Royal Caribbean is moving ships around to avoid a blizzard and bad winter weather along the east coast of the United States.

So far, three cruise ships have had their itineraries changed because of the poor weather, and additional changes could be announced.

Passengers on Star of the Seas, Independence of the Seas, and Odyssey of the Seas have been notified of changes to their cruise plans as a result of the storm.

Here's a look at what's changed so far. This article was last updated at 11:08 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 23. 

Star of the Seas will skip Perfect Day at CocoCay

The February 22 sailing of Star of the Seas will have to skip Royal Caribbean's private island.

"Due to a weather system expected to bring unfavorable conditions and rough seas to Perfect Day at CocoCay on Monday, February 23, we will be skipping our visit and enjoy a Sea Day instead."

Because the ship will bypass CocoCay, they will now arrive in St. Thomas earlier.

"We're terribly sorry for the last-minute change caused by the weather - your safety is our top priority."

This is one of a handful of visits to CocoCay that have been scrapped this winter so far because of bad weather conditions.

Independence of the Seas will visit Nassau instead of CocoCay

(Credit: Cruise Mapper. Screenshot taken at 11:05 a.m. EST on Feb. 23)

According to Cruise Mapper, Royal Caribbean's Independence of the Seas was unable to dock at CocoCay on Feb. 23. 

However, rather than spend another day at sea, the ship's first port of call on the 7-night cruise from Miami is now Nassau. They are the fourth Royal Caribbean Group ship in port, alongside Allure of the Seas, Symphony of the Seas, and Celebrity Summit. 

Other stops on the weeklong voyage include San Juan and St. Thomas. 

Odyssey of the Seas will stay in homeport overnight

Odyssey of the Seas will return to Cape Liberty on Feb. 22, but will be delayed in leaving on her sailing because of the expected blizzard.

A letter sent to guests booked on the sailing states that they’re expecting "high winds and rough seas."

A cruiser posted on Reddit, "We’re due to sail out of NJ tomorrow on the Odyssey and just heard from RC that we won’t be leaving at the original 2pm departure time, that we’ll likely be docked overnight, meaning we wouldn’t leave til Monday morning."

The ship is scheduled to visit Port Canaveral, Florida, on Tuesday, Nassau, Bahamas, on Wednesda,y and CocoCay on Thursday. All of those plans could be changed if the ship is delayed by a day.

The issue will be when it's safe to depart and if the Port of New York will be open or not. 

Biggest winter storm in years expected

Officials along the East Coast are expecting a major winter storm that could dump up to 20 inches of snow in parts of the Northeast starting late in the weekend.

The National Weather Service said on Saturday that this winter storm is now expected to bring "significant impacts" across the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast Sunday into Monday.

Blizzard and winter storm warnings were issued for tens of millions of people across a swath of the Northeast, concentrating around New York City.

Blizzard conditions from heavy snowfall and strong winds are expected along the East Coast from Delaware through southeastern New England.

The nor'easter comes from a storm moving from the Gulf Coast over the weekend, spreading accumulating snow from West Virginia through the mid-Atlantic and into southern New England from Saturday night through Monday.

New Jersey, where Cape Liberty is located, has already declared a state of emergency by its governor.

Underscoring its commitment to the local community, one of the first things Royal Caribbean is doing to improve the local area around Costa Maya is to fix the long-neglected roads.

The cruise line acquired the Port of Costa Maya, along with a lot of surrounding land in order to build Perfect Day Mexico. But before it can do that, it wants to improve the infrastructure of the surrounding area.

The first step is Royal Caribbean has announced a significant investment to improve road infrastructure in Nuevo Mahahual, Mexico.

Unveiled yesterday, community roads will be rehabilitated.  The plans were shared at a collaborative meeting between company representatives, local authorities, and residents.

Why Royal Caribbean is fixing the roads

While building Perfect Day Mexico is Royal Caribbean's ultimate aim, it wants to work as a partner with the local community. Improving roads is a win-win for both company and community.

As Costa Maya is transformed over the next couple of years, Royal Caribbean is making broader investments in the area. The new infrastructure project not only reinforces the cruise line’s presence in the region but also highlights a deeper philosophy: being an active, engaged neighbor beyond just tourism.

Better roads is more than engineering, it's something the cruise line hopes will demonstrate to community stakeholders its commitment beyond words.

At the heart of the project’s announcement was a community meeting that emphasized transparency, mutual respect, and shared priorities. Residents and local leaders were invited to help define needs and next steps, setting a tone of genuine partnership rather than unilateral decision-making.

In addition to logistical improvements, Royal Caribbean is actively working to protect the local environment.

Plans have already been revealed to conserve about 111 acres of mangroves, restoring degraded coastal areas, and powering operations with 100% renewable energy by 2040.

For years, the municipality had dumped sewage into the coastal area of Mahahual, contaminating both the mangroves and the beach adjacent to the cruise ship pier.

Royal Caribbean plans to build their own reverse osmosis system to provide drinking water as well as a treatment plant to clean up the area, which will later be transferred to the municipal government to serve the entire community.

A month-long project

The project will focus on the repair and improvement of "key roads" within Nuevo Mahahual, which is the village near the Costa Maya port.

While the press release did not specify every street or exact stretch of roadway to be improved, it outlined several key operational points:

• Start and duration: Work is set to begin in the coming days and is expected to wrap up in approximately one month.
• Qualified execution: Only qualified companies holding all required permits will undertake the rehabilitation work, reflecting an emphasis on safety, compliance, and professional standards.
• Coordination: Construction will be carried out in close coordination with community leaders to ensure minimal disruption and clear communication throughout.

The hope is when it's complete, the upgraded roads will make a meaningful impact on local day-to-day life in a relatively short timeframe.

Better roads lead to Perfect Day Mexico

The short term benefit of these improved roads will be making it easier for the people that live and work around Mahahual to get around.  But these roads will be critical for Perfect Day Mexico.

This will be Royal Caribbean's second Perfect Day destination, building on the success of the first one at CocoCay in The Bahamas. Announced as part of a multi-hundred million-dollar investment, Perfect Day Mexico is designed to include water parks, beaches, culinary venues, leisure spaces, and immersive guest experiences for cruise passengers.

In fact, the footprint is as large as the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World.

They'll need the roads as much as the locals in order to get equipment and supplies in, as well as be able to get shore excursions out to various destinations.

Dreams of bigger cruise ships coming to Tampa appear to be dead once more.

The Florida Senate approved a bill on Friday that included a provision to grant specific protections to the Terra Ceia Aquatic Preserve, which is the area of a land a new cruise terminal was proposed to be built on.

Last month, SSA Marine submitted plans to construct a multi-berth cruise port in Manatee County.

The location was set to be built on a roughly 328-acre coastal property known as the Knott‑Cowen tract at the mouth of Tampa Bay next to the Bob Graham Sunshine Skyway Bridge. Estimated time of completion was three to five years.

However, SB 302 would limit large-scale dredging and filling in the Terra Ceia Preserve. That's important because dredging is part of the plans to allow cruise ships to access the terminal.

Not only would the new terminal need to be built, but a 4.5-mile long channel would need to be dredged about 60 feet deep to accommodate the newest cruise ships.  

Cruise Fever reported Sen. Jim Boyd added specific protections to the land. These provisions do not mention a cruise terminal, but it effectively makes it impossible for a private company to build on the land. The only exceptions granted are for public navigation projects, public necessity, or for any project that has the goal of improving the quality of the reserve.

The Senate passed the bill with a unanimous 38-0 vote.

Now that the amendment has passed, a second amendment will need to be filed to the House Companion Bill HB 1035, currently in its second reading.

Why a new cruise terminal would make a difference in Tampa

Tampa has a cruise terminal downtown, but it can only handle smaller cruise ships. As the cruise industry has built larger ships, it's precluded Tampa from getting any newer ships.

Currently, only smaller ships, like Royal Caribbean's Grandeur of the Seas, Rhapsody of the Seas, or Serenade of the Seas are able to sail from Tampa.

The issue is the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, which blocks access to Tampa Bay. The bridge's height is not tall enough for newer, bigger ships to safely pass underneath.

According to SSA Marine's website, its terminal would solve that problem.

A new cruise port will complement existing cruise activities in the region by being able to accommodate the newer, larger, low-emissions cruise vessels that would otherwise be unable to visit due to the height restrictions of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge

As cruise ships continue to modernize, the region will be well positioned to align with and support the cruise industry’s future growth. Additionally, locating a new cruise port on the seaward side of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge could serve as a valuable community asset in the event of extreme weather or other emergency situations.

Not everyone is in favor of building a new terminal.

Since the new plans were announced, Manatee County official says staffers and their family members have received threats and harassment from constituents.

Some residents fear the port's construction and operations could negatively impact the environment and put unnecessary strain on infrastructure.

In a news release, Manatee County Administrator Charlie Bishop said some of those comments have crossed the line "to harassment, threats, and intimidation" of county workers and their families.

"This is unacceptable. No county employee should be harassed for performing their professional duties. No child should ever be targeted because of where their parent works. These actions must stop."

Project not officially dead, but prospects look poor

While the Senate passed the bill, the Florida House still needs to pass it and then Florida's Governor needs to sign it into law.

There's no official announcement or confirmation of a change in plans for the proposed new cruise terminal. But the Senate Bill's passing makes the chances look poor for the project to be practical.

For most cruisers, going to the Main Dining Room for dinner is the best option. After all, it's included, has great service, and you're bound to find a few things each night that will satisfy.

Cruise ships have other places to eat, such as the Windjammer buffet or a specialty restaurant, but I think the Main Dining Room has a more casual and family-friendly environment groups find appealing.

But just because the Main Dining Room seems like a pretty straightforward restaurant doesn't mean that there aren't mistakes you can make when you're dining there.

I've compiled this list of some of the most common mistakes people make when they eat there, and by avoiding these mistakes, you can ensure you're getting the best possible dinner experience the next time you visit.

Filling up on the (admittedly delicious) bread

After being seated at your table, the first thing you'll offered is a basket full of bread rolls. There are a few different varieties and honestly, it's really hard not to have a couple.

Cheese rolls, sliced baguette, pumpkin seed, and another one or two options are available to choose from, along with butter. As you wait for your food to come out, these rolls look more and more appetizing.

But newbies will have a few rolls and then struggle when the rest of the food comes out. These rolls will fill you up fast, leaving no room for your actual entree.

It's a potential mistake you can make in a lot of restaurants, but I'd hold off on devouring them.

Enjoy a single roll, sure, but then leave the rest for after your entree arrives. That way, you'll have room in your stomach for everything you want to taste at the table.

Not having a reservation if you're on My Time Dining

If you picked My Time Dining (Anytime Dining), there are two lines for tables: people with a reservation and those without one.

The people with a reservation are seated first, and the line for both can be quite long. This is especially true if you're looking to eat before 8pm.

The advantage of My Time Dining is you have flexibility in when you eat, but you should try to make a reservation whenever possible to ensure you minimize how much waiting there is.

You can make a reservation before the cruise with the Royal Caribbean app or in the Cruise Planner site.  But you can still make reservations once onboard the ship by calling the dining hotline from any phone.

As soon as you have an idea when you'd like to eat, I recommend making a reservation so you can enjoy dinner closer to the time you prefer.

Thinking you're going to be getting a fancy meal

A lot of people see a beautiful dining room, white tablecloths, and giant chandelier, and assume they're going to get a meal that's on the fancier end of the spectrum.

Don't get me wrong, the Main Dining Room is a lovely restaurant to dine in, but it's not nearly as formal or as high-end a restaurant as it may look.

The Main Dining Room isn't a fancy restaurant by any means. Royal Caribbean wants it to be a welcoming, family-friendly place for a great dining meal. It's far closer to casual dining than the aesthetics would lead you to believe.

The restaurants that offer a fancy, high-end meal are reserved for the specialty restaurants, such as Chops Grille or the supper clubs.

In truth, the MDR is more about casual dining. That's not a bad thing, I love that you can come in with a nice pair of jeans and collared shirt and enjoy a meal seated with friends and family without any pretenses. Its a great casual, family restaurant.

Assuming you order the same as you would at a land restaurant

I order food completely differently at a land restaurant compared to a cruise ship restaurant, especially at the Main Dining Room.

There is no extra charge to order more than one appetizer, entree, or dessert. In fact, the crew members encourage you to order what sounds good because they want you happy.

While this may sound gluttonous, the serving sizes of dishes tends to be smaller than what you'd get at a land restaurant. They're not miniscule portions by any means, but ordering two entrees isn't as crazy as it sounds when you get your food.

Some new cruisers won't really know they can, or should, order multiple dishes until perhaps after a few cruises. 

I recommend ordering two appetizers and entrees not only to try each, but to hedge your bet if one dish isn't what you expected.

Suffering in silence

If what you ordered isn't what you expected, or the food isn't hot enough, don't sit there and take it!

The Main Dining Room staff want you to be happy and very satisfied. They are more than happy to bring you something else or prepare the dish differently if it will be more to your liking.

I understand no one wants to be a nuisance or a pain, but if you even hint you didn't love your food, any waiter or manager will insist on bringing you something else.

On a few occasions I've tried a dish and almost instantly knew this isn't what I like. I wanted to sample it to see if this could be something new I'd love, but it's not the case.

In those situations, I explain "it's me, not you" situation and ask for something else. The waiters are quite happy to step in and swap out dishes.

Not checking the menu before you arrive

There are lots of places you dine at your cruise, so I think it's a mistake if you don't check the evening's menu before arriving.

Royal Caribbean rotates its dinner menu each night in the Main Dining Room, and there might be a better place instead because of the entree choices. You might prefer the Windjammer or splurge and go to a specialty restaurant.

You can find the menu posted on a digital screen outside the Main Dining Room, as well as being in the Royal Caribbean app.

For picky eaters, this can be a good strategy for avoiding the, "there's nothing I like on the menu" situation. 

Or if you want to make sure you don't miss a certain dish (like lobster night), knowing which night not to make a specialty restaurant reservation is important.

Royal Caribbean will add a new cruise ship this summer, and there are a few dining surprises that were announced.

Legend of the Seas will be the third Icon Class cruise ship, and it will have 28 places to eat onboard. It's not only among the biggest cruise ships in the world, but it will be home to more casual, sit down, and fine dining choices.

I scoured the full list of restaurants and dining choices on the ship, and there were a few things that jumped out because they're new and unexpected.

In addition to returning foodie favorites, here are the four surprises we can look forward to eating at on Legend of the Seas.

The first Korean food choice

Royal Caribbean will add its first dedicated Korean food offering when Seoulmate opens.

This is one of six stations that will make up Aquadome Market, the complimentary food hall.

Royal Caribbean trademarked the name last year, leading to speculation a Korean offering was coming.

Korean rice bowls are on the menu, and it signals a new kind of option never before offered on Royal Caribbean ships. I think it's exciting when we get variations.

Tacos coming to Aquadome Market too

Royal Caribbean is pretty much overhauling the Aquadome Market lineup with, five out of six locations new options.

• 🆕 Seoulmate: Korean rice bowls
• 🆕 La Espanola: Spanish-style bites
• 🆕 Cajun kitchen: New Orleans gumbo
• 🆕 Adobo: Mexican street tacos
• 🆕 Simply Pressed: Fresh smoothies & juices
• Creme de la Crepe: Sweet French crepes

What surprised me is one of the food halls is offering Mexican food, when there's an El Loco Fresh down the deck.

To be fair, El Loco Fresh is more Tex-Mex than traditional/authentic Mexican food, and that may be the difference.

If you've never eaten at Aquadome Market, it's my favorite included restaurant on any Royal Caribbean ship. The variety of food, the fact it's open late night, and how fresh everything is prepared truly makes it stand out.

Plus, it's convenient to the pool deck since you can easily get to it from the Chill Island neighborhood.

To be clear, I'm all for more tacos in my life. So I'll take it upon myself to "research" the differences between this and El Loco Fresh.

Pier 7 isn't going anywhere

After the launch of Icon of the Seas, it looked like Pier 7 was going to be removed on Star of the Seas.  Fast-forward two ships and it's still here.

It's easily overlooked because it's located deep within the Surfside neighborhood, which is an area guests without young kids usually avoid.

To be clear, I think Pier 7 is the most underrated Royal Caribbean restaurant and given how cheap it's priced, I think it's worth eating at for everyone.  

Kids under 12 eat free, and if you pre-book a reservation, adults can have brunch for as little as $9.

I appreciate the menu offers very different options than what you'd find elsewhere, and there are some great healthier options available.

Plus, having an all-day brunch menu is welcome for anyone that enjoys breakfast for dinner.

The immersive train restaurant will have fine dining choices

We already knew Legend of the Seas will debut the first Royal Railway on an Icon Class ship, but now we have a look at what the menu will have.

I was able to test an early version of the restaurant at a mock-up at Royal Caribbean's headquarters, but everything at that point was conceptual.

Travel through China and indulge in mouthwatering Pork and Shrimp Siu Mai garnished with delicate caviar. And feast on butter chicken and palak paneer in India before awe-inspiring explorations through Persia, Turkey and Italy.

Since the Royal Railway Utopia Station was based in the Old West and a family-focused show, the menu had a different aim.

It looks like Legend Station will lean more into cuisine, and less on schtick.  This is a welcome change for those that eat at any specialty restaurant for the food first.

All the restaurants coming to Legend of the Seas

Royal Caribbean says Legend of the Seas will have the most places to eat at sea, so here's a look at what's coming.

• Quick Bites
  • Park Café ✅
  • El Loco Fresh ✅
  • AquaDome Market ✅
  • Surfside Bites ✅
  • Izumi in the Park $
  • Basecamp ✅
  • Trellis Bar $
• Around-the-Clock Cuisine
  • Pearl Café ✅
  • Sorrento’s ✅
• Sit-Down Eats
  • Surfside Eatery ✅
  • Windjammer ✅
  • Pier 7 $
  • Dining Room ✅
  • Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade $
• Celebration-Worthy Meals
  • Celebration Table $
  • Chops Grille $
  • Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar $
  • Hooked Seafood $
• Savor the Show
  • Hollywoodland Supper Club $
  • Royal Railway: Legend Station $
  • Izumi Hibachi & Sushi $
• Sweet Treats
  • Sprinkles ✅
  • Desserted $
  • Starbucks $
  • Sugar Beach $
• Suite Exclusives
  • Coastal Kitchen ✅
  • The Grove ✅

Former Royal Caribbean International CEO Adam Goldstein is back, but he's on his way to work with a different cruise line.

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NCLH) has undergone big changes and the drum beats demanding more change are echoing still.

NCLH is the parent company of Norwegian Cruise Line (and two other lines). The major problem has been NCLH has struggled financially compared to competitors, and some of its investors have had enough. Especially when competitors, like Royal Caribbean, are doing so much better.

On Thursday, Mr. Goldstein announced he's now working with activist investor Elliott Investment Management to help reshape Norwegian's future.  As the former head of Royal Caribbean, it has potential major impact for the industry.

This isn’t just a board seat pursuit. It's part of a broader bid to sharpen strategy, performance, and shareholder returns.

Who is Adam Goldstein?

Adam Goldstein is a name within Royal Caribbean that used to be among the most important people in the company.

Adam Goldstein joined the company in 1988 and later went on to serve as President & CEO of Royal Caribbean International from 2007 to 2014. From 2014 to 2018, he served as President & COO of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. His last role was vice chairman.

Then he suddenly left the company in 2020 without any explanation.

On Thursday, he announced Elliott has put his name forward as a potential director to serve on the Board of Directors.

"If appointed to the board, I would serve as a director for all of Norwegian’s shareholders, cruisers and travel agent partners – not any single investor," he said in his open letter to the cruise industry.

Norwegian Cruise Line investors call for big changes, want to be like Royal Caribbean

Things are getting dicey at NCLH as change has churned up more change.

Elliott Investment Management has built over a 10% stake in NCLH, and earlier this week went as far as to set up an activist campaign.

They believe Norwegian has lagged behind Royal Caribbean Group and Carnival financially because of mismanagement, overspending, and poor decisions.

They presented an entire new program that illustrates the differences between the three companies, and routinely uses Royal Caribbean Group as an example of how to do things better.

Elliott is calling for board changes, strategic overhaul, and stronger execution.

Why Adam Goldstein is getting involved now

After leaving Royal Caribbean abruptly, he's been largely missing in action from the cruise industry.  Now, he wants back in.

In his post, he says many people have reached out and asked him out of concern what is happening at Norwegian.

He believes Norwegian has world-class assets and can do much better financially.

"There are signs that Norwegian could be doing much better. Norwegian possesses industry-leading assets, leading the industry in investment-per-berth and featuring a premium cabin mix and compelling onboard amenities."

Financial results, he says, follow a strong guest experience and differentiated product.

"Financial results follow the guest experience, not the other way around."

He sees such strong demand for cruising across the entire industry, and believes Norwegian should be taking advantage of that growth.

"Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings... should be capitalizing on this moment."

Mr. Goldstein's involvement signals not just financial pressure, but adding someone who can help drive strategic and operational fixes.

Can this really fix things?

The investor counterstrike is massive in its scope, but its ambitions might be more than what's practical.

Vince Ciepiel is an Analyst with Cleveland Research Company, and reviewed the "Norwegian Now" plan that outlines the problems and ways to fix the poor corporate governance, cost mismanagement, and strategic errors.

He believes the plan has merit, but isn't realistic with how quickly it could make changes, "We view much of Elliot’s overall messaging in the plan as fair in general but likely too aggressive/optimistic on the solutions and timeline."

He was also quick to point out that Elliott takes special aim at Norwegian costs, but believes NCLH has gotten better at managing costs in recent years.

Moreover, he raised a red flag that cuts have already begun to negatively impact the customer experience.

"We would also flag that investors have been concerned on Norwegian’s cost cuts leading to brand/customer experience damage (i.e. reducing portion sizes in F&B, cutting back on onboard shows/performance budgets, reducing housekeeping) so the $ value of low hanging fruit operationally may not be as easy to capture as the Elliott presentation implies."

NCL: The new Southwest Airlines?

Cruise fans have already taken note of what's happening at NCLH, and it has them concerned.

X user The Cruise Life laid out the potential problems with Elliott's plan and how it could spell cutbacks and poor guest experiences. They base this on the fact Elliott Management is the same activist investor group behind the major changes at Southwest Airlines that have been criticized for disrupting what made that airline so beloved by fans.

"Loyal NCL cruisers have definitely seen unpopular cost cuts over the past decade in favor of profits. But let me make it clear: If Elliott Management has their way, the cost cuts of the past were paper cuts. This group wants to cut off the entire head in favor of profit."

"Make no mistake, change is coming for Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings. Today is a dark day for a brand we love so much. And while we disagree with several recent changes (Subway CEO?!), trust me when I say an activist investor group is NOT the solution any of us want."

For three nights, I woke up every morning to the feeling of vibrations as my cruise ship maneuvered into port. I pressed the automatic window shade to see the view of which Bahamian port we were in and take in the beautiful scenery.

I was aboard my sixth cruise on Royal Caribbean's Utopia of the Seas, which is one of the biggest ships in the world. It's still very much a new ship and because it offers short weekend cruises, it's become my preferred weekend escape mechanism.

During my three night voyage from Port Canaveral, Florida, we sailed to Nassau, Bahamas and and Royal Caribbean's private island in the Bahamas.

I stayed in an ocean-view stateroom on deck nine for $685. The cruise was offered as a "free sailing" through the casino loyalty program. Take a look inside the 187-square-foot space.

My room was at the front of deck nine

An oceanview stateroom is one category above an inside stateroom with no windows, but it's one category below staterooms with a balcony, and two below a suite.

Oceanview rooms are usually a bit larger than inside rooms and have a view.

If the price difference is negligible, moving up to an oceanview instead of an inside room can be a pleasant upgrade.

I was surprised how big the room felt as soon as I stepped inside my stateroom

The unusual layout of the cabin at the very front of the ship gave it more space than you'd get in an oceanview cabin on the side of the ship.

The room has a desk, mirror, outlets for charging electronics and USB ports

One thing I instantly notice anytime I go on a newer Royal Caribbean ship is how many more outlets are in the room.

As someone that works remotely from cruise ships, it's nice having a desk.  I use it as my mobile office location, as well as to store any important paperwork or flyers I'll need later.

There are drawers nearby that include a minifridge

The amount of drawers and storage space is impressive, especially for a ship only offering short cruises.

Suffice to say, there was more than enough space for my belongings.

Plus, there's a fridge to keep food or drinks chilled. It's not a true refrigerator, but perfect for my bottled water.

There is a couch across from the desk, and a closet

This stateroom is big enough to fit a full sized couch, with a closet next to it.

There are hangers provided in the closet, so it makes it simple to get what you need hung up.

Near the entrance to the room is a small bathroom that maximized the space

In this room is a private bathroom, that has sink, toilet, and shower.

There is complimentary 2-in-1 body wash and shampoo, but I'd recommend bringing your own hair products from home if proper hair care is important to you.  For kids, it's good enough.

There is a pull-out clothing line in the shower that you can use to dry bathing suits or any garments you need to launder yourself.

The king size bed can be split to create two twin beds if you're sharing the cabin

Nearly every Royal Caribbean bed can be split in two, which is perfect for anyone sharing the room.

The stateroom attendant can split or combine the beds at anytime, so don't fret if it's not in the right configuration when you get inside.

There are also two nightstands on either side of the bed with a lamp, charging ports, and a room phone on one side.

There is a large TV mounted across from the bed with a clever storage hack below

I thought it was smart that Royal Caribbean placed storage hooks in every cabin so you can get certain belongings off the floor.

The window provided a view of the front of the ship, which is unusual

The large window has an electric shade that you can open or close by pushing a button. 

This ensured the room stayed dark while I slept, and illuminated the cabin when I was ready for it.

The problem with this cabin is there was so much movement when the ship docked

From photos, this looks like an amazing room.  However, the amount of movement made sleeping a challenge.

Every time the ship docked, it felt like a mini-earthquake and it lasted long enough to wake me up and keep me awake.  This is because the room is above the bow thrusters.

I regretted booking this room because I prefer to sleep in while on a cruise.  If you're an early riser, this might not be a problem.

Next time, I'll pick a room more centrally located on the ship to avoid the motion problems.

Royal Caribbean's Main Dining Room is a staple of the cruise experience, and within its daily menu are a few must-eats that you might otherwise overlook.

Each night there's a new menu to choose from, but certain items stand out among those that cruise enough to repeat menus.

Sure, you can order the lobster tail, steak, or chicken cordon bleu and be happy with that. After all, they're great dishes. But they can blind you to delectable appetizers, sides, and entrees that deserve way more attention.

In my 20 years of cruising on Royal Caribbean, I've discovered underrated dishes that stand out as a great choice to order because they're something new, exciting, and totally delicious.

But trust me: You'll be glad you tried these items once you give them a chance.

Indian curry

I liked Indian curry before I ever cruised on Royal Caribbean, but the curry offerings on Royal Caribbean are fabulous.

Indian curry has garnered a cult-like following among cruise fans who recognize it's one of the consistently best options on the menu.  Plus, there's a rotating curry option every night of the cruise in the Main Dining Room, including a vegetarian and non-vegetarian option.

If you've never tried it, fear not, it's not as spicy as you might think. In fact, I think nearly all of Royal Caribbean's curries are quite mild and lack the authentic heat it probably should have. Nonetheless, it's quite tame and a great option for someone that has never tried curry.

Try the butter chicken or chicken curry when it's on the menu as a great starting idea. No vegetables, just chicken in a great tasting sauce.  Add in some rice and I bet you'll love it.

Escargot

Yes, the traditional French dish that serves snails is actually really good.

In reality, the baked snails are quite small and nearly drowning in garlic and butter. This makes escargot more palatable to someone trying it and if you eat it with bread, I doubt you'll taste anything other than the garlic and butter.

It's salty, savory, and lots of cruisers swear by it as a must-order item because it's different.  Few of us are fine diners at home, so the chance to try something different here and venture out is fun.

Crab cakes

According to the Royal Caribbean Dining group on Facebook, the crab cakes are underrated.

"I order this for dinner instead of appetizer," one person posted.

Available on the Welcome Aboard menu (night one), it's one of those dishes I'll see highlighted over and over again by cruisers.

Outside of those from Maryland who have higher standards for the dish, I think it's routinely one of the better options to try.

French onion soup

I don't know how much French onion soup can be hidden, but I'm putting it on the list because if you've ever thought "been there, done that", you haven't.

There's something about Royal Caribbean's French onion soup that truly stands out from the same soup I've had at plenty of other restaurants on land.

The salty broth, cheese, bread, and plenty of onions all combine to never disappoint.

I also appreciate it comes out as nearly scalding hot, which makes a difference with any soup.  I think soup should always be too hot to enjoy initially.  Plus, it lets the cheese and bread soak in more.

French onion soup has been on the Main Dining Room menu for as long as I've been cruising, and it's probably the top reason I'll choose to eat there instead of another venue.

Eggs benedict

Did you know the Main Dining Room is open every morning for breakfast too?

It's a traditional American breakfast, but many people swear by the eggs benedict as a must-order.  It's overlooked because a lot of people opt for scrambled eggs or an omelet.

Eggs benedict is a poached egg with Canadian bacon along with hollandaise sauce.

Many fans love this dish.

• "I have eggs benedict for breakfast on the first day of every cruise. Can’t wait!"
• "Best egg benedict in the fleet!"
• "Eggs benny....one of my favorite breakfasts."

Royal Caribbean has changed another entertainment venue into a casino on one of its ships.

While undergoing routine maintenance work in drydock, Radiance of the Seas returned to service this week with one notable change: a new non-smoking casino.

Reports from passengers onboard the ship indicated the Pub had been replaced with a non-smoking casino. Jeremy Thomasson posted, "Onboard now and can confirm Radiance has removed the Pub and replaced it with a Non Smoking Casino."

A video tour of the new casino was shared by Sea Days & Sunsets and the entire Quill & Compass Pub has been swapped out for a casino space.

The change is part of a greater trend on Royal Caribbean ships to offer more casino space while also offering an enclave for non-smokers.

Traditionally, cruise ship casinos offer a non-smoking and smoking side. But just like airplanes, sharing an enclosed space with smokers doesn't keep the smoke odor on one side.

The new casino space is still attached to the main casino on two ends, but there's a corridor in-between to provide some separation.

The non-smoking casino space has a dedicated bar, which takes the place of the former bar within the pub.

There are slot machines and some table games. In the video tour, it appeared the casino space was still being set up.

Gone is the pub, which leaves one less bar with entertainment onboard the ship.

Radiance of the Seas is one of the smallest Royal Caribbean cruise ships in the fleet, with a capacity of just 2,143 passengers.  Compare that to Icon of the Seas, which can handle 5,610 passengers at double occupancy.

Trend of adding more non-smoking casinos

Royal Caribbean has been on quest as of late to expand its casino offerings on its ships, a trend that began with the launch of Wonder of the Seas.

Wonder of the Seas launched in 2022, and was originally slated to debut in China.  Instead of a jazz club on deck 4 that all other Oasis Class ships had previously had, there were plans for a casino instead.

When Wonder of the Seas was shifted and debuted in North America instead, Royal Caribbean decided to experiment with keeping the casino.  Evidently it was a success, because more ships received the update.

Since then, all the Jazz on 4 venues on other Oasis Class venues have been replaced by non-smoking casinos.

On some ships, the cruise line has even moved the Crown Lounge loyalty space to offer an even bigger casino fingerprint.

On Freedom of the Seas, the Vintages wine bar was removed and replaced with a non-smoking casino.  

In this case, this added a casino on the Royal Promenade for the first time.

When Legend of the Seas debuts later this year, it will be the first ship in the fleet to have a two-story casino.

In fact, Legend will have the biggest casino space of any ship.

Why Royal Caribbean is adding more casinos

Adding more casinos has two benefits, but it comes at a price.

First and foremost, adding more gambling space provides more revenue opportunities for the cruise line.

Royal Caribbean Group does not break down its revenue it earns from gambling, but it's hard to imagine that based on how many more casinos are being added to ships that the move is not a profit generating space.

Traditionally, casinos have always been a profit generator for cruise lines.

Anecdotally, the casino loyalty program seems to be more popular than ever, and those that gamble enough to get free cruise offers are reporting an influx of additional offers.

For passengers, it's a case of good and bad news with the casino expansion.

Those that don't smoke and refuse to gamble in the regular casino because of the smoke odor have celebrated the expansion of casino spaces. 

It offers them an opportunity to enjoy gambling without the second hand smoke issues or even smell. Plus, a bigger casino means more capacity and possibly less crowds.

The downside is these new casinos replace bars and lounges that sometimes offered entertainment.

In the case of Radiance of the Seas, this change possibly means there is no longer a pub singer entertainer onboard. It remains to be seen if the pub singer will be moved to another venue.

With Jazz on 4, the jazz music was moved to Central Park on the Oasis Class ships to perform outdoors.

Similarly, when Royal Caribbean got rid of the comedy club space to make room for a casino, the comedy shows got moved to the Royal Theater.

Comedy in a large theater is adequate, but lacks the crowd work and sense of inclusion you get in a smaller comedy venue.