Royal Caribbean is introducing new changes in 2025 that will have an impact on your vacation, as well as the cruise industry.

The year 2025 is already a big year for the cruise line, and Royal Caribbean is never content maintaining the status quo when it comes to their product. I'm reminded of Royal Caribbean Group Chairman Richard Fain's comments about how there is no "new normal" when it comes to cruise.

"When we design our ships, we talk about a design formula of one third tradition, one third evolution and one third revolution," he said in a video a few years ago. 

"As I said, our mantra is continuous improvement. And it means just that everything gets better. Every chance we get."

To that point, there are four big changes that we know about already for Royal Caribbean in 2025 that you should be tracking now. 

These tweaks, additions, and pluses are things to know before you cruise.

Opening the first beach club

The first of three beach clubs in Royal Caribbean's portfolio will open in 2025.

Royal Beach Club Paradise Island will open in Nassau, Bahamas and be unlike a private island experience.  It will be limited to just Royal Caribbean guests, but there will be an admission cost to it and not every passenger will have the opportunity to go because there is a maximum capacity.

It's essentially a Royal Caribbean run shore excursion, built to the standards their customers expect from them.  It incorporates some of the best features from Perfect Day at CocoCay, along with some new improvements.

The beach club is conveniently located where the cruise ships dock.  It will offer three pools with swim-up bars, live music, two beaches, and four restaurants.

The new club will officially open December 27, 2025 and bookings are now available to be made.

Two more beach clubs will open in the next few years in Cozumel, Mexico and Vanuatu.

It's a bold plan to offer something no other cruise line has, separating it from other vacations.

Major upgrades to Allure of the Seas

After delaying improvements to Allure of the Seas in 2020, one of the biggest cruise ship's in the world received some serious enhancements.

In March 2025, Allure of the Seas went into dry dock for about a month to undergo significant changes.

The ship received many additions, including:

• Redesigned Caribbean pool deck
• Ultimate Abyss slide
• New waterslides
• Kids aquapark
• Pesky parrot tiki bar
• Playmakers Sports Bar and Arcade (specialty)
• Mason Jar southern American food restaurant (specialty)
• El Loco Fresh Mexican restaurant (included)
• Escape room
• Laser tag
• Upgraded kids & Teens spaces
• New suites

The total cost of all this work is $100 million-plus, and it will add so much more value into the ship.

Cabin recategorization

Beginning with cruises in 2025, Royal Caribbean will implement its new cabin codes.

These became visible when the 2025-2026 deployment was released, but we'll now have new room codes for certain cabins.

Part of the reason to make this change is to simplify the choices for travel agents as well as add new room types meant to appeal to certain types of people that cruise.

The goals of the room recategorization are:

• More options & configurations for guests with large families
• Separated Triple and Quad occupancy interior & oceanview staterooms
• New high occupancy guarantee staterooms
• New Junior Suite & Balcony categories

What this really means is this will be the first year the new room categories are in effect as it relates to the actual cabins on a ship. Most of this is changing the cruise lexicon, but it's important to be aware of these new sorts of cabins, especially if you're used to booking a certain room.

A prime example of this are the aft balcony cabins.

The aft facing balconies and Junior Suites are now going to be separated out as new categories new categories, starting with the Sunset Junior Suite.

Royal Caribbean says they are making the change so that guests can quickly and easily find these cabins.

Star of the Seas launch

It doesn't get more exciting than welcoming a new cruise ship, and the second Icon Class ship joins the fleet in 2025.

Star of the Seas will begin offering cruises from Port Canaveral, Florida in August 2025.

Star is the follow-up to Icon of the Seas, and considering how popular Icon has been, this will be Royal Caribbean's attempt to match their success.

While the ship will be more similar to Icon than not, there are a few tweaks, updates, and changes we can expect on Star.

There will be a couple revamped and new dining choices. Pier 7 is getting completely replaced, while Empire Supper Club is getting a new motif.

It also looks like Star will have a Broadway show onboard, with Back to the Future: The Musical.

The launch of Star of the Seas has a side effect, in that it will shift Wonder of the Seas to offer short cruises from Miami. This is significant, because Wonder will become the second Oasis Class ship to sail weekend cruises.  And with Icon and Star offering weeklong cruises, and Utopia and Wonder doing short cruises, it sets up Royal Caribbean's proverbial chess pieces exactly where they want to be.

Royal Caribbean has opened bookings for its first beach club, and it has given us our best look yet of what to expect when it opens.

I've been following the project intently, all the way back to its inception in early 2020.  I think it's an exciting new option in a port that lacks fun things to do that are worth trying.

Royal Beach Club Paradise Island will open in very late December 2025, and it's essentially a super shore excursion run by Royal Caribbean that takes all of its best ideas from Perfect Day at CocoCay and amps them up.

In looking through what's been revealed, here are the five things that stood out to me the most about this week's announcement.

Two types of day passes

We knew Royal Caribbean would make the beach club all-inclusive, but I didn't know they'd offer a non-alcoholic option too.

In retrospect, it makes sense to offer a pass without an alcohol component to it. There are a lot of people who prefer not to drink alcohol, or cannot drink alcohol.

There are two passes:

• Day Pass with Unlimited Open Bar & Dining, starting from $169.99 for guests ages 21+
• Day Pass with Non-Alcoholic Drinks & Dining, starting from $129.99 for guests ages 13+; $109.99 for ages 4-12; and free for guests ages 3 and under

I'm glad to see the option, especially for my family.  My wife never drinks enough to "break even" on all-inclusive day passes at beaches, so this is a good idea.

I'm going to need to come hungry

While I knew there would be food included, I didn't know how much new culinary choices would sound so good.

There is complimentary dining at three quick service style restaurants serving fresh handheld options, salads, sides and delicious desserts with a Bahamian twist.

I'm already starting my list of must-try food:

• Bahamian baked mac 'n cheese
• Vanilla bundt cake
• Fire engine fritters

Plus, there are new cocktails to try. The last few batches of new bars that Royal Caribbean has developed have come up with a great assortment of fresh drink ideas.  The beach club will have the Blood Orange Margarita, which sounds like the perfect refreshing drink on a hot day.

Sticker shock with the Ultimate Family Cabana

Cabanas at private islands aren't cheap, but I think the price of the Ultimate Family Cabana caught a lot of people's attention.

So far, the going rate for this new type of cabana is $10,000.

To be fair, this isn't like any other cabana Royal Caribbean has made before. It can accommodate up to 12 people and it comes with a private bathroom, reserved beach space, frozen drink machine, a suspended net lounger, spiral slide, and a lot more.

I think they envision this being rented for an extended family gathering to celebrate vacationing together and wanting to go big.

Unlike the Floating Flamingo in Party Cove, I think this is about offering an over-the-top beach day that's more welcoming to younger kids.

Short of an incredible sale, I doubt I'll ever book it, but I bet it's sure to deliver some amazing memories to those that can afford to book it.

The other cabanas are more inline price-wise with cabanas you'd find at CocoCay.  They're right around what you'd pay for similar cabanas at Hideaway Beach, for the most part.

Every pool has a swim-up bar

I didn't know how much I needed swim-up bars until Royal Caribbean added them to bars around CocoCay.

There are three pools, and each one—The Shallow End, The Deep End, and The Floating Flamingo—features a swim-up bar, making this the only Royal Caribbean destination where this is standard across all pools.

In fact, going forward swim-up bars will be common across the new land destinations Royal Caribbean is working on around the world.

What I like about the swim-up bars is the vibe you get by sitting there.  Even if you don't drink that much, I like the people watching aspect and opportunity to meet people.

Combine that with the fact the pools in the beach club will be heated, I love this idea.

The bundles are an interesting idea

One idea I didn't anticipate at all was offering a combination with the beach club and other add-ons.

You can combine a drink package and the beach club, or go one step further and combine it all with a visit to the water park.

I never considered a bundle as an idea that might work, but I bet a lot of cruisers are likely to want to book them anyway.

I'll have to do the math if it's saving you money. Royal Caribbean claims the price of the bundle at checkout is up to 45% less than those products added to cart individually.

No, the day pass prices didn't surprise me

If you're wondering, no, I wasn't surprised by the price for the day passes.  Royal Caribbean says it starts at $169, but in practice I've seen the prices closer to $250 per person.  

Even at those prices, it's right around the price of day passes to Atlantis and other resorts in Nassau.  And many of those do not include alcohol.

A day pass to Atlantis resort costs between $190-$255 per person. While that includes admission to Aquaventure, a massive water park, it does not include food or drink.

Baha Mar offers day passes to its Baha Bay waterpark to adults for $160. Once again, it does not include food or drink with that price.

Royal Caribbean expanded its VIP offerings by selling arguably its best benefits a la carte on older ships.

Have you ever thought, "I'd pay money not to have to wait in line?" while on a cruise? Then this is the service for you.

Up until recently, the Royal Genie service was exclusively available on the newer and bigger ships only.  However, it's now being sold on at least two ships: Independence of the Seas and Freedom of the Seas.

You get the services of a Royal Genie, and it can be used with any stateroom, even a tiny inside cabin.  This gets you front of the line access, just about every extra cost included, and white glove service that no other passengers on your ship will enjoy.

Royal Caribbean rolled it out in April, and I booked it for an 8-night North European sailing on Independence of the Seas.  

I wanted to know how effective it would be on a smaller ship, given that I've tried it on the big ships.

The new option is non-refundable and non-transferable, so there's no way to cancel after you book (trust me, I tried).

It costs $300.00 per adult per day, and $200.00 per child per day (Guests under age 6 are complimentary).  

For my family of four over eight nights, it cost me $9,600 in total. And yes, I paid for all of it out my own pocket. Nothing was gifted to me by the cruise line or anyone else.

What's included with Royal Genie

Benefits of booking a genie include:

• Royal Genie Services: Arranges prime entertainment seating reservations, manages dining and activities reservations, coordinates luxury shopping onboard, plans special celebrations, handles special requests and much more!
• Deluxe Beverage Package (for all guests of legal drinking age)
• Refreshment Package (for all guests below legal drinking age)
• Complimentary Specialty Dining at select venues onboard
• Complimentary Room Service
• VOOM® — Powered by Starlink internet, 1 Device per guest in the reservation
• Complimentary Stateroom Mini Bar Beverages (Coca-Cola canned products)
• Still & Sparkling Water Bottle Delivery
• Complimentary Starbucks® Beverages
• VIP Luggage Service (Arrival & Departure)
• VIP Welcome Food & Beverage Amenity
• Suite Lounge Access
• Complimentary Ice Cream at Sugar Beach
• Reserved Seating in the Main Theater
• Designated time to FlowRider®, Rock Climbing Wall & Ice Skating
• Complimentary Stateroom Movies
• Malin+Goetz Bath Amenities

What does the Genie do

What you get with the Royal Genie is the "easy button" for your cruise, from start to finish.

I had Thaires (Thai) as my genie, and her job was to make my cruise as fun, magical, and easy as possible.

A few weeks before the cruise began, I got an email introducing her and her services.  Just like the Royal Genie on Royal Caribbean's big ships, these pre-cruise emails are meant to introduce and get to know the genie, while sharing your personal preferences.

I find the pre-cruise communication not that important.  I'll share my specialty dining requests and which beverages I want in the stateroom, but the real fun begins when you get onboard.

Your genie meets you in the cruise terminal and this is when everything becomes instantly easier.  They escort you onboard, and it's at this point they will do almost anything to ensure you have a better cruise.

Here's a list of simple and not-so-simple things my genie did:

• Solved multiple billing issues on my account
• Had the IT department in my cabin to add a repeater when I casually mentioned the internet signal was weak
• Signed my kids up for ice skating, skipping the line and sign up process.
• Reserved seats in any show in the Royal Theater
• Cut the line for us when disembarking the ship at a port of call
• Called elevators for us to not have to wait
• Decorated my stateroom door
• Kept my cabin stocked with alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages
• Had Starbucks coffee delivered to my room every morning
• Kept a steady stream of snacks delivered to the cabin

There's more, but this is all I could remember specifically from the trip.

You message your genie through WhatsApp, but they will greet you around the ship.  Most genies will wait for you at the entrance to a restaurant or theater to escort you in, get you in a reserved seat, and attend to any requests you have.

Every genie has their own style, which means each one leans more into online or in-person communication, and they like to surprise you.

Thai decorated both of our staterooms, something I've never seen a genie do.  She also spent some time with us during the day to get to know us better.

Ultimately, the job of the genie is to remove obstacles and include every possible add-on you can imagine.

There are two areas the genie cannot help. First, is their services only work on the ship.  Even in the cruise terminal they can't assist, and when you're off the ship, that's time you can't use them.

The other area was actually delivering food.  Thai said she wasn't allowed to physically deliver food or drinks. If I wanted any, she could arrange to have it delivered by the room service team.

With other genies, I've had the genie bring me food or drink, even to a bar or public area.  However, that wasn't possible this time around.

Is the Royal Genie Package worth it?

The Royal Genie Package is the very definition of a splurge and not a dollar-for-dollar value.  

I think Royal Caribbean is offering this to a certain clientele that value convenience over everything else.  Up until now, they were relegated to only the new ships.

I've had a Royal Genie on a few other ships over the years, and the experience on Independence was just as good as those. If you're worried it's a watered down version, fear not.

Thai did just about anything and everything asked of her to make it easier.  I loved being able to text her my coffee order and avoid waiting in a long line at Cafe Promenade.

When our ship was delayed getting into Rotterdam, there was a giant line of passengers waiting to disembark, but Thai escorted us to the front of it and we bypassed everyone.

The only disappointment is that you can't take full advantage of what the Royal Genie can do given your cabin limitations. I was in a balcony cabin and there wasn't enough room to truly enjoy the genie perks you'd find in a mega suite.

At $300 per person, per day, there's no denying it's a very pricey upgrade. One can make the argument that if you were going to buy an unlimited drink package, The Key, and Unlimited Dining Package, that covers at least half the daily cost and it's not absurd a cost as it may look on paper.

I think Royal Caribbean would be the first to admit this isn't an offering for everyone.  It's something to cater to certain families that prioritize their comfort and make the cruise as easy as humanly possible.

I loved my week with Thai, and it was so nice getting treated like a VIP from start to finish. I liked it even more than I expected, even if the ship doesn't have as many venues compared to newer ships.

Royal Caribbean's first beach club will open in December and you can now make reservations.

Royal Beach Club Paradise Island will open in late December 2025, and we now know how much admission will cost.

This is the first of its kind offering by the cruise line, where Royal Caribbean passengers have exclusive access to a beach that is designed to be the ultimate beach day.

Unlike Perfect Day at CocoCay or Labadee, admission costs extra.  There's a limited capacity, and it's meant to be an optional choice for cruisers who want to indulge in its offering.

The earliest day passes are available to book for all Nassau stops on or after Saturday, December 27, 2025.

How much Royal Beach Club Paradise Island costs

There are multiple admission types to get you into the beach club.

Royal Caribbean offers dynamic pricing for all of the beach club admission.  I found the pricing for Utopia of the Seas December 26, 2025 sailing to attempt to find exemplary prices to give a ballpark idea.  

Keep in mind this is the week of Christmas and New Years and it's on a brand new ship, which means these prices are likely on the high end of the spectrum.

There are two types of day passes available, which includes purely admission into the club and access to the facilities, including chairs, umbrellas, food and drinks

• Day Pass (Unlimited Open Bar & Dining): Starting from $169.99
• Day Pass (Unlimited non-alcoholic drinks & dining): $129.99 guests 13+, $109.99 guests 4-12 (ages 3 and under are free)

All admissions include unlimited dining, unlimited beverages, free Wi-Fi, round-trip transportation and all general amenities.

If you'd like to bring the whole family with friends, try a cabana.

Cabana rentals come in a few different sizes, with some of Royal Caribbean's biggest (and most expensive) cabana rentals ever.

• Ultimate Family Cabana: $9,999.99
  • Includes day passes for up to 12 people
• Royal Pool Cabana: $2,999.99
  • Includes day passes for up to 10 people
• Royal Beach Cabana: $2,999.99
  • Includes day passes for up to 10 people
• Beach Cabana: $2,199.99
  • Includes day passes for up to 8 people

The Ultimate Family Cabana gets you a cabana attendant, welcome amenity, dining area, private bathroom, private shower, private changing room, wet bar, reserved beach space, heated whirlpool, spiral slide, wooden swing, cozy hammock, loungers, suspended net lounger, frozen drink machine, TV, Bluetooth connection, charging outlets, lockable storage, and mini fridge.

Those looking to party all day might consider renting the party deck.

Located on the second floor of The Floating Flamingo (the world’s largest swim-up bar), it includes dedicated food & beverage service, lounge seating, mini fridge, cooler table, charging station, beach towels, ceiling fan, shoe cubbies and lockable storage.

For larger parties, you can reserve both east and west sides of the Party Deck.

For parties larger than 12 guests, entry to The Party Deck for up to 6 additional guests can be purchased separately. 

• Party Deck: $4,999.99
  • Includes day passes for up to 12 people

Located at Party Cove, the Day Bed comes with day passes for up to 2 guests, complimentary dining, unlimited drinks (alcoholic & non-alcoholic), free Wi-Fi, roundtrip transportation, and all general amenities.

• Day Bed: $649.99
  • Includes day passes for up to 2 people
• Deluxe Beverage Package (Full Cruise) + Royal Beach Club Combo: $139.99 per adult, per day
• Refreshment Package (Full Cruise) + Royal Beach Club Combo: $84.99 per adult, per day / $69.99 per child, per day
• Deluxe Beverage Package (Full Cruise) + Thrill & Chill Combo: $159.99 per adult, per day
• Refreshment Package (Full Cruise) + Thrill & Chill Combo: $109.99 per adult, per day / $99.99 per child, per day

If you want to experience the best of fun in the sun at both the beach club and Perfect Day at CocoCay, there's a bundle option.

The Royal Beach Club Paradise Island Refreshment Package + Thrill & Chill Combo includes:

• Royal Beach Club Day Pass
• Thrill Waterpark Day Pass
• Refreshment Package

It's priced per day of the cruise, rather than a flat fee like the other options. Royal Caribbean says the price of the bundle at checkout is up to 45% less than those products added to cart individually.

Ultimate Beach Day offering

Looking over the prices, you should know that the concept is to offer the very best beach experience.

Royal Caribbean has two goals: offer an unparalleled beach experience and give passengers a high quality shore excursion choice in Nassau.

Located on 17 acres at the western end of Paradise Island in Nassau, there's a mix of party and family time. 

Regardless of which zone you end up spending most of your time, expect high energy throughout the club.

Royal Caribbean did a lot of research from its customers, and they want a day with music, drinks, and a fun vibe.  It's not meant to be a quiet spot, even if you're in Chill Beach.

"It's going to be one of the, I would argue, it will be the most amazing beach day in essence," said Jay Schneider, Royal Caribbean's chief product innovation officer, earlier this year when he spoke to use about the big plans.

"Chill is not quiet… It is relaxed, but there is a little bit of energy built into what our guests expect out of Chill," Schneider said.

Family Beach is designed for what Royal Caribbean calls “relaxed energy” because it's a space where families can play, swim, and unwind together without sacrificing convenience or comfort.

Second club opening in Mexico

The Royal Beach Club Paradise Island is the first foray into the exclusive beach spot arena, and Royal Caribbean has plans for more.

A second club will open in Cozumel, Mexico in 2026.

Guests will find great views, access to the water, and likely something that builds upon the success and lessons of the beach club in Nassau.

Full details and a layout have not been revealed for the Cozumel beach club, but it's likely related to the fact the cruise line wants to take some feedback from the Bahamas club to then use in Mexico.

Plus, the Cozumel club has more space and a different perspective to build upon.

Both beach clubs are meant to outflank other cruise lines by offering superior shore excursions that are unrivaled.

While private islands are common among the major cruise lines, beach clubs are new and extend the highly rated ship experience to land because it's managed by Royal Caribbean.

Offering passengers high guest satisfaction choices that inherently create memories is the core DNA for these new beach clubs, which the cruise line feels will translate into more bookings and higher revenue.

My family has only ever cruised in North America, so the opportunity to go on a European cruise was too good to pass up.

I went on an 8-night Northern European cruise on Royal Caribbean's Independence of the Seas, which began in Southampton, UK.

When I boarded the ship, I met a lot of cruisers who also flew from the United States for this voyage and many lamented how tired they were because they came in just before the cruise began.

Immediately, I realized they had made a mistake I avoided in planning out their trip.

Flying to Europe for a cruise means not only more travel logistics, but adjusting the local time as well as the general travel fatigue it comes with. 

Not only would I never think to extend my Caribbean cruise in such a manner, I think adding time on either end of the cruise to see more of the continent is a must-do.

Easier to adjust

You should fly at least two days before your cruise departs when traveling overseas, but I'd recommend coming in even earlier than that.

Jet lag can ruin your trip, and it should be your first goal when traveling to ensure you don't start off over tired.

Put yourself on local time immediately upon arrival, and don't sleep until a reasonable bed time in the new time zone you're in. It's not foolproof, but I've found it the best strategy for reducing the chance of being jet lagged.

While avoiding jet lag is important, the real mistake is not allocating enough time to enjoy what Europe has to offer.

Port stops on your cruise will be short, so to really feel like you had time in Europe, I'd add more days before or after the cruise.

I flew in a week before my cruise departed, and we visited both Disneyland Paris and London. 

Not only did we get to enjoy what each place had to offer, but I was able to catch up on the lost sleep in the flight over and prepare my body so I'd be ready for the cruise.

The people who flew in a day before the cruise seemed to be overly tired for the first couple days of the cruise, and I think I was able to enjoy the start of the cruise more.

You see more too

I think the overarching goal for many on any European cruise is to see as much as they can.

The first question you'll get from friends or family is what you saw and did. While you don't have to impress anyone, I think it feels like a goal to work in more highlights.

Travel is as much about a humble brag as it is enjoying where you're going.

I was glad we spent so many extra days before the cruise so it truly felt like it wasn't one of those "it was over much too quickly" kind of vacations.

Extra days extend the value of your flights

There's a good chance the airfare for a European cruise could be one of your top expenses. Coming in early means more return on that price.

While you might see added costs of hotel, food, and entertainment arriving to Europe earlier, squeezing more value from your flights is just as important.

Long-haul flights are taxing.  Flying can cause dehydration, and even under the best conditions it's a lot of added stress.

Given how pricey flights are, I think it makes sense to ensure the uncomfortableness of flying and the tiredness it induces be more worthwhile from the trip.

More time in Europe seems to me to make the long, difficult flight more worthwhile.

You can add days after the cruise too

Don't overlook adding days at the end of your cruise as a way to maximize your travel time.

I think most people look to front load their vacation with bonus days in Europe prior to the cruise, but you could easily add more time at the end too.

Spending a few extra days after the cruise is over makes the last day of your cruise so much easier. You don't have to rush to catch a flight, and you can linger on the ship longer to enjoy a final breakfast.

I'm actually doing both this trip, spending an extra week in Europe at the conclusion of my cruise. 

Happy Sunday! Hope you are having a relaxing weekend and enjoying summer! It is time to sit back, relax, and catch up on all the recent Royal Caribbean news!

Royal Caribbean cruisers can breath a sigh of relief that more itinerary changes aren't likely to occur for cruises to San Juan, Puerto Rico.

The Port of San Juan posted an update that the U.S. Coast Guard has approved repairs made to the pier.

For months, Oasis Class ships were unable to dock because of damage to the moorings.

Royal Caribbean News

• Royal Caribbean skips ports and changes itinerary because of "ongoing maintenance"
• Crew member reveals that uneaten food on cruise ships isn't always thrown away
• I went to a German beer garden with strangers. They picked the place and it was a blast
• New cruiser spent almost $7,000 on a family vacation with 6 upgrades. I’d have skipped 3 of them
• When do cruise prices drop?
• I tried this Royal Caribbean crowd favorite that rivals Carnival’s Guy’s Burger Joint
• We used AI for cruise tour planning advice and were surprised by what we found

Royal Caribbean reflects on the cruise ship that changed everything about cruising

Royal Caribbean spoke about the significance of the Oasis Class, and how it set a new standard overnight.

The Oasis Class ships redefined cruising, and almost 20 years later, they're still as relevant today as back then.

Oasis was a radical departure from the ships that came before it, with each new Oasis Class pushing boundaries further.

I shared a 150-square-foot cruise cabin with my parents

Would you share a stateroom with your parents?

Cruise ship rooms are notable for how small they tend to be compared to hotel rooms, so sharing that small space with other adults isn't easy.

Jenna shared a tiny inside room with her parents and while it wasn't ideal, it did save them a lot of money.

Why you shouldn’t skip Royal Caribbean's older ships

Older and smaller ships may not be advertised much, but they're still great ships to sail on.

Some new cruisers question if it's worth it to go on an old ship because they're worried it will be disappointing.

Not only are they wonderful vessels to sail on, but they are a terrific value.

5 mistakes and 5 lessons from trying Anthem of the Seas

Allie sailed on Anthem of the Seas in Asia and came across a number of things she did right and wrong.

Part of trying new itineraries is trial and error, and some gambles work out while others do not.

We hope these experiences help you have a better cruise too.

New RCB Video: WORST & BEST Places On A Cruise Ship For A Cabin

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 — WORST & BEST Places On A Cruise Ship For A Cabin— and don’t forget to subscribe here.

There's a good chance Royal Caribbean's big ships will finally be able to resume visiting San Juan, Puerto Rico.

For many months the biggest ships in the world have been unable to visit San Juan because of damage to the pier.

Repair work has been slow, and it meant the only pier that was able to accommodate Royal Caribbean's giant Oasis-class ships was unavailable.  As a result, it forced the cruise line to cancel visits to the port, often at the last minute.

It now appears that's finally been fixed.

The Port of San Juan posted an update on their Facebook page indicating the proper repairs have been made and authorities have approved it all.

Pier 3 West has been officially restored, after completing a rigorous structural assessment in accordance with U.S. Coast Guard requirements. The slora restriction is lifted and the full use of the facility is enabled.

“It has been a long road, but our priority has always been to meet all the requirements established by the regulatory agencies and ensure the safe arrival of cruise ships in the coming years,” said Clarivette Diaz, General Manager of San Juan Cruise Port.

We deeply thank all the technical teams, consultants and agencies who made this long-awaited breakthrough possible.

We continue to work with commitment so that San Juan continues to lead as the base port of the Caribbean.

El Nuevo Dia reported the repairs are complete as well, "San Juan Cruise Port (SJCP) confirmed this Friday the reopening of Pier 3 West for vessels over 910 feet in length."

Royal Caribbean has not commented or announced any expectations yet related to the pier's status.

According to the port schedule, it appears the next Oasis Class ship scheduled to visit San Juan is Wonder of the Seas on August 6, 2025.

Icon of the Seas will follow with a visit on August 12, 2025.

Other smaller Royal Caribbean ships will visit before Wonder does, but smaller ships have not had an issue docking because they can fit into other piers.

What happened to the pier

While San Juan has a few piers, only Pier 3 West can handle Royal Caribbean's Oasis Class ships.

Based on reports, damage to the pier that can handle the biggest ships took place in April 2024 when allegedly it was broken after the MSC Meraviglia was involved, however, specific details are not known.

Following that incident, the U.S. Coast Guard assumed operational control of the facility. 

In a statement released in November, the Coast Guard confirmed that Pier 3 West would remain closed to cruise traffic until further notice. The decision is contingent upon a series of structural assessments and an on-site inspection. While other piers at the San Juan Cruise Port remain operational, none are equipped to accommodate the largest cruise vessels, including those of the Oasis Class.

“Since the loss of the facility's mooring structure, Coast Guard Prevention personnel have been actively working with the San Juan Cruise Port and the Puerto Rico Ports Authority to determine if the structure remains sound for cruise ship operations,” said Capt. Luis J. Rodriguez, Commander of Coast Guard Sector San Juan and Captain of the Port.

Capt. Rodriguez added, “We understand the inconvenience of this matter, however, it is critical we ensure the safety of the port, the cruise ships and the thousands of people who operate on or visit the island through this port facility. My team stands ready to move ahead immediately once we receive the awaited studies from San Juan Cruise Port and the Puerto Rico Ports Authority.”

The loss of a dolphin mooring structure just off the main pier is the primary issue.

A dolphin is a group of pilings arrayed together to serve variously as a protective hardpoint along a dock.

Repairs and assessment are out of Royal Caribbean's hands, as it's work managed by port authorities and subject to approval by the Coast Guard.

A Royal Caribbean ship has changed plans for two sailings so far due to "maintenance work" that's forced the ship to reduce speed.

The issue occurred at some point during the June 21, 2025 sailing on Independence of the Seas after the ship departed Hamburg, Germany,

The 8-night cruise was scheduled to visit Rotterdam, Netherlands at 10am the following day, but the Captain informed passengers they'd be late into port.

The exact problem was not disclosed by the cruise line or the Captain, but passengers were told they'd be late coming into port.

"We've had to make some adjustments to the times we'll visit Rotterdam, Netherlands, due to speed restrictions from ongoing maintenance onboard," the letter to passengers said.

"Rest assured, all maintenance work is being conducted with the utmost safety."

Independence was originally scheduled to arrive in Rotterdam at 11am. The initial updated estimate was to arrive by 1:00 or 1:30pm, but that slipped until about 2pm.

While the ship was still in Rotterdam, Royal Caribbean sent out an email to passengers booked on the next sailing their itinerary would be altered too.

Independence of the Seas is a Freedom Class ship, first launched on April 30, 2008.

She is 154,407 gross tons and was one of the largest cruise ships in the world when built. 

The 15-deck ship has a 4,370 passenger capacity and a crew capacity of 1,370.

Skipping a port

Independence of the Seas is scheduled to sail a 7-night Norwegian Fjords cruise next, beginning on June 29th.

"We wanted to inform you about some changes to our itinerary," the email read.

"Due to speed restrictions from ongoing maintenance onboard, we’ve had to make some adjustments."

The new plan is to skip a scheduled visit to Alesund, Norway and replace it with a sea day.

However, Independence will arrive one hour earlier into Molde, Norway at 7am instead of 8am.

No other changes to the itinerary has been made.

The cruise line was quick to apologize for the last minute change and assure passengers the ship is still safe to sail on, "We’re sorry for the inconvenience. Please know that all maintenance work is being conducted with the utmost safety."

Compensation for the change

Passengers on the June 29th sailing will receive some onboard credit for the change in plans.

"As a token of our appreciation for your understanding, you’ll receive a credit to spend onboard per stateroom," is what the email said.

• $150 USD for Interior and Oceanview
• $200 USD for Balcony
• $400 USD for Suites
• Plus, an additional $25 USD for each third or more guest to spend onboard

Any shore excursions booked through Royal Caribbean will be fully refunded automatically.

Propulsion problems aren't unusual

Mechanical problems can occur on cruise ships, just like they can on airplanes, buses, or trains.

Given that they operate every week, propulsion problems are fairly rare.

Independence of the Seas is not a new ship, but Royal Caribbean invests a lot of money into routine maintenance.  However, engine problems will still occasionally happen.

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.

Instead of booking a tour on my Royal Caribbean ship visit to Hamburg, Germany, I let a stranger plan my day and it worked out really well.

Months ago I was just starting the planning process for my European cruise aboard the Independence of the Seas.

Hamburg is a port I've never been to before, and we only had a few hours of time to visit.  I wasn't sure how to best use the time, but I knew I wanted to visit a beer garden, because it seemed like a very German thing to do.

Unrelated to this, I went for a visit to a facsimile of what a beer garden is like at Walt Disney World, where they have the Biergarten restaurant in Epcot.

Our waitress started talking to us, and I noticed her nametag said she was not only from Germany, but near Hamburg.  I asked her for any recommendations for what to do in town.

Her name is Sariana, and she lives in Bremen. She worked at Walt Disney World for a few years as part of an international employee work program.

As it turned out, she was not only a cruiser, but also a viewer of Royal Caribbean Blog on YouTube and volunteered to show us around when we arrived.

I had my doubts how serious she was, or if she'd even show up.  Sure enough, the week our Independence of the Seas cruise departed, I got a message from her that she hadn't forgotten about us and wanted to help.

She suggested since we loved eating at the fake beer garden, why not try the real thing.

We picked out one place and Sariana made all the arrangements for my family and a few friends to meet up to eat there.

Unfortunately, that place was sold out, but she had a few other suggestions and we landed on Hofbräu Hamburg. It's located right in the city center, and is a traditional German beer garden.

The best way I can describe a beer garden is it's like a big party room, where you drink giant glasses of beer, eat traditional Bavarian/German food, and enjoy a ruckus good time.

You're seated at what is essentially picnic tables, and you very well could eat with or near other patrons.

The menu was giant, and I could have eaten a heck of a lot more.  I wanted to try so many things, but unlike the food on Royal Caribbean, each entree is quite large.

We ordered schnitzel, Bavarian potato soup, spätzle, and more.

And yes, I indulged in a liter of beer. Not only is it traditional, but we all were looking forward to sharing beers together.

The food was so good, and we had a great time sharing cruise stories, talking about how life is different in our countries, and just enjoying each other's company.

Sariana was sure to let the servers know we had to be finished by a certain time. Evidently if we hadn't, the two hours we had allocated for lunch wasn't long enough at a beer garden.

This reminded me the power of cruising

Going into Hamburg and eating with Sariana and her sister reminded me why I love to cruise.

We got to meet amazing people and try foods in a foreign city that we otherwise would not have done otherwise.

I doubt we'd have ever planned a land vacation to Hamburg, and even if we did, without the love of cruising, I never would have had the opportunity to spend time with Sariana and her family.

I think we all had a great time being in Germany and doing a very German thing. When you add friends to the equation, it becomes the perfect kind of day.