The top cruise misconceptions you should know about before you book or cruise!
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Someone that is brand new to cruising might have a few ideas about the experience that don't match up to what it's actually like onboard.
There's a lot of nuances to cruising that makes it understandable why a first-time cruiser might have these concepts about what to expect. Given how frequently these mix-ups occur, it's clearly something that isn't just a problem relegated to a few people.
The good news is many of these misinterpretations can easily be cleared up before someone steps foot on a ship, and the result is very likely a better cruise experience.
We get a lot first-time cruiser questions on our Royal Caribbean message boards, but I wanted to highlight the top concerns raised that end up being the opposite of what the person thought. Perhaps one or more of these concerns will assuage your own anxiety about trying a cruise!
Read more: Top 10 cruise questions first time cruisers are too shy to ask
In case you're wondering, here are the top cruise misconceptions you should know about before you book or cruise!
Royal Caribbean's drink packages are so popular and well-advertised that some people think you need to buy a drink package if you want to venture past what's included.
On any cruise, there's a certain selection of beverages included with your cruise cost, but alcohol, soft drinks, and specialty coffees will cost you extra.
Perhaps because of how prominent a drink package is in the pre-cruise advertising, some people think you'll need to buy a drink package in order to enjoy any of those libations.
The reality is a drink package is only necessary if you'd like to enjoy unlimited extra cost beverages for a fixed price. However, if you just want a coke or two per day, or a beer or glass of wine, paying for drinks a la carte is definitely an option.
When you order a drink that isn't included in your cruise fare, you'll be charged for the cost to your SeaPass account. You can do this as many times as you want.
Drink packages are designed to provide a fixed cost so that people that don't want to worry about running up a giant bill can do so. But you absolutely do not need to get a drink package, especially if you'll only order a few drinks per day.
In case you're wondering, on average, it will take 6-7 cocktails per day to break even on the Deluxe Beverage Package, whereas the Refreshment Package breaks even around 4-5 mocktails. The soda package takes about 3-4 soft drinks per day to break even.
Read more: How much is the drink package on Royal Caribbean?
Because Royal Caribbean requires all adults in a cabin to get a drink package if one adult elects to buy the unlimited alcohol package, the question about kids pops up as well.
It's the policy of Royal Caribbean to require anyone buying the Deluxe Beverage Package that all other adults get one too (although there's a hack for this). But this rule does not apply to minors.
Anyone under the age of 21 in your cabin does not need to get a drink package, regardless if an adult in the same room has the Deluxe Beverage Package.
Piggy-backing on the previous misconception, kids in general, don't need to get a drink package either.
While you could purchase the soda package or non-alcoholic drink package, you don't need to buy them one unless you think it might save you money.
I think almost anyone going on a cruise should purchase travel insurance to protect themselves, but travel insurance does not cover any scenario involving a cancellation.
First and foremost, travel insurance policies are not all the same. Similar to auto insurance, the exact coverages depend on the policy. So you'll want to check what the policy covers and doesn't cover.
Most importantly, most travel insurance plans do not allow a cancellation for any reason. Unless you seek out a "Cancel for any reason" travel insurance policy, it only kicks in if a pre-designated scenario plays out that is typically out of your control.
Typical scenarios for travel insurance to cover include:
There's plenty more, so check the policy.
The misconception about travel insurance is you can decide one day you don't want to go on the cruise when you still have the means to travel.
A great example of this is when there's a hurricane. Someone who's booked on a cruise sees the storm out in the Atlantic and decided they want to cancel because of the storm, but the cruise is still happening and there's been no change to their flights. Travel insurance would not cover this situation.
Therefore, it's very important to double-check the details of any travel insurance policy you purchase to verify it would cover a scenario you have in mind.
Royal Caribbean automatically charges a daily gratuity that you can either be pre-paid or will accrue every day of the cruise, but this doesn't cover every crew member or purchase made onboard.
The daily gratuity is for the complimentary dining room staff and your stateroom attendant only.
This means drink, spa, souvenir, and any other purchase made onboard a Royal Caribbean cruise ship is not included with that gratuity.
As a result, you'll see an automatic 18% gratuity added onto these purchases and listed on the receipt.
When your cruise ship visits a port of call, you don't need to book a shore excursion in order to disembark the ship.
Certainly excursions are the most common and popular way to explore the places your cruise ship will visit. These organized tours provide an easy way to experience the best of these places, but you aren't obliged to purchase one.
Unless you're in a country that requires a visa to visit (Russia, China, Vietnam, et al), you can walk off the ship and walk around and explore on your own without any tour booked.
Some people will just walk around the port area, while others will venture into the city or countryside via taxi, bus, or even on foot.
Neither Royal Caribbean nor the place you are visiting places restrictions on getting off the ship to explore.
The same holds true for Royal Caribbean's private destinations of Perfect Day at CocoCay or Labadee.
Read more:
Similar to the drinks, a lot of first-time cruisers think the food included with your cruise fare is going to be disappointing and specialty dining is the only way to go.
Food is extremely subjective, but the food Royal Caribbean includes is more than adequate and enjoyable.
Whether in the main dining room, Windjammer buffet, or host of other grab-and-go locations, you wont go hungry on a Royal Caribbean cruise. And I think you'll find plenty that's appetizing too!
The specialty restaurants get a lot of attention because they are advertised quite a bit. After all, these are sources of additional revenue for the cruise line, so they're going to make sure you're well-aware of them.
However, Royal Caribbean prides itself on the complimentary food served and you'll find lots of frequent cruisers who dine primarily in the complimentary venues.
There's nothing wrong with indulging in a specialty restaurant or buying a dining package, but don't buy them simply because you think it will be a terrible culinary experience otherwise.
Read more: Food on a Royal Caribbean cruise
This has become a major source of confusion for new cruisers because of changing local laws related to marijuana in the United States.
In short, Royal Caribbean doesn't allow marijuana (or any illegal drugs) to be brought onboard.
The reason isn't because Royal Caribbean is being a stickler or is taking any kind of moral stance. Rather, it's because of the places you visit.
The cruise contract clearly states it's against the rules to bring marijuana on your cruise, even if it's allowed where you're from:
"Marijuana possession and/or use, including medical marijuana, and possession or use of any illegal drugs, is strictly prohibited in many jurisdictions visited and on the Vessel at all times, as well as in terminals, during shore excursions or any other part of the cruise, regardless of any local, state, or other laws which might
permit use or possession of marijuana."
The issue is the laws of the countries you are visiting, which are outside the jurisdiction of your home state or country.
Royal Caribbean goes onto warn about the stiff penalties with bringing marijuana on a cruise ship:
"Passengers who violate the laws of any jurisdiction are subject to being reported to law enforcement or customs authorities, arrest and prosecution. Passengers who bring on board dangerous items, marijuana in any form, or any illegal drugs or controlled substances are also subject to immediate disembarkation or denial of boarding."
The scenario is you pay for someone else's cruise fare and assume you'll get the Crown and Anchor Society points.
Whether they sail with you, or you're paying for them to go and you stay at home, the only person to get loyalty program points is the person taking the cruise.
It doesn't matter who pays for the cruise, the bottom line is points are only awarded if you actually go on the sailing.
This is the same policy that the airlines use in how points are earned.
If there's one billing discrepancy that pops up the most among new cruisers, it's what happens when someone wants to change their cruise reservation.
Admittedly, it's not easy to understand Royal Caribbean's deposit types and cancellation terms. It's why I always recommend everyone use a good travel agent when booking their cruise.
Essentially, you can't change or cancel a cruise anytime, and when you can, there can still be a penalty.
Royal Caribbean offers refundable and non-refundable cruise fare. Non-refundable cruise fare is cheaper, but incurs a penalty if you change the ship and/or sail date.
Then there's the final payment date, in which once you past final payment, a new set of penalties kick in if you decide to change your cruise.
And no, extenuating circumstances don't matter. The policy applies to everyone.
It's critical to understand the cancellation and change policies before you book a cruise. Once again, a good travel agent can help you with this (and so many other possible issues). Plus, a good travel agent should cost you nothing extra to use!
Hope you are having a great weekend. Here is all of this week's Royal Caribbean cruise news.
There's a bunch of new cruises you can book in 2024 and 2025 that were released this week.
Royal Caribbean posted its short Caribbean sailings between April 2024 and April 2025.
The new sailings are across 8 different ships, with many of them weekend cruises that visit Perfect Day at CocoCay.
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Have you subscribed to the Royal Caribbean Blog YouTube Channel? We share some great videos there regularly, all about taking a Royal Caribbean cruise! This week, we are sharing our latest video — The downsides to cruising a lot — and don’t forget to subscribe here.
The 487th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available that looks at the important takeaways from Royal Caribbean Group's earnings call.
In this episode, Matt points out the most important tidbits from the company's earnings call that cruise fans should pay attention to.
Please feel free to subscribe via iTunes or RSS, and head over to rate and review the podcast on iTunes if you can! We’d appreciate it.
Royal Caribbean describes Wonderland specialty restaurant as "whimsical", and that's certainly an appropriate name for it.
Elizabeth tried Wonderland for the first time while onboard Symphony of the Seas, and everything about the experience exceeded her expectations.
The decor is loosely based on the magical word of Alice and Wonderland. It makes it so that the entire experience is immersive; it is not just about the food.
Greg Brockman takes multiple cruises in a row to the point he will stay aboard a cruise ship for months at a time.
He's done six back-to-back cruises on 3- and 4-night sailings of Freedom of the Seas, as well as four back-to-back sailings on 6- and 8-night voyages on Explorer of the Seas in 2022. That represents 4 weeks of cruising at a time.
With that many cruises at once, Greg has a lot experience with not only what Royal Caribbean has to offer, but sees what his fellow passengers do. It gives him an unique perspective on do's and don'ts of cruises.
We booked every type of cabin on our recent Royal Caribbean cruise to see the differences among them.
Sailing on Liberty of the Seas, our team tested out 9 different staterooms to get a sense of how each compared.
These cabins ranged in price from $670 to over $2600, and we wanted to look at the advantages, disadvantages, and overall experience each team member had in their cabin to see which cabins were worth it—and which we’d skip next time.
Royal Caribbean has released its Short Caribbean sailings for April 2024 — April 2025, which are now available for booking.
Royal Caribbean's website has been updated with the new itineraries, which are available to book immediately.
Eight cruise ships have new sailings you can book through mid-2025.
Allure of the Seas will continue offering 3- and 4-night weekend cruises from Port Canaveral that visit Nassau, Bahamas and Perfect Day at CocoCay.
Enchantment of the Seas will sail from Tampa and offer primarily 4- and 5-night Western Caribbean cruises to destinations in Mexico, and Grand Cayman.
There's also a 10-night Southern Caribbean sailing included.
Read more: What is the best time to cruise to the Caribbean?
Grandeur of the Seas will also sail from Tampa and offer 4- and 5-night Western Caribbean cruises.
Independence of the Seas will offer more of a variety of short Caribbean cruises, including 4-, 5- cruises. Independence will sail from Miami, Florida.
Read more: How different is a 3-night vs 4-night cruise?
Liberty of the Seas will continue offering 3- and 4-night short Caribbean cruises from Fort Lauderdale to the Bahamas.
Mariner of the Seas will shift to Galveston, where she will offer 4- and 5-night Western Caribbean cruises.
Navigator of the Seas will remain in Los Angeles and offer a mix of 3- and 4-night cruises along with 7-night Mexican Riviera cruises.
Read more: I tried my first 3-night cruise, here's how it went
After completing a transatlantic from Barcelona, Voyager of the Seas will sail 4- and 5-night cruises from Port Canaveral.
View the full Short Caribbean 2024-2025 sailings:
Read more: Should I take a short or a long cruise
The release of the short Caribbean sailings is the first of the new spring deployments.
Over the next few months, more sailings will be released for the 2024-2025 season, although changes to the deployment schedule are possible.
Royal Caribbean's deployment schedule is as follows:
Planning on booking a new cruise? These stories will help:
Royal Caribbean Group shared their 4Q earnings, and there's a few tidbits in there cruise fans should know about for cruises coming up this year.
Share with me your thoughts, questions and comments via...
Royal Caribbean has released its deployment schedule of when it will put new summer 2024 - 2025 cruises on sale.
In a follow up to Royal Caribbean's new itineraries that were released in November and December of 2022, more sailings will go on sale between February and July.
Royal Caribbean posted the new deployment schedule for a variety of itineraries, such as Short Caribbean, Australia and more.
While the schedule is out, most sailing windows are still to be determined.
Keep in mind this deployment schedule is subject to change, and may end up being del
If you missed it, here is a look at the 2024-2025 cruises already available to book now:
Essentially, the deployment schedule is when Royal Caribbean releases its new sailings to the public.
During a given week, at some point in that week, the new cruises go on sale. Usually, this happens in the evening of one day and then by morning of the next day all of the itineraries are fully available for booking.
It's important not to interpret the date as meaning that this is when the sailings will first become bookable – rather, between Monday and Friday of any given week is when you'll find out what new cruises have been released and be able to start your journey toward an unforgettable trip.
The deployment schedule offers up so many exciting opportunities for those who love cruising with Royal Caribbean. Newly added options mean more choices when it comes time to plan your vacation: destinations ranging from Central America to Europe and Asia await you! Whether you're looking for a shorter itinerary or something longer-term, you're sure to find plenty of options within Royal Caribbean's ever-expanding selection of voyages.
Cruising is one of the best ways to take a vacation, and it's always exciting when a new sailing is released. When you book at this time, you can lock in a low price and have first pick of all the best cabins–especially if you're looking for something special!
Cruise ship pricing follows a supply and demand model that works similarly to airfare. At the start of each sailing, all cabins are available, meaning prices will be lower than usual. As more people book their stay on the cruise ship, supply decreases which causes the price to rise.
Booking early is essential if you want the best room; especially if you're interested in suites or cabins in popular areas like the aft.
Royal Caribbean ships offer plenty of balcony and interior cabins, but suites tend to be most sought-after due to their luxurious amenities and spaciousness. Suites also often boast stellar views from large picture windows or balconies that overlook some of the world's most breathtaking destinations. Additionally, cabin selections located near popular areas like pools or lounges tend to fill up quickly – so make sure to reserve yours as soon as possible!
Now is a great time to start planning for your next journey. With this announcement of new bookings coming soon, it's time to get excited - and start preparing!
The best way to be proactive about this exciting development is to begin by talking to a trusted travel agent about your interests. Letting them know what type of cabin you are considering and what type of itinerary you are interested in will give you an edge over those who wait until the sailings open up. Exploring different options before any bookings go live can help make the decision-making process much quicker, easier, and less stressful.
When researching possible cabins and itineraries, there are many aspects to consider. Think about how long you want to stay, where you would like to go, what type of activities interest you most, and which amenities are important for your group.
Speaking of booking plans, once the new Royal Caribbean sailings are released and ready for booking there will likely be high demand so it's important to have a plan in place in advance.
Start by looking into different payment options including installment plans if needed - this can help make budgeting easier on everyone involved. Also consider if deposits or onboard credits may be offered that could help stretch your dollar further during your vacation.
Taking just a few steps ahead of time can save a lot of stress later on as well as help ensure that all aspects of the trip match up perfectly with what you had in mind from the very beginning!
Royal Caribbean's second Icon Class cruise ship is on its way to becoming a reality.
A steel cutting ceremony was held yesterday for the second Icon Class cruise ship in Royal Caribbean's fleet.
When the first piece of steel is cut, it marks a pivotal point in the ship building process, setting off an array of crucial landmarks to follow. This major milestone indicates that the groundwork has been set and the foundations have been laid for any further adjustments
The first piece of steel was cut at a ceremony at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland, which is the same shipyard that is building Icon of the Seas and where Allure and Oasis of the Seas were built as well.
The second Icon Class ship is unnamed as of yet, but she will begin her first cruises in 2025.
Royal Caribbean has an order for a third Icon Class ship as well, which has a delivery date in 2026.
Both Royal Caribbean and Meyer Turku celebrated this event at the shipyard.
Essentially, when the first piece of steel is cut, it's one of the major milestones for ship construction. Other milestones include keel laying, floating out, and delivery.
Moreover, this is also a positive sign about the health of this project and Royal Caribbean's intention to continue forward with the new cruise ship.
The Icon Class is Royal Caribbean's newest class of cruise ship, and it's the first new class of ships in many years.
While we don't yet know anything about what Royal Caribbean has planned for the second Icon Class ship, there's no doubt it will inherit many aspects of Icon of the Seas.
These vessels represent the very best the cruise line has to offer going forward, and as we've seen with Icon of the Seas (the first ship in the class), there's a lot of innovations.
The Icon Class ships are not only bigger than the Oasis Class, coming in about 6% bigger, but they can hold more passengers too. Icon of the Seas has a maximum capacity of 7,600 passengers.
Royal Caribbean has already revealed a great deal of new concepts for Icon of the Seas. Boasting an impressive 20 decks and 7,600 passenger capacity, it's actually two decks higher than the Wonder of the Seas.
With new entertainment, 23 food venues, 8 fantastic neighborhoods, 7 pools and a waterpark, the ship offers something for everyone, including a vast array of cabin options not seen on other Royal Caribbean ships.
The Icon Class ships will be powered by LNG (liquefied natural gas). LNG and the state-of-the-art ship’s additional environmentally friendly applications, such as shore power connection, will boost energy efficiencies and reduce carbon footprint.
Royal Caribbean did not announce a name for the second Class ship, so it's anyone's guess at this point what to expect.
In November 2022, Royal Caribbean's Senior Vice President and Chief Product Innovation Officer Jay Schneider talked about naming the next two Icon Class ships, "I'm still taking ideas on Icon two and Icon three. I feel really confident in the name we have for Icon three, it's actually two that we're still working on."
Then in January 2023, Royal Caribbean launched an online poll to let the public vote on the name of its second Icon Class ship.
Royal Caribbean posted on social media the choices of Star of the Seas, Idol of the Seas, Love of the Seas, or Queen of the Seas. There's been no indication of which, if any, of these names won.
On Twitter, Star of the Seas won the poll with 44% of the vote.
Let's take a peek at the what Royal Caribbean's next new cruise ship looks like while still under construction.
Icon of the Seas is at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland, where she is being assembled.
RoyalCaribbeanBlog.com commissioned a set of aerial drone photos to survey the progress being made for the benefit our readers.
These drone photos were taken on the morning of February 14, 2023.
Icon of the Seas will have her inaugural sailing January 2024, and the ship is already incredibly popular based on the bookings Royal Caribbean has seen so far.
"That ship literally has been the best-selling product in the history of our business," said Royal Caribbean International CEO Michael Bayley during last week's earnings call with investors.
"It's been absolutely outstanding in terms of the demand and the pricing that we're generating."
Icon is the first ship in a new class of Royal Caribbean cruise ships, and that means it introduces a host of new innovations and concepts that have resonated with consumers.
Icon of the Seas will have 26 new features never before seen on a Royal Caribbean ship, which includes 15 new water experiences.
It will have have more than 40 food and beverage concepts, with 23 of them completely new to Royal Caribbean.
The 20-deck-high vessel will feature a variety of new-to-fleet ideas, such as a water park, Vegas-style pool area, indoor AquaTheater, dedicated neighborhood for young families and so much more.
Royal Caribbean has also added new types of cabins that are designed to hold more guests.
The new ship will be 250,600 tons in size and take the title of the biggest cruise ship in the world.
The first sailing of Icon of the Seas will be a seven-night cruise from her homeport of Miami to the Eastern Caribbean on January 27, 2024.
Icon will then alternate between Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries through April 2025.
Much of the construction shows more cabins have been added since our last photo update.
Cabins are constructed elsewhere and then slid into the superstructure of the ship once the slot for them is ready.
Icon of the Seas was floated out for the first time in early December 2022.
Royal Caribbean shared a timeline of events for Icon in December, and the plan is for the new ship to have her first sea trials in May 2023.
Sea trials are when a new cruise ship tests out her systems at sea in order to evaluate performance and stability.
Icon's second sea trials are scheduled for June 2023, with deliver in the second half of 2023.
Once complete, she'll be a bit longer and higher than Wonder of the Seas, which is currently the largest ship in the world.
Icon will have two more passenger decks than Wonder, and about 10 feet longer.
Icon can accommodate up to 5,610 passengers at double occupancy (7,600 passengers if you maxed out every bed).
She will also be Royal Caribbean's first ship to use liquified natural gas (LNG) and fuel cell technology.
Icon of the Seas is the first of at least three Icon Class cruise ships.
The next one will be completed in 2025 and the third in 2026.
Beyond the Icon Class, Royal Caribbean has no current orders for more ships, but the company hasn't ruled anything out.
Speaking with Royal Caribbean Group CEO Jason Liberty in December 2022, he said there is more time to order ships than a few years ago, "The level of demand for new ships was so high that you had to order ships much further out in order to have access to those slots. So you were seeing people order ships six or seven years out."
"If you think about the Icon one's and the Icon two's, there's a little bit more breathing time for us to have to place in those orders because of that structural change pre-pandemic."
Happy early Valentine's Day! Hope the holiday is filled with chocolate, flowers and a Royal Caribbean cruise! I'm spreading the Royal Caribbean love with our look at all the Royal Caribbean news from this week.
During Royal Caribbean Group's earnings call this week, the top executives shared details on a variety of topics that interesting to cruise fans.
The top brass talked about opening a CocoCay expansion, how much passengers are spending, and how popular Icon of the Seas is so far.
These important takeaways share how Royal Caribbean is doing and what their plans are for the rest of 2023.
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Have you subscribed to the Royal Caribbean Blog YouTube Channel? We share some great videos there regularly, all about taking a Royal Caribbean cruise! This week, we are sharing our latest video — Boarding day tips you need in 2022 — and don’t forget to subscribe here.
Comparing an inside cabin vs oceanview cabin, you might be wondering if it's worth spending extra between the two.
Inside cabins are the cheapest option, but oceanview gives you a bit more space, and most importantly, natural light.
Let's help you decide if the differences are worth an upgrade from an inside cabin to an oceanview.
After trying a suite for the first time, Jenna has a few takeaways you should know about before trying a suite.
Suites have their own sets of amenities and benefits, but to best take advantage of these, there are definitely a few lessons learned.
Jenna shared 5 things she learned from her first time staying in a cruise ship suite.
Cruising is great for all ages, but it's well-suited for anyone over the age of 60 years old.
After years of family vacations, Brad fell in love with cruises and thinks it's the perfect kind of trip for seniors.
From the relaxing atmosphere to the many places you can visit, Brad shared 10 reasons you should give cruising a try.
When your clothes get dirty, soiled, or just need to be pressed, how do you handle laundry on a Royal Caribbean cruise?
Going on vacation for even just a few days will likely result in a lot of dirty clothes, and you may want your options are to take care of wrinkles, stains, and what to expect if you want to have your clothes laundered.
Laundry options on a cruise ship are limited compared to on land, especially if you're used to doing it yourself.
Since keeping clothes clean and wrinkle-free is something a lot of cruisers worry about, here's what you can expect when it comes to cruise ship laundry.
If you'd like to do your own laundry on a Royal Caribbean cruise, you wont find any facilities to do it yourself.
Royal Caribbean does not offer any self-service laundry options. This includes washing machines or dryers.
Moreover, Royal Caribbean does not provide irons to use in any cruise staterooms.
Keep in mind that Royal Caribbean prohibits passengers from bringing irons onto the ship, because they are a fire hazard. It will be confiscated for the entire voyage.
While you wont be able to do laundry on your own, there are paid laundry services available to Royal Caribbean passengers.
Both washing and dry cleaning services are available on all Royal Caribbean cruise ships.
For either option, you need to provide your stateroom attendant with the clothes to be cleaned, as well as a form listening all the garments. Look for a bag and form hanging in your cabin closet that you can use.
Once you have the form filled out and the clothes in the bag, just leave it on your bed and the cabin attendant will pick it up at their next cleaning.
Royal Caribbean offers:
The cost of the order will be deducted from your SeaPass account.
The exact price depends on which laundry service you want, if it's expedited or not, and the type of clothing.
Pressing or steaming only will be the least-expensive laundry option, with dry cleaning being the most expensive.
The standard turnaround time for laundry on a Royal Caribbean ship is the next day by 5:30pm. This assumes you drop the clothes off with your stateroom attendant the day before.
Royal Caribbean also offers same day laundry service at a 50% extra charge.
Same day service must be picked up before 11am, so that it can be done before 5:30pm.
Royal Caribbean ships usually offer a "Wash & Fold" special, where you can get as many clothes washed and folded that you can fit in one bag for a fixed cost.
For $34.99, you get a bag (usually plastic) that you can fill to be washed and folded for $34.99. Royal Caribbean says you can "fit as much as you can into the bag provided."
Just as your stateroom attendant for this special, although it's also advertised in the Cruise Compass as well.
One of the best Crown and Anchor Society perks are for passengers that are at least Diamond Plus actually get this for free once per cruise.
Read more: The Crown and Anchor perks you should use on every Royal Caribbean cruise
While not free, there are discounts for the Wash & Fold bag for Gold members and higher (basically anyone that's cruised before).
If you're staying in a suite (Grand Suite or above), you automatically qualify for complimentary clothes pressing for the first formal night only.
Since the first formal night is usually the second night of the cruise, all you need to do is ask your stateroom attendant about the service on the first day so that there is sufficient time for it the pressed and returned to you before formal night.
Read more: What are the Royal Caribbean suite perks?
While you wont find laundry machines you can use, there are a few ways to get laundry done on your own without paying the cruise line.
The tried-and-true method is to bring single-packet detergent on the cruise and then fill your sink up with water to wash small loads of laundry.
Wash the clothing in your sink and then hang the clothes to dry in your shower on the laundry line provided by the cruise line. This is best for undergarments and shirts, and kids clothing.
If the clothes don't dry fast enough, there is a hair dryer in the room you can use on anything that stubbornly won't dry.
Some cruisers on longer sailings (or back to back cruises) will bring their own clothes lines so they can dry more clothing at the same time.
Another idea is bring wrinkle-release spray that is useful for keeping clothes looking good after being packed away in your suitcase.