Following weeks of upgrade work, Royal Caribbean's Liberty of the Seas is back in service.

The cruise ship that was built in 2007, received new restaurants, refreshed certain areas, and added new cabins as well.

The ship received a "Royal Amplification", which is intended to elevate an aging ship to offer more and be more competitive with newer ships.

Royal Caribbean had originally planned to do this work in 2021, but the cruise industry shutdown in 2020 postponed those plans.

Liberty of the Seas completed her upgrade work on May 29, and we have our first look at what's new and different onboard. Many thanks to Elaine for providing some of these photos.

A new restaurant and bars

Only one new restaurant was added to Liberty of the Seas with the addition of Izumi Teppanyaki to deck four.

This replaced Sabor Modern Mexican, officially replacing the last Sabor left in the fleet.

Izumi offers both sushi and hibachi tables, with the later being incredibly popular among cruise ship passengers.  Hibachi dining is a crowd-pleaser experience because it's family friendly, fun, and has food that appeals to just about anyone.

In fact, Izumi is now the most popular specialty restaurant across the fleet. 

Starbucks was added as well, offering an option for those that are hooked on the Seattle-based coffee giant's creations.

Just like a Starbucks kiosk you'd find at a supermarket or other store, it serves the full menu of drinks and pastries.  

While you can earn Starbucks rewards points from your purchases, you cannot redeem Starbucks star rewards onboard.

The Lime & Coconut bar was added to the pool deck. This is the Caribbean-inspired bar that offers its own menu of fun cocktails.

Guests will appreciate the drink offerings go now beyond the typical stuff.  Royal Caribbean has all sorts of concoction to try, including my personal favorite: the Lime & Coconut drink.

Another pool deck addition is El Loco Fresh, which is a complimentary Mexican grab-and-go restaurant.

Serving tacos, burritos, and quesadillas, it's open for lunch and into the late afternoon.  It's a great casual spot for a snack or meal.

Plus, it has a toppings bar so you can customize the food exactly the way you want it.  Jalapenos, hot sauces, guacamole, pico de gallo, and more to choose from.

Updated pool deck

A major focus of the changes to Liberty of the Seas was around the pool deck.

The deck has more of a resort look to it now, having refreshed the seating and look of the pool deck.

Royal Caribbean also added casitas to the pool deck, which cost extra to rent.  Think of them like a reserved spot you can have for the day.

Casitas include:

• 2 Welcome Drinks
• 2 lounge chairs
• Dedicated beverage service
• 4 chilled water bottles
• Cooler
• 4 Pool towels
• 4 Hand towels
• Charging outlets

Pricing for casitas tends to be cheaper on port days than on sea days.

For the upcoming June 26 sailing, casitas cost $109.99 for a port day, but $374.99 for a sea day.

An escape room was added too

Another addition to Liberty of the Seas is an escape room experience.

EscapeU: Art Studio is described as:

Get ready to paint outside the lines during your art class final! Team up, brush up on your skills and dash to finish your exam before time runs out. Gogh beyond the canvas and ace your test to unlock a vibrant surprise and colorful masterpiece. 

Guests must be 12 years old or older to participate, and it's a timed challenge to figure out clues to solve a puzzle and "escape" the room before time runs out.

Royal Caribbean sells admission at $40 per guest for the escape room.

Expanded casino

Like other ships that have recently been updated, Royal Caribbean added more gambling space.

There's now an expanded casino area that took over the photo gallery area.  It connects to the main casino on deck 4.

Royal Caribbean has placed a major emphasis on expanding casinos on all of its ships, indicating the cruise line is looking to expand revenue opportunities.

Gambling on cruise ships is more popular than ever, and it's clear Royal Caribbean is jumping on that trend.

Other changes

Royal Caribbean also updated its kids club to reflect the updated programming that you'd find on newer ships.

There's also a new show onboard, "Boots & Blades" in Studio B.

This is a new ice skating show that has a country theme to it.

Sailing from the UK this summer

Liberty of the Seas offered a quick short sailing from Southampton, UK this weekend as it returned to service.

Royal Caribbean has a summer cruise season planned from the UK to destinations in Northern and Western Europe.

This fall, Liberty moves back to the United States to offer Caribbean sailings.

After trying different cruise hacks over the years, I wanted to put all the best tricks for an inside room to the ultimate test.

When I booked a last-minute cruise on Royal Caribbean's Radiance of the Seas in a tiny inside room, I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to gather every tip I've amassed into one stay.

I love discovering new ways to make a cruise better, especially unconventional ideas, and gadgets you can buy online. While not all of them work as well as someone claims, I've slowly amassed a list of tips and tricks that definitely do work.

Every little hack can make a big difference when you're in an inside room.  Space is so limited and not having any windows or access to the outside makes these rooms less than ideal.  That's all the more reason I wanted put it all to the test.

I've included affiliate links in this article, which means I make a small commission if you buy anything form these links. It doesn't cost you anything extra.

I came up with ten of the absolute best inside cruise ship cabin hacks that made my room better.

You don't know if it's morning in an inside room, so I brought a sunrise alarm clock

Besides the room being small, there's really no way to know if it's 3am or 3pm without a clock.

Relying on your phone means you have to open your eyes and then be temporarily blinded from the brightness of your phone as you check the time.  And then you have to hopefully be able to fall back asleep if it's not time to get up yet.

A sunrise alarm clock worked so much better than I ever expected because it allows you to wake up more like you would at home.  

You set the alarm time and then how much lead up you want for the light to start.  The idea is the clock slowly illuminates the room leading up to your alarm time.

Just like at home when the sun rises and your room starts to get brighter, so will your inside cabin.

The reason I really liked this clock is if I woke up before my alarm, I could tell if there was some light in the room with my eyes closed. That made it easier to fall back asleep without having to check the time.

Moreover, there are all sorts of melodies and sounds for the actual alarm. I picked birds chirping so I wouldn't get as jolted out of bed as I would with a regular alarm.

ecozy Sunrise Alarm Clock on Amazon

I brought heavy duty magnets to fix the worst thing about these cabins

When you sail on an older Royal Caribbean ship, you'll quickly discover the shower is different than on new ships.

Instead of a plastic or glass shower enclosure, Radiance class ships have a cloth curtain that tends to cling to you while in the shower.

Our readers recommended bringing magnets to keep the curtain away from me, because I could use the magnets to hold the curtain against the wall.  The walls in the bathroom and cabin are made from metal, so you can use magnets nearly anywhere.

This strategy definitely worked well, and I enjoyed the shower more as a result.

Plus, heavy duty magnets can be used in the room to hold up clothes and other items. That keeps the room tidier and reduces the amount of things that would otherwise be strewn about.

8 Pack Magnetic Hooks on Amazon

Bringing a battery operated fan was like having a ceiling fan and helped cool me down

My new favorite cabin hack is to bring a USB chargeable fan because it has a magnet at the base and be attached just about anywhere.

Even though this cruise was in early May and not quite summer, it was very hot and humid while our ship sailed to Cozumel, Mexico. 

I placed the fan near the air conditioning vent on the ceiling, which blew cold air right on me while I lay in bed. It was perfect for sleeping.

When I returned to my room after a hot and sweaty day in Cozumel, I moved the fan and placed it on the wall to help cool me down faster.

I was impressed by how well bringing a fan worked and what a difference it made in my overall comfort.

Magnetic cruise ship fan on Amazon

I put a digital thermometer so I knew exactly what temperature to set

This one probably sounds weird, but I swear bringing a thermometer makes a difference in keeping the room at the temperature you want.

If you're like me, you're used to having your house set to certain temperature because you have a smart thermostat that you can set precisely.  But on most cruise ships, there's just a dial with "hot" and "cold".

While you can play the game of "how cold is too cold", I placed the magnetic thermometer above the thermostat dial.  Then, I could adjust the room's thermostat and be able to better track if it was indeed the right temperature I prefer.

Is it critical or totally necessary? No, but it made my stay better because I knew exactly what temperature the room was at any time.

Mini Indoor Thermometer on Amazon

A magnetic toothbrush holder made my tiny bathroom counter less cluttered

No matter if you're in an inside room or a balcony, cruise ship bathrooms are really small, especially the counter tops.

Buying a magnetic toothbrush holder freed up my razor, toothbrush, and toothpaste from taking up space on the counter or in the glasses that are usually provided.

Every inch of counter space I didn't need was welcome, and I think this would be especially important if you're sharing the room with someone else. If you're cruising with kids, I'd buy one for each one and that will make a world of difference.

Magnetic Toothbrush Holder on Amazon

Storing my luggage under the bed frees up closet space

I think one of the first cruise ship cabin hacks I ever learned was you could shove your suitcases under your bed instead of putting them in the closet.

When you're staying in a small stateroom, you'll want to take advantage of every inch of space you have.  Underneath your bed is a vastly underutilized area.

You can nest the luggage inside each piece, and then slide it under the bed until you need it at the of the sailing.

Not only is out of sight, but it means your closet can be fully leveraged.

I was skeptical splitting the beds would make the room feel roomier, but it works

The first time I heard I should split my bed instead of keeping them together, I thought this was crazy. But it really does work.

When you have the beds together in an inside room, the bed is in the middle of the room and the only way around it is off to the side.

But splitting the beds apart and pushing them against the wall opens up a walkway in the middle of the room, and it's undeniably easier to get around.

I tried with the beds together and apart while on this cruise, and it certainly made a difference having the beds split.

Bringing a travel spray for the bathroom ensured odors never become problematic

Real talk: there are no fans in the bathroom of a cruise ship stateroom, so odors don't have anywhere to go.

Packing a travel sized Poo Pouri spray should be standard issue for everyone in their cruise packing list for your sake and everyone in your cabin.

Yes, it works, and yes you'll be happier to avoid situations where everyone has to avoid the bathroom for 25-35 minutes. If you know, you know.

Poo-Pourri Pocket Toilet Spray on Amazon

Packing a power outlet extender is a must-have when sailing on an older ship

Cruise ships have very few power outlets in their cabins, and that can create a problem with who can charge their device first.

My room had just two American power outlets, so I was glad to bring a power outlet extender with me.

It's important to note Royal Caribbean has banned power strips and multi-plug extenders, so you need to have the right one that won't get confiscated.

The rule to follow is the device can only have one AC outlet, but unlimited USB outlets.

EPICKA Universal Travel Adapter on Amazon

Bringing a nightlight so I didn't walk into a wall

The only time your room is going to be completely dark is at night, and if you have to get up in the middle of the night, it can be difficult to get around.

I brought a motion activated nightlight to place near the bathroom. I didn't want it activating when I moved around in bed, but I would want it to work if I got up and made my way to the entry way.

Radiance of the Seas actually has built-in motion-activated nightlights, but you never know if your room will actually have one. Nonetheless, it's great having a way to have a little bit of light without blinding you by turning on the cabin lights.

Motion-Activated Battery LED Light on Amazon

Happy weekend! In case you missed any Royal Caribbean news, here is a look at everything that happened this week!

Royal Caribbean scrapped the plans it submitted to Mexico to build a new private destination, but it's going to make another attempt.

In an effort to rework its proposal and come up with a new option, the cruise line withdrew its plans for Perfect Day Mexico.

A surge of negative public feedback over environmental concerns seemingly influenced Mexico's government to push back on the proposal.

Royal Caribbean News

• Mexico says Royal Caribbean can explore a different location for its Perfect Day project
• Celebrity announced new loyalty tiers and rewards
• I packed for a 7-night cruise with just a carry-on and personal item
• 5 things I do to maximize my drink package value
• I took my sister on a cruise. It brought us closer together
• I stopped asking to have my cruise room cleaned in the morning
• I tried Royal Caribbean's flexible dinner option
• Should you sleep with the balcony door open on a cruise ship?
• Royal Caribbean's new credit card has an easy way to redeem points for your next cruise
• Samba Grill has a new menu
• Best things about an Alaskan cruise instead of a tropical sailings
• Royal Caribbean just posted its best veteran's discount we've seen in a long time
• 13 Best things to do in Ketchikan, Alaska

New RCB Video: Harmony of the Seas Full Walkthrough Ship Tour

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 — Harmony of the Seas Full Walkthrough Ship Tour — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

Royal Caribbean didn't ban decorating your cruise ship cabin door

Despite some news reports out there, Royal Caribbean did not put a halt to cruise ship passengers being able to decorate their stateroom door.

A letter that was recently distributed to guests was misreported as a policy change by a few national news outlets that didn't bother to investigate the story.

This lead to confusion among passengers that the policy had changed.

Royal Caribbean forced to change itinerary due to propulsion problems on a cruise ship

A "technical issue" forced Royal Caribbean to change the sailing on Allure of the Seas earlier this week.

A couple of days into a 6-night sailing, guests were informed they would have to cancel one port stop and add a second visit to Nassau.

The exact problem was not disclosed by the cruise line, but the ship would need to slow down.

9 things I always pack for a cruise (and 3 I never bring)

Packing for a cruise isn't always easy, but there are a few things worth bringing on every sailing.

After some trial and error, we've come up with the must-pack items that are worth the luggage space.  However, there are also a few things that just don't work at all.

While a lot of what you pack for a cruise is subjective, a few items make a lot of sense to bring every time.

Harmony of the Seas: What surprised me after all the changes the ship

With Harmony of the Seas back in service after a massive refurbishment, a few things that were changed (and not changed) jumped out as surprises.

Royal Caribbean invested millions of dollars to upgrade the ship, and there are some real improvements that were made to offer more than ever before.

However, some decisions made are head scratchers too.

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 610th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available, sharing what to do in London before or after a cruise.

Matt shares embarrassing stories of things that have happened to him on cruises, as well as a few funny stories.

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

A Royal Caribbean drink package costs hundreds of dollars, so you'll want to do everything you can to get the most out of your purchase.

The daily price of a Deluxe beverage package can easily cost at least $60 per person, per day, but in reality, it will cost more than that. For my upcoming Legend of the Seas sailing, it would cost me $438 to have it for the week.

Even if you time your sale with a good discount, like when Royal Caribbean has a 40% off sale, it's still going a big upfront cost.

If you're like me, then you'll want to get your money's worth.  That's why I always do a few things anytime I buy a drink package.

Here are five easy things I do every time I have a drink package.

I never order a drink by name only

It may seem like you're doing the right thing when you order a pina colada, but you're actually making a mistake.

When you order a drink on Royal Caribbean and request it just by name, you're short changing yourself.  For example, don't order like this:

"I would like a pina colada, please."

The reason this is a mistake is you're not specifying the liquor, and almost certainly your waiter or bartender is going to use the well liquor. This is the cheapest and least smooth liquor option.

Instead, always request the liquor when requesting a drink.

"I would like a pina colada with Kraken rum, please."

Your Royal Caribbean drink package includes most liquors, even higher quality stuff.  Unless you want a super top shelf liquor, it's not included. Any drink up to $14 in value is included.

You can request liquors like Belvedere, Grey Goose, Casamigos, Kraken, or Captain Morgan.

I think you'd be surprised how much higher quality liquors are included with a drink package.  Almost every time the waiter or bartender will warn you if you try to order something that would cost more than the drink package includes (you'd only pay the difference).

This is especially important if you order a shot, because you want something smooth.

I always ask my waiter for an extra thing when I order cocktails

When I order a cocktail or shot, I'll add to the order a bottle of water too.

Both the Deluxe Beverage Package and Royal Refreshment packages include bottled water. While technically you can only order one beverage at a time, crew members don't have a problem giving you a bottle of water too.

The reason I do this is two fold.  Suffice to say, I want to stay hydrated and avoid a hangover.  So drinking water to counter balance the booze you consume is a good strategy.

The second reason is I don't always drink every bottle I get.  Instead, I bring it back to your stateroom and begin stockpiling them.

Having extra bottles of water in your cabin not only offers a convenient option when you're thirsty, but you can take them on shore excursions or anywhere else around the ship.

I won't order any drink when I go to a bar

Royal Caribbean has a beverage team who's job it is to create some truly different beverages that go well beyond pina coladas, daiquiris, or cosmos.

While there's nothing wrong with those drinks, there's been a clear emphasis to develop new cocktails that might become your new favorite option.

For example, when Royal Caribbean designed Icon of the Seas, they created 13 new bar menus to offer passengers more than just the usual assortment.

There's a fleetwide menu that you'll find at many bars, but more of them are starting to get their own specialized menus. Look for them placed on tables or across the bar.

Some of my favorites include:

• Mason Jar Bar
• Lime & Coconut
• 1400 Bar
• Pesky Parrot
• Rye & Bean
• Playmakers
• Bamboo Room

If you really want a pina colada, go for it.  But look for any special cocktails that you can't order elsewhere first.

Don't overlook non-alcoholic beverages

One of the hottest trends right now in the beverage business is actually lower-ABV and non-alcoholic drinks.

Mocktails and zero proof drinks are gaining ground in popularity, and you'll find more options than ever before on a Royal Caribbean ship.

Not only are these good for passengers that are too young to drink, but adults enjoy them too as a way to sip on something without overdoing it.

You'll find drinks that go well beyond simply a "virgin" version of a well-known cocktail.  Royal Caribbean has come up with a number of compelling mocktails that stand alone quite well.

Check out our list of the best mocktails to order, but don't overlook these as a way to slow down your intake without missing out on maximizing your beverage package investment.

Coffee is the secret weapon to getting my money's worth

I would also be remiss if I didn't mention the included premium coffees and teas.

You can enjoy unlimited lattes, frappucinos, and cold brews from Cafe Promenade/Pearl Cafe/Cafe Latte-tudes with a beverage package, and this is an awesome perk.

To be clear, a Royal Caribbean drink package does not include these drinks at a Starbucks kiosk. Places like Cafe Promenade serve very similar drinks, which are included.

I'll have one in the morning and another after lunch, and that's an easy strategy to staying perked up and also break even on the drink package cost.

When you're calculating if a drink package is worth it, you can rack up some serious savings with a few coffees every day.

Dinner on a Royal Caribbean cruise has a few options, but I gave Anytime Dining a try to see how it compares to the traditional alternative.

I'll be honest, I usually avoid free-time dining on cruise ships because I don't think the perceived flexibility it offers is as good as it sounds.

When I eat in the Main Dining Room, I usually pick traditional dinner and have the same time, waiters, and tablemates each evening.

But when I recently sailed on Radiance of the Seas for a 4-night cruise, I decided to flip my script and give My Time Dining a try. Because I booked my cruise at the last-minute, the only traditional dinner time left was the late time at 8pm.  When I boarded the ship, I spoke with a crew member who said they could get me into dinner every night at 6:45pm so I had the perfect "Goldlocks time" to eat.

I saw I had been assigned to My Time Dining, but decided to give it a try and see how it works.

How flexible dining works

Royal Caribbean's My Time Dining (sometime called "anytime dining") allows you to either make a reservation for dinner or show up and wait for an open table.

The idea is to give passengers more flexibility in when they can eat. Rather than have a single time, you could mix up dinner times to match up better with your shore excursions or pool deck fun.

Upon arrival at the Main Dining Room, there are two lines: people with a reservation and people without a reservation.  You get in one of the lines and then are assigned a table.

Unlike traditional dinner, you might have a different table and/or waiter assignment.

Read more: My Time Dining vs Traditional Dinner

There was a wait every night

Because I picked 6:45pm, that was the earliest My Time Dining option available and it was clearly a popular time for dinner.

Each night, there was a line for those with and without a reservation.  I quickly learned there wasn't much advantage to lining up early because within 5-10 minutes, the people in line got their tables assigned quickly. 

The head waiters and maître d's worked quickly to get everyone seated. They understand guest satisfaction is enormously important (because their entire job is judged primarily by guest surveys), and thus, they try to get everyone to their table as soon as possible.

Instead of lining up 10 minutes or more early, I tried to time it so I'd arrive right at 6:45 or shortly thereafter to minimize my wait.

One thing that I found frustrating was while I had a reservation, those without reservations were seated just as quickly as us.  Effectively, they split two check-in locations for those with a reservation and two for those without one, instead of prioritizing us with a reservation. That being said, the line for those with a reservation was always shorter.

However, it was clearly an advantage to eating alone because small tables are more plentiful and on two occasions, I got to skip ahead in the line.

I ended up with the same table and waiters each night

To my surprise, I had the same table assignment every evening.  

I expected to be given different tables each night, but I always had the same table for two.  

Speaking of my table size, another concern I had was being seated with strangers. I wouldn't necessarily hate it, but I understood that was a risk with My Time Dining.

However, each time I checked in for dinner, I was told the same table number. In fact, by the third evening, the host asked if I knew where my "usual table" was located.

The advantage of having the same table assignment was I had the same waiters, who not only learned my name quickly but also knew I brought my own soda to dinner and had glasses of ice waiting.

Anytime dinner isn't quite as versatile as it sounds

I booked dinner for the same time each night, but I think it's not quite convenient as advertised.

The early traditional dinner time begins at 5pm, but the earliest time you can eat with My Time Dining is 6:45pm.

Everyone has their own sense of "how early is too early" for dinner, but I wish MTD started service closer to 6pm.  That would be truly more useful.

I was also surprised how many people didn't have reservations.  On the first night of the cruise, their wait seemed to be the longest.  As the cruise went on, it seemed demand for the Main Dining Room subsided, and lines shortened each evening.

I enjoyed My Time Dining more than I thought, but I'll stick with traditional

While there was a line every night, I can't say I hated trying My Time Dining as much as I expected.

The line before seating begins looks daunting, but the truth is they moved through it quickly and once the clock hit 6:45pm, I don't think I waited more than five minutes.

If you're going to try My Time Dining, I highly recommend making a reservation.  You can do so via the Royal Caribbean app before your cruise or even on the ship.

My friend actually got a notification in her app when her table was ready, so she didn't have to (theoretically) wait in line.

That being said, there is no line with traditional dinner. You just walk in and head to the table that's assigned to you (the number is written at the bottom of your SeaPass card).

Perhaps if I book a cruise with very port intensive itinerary and realize early dinner just won't work, I'll give My Time Dinner a try again.

If there's one place I could cruise to every year, I would choose Alaska. 

While I've certainly enjoyed other destinations (especially Europe), there's simply nothing like the unmatched beauty of seeing Alaska.

Maybe it's the brisk air, or the majestic mountains that welcome you into every port, but every spring I yearn to return and book another cruise there.

The good news is I'm headed back this summer for a return visit, and I can't wait to see it all again one more time.

After already taken a few Alaska cruises, here's what makes this type of cruise great and why I'll be back many more times.

Departing is different in a fun way

Most Alaska cruises depart from either Seattle or Vancouver, but I've started cruising more out of Vancouver and I can't deny the sail away experience isn't part of why.

Both Vancouver and Seattle are set in the Pacific Northwest, and you'll immediately notice the lush forests and views that surround you.

But in Vancouver, cruise ships homeport right in the heart of the downtown area and your departure is a mix of city skyline and rugged scenery ahead. Plus, your ship passes under the Lions Gate Bridge as you sail away.

Seattle's cruise port isn't quite as close to downtown as Vancouver, but it's still a great backdrop.

The Inside Passage is a cruise within a cruise

A sea day in Alaska is unlike a sea day anywhere else because of how much you can see while traversing the Inside Passage.

Think of the Inside Passage like taking the scenic route instead of the highway. It's a waterway that stretches 1,000 miles between southeastern Alaska and British Columbia.

You can spend all day on your balcony or on a public deck taking in the views, which include wildlife, mountains, water falls, and just about the prettiest stretch of land you'll encounter anywhere. 

I think the animal viewing opportunities are what makes the Inside Passage so interesting.  Bald eagles become so common to spot, but there's also a good chance you'll be able to see whales or even a bear on the shore.

I recommend taking your cruise cocktails with you out to a deck and watching everything as you pass by.

Glacier viewings will take amaze you

The first time our cruise ship entered Endicott Arm to see Dawes Glacier, I was blown away by seeing this incredible sheet of rock and ice so close.

Most Alaska cruises include a glacier viewing (or at least attempt to) in the sailing. It's when a ship slowly approaches a glacier and offers an up-close view.

Royal Caribbean ships almost always visit Dawes Glacier. Unfortunately, all visits to Sawyer Glacier had to be cancelled this year due to landslides.

If the sea conditions are safe enough to get close to the glacier, it's going to be an unforgettable experience. Seeing how big the glacier is, hearing the ice crack, watching seals laying on floating pieces of ice, are just some of the things you can expect.

Not to mention your ship is flanked by steep cliffs on both side as you traverse the narrow waterway.  It's something photos never quite capture the magnitude of the feeling of being there.

Juneau has so much to see, I struggle with what to choose

My favorite Alaska cruise port is probably the state capital of Juneau.

It's home to Mendenhall Glacier, which is one of the easiest glaciers to see on foot.  You could take a seaplane or helicopter there on a tour and then actually step foot on it!

Juneau also has so many parks and forests you can visit, and it's all drivable. The last time we went there, we rented a Jeep and toured the area on our own. It was the perfect way to see the highlights, including a bear on the side of the road!

The food scene in every Alaska town is worth the trip

To say the seafood is fresh in Alaska would be an understatement, because there's simply nothing like having it while you're there.

Juneau has both food trucks and established restaurants to choose from.  I love a good selection of food trucks that we can hop between, giving everyone something to try. Deckhand Dave’s is a fish taco truck at a trendy food truck park right downtown.

Suffice to say, if you're ever going to try salmon or crab, this is the place to do it.  My daughter had never tried salmon until our guide brought out a salmon that they caught that morning and sliced it up for us to sample.  She gave it a try and loved it!

My favorite hidden gem is in Sitka at The Fresh Fish, which is a one-woman food stand. They have poke bowls, seafood chowder, po'boys and tacos.

I'd be remiss if I didn't mention Tracy's Crab Shack as the most well-known spot to eat King Crab while in Alaska.

Every town you visit will have a few places to eat, and I'd recommend skipping the Windjammer and having a meal in town.

Skagway is like taking a time machine to Gold Rush

One town that usually stands out is Skagway, because it feels you stepped back in time.

The history of Skagway is well-preserved with the entire downtown retaining its Klondike Gold Rush look and feel. 

That connection to history is more than skin deep. You can learn about every aspect of what it was like to be in Alaska during this period through various tours and walking trails. Many are free or cheap to try!

Yes, I prefer the cooler weather

If there's one reason some people avoid an Alaska cruise it's because they, "don't want to go somewhere colder than where they are" and I have to say it's worth going anyway.

First and foremost, you're cruising to Alaska in the summer so it's probably not going to be nearly as cold as you think it will be.  If you go in July or August, there's a better chance you'll need a t-shirt than a jacket.

However, you won't mistake Alaska for the Caribbean in terms of temperature.  That being said, I really prefer it because cooler weather makes for easier outdoor touring.

As lovely as a Caribbean beach is, the heat and humidity drain you and it makes it difficult to enjoy being outside unless submerged in water.  But in Alaska, it feels great being out and about with low humidity and comfortable outdoor temperatures.

The beauty of Alaska is why I want to go back every year

If you think Alaska is a "one and done" type itinerary, I dare you to go and not want to return immediately.

When I cruised to Alaska for the first time, I couldn't believe how stunning everything looked. Everyone tells you this area is beautiful, but words never prepare you for how majestic it all is.  I was awestruck by the state's geography, culture, and food.

A cruise is the perfect way to experience this area, and I'm already salivating at the idea of returning this summer.

A Royal Caribbean ship has changed plans due to a "technical issue" that has forced the vessel to reduce speed.

Guests aboard Allure of the Seas were informed today that their planned itinerary will be altered because of an issue with the ship's propulsion.

The 6-night cruise departed on May 24 from Fort Lauderdale, Florida was scheduled to visit Falmouth, Jamaica and Nassau, Bahamas. However, those plans won't work anymore.

The exact problem was not disclosed by the cruise line or the Captain, but passengers were told the ship would slow down and there will be a change in itinerary.

"We are currently experiencing a technical issue with one of our propulsion systems. While our team works to resolve this, we’ll be sailing at a reduced speed and will need to make a slight adjustment to our itinerary."

"We’re terribly sorry for this last-minute change. Please know that your safety and comfort are always our top priorities."

Now Allure of the Seas will skip Falmouth, and go to Nassau, Bahamas directly.

"Instead of visiting Falmouth, Jamaica, we’ll now sail directly to Nassau, Bahamas, where we are expected to arrive at approximately 7:00AM."

The new port hours are to be in Nassau between 7:30am to 5:30pm. 

Afterwards, the ship will sail and do a sea day before returning to Nassau again on Friday, Day 6, as originally scheduled.

Allure of the Seas is one of the biggest cruise ships in the world, with a double occupancy of 5,718 passengers.  It's 1,187 feet long and revolutionized the cruise industry when it launched in 2010 just months after Oasis of the Seas did.

At the time of publishing this article, Allure had a speed of 11-12 knots, reflecting the reduced speed in the announcement.

A passenger onboard Allure of the Seas shared photos of the ships wake after the announcement was made. I'm not an engineer, but it appears the starboard azipod is not functioning. 

To be clear, we don't know what the issue is and merely speculating at what the issue could be.

Azipods are multidirectional pods that drive the ship and can be rotated 360 degrees. They are the standard form of propulsion for all of Royal Caribbean's new cruise ships.

Most importantly, Allure of the Seas is still seaworthy and safe to sail on.  This is why cruise ships have multiple azipods and backup systems to ensure the ship doesn't need all systems.

By reducing its speed, it reduces the strain on the other parts of the propulsion.

Royal Caribbean is offering passengers compensation

Passengers on Allure of the Seas received a letter in their cabin explaining the situation and offering "a small token of our appreciation".

It's fairly common when a ship alters its itinerary at the last-minute, the cruise line offers passengers some extra onboard credit as a gesture of good will.  

An onboard credit, per stateroom, will be given based on the category booked:

• Inside & Oceanview: $100 USD
• Neighborhood view/balcony: $150 USD
• Suite: $200 USD
• Each third and fourth passenger: $50 USD per guest

Thanks to Royal Caribbean Blog reader Colby Burnett for sharing this information.

Excursions will be refunded

Any booked excursions through Royal Caribbean in Falmouth will be automatically refunded to the onboard account.

The credits can be used anywhere onboard, and any remaining, refundable amounts at the end of the sailing will be refunded to the card on file within 14 business days from final disembarkation.

Ordinarily an itinerary that visits the same port twice in the same sailing might not be ideal, but Nassau has one major advantage.

Royal Caribbean recently opened its first Royal Beach Club there, an exclusive resort experience just for cruise line passengers.

There are multiple beaches and pools, along with included food and alcoholic beverages. 

Now passengers have the opportunity to go twice to the beach club and double up on what's arguably one of Royal Caribbean's best new offerings.

Read more: I went to Royal Caribbean's two best beach clubs in one weekend

Propulsion problems sometimes happen on cruise ships

Engine troubles are not uncommon among cruise ships, as they can occasionally occur.

A ship like Allure of the Seas operates every week, offering cruises without any stops year-round.  Nonetheless, propulsion problems are rare.

Allure of the Seas is not a new ship, but Royal Caribbean invests a lot of money into routine maintenance. In fact, Allure underwent a massive upgrade last year to not only add new venues to the ship, but also provide routine maintenance to its engines, propellors, and other primary systems.

Just like your well-maintained car at home, engine trouble can still occur.

It's common when there is an issue for the ship's speed to be affected and itinerary changed, rather than cancelling the entire sailing.

Maintenance can be done to the ship while in port if necessary, rather than pulling it out of service completely.

Royal Caribbean's new credit card has gotten into the hands of passengers, and we have our first look at how easy it is to redeem points.

It's been about a month since the new Royal ONE Visa Signature credit card opened applications for it, and it's clearly been a step-up from the old card.

One of the best things about this card is you can redeem points not just for a Royal Caribbean cruise, but also for a Celebrity or Silversea cruise. I was curious how the point redemption process would work in order to maximize this benefit.

Royal Caribbean Group was adamant about the fact this is a big improvement for consumers who have more choice in how they can earn and redeem points, as well as build their loyalty.

Now that the new credit card is openly available, here's what to expect when you redeem all of those points towards your next sailing.

Moving points into your account is simple

Anyone that applies for the new cards could get up to 70,000 bonus points simply for signing up, and that could be turned around quite quickly to a future cruise.

One of our readers shared their experience with the new card and redeeming points.  He signed up almost immediately for the Royal ONE Plus card when it applications opened up.

In fact, after getting approved, he was able to use a digital temporary card number, which was valid for two months while he waited for the new card to arrive. 

New Royal ONE Visa cardholders can earn 45,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first 90 days from account opening.

New cardholders can earn 70,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 90 days from account opening.

Once you hit that spending threshold, the points are added in a few days to your account, "I can say the 70k points for signing up for a RoyalOne Plus card appeared within a week of satisfying the requirements for the new card bonus."

With your points, there are three options you can use them for:

• Onboard credit
• Reduce final payment cost
• Book a cruise

It's your choice to apply points towards any one of those things. I was interested to see there weren't "tiers", where a certain amount of points qualifies for a certain rewards. Rather, your points equal a dollar value and that can be used as you see fit.

Royal Caribbean points are worth at least one cent per point, so you'll have $50 in rewards for every 5,000 points earned.

The 70,000 bonus points are worth at least $700. That's enough for a cheap weekend cruise on an older ship.

It is unified across Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises, with both apps giving the same options and access to the same points.

Here's how it worked in our example to redeem points for a Celebrity Reflection sailing:

• May 10 - Apply for RoyalOne Plus, approved with temporary credit card number provided.
• May 11 - Paid annual home insurance policy with temporary card number
• May 11 - Board Reflection, edit check in to add the temporary RoyalOne card for the onboard account
• May 15 - Debark Reflection with onboard account charges going to RoyalOne Plus card satisfying the threshold to earn the bonus 70,000 points
• May 17 - Notified by email I had met the requirements for the 70,000 bonus points
• May 20 - New card delivered
• May 21 - Partial redemption of 30,000 points for $300 OBC 

Once the 30,000 points were redeemed, it was applied to the account overnight.

Should you get a Royal ONE Visa card?

Credit cards tied to a cruise line have one advantage: it's the only credit card you can get to earn points for onboard credit or a free cruise.

The Royal ONE card has no annual fee, which makes it attractive since you don't have to spend enough each year to make it worthwhile to keep. For someone that cruises occasionally, this is the kind of card that you could keep in your wallet and leverage when you have a sailing coming up.

Moreover, it also includes priority check-in at the cruise terminal. That's a perk usually reserved for suite guests or Pinnacle Club members.

The Royal ONE Plus Visa is probably better for someone that cruises a lot, because it carries a $99 annual fee. That isn't a huge fee, but I'd argue it's the kind of card best for someone that sails on Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises or Silversea at least a few times each year. Then, you could justify the annual fee more.

These are credit cards marketed towards cruise fans, and it's best for them. Other travel cards offer more flexibility with how you can redeem points, including the ability to transfer rewards out to other programs.

Nonetheless, if you're a cruise fan and sail at least a couple times per year, this the card for you.

I'd think about how often you realistically will sail before choosing one of the cards, and whether a travel credit card with more flexible travel rewards is better for you.

A balcony cabin is the most popular type of cruise ship stateroom on any Royal Caribbean ship, but is it a good idea to sleep with the door open?

For many people, having a balcony room is romanticized for offering a private enclave for you to enjoy the ocean breeze and take in the views.

After 20 years of cruising, I've stayed in plenty of balcony rooms in Europe, the Caribbean, and Alaska. It's undeniably a great stateroom choice because you always have a view of what's happening near your ship.

That leads some cruisers to want to sail with the balcony door open to truly embrace being on the open sea.

There's good and bad about sleeping with the balcony door open, but I generally think it's probably not as enjoyable as some people think in practice.

Letting in the ocean breeze is tempting

I'll admit, when you first step foot on your balcony and take in the view outside, it's special.

Once your cruise ship begins sailing, there should be a decent amount of wind on your balcony. However, you'd be surprised how little wind there can be sometimes depending on your ship's speed and the direction of the wind, relative to your ship.

But when the wind is just right, it can easily come into your cabin and either cool you all down or just add that salty sea air aroma.

I think a lot of people equate this idea with having a beach house somewhere and enjoying the sea breeze there. I'm not sure it always ends up being like that kind of an experience, but I certainly understand the temptation.

But when the weather is cooperating, I've left my balcony door open to the room while I'm watching TV, working on my laptop, or just relaxing in the room.

It can be very humid, making sleeping difficult

The first issue with sleeping with the balcony door open is how humid it can be at sea, especially in the Caribbean.

Most months of the year, the humidity levels can be quite high. Or at least high enough to quickly make your stateroom feel a little bit too sticky.

Enjoying the breeze during the day is one thing, but I find too much humidity makes sleeping difficult. You enter that situation of uncomfortable because it's too hot under the covers and too cold without them. Plus, I don't think Royal Caribbean's bedding is optimal for hot or humid sleeping.

Compounding the problem is once your stateroom balcony door is open, the air conditioning will automatically turn off.  Without that, the humidity level is likely to rise.  Moreover, it will take a while after you close the door for the air conditioning to "catch back up" to the right temperature.

If you're lucky enough to cruise during the winter and humidity isn't a factor, then you just risk the room getting a bit too cold for comfort. 

I'd be too paranoid about birds or insects coming in the room to sleep with the door open

Even if the humidity and temperature are perfect, I still wouldn't recommend sleeping with the balcony door open because there's a chance something else could enter your room.

Birds and insects are known to fly near cruise ships, and it doesn't take much for their curiosity to pique as they see somewhere safe to land.

There have been a few videos of birds getting into balcony rooms that get posted on the internet, but I suspect it's happened more than a few times.

Clearly I am not the type of person that enjoys being in the "great outdoors" to see this as a plus, but I want my room just for myself and clear of any other non-humans.

I'd probably be more worried about a mosquito than a seagull, but regardless, I don't want either in my room.

You could get woken up in the early morning from the ship docking

You would be surprised how well the balcony doors work to muffle sound from outside, because your cruise ship is downright loud when it's trying to dock.

There's a lot of beeping, horns, movement, and people yelling when a ship comes into a port.  And all of this typically happens in the early morning hours.

Last year when my ship was returning to Southampton, I was awoken to the constant sounds of a forklift that was moving back and forth from the ship to the terminal. And then when a door opened, it sounded like a fire alarm was going off.  All of it woke me up quickly, and that was with the balcony door closed.

Because cruise ships tend to always dock in the early morning, it can make sleeping in difficult at best.

Speaking of noise, anyone on their balcony talking near your room can easily filter into your room too. I'm always amazed at how the acoustics work that I can hear someone's entire conversation a few doors down the hall.

One other issue will be the sun because without the blinds drawn, it will get very bright in your room.

When the balcony door is open, it's difficult to open the main door

I'll also mention when the balcony door is open, it creates a wind tunnel if you try to open the door to your hallway.

While you're sleeping, this isn't an issue. But if one of you wants to leave the room for any reason and let the others in the cabin sleep, it's going to quickly envelope the room in a wind storm quickly making a big mess with anything not held down.

Moreover, the door  to the hallway will slam shut because of the wind and that's loud.

Sleeping with the balcony door open just sounds better than it really is

The lack of air conditioning and higher humidity levels alone makes sleeping with your balcony door open less of a good idea than it sounds.

Yes, it's possible on certain sailings for the temperature and humidity outside to be low enough, but I'd estimate this is not very common. Especially in the Caribbean.

If you want to sleep with the blinds open, you could still wake up to the ocean view while enjoying a climate controlled cabin all night long.

And no, please don't drag your mattress out to the balcony to sleep there.

Ultimately, I'd advise against trying to sleep with the balcony door open on a cruise and instead enjoy being outside with the ocean breeze during the daytime.