The top two reasons people book a Royal Caribbean cruise are the food and destinations, and I can see why the food is such a draw.

I've been cruising on Royal Caribbean for two decades and I've been on almost 100 sailings so far, which means I've sampled quite a lot of food along the way.

If you think cruise food is limited to buffet trays of mediocre food, you'd be so wrong. Royal Caribbean has been upping its food game for years, even focusing massive effort to upgrade its complimentary pizza.

I've always thought Royal Caribbean's food ranges between "good" and "very good", with a few dishes truly standing out as excellent. I wanted to highlight those terrific dishes so you don't miss out on them.

I came up with 7 foods I've eaten on Royal Caribbean I think everyone should order, including one from its private island in The Bahamas.

Gyros at AquaDome Market

I came up with this list as I cruised on Icon of the Seas and went back to the AquaDome for my upteenth Mediterranean sandwich.

The AquaDome Market is a new food hall concept, and it's been a home run since the new ship launched last year.

I bet a lot of people would point to the crepes as a must-order, but I love the falafel even more.

Available at the Feta stand, it's complimentary and you can customize it anyway you like it.

It's probably easier to eat as a bowl than a sandwich because Royal Caribbean's pita bread is more like a base than a pocket. But I still order the sandwich because I like the texture of the bread brings.

It's light, made fresh on the spot, and doesn't make me feel guilty about eating it.

Beef tenderloin at 150 Central Park

Ever since I tried 150 Central Park many years ago, I've been drawn to its beef tenderloin entree.

150 Central Park is a modern American restaurant that's available only on the Oasis Class ships in the fleet. You'll find a lobster dish, steak, chicken, fish, and more. It has a cover charge to dine here.

I think it's a very strong menu overall, but the must-try option here is the beef tenderloin for two people.

You can order it for yourself, or even cut down the portion for a single person. There's no judgement when you order it from the waiter.

I prefer the steak at 150 Central Park over other restaurants that have a filet mignon, such as Chops Grille or Giovanni's.  I think its flavor stands out just a bit more.

French onion soup from Main Dining Room

I'm going on a limb to say the French onion soup served multiple times a cruise in any Royal Caribbean Main Dining Room is the best version of the soup I've ever had.

There's something about Royal Caribbean's version and their ratio of bread, to cheese, to onions.  Plus, I think their broth is the right amount of salt and flavor to it.

You can also get the same soup at Coastal Kitchen, and I've been known to go up to Coastal Kitchen to get a to-go soup before they close up for the night.

It's the very definition of a comfort food and it always satisfies. I could eat just the broth everyday, it's that good.

Seven cheese pizza from Giovanni's

I can't name seven cheeses, but Royal Caribbean put them in its pizza at its signature Italian specialty restaurant and it's so good.

I shouldn't be surprised how good it is, given the pizza is the creation of the amazing pizza chef Renato Viola. I was hooked the first time I tried it on Odyssey of the Seas, and it's been a must-order ever since.

All Royal Caribbean ships have pizza at Sorrento's or Park Cafe, but the quality of the pizza at Giovanni's Italian Kitchen is about five levels ahead of that.

It has a thin crust, light sauce, and the perfect amount of cheese. The slices are so thin, it's easy to eat half the pizza by yourself.

When Royal Caribbean was working on crafting the menu for this restaurant, they spent weeks agonizing over the menu.  As an example, they tried to pick out the perfect San Marzano sauce.  The sauce has no added sugar, and relies on a simple recipe of San Marzano tomatoes, water and herbs.

There are a few other pizzas on the menu as well, and each has its place. I've tried almost all of them at this point, but the seven cheese pizza stands out as my favorite.

Miso broiled cod from Izumi Omakase

Available exclusively on Utopia of the Seas, there's a chef driven Japanese meal you can try and it goes well beyond sushi.

The miso broiled cod was my favorite of the eight courses we were served, and that surprised me given how much I love sushi.

In the roku course is when you get a petite serving of this fish, and it blew me away with how flavorful it was.

This was an extremely tender piece of fish that had a miso glaze on it, and it was my favorite flavor of the evening.

It was the kind of food that I wanted the recipe for so I could make it at home because I didn't want to go months before having it again.

While I also really liked the wagyu beef and the sakura carpaccio, none were as impressive as the cod.

Fried cheesecake from 150 Central Park

I'm going back to 150 Central Park for dessert, because they might have the best dessert on any Royal Caribbean restaurant.

The fried cheesecake is exactly what it sounds like, a piece of cheesecake fried and served to you. You'll get two of these fried balls served to you, but you won't want to share it.

Each one is a rich, creamy cheesecake covered with a crunchy, powdered sugar-coated shell and doused with fresh whipped cream and caramel sauce.

There's an argument that anything fried is going to taste pretty good, I think these are next level tasty.

Mozzarella sticks from the Snack Shack

If your ship makes a stop at Perfect Day at CocoCay, you need to make a trip to the Snack Shack to try the mozzarella sticks.

Similar to other items on the list, the recipe for this specific version of the food truly stands out.  Royal Caribbean serves mozzarella sticks on its ships, but they don't compare to the CocoCay one at all.

I think it's the breading that makes them so very good. And then when you dip them in the marinara sauce, it always delivers on being the ultimate comfort food.

There's no shortage of beach shore excursions on a Caribbean cruise, but an opportunity to spend it a beachside villa sounded remarkably fun.

While sailing on Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas, our ship spent the day in Roatan, Honduras. 

Through the cruise line, there are a variety of tours that will take you to Turquoise Bay Dive & Beach Resort.  It is rated 4.6 stars on Google, and is situated along a white sand stretch of sand.  Looked to me like a great option for a beach day.

Truly the thing that sold me on this tour was the fact we'd get our own villa. I've done beach cabanas, but never a true villa and it sounded like a fun way to spend the day.  I value having space, shade, and good service to go with it.

The cost was $1,258.99 and it includes up to six people.  The cost is fixed, so it doesn't matter how many people you have with you. That cost also includes food, drink, and transportation.

My concern about this tour was like any cruise line beach excursion that we'd go to an oversold and super busy beach that didn't deliver on the relaxing vibe advertised.

Royal Caribbean provided roundtrip transportation, taking us to the beach. It's about a 40 minute ride, but the large van we were in was very well air conditioned.

Upon arrival, we were escorted to our villa at the far end of the beach.

Turquoise Bay has many of these villas, which are set back from the ocean and face the water.  It provides the right mix of views and privacy.

There are also over the water bungalows, beach beds, and a few other upgraded options you could book.  Ultimately I chose the villa because it seemed like there was the most space.

Each villa has sliding doors (both screen and glass) that lead into the main room. 

There's two couches, a television, mini-fridge, and even your own private bathroom. There's no air conditioning, but it does have a ceiling fan.

Outside the villa is a dining table and chairs.  There's also a few beach loungers in front of the villa.

There's a dedicated server that will get you food and drink delivered to your villa.

I thought the drink menu was varied enough to suit most needs. It covers the basics you need for day drinking at the beach, along with plenty of non-alcoholic beverages too.

The lunch menu is small, but it has lobster, steak, and shrimp.  

I wish it had a bit more variety of food, especially more non-shellfish choices.  But we found enough to be able to eat, and my kids are pretty darn picky.

Our server was attentive and brought us a fruit platter upon arrival, and kept checking on us.  She even had churros for dessert brought as a surprise.

The great thing about this room was how much space there was, along with privacy.  You could really seclude yourself from the rest of the beach crowd.

The walk to the ocean was a mere few steps, making it easy to get back and forth.

As for the beach itself, it was a beautiful set up and any concerns I had of it being crowded was quickly forgotten.

The beach is quite large, and they spread people around quite nicely.  We had just a few people in the ocean near us, so there was no issue with overcrowding.

I was equally satisfied with the level of service. I never felt like I "lost" my server, and they checked in quite regularly.

Of course, this was not a cheap shore excursion.  Paying $1200 for a villa rental is not inexpensive, but I really felt like it was worth the cost given the quality of the space, and service provided.

The reason to book this villa is if you have a group and want premium seating with lots of privacy and service to go with it.

Without a doubt you can have a great time at Turquoise Bay with just beach chairs and beer in hand, but everyone has different tastes.

Given the villa has sliding glass doors and is totally enclosed, I wish they'd add air conditioning to the units. I think that would really elevate the experience and justify the cost even more.

Anyone looking for a beautiful beach to enjoy in Roatan will enjoy Turquoise Bay, and if you want a VIP type day, the premium villa is a great choice.

Royal Caribbean is making so much good progress on its next new cruise ship, that it's once again bumping up the first sailing.

Star of the Seas will debut in August 2025, but will now have her first sailing August 20.

"We have an updated timeline for the arrival of Star of the Seas at Port Canaveral," Royal Caribbean said in an email to guests booked on the first sailings. "Building such a large and incredible ship is no easy feat, but lucky for us, there are times when we get to embark on our new ship ahead of schedule, and that time is now!"

The plan was for Star of the Seas to debut with a pair of 4-night "showcase cruises" before the official maiden 7-night cruise on August 31, 2025.

Those 4-night cruises will still take place, along with an extra showcase 3-Night Perfect Day Cruise on August 20, 2025.

According to Royal Caribbean, the three showcase sailings will take place before the August 31 sailing.

It's been an interesting game of changing first sailings for Star, which pushed back its inaugural voyage in February 2024, but has since moved up the first sailing two times now.

The initial Star of the Seas inaugural was scheduled for August 17th, 2025, and with this new sailing being added, the ship is even closer to getting back to that original timeline.

Anyone that was booked on the showcase sailings received an email on Tuesday to inform them of the new sailing, and to get first dibs on booking rooms on the new cruises.

Choice to change

If you're booked on either of the 4-night showcase sailings, Royal Caribbean is giving you the choice of staying on them, moving to the new 3-night sailing, or going on all of them.,

As you may have booked your Star of the Seas sailing to be first onboard and may have moved to one of our other two showcase sailing options or both, you’ll now have the opportunity to book the new showcase sailing OR to move your existing booking(s) to the first 3-Night Perfect Day Cruise as of today!

You could also do nothing and remain on either August 23rd or August 27th sailing.

If you want to move up your sailing, Royal Caribbean will make it as easy as possible.

Suite guests will have their same suites held for them as a courtesy, first come, first served. Guests in the Interior, Oceanview, and Balcony staterooms will have like-for-like staterooms available to choose from.

Royal Caribbean will transfer your current booking to the new sail date you choose, in the exact same suite or like-for-like stateroom currently booked – at the current prevailing rate.

The cruise fare rate will be adjusted to the current prevailing rate, and if there’s an overpayment on the booking, you’ll be refunded for the difference.

You can expect to receive any refunds, current taxes, fees, and any pre-paid gratuities, tours, and amenities to your original form of payment within 14 business days, though some banking institutions may take longer.

You have until next week to decide

If you want to move reservations, you need to act quickly.

Royal Caribbean is giving everyone about a week and a half to contact the line to make the change. Change requests must be made no later than March 25, 2025.

If you do not make a change by March 25, 2025, anyone booked on the showcase sailings will remain booked on that sailing, and you can still choose to add the new 3-night Star of Seas showcase sailings based on availability.

A brand new Icon Class ship coming this summer

The second in the Icon Class, Star of the Seas is currently under construction at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland and has high expectations to follow-up on the success of Icon of the Seas.

Star will share similar dimensions with Icon of the Seas, coming in at approximately 250,800 gross tons. It is expected to accommodate around 5,610 passengers at double occupancy and up to 7,600 at maximum capacity. When factoring in crew members, the total number of people onboard could reach an impressive 10,000.

Once the showcase sailings are complete. the new ship will offer 7-night Caribbean cruises from its homeport in Port Canaveral. Its strategic placement directly competes with the mega theme park market in nearby Orlando, positioning itself as a top-tier vacation alternative.

Designed as a floating family resort, the ship aims to rival—if not surpass—the experience of a theme park vacation. "Icon will be the best family vacation in the world," said Jay Schneider, Royal Caribbean's Senior Vice President and Chief Product Innovation Officer.

The ship will feature an entire area dedicated to families, a massive water park, thrilling attractions, multiple live shows, and more pools than any previous ship. With an abundance of entertainment and experiences, it's shaping up to redefine family cruising.

Royal Caribbean added many new things it's never had on its cruise ships, including a dueling piano bar.

I'm someone that is very loyal to its English pub because I prefer bar songs that are typical of the '80s and '90s, but it's not exactly a place I can enjoy with my kids.

Children are allowed in any Royal Caribbean bar, but my kids simply don't care for this sort of music.  Plus, depending on the guitarist, it can be very un-interactive.

With Icon of the Seas, Royal Caribbean added a brand new concept that they never had on a ship before with Dueling Pianos.

It's located on the Royal Promenade, and I wanted to give it a few tries to see what it's all about.

How dueling pianos work

The idea is pretty easy to figure out. There are two pianists performing, and each plays off each other.

Unlike the Schooner Bar or pub where you yell out requests, guests fill out small slips of paper with their song request.

The song request has your name, song you're requesting, and any special occasion.

It's a way to let them know any significance of a song or why you're requesting it. It feeds into the schtick of the show.

It's a very interactive show, the each pianist taking turns playing to the bar.  Each side of the bar is divided up into one section for each player, and it's a bit of competition.

Another major difference from other cruise bars is the fact guests get called up a lot.

Someone might be needed to explain a dance, start a conga line, or perform a function like yelling out unofficial lyrics to a song.

Introverts might not love hearing this, but if you sit far enough back, the chances being picked on are quite slim.

Tipping gets your song heard first

Depending on your perspective, the role tips play is either a great idea or not.

The pianists give preference to anyone that tips with their song request. The more you tip, the better chance your song gets played.

Most tips are about $5-10 per request.  If you move up to $20 or more, you're going to get their attention real fast.

A $50 or $100 tip is essentially like a turbo option, where you could literally stop them mid-song with a request. 

The benefit of this system is if you have money to throw around, you can quickly get your songs played. But of course, the "pay to play" system puts other requests towards the back of the queue.

To be fair, the pianists do a great job of balancing paid and free requests. They're not only talented players, but they can read the room quite well.

I love how interactive the shows become

One thing that drew me back to Dueling Pianos was how fun the pianists made the whole show.

On our cruise, we had Sarah Angel and Roel, and they had a great relationship trying to one up each other.

Being a family cruise line, they also welcomed the kids into it all too.

Unofficially, they keep it PG-13 until 11pm.  The jokes are tamer and the music more varied.

After 11, they turn it more adult-focused with "dirty" drink cheersing and songs that might involve profanity.

Like any bar, it's going to be more adult focused than not, but I do appreciate it's inviting to all passengers.

It's really hard to get a seat most shows

If there's proof how popular Dueling Pianos is, it's in the fact seats go very, very quickly.

If you don't show up to the bar at least 30 minutes before the performance begins, you probably aren't getting a seat.

On this cruise, I knew to show up early, but this isn't the bar to walk by and stop in for a couple songs.  

Unlike the pub or Schooner Bar, not only does it make sense to plan around the show times, but it helps to be there at the start of the performance so you get in on the schtick and jokes.

Each show is unique, and the pianists play off the audience's energy.

I've added Dueling Pianos to my must-do list

If I'm sailing on Icon of the Seas (or the upcoming Star of the Seas), there's a good chance I'll be at Dueling Pianos in the evening.

While I still prefer the pub as my go-to spot, Dueling Pianos is a fun experience for groups. I'd love to go here with friends and grab a table for us all to enjoy the show.

There's a good mix of energy, talent, and showmanship that goes into this concept, and I'm glad Royal Caribbean has added it to the mix.

It's going to be easier to skip the crowds with a new shore excursion option from Royal Caribbean.

Royal Caribbean is now offering skip-the-line shore excursions with its Royal Signature Excursion options.

In addition to traditional shore excursions, there are a handful of shore excursions in the Caribbean, Alaska and Europe that come with additional amenities.

These tours could include small group sizes, premium transportation, or elevated food options.

The idea is to not only offer great tours, but add a premium level to them for those that value paying more to enjoy a first class experience.

"From dipping their toes into cliffside hot springs in Santorini to sipping crisp champagne as their catamaran glides through crystal clear Caribbean waters — this is where unforgettable begins," is how Royal Caribbean describes the new offering.

Sights and benefits

In any cruise port a ship visits, there's always a bit of shopping guests do between cruise line excursions and things they can do on their own.

Royal Signature Excursions are a new batch of premium choices that cover three key areas: cultural sights, authentic experiences, and all-star benefits.

These tours seek to immerse you in local culture and are work with third-party operators who know the places, the people, the language and the culture.

The way they intend to make it stand out even more is to offer elite touches such as premium transportation, skip-the-line privileges, insightful local guides, intimate small group sizes, gracious service and more.

You can book these elevated tours now

Here's a list of all the Royal Signature Excursions to try:

Caribbean

• PHILIPSBURG, ST. MAARTEN
  • Orient Beach, Prosecco & Gourmet Lunch
  • Small Group Brewery & Distillery Tasting Tour with Bites
  • St. Maarten Small Group Island Exploration with Lunch
  • Small Group Open Bar Carnival Immersion & Plane Spotting
  • Small Group Johnny Cake Baking Experience & Guavaberry Sips
  • Anguilla and Meads Bay Beach Day: Bubbly & Lunch
  • Catamaran Sail with Champagne Plus Beach Break & Lunch
  • Small Group America’s Cup Sailing Regatta
  • Small Group Foodie Tour: Flavors of St. Maarten
• BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS & NEVIS
  • Taste of St. Kitts: Wine Sampling, Local Treats & Beach
  • St. Kitts: Power Catamaran, Snorkeling & Unlimited Drinks
  • Ultimate Twin Island Catamaran Sail & Sip with Lunch (Nevis & St. Kitts)
• CHARLOTTE AMALIE, ST. THOMAS
  • St. John Beach Escape: Trunk Bay with Snorkeling
  • Ultimate St. John: Kayak & Snorkel
  • St. John by Sea: Catamaran, Champagne & Snorkel
  • Cas Cay Small Group Adventure: Kayak, Hike & Snorkel
  • Flavors of St. Thomas: Small Group Tasting Tour

Alaska

• JUNEAU, ALASKA
  • Small Group Taku Glacier Lodge by Seaplane & 5 Glaciers with Lunch
  • Small Group Mendenhall Glacier Helicopter Ride & Dog Sledding
  • Small Group Helicopter Tour to Juneau Icefield
  • Small Group Kayaking Tour & Alaska Wildlife Whale Watching
  • Small Group Tour of Norris Glacier by Floatplane, Paddle & Hike
  • Small Group Whale Watching on Luxury Yacht
  • Taste of Alaska: Orca Point Lodge, Wildlife Quest & Meal
• ICY STRAIT POINT, ALASKA
  • Epic Whale Watching & Seafood Sampling
  • Ultimate Adventure: Small Group Whale Watching & ZipRider
• SITKA, ALASKA
  • Wildlife & Otter Spotting with Alaskan Canapés
  • Wildlife Expedition Cruise, Homestead Adventure & Treats

Europe

• FLORENCE/PISA (LA SPEZIA), ITALY
  • Truffle Hunting and Tuscan Farmhouse Lunch
  • Architectural Wonder: Pisa Guided Tour & Leaning Tower Climb
  • 3 Town Tour: Paradise Gulf by Land & Sea with Lunch
  • History of Florence: Accademia Gallery, Piazza del Duomo & Lunch
  • Explore Cinque Terre: Three Villages & Italian Lunch
  • Cinque Terre Vineyard: Wine Tasting & Scenic Coastline Drive
  • Small Group Adventure: Cinque Terre Villages & Motorboat Tour with Lunch
  • Gulf of La Spezia by Land & Sea: Portovenere and Lerici Small Group
• NAPLES, ITALY
  • Small Group Pasta Making: Sorrento & Gragnano with Lunch
  • Small Group Day Trip to Pompeii, Positano & Sorrento with Lunch
• ROME (CIVITAVECCHIA), ITALY
  • Rome by Tuk Tuk: Small Group Sightseeing Tour
• MYKONOS, GREECE
  • Farmhouse Wine Tasting & Mykonos Walking Tour
  • Day in Delos: Small Group Tour & Mosaic Workshop with Lunch
  • Small Group Mosaic-Making: Expert Handcrafting Workshop
  • Small Group: Luxe Catamaran Day Trip, Greek Lunch & Aegean Swim
• SANTORINI, GREECE
  • Santorini Catamaran & Swim: Small Group Tour & Lunch
  • Santorini Catamaran & Swim: Red Beach and Hot Springs with Lunch
  • Santorini Small Group Kayaking & Seaside Picnic
  • Thirassia Winery Tasting & Blue-Domed Santorini
  • Unforgettable Wine Tour: Stunning Santorini Views, Tasting & Fira
  • Chill & Savor: Perivolos Beach & Gourmet Lunch

How much do these tours cost?

If all of this sounds wonderful, you can expect premium pricing to go with it.

An upcoming sailing on Oasis of the Seas that visits St. Maarten in October had these prices.  This is to give you an example of ballpark prices:

• Small Group Foodie Tour: Flavors of St. Maarten: $148 (originally $199) per guest
• Small Group America's Cup Sailing Regatta: $103.99 (originally $139) per guest
• Catamaran Sail With Champagne plus Beach Break & Lunch: $125.99 (originally $169) per guest
• Anguilla and Meads Bay Beach Day: Bubbly & Lunch: $433.99 (originally $579) per guest
• St. Maarten Small Group Island Exploration with Lunch: $193.99 (originally $259) per guest
• Small Group Brewery & Distillery Tasting Tour with Bites: $148.99 (originally $199) per guest
• Small Group Open Bar Carnival Immersion & Plane Spotting: $73.99 (originally $99) per guest
• Small Group Johnny Cake Baking Experience & Guavaberry Sips: $95.99 (originally $129) per guest

The discounted prices is a reflection of a pre-cruise sale available at the time of this article's publishing.  It's likely the original price is the onboard price you could expect.

The tours do not list exactly how many people constitute a small group.

How to book a Royal Signature Excursion

You can book any of these tours from the Royal Caribbean Cruise Planner website or the Royal Caribbean app.

There's no difference in booking these tours compared to any other one, with the added filter you can use to find them.

This was a busy week with Royal Caribbean news, and we have a summary of all of the news from this week to make certain you did not miss any of it.

After nearly failing a health inspection, Royal Caribbean made a lot of changes on one of its ships.

Symphony of the Seas scored one point above "unsatisfactory" in a recent CDC inspection, which has raised a few eyebrows.

As a result, sweeping changes were made to address the problems.

Royal Caribbean News

• Alaska Senator pushing to suspend law requiring cruise ships visit Canada
• Royal Caribbean is bringing back a luggage perk its customers loved
• 7 changes to make how you cruise once you hit Diamond status
• 8 tips I swear by to make crowded sea days better
• 5 things you're missing from Royal Caribbean's suite lounge
• How different cabins on Utopia of the Seas compare
• The rules for adding people to your Royal Caribbean cruise
• Try these 9 tricks for better sleep on a cruise ship

New RCB Video: 3 Cruise Excursions to NEVER Book & 3 to BOOK!

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 — 3 Cruise Excursions to NEVER Book & 3 to BOOK! — and don’t forget to subscribe to our channel.

I tried the adults-only beach at CocoCay, but it wasn't worth the cost

Allie bought passes to Hideaway Beach, paying $86.50 each her and her husband to try it out.

While the area was uncrowded, she thought the price was too high for what she was charged.

If timed during a good sale, it could be a great value.  But she thinks it cost her too much.

New ban in Caribbean port is surprising a lot of cruise passengers

Roatan made a new rule the prohibits a popular shore excursion activity.

New regulations have been added to cut down on the “over manipulation of wildlife," including, "carrying and holding animals for exhibition and taking photographs."

This has an impact on shore excursions where guests can interact with monkeys, sloths, and other animals.

The entree worth ordering, according to Reddit

There's all sorts of great food on any Royal Caribbean ship, but the internet thinks one particular dish is the best choice.

Indian food is available at both the Main Dining Room and Windjammer buffet everyday, and it's the top recommendation among various Reddit threads about which foods are best to order.

"The Indian food on the ship was their best food they had!"

Royal Caribbean tries to fix port problem with free bus offer

Traffic has become a real problem in Miami at its cruise terminals, so Royal Caribbean is trying to fix it.

Passengers on upcoming cruises are getting offers from the cruise line for a free bus ride to the airport, even if they already paid for one.

Heavier traffic around the cruise terminal is prompting Royal Caribbean to offer this in an effort to reduce congestion.

Getting to Diamond level in Royal Caribbean's loyalty program literally changed how I enjoy my cruises.

I think Royal Caribbean's Crown & Anchor Society is the best cruise line loyalty program in the industry because of how lucrative it is, especially at the upper tiers.

I made it to Diamond status many years ago, and have since reached Pinnacle Club. The higher the tier, the better the benefits and it's encouraged me to cruise even more.

You don't need to get to Pinnacle to enjoy the best benefits, because Diamond level is the sweet spot for the perks available to guests.

Diamond level requires 80 points, which is about 12 weeklong cruises in a standard cabin. You could get to Diamond faster if you book a suite or cruise solo.

Once you get there, here's what I'd change about cruising to maximize the benefits.

You can possibly skip the drink package

It's incredible that Royal Caribbean gives all of its Diamond members four free drink vouchers per day to use on pretty much any drink.

For a lot of people, this is just enough beverages to warrant not buying a costly drink package.

If you're a casual drinker, or someone that doesn't buy that many alcoholic beverages, relying on your Diamond drinks could be a much better value.

Kids get them too, and it's the reason I've never bought my kids a drink package ever.

While I get six free drinks for being a Pinnacle Club member, I do occasionally still buy the drink package when I can take advantage of a good sale.

Ironically, your Diamond status can actually get you some of the lowest prices on a drink package with some of the recent sales I've seen offered before the cruise begins.

Nonetheless, the Diamond vouchers have saved me a lot of money over the years, and it's easily the top benefit.

Take a free photo souvenir every cruise

Souvenir photos are a great way to capture a memory from a particular trip, and I like getting at least one to have for home.

Because we cruise a lot, we don't take that many onboard photos, but it's still nice to get them on formal night or when there's a good backdrop available.

This is especially important with our kids, as cruises have become milestones in them growing up. Each cruise is kind of like a way to remember a special age or occasion.

Plus, your spouse or partner gets one too, so effectively we get two photos per cruise to take for free.

Strategically use free internet day

Diamond members get one free 24 hour pass of internet access, so you can use that to your advantage.

Never use it on the first day, because by the time your ship leaves port, you still have cellular coverage for most of the day.

Ideally, try to stagger your free day so it's used on a day when you can get the most use of it.  Sea days seem to be the best idea, because I'd hate to be off the ship on a shore excursion when I have internet access.

Just like the photos, your spouse gets a free day too.  Same for kids.  So spreading it out and sharing the login is a good strategy.

Gamble away free money

Whether you're a gambler or not, everyone likes free money.

Diamond members get a few extra dollars to gamble with their freeplay onboard.

Everyone gets a few dollars of free play to use in Royal Caribbean's casino on the first two nights of the cruise. It's enough for just a few spins on a slot machine, but it's true when they say, "you can't win if you don't play".

You never know - you could turn that $6 into hundreds!

Hang out more in the Crown Lounge

Every Royal Caribbean ship has dedicated space just for you, and I'd start going there instead of public lounges.

The Crown Lounge is open to Diamond, Diamond Plus, and Pinnacle Club members. It's open 24 hours a day, with snacks and drink service during certain times.

Most of the day, it's quite empty and it's the perfect place to read, play cards, socialize with friends, or meet cruisers.

There's also a complimentary coffee machine in here that you can use 24 hours a day, and it's a good way to save your Diamond drink vouchers for something else instead of coffee.

Plan cruises around blocks

Some Diamond cruisers will plan out their future sailings in order to time it with a crystal block giveaway.

Once you reach 140 points, you will receive a beautiful crystal block that has the name and photo of your ship.  You will then receive one every 70 points thereafter. 

They are lovely keepsakes, and I use them around the house as bookends, paperweights, and conversation pieces.

It's a good idea to think about your bookings and "do the math" as to when you'll reach every 70 point tier in order to avoid getting the same ship again.

You can now start to cruise with Celebrity

Ironically, reaching Diamond is the perfect time to start cruising with another cruise line.

Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises are sister brands, and thanks to loyalty status matching, this is the right time to dip your toe into this line.

I think Diamond status coincides well with the equivalent status in Captain's Club, and it's a good opportunity to give Celebrity a try.

I've done a few cruises on Celebrity so far, and it's opened up different options and ways to sail.  While I prefer Royal Caribbean, I can appreciate the things Celebrity does better.

Royal Caribbean's suite lounge is a reserved area of the ship exclusively for passengers that booked a suite, and it's one of the best perks you get with your stateroom.

I love to spend time in the suite lounge to take advantage of the comfortable seating, snacks throughout the day, and complimentary drinks each day.

Access to the suite lounge is only for those that booked a Grand Suite or higher cabin, as well as Pinnacle Club members on sailings where there are not too many Pinnacle members.

With so much happening on your Royal Caribbean ship, it's easy to overlook the suite lounge, especially given it's usually located away from many of the activities and things happening around the ship.

If you happen to be in a suite that has access to the suite lounge, there are five good reasons to stop in each day.

There are three servings of snacks per day

You won't run out of food on a cruise ship, and there's even more waiting for you in the lounge.

Each day there's an assortment of quick bits offered during select hours.  Essentially, there's a breakfast, lunch, and dinner offering.

You won't get a meal, but it's usually something quick and easy for something to tide you over.  It's great for when you get back on the ship or are about to leave and need something quick.

I think the evening hor d'oeuvres are the best option, with various hot items along with fruits, salad, and desserts.

In the morning, there's a few pastries to choose from.  If your cabin is nearby, it might be easier to pop in for something here than going down to Cafe Promenade.

The coffee machine

Speaking of food, I love the complimentary coffee machine they have in the suite lounge.

Each suite lounge has a self-service coffee and espresso maker that you can use 24 hours per day.

Just like the snacks, it's so convenient to have this. Plus, it might save you money as you won't have to pay for an espresso at one of the coffee shops around the ship.

And because it's available 24 hours, you're never too early or too late to get a cup.

The suite concierge offers personalized assistance

Probably my favorite benefit of the suite lounge is the suite concierge, and so few people take advantage of what they offer.

Think of the concierge like your own version of Guest Services, but without the long lines.

Even before your cruise begins, the concierge will email you to welcome you onboard and you can send them any pre-cruise requests you might have.  Dining reservations, cabana location requests, or bedding changes are all things they can assist with.

If you're trying to get into something sold out, they can be a great resource in assisting as well.

I recommend going to the suite lounge on the first day and introducing yourself to them so you can put a face to the name and let them know of any requests you have.

Even if you have nothing special to ask for, they're a friendly face and I've had really interesting conversations about the ship, ports, and fun stories.

During your cruise if you run into any issue, including billing problems, the concierge can help fix all of it for you.

The suite lounge has a full-service bar

Perhaps the top value you can get from booking a suite are the free drinks in the lounge each night.

Depending on the ship you're sailing on, there are select hours when you can order complimentary sodas, beers, wine, and alcoholic cocktails.

The Oasis, Quantum, and Icon Class ships have beer and wine from 11am to 11pm, and then a full bar happy hour in the evening. Other ships just have a happy hour between 5-8pm (or around those times).

Given that the drinks in the lounge are complimentary and there's no limit, for a lot of people it can work in lieu of a drink package purchase.

Some suite lounges have an actual bar, while all of them have waiter service too.

A beautiful view

Even when there's no food or drinks to enjoy, I love going up to the suite lounge for the views.

Because chairs with a view can get quite crowded (especially around the pool), it's nice to grab a book, iPhone, or magazine and head up to the suite lounge to take in the views around you.

Every lounge has large windows, and you can pull the comfortable chairs right up to them and enjoy a great view with plenty of air conditioning.

Spring break is one of the most popular times of year to take a family cruise vacation. Kids are out of school, and it's not too hot and humid in the Caribbean yet.

This year, I'm taking my kids back on a spring break cruise on we're sailing for a week on Icon of the Seas, the biggest cruise ship in the world. That big size means there will be thousands of other passengers with us, as the ship can handle up to 7,000 passengers if they sell every bed onboard.

Even though it's spring break, you won't find the Panama City Beach vibe that would be reminiscent of "MTV Spring Break" in the past.  Royal Caribbean is a family cruise line, and while there are going to be thousands of kids, it won't be as crazy as you might otherwise assume.

Nonetheless, spring break cruises are not only going to be sold out, but quite busy. And with the great weather, there's going to be competition onboard and onshore for all the fun.

Here are some of the tips I've used to navigate the unavoidable crowds on a spring break cruise.

Take advantage of being early or late

One my top tips for crowds on any cruise is to avoid peak times for the things you want to do.

You'll find any Royal Caribbean ship is much quieter early in the morning and late at night, especially around the pool deck.

There's a definite flow to passengers and where they go throughout the day.  The Royal Promenade is usually quiet in the daytime, but gets busy at night.  The pool deck inversely is busy in the afternoon but deserted at night.

It's best to head to the pool or hot tubs early in the morning to beat the crowds that will descend later. If you can get to the pool before 9am to get a chair, you'll find plenty of choices.

Don't overlook the pool at night. Once 4pm hits, the pool starts to clear out with everyone going to dinner.

Thanks to daylight saving time, the sun is out longer and you can still get a few hours of fun in the sun in the pool with significantly less people around.  Or, just go for a night swim and enjoy a nearly empty pool or hot tub.

The fitness center is best to hit up in the afternoon or evening.  It seems everyone wants to get their morning workout in, so either go extremely early or wait them out and go later in the day when crowds are thinner.

This early or late strategy works at the Windjammer buffet too.

Try to go right when it opens in the morning, or later in the dining period to avoid long lines.

Use Royal Caribbean's app to pre-reserve

If it all possible, pre-book everything you need before the cruise begins.

The Royal Caribbean app allows you to book shows, dining, excursions, and more before the cruise begins.

On its biggest ships, being able to book show times and assure yourself of a spot is paramount. 

You can use the app to book dining and entertainment in advance so you don't miss out on popular experiences.

Pick less crowded alternatives to eat

Crowds for meals can be avoided if you're willing to eat at different places.

The peak times for meals on any ship are:

• Breakfast: 9-10:30 AM
• Lunch: 12-1 PM
• Dinner: 6-7:30 PM

Most ships have good alternatives that go beyond the buffet or Main Dining Room.

On Icon of the Seas, I'm planning to take advantage of a few great venues.  Aquadome Market is the food hall and it's legitimately one of my favorite places to eat on a cruise ship.  The Mediterranean stall is my go-to snack spot.

Then there are great grab-and-go packaged snacks at Pearl Cafe that my kids will eat, and I like taking them up to the pool deck too.

If you need your morning coffee, go to Rye and Bean instead of Pearl Cafe for a much shorter line.

On other Royal Caribbean ships, similar alternative venues include Solarium Bistro, Park Cafe, or Cafe@Two70.

Try the water slides on a port day

Easily the most popular activity on your cruise ship during a spring break cruise will be the water slides.

Instead of waiting in a gargantuan line, I'd recommend picking a port day to hit the slides.

Either identify a day you'll stay on the ship instead of doing a shore excursion, or make shore excursion plans that get you back onboard early and you'll find the lines much shorter for the water slides.

Icon of the Seas has a massive 6 slide waterpark onboard, and my kids will definitely want to hit that up at some point.  If they want dad to come along, it won't be on a sea day.

If your port day plans are already slammed, try to go when people are at dinner as an alternative. The pool deck clears out closer to 5pm.

Plan shore excursions wisely

The spring break crowds will extend to the places your ship visits too, as this is the peak of the Caribbean cruise season with many ships in port.

You'll want to pre-book shore excursions prior to ever stepping foot on your ship. Tours and day passes sell out, so don't leave it to the last minute.

Speaking of tours, I'd recommend researching private or small-group excursions so you can find options that won't be oversold.

If exploring a port on your own, leave early to beat the rush or wait until later when crowds start to thin out.

Piggybacking on the water slide tip earlier, don't be afraid to skip an excursion and stay on the ship instead. Staying on the ship during port days allows you to enjoy amenities with fewer people around.

Book a longer cruise if you want less kids

If you're looking to take a spring break cruise and want to lessen the amount of families onboard, I'd look at a longer sailing.

Royal Caribbean has always been a family cruise line, so there's going to be a lot of kids on any cruise. But there are less on longer voyages.

Certainly any cruise less than 6 nights will have many more families onboard.  In fact, the 4-night Bahamas cruises are typically the ones college kids book.

So try a 7-night or longer sailing to lessen the college party factor.

If you can find something even longer than 7 nights, you'll probably see a shift in the age demographic to something older.

Seek chairs near the ocean, away from the pool

I think a lot of people will say they want to have a view of the ocean, a gentle breeze, and somewhere to sit, and it does not need to be at the pool.

There are great spots with few crowds around the ship, if you know where to look.

On Icon of the Seas, there is fabulous seating outside of the 1400 Bar on the promenade deck.

Many Royal Caribbean ships have chairs on the outdoor deck that's on deck 4 or 5 and if you see more than five people here, that's a lot.

If you still want to be near the pool, I'd recommend chairs on the upper pool deck.

Every Royal Caribbean ship has two decks to the pool area, and the upper deck is always less crowded.  Moreover, if you walk further back or forward, there's many more chairs.

These are great spots to read, take a nap, or enjoy the ocean air.

Throw money at the problem and book a suite

I'm not going to lie, sometimes money solves problems, and the suite perks could be your ticket to less crowds.

Suites will cost much more than a standard cabin, but they get you priority boarding and access to reserved areas other passengers cannot go.

This is so helpful with the pool deck, as there's reserved seating in the suite area on Royal Caribbean ships.  While you will have to still compete with your fellow suite guests, there's far fewer of them.

On the big ships, there's an exclusive restaurant, Coastal Kitchen, which will ensure you don't have to battle the crowds for meals elsewhere on the ship.

To be clear, you don't have to spend thousands more in order to have less crowds.  It's simply an "easy button" if you have the means for it.

I've cruised seven times so far on Royal Caribbean's Utopia of the Seas, and that's afforded me the chance to try a few kinds of rooms.

The most common type of room I booked was an oceanview balcony because they give me extra living space, a private veranda, and they're not nearly as expensive as a suite.

I also got to try three different suites, which are some of the biggest rooms you can enjoy on a cruise ship.

Suites are expensive, but they're unlike traditional cabins because of how much extra space they have and better perks too.

Here's how the spaces stacked up on the newest ship in the fleet — and which cruise room I liked best for its excellent value.

I stayed in balcony cabins because they were priced well

No matter which ship you're sailing on, it's hard to go wrong with a balcony cabin for the space and price balance it provides.

I stayed in a balcony cabin on three different cruises, including the first voyage I went on even before the ship launched as part of a media event that Royal Caribbean invited me to.

I then subsequently stayed in balcony cabins on two other sailings, including most recently in a connecting oceanview balcony when we booked two of them with my kids.

One advantage of sailing on a new ship like Utopia is you have modern decor and plenty of connectivity. It's such a relief to have USB and power outlets on both sides of the bed, as well as around the cabin.

While bringing a USB hub with you is a great cabin hack, it's probably unnecessary on a ship like Utopia.

I'm also impressed by how much storage space there is in this cabin.  

My wife and I each had our own giant closet, and there was still a set of drawers and other places to put our belongings.  More than enough space for a weekend cruise.

The price of a balcony cabin for two people on Utopia of the Seas for a 3-night cruise ranged between $1700 and $2000, depending on how in-demand that sailing was.  While that price is significantly more than a balcony cabin on an older ship that is on a longer sailing, the reality is you're paying a higher price to enjoy the very best Royal Caribbean has to offer around the ship.

Of course, the best thing about a balcony cabin is the actual balcony itself!

My wife and I love to go out here for sailaway and enjoy the views without competing for a spot on the pool deck. Plus, it's quieter too.

She prefers a balcony as a quiet reading spot on sea days, and there's enough room for the two chairs they provide to make it feel quite cozy.

When our kids were younger, it was so nice having that extra space for them.  

Ultimately, I still think a balcony is the best value you'll find on any cruise ship because of the space you get compared to what you paid.

It's usually not much more money to upgrade from an interior cabin to a balcony, and I really like the fresh air and views you get with a balcony.

An inside cabin was spacious and comfortable

Inside rooms are the most cost effective cabin you book, and our writer Allie just sailed in one of the smallest cabins on Utopia.

With an inside room, you're usually getting the lowest price and that's exactly why Allie chose this room. It cost just $1,539 for two people on a 4-night cruise.

Located near the aft of the ship, this room may have been the least expensive cabin, but there was enough size for two people to share it. Even without natural light, the stateroom didn’t feel dark or cramped. 

A few things stood out about this room. First, it had a full couch that added somewhere else to sit besides the bed.

Second, the room had so much storage space. Royal Caribbean's Oasis Class ships have lots of storage space, even if Utopia is only doing short cruises.

Allie also loved how many USB outlets the room had. Regardless of your stateroom type, every cabin has lots of extra plugs to use, "Between our phones, iPads, laptops, headphones, and smartwatches, we utilized most of these outlets during the cruise."

Another win with this cabin was the bathroom.

Instead of a cramped bathroom that you'd find traditionally on older ships, this bathroom felt incredibly spacious. 

The shower alone was quite big and was easily twice the size of those on older cruise ships, providing plenty of room to move around comfortably.

Crown Loft Suite

The first suite experience I had on Utopia of the Seas was for the inaugural sailing when I took my family with me, and we booked a Crown Loft Suite.

Located within the Suite Neighborhood, these are two deck cabins that have some of the best views from any stateroom.

This room measured 670 square feet, which was almost four times bigger than the balcony I stayed in.  That's in addition to the 105 square foot balcony that comes with the room.

That amount of living space is welcome considering I was sharing the room with my wife and two kids.

The layout is the master bedroom and bathroom are upstairs, with the living room downstairs.  The kids share a sofa that converts to a bed.

I love that this room has two full bathrooms, one on each floor.  This makes sharing this cabin with my kids palatable given how much time they spend in there as teenagers.

Because this room was located on deck 18, I really liked how convenient it was to get to the suite sun deck, Coastal Kitchen, or Suite Lounge. 

Royal Caribbean designed the suite area on Utopia (and Wonder of the Seas) to be far more integrated. In fact, I think the suite sun deck is my favorite area of this ship, and I'd often go out there to do work.

This room also comes with the Sky Class suite benefits, which include complimentary WiFi for everyone, access to Coastal Kitchen restaurant, access to the suite concierge and much more.

Of course, suites aren't cheap and they are definitely not going to be a great value on a brand new ship where premium fares are the norm.

I liked that we had a single room for all four of us, but the sleeping arrangement isn't ideal necessarily. 

Ultimate Family Suite

The biggest splurge I ever had on a cruise ship was when I booked the Ultimate Family Suite for a weekend cruise on Utopia.

I had never stayed in this kind of a room because of the crazy high price that it usually has, but on a weekend cruise, the cost was only moderately crazy and I decided to give it a try.

I was worried this would be a "one and done" type room, where the novelty would wear off quite quickly.  Luckily, that was not the case.

The suite spans two decks, featuring three bedrooms, three full bathrooms, a large living room, a play area, and a dedicated movie room, providing ample space for families.

Besides being a really big suite, it also has some eye-catching features. These are the things that draw people to book this suite and I can tell you, they are as fun in person as they look in photos.

There's an in-suite slide connecting the upper children's room to the living area, a digital gaming table, a LEGO wall, and a private balcony equipped with a hot tub and climbing area for young kids.

The suite is equipped with multiple gaming consoles, including a PlayStation and Nintendo Switch, and a private movie room offering diverse entertainment choices within the comfort of the suite. 

Best yet, the room is a Star Class suite, so you get the very best perks and amenities, such as the services of the Royal Genie.

It was not just a fun room to stay in, but the best kind of suite to entertain. We knew many friends on this sailing, and Michael Poole, and it was fun having them visit and enjoy the suite with us.

As you might imagine, the downside to this kind of a suite is the price tag. It cost $12,609.08 for the 3-night cruise, making it a significant investment. You could book three sailings on Utopia in a lower category room for that price.

The other issue is the FOMO that comes with this suite.

Given how much fun this suite is and all the things you can do in it, there were many times I was torn between spending more time in the cabin at the expense of missing out on all the great fun Utopia has to offer.

There was nothing like this sort of room, and I doubt I'll stay in one again.  But it was a true memory maker that my kids still talk about fondly.

Two bedroom Aquatheater suite

The final type of suite that I've tried on Utopia of the Seas is the two bedroom Aquatheater suite that's on the back of the ship.

This is usually the least expensive of the Star Class suites, and it's also arguably the best choice for a family because it offers two bedrooms and two full bathrooms. That's a rare combination.

The bathrooms are large, and compared to the loft suite, it was so nice being able to close a bedroom door and have privacy.

There's also a generous living area, and a wraparound balcony. You won't complain about a lack of living space in this type of room.

We love the expansive wraparound balcony, and because it was December when we sailed, it was perfect weather to enjoy being outdoors.

You'll find panoramic ocean vistas from the balcony and a direct view of the AquaTheater. This means you can watch the Aquatheater show, Aqua80sToo, directly from our suite. 

Another advantage of this suite are the service of the Royal Genie.

This gets you all-inclusive dining and beverage packages, and priority reservations.

The main issue with being at the back of the ship is that the suite is a considerable distance from central amenities, which may require more walking. Also, if you're someone that goes to bed early, it would be tough with the noise from the Aquatheater show performance.

We paid five thousands dollars less to stay in the Aquatheater suite compared to the Ultimate Family Suite, which is still expensive, but far more palatable. 

Suites are always a splurge and not for the value seeker.  But there are definitely rationale to choosing one over the other when it comes to the overall cost.

If I had to pick a winner, I'd say my connecting balcony felt like the best bang for my buck

In terms of pure value, I'll almost never overlook two connecting balcony rooms.

As one of my favorite family cruise hacks of all time, it holds up on Utopia.  We get two full bedrooms, two full bathrooms, and a fraction of the price tag to get that set up in a suite.

Of course, we don't get suite benefits or amenities, but on a ship like Utopia where there is so much going on during the day and night, it's not the sort of sailing where you'd feel drawn to spend lots of time in your room.

I'd much rather save money on my cabin and then use those savings for a fun time at Perfect Day at CocoCay, like booking a beach cabana.