Cruises are a great value compared to land vacations, but that doesn't mean you can't save even more money along the way.

Many first-time cruisers overspend where they don't need to because they don't know the best money-saving tricks. Our team goes on over 50 cruises every year, and we've learned easy ways how to save money on a cruise.

Our list of money saving tips includes obvious ones, as well as tricks we think might surprise you. Hopefully one or all of them will keep more money in your budget and avoid money mistakes we read about all the time.

Here are my 45 tips on how to save on a cruise.

How to save money when booking a cruise

Book with a travel agent

The easiest way to make certain you have the best price on your cruise fare is to use a travel agent.

I recommend everyone use one because you only stand to benefit from using a travel agent.

Travel agents provide great service to folks looking to take a Royal Caribbean cruise because they are keyed in on the latest promotions and they can be your best advocate for finding promotions that help you, not just the day you book but every day until final payment.

A good travel agent will be able to assist with the booking process and give you every single permutation of pricing to figure out which itinerary, stateroom or promotion makes the most sense for you. I cannot count the time I have saved by having the travel agent jump through the proverbial hoops for me to figure out what is the best deal for my family.

The reality is you only stand to benefit from using a good travel agent, both in convenience and time saved.

Book as early as you can for lower rates

The earlier you book your Royal Caribbean cruise, the better the price in the long run.

Generally speaking, prices tend to be lowest when sailings go on sale. As more people book a given sailing, prices tend to rise because there is less inventory available and prices go up.

Your best bet is to book early and place a deposit on a sailing that can lock in that price until your final payment date. This not only gives you the lowest possible price, it also gives you the most time to make payments on the cruise. Plus, that deposit is fully refundable if you happen to change your mind later.

If you cannot book two years in advance, that is okay too. They key is not to wait, but instead book a cruise as early as you can.

Keep checking prices after you book

After you book your cruise, you can take advantage of price drops all the way up until your final payment date.

If you spot a better price for the same room category and sailing you are on, have your travel agent reprice the cruise to get the lower rate.

Being able to reprice is not available in all countries (such as the United Kingdom or Australia), but for guests in the United States or Canada, it is a great way to get the best price.

Look for residency discounts

Before you book a cruise, ask your travel agent if there are any special rates for residents of your state.

You would be surprised how many residency deals there are, and not just for states that have cruise ships sailing from them.

Royal Caribbean regularly targets different areas of the United States and the world with special rates.

Crown and Anchor discounts available for balcony rooms

Once you hit Platinum in the Crown and Anchor Society, you automatically qualify for a balcony stateroom discount on every cruise.

The exact balcony discount rate depends on your status level in Crown and Anchor Society, and it goes up with each tier you reach.

Before you assume that balcony or suite is too expensive, make sure you include your balcony discount.

Extra onboard credit for rebooking onboard

Royal Caribbean's Next Cruise program rewards guests who book another Royal Caribbean cruise while onboard their current cruise.

Essentially, booking another Royal Caribbean cruise onboard with Next Cruise gets you free onboard credit for doing so. 

Discounts sometimes available for certain occupations

Royal Caribbean regularly offers discounts to guests who have certain jobs, including active or retired military, teachers, police officers and more.

Among the many available discounts, there can be special rates reserved for certain vocations, so be sure to let your travel agent know what you do for a living, and if you are active or retired military.

Senior Citizen discount

Are you over 55 years old? You may qualify for a special discount!

Guests who are 55 years or older can qualify for reduced rates, so you will need to contact Royal Caribbean or your travel agent to inquire about exact rates.

Casino offers special rates

If you have gambled enough on Royal Caribbean cruise ships in the past, you might qualify for incredibly cheap fares or even free cruises.

Just like land casinos, Casino Royale offers special offers to entice gamblers back onboard and low cruise fares and complimentary sailings are one of those perks.

Royal Caribbean credit card can rack up discounted fares

Just like an airline-branded credit card, Royal Caribbean's credit card is aimed at cruise line loyalists who want to earn rewards for a cruise vacation.

By using the Royal Caribbean credit card you can earn discounts or even a free cruise from everyday purchases.

Look for drink specials onboard

When looking at Royal Caribbean drink prices, many guests base their math on whether a drink package makes sense off the regular price for drinks, but in reality, there are drink specials all around the ship that bring that price down.

One of the best ways to get a deal on a cocktail is to order the drink of the day. The drink of the day is a select cocktail that changes every day, which has about a 20% discount on it and is available from most bars onboard. You can just ask the bartender or waiter what the drink of the day is and take advantage of those savings.

In addition, individual ships will run their own bar specials, like 2-for-1 deals, drink combo deals and other happy hour discounts. The exact details of a drink special will vary from ship to ship, and sailing to sailing, but it is important to understand that they exist.  

To find drink specials, consult the Cruise Compass for some advertised deals, as well as walk around bars and look for posted signs.

Book spa treatments on port days

Fans of spa services will find port days to have the best deals.

The spa usually offers the best deals on port days to attract guests to book services because everyone is off the ship. Check the daily spa specials on your port day to see what's available.

Put your phone into airplane mode

If you leave your cellphone active while on a cruise ship, it can connect to the ship's cell phone antenna while at sea, or to a local network at one of the ports you are visiting. Nearly every cell phone plan calls this "roaming", and that means you pay a hefty price for placing calls, sending texts and using data.

To avoid this mistake, simply put your phone into airplane mode once you get onboard on the first day. Airplane mode will disable your phone's antenna and prevent it from connecting to any network.

You can still use apps and other functions of your phone while in airplane mode, including connecting to WiFi. 

Book a cruise during less-busy months

Royal Caribbean offers cruises throughout the year, but there are certainly times of the year when cruising is more in-demand than other times. 

If you can, consider taking a Royal Caribbean cruise when most schools are in session because these are the times of year when you will be able to net some super savings.

The best months for the lowest fares include:

• January (except New Years)
• February (except Presidents Week)
• First two weeks of March
• October
• November (except Thanksgiving)
• First two weeks of December

Book a cruise on older ships

When you watch any of Royal Caribbean's television commercials, you will see scenes from their Quantum and Oasis Class ships and they are absolutely amazing experiences, but they also come with premium pricing.

To save money, book a cruise on an older ship instead.

I know it sounds like with an older ship they will not have all the whizz-bang features of the new ships, but Royal Caribbean has spent millions of dollars in upgrading these ships and I would not hesitate to cruise on them.

Take advantage of Kids Sail Free offer

A great money-saving promotion for families is the Kids Sail Free deals.

During most of the year, Royal Caribbean offers third and fourth passenger fares for kids 12 years old and under staying in the same room as their parents.  

The "catch" is there are a lot of blackout dates, primarily around school holidays and breaks. If you can manage to book a cruise while Kids Sail Free is offered, it can represent tremendous savings.

Book a guarantee stateroom

If you do not care which specific room assignment you get, a guarantee stateroom can shave off hundreds of dollars from your cruise.

A guarantee stateroom is when Royal Caribbean gives you a discount on a particular category of rooms in exchange for giving up the ability to choose your exact room.

The exact discount you can expect for opting for a guarantee room depends on the sailing.

Free onboard credit if you own Royal Caribbean stock

If you own at least 100 shares of Royal Caribbean Group stock (RCL), you can get extra onboard credit.

You could get up to $250 in onboard credit by being a shareholder, so be sure to take advantage of this offer if you qualify.

Last minute deals

While I always advocate booking a cruise as far in advance as possible, last minute deals are possible.

Around 60 days before the cruise departs, you can look to see what availability and pricing is present. Around this time, cruisers whose plans have changed have already canceled, cruise lines have a good read on passenger load, and last-minute deals begin to emerge. The reductions may or may not continue as the sailing date draws closer.

Ask your travel agent for "Going, Going, Gone" rates as another way to quickly identify discounted sailings that are coming up.

Wave Season deals

The cruise industry has the most offers in the early part of the year, known as Wave Season.

Between January and March, cruise lines tend to roll out their best deals of the year in an effort to set up bookings for the rest of the year.

It is always a good idea to track the new offers during Wave Season to see if there are any particularly good deals to jump on and book.

Repositioning cruises tend to be the best values

If you want to pay the least per night on your cruise, you should consider an "open-jaw sailing."

Transatlantic, transpacific and cruises that begin in one port and end in another port tend to be priced very reasonably, and are usually longer sailings too. With fewer stops in port towns and cities, these ocean cruises are often cheaper options.

Set up a group for your friends and family

If your group of friends or family will need 8 cabins or more, you should talk to a travel agent about setting up a group with Royal Caribbean.

Royal Caribbean rewards groups of people who book together with the same agency. By setting up a group, the tour operator (whoever is in charge of the group) can get money back from the cruise line which could mean a big discount, or even a free cabin.

There are lots of perks for having a group, but speak to a travel agent before anyone books a room.

Group discounts

Even if you are not traveling with a group of people, group discounts can be available to just about anyone.

When a travel agency sets up a group, they get to lock in the pricing, and often travel agents have access to group rates across their network consortium.

Being booked in a group does not require you to spend anytime with others in the group, it is just a discount that could save you a lot of money.

How to save money on cruise extra costs

Look for pre-cruise deals

In the months leading up to your cruise, Royal Caribbean will offer pre-cruise discounts on things like shore excursions, drink packages, wifi and more.

Every so often, there is a new sale that you can find by logging into Royal Caribbean's cruise planner site and checking if the price has changed.

These sales occur fairly regularly, and I always post about them here on the site as a reminder as well.

Re-price pre-cruise purchases early and often

If you buy a drink package or excursion before your cruise and next week, month or year it drops in price, you can re-price it easily.

If you spot a better discount on something you already pre-purchased, you should be able to cancel the purchase and then re-purchase the same item under this promotion.

Bring your own wine onboard

Did you know that Royal Caribbean allows its guests to bring a limited quantity of wine on a cruise?

Guests may bring one bottle of wine per adult of legal drinking age on embarkation day. Each bottle of wine may be up to 750ml in size. 

Do not put the wine in the luggage you hand over to the porters on embarkation day.

You can bring soda and water onboard

In addition to wine, you can also bring non-alcoholic beverages onboard on the first day as well.

Small quantities of non-alcoholic beverages can be brought in a carry-on or hand luggage onboard only on boarding day. 

Specifically, non-alcoholic beverages brought onboard may not exceed 12 standard (17 oz) cans, bottles or cartons per stateroom. Distilled water or specialized beverages such as milk for medical purposes, dietary or infant use, are permitted.

Don't buy WiFi on the first day

A great way to shave off the cost of a WiFi package is to skip buying it on the first day.

Your first day on a cruise is busy, and you are in port for most of the day, where your cell phone works normally.

If you can go without WiFi until midnight (or later) on day 2 of the cruise, you will not have to pay for the first day and only pay a pro-rated amount for the rest of the sailing.

Dining packages will save you money

If you want to enjoy some specialty restaurants without paying full price, invest in a dining package.

Royal Caribbean's dining packages provide a set amount of specialty restaurants at a fraction of the list price to dine there.  Quite often, a dining package can knock as much as half off the regular per-person price.

Purchase this before your cruise and make reservations on embarkation day.

Unlimited drink packages have the potential to save money

You will save much more money by not buying any alcoholic drinks on your cruise, but since so many do enjoy cocktails, beers and other beverages during the cruise, the best way to savor these within a budget is to buy a drink package.

If you buy a drink package in the months leading up to your cruise, you can lock in a lower price compared to what it costs onboard, and you will spread out the total cost of the cruise. A drink package purchase requires full payment upfront, so that means it could be on a different credit card billing cycle from your cruise fare.

There is no question a drink package has the potential to save money, it just relies on you to take full advantage of what the drink package offers.

Ask for no souvenir cup

One way to cut down the cost of those tasty cocktails is to skip the souvenir cup.

Often a waiter will walk around the pool deck with a great looking drink in a souvenir cup, but if you ask for the same drink in a plastic cup, the price of the drink will go down.

Ask for specialty restaurant specials onboard

If you see a waiter walking around the ship asking if you want to dine at their specialty restaurant, ask if there is any special price they can offer.

When the restaurant sends someone around to drum up business, it is usually a sign they want to fill spots, and (nicely) asking for a discount is not unusual.

You may need to commit to a reservation that day to get the deal, but it is a great way to sweeten the deal.

Look for the drink card

Have you heard about something where you can pre-purchase 10 drinks for a set price? Usually, the price is somewhere between $75-85 and you can share the drink card with anyone you want. That means a $12 cocktail would cost you really about $7.50-$8.50 each with the drink card.

The "catch" with the drink cards is you cannot pre-purchase them for your cruise, and there are no guarantees they will be available on any particular sailing. Generally, it will be offered on the third to fifth day of a 7-night cruise.

If the drink card is available, it usually becomes available around halfway through your sailing, so on a 7-night cruise, it might show up on day 3 or 4.  

Again, there is no way to know if a drink card will be available on your cruise with any kind of certainty.

Take advantage of free drinks

Believe it or not, there are ways to get free drinks on your Royal Caribbean cruise. Granted, there is no way to effectively drink all day like this, but any free drinks you can get are fewer drinks you have to buy!

One of the best ways to get free drinks is by being a Crown and Anchor Society member. Diamond level and above members are eligible for free drinks up to $14 (Diamond members get 4 drinks per day, Diamond Plus members get 5 and Pinnacle members get 6).

All Crown and Anchor Society members will have special coupons pre-loaded on their SeaPass account that provide deals like discounts on beer, wine or soda by the glass. In addition, Royal Caribbean holds Crown and Anchor Society events onboard for members, with complimentary cocktails served.

Free champagne can also be found at select events, including art auctions, Captain's Welcome and during holiday celebrations.

Avoid laundry costs by packing enough clothes

Since Royal Caribbean does not offer self-service laundry, the only laundry options you have will cost you extra.

Your best bet is to pack enough clothing to avoid having to send any laundry out during your cruise. Planning ahead with extra outfits can ensure you do not have to spend more on getting your clothes cleaned.

You might also consider buying single-use detergent packs so you can wash small garments in your stateroom bathroom sink.

Ask for free seasickness medicine

While you should be prepared and have some seasickness medicine just in case, if you happen to forget it, you can get it for free from the cruise line.

If you are not feeling well, Guest Services and/or the medical center is usually happy to provide complimentary over-the-counter seasickness medicine to anyone who asks.

How to save money before the cruise begins

Pre-pay gratuities

Pre-paying gratuities allow you to lock in the current gratuity rate, as well as assist in budgeting the total vacation cost by having part of the cost be paid at different times.

Every so often, Royal Caribbean adjusts the gratuity rate, but if you have opted to prepay, you will be grandfathered into the old rate.

Cabin upgrades for less

One way you might be able to get a stateroom upgrade for less is to bid for it.

The Royal Up program allows guests to place bids for a stateroom upgrade in the weeks leading up to their cruise.

This is a blind stateroom upgrade bidding program, where close to your sail date you can let Royal Caribbean know how much you would be willing to pay if an upgrade situation presented itself.

Shop around for travel insurance

Royal Caribbean offers its own travel insurance, but you should look at prices from other travel insurance providers to find the best blend of benefits and price.

Third-party travel insurance providers are plentiful, and prices can vary considerably.

Repeat cruisers get onboard discounts

After just one Royal Caribbean cruise, you can expect a list of onboard discounts available to use on every sailing.

These discounts are provided by the Crown and Anchor Society, and it includes discounts on drinks, internet, laundry and more.

The exact discounts vary from tier to tier of the customer loyalty program. As you move up each tier, the discounts get more lucrative.

Look for a sheet in your stateroom with the exact discounts available.

Bring every toiletry that you might need

While Royal Caribbean sells most toiletry items you might need onboard its ships, it will cost much more than buying it at your local store.

To avoid overpaying for toothpaste, sunscreen or medicine, be sure to bring more than enough of it all to ensure you do not run out.

Avoid double tipping

If you order a beer or alcoholic beverage, Royal Caribbean will automatically add a gratuity to your bill, so unless you really loved the bartender or waiter, don't tip them twice.

Often guests don't really read the receipt and are so accustomed to adding a tip that they don't realize gratuity has been automatically applied to the bill. 

How to save money in port

Don't book too many shore excursions

While there are tours available in every port you will visit, you do not necessarily need to book a tour in order to see the sights.

In Europe in particular, it is easy to visit the biggest attractions on your own by walking or relying on public transportation.

This can be much less expensive than touring with a group on an organized tour, and maybe more enjoyable, too.

Bring your own snorkel equipment

One of the most popular Caribbean shore excursions is to go snorkeling, and bringing your own equipment would not only save you money on an excursion, but allow you to use it in more than one port.

There are no restrictions on using your own snorkel equipment, even Royal Caribbean's private destinations of Perfect Day at CocoCay or Labadee.

Note that if you don't have your own snorkel vest, you will be required to rent one while snorkeling at its private destinations. 

Ask others to share taxis

When in port, if you see other cruise guests waiting for a taxi, ask if you can share a ride with them.

If both of your groups can fit into a single taxi, you can split the cost of the cab and save money compared to getting a private ride. Plus, you might make new friends!

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Royal Caribbean's ships are packed with lots of activities and entertainment, that include areas just for kids and teens to go without their parents.

The dedicated spaces for kids have grown as Royal Caribbean's ships have gotten bigger, and there's a large emphasis on family-friendly programming.

I've taken my kids on dozens of cruises over the years, and it quickly became our family's preferred way to travel. Without a doubt, there's an art to cruising with kids because like all things with children, you've got to find the right balance of fun, relaxation, and sanity.

While we enjoy family fun with my kids on the ships, the supervised kids clubs in Adventure Ocean, Teen Lounge, and the Royal Babies & Tots Nursery have given a break to all of us. 

How the kids club works on Royal Caribbean

On every Royal Caribbean ship is a supervised area reserved just for kids. Parent's drop them off, and it's a win-win for both kids and parents alike.

You'll need to register your kids once you get onboard by visiting the kids club or nursery. You just need to enter some personal information about your kids, who can pick them up, sign out privileges, and authorization for the cruise line staff to supervise them.

Adventure Ocean is the name of the kids club on Royal Caribbean, and it's open every day of your cruise.  It's not open 24 hours, but its operating hours mean you can count on it being open most of the day and into the late night.

If your kids are at least 3 years old, there's no cost to use Adventure Ocean up until 10pm.  After that, there's an hourly fee.

Adventure Ocean is separated into three groups: Aquanauts (3 to 5 years old), Explorers (6 to 8 years old) and Voyagers (9 to 12/13 years old). This ensures there are age-appropriate activities for everyone.

Sometimes groups will be merged if there aren't a lot of kids checked-in, such as during the morning on a sea day or late at night.

Kids going into Aquanauts need to be fully potty trained, regardless of age. The staff cannot assist with kids using the toilet. 

As many parents know, 3-year-olds are usually in the midst of potty training, so my advice is take them to the restroom before drop off and check in often with them to see if they need to go.  There's no problem with you stopping by to take them to the bathroom and then the child returning to the fun.

Kids under the age of 3 can go to the ship's nursery, which always has an hourly fee. The nursery will care for, feed, and put the child down for a nap while in their care.

Teens have their own area of the ship. Depending on the ship, the minimum age for teens is 12 or 13 years old, and includes anyone up to the age of 17.

Kids club on new ships vs old ships

You should be aware that Royal Caribbean's kids programming varies considerably depending on which ship you're sailing on.

Since about 2019, Royal Caribbean has steadily been upgrading Adventure Ocean and Teens Club with a new approach. Primarily, the differences include:

• Teen club starts at 13 instead of 12
• Adventure Ocean is more free play, rather than organized activities. There are still activities wit staff, but kids have more choice whether to participate or not.
• Addition of craft rooms (AO Workshop)
• Addition of outdoor teen deck space
• More interactive digital entertainment in the clubs

Ships with "Adventure Ocean 2.0" include:

• Navigator of the Seas
• Oasis of the Seas
• Freedom of the Seas
• Odyssey of the Seas
• Wonder of the Seas
• Icon of the Seas
• Utopia of the Seas
• Star of the Seas

Other ships have essentially the original Adventure Ocean approach to programming and spaces available.

What are the ages for kids club on Royal Caribbean?

Kids between the ages of 6 months and 17 years old can access Royal Caribbean's Adventure Ocean program.

Each area is split up by age:

• Royal Babies & Tots: Children 6 months–36 months
• Aquanauts & AO Junior: Children ages 3–5
• Explorers: Children ages 6–8
• Voyagers: Children ages 9–11
• AO Kids (new ships): Children ages 6-12
• Navigators: Children ages 12–14
• Teens: Children ages 15–17
• Social (new ships): ages 13-17

What are the Royal Caribbean kids club hours?

On sea days, Adventure Ocean is typically open 9am - noon; 2pm - 5pm; 7pm - 10pm. After 10pm, Adventure Ocean remains open until perhaps 1am or 2am, but there is an hourly charge for kids that stay past 10pm.

While in port, Adventure Ocean is open continuously while the ship is docked with no breaks.  Once the ship departs port, it resumes the normal sea day schedule.

The nursery hours are fixed every day and open 9am - midnight with a reservation.

The teen club has similar hours to Adventure Ocean, but there is no cost past 10pm.

Special kids club rooms

In recent years, Royal Caribbean has added more than just play areas for kids on their ships. You'll find labs, theaters, and more.

Depending on which ship you sail, there could be additional venues part of Adventure Ocean. These are primarily on the newest and biggest ships. 

All of these rooms are included with your cruise and there's no additional fee.  In many cases, it may only be open for kids checked into their club.

An open play area is an unsupervised room with play toys and climbing toys that is enclosed, with just one entrance. This is where parents can bring their young kids and let them run loose while supervising them.

It's similar to a play are you might see at a fast food restaurant, and it's great for toddlers who can crawl and start to walk and they need to get energy out.

The Adventure Ocean theater doubles as both a movie room and a place for original shows.

Sometimes there are activities held inside the theater for kids signed into kids club, while other times the theater is opened up to parents and kids.

The Science Lab is where Adventure Ocean counselors can take kids to do fun experiments.

Usually it's where kids can build a volcano and watch it "erupt" with the proper combination of chemicals, but it's been used for other activities as well.

Teens usually have an outdoor space for them, in addition to the club. 

On Odyssey of the Seas, Wonder of the Seas and Utopia of the Seas, there's actually a teen sun deck space for them. Other ships have clubs for teens only.

On the newest Oasis Class ships, there is a Playscape area on the back of the pool deck (Utopia and Wonder of the Seas).

There's no registration or sign ups required, just bring your kids and let them explore and play.  Kids of all ages are welcome, but it leans heavily to favor under 7-year-olds.

Do you have to pay for kids club on Royal Caribbean?

Adventure Ocean and Teens Club is included with your cruise fare, and there is no additional cost. The exception is after 10pm for Adventure Ocean.

After 10pm, there is an hourly rate of $10 per child, per hour.

The nursery always has an hourly cost and costs $6 per child, per hour between 9am and 6pm; $8 per child, per hour between 6pm and midnight.

How the nursery works on Royal Caribbean

Most Royal Caribbean cruise ships have a nursery, and while it has an extra cost, I've found it to be a tremendous value for parents.

The nursery onboard is for toddlers and infants between 6 months and 36 months old, and you'll need to register your child in order to get a time slot.

Time slots are limited because the nursery has very limited capacity. Royal Caribbean maintains a strict counselor-to-child ratio because young children of this age require far more attention than older kids.

When you register, you'll provide information such as feeding schedule, nap preferences, and more.  Unlike the older kids clubs, the nursery can feed children, change their clothes or diapers and allow them to nap. 

Parents can drop off a bag of supplies, which includes formula, diapers, outfits, and anything else the staff might need.

On most ships, the nursery will limit the amount of hours you reserve in advance to ensure everyone has a chance to book times.  Usually after 2 or 3 days, they'll open time slots up without any restrictions.

While the nursery requires reservations, you can still drop your kid off if they have open slots.  My tip is to call the nursery and ask if they have availability at the moment, and they can advise if there's an opportunity.

Once in the nursery, the kids will interact with the counselors and other kids.  The very young kids might simply be held the entire time, while older kids can play with toys, watch a movie, or play with counselors or other kids.

There is a nap area with cribs. Newer ships have more separation between the cribs and the play area. 

Can the staff contact me if there's a problem?

There are various options for contacting parents if there's an issue, problem, or question about their kids.

Parents that drop children at the nursery will automatically get a phone to carry with them. The dect phone works anywhere on the ship, and it's a way to contact parents or parents contact the nursery.  

At Adventure Ocean Aquanauts/AO Juniors, parents can request a phone. It's not automatically given, but they have some to use for parents who have concerns with their kids.

Otherwise, the staff can always call your stateroom phone and leave a message. In the case of an emergency, you would be paged over the ship's public address system.

Kids club tips and advice

There are a few good bits of advice I can offer after taking my kids on many cruises and using Adventure Ocean.

Read more: 50 cruising with kids tips

Go to the open house on the first day

Held in the afternoon (usually 1pm) on embarkation day, you can register your kids and both parents and kids can explore the kids club.

You can meet the staff, get questions answered, and it's the perfect way for you and your kids to feel more comfortable before the first session later that evening.

You can drop kids off while you are off the ship

It might sound crazy, but you can leave your kids in Adventure Ocean while you are off the ship on a shore excursion or just walking around.

The kids club remains open anytime the ship is in port, and it's a great way to enjoy a more adult-centric shore excursion while your kids get to play in the club.

Why Royal Caribbean is the best cruise line for kids

While a lot of cruise lines advertise they're family friendly, Royal Caribbean stands out as the clear best choice for a cruise if you have kids.

For as long as I've been cruising, Royal Caribbean has been a family friendly brand that not only offers things for kids to do, but their parents as well.

I started cruising with I was in my teens, and as I got older, I graduated through various experiences. Now, I'm taking my kids onboard and my parents are the ones sailing with us to be with their grandkids. 

The reason why Royal Caribbean is the best cruise line for families is they offer the most for kids on their ships, at a great value, and without compromising the adult experience.

Other cruise lines may seem better for kids, but leave their parents wanting more.  Or the price is unreasonable.

The balance Royal Caribbean has for what they offer for every member of the family stands out to me.

Best Royal Caribbean ship for kids

There is not a Royal Caribbean cruise ship I wouldn't recommend for kids, but there are definitely a few ships that simply offer more.

By picking a ship that has more activities, larger spaces for kids, and more dining choices, you're increasing the chances that they'll have a good time (and you by proxy).

Think of it like choosing a city to visit. If you select a small town, your kids might love it, but there will be a larger variety of options to keep them occupied in a big city.

In choosing the best Royal Caribbean ship for kids, I think you want a ship with these features:

• A nursery
• Updated Adventure Ocean
• Many top deck activities
• Newer cabins that offer more family room configurations
• More restaurants

My top choices for a family with kids to sail on is Icon of the Seas, Wonder of the Seas, or Utopia of the Seas.

All three are big ships with the latest and greatest features onboard, tons of activities, and expansive dining choices.  In fact, Icon of the Seas is in a class by itself if you're cruising with young kids because the have an entire area dedicated to children.

If you're on a budget and want to cruise while saving money, I'd recommend Independence of the Seas, Freedom of the Seas, or Mariner of the Seas.

All three ships have been recently updated, and they're still "big ships".  However, they're all over 20 years old, and that means the price will be far less than my top 3 ships.

Some guests on an upcoming sailing on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship received an email their cruise has been cancelled because there aren't enough safe lifeboats on the ship.

Guests booked on the September 15 sailing of Rhapsody of the Seas received an email from the cruise line informing them their cruise has been cancelled.

As first reported by Cruise Industry News, Royal Caribbean sent an email that explains reservations have been cancelled because of damage to a lifeboat.

"On our previous sailing, there was damage to one of our tender boats, which also serves as a lifeboat," the email reads.

"This leaves the ship over capacity for the number of available lifeboat seats in the event of an emergency in our next sailing. Unfortunately, this means we’ll be unable to welcome you onboard."

Rhapsody of the Seas is scheduled to sail a 7-night cruise from San Juan, Puerto Rico to the Southern Caribbean.

The International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) is an international convention and requirement that all passengers ships have to abide by. It establishes all passengers know what to do in case of an emergency, and it requires that every soul onboard have a seat on a lifeboat.  

Each lifeboat has a finite capacity, and it's a very strict rule. A Captain that tried to sail a passenger vessel out of compliance with SOLAS would likely have their master's license under review as soon as it was discovered.  

As a result of the cancellation, guests booked onboard will receive a full refund.

Royal Caribbean will issue a Future Cruise Credit equal to the total amount paid for the canceled cruise, valid until September 13, 2025. 

Additionally, they will cover non-refundable transportation costs, such as flights or rental cars, that were impacted by the cancellation. Passengers must submit receipts to receive compensation of up to $200 per guest for domestic travel changes or up to $400 per guest for international changes.

Conflicting information

Guests booked on the September 15 sailing reported in a Facebook group dedicated for the sailing conflicting reports of if the cruise is actually cancelled or not.

Carrie Lanford posted, "Just got off the phone with agent and was told entire cruise ship is cancelled."

But Tina Oliver wrote, "I called and the agent said I'm good to go. Sounds like the right hand doesn't know what the left is doing. I guess I'll just find out on Sunday."

Anna Ulmer added, "I am muster 16 and did not receive an email. I contacted Royal and they confirmed my reservation."

Lyndsey Percle also posted she did not receive a cancellation notice, "We are also Muster 15 and haven’t received any cancellation email."

Lifeboat requirements

The regulations related to cruise ship lifeboats are quite clear.

• Ships must have partially or totally enclosed lifeboats, for 50% of the total capacity of people onboard, at each side (total capacity for 100%).
• Rigid or inflatable life craft must make up at least 25% of the ship’s total capacity.

This means a cruise ship must have lifeboats/rafts for at least 125% of the ship’s total capacity, but often that minimum is exceeded.

SOLAS was implanted right after the Titanic disaster of 1912. The sinking of that ship exposed a major problem with the lack of lifeboats.

As a result, in 1914 SOLAS was drafted a result of that incident.

SOLAS requirements have been updated since then, which include the modern rules for lifeboats.

A balcony cabin on a cruise ship is the accommodation so many people prefer, but what's the realistic price you can expect to pay?

Of the four basic cruise ship cabin categories, balconies are the most popular because of the extra space and relative affordability they provide.

Unlike suites, there are many more balcony cabins on Royal Caribbean ships, and the price jump to a balcony is far more palatable compared to going up to a suite.

Having access to fresh air and a private veranda is the rationale most people give for booking a balcony in the first place.

The average cost for a balcony is around $2,200 for 2 people

In trying to answer the question of how much a balcony room will cost, I crunched the numbers.

I sampled the price of a balcony across more than 2,000 upcoming Royal Caribbean sailings in 2024 & 2025. These include short weekend cruises, 7-night cruises, and longer voyages.

When finding the average price, the cost of a balcony cabin came out to $1,139 per person or around $2,200 for 2 people.

Since this is an average, you can expect to find plenty of prices that are well above or below our average because cruise cabin prices vary by ship and itinerary.

Even within the same sailing, the price of a balcony can change on a daily basis. Like airline pricing, the timing of your reservation significantly affects the price.

In general, the earlier you book your cruise, the cheaper the price.

There are different balcony cabins

Another factor that will affect the price of a balcony cabin is the exact cabin type.

Royal Caribbean has many subcategories of balcony rooms that are priced differently depending on:

• Location
• Passenger capacity
• Living space square footage
• View

When you choose a balcony cabin, you'll need to consider these options in picking the right cabin choice for you.

Midship balcony rooms with more living space typically cost more than a smaller balcony room towards the front or back of the ship.

Likewise, a balcony cabin that can accommodate more than two passengers will cost more than a standard double room.

Balconies that aren't balconies

When we talk about a balcony room, you probably envision a private veranda to go outside and enjoy. However, there are a few Royal Caribbean cabins called a balcony that don't actually have that.

A virtual balcony is an inside room with a large floor-to-ceiling television screen showing real time views from outside. It's really meant as an upgrade from a standard inside cabin.

On the brand new Icon Class cruise ships, Royal Caribbean added infinite balconies, which have a window that slides down to provide fresh air.

The idea behind the infinite balcony is you can close the window and retain the balcony space as added indoor space.

Lastly, the neighborhood balconies are actual cabins with a real veranda that looks inwards instead of to the ocean. These are on Oasis Class and Icon Class cruise ships, and have views of one of the ship's neighborhoods, such as Central Park, Boardwalk, or Surfside.

This isn't to say you shouldn't book these types of balconies. Rather, understand what you're getting (and not getting) before you book.

How much more is a balcony cabin from an inside room?

The average cost to move up from an inside cabin to balcony runs the gamut of prices depending on the sailing you choose.

In our analysis, there's roughly a $390 per person difference to move up from an inside cabin to a balcony room, but you can expect wild variations in pricing depending on the specific cruise.

What I recommend doing is when you narrow down your search for which cruise to book, evaluate the cost difference and decide if an inside or a balcony cabin is a better deal.

Top reasons to book an inside cabin:

• Cheaper
• You won't spend that much time in the cabin
• (Arguably) Easier to sleep because of the dark

Top reasons to book a balcony cabin:

• Extra living space
• Private veranda
• Fresh air

Guarantee balcony cabins can save money

If you're not picky, booking a guarantee balcony could save you a lot of money on the cost of a balcony.

By choosing a guarantee cabin, you're letting Royal Caribbean assign you a room from the leftover unbooked staterooms. While you might not get the best cabin location on the ship, you'll still get a balcony room and likely save a few hundred dollars along the way.

The amount of money you can save on a cruise by going with a guarantee cabin will vary considerably, but sometimes it can net you significant savings.

The reason to skip booking a guarantee is if you want a specific location.

Some people absolutely want to be midship for convenience and to avoid getting seasick. Others want a great view, such as an aft balcony that looks out the back of the ship.

Watch out for obstructed balconies

Not all balconies are created equally, and some have obstructions to block part of the view.

Obstructed balconies are just like regular balcony cabins, but there is some physical structure blocking part of your view.

Royal Caribbean provides a percentage of how much of the view is blocked. Usually, the obstruction is a lifeboat, pole, or some part of the ship's steel infrastructure.

One advantage of an obstructed balcony is it will be cheaper than a regular balcony room.

You should also be aware it's quite common for a guarantee cabin booking to end up with an obstructed balcony cabin because they're less desirable and thus end up unsold. Ditto if you're thinking of bidding for a stateroom upgrade to a balcony.

How much is a balcony worth to you?

Ultimately, the decision if a balcony cabin is worth it depends on your costs involved, your vacation budget, and how much you value the benefits of a balcony.

Because the prices vary so wildly, I can't offer advice for everyone. However, I do think it's worth always weighing the cost of a balcony and other cabin categories, rather than going into a booking only focused on a balcony room category.

Something else to consider is the destinations your cruise will visit. If you're taking an exotic cruise to a place like Alaska or Norway, the value of a balcony room is higher because of all the scenery.

It seems a lot of people will justify booking a balcony instead of an inside cabin if the price is reasonable. Around $200 per person to move up to a balcony is the range where it's a no brainer to upgrade. Beyond that, it's up to you and your budget.

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Is a balcony worth splurging on for a cruise? Sometimes it can be an obvious choice for the convenient access to fresh air, a great view, and natural light in your cabin.

However, sometimes a balcony can cost a lot more or the itinerary isn't conducive for a balcony cabin.

A balcony cabin is incredibly popular because a lot of people see them as a good blend of space, value, and amenities. It's why you'll find more balcony cabins on newer cruise ships than older ones.  Cruise lines have increased the percentage of balcony cabins on ships quite a bit over the last 15 years.

I've taken almost 100 cruises, and I've sailed around the world, so I've been on quite a few balconies. Here are the pros and cons of private balconies on a cruise.

What to expect in a balcony cabin

No matter which ship or balcony cabin you book, you can expect a stateroom with a private veranda that you can enjoy anytime day or night.

Balcony rooms are also larger than an inside cabin, which means more living space within the cabin itself and the space the balcony provides.

Royal Caribbean's inside cabins are around 149 square feet in side, whereas a balcony room starts at 180 square feet. That may not seem like a lot of extra space on paper, but experiencing it in person gives all the perspective you need.

Verandas come in many sizes, with some being just 40 square feet all the way up to hundreds of square feet in the mega suites.

All balcony cabins include at least two chairs and a table, that you can use to sit or even have room service deliver food out there. Having your morning coffee while sitting on your balcony is something I will never tire of, and something I can never replicate at home.

I'd recommend everyone try this at least once, because eating on your balcony is another fantastic reason to book a balcony.

Some of the larger balconies (especially those on suites), may include loungers instead of chairs.

Balcony cabins offer a lot to love

When you think of a cruise vacation, you probably have the ocean air in mind, and a balcony cabin gives you ample access to it.

It's quite refreshing to be able to open up you balcony any time of day and get the breeze immediately. The connection to the ocean is such a critical component for many on why they enjoy to cruise.

Even when the weather may be a bit chilly, having access to the fresh ocean air is refreshing. 

In addition, enjoying your ship departing and arriving from your balcony is definitely more enjoyable. Since you have a private balcony to enjoy, you don't have to contend with anyone else to get a spot.

Taking a seat in a chair and watching the world go by is a big reason why I enjoy being in a balcony cabin.

Why cruisers book a balcony

When asked if it's worth the extra cost to have a balcony, veteran cruisers talk about the reasons to give one a try.

In an online discussion, journmajor wrote, "Balconies are heaven after a hot day, a cool shower, with a glass of wine and a book before late dinner time. My favorite time of the day."

Julios_on_50th wrote, "I have been on 10 cruises. Always get a balcony. My husband and I use it throughout the day. Early morning coffee, reading in the afternoon, late night cocktail. The balcony is so relaxing."

tipsy_python shared their thoughts on how much more to spend on a balcony, "My opinion on value: $1-$250 more is no brainer, you have to do balcony $251-$500 tempting, probably should $500+ experiencing diminishing returns, gotta consider the alternatives."

Reasons to not book a balcony

If you're wondering what the rationale is to skip a balcony, there are a few good counterarguments.

A balcony stateroom can sometimes cost a lot more than an inside room. That's money you could spend on another cruise or even just a shore excursion. Every dollar adds up.

The amount of people in your cabin could be a factor. Most balconies only have two chairs, so if you have a family of three or four people, you cannot sit outside together.

Something else to think about is the wind effect, especially when the balcony door is open and someone opens the stateroom door to the hallway.  This creates a wind tunnel, and it can tussle all of your belongings.

Lastly, there's the reality of how much time will you actually spend on your balcony? Royal Caribbean ships are designed to have so much going on, and what ends up happening is cruisers spend more time out of their cabin than they originally anticipated.

Is it worth getting a balcony on a cruise?

Spending more to book a balcony can definitely make sense, but there are important factors to consider.

On shorter sailings, where the amount of overall time you have on the cruise limited, you may find a balcony unnecessary since there is not much time to enjoy it.

However, if your cruise is 7-nights or longer, that provides significantly more time to relax and enjoy the private balcony area, especially on sea days.

Part of the decision is to determine what your plans are for the cruise and how much you plan on taking advantage of the room.

Royal Caribbean ships offer an incredible amount of activities, places to dine, and things to do onboard that you may not find much reason to stay in your stateroom, balcony or not. For some cruisers, a cabin is where you sleep, shower, and not much else.

While rock climbing walls, the casino, water slides and other activities are compelling options for some, other guests know they prefer to enjoy the weather from the comfort of their balcony.

Ultimately, a balcony cabin will almost certainly cost more than an oceanview or windowless "inside" cabin, but I think the cost is justified in so many cases.

New cruisers may see a balcony room as a good investment and opportunity to try cruising in an ideal environment.

Someone who been on multiple cruises and wants to book more cruises may look at this conundrum as an opportunity to save money for a future cruise and book an interior stateroom.  Plus, they have already experienced a balcony cabin in the past.

Having access to a balcony and the associated benefits it brings makes the decision to splurge on a balcony worth it.

With so many Royal Caribbean cruise ships in the fleet, it can be confusing to figure out how big each ship is by size.

The biggest Royal Caribbean cruise ships can hold more than 6,000 passengers, making them massive resorts floating on the sea. Big ships are definitely Royal Caribbean's calling card.

Royal Caribbean still has some ships with about 3,000 passengers capacity, and these ships are more intimate and offer a classic cruise experience. While they lack the amount of onboard activities the big ships have, they can reach far-flung destinations around the world.

The smallest Royal Caribbean cruise ships are ideal for someone who wants a less crowded and relaxed atmosphere. They are also usually priced the lowest.

While the size of a cruise ship is not the end-all-be-all statistic that defines one ship from another, it is certainly a metric many people pay attention to, especially from a marketing perspective. In fact, some of the biggest cruise ships in the world are Royal Caribbean ships.

My advice is don't book a cruise purely because it's the biggest in the world.  Rather, compare what the ship has to offer that actually interests you.

So whether you have a passing interest in knowing how big each ship is in Royal Caribbean's fleet, or want to prove your friend wrong that you know which ship is the biggest, here is a look at all the Royal Caribbean cruise ships ranked from biggest to smallest.

Royal Caribbean ships by size

1. Icon of the Seas

Gross Tonnage: 250,800 GRT

Length: 1,198 feet long

Passengers: 5,610 (double occupancy)

2. Star of the Seas

Gross Tonnage: 248,663 GRT

Length: 1,196 feet long

Passengers: 5,610 (double occupancy)

3. Utopia of the Seas

Gross Tonnage: 236,860 GRT

Length: 1,188 feet long

Passengers: 5,668 (double occupancy)

4. Wonder of the Seas

Gross Tonnage: 236,857 GRT

Length: 1,188 feet long

Beam: 210 feet wide

Passengers: 5,734 (double occupancy)

5. Symphony of the Seas

Gross Tonnage: 228,081 GRT

Length: 1,188 feet long

Beam: 215.5 feet wide

Passengers: 5,518 (double occupancy)

6. Harmony of the Seas

Gross Tonnage: 226,963 GRT

Length: 1,188 feet long

Beam: 215.5 feet wide

Passengers: 5,479 (double occupancy)

7. Oasis of the Seas

Gross Tonnage: 226,838 GT

Length: 1,187 feet long

Beam: 215 feet wide

Passengers: 5,602 (double occupancy)

8. Allure of the Seas

Gross Tonnage: 225,282 GRT

Length: 1,187 feet long

Beam: 215 feet wide

Passengers: 5,484 (double occupancy)

9. Spectrum of the Seas

Gross Tonnage: 169,379 GRT

Length: 1,139 feet long

Beam: 135 feet wide

Passengers: 4,256 (double occupancy)

10. Odyssey of the Seas

Gross Tonnage: 169,300 GT

Length: 1,138 feet long

Beam: 135 feet wide

Passengers: 4,284 (double occupancy)

11. Ovation of the Seas

Gross Tonnage: 168,666 GRT

Length: 1,138 feet long

Beam: 136 feet wide

Passengers: 4,180 (double occupancy)

12. Anthem of the Seas

Gross Tonnage: 168,666 GRT

Length: 1,141 feet long

Beam: 136 feet wide

Passengers: 4,180 (double occupancy)

13. Quantum of the Seas

Gross Tonnage: 168,666 GRT

Length: 1,141 feet long

Beam: 136 feet wide

Passengers: 4,180 (double occupancy)

14. Freedom of the Seas

Gross Tonnage: 156,271 GT

Length: 1,111 feet long

Beam: 185 feet wide

Passengers: 3,926 (double occupancy)

15. Liberty of the Seas

Gross Tonnage: 154,407 GRT

Length: 1,112 feet long

Beam: 185 feet wide

Passengers: 3,798 (double occupancy)

16. Independence of the Seas

Gross Tonnage: 154,407 GRT

Length: 1,112 feet long

Beam: 185 feet wide

Passengers: 3,858 (double occupancy)

17. Navigator of the Seas

Gross Tonnage: 139,999 GT

Length: 1,020 feet long

Beam: 161 feet wide

Passengers: 3,388 (double occupancy)

18. Mariner of the Seas

Gross Tonnage: 139,863 GRT

Length: 1,020 feet long

Beam: 127 feet wide

Passengers: 3,344 (double occupancy)

19. Explorer of the Seas

Gross Tonnage: 137,308 GRT

Length: 1,020 feet long

Beam: 157.5 feet wide

Passengers: 3,286 (double occupancy)

20. Adventure of the Seas

Gross Tonnage: 137,276 GRT

Length: 1,020 feet long

Beam: 157 feet wide

Passengers: 3,114 (double occupancy)

21. Voyager of the Seas

Gross Tonnage: 137,276 GT

Length: 1,020 feet long

Beam: 157.5 feet wide

Passengers: 3,602 (double occupancy)

22. Radiance of the Seas

Gross Tonnage: 90,090 GRT

Length: 962 feet long

Beam: 106 feet wide

Passengers: 2,143  (double occupancy)

23. Brilliance of the Seas

Gross Tonnage: 90,090 GRT

Length: 962 feet long

Beam: 106 feet wide

Passengers: 2,142  (double occupancy)

24. Serenade of the Seas

Gross Tonnage: 90,090 GRT

Length: 965 feet long

Beam: 106 feet wide

Passengers: 2,143 (double occupancy)

25. Jewel of the Seas

Gross Tonnage: 90,090 GRT

Length: 962 feet long

Beam: 106 feet wide

Passengers: 2,191 (double occupancy)

26. Enchantment of the Seas

Gross Tonnage: 82,910 GRT

Length: 989 feet long

Beam: 105.6 feet wide

Passengers: 2,252 (double occupancy)

27. Rhapsody of the Seas

Gross Tonnage: 78,491 GRT

Length: 915.35 feet long

Beam: 105.6 feet wide 

Passengers: 1,998 (double occupancy) 

28. Vision of the Seas

Gross Tonnage: 78,340 GT

Length: 915 feet long

Beam: 105.6 feet wide

Passengers: 2,050 (double occupancy)

29. Grandeur of the Seas

Gross Tonnage: 73,817 GRT

Length: 916 feet long

Beam: 105.6 feet wide

Passengers: 1,992 (double occupancy)

How do you measure how big a cruise ship is?

Cruise ships are measured by their gross tonnage, which can be a confusing metric to understand.

Gross tonnage is a nonlinear measure of a ship's overall internal volume.

What?

Basically, this is a way to measure passenger vessels by volume and not weight. This is the standard way to measure how cruise ships compare to each other because of how designs can vary greatly.

What is Royal Caribbean's biggest ship?

The biggest Royal Caribbean ship is Icon of the Seas, which is also the world's biggest cruise ship.

The maximum capacity for Icon of the Seas is 7,600, and the ship measures 248,663 gross tons. That means you'll find a giant ship with so much to do onboard. There are new types of cabins, a water park, new neighborhoods, and plenty of activities in-between.

Icon of the Seas will remain the biggest cruise ship in Royal Caribbean's fleet even when the second Icon Class ship launches in 2025, Star of the Seas.  

What is the smallest Royal Caribbean ship?

The smallest Royal Caribbean cruise ship is Grandeur of the Seas, and she is also the oldest Royal Caribbean cruise ship.

Grandeur of the Seas is just 73,817 gross tons and has a passenger capacity of 2,446. 

Launched in 1996, Grandeur was originally going to be sold off, but the cruise industry shutdown of 2020 meant she'd stick around a bit longer.

The top deck features one main pool and a few hot tubs. Nearby is the adults-only Solarium, which has another pool and hot tub. There is also a rock climbing wall on the aft of the ship. This is typical of a cruise ship built almost 30 years ago.

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Doing research ahead of a cruise vacation is always a good idea, and it paid off for me in a few ways on my recent cruise to Europe.

I sailed on Royal Caribbean's Anthem of the Seas for a 7-night cruise to France and Spain, and I enjoyed the cruise so much more than I anticipated.

The ports my ship visited were far better than I anticipated, especially my stops in Bilbao and La Coruna, Spain.

In looking back at my cruise, I think there are a few "big brain" moves I made that really paid off because it enhanced my trip much more.

If you're thinking about what makes a great vacation, I think it's a cumulative effort of big and small wins that stack up. 

Here are 5 smartest things I did on my European cruise that I will do on every single future cruise I take.

Walked instead of a single tour

While it wasn't my overarching plan to start with, I ended up exploring each port of call I visited on foot rather than take an organized tour or visit a single site and I think that worked out well.

When you're in a port for only a few hours, there's a limited choice of what you can do.  I opted to take in each city by simply walking around and not committing myself to a museum, historical site, or activity.

While I don't think someone who did any of those things made a mistake, I believe taking walking tours of each city gave me a better sense of what each place has to offer, and prepared me to focus on any future visits.

Unlike the Caribbean, European cities have so much to see and do. It can feel overwhelming when you're trying to plot a course, but I'd rather have too many choices than not enough.

I relished the adventure of walking the city streets to see what was around the next corner.  I reveled in stumbling across a Gothic church, incredible food stand, or a scenic vista. 

I think if you're considering what to do in a European city, don't overlook walking around on your own. It's quite manageable, and it adds a sense of adventure to the experience.

Buy eSim card

There's no doubt the best €39.99 I spent on this trip was to get a European eSim card for my phone so I could use my phone like normal.

I purchased the Travel Orange eSim card before my cruise, and then activated as soon as I landed in London. This link contains an affiliate link, which costs you nothing extra to use.

Once activated, I had a second line on my phone that could place calls, use the internet, and text.  Not only could I stay in contact with family at home, but it made exploring Europe so much easier.

I was able to quickly use Google Maps to find the closest boulangerie, metro station, cultural site, and more. 

Earlier I wrote about how much I loved exploring each city on foot, and it was really only possible with the fact I could easily get walking directions.  Moreover, having an internet connection in London made it super simple to know which train to take.

While some American cell phone carriers have international roaming plans, I found the eSim card plan simple since all I had to do was scan a QR code and it just worked in every country I visited.

Use Mobile Passport Control app on my return

I forgot where I learned this trick, but prior to my cruise I installed the Mobile Passport Control (MPC) app on my phone and it saved me so much time returning to the United States.

This is an app by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and basically it's a digital version of that blue form you usually fill out by hand.

I filled the app out while on my flight home, and then once we landed, I filed it.  When you do this, you then have 4 hours to go through customs.

I don't have Global Entry or anything like that because I don't travel internationally by air nearly enough to warrant it.  

When I go to the line for customs, I told the agent I had the MPC app and he directed me to a different line that had perhaps 4 people in it ahead of me.  

I was able to breeze through customs in a matter of minutes rather than wait in line with everyone else. 

Wore my new shoes before my trip

I knew I needed to buy new shoes for my European cruise because what I wear everyday doesn't have enough cushion for a lot of walking. However, I learned a valuable lesson about comfort.

I bought the shoes, and then heard from Sheri from Cruise Tips TV that her that she emphasized greatly, "if there is just ONE piece of advice you take away from this Mediterranean Cruise Packing List – it is to pack worn-in shoes ONLY."

I immediately took my new sneakers out of the box, put them on and wore them in the days leading up to the trip to run errands.  I wore them to the airport and on the airplane too.

As a result, my feet never bothered me during my trip and I easily logged 10,000 steps every day while in port.

Tried out a free shore excursion

When a reader suggested I try a free walking tour in La Coruna, I was leery, but it turned out to be a great choice.

GuroWalk offers free tours where there is no cost, but you are expected to tip at the end what you think is appropriate for the quality of the experience.

Our guide met myself and four other people for a great walking tour of the city, where he took us to the major historical spots around the city. We visited all sorts of sites and our guide provided context every step of the way.

Sometimes when planning a cruise, you run across a port where none of the popular activities jump out at you as the obvious choice and you find yourself at a loss of what to do.  A free tour like this ended up being a wonderful choice given the circumstances.

Gratuities on a Royal Caribbean cruise are part of the total vacation cost, but they can be confusion, especially for first-time cruisers.

As a cruise ship passenger, you're expected to give tips to crew members during your voyage. Don't worry, this isn't as awkward or formal as it sounds, but understanding how these gratuities work and what they cover will be helpful.

Not only will you need to distribute gratuities, you also need to plan your cruise budget to account for them.

Royal Caribbean, like all major cruise lines, has a system in place to ensure that the hardworking staff members who enhance your vacation receive appropriate compensation. Gratuities are not included in the cruise fare (except for Australians), but they are compulsory.

We provide this guide to help you understand how gratuities work on the cruise, who receives them, how they are charged, and whether you can adjust them.

How much are gratuities on Royal Caribbean?

Royal Caribbean automatically adds a daily charge to each cruise passenger's SeaPass account. 

Each day of your cruise, Royal Caribbean will automatically charge each person's SeaPass account a gratuity.  It's a way to recognize great service onboard that you get from crew members.

The daily gratuities cover these crew members:

• stateroom attendant
• head waiter
• waiter
• assistant waiter

As of November 1, 2024, the daily gratuity amount is $18.50 per guest, per day for those guests in standard accommodations.  Guests in suites will pay $21.00 per person, per day in gratuities.  The daily gratuity amount is the same for all passengers, regardless of age.

Instead of paying them onboard, guests have the choice to pre-pay their gratuities before their cruise to help split up the cost of their cruise vacation.

If you are a My Time Dining guest, you must prepay your gratuities.  

How to pre-pay gratuities

There are two good reasons to prepay gratuities. Some people prefer to have everything paid for before the cruise begins, so they don't have to worry about a big bill at the end of the trip.

The second reason to prepay gratuities is that your price is locked in. If Royal Caribbean were to raise the daily gratuity rates before your sailing, you'd be grandfathered into the old rate.

Pre-paying gratuities is a simple process. If you booked directly with Royal Caribbean, you can pre-pay gratuities by calling 866-562-7625 or logging into Royal Caribbean's website before the sailing.

If you booked with a travel agent, simply let the travel agent know your preference and they can take care of the arrangements.

There are other gratuities too

The daily gratuities only cover some crew members, and there you'll need to tip on other purchases.

If this seems like "double dipping", the reality is these tips are for crew members not covered by the daily gratuities.

Bartenders and drink waiters

If you order beverage onboard your Royal Caribbean cruise, such as soda, beer, or wine, you will be charged an automatic 18% gratuity when you receive the bill.

If you bought an unlimited drink package, gratuities for all drinks you order is included with the drink package purchase.  You'll actually get charged a "service fee" when you buy the drink package to cover that.

The gratuity amount is for the service you receive from the wait staff to serve your drink.  The gratuity amount is added to what you purchase and indicated at the bottom of your receipt.

You can add an additional tip on the receipt if you wish. 

Specialty restaurants

The surcharge you pay to dine at a specialty restaurant aboard a Royal Caribbean cruise includes the tip.

There is no need to pay a tip on top of the surcharge amount, unless you would like to.

Spa

The Vitality Spa on Royal Caribbean ships will have gratuity added onto it as well.

Just like drinks, an 18% gratuity is automatically added.

You can tip more, if you like

If you want to tip above and beyond the automatic gratuity, you are always welcome to do so.

This is a discretionary tip, and it is up to you and not expected in all cases.  Even crew members who receive an automatic gratuity can receive additional gratuities if you feel it is warranted.

Some instances where a discretionary tip may be appropriate are for room service deliveries or luggage service by porters.

You can remove the gratuities, but you need to pay them

Royal Caribbean will automatically charge you for every night of the cruise but that does not mean you have to pay it if you are not satisfied with the service. 

You can go to Guest Services at any point in your cruise and have them reduced or removed from your account if you would prefer to tip a different amount.

The option to remove gratuities is a mechanism to rectify poor service, not a cost savings measure. Crew members work very hard every day of your cruise to make it a great vacation, so don't stiff them in order to save money.

Why do I have to tip?

Cruise ship tipping is an old tradition that still hangs on, and it's also a product of American tipping culture.

One benefit to keeping tipping in place is it incentives crew members to go above and beyond with their service. Even if they are a crew member that gets a tip automatically, the service they provide gets reflected in post-cruise surveys. Plus, many guests elect to tip on top of the base amount in the case of excellent service.

By having tips as an additional cost, it's something that doesn't drive up the base cruise fare, which helps advertise lower rates.

In fact, Royal Caribbean has said they won't offer an all inclusive cruise fare that includes gratuities because their internal research shows a majority of customers don't want all-in-one pricing.

Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley said, "We know from our research that we need to give everybody the choice to decide what they do or don't want included in their vacation."

"We feel like the pricing strategy that we have on the bundling, unbundling is the right path to go."

The reality is gratuity on Royal Caribbean is an added fee you're expected to pay. Perhaps in the future tips would be included with the cruise fare, but that has yet to change.

Royal Caribbean's viral 274-night world cruise has ended after visiting around 60 countries across seven continents, including Antarctica.

On Tuesday morning, Serenade of the Seas returned to Miami to complete a 9-month journey around the world that visited all 7 continents.

This was Royal Caribbean's first every foray into offering a world cruise, and it was not only successful, but generated a lot of buzz along the way.

Royal Caribbean divided up the world cruise into four segments, with some cruises on the entire journey, and others on shorter portions.

• The Ultimate Americas Cruise
• The Ultimate Asia Pacific Cruise
• The Immersive Africa Cruise
• The Ultimate Europe and Beyond Cruise

Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley celebrated the completion of the world cruise by joining the ship for its final few days.

"What an amazing voyage these brave travelers have made," he posted on his Facebook page during the final day of the sailing, "Over the past days they have shared their stories, many telling of a true life changing experience and sharing such joy and emotion over new relationships formed and bonds created with fellow travelers and crew.  The Serenade of the Seas has become such a warm friendly community and emotions run deep."

"It has been a true honor to represent the team at Royal Caribbean who curated and led this grand adventure.  We were trusted by so many to deliver such an experience and we did it."

He went on to thank the officers in charge of Serenade during the voyage, "Thank you to our incredible team members ship and shore and to our two Captains Stig and Kjell whose wisdom and seafaring mastery safely guided all around the world safely and securely.  

He also thanked the crew and guests for being a part of the experience, "To our beautiful caring and loving crew who demonstrated their humanity and love to our guests.  To our guests for being such understanding, compassionate adventurers and for trusting Royal Caribbean.  Onwards and Upwards!"

Internet fame

The world cruise rose to fame almost immediately on TikTok, as it generated a great deal of interest from people who couldn't fathom spending almost an entire year on a cruise ship.

The cruise set sail on December 10, 2023 and a series of videos were posted speculating on what might happen during such a long journey.

By the time the ship departed Miami, there were already 9 million views on TikTok for the #RoyalCaribbeanUltimateWorldCruise hashtag.

Later in January 2024, Mr. Bayley was talking to members of the press about the world cruise and admitted they could not have predicted that kind of response, "We had no clue that it would become... there's been 290 million views of some of the TikTok stuff that's gone out in the ultimate cruise."

A world cruise unlike others

One distinguishing factor about Royal Caribbean's world cruise was it set out to be the ultimate world cruise.

Mr. Bayley recalled the planning for it began during the cruise industry shutdown of 2020, "We kind of had this endless discussion about... let's really do something big. So let's do a world cruise because people want to they're going to want to go out and experience things."

"Most world cruises last four months max. So we said, no, let's do the ultimate world cruise."

"The team went off and they created the itinerary and they came back and they said, yeah, it's nine months. So we said, yeah, let's do that."

According to Mr. Bayley, over 800 people booked the entire world cruise, with one of the first tickets for the sailing selling for $750,000 for a suite on Serenade of the Seas.

Read more: Suites on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship

Another world cruise in the works

If you'd like a chance to sail on a world cruise, Royal Caribbean has plans for another but details aren't available yet.

While onboard the final days of the first world cruise, Mr. Bayley confirmed a second world cruise is being planned.

At a community hall meeting onboard, "The answer is yes, we are going to do another Ultimate World Cruise."

“We’re announcing today that we are going to hold [an] Ultimate World Cruise reunion cruise. And when we have the reunion cruise, we are going to announce the next world cruise."

“And when we announce the next world cruise on the reunion cruise, we will only open it for sale for those people who are on the reunion cruise."

It will be on the September 7, 2025 sailing of Serenade of the Seas to Alaska.

He did admit there were a lot of logistical challenges with pulling off the world cruise, and it wasn't easy.

"Some things haven't gone to plan, specifically with the circumnavigation of Africa, and obviously that would come with a massive cost to the organization."

He also said that while Serenade was a great choice for the world cruise, the next one needs a ship with "more outside staterooms".