This week I have three members of Wilson Butler Architects, who have spent almost 30 years helping design Royal Caribbean cruise ships and they shared stories behind how the ships we know today got built!
Share with me your thoughts, questions and comments via...
Freedom of the Seas may not be Royal Caribbean's newest cruise ship, but I think it might offer the best value in cruising.
When I go on any cruise ship, I look for things to do onboard to keep me occupied and weigh that against how much it costs. Newer ships may offer the most to do, but they also have a premium price tag.
I've sailed on Freedom of the Seas 8 times, and the more I visit this ship, the more I'm convinced it's the perfect balance of getting the most for what you pay.
The 3,926 passenger ship launched in 2006, and was once the biggest cruise ship in the world. Despite losing that title many times over, it's a big ship with lots for families to enjoy.
I went back on Freedom of the Seas to see what's new and why this is an underrated choice for an affordable cruise vacation.
Freedom of the Seas is about 20 years old, but the difference maker are the changes Royal Caribbean has made to the ship.
Cruise ships get refurbishments every few years and occasionally new features. The assortment of changes Royal Caribbean made to Freedom are the perfect collection to improve the ship overall.
Most recently, Vintages wine bar was replaced with a new non-smoking casino.
This is a wonderful change because it expands the casino options while offering a smoke-free environment smack dab in the middle of the Royal Promenade. As a casual gambler, I love the option and the fact it's so convenient.
The biggest changes came with the ship's Royal Amplification that took place in 2020. This is when a number of changes were made, and each has its own reason I enjoy it.
A lot was added, but I think there are three key areas where the ship was radically improved.
New water slides were added with the Perfect Storm slides.
It's amazing for a long time, Royal Caribbean had no water slides on its ships, but they're on nearly every ship now. It's a crowd pleaser. Kids and adults enjoy them, and they're perfect fun on sea days.
Plus, there's also a giant aqua park for kids at Splashaway Bay.
There's no cost to use Splashaway Bay, and it's the perfect spot for kids to get absolutely soaked. There's even a smaller water slide that's perfect for younger kids.
Sticking with the top deck, the pool deck was redesigned to have a "Caribbean resort-style" feel to it.
Marketing aside, I think it's just a nicer pool deck experience over all. Besides the aesthetic of the loungers, a new Lime and Coconut Bar was added to replace the original pool bar. This bar has an expanded drink menu and much more seating.
Plus, there's now an El Loco Fresh on the pool deck for convenient snacks and meals. It's included with your cruise fare, and I ate much more burritos than I care to admit.
Royal Caribbean also added so many new restaurants to the ship:
The Playmakers location on deck 4 between the atrium and Casino Royale is the perfect spot, and I love there's an indoor sports bar with so many TV's to catch nearly any game.
Izumi is now the most popular specialty restaurant by volume across the cruise line, and there's no question the hibachi option is something so many families love to try.
Don't overlook Giovanni's, as it has the new menu offerings that you can otherwise only find on the newest ships in the fleet.
The pizza at Giovanni's is underrated, and I think their revamped Italian favorites are fantastic. Try the giant meatball!
I usually save the cost section of my cruise reviews for later in the article, but I think we need to talk about it now.
It's hard to make generalizations about cruise prices because of the dynamic pricing each sailing has, but I'm willing to bet you will find a great deal on Freedom.
While everyone has their own definition of what's a deal, I believe the cost of a Freedom of the Seas cruise sits in the sweet spot of cost and what it includes.
If you pick an older and smaller ship, such as a Radiance or Vision Class ship, it will likely cost less. But those ships compromise greatly on how much there is to do aboard, especially for families.
Freedom of the Seas sails out of Miami, Florida and offers short 4- and 5-night cruises.
It's not unusual to find prices starting as low as $259 per person for a 5-night sailing. The range of prices might go up slightly, but most of the advertised prices are in the $300-$500 per person range for an inside cabin.
That's a significant saving compared to the larger Oasis Class ships that also offer 4- and 5-night cruises, which average between $550-$750 per person as a starting price.
Crowds on a mainstream cruise line are to be expected, but I think Freedom of the Seas handles crowd flow pretty well overall.
The ship maxes out at 4,500 passengers if every bed is sold, but it didn't feel crowded when I've sailed on it. You won't confuse Freedom for a small ship or yacht by any means, but I doubt you will consider to be akin to be "packed like a sardine can."
You'll encounter lines and crowds at certain times, like in the Windjammer buffet for breakfast, or waiting to get back on the ship while docked in port. If the sun is shining on a pool day, expect all the loungers to be taken up by mid-morning too.
Nonetheless, there are areas of the ship you can find refuge from other people. The outside deck on deck 4 is my favorite spot to seek a place to sit with a view of the ocean and barely anyone else around. There's also a lot of extra seating on the upper pool deck, within the card room, or during the day time in the Olive or Twist bar at the very top of the ship.
It felt like the flow of guests was good, but there are always pain points. Elevators can be easily inundated and the Royal Promenade can get packed when there's a special event, such as a dance party. These are not issues unique to Freedom, as most cruise ships experience this.
You will not go hungry on Freedom of the Seas, and I think the food included with your cruise fare to range between "good" and "very good", with some options standing out.
The included restaurants on Freedom of the Seas include:
| Included Restaurant |
|---|
| Main Dining Room |
| Windjammer |
| El Loco Fresh |
| Sorrento's |
| Cafe Promenade |
My dining strategy on Freedom is to rely on the complimentary spots and sprinkle in specialty dining options.
The Windjammer Marketplace has the widest variety of food, so it's the crowd pleaser option. Picky eaters, adventurous eaters, eaters on a diet, eaters wanting a second dinner, they have it all.
The best thing about the Windjammer is the assortment of international foods to go along with the American staples. This is especially true at dinner.
In the Main Dining Room, I found the service to be quite speedy. Royal Caribbean made changes to address speed of service while updating their menus in order to address consistency concerns.
I think the result has been hotter food that comes out in a reasonable time. I've sailed enough with Royal Caribbean to have my favorite dishes, but I love how flexible the waiters are to make sure they can find something you love.
I'm also a self-admitted El Loco Fresh addict. I love making a taco salad or grabbing a burrito any chance I get.
There are also a few specialty restaurants that cost extra, and this is where you can enjoy different cuisines that go beyond what's included. Plus, the quality of the choices is usually better.
| Specialty Restaurant | Type / Cuisine |
|---|---|
| Chef's Table | Gourmet / wine-pairing dinner |
| Chops Grille | Steakhouse / American |
| Giovanni's Italian Kitchen | Family style / Italian |
| Izumi Hibachi & Sushi | Sushi & teppanyaki / Japanese |
| Johnny Rockets | American diner |
| Room service | Food delivery / American |
| Sprinkles Ice Cream | Ice cream cups and cones |
The best thing about paying for specialty dining is you get to indulge more. It's not cheap, so I'd recommend buying a dining package or pre-booking individual reservations before the cruise begins because Royal Caribbean offers discounts.
If I had to pick something about Freedom of the Seas that is lacking, it's the look and feel of its staterooms.
Royal Caribbean as a rule doesn't update its cabin aesthetics over the years. That means when you step inside your room, this is when you're most likely to feel like you're on a 20 year old cruise ship.
That means a peach and teal color scheme, chipped paint or wood, and tube-like bathroom showers. It's all functional, but hardly what you'd consider to be modern or up to date.
Truthfully, the look of the cabin is less important than it sounds. You'll notice it, but you'll also likely get over it quickly. And the room is functional and clean. Plus, you're likely going to spend little time in the cabin because of all the things to do around the ship.
Freedom of the Seas has a mix of staterooms of varying sizes and amenities. There are 1,963 staterooms spread across the 13 passenger decks. Nearly half of those are balcony rooms.
As a cruise expert that shares travel advice every day, I encounter a lot of first time cruisers and some of their concerns aren't worth the angst.
I've run Royal Caribbean Blog for 15 years and I love helping everyone have a better cruise experience through tips, advice, anecdotes and recommendations. I love learning new things from about cruising as much as newbies do.
Because everyone vacations differently, it's understandable why people have their own approach to cruising. But I've found new cruisers tend to sometimes get hyper focused on things that aren't as worth the concern as they think it warrants.
I'm sure we've all experienced things like this in life where we go in worried about an aspect of an experience only to realize later on it wasn't a big deal at all.
While there are problems you should always be vigilant about (like when to fly in for your cruise), here's my list 6 things new cruisers worry about that aren't worth the anxiety.
One of pet peeves are people that seriously want to change their cruise plans because of bad reviews they read online.
The power of the internet is such that you can share your opinion with the world, and while this can sometimes be helpful, the reality is negative reviews aren't very trustworthy.
The reason why you really shouldn't be that concerned with negative reviews of a cruise ship is because those people are not professional reviewers by any means. In most cases, they let a singular issue dominate their review. Or they have a personal preference that they convey as being indicative of being problematic for everyone.
To illustrate my point, find a negative review of a film, restaurant, or place you've been that you love. You'll read them and probably roll your eyes because the complaint is either baseless or completely different from anything you've ever had.
Plus, cruising is such a personalized experience. Everyone on the ship is not doing the same thing. One person could stay in their stateroom and only order room service for an entire week, while someone else is a party animal and is out and about from for 18-20 hours per day.
I enjoy reading cruise reviews for recommendations and entertainment. But never use them as a basis for which ship to sail on (or not).
Frankly, I think new cruisers get hung up on what they "need" to wear on a cruise ship more than they ought to.
Yes, there are theme nights and dress recommendations, but they're just that: recommendations.
You will not be ostracized or kicked out if you don't dress for Caribbean night or white night. It's an optional choice for how you might indulge the theme.
The Main Dining Room dress code is another area where I think too much emphasis is placed on what you can and cannot wear. This is especially true of what to wear on formal night.
The reality is Royal Caribbean rarely, if ever, enforces their dress codes in the Main Dining Room. I probably would prefer they would clamp down a bit more than they do, but there's really no fashion police at all.
As a new cruiser, I'd say to use the theme nights and dress codes as suggestions, in the same way there's afternoon trivia at 4pm you could attend or not at all. Don't place too much emphasis on what you wear in the evening being critiqued by the cruise line for approval.
Ever since Royal Caribbean restarted cruising in 2021, they put a huge emphasis on adhering to check-in times at the cruise terminal. While check-in times matter, it's not nearly as critical as they used to be.
As part of the check-in process, you can select a check-in time and some cruisers get really worried about checking in exactly at midnight when check-in opens to get it.
In reality, it's not a big deal if you don't have the first check-in window time as much as it might seem.
While no one wants a 2pm check-in time, my point is there is far less emphasis and restrictions on check-in times at the terminal as there was a few years ago.
My recommendation is to do your online check-in time, but don't sweat it if you get an 11am or noon check-in time.
My "sorry, not sorry" part of this article is here: the amount of money you save parking off site isn't worth the hassle or extra time needed.
Yes, parking off site will save a little bit of money. But it's not going to be a lot, and worse, the shuttle services are frustrating.
Because you're at the mercy of a shuttle to get you to and from the terminal, you're inevitably going to waste time waiting for a shuttle. And in many cases, there are lots of other people who want to do the same thing and that makes the waits worse.
Waiting for a shuttle is worse after the cruise is over when everyone else is competing with you at the same time to get back to their car.
Parking at the cruise terminal will cost you more, but I think the convenience is well-worth it.
Rain or shine, you'll have a fun time on the cruise. More importantly, you shouldn't get worked up because it could rain.
Caribbean cruises sail through the tropics where it's not a question of it will rain, but when and for how long. But unlike rain storms at home, rain in the Caribbean is usually short lived.
If you look at a weather forecast for a Caribbean cruise, it's not unusual to see rain predicted for every day. But that doesn't mean it will be a rained out vacation.
Thunderstorms and passing showers are very common, and there are not nearly as many weather stations around Central America and the Caribbean as there are in the United States. So forecasts generally fall under the, "it will probably rain, but we're not sure" umbrella.
In fact, it's common to be in port and have rain in one spot but not another.
You should certainly look up the weather forecast to get an idea of temperatures, but don't plan around rain because it's impossible to know with any certainty what to expect.
Over the years, I've found Royal Caribbean's VIP add-on a nice perk, but not as critical as some new cruisers think.
I think newbies read what's included and over value what it offers, compared to how useful it really is.
It's ironic that as someone who hates waiting in lines for things, I'm not a fan of a program that gives you priority boarding to the ship. But I think the problem is you can get similar results without paying for it.
I won't turn this into a full review of The Key, so I'll simply say as a new cruiser, you won't be at a disadvantage without The Key as you might think.
It's Sunday and it's almost Thanksgiving, but before you sit down with the family to give thanks for all the great cruises you took this year, I wanted to share this week's Royal Caribbean news with you.
A number of Royal Caribbean cruise ships closed their waterslides at the same time.
It's not unusual for any ship to conduct maintenance, but having a few ships with closed slides at the same time is interesting timing.
Moreover, the work being done is the same on each: replacing see-through parts of the slide with new sections.
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—Things to NEVER Do in Your Cabin on a Cruise—and don’t forget to subscribe here.
A passenger was kicked off a cruise ship, but his family decided to continue the cruise without him.
Reports claim Royal Caribbean kicked off a man in Australia after he allegedly beat up another man just four days into the sailing.
Despite this, the man's family decided to stay onboard and continue the 10-night voyage without him.
Matt just took his 100th cruise with Royal Caribbean, and he has five ships he'll gladly go on every time.
While there isn't a bad Royal Caribbean ship, there are a few that stand out as top favorites.
Whether you're going on your first cruise or looking to get on every ship too, these are the five Royal Caribbean ships Matt highly recommends.
We asked cruisers what's one thing they brought on a cruise but regretted packing it.
Over 200 comments were shared with things that seemed like a good idea to bring, but ended up being either useless, redundant, or unnecessary.
Consider this your warning of what not to waste your energy bringing along when you sail.
Making it to Diamond level is a big deal, but there are lots of unwritten rules you should know about it.
A surge in cruise demand has seemingly pushed a lot more people to make to this upper Crown and Anchor Society tier, and it adds a lot of great benefits.
However, you'll want to be aware of how to best utilize your Diamond status to avoid problems later.
The 584th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available at all our links.
Of all the cruise topics Matt is asked about, a few are hot button issues he can't help but not rant about every single time.
Please feel free to subscribe via YouTube, iTunes or RSS, and head over to rate and review the podcast on iTunes if you can! We’d appreciate it.
If you've been waiting for a Black Friday discount on Royal Caribbean's internet packages, it appears your time has come.
Royal Caribbean began its Black Friday sale more than two weeks ago, but most cruisers didn't see any significant discount on Wi-Fi packages.
Deal hunters on the Royal Caribbean message boards started reporting a price drop for their internet access purchase to coincide with the updated promotion.
"Offer was just sent a few minutes ago under Black Friday 55% sale," wrote Eddie305. He noted he's been watching for a price drop since February.
Others reported seeing a lower price too. As always, discounts will vary from sailing to sailing.
Here's what to expect and why a pricing glitch is frustrating some people.
Voom internet packages could be priced lower with the latest adjustment to the Black Friday preview sale.
The advertised discount is "up to 55% off", and I've observed prices for a one device package as low as $19.99 per day.
The price range seems to be between $19.99 and $22.99 per day for a one device package. That's a significant savings compared to the onboard price, which has the same package start at $27.99.
To get that 55% off number, you'll need to purchase a multiple device plan.
Think of it like buying in bulk: you save more by buying more. Royal Caribbean offers a 1, 2, 3, or 4 device package, and the cost difference to buy a 4 device package compared to a 3 device package is usually pretty slim.
Here's an example from an upcoming Star of the Seas sailing in March 2026:
As you can see, the deepest discount hits if you want to add a third or fourth device to the plan.
Consider this article a good opportunity to check if your internet package price has gone down, and then cancel and repurchase to get the lower price.
Royal Caribbean allows you to cancel and rebook pre-cruise purchases without a penalty. Cancel, re-buy it at the lower price, and you'll get the refund from the original purchase in a few business days. In my experience, it almost always ends up being on the same credit card billing cycle as the revised purchase.
However, I observed an issue others did as well that you should be aware of.
User need2cruz posted an example, "Mine says $247 40% for our next trip, but when I get to check out it keeps glitching back to the old price of $295 30% off. I have tried on both web browser and on the app. It always reverts to the old higher price, right when I try to process payment."
When I re-priced my internet package, I saw the same issue. The price jumped when moving between the cart page and the checkout page.
In my case, I was able to get around this issue by going back to my shopping cart and removing the Wi-Fi package. I then re-added it to my cart, and I got the lower price and was able to check out.
Unlike the beverage packages, internet packages are shareable and ideal for families.
Royal Caribbean's Starlink connection is usually reliable enough to support streaming video while on the ship. You could watch a sporting event, catch up on TV shows, or keep up with new YouTube content.
The multi-device plan allows up to the designated amount of devices to be logged in at one time. You can log out of one device and then log in with a different device and that's permissible.
The "catch" with sharing an internet package is you share a single login, which is usually not a problem with family.
The other potential hiccup with sharing an internet package is anyone can "boot" someone else off either accidentally or intentionally.
When you max out the amount of devices that can be connected at once and then try to connect an additional device, it prompts you to either disconnect one of the devices or force disconnect one.
It's been my experience a game of "musical internet device chairs" commences until everyone gets situated once again with the right devices connected. It's always best to remember to log out, but easier said than done.
Reaching Diamond status is a big deal for a lot of cruisers because of all the perks Royal Caribbean includes.
More cruisers than ever have made it to Diamond status, thanks to a surge in cruise demand. Cruising has not only become more accessible to the public, and a lot of people are coming back again and again.
When I reached Diamond level many years ago, I was excited for getting access to the dedicated lounge. Since then, Royal Caribbean added new benefits, such as drink vouchers, that made it even more useful.
If you're getting close to Diamond, I think there are things I wish I knew before I made it there so that you can avoid missing out and not committing any faux pas' along the way.
As a Diamond member in Crown and Anchor Society, there's a dedicated lounge for you on every ship.
One of the most surprising things about this space is it's less like a bar scene, and more like a quiet area. It's not a library by any means, but I think there's a certain expectation among many cruisers it's somewhere to keep the volume to conversation level.
This is especially true in during the day, because the lounge is where you'll find people reading, playing cards, enjoying coffee, or sitting with friends.
In the evening when cocktails are served, it gets the busiest with more guests in there to hang out.
Basically, be respectful of others in the lounge when it comes to how loud you are. It seems to be unwritten rule not to take phone calls in there, nor is it acceptable to use it as a playground for young children. To be clear, kids are allowed and welcome in the Crown Lounge. Just like the adults, they can't be rowdy in there.
Frankly, I think the Crown Lounge has a stuffy feel to it, but it's largely been that way ever since I first got access to it.
Without a doubt, the best benefit of Diamond level is the four drink vouchers you get everyday. You'll want to take full advantage of this "mini-drink package" in a few ways.
I think it's incredible that Royal Caribbean gives all of its Diamond members four free drink vouchers per day to use on pretty much any drink.
First, make sure you tell the bartender or waiter when you order the drink that you want to use your voucher.
If you don't say anything, they may charge your SeaPass account for the beverage. So be sure to mention when ordering the drink that you want to use your Diamond voucher.
Second, be sure to also specify the liquor you want in the cocktail so you get full value from your voucher.
If you ask for an Old Fashioned, they're going to likely use the well liquor that is the cheapest option. But you can ask for a brand name liquor and it's still included in your voucher value.
Lastly, don't let your daily vouchers go to waste!
If you don't use all four of them every day, you should order extra bottles of water. Stock piling bottled water in your stateroom is a good idea so you have access to it when you need it later, or to bring them on shore excursions.
As neat as the Crown Lounge is, you cannot bring friends or family that aren't Diamond yet.
Over crowding in the lounge is bad enough as it is just among the Diamond, Diamond Plus, and Pinnacle Club members. So Royal Caribbean prohibits non-Diamond guests from coming in.
When you make Diamond, your spouse and kids under 18 also get your Diamond status too. So don't worry about having to leave them behind.
However, if you're cruising with friends or family that are not Diamond yet, then the lounge is not available to them.
This is part of the reason why the cruise line switched to offering vouchers for drinks to be used at any bar. You can enjoy this benefit anywhere else on the ship, so you can spend time with others and not lose out on vouchers.
I think one of the least utilized Diamond perks is the Crown Lounge concierge.
The Diamond concierge is akin to the Suite Concierge, although I'm not certain they have as much "power" in pulling strings. Nonetheless, they are still a useful option.
Basically, the Diamond concierge is a step up from Guest Services and likely has a shorter line too.
You can go there to settle billing issues, get questions answered, and even make reservations.
One adjustment to make when you get to Diamond is to stop and think if the Diamond concierge could assist instead. It might save you time in line at Guest Services or a trek to that desk. Or perhaps you can just combine some hors d'oeuvres with your inquiry.
You won't see the coffee machine listed on the benefits list, but so many Diamond members love having access to it.
Inside the Crown Lounge is a self-service coffee machine that makes espresso, coffee, and lattes. It's free to use and is available 24 hours per day.
There are cups there, so you can enjoy it in the lounge or take it elsewhere around the ship or back to your stateroom.
For many cruisers, this is just what they need every day. It's a step up from the complimentary coffee you get around the ship and doesn't require using a drink voucher at Cafe Promenade.
It should come as no surprise that the machine is busiest in the morning, and you'll also find an assortment of breakfast items as well.
Each morning there are various pastries and light bites that you can grab to accompany your coffee.
A very common question new Diamond members want to know is how to use that free day of WiFi access included in your Diamond benefits.
You're entitled to a one day (24 hour) pass of internet access, and it can only be redeemed onboard the ship. You cannot apply or use it towards a pre-cruise purchase.
Once on the ship, connect to the ship's WiFi. Sign up for an internet access plan, and you should see your free day discount listed.
Is it cheaper to wait to the ship and use your free day or pre-purchase? It depends on the length of your cruise, as it can save you money if you're on a short 3-nighter. Otherwise, buy an internet package in advance.
If you've been holding out for a Royal Caribbean drink package, now might be the time to buy one.
Royal Caribbean started its Black Friday sale with an early access sale last week, and that sale continues this week leading up to the actual holiday.
Traditionally, this shopping holiday is one of the best times of the year to buy a drink package because it usually coincides with the lowest prices of the season.
If you're like me, Black Friday is an annual reminder to check drink package prices to see if there are any new discounts.
Perhaps the most popular add-on you can buy for a Royal Caribbean cruise is a drink package, and select sailings are seeing prices as low as $46.99 per person, per day.
In going through my upcoming cruises I have booked, I saw varying prices that differ from ship to ship.
The lowest Deluxe Beverage Package price I could find was $46.99 per person, per day on a 7-night Serenade of the Seas cruise to Alaska.
With that price, it would take just 4 cocktails per day to break even on the price. Or 3 cocktails and one specialty coffee from Cafe Latte-tudes.
On a Brilliance of the Seas cruise I have booked in March 2026, the Deluxe Beverage package is just $48.99 per person, per day. That means I'll need to have coffee in the afternoon too in order to break even.
Remember, these are just examples of discounts that you might spot. Each cruise has its own pricing based on Royal Caribbean's algorithm that factors in the type of sailing, newness of the ship, and how well the drink package is selling so far.
The rest of my cruises that I have booked have varying prices:
Other cruisers found even more lucrative prices than I did with this sale.
Michael Poole shared a screenshot of his package coming in at just $41.99 per person, per day for his upcoming sailing. Meanwhile Kathryn Koo claims her 15-night transatlantic on Odyssey of the Seas is priced at $27.99 per person, per day.
Margit Ritzert shared a $46.99 price, Mike Stacy found it for $43.99
No matter which sailing you pick, it's likely a substantial discount considering Royal Caribbean is regularly charging over $100 per person, per day for the same package when purchased onboard ships. In fact, all purchases made online are cheaper than waiting to book during the sailing.
Royal Caribbean's Black Friday sale officially will be available until November 30, 2025. But then the Cyber Monday sale begins on December 1st and will go through December 12th.
Because Royal Caribbean employs dynamic pricing for its cruise add-ons, the name of the sale is less relevant than what the actual out the door price ends up being.
"Up to 50% off" is the listed discount for beverage packages during these sales, but savvy cruisers know the percentage off any product is not always the total story.
More importantly, the price could change at any point during the sale period. It's a good idea to periodically re-check the price, especially on the actual Black Friday or Cyber Monday holiday.
Here's the fine print for drink package discounts through the holiday sale season:
Beverage: Up to 50% off
If you already bought a drink package, you can still take advantage of a Black Friday or Cyber Monday price drop.
Royal Caribbean allows guests to cancel (and then re-book) any pre-cruise purchase up to 48 hours before your cruise date with no penalty.
To check if your sailing has this new offer available, log into the Cruise Planner on Royal Caribbean's web site look for any available offers.
Of all the opinions about cruising, there are 3 opinions Matt can't help but rant about every single time.
Share with me your thoughts, questions and comments via...
One of the best reasons to sail on a slightly older Royal Caribbean cruise ship is when you can get a great deal, even if it's an inside room.
Freedom of the Seas is approaching being 20 years old, but don't let her age fool you. The ship got a massive upgrade in 2020 that added a lot, plus recent changes to its casino. That has added a lot to what this cruise ship can offer.
So when I received an offer to sail in an inside cabin on Freedom of the Seas for just port fees and taxes, I jumped at the chance.
Not only would I be able to go back onboard a favorite ship of mine, but also sneak in another getaway cruise before the end of the year.
Here's what it's like to choose one of the smallest staterooms on Freedom.
The secret to paying just port fees and taxes on what is essentially a "free cruise" is I received the offer through Royal Caribbean's casino.
I think the casino loyalty program is the best value in cruising right now, and you don't need to be a mega gambler in order to qualify for these offers.
Basically, I play enough in the casino on my sailings to qualify for offers to be mailed to me. Most casino pros recommend at least 200 - 300 points per sailing at a minimum to likely qualify.
One offer had an inside stateroom for free on a 5-night Freedom of the Seas cruise scheduled to visit Perfect Day at CocoCay and Cozumel. Spoiler alert, we didn't visit either of those places.
All I had to pay were the port fees and taxes. Since I was sailing solo, I paid just $272. I got $39.58 refunded onboard when we didn't go to the scheduled ports.
You can argue the virtues of if an inside room is a good idea or not, but I really don't mind them. This is especially true when I'm on the cruise without my family.
With the kids in school, the choice of taking an inside room wasn't a problem. The casino offers are inflexible in that regard, although I might have been able to spend more to upgrade to a balcony. I felt if I'm getting a "free room", I'm going to take advantage of that and limit my costs.
Royal Caribbean assigned me cabin 6669, which was a short walk from the aft elevator bank. I greatly prefer to have a cabin near the elevators instead of down the hall, so this worked out well.
Plus, it was one deck from the Royal Promenade. This made it very convenient to be able to run back to my room for anything.
Royal Caribbean opens its cabins on embarkation day usually at 1pm, and I walked into a small space, but since it was just me, it's all I needed.
I've stayed in a lot of inside rooms on cruise ships, and while their exact dimensions or configuration may differ slightly, they all tend to have a similar feel.
There's a private bathroom, sitting area, vanity, and bed. Plus, you'll find closet space too.
One thing I noticed immediately was the cabin decor felt like a 20 year old ship. As a rule of thumb, Royal Caribbean never updates its stateroom look during scheduled maintenance. They have never commented why, but I assume it's a cost issue.
While the motif may be dated, it's not a big deal. You adjust quickly to it and it doesn't affect the enjoyment of the cruise. It's just something that may initially jump out.
When I entered the cabin for the first time, the beds were pushed together to form one bed. That's not inherently a problem, but one of my favorite cruise hacks is to have the beds split apart to make the room feel bigger.
With the beds together, it required climbing over the bed to get in or out of the bed. But with them split, it's much easier to get around.
Plus, it made the space feel more open.
The bathroom is certainly big enough for just one person, but it's effectively the same bathroom layout and size as most non-suites cabin bathrooms on this ship.
There's a little storage space behind the mirror, but you can also stash some things below.
Just a reminder that Royal Caribbean only provides the 2-in-1 shampoo and body wash, so be sure to pack your own shampoo, conditioner, and body wash.
At the vanity, you'll find all of the power outlets for the room.
There are no USB plugs, so you'll need to bring your own adaptor. I recommend buying this power adaptor because it offers 4 USB outlets, and will work in both US or EU power outlets. (Affiliate link means I'll make a small commission if you buy it, but it costs you nothing extra)
I also received complimentary soda and bottled water, but that's because I'm a top tier member within Crown and Anchor Society.
When you reach the upper tiers of the program, there are a lot of freebies that you get every sailing. Not only does this save me money, but it's so convenient to have them waiting in the cabin.
Opposite the desk and chair is the couch. I rarely ever use my couch for a place to sit, as it tends to accumulate various belongings as the cruise goes on.
The couch isn't big enough to sleep on, unless you're rather short or a child perhaps. But it's not very deep either, so I think it's best suited for a visitor stopping by.
I was surprised how large the closet is, as there are both shelves and plenty of hangers.
You could easily store your clothes and suitcases in here, although I prefer to slide my suitcase under my bed.
Considering the low price I paid for this room, I have no complaints about the cabin.
The outdated decor doesn't mean much since I basically used the room to sleep, shower, and change. Otherwise, I was mostly out and about the ship. I even chose to do most of my work from public venues.
The downside to an inside room is there's no natural light, so you cannot easily tell the time of day. Nonetheless, I adjusted quickly and would set alarms so I knew if I was sleeping too late.
I think most people that choose a room like this on Freedom of the Seas are doing so to save money and get to cruise for a lower price. If so, this stateroom should offer the perfect way to get aboard without any extra frills.
Your next visit to Royal Caribbean's private island could have a beer that's been missing for almost six years.
It's been a while, but the cruise line confirmed it's bringing back the Chilla Thrilla beer to Perfect Day at CocoCay.
The cruise line introduced this exclusive brew that was produced in partnership with Funky Buddha Brewery.
Before you throw a few back, here's what's been revealed.
When Royal Caribbean opened Perfect Day at CocoCay, the introduced a lot of firsts, including a branded beer.
Chilla Thrilla was available for just a few months in 2019, as the cruise industry shutdown of 2020 halted distribution.
When cruises restarted in 2021, the beer wasn't brought back because of apparent supply chain issues.
However, that's changing, as Royal Caribbean confirmed Chilla Thrilla is coming back. The cruise line shared on its social media feeds an update:
The Royal Caribbean x Funky Buddha Brewery Chilla Thrilla is a refreshing blonde ale brewed with a splash of mango and guava, perfect for a full day of soaking up the sun.
Grab this Florida-brewed tropical ale at any of our private destinations and ships sailing out of the US.
This marks the first time since early 2020 the beer will be available, and it sounds like as long as your cruise ship sails from the U.S., you'll be able to sample it. Funky Buddha claims the beer is available on any ship sailing to the Caribbean.
In fact, it's already been spotted on Explorer of the Seas.
And yes, the beer is included with Royal Caribbean's popular drink packages.
According to the brewer, Chilla Thrilla is a "Blonde Ale with Mango and Guava".
It's a drink meant to evoke a tropical taste, which is why it leans in the fruity direction.
"A crisp body and tropical vibe makes Chilla Thrilla perfect for a day packed full of fun in the sun."
Funky Buddha claims it pairs well with the food you can get at CoocCay, including a Cuban sandwich, mango and habanero wings, carnitas tacos, fresh citrus and stone fruits.
Beer fan site Untappd listed the fan reviews of Chilla Thrilla at 3.5 stars across over 500 reviews.