How different is a Royal Caribbean cruise in Europe from one in North America?

I asked myself that question when I booked my first cruise on the other side of the pond, sailing on Anthem of the Seas from Southampton.

Royal Caribbean strives itself on providing as consistent an experience as it can across the fleet, but there are bound to be regional differences. In fact, cruises from Asia on Spectrum of the Seas have their own suite class and benefits!

Read more: Royal Caribbean suites guide & review

In my pre-cruise planning, I realized there would be a few nuances that would make this different from most other Royal Caribbean cruises I've sailed on.  Of course, "different" doesn't mean "bad" either.

Yesterday I boarded Anthem of the Seas and the experience could not have been smoother, but I found as we sailed away a few differences than I was used to when it comes to embarkation day. I'll have another post later to cover the nuances of the entire voyage.

Read more: 30 Do's and Don'ts for the first day of your cruise

Here are the 4 things I noticed that were different about a European cruises compared to one from the United States.

Jet lag makes getting acclimated difficult

Many of you know not to fly to your cruise the same day it begins, but when you're flying to a different continent, you need more time pre-cruise to get in position.

Read more: Flight attendant shares 20 tips to minimize air travel fiascos

The tip of flying in a day early is meant to ensure a travel delay doesn't impact your ability to make the cruise if there were a travel delay, but the time change can wreak havoc on your ability to enjoy the beginning of the cruise.

Jet lag is annoying enough on its own, but if you're extremely tired in the afternoon and wide awake at 2am, that can lead to a very frustrating start to the cruise.

Most people acclimate to their new time zone in 2 or 3 days after arriving, but that's more than a quarter of your cruise. Considering how much is happening onboard, you don't want to spend your days sleeping and nights awake and annoyed.

If at all possible, it's a good idea to fly in and spend a few days pre-cruise in the city you're sailing from.  

Read more: 4 mistakes & 7 things I did right on my Royal Caribbean European cruise

I flew in two days before my cruise set sail, which meant I was set with England's local time. The added bonus of exploring London was lovely as well.

Not only will this allow you to get on local time, but you'll likely want to explore these historical cities.

Getting to the cruise port requires more steps and planning

You might disagree with me on this point, but I found the logistics of getting from airport/city to cruise terminal more complicated than in the United States.

No matter which city you sail from in the United States, you can easily go from airport or hotel to cruise terminal via taxi, bus, or ride share.  Each cruise terminal in the United States is located less than an hour from a major airport (assuming traffic isn't a factor).

My cruise from Southampton required a great deal more forethought and planning than anything I've done before.

To get from London to Southampton, I had to:

1. Take a taxi or subway ride to Waterloo Station
2. Take a 2 hour train ride from London to Southampton
3. Take a 2 minute taxi ride or walk 10 minutes to the cruise terminal

On top of all of this, I had to factor in the issue of a nation-wide rail strike that crippled mass transit in the two days before the cruise departed.  

I tried to think of the worst commute to a cruise terminal in the United States, and settled on Galveston or Los Angeles as being the most difficult to get to the terminal from where you might start your journey.

Galveston used to be very difficult given the distance from the Houston area airports to Galveston island, but now that Lyft and Uber are allowed to operate, it's become considerably simpler.

Royal Caribbean cruise ships sailing from Los Angeles actually sail from San Pedro, and that's just a longer car ride away.

In both cases, most people use a taxi or car service to get to them, and it's essentially one step to go from their starting point (i.e. hotel or airport) to cruise terminal.

I might be overly critical of a cultural difference in attitudes towards public transportation, but at the very least, planning my commute from London to Southampton required more planning than any US cruise.

Different beers available

One nice benefit of cruising in Europe is there are more beers to choose from.

I've always found Royal Caribbean's beer selections to be lacking, especially in today's world of craft beers. If you want something more than big-name beers, it's slim pickings on Royal Caribbean.

In an attempt to be more appealing to the high number of Brits onboard, Royal Caribbean offers more beers than normal.

You'll find more ciders, as well as a few different brand of beers.

When a ship returns to the United States after a European cruise season, they sometimes have a few leftovers on the first sailing back, but they go quickly.

Read more: 30 Best European cruise tips

Some examples of beers you won't find in the States include Magners Irish Cider, Old Speckled Hen, Whitley Neill Rhubarb & Ginger, and Sipsmith.

Beer drinkers are sure to find more brews to enjoy on a European cruise.

Electric kettle in the cabin

One thing you'll never find on a Royal Caribbean cruise in the United States is an electric kettle in your cabin.

Since tea is such a big part of English culture, an electric kettle is included in cabins for guests to use.

Usually electrical appliances are forbidden because of a fire hazard, but I'm guessing these kettles are vetted for safety and offer the convenience English passengers want.

Read more: What can you not bring on a cruise

Boarding was as easy as the USA

Not all cruise ports are built equally when it comes to the embarkation process, but I'm happy to say the check-in and boarding process in Southampton was just as good as any port in the United States.

I arrived around 11:30am and boarding had already begun, so it was quite a quick process.

There were ample porters to take luggage, and then the security check and checking in went quite quickly.  

Since I completed my pre-cruise check-in, it was just a matter of double-checking everything and being on my way.  

Considering how janky the pier check-in process has been in ports like Los Angeles, Southampton was a breeze!

There will be a new Royal Caribbean cruise ship sailing from Singapore in 2025.

One of the last pieces of the 2024-2025 cruise deployment has fallen into place with Royal Caribbean's announcement that Anthem of the Seas will sail from Asia for the first time ever.

Anthem of the Seas will begin sailing from Singapore in October 2024, replacing Spectrum of the Seas.

Singapore has been a stronghold for Royal Caribbean, having been the first homeport to allow cruises to restart in late 2020.

Since then, Spectrum of the Seas has sailed short 3- and 4-night cruises primarily from Singapore.

Spectrum of the Seas will shift to China, where she will sail from Shanghai and re-open China and Far East cruises for Royal Caribbean.

Spectrum will begin sailing from Shanghai, China in April 2024.

Spectrum of the Seas, sailing from Shanghai, will offer 4- and 5-night cruises visiting popular destinations in Japan. Spectrum will also offer eight sailings from Hong Kong starting in December 2024, to places in Japan, China and Vietnam.

Royal Caribbean will open bookings from July.

“This is the moment we – along with Chinese holidaymakers – have been waiting for. Our return to China is an exciting milestone that could only be marked with Spectrum of the Seas, which became a household name with Chinese families and travellers alike when it debuted in Shanghai as the latest and greatest Royal Caribbean ship in 2019,” said Bert Hernandez, senior vice president, International, Royal Caribbean International.

“We thank the government of China for establishing a pathway forward and continue to be committed to expanding the cruise industry in a region we have sailed from for more than a decade. This has also opened up a world of opportunities to expand the variety of holidays in Asia, as another award-winning ship sets sail in the region with the introduction of Anthem of the Seas in Singapore.”

Best features of Anthem of the Seas

Anthem of the Seas is one of the Quantum Class ships in Royal Caribbean's fleet, and she was the second Quantum Class ship to be launched.

Royal Caribbean's Anthem of the Seas is considered a great cruise ship to book for several reasons:

Innovative Features: The ship boasts innovative and exciting features like the North Star observation capsule, where guests can enjoy panoramic views, and the Ripcord by iFly indoor skydiving simulator.

Variety of Activities: Anthem of the Seas offers a wide array of activities to suit different interests and ages. From bumper cars and roller skating at the SeaPlex to surfing on the FlowRider, there are plenty of options to keep guests entertained throughout their cruise.

Entertainment Options: The ship offers Broadway-caliber shows, such as "We Will Rock You" and "The Gift," providing high-quality performances that rival those found on land.

Guests can also enjoy live music, comedy acts, and various themed parties onboard.

Dining Experiences: Anthem of the Seas provides a diverse range of dining options, including specialty restaurants such as Jamie's Italian, Wonderland, and Chops Grille. The ship also offers complimentary dining venues and casual eateries.

Family-Friendly Amenities: The ship caters to families with children, offering dedicated spaces like the H2O Zone water park and the Adventure Ocean youth program, which provides age-appropriate activities for kids and teens. 

Relaxation and Wellness: Anthem of the Seas features a tranquil Solarium, an adults-only retreat with pools and whirlpools, as well as a luxurious spa and fitness center. Guests can unwind and rejuvenate while enjoying ocean views and indulging in spa treatments.

Modern Accommodations: Anthem of the Seas offers comfortable and modern staterooms, including spacious suites, balconies, and virtual balconies. These well-appointed accommodations provide a relaxing and enjoyable environment for guests to retreat to.

Best features of Spectrum of the Seas

Spectrum of the Seas was designed for the Asian cruise market, and has a few special offerings. 

Suite Enclave – Royal Caribbean’s first and exclusive space for the exquisite Royal Suite Class Star, Sky and Sea accommodations in a private area, featuring exclusive floor access, an elevator, private restaurants and a dedicated lounge area.

Two70 – Boasting stunning 270-degree ocean views by day and transforming into a multidimensional theatre by night, this transformative space flaunts six agile Roboscreens, breathtaking live performers and mind-bending aerialists to create unimaginable visuals.

SeaPlex – The largest indoor active space at sea, featuring bumper cars, laser tag, fencing, archery and more.

Star Moment – A lively and energetic karaoke venue where family and friends come together to belt out and sing like stars.

Family Friendly Accommodations – From exterior balcony staterooms to interconnected rooms, to the signature two-level Ultimate Family Suite, an expansive, multiroom retreat complete with its own slide and cinema that also doubles as a karaoke stage, there’s an array of staterooms designed for the whole family.

Signature Experiences – A bold lineup of guest favourites are on deck, including the FlowRider surf simulator, the North Star, an all-glass observation capsule which ascends 300 feet above the ocean to deliver incomparable 360-degree views; and RipCord by iFly, the first sky diving experience at sea.

A World of Flavours – There are 19 dining options that serve up a variety of cuisines, including Hot Pot, an authentic Chinese dining experience; Teppanyaki, a celebration of Far East flavours cooked in Japan’s traditional teppanyaki style; and Sichuan Red, a new specialty dining experience tailored just for Spectrum, where diners can savour a bold tapestry of spices and Sichuan flavours. Signature classics include imaginative cuisine at Wonderland, American steakhouse Chops Grille and authentic rustic fare and handmade pasta at Jamie’s Italian.

Happy Mothers Day! All the moms out there deserve a big hug, thank you, and hopefully a new cruise booking too.

We got our first look around Icon of the Seas during a construction tour earlier this week.

The 250,800 gross tons, 20-deck-high vessel is under construction at Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland, and we were invited to see its progress.

We took a deck-by-deck tour of Icon of the Seas at the shipyard, and it was a fascinating look at how cruise ships are built, as well as sneak peek at what Royal Caribbean has planned for the new ship.

Royal Caribbean News

• How Royal Caribbean will finish work on Icon of the Seas in time for launch
• 9 new things about Icon of the Seas I learned during my shipyard tour
• New Amex offer could get you hundreds of dollars in points for booking a Royal Caribbean cruise
• How to get the best cruise deals
• Three important lessons for how to plan a cruise from Royal Caribbean's earnings call last week
• Cruising in hurricane season: What you need to know

20 rules of cruise ship etiquette no one ever tells you (but should)

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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 — 20 rules of cruise ship etiquette no one ever tells you (but should) — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

10 mistakes to avoid making on a cruise ship sea day

Sea days are the perfect time to take advantage of everything your cruise ship has to offer, but you'll want to steer clear of some common sea day mistakes.

Even though sea days come with no requirements on how you should spend your time, there are a few things you should avoid doing on a sea day.

From avoiding the buffet to waking up early, here are the top 10 mistakes to avoid making on a cruise ship sea day.

Royal Caribbean vs Carnival

If you’re considering a cruise with Royal Caribbean or Carnival Cruise Line, there are a few considerations before booking either.

These cruise lines represent the two largest in the cruise industry, and they're both popular because how much they offer guests of all ages.

Let’s go head-to-head, Carnival versus Royal Caribbean, to highlight their similarities and differences and help you choose the line that’s right for you.

Can I remove cruise ship prepaid gratuities?

Some passengers new to cruising may be confused with how gratuities work on a Royal Caribbean cruise: how much they cost, when you pay gratuities, and whether or not they’re mandatory.

Because gratuities are an extra cost that is in addition to the cruise fare, new cruisers wonder whether or not you can remove these service charges.

The issue comes down to the ethics of tipping and ensuring the crew members taking care of you during your cruise are being tipped appropriately.

If you're considering booking a Royal Caribbean cruise soon, you might want to use your American Express card.

Many American Express cardholders are seeing a new offer for 20,000 bonus Membership Rewards points when spending $1,000 or more on a Royal Caribbean cruise.

The exact offer seems to vary depending on who the cardholder is, but if you have an American Express card, it is worth checking out if the offer is for you. 

Based on points calculators we found online, 20,000 points is worth about $400, which means you'd get back about 40% of that $1,000 cost.

It's also important to know you must enroll in the offer before making the purchase for the Amex Offer to be redeemable.

In addition, this offer can only be used with one American Express Card and it's valid only on cruise bookings made online at RoyalCaribbean.com, by calling 866-562-7625, using American Express Travel, or through a travel agent. Reservations must be booked on U.S. websites only.

The $1,000 spending threshold excludes onboard purchases, e-gift card and physical gift card purchases made online, transfers/transportation to the ship, MGM Resort International Joint Vacation and Royal Wedding Packages.

This offer only works for Royal Caribbean International, and does not work for Celebrity Cruise, TUI Cruises and Silversea brands.

The offer expires July 31, 2023.

Typically, Amex offer statements appear on your statement within a day or two, it can sometimes take several days for the statement credit to hit your account. 

Not every AmEx cardholder will get the offer, but we've seen it so far across these credit cards:

• The Platinum Card from American Express
• Blue from American Express
• American Express Gold Card

A few of our RoyalCaribbeanBlog writers also reported seeing the offer, which seems to point to it being fairly well-distributed.

How much are 20,000 AmEx Membership Rewards Points worth?

Getting 20,000 points sounds great, but what kind of a benefit is that to you?

There are many ways to possibly redeem your points, especially depending on which American Express card you have.

According to a NerdWallet analysis, AmEx points value is between 1 cent when used to book travel directly and 2 cents when transferred to partners.

The Points Guy estimates Membership Rewards points are worth 2 cents each.

Using your points for airfare is typically the best value, while redeeming them for cash to erase eligible charges from your statement is widely considered a poor value.

How to activate the offer

Before you can utilize an Amex Offer, you generally have to activate it on your account, so before paying for anything, be sure to do that. By using your credit card at a qualifying merchant, you can instantly take advantage of the discount, credit or bonus by using your American Express card there.

Simply log into your American Express account on their website or via their app.

Look for the Amex Offers & Benefits section, which is usually located towards the bottom of the main page.

Categorized under "Travel", you should see the Royal Caribbean offer there.

How to use this if you use a travel agent

You may notice in the fine print for this offer it states you can use a travel professional with this offer, which means you can still support your favorite travel agent.

You could simply book this offer with them, or book it on your own and transfer it to the agent immediately afterwards.

Even after booking a cruise with Royal Caribbean directly, you have up to 30 days to transfer it to a travel agent after initial booking. It must be outside of Final Payment and the booking is not paid in full.

I would recommend informing your travel agent what you are doing first, so they can be prepared for the necessary paperwork to transfer it to them.

All you have to do is complete this online form and the booking gets transferred to the agent.

Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas is about 80% complete, but they aren't quite at the finish line yet.

While touring the brand new cruise ship in Turku, Finland, Royal Caribbean's leadership provided an outline of what to expect between now and when the ship begins sailings with passengers in January.

At a panel question and answer session, one of the most important people in the company's history was present to provide an oversight of what's next.

Harri Kulovaara is the company's Executive Vice President of Maritime & Newbuilding, which means he is responsible for leading the design and construction of its new ships. He's been a part of the new ship build team for decades, and has been with the company for over 40 years.

When asked about how far along the work is on Icon, Mr. Kulovaara said, "The ship is ship is more than 70% done. The overall project, which includes also the design and so on, that is more than more than 80% done."

If you've seen the Icon of the Seas construction photos posted on this site, you may think the amount of exposed cabling and open walls doesn't seem like the ship is really that far long, but Mr. Kulovaara explained how the finishing of the work in the final stage really makes the ship look more complete visually, even though it's further along than you might think.

"When the ship is coming to 90% level, that's when the panels, the final ceiling panels and the final finishes are coming."

"All the hard work is basically behind the visual panels. So it's in the machinery, it's getting all the air conditioning, all the electric cables, all that complexity. It's actually the technical execution, which is the cumbersome part."

Essentially, we saw the ship in the stage of construction where the wiring and infrastructure behind the walls and above the ceiling get put in, similar to how a new house under construction gets wiring put in before the dry wall is installed.

Also speaking at the panel was Meyer Werft CEO Tim Meyer, who explained more about the "Lego block" style construction of a cruise ship, "We start with panels, we build sections, we build a block out of this. We have 201 blocks which are then put together in the dock to generate the ship."

"And now we're starting with the machinery, commissioning, we're starting with the systems. And of course what you are seeing visually is then finalizing the public rooms."

According to Mr. Kulovaara, the complexity of the work being done on Icon is second to only military projects, "This is the biggest and most complex maritime project outside probably military or oil and gas."

What's next for Icon of the Seas?

So what sort of work occurs in that final 20-30% yet to be completed?

About 2600 people work on Icon of the Seas every day, and Mr. Kulovaara estimates there's about 2 million working hours left remaining on her going forward.

"We do something a little bit more than 1% of the completion in in every every week."

He also outlined the next milestones for Icon of the Seas, such as sea trials "before midsummer".  Ship builder Meyer Turku posted last week they expect sea trials to commence in mid-June.

"Then in the fall, finalizing all the staterooms, finalizing the commissioning, all the all the special features, and then starting not only finishing the ship, but also starting the preparation for for the ship's entry to the service."

He admitted that this there is still a large task remaining ahead, but it's something the company is well-versed in historically, "This is a large task. It's well scripted, and it is based on the history, the experience what we have."

Will the ship be ready on time?

Mr. Kulovaara also said Royal Caribbean has left some padding of time in, just in case there's any problems, "And for that purpose we have also reserved a little bit of time."

"We feel very comfortable at the moment in this situation," he said about Icon and further elaborated that his confidence stems largely from the company's history of ship building.

"We have worked on the project six years. The ship is built on relatively short time frame and that all is giving us a very high confidence on the work that we have ahead of us."

"And what helps is the fact that we have been doing this this so many times with Meyer this so many time here in Turku, so that we have a good practice on that."

Continuing the trend

Icon of the Seas is the first in a new class of cruise ship for Royal Caribbean, and it marks arguably the next evolution of the brand.

The Oasis Class ships have been the standard bearer for the line ever since Oasis of the Seas debuted in 2009, and while the Quantum Class was introduced since, the fact Icon of the Seas is larger seems to represent the new flagship.

When asked what will impress guests about Icon, Mr. Kulovaara said, "I think the overall amount of innovation and what has been able to put in one ship and being true for the history, what the brand is and the history, how the the industry has developed and really continuing that trend."

He is alluding to Royal Caribbean's track record of introducing ground-breaking ship after ground-breaking ship.  From the Sovereign Class to the Voyager Class to the Oasis Class, Icon seems to be well-positioned to continue forward.

While Icon is indeed larger than the Oasis Class, it's what the ship offers families that seems to be most important to the company.

Since last fall, Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley has been touting how attractive Icon will be for families.  He repeated that claim again at the shipyard, "We're positioning this product as the ultimate family vacation. We think it's going to be the best family vacation in the world and all of the energy and time that's gone into creating this ship is just mind blowing."

That's a bold statement, but the ship looks like it could back up those words with amenities such as a full water park, dedicated neighborhood for young families, full production shows, and new cabin categories that are designed to handle 3 or 4 passengers.

In-between seeing the progress Royal Caribbean has made on its next cruise ship at the shipyard in Finland, there were a few interesting tidbits shared about what we can expect to find onboard when the ship sails.

Royal Caribbean is excited to share as much of Icon of the Seas as they can, and in walking around the ship that is about 80% complete, I picked up on a number of details that was news to me.

Most of the walkthrough went over information previously disclosed, but a few interesting details were mentioned.

While some of these will not be ground breaking news by any means, if you're like me, you're eager to learn as much as possible to prepare in advance of the ship entering service.

Icon of the Seas shows revealed

Royal Caribbean Senior Vice President of Entertainment Nick Weir talked about the plans Royal Caribbean has for entertainment on Icon, and we got a full line up of shows we can expect.

There will be three primary venues for shows: AquaDome, ice skating rink, and Royal Theater.

The premier show in the AquaDome will be "Aqua Nation!".

"Pirates vs Mermaids" is the name of of the other show in the AquaDome.

"Starburst" is the name of the ice skating show in Absolute Zero skating arena.

And there will be one additional show in Absolute Zero, "Once Upon A Time".

Mr. Weir also talked about "Effectors", which is Royal Caribbean's own super hero produced show.  There's been two versions so far, and it appears a version may be headed to Icon as well.

Of course, we already knew that "Wizard of Oz" will be the featured musical on Icon of the Seas, and Mr. Weir indicated it would have a targeted runtime of around 90 minutes.

Destination elevators

Something else new on Icon will be destination elevators, instead of traditional elevators.

"You'll notice we don't have classic elevators on icon, we have destination elevators," said Royal Caribbean's Senior Vice President and Chief Product Innovation Officer Jay Schneider.

"A destination elevator is I go to a panel. I tell you where I want to go. It tells you what elevator you should go to, and then I go to it."

Mr. Schneider said the impetus to go with destination elevators has three reasons.

The first is elevators go through their own historical innovation and evolution.

The second is the company is well-aware of the issue with waits for elevators, "even with the elevators that we have on the Oasis Class, we still can struggle with lines. And you see those comments as much as we do."

Third, Icon has more passengers than any other ship, "so really being able to effectively move up to 7500 passengers seamlessly and solve for some of the problems that we've seen from our elevator technology on other ships, this is a big step forward."

AquaDome panels

The fact the AquaTheater is now indoors is more than just a roof.  

Above the theater there are panels that move and can be projected upon. This adds a new dimension to the story telling of the show.

In addition, the fountains at the base of the theater will use lights and water to be part of the set, rather a showpiece.

Great storage in cabins

We were able to tour two types of cabins that are still being constructed, but it was clear early on there will be plenty of places to store your belongings.

Royal Caribbean's ships have been steadily increasing storage space in their cabins for years, and Icon will be no different.

Cruise ships built more than 10 years ago had very limited storage space, but that's changed in recent years.

We saw a lot of extra spots to put your stuff, including shelves behind a full length mirror.

Speaking of cabins, the old style "tube" showers have been replaced with more contemporary shower doors that swing out.  There's even a seat now in the showers.

Supper Club

Royal Caribbean wouldn't confirm it, but we're pretty sure we spotted a new dining venue.

Our tour visited an unnamed venue that the cruise line said they'd reveal more details in the coming weeks.

Based on the ceiling, it looks like it could be the Supper Club.

Pool chairs that face both ways

One interesting anecdote about the pool loungers on Icon is that they can be adjust to face in either direction.

The advantage of this feature is you can always face the sun without having to lift and swivel the lounger.

Food trend

One food trend Royal Caribbean wants to jump on with Icon of the Seas is birria sandwiches.

Royal Caribbean is testing out a mushroom birria sandwich for Pearl Cafe. It may not end up on the final menu, but it's an idea they're testing out.

Royal Caribbean Vice President Food & Beverage, Linken D'Souza, said the food trend is an interesting food trend they're playing with at the moment.

Crew member interest has been overwhelmingly good

The new ship has already drawn a great deal of interest from crew members that want to transfer to Icon once she launches.

New cruise ships come with many challenges, but some crew members love the opportunity to help "break in" a new ship.

Part of that interest with Icon may lie with the redesigned crew areas.

Royal Caribbean brought in a team of crew members to check out the crew cabins and crew areas of Icon, and they hated it.  As a result, Royal Caribbean reworked the crew spaces with a team of crew members that provided helpful insight.

The end result is a much better received design for crew areas.

An experience not yet announced for the AquaDome

Royal Caribbean is far from done with announcing everything for Icon of the Seas, including something else to see/do in the AquaDome.

During our tour, it was alluded to that there would be more to enjoy in the AquaDome beyond what has already been announced.

The vague tease infers we should expect another announcement down the line.

Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas is still many months away from setting sail with passengers, but we have an early look at the progress being made onboard.

At the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland, Royal Caribbean showed an early look at its next-gen cruise ship. The line is excited for Icon to launch, and so is the public.  Sales for Icon bookings well before the ship begins operations have broken all sorts of sales records already.

Estimated to be 82% complete, Icon of the Seas will become the world's largest cruise ship when it launches.  She promises to offer a number of new innovations and activities that aim to rival any other family vacation destination.

Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley called the new ship "mind blowing", "I think everything about Icon is just unbelievable. We're positioning this product as the ultimate family vacation."

"We think it's going to be the best family vacation in the world and all of the energy and time that's gone into creating this ship is just mind blowing."

There's still plenty of work to do, as an estimated 2 million working hours are left to be completed.

If the ship doesn't look as far along as you might be lead to believe, it's because the final work is when they make it ready for guests. When the ship is at 90%, the panels and finishings get added and that makes it look far more "complete" to a guest.

Seeing the space gave a great perspective on the scale of the ship and general feel for the layout, which is difficult to ascertain from concept art or deck plans.

The cruise line expects sea trials to begin before summer.

We took a hard hat tour of the ship, walking through all of the ship's neighborhoods to get a sense of what looks like now, and what guests can expect once the vessel is ready.

Walking onboard

Guests will walk onboard the ship and enter the 1400. Royal Caribbean wanted to design an entrance that wasn't just a gangway leading to a random area of the ship. Instead, they designed a true embarkation experience.

The 1400 name is an homage to the build number of the ship, and it features plenty of windows to see the ocean when the gangway is not present.

Royal Promenade

Just like many other Royal Caribbean ships, Icon of the Seas will have a Royal Promenade. Unlike other ships, the Promenade is a complete loop, meaning it has no beginning or end. This means guests will not have to walk up and down stairs to get from one side of the Promenade to another if the destinations are on separate decks.

The Royal Promenade will have restaurants, bars, and shopping opportunities and be two decks high.

The Royal Promenade is a fan-favorite that has been around since Voyager of the Seas. On Icon of the Seas, the neighborhood is going to be redesigned and have windows to allow natural sunlight, something that the cruise line has yet to do here!

Many staples will be found here, including Sorrento’s, Starbucks, the Karaoke Bar, and pub. It will continue to be a center for excitement during all hours of the day. 

The Pearl

It's still not clear what Royal Caribbean has planned for the Pearl, but we got a preview of what it will be by walking through it.

The Pearl leads from deck 5 to deck 6, and it has specially designed walls that can change color and even move, along with music being played.

While inside, we heard the Perfect Day at CocoCay theme song as a demo of what they have in mind.  Royal Caribbean isn't prepared to discuss what guests can expect in the Pearl, but it's more than just a pretty space.

A fun fact about The Pearl is it also serves as a weight bearing device to physically support the weight of Central Park above it. For such a large ship, Royal Caribbean wanted to create a more innovative way to bear the ship's weight. Instead of adding generic columns, they created something that has never been seen on a cruise ship before, and it's undoubtedly impressive.

Pearl Cafe

As you walk through The Pearl from the Royal Promenade, you'll enter Pearl Cafe, a casual, complimentary grab-and-go coffee shop style venue.

The cafe is located in front of the giant, 36x95 foot window found on Icon of the Seas, so amazing ocean views are sure to be in abundance at this venue. Comfortable seating and dining areas are located near the cafe, allowing guests to take in the ocean views with their coffee and snacks.

Boleros

While Icon of the Seas will have plenty of new innovations, it will still have fan favorites, such as Boleros.

Boleros is the latin themed bar found onboard most Royal Caribbean cruise ships, and it's where you'll find live music each day of the sailing. From salsa to merengue and samba, it's a popular spot for dancing on the Royal Promenade.

Like on other ships, Boleros will be located on the Royal Promenade on Icon of the Seas. The bar's convenient location makes it an easy place to stop by for a quick drink, whether a classic mojito or margarita.

Surfside

Perhaps the crown jewel in Icon's family-centric design is the first neighborhood dedicated to young families.

Royal Caribbean wants Surfside to be a place for kids and parents to enjoy the space together, rather than something just for kids exclusively. 

The new area will have a carousel, pools, Splashaway Bay aqua park and eateries that cater to children and their parents.

There's even a bar where kids and adults have different choices. Once again, Royal wants families to be able to spend time together.

You'll be able to access Surfside by stairs or slide (the slide is meant for younger kids to quickly venture down), leading to all the options in this area.

There will also be cabins that face into Surfside, including the Surfside Family View Balcony and Surfside Family Suite.

Cabins

We got a sneak peek at two different cabin types coming to Icon of the Seas.

The first type of cabin we saw was the Surfside Suite.

The Surfside suite can accommodate up to 4 guests (2 adults and 2 kids) and measures 269 square feet, with a 53 square foot balcony.

The other suite we saw was the Infinite Family Balcony.

The room can be expanded with neighboring rooms. Being able to accommodate more larger families is a common theme, as over 70% of cabins on Icon of the Seas can handle 3 or more guests.  That's 60% more rooms than on Wonder of the Seas.

One neat feature of the room is a movable desk, so it can be used both as a desk or a dining table.

Central Park

One of the most impressive areas of Royal Caribbean's Oasis Class ships, Central Park, will be included on Icon of the Seas.

The park has living plants that create a beautiful landscape in the middle of a cruise ship.  

 Lou’s Jazz and Blues will be a live jazz club with both indoor and outdoor seating, a staple of nearly every Central Park venue. There will also be Bubbles, a walkup champagne bar window. 

In terms of accommodations, Royal Caribbean has introduced the Infinite Central Park Balcony, which brings the balcony portion of the cabin into the living area. With the push of a button, you can control whether the window – balcony – at the end of the room is raised or lowered. 

Mystery dining venue

Royal Caribbean took us to a yet unnamed dining venue that they wanted to tease.

The only detail provided was it is dining related.

Based on the ceiling, I think it could end up being the Supper Club, which was leaked in December.

AquaDome

Guests who love the Oasis Class’ AquaTheatre will find the 363-ton AquaDome to be even more impressive.

The multipurpose space will host shows that feature aerialists, acrobatics, high dives, and the tallest waterfall at sea at 55 feet tall.

This was the most fleshed out venue we saw, and the size and height of the AquaDome is really impressive.

The space will offer 220-degree views through massive floor-to-ceiling windows and will be home to The Overlook. This elevated lounge will be perched on top of the bridge and feature laidback pods for those who want to get together on a more intimate level, whether that is to enjoy each other’s company over a drink or play a card game or two. 

We also toured The Overlook area in front of the AquaDome.

During our tour, Royal Caribbean Vice President of Entertainment Nick Weir, provided details on the shows that will be performed onboard in the AquaDome, ice skating rink, and Royal Theater.

AquaTheater show: Aqua Action!

Starburst ice skating show

Chill Island

Next on the tour was the outer decks, starting with Chill Island.

Chill Island is going to completely redefine the cruise ship pool deck. The three-deck pool area will have the largest pool at sea, Royal Bay Pool, as well as the first swim-up bar at sea called Swim & Tonic.

On the port side of the ship, guests will find the Cove Pool, an infinity pool that faces the ocean and will have in-water lounge chairs, and Cloud 17, the adults-only retreat for guests 16+ that is replacing the well-known Solarium.

It will have a dedicated Lime & Coconut Bar. 

Thrill Island

Water slides were being actively installed for the Category 6 water park, which is the center piece of the new neighborhood.

Thrill Island is one of five brand-new neighborhoods that will debut on Icon of the Seas. This neighborhood is for the ultimate thrill seekers and will be home to the record-breaking complimentary Category 6 water park.

All six water slides are either the “first” or “longest” slide at sea. The Frightening Bolt, for instance, will be the tallest drop slide at sea, while Hurricane Hunger will be the first family raft slide at sea. 

Other thrills include a FlowRider surf simulator; Sports Court; Adrenaline Peak, the ultimate rock-climbing wall; a reimagined mini-golf course that is themed around a lost island; and Crown’s Edge, which is part skywalk, part ropes course, and part thrill ride.

As you make your way over the edge of the ship, you will have to be prepared for the floor to retract and send you soaring over the sea. 

Suite deck

The final area we toured is the new Suite Neighborhood.

The Suite Neighborhood first debuted on Wonder of the Seas. With three decks of dedicated space available only to those staying in the Royal Suite Class, this will be their largest Suite neighborhood yet!

Guests will find a sun deck and exclusive Coastal Kitchen restaurant, as well as a brand-new restaurant called The Grove, which will serve up Mediterranean cuisine. 

Royal Caribbean Group's first quarter earnings call with analysts shed light onto how strong their business is right, and why you may need to adjust your own planning strategy.

Reading the tea leaves of what executives said during the hour-long call, it's clear demand for cruises is the highest it's been since 2019, and that has ramifications for how to effectively budget and schedule your upcoming cruise.

"While demand has been strong across all products and markets, we continue to see exceptional strength from the North American consumer. This strength, in combination with the incredible Perfect Day at CocoCay has resulted in record yields for our Caribbean sailings," said Royal Caribbean Group CEO Jason Liberty.

The demand for cruises is so strong right now that it's not only erased any doubt about the cruise industry's ability to bounce back from the events of 2020 - 2022, but demonstrates how competitive things are going to be this year in terms of booking a new cruise.

These earnings call may sound like just another financial discussion, but it sheds light on trends we can expect when it comes to cruise planning.

In looking at the numbers, there are two trends you should be aware of if you're either going to book a 2023 cruise, or have one booked already.

Don't expect prices to come down

With demand so high for cruise bookings right now, I wouldn't expect to find bargain basement rates for cruises in the near future.

"Strong demand for Caribbean itineraries translated into higher load factors at better than expected pricing for both ticket and onboard," is what Mr. Liberty said at the beginning of the call.

"Yields grew 5.8% compared to record 2019 levels and were significantly above our guidance."

What this means is there were more people booked on Caribbean cruises than before, specifically with more than 2 people in the cabin, and those passengers paid more for the cruise fare and their add-ons.

Here are more quotes about how strong the business of selling cruises is in the first quarter.

"Our brands are stronger than ever and our yield in Q1 blew away previous records."

"The acceleration of demand, coupled with our team's incredible execution, is also translating into higher revenue and earnings expectations for the full year."

"Bookings outpaced 2019 levels by a very wide margin throughout the entire first quarter and into April."

He also emphasized the people are booking cruises back in a "normal" way, meaning some of the trepidation we saw following the cruise industry restart is pretty much gone now.

"The booking window is now completely back to normal, demonstrating consumers desire to continue to plan their vacation travel with us well in advance."

After hearing all of this, it sounds to me that even though Royal Caribbean has raised cruise fare prices (compared to 2019), consumers are still booking and in record numbers.

This means the chances of cruise fare prices going down on average seem remote, and if anything, I think it could embolden the company to continue raising fares.

My advice is if you haven't booked a cruise yet but want to, go ahead and lock in a price now before prices go up again.  If you can book your cruise more than 6 months before the cruise begins, it will greatly benefit you.

One of my best Royal Caribbean cruise tips is to book your cruise as early as you can to lock in the best rates, keeping in mind residents of many countries (US and Canada, for example) can reprice the cruise if the price does drop up until the final payment date.

That isn't to say there won't be any last-minute deals for a cruise, but you shouldn't bank on it as your primary cruise booking strategy.

Cruise add-ons will sell out, so book early

One lesson I'll apply from the earnings call is when I book my Royal Caribbean shore excursions in the future.

Not only are people booking cruises like never before, but they're also buying more before the cruise begins.

"About two thirds of our guests booked some of their onboard activities in advance of their cruise," Mr. Liberty explained.

"The comparable figure in 2019 was 48%. So you can see we have used our time well to upgrade our systems."

Getting people to book things before the cruise commences is a big deal to the company, because it ends up being more profitable for the company, "Every dollar a guest spends, pre-cruise translates into approximately $0.70 of incremental spend."

What this means to me is the days of waiting until you got onboard your cruise ship to book a tour, drink package, or other add-on would be a mistake.  I've always felt this way about drink packages, but excursions are a shift.

If more than half the people on your cruise are shopping for cruise add-ons in advance, that means more competition to book shore excursions and consequently a higher chance tours will sell out before the cruise begins.

Read more: Guide to picking the perfect Royal Caribbean shore excursion

I'd go one step further and recommend booking your tours months before your cruise, instead of weeks or days.

One of the biggest stumbling blocks for cruisers is when there are limited or no shore excursions left to book through the cruise line, and booking shore excursions on your own through a third party provider is a daunting prospect.

Read more: What to do if Royal Caribbean's shore excursions are sold out

It's not just shore excursions that can sell out, as specialty restaurants and dining packages are often selling out.

Remember, anything you book in the Cruise Planner website is fully refundable before the cruise begins.  So if you book a tour or package four or five months before the cruise begins but change your mind later, there's no risk.

Read more: How to cancel and rebook pre-cruise purchases on Royal Caribbean's Cruise Planner

More cabins could become available later

Perhaps the most cryptic thing said during the earnings call was a short comment about cruise ship cabin availability.

Read more: The 5 best cabin locations on a cruise ship

Near the end of the call, Mr. Liberty talked about cruise cabin inventory, and how the increased demand might change how Royal Caribbean sells rooms next year.

I've always worked under the assumption when Royal Caribbean puts a new sailing for sale, every single cabin is available at once to book.  But perhaps that is no longer the case.

"We used to kind of put everything out there and all the suites would be sold basically right off the bat. And then you would kind of work your way down to the inside cabins," he said in answering the question.

"While now, we we hold back inventory, and we release it based off of our what are much more sophisticated revenue management models that we have today."

Unfortunately, there was no other clarification or insight into what that statement means. For context, here's everything else he said immediately after that.  Perhaps you can decipher it better than I can.

That's why I think sometimes when we get into conversations around "what percent booked are you", "how does it relate to this period versus that period", what we're really focused on is optimizing yield. And so there might be periods where quarter over quarter, or year over year, we want to be in a in a stronger booked position or lesser than what we were booked in a previous period. Because what we're focused on is maximizing yield, which sometimes comes with us having more inventory to sell.

The call wrapped up immediately after that comment, so it's hard to know precisely how Royal Caribbean is managing their stateroom inventory. It certainly sounds like when a new sailing becomes available to book, not every cabin is available off the bat.

Without having additional context, I simply wanted to provide this information so you can keep it in mind when booking new cruises, especially when Royal Caribbean adds new cruises to book.

It might mean if a certain cabin category is sold out initially, that it becomes available to book again down the road.

Or it could be a comment we're not properly understanding and stateroom inventory is not nearly as opportunistic as it sounds.

Planning a cruise? Start here:

• 8 cruise tips for first-time Royal Caribbean cruisers
• What’s included in your Royal Caribbean cruise fare
• 5 quick and easy tips for finding a great shore excursion on your own
• Food on a Royal Caribbean cruise
• Which is the best Royal Caribbean cruise ship?
• What is the best time to go on a Caribbean cruise?

Stay up-to-date with all the Royal Caribbean news from this week with our roundup of all this week's news.

Royal Caribbean is breaking its own records for cruise sales with Icon of the Seas.

During Royal Caribbean's first quarter results call with Wall Street analysts, cruise line executives said they are "getting exceptional demand with bookings well surpassing previous records," for Icon of the Seas.

"Despite being on sale for only five months, Icon is significantly more booked for her inaugural season at materially higher rates than any other Royal Caribbean ship launch," said Royal Caribbean Group CEO Jason Liberty.

Royal Caribbean News

• Royal Caribbean Group reports better-than-expected first quarter earnings
• Royal Caribbean executives talk where Utopia of the Seas will sail, incredible cruise demand, & booking trends
• Royal Caribbean begins skipping scheduled stops in Skagway, Alaska
• Royal Caribbean updates: Icon of the Seas sea trials, Adults-only beach construction & more
• I went on my first Royal Caribbean Blog group cruise. Here's what it was like and why I'd do it again
• Best hotels near the Cape Liberty/Bayonne cruise port
• Symphony of the Seas cruise review
• How to get free wifi on Royal Caribbean

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 498th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available, previewing Matt's upcoming cruise to Europe.

Matt is taking his first cruise in Europe, and provides an overview of how he's planning his first time in this part of the world.

Please feel free to subscribe via iTunes or RSS, and head over to rate and review the podcast on iTunes if you can! We’d appreciate it.

21 Tips for the Best Cruise Ship Main Dining Room Experience

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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 — 21 Tips for the Best Cruise Ship Main Dining Room Experience — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

Crew member shares what it's like to work on a cruise ship

Jordan Bauth is an ice skater on Wonder of the Seas and shared what a week of working and living on a cruise ship is like.

She shares regular updates from her life working on a cruise ship as a professional ice skater, and it's a fascinating look at how someone balances their duties, and opportunities to explore the world.

Ms. Bauth offers a behind-the-scenes look at her work life and personal life onboard.

Matt is going on his first European cruise: Here’s what he thinks he should do

After years of only cruising around North America, Matt is headed to Europe!

Matt is booked on a 7-night Norwegian fjords cruise, and sailing from Europe introduces a variety of new challenges.

From taking a long-haul flight to balancing currency requirements, Matt shares how he's planning his first time going across the Atlantic for a cruise.

Answers to your really dumb cruise ship dining questions

In case you're wondering, there's no shame in asking questions about eating on a cruise ship that you may be too embarrassed to ask.

What seems like basic knowledge to frequent cruisers can cause confusion for first time cruisers. So much confusion, unsurprisingly, leads to a lot of questions about dining on a cruise ship.

To make your first cruise experience stress-free, we’re answering 17 of your really dumb cruise ship dining questions.

Royal Caribbean Group had such a strong first quarter results for 2023 that the company dramatically updated its expectations for the rest of the year. The cruise company's executives talked about what drove these kind of big numbers.

Royal Caribbean bumped its full-year adjusted earnings forecast by nearly 50%, which would result in best year ever.

As per usual, the top executives at Royal Caribbean Group spoke with Wall Street analysts to go over the results, and there's some interesting facts and statements for cruise fans.

Over the course of the hour-long call, Royal Caribbean Group talked about Utopia of the Seas, the opening of Hideaway Beach, how popular their product is right now, and what to expect with the China cruise market.

Here's what stood out to us in the earnings call.

North America is dominating the cruise market right now

If you want the 10 second summary of why Royal Caribbean had such a good quarter, it's that people from North America are booking cruises at a pace and price never before seen.

There was such high demand for Caribbean cruises in the quarter that it translated into more people sailing on each ship, while paying more for cruise ticket prices and spending more money onboard their ship.

It caught the company off guard, as Royal Caribbean Group CEO Jason Liberty noted they had expected a slower first quarter, "we thought the first quarter would be a transition period, we always expected the rest of the year to be strong. The fact that demand for the coming nine months is so much stronger than our already robust expectations says a lot about the strength of the consumer and the strength of our brands."

"While demand has been strong across all products and markets, we continue to see exceptional strength from the North American consumer. This strength, in combination with the incredible perfect day at CocoCay has resulted in record yields for our Caribbean sailings.

How strong were these bookings? The company says bookings outpaced 2019 levels "by a very wide margin" throughout the entire first quarter and into April.

Moreover, Mr. Liberty said the booking window "is now completely back to normal", meaning any reluctancy to book a cruise following the pandemic has eroded.

Europe is doing well too

While Caribbean cruises are super popular, European cruises are doing well too.

Royal Caribbean Group CFO Naftali Holtz talked about the numbers, "European bookings are nicely outpacing 2019 levels, with peak summer sailings trending particularly well in recent weeks."

He mentioned Odyssey of the Seas' European season in particular is, "attracting quality demand and rates."

Bookings for Europe might have been something the company worried about, but it's proving to be a great bet. Mr. Liberty shared, "for Europe, I think we were a little bit concerned going into the year, but because of our of our global and nimble sourcing model, we really have seen a surge in European bookings and we feel very good on how Europe is going to play out this year, but not to the level that we saw in the in the Caribbean."

Is Royal Caribbean holding back cabin inventory?

At the very end of the call, Mr. Liberty seemed to say that the inventory of cabins when a new sailing is released is not necessarily all the cabins at once.

A question was asked about how booking and inventory will be handled in the future, and Mr. Liberty talked about their process.

"We used to kind of put everything out there and all the suites would be sold basically right off the bat. And then you would kind of work your way down to the inside cabins," he said in answering the question.

"While now, we we hold back inventory, and we release it based off of our what are much more sophisticated revenue management models that we have today."

He did not get into any kind of specifics, but it's an interesting comment for consumers if indeed every cabin is bookable at once or not.

Utopia of the Seas will sail the Caribbean

Royal Caribbean has not announced where Utopia of the Seas will be homeported or where she will sail to, but we did get one tidbit that could point to where Utopia will be based.

Utopia of the Seas will be Royal Caribbean's sixth Oasis Class cruise ship, and will launch in 2024.

In talking about Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley spilled the beans on one fact we can expect about the new ship.

"We haven't announced the deployment, but Utopia will also be going to Perfect Day," he said during the call.

This means Utopia will almost certainly be homeported somewhere on the east coast of the United States.

Royal Caribbean's ships don't visit CocoCay typically when based in Galveston, so that likely removes that possibility.

Mr. Bayley also said Utopia will be "coming online in June."

Royal Beach Club will open around summer 2025

Speaking of things we didn't know before, Mr. Bayley said when the new Royal Beach Club will open.

The Royal Beach Club at Paradise Island will be the first Royal Beach Club, which offers a curated beach day for an extra cost.

We knew it would open in 2025, but now it appears to be closer to the start of summer.

"Our intention is to have the Royal Beach Club open in towards the end of the spring, summer of '25."

The beach club's capacity will be around 2,500 to 2,750 passengers per day.

More passengers booking pre-cruise than ever before

It's not your imagination: people are booking more shore excursions, internet, dining, and drink packages than ever before.

According to Mr. Liberty, about two thirds of guests are now booking pre-cruise add-ons before their cruise begins. Compare that to 48% in 2019.

You can expect more features and updates to both Royal Caribbean's website and app in the near future, "while we have made a significant leap in our commercial capabilities, we are still in the early innings of our journey and will continue to add features and capabilities to our app and commercial engines."

New cruisers

In the first quarter, the percentage of guests who were either new to brand or new to cruise surpassed 2019 levels by a wide margin.

Mr. Holtz said customers new to Royal Caribbean Group brands as well as customers first-time cruisers all together "significantly exceeded 2019 levels."

Moreover, he emphasized that it's important to keep those cruisers, "at the same time, we also focus on making sure that they stay there and increase repeat rates."

China reopening in 2024

The one cruise market that Royal Caribbean has not resumed service yet is China, but the company is looking at mid-2024 for that to occur.

China was a major market for Royal Caribbean International before the cruise industry shutdown. According to Mr. Bayley, Royal was the top brand in the Chinese cruise market by volume.

"We're now more encouraged by all of the signals that we've had for our reopening in China in '24", Mr. Bayley said.

"We've now started to rebuild our sales organization in China and we expect hopefully by late spring, early summer to be back operating out of China '24."

"Our expectation is that this market will return to how it was pre pandemic."

"The value of a Chinese customer is very high when you look at their their the net revenue from a from a Chinese consumer it's typically around the same level as an American and slightly higher."