One travel agent is raising a red flag about common scams she's seen that could ruin your cruise vacation plans.

 Jenn Greene is a Travel Planner affiliated with MEI Travel and regularly books Royal Caribbean cruises. She's one of the top earners at her agency, and she's run into all sorts of scenarios with her clients.

While most people have no issues, she's noticed an influx lately of bad actors who are causing problems, "With cruising being more popular than ever, we are seeing an uptick in scammers trying to take advantage of travelers."

Consumers should always be vigilant about sharing personal information, as well as deals that seem "too good to be true".

Whether it’s an overly aggressive salesperson on the other end of the phone, or an all-too-friendly Facebook profile, there’s plenty to be wary of.  Here are the most popular scams Jenn is seeing right now. 

Oversharing in cruise groups

While it may be a fun idea to join a group to coordinate with others on your cruise, user beware because scammers are among you.

We recommend finding a Facebook group or roll call thread for your upcoming sailing because of the opportunity to meet new friends and learn more about your specific sailing.  However, you want to keep your guard up in these groups.

Ms. Greene recommends not posting too much information about yourself or your cruise, "It’s ok to make plans to meet up at the bar once onboard, but don’t trust giving your information to others via private messages."

"Before you know it, a scammer has your phone number, email and booking information, which gives them easy access to your vacation plans."

If you think Ms. Greene is exaggerating the concern, a woman recently learned this lesson the hard way when she lost a $15,000 cruise after posting reservation number on social media.

Call the right phone number

This may seem trivial, but scammers pay a lot of money to have their fake phone numbers land on Google searches. 

If you are looking for a contact number for Royal Caribbean, go directly to cruise line website, not the internet search bar.

Ms. Greene shared she's seen an uptick in these problems, "Just recently, cruisers that are booked have almost been scammed by these fake numbers, posing to be the cruise line."

She explained before the phone agent can "help you", they tell you that you owe more money for an embarkation fee, or a deck fee, which are all fake fees. 

"Once you pay them, they will then help you with whatever you may be calling about. When you hang up, they will have taken your money, and have your credit card information - and you still have no resolution to your problem," she explained.

"Free" cruise scam

If something seems too good to be true, then it probably is, including an offer for a free cruise.

Social media is rife with these posts that claim there's a giveaway for a free cruise, airplane ticket, or trip to a resort.

"It’s very common to see posts on Facebook, Instagram or other social media giving away the trip of a lifetime," Ms. Greene explained.  "Usually it’s an impersonation of a major cruise line, offering a free cruise giveaway or telling you that you’ve been specially selected."

She recommends if you are contacted by a cruise line on social media, do not trust it. 

Read more: 4 warning signs a cruise deal is too good to be true

Fake social media accounts

It’s common for scammers to create fake social media accounts based on well-known people in the cruise community, such as Captain Kate from Celebrity Cruises, or Royal Caribbean President and CEO Michael Bayley.  

For example, you might receive a message that there’s a problem with your cruise booking or that there’s an exclusive offer on a cruise, but at some point, you’ll always be asked for your bank details as scammers try to get your money. 

Ms. Greene added, "it’s highly unlikely that a cruise CEO or Captain is reaching out to users on social media."

How to protect yourself against scams

Hopefully this warning will ensure you think twice in the future, but another safeguard is to work with a trusted travel agent.

A good travel agent can answer any questions you may have along the way. You'll have a direct contact at all times to assist with your plans.

Want to change your dining time? Not sure, if you already prepaid gratuity? Travel agents are always there to help. A good travel agent will never charge a fee, and will help you every step of the way.

Royal Caribbean Blog works exclusively with MEI Travel and cannot say enough about their professionalism and service. 

Americans are spending more on travel than any other leisure category, and going on vacation is more of a need than a luxury.

Royal Caribbean Group President and CEO Jason Liberty told investors during a recent earnings call that his company's research is seeing consumers increasing their travel spend over the next year, even though some Americans are worried about the economy.

"Our research suggests that consumers are spending more on travel than any other leisure category and that they intend to increase their travel spend in the next 12 months."

A study by Forbes indicates that 46% of Americans are somewhat or very likely to adjust their travel plans in one way or another due to inflation.

It's no secret that a Royal Caribbean cruise costs more today than it did a few years ago, and that trend will continue into 2025 and 2026.

Mr. Liberty said Royal Caribbean Group's revenue for the second half of 2024 is 25% higher than it was in 2019, and they're getting more bookings for 2025 than for 2024, and that means the higher pricing trend will continue into 2025 and beyond.

We asked our readers one way they will cut the cost of your cruise vacation this year in order to cope with higher vacation costs. Two trends seemed to emerge from our polling.

Less onboard spending

The most commonly cited strategy by cruisers how they'll save money is by spending less on the options presented onboard.

Royal Caribbean's cruise fare does not include alcoholic beverages, WiFi access, shore excursions, specialty dining, and other add-ons.  

Many people said they would skip out on booking specialty restaurants, internet access, or drink packages.

Sharon Johnson posted, "Going back to my beginning days of cruising in the 80's and 90's. Inside cabin, no drink package, no WiFi."  She added, "this will be different, but affordable."

Stacey Boden wrote, "Cutting back on specialty dining, rethinking drink packages, redeeming RC Credit Card points for onboard credit for gratuities, minimal shore excursions if any."

These add-ons are not cheap, as drink packages regularly cost more than $100 per person, per day if purchased onboard.

Specialty dining costs add up too, even with a dining package.  More than two specialty restaurants will easily exceed $100 a person.

Jim Couch said he wouldn't cut back, but look for better sales, "Not exactly cutting costs but we did pay attention to when Royal Caribbean would have sales and re-purchase at the lower price. Ended up saving about $300 that way from our first booking."

Downsizing to smaller cabins and older cruise ships

Another strategy a lot of people mentioned was booking smaller, less expensive cabins.

Generally speaking, an inside cabin will be cheaper than a higher category cabin, such as a balcony.

Read more: Inside vs Balcony cabins on a cruise ship

Kim Dudzinski wrote, "I’ve started booking interiors, prices have increased so much lately! Now paying for an interior what we used to spend on a balcony. It’s fine though as we rarely use the balcony."

Nicole Amadio added, "Inside cabins, we need two rooms so this saves big time. We are also busy bodies and can’t sit in one spot for too long so I don’t think we would get the use out of a balcony."

Tracie Jolliffe thinks the decision to downgrade her cabin makes a lot of sense beyond the cost, "I actually prefer ocean view over balcony because the one time I tried a balcony I really didn’t use it. I also like the view through the window better than the view through the balcony. Unpopular opinion, but it works for me!"

The other strategy is to skip out on Royal Caribbean's newest cruise ships because of the premium pricing they command.

New ships include the latest and greatest features the cruise line has conjured up, but the cost is going to be likely higher than a ship that's been in the fleet more than 10 years.

Andy Unwin posted, "Not doing new ships. Older ships are more economical."

Steve Cohen commented, "Cruising from local port instead of flying. Cruising on an older ship instead of new one."

Robin Brook will combine all the strategies mentioned in this article, "Definitely an older smaller ship, which I prefer anyway. While I enjoy indulging, I don't have to drink to have fun. So dumping the drink package. Eating in the main dining room and buffet rather than in a specialty restaurant."

Some of the best values in cruising are on Royal Caribbean's Voyager, Radiance, and Vision Class cruise ships. That's because they regularly offer the lowest prices.

Read more: Royal Caribbean ships by size

Cruise during off-peak times

The other strategy to save money some people in our poll mentioned was to opt to cruise when there's less demand.

While Royal Caribbean sails year-round, there's an ebb and a flow to demand and there are certain times of the year where you'll usually find better prices because demand drops.

Midge O'Neil-Borsilli wrote, "I am looking at off season weeks and when kids are in school ( no holidays and summer)."

Chaz Iannaci added, "We live in Florida and sail out of Florida mostly. Drive to port. Book aboard ship. Book off season."

Annamarie Meyers posted, "Going off season and not doing specialty dining or cabana on CocoCay."

This strategy works well for anyone who isn't beholden to the school calendar, as the times of year when kids are on vacation is when a lot more families look to sail.

Royal Caribbean has added a new restriction on qualifying for its popular cruise deal for families with kids.

There's nothing new with Royal Caribbean having a kids sail free deal, as they've routinely offered it for many months in a row.  However, there's a new requirement added to the fine print.

Under the terms of the offer, children up to the age of 12 can sail for free when accompanying two paying passengers in the same cabin, provided the following criteria are met:

1. The sailing is 3 nights or longer
2. It doesn't conflict with a listed blackout date that covers many of the major school and religious holidays
3. NEW: The sailing date is departing at least thirty (30) days after the booking date

Prior to this change, a Kids Sail Free offer would have worked for a last minute deal departing less than 30 days after the booking date.

Royal Caribbean has provided no explanation for the new restriction, but it's likely a mechanism to encourage families to book their cruises further in advance.

The cruise line has been steadily working towards disincentivizing last minute bookings because it can usually result in lower fares. Besides the company wanting to make more money, someone booking at the last minute and getting a better price than someone who booked many months or years in advance hurts customers.

Restrictions on the Kids Sail Free offer aren't new. The fine print includes blackout dates around Thanksgiving, the winter holidays, summer, the spring break weeks and Easter week.

In addition, the kids fares still will be subject to taxes, fees and port expenses, which can amount to anywhere from $60 to more than $200 per person, depending on the itinerary.

What is the September 2024 Kids Sail Free offer?

If you want to take the most advantage of the offer, you'll need to book a cruise anytime between September 3 – 30, 2024 and it needs to be on select sailings 3 nights and longer departing at least thirty (30) days.

It cannot be on any sailing that departing on or during these blacked out dates:

• August 2 - 30, 2024
• November 22 - 29, 2024
• December 20, 2024 – January 3, 2025
• March 7 - 28, 2025
• April 12 - 24, 2025
• May 22 – August 29, 2025
• November 20 - 28, 2025
• December 18, 2025 – January 6, 2026
• March 6 – April 9, 2026
• Radiance Alaska Cruise Tour sailings departing July 1 – September 13, 2024 and May 16 – September 12, 2025
• Anthem of the Seas sailings departing November 21 – December 28, 2024
• Chinese New Year on Anthem of the Seas departing January 27, 2025 except for Alaska Summer sailings departing May 23 – August 29, 2025.

The good news is you can combine Kids Sail Free with the BOGO60 offer and the 2025 Kicker offer.

BOGO60 gives you 60% off the cruise fare of the second guest booked in the same stateroom as the first, full fare paying guest, as well as 30% off any additional guests booked in the same stateroom as the first full fare paying and second guest. 

It's valid on new bookings made September 3 – 30, 2024 and also needs to be on sailings departing at least thirty (30) days after the booking date.

The 2025 Kicker offer adds bonus onboard credit for cruises made just between September 3 – 4, 2024 on sailings departing in 2025 and provides instant savings per stateroom, varying by stateroom category booked and sailing length as follows: 

• 5 nights or less
  • $25 USD for Interior and Ocean View
  • $50 USD for Balconies
  • $75 USD for Suites
• 6 nights and longer
  • $50 USD for Interior and Ocean View
  • $75 USD for Balconies
  • $100 USD for Suites

Will Kids Sail Free actually save me money?

If you can find a sailing that qualifies for Kids Sail Free, then yes, it can really save money.

The difficult thing in trying to calculate the savings is making sure you have the exact same room category when comparing with or without the offer.

Often people will price out a cabin for 2 guests, and then again with 4. 

Read more: Ways I Save Money on Cruises With Family

The vast majority of cabins hold only two people.  Because they are plentiful there can often be lower rates on cabins that can only accommodate two guests.

Generally speaking, most cruise ships only have a small percentage of cabins that can hold more than two. Within those cabins, some only have a capacity of just three guests, while others can accommodate four or five, but there are very few like this available compared to the number of cabins that can accommodate two guests only.

A party of four can't use a cabin meant for only two or three guests so as the number in the party increases there are fewer and fewer cabins that can accommodate them.  

Because there are so few of these cabins relatively speaking they are often in demand.  Anything in demand drives the price up.  Often other families have booked up some or most of them leaving just a handful remaining.  This also increases rates due to the supply and demand nature of the travel industry.

The only way to see the effect of Kids Sail Free is to price a cabin with adults for the number in your group (ages set to 18 or above for everyone) and then do another mock booking with your kids ages applied.   

One of the best things about a Royal Caribbean cruise are the high caliber shows included in your cruise.

The notion of "dinner and a show" is part of the core cruise experience that you'll find on any Royal Caribbean ship.

In the evening, there are signature shows performed during a sailing. Some ships even have multiple theaters where different shows can be seen.

Royal Caribbean has built a reputation within the cruise industry for offering the best entertainment on any ship that can compete with land. Many of the shows are designed to be of the same quality that you'd find in Las Vegas or New York.

In fact, there are Broadway shows on Royal Caribbean that cost nothing extra to see and are the full show.

Depending on which ship you sail on, there are different shows to see. Most shows are performed a few times per cruise so that guests have an opportunity to see them at least once.

Here's a look at the signature stage shows, aqua shows, and Broadway shows available on each Royal Caribbean ship.

Adventure of the Seas

The Lyric Theater: Invitation to Dance

Invitation To Dance is a fusion of Latin and Ballroom dance, beautiful costumes and the excitement and energy of live theater. A sensual and passionate world-class production where Ballroom and Latin dance are reinvented for a diverse global audience.

The Lyric Theater: Can't Stop The Rock

Can't Stop The Rock takes the audience on a musical journey through Rock and Roll from movie soundtracks. Covering everything from Chubby Checker and Connie Francis to Whitney Houston and Prince. Over 40 years of some of the greatest live music.

Studio B: Cool Art... Hot Ice!

Explore the multifaceted world of art by embarking on an odyssey through time and geography. Join Arthur, our main character, as he is pulled into an adventure where art and life fuse as one. Our spectacular ice cast will draw you In, close the door behind, and take you on your own unique adventure.

Allure of the Seas

AquaTheater: OceanAria Aquashow

Graceful divers soar overhead as glittering fountains dance to the song of the ocean. An ancient underwater civilization comes to life in this highly entertaining AquaTheater extravaganza.

Royal Theater: Mamma Mia!

Writer Catherine Johnson's sunny, funny tale unfolds on a Greek island paradise on the eve of her wedding, a daughter's quest to discover the identity of her father brings three men from her mother's past back to the island they last visited 20 years ago. The story-telling magic of ABBA's timeless songs propel this enchanting tale of love, laughter and friendship, and every night everyone's having the time of their lives.

Royal Theater: Blue Planet - Home

Using our awesome theatrical technology and featuring one of the most talented casts of performers and artists that we have ever assembled, join Nadia as she journeys from the peaks of the mountaintops to the depths of the ocean on her mission to share her passion. Take a global adventure (without leaving your seat) and be prepared to be awed by soaring vocals, powerful music, amazing acrobatics and future-forward choreography. 

Studio B: BLADES!

Our talented skaters put their best blade forward in BLADES, a dazzling showcase of their very best moves set to their own favorite tunes. The cast has gone rogue, and anything can happen!

Anthem of the Seas

Two70: Spectra's Cabaret

Our Maestro and the Agents of Rhythm invite you to an electric multi-dimensional world where you will be transported into invisible realms. Each night, the portal opens for a limited period of time to a multimedia show brimming with kaleidoscopic sounds, effervescent colors, and dazzling movement. Spectra's Cabaret creates a world seen through the lens of music and technology, all the while exploring the deepest recesses of the heart

Royal Theater: We Will Rock You!

The spectacular Olivier Award-winning musical phenomenon WE WILL ROCK YOU rocked over 6.5 million people in a record-breaking 12 years at London's Dominion Theatre. Written by legendary comedian and author Ben Elton and with a score of killer Queen tunes such as Radio Ga Ga, I Want to Break Free, Bohemian Rhapsody, and of course, We Will Rock You, it's the champion of all musicals.

Royal Theater: The Gift

A musical journey of fantasy and illusion that begins one stormy night with the arrival of a "Magical Gift."

A beautiful production that is sure to delight, inspire, and touch the hearts of all who come to see it.

Brilliance of the Seas

Pacifica Theater: Now & Forever

Join our cast for a high-energy look at contemporary Broadway numbers from shows such as The Producers, Fosse, The Full Monty, Mamma Mia!, and many more.

Enchantment of the Seas

Orpheum Theater: Can't Stop The Rock

Can't Stop The Rock takes the audience on a musical journey through Rock and Roll from movie soundtracks. Covering everything from Chubby Checker and Connie Francis to Whitney Houston and Prince. Over 40 years of some of the greatest movie music.

Orpheum Theater: Stage to Screen

A tribute to the great musicals that have made the successful jump from the Broadway stage to the glittering lights of Hollywood (and vice versa!).

Explorer of the Seas

Palace Theater: Fast Forward

A high-energy show highlighting the most popular movie musicals of the 1980s. With Fame, Footloose, Flashdance, and Saturday Night Fever, audiences are sure to leave energized!

Palace Theater: Spirits of the Seasons

The powerful driving forces of life serve as inspiration to the seasons that can sometimes be gentle, and at other times show all their might. Our skaters become the Season's spirits, displaying playfulness and charm, while changing to awe-inspiring power and might. Come and experience the wind, the snow, the rain, and thunder along with the delightful tease that our skaters have in store for you.

Palace Theater: Wild, Cool & Swingin

Wild, Cool & Swingin is an exciting look at the glamorous cities with the swankest atmospheres that led to the creation of music and dance synonymous with them. Audiences will be treated to the slick Broadway style of New York, the romance of San Francisco, the rhythm and blues of Chicago, the hot Latin Quarter of Miami, and the high life of Las Vegas. There is something for everyone with its broad musical appeal, and the glitz and glamour reflecting these cities at the height of fashion and style.

Freedom of the Seas

Studio B: Freedomlce.com - An Ice Adventure

The Internet has unleashed its power and is enabling awareness to the meaning of freedom around the globe. Take a seat on the "World Wide Web" as our stunning international ice cast takes you on an inspiring journey through freedom and excitement.

Royal Theater: Marquee

Nowhere are the marquees more brightly lit than 42nd Street! As beacons to the best of Broadway with stunning musicals, famous composers, and iconic choreographers. Get treated to the best of Broadway on the open sea - all you have to do is look for the Marquee.

Royal Theater: Once Upon a Time

The nostalgic fairy tales we all heard as children with a fun and new twist, told through music as popular and as timeless as the tales themselves. To get to happily ever after, join our spectacular cast for Once Upon a Time...

Grandeur of the Seas

Palladium Theater: Tango Buenos Aires

Experience the sensual character of Buenos Aires at a live Tango show. Violin, piano, bass, and bandoneon are the instruments that fire the orchestral music and inspire the ardent lyrics that accompany the passionate, yet highly stylized and ritualized dance. The show features various tango styles offering a cultural tour of Argentina's signature artistic form.

Palladium Theater: Broadway Rhythm & Rhyme

Starring the Royal Caribbean Singers & Dancers as they take a trip down Broadway's memory lane with witty and original renditions of classic scores from Broadway stage hits. Whether you love classic or contemporary, you'll feel like you were set down right in the heart of the Great White Way.

Harmony of the Seas

Royal Theater: GREASE

Slick back your hair and pack your poodle skirts. Summer Lovin' is in the air with an all-new, larger-than-life take on Broadway's hit musical, Grease. Including all of the famous songs from the '70s hit movie, you'll follow the romantic twists and turns of Sandy and Danny, two summer loves who navigate the tricky social waters of Rydell High School while keeping their reputations and relationship together.

Royal Theater: Columbus, The Musical!

Meet the other Columbus in Columbus, The Musical! Royal Caribbean's original production tells the tale of Christopher's luckless distant cousin, Marvin. Banished from his father's kingdom, Marvin sets sail on a madcap voyage of discovery in the hopes of claiming his own place in history. Unforeseen romance and a happily ever after story are on the map as Marvin Columbus crashes into his Caribbean destiny.

AquaTheater: The Fine Line

The Fine Line is the AquaTheater redefined with high-flying feats, mind-blowing stunts, and physically demanding acrobatics brought to life by the world's best extreme sports athletes. Designed as a 360-degree immersive entertainment show, revelers will be wishing they had eyes in the back of their head to take in all the action happening around them.

AquaTheater: Big Daddy's Hideaway Heist

Set in a swanky 1950s resort, a crafty burglar has taken off with a bounty of jewels, and the staff of Hideaway Resort must take the audience on a high-flying adventure to solve the crime of the century.

Studio B: 1887: A Journey in Time

Beginning their journey on the frozen River Seine. Juliet and her mysterious time-traveling companion, the Tempus, travel in multiple dimensions to discover the wonders of the world, and of the heart. World-class skaters and breathtaking technology combine in a unique way that is guaranteed to leave you both breathless and emotional. 

Icon of the Seas

Royal Theater: The Effectors: The Origin Story

The newest and most powerful superhero team was introduced to the world by Royal Caribbean... But the question remains, where did they come from? The creators of this spectacular comic book franchise now bring you The Effectors: the Origin Story. Let's find out how it all began.

Royal Theater: Wizard of Oz

Our iconic hero, Dorothy, leads the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, the Cowardly Lion, and Toto on the most famous journey of all time. From Kansas, over the Rainbow, to Munchkinland, the Emerald, and the Land of Oz, this unlikely team of friends discovers the truth about this strange new world, while also discovering the truth about themselves. The Yellow Brick Road awaits!

AquaTheater: Aqua Action!

A brand new venue for a brand new style of live entertainment. Forget all that has come before, take a deep breath, and watch in awe as Royal Caribbean Productions redefines everything that is possible in live performance. As new and revolutionary technology is combined with the most extreme athletic skill sets ever assembled, the lines between a live-action movie and a live theatrical experience are blurred. 

Absolute Zero: Starburst: Elemental Beauty

Starburst Elemental Beauty pays tribute to the building blocks of all that we are and all that we know: the Periodic Table of the Elements. Everything from Carbon to Neon, to life-sustaining Oxygen, is born from the epic and colossal explosion of giant stars. This brand new spectacular ice production puts you in the front now to witness the explosive power of a Supernova and then takes you on an unforgettable artistic journey through a curated selection of the most beautiful elements. Our biggest, most epic ice show ever!

Independence of the Seas

Royal Theater: Invitation to Dance

Invitation To Dance is a fusion of Latin and Ballroom dance, beautiful costumes and the excitement and energy of live theater. A sensual and passionate world-class production where Ballroom and Latin dance are reinvented for a diverse global audience.

Royal Theater: GREASE

Slick back your hair and pack your poodle skirts. Summer Lovin' is in the air with an all-new, larger-than-life take on Broadway's hit musical, Grease. Including all of the famous songs from the '70s hit movie, you'll follow the romantic twists and turns of Sandy and Danny, two summer loves who navigate the tricky social waters of Rydell High School while keeping their reputations and relationship together.

Studio B: Freeze Frame

Let our Skaters take you on a journey through the most memorable moments of world events. Experience "Slices of Time" from decades past as international newspaper headlines, scenic images of the arts, fashions, cars, artists, dances, and fads of the time travel by. Freeze Frame is truly a fun experience not to be missed!

Jewel of the Seas

Coral Theater: City of Dreams

Take an incredible journey to ancient Atlantis, the exotic East, colorful India, and the elegance of Venice, all combined with recognizable music, extravagant costumes, and cinematic scenery that transports you to these exciting locations. With our amazing cast of singers and dancers, enjoy the unique experience that is 'City of Dreams.'

Coral Theater: West End to Broadway

West End To Broadway celebrates the musical theater productions that have graced both the Broadway and West End Stages. Enjoy classic show tunes by Cole Porter and Andrew Lloyd Weber, alongside contemporary hits such as Bohemian Rhapsody and Copacabana. West End to Broadway is an extremely classy and entertaining show.

Liberty of the Seas

Platinum Theater: Saturday Night Fever

This musical is based on Nik Cohn's 1975 New York magazine article "Tribal Rites of the New Saturday Night" and Norman Wexler's 1977 screenplay it inspired, it focuses on Tony Manero, a Brooklyn youth whose weekend is spent at the local discotheque. There he luxuriates in the admiration of the crowd and a growing relationship with Stephanie Mangano, and can temporarily forget the realities of his life, including a dead-end job in a paint store.

Studio B: Encore!

We will visit and pay tribute to the colorful stages of London's West End, the historical Paris Opera House, St. Petersburg's Mariinsky Theater, Tokyo's classical Kabuki, the energizing Hollywood Bowl, and a Grand Finale in none other than the entertainment capital of the world—Las Vegas! All this is brought to you by our incredible cast of Royal Caribbean ice skaters.

Mariner of the Seas

Royal Theater: Gallery of Dreams

From Mozart's Austria to 1940s Morocco to the Wild, Wild West, travel around the world and through the ages in this theatrical odyssey. Gallery of Dreams tells the story of a young artist whose sketches become reality as he makes his way through a museum and brings history to vivid life.

Studio B: Ice Under The Big Top

Ladies and Gentlemen, Girls and Boys, Ice Under the Big Top! Watch and be amazed by the skating acrobatics, backstage romances, amusing clowns, snake charmers, and aerial thrills that will delight the adult and child in all of us.

Navigator of the Seas

Studio B: iSkate - Reach for the Stars Ice Show

A dazzling showcase of our skater's very best moves set to their own favorite tunes. This is a superb opportunity for our audiences to see the full set of skills, talent, and bravery that our award-winning, medal-winning, international cast has to offer.

Royal Theater: Showgirl! Past. Present. Future

Our new and totally original mega production Showgirl! Past. Present. Future combines next-generation choreography with incredible vocal performances and cutting-edge lighting and video effects, to deliver an entertainment event that will stimulate the full range of human senses. This incredible dance spectacular takes us on a stunning journey that features one of the most iconic of all entertainers, the beautiful Showgirl. By paying tribute to the past, the present, and the future of this enigmatic and world-famous artist, this remarkable entertainment experience will leave audiences completely awestruck.

Oasis of the Seas

Studio B: Frozen in Time

Loved by children all over the world, Hans Christian Anderson is best known for his fantastic fairy tales, including The Emperor's New Clothes, the Ugly Duckling, The Little Mermaid, and The Snow Queen. Your heart will be touched all over again by this spellbinding pantomime that weaves together the story of his real-life emotions and inspiration, with the timeless and classic creations of his imagination.

Royal Theater: CATS

The new 90-minute performance of the Award-winning musical, "CATS," with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and originally produced by Cameron Mackintosh. This bespoke, custom-tailored version of one of the most famous musicals in the world, was created specifically for Royal Caribbean International and will take audiences on a unique artistic journey.

AquaTheater: Aqua80

Everybody loves the music of the 80s and everybody loves Royal Caribbean's spectacular Aquashows! There is no other show on Earth that will make you feel like this one will. The tempos, the energy, the drama, the action, and the fun. Don't miss it!

Odyssey of the Seas

Two70: The Book: Seven Chapters, One Adventure

The Book: Seven Chapters, One Adventure, is powered by our collective imaginations and is told in seven extraordinary chapters. This breathtaking journey reminds us that, in between the front and back covers of a great book, absolutely anything can happen!

Royal Theater: The Effectors

Join the Effectors as they take to the stage to demonstrate their awesome powers, and then come together to battle their archnemesis, Crash, as he tries to take over the world with his army of airborne Drone Soldiers and scary Henchmen. The Effectors is Royal Caribbean Productions' first globally copywritten IP, so come and enjoy the beginning of something BIG! A new Superhero franchise is born!

Royal Theater: Showgirl! Past, Present, Future

Paying tribute to the past, the present, and the future of this enigmatic and famous performer, this new dance spectacular takes us on a stunning journey that features one of the most iconic of all entertainers, the beautiful Showgirl.

Ovation of the Seas

Two70: Spectra's Cabaret

Our Maestro and the Agents of Rhythm invite you to an electric multi-dimensional world where you will be transported into invisible realms. Each night, the portal opens for a limited period of time to a multimedia show brimming with kaleidoscopic sounds, effervescent colors, and dazzling movement. Spectra's Cabaret creates a world seen through the lens of music and technology, all the while exploring the deepest recesses of the heart.

Royal Theater: Live. Love. Legs

This signature combination of incredibly talented artists, high-energy performances, and remarkable beauty delivers an unforgettable theatrical experience. This special collection of next-gen choreography and vocal performances features lavish costumes, jaw-dropping video effects, special music arrangements, and a fabulous group of international artists. Live. Love. Legs rewards the audience with full sensory overload!

Royal Theater: The Beautiful Dream

As goes in the land of dreaming, where secret wants and hidden fears lie deeply tucked in our subconscious, our greatest adventures often await in slumber. 

The Beautiful Dream is a story of a man who is visited by his departed soulmate who has come to help him rediscover his passion for life, and his will to love again. This is the biggest adventure of his life, the confrontation of his secret fears, and the dream of his eventual awakening.

Quantum of the Seas

Two70: Starwater

Starwater, a highly visual production, that fuses video mapping, groundbreaking robotic technology, and live performance artistry. Human emotions are explored as our muse brings together the magic of the stars and the mysteries of the seas. Harnessing the power of Two70's exclusive technical innovations, you won't see a show like this anywhere else in the world.

Royal Theater: Sequins & Feathers

With all its glitz and glamour, dynamics of beauty, music, and textures we celebrate the Showgirl. Bringing together the finest of LA, New York, Paris, and Las Vegas with stunning choreography and the finest performers from across the world.

Royal Theater: Sonic Odyssey

Royal Caribbean Productions presents an original production featuring The Earth Harp, designed and created by William Close, a semi-finalist in Season 7 of America's Got Talent. Sonic Odyssey takes the audience on a one-of-a-kind journey of music and sound, featuring the talented cast of the Royal Theater.

Radiance of the Seas

Aurora Theater: City of Dreams

Take an incredible journey to ancient Atlantis, the exotic East, colorful India, and the elegance of Venice, all combined with recognizable music, extravagant costumes, and cinematic scenery that transports you to these exciting locations. With our amazing cast of singers and dancers, enjoy the unique experience that is 'City of Dreams.'

Rhapsody of the Seas

Broadway Melodies Theater: Ballroom Fever

Ballroom Fever is a stunning production involving emotions that are represented through the many styles of ballroom dance.  Starting with the excitement & desire of the Latin style, the passion & romance of the Tango, the joy & amusement of the Jive, and the peace & serenity of the Waltz.

Broadway Melodies Theater: Pure Country

An ultimate collection of Country songs from your favorite and most recognizable artists. Tonight we will have you tapping your toes and singing along with Your Roval Caribbean Singers & Dancers!

Serenade of the Seas

Tropical Theater: Stage to Screen

A tribute to the great musicals that have made the successful jump from the Broadway stage to the glittering lights of Hollywood (and vice versa!).

Tropical Theater: Vibeology

Vibeology is a musical journey through some of the greatest music and musicians of the past decades. Giving originals a new twist with everything from remixed Elvis to Acapella Beatles, Motown, the 70's, from DJ to VJ this show captures the music that defined an era and pays homage to its Legends with Sting, Santana, and Cher.

Spectrum of the Seas

Two70: The Silk Road

The incredibly rich and diverse cultures, styles, designs, and visuals that are synonymous with the famous trade routes of the ancient Silk Road have been combined and integrated with beyond-state-of-the-art entertainment technology, to create one of the most unique live productions in the world! Two70's highly advanced technology, including 12k video resolution and 36-axis robotics, will now be pushed to its maximum limits, as we once again redefine the boundaries of what is possible in the creative arts.

Royal Theater: The Effectors

The Effectors; Pixel: beautiful, sexy, and confident, Reverb: unpredictable and mischievous, Lume: a sassy and dynamic supergirl, and Captain Viz: the leader of the pack, and always first into the fight, as they individually demonstrate their awesome powers, and then come together to battle their arch-nemesis, Crash, as he tries once again to stop the show and destroy the city of Showville.

Symphony of the Seas

AquaTheater: HiRO

Just when you thought you'd seen it all, Royal Caribbean brings you HiRO. With even more amazing high-flying feats and unexpected stunts, we bring together some of the world's best extreme sport athletes. HiRO redefines the limits of a theatrical production on the high seas. This mind-blowing show combines cutting-edge technology, future-forward choreography, and nighly innovative physicality in a never-seen-before way. It's exciting, jaw-dropping, and unpredictable, with no two shows ever being exactly the same. Get ready, because anything can happen!

Studio B: 1977: A Thrilling Adventure on Ice

Our time-traveling, dimension-hopping hero, the Tempus, is on another amazing adventure! This time the mission is to catch the infamous, Jewel Thief, Black Max. The story starts in London in 1977 and could end up anywhere.

Royal Theater: Hairspray!

Big hair, big dreams, all the right moves, and you've got one of the biggest Broadway hits of our time—Hairspray. Winner of eight Tony Awards and four Lawerence Oliver Awards, including Best New Musical, this feel-good musical is back by popular demand! Break out your bobby socks, because Tracy Turnblad won't stop until she gets her shot at fame dancing on the Corny Collins show. But TV stardom is just the beginning. Hairspray is back, and you can't stop the beat!

Royal Theater: Flight...Dare to Dream

Royal Caribbean's multi-million-dollar original production, spectacularly chronicles the evolution of humanity's endless fascination with flying. We begin in the future at the launch of the world's first aerospace cruiser, as we rocket our entire audience to MARS on its first-ever commercial flight to the red planet. The flight then continues on a unique journey, backwards in time, from one major aerospace "first" to the next. The grand finale is a stunning dramatization of the biggest moment of all, the Wright Brothers' first flight at Kitty Hawk!

Utopia of the Seas

Royal Theater: ALL IN!

All the technology, all the creativity, all the talent, all the design all the sound, all the costumes, all the video, all the lighting, all choreography, all the energy, and all the fun. ALL IN!

Studio B: YOUTOPIA Ice Spectacuar

It's not a typo. It's an ice-skating odyssey through ideal perfection, fantastical times and places, and unbelievable artistry while champion performers leave you in awe with countless spins, jumps, and stunts along the way. Find out what utopia means to you during YOUTOPIA!

AquaTheater: AQUA80too

Following on from the ramous AQUA80 show (on Oasis of the Seas) and responding to hundreds of thousands of requests, the Royal Caribbean Aqua Team are proud to present the sequel—AQUA80too! No other show on earth will make you feel like this one will. The tempos, the energy, the drama, the action and the fun, all rolled up into one.

Vision of the Seas

Masquerade Theater: Broadway Rhythm and Rhyme

Using rhythm, rhyme, words, and music, take a seat next to the greatest composers and lyricists from Broadway. With the classic music of Rodgers and Hammerstein, Duke Ellington, Andrew Lloyd Webber, and Sondheim, we bring new life into these iconic Broadway scores. It's a trip down Broadway's memory lane.

Masquerade Theater: Boogie Wonderland

Boogie Wonderland delivers the best of disco music with a ton of heart and soul! From artists such as Abba to Earth Wind and Fire, Boogie Wonderland will leave you wanting to spend the rest of the night dancing.

Voyager of the Seas

Royal Theater: Broadway Rhythm and Rhyme

Using rhythm, rhyme, words, and music, take a seat next to the greatest composers and lyricists from Broadway. With the classic music of Rodgers and Hammerstein, Duke Ellington, Andrew Lloyd Webber, and Sondheim, we bring new life into these iconic Broadway scores. It's a trip down Broadway's memory lane.

Studio B: Ice Odyssey

The game of Tarot has been capturing our imagination for centuries. Join our fantastic ice cast and experience this game coming to life in a mesmerizing and playful journey that you are not likely to forget. It's an evening of wonderful artistry, mystery, and passion.

Wonder of the Seas

Royal Theater: The Effectors II: Crash & Burn

The original and first-ever show to feature The Effectors on Spectrum of the Seas, was the most technologically advanced production in the history of the cruise industry... until now! The Effectors II: Crash & Burn on Wonder of the Seas, is our bigger, bolder, and even more spectacular sequel, and this time we will take things to a whole new level. Join us once again as The Effectors do battle with their arch-nemesis Crash and his new sidekick Burn. This time it's double the trouble! The question is: Can The Effectors still win? Get ready to, *ahem* Crash & Burn, as you will be amazed at the new world of live-action theater on Wonder of the Seas.

Royal Theater: Voices

Sync up your senses with a show that delivers a dynamic combination of virtual and live performances —in real time. World-class singers and dancers take the stage for a powerful new production in Voices: An Intimate Performance on a Grand Scale. Watch as the all-star ensemble dials up the talent in an emotional show of monumental proportions inside the largest theatrical venue at sea. Increase your connection speed during our newest bespoke production.

AquaTheater: inTENse

From the creative teams that gave us The Fine Line and HiRO (on Harmony of the Seas & Symphony of the Seas), we now experience the incredible skills, the awesome athleticism, and the furious energy of the cast in our new AquaProduction, inTENse!

Studio B: Ice Spectacular: 365

The four seasons of Planet Earth and its 365-day journey around the Sun, provide the perfect backdrop to another incredible Royal Caribbean ice production! (... and there are emojis :-)

Other shows across the fleet

Welcome Aboard Showtime is a generic musical medley show on many ships. It's essentially a mix of music and dancing that has no plot.  It's an opportunity to set the tone for passengers for the rest of the sailing, and it incorporates dance numbers and music in a high-energy experience.

Center Stage combines the talents and skills of musicians onboard the ship, live musicians typically found in venues across the vessel. The show includes musical stylings from jazz and rock to Latin, pop, and swing. It is accompanied by a live orchestra.

Piano Man is an ultimate collection of songs from our favorite and most recognizable artists to ever sit behind the keys. Chart-topping hits from Elton John, Billy Joel, and the legendary Barry Manilow will have you tapping your toes and singing along.

Headliner Showtimes feature talented performers, from comedians to singers and musicians. 

I had a great time on my 7-night Royal Caribbean cruise to France and Spain, but I can't help but reflect on the 5 mistakes I made.

Despite the highlights of my trip, I regretted a few things I would have done differently (and absolutely will do when I return to Europe next year).

I think there's always room for improvement, and some mistakes stood out immediately while others I realized later on probably could have been differently.

It's easy to overthink any vacation, but I would recommend planning your European cruise with these tips in mind.

Taking public transportation from the airport

I love how easy the U.K. has made it to get around London efficiently, but when you have large luggage with you, it's not ideal.

I did my homework and researched a lot of what to do and not to do in London, and one big tip was how to save a lot of money by taking the Underground between Heathrow airport and your hotel in London.

What the tips don't take into account are your luggage, and how cumbersome it is to take with you.  Neither the London Underground nor the trains between London and Southampton have any dedicated space for large luggage.  Moreover, there are Underground stations with stairs and no elevators, so you're lugging the bags up and down stairs.

I was actually quite surprised how little space there was for luggage on the train to Southampton.

I managed to make do because I was traveling alone and with just one piece of suitcase. It would have been a nightmare with my kids and their luggage.

On the way back to London after the cruise concluded, I made the same mistake until I realized the night before I was about to commit the same mistake.  I ended up taking a taxi to the airport instead of the train again, just to avoid the luggage issue.

My advice is to arrange car service between the airport and London, or find a bus service that you can pre-book.  Royal Caribbean offers transfers as well, which I would reserve for the ride back to the airport.

Not prioritizing outdoor activities when weather is good

While I had good weather most of my trip, rain ruined my plans in both Paris and London and it could have been avoided.

When I arrived in Paris for my few hours of touring, instead of going directly to the Eiffel Tower to see it, I went on a food hunt for a great Parisian lunch.

While the croissant was fantastic, I then wasted time waiting for the rain to subside in order to see the Eiffel Tower later.

I had a similar experience in London when I used perfectly sunny weather to sit in a pub when I could have been visiting Covent Garden.  Subsequently, I had to cut my visit to Covent Garden short when I got rained out.

No matter which city or port you are visiting, always take advantage of sunny weather when it's out and save meals, museums, and bars for the end.

Not having a few Euros

It seems like you can charge everything to a credit card in Europe, but having a few Euros on you helps.

While in Bilbao, Spain, I realized I forgot my credit card back on the ship.  I had tap to pay with my American Express card, but no one in Spain seemed to take that card.  

I had U.S. Dollars on me, so I went to a nearby currency exchange store and having 100 Euros made a big difference at bars or cafes where I could use paper currency.

This is especially true with street vendors, and mostly in case of an emergency when having paper currency is a good backup.

Long bus ride shore excursions

In two ports, I took bus rides over 2 hours each way and while I really liked my time in the port, I think it was a mistake.

I'm conflicted in calling these mistakes because I really enjoyed my time in Bordeaux and Paris, but it severely limited my time I could spend there.

Compared to days I spent in Spain when I didn't have to take a bus, the days in France felt so short and I really didn't get to spend as much time there.

This mistake dovetails into my next mistake, but I'd be quite leery of shore excursions with bus rides over an hour because of how limited your time is in port as a result.

Not having an extra day after the cruise to go to Paris

After I reviewed my Paris shore excursion, a lot of readers recommended just seeing Paris after the cruise and I think they're right.

A city of significance like Paris is not something you can quickly tour, and to do it right, you need a couple of days.

It's so easy to get to Paris from London thanks to the Eurostar train, that I should have tacked on a couple of extra days to properly experience it.

Just like London, plan on a couple of days before and after your cruise to have time to see both.

A city as world-renowned as Paris is not something to pass up visiting ever, but is it worth it to spend just a few hours there on a 3 hour bus ride each way?

I had never been to Paris, but when my Royal Caribbean cruise ship offered a visit to Paris during my 7-night Anthem of the Seas cruise, I was too intrigued not to give it a try.

The "catch" with this tour is the extreme distances between where the cruise ship docks and the destination.  In the case of Paris, it's about a 2.5 hour ride each way without traffic or any stops along the way.

These sort of extreme bus tours are common for cruise ships, because the allure of visiting these special places is too great to ignore.

I had done a similar 2 hour each way bus tour to Bordeaux, France earlier in the week, and came away loving the city.

The issue is does the transportation time back and forth outweigh the experience in Paris.

The beginning of a long travel day

Our day began at 8:40am when we reported to meet up for the tour.  Like all shore excursions, they typically begin in the theater of the cruise ship.

Once our tour was called, we boarded coach buses to begin the journey.

The seating is quite tight, and I found the leg space to be very sparse.  That's fine on a short journey, but after a couple of hours it gets uncomfortable, especially if you're big or tall.

The ride was uneventful, with a pit stop at a gas station along the way.  Unfortunately, we were delayed an extra 10 minutes because one couple took longer to return.  This can happen on any group shore excursion, but every minute counts in Paris.

Arriving in the city, there was weekend traffic to contend with and we were dropped off right at the Arc de Triumph at 12:20pm.

Our tour escort informed us to return back to the bus at 3:45pm so we could depart at 4pm.  That's just about 3.5 hours of total time to enjoy Paris.

A short window to do a lot

It was a bit overwhelming deciding what to do once we got to Paris given it was already lunch time and we only had a few hours.

I opted to simply walk and see as much as I could on foot in that timeframe.

My goals were to see a few sights, eat some local food, and grab souvenirs for the family back home.  

I purposefully skipped museums or tours just because I could not afford to spend 2 hours at just one activity. 

I found tickets for the Musée d'Orsay, which is a fabulous museum dedicated to French art, but I'm not nearly into art enough to make that worthwhile. It's a microcosm of the larger issue in having so few hours in a city like Paris. 

I started at the Arc, stopping only to snap a few photos before power walking down the Champs-Élysées. I think it benefited me that I grew up near New York City, so the Fifth Avenue vibe of this area was lost on me and I was okay bypassing it.

I was pretty hungry, so I made a few stops for food to power me through my day.

I found a kebab place for a quick (and cheap) bite to eat, followed by tracking down a great French coffee shop across the River Seine.

I followed that up with a chocolate croissant and a baguette.  I felt I ticked those necessary boxes, although it would have been nice to actually sit down at a cafe or restaurant.

A passing rain shower halted me in my tracks for about 15 minutes before I decided to brave the weather and duck in and out of souvenir shops.

The rain passed, and I got the Eiffel Tour.

Once again, no time (or tickets) to go up and get a view.  Rather, I circumnavigated the park around it and got my photos.

While a museum has a lot to offer, I really feel monuments like the Arc de Triumph or Eiffel Tower can easily be seen, photographed, and then moved on from.  Maybe that's my weird take.

By now I had less than 2 hours left, and I crossed the Seine again on a mission to pick up a few more souvenirs and find a restroom.

Even though I was alone and was able to power walk a lot, it was difficult to find time to even crack open a smidge of what Paris has to offer.  It reminded me a lot of Washington D.C. back home, in the sense there's just so many places to go see.

I considered a hop on, hop off bus tour, but didn't think the timeframe I had to work with was worth it.  If I had 2-3 more hours, it might have changed that equation.

I made it back to the bus right on time with a few minutes to spare, souvenirs in hand, and an empty bladder.

Worth it if this is your only opportunity

There's no question a shore excursion like this is not the way to see Paris, but for a lot of people, this may be their only opportunity.

I had never been to Paris before and I really wanted to go. Plus, I'm not sure when my next opportunity will be to visit Paris.

In addition, if I didn't go to Paris, I would have been relegated to touring Le Havre, where my ship docked.  While I'm certain Le Havre is a nice city, it's not Paris. And I fear I would have had FOMO the entire day from having not gone and regretted wasting my chance.

One critique of the tour was we got back much earlier than I anticipated.  Our bus got us back to the ship exactly at 7pm, but all aboard was not until 9:30pm.  

The main reason I booked this tour instead of taking the train on my own was for the piece of mind I would not miss the ship if we were late coming back. However, we could have easily had another 1-2 hours in Paris and that would have added so much value.

Ultimately, a 3.5 hour visit to Paris with 5-6 hours of bus rides is not ideal and not convenient. However, it's better than nothing and a good taste of what the city has to offer.

Your better bet is to visit Paris before or after your cruise, and get a few days to explore.  Couple that with a few days in London and you have a great European vacation!

Can a free tour really compete with a shore excursion offered by the cruise line?

My 7-night Anthem of the Seas cruise would take me to the Spanish town of La Coruna, and I was looking at ideas for what tours to book.

Usually I book a shore excursion through Royal Caribbean or simply explore on my own. Before I could pick one of these options, one of our readers, Leeor, emailed me with an alternative.

"I thought you might want to try a free walking tour for Bilbao and Coruna," he wrote in his email after hearing about my cruise plans.

"Those tours are with local guides who love their city, are tip based, and are a great way to make the most out of a short visit. They usually last about two hours and my wife and I always do one when we first get to a new European destination."

I have to admit, I was skeptical because I worried how good a completely free shore excursion could really be. However, it sounded like the perfect introduction to a port I've never been to before. Plus, it was only 1 or 2 hours, so it was a very low barrier to entry.

I went ahead and booked my tours through GuroWalk, which lists a few different tours in each of the cities. Sure enough, they're free and all you have to do is book it in advance via the website or app.

The "catch" to these tours being free is you're encouraged to tip at the end based on the quality of the tour.

I booked a walking tour in Bilbao and La Coruna, although the Bilbao tour got cancelled a couple days before my reservation because the guide was sick. I ended up exploring Bilboa on my own and had a great time.

Once the tour is confirmed, you get an email with where to meet and who to look for. Transportation is on your own, but this tour advertised as being good for cruise ship guests and it was a very short walk from where Anthem of the Seas docked to the the statue of María Pita meeting spot.

The confirmation email also has a link to Google Maps to be able to easily get walking directions to where to meet. Because I bought an eSim for this cruise, I was able to easily use my phone around Europe without costly roaming charges.

Sure enough, about 10 minutes before the tour began, the guide was waiting where he said he'd be with an orange umbrella.

Our guide, Cesar, greeted me and said we'd wait for the others. He indicated he expected about 9 of us in total, although only 5 would end up showing.

Cesar lives in a suburb of La Coruna, and he does these tours on a volunteer basis. I asked him how many people usually show up for them, and he said it varies considerably, but the groups are much larger at the peak of summer in June and July.

Joining me on the tour was a solo French tourist and a three people from England on a motor bike tour of Europe.

Cesar had a speaker with him, but did not need it given how small the group was. He started by explaining the significance of the plaza we were meeting at, and why there's a giant statue of María Pita. She's the heroine of the city who helped defeat an English attack in the 16th century.

Cesar carefully explained the details of each site we would visit, pointing out the historical significance, architectural intricacies, and other facts about the area.

Although he apologized for his English, I thought he was very easy to understand and extremely knowledgeable. In fact, I was blown away how much he knew. Being a free tour, I was expecting someone who was a walking Google Map at best, but he knew lots of details and clearly was well-versed in the information.

I was also leery of a glorified sales pitch, but once again, he had no angle or anything he was pushing.

We took a very leisurely pace through the old city of La Coruna, and made at least 9 stops that I could count.

We visited historic churches, military buildings of significance, scenic overlooks, and famous spots.

The tour took 2 hours, although he volunteered to keep going longer. I would have taken him up on the offer, but it was 12:30pm and I was getting very hungry for lunch. To his credit, he provided a Google Map link with all of his favorite restaurants in the area.

At the end of the tour, I tipped him €20, although I observed others were tipping about €10 per person.

I was very impressed by this tour offering, and I think Leeor is definitely right these are great introductions to any European city to get a sense of the place before you venture off on your own.

If you're someone who wants to get a walking tour of a city, GuruWalk seems like a really good choice. 

During our tour, we passed other tours that were significantly larger groups and clearly from the cruise ship. I can't speak to what they may have included beyond the walking tour, but I felt good about my choice in tours.

As an example, the "Historic Old Town Stroll" shore excursion offered by Royal Caribbean costs $50.99 per adult ($30.99 per child) and its description sounds exactly like what we saw on our free tour.

The downsides to the GuruWalk tours are there's no telling how big your group will be, nor who your guide will actually be. And there may only be one or two tours offered that fit for a cruise ship visitor.

Moreover, these are quick walking tours. If you're looking to see more than a few square blocks, a paid cruise ship shore excursion might be a superior choice.

But if you're looking to get a look at what makes the city you're visiting interesting and then go off on your own after, these might be a good option for a city port visit.

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I wasn't sure how to approach planning my Royal Caribbean visit to Bilbao, Spain, until I was watching late night reruns on TV.

Some evenings I'll put on a TV show I've seen dozens of times just to have on in the background while I browse the web, take care of family matters, or call friends and family.  A few weeks ago, I had "No Reservations" show on and I thought I should explore a port like Anthony Bourdain would.

Anthony Bourdain is a famous chef turned world traveler, and he documented his journeys by going to a city or region and going beyond the stereotypes. I always appreciated his blend of culture, history, and of course food.

On my visit to Bilbao, Spain as part of my 7-night Anthem of the Seas cruise, I decided to try it out.  I did some research into what Bilbao offers, and found a tour idea from the show's web archive.

More than a museum

This was my first time in Spain ever, and Bilbao is anything but what I expected.

The city transformed itself over the last 30 plus years, to move from an industrial history to a new age city that clings to its Basque traditions.

Basque is an important word, because Bilbao is the epicenter of what's known as Basque country.  Located between Bilbao, Spain, north to Bayonne, France, is a region known as the land of the Basques. This area is best known for impressive architecture, art, and even its beaches.

The Guggenheim Museum that opened in 1997 is probably what most people think of, but there's a lot more to see here.

It's a beautiful city, situated in front of the Pyrenees Mountains, with a mix of medieval history, modern touches, and a people who speak Spanish second behind the Basque language.

A botxo breakfast

The residents of Bilbao is called, botxo, and I wanted to start my day with a typical breakfast they'd have.

I went to a bakery in the old city of Bilbao to find a bollo de mantequilla, which is a brioche-like bun, sliced open and spread with a French buttercream-style whipped mixture.  

Pastelería Arrese had lots of choices, reminding me the tantalizing choices I found yesterday at the boulangerie in Bordeaux.

I couldn't help but sample a few things, including the chocolate-dipped croissants.

To go with it, I stopped at coffee bar next door to get cafe con leche, figuring it would compliment it really well.

While I could have had my usual breakfast on the ship in the Windjammer, it's not often I have the opportunity to enjoy the kind of freshly baked pastries Europe is well-known for.

A day in the market

My next stop was to see where locals get fresh meat and produce, and I went to the largest covered market in Europe.

The Mercado de la Ribera is on the banks of the Nervión River and it's a 100,000 square foot building that sells meats, cheeses, fresh fish, and more.

The market began in the 14th century, and in 1929, architect Pedro Ispizua designed a space that purposefully had open spaces and not a single interior column, so that there would be free circulation of air to whisk away any lingering scents.

The building has stained glass windows, and an Art Deco motif to its exterior. 

I didn't buy anything, but it was undeniably cool to walk through and see all the choices available to buy. I wish I was spending a few days in Bilbao, because I would have loved to grab a few things and cooked something at an Airbnb.

Exploring the old city

I spent most of my day in Casco Viejo, which is the name of the old quarter of the city.

There are a number of gothic churches within this area, and the streets look like something you'd expect to find in an Old European city. Narrow streets with brick and cobblestone roads. It was one of those areas I wandered to see what was around the next corner.

Across the river is Bilbao la Vieja, which is an area that has changed a lot over the last few decades.

The streets in this space are covered with urban wall art, where prestigious international artists  (like Trakabarraka) make their contributions.

While there's new spaces, you'll also find Spain's history inbetween.  It's not uncommon to turn a corner and find an old church or a building facade from centuries ago.

I wrapped up my tour of Bilbao La Vieja with a stop in a local bar that blends history and modernity.

I got to Peso Neto before they started food service, so I had to "settle" for just a cold beer and locals coming and going. 

It's a neighborhood spot serving creative tapas, and I really wish I could have sampled some of the dishes they had on the menu.

Going up Mount Artxanda

The sun was shining and there were barely any clouds in the sky, so I wanted to get the best view of Bilbao.

For just a few Euros, you can take a ride up Mount Artxanda on a 100-year-old cable car that climbs up the mountain.

At the top, is an absolutely stunning view of all of Bilbao and the surrounding area.

I could have sat here for hours to take in the view. Between the scenery, gentle breeze, and comfortable temperatures, it's the sort of place you can't get sick of.

Street food lunch

While Spain is well-known for tapas, I couldn't help myself and stop for my favorite street food in Europe.

Ever since my first trip to Europe last year, I developed a guilty pleasure for doner kebab, which is Turkish dish that consists of seasoned meat cooked vertically, and then shaved off.

You can get it served in a few ways, but usually it's in a pita or a wrap.  

As I walked back from the funicular that took me up the mountain, I saw it and couldn't resist.

It really hit spot, and it might not be the last time I have kebab on this trip.

Urban art

To round out my day, I thought it would be appropriate to see some art in a city known for it.

While the Guggenheim Museum is where most would go to find art, I decided to take a walk through the city and find the various murals by Bada, Fermín Moreno, and Jorge Rubio. 

Urban art is the kind of art someone like myself can appreciate. You can enjoy it without committing to a day (or even a few hours) at a museum.

On my walk, I saw more of Bilbao, including gardens and busy streets. It's a big city, with lots happening and while my feet were hurting after the "short" 25 minute walk, I was glad to have seen more of the modern parts of Bilbao.

I eventually made my way to the Plaza Kirikiño, which features giant murals against buildings. 

The art encompasses 2,200 square meters and is based on geometric and chromatic shapes, related to the architecture itself.

Like so much of Bilbao, I wish I had more time to stop at one of the many bars I passed by to grab a drink and take in the view.

Not the city I expected

Bilbao is anything but a formulaic European city.  It has a blend of old and new, didn't even remind me of a stereotypical European city.

I relished going beyond tapas and the Guggenheim to see more of what Bilbao had to offer.  While I think I would have enjoyed those things as well, I headed back to my cruise ship with a pretty good checklist of new experiences under my belt.

For anyone visiting Bilbao, I'd recommend taking the 20 minute Uber ride from where cruise ships dock in Getxo to take in all that it has to offer. Bring a few Euros, explore what's around the next corner, and come hungry for more.

Bordeaux is seemingly synonymous with wine, but I found a city with so much to offer beyond le vin.

The first port stop on our Anthem of the Seas 7-night cruise brings us to the city of La Rochelle, which is a couple hours drive from Bordeaux.

One of the conundrums of this particular itinerary is to settle for the small city experience or take the time to see a major draw. 

Since it's my first time in France and I'm not sure the next time I'll be able to visit here, it made sense to me to sign up for the journey to Bordeaux.

Bordeaux is a little more than a 2 hour bus ride from where cruise ships dock in La Rochelle.  When you have an extreme distance like that, booking a shore excursion through the cruise line is the only logical option to avoid being left behind because of a travel delay.

Read more: Why booking my cruise shore excursions in Europe with the cruise line was the best decision

Our tour began at 8am and met at the Royal Theater.  Minutes after Anthem was cleared by the local authorities, our tour was the first to be called to go.

I signed up for the "Bordeaux On Your Own" tour, which provides bus transportation back and forth and that's it.

The bus is your typical coach bus with plenty of air conditioning and a bathroom in the back. I liked there were USB plugs at each set of seats, although the legroom was very minimal.

We were dropped off at the Allées de Tourny right in the middle of Bordeaux. We were told we'd have a little more than 3 hours to explore on our own, and to meet back at a designated time.  C'est ca et au reviour!

I specifically booked this tour because I want to explore the city on my own, as I see fit.

Bordeaux is well known for its wine culture, but wine wasn't my main draw. I like wine, but I'm not a "wine person".  However, I warmed up to the wine scene in the city quite quickly.

Wine or not, the first thing I wanted was a really good French bakery and cafe.  It was still morning, and I had this overwhelming desire to try it.

One of the best things about Europe is how much there is to see.  As soon as I left the bus, I ran right into Basilique Saint-Michel, which is a Gothic church in the center of the city.

On the bus ride over I researched some places to go, and found a coffee shop and boulangerie across the street from each other that were highly recommended.

The Sip Coffee Bar was my first stop, and I had a cup of iced coffee that was served in a beaker.  Cute idea, and the coffee was so much better than what I could get at home.

I then walked across the street to Boulangerie Jocteur, and I was met with an overwhelming choices of breads, pastries, croissants, and more.

It was one of those places I wish I could bring home a box of goodies, but I also did not want to fill up immediately and ruin my appetite for the rest of the day.

I went with a croissant and baguette.  Basic, sure, but I felt I wanted to start with the hits, and the food did not disappoint.  It probably ruined croissants for the rest of my life back home.

With my belly full, I wanted to do some exploring.  The Old Town area of Bordeaux is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Perhaps the most iconic landmark is Porte Cailhau, which was a gate built to protect the city in 1496. I only walked by the port, but visitors can also climb to the top of the 35-meter tower for unobstructed views of the city.

I then caught sight of the Garonne river, which has a beautiful walkway along the left bank. It's the kind of waterfront walk where you not only get a great view, but you can see so many sights along the way.

It helped the temperature outside was so comfortable, with highs in the upper 80s and no humidity. As someone that lives in Florida, it's always so refreshing when you can spend time outdoors in the summer and not sweat profusely to the point of hating it.

The "Miroir d'Eau" (water mirror) was a fun stop that's across from the Place de la Bourse monument. It alternates a mirror effect and artificial misting in an extraordinary way. 

By now my mind was telling me my readers would hate on me if I went to Bordeaux and didn't have any wine, so I decided to give it a try.

I wandered the streets of Bordeaux for a bit to find a wine bar.  There are plenty of bistros and cafes, but I didn't want to go to a cafe that had a limited selection.

I eventually ran across Coumé Vaï, which serves wine by the bottle and glass, along with cheese and charcuterie options.

I'm not a wine expert at all, so I asked the woman working behind the counter to recommend a couple of wines to try that were from the region.

She picked out two, and I give it a try.

I really liked the flavor of both, with the first being quite fruity and the second extremely dry. 

If I had more time in Bordeaux, I could see myself enjoying a couple of glasses in the evening to wind down the day. 

For lunch, I wasn't sure where to eat because there were so many delicious restaurants. You could not go down a street without running into one or two restaurants that looked really good. I wished I'd had time to try more places.

This may sound crazy, but I went with an Italian restaurant for lunch.  Being in Europe, the food is good beyond the traditional foods of the host country, and in my research, I found a few intriguing Italian restaurants.  As a pizza snob at home, I was drawn immediately to give it a try.

I ended up at Le Murano, which has a large outdoor terrace.  Eating outside at a small table feels so French, even if it's Italian food.

I ordered a margarita pizza, and it was exactly what I wanted. Great food I can't get at home, with unrivaled scenery. 

I would have loved to have more time to go shopping and venture further south. There are many locally-owned boutiques that sell just about everything.

I was mostly in the Saint-Michel "quartier" of Bordeaux, and it's a very cosmopolitan neighborhood along with its rich history.

I especially enjoyed exploring Bordeaux and simply walking to see what's around the next corner. The food scene, charming history, and independent shops really made Bordeaux stand out beyond the wine it's well-known for.

Certainly wine enthusiasts will love it, but non-drinkers can find lots to see too. 

My visit gave me a new taste for all there is to discover in the famous wine region. I would love to come back and spend more time here.  This is, after all, one of the best reasons to cruise because it gives you a taste of what the world has to offer, and you can always come back for more.

My first sea day on Royal Caribbean's Anthem of the Seas took me straight through a body of water well-known for having bad weather and rough seas.

The Bay of Biscay is located west of France in an area and north of Spain, and it's not somewhere you might think as being troublesome until you do some research.

The second day of our 7-night cruise was a sea day, taking us to our first port stop of La Rochelle, France. Before we can get there on day 3, we'd need to traverse the bay.

In the morning, there was a consistent and gentle rocking of the ship.  It was clear the seas had a rolling motion to them, and that resulted in motion onboard.

Motion on a cruise ship is not uncommon and it affects everyone differently.  Some people are thrown off by the slightest movement, while others relish a good pitch and roll to the ocean.

I prefer calm seas, but while the motion was noticeable, it was far from the worst I've experienced.

One of the best strategies for minimizing the sensation of movement on a cruise ship is to go to an area on a low deck and mid ship.  I went down to deck 3 for brunch in the dining room.

Anthem of the Seas does not have a Main Dining Room, but rather, four smaller dining rooms that effectively serve as the same thing.  It's a result of an abandoned concept to reinvent the Main Dining Room that ultimately failed.

Read more: Five times Royal Caribbean changed its mind after announcing something

Brunch is not something you see all the time on Royal Caribbean ships in the Main Dining Room, but it's a treat when they do have it.  Frankly, I don't know the impetus for why they offer it on one sailing or another, but I've seen it before without any consistency. 

In order to embrace the spirit of brunch, I ordered an omelet and a burger. Surprisingly, the burger was my favorite of the two.

After breakfast, the movement was noticeably worse, and I assumed this is where the Bay of Biscay gets its bad reputation.

Luckily, the crossing is only one day (and of course the inevitable return back later in the cruise) and while the seas were rough, the weather was quite comfortable.  Partly cloudy with peeks of sun.

I did not have to take any seasickness medication, as I kept myself busy with events.  There's no shame in taking seasickness medication, as there have been times it's affected me.

Read more: How to prevent seasickness on a cruise

My best advice if you're worried about getting seasick is to be prepared in advance. I always travel with over-the-counter pills I can take to combat it.

My seasickness pills of choice are Bonine.

You could speak to your doctor about getting a prescription for a patch to wear, or preemptively take seasickness medication before the cruise begins and everyday thereafter.

The first event of the day was the Top Tier event, where Royal Caribbean invites anyone with Platinum status or above in Crown and Anchor Society to attend.

It's essentially a big thank you party for being loyal, and I really appreciate they do this to show their appreciation for its customers. It's not an event that will wow you, but if they're going to put on something for guests as recognition, I'll go.  Plus there's free alcohol!

Speaking of Crown and Anchor, I tried something I've never done for my next event.

Cheers with an Officer is a special meal offered for Pinnacle Club guests where there's a special lunch held exclusively for Royal Caribbean's top cruisers.

I had never gone before because I always thought it was too stuffy and I didn't know anyone.  This time, I decided to give it a try, mostly because I'm sailing solo on this cruise and could use some friendly conversation.

I met a fellow Pinnacle Club member, Alice from Wales, who said hello at the Top Tier event and since I'd have someone to converse with, decided to give it a try.

You're seated at a large table with other Pinnacle Club guests and served what is basically the Chops Grille lunch menu. You're also offered glasses of champagne or wine.  All of this is complimentary.

The meal begins with the Captain giving a toast, and we had other officers present to join in.  After the toast, the officers leave and it's a meal with your fellow guests.

Almost everyone was from England at our table, with a couple from Texas and another couple from Germany. As you might imagine at a table full of top cruisers, the conversation was mostly about cruising.

I ordered the salmon and wild mushroom soup.

It was a fun experience, and while I might not go every single time they offer it, I did like the opportunity to talk with other cruisers and have a good conversation with lunch.

After lunch, it was time to get to work on this blog.  There's a 6 hour time difference between France/Spain and the east coast of the United States, so my usual working hours get delayed a bit.

Towards the afternoon, I recorded my YouTube live session from the Solarium.  

I noticed by now the ocean conditions had improved and the motion had subsided considerably. This seems to play right into what people say about the Bay of Biscay, given it can change a lot.

The Bay is Biscay isn’t always rough, and I would not advise anyone to not cruise through it purely on reputation. Most importantly, cruising through the Bay of Biscay is not dangerous.  Royal Caribbean's ships are designed to handle much worse, but the Captain will take necessary actions to avoid any areas that look particularly bad.

For the evening, I decided to hit the casino once more.  It would be a short evening, because I have early morning plans once we reach France.