Cruise ships are often compared to cities, and there are certain ones you'd love to go back and see again.

I just took my 100th cruise while sailing on Royal Caribbean's Freedom of the Seas, and it's a milestone that made me reflect on all the sailings I've taken since I started cruising in 2006.

In those almost 20 years, I've been on most of the ships in the fleet.  There are still a few I have yet to sail on, but I hope to try them all some day.

In the meantime, there are a handful of cruise ships I'll gladly sail on again because they stand out for offering a superior experience. In a lot of cases, they speak to my preferences and how I like to cruise.

Whether you're going on your first cruise or looking to get on every ship too, these are the five Royal Caribbean ships I highly recommend.

Utopia of the Seas has everything in a weekend cruise

I've loved Oasis Class ships since I first tried Oasis of the Seas in 2010, so picking a favorite is like choosing a favorite child.

I picked Utopia of the Seas because it's part of the latest generation and has the best in class features that just make it stand out.

Purists will complain the ship only sails short cruises instead of 7-nighters and that diminishes the appeal, but I'm willing to overlook the issue because Utopia is just better than the rest of the ships in its class.

Yes, it's marketed as a "weekend party ship" and you get an energetic bunch on there, but my goodness, they included so many smart ideas on Utopia.

Here's a few examples of things you'll only find on Utopia and none of the other Oasis Class ships:

• Best pool deck
• Flat Tire restaurant
• Royal Railway restaurant
• Izumi in Central Park
• Best Giovanni's location

Utopia also has my favorite bar on any ship, the Mason Jar. 

Plus, the non-smoking casino on this ship is massive. Royal Caribbean gutted the comedy club and loyalty lounge and replaced it with a sprawling non-smoking casino area that feels like a land based casino. 

While I wish it still had a dedicated comedy club because comedy in the Royal Theater doesn't hit the same, there's no doubt the casino is an upgrade.

It's also very similar to Wonder of the Seas, but I picked Utopia because Wonder doesn't have the Royal Railway, Flat Tire, or Izumi in Central Park. Little tweaks, but enough that I'd be lying if I said I didn't prefer them.

Freedom of the Seas has great prices and lots to do

I've sailed on Freedom of the Seas 8 times so far, and it's not a coincidence I've ended up back on onboard.

Not only are the Freedom Class ships great values that deliver a big ship feel, but the upgrades it received in 2020 easily make it the best of the class.

Freedom is a big ship, with a maximum capacity well over 4,000 passengers. There are water slides, a great variety of specialty restaurants, expansive aqua park for kids, and a great bar scene.

You're also very likely to find a good value when sailing on Freedom of the Seas. Both the Freedom and Voyager Class represent the best dollar-for-dollar value today because they're older ships (20 years old in 2026), but they also have a lot to do onboard.

Just like Utopia, it too got a nice upgrade with a non-smoking casino that replaced Vintages on the Royal Promenade. A welcome change to non-smokers that enjoy gambling.

The chief downside to Freedom is in its cabins, which still have a twenty year old motif to them. The light pink cabin doors, dated bedding, and lack of outlets are not reasons I recommend the ship. 

They're things I hope are some day improved, but in the meantime, I can live with them because the rest of the ship makes up for it.

The hidden gem ship is Odyssey of the Seas

Odyssey of the Seas is in some ways Royal Caribbean's forgotten new ship.

It launched right as the cruise industry was recovering from the shutdown of 2020, and Wonder of the Seas entered service so quickly after Odyssey that it felt like it was quickly overshadowed.

What I love about Odyssey is it's the Quantum Class ship that got everything right.  I always liked the Quantum Class ships, but never loved them until Odyssey came along.

Royal Caribbean figured out a lot of things with Odyssey.  They added Playmakers and reworked the SeaPlex to make it a place everyone would like to enjoy, not just teenagers.

They reworked the pool deck and opened it all up, while also making it feel like you're at a resort.

Odyssey has the new Giovanni's Italian Kitchen restaurant, as well as a unified Main Dining Room. 

If you haven't sailed on Odyssey yet, you really should book something on it because it's easily overlooked, yet a ship I think doesn't get enough praise for being that darn good.

My favorite budget cruise ship is Mariner of the Seas

If you've got sticker shock looking at Icon of the Seas, you'll find much more reasonable prices on Mariner of the Seas.

Mariner is a Voyager Class ship, and first launched in 2003. While a 20 year old cruise ship might seem less than ideal, recent upgrades boost this ship's appeal.

It has a Playmakers sports bar, water slides, laser tag, tiki bar, and a handful of specialty restaurants I frequent anytime I'm onboard.

I've sailed on Mariner 13 times, and I think the reason I love to come back is the good mix of low prices and fun activities onboard.

Similar to Freedom, Mariner is the kind of ship you book because you want to spend less, but still have enough to do. And like Freedom, Mariner's upgrades make it a more compelling choice than other ships within its class.

Out of all the ships I've sailed, Icon of the Seas is my favorite

It's been almost two years since Royal Caribbean reset the standard for all other cruise ships when they introduced Icon of the Seas, and it remains at the very top of my recommended ship list.

The array of innovations, tweaks, and additions make Icon a must-try for pretty much everyone. I think Royal Caribbean got so much right with this ship while also improving guest pain points that it stands out from the rest of the ships in the fleet.

For someone new to cruising, I think it's a wonderful introduction because it just makes everything so effortless. You'll find so much to do, enticing options, and a frictionless vacation.

I especially like the pool variety, incredible water slides, the fully enclosed AquaTheater, and really good included dining choices.

The only downside to Icon is it will cost you more than any other ship on this list.  Both Icon and Star of the Seas command premium pricing, so don't expect a bargain basement price.

Speaking of Star, yes, I love Star and would recommend it too. The reason I picked Icon was simply because they're so similar and Icon was the original, so I opted for it.

Don't kid yourself, every other new ship out there is trying to catch up with the Icon Class, and none have come close to matching it.

Happy Sunday! Temperatures may be dropping, but there is plenty of Royal Caribbean news to share. This is your weekly summary of all the Royal Caribbean news from this past week, perfectly fitted for your consumption.

The world's largest cruise ship will begin sailing from Galveston in 2027.

Royal Caribbean confirmed Icon of the Seas will be based in Galveston starting August 2027.

The cruise ship will be running six-day, seven-day and eight-day sailings into the Caribbean. 

Royal Caribbean News

• Rare tropical cold front forces Royal Caribbean ships to divert away from The Bahamas
• Royal Caribbean kicks off Black Friday 2025 with new bundles
• The best early Black Friday deals I could find on drink packages, beach clubs and more
• Photos show what it's like aboard the brand-new Celebrity Xcel cruise ship
• Royal Caribbean brings famous game show to its cruise ships
• What it's like to eat alone in the Main Dining Room
• Pros and cons of solo cruising
• 'Karma is a Cruise': Fan-led Taylor Swift cruise setting sail in 2026
• I tried doing every activity on one of Royal Caribbean's giant ships. I was exhausted, but would do it again

New Video: Why an inside cruise cabin is better

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—Why an inside cruise cabin is better—and don’t forget to subscribe here.

Royal Caribbean is bringing back a ship to Baltimore in the summer

There will be a cruise ship sailing from Baltimore in 2027, but only during the summer.

The new deployment revealed that Royal Caribbean will return to Baltimore as a homeport in 2027 after being absent in winter 2026.

The plan is to keep a ship there seasonally for the peak summer cruise season.

A Royal Caribbean ship visited Carnival's private cruise port

In a strange occurrence, one Royal Caribbean ship visited Carnival's private cruise port.

Freedom of the Seas made a stop at Amber Cove in the Dominican Republic instead of a planned visit to Perfect Day at CocoCay because of bad weather.

The optics of a Royal Caribbean ship in a port exclusive to Carnival ships was certainly a surprise to many.

Man convicted of molesting boy on cruise ship

A 67-year-old Malaysian national was convicted this week on a child sexual abuse charge for something he did on a Royal Caribbean ship.

The incident occurred on Icon of the Seas and he was caught while onboard after molesting a young boy.

Two boys, age 7 and 9, were part of the heinous act.

Royal Caribbean sees strong demand for vacations, despite shift in consumer behavior

Consumers might be cutting back spending in some areas, but not for their vacations.

Royal Caribbean Group executives recently talked about how most people are unwilling to compromise on taking time off.

It's an interesting glimpse into how negative economic factors cause consumers to spend less, but vacation is still where splurging is king.

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 583rd episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available at all our links.

There have been a few surprises in this year's new deployments coming for 2027-2028.

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.

Royal Caribbean's Black Friday sale is in full swing, and it includes a new combo deal that could save you money.

Even though the actual Black Friday holiday isn't for a couple more weeks, Royal Caribbean decided to get in on the holiday sales early. It launched a Black Friday Early Access sale that will change names over the next few weeks.

While most people focus on individual add-ons, Royal Caribbean has added a new offer exclusive to Black Friday.

This limited time offer is only for the Black Friday period, and it's so different from any other combo deal I've seen in the past that it's worth taking a deeper look at.

The All-In Package

New for Black Friday in 2025 is a bundle deal that includes the most popular extras a lot of cruise passengers buy.

The All-In Package comes in two forms, depending if you are sailing to Nassau, Bahamas or not.

• Drink package
  • Deluxe Beverage Package for adults
  • Refreshment Package for kids
• Unlimited Dining Package
• VOOM Surf + Stream 1 Device

If your sailing is going to Nassau once the new Royal Beach Club Paradise Island is open, it also includes a day pass with unlimited open bar & dining.

Royal Beach Club Paradise Island is a new idea from Royal Caribbean, where passengers have the choice to purchase admission to an exclusive beach day excursion that is owned and operated by Royal Caribbean.

It's being described as the ultimate beach day experience to offer a superior excursion with pools, beaches, party zones, food and drink included.

The All-In Package also includes a free beach day pass to Hideaway Beach, which is the adults-only area of Perfect Day at CocoCay.

For a cruise that visits both Nassau, Bahamas and CocoCay, the price listed is $164.99 per guest, per day.

Cruises that don't visit CocoCay or Nassau include just the drinks, dining, and WiFi. I've seen prices between $89.99 and $119.99 per guest, per day.

There's also a Refreshment Package that includes the Refreshment Package, Royal Beach Club Day Pass with Non-Alcoholic Drinks & Dining, and Thrill Waterpark Day Pass. It does not include WiFi.

Is this package a good deal?

Royal Caribbean is advertising the All-In Package as "our best deal of the year", but will they save you money?

In evaluating the package, the savings depend on your exact sailing. Because Royal Caribbean's prices vary from ship to ship and sailing to sailing, the prices for the package and the individual add-on components vary considerably.

For example, here's a Utopia of the Seas sailing on January 9. 

Total price for one person with the All-In Package that includes both the Royal Beach Club and Hideaway Beach day passes is $164.99 per guest, per day.

Here are the prices for the individual add-ons on that sailing:

• Deluxe Beverage Package: $77.99 per guest, per day
• Unlimited Dining Package: $38.99 per guest, per day
• Voom 1 device package: $23.99 per guest, per day
• Royal Beach Club Day Pass (with alcohol): $149.99 per guest
• Hideaway Beach Day Pass: $71.99 per guest

Adding up the first three packages, it's $140.97 per guest, per day. Combining the total cost of the Royal Beach Club Day pass and Hideaway Beach Day pass and dividing by the 3 days, the cost is about $74 per guest, per day.

That brings the total cost to $214.97, making the All-In Package a savings of almost $50 per day.

There's a catch. The individual prices I listed are for a passenger with no Crown & Anchor status or status in the ship's casino.

I'm seeing the price of the Deluxe Beverage Package at a lower price because I'm a Pinnacle Club member and have Prime Status in the casino. For me, it's $53.99 per guest, per day. The Ultimate Dining Package is also slightly discounted at $34.99 per guest per day.

That brings the daily price down to $186.97, or about $22 per day savings.

In both cases, the All-In Package will save money assuming you want to visit both Hideaway Beach and The Royal Beach Club.

Before buying the package, it's worth seeing how much each bundle component is on its own before purchase. No matter what you choose to buy, purchasing before the cruise is still a better deal than waiting to get on the ship.

I'm no stranger to cruising alone, but eating by myself always feels a little strange.

I booked a 5-night cruise on Royal Caribbean's Freedom of the Seas without my family because I wanted to review the ship again and see some of the changes that have been made, like a new casino offering.

If you ask my wife, I never shy away from booking a cruise alone.  It's not ideal, but I've cruised solo enough times that I immerse myself in my work to keep me busy. Plus, the ship always has a lot of activities I can indulge in as well.

But the only time I truly ever feel alone is at dinner because I enjoy a nice sit down meal to round out my day, and sitting alone at a table makes me feel sort of left out. 

I decided to embrace the solo cruise experience and go to dinner the way I prefer.

I would have chickened out if I didn't have a table alone

I'll admit that my entire decision was pinned on having a table with no one else at it in the Main Dining Room.

Royal Caribbean may assign you a table for dinner with strangers or just for your party. It's kind of a crapshoot as to what you'll end up getting.

Your table assignment is written on the bottom of your SeaPass card.  It has a deck number and dining time.  Your dining time is something you select when you book the cruise, and you have the choice of My Time Dining or Traditional.

On embarkation day I walked into the Main Dining Room, and found my table. Sure enough, it was a table for two and that meant I'd certainly be seated alone.

As an added bonus, my table was right by the window.  Unfortunately due to daylight savings time, it was too dark to see anything out of the window.

No one really cares if I'm eating alone

The singular truth about eating alone is that no one else cares what you're doing, and few barely even probably notice.

My concern with eating alone stemmed from the notion I'd feel out of place, in the way someone might feel if they showed up to a black tie party in shorts and a t-shirt.

The truth is it never felt anything like that. 

Any time I scanned the area around me, everyone was immersed in their own conversations and meals.  Plus, I was either enjoying my food.

When I didn't have something to eat, I had my phone to keep me occupied.  Fear not, I wasn't "one of those people" that had music or audio playing.  I used my phone to text friends and family, check social media, and otherwise keep me quietly occupied.

The downtime between servings is probably when eating alone would feel awkward, but the phone helped bridge that gap.  I suppose reading a book would be another option too.

The speed of service helped tremendously

One of the top reasons I came back for dinner in the Main Dining Room on night two was how quick the meal was.

When I first started cruising, dinner could take two hours or more. While I enjoy a relaxed meal, I think that's just too long.

One of the initiatives Royal Caribbean undertook as part of its Main Dining Room overhaul in 2023 was to address speed of service.

The cruise line saw this as an opportunity to serve hotter and fresher food while also addressing consistency. 

All of my dinners took between 45-60 minutes from start to finish. Full disclosure, I skipped dessert every night, so that saved some time too.

Because I knew I could enjoy a plated meal without fear of feeling "stuck" there, I enjoyed the experience even more. To be clear, the servers never made me feel rushed. They just served my food at the pace I was consuming it.

Why didn't I just go to the buffet?

If you are wondering why I didn't just opt for the Windjammer buffet instead, it's because I was eating other meals there and I wanted something different.

I love the cruise buffet, but the quality of the food in the Main Dining Room is always going to be a little bit better. As an example, the French Onion Soup served in the Dining Room is always going to be presented better than the DIY version at the buffet.

Part of the appeal of cruising is the level of service it comes with, and I enjoy what the Main Dining Room represents in that regard.

I'll gladly eat alone in the Main Dining Room again

I think this was the solo dining experience that solidified I could do it again without any trepidation.

I had a great team of waiters (shoutout to Renz and Jonathan) who made it all flow so easily.  One night I asked Renz to have a bowl of French Onion Soup waiting for me before they close for the evening, and he was happy to oblige.

The truth is few other passengers notice you're alone, and fewer care.

Some might have read this article and wondered why I didn't ask to sit at a larger table with strangers so I wouldn't feel alone.

My issue with sitting at a table with others and being alone is inevitably there are down times in the conversation and I'd feel rude being on my phone or reading a book. If I'm cruising with my wife and we are seated with others, then I have her to fall back on for a quiet conversation.

Anyone who's concerned about eating alone in the Main Dining Room should remember it's not as big a deal as you probably think it is. Bring something to keep you occupied between servings, and enjoy the added service.

An unusual series of circumstances caused on Royal Caribbean cruise ship to spend the day at a rival cruise line's port.

Freedom of the Seas spent Thursday docked at Amber Cove alongside the Carnival Magic. 

Carnival describes Amber Cove as it's "exclusive Dominican Republic cruise port" and has been operating it for about 10 years.

Royal Caribbean passengers were able to walk around the port area, and take advantage of the complimentary pool and lazy river, as well shop and eat at the various extra cost restaurants.

Why a Royal Caribbean ship visited Amber Cove

The strange occurrence of a Royal Caribbean ship going to Carnival's port is the result of a weather and logistical circumstances.

The November 10 sailing of Freedom of the Seas was originally scheduled to sail a 5-night voyage that would visit Royal Caribbean's private island of Perfect Day at CocoCay and Cozumel.

However, Freedom would not visit either of those destinations.

About a week before the cruise, Royal Caribbean informed passengers their visit to Cozumel was being replaced with a visit to Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic.  They never specified why there was a change, but it's likely related to other ships being re-routed to Cozumel because Jamaica's cruise ports are closed due to the Hurricane Melissa aftermath.

Then on embarkation day, the ship's Captain updated passengers again that they would have to skip CocoCay because of a cold front moving through the Bahamas that would close the private island.

Instead, Freedom would visit Amber Cove.

How the visit came about will never be known, but it certainly came as a surprise.

Not a private island

As a Royal Caribbean cruiser, it's easy to quickly draw comparisons to what I'm familiar with.  But Amber Cove isn't like something I've been to before exactly.

The closest comparison I can come up with is Amber Cove is like Costa Maya, Mexico but with more options.

Being a cruise port, you don't have to spend the day there.  There are excursions and tours to take you around the nearby area of Puerto Plata. Or you could hop in a taxi and do your own thing.

Inside the port, there are lots of shops and a few restaurants too. Food and drink here cost extra anywhere within Amber Cove. All of the retail and food and beverage spaces are leased out.

The pool and lazy river within the Aqua Zone are included at no extra charge, similar to Taino Bay or Costa Maya. 

There are also upsell options with day beds, cabanas, a water slide, or water craft you can rent. I was surprised how inexpensive cabanas cost compared to Royal Caribbean.  I could have gotten an over-the-water cabana for just $500 for up to 8 people and it included some snacks and water craft rentals.

One notable feature you won't find is beach access.  Amber Cove has a lot of pool space, but no beach. You'll need to book an excursion to any number of nearby beaches in Puerto Plata for that.

It was strange, but a fun day at Amber Cove

It felt a little surreal being in a Carnival port, but I suspect most passengers on Freedom of the Seas had no idea this was Carnival's port unless they were told by someone else.

Because Carnival leases out all of the operations, it doesn't have an overtly obvious Carnival motif to it. I didn't see Freddie the fun ship mascot, or anything else that screamed Carnival.

As a lifelong Royal Caribbean cruiser, I was struck more by how there wasn't a true similar product from my preferred line.

Royal Caribbean has private destinations in CocoCay or Labadee, but you can't leave those places and a lot of the food and drink is included.  That's not the case at Amber Cove.

Truly, it felt like Taino Bay's port is an attempt to copy Amber Cove and has a free pool and lazy river for guests, along with extra cost restaurants and bars. Plus, you can leave Taino Bay on a tour. However, Taino Bay isn't exclusive to Royal Caribbean.

I'm not sure I'll ever have a chance to try Amber Cove, but it's nice having an easy day to relax in port or bypassing it all and heading out to try something else around while in the DR.

After pulling cruise ships from Baltimore, Royal Caribbean will bring back a ship there for the summer season.

In March, the cruise line shared deployment information that revealed it would no longer offer cruises from Baltimore in winter 2026-2027.

It was a surprise to many, because Royal Caribbean has had a ship based there year-round for quite a long time. The apparent departure from Baltimore ruffled a lot of feathers among cruise fans that relied on a ship sailing from the Mid-Atlantic region.

However, Royal Caribbean will bring back a ship to Baltimore for at least a few months per year.

Vision of the Seas returns in 2027

The newly revealed plans show Vision of the Seas will sail from Baltimore once again.

Vision will be based in Baltimore between May - October 2027, meaning there will be no sailings from November 2026 - April 2027. In October 2026, Vision will move to Fort Lauderdale.

The plans are to offer 5- and 9-night cruises to Bermuda or 9-night cruises to Canada & New England.

5-night Bermuda Getaway sailings

• Baltimore, Maryland
• Royal Naval Dockyard (2 days)
• Baltimore, Maryland

9-night Bermuda & Bahamas sailings

• Baltimore, Maryland
• Royal Naval Dockyard, Bermuda (2 days)
• Nassau, Bahamas
• Bimini, Bahamas
• Baltimore, Maryland

9-night Bermuda & New England Cruise

• Baltimore, Maryland
• Boston, Massachusetts
• Portland, Maine
• Saint John (Bay of Fundy), New Brunswick (2 days)
• Halifax, Nova Scotia
• Baltimore, Maryland

The new sailings are available to book immediately.

"It'll be back every summer"

It appears Royal Caribbean's game plan has shifted with Baltimore, and it will now be a port that offers summer cruises only.

Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley answered a question about cruises from Baltimore during the most recent President's Cruise and confirmed the new approach.

"I've had a couple of people ask me, why did you take vision out of Baltimore," he explained during a question and answer session.

"It's seasonal. It's coming back. It'll be back every summer."

Why did they make the change to drop winter cruises from Baltimore? Evidently the logistics were difficult.

"It's just logistics and reality. Winter products out of northeastern ports just have more challenges," he said.  Likely those challenges have to deal with the weather. Winter storms can disrupt itineraries and make it difficult for a ship to get to or from their homeport.

Moreover, during the winter it's cold for a few days until the ship can reach the tropics.  Plus, the distance required to get to the tropics makes for limited itineraries.

There's also a limited set of ships that can actually sail from Baltimore because of the bridges blocking access to the port.

The Chesapeake Bay Bridge and the recently destroyed Francis Scott Key Bridge are too low to allow big ships in.

He went on to say the company understands there's demand for a product there, "We are happy to be operating out of Baltimore. Baltimore is super supportive to Royal Caribbean, and we know there's a lot of guests in the area who like sailing [from there]."

Cruise fans happy with the news

The announcement spread quickly on social media that Royal Caribbean was coming back to Baltimore.

"So happy she is coming back to Baltimore!" posted Dodie B. on a Vision of the Seas Facebook fan group.

Angel D. echoed the statement, "I am excited that she is returning."

Of course, some people wanted more options beyond just a summer season.

• "We also like the winter cruising. I want to head south in February, not July."
• "No 12 night Southern Caribbean which was our favorite."
• "We are in our 70's we could be dead by 2027."
• "Yes 2027 only 3 cruise destinations. You better like Bermuda and Bahamas."

Consumers might be cutting back on spending in some places, but they're still spending big on cruises.

During Royal Caribbean Group's third quarter earnings call, executives were clear that while people might be looking for ways to spend less overall, they're not willing to skimp on vacation.

"Consumers continue to prioritize experiences and make room in their budgets for meaningful vacations," said Royal Caribbean Group CEO Jason Liberty as he spoke to Wall Street analysts. 

While there may be-a shift in consumer behavior in everyday life, it hasn't hit vacations.

People are still spending on cruises

If someone is going to try to save money, a vacation isn't where they're looking.

The cruise giant's own research tells them that a vast majority of consumers are still spending the same on vacations as they did before.

Roughly three-quarters of consumers intend to spend the same or more on vacations over the next twelve months, a level that has remained consistent for several quarters. 

Their research also shows that while consumer spending has "normalized" from the elevated levels over the past two years, "demand for experiences and leisure travel remains intact."

While the rest of the economy may have softened on overall spending, people are still spending big on their trips.

Mr. Liberty thinks this is largely due to the great value a cruise offers, "Cruising offers superior value for money versus alternative options, driven by the high-quality onboard amenities and services, pricing inclusive of meals and entertainment, and the opportunity to visit a variety of destinations with the convenience of having everything in one place."

This is evident in the extraordinary demand they've seen for the fist Celebrity river cruises, and the new Icon Class ships.

The other reason the company feels good about the future of consumer spending is because of the new offerings they have lined up.

Royal Caribbean International is on the precipice of launching a new beach club in The Bahamas, followed by two more beach clubs in 2026.  Then you have Perfect Day Mexico opening in 2027.

The opportunity to try those experiences is likely going to drive demand even further, according to Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley.

"[Beach clubs are] also a driver for itinerary as well because we are beginning to see that itineraries that include the beach club as well as Perfect Day seem to be driving even more demand than historically, which has been really strong."

"I think we'll see that kind of combination of beach clubs really push through in onboard revenue and short excursions."

Willing to pay more

Another interesting anecdote about consumer spending is that cruisers are not only still booking, but they're willing to pay up for it.

Liberty talked about how demand is fueling cruise bookings, "As we see really strong demand and people are dreaming more and more about their vacation experiences."

"We are also seeing that translate to onboard spend. And so we are thoughtfully meeting our guests with the experiences, and they are willing to pay for them."

According to Mr. Liberty, the average cruiser has this makeup:

• Great job
• Great balance sheets (bank accounts)
• A strong desire to vacation and build experiences and memories with their friends and family

He acknowledged that they might not be willing to pay as much as they did like last year, "but they are willing to pay more."

Relying more on loyal customers

While tapping the new-to-cruise market is always going to be the primary area for sourcing business, Royal Caribbean Group is also looking to its repeat customers to cruise even more.

The company has steadily enhanced its loyalty matching program so to make it easier and more beneficial to sail on all the cruise lines owned by Royal Caribbean Group.

In 2024, status matching was introduced between the lines so a person could get an equivalent tier of loyalty status at a different line.

The move provided tangible benefits instantly to those that were loyal to one brand, but wanted to try another one.

The company then announced in its earnings call this year a new way to earn points interchangeably between the cruise lines.

Points Choice is coming early next year, and it means you can sail on Celebrity but earn Royal Caribbean points, or vice versa. This is an important change for cruisers looking to climb the loyalty ladder of one line while still being able to branch out.

Executives think it's a win-win for brand and consumer. Its aim is to generate additional sales across all of its brands while making it easier for cruisers to move up to higher loyalty tiers and their associated benefits.

Texas will soon be home to cowboys, barbecue, and one of the world's biggest cruise ships.

Royal Caribbean announced it will redeploy Icon of the Seas to Galveston, Texas in August 2027.

Measuring 250,800 tons, Icon of the Seas is a groundbreaking vessel that captured the imagination of the public. When every cabin is maxed out, over 10,000 people can sail on the ship when you add in crew members.

Unveiled in 2024, Icon of the Seas is about the same size as sister megaship Star of the Seas. When Icon debuted, it introduced 14 specific innovations just for that ship, including destination elevators, an entire waterpark, AI powered customer support and much more.

Beginning in August 2027, Icon will sail alternating 6- and 8-night cruises to the Western Caribbean. But big things are planned later when the cruise line's new mega destination Perfect Day Mexico opens in late 2027.

Perfect Day Mexico is set to debut in late 2027. Royal Caribbean will announce the exact opening date in 2026. 

Perfect Day Mexico is expected to be a vacationer's dream that is aimed at opening up a bonanza of renewed interest in cruises to Mexico. 

It's not much of a surprise given how popular cruises from Texas have become recently, with bigger ships shifting to be based in Galveston. Plus, its proximity to Perfect Day Mexico allows Royal Caribbean to instantly enhance what has become a familiar set of cruise ports.

Icon's move to Galveston is one of many ship deployments also announced this week. Here's a breakdown of what Royal Caribbean has planned.

Icon of the Seas sailing from Galveston beginning August 2027

Royal Caribbean will reposition Icon of the Seas from Miami, Florida to Galveston with a 9-night cruise.

The sailing will visit the Southern Caribbean before heading to its new homeport of Galveston.

Once there, Icon of the Seas will offer 6-, 7-, and 8-night cruises.  the 8-night cruises will visit Perfect Day at CocoCay too.

The new sailings from Galveston are available to book immediately, and are available through April 2028.

The Texas cruise boom

Royal Caribbean has systematically positioned itself to take advantage of more people wanting to cruise from Galveston.

In 2022, they opened a brand new $125 million cruise terminal so that the port could handle the biggest cruise ships in the world.

Then they moved Allure of the Seas to Galveston, which was the biggest ship to ever sail from the port at the time of her debut.

Other cruise lines quickly took notice and adjusted their plans to match. Carnival invested $53 million to upgrade their terminal so that Carnival Jubilee could sail from there.

Just this week MSC opened a $156 million terminal that it will share with Norwegian. MSC Seascape departed on its first voyage earlier this week from the new terminal.

Royal Caribbean hinted strongly bringing an Icon Class ship to Texas

It wasn't a very well kept secret that Royal Caribbean had ambitions to homeport one of its Icon Class ships in Galveston.

As recently as September, Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley talked about the idea during the President's Cruise, "I wouldn't be surprised if some big announcement came to Galveston. I'm not saying we're putting an Icon Class there. But if I was a gambling man...."

Prior to that, in August Mr. Bayley answered a question from a travel agent about an Icon ship in Galveston, "We're not going to answer that question. But I can tell you it's coming, baby."

It's one of many hints and teases over the past few years that have pointed to an Icon ship shift.  The only question was when and which of the ships would do it.

A big ship with Royal Caribbean's latest and greatest features

If you want to know why Icon of the Seas is such a big deal, look no further than all the amazing things that are onboard.

Icon encompasses 20 decks, has seven pools, and six waterslides that make up an entire waterpark.

It is divided up into 8 neighborhoods, meant to make it simple to get around the ship and know where you are at any time.

There are over 2,800 staterooms on Icon of the Seas, as well as over 40 bars and restaurants onboard. You can dine at an eight-course meal in a supper club, take the family out for hibachi, or enjoy five different food halls.

On select evenings, there are performances of the Wizard of Oz show in the Royal Theater, plus incredible feats of athleticism and dance in the Aquadome.

In all, the ship has 20 passenger decks. It is 1,198 feet long and 213 feet wide.

More ships released from Texas, California, and New York

In addition to the Icon of the Seas news, Royal Caribbean also shared new deployments for 2027-2028.

Joining Icon in Galveston will be Symphony of the Seas. Symphony will offer short 5-night cruises as well as 7- or 8-night cruises down to the Western Caribbean.

Liberty of the Seas will also sail from Galveston to offer shorter cruises to Mexico.

Oasis of the Seas and Independence of the Seas will sail from Bayonne, New Jersey and offer cruises to Bermuda, The Bahamas, Eastern Caribbean and Canada.

Odyssey of the Seas returns to Bayonne for the winter season to offer 7-12 night cruises down to the Caribbean and Bahamas.

On the west coast, Ovation of the Seas will sail short 3- and 4-night cruises from Los Angeles and Navigator of the Seas is back in LA to offer 7-night Mexican Riviera cruises.

The idea of going on a cruise alone can seem daunting, but I think it's quite rewarding once you try it.

There are plenty of reasons why you'd need to cruise solo: family obligations, a great last-minute rate, or PTO time that's going to expire. Whatever the rationale, you might be concerned that it's a mistake to get on a cruise ship by yourself.

I've taken dozens of cruises alone, and while it's a different approach to how you travel, I find it very liberating doing what you want, when you want to do it. Plus, it means more cruising!

If you're on the fence if a solo cruise is right for you, I've got the reasons to try or skip a solo cruise.

Pros of Cruising Alone

Let's start with the best reasons to try a cruise by yourself because I want to start with why you should give it a try.

In fact, I'd go as far as to say you really ought to give a solo cruise a try, even with the downsides listed later in this article.

Ultimate flexibility

The first thing you'll likely notice when you get on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship solo is you aren't consulting with anyone else what to do next.

Cruising alone means you get to cruise at your speed. You can do what you want, and come and go to whichever activity suits you.

There's no negotiating dinner times, activities, or excursions. No one is waking you up inadvertently, and you have the freedom to set alarms (or not).

Wandering the ship and stopping to do what you like and then leave when you're ready is a very liberating feeling. While I'm sure you enjoy the company of you friends and family, sometimes it's nice to do what you want.

Doing what you want is the common theme of a solo cruise. It allows you to enjoy your cruise without much compromise.

Cruise ships are conducive to solo cruising

Unlike land resorts, cruise ships tend to be a more social experience from start to finish.

I've found that a cruise fosters a lot of social interaction because of how so many events and activities are conducted.

Shore excursions are almost always set up in groups, and you're bound to start up a conversation there. Trivia events at bars are where you're encouraged to form teams. Even the casino tends to generate conversations with strangers because people inevitable like to celebrate or commiserate about how the games are paying out.

Royal Caribbean can seat you with other passengers in the Main Dining Room for dinner.

The more I've cruised alone, the more I've opened up to random conversations with strangers. Most of the time it's just a passing hello, but sometimes you can strike up a good chat and you might have a new friend around the ship.

In fact, the bar scene on cruise ships is a very social one. I've found it can be quite adept to meeting people.

If you have access to the Crown Lounge or Suite Lounge, those are some of the best places to meet other cruisers. There seems to be a sense of comradery in those lounges because of the exclusiveness of them.

It's a faster path to higher loyalty tiers

A common reason to want to cruise solo is to cruise more to reach Royal Caribbean's top tiers within Crown and Anchor Society.

If you're chasing Diamond status or higher, going alone will get you more loyalty points. 

Cruising alone in a standard cabin will get you 2 points per night, and you'll get 3 points per night if you're in a suite. 

There's no doubt I got to Diamond Plus and Pinnacle Club status faster because I cruised solo. And once you get higher loyalty status, you get to take advantage of the perks.

Royal Caribbean's best benefits are arguably at the Diamond, Diamond Plus, and Pinnacle Club levels. Having them makes cruising so much better, and you might save money too.

For families, one person cruising solo could elevate the entire family since spouses and kids under 18 living in the same household all get the same loyalty status as the highest family member has.

It's a safer environment

While there are no guarantees in life, I find being alone on a cruise ship feels safer than being alone in a city

There are no unfamiliar places at night or dark alleyways to worry about. Cruise ships offer structured, secure environments that make traveling alone feel safer.

I would never say a cruise is crime-free or there's zero risk, but I would argue it feels safer than a city does.

Every single person onboard is accounted for and has their information registered with the cruise line.  It's not a total safety net, but the fact a ship is self contained puts my mind at ease. Heck, it's why I let me kids much more freedom on a ship than I do at home.

Cons of Cruising Alone

Now it's time for the downsides of cruising by yourself. 

Not all of these may apply to you, but I think they are important to be aware of before you tell your travel agent to book the cruise.

The cruise fare is more expensive

The first thing I hear about cruising alone is that it's not cheap.

Booking a standard cabin by yourself means you'll pay the single supplement fee, which is the cost to make up for the missing second passenger.

Royal Caribbean (and nearly every cruise line) charges you a fee if you cruise alone because their business model is based on double occupancy.

Essentially, this means you'll pay for a second person in your stateroom, even though there isn't one there.

While Royal Caribbean does have some solo cabins on certain ships that don't charge the fee, they are few and far between.

Look on the bright side, paying the fee gets you the extra Crown and Anchor points.

There will be times where you're lonely

No matter how many times I've cruised solo, there are moments of loneliness.

This is especially true when dining alone because sitting at a table by yourself tends to make it more self aware that you're the only one there.

The same can be true when you're sitting at a table at a bar, attending a show, or enjoying an activity and miss the comradery of being able to share in it with someone else.

I've found the remedy to this is buying an internet package so you can text, call, and Facetime friends and family at home. It's not exactly the same thing as having them with you on the cruise, but it's the next best thing.

You have to plan everything

Being responsible for all the cruise planning is either the best or worst thing ever.

There's no one else to share in the responsibilities of packing, booking activities, researching what to do, or making decisions along the way.

If you forget something or run into a problem, it's all on you.

This doesn't cause too many issues for my personality, but there have been times I've forgotten to pack something my wife usually brings or I've had to navigate a change in plans and determine the best new option all on my own.

Dining alone is weird

I won't sugar coat it: eating at restaurants on your cruise is strange when it's just you.

It's totally fine at the buffet or when grabbing a slice of pizza, but eating in the Main Dining Room and specialty restaurants can make you feel more alone than you really are.

Food is one of the top two reasons people book a Royal Caribbean cruise, so limiting yourself to just casual spots may be too much of a compromise.

My advice here is that no one cares you're eating alone. It may feel like everyone's looking at you, but people are self-centered enough that they're more preoccupied with their own lives than what one person at table 417 is doing by themselves at a table.

Embrace the solo cruise and give a try

I really think cruising alone on Royal Caribbean is a great idea and worth doing at least once.

You should consider certain ships and itineraries that might be better for a solo cruise.  A port intensive itinerary that will keep you busy is better than a cruise with a lot of sea days.

Likewise, I'd recommend a big ship that has lots to do onboard for a solo cruiser.  The more options you have helps keep you engaged.

Without a doubt, buy an internet package so you can always reach out to friends and be social.

Once you've had a taste for solo cruises, I think you will love the change in pace it brings and might just become a go-to way to squeeze in more cruise vacations!