November 17, 2022 for Crown and Anchor guests.

Anyone looking to book a cruise or purchase pre-cruise add-ons like drink packages and shore excursions may have to wait a bit longer.

The new offer includes instant savings on cruise fare, 30% off every guest, and a Kids Sail Free promotion. Additionally, the Cruise Planner sale includes savings up to 50% on dining, 35% on internet packages, and 50% on drink packages.

While the promotion’s name will change throughout the course of Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday, the promotional offer remains the same during the sale.

Royal Caribbean Black Friday 2022 sale details

Dates:  November 17, 2022 for Crown and Anchor preview and November 18, 2022 - November 22, 2022 on sailings departing on or after December 18, 2022.

Cruise Fare deals

Instant Savings up to $600 per stateroom on sailings departing departing on or after December 18, 2022.

• Sailings 5 nights or less: $75 for Interior and Ocean View, $125 for Balconies and $200 for Suites
• Sailings 6 nights or longer: $100 for Interior and Ocean View, $150 for Balconies, $600 for Suites

30% off every guest: 30% savings off the cruise fare for all guests in the stateroom. Savings will be applied to cruise fare at checkout.

Kids Sail Free: Kids Sail Free provides free cruise fare for the 3rd guests and higher in a cabin. Guests must be 12 years or younger as of cruise departure date and booked in the same stateroom as the first two qualifying guests in a triple or quad-occupancy stateroom.

• Kids Sail Free applies to new bookings made between November 1 – 30, 2022 on sailings departing on or after December 1, 2022 – April 30, 2025, providing free cruise fare for third guests and higher who are 12 years old and younger as of departure date on sailings 3 nights or longer booked in the same stateroom as the first two qualifying guests in a triple or quad- occupancy stateroom.
• Kids Sail Free excludes Thanksgiving sailings departing November 18, 2022 – November 25, 2022; November 17, 2023 – November 24, 2023; November 22, 2024 – November 29, 2024, Holiday sailings departing December 18, 2022 – January 6, 2023; December 16, 2023 – January 5, 2024; December 20, 2024 – January 3, 2025, Spring break sailings departing March 10, 2023 – March 24, 2023; March 8, 2024 – March 22, 2024; March 7, 2025 – March 28, 2025, Holy Week/Easter sailings departing April 1, 2023 – April 11, 2023; March 22, 2024 – April 4, 2024; April 12, 2025 – April 24, 2025, Summer Sailings departing May 24, 2023 – September 1, 2023; May 22, 2024 – August 30, 2024 and Radiance Alaska Cruisetour sailings departing May 19, 2023 – September 15, 2023. 

Related: Royal Caribbean Kids Sail Free 2022-2023 Dates & Tips

Cruise Planner deals

In addition to sales on cruise fare, Royal Caribbean has also announced its Black Friday deals on Cruise Planner purchases. Drink packages, dining packages, internet, and other pre-cruise add-ons all qualify for discounts.

Related: The Ultimate Guide to the Royal Caribbean Cruise Planner site

The Cyber Week sale is valid on purchases made Friday, November 18, 2022 – Friday, November 25, 2022 and applies to sailings departing between November 24, 2022 – December 31, 2023.

Here is what is included during the sale:

All Access Ship Tour: 30% Off Onboard Prices

• All Access Ship tour: 30% Off Onboard Prices

Beverage: Up to 50% off

• Classic Soda Beverage Package: 40% Off onboard prices
• Classic Soda Beverage Package + VOOM Surf & Stream 1 Device.
• Water Bottle Pacakage: 50% off onboard prices.
• San Benedetto Water Cans: 50% off onboard prices.
• Evian Water Bottles: 50% off onboard prices.
• Deluxe Beverage Package: Discount varies by ship
• Deluxe Beverage Package + VOOM Surf & Stream 1 Device: Discount varies by ship.
• Refreshment Package: Package: 40% off onboard prices. Discount varies by ship.

Shore Excursions: Up to 50% off

• Shore Excursions: Discount varies by ship

Internet: Up to 35% off

• The Key: Discount varies by ship
• VOOM Surf + Stream Voyage Package 1, 2, 3, 4 Device(s): Discount varies by ship
• VOOM Surf Voyage Package 1, 2, 3, 4 Device(s): Discount varies by ship

Dining: Up to 50% off

• Unlimited Dining Package on 3N – 9N sailings: Discount varies by ship.
• Lunch at Chops Grille: 30% off onboard prices
• Lunch at Jamie's Italian Restaurant: 30% off onboard prices
• Dinner at Jamie's Italian Restaurant: 25% off onboard prices
• Dinner at Giovanni's Table: 25% off onboard prices
• Giovanni's Italian Kitchen: 25% off onboard prices
• Giovanni's Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar: 25% off onboard prices

Activities: 30% off

• All Access Ship tour: 30% Off Onboard Prices

Gifts & Gear: Up to 20% off

• Anniversary Decorations with Champagne
• Happy Birthday Decorations with Chocolate Cake & Strawberries: 35 % off onboard prices
• Happy Birthday Decorations with Vanilla Cake & Strawberries: 35 % off onboard prices
• Inky Beach Set: 30% off onboard prices
• Inky Beach Towel (TicTacToe): 35% off onboard prices
• Inky Octopus Family Travel Set: 30% off onboard prices
• Red Wine and Cheese : 30% off onboard prices
• Royal Caribbean Beach Towel: 45% off onboard prices
• Strawberries with Champagne: 30% off onboard prices
• White Wine and Cheese: 30% off onboard prices
• Happy Anniversary Decorations: 40% off onboard prices
• Happy Birthday Bright Style: 40% Off onboard Prices
• Winter Blanket: 30% off onboard prices

Photo Packages: Up to 65% off

• Photo Packages: From 5 - 100 Print and/or Digital Options: Discount varies by ship.
• Photo Package: Private Photo Session: Discount varies by ship.
• Photo Package: All Digital: Discount varies by ship.

Spa: Up to 30% off

• Spa Packages: Discount varies by ship

What to do now to prepare for Black Friday

Book a cruise now

If you have your eye on a Royal Caribbean cruise, it’s best to book it now regardless of which sale is currently available. One of the best ways to save money on your cruise is to book a cruise now and re-price the cruise fare up until the final payment date.

If you book a cruise during the Black Friday sale for $1500, for example, and see that the price later lowers to $1200, you will pay the lower fare provided you have not yet made final payment on the cruise. You must contact your travel agent or Royal Caribbean to take advantage of the new cruise fare.

Therefore, there’s no harm in booking a cruise you’re interested in during the Black Friday sale. Although there's no guarantee Black Friday will bring the best sales during the year, it’s better to book early and re-price than wait to book and see that the cruise fare has increased.

Check if the price is lower on your booked cruises

If you already have a cruise booked, have not made final payment, and want to check if the cruise fare has lowered with the Black Friday sale, your best bet is to make a mock booking.

To make a mock booking, go to Royal Caribbean’s website, find your cruise, and go through as much of the checkout process as you can. By doing this, you’ll see the current cruise fare with gratuities, taxes, and fees added.

You can compare Royal Caribbean’s current price for this sailing with what you originally paid. If the price is lower, contact your travel agent or Royal Caribbean directly to re-price your cruise and save money.

Another option is to contact your travel agent and ask them to check if the price of your booked cruise is lower under the new sale.

Cancel and rebook Cruise Planner add-ons if the price is lower

If you’ve already purchased add-ons like an internet package or spa service for your upcoming cruise, be sure to check the price of the add-on under the Black Friday and Cyber Monday sale.

If the price is lower, you can cancel and rebook the add-on with no penalty up to 48 hours before your cruise date.

More helpful information:

• Should you buy pre-cruise purchases now or wait to buy it onboard?
• 45 ways to save money on a Royal Caribbean cruise
• How much should I budget for a cruise?

Every cruise is bound to come with aspects you enjoyed, but you may also encounter certain parts of the cruise you disliked or wish you did differently.

I recently returned from a 4-night cruise on Liberty of the Seas. This was my first time sailing on this ship, but because I had sailed on other Freedom Class ships before, I thought I had a pretty good idea of what to expect.

Every cruise comes with surprises, though, and I encountered both positive and negative surprises onboard Liberty of the Seas. From the waterslides to entertainment and food, here is what I liked and disliked about my Liberty of the Seas cruise.

What I liked

Washy Washy ladies

Walking into the Windjammer buffet on any Royal Caribbean ship is sure to be met with the words "Washy Washy” as the Windjammer staff encourage guests to wash their hands before entering.

While Liberty of the Seas does not yet have hand washing facilities in the Windjammer, there’s 0% chance any guest will enter the buffet without clean hands.

The reason? The “Washy Washy” ladies, also known as the happiest, most colorful, and funniest crew members you’ll find onboard.

Related: Guide to Royal Caribbean's Windjammer Cafe buffet

As soon as you arrive at the Windjammer, you’ll find one of these crew members dressed in a costume (which changed each day) and holding a bottle of hand sanitizer. While this may sound like a boring job, these women danced, sang, laughed, and had huge smiles when everyone passed through the Windjammer’s doors.

They had the most energy I've ever seen from any crew member (or maybe any person ever). We looked forward to our meals in the Windjammer every day not only for the food, but for the guaranteed entertainment we would encounter when needing to sanitize our hands.

Tidal Wave waterslide

I don’t usually use the waterslides on a Royal Caribbean cruise, especially the ones that are fully enclosed, as they make me feel a little too claustrophobic. Liberty of the Seas, however, has one of the fleet’s most unique waterslides: the Tidal Wave.

The Tidal Wave waterslide is a raft slide, and two guests can slide down together before “boomeranging” off a large wall. While the ride is really short, it was way more fun than I initially anticipated.

We went on the slide over and over again and couldn’t get enough!

Saturday Night Fever

Something that makes Liberty of the Seas unique is that she has a Broadway show available onboard: Saturday Night Fever. I knew nothing about this show before I entered the theater, but was beyond impressed by the acting and dancing of the cast members.

This show follows the story of a Brooklynite, Tony Manero, who spends his weekends at a local disco dancing and finding love while also distracting himself from life’s struggles. The show features dancing with songs from the Bees Gees, KC and the Sunshine Band, and Tavares.

Related: Broadway shows on Royal Caribbean: Everything you need to know

My favorite part of Saturday Night Fever were the performances from the crew members playing the Puerto Rican dancers in the story. If I could give one reason to see this show, it would be to watch this dance couple cha cha, merengue, and salsa their way around the stage.

While I wouldn’t say it was my favorite Broadway show on a Royal Caribbean ship (that goes to We Will Rock You on Anthem of the Seas), I would definitely see the show again next time I’m onboard.

Freedom Class features

Freedom Class cruise ships are some of my favorite ships in Royal Caribbean’s fleet. Just like on Independence and Freedom of the Seas, I enjoyed the features of a Freedom Class ship on my Liberty of the Seas cruise.

Read more: Freedom of the Seas vs. Liberty of the Seas

I love having access to the ship’s helicopter pad, taking walks on the scenic outdoor Promenade deck, and hanging out at the outdoor Diamond lounge deck.

Related: All about Freedom Class cruise ships

I find the size of a Freedom Class ship to be ideal, too, as it isn’t too big nor too small. Plus, the shorter Caribbean itineraries offered on Freedom Class ships means they always have a higher “party” atmosphere compared to longer cruises or itineraries visiting places like Alaska.

I spent a lot of time outdoors on Liberty of the Seas, whether relaxing on the helicopter pad or suntanning at the outdoor Solarium, and I have no complaints about the Freedom Class-specific features and amenities.

Classical guitar at Vintages

During my Liberty of the Seas cruise, a classical guitar player performed outside of Vintages wine bar each evening.

I don’t usually spend too much time at Vintages while on a Royal Caribbean cruise, but sipping a glass of wine with live guitar music created the perfect atmosphere that I kept coming back to every day.

What I disliked

No Izumi

I found it quite odd that there was no Izumi restaurant on Liberty of the Seas, as Royal Caribbean’s Japanese specialty restaurant can be found on nearly every ship in the fleet. Even 3 out of the 4 smallest ships, the Vision Class, have an Izumi location!

Instead of Izumi, Liberty of the Seas offers specialty dining at Chops Grille, Giovanni’s Table, Sabor, and Chef’s Table. While I love all of these options, I felt something was missing without Izumi onboard.

Part of the Windjammer buffet is named “Jade” and supposedly this used to be a specialty sushi counter where guests could purchase sushi at an extra cost. This did not appear to be offered on my Liberty of the Seas cruise.

Perfect Storm waterslides

Speaking of how much I loved the Tidal Wave slide on Liberty of the Seas, the opposite can be said for the Perfect Storm waterslides.

Royal Caribbean’s Perfect Storm waterslides are found on several ships in the fleet. These racing slides twist and turn several times as guests make their way downhill.

Related: Which Royal Caribbean ships have waterslides?

I’ve gone on these slides on other ships and found them exciting, but I was disappointed with the slides on Liberty of the Seas. The water pressure was extremely light and the slides had such a low slope that I had to push myself down.

The water pressure might be strong enough to get kids down the slide quickly, but it took us adults a while to reach the bottom!

Long lines

I'm not sure if this is something specific to Liberty of the Seas, but I encountered worse lines on this ship than any other in the fleet so far.

Whether grabbing an ice cream cone on the pool deck, a slice of pizza at Sorrento's, or boarding the ship after our port day, the lines seemed to be longer and slower than usual.

The Italian-themed dinner in the Windjammer, in fact, had lines so long we didn't even dare wait for pasta. 

I may have just gotten to these places at the wrong time, and an extra five minutes of waiting here and there was fine, but this was one thing I didn’t enjoy about my Liberty of the Seas cruise.

Game show

My cousin and I were looking for a way to pass the time one evening and came across an activity I had never seen before: Game Show: Rock the Room.

This show appeared to be a dancing competition between different sides of the room where both the game show’s participants and audience stood up and danced.

If I ever wanted to show a new cruiser that cruising can be modern and trendy, this would absolutely not be the way to do it. This show was like a stereotypical cruise ship activity you’d see on a comedy skit poking fun at cruises, and I couldn’t think of a better way to describe the show than “cringeworthy”.

We dipped out almost immediately after the show began. Two minutes later, I saw a huge hoard of other guests leaving the Star Lounge. One guest mentioned it was a “mass exodus”, so I wasn't the only one that didn’t like this activity!

Final thoughts

While there were some aspects of my Liberty of the Seas cruise I didn't enjoy as much as others, I still had a wonderful experience onboard. As a matter of fact, my cruise on Liberty of the Seas was one of the most fun cruises I've experienced yet. From the positive vibes of the crew members to party atmosphere onboard this short sailing, there was never a dull moment.

I'm already looking forward to returning to Liberty of the Seas this January to discover more of what this ship has to offer!

Planning a cruise? Star here:

• 8 cruise tips for first-time Royal Caribbean cruisers
• What’s included in your Royal Caribbean cruise fare
• 5 quick and easy tips for finding a great shore excursion on your own
• Food on a Royal Caribbean cruise
• Which is the best Royal Caribbean cruise ship?
• What is the best time to go on a Caribbean cruise?

Cruises and cocktails go together like peanut butter and jelly. Trying new cocktails is a must on any Royal Caribbean cruise, but it can be tough to know what to order.

I engaged in some strenuous “research” on my recent cruises to taste some of the best cocktails Royal Caribbean has to offer. It’s tough work here at Royal Caribbean Blog, that’s for sure!

From a fruity daiquiri to a bitter old fashioned, here’s our list of the top 10 cocktails to try on your next Royal Caribbean cruise.

Cucumber Martini at 150 Central Park

My experience with Royal Caribbean’s signature Cucumber Martini started with skepticism and ended with pure bliss. I was (slightly) nervous it would feel like I was eating a salad as opposed to drinking a cocktail with my dinner, and I didn’t want the cucumber flavor to be too overwhelming.

When my waiter rolled a cocktail-making cart over to our table, however, I realized this would be a beverage experience unlike any other onboard!

Cucumber Martinis at 150 Central Park—arguably Royal Caribbean’s most elegant specialty restaurant—are prepared tableside. Our waiter mixed Grey Goose Vodka with lemongrass syrup, sweet and sour, cucumber wheels, and basil leaves to create a drink unlike any I’ve tried before.

Related: 38 Royal Caribbean drink recipes perfect for any party

The Cucumber Martini is, to date, the most refreshing drink I’ve had yet on a Royal Caribbean cruise. The citrusy hint of lemongrass mixed with the cool, refreshing taste of cucumber was a unique, fresh flavor that impressed me like no other cocktail onboard.

I had heard excellent things about the Cucumber Martini before my cruise, and I can attest that it lived up to the hype. Outside of 150 Central Park, you can also find the Cucumber Martini at select bars in the fleet, most notably the champagne bars.

Espresso Martini

I’m not a night owl whatsoever. I always struggle to stay up late enough to take advantage of all the entertainment and activities offered in the evenings on a Royal Caribbean cruise.

Enter the Espresso Martini, my favorite “hack” to endless energy on a cruise. Made with vodka, coffee liqueur, and espresso, this cocktail is every bit classy as it is delicious.

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

If you’re sailing on an Oasis Class ship, be sure to order an Espresso Martini at Trellis Bar in Central Park. An evening spent sipping an Espresso Martini in the park with live music in the background? It doesn’t get much more perfect than that!

Margaritas from Sabor

What goes better with chips and guacamole than a margarita? You can find margaritas on any Royal Caribbean cruise ship, but the biggest variety of flavors can be found on ships with Sabor or Cantina Fresca, two of Royal Caribbean’s Mexican-themed bars.

Sabor, for example, highlights the following 3 margaritas on their menu:

• Handcrafted Margarita: Patron Silver tequila, Cointreau, lime juice, agave syrup, muddled limes and oranges with a salt rim
• Avocado Margarita: Patron Silver tequila, orange liqueur, avocado and lime juices, rimmed with Aleppo pepper and lime salt
• Jalapeño-Cucumber Margarita: Patron Silver tequila, Cointreau liqueur, cucumber, jalapeño, cilantro, and lime juice

It’s hard to go wrong with a margarita, and don’t miss the opportunity to taste as many flavors as you can on your next Royal Caribbean cruise.

Mojito from Boleros

If you love Latin music, you’ll love spending time at Boleros on a Royal Caribbean cruise. This Latin-themed bar is found on most Royal Caribbean cruise ships, and they make the best mojito found anywhere onboard.

This traditional Cuban cocktail is made with white rum, sugar, lime juice, soda water, and fresh mint leaves. It hits the spot every time, and you can even try different variations like strawberry mojitos or frozen mojitos. 

Related: Royal Caribbean drink package - your top questions answered

One of my favorite things to do onboard is sip a mojito while listening to the live salsa, merengue, and bossa nova performed at Boleros. And you’ll have excellent people watching opportunities, too, as this venue almost always turns into a dance party.

Caribbean Mule

If you like Moscow Mules, you’ll love the Caribbean Mule found on a Royal Caribbean cruise. Made with Absolut vodka, coconut syrup, lime juice, and Gosling’s ginger beer, I find this drink to have the perfect balance of flavors.

I was originally nervous to order the Caribbean Mule because I thought the ginger flavor might be too strong, but it was just right. The ginger cuts down on some of the sweetness, so I much prefer this drink to an ultra-sweet drink like sangria.

Related: 8 mocktails to try on your next Royal Caribbean cruise

This cocktail is available at most bars and lounges onboard as it is on Royal Caribbean's standard fleetwide drink menu.

Lavender Daiquiri

Lavender in a cocktail? It might sound a bit weird, but you should give the Lavender Daiquiri a shot on your next Royal Caribbean cruise.

Available at Schooner Bar, this cocktail is made with Bacardi Superior rum and lavender syrup. It’s not overly sweet yet offers a unique lavender flavor that doesn’t overpower the drink.

This is one of my go-to cocktails on any cruise, especially during a round of trivia at Schooner Bar.

Love Connection

Perhaps the prettiest drink on this list is the Love Connection. This drink has three layers of frozen, fruity flavors that are sure to be refreshing on a sunny pool day.

This drink combines layers of strawberry daiquiri, mango daiquiri, and piña colada for the ultimate tropical cocktail. You can order the Love Connection from any bar with a blender onboard a Royal Caribbean ship.

Related: Recipe: Love Connection frozen drink

We ordered the Love Connection from Trellis Bar and it made for a fun drink to enjoy while relaxing in Central Park. While sweet, it’s certainly tasty, and is easily converted into a mocktail by omitting the rum!

The Lime & Coconut

Available on Royal Caribbean ships with The Lime and Coconut Bar is the bar’s namesake, the Lime & Coconut cocktail. Made with Malibu Coconut rum, coconut milk, coconut syrup, guava syrup, and lime juice, the Lime & Coconut will transport you directly to the tropics.

The Lime & Coconut is served over ice, although the coconut milk makes it slightly creamy. With the combination of guava and lime, the drink has a citrusy yet sweet flavor. The flavor profile of the drink, especially when adding coconut milk, is unlike any cocktail I’ve had before.

The Lime & Coconut is often served in a Malibu bucket, making for a fun way to enjoy the cocktail while on the pool deck. It’s a vacation cocktail at its finest, so be sure to order The Lime & Coconut if you’re sailing on a ship with The Lime and Coconut bar.

PB&J Old Fashioned

When Royal Caribbean debuted its first southern restaurant and bar, The Mason Jar, on Wonder of the Seas, they also debuted a cocktail menu with flavors and drinks not found elsewhere onboard. Everything from the Mississippi Moonlight—made with blackberry moonshine—to boozy milkshakes are available at The Mason Jar Bar.

Related: The Mason Jar Southern food restaurant review on Wonder of the Seas

The bar’s most popular cocktail quickly became the PB&J Old Fashioned. This cocktail is made with Skrewball peanut butter whiskey and bourbon, strawberry jelly, and walnut bitters. To top it off, the drink is garnished with a mini PB&J sandwich.

I heard nothing but raves from this drink onboard Wonder of the Seas. While I’ll admit that the PB&J Old Fashioned was a bit too strong for my preference, if you love whiskey, you’ll love this inventive rendition of a classic old fashioned.

Banana Colada

My all-time favorite cocktail onboard a Royal Caribbean cruise is also the first drink I ever ordered on my very first cruise: the Banana Colada. I have fond memories of boarding my first cruise on Mariner of the Seas and immediately kicking off the cruise with a drink. Little did I know the Banana Colada would remain, to this day, my favorite Royal Caribbean cocktail!

The Banana Colada combines rum with the flavors of banana, coconut milk, and cinnamon into a frozen drink served, fittingly, with a mini umbrella. This drink screams vacation and a classic piña colada pales drastically in comparison to the Banana Colada.

Related: Check out the signature cocktails at The Bamboo Room

My favorite Banana Colada can be found at The Bamboo Room, available only on Mariner and Navigator of the Seas. However, you can also find a rendition of this cocktail at bars on other Royal Caribbean ships.

Planning a Royal Caribbean cruise? Start here:

• 8 cruise tips for first-time Royal Caribbean cruisers
• What’s included in your Royal Caribbean cruise fare
• 5 quick and easy tips for finding a great shore excursion on your own
• Food on a Royal Caribbean cruise
• Which is the best Royal Caribbean cruise ship?
• What is the best time to go on a Caribbean cruise?

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