I was surprised when Royal Caribbean informed me that my 5-night Freedom of the Seas cruise would be re-routed to Carnival's private port.

Amber Cove is Carnival's "exclusive port" in the Dominican Republic, located close to Taino Bay.

I've had itinerary changes in the past, but I've never heard of a Royal Caribbean ship visiting a rival port. Not only was it unusual, but I had never been to any Carnival private area.

While surreal, my visit to Amber Cove was a fun experience where I was surprised five times.

It's not run at all by Carnival

Upon arrival at Amber Cove, it became clear a private port run by Carnival is not like a Royal Caribbean private island.

While Carnival owns the port, it leases out everything and it's all run by third party vendors.

I expected to see far more Carnival branding, but was surprised to not find much.

Since the shops, restaurants, and bars are all operated by independent vendors, it felt less like "Carnival land" and more like a port of call that just happens to be owned by Carnival.

Unlike Perfect Day at CocoCay, there was no army of crew members descending from the cruise ship to staff the island.  

Also, anything you paid for required cash or credit card.  I was concerned I might be at a disadvantage because I didn't have a cruise card from a Carnival ship.  But when I went to the swim-up bar in the pool to get a drink, I was able to use my phone's tap to pay option.

One of the biggest takeaways that while Amber Cove is owned by Carnival, it didn't feel like an extension of the cruise line.

Cabanas were cheap

After the announcement was made we'd go to Amber Cove, I reached out to my friends at Eat Sleep Cruise for a recommendation of what to do there. They recommended I rent a cabana.

Unfortunately, there were no advanced reservations available to be made on the ship. So I had to wait and see what was left to rent once I arrived.

Amber Cove has a few different cabanas you can rent, somewhat similar to Perfect Day at CocoCay or Labadee. Over the water, hill top, and pool cabanas were some of the options.

When I asked about renting a cabana, I was told I could get one of the over the water cabanas for just $500.

I was astounded by how low a price this was, considering cabanas at Royal Caribbean's private destinations can easily cost two to three times that.

The water slide they had for an extra cost was also quite inexpensive, at just $6 per person for unlimited rides.

While I can't comment how close the quality of the cabanas are to Royal Caribbean's (I didn't think I needed a cabana for just myself cruising solo), the pricing difference was rather notable.

There's no beach

I knew Amber Cove had a pool, but I couldn't believe there wasn't a beach.

Amber Cove has plenty of shore excursions you can take to take you to a nearby beach. Unlike CocoCay or Labadee, you're not relegated to just the port.

I think the rationale may simply be there are so many beautiful beaches in and around Puerto Plata, Carnival felt let folks take a quick trip if that's what they desire.

Instead, Amber Cove has a resort-style pool with swim-up bar, waterslides, a lazy river and plenty of lounge chairs.

It's clear Taino Bay copied Amber Cove

After realizing Amber Cove isn't that similar at all to CocoCay, I saw more similarities to Taino Bay.

Our cruise visited Taino Bay the day before, which is the port in Puerto Plata Royal Caribbean cruise ships usually visit.

Amber Cove opened in 2015, but Taino Bay opened in 2021. 

• Both have a complimentary pool and lazy river
• Both have lots of independent restaurants and bars
• Both have souvenir shops run by third parties
• Both offer shore excursions to the outside area

In my opinion, the folks that designed and built Taino Bay took a lot of inspiration from Amber Cove.  I'm not saying they straight out copied it, but the similarities are there.

While Taino Bay's lazy river feels more like a lazy river than Amber Cove's version, Amber Cove doesn't feel like a giant maze and is far easier to navigate.

It's a lot less like any Royal Caribbean private island than I expected

The biggest surprise to me is how much Amber Cove isn't like CocoCay.

Up until my visit there, I only had the context of Royal Caribbean's private operations. So I anticipated something more akin to a day there.

Instead, Amber Cove felt more like Costa Maya or Taino Bay than Labadee. If you've been to Falmouth in Jamaica, that might also be a better comparison.

I can see the advantages for Carnival to run it this way.  They get to make money from the lessees that do all the work and operate everything and don't have to commit manpower to make it happen.

That being said, I didn't get much of a Carnival vibe from the port.  When I'm at CocoCay, it feels like an extension of my Royal Caribbean ship.  I can't say I felt the same about Amber Cove.

In the end, I had a great time on my visit. 

It was a beautiful day and the pool was a lot of fun. Plus, I got to enjoy Nathan's hot dog and french fries for lunch!

I'm not daydreaming of returning, but at least now I know what to expect if I ever did.

If you've tried repricing a Royal Caribbean cruise lately, you may have had a harder time to get it done and it's not just you.

Royal Caribbean has offered the ability for guests to reprice their cruise if there's a lower price later, but many have reported the process has suddenly become more difficult.

On the Royal Caribbean message boards, gi333 posted, "Is it normal that Royal Caribbean doesn’t want to reprice as it is only for new bookings?"

"I called Royal directly and i was told the same information. Flash Sales are not eligible for reprice."

Their experience has been similar to others who have reported issues with getting the reprice to be honored.  

It appears the cruise line has changed the terms and conditions to make it more difficult, but not impossible to take advantage of a price drop.

A Reddit user claiming to "work in the pre-cruise department" of Royal Caribbean answered questions about the changes to repricing.

"Repricing is being restricted"

The cruise line employee offered to answer questions about anything related to promotions and booking creation, to which the question of what the current procedure is regarding repricing a booking.

The user responded, "managers are confirming that repricing is being restricted, and most sales now state new bookings only."

He recommends booking refundable fare to get around the change, "If you want price protection, the best strategy is to book early with a refundable deposit. You may also monitor fares and act quickly before final payment."

The problem with booking refundable fare is how much more it costs to book refundable fare instead of non-refundable fare.

Similar to airfare, refundable comes at a significantly higher cost.

He went on to explain the change is related to how the price is advertised, "Before final payment you can only reprice if the lower fare is not marked new bookings only. Many promotions now say new bookings only so they don’t apply."

"Most sales that I’m seeing today are for new bookings only, so existing reservations usually can't be adjusted."

"If new sale is marked new bookings only we cannot reprice. If it’s the same promo code and your category qualifies, and you’re before final payment, you can reprice your reservation."

He also added, "After final payment date no repricing allowed but we can upgrade your stateroom." From my personal experience, I haven't seen that to be the case.

Royal Caribbean has not issued any sort of official guidance on a general policy change, as terms and conditions for individual promotions are always disclosed in the fine print.

How to reprice a cruise

Depending on a few conditions, you can re-price a cruise.  

You must be a resident of select countries (US, Canada and others).  For example, residents of the UK cannot reprice due to local laws.

Second, you must find a lower price for the exact same stateroom category code as you had booked. 

Lastly, you must be before the final payment date. If you spot the same promo code and your category qualifies, and you’re before final payment, you can reprice your reservation.

Unfortunately, a last-minute price drop after the final payment date does not qualify.

Finding a lower price is up to the guest, as the cruise line will not notify you of a price drop.

At that point, you have to call Royal Caribbean (or your travel agent if you booked with them) to ask for a reprice.

Use a travel agent to make it easier

My best advice for managing your reservation, including taking advantage of price drops, is to use a good travel agent instead of booking directly with the cruise line.

A good travel agent should cost you nothing extra (Royal Caribbean pays them a commission) and they take care of working with the cruise line to adjust the cruise fare.

Beci Mahnken is the owner of MEI Travel, and talked about repricing now, "Royal Caribbean’s new ‘bookings only’ policy for offers creates challenges for travelers who expect value throughout the life of their reservation. When existing guests can no longer benefit from a lower rate later in the booking cycle, it may shift when and how people choose to book."

"Travel advisors work hard to build trust and loyalty, and consistency in pricing protections is a key part of that experience. I sincerely hope they re-evaluate this trend for the sake of both guests and long-term loyalty."

The anonymous Royal Caribbean manager from the Reddit post admitted travel agents, "can add significant value through perks and personalized services."

"TAs often lock in rates months or even years in advance for a block of staterooms. These rates stay fixed even if Royal raises prices later."

"Group rates stay locked so when public rates spike, your TA rate looks much better."

While sailing on the biggest cruise ship in the world, I tried out a food hack that really improved a favorite snack.

Star of the Seas has so many great restaurants that cost nothing extra, but adding flavor to enhance them is an idea I saw on Tiktok to try.

Two of the restaurants are great on their own: Surfside Bites and El Loco Fresh.  But what if you combined the two?

The idea is simple, but I was impressed how good the end result was after trying it.

Here's how it works and why you should give it a whirl.

Hot and spicy popcorn chicken

Surfside Bites is located within the family neighborhood of Star of the Seas. Frankly, too many people avoid Surfside because they don't have kids and they're missing out on some good eats.

The food hack is to take the basket of popcorn chicken and then top it off.

I went to Surfside, which is right in the middle of the neighborhood near the carousel. 

There are just a few items on the menu, but the idea is to quickly grab it and be on your way.

I ordered a basket of popcorn chicken as the start.  The popcorn chicken is pretty good on its own, but because it's aimed at kids, flavor is at a minimum.

What I mean is the food is good, but I like some kick to my popcorn chicken.  

I took the basket and headed up to deck 15 and stopped at El Loco Fresh. It's not a short distance, but because of how well the destination elevators work on Star of the Seas, it's probably only a few minutes to get there.

El Loco Fresh is another included restaurant that has Mexican food for a quick meal.

I walked past all the tacos, burritos, and quesadillas on the buffet and right to the salsa bar.

The food hack is to grab your favorite hot sauce.  Royal Caribbean provides a few different hot sauces of varying heat levels.

My favorite hot sauce is the Tabasco Chipotle Pepper Sauce, but you can certainly pick whichever you like best.

Pour the hot sauce on the chicken as liberally as you prefer. 

Then grab the ends of the paper the chicken comes in, close it up, and shake it up so the hot sauce gets applied evenly.

I was skeptical how much different the chicken would be just from the hot sauce.

The result is hot popcorn chicken and I was impressed how much better it tasted. Adding more flavor really kicked it up a notch.

I then added to the spice level by adding jalapeño peppers from the toppings bar and it was the best bar snack I've had in a while!

You could go crazy and add the various toppings to make it your own hack.

The only downside to this hack is the distance between Surfside and El Loco Fresh. The elevators make it easier, but it's not quite as close as I would have liked.

Almost as good as the first food hack I tried on this ship

I was inspired to find a new food hack after running across my first one earlier this year.

While on the first sailings of Star of the Seas, I heard about an idea to combine two foods that sounded too good to be true.

In this case, it was at Basecamp and to start with the tater tots. Just like the popcorn chicken, they're served in a basket and fine on their own.

Basecamp is even closer to El Loco Fresh than Surfside.  There's just a short walk down a nearby staircase, so it's quite convenient.

Once at El Loco Fresh, top the tater tots with hot sauce, salsa, or anything else you like.

I was worried it might make the tots too soggy, but since I was eating it almost immediately, it wasn't a problem.  Plus the toppings made it taste so much better.

The key is to try to eat it while the tater tots are still warm.  Once they cool down, I don't think the tots aren't nearly as good.

I had a great time sailing on the world's largest cruise ship for 7-nights, but I couldn't help but notice others onboard made mistakes that could have been avoided.

It's not my job to correct anyone on the ship, but the cruise writer in me naturally notices when these faux pas' occur.  I assume it's like how a marketing executive might always internally critique how other businesses advertise.

Some of these mistakes are typical for first time cruisers, while others are ones that anyone could have made.  Regardless, I wanted to highlight these so you can be aware of them now to avoid making them yourself!

Here are the six mistakes I saw other cruisers make while I was on Royal Caribbean's Star of the Seas this past week.

The gym had so many people not knowing the rules

I try to take advantage of the fitness center on any Royal Caribbean ship once or twice per sailing because their equipment is so much better than my home gym.  

I pre-booked a fitness trainer to help guide me through a workout, but he had to talk to no less than five or six other guests in less than an hour about the gym rules.

The number one mistake guests made was not wearing the proper footwear.  Royal Caribbean's rules are anyone in the gym must be wearing shoes.  Flip flops, sandals, Crocs, or Uggs don't count as acceptable footwear.

Proof Matt was in the fitness center

This rule is in place for safety reasons, and each of these people were asked to halt their workout and go put on shoes.

The other mistake were underage guests using the gym. The fitness center is for adults, although teens may use it.

In the cast of teens, they need to get a permission paper signed by their parent authorizing them to use it under the guidance of their parent.  

Younger kids are not allowed to use the gym.

I think some people missed the ship in one port

On our visit to Costa Maya, Mexico, it's clear half a dozen passengers either were late or missed the ship.

We had odd hours in port, 7:30am to 1:30pm, so while it's not typical port times, it's not an excuse for ignorance.

As the all aboard time came and went, Star of the Seas blew its horn multiple times and then there were two different announcements over the public address system asking certain people to go to Guest Services if they are onboard.

Being left behind at a port is probably one of the worst cruise mistakes you can make, so the key is to manage your time closely.

I always plan to return to the port at least 1-2 hours before all aboard time to assure any traffic or bathroom breaks do not make us late.

Also, be sure to set your phone or watch to ship time. I turn off automatic time zone changes on my phone to prevent confusion with this.

If you're ever confused what time it is on the ship, the Royal Caribbean app always has the time in the top corner.

Paid too much for the drink package

When I see a passenger buying a Royal Caribbean drink package on the ship, I shake my head in disbelief because of how much they overpaid for it.

I don't have a problem with anyone buying a drink package, but it costs significantly more on the ship. Like almost double.

There are so many sales and opportunities before the cruise begins to buy a drink package at a discounted cost that there's simply no excuse for waiting to buy it onboard.

I suspect many that do purchase it on the ship might either do so impulsively or after they realize they do indeed want it to cap their drink spending.  Everyone's allowed to change their mind, but if you're on the fence about it, go ahead and pre-purchase it and save yourself hundreds of dollars later.

Skipped Surfside because they didn't have kids

If you sail on Icon of the Seas or Star of the Seas and avoid Surfside completely because you don't have kids, you are missing out on some great food options!

I get it, you think Surfside is just for families and young kids and you're imagining the IKEA ball pit room multiplied by a factor of 10, but it's worth going there for the restaurants.

Pier 7 is vastly underrated as a great and inexpensive specialty restaurant.

Considering you can pre-book brunch there for just $8 and kids under 12 eat free, I think it's worth a reservation.  Plus, they have some really good food choices you can't get elsewhere.

Equally compelling is Surfside Eatery.  It's considered the "kids buffet", but they have a lot of food adults would want too.  

On embarkation day, they had a much less crowded buffet with lobster and filet mignon! 

Lost out on casino free play

Did you know Royal Caribbean's casino gives everyone a few dollars to gamble for free?

It's just a few dollars, and it's meant as an incentive to get you in the casino and try your luck.  They're hoping a few spins is enough to compel you to put your own money in too.  But with the right amount of self control, you might hit it big.

Plus, if you gamble with your free play in the first 48 hours of the sailing, you get a bonus free play of an additional two dollars.

You're right to think it's not a lot, but I'll take free money to gamble with any day.  It's "use it or lose it".

One person flagrantly cheated the service animal rule

One family on my cruise almost certainly cheated Royal Caribbean's service animal allowance and it bothered me so much because their selfish act not only is wrong, but it diminishes the important role real service dogs serve.

To be fair, I don't know for a fact this dog wasn't a service animal, but the vest the dog had on was just about the cheapest "vest" I've ever seen.  Plus, on some days it didn't have the vest on at all.

I also noticed the dog was leading the person on the leash and consistently sniffing around as it walked.  

I could be completely wrong, but it left me (and others) in disbelief this was a service animal. This isn't the first time I've seen a so-called service dog on a ship and doing things service animals shouldn't be doing.  

Emotional support animals are not allowed, and neither are regular pets. I love dogs, but the rules are in place for a reason, and buying a service animal vest on Amazon doesn't make your pet a service dog.

With Cyber Monday, it's the perfect time to stock up on the things cruisers love at deep discounts.

Royal Caribbean has its own sale running on different pre-cruise purchases, but this is one of the best times of the year to buy essential travel items that can make your cruise better.

We looked at the things our team swears by when they cruise and found which ones are cheaper today with Cyber Monday sale running.

Note: We receive a small commission if you purchase any products from our affiliate links below. Purchasing from these links costs you nothing extra, but helps support our site. All prices below were accurate at the time of publication. Prices may change during the sale based on availability. Check out our Amazon Storefront for more cruise and travel favorites! 

Apple AirTags

Not only are Apple AirTags really useful for flights, they can come in handy when cruising too.

These small tabs help travelers track their suitcases via Bluetooth.

The AirTag is a small, button-shaped tracking device that can be tracked using Bluetooth right alongside Apple devices in the Find My app.

• Apple AirTags (four-pack) for $62.99 (normally $99; a 36% discount)
• Apple AirTag (individual) for $17.97 (normally $29; a 38% discount)
• Tile by Life360 four-pack for $39.99 (normally $79.99; a 50% discount)

EPICKA Universal Travel Adapter

Of all the products that I've bought to help expand power options in my stateroom, EPICKA's power adaptor is the best one.

It has two USB-A and USB-C outlets, has a power plug, and works with US, EU, and UK power outlets. So it will work in your cabin as well as in hotels around the world.

• EPICKA universal travel adapter for $15.99 (normally $24.99; a 36% discount)

JISULIFE Portable Handheld Fan

Whether you're in the Caribbean, Europe, or Australia, it can get really hot and cooling off is all you can think of.

A portable fan is something you can take around the ship, on deck, or on a shore excursion. Actually, it's doubly useful on a shore excursion.

• JISULIFE Portable Handheld Fan, for $13.67 (normally $17.99, a 24% discount)

Gin-Gins anti-nausea ginger chews

There are a lot of anti-nausea treatments, and one that has gotten a lot of good reviews are these Gin-Gins.

Seasickness can affect even the most well-seasoned cruiser, including myself. It's not fun and it can ruin your day.

• Gin-Gins anti-nausea ginger chews 1-pound bag, $12.38 (normally $15.49)

30-piece magnetic hooks

One of the best cabin hacks out there has been to bring magnetic hooks because of how versatile they can be.

Because there isn't as much storage space as families might need in their cabin, magnetic storage hooks help a lot. You can hang hats, swim suits, towels, and plenty of other clothes.

• 30-piece magnetic hooks, $8.48 (normally $9.98, a 15% discount)

Magnetic multi-angle phone tripod stand

Thanks to Royal Caribbean's high speed internet, I've seen more people than ever streaming from their device while on a cruise.

Having a way to prop up your phone makes it easier, plus you can use it while traveling in an airplane too.

This particular one uses the MagSafe to attach your phone so it snaps on easily

• Magnetic multi-angle phone tripod stand, $31.99 (normally $39.99, a 20% discount)

NISHEL Travel Toiletry Bag

The ladies on my team bring a good travel toiletry bag to make it simple to pack everything up, unpack, and then get back again.

It's perfect for skincare, makeup, and cosmetics nearly stored without cluttering the (very small) bathroom vanity.

• NISHEL Travel Toiletry Bag, $14.32 (normally $17.99, a 20% discount)

Wireless Charger 3 in 1

A wireless charging station eliminates the need to bring multiple cords for different devices, such as your phone, smart watch, and wireless headphones. 

With it, you can charge all of your devices at once.

• Wireless Charger 3 in 1, $17.98 (normally $29.99, a 40% discount)

Hydro Flask Water Bottle

Aside from magnets, a high quality reusable water bottle is probably the top thing I see cruisers bring aboard.

Hydro Flask has a great line of bottles that make it easy to keep water cool and plentiful.

• Hydro Flask Water Bottle, $33.71 (normally $44.95, a 25% discount)

Happy Sunday and Happy Thanksgiving weekend! I hope you enjoyed a wonderful holiday with family and friends! There is a lot of Royal Caribbean news to share this week.

In less than a month, Royal Beach Club Paradise Island opens and it's almost ready!

New photos from the cruise line show off the tremendous progress that's been made, including the new pools, cabanas, and more.

While not totally complete yet, these new on-the-ground photos show off what looks to be a beautiful spot to enjoy the day.

Royal Caribbean News

• Royal Caribbean is getting rid of the paper bill at the end of the cruise
• How far in advance can you book a Royal Caribbean cruise?
• We celebrated Thanksgiving on Star of the Seas. It was the perfect family trip
• These are the 6 things I see travelers worry too much about
• I sailed on Freedom of the Seas cruise ship and saw why it's so popular for budget vacations\

New Video: My cruise ship went to Carnival's private port

Have you subscribed to the Royal Caribbean Blog YouTube Channel? We share some great videos there regularly, all about taking a Royal Caribbean cruise! This week, we are sharing our latest video—My cruise ship went to Carnival's private port—and don’t forget to subscribe here.

The best Royal Caribbean Black Friday deals are live

Black Friday sales continue through this weekend, and it might the best time for a new discount.

While the preview sales began weeks ago, some of the offers have gotten better with the arrival of the actual Black Friday holiday.

There's more instant savings on a new cruise, as well as potentially lower prices on cruise add-ons too.

Fly in same day? Why it's a mistake to fly the same day as your cruise

If you have to fly for your cruise, never make the cardinal mistake of flying the same day as your cruise begins.

Putting your entire vacation at risk is not worth the hotel room and ancillary costs you might be able to skip by travelling the same day.

There are simply too many variables to contend with, and little wiggle room if things go sideways.

7 reasons to would avoid downsizing your cruise cabin

Real talk: saving money by moving to a cheaper cabin might be full of regret later.

Saving money by getting a downgrade is an option, but often the ramifications of that choice become apparent too late, and that could lead to problems.

Not only is a cheaper stateroom going to cost less, but it might compromise in other areas you didn't consider.

I believed these 5 misconceptions about cruising in Europe. Years later, I know I was wrong

After taking a few cruises in Europe, I realized I avoided going for silly reasons.

I believed some rather common assumptions about cruising in Europe, but I wish I had come to my senses earlier.

I think a lot of people put off a European cruise out of unsubstantiated concerns and regret it later.

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 585th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available at all our links.

Matt interviewed architects from Wilson Butler Architects, who have helped design Royal Caribbean ships for decades.

Please feel free to subscribe via YouTube, iTunes or RSS, and head over to rate and review the podcast on iTunes if you can! We’d appreciate it.

Before I took my first cruise to Europe, I hesitated to visit for many years out of unwarranted fears.

I started cruising in the Caribbean and it suited me just fine.  I loved going to tropical destinations, and there's no doubt the convenience of living close enough to many ports within the United States was a crutch I leaned on often.

But as readers implored me to try a European cruise and my staff loved those trips, the temptation grew and I eventually gave it a try.

Not only did I love it and ended up going back a few times, but I realized my trepidation was rooted in misconceptions about these voyages.

I thought there would be no avoiding jetlag

The flight time to Europe was probably my first reason to skip a European cruise, but I also had these images I'd be so jetlagged that it would be miserable for most of the trip.

I've taken three cruises in Europe so far, and while jetlag is an issue, it's not as bad as I believed. That's largely because I took certain steps to minimize the effects.

Direct flights that reduced the amount of time in the air (and airport) helped to limit my travel time.  But managing my sleep schedule was the best thing I did.

Travel experts recommend regardless of how well you sleep on an airplane or not, to acclimate to local time as soon as possible. More importantly, avoiding the temptation to nap once arriving in Europe until it's bed time.

It wasn't easy to stay awake in some cases for that long, but there's no doubt I avoided jetlag with this strategy.

Plus, I was able to get on my ship and start enjoying it on day one.

I was ready to exchange a lot of cash for Euros before the trip

The week before my first European cruise I had a list of things to do, and I thought exchanging cash should be there.

When I casually mentioned it to my video editor, she thought I was crazy because cash was unnecessary, especially in Northern Europe.

The reality is every retailer, restaurant, street vendor, and bar takes tap to pay anywhere I went. 

Not only does using a credit card with zero foreign transaction fees mean you don't have to waste time exchanging currency, but you'll likely get a better exchange rate too.

Plus, there's no leftover Euros to come home with (or lose more value when you re-convert back to dollars).

Is there a scenario where having Euros might be helpful? I suppose, but I haven't encountered it yet across three trips.

We worried the kids wouldn't appreciate it

I might have considered taking a cruise to Europe earlier, but my wife and I thought spending the money was a mistake when the kids weren't old enough.

This is flawed logic for two reasons.

First, positive experiences reinforce good travel habits and foster family bonding.  Whether it's in London or Cozumel, spending time together is still better than not at all.

Travel has generally been a great tool for exposing my children to different cultures, foods, and ways other people live.  It helps them understand how the world works and prepare them for unexpected challenges.

The second reason was kids may never fully appreciate travel (or anything), but that's not a reason to not take them too.

My kids had a great time going to the places around the continent. Do they remember historical facts from each spot and can they rattle off the significance of buildings we saw? No, but then again, neither can most of the adults I went with either.

We had a great time exploring together, and I'm glad my kids got to see it too.

I expected long and expensive shore excursions

I had this image in my head of standing in a large group walking slowly around a city listening to a tour guide and it contributed to holding off on going to Europe.

I have a disdain for large group tours to begin with because of the slow pace, but I thought it would be worse in Europe.

The reality is it's so easy to tour on your own that I did very few group tours at all.  Even the ones I took, could have been avoided if I really wanted.

Because so many ports have your ship docked right in the city and there are public transportation options abound, it's easy to get around on your own.

Not only does this allow you to circumvent group tours, but it also limits costs as self-exploration is certainly cheaper.

I thought a language barrier would make things difficult

I didn't think English would be so prevalent everywhere I went.

More people spoke English an I expected, making it so much easier to walk around towns and cities without worrying about limiting my touring.

I do, however, think it's important to know a few words in the local language for basic pleasantries.  Knowing how to say "hello", "thank you", and "bye" makes a difference to locals to not have them treat you as entitled Americans. 

My family has been taking cruises ever since my kids were old enough to sail, and spending a holiday like Thanksgiving at sea was surprisingly satisfying.

I think most people associate major holidays that center around family being celebrated at home, but I've found real advantages to going on a cruise instead.

We picked a 7-night cruise on Royal Caribbean's newest cruise ship, Star of the Seas, to spend Thanksgiving and enjoy not only the holiday but getting away from it all.

Since this is a holiday sailing, a lot of other people have the same idea.  The ship has a maximum capacity of 7,600 people, along with 2, 350 crew members.  That means there can be as many as 10,000 people onboard the ship.

While that sounds daunting, the truth is this ship has been engineered to a point you'd never know that many other people are onboard with you. And it made for a Thanksgiving vacation that perfectly suited our needs.

The ship has so much to do, including a touch of holiday spirit

You won't confuse Star of the Seas for spending Thanksgiving at grandma's house, but that's not a bad thing either.

This is the biggest cruise ship in the world, and that means it's packed with so much to do.  In fact, this is why I love to cruise because of how much there is to do.

Our cruise departed on the Sunday before Thanksgiving, and for the actual holiday, our ship was docked in Roatan, Honduras for the day.

It's a little surreal when you're on a cruise ship for a holiday because you might forget what day it is.  Rest assured there are plenty of reminders.

Royal Caribbean decorated the ship with Thanksgiving messaging and colors.  It's nothing over the top, but a nice touch.

Plus, there are special Thanksgiving events aboard:

• Thanksgiving wordsearch
• Thanksgiving trivia
• Thanksgiving scavenger hunt
• Thanksgiving Scattergories game

Of course, there's plenty of the usual cruise ship activities too.  Royal Caribbean's activities staff will add some holiday fun to the mix, but you can easily fall back on what you'd expect on any other cruise. 

There's a special Thanksgiving menu for the traditionalists

Even though spending Thanksgiving on a cruise ship is anything but traditional, you don't have to forgo the basics.

Royal Caribbean ships still serve a full Thanksgiving dinner in the Main Dining Room (or Windjammer buffet), where you can get all the classic foods.

The main offering is a turkey dinner, complete with mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce, and and vegetables.

Plus, there's pumpkin and pecan pie to choose from.

I can't say it will be the best turkey dinner you've ever had, but it's undeniably a turkey dinner you did not have to prep, cook, or clean up after.

You can still watch all the football

A lot of people associate watching football games as much with the holiday as they do the food.

The major NFL football games are available to watch on the ship, and you can see it both in your stateroom as well as at various bars.

If you want the big game energy, Playmakers Sports Bar has the game on so many screens surrounding the bar that you can't miss it.

Plus, there's beers, bar snacks, and lots of people cheering along with trying to figure out why the Lions and Cowboys always play on Thanksgiving.

Spending thanksgiving in a pool is the best

But the best thing about a Thanksgiving cruise aren't all the things you can do at home on a ship. Rather, it's what else you can do!

The fact you can enjoy a warm Caribbean cruise means time in a bathing suit at the pool.  Or on shore at a beach.  For a lot of people that travel from colder weather back home, this is a real treat.

Even in late November, it's still plenty warm for outdoor activities.  High temperatures each day were easily in the low to mid 80s.

Not to mention Star of the Seas is packed with lots of activities onboard to try, including a brand new Price is Right show where you could win cash prizes or even a new car.

I think the real appeal of cruising over a major holiday is you get to combine the holiday traditions with the best things about taking a cruise.

It's officially Black Friday and that means Royal Caribbean's deepest discount of the season.

Like retailers, Royal Caribbean rolled out early Black Friday sales a few weeks ago. But today, the official sale for the shopping holiday is out and it's a good opportunity to see if there's a better price.

Plus, the amount of instant savings off a new cruise is the best it's been the entire month.

If you've been waiting, here's a look at what Royal Caribbean has on sale now.

What's new with the Black Friday sale

Royal Caribbean is offering up to $1,000 off new sailings booked this weekend.

Cruises booked between November 27, 2025 – November 30, 2025 can qualify for instant savings depending on how long your cruise is and which stateroom category you choose:

5 nights or less

• $125 USD for Inside and Ocean View
• $200 USD for Balconies
• $400 USD for Suites

6 nights or longer

• $225 USD for Interior and Ocean View
• $300 USD for Balconies
• $1000 USD for Suites

The instant savings for Black Friday are combinable with their Kids Sail Free, Free 3rd & 4ths, and BOGO60 offer that has been running during November.

My favorite Royal Caribbean deals right now

Royal Beach Club passes: One of the deepest discounts I've seen this year is a great price on the new beach club opening.

Royal Beach Club Paradise Island will open in a few weeks and prices are at the lowest so far.

Think of this like a special shore excursion available exclusively to Royal Caribbean passengers (as opposed to an included visit similar to Perfect Day at CocoCay).

Prices for an adult admission that includes alcohol is between $129 - $149 per person. Prior to the sale, prices were closer to $200 - $250 each.

Book a new cruise: The extra savings Royal Caribbean is offering during the actual Black Friday holiday, I think now is the right time to look at cruises for the coming years.

Getting up to $1,000 off your cruise in a single sale is not common, so while you have your family over for Thanksgiving, it might be the time to look for the right sailing.

Don't forget, Royal Caribbean just added new Texas cruises on Icon of the Seas, Alaska cruises and European cruises in 2027-2028, along with more Caribbean cruises.

All-In Package: A limited time offer for just Black Friday is an All-In Bundle, and it's a great combo offer.

Basically, you get the most commonly purchased add-ons in one: drink package, WiFi, dining package, and even access to the new Royal Beach Club.

The pricing for the All-In package without the Day Pass is $119.99 per person.

It's worth pricing out the individual components of the package to see if you could save more buying them separately, but for a lot of people the bundle is a better deal. For my sailing, it was $139 less expensive to book the bundle than all separately.

If you cannot drive to your cruise port, you might be struggling with trying to decide when to fly in for your cruise. 

It's tempting to fly the same day as your cruise departure in order to save money and vacation days, but the risk of being delayed or cancelled means you could put your entire cruise vacation in jeopardy.

In all my years of going on Royal Caribbean cruises, one observation I've made is people that miss their cruise because of a travel delay is a very avoidable problem.

There always seem to be at least one person on every sailing that posts on social media that they missed their cruise because they tried to fly in the same day as the cruise departure.

Here are the top reasons not to fly the same as your cruise departs and when to fly in instead for a cruise.

Always fly in at least one day ahead of time (more for overseas)

In deciding when to fly in for your cruise, you should always arrive at least one day before the morning of departure.

Flying the same day as your cruise departure has too many risks. If you miss the cruise ship, Royal Caribbean will not refund your money, regardless of the reason.

Sure, travel insurance might cover it if it's a travel delay, but that won't make up for the vacation you planned.

I recommend always planning to arrive at least one day early before the cruise sets sail. This provides a buffer so that if your flight is cancelled or delayed, you have more time to still get to the embarkation port.

This is especially important if you're flying from a smaller airport that does not have many flights each day.

If you are flying overseas, such as to Europe, then I would recommend expanding that to at least 2-3 days before the cruise begins.

Not only are there less of these flights should it be cancelled, but you will need time to adjust your body clock to the local time and fight jetlag.

Simply put, the risks of flying in on the day of in order to save money are just not worth it. Here's why to fly in for your cruise early instead.

Weather is so unpredictable

You do not need to be a travel expert to know airlines will delay and cancel flights all the time because of bad weather.

Storms will throw off the entire flight schedules for days, especially if they are tropical storms or major winter storms. In fact, I think blizzards, snow storms, and ice storms are more likely to cause your flight to be changed than a hurricane.

Airlines don't play games with bad weather. When they see something coming, they'll cancel a flight quickly so that they can keep their aircraft out of its path.

But even if the bad weather is not as damaging in nature, a few hour delay could be the difference between you making the flight or not.  

Not only do you need good weather at your home airport, but it needs to be clear where you're flying into.  Florida is notorious for pop-up thunderstorms in the summer, which will shut airports down for hours.

Less stress

The last thing you want to do is start off your well-deserved vacation with added stress of will you make it on time.

Flying the same day as your cruise, even when everything is on time, is still a big guessing game until you actually land.

Call me crazy, but I don't want that kind of mental anguish before any of the fun begins.

You get more time to enjoy the cruise on embarkation day

If you fly the same day of your cruise, that will delay when you can actually get to the cruise terminal and step aboard.

I always want to be at the cruise terminal as early as possible so I can board sooner rather than later. Remember, the cost of your cruise doesn't change if you board at 11am or 2pm.

Having a few extra hours on embarkation day can make a big difference in enjoying the trip.  Plus, those first few hours on the first day are the best time to get a lot of things done and take advantage of smaller crowds on the pool deck.  Kids will really appreciate the shorter lines for water slides.

Getting aboard earlier also means less lines at the buffet.  As the afternoon goes on, the Windjammer gets very crowded.

I'm usually so excited for my cruise to begin that I want to get on the ship as early as I can and start enjoying what I paid for!

You can expand your vacation

An added bonus of not flying the same day your cruise begins is you can explore the port you're sailing from.

Royal Caribbean sails from major cities, and that means historical sites, tourist attractions, beautiful beaches, and plenty more to see and do.

You might combine your cruise with a land vacation too, such as a trip to Walt Disney World, New York City, or London.

I find tacking on a land trip to my cruise not only ensures I make the cruise, but I get to experience lots more in the countries and cities I'm traveling to.

In some cases, these are once-in-a-lifetime destinations that you'll want a few days to enjoy.  And if it's a place I've been before, there's always new restaurants or spots to check out since my last visit.