I've taken dozens of cruises with my family over the years, and having internet access went from "nice to have" to "critical" for keeping up with everyone.

Unfortunately, internet access at sea costs extra on a cruise ship, but that's largely because of how expensive satellite internet is compared to what a land hotel pays for a wired connection.  It has gotten cheaper thanks to Starlink, but it will likely never be free.

Nonetheless, I consider buying an internet package for a family one of the most useful cruise extras to consider because it's a real difference maker in making it as simple as possible for to check in with everyone in my family.

While there's this notion disconnecting from the world is a more relaxing vacation, as long as you can exercise restraint and skip the work emails, internet access is a must buy.

Being connected doesn't mean work emails

I love having internet access because so much of our personal lives rely on it, not just work.

From checking the weather, to staying in contact with family, or following sports teams, the internet is how so many of us interact on a basic level these days.

The idea that if you have internet access it means answering work emails is misconstrued, in my opinion. If you have work emails on your phone, turn off notifications for that app and stay out of it.

Not only does having internet access make every day life easier, it's a godsend for being able to communicate with friends and family onboard the ship.

While I appreciate the notion of "unplugging" as a novel escape from the daily grind of our lives, I think it's romanticized in the same way people talk about "sleeping under the stars" in the woods somewhere while conveniently forgetting how uncomfortable that can be.

The free chat feature in the app isn't nearly as good

While Royal Caribbean app has a free chat feature, it's not very good.

It works well enough, but it's lacking key features and doesn't work at all for kids.

You have to be at least 13 years old to use the chat feature, so it means kids either cannot use the chat feature at all or you have to log them in under an adult's account.

Plus, the chat feature requires both you and the person you're trying to reach to accept each other as contacts.  

This means if you try to message someone who hasn't accepted your invitation to chat first, they'll never see the message.

Lastly, the notifications are hit or miss within the app. I've had pretty good luck with getting a push notification of a new message, but not always.

Let's face it, the tried-and-true messaging apps millions rely on at home just work better.

Having internet access on shore excursions is even more important

If having Wi-Fi on a cruise ship is nice, having internet while touring ports is a must-do.

Thanks to cheaper cell phone roaming plans, I've found having at least one device with cell phone access is helpful in knowing where to go, where to eat, and generally navigating your day.

When I was in Europe this summer, I relied heavily on an e-Sim and AT&T internet pass while in various countries and I know it made my experience so much better.

I was able to quickly navigate where the next spot to visit was, understand which form of public transportation would be best, and download apps we needed to get around.

Even when I was on a shore excursion sold by the cruise line, having internet access made waiting less dull, and provided context when we were on our own.

Not cheap, but affordable

Getting Wi-Fi on your Royal Caribbean cruise doesn't have to be expensive, if you know when to buy it.

The cruise line sells internet packages before the cruise begins and pre-purchasing is going to save you the most money.

As an example, an unlimited one device at a time internet package costs just $18.99 per day if I buy it now, compared to $27.99 per day if I wait to get it onboard the ship.

Sales like this are quite common, so there's no excuse not to buy before the sailing.

In fact, you can pay less per device if you add more concurrent devices to use.  Royal Caribbean's Voom packages come in 1, 2, 3 or 4 devices plans. 

You can share internet access with friends or family, as you're just limited to however many devices are in your package at one time.

The family of a woman that authorities say jumped off a Royal Caribbean cruise ship and was never found, is suing the cruise line.

On October 22, 2024, a cruise ship passenger was reported overboard while sailing on Allure of the Seas while on a 4-night Taylor Swift-themed cruise.

The woman was later identified as Dulcie White, and her family blames crew members serving her too many drinks because she had a drink package.

According to CBS News, a lawsuit specifies the unlimited drink package played a role in White's death.

What happened last year

Photo by X user @Navaleye1

While Allure of the Seas was about 17 miles north of Nassau, a 66-year-old woman went overboard.

Local authorities later confirmed the woman jumped, and did not fall, from the 14th deck of the ship. 

The Royal Bahamas Defense Force, assisted by the U.S. Coast Guard, responded and conducted search and rescue efforts, using helicopters and airplanes.

Royal Caribbean also brought two other cruise ships, Icon of the Seas and Utopia of the Seas, to assist in the search.

At the time of the incident, a Royal Caribbean spokesperson confirmed the incident in a statement, "Our crew immediately launched a search and rescue effort and is working with local authorities."

Rescue efforts were unsuccessful and called off the next day.

Family blames the cruise line

Ms. White's daughter, Megan Klewin, said her mom had purchased the alcohol package and said the drink package is part of the problem.

"Because of that (drink package, White) did overdo it, trying to maybe get her money's worth," she told CBS News.

"She was completely intoxicated in a way I haven't seen before. It saddens me that that is my last memory of her."

According to a lawsuit filed in Miami-Dade County on Thursday, crew members served Ms. White, "seven alcoholic beverages continually within a span of approximately six hours and eight minutes."

The lawsuit claims crew members ignored slurred speech, stammering, and difficulty standing up by White. It also claims another passenger noticed White's behavior and assisted her to her stateroom.

According to Klewin, she saw White go to the balcony.

"I assumed that's what she was doing was going to check her suitcase," Klewin said. "I wasn't looking and the next chance that I did look up, I saw her back. She was seated on the edge of the balcony like she had climbed up. She was seated and then fell over before I could get to her."

The lawsuit also claims the cruise ship never turned around or used rescue boats, even though independent reports from TMZ and other outlets showed rescue efforts.

Hurricane Melissa caused extensive damage to Jamaica, and Royal Caribbean is ready to step up to help in the relief effort.

As the storm moves past the Caribbean island, it's becoming clear how much land and human life has been devastated.

Melissa was one of the most powerful storms ever, and it made landfall in Jamaica on Tuesday as a Category 5 storm.

It's now weakened and moved through the Bahamas, on its way toward Bermuda

Authorities say more than 30 deaths have been attributed to the storm in Jamaica, Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

Falmouth, Jamaica after Hurricane Melissa. Photo by Michael Wattkis

Royal Caribbean International CEO Michael Bayley jumped in quickly on social media to offer a promise that his cruise line will step up to help.

Royal Caribbean has a long history of assisting countries its ships regularly visit when a natural disaster strikes.

Over $1 million relief supplies on the way

Mr. Bayley posted a short message indicating his people are engaged in how to help with the flow of support.

"[Jamaica] our thoughts and actions are with the people of Jamaica impacted by the Hurricane," he posted on Facebook.

"We have been in touch with the Government and many of our 1,200 employees and crew from the island.  We are coordinating relief supplies to be brought into Jamaica by air and sea for the communities hardest hit."

Update: Royal Caribbean announced late on Thursday it will contribute more than $1 million in aid to Jamaica and The Bahamas.

Royal Caribbean Group is proud to stand with our communities and employees in Jamaica as they recover from Hurricane Melissa. We’ve pledged more than $1 million to support recovery in communities affected by Hurricane Melissa through Global Empowerment Mission (GEM) and to support our local crew members through our Employee Hardship Fund. Our ships are also delivering critical supplies directly to those in need. 

Royal Caribbean Group set up an easy way to support the relief efforts or to learn more about how to help by visiting give.gem.org/RCGgivesback. 

Royal Caribbean ships dock in Falmouth, which is a port it helped develop in 2011. Prior to that, its ships visited Jamaica for decades in other ports, such as Ocho Rio and Montego Bay.

"Thank You Royal Caribbean Group"

Mr. Bayley's post was met with universal support by cruise fans who shared their admiration for the quick action.

"Thank You Royal Caribbean Group for the unwavering support of your family," wrote Kim Finnegan-Sheplock.

"This [is how]Royal has responded in the past and I am sure they will continue to respond with care and love in the future," added Bill Raffel.

Lori Hawthorne added, "Such a devastating storm. My thoughts to all of the wonderful people there. Thank you for helping."

Cathy Hirsch wrote, "I fell in love with the Jamaican people because of your cruises and have felt so helpless. It does my heart good to know that you are taking action."

Elizabeth Kohlmeier added, "So proud of the way the company just doesn’t send thoughts and prayers, but actually does something for the staff the countries that are affected by these natural disasters One of the reasons why we are loyal to Royal."

Hurricane Melissa is now a threat to Bermuda

While the storm isn't as strong as it was when it hit Jamaica, Melissa remains a major story.

As of Thursday afternoon, it was still a Category 2 hurricane with sustained winds of 105 mph and headed to Bermuda.

The good news is the National Hurricane Center expect the storm to weaken again on Friday.

While Melissa will pass to the northwest of Bermuda, some strong winds could still reach Bermuda.

You can support the relief efforts too

While Royal Caribbean is going to offer relief aid soon to Jamaica, there are ways for everyone to help out too.

Jamaican officials also launched the Support Jamaica website where you can make a donation. 

Many humanitarian organizations have already set up methods to donate and help the relief efforts in Jamaica.

Here are the most popular options for donating:

• American Friends of Jamaica
• American Red Cross
• Americares
• CARE
• Global Giving

Jamaican authorities have also issued a warning to be wary of scams where "nefarious individuals" are trying to snipe relief money.

"We have already been made aware of some nefarious individuals trying to collect money on behalf of Jamaica. We remind you that this will be the official site. If it doesn’t have .gov.jm, it’s not legitimate, it’s not an official government of Jamaica site," officials said in a statement.

You're about to take your first Royal Caribbean cruise, but what should beginners know before they board?

Among the multitude of questions our readers share, many have a common theme: they're feeling overwhelmed with how to approach a Royal Caribbean cruise because of all of the options, choices, and things to consider.

I've found knowing what to expect before your cruise begins can really help calm that sort of tension and make it easier to start things off on the right foot.  You should be excited for a cruise, not nervous!

I wanted to share important Royal Caribbean first time cruise tips that will help ease anyone into their vacation without any concerns.

What's included with your cruise

Royal Caribbean cruises aren't all inclusive, but they do include a lot with your fare.

You can expect a lot of the food, entertainment, and activities included at no extra cost.  But there are opportunities to spend extra on other options. 

• Your private stateroom
• Most meals and snacks onboard and at the private destination (breakfast, lunch, dinner, buffets, grab-and-go)
• Included beverages: tap water, tea, coffee, lemonade, iced tea, milk, juices (not fresh-squeezed), and hot chocolate
• Kids/Teens programming via the “Adventure Ocean” club (for ages 3–17) is included until approximately 10 pm
• Onboard activities and shows: theatre productions, live music, comedy, magic, trivia, pool games, scavenger hunts
• Many of the signature onboard activities and games: rock climbing wall, mini golf, waterslides, zipline, bumper cars, sports courts, etc.
• Use of the fitness center, jogging track, and sports court are included (though some fitness classes & spa services cost extra)
• Access to pools, sun decks, hot tubs and adult-only Solarium (on most ships) is included

Read more: What's included in a Royal Caribbean cruise?

If something costs extra, it's usually clearly marked in the Royal Caribbean app or before you order. Crew members are happy to explain if you have any questions, but I've found most of the signage to be easy to understand for things that aren't included.

What you should expect on boarding day

Getting on your cruise ship is an exciting event, and the embarkation process is a lot like going to the airport and getting on a flight.

There are three basic steps:

• Drop off luggage
• Checking-in
• Boarding

When you get to the cruise terminal, there are porters waiting to take your luggage. 

There's no cost to have your bags checked and Royal Caribbean doesn't have bag limits. So feel free to give the porters as much luggage as you like.  Just be sure to keep your travel documents, identification, and valuables with you in a carry-on bag.

Ideally you'll have printed out luggage tags and attached them to your bags, but the porters can do that for you if you didn't.

The next step is to get in line to check-in for your cruise.

You should have gotten a check-in time from the Royal Caribbean app or website. Royal Caribbean's online check-in opens 45 days before your cruise is set to begin. 

Enter the cruise terminal and you'll be directed to go through security, similar to an airport. All your belongings go into a scanner and you walk through a metal detector.

After that, you'll meet an agent to help you check-in.  They'll scan your SetSail Pass that is available in the app or if you printed it out.

The agent is there to verify you have all the proper documentation and everyone is present.  

Boarding usually begins around 10 or 11am, depending on how quickly the ship was able to disembark the previous guests and get clearance from local authorities to start the next sailing.

It's quite likely you'll go straight from check-in to boarding the ship!

3 things you should do before the cruise begins

In the weeks leading up to your cruise, there are a few really important things I think anyone should do before their cruise begins.

1. Complete online check-in

You can check-in for your cruise really easily with the Royal Caribbean app, and I highly recommend you do it to save time later.

The app is free to use and one person can do it for everyone else in your cabin.  It requires having your travel documents handy, taking a photo of everyone, and entering some basic information.

In fact, if you do it right, you should get Express Boarding to make embarkation even faster!

2. Pre-book everything

I cannot stress enough how important it is to pre-book as much as you can, such as shore excursions, drink packages, specialty dining, entertainment and more.

First, pre-booking will save you money. The cruise line heavily discounts these things in the months leading up to the sailing, and you will absolutely pay more onboard.

Second, pre-booking reduces the risk of something selling out.

Waiting to book onboard could mean there's little to no availability.

3. Buy travel insurance

Like all insurance, it seems like a waste of money until you need it.

There are so many variables with a cruise, that I recommend buying travel insurance simply to cover your bases for situations involving someone getting sick, bad weather disrupting your trip, or an accident.

Read more: I do these 14 things before every cruise to make my vacation better

Best cruises for first timers

If you've never cruised before, there are a few types of cruises and ships I'd recommend for a first time cruiser.

Best overall ship for new cruisers: Icon of the Seas or Star of the Seas.

A 7-night cruise on one of Royal Caribbean's Icon Class ships is sure to hit all the high notes and offer the latest and greatest there is today.

These aren't just new ships, they're arguably the best in the industry because of how they're designed to make everything so easy and accessible.

Plus, a weeklong cruise is a great start for a first timer because you get a mix of sea days and port days.

Short “dipping-your-toe” cruises: Utopia of the Seas and Wonder of the Seas 

A very popular option is to take a 3- or 4-night cruise to The Bahamas (including the line’s private island Perfect Day at CocoCay).

These are ideal for first-timers because the itinerary is short, the onboard ship options are plentiful, and there’s minimal time away from home.

European cruises for first-timers: Odyssey of the Seas or Legend of the Seas

7-night Mediterranean sailings from ports like Barcelona or Rome offer the best ships in the fleet along with amazing places to visit.

These are good for newcomers who want a mix of ship experience and sightseeing in Europe without the hassle of separate hotels/transport.

Royal Caribbean tips for first time cruisers

I love planning out a cruise because it extends the excitement of a fun vacation and really builds up the experience.

I wanted to share my favorite secrets for planning a cruise so you can get started the right way.

• Use a good travel agent: Trust me, a good travel agent is worth using.  They can save you money, help answer questions, and solve problems you haven't considered yet. Plus, a good travel agent should cost you nothing extra to use.
• The right cabin for you: There are lots of cabins you could book. It's a question of balancing room size versus price. A balcony cabin is usually a safe bet for a first timer because there's indoor and outdoor space, and the price is usually agreeable.
• Be flexible: No matter how much planning you do, not everything will go exactly as you expect it. Don't let little things ruin your trip.  People that cruise a lot will tell you how important it is to "go with the flow" and not let bad weather, cold food, or a rude guest stop you from having a great time.
• Look up the dress codes: Yes, there are themes for each day of the sailing but don't worry too much. They're suggestions, not requirements.
• Watch a ship tour: I think it's a really good idea to watch a ship tour on YouTube to get an idea of what to expect onboard. It's not only useful for understanding where everything is, but it's a fun introduction to the ship!

Royal Caribbean has added new cruises to Europe in 2027 that are available to book immediately.

A total of six Royal Caribbean cruise ships will be sailing in Europe, including Legend of the Seas.  

Legend is one of the Icon Class ships, and depending on when the unnamed fourth Icon class ship debuts in 2027, will either be the biggest or one of the biggest ships in the world.

Royal Caribbean's European deployment runs between May and November 2027.

Here's a breakdown of which ships will be deployed to Europe and where they will be sailing from.

Legend of the Seas is back for the summer in Europe

Legend of the Seas will debut in 2026 with a summer cruise season in Europe before heading to North America for the winter, but she'll return in 2027.

Legend is a massive ship, coming in at 250,800 gross tons and can accommodate approximately 5,610 passengers at double occupancy or up to 7,600 passengers at maximum occupancy.

The ship has six massive waterslides, seven pools, over 40 places to eat and drink, and will host new shows.

Similar to her 2026 itineraries, Legend will offer 7-night Western Mediterranean cruises from both Barcelona, Spain and Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy.

There's a random 3-night one way cruise from Rome to Barcelona in October 2027 too.

For those keeping score at home, if Legend is going to be in Europe for summer 2027, does that mean Icon 4 has to start sailing from somewhere else?

Odyssey of the Seas will sail to Greece for the summer

Another new Royal Caribbean ship well versed in spending its summer in Europe will be Odyssey of the Seas.

Odyssey will sail from Civitavecchia, Italy and offer 7-night cruises to the Greek Isles.

This itinerary is notable since it means stops on every voyage to Royal Caribbean's new Royal Beach Club Santorini.

It appears the cruise line is renovating a beach club that already exists and will add new upgrades and features to it as they prepare to open it for the summer 2026 European cruise season.

Situated on a volcanic beach, guests can opt to pay extra to get into the new beach club and enjoy an all-inclusive visit with beach chairs, umbrellas, WiFi, food, and drink all part of the admission cost.

Mariner of the Seas takes over in the UK

Royal Caribbean will send Mariner of the Seas to Southampton, England to offer a variety of cruises around Northern and Western Europe.

Mariner of the Seas has cruises that visit Spain, Norwegian fjords, France, Germany, and more.

There's also a large mix of sailing durations, meaning you can find quick escapes or longer voyages too.

Explorer of the Seas sails open jaw Mediterranean cruises

Another Voyager Class ship, Explorer of the Seas, will spend a summer in the Med offering one way cruises between Ravenna (Venice), Italy and Rome.

The advantage of these itineraries is you can go much further around Italy and enjoy the Amalfi coast and Sicily because the ship doesn't need to return to its original home port.

Explorer offers visits to places such as:

• Dubrovnik, Croatia
• Sicily (Messina), Italy
• Bar, Montenegro
• Kotor, Montenegro
• Corfu, Greece
• Santorini, Greece
• Sicily (Messina), Italy
• Amalfi Coast (Salerno), Italy

Those looking to get the best of the Adriatic and Italy will love these choices.

Brilliance of the Seas is also offering deeper voyages around the Med

Similar to Explorer, Brilliance of the Seas has a mix of one way and roundtrip sailings that begin and end in Italy.

Brilliance will sail Greece and Adriatic cruises, Italy and Croatia cruises, as well as Greek Isles cruises.

Depending on which voyage you prefer, they may be roundtrip or one way sailings.

Rhapsody of the Seas will be based in Athens

Ready to visit Egypt, Turkey and everything Greece has to offer?

Rhapsody of the Seas will be homeported in 2027 from Athens, Greece and offer 7 night cruises to destinations around the Eastern Mediterranean.

There are voyages that even go to Alexandria, Egypt, which is a country that Royal Caribbean has shied away from in recent years due to geopolitical issues.

Since Rhapsody is based in Athens, there's a lot of the Greek Isles you'll see, as well as other notable places from antiquity that are in modern day Turkey.

Booking a European cruise now is one of the best money saving strategies

If you're looking to get the best possible deal on a European cruise, you'll want to seriously consider booking a 2027 cruise now before prices go up.

Royal Caribbean typically puts out new sailings with its best prices and then starts raising prices as the sail date approaches.

As more cabins get booked up, Royal Caribbean uses AI to change its prices and meet the demand.

To be fair, the prices will fluctuate for a while, but it's been my experience the best approach to locking in a good price on any Royal Caribbean cruise is to book as early as you can.

Plus, booking early means you can reserve the exact cabin and location you prefer.  This is important if you want one of the highly sought after staterooms, such as suites.

More 2027 deployments coming soon

Royal Caribbean has more new sailings to post in the coming weeks for the 2027-2028 cruise season.

Most of the new sailings will be released before the end of the year, with a few of the Asian and Pacific offerings to be posted sometime next spring.

• Week of October 20, 2025: Alaska
• Week of October 27, 2025: Europe
• Week of November 3, 2025: 7-night & Short Caribbean Year-Round
• Week of November 10, 2025: Northeast, California & Texas
• Week of December 8, 2025: Seasonal Caribbean

Keep in mind the sailings could be released at any point within that week, and not necessarily on the first day of the listed week.

Royal Caribbean Group announced a change to how cruisers earn loyalty points that will make it easier to cruise between its brands and earn status at the same time.

During an earnings call with investors, Royal Caribbean Group CEO Jason Liberty revealed his company's plans to introduce Points Choice.

Coming at some point in 2026, Points Choice will change how cruisers earn loyalty points when they cruise between lines.

Up until now, if you sailed with Royal Caribbean International, you would earn loyalty points within just the silo of that line.  A cruise on sister brand Celebrity Cruises would earn a separate point count.

That appears to be changing.

Introducing Points Choice

Coming soon will be Points Choice, which is the name of an expanded loyalty status match program.

In 2024, the company introduced status matching between Royal Caribbean Group's three brands: Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, and Silversea.

Points Choice will go beyond that, "Building on the success of status match, I'm excited to announce Points Choice, the next evolution, and how guests earn and apply loyalty points across our family of brands beginning in early 2026," said Mr. Liberty.

"Guests will be able to apply loyalty points to the Royal Caribbean Group brand they prefer, regardless of which brand they are sailing with."

For the first time, guests will be able to apply loyalty points earned on any Royal Caribbean Group brand toward the brand program of their choice. This applies to Royal Caribbean’s Crown & Anchor Society, Celebrity’s Captain’s Club, or Silversea’s Venetian Society, Points Choice.

For example, if a Royal Caribbean guest is sailing with Celebrity Cruises for the first time, they can choose to apply the points earned for the Celebrity sailing to either brand’s loyalty program.

One other note, members will not have the option to apply points already earned to a different brand.

"Points Choice will be offered only on cruises departing on or after the launch date," according to Celebrity Cruises' website.

Furthermore, benefits will remain the same for Crown & Anchor, Captain’s Club and Venetian Society program.

In addition, the Status Match program is not changing. Members can still receive one-for-one tier matching across all three Royal Caribbean Group brands: Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, and Silversea.

The program will debut in early 2026, with details on exchange rates, eligibility, and program rules to follow ahead of launch.

Making the change to combine guest demand and profitability

On the surface, it's clear Royal Caribbean Group offering point sharing between its brands matches a customer need while likely driving additional revenue.

Mr. Liberty said he thinks this change will build loyalty with its customers, "This initiative further strengthens the overall value of our loyalty proposition, deepening engagement across our portfolio and reinforcing our commitment to putting the guests at the center of our orbit as our ecosystem expands."

He sees it a way to compel cruisers to cruise more because it allows them to get to higher loyalty status, "It creates a virtuous cycle of demand, value and advocacy, one that drives both short term performance and enduring growth. It's a model that compounds over time, and we're just at the beginning of what it can become."

Royal Caribbean hinted at better loyalty enhancements

Today's announcement makes comments clearer made by Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley during a fan event earlier this summer.

He was asked about improving the Crown and Anchor Society so that points could be earned interchangeable between Celebrity and Royal Caribbean.

He answered it before the Points Choice announcement, but it's clear this has been a program that's been worked on for a while, "You'll see over the coming months and year or two that things will continue to improve in terms of accessibility, simplicity, making it easier to sail between the brands, get offers, this type of thing."

"Ultimately, we have not defined this yet, but ultimately we are going to get to a one platform database of our loyalty members for Royal Caribbean Group."

"I don't have the exact timeline. And I think we've had this discussion before, and we've maybe over the last couple of years, we started this journey with loyalty two years ago."

"Now this is awesome news!"

News of Points Choice spread quickly among cruisers, and most of our readers seemed excited for the change.

Renne Patterson posted, "Now this is awesome news!," she shared on Facebook because it will allow her to move up the loyalty ladder even if trying another line.

"This will definitely impact our choices positively! Might even result in us cruising a bit more!"

Michael Lewis wrote, "This is how you keep your loyal cruisers, unlike Carnival." His comment alludes to changes Carnival Cruise Line made to its loyalty program that have been received poorly by fans.

Luke Wallace added, "Yes, I've been thinking they should do something like this for a while! I was hoping it would be a system where you earned points on every loyalty program at the same time, but maybe with status match this is effectively the same. Time to book a Celebrity cruise!"

Jenny Schuber posted, "Finally! This has been stopping me from trying Celebrity. Nice they status match but I want the points to count towards overall nights across the board."

Royal Caribbean announced on Tuesday it will open a new exclusive destination for its cruise ship guests in the heart of the Greek islands.

For the first time, there will be a cruise line exclusive spot in Europe in the form of Royal Beach Club Santorini.

The announcement was made during Royal Caribbean Group's third quarter earnings report.

Here's everything that has been announced about the private destination expansion.

Royal Beach Club Santorini opens in 2026

Opening in "summer 2026", this will be a beach club that is only available to guests sailing on Royal Caribbean or Celebrity ships. Local Greek residents will also be able to purchase club entry, based on availability.

Unlike Perfect Day at CocoCay or Perfect Day Mexico, Royal Beach Clubs have an admission cost to them. Think of it like a shore excursion option owner and operated by the cruise line that is only available to book if you sail with the cruise line.

The cruise line describes the new beach club as being an idyllic spot to enjoy a day visit, "Royal Beach Club Santorini will welcome vacationers from Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises and combine the breathtaking volcanic beaches of this iconic Greek island with the company's signature experiences alongside the vibrant Grecian spirit and culture to create the ultimate Santorini experience."

Royal Caribbean President and CEO Michael Bayley said in a statement, "Santorini is an incredible destination that our guests love to explore, and with this new beach club, we are able to bring the best of what the island has to offer with the signature service Royal Caribbean is known for."

More details of your visit to the beach club in Greece:

• Day pass includes:
  • Access to a volcanic black sand beach along the Aegean Sea
  • Complimentary gourmet beachfront dining
  • Umbrellas
  • Loungers
  • Wi-Fi
• Every excursion includes a scenic ferry tour along Santorini’s coastline, plus stops in the picturesque towns of Oia and Fira.
• There are no age restrictions, which means kids are allowed in too

We don't know yet what the look or design will be of Royal Beach Club Santorini, but the other beach club plans are clear on one thing: it's designed to be the ultimate beach day.

"It's going to be one of the, I would argue, it will be the most amazing beach day in essence," said Jay Schneider, Royal Caribbean's chief product innovation officer, in reference to the first beach club opening in The Bahamas.

Concept art shows a beach area with palapas, sun beds, as well as an elevated bar and lounge area, presumably with a pool within the complex.

Mr. Bayley posted renderings on social media of what the experience could look like.

The renderings show ferries at the end of a dock to bring guests around for the scenic tours.

The beach and views of the water are clearly a focus of this beach day.

Available to book immediately

Guests already booked on Greek Isle cruises in 2026 have access to book a day pass.

"The Ultimate Santorini Day" has the beach club listed in a spot check of upcoming cruises on Explorer of the Seas.

For the October 3, 2026 sailing, a day pass is listed at $284.00 per adult, or $199 per child. However, there's currently a 30% off sale running that brings those prices down to $197 and $138, respectively.

Where will the beach club be located?

Royal Caribbean Group has not yet disclosed where it's located, but the teaser image seems to be of an actual location rather than a computer rendered spot.

In searching the Internet, the Theros Wave Bar looks very similar.

Theros Beach Bar

Royal Beach Club press material

Located in Eros Beach, Vlychada-Santorini, it's 15 minutes away from Fira. 

The volcanic rocks in the background are quite striking, and this could be the property acquired.  Royal Caribbean did something similar when it acquired Playa Mia as its site for Royal Beach Club Cozumel.

Plus, the listing in the Cruise Planner clearly states it's at "the luxurious Theros Beach Club."

8 private destinations by 2028

The new beach club in Greece is part of Royal Caribbean Group's ambitious plans to open eight land based operations by 2028.

The first Royal Beach Club opens in December in Nassau, Bahamas when Royal Beach Club Paradise Island begins welcoming guests.

Additionally, a second beach club in Cozumel, Mexico, is slated to open sometime in 2026. 

That's followed up by Perfect Day Mexico opening in 2027 and a private beach in Lelepa that both should open in 2028.

SIlversea is also planning to open the Southernmost Hotel on Earth The Cormorant at 55 South in Chile in 2026.

Ever since the opening of Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean has seen a tremendous uptick in guest satisfaction and profitability with a private destination that caters directly to the wants and needs of its guests.

Relying heavily on surveying its guests for feedback, they've worked to deliver the kind of vacation vacationers want.

I can't say I love packing for a cruise, but I do find great joy in discovering something cool to bring with me.

Over the many years of cruising, I've seen other cruisers bring lots of things onboard the ship. Some stuck with me as really neat ideas that I never considered, and I adopted it into my cruise habit.

Other ideas I've recognized work for specific cruisers, but I think they add value to sharing them too.

Here's my list of cool things to bring on a cruise, plus a few to skip. There are affiliate links in this article to some of the products referenced.  Affiliate links generate a small commission if you buy it, but it costs you nothing extra!

Pop-up laundry hamper

One of the best cabin hacks I ever tried was to bring a laundry hamper to keep the dirty laundry organized.

For so many years I just threw all my dirty laundry in a corner somewhere, but a hamper really helps keep it from sprawling all over.

While some cruisers say to just put dirty laundry in the empty suitcase, that's far more effort than I'm willing to commit to.

Plus, the hamper is cheap and can fold down so it can fit in that large mesh part of the inside of the suitcase no one ever uses.

Amazon link

Magnetic night light

When my kids were really young, we had to make using the bathroom as easy as possible, especially at night.

Having a nightlight is great for ensuring you know where to go in a very dark cabin, as well as keeping the boogeyman away.

My kids are older, but a good nightlight is still useful to save the structural integrity of my shins.  It never ceases to amaze me how often I run into the coffee table in the stateroom.

Rather than a traditional plug-in light, I'd recommend getting a re-chargeable light that is magnetic so you can stick it anywhere in your room!

Giant pool hat

I started bringing a wide brimmed straw hat to keep me from getting sunburned and because it's kind of fun.

I never want to get sunburned, but remembering to re-apply sunscreen isn't as easy as it sounds. Wearing a hat with a very wide brim greatly reduces the chances I'll get burned on my head, neck, or shoulders.

They're a pain to pack, but when I wear it around the pool or beach, I'm always glad I brought it.

Leakproof bottle protector

One of my favorite money saving tips is to bring your own wine on a cruise, but spend a few bucks to make sure the wine doesn't spill.

You're allowed to bring one bottle of wine per adult in the stateroom on embarkation day (champagne too). Just be sure to pack it in your carry-on luggage and not the luggage you give to the porters.

Will that bottle of wine break in your bag? Probably not. But it's not a risk worth taking.

For a few bucks, you can buy a re-useable wine protector and ensure any leaks don't ruin your clothes.

Bag to bring to the pool or beach

Dear men reading this article: you cannot carry everything you need for the beach in your cargo short pockets.

Having a small, yet practical bag to carry the essentials while going ashore (or to the pool deck) is really useful.

I like this Adidas drawstring bag because it's useful for cruises and at home. I'm all for things I can use in my everyday life, plus a cruise vacation.

Inflatable seat

On a trip to St. John I saw someone with inflatable hammock chairs and thought it was genius.

If you're in the ocean and enjoying a picturesque place, I want to enjoy time in the water.  But wading isn't fun.  

These inflatable chairs can be used to sit, hang on, or drift. And since they're inflatable, they collapse easily too.

Sunrise alarm clock

Inside rooms are pitch black when you turn off all the lights, and it makes knowing if it's 3am or 3pm really difficult.

A sunrise alarm clock will slowly illuminate the cabin to match the outside daylight, so you have that sense if it's morning without fully opening your eyes and checking your phone.

I like this a lot because opening my eyes to check the time makes it more difficult to fall back asleep again.

The sunrise alarm clock has a gradual light, with two alarms and even has noise you can sleep to: birds, running water, white noise, and more.

Desktop thermometer

I recently saw in a Facebook group people that bring a digital thermometer and I couldn't understand why until they explained it.

Royal Caribbean's cabin thermostats, especially on old ships, have no indication what temperature you're setting it to.  Nor do you know what the temperature is in your cabin.

Having a digital thermostat means you can better fine tune the room temperature to what you like having normally at home.

Lanyard

Cruise lanyards are a really smart way to keep your Seapass card handy.

There's a reason so many people that cruise a lot rely on lanyards: it's easier than digging in a pocket to find your Seapass card and less likely to accidently leave it behind.

They're re-usable and seem to last forever. Try a retractable, detachable lanyard to make it easy to use it in the casino or when ordering a drink.

Luggage tag holders

Probably the first thing I ever bought specifically for a cruise were luggage tag holders and they're still so good.

Royal Caribbean provides printable luggage tags, but they can so easily rip off.  

A plastic holder ensures they don't go anywhere and reduces the risk of your luggage going lost because they aren't sure where it's supposed to go.

It's another cheap item to pick up and they last a few years before needing to be replaced.

Magnetic hooks

Can I really do a packing article without talking about how useful magnetic hooks are?

I know magnetic hooks are probably the most cliched packing tip, but truly they make a difference.

You want to get heavy duty magnetic hooks so you can stick them on any of your walls and keep all your junk off the couch, floor, and bed.  Plus, it frees up space in drawers.

They're great for bathing suits, hats, jackets, and more

Hammock

I haven't actually done this one yet, but I had to include it in a list of cool things to bring because I've been jealous of everyone that has.

If you have a balcony cabin with the right set up, it's possible to have a hammock set up.

The hammock costs $20 and the person that did it says it took him just a couple minutes to set-up.  Ideally, you'll be booked in a bigger balcony cabin and have access to beams where you can attach it.  

It may not be possible on all balcony cabins, so this might be a hack to try after you go back on the same ship.

Fuzzy blanket

I asked my wife what's something she loves to bring on a cruise that isn't typical, and she said a fuzzy blanket.

Just like at home, having a comfortable blanket is great for lounging.  You could use it on the bed, couch, or even on your balcony.

Or bring it off the ship if you're cruising in the winter and have an activity on the water.

I'd recommend getting a travel blanket so it's a bit more compact.

Your own pillow

No matter which ship or cabin category you pick, your own pillow is always going to be better than what's there.

I don't hate the pillows on a ship, but I rarely ever find one that I love as much as my own pillow.

Insulated water bottle

A trend in cruising today is more people bringing a water bottle with them and it makes sense now that I understand it better.

There are water stations around your ship that cost nothing to use.

Royal Caribbean provides plastic cups for water, but they're small and certainly not insulated. Bringing your own bottle means you can have much more water available without making return trips to the dispenser.  Plus, it stays colder longer.

I'd recommend Stanley Cups, Yeti Cups, or Hydroflask.

I never pack a few things because they aren't necessary

New cruisers think they need to pack towels, specifically for shore excursions, but the truth is you don't need to bring any with you from home.

Royal Caribbean will let you take its towels off the ship for a shore excursion, and they're certainly good enough for a day at the beach.

You can get towels at the pool deck, although I almost always find them available to borrow at the gangway too.

I tried bringing an over the door organizer because it's a very popular travel hack, but the I've never found it nearly as helpful as people claim.

The issue for me is the shoe organizers don't have much capacity in each little holder. Plus, it tends to get caught in the bathroom door when I open and close it.

Some cruisers swear by these shoe organizers as a great cubby system, but I stopped bringing mine.

I firmly believe walkie talkies are not only unnecessary, they're also annoying to everyone else.

Royal Caribbean offers a free chat feature in its app to use, or you could just get a WiFi package for everyone and use an app or text feature.

I'll also never bring a drone with me on a cruise.

Royal Caribbean allows you to take a drone onboard, but you can't use it on its ships or private island. Theoretically you can fly them in one of the ports of call you visit, but digging up local regulations on where you can and cannot fly it is a bridge too far for me.

Not to mention the drone and all of the accessories take up too much room in my backpack.  I'll just rely on others to fly them and admire their work.

Because of Hurricane Melissa, cruise lines are being forced to change Caribbean itineraries.

Hurricane Melissa has quickly become a category 5 hurricane, and it's located about 130 miles south-southwest of Kingston, Jamaica. It's path will likely take it over Jamaica and impact other Caribbean islands.

A storm this powerful in the middle of the Caribbean Sea means cruise ships will stay far away from it, and already a few changes have been posted.

Here's a list of which ships have been diverted away from the storm.

Icon of the Seas will go to the Western Caribbean instead

One of the biggest cruise ships in the world will swap a planned Eastern Caribbean voyage for one that goes to Mexico and Honduras instead.

Guests booked on Icon of the Seas received an email informing them of the change, "Our Captain, along with our Chief Meteorologist, Craig Setzer, has been tracking Tropical Storm Melissa that is expected to move through the area of our sailing."

"To safely avoid the impacts of the developing storm, we have decided to switch our itinerary to the Western Caribbean instead of the Eastern Caribbean for this sailing."

Icon of the Seas was scheduled to visit St. Maarten on Tuesday, however, the ship will now head to Cozumel on Monday from 7am to 6pm and then Roatan, Honduras on Tuesday from 9:00am to 6:30pm.

An additional sea day will be added to the voyage on Wednesday.

Plans remain for Icon to visit Perfect Day at CocoCay on Friday, before returning to Miami on Saturday.

Any pre-paid shore excursions made through Royal Caribbean will be automatically refunded in the form of onboard credit. Any remaining unused refundable amounts at the end of the sailing will be reimbursed to your credit card on file.

Odyssey of the Seas is taking a new route to avoid the hurricane

Even though Odyssey of the Seas is in Europe, her transatlantic transit is changing to avoid Melissa.

Odyssey of the Seas departed for a 14-night transatlantic cruise departing from Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy, on October 22, 2025.

The ship will skip a visit to the Azores on October 30 and will instead go to Santa Cruz, Tenerife on October 29th.

This change will allow Odyssey to cross in the South Atlantic and avoid both Hurricane Melissa and another low pressure system.

Freedom of the Seas avoided Melissa before it became a major hurricane

Freedom of the Seas just finished a sailing that began on October 23, but it changed plans before Melissa reached major strength.

The October 23rd sailing replaced a visit to Grand Turk in Turks and Caicos, and instead went to Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic.

Vision of the Seas is skipping a visit to Nova Scotia

"Unfavorable weather conditions" has caused Royal Caribbean to change a visit to one port in Canada for Vision of the Seas.

It's unclear if this change is related at all to Hurricane Melissa, but a visit to Sydney, Nova Scotia on Monday is now being changed.

Vision will go to Halifax a day early in order to stay there overnight.

"Kindly note, this is an evolving situation, and we will continue to evaluate the weather which may impact our schedule departure from Halifax," a letter to passengers onboard read.

"Please know, being onboard is one of the safest places because our ship can quickly move out of the way of any inclement weather."

Vision of the Seas is due back in Baltimore on Saturday.

Celebrity Beyond is also changing to the Western Caribbean

Just like Icon, Celebrity Beyond will swap out itineraries to avoid the bad weather.

An email to guests booked on the sailing read, "To safely avoid the impacts from the storm, we have decided to switch our itinerary to the Western Caribbean instead of the Eastern Caribbean for this sailing."

Instead of going to the Dominican Republic, St. Thomas, and St. Kitts, Beyond will visit Costa Maya, Mexico; Belize City, Belize; and Roatán, Honduras. 

Hurricane Melissa is tracking over Jamaica, Cuba and Bahamas

Weather experts believe Melissa will make landfall over Jamaica, and then take it on a track across eastern Cuba before heading out to sea.

While the storm is not expected to impact the east coast of the United States, it's going to be a menace for anything else in its path.

It has maximum sustained winds of 160 mph and was moving at a slow 3 mph.

Royal Caribbean meteorologist is watching for "wobbles"

Royal Caribbean employs its own meteorologist, Craig Setzer, and he posted an update on Monday about what he's looking at for the path of the hurricane.

Mr. Setzer is analyzing the storm's movements to know how much of an impact it will have on Jamaica, "we are looking at tens of miles which will make a big difference for folks in Jamaica. Now is the time tiny storm movements & wobbles make a big difference.  Now is the time we get myopic with the storm."

After passing Jamaica, he expects it to continue a move north, "Hurricane Melissa continues to creep to the west this morning, but all models agree that motion will soon stop, and northward motion will begin."

"That west position and the eventual northward heading of Melissa will help determine where the core of the hurricane strikes but we may not know that until later today or tonight.:

Unfortunately, it does not look like much weakening will occur before landfall.  Watching closely."