Author Image
Facebook URL
https://www.facebook.com/royalcaribbeanblog

Royal Caribbean is working on options for its cruise ships following Baltimore bridge collapse

In:
26 Mar 2024

The Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore partially collapsed early Tuesday morning after a container ship ran into it, which will have a wide impact, including the cruise industry.

Key Bridge collapse

Maryland officials confirmed the ship lost power and ran into the bridge, causing its collapse. People and vehicles were sent into the water, creating a state of emergency.

The bridge's collapse has far ranging humanitarian, logistical and economic impacts, as well as the cruise industry.

Royal Caribbean operates year-round service from the Port of Baltimore, which is located inside the harbor and impacted and/or blocked by the now collapsed bridge.

Francis Scott Key Brige. Photo by Karin Marie
Photo by Karin Marie

A Royal Caribbean Group spokesperson issued a statement no decisions have been finalized yet as it relates to cruise ship operations.

"We are deeply saddened by the tragedy and collapse of the Key Bridge that occurred last night and extend our heartfelt prayers to all those impacted."

"Our Port Logistics team is currently working on alternatives for our ongoing and upcoming sailings. We will message our guests and travel partners directly once our plans are finalized."

Docked in Baltimore

Royal Caribbean's Vision of the Seas sails out of Maryland, offering cruises to the Bahamas, Southern Caribbean, Bermuda, and Canada/New England. Other cruise lines, such as Norwegian and Carnival, sail from Baltimore, too. 

Vision of the Seas is currently on a 12-night Southern Caribbean sailing that is not due back into port until April 4.

What happened to the bridge

Photo by BCFD Fire Boat Marine Unit
Photo by BCFD Fire Boat Marine Unit

Traffic in and out of the Port of Baltimore has been suspended following the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge.

The Francis Scott Key Bridge suffered a fatal blow after being hit by a large container ship early Tuesday. Meer moments after the collision, the bridge collapsed, sending vehicles and people into the Patapsco River. 

Officials were searching for "upwards of seven people," according to the Baltimore City fire chief, James Wallace. Two people have already been rescued, with one declining medical service and the other being transported to a trauma center in serious condition. 

Key Bridge

At the time of the collision, workers were on the bridge completing repairs to its concrete deck. However, according to Paul J. Wiedefeld, Maryland’s transportation secretary, it's unclear how many workers were on-site during the incident. 

The container ship, named The Dali, was on its way out of Baltimore on a 27-day journey to Sri Lanka, striking the bridge less than thirty minutes after departing the port around 1:30am EST. It was scheduled to arrive on April 22, according to VesselFinder

This isn't the first time The Dali has been involved in an incident, as the ship hit a stone wall at the port of Antwerp in 2016. Thankfully, nobody was injured; however, the vessel did sustain minor damage.

 

In addition to rescue efforts streamlined by the Coast Guard, the Federal Aviation Administration issued a no-fly order around the bridge to allow workers to search for survivors from the air. 

According to the FBI, no evidence suggests this was a terrorist attack; however, the investigation is ongoing. Richard Worley, the Baltimore Police commissioner, made a similar statement, claiming that there's "absolutely no indication" the ship struck the bridge on purpose. 

6 mistakes I saw people make on my spring break cruise

In:
25 Mar 2024

No matter the cruise, there's always going to be a large contingent of first-time cruisers that inevitably make mistakes.

Wonder of the Seas at CocoCay

I took my family on a 7-night cruise on Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas for spring break. It's an annual cruise tradition, as taking the kids out of school during the course of the calendar year gets more difficult as they get older.

Spring break has its pros and cons to sailing this time of year, but we find the comfortable outdoor temperatures, lack of tropical storms, and built-in time off as good reasons to sail this month.

Matt at Laser Tag

Over the span of the week, I ran into many cruisers and couldn't help but notice some of the clearly new ones struggling with things I think could have been avoided. I'm far from perfect, but I've gotten a lot better at avoiding common pitfalls from experience. Therefore, I think it's helpful to share with our readers ways they can improve too.

Here are the six mistakes I saw first-time cruisers committing on my cruise.  These are the ones I witnessed, although I'm sure other first-time cruise mistakes were being committed elsewhere. 

Not knowing it's spring break

Royal Promenade

This may seem obvious, but there are always a few people genuinely surprised to be on a spring break cruise. Maybe it's because where they are from, spring break is a different week of the year. Or they don't think of March as when spring break might happen.

There were about 1700 children on our spring break cruise. To be clear, a ship like Wonder of the Seas would have been full if it were spring break or not. The difference is you have more kids than other weeks, but all the cabins would have been sold out one way or another given how popular cruising is, and how cruise lines sell their ships to sail at full capacity every week as a matter of economics.

Spring break might seem like it's one or two weeks, but in reality, it encompasses a few months.  Most people consider spring break season to begin in mid-February when it's President's Day weekend in the United States and go all the way through Easter.

Wonder of the Seas docked

That means you'll find spring breakers cruising anytime in late February, March, or early April. Depending on when Easter falls on the calendar, the season can be longer or shorter. You should expect more kids on the ship any of these weeks.

One way to double check is to spot check school calendars, especially if you're on the fringe of spring break. Google your own hometown school calendar, as well as a few others. For what it's worth, Orange County schools in Florida had their spring break beginning on March 18, while Osceola County had theirs March 11.

The good news is you don't get the rowdy college spring breakers on a 7-night cruise, as much as you would on a 4-night cruise. However, there are definitely more families onboard and that just means lines for the water slides, laser tag, or hot tub might be longer.

If you truly want to avoid a spring break cruise, try a cruise in January, early February, or May.

Not checking in online

Inside the cruise terminal

As I barely stopped in my cruise check-in process, I couldn't help but shake my head at the folks who had to stop and have the terminal staff enter their paperwork for boarding.

Royal Caribbean allows you to start checking in for your cruise up to 45 days before the cruise begins, and you really should do all the pre-cruise check-in steps while you're at home (or work, I promise not to tell your boss).

In short, the time it takes to enter your travel information in the app at home is time saved in the terminal. I'm willing to bet it's faster for you to enter the information than the terminal staff can do it.

Whether it saves you five minutes or an hour, I personally would rather expedite the process to get on the ship and not start my vacation with an unnecessary line.

Read more: Royal Caribbean check-in process

Not specifying liquor brand when ordering a drink

Pouring drink at the bar

Whether you buy a Royal Caribbean drink package or not, when you tell the bartender which drink you'd like, always specify the brand of liquor.

All too often, I see someone come up to the bar and ask for "a pina colada" or "a bloody mary" and not ask for Kraken rum or Tito's vodka.

When you ask for a liquor, you're almost always going to get the cheapest brand of liquor they have (better known as "well liquor"). It won't be nearly as smooth, and usually results in that cringe face after the first few sips.

Don't worry, most types of liquor are included with a drink package.  Unless you're asking for something super top shelf, it won't affect the price.

Read more: Avoid these Royal Caribbean drink package mistakes

Choosing My Time Dining

Line for My Time Dining

This next one isn't so much of a mistake, as it is something to think about for next time.

When you choose which dining time for dinner on your cruise, you have to pick between Traditional or My Time Dining.  There are pros and cons to both, but I really felt bad for the folks in My Time Dining.

When I walked past the Main Dining Room on Deck 4 at 6:30pm, there were two giant lines that went almost back into the casino.

Line for My Time Dining

I went back a half hour later to check, and the line had subsided, but hadn't gone away.

My Time Dining is a good choice for those that want flexibility in when they eat, but understand you may have to wait for a table.

Too much fun in the sun

Cabana pool

To be fair, experienced cruisers succumb to the sunburn just as easily as a new cruiser. But it seems like new cruisers tend to end up with that "lobster glow" more often.

Even though it's only March, the sun is strong and a sunburn is something no one wants.

Not only should you remember to apply sunscreen before you start your day on shore, but you need to re-apply. A lot.

Matt at Hideaway Beach

Every two hours or so is a good idea, and you want to take a break to avoid getting burned.  Once you're burned, it can be really uncomfortable for the next few days.  

Similarly, it's easy to start having a great time relaxing in the ocean or pool, but be sure to take breaks and remember to not over do it. 

Eating before you start day drinking is always a solid bet, and pace yourself. It's easy to get swept up in the fun and keep the drinks flowing, but drink responsibly so you don't end up being "that guy" later in the day.

Read more: 22 unpleasant cruise ship problems you aren't prepared for

Keeping luggage tags on bags on final night

Both luggage tags on the suitcase

At first I thought there was just one person that did this, but then I saw lots of bags.

The luggage tags you attached to your bag on embarkation should not be on your bags still when it's time to leave the luggage out on the final night of the cruise.

I have no idea how often (if at all) this really gets anyone into trouble with their luggage being lost, but if removing the original luggage tags is definitely a good practice to get into so there is absolutely no confusion if a piece of luggage in the cruise terminal is for a guest disembarking or a new guest boarding the ship.

Royal Caribbean announces it will build a new beach club for cruise ship passengers in Mexico

In:
22 Mar 2024

Royal Caribbean will open a beach club in Mexico, exclusively for the use of its cruise ship passengers.

Cozumel beach club

Royal Beach Club Cozumel in Mexico is the name of the line's next new enclave.

Beach clubs are a new idea for Royal Caribbean, which are private areas reserved for the use of Royal Caribbean ships visiting that day. An admission cost is also associated with the clubs.

The announcement was made on Friday and the new club will open sometime in 2026.

Cozumel beach club render

It will be located "along the western coast of the island."

“We are delighted to build on our longstanding partnership with the local community and government to continue bringing our guests to Mexico,” said Jason Liberty, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean Group. “The expansion of our destination offerings aligns with the growing global demand for the ultimate vacation experiences and enables our guests to connect with the beauty of local cultures and people in the places they visit.”

“The anticipation for what’s next when it comes to Royal Caribbean destinations has only continued to build since we revealed Royal Beach Club Paradise Island in The Bahamas that opens in 2025. Now is the perfect time to announce the next iteration of this collection with Royal Beach Club Cozumel,” said Michael Bayley, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean International. “Cozumel is an incredible destination, and the beach club will perfectly complement all the island has to offer as an experience that combines familiar Royal Caribbean touches with the spirit of Mexico, alongside amenities and activities for every type of vacationer.”

What the club offers

Beach at Royal Beach Club

The exact details aren't known, but Royal Caribbean said the Royal Beach Club Cozumel will offer beach and pool access, along with scenic views.

We know of these features:

  • swim-up bars
  • Pools for families and all guests to enjoy
  • Cabanas to rent
  • Snorkeling
  • Kayaking
  • Restaurants, bars, and lounges with Mexican flare
  • Street market offering hands-on experiences like tequila tastings and cooking classes.

Hints at the club

Terminal in Galveston, Texas

In retrospect, today's news was alluded to by Royal Caribbean's executives recently.

During the inaugural sailing of Icon of the Seas in February 2024, Mr. Bayley answered a question about the future of cruises from Galveston, Texas from a travel agent during a Q&A session.

Galveston has become one of Royal Caribbean's fastest growing markets recently, with the line opening a brand new cruise terminal there in 2022.

"It wasn't by accident we put Allure of the Seas into Texas, and now we've got Harmony of the seas. And if you just think forward a few more years, I wonder what we're going to do next."

"I'm not giving away our strategy here because it's pretty. It's pretty simple if you can just use your imagination, you know, big things are coming, baby."

First beach club opening in The Bahamas

royal-beach-club-concept-2

In 2020, Royal Caribbean announced a new venture in Nassau that would allow passengers the ability to visit an exclusive destination outfitted with four beaches, private cabanas, a spacious swimming pool, and a watersports center.

Dubbed "Royal Beach Club at Paradise Island," this addition to Royal Caribbean's private offerings, specifically in a busy port like Nassau, aims to provide passengers with unparalleled beach experiences away from the majority of the crowds.

Since Royal Caribbean is designing the beach club as a public-private partnership, Bahamians are able to hold up to 49% equity in the venture.

Undeveloped site of the Royal Beach Club

While not a private island like Perfect Day at CocoCay, the 17-acre Royal Beach Club at Paradise Island is exclusively for guests sailing onboard Royal Caribbean ships. Although situated on Paradise Island, which is home to resorts like Baha Mar, Sandals Royal Bahamian, and Atlantic, the Royal Beach Club will be located in a more secluded area.

Additionally, it's not included in the cost of your cruise fare, so you'll have to pay extra for admission. Included in the cost of a day pass to the Royal Beach Club are complimentary beach chairs, food, and use of the swimming pool and kids' splash pad.

Apart from two food halls, there will be three Snack Shack locations offering convenient grab-and-go items like chicken sandwiches, french fries, and, of course, the ever-popular mozzarella sticks. Aside from dining, guests who pay for admission to the Royal Beach Club at Paradise Island will have access to numerous bars, as they're scattered throughout the beach club.

royal-beach-club-pool-concep

To reach the beach club, passengers will have to taxi a complimentary water shuttle from Bay Street located near the Straw Market. Once onboard, guests will have two drop-off options: near Sapphire Beach and the west end of the pool.

At the time of writing, the Royal Beach Club at Paradise Island is scheduled to welcome its first guests in 2025.

St. Thomas beach club next?

Earlier this week, the Hotel Director on Wonder of the Seas was speaking to guests during an event onboard and mentioned a beach club was coming to Mexico. He also said there were other plans for other islands.

At the Top Tier event, the Hotel Director talked about plans the company has to build more beach clubs, although at the time of his talk, nothing had been officially announced by the company.

"We're developing the Royal Beach Clubs as well. The first one of those is going to be in Nassau in the Bahamas," he said to the crowd.

"I believe that's going to be the first in a series of Royal Beach clubs. We're looking at St Thomas, we're looking at Mexico."

As it turns out, his announcement has been half right so far, with the Cozumel Beach Club announcement confirmed.

I ate brunch at 3 Royal Caribbean restaurants, and the one you've heard of the least was the best

In:
21 Mar 2024

Brunch isn't something Royal Caribbean has offered a lot, but it's great you can find brunch more often now.

Brunch on Royal Caribbean

On Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas, there are three restaurants that serve brunch throughout the cruise: the Main Dining Room, Solarium Bistro, and Mason Jar.

Brunch isn't offered every day, but it's available on select mornings of the cruise.

During my recent cruise on Wonder of the Seas, I stopped by all three to sample them all.

Only reservation you need is at Mason Jar

Mason Jar entrance

Both Solarium Bistro and Main Dining Room require no reservations for brunch, but you will need one at the Mason Jar.

Brunch is offered at Solarium Bistro on sea days (and on the day we docked in St. Thomas at 1pm). Brunch was only offered in the Main Dining Room on our late arrival day into St. Thomas, and the Mason Jar offers brunch on embarkation day and sea days (and St. Thomas day).

You can make a pre-cruise reservation for Mason Jar on the Royal Caribbean website. For the other two restaurants, simply walk up and ask for a table.

I was surprised by the menu choices

Brunch food

When I hear the word "brunch", I think of scrambled eggs and bacon served alongside spaghetti and a burger. In short, it's about a lot of choices you can intermix between the two meals.

The Mason Jar's brunch menu has items from both meals, including fried chicken sandwiches, avocado toast, biscuits, and more.

Cinnamon roll

Being a Southern American styled restaurant, there are a lot of regional favorites here: blueberry johnnycakes, spinach 'n pimento cheese omelet, and fried chicken 'n waffles. There's also scrambled eggs, burger, and a chicken sandwich if you want something a bit more familiar.

At the Main Dining Room, their brunch menu leaned more heavily into the breakfast choices. It felt like their brunch menu was the standard breakfast menu, with a few of their lunch menu items added in.

Solarium Bistro

The Solarium Bistro's menu was the largest of the menus, with multiple stations to choose from.  Served buffet style, there is no printed menu, but I found much more choices than I expected.

Solarium Bistro's brunch buffet bonanza

Donuts

The Solarium Bistro is a complimentary restaurant at the front of the ship that I think many passengers overlook. However, on the day I ate there, it was definitely not uncrowded.

You will find lots of choices spread across multiple buffet stations. There are waffles, burgers, omelets, spaghetti, bacon, and more.

Solarium Bistro

I was impressed by how much choice there was, which is why it felt the most crowded of the buffet spots I visited on Wonder.

The food quality was that of the Windjammer buffet, so it wouldn't be anything significantly different. But I think the sheer variety and the fact it's included in your cruise fare stood out a lot.

Southern comfort food at Mason Jar

Brunch at Mason Jar

The Mason Jar is Royal Caribbean's first specialty restaurant to lean into the brunch trend, and it wont leave you disappointed either.

You'll find a mix of familiar and maybe not-so-familiar choices (if you don't live near an SEC college). I'm all for new choices, and I appreciate it's not just more of the same.

Fried Chicken at Mason Jar

The Sweet-Tooth Cinnamon Roll and the red velvet pancakes caught our eye almost immediately. The cinnamon roll was massive, and probably best suited as something to share with everyone at your table.

In fact, all the dishes were quite large and this is a good restaurant to order one more entree than people in your party and just share everything. 

A basic brunch in the Main Dining Room

Brunch in MDR

The brunch menu in the Main Dining Room is perhaps the least inspired of the three, in the sense it's the standard breakfast menu they have every day, with a few staples of the lunch menu.

There's nothing wrong with any of the choices here, but don't expect to be wowed by anything new or different.

What I love about eating in the Main Dining Room for breakfast or brunch is the relaxed pace, dignified atmosphere, and ocean views (if you're near a window).

MDR

Whereas Solarium Bistro is busy with people, the Main Dining Room is more spread out and has you seated with waiter service.

The French toast and omelet your way are probably the top choices, but you could get a steak or burger here too.

Solarium Bistro is worth a try on your next cruise

Solarium Bistro

Among the three restaurants, I enjoyed Solarium Bistro the most.

Not only is it complimentary, but I thought its variety of menu choices really stood out. It felt like I could mix and match the most of the three, and I thought there were some interesting choices too.

Mason Jar

The Mason Jar is a strong contender too, as you'll find classic and reimaged southern-inspired breakfast dishes. I think being able to go to any specialty restaurant and get something you can't find elsewhere on the ship is a big selling point of spending extra.

However, there is a lot of bleed over between the Mason Jar's brunch and dinner menus. Plus, I think the bar scene is better than the restaurant experience, but that's a different debate.

Bagel and lox

Compared to Solarium Bistro and Mason Jar, the Main Dining Room's brunch offering was uninspiring. It wasn't bad food by any means, just nothing you're going to walk away from and think that meal really stood out.

Overall, I would recommend the Solarium Bistro for brunch as an easy choice that the entire family will find something they can enjoy. If you have a dining package, make a point to try Mason Jar on another morning.

I rented a $2,000 cabana at Royal Caribbean's adults-only area of CocoCay. It was totally worth it, especially with a private pool

In:
18 Mar 2024

I've rented plenty of cabanas at Royal Caribbean's private destinations in the Caribbean, but its latest creation is my favorite yet.

Hideout Cabana review

Perfect Day at CocoCay is an island in The Bahamas for its passengers to enjoy, and there's plenty to see and do without spending extra.

Around Perfect Day at CocoCay are cabana rentals you can choose to reserve for an extra cost to provide privacy, extra service, shade, and amenities.

I recently spent the day at CocoCay with some friends and splurged to book a Hideout Cabana in the adults-only area.

Booking the cabana

Hideout Cabanas

I booked my cabana online from Royal Caribbean's website a few months before the cruise. The pre-cruise booking experience is quite easy, as there have been a number of improvements to expedite the process.

Not only is booking a cabana online easy and fast, it's likely cheaper than waiting to book it onboard the ship. Royal Caribbean usually discounts its add-ons to entice customers to spend more overall. In fact, about 70% of passengers are pre-booking something.

Hideaway cabana

There are two sets of cabanas at Hideaway Beach, which is the adults-only area that opened in 2024. The Hideaway Cabanas near the beach (between $899 - $1,699), and the Hideout Cabanas with a private pool (between $1,899 - $2,699).

Because I prefer the pool over the beach, I went with the Hideout Cabanas. For $2,000, we had the cabana for the entire duration of our stay at CocoCay for up to 8 people.

We checked in as early as possible the day we arrived

Look at Hideaway Beach pool

Cabanas open as soon as the gangway is open for passengers to disembark the cruise ship. Our ship, Wonder of the Seas, docked at 7am, and we walked off the ship at 8am to maximize our time.

It took us just a few minutes to walk down the pier and hop on a complimentary tram to take us to Hideaway Beach.

At the entrance to Hideaway Beach, we informed them we had a cabana and we then went to the cabana check-in desk.

The staff welcomed us and escorted us to the cabana.

Our cabana had plenty of shade, private pool access, drink and food service

Hideout cabana

The Hideout Cabanas offer in-pool loungers, a couch, and chairs in the cabana. In fact, two of the chairs can be converted to floats that can be used in the pool.

The pool itself is heated too.

The cabana provides privacy with three walls, along with a ceiling fan, Bluetooth sound system, shower, mini-fridge, and sink.

Inside the Hideout cabana

Our mini-fridge was stocked with beers, wine, sodas, and water. The bottled Evian water is complimentary, but the other beverages cost extra.  If you have a Royal Caribbean drink package, then that will cover the beverages consumed in the cabana (and elsewhere on the island).

We had everything we needed for the day

Hideout cabana

Part of the appeal of renting any cabana on CocoCay is it's your own little spot to enjoy without much care.

Your cabana attendant already has towels for you, so there's no reason to bring any on or off the ship. And they also bring you food and drink.

You can order food from Slice of Paradise or Hideaway Hut, which includes pizza, sandwiches, salads, burgers and more.

The only reason to leave the cabana is to go to the beach or the restroom.

We really enjoyed our poolside lunch

Pizza from Slice of Paradise

Lunch service begins at 10:30am and is available the whole day. There's no limit, so just keep ordering as much as you'd like.

The menu had something for everyone and the kind of food you'd like to have on a pool/beach day. While the food is not as high quality as the Coco Beach Club restaurant, there are additional items not available elsewhere on CocoCay, such as coconut shrimp basket or pizza.

Coconot shrimp

I spent time before lunch going between dips in the pool and working from the table in our cabana. Blogging requires work, but I was sure to get as much done early so I could enjoy the rest of the day.

Our cabana attendant would come by every 20 minutes, but there was a button we could use to page him if we needed something.

Lunch delivered

The food was brought reasonably quickly, and we were not hungry for long.

There were lots of fun drinks to pick from

Hideaway Beach drink menu

In addition to the typical beers and cocktails most people order, there are a half dozen featured cocktails you can order.

Having extra choices to consider is always nice, especially on a cruise where it seems like you gravitate towards the same choices.

Since we had a drink package on this cruise, we could try different cocktails without risk of being "stuck" with a poor choice.

Something else special about the Hideout Cabanas is there is bottle service, where you can order bottles of wine or champagne.

We spent most of the day in the pool

Hideout Cabanas

The Hideout cabanas have access to their own infinity pool, and I think this is the top reason to book one of these cabanas.

Only Hideout cabana guests can access this pool, so it has a sense of exclusivity as well as being very convenient as it's at the entrance to the cabana.

You could sit in one of the loungers, take a dip in the pool, stroll, or sun yourself. There's enough space for 8 people to enjoy and not feel cramped at all.

Hideaway Hideout cabanas

We loved having the ability to go out into the pool for a bit to get some sun, and then retreat into the cool shade when we'd had enough.

There's more to do, if you care to leave the cabana

Look at Hideaway Beach pool

The cabana is a blessing and a curse in the sense you have everything you need in one place, but leaving it to explore the rest of Hideaway Beach seems like you're wasting your investment.

Elsewhere in Hideaway Beach is a giant pool with DJ party, sports bar, and beach. In my opinion, these areas are great if you don't rent a cabana.  But there's nothing wrong with taking a walk to see them either.

The pool is definitely the party spot, with a giant swim-up bar and DJ nearby. It's big on energy.

The cost of the cabana seemed well worth it to me, and I'd rent one again

Our cabana

Although we only had the cabana for about 8 hours, it seemed worthwhile for our large group.

The cabanas are a great choice for family and friends looking to get the most out of their day at CocoCay. Since it's adults-only, no kids are allowed.  For cruises where we sail with our adult friends, it's the perfect add-on.

The cost is not insignificant, but when you split the cost across a group of people and then figure out the hourly cost, it's not a bad price at all. Especially compared to the price for Coco Beach Club cabanas.

Read more: Guide to CocoCay cabanas

Hideaway Beach

I'd absolutely rent a Hideout Cabana again. The pool is such a nice idea, and I think it's better than the pricier over the water cabanas at the Coco Beach Club.

Among the many choices where to spend your day at CocoCay, having your own dedicated place to chill is key. Combined with a friendly host, lots of drink choices, and a delicious poolside lunch, a cabana rental feels like a no-brainer.

Royal Caribbean will evaluate canceling more visits to Labadee, Haiti every 3 days

In:
14 Mar 2024

Royal Caribbean has cancelled all of its visits to its private beach in Haiti until further notice.

Labadee sign

Last night, the line notified guests who had cruises with stops in Labadee over the next week that their visits have been changed to another port or swapped to sea days.

The worsening unrest in Haiti necessitated a change in plans, and thousands of passengers and travel agents received emails that their visit to Labadee would be cancelled.

It appears there will be more rolling cancellations until the situation improves.

Wonder in Labadee

Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley posted an update on Thursday morning to provide additional context as to the scope of the cancellations.

His Facebook post stated, "We have suspended calls into Labadee, Haiti for the next 7 days and will continue suspension on a rolling basis with 3 days advance notification to our guests sailing on itineraries impacted and changed as we monitor and evaluate the situation in Haiti."

Labadee post by Michael Bayley

Depending on the ship, the cancelled visit has been replaced with either another port or a sea day. 

  • Symphony of the Seas March 17 replaced Labadee with a sea day
  • Adventure of the Seas March 15 replaced Labadee with Turks & Caicos

Labadee is located in a remote part of Haiti, and has been a private beach for Royal Caribbean cruise ship passengers since it opened in 1988. 

Haiti flag

Haiti is experiencing a major civil upheaval following thousands of gang members escaping multiple prisons in Port-au-Prince.  As a result, the U.S. State Department issued a Level 4 warning for the country, meaning all travel to the country is discouraged. 

Earlier this week, Royal Caribbean initially cancelled just shore excursions, but retained visits to Labadee. This included jet ski, kayak, and fishing excursions.

It's not clear what change necessitated the full cancellation of visits to Labadee for the foreseeable future.

Passenger reaction

Beach at Labadee

Mr. Bayley's update was met with plenty of opinions on if the cancellations were necessary, alternate port options, and other thoughts.

Ashley Sanders wrote, "I, for one, am glad you guys are thinking of the crew and passengers first. Nobody life is worth a stop in a place that's dangerous."

Rachael Correll Estevez brought up two issues with the rolling three day window, "Three days is not enough. It doesn't give people enough time to make other plans at a new port (if one is assigned)."

She pointed out a policy related to infants and the number of sea days allowable for them to cruise, "Some sailings removing Labadee and replacing it with a sea day makes 3 consecutive days at sea, making babies 6-12 months ineligible to sail... how is 3 days enough for those families to adjust to their options?"

Breeda O'Leary posted about the replacement port options, "Please find other ports instead of another sea day whenever possible."

Royal Caribbean adds new benefit for Pinnacle Club members

In:
13 Mar 2024

Royal Caribbean wants to add more value to its guests at the very top of its customer loyalty program.

Icon-Suite-Neighborhood-30-Coastal-Kitchen

Pinnacle Club guests received an email on Wednesday informing them of an update to their Pinnacle Club benefits.

Pinnacle Club status is the top tier within its loyalty program, requiring a total of 700 points to attain it.

Read more: Crown and Anchor Society loyalty program info, tips & secrets

Overview of the new benefit

Suite Sun Deck render on Icon of the Seas

Effective on sailings beginning March 15, 2024, and onwards, each Pinnacle Club member may now bring one guest staying in their immediate stateroom to accompany them into the Suite/Concierge Lounge, Suite Sun Decks, and Coastal Kitchen.

Crown Lounge (formerly known as the Diamond Lounge is not included) in this change.

Pinnacle benefit letter

There are some special rules with this new option:

Non-Pinnacle Club guests must be always accompanied by a Pinnacle Club member.

Beverages consumed in these venues will be charged to guests' SeaPass cards - Diamond and above members may redeem their daily drink vouchers. 

Suite Lounge door entrance

On sailings where the number of eligible Suite & Pinnacle Club guests exceeds the Suite venue capacity, access for Pinnacle Club members will be determined by cruise points and extended to one of their stateroom occupants. Those eligible will receive access notifications 48 hours before the sailing and a reminder on boarding day in the Welcome Letter.

Access to Coastal Kitchen is based on space and availability. Reservations are required and can only be made once onboard.

Royal Caribbean went on to say that this new benefit for Pinnacle Club members has not changed Crown Lounge access and remains exclusive to Diamond, Diamond Plus, and Pinnacle Club members, unless communicated otherwise.

Why the change? Royal Caribbean wants to deliver the very best benefits to its most loyal cruisers, "We are committed to ensuring your cruise experience is exceptional, and we believe these updates contribute to that goal."

Adding the new benefit means Pinnacles can bring someone in their cabin with them to enjoy the reserved space.  Prior to this change, the benefit was only applicable to the Pinnacle Club guests.

The gap between Pinnacle Club and the next tier down, Diamond Plus, is significant at 175 points to 700 to move up.

Pinnacle Club benefits comparison

Pinnacle logo

Beyond the benefits shared with lower tiers, Pinnacle Club guests enjoy a great deal of benefits.

Chief among them is a free cruise once they reach the tier. There's a free cruise for two people on a 7-night balcony stateroom for 700 and 1050 cruise point thresholds. 

Plus, a milestone cruise certificate valued at the prevailing rate of a Junior Suite stateroom for 1,400 and every 350 cruise points thereafter.

Pinnacles also get free internet packages for duration of every sailing, lapel pins, priority embarkation with the suite guests, and daily breakfast at a specialty restaurant.

How to qualify for Pinnacle Club

If you'd like to get to Pinnacle Club, you'll need to accrue at least 700 points in Crown and Anchor Society.

You'll earn one point per night of your cruise in a standard cabin (balcony cabin or smaller), which means you'd need 700 cruise nights to get there.

There is a faster way if you're willing to spend extra.  Staying in a suite gets you two points per night. Likewise, booking a standard cabin alone will get you two points per night.

If you stay in a suite by yourself, then you'll earn three points per night, which is the most you can earn per night in Crown and Anchor Society at the moment.

Unlike most hotels or most airlines, your points never expire and you don't have to requalify for your status annually.

Royal Caribbean has a ten year plan to use robots on its cruise ships

In:
13 Mar 2024

Robotics is seen as the future for many functions, including cruise ships.

Robot evolution for entertainment

An evening show on a cruise is as synonymous with the industry as the buffet or the ports of call visited. Royal Caribbean sees the future of entertainment with robots as integral to the show as the performers.

Royal Caribbean Senior Vice President of Entertainment Nick Weir has not only been the head of Royal Caribbean's productions for decades, but he has been an early adopter of robots to augment the show experience.

Robotics offer a way to bring show elements previously impossible, or requiring a great deal of man power to accomplish.

Mr. Weir shared on Twitter that Royal Caribbean has, "a ten year program" for robotics.

Nick Weir Tweet

While we don't have yet a clear indication of what robots the future holds, it's clear the line is deeply invested in iterating robot technology and opportunities with each new ship.

A foothold in robotics

Royal Caribbean's love affair with robots started with the Quantum Class ships that first launched in 2014.

At the time, Quantum of the Seas was referred to as an innovative new kind of ship, with plenty of tech to go with the robots. There were virtual balcony cabins, high-speed internet access (relative to the time), a new app, and wearable wristbands.

Robots were part of a big that tech push with Quantum. There were robot bartenders, robots in the theater, and even a robotic arm to take guests high above the ship.

The first glimpse passengers got of robots on Quantum was at the Bionic Bar, where robot bartenders take drink orders via tablets located around the bar. 

Bionic Bar on Ovation of the Seas

Passengers then watch as their drinks are prepared by the robot. The robotic arms draw liquor from dozens of bottles hanging from above, and are programmed to add just the right amount of mixers, ice and even lemons and mint. They can even shake the drink to mix it.

Bionic Bar would make its way onto a number of other cruise ships around the fleet, becoming a spectacle for anyone that walked by.

Show in Two70

The other massive robotic presence on Quantum was in the Two70 venue, and this clearly resonated the most with Mr. Weir, as robots in theaters continue to appear in the line's latest ships.

Roboshow dev

On Quantum, robotic entertainment took to the stage with its Roboscreens. Partnering with ABB Robotics, Royal Caribbean utilized a handful of robot arms with screens attached to them to tell the stories in the new Two70 venue.

According to Royal Caribbean, it was the most complex robotics project that was happening outside of Mars.

An Iconic step forward

Aquatheater on Icon of the Seas

Robots on Quantum Class ships continued, and it took another step forward on Icon of the Seas.

The Aquadome is not only a new neighborhood, but also the first Aquatheater to incorporate robots into the show.

Combining the AquaTheater from Oasis Class ships with the roboscreens of Quantum Class, you get the next generation of robotics in a show. The idea was to create the greatest canvas to do entertainment on to date.

The six-axis robot arms in the Aquatheater are in the stage area on Icon had never been done before. When ready, the robot arms will be able to pick up the skate boarding half pipe during the show as part of the experience.

Robots on Icon of the Seas

Not only does this tech allow for great stunts, developing this tech also allows them to build all sorts of heavy equipment for stage use.

Robots can recreate any sense of forced-motion and direction. One idea is to put a platform on a robot arm, so instead of having a spring board, divers can use the robot arm to be propelled. It's an idea Royal Caribbean has patented.

"Huge plans for robotics"

Robolights

This ten year plan is to continue the advancement of robots in the shows you find on Royal Caribbean's next batch of new cruise ships.

Mr. Weir tweeted that they're making better progress than originally anticipated, "It’s going really well so far, we are in advance of schedule. Already adding concepts that were destined for Star of the Seas to Aqua Action on Icon."

Robolights

One idea is what he calls, "Robolights", and they are being prepared on Icon of the Seas. Instead of a screen, the arms have lights on them to help control the lighting precisely to what the performers need.

"The Robolights™️ preparing themselves for a performance (literally) and a clip of them doing their thing in the actual show. "

"Theater World, meet Robot World… a natural partnership."

Robotic fountain

He shared concept art for what he calls, "robotic fountain system" that appears to be able to spray multiple streams of water from each arm.

5 busted Icon of the Seas myths

In:
11 Mar 2024

Royal Caribbean has made big headlines with its newest and largest cruise ship in the world, but not everything you may have heard is necessarily true.

Icon of the Seas at night

Icon of the Seas has garnered a lot of attention for a lot of good reasons. It's not only big, but delivers new experiences and reimagines concepts borrowed from existing ships. Icon has generated buzz and some people have started to come up with ways to summarize the ship, but are they fair representations of what you can expect?

Read more: All about Icon of the Seas

I wanted to debunk some of the common Icon of the Seas myths I've read so far, and share why they may not be entirely true.

Icon of the Seas is only for kids

Couple at Empire Supper Club

Royal Caribbean may have designed Icon of the Seas to be its most family-friendly cruise ship to date, but it's far from a floating elementary school at sea.

This myth is rooted in Royal Caribbean's extremely effective marketing of the new ship. The cruise line wants to compete more directly with Florida land vacations that attract families, especially families with young children.

They turned an entire neighborhood into a kids space, added a waterpark to its top deck, and designed more cabins for parents and their children to fit into than ever before.

Surfside

While those are indeed wonderful changes specifically for people taking a cruise with kids, there's still plenty for adults to do, including those without any kids.

Just like other Royal Caribbean cruise ships, there's an adults-only space onboard.  Located in the Hideaway neighborhood, you'll find a new take on the adults enclave. 

Music Hall

Then there's all the bars and lounges that lean more adult, such as the Music Hall, Schooner Bar, Pub, and Playmakers. Plus, there's new bar concepts that you'll only find on the Icon Class ships. Dueling Pianos is a new bar that brings an experience never offered before. Rye and Bean is another new bar that offers coffee-infused cocktails that is great for a pick-me-up.

The new jazz club in Central Park brings a throwback to Harlem jazz clubs, and it's the perfect spot for live music, a cocktail, and a good time.

Casino on Icon

The casino on Icon is massive, and the layout has been greatly improved as well.

Of course, adults will enjoy many venues that kids like too. After all, a space doesn't have to be exclusively for adults for adults to be able to enjoy it. 

Hideaway beach

Don't forget the new adults-only expansion at Perfect Day at CocoCay.  Hideaway Beach is an extra cost section of the private island where you wont find any children.

The idea it's "just for kids" is overlooking quite a lot of things to do to keep adults entertained too.

You have to book specialty dining for good food

aquadome-market

While Royal Caribbean ships have added lots of extra cost restaurants over the years, Icon of the Seas has some really good choices included with your cruise fare.

First and foremost, don't overlook the Aquadome Market as one of the cruise line's best new dining concepts in a long time.

AquaDome market on Icon of the Seas

Aquadome Market is a food hall, where you can go to any booth and order a freshly made dish. Each booth caters to a specific cuisine, and you'll find Asian, Greek, salads, and more to consider.

You'll also notice a greater emphasis on grab-and-go choices on Icon of the Seas, especially at Pearl Cafe.

Pearl Cafe on Icon of the Seas

Pearl Cafe is a replacement and upgrade to Cafe Promenade, where there are all sorts of breakfast items, snacks, and compliments to a morning cup of coffee.

In the Surfside neighborhood, there are two restaurants included in your cruise fare, and while they may be in the "kids area", it has some great comfort food many adults will love as well.

Surfside Eatery is a buffet that is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and it's a smorgasbord of chicken nuggets, quesadillas, hot dogs, pizza, and more. 

Adults in suite deck on Icon

If you happen to be in a suite, there's two restaurants just for you, instead of the usual one. You'll find sit-down meals at Coastal Kitchen and casual buffet choices at The Grove.

Read more: I ate at every new restaurant on Icon of the Seas and here's how I would rank them

Main Dining Room on Icon of the Seas

And then of course you have the stalwarts of the included cruise dining game: Main Dining Room, Windjammer buffet, Sorrento's Pizza and Park Cafe.

While there are indeed lots of compelling extra-cost restaurants, you can easily stick to the dining included with your cruise fare and not miss out on great eating.

The ship is too big and overwhelming

Chill Island at night

Icon of the Seas was designed to capture the public's imagination, and if you've never cruised before, a ship of this size may seem overwhelming.

There's no denying Icon is big, but don't let its size fool you. Royal Caribbean is no stranger to building big ships, and they recognize the importance of ensuring it's manageable and easy to navigate.

The ship is divided up into neighborhoods, which means sections of the ship have a distinct theme and look to them. The idea is that without studying a deck map, you can visually differentiate areas and that makes it easier to remember how to get around the ship.

Overlook

As soon as you walk around Icon of the Seas, I think you'll find it easier than you think to get around the ship without feeling lost.

One welcome change Royal Caribbean made was to make spaces more open. The Royal Promenade in particular is wider than on other ships, and there's more windows too.

Ever since the age of the megaship dawned in the 90s, the public has been in awe of how big cruise ships are and wonder how difficult it will be to find their way around the ship.

Central Park on Icon

The reality is a cruise is what you make of it, and you can choose to do a lot or nothing at all. Plus, the ships tend to be more manageable than you might think simply by looking at photos of them.

Icon is too expensive and unaffordable

Icon sailing away

Like all myths, there's a bit of truth to the assumption that Icon of the Seas is expensive. After all, it's a brand new cruise ship and new ships always command a higher price tag.

While Icon of the Seas is not going to offer bargain basement fares, there are deals out there if you're flexible and can plan ahead.

Looking at cruise prices for Icon, there are significantly lower prices for select sailings in 2025 and 2026.  If you want to get on Icon without paying top dollar, you want to book your cruise now.

Icon of the Seas cruise prices

At the time of writing this article, I found lower prices for upcoming dates in the next two years. Here are examples of some starting prices:

  • January 10, 2025: $1723 per person
  • May 10, 2025: $2146 per person
  • May 24, 2025: $2046 per person
  • August 16, 2025: $2254 per person
  • September 6, 2025: $1983 per person
  • September 27, 2025: $2,057 per person
  • October 18, 2025: $1964 per person
  • November 15, 2025: $1859 per person

There's even lower prices for a number of winter and spring cruises in 2026.

What's affordable or a deal will vary from person to person, but the high prices you may be seeing for Icon of the Seas this summer can be avoided if you're willing to book well in advance and can sail during certain times of the year.  That isn't to say there's going to be bottom of the barrel prices, just that there are lower prices out there.

Speaking of lower prices, it's always worth working with a good travel agent because sometimes they have agency specific group rates that can be even lower than what you see on the Royal Caribbean website.

You can play with the ship's family dog

Rover Promenade

There is indeed a dog that lives on Icon of the Seas, and she's as cute as she looks. But I wouldn't make belly rub plans quite yet.

Rover is the name of the golden retriever that is the official "family dog" on Icon. She's less than a year old, and super cute and there is a chance you might see her around the ship.

Read more: I take care of a dog on the world's largest cruise ship

Alison-and-Rover-Icon

If you're like my kids, your first reaction was "I can't wait to meet Rover", but the reality is it's more likely you'll go the entire cruise without seeing Rover than not.

With up to 7,600 passengers at maximum capacity, there's a lot of other people who wouldn't mind playing with Rover.  And while Rover is probably used to being on a ship now, she is understandably not going to be at the center of attention to avoid overwhelming her.

Plus, Royal Caribbean wants to ensure Rover gets to live her best life. There's plenty of time for naps and quiet time.

So while you might be able to spot Rover onboard, don't make any firm plans to interact with her in the same way you might plan to meet a theme park character.

How to plan a cruise for the first time

In:
07 Mar 2024

A cruise is a great vacation, but how do you plan a cruise for the first time? This isn't a simple task because of how confusing it can be navigating the myriad of options you have along the way.

Woman laying in a chair

Shore excursions, drink packages, stateroom types, and dinner choices are just a few of the possibilities, and it's easy to feel overwhelmed by the entire process.

The good news is that planning a great cruise isn't difficult, but it does take a little bit of extra time to get it right.

I've taken over 70 cruises and reached the top tier of Royal Caribbean's loyalty program, so I have plenty of insight into what goes into planning a cruise.

From how to budget to booking, here's how to plan a cruise.

Planning a cruise for the first time

Ship leaving St Thomas

Before you pick a ship or destination, it makes sense to figure out your budget and time off.

Cruises come with all sorts of prices and lengths. You could do a quick weekend cruise or a lengthy transatlantic. And you'll have to pick the right cabin for your family.  

It makes the most sense to come up with a vacation budget for cost and time off from your daily obligations.

Odyssey of the Seas at sea

Your cruise budget needs to account for these costs:

  • Cruise fare
  • Taxes and port fees
  • Gratuities
  • Shore excursions
  • Onboard spending (drinks, wifi, spa, etc.)
  • Transportation to/from the cruise ship (hotel, airfare, rental car)

There's more, but those are the big costs you can expect. The cruise fare, airfare, shore excursions and onboard spending are likely the highest costs, in that order.

Budget

I think most families have a budget in mind when they plan any vacation, so having that number in your head will help ensure you are tallying up costs before committing to something.

A recurring theme of this post is the importance of using a good travel agent to help plan this with you. If you're thinking, "How could I realistically estimate costs if I've never cruised before?" then this is when a travel agent comes in handy. 

Read more: The best ways to book a cruise

My advice is to jot down prices along the way to ensure you're in the ballpark of your vacation budget.

The other component is going to be your time. If you only have 3 days off of work, that will greatly limit which sailings you can choose. Likewise, a week of vacation time versus two weeks will alter your choices.

If you're flexible with your time, then you should consider the itinerary and what stands out to you the most.

Serenade of the Seas in Tampa

Be sure to factor in how long it will take you to get to your cruise port. If you can drive to your embarkation city, that means less time in transit. But if you need to fly to reach your cruise ship, that will take up at least an extra day of your time. 

Read more: The costly cruising mistake newbies make planning their first cruise

Decide how long of a cruise to take

Wonder of the Seas aerial rear night

Now that you know how much money you have to spend, you will want to figure out how long of a cruise to take.

If this is your first cruise, I recommend going on a five to seven night sailing on an Icon, Oasis or Quantum Class ship. 

Plus, Icon Class and Oasis Class ships have the latest and greatest features across the fleet. This includes Central Park, a rock-climbing wall, surf simulators, and water slides. It has the most for families to do, and you're not compromising on what's available to do.

odyssey of the seas bumper cars

Quantum Class ships have their own assortment of signature areas and activities, such as North Star, SeaPlex, sky diving simulator, rock walls, and excellent youth programs.

The problem with a short cruise is they go by so quickly and for someone new to cruising, it may not provide enough time on ship or on shore to really get a sense of it all. Moreover, on a per-night basis, the cost of a cruise tends to be cheaper the longer the sailing. 

Choose a cruise ship

Icon of the Seas in Miami

Royal Caribbean has cruise ships that vary in size, things to do onboard, and where you can go in the world.

These ships are not just built to be big, rather, they are built to be large enough to house all the really cool adventures that await you. Royal Caribbean has built its ships bigger and bigger to offer more and more to its guests.

But before you pick a ship at random, you'll need to think about where you want to go. Cruise ships are deployed to a region of the world for at least a few months at a time. 

Ovation of the Seas docked in Alaska

European and Alaska cruises run in the summer months, while the Caribbean is a year-round destination. Depending on which region you want to visit along with which month of the year you want to cruise, there will be a subset of Royal Caribbean's fleet you can pick from.

The new Icon Class cruise ships sail to the Caribbean exclusively and are the newest ships in Royal Caribbean's fleet. These ships are aimed primarily at young families, and have a water park, many restaurant choices, and more cabins designed for five or more passengers than ever before. Icon of the Seas started cruising in January 2024 from Miami to the eastern and western Caribbean. Star of the Seas will enter service from Port Canaveral in 2025.

Oasis Class ships are giant ships that have long been the standard for what a family vacation is all about. Each of the Oasis class ships has 7 distinct neighborhoods that have their own look and feel. The neighborhood concept makes getting around easier because areas of the ship do not blend into each other.

Harmony of the Seas in Barcelona

In fact, first time cruisers might find the largest and newest Royal Caribbean ships to be an ideal pick because they offer the latest innovations, entertainment, technology and choices.

The Quantum class ships are also quite new, but not quite as large as the Oasis class ships. It can be argued that Quantum class ships were designed with first time cruisers in mind. Just like the Oasis class ships, the Quantum class ships offer a number of Royal Caribbean advancements and some of the finest dining and entertainment at sea.

Mariner of the Seas

The Voyager and Freedom class ships are slightly smaller, but offer an amazing value for large ships. They are also dispersed more widely than their larger cousins, and still offer a lot to see and do onboard. Many Royal Caribbean veterans love the Voyager and Freedom class ships for their well-proportioned size, dining choices and activities onboard.

The "sweet spot" of Royal Caribbean pricing tends to fall right in with the Voyager and Freedom class ships because the newer ships have drawn much of the attention, and the other ship's premium pricing means there are some really good deals to be found.

Radiance and Vision class ships make up the smallest ships in the fleet, but what they lack in size, they make up for in port variety, great value and beauty onboard.

While the small ships lack surf simulators and bumper cars, they make up for it in a classic cruise experience and lower price. These smaller ships can get to ports of call that larger ships cannot, as well as offer a more intimate experience in relationship with your fellow guests. 

Many people ask me what is the worst Royal Caribbean cruise ship, but the reality is every ship has its merits, so it is really a question of what do you want the ship to have onboard, and does the ship you are considering have that.

Choose a cabin

Inside cabin on Allure of the Seas

Selecting a stateroom is important because it's where you'll spend a lot of time there and don't want to regret the choice every day.

There are five primary types of cruise cabins.

  • Interior cabins
  • Oceanview cabins
  • Balcony cabins
  • Junior Suites
  • Suites

Balcony rooms are the most popular category, with most ships offering more balcony cabins than any other type of room.

Ocean view balcony

Royal Caribbean prices its cabins based on double occupancy, which means even if you want to sail alone, you're going to end up paying double.

When choosing your cabin, you'll have two cruise rates to pick between: refundable cruise fare and non-refundable cruise fare.

Refundable cruise fare will cost more, but allow you to get a full cash refund if you decide to cancel or change plans before the final payment date.

Non-refundable cruise fare will save money on the total cost, but there is a change fee if you cancel or swap to a different sailing.

More than likely which cabin you want to book will depend on your budget, how many people are traveling with you, and personal preferences.

Book your cruise

There are three ways to book a cruise: directly with the cruise line, using a travel agent, or going to an online travel site.

There are advantages to each choice, but I think everyone should book with a good travel agent. There are so many factors to consider, and an agent that has years of experience booking cruises can make this so much easier.

Most travel agents specializing in Royal Caribbean are "no fee" agencies, which means it costs you absolutely nothing extra to book the cruise reservation from them (Royal Caribbean pays the travel agent a commission). Here is one such recommended travel agency that specializes in Royal Caribbean. If you are not convinced using a free travel agency that is recommended by Royal Caribbean is right for you, read our post discussing the benefits they offer.

You need to not only pick a ship and date, but also figure out which cabin to book, refundable or non-refundable deposit, which dinner option to book, gratuities, and so much more.

The biggest point of failure for new cruisers is making a mistake in the booking process and regretting it later.

There's nothing wrong with price shopping and seeing what deals you can find. Just make sure you're comparing apples to apples, and consider fees and insurance.

Royal Caribbean cruise checklist

Ovation of the Seas on a sunny day

There's a lot that goes into planning your first cruise, and it's hardly a one-size-fits-all approach. Depending on who you are cruising with, where you are going, and the types of ship or cabin you pick, the planning process can differ greatly.

However, there are some basics that are universal to the planning process, so I wanted to provide an easy-to-follow list of what to verify as you move along in the process.

☐ Establish a budget

☐ Decide on a cruise length

☐ Choose which region you want to cruise to

☐ Choose a ship

☐ Choose a cabin

☐ Book your cruise

☐ Consider travel insurance

☐ Book airfare, hotel, and rental car

☐ Research and book shore excursions

☐ Check-in for the cruise 45 days before sailing

☐ Make a reminder to book entertainment and activities before the cruise (30 days before the cruise on Quantum, Oasis, or Icon Class ships)

Equally important are things you bring with you on a cruise. There are cruise essentials, travel documents, and clothing that you'll want to bring.

Read more: Royal Caribbean packing list

Get the RCB Cruise Academy Pro course

Course teaser

Feeling overwhelmed with how much information there is to plan a cruise? We have you covered with Cruise Academy PRO, which is our brand-new online course. It helps you plan your first cruise like you've already been on fifty cruises!

When you buy the course, you'll get unlimited access to our step-by-step guide to planning a cruise vacation with all the important information, tips, and advice provided in easy-to-understand video courses.

There are over 50 lessons that have the BEST tips, tricks, info, and advice for you to help you enjoy every minute of your cruise. We’ve broken down each step, so you don't have to dig for the right article, video, or forum post.

Example of the course

We offer a 100% money-back guarantee if you aren’t satisfied, and it’s a digital course, which means you’ll get it INSTANTLY and can start planning immediately!

Get the Cruise Academy Pro course HERE!

First time Royal Caribbean cruise tips

If you can avoid common pitfalls of taking your first Royal Caribbean cruise, then you'll likely set yourself up for a great first sailing.

We've shared lots of cruise tips so you can avoid unfortunate rookie mistakes, and I wanted to highlight some important considerations if you're brand new to Royal Caribbean.

Avoid really long or short cruises

Royal Caribbean ship at sea

There are a few types of cruises I would steer clear any first time cruiser from to avoid disappointment.

A transatlantic or repositioning cruise is definitely not a good fit for someone taking their first Royal Caribbean cruise. These sailings often have great daily rates, but they're very long sailings with lots of sea days, and that could be simply too much for a cruiser.

Not to mention the fact cruises across the ocean tend to encounter rougher seas, and that means a higher chance of getting seasick.

In addition, skip a short cruise that is less than five nights long.

Three and four night cruises may seem attractive as a first sailing, but you don't have enough time to experience everything. It's a rushed experience, and I doubt you'll feel relaxed. Plus, short cruises attract more of a party atmosphere, which is usually not what a lot of people want on their cruise vacation.

Avoid older ships

Rhapsody of the Seas in Greece

Purely as a first time cruiser, I wouldn't recommend booking a cruise on an older ship. 

Simply put, older ships don't offer nearly as much to do onboard as newer ships, and I think there's a higher chance it won't meet a new cruiser's expectations.

Moreover, older ships lack water slides and as many activities, which could make them a poor candidate for a family.

Read more: First time cruise tips for Royal Caribbean

Don't skip travel insurance

travel insurance

It may seem like buying travel insurance for your trip is an unnecessary cost, but it's worth every penny in the scenario you need it.

Travel insurance is more than just "extra health insurance". It's protection in unforeseen situations where it's really no one's fault, but you're stuck with extra costs. Travel delays, accidental injuries in port, car rental damage, or altered itineraries are all scenarios where travel insurance could protect you.

Drink packages are attractive but expensive

Deluxe Beverage Package

I get so many questions if a Royal Caribbean drink package is worth it, and the answer is it definitely can be under the right situation.

Beverage packages are not cheap, but if you can drink enough every day, then they can save money. Remember, how you drink on vacation is different than at home or at a restaurant.

The decision to buy one is not easy, but definitely pre-purchase one rather than waiting to book it onboard to save a lot of money.

Download the Royal Caribbean app and check-in early

The Royal Caribbean app is super helpful, so install it before your cruise.  

Better yet, do the online check-in in the app up to 45 days before your cruise sails to ensure you have the fastest possible boarding process.

How to plan a cruise for the first time
Subscribe to Matt Hochberg