Radiance of the Seas has a new non-smoking casino, and it's an escalation in a growing trend.
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I was at a party recently and the topic of cruise vacations came up, and that's when one guest asked if cruises were just something old people went on.
I've been asked or heard similar statements many times over the years, so I'm not new to this line of thinking, but it's surprising that so many hold onto this misconception about cruises. Especially given how prolific new ships have been in garnering all sorts of press for being anything but conventional and dull.
The Cruise Lines International Association says 22% of all cruisers were millennials and 14% were Gen Z. Those numbers are much higher on Royal Caribbean, where the average age of a cruiser is a millennial now.
A study last year by Morning Consult Intelligence showed Gen Z and millennial respondents were showing a greater interest in booking a cruise on one of the mainstream lines, with a 2-5% jump year-over-year.
Unfortunately, despite these growing numbers of young people wanting to cruise, the narrative has not yet caught up with the facts.
Like all myths, there's a source of truth to them. But that's greatly changing with Royal Caribbean.
While some cruise lines may still retain an older demographic, the mainstream lines are moving forward to appealing to the younger generations.
"More than half of the millennials tell us they are more likely to consider cruising today compared to two years ago," said Royal Caribbean Group CEO Jason Liberty last year.
He says that up-tick in interest is because of, "the attractive value proposition of a cruise."
The result is almost 1 in 2 guests sailing on Royal Caribbean ships are millennials or younger.
The Royal Caribbean app has undergone tremendous updates and feature additions to make it more useful and more engaging. Not only does it contain activity information, but it has been designed to be more useful for younger cruisers.
Mobile badges make tracking which sailings and destinations you've visited more personal. There are "Netflix-style recommendations" for dining, nightlife, and excursions based on personal preferences. And push notifications make it easier to browse add-ons that could be of interest (and save money too).
Younger travelers see a cruise ship as an easy way to explore different places in one trip, "Consumers place significant value on visiting multiple destinations and this is even more important to Millennial and Gen Z consumers; something that cruising is uniquely positioned to deliver on."
Beyond the stats, what you can experience on a cruise has changed over the years and many of the trends lean towards people that want more than classic cruise activities.
Royal Caribbean made waves when it launched a brand new ship specifically aimed at attracting new cruisers and those that want a party vibe.
Utopia of the Seas was designed to be the weekend party cruise ship, and other ships have shifted to this dynamic as well.
In addition to the traditional things to do, there are more parties and themed events than ever before.
Royal Caribbean dropped the "formal night" moniker years ago, instead opting to lean into theme nights. While wearing a tuxedo is quite rare to see on a ship, families dressing up with matching outfits for Y2K night, white night, and Caribbean night are all much more popular than ever before.
Royal Caribbean went even deeper with appealing to families with building out an entire area of Icon of the Seas to be dedicated to young families.
Offering more than ever for parents and children to do together draws younger cruisers to try a cruise. Plus, their parents can opt for the party fun later in the evening after dropping their kids off at kids club.
Tangentially related to the idea only the "nearly wed and nearly dead" go on cruises is the idea it's a boring vacation.
This is probably rooted in the idea you wake up and go to the pool deck every day. In truth, there's so much more to do.
Cruise ships offer shopping, surfing, water slides, ice skating, laser tag, and deck parties. There are Broadway shows you can see, video games to play, gambling in the casino, karaoke and so much more.
If you look through the daily activities on Royal Caribbean, you'll quickly see how much is available to try.
Royal Caribbean designs its ships to compete with Las Vegas or Orlando. They want it to be a floating destination with more to do and try. So much of what you can do on land is available to do on a cruise ship too. And odds are even more.
When I get in my cruise ship cabin, the first thing I look to do is prep it to be my temporary home by making important changes.
Not only do these changes personalize the room more, but I think it makes things feel more like I'd want it if it were my bedroom at home.
Because I cruise a lot, I've come up with my routine when I get into my room. Some of it is personalization, and other aspects are about setting up the rest of the cruise to be as I want it.
Plus, I prefer to get it all done on embarkation day so I can enjoy the rest of the cruise without worrying about needing to still do something.
Here's my list of 16 things everyone should do when they get to their cabin on a cruise.
Whether I'm in a giant suite or a small inside room, my eye immediately latches onto the thermostat when I first walk in.
It seems every time the cabins are prepped for the next sailing, the thermostats get reset to a neutral setting of hot vs cold, but in my opinion, it's almost always too warm.
Unless it's the middle of winter, I always crank the air conditioning back down to its coldest setting.
Part of why I do this is because cruise ship cabins tend to run hot, especially if you have a balcony or window, because the sun radiates heat in.
Plus, I find it easier to sleep if the room is cold instead of hot. Not to mention it's faster to raise the room temperature than try to cool it down later.
My next step is to visually inspect my room to verify it's what I expected.
Most of the time, the room is exactly as I imagined, and things are in place and it's how it should be.
I rarely encounter any issues, but if there was one, I'd immediately pick up the stateroom phone and call the maintenance department so they can fix it.
Royal Caribbean has a team of maintenance workers that live on the cruise ship. They can be dispatched to deal with issues, large or small.
It's a good idea to collect anything valuable and put it in the stateroom safe.
You'll find the safe almost always in your closet, although on some ships it can be located in drawers.
I'll put my wallet, passports, cash, and any jewelry I don't need at the time away in the safe.
This might be a hot take, but I don't know why anyone would carry their wallet around the ship. The ship is cashless (Seapass card pays for everything) and I'll keep my tip money or casino cash in a pocket. My car keys, driver's license, Macy's charge card, and George Costanza exploding wallet in my safe.
I've tried unpacking and living out of a suitcase, and unpacking feels more like living at home. But it's extra work.
I feel like unpacking all my clothes reduces clutter in the room and it feels more "normal" than just grabbing things from a suitcase. Plus, it's definitely easier to find specific clothing if I unpacked.
There's an impressive amount of storage space in your stateroom. Drawers, closets, and hangers are all available to use and most of the time there is more storage space than I can use.
On older ships, I recommend trying to keep your clothes away from the life jackets that are probably in your closet. The life jackets have a tendency to smell a little bit, and that odor could get onto nearby clothes.
While I'm unpacking, I'll try to get my formal wear out of my suitcase immediately and onto hangers.
Royal Caribbean has "Dress Your Best" nights, which are better known as "formal nights".
Plus, there are other themed nights where you might have packed a special outfit for it.
Your closet comes with an assortment of hangers, but if you need more, your stateroom attendant can provide them.
With unpacking complete, it's time to get those bags out of the way.
Don't leave luggage in your room or closet. Instead, you can fit it under your bed.
This cruise tip reduces clutter, takes advantage of under-utilized space, and frees up valuable closet space.
Another fun cruise trend to adopt is decorating your cabin door.
It might seem silly, but I've found it's a fun way to celebrate being on vacation and sharing part of your personality with others.
You can put up practically anything, but you cannot use any adhesives. Instead, magnets are suitable for arranging things on your door without damaging the door or paint job.
You could put up your names, battery-powered LED lights, a whiteboard, or "I'm on vacation" signs. Some cruisers get very creating with all of this.
Another area to check is the balcony and door to it.
I think if you're in a balcony room, you'll probably instinctively head out to see what it's like anyway, but verify the door opens and closes as you expect.
The top issue I run into is a door that feels like a bank safe to try to open or close. Once you sail, I've had balcony doors have a loud whistling sound. In either case, a call to maintenance can usually remedy the issue.
Also, there should be two chairs and a table, at the very least.
If you booked connecting balconies, double check the balcony divider is open, and if it's not, ask your stateroom attendant to open it for you.
Typically there aren't many power outlets in your room, but it's a good idea to verify the outlets all work.
To be honest, I can't think of a time when an outlet didn't work, but better safe than sorry. I would hate to be getting ready for sleep only to realize I can't charge my phone.
Perhaps the part of my cruise ship room I've had the most maintenance problems is the bathroom.
Clogged toilets and backed up showers are problems I've run into over the years. The good news is it's not common, and when it does occur, can be fixed quickly.
Here is my checklist for things in the bathroom to look at:
If you have more than 340 points in Royal Caribbean's loyalty program, you're supposed to get upgraded toiletries in the room.
The crew member you're likely to encounter the most on your cruise is your cabin attendant, and they can be really helpful.
Cabin attendants won't be around when you first get to your room. They usually start their shift around 3pm, and will go door to door and try to say hello.
When you meet them, they'll ask if everything is acceptable in the room or if you have any preferences. They usually will have you their card with their name and phone number. I'll stick the card on the vanity so I can easily find it if I need it later.
Besides alerting them to any issues you identified earlier, this is when you'll want to make certain requests:
If you ever have any issues or concerns about your stateroom, this is the crew member to talk to.
Did you know every bed can be split or combined?
You can specify this ahead of time in your cruise reservation, but perhaps you changed your mind or the request never got fulfilled. Don't worry, you don't have to move any furniture around.
Ask your cabin attendant to make the change.
They can also set up a bed on the couch, or opt to leave it in "bed mode" if you prefer.
When my kids are using a couch as a bed, they prefer to leave it as a bed because it's better for lounging and ensures if they want a nap, we don't have to track down the cabin attendant.
As you enter your room, there should be paperwork on your vanity. Just like your mail at home, some of it goes right in the garbage, but some of it is important.
A list of Royal Caribbean benefits you're entitled to as part of Crown and Anchor Society is listed there, which is a good reminder to take advantage of them later. These include discounts on beer, spa treatments, photo packages, and more.
If you booked any shore excursions through the cruise line, your tickets should be in an envelope on your vanity.
You may also find invitations to events, welcome letters, and more.
I'll sift through it all, toss anything I don't need, and then stash the important stuff so I know where it is.
Every cabin has a fridge, but it's more of a cooler than a true refrigerator. Nonetheless, it works great at keeping drinks cold.
Whether you have complimentary beverages from Crown and Anchor Society or brought 12 bottles of water or any non-alcoholic beverage onto the ship, I'll put them in the "fridge" so I can enjoy them later.
Not only do I do this so the drinks are ready, but it clears up space.
With cabins usually ready by 1pm, I'm ready for a quick recharge by this point on embarkation day.
The first day is busy, and there's lots more fun waiting for me in the evening. So a strategic nap in the early afternoon allows me to sleep off my welcome aboard lunch and be refreshed for the rest of the day.
If I do it right, I'm awake and ready for more afternoon fun well before sailaway.
I've gotten in the habit of completing the safety drill as soon as I board the ship, but sometimes it doesn't happen.
In case I didn't do it earlier, now is the time to quickly take care of eMuster.
The drill consists of three parts. The first two, watching a lifejacket safety video and listening to the emergency horn, can be done via the Royal Caribbean app.
You can actually do these two steps even before you're on the ship the morning of embarkation day. We usually do it on the drive to the cruise terminal.
The final step is to go to your muster station to check-in. On the back of the cabin door is a sign indicating where your muster station is. It's also located within the "Safety" section of the Royal Caribbean app.
Which specialty restaurants are worth it is one of the top questions I'm asked, and I realized I'm usually recommending the same places.
Depending on which ship you're sailing, there are different assortments of specialty restaurants you can eat at. Each one has an additional cost, which makes it debatable if there's enough value to dine there. Plus, cruisers are curious of the quality.
Royal Caribbean includes really good food at its complimentary restaurants, so spending extra on specialty dining is a question of how much better can it be. Thanks to dining packages, the cost to eat out at a specialty restaurant is significantly less. Dining packages can reduce the cost by almost half, because of the bulk discount nature it has.
When I'm asked which specialty restaurants are the best ones to eat at, I realized I usually give the same ones over and over again.
Don't worry, there are plenty of great included restaurants I like too!
Here's why each of these restaurants is worthy of eating at, in my opinion.
When someone wants to know a good restaurant to go to with a large group, I almost always think of Izumi Hibachi first.
This is the definition of a "crowd pleaser" option because it combines a fun show element with palatable food that should appeal to both picky and adventurous eaters.
If you've never dined at a teppanyaki restaurant, the chef cooks for everyone at the table and the chef will play up the experience by performing tricks, telling jokes, and including everyone.
Kids love it because of the show factor. I believe this was the first specialty restaurant my kids would regularly get excited for because they knew it would be fun.
But the menu stands on its own as being really good as well. If you're picky, uneasy about Asian food, or not sure what to order, you can have chicken or steak and everything else resembling a vegetable on the side.
But if you love Asian food, there's fried rice, sushi, and plenty of other ways to customize your meal.
Izumi is fun, predictably fun, and very satisfying.
When I hear "date night", the first place I think of is 150 Central Park because I think it has the perfect ambiance for that sort of evening.
I think 150 Central Park looks almost intimidating to someone who's never eaten there because it seems like it might be too fancy, but it's really not at all.
You can expect modern American food here, and their Beef Tenderloin for two is fantastic.
Yes, the ambiance is lovely and if you're seated in one of the tables that has the egg-shaped enclosed chairs, it adds to the charm.
I think it's also a great restaurant beyond date night. The menu is robust, and I like that it's different enough from other restaurant menus to not feel repetitive.
It's hard to ever go wrong with Italian food, and I think Giovanni's Italian Kitchen hits the high mark.
To be clear, Royal Caribbean has three different Italian restaurants, but I'm talking about the newest version. While I don't dislike Giovanni's Italian Table or Jamie's Italian, I think Giovanni's Italian Kitchen has a better menu overall.
Not only is the menu wider in scope, but there are so many top Italian food staples that I could there multiple times on a cruise.
I'm a fan of any restaurant that isn't a "one trick pony" when it comes to its menu. I like variety and you never know if you'll be in the mood for pizza, chicken parmigiana, or a plate of pasta.
In fact, their pizza is dangerously underrated. I think a lot of people think, "Pizza? I can get that at Sorrento's" but the quality of the pizza at Giovanni's Italian Kitchen is so much better. I'm a pizza snob and I think this version is amazing. Try the margherita pizza and tell me it's not impressive.
Since it's Italian food, it's also a very palatable menu. Everyone in your group should be able to find something to eat.
The most casual restaurant on my list is quite a crowd pleaser in Playmakers Sports Bar.
As you might expect with any sports bar, the menu has burgers, wings, fries, and more. It's your classic comfort food, and it works really well.
No reservations required, and Playmakers is my go-to spot when everyone's too tired to get dressed up for dinner, but we want something beyond the Windjammer.
Their food is tasty, and a few dishes are superb.
I think Playmakers has the best burger of any restaurant, and their nachos, onion rings, and Buffalo crunch rolls are the things you'll probably dream about when at home.
It's not a giant menu, but there's good eats all around. As an added bonus, you can catch the games on one of the many TV's that surround the restaurant.
My wife would yell at me if I didn't mention the Campfire Cookie dessert, which is arguably the most decadent treat on any Royal Caribbean ship and so savory you'll want to come to Playmakers just for dessert.
I've eaten at both of the new supper clubs found on Icon of the Seas and Star of the Seas, and I was immediately so impressed by how much fun and different they are from a typical specialty restaurant.
Yes, it's expensive ($200 per person) and requires formal attire. But if you're looking for a fancy night out to truly do something different, this is the restaurant for you.
Empire Supper Club has a New York theme, while Lincoln Park Supper Club has a Chicago theme. Later this year, Legend of the Seas will debut a Hollywood theme.
What you need to know about each is they have a multi-course meal that pairs food, cocktails, and the music you hear.
These are high-end establishments where passengers actually dress up. You'll likely see tuxedos and ball gowns here.
As cruising becomes more casual overall, it's nice to have one place with a upscale vibe.
If there's an "old faithful" entry for specialty restaurants, it has to be Chops Grille.
As Royal Caribbean's venerable steakhouse, I can't say it's a bad choice at all for where to eat.
You'll find a few different kinds of steaks to consider. On newer ships, there are even higher quality cuts you can order for an additional cost.
You'll find Chops on every single Royal Caribbean ship, which is the only specialty restaurant with that distinction.
I must have eaten at Chops at least 20 times or more, and it's consistently a quality meal.
There are non-steak options on the menu, but I think the red meat stands out as being the top choice to get.
Chops is a great choice for date nights, family dinners, and dinner with friends. It's fancy enough to pass for a special night out, but still retains a casual mass appeal.
All aboard for dinner on Royal Caribbean's next-gen dining experience.
You can now book a reservation at the Royal Railway Legend Station, which is one of the most anticipated restaurants coming to its new cruise ship, Legend of the Seas.
Royal Caribbean revealed it would add this immersive dining experience to its next ship, which makes you feel like you're actually on a classic train car. You walk onto what looks like a train platform, board a train car, and can look out the window as the world passes you by.
As of Monday, reservations for European sailings are now open to book. However, reservations for the sailings from North America remain unavailable.
With reservations available, we have our first look at how much dinner will cost.
Royal Railway costs $165 per adult or $110 per child with no pre-cruise discount offered. It's a bit higher from when the first Royal Railway went on sale for Utopia of the Seas in 2024, and the prices were $119.99 per adult and $59.99 per child. Children ages 0-5 are complimentary.
Royal Railway is included with all dining packages, with a $50 surcharge per adults and $25 per child applied once onboard.
A $50 per person cancellation fee will apply if you cancel within 24 hours of the reservation time, or if you do not arrive within 15 minutes of the reservation time at Royal Railway.
The higher price tag could also be a mechanism to control demand, which is a tactic the cruise line has used to prevent runaway sales taking up every reservation before everyone has a chance to consider it.
Prices for Crown's Edge, Hideaway Beach, Royal Beach Club, and the supper clubs all started off at one price before pre-cruise discounts began to be commonly offered.
As an example, Royal Railway Utopia Station is priced at $107.99 per adult and $44.99 per child for a Utopia of the Seas sailing in April 2026.
I'm not promising prices will drop later, but I've observed a pattern to how new experiences get priced.
Royal Railway makes it feel like you're dining on a classic train car, and this version will be different from the one on Utopia of the Seas.
It offers a multi-course meal that follows the famous journey of Marco Polo, with each course matching the country you are passing through.
Follow in Marco Polo’s footsteps as you journey along the ancient Silk Routes, taking in sights and cultures on a five-course, flavor-packed expedition.
Digital windows provide a view outside the train, where you can see the mountains, cities, towns, and celebrations along the way.
I previewed an early test version of the restaurant at a mock-up in Royal Caribbean's headquarters, and the food is easily going to be the focal point of the experience.
In my test, there was still a show element where a conductor explains where you're headed and what you're seeing, but there's far less storytelling happening compared to the first restaurant.
I think because the cuisine is so distinguished, the food is the primary element instead of the story.
Of course, I saw an early test, so things may have changed significantly. Nonetheless, I'm excited for a restaurant on Royal Caribbean to offer Turkish, Indian, and Persian food in a formal setting.
Legend of the Seas is the third Icon Class ship, and will have her first sailing in early July 2026.
The new ship debuts first in Europe, offering primarily 7-night Mediterranean sailings from Barcelona and Rome. Then in November, Legend will begin sailing from Fort Lauderdale and offer 6- and 8-night cruises, with each visiting Perfect Day at CocoCay.
The first sailing is July 4, 2026 from the Italian port of Civitavecchia (Rome).
It will be among the biggest ships in the world when she debuts. Legend measures 365 meters long, nearly 50 meters wide, and the 248,000-ton vessel is powered by LNG.
Happy Sunday, and I hope you had a great week. It was a busy week of Royal Caribbean fun, and I have a round-up of all of it in this hand-dandy blog post.
Royal Caribbean has added a non-smoking casino to another cruise ship, but this change is different.
After emerging from a scheduled drydock, Radiance of the Seas surprised guests with an unannounced change to replace the pub onboard with a non-smoking casino.
Adding non-smoking casinos isn't new, but this is the first time they've replaced a popular bar with a gambling space.
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 — The Boarding Day Trick Most Cruisers Don’t Know — and don’t forget to subscribe here.
There are some truly underrated and lesser-known dishes you should be ordering in the Main Dining Room.
While you won't go wrong with the MDR staples, I think a few appetizers and entrees go overlooked but are some of the best food you'll find on a Royal Caribbean ship.
In my 20 years of cruising on Royal Caribbean, it's clear some of these items stand out as being fantastic.
When Allie took her husband on his first megaship, the experience was very different from what he was used to.
There's nothing like an Oasis Class ship, which is why so many new cruisers are drawn to trying them.
Moving from smaller ships to Oasis Class introduced a few surprises and new favorites for Luke.
When Legend of the Seas launches this summer, there's going to be changes to the dining options.
Royal Caribbean is never content to copy its ships, so there are always tweaks and changes. Dining is definitely one area we see the most variations when a new ship comes out.
The cruise line revealed all of the dining options coming to Legend of the Seas, including a few surprises.
I love eating in the Main Dining Room, but I've seen so many people making mistakes in how they eat there.
It's most common with new cruisers, but even established cruisers will sometimes slip up.
I think everyone wants to have a great meal every time they eat in the MDR, so I came up with mistakes to avoid.
We've just released the 597th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast. In it, Matt talks through the curious situation happening with NCL leadership changes.
You can subscribe to the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast via YouTube, iTunes, Google Play or RSS.
Royal Caribbean is moving ships around to avoid a blizzard and bad winter weather along the east coast of the United States.
So far, three cruise ships have had their itineraries changed because of the poor weather, and additional changes could be announced.
Passengers on Star of the Seas, Independence of the Seas, and Odyssey of the Seas have been notified of changes to their cruise plans as a result of the storm.
Here's a look at what's changed so far. This article was last updated at 11:08 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 23.
The February 22 sailing of Star of the Seas will have to skip Royal Caribbean's private island.
"Due to a weather system expected to bring unfavorable conditions and rough seas to Perfect Day at CocoCay on Monday, February 23, we will be skipping our visit and enjoy a Sea Day instead."
Because the ship will bypass CocoCay, they will now arrive in St. Thomas earlier.
"We're terribly sorry for the last-minute change caused by the weather - your safety is our top priority."
This is one of a handful of visits to CocoCay that have been scrapped this winter so far because of bad weather conditions.
(Credit: Cruise Mapper. Screenshot taken at 11:05 a.m. EST on Feb. 23)
According to Cruise Mapper, Royal Caribbean's Independence of the Seas was unable to dock at CocoCay on Feb. 23.
However, rather than spend another day at sea, the ship's first port of call on the 7-night cruise from Miami is now Nassau. They are the fourth Royal Caribbean Group ship in port, alongside Allure of the Seas, Symphony of the Seas, and Celebrity Summit.
Other stops on the weeklong voyage include San Juan and St. Thomas.
Odyssey of the Seas will return to Cape Liberty on Feb. 22, but will be delayed in leaving on her sailing because of the expected blizzard.
A letter sent to guests booked on the sailing states that they’re expecting "high winds and rough seas."
A cruiser posted on Reddit, "We’re due to sail out of NJ tomorrow on the Odyssey and just heard from RC that we won’t be leaving at the original 2pm departure time, that we’ll likely be docked overnight, meaning we wouldn’t leave til Monday morning."
The ship is scheduled to visit Port Canaveral, Florida, on Tuesday, Nassau, Bahamas, on Wednesda,y and CocoCay on Thursday. All of those plans could be changed if the ship is delayed by a day.
The issue will be when it's safe to depart and if the Port of New York will be open or not.
Officials along the East Coast are expecting a major winter storm that could dump up to 20 inches of snow in parts of the Northeast starting late in the weekend.
The National Weather Service said on Saturday that this winter storm is now expected to bring "significant impacts" across the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast Sunday into Monday.
Blizzard and winter storm warnings were issued for tens of millions of people across a swath of the Northeast, concentrating around New York City.
Blizzard conditions from heavy snowfall and strong winds are expected along the East Coast from Delaware through southeastern New England.
The nor'easter comes from a storm moving from the Gulf Coast over the weekend, spreading accumulating snow from West Virginia through the mid-Atlantic and into southern New England from Saturday night through Monday.
New Jersey, where Cape Liberty is located, has already declared a state of emergency by its governor.
Underscoring its commitment to the local community, one of the first things Royal Caribbean is doing to improve the local area around Costa Maya is to fix the long-neglected roads.
The cruise line acquired the Port of Costa Maya, along with a lot of surrounding land in order to build Perfect Day Mexico. But before it can do that, it wants to improve the infrastructure of the surrounding area.
The first step is Royal Caribbean has announced a significant investment to improve road infrastructure in Nuevo Mahahual, Mexico.
Unveiled yesterday, community roads will be rehabilitated. The plans were shared at a collaborative meeting between company representatives, local authorities, and residents.
While building Perfect Day Mexico is Royal Caribbean's ultimate aim, it wants to work as a partner with the local community. Improving roads is a win-win for both company and community.
As Costa Maya is transformed over the next couple of years, Royal Caribbean is making broader investments in the area. The new infrastructure project not only reinforces the cruise line’s presence in the region but also highlights a deeper philosophy: being an active, engaged neighbor beyond just tourism.
Better roads is more than engineering, it's something the cruise line hopes will demonstrate to community stakeholders its commitment beyond words.
At the heart of the project’s announcement was a community meeting that emphasized transparency, mutual respect, and shared priorities. Residents and local leaders were invited to help define needs and next steps, setting a tone of genuine partnership rather than unilateral decision-making.
In addition to logistical improvements, Royal Caribbean is actively working to protect the local environment.
Plans have already been revealed to conserve about 111 acres of mangroves, restoring degraded coastal areas, and powering operations with 100% renewable energy by 2040.
For years, the municipality had dumped sewage into the coastal area of Mahahual, contaminating both the mangroves and the beach adjacent to the cruise ship pier.
Royal Caribbean plans to build their own reverse osmosis system to provide drinking water as well as a treatment plant to clean up the area, which will later be transferred to the municipal government to serve the entire community.
The project will focus on the repair and improvement of "key roads" within Nuevo Mahahual, which is the village near the Costa Maya port.
While the press release did not specify every street or exact stretch of roadway to be improved, it outlined several key operational points:
The hope is when it's complete, the upgraded roads will make a meaningful impact on local day-to-day life in a relatively short timeframe.
The short term benefit of these improved roads will be making it easier for the people that live and work around Mahahual to get around. But these roads will be critical for Perfect Day Mexico.
This will be Royal Caribbean's second Perfect Day destination, building on the success of the first one at CocoCay in The Bahamas. Announced as part of a multi-hundred million-dollar investment, Perfect Day Mexico is designed to include water parks, beaches, culinary venues, leisure spaces, and immersive guest experiences for cruise passengers.
In fact, the footprint is as large as the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World.
They'll need the roads as much as the locals in order to get equipment and supplies in, as well as be able to get shore excursions out to various destinations.
Dreams of bigger cruise ships coming to Tampa appear to be dead once more.
The Florida Senate approved a bill on Friday that included a provision to grant specific protections to the Terra Ceia Aquatic Preserve, which is the area of a land a new cruise terminal was proposed to be built on.
Last month, SSA Marine submitted plans to construct a multi-berth cruise port in Manatee County.
The location was set to be built on a roughly 328-acre coastal property known as the Knott‑Cowen tract at the mouth of Tampa Bay next to the Bob Graham Sunshine Skyway Bridge. Estimated time of completion was three to five years.
However, SB 302 would limit large-scale dredging and filling in the Terra Ceia Preserve. That's important because dredging is part of the plans to allow cruise ships to access the terminal.
Not only would the new terminal need to be built, but a 4.5-mile long channel would need to be dredged about 60 feet deep to accommodate the newest cruise ships.
Cruise Fever reported Sen. Jim Boyd added specific protections to the land. These provisions do not mention a cruise terminal, but it effectively makes it impossible for a private company to build on the land. The only exceptions granted are for public navigation projects, public necessity, or for any project that has the goal of improving the quality of the reserve.
The Senate passed the bill with a unanimous 38-0 vote.
Now that the amendment has passed, a second amendment will need to be filed to the House Companion Bill HB 1035, currently in its second reading.
Tampa has a cruise terminal downtown, but it can only handle smaller cruise ships. As the cruise industry has built larger ships, it's precluded Tampa from getting any newer ships.
Currently, only smaller ships, like Royal Caribbean's Grandeur of the Seas, Rhapsody of the Seas, or Serenade of the Seas are able to sail from Tampa.
The issue is the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, which blocks access to Tampa Bay. The bridge's height is not tall enough for newer, bigger ships to safely pass underneath.
According to SSA Marine's website, its terminal would solve that problem.
A new cruise port will complement existing cruise activities in the region by being able to accommodate the newer, larger, low-emissions cruise vessels that would otherwise be unable to visit due to the height restrictions of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge
As cruise ships continue to modernize, the region will be well positioned to align with and support the cruise industry’s future growth. Additionally, locating a new cruise port on the seaward side of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge could serve as a valuable community asset in the event of extreme weather or other emergency situations.
Not everyone is in favor of building a new terminal.
Since the new plans were announced, Manatee County official says staffers and their family members have received threats and harassment from constituents.
Some residents fear the port's construction and operations could negatively impact the environment and put unnecessary strain on infrastructure.
In a news release, Manatee County Administrator Charlie Bishop said some of those comments have crossed the line "to harassment, threats, and intimidation" of county workers and their families.
"This is unacceptable. No county employee should be harassed for performing their professional duties. No child should ever be targeted because of where their parent works. These actions must stop."
While the Senate passed the bill, the Florida House still needs to pass it and then Florida's Governor needs to sign it into law.
There's no official announcement or confirmation of a change in plans for the proposed new cruise terminal. But the Senate Bill's passing makes the chances look poor for the project to be practical.
For most cruisers, going to the Main Dining Room for dinner is the best option. After all, it's included, has great service, and you're bound to find a few things each night that will satisfy.
Cruise ships have other places to eat, such as the Windjammer buffet or a specialty restaurant, but I think the Main Dining Room has a more casual and family-friendly environment groups find appealing.
But just because the Main Dining Room seems like a pretty straightforward restaurant doesn't mean that there aren't mistakes you can make when you're dining there.
I've compiled this list of some of the most common mistakes people make when they eat there, and by avoiding these mistakes, you can ensure you're getting the best possible dinner experience the next time you visit.
After being seated at your table, the first thing you'll offered is a basket full of bread rolls. There are a few different varieties and honestly, it's really hard not to have a couple.
Cheese rolls, sliced baguette, pumpkin seed, and another one or two options are available to choose from, along with butter. As you wait for your food to come out, these rolls look more and more appetizing.
But newbies will have a few rolls and then struggle when the rest of the food comes out. These rolls will fill you up fast, leaving no room for your actual entree.
It's a potential mistake you can make in a lot of restaurants, but I'd hold off on devouring them.
Enjoy a single roll, sure, but then leave the rest for after your entree arrives. That way, you'll have room in your stomach for everything you want to taste at the table.
If you picked My Time Dining (Anytime Dining), there are two lines for tables: people with a reservation and those without one.
The people with a reservation are seated first, and the line for both can be quite long. This is especially true if you're looking to eat before 8pm.
The advantage of My Time Dining is you have flexibility in when you eat, but you should try to make a reservation whenever possible to ensure you minimize how much waiting there is.
You can make a reservation before the cruise with the Royal Caribbean app or in the Cruise Planner site. But you can still make reservations once onboard the ship by calling the dining hotline from any phone.
As soon as you have an idea when you'd like to eat, I recommend making a reservation so you can enjoy dinner closer to the time you prefer.
A lot of people see a beautiful dining room, white tablecloths, and giant chandelier, and assume they're going to get a meal that's on the fancier end of the spectrum.
Don't get me wrong, the Main Dining Room is a lovely restaurant to dine in, but it's not nearly as formal or as high-end a restaurant as it may look.
The Main Dining Room isn't a fancy restaurant by any means. Royal Caribbean wants it to be a welcoming, family-friendly place for a great dining meal. It's far closer to casual dining than the aesthetics would lead you to believe.
The restaurants that offer a fancy, high-end meal are reserved for the specialty restaurants, such as Chops Grille or the supper clubs.
In truth, the MDR is more about casual dining. That's not a bad thing, I love that you can come in with a nice pair of jeans and collared shirt and enjoy a meal seated with friends and family without any pretenses. Its a great casual, family restaurant.
I order food completely differently at a land restaurant compared to a cruise ship restaurant, especially at the Main Dining Room.
There is no extra charge to order more than one appetizer, entree, or dessert. In fact, the crew members encourage you to order what sounds good because they want you happy.
While this may sound gluttonous, the serving sizes of dishes tends to be smaller than what you'd get at a land restaurant. They're not miniscule portions by any means, but ordering two entrees isn't as crazy as it sounds when you get your food.
Some new cruisers won't really know they can, or should, order multiple dishes until perhaps after a few cruises.
I recommend ordering two appetizers and entrees not only to try each, but to hedge your bet if one dish isn't what you expected.
If what you ordered isn't what you expected, or the food isn't hot enough, don't sit there and take it!
The Main Dining Room staff want you to be happy and very satisfied. They are more than happy to bring you something else or prepare the dish differently if it will be more to your liking.
I understand no one wants to be a nuisance or a pain, but if you even hint you didn't love your food, any waiter or manager will insist on bringing you something else.
On a few occasions I've tried a dish and almost instantly knew this isn't what I like. I wanted to sample it to see if this could be something new I'd love, but it's not the case.
In those situations, I explain "it's me, not you" situation and ask for something else. The waiters are quite happy to step in and swap out dishes.
There are lots of places you dine at your cruise, so I think it's a mistake if you don't check the evening's menu before arriving.
Royal Caribbean rotates its dinner menu each night in the Main Dining Room, and there might be a better place instead because of the entree choices. You might prefer the Windjammer or splurge and go to a specialty restaurant.
You can find the menu posted on a digital screen outside the Main Dining Room, as well as being in the Royal Caribbean app.
For picky eaters, this can be a good strategy for avoiding the, "there's nothing I like on the menu" situation.
Or if you want to make sure you don't miss a certain dish (like lobster night), knowing which night not to make a specialty restaurant reservation is important.