Royal Caribbean's second Icon Class cruise ship is on its way to becoming a reality.

A steel cutting ceremony was held yesterday for the second Icon Class cruise ship in Royal Caribbean's fleet.

When the first piece of steel is cut, it marks a pivotal point in the ship building process, setting off an array of crucial landmarks to follow. This major milestone indicates that the groundwork has been set and the foundations have been laid for any further adjustments 

The first piece of steel was cut at a ceremony at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland, which is the same shipyard that is building Icon of the Seas and where Allure and Oasis of the Seas were built as well.

The second Icon Class ship is unnamed as of yet, but she will begin her first cruises in 2025.

Royal Caribbean has an order for a third Icon Class ship as well, which has a delivery date in 2026.

Both Royal Caribbean and Meyer Turku celebrated this event at the shipyard.

Essentially, when the first piece of steel is cut, it's one of the major milestones for ship construction. Other milestones include keel laying, floating out, and delivery.

Moreover, this is also a positive sign about the health of this project and Royal Caribbean's intention to continue forward with the new cruise ship.

What's different about the Icon Class?

The Icon Class is Royal Caribbean's newest class of cruise ship, and it's the first new class of ships in many years.

While we don't yet know anything about what Royal Caribbean has planned for the second Icon Class ship, there's no doubt it will inherit many aspects of Icon of the Seas.

These vessels represent the very best the cruise line has to offer going forward, and as we've seen with Icon of the Seas (the first ship in the class), there's a lot of innovations.

The Icon Class ships are not only bigger than the Oasis Class, coming in about 6% bigger, but they can hold more passengers too. Icon of the Seas has a maximum capacity of 7,600 passengers.

Royal Caribbean has already revealed a great deal of new concepts for Icon of the Seas. Boasting an impressive 20 decks and 7,600 passenger capacity, it's actually two decks higher than the Wonder of the Seas.

With new entertainment, 23 food venues, 8 fantastic neighborhoods, 7 pools and a waterpark, the ship offers something for everyone, including a vast array of cabin options not seen on other Royal Caribbean ships.

The Icon Class ships will be powered by LNG (liquefied natural gas). LNG and the state-of-the-art ship’s additional environmentally friendly applications, such as shore power connection, will boost energy efficiencies and reduce carbon footprint. 

What will be the name of Icon 2?

Royal Caribbean did not announce a name for the second Class ship, so it's anyone's guess at this point what to expect.

In November 2022,  Royal Caribbean's Senior Vice President and Chief Product Innovation Officer Jay Schneider talked about naming the next two Icon Class ships, "I'm still taking ideas on Icon two and Icon three. I feel really confident in the name we have for Icon three, it's actually two that we're still working on."

Then in January 2023, Royal Caribbean launched an online poll to let the public vote on the name of its second Icon Class ship.

Royal Caribbean posted on social media the choices of Star of the Seas, Idol of the Seas, Love of the Seas, or Queen of the Seas. There's been no indication of which, if any, of these names won.

On Twitter, Star of the Seas won the poll with 44% of the vote.

I've taken a lot of Royal Caribbean cruises over the years, and I want to share my list of the best Royal Caribbean cruise tips, tricks and hacks so you can take advantage of every single one!

These Royal Caribbean cruise tips could save you money, time or both, and so I wanted to whittle them down to the best Royal Caribbean tips and tricks in hopes of saving you time and money!

Since these are Royal Caribbean cruise tips that apply primarily to just this cruise line, it's meant to provide advice that almost anyone sailing with Royal Caribbean can use right away.

After combing through my notes, here are our 60 best tips and tricks for taking a Royal Caribbean cruise.

If you have a great Royal Caribbean cruise tip that isn't on our list, please email me your best ones to [email protected].

#1 Bring a bathing suit on embarkation day

On embarkation day, the pools are open so be sure to pack a bathing suit in your carry-on luggage so that you can enjoy them with less crowds!

Most guests pack their bathing suits in the checked luggage, which means they will not have access to it until later that day. The result is far fewer guests in the pools, hot tubs and water slides than at any other time on your cruise.

You can change in a public restroom, and towels are available at the pool area to use.

#2 The drink package loophole on Royal Caribbean

Did you know if one adult elects to buy the unlimited alcohol package, all other adults in the same room have to get it too?

If you have an adult in your room that does not drink (much) alcohol, you can get around this rule by calling Royal Caribbean and requesting that person get the Royal Refreshment package.

By having them get the non-alcoholic drink package, you will save a lot of money compared to buying them the Deluxe Beverage package that costs much more.

#3 Download Royal Caribbean's app before the cruise

Royal Caribbean's app is a must-have for your cruise, so make sure to download it before your cruise.

Downloading the app before you get on your ship means you'll be able to easily and quickly download it and set it up before you step aboard.

Why is it important to have the app?

In short, the app is tied to so much of the cruise experience now. You can use it to check-into your cruise (more on that in the next tip), book entertainment, shore excursions and packages.

Plus, the Royal Caribbean app will have all of the activities for the day listed so that you can easily reference it during your sailing.

Don't worry, you don't need to buy an internet package to use the Royal Caribbean app. Once you get onboard and connect to the ship's wifi, it will ask you if you want to just use the app.

#4 Check into your cruise as soon as you can 

Royal Caribbean now enforces its check-in times, so be sure to check-in for your cruise as soon as check-in opens.

By completing online check-in early, you will have the best choice of check-in times. And the earlier check-in time you have, the sooner you get to get onboard the ship and start vacation.

The price you pay for the cruise is the same whether you board at noon or 2pm, so you may as well get the extra two hours of fun!

#5 Book your cruise as early as you can to save money

There is no question that if you want to get the lowest price on a cruise, book it as early as you can.

Generally speaking, the best price for a Royal Caribbean cruise can be found when booked many months in advance.

Royal Caribbean sells its cruises largely based on the concept of supply and demand. When a sailing is first offered, supply is at its highest because no one has purchase a cruise ship cabin yet. As time progress, more and more staterooms are reserved and stateroom inventory drops, so the price increases conversely.

The earlier you can book, the best chance you will have at getting a good price on your cruise.

When we say "early", it essentially means as early as you can. Royal Caribbean puts its itineraries on sale as much as two years in advance of the sailing, and while that may be too far in advance for many to plan vacations, the earlier you can book the cruise, the better for that bottom line price.

#6 Save money by pre-booking packages

To save time and money, you really should pre-book beverage packages, dining packages, internet packages and more.

In many cases, Royal Caribbean promises a discount on select pre-cruise purchases compared to the price onboard.

When you purchase anything before your cruise via the Cruise Planner site, you will be required to pay for it at the time of purchase.  This provides the ability to break up the total cost of the cruise.

When you make purchases onboard your cruise, at the end of the cruise you get a final bill with all of the charges tallied up. By pre-purchasing certain items, you can pay off parts of the cruise months or years in advance, allowing you to reduce the cruise bill at the conclusion of your cruise.

An intangible benefit to pre-purchasing anything is it saves you time onboard from doing the exact same thing, which means more vacation time back to you.

Taking the time to purchase anything onboard does not take very much time, but every little bit helps, and some purchases on the first day of the cruise can require waiting in a line, such as drink packages.

#7 Use a good travel agent

In short, to save time and money, use a good travel agent.

There is a lot that goes into a Royal Caribbean cruise vacation, from your cruise fare (and the slew of discounts available), to dining, shore excursions, air travel and more. Using a travel agent simplifies this entire process.

The best reason to use an agent is to save you time, because they are the ones sitting on hold when calling Royal Caribbean.  Tasks such as repricing, making special requests, dealing with weather events and more are why I use a travel agent every single I book a cruise.

Keep in mind that travel agents are paid by Royal Caribbean, so there is no additional cost to you to use their services. Talk to a few agents and feel them out for their knowledge of the product and when you find one that you are comfortable with, leverage their knowledge and expertise and book with them.

#8 Go to the helipad for sailaway

On Voyager, Freedom or Radiance Class ships, be sure to visit the helipad for my favorite sailaway spot.

The helipad on is located on the bow (front) of the ship and during sailaway, Royal Caribbean permits guests access to the helipad. This is a great spot to see the port as you leave, especially for those that do not have a balcony stateroom or simply want something a little different.

#9  Fly to your cruise port at least one day early

If you are flying to your cruise port, be sure to fly in at least one day before the cruise is scheduled to depart to protect against a travel delay.

By planning to arrive to your departure port at least one day early, you assure yourself that a travel delay will not impact your ability to get on your cruise. Having an extra day or two provides a buffer to account for travel delays.  

As an added bonus, by arriving to your embarkation port at least a day early, that means you get to start your vacation sooner!  And in many cases, the port you are departing from has its own cultural and historical attractions that you can explore.

#10 Don't buy kids a dining package

Kids get special pricing at a specialty restaurant, so buy dining packages only for the adults.

Children between the ages of 0-5 are complimentary and ages 6-12 are $10 per child at any specialty restaurant.

When you make a reservation for a restaurant onboard, let your server know the adults have dining packages, but kids don't and you will get a better price than if you bought the dining package for everyone.

#11 Best times for deals at the spa

If you want to find the best prices for the spa on your cruise, consider booking things on port days, or early in the morning or late at night for the best prices.

The common thread among these times is it is when others are unable or unwilling to go to the spa, so prices tend to be better.

#12 Free breakfast at Johnny Rockets on Oasis Class ships

Did you know that Johnny Rockets is complimentary for breakfast on Oasis Class ships?  

All Oasis-class ships offer this option, but many guests are unaware that breakfast is served here, nor that it is included with your cruise fare (Johnny Rockets has a cover charge for lunch and dinner).

Johnny Rockets tends to be not very crowded for breakfast, because many guests are unaware of this option, and it also has a large seating capacity (indoor and outdoor seating options).

#13 Avoid embarkation day lunch lines in the buffet

The Windjammer is the go-to spot for most when they get onboard their Royal Caribbean ship for lunch, but there are good alternatives that are less crowded.

These locations include:

• Park Cafe
• Cafe @ Two70
• Cafe Promenade
• Sorrentos

#14 Look for the cooking stations in the Windjammer

Freshly cooked food is always the best, and there are cooking stations available in the Windjammer that serve up some really tasty options.

In the morning, there is an omelet station available. For lunch and dinner, you can find a rotating set of options that include pasta, stir-fry, crepes and more.

Check with the Windjammer wait staff for a schedule of options. 

#15 You can bring water or soda on embarkation day...

Royal Caribbean allows guests to bring up to 12 bottles/cans of non-alcoholic beverages per stateroom with them on embarkation day.

You can bring soda, water, energy drinks and any other non-alcoholic beverages.

Be sure to pack these items in your carry-on luggage, and not your checked luggage.

#16 ...and wine too!

In addition to the non-alcoholic beverages, you can also bring up to two bottles of wine per stateroom.

Each adult may bring one (1) 750 mL bottle, per adult of drinking age, per sailing.

Corkscrews will be provided for guests to enjoy their drinks in their stateroom. If guests wish to enjoy their wine or champagne in a dining or bar venue, there will be a corkage fee applied.

#17 Cruise off-season to really save money

If your schedule allows, the best time to cruise when prices are the lowest are in the off-season and shoulder seasons.

These are the times of year when demand is less for cruises to certain regions. People often wonder what is the cheapest month to go on a cruise, and the key is cruise when others cannot.

Most people go on vacation based around their school or work schedules. If you can cruise during these times, there are some truly low prices to enjoy.

#18 Read a past Cruise Compass

Want to get an idea of what entertainment, activities and things to do (along with times) will be offered on your cruise? Read a past Cruise Compass!

Royal Caribbean does not post or publish Cruise Compasses for upcoming sailings in advance. Nor do they publish their entertainment schedules prior to a cruise. So the best way to learn about what is offered on your cruise is to check out a past Cruise Compass.

There is no way to know in absolute terms what your upcoming Royal Caribbean cruise will or will not offer, but Royal Caribbean insiders will consult past Cruise Compass' to see what was available on those similar sailings to get an idea of what to expect.

#19 Use the porters

Whether the first day or the last day of your cruise, be sure to grab a porter to make things easier on yourself.

Porters are available to assist with your luggage. Their services are complimentary, although a tip is expected for their trouble.

Commonly it is expected to tip somewhere around $1-$2 per bag. For just a few dollars, you can make the embarkation and disembarkation process significantly easier.

Not only can a porter help take a load off of you, they can greatly assist with disembarkation and getting you through the terminal faster. In many ports, porters have a special line for Customs that allows you to get through it all faster.

#20 Book entertainment before your cruise

If you are sailing on an Oasis or Quantum Class ship, you can pre-book shows in advance, such as the Broadway musicals or ice shows.

Royal Caribbean does not charge for its shows, nor does it charge for advanced reservations. Take advantage of the opportunity to get tickets and not be stuck in a line waiting to enter the theater or worse, miss out on the show completely.

Just like dining, you can reserve shows in advance by going to Royal Caribbean's Cruise Planner site. Once logged in, navigate to Onboard Activities and select the show you wish to reserve.

On all ships, check for entertainment reservations once onboard the ship via the Royal Caribbean app.

#21 Research shore excursions before the cruise

The tours and excursions available to book in the ports your cruise will visit are many, so take advantage of the resources online to find the perfect tour before your cruise begins.

While you can book shore excursions onboard your ship, the lines at the shore excursion desk can often be quite long and doing your research from home gives you plenty of time to compare different options and learn what each port offers.

You can view all the shore excursions available by logging into Royal Caribbean's Cruise Planner and browsing the shore excursions by port. Each excursion will list the price, details of the activity and any physical or age restrictions.

Royal Caribbean offers a lot of shore excursions in every port and on top of that, you can also consider shore excursions through third party groups to further expand your options.

Keep in mind the differences between Royal Caribbean's shore excursions and third party shore excursions. Here are some basic considerations:

• Royal Caribbean shore excursions guarantee your return to the ship, even if the excursion is delayed.
• Third party shore excursions can offer more personalized tours at a lower price.
• Royal Caribbean shore excursions are fully refundable if your ship cannot dock at a scheduled port.
• Guests can use onboard credit towards purchasing Royal Caribbean's shore excursions if they book onboard.

#22 The Main Dining Room is open for lunch on sea days

Naturally everyone thinks of the main dining room for dinner, but did you know it is often open for lunch (and breakfast) too?

On sea days, the main dining room is open for lunch and it serves up a different menu of options than what is offered during dinner.

No reservations needed, just walk on in and be seated.

#23 Make My Time Dining reservations

If you are in My Time Dining for dinner, your best strategy is to make reservations either before the cruise, or during the cruise.

By having a reservation, you will be seated faster. The larger the group, the more important having a reservation is to limiting the wait times.

Peak dinner time is between 6:30pm and 8:00pm, so if you plan to dine during these times, reservations are so important.

#24 Eat outside!

If you are on a Radiance or Quantum Class ship, be sure to enjoy your meals outside while at the Windjammer.

The Windjammer on Radiance and Quantum class ships offers an area at the rear of the ship to enjoy any meal with a fantastic view of the ship's wake.  

Oasis Class ships offer outside dining is also available on Central Park and Boardwalk neighborhoods.

#25 Try the signature activities on embarkation day

If you want to try FlowRider, rock climbing wall or zipline, take advantage of lower waits on the first day of the cruise.

Because so many guests are just getting onboard and acclimated to the new ship, many guests are unaware of where the headline attractions are or that they are open on embarkation day.

By going on embarkation day, not only will you likely have a short wait but you may be able to re-ride a number of times!

#26 Stock shareholder benefit

Did you know Royal Caribbean offers extra onboard credit if you own at least a certain amount of Royal Caribbean Group stock?

While buying stock in any company should be based on solid financial planning, if you happen to own at least 100 shares of Royal Caribbean Group stock, you can qualify for bonus credit to spend on your cruise.

Depending on the length of your sailing, you can get up to $250 onboard credit.

• $250 Onboard Credit per Stateroom on Sailings of 14 or more nights
• $100 Onboard Credit per Stateroom on Sailings of 6 to 13 nights
• $50 Onboard Credit per Stateroom on Sailings of 5 nights or less

To redeem this benefit, you just need to email [email protected] with your name, address, confirmation number, ship and sailing date along with a copy of your shareholder proxy card or a current brokerage statement showing proof of share ownership.

#27 Buy travel insurance

No one wants to think worst case scenario, but you're probably better off buying a travel insurance plan for your cruise than risking not having it.

While you may want to save the added expense, regular medical insurance will not usually cover medical services onboard or in port. It’s recommended to have travel insurance.

Additionally, a cruise vacation, like any other type of travel, poses a risk for trip interruption, delays, and other unexpected issues. From a bag getting lost in transit to flight cancellations, it’s always better to be protected than to not have insurance when you need it most.

#28 Find a roll call for your sailing and meet other cruisers

One of the best ways to stay informed with what's happening on your sailing is to join a roll call for your sailing.

This is basically a forum for discussing your exact sailing with other people booked on it too. 

The benefit of doing this is you get to "meet" other people on your sailing, which may result in new friendships, or saving money on a shore excursion or other activity that has a group discount.

In addition, these roll calls are helpful because someone might spot a change or announcement before you, which can greatly benefit you by getting ahead of the pack.

We have an entire forum dedicated to Royal Caribbean roll calls on our message boards that is totally free to use!

#29 Avoid overpacking

Easier said than done, but you probably won't need all the clothes, shoes, and outfits you think you might need on a Royal Caribbean cruise.

Dress codes look imposing, and you might feel like you need to have more outfit changes in a single day than most celebrities at an awards ceremony, but the reality is it's not nearly that stringent.

Not only are the dress codes quite liberal, you can also re-use the same clothes on the same sailing. Your fellow guests won't notice you wore that pair of jeans or dress from night two.

In addition, Royal Caribbean has onboard laundry services you can use to make wearing the same clothes later in the cruise more practical. Laundry costs extra, but it may save you money compared to paying to check an extra bag at the airport.

#30 Don't assume all Royal Caribbean ships are the same

One mistake first-time cruisers make is to book the cheapest cruise they can find because they assume the ships are more less all the same.

While Royal Caribbean maintains a core experience across all ships, each vessel has its own list of amenities and activities, and even ships within the same Royal Caribbean ship class can vary.

What you want to do is look at what the ship you're considering has to do onboard, and ensure it has the most important options that you want to experience.

An an example, if you have kids and water slides are a must-do, then skip the Vision Class ships. If you want a ship with a Broadway show, book Oasis or Harmony of the Seas, but skip Wonder of the Seas.

The key is to understand what the ship you're booking has and doesn't have so there's no disappointment later.

#31 Bring magnets for your cabin

One of the best cruise ship cabin hacks is to bring magnets with you on your cruise.

Your stateroom walls are made of metal, and that means you can stick a magnet on any of them (even the ceiling). If you buy heavy duty magnets with hooks, you can use these magnets to store certain items.

Things like hats, coverups, important paperwork and more would be ideal. This frees up storage space in your closets and drawers for other things.

#32 Your drink package works at CocoCay and Labadee

If you're on the fence about buying a Royal Caribbean drink package, keep in mind you can use them at Royal Caribbean's private islands.

In addition to being able to use your drink package benefits nearly anywhere onboard your ship, Royal Caribbean also extends the benefit to Perfect Day at CocoCay in the Bahamas and Labadee in Haiti.

This means you can get extra value from your drink package purchase while anywhere in these private destinations.

In addition to the drink package, a WiFi package also works while at CocoCay. Unfortunately, there's no wifi coverage in Labadee.

#33 Take advantage of all your loyalty benefits

There's an impressive amount of discounts and benefits included in Royal Caribbean's loyalty program that you should absolutely know about in advance.

The exact benefits you get depend on which tier of Crown and Anchor Society you belong to. You start getting benefits after just one cruise, and you never lose your status.

There are discounts, vouchers, and even freebies anyone can take advantage of once onboard.

Be sure to look up all your benefits, and ensure you use the most lucrative Crown and Anchor Society perks during your sailing so you can reap the best rewards!

#34 Eat at specialty restaurants for lunch to save money

Some specialty restaurants will cost less if you eat there for lunch.

Regardless of which day you choose, some specialty restaurants offer a lunch discount compared to dinner.

The menu can vary from lunch to dinner, but the experience is still the same. Any money saved is always welcome!

Two restaurants that always offer a cheaper lunch price than dinner are Chops Grille and Giovanni's Italian Kitchen. In most cases, you should be able to save at least $10 per person compared to dinner (if not more).

#35 Sign up your kids for Adventure Ocean on the first day

Save time on your cruise by getting your kids signed up for Royal Caribbean's complimentary kids programming on the first day of the cruise.

Adventure Ocean will be open on the first evening of your cruise, but they have an open house on embarkation day in the afternoon too.

The open house is when you can go to meet the staff, register your kids, and ask any questions.

This is not only a great opportunity for your kids to become familiar with the kids club, but also save time later so all you have to do when the club opens up is drop them off and be done. Too many parents are unaware of the open house and waste time signing their kids up as the evening session is set to begin.

#36 You can shower in the gym

If your stateroom shower is occupied by a family member, you could go to the gym and shower there instead.

Royal Caribbean's fitness center has separate showers for men and women that is complimentary to use. In fact, most people don't use these showers, so there's a good chance they are unoccupied when you would need it, especially in the evening.

#37 Put your phone into airplane mode

Avoid a huge cell phone bill by putting your phone into airplane mode while on your cruise.

A really common mistake is for passengers to leave their phone on like normal, and come home to a monster bill because of hefty roaming charges. Even if you have an international cell phone plan, cruise ship cellular coverage is rarely included.

In order to avoid having your phone try to use its cellular connection, all modern phones have an ability to turn off its cellular signal by enabling something called, "airplane mode."

By enabling airplane mode, your phone is incapable of using its cellular antenna. It can, however, still use its WiFi and Bluetooth connections to stay connected, if you so choose.

Just turn airplane mode once you get onboard the ship.

This means you can still be on Royal Caribbean's wifi and use the app, but avoid a huge bill.

#38 Don't book a cabin under or above public areas

Want to know one of the best tips for avoiding the worst cruise ship cabins? Don't book a cabin one deck above or below a public space, such as a pool, dining room, or bar.

Before you book a room, look at the ship's deck plans and look what is above and below your stateroom. Ideally, you want other staterooms on either deck and not public venues like pools, restaurants or other public venues.

#39 Don't double tip

Tipping hard working crew members is a must-do, but double check the bill that it's not already included.

When you purchase a drink at a bar, a service at the spa, or almost anything else onboard, there's likely an automatic gratuity included with your bill.

When you get the receipt to sign, look for the line item that indicates if an automatic 18% gratuity is already included. If it is, you should feel confident that the proper gratuity is being given to that crew member.

#40 You can re-book on your cruise for extra onboard credit

The NextCruise office offers incentives to book another cruise while you're still onboard.

The price of the cruise is the same whether you book at home or onboard. The difference is booking onboard will get you extra onboard credit and reduced deposit.  

You can actually get hundreds of dollars of onboard credit by simply booking onboard, but the exact amount depends on how long a sailing you book and in which stateroom category.

Moreover, the onboard credit is stackable with other discounts Royal Caribbean is offering at the time!

If you're reading this at home, you're still better off booking a cruise now, rather than waiting to book onboard your ship. The reason is Royal Caribbean cruise fares are very erratic, and can change at a moment's notice.

If you wait weeks or months to book a cruise onboard, the price of the cruise may increase and negate any savings you'd receive from the extra onboard credit.

Ideally, you'll book a cruise at NextCruise while on a sailing when struck with the inspiration to book another cruise. But if you're at home, it's still a good idea to book as early as you can to lock in the lowest price.

#41 You can't bring a power strip

Royal Caribbean doesn't allow power strips or surge protectors to be brought on its cruise ships, and they will confiscate it if they find them.

Instead, bring a USB hub. These devices that plug into an outlet and allow you to charge multiple devices at once are permissible and useful too!

#42 Pack socks so you can go ice skating!

Did you know you can ice skate on some Royal Caribbean cruise ships?

On ships that have an ice skating rink, open skate sessions are offered for free, but you will need to wear socks and pants in order to participate. Skates are provided for free by Royal Caribbean.

There are ice skating rinks on Voyager, Freedom, Oasis, and Icon Class ships.

#43 Bring your own hand sanitizer

You can never be too careful on a cruise ship when it comes to personal hygiene, so it's a good idea to pack hand sanitizer.

Similarly, sanitizing wipes are something else to bring that you can use to wipe down surfaces in your stateroom.

Royal Caribbean does a great job of keeping its ships clean, but shared surfaces always have an inherit risk.

#44 Save money and wait to buy an internet package later in your cruise

If you can wait to use the internet until later in your cruise, you could save a lot of money.

While pre-purchasing a WiFi package is the best strategy for the lowest price if you need internet acces all cruise long, if you can go a few days and buy it, you could net big savings.

Royal Caribbean allows you to buy a WiFi package at any point in the cruise, and you're only charged for the remaining days of the sailing.

If you can wait to buy your WiFi package until day three or later, you will save a lot of money!

#45 Look for a parade on the promenade

Royal Caribbean offers a fun family parade on its bigger ships, so be sure to take the kids.

Try to get a spot at least 30 minutes before the parade is scheduled to begin to get the best seats along the Royal Promenade.

#46 Find the Small Wonders

Hidden all over Oasis and Allure of the Seas is a series of art displays known as "Small Wonders", where you will find 42 natural wonders positioned all over the ship.

When you find one, there will be something that looks like a periscope or telescope that if you peer into, you will find these tiny three dimensional pieces of art.

Hint: if you give up and cannot find them all, Guest Services can provide you with a list of them all to help!

#47 Try onboard activities on a sea day

There's far fewer of your fellow passengers on a ship during a port day, so this is the perfect time to try the popular onboard activities.

Water slides, the Flowrider, zip lining, and bumper cars are all much easier to do with shorter waits if you go while your ship is in port.

#48 Go to the spa raffle draw

Sign up for the Vitality Spa raffle on embarkation day and go to the raffle drawing on embarkation day. This is when they give away free spa treatments.

Many people who sign up, do not show up, which increases your odds of winning.

#49 Don't overdo it

Don't try to do everything or you will enjoy nothing.

There is something happening constantly and you can quickly overwhelm yourself. Relax.

If this is your first cruise, focus on the "highlights" they publish. They know those things will give most newbies a great vacation and it will allow you to get your bearings for the next one!

#50 Arrive early for shows if you don't have a reservation

Not all Royal Caribbean cruise ships allow you to pre-book shows, and on ships that do offer it, you may not be able to make a reservation. In either case, you'll want to show up early for any show time.

My advice is to get in line at least 30 minutes before the show time to get a good seat.

Getting there early assures you of a spot and probably a good seat too.

#51 You can learn to surf on a cruise ship

If your ship has a Flowrider surf simulator, it is possible to learn how to surf.

There is no cost to use the Flowrider, and with a little practice it may be possible to get the hang of surfing.

All you need to do is bring your bathing suit and sense of adventure (and a lot of patience) and you might be able to master it!

#52 Unpack completely

It can be tempting to live out of your suitcase, but unpacking makes a big difference.

The rooms are small but they have great storage space. Unpacking and keeping things in their place will make your room more relaxing.

Also, bring something to store your dirty clothes - worst case, throw them in your suitcase. 

#53 Speak up if there's a problem

If something’s not quite right, mention it to a crew member rather than assuming there's nothing that can be done about it.

The crew’s ultimate goal is for you to have a great trip, and they’ll do whatever they can to make that happen.

#54 Meet your cabin attendant as soon as possible

Get to know your room attendant right way to get things going on the right foot.

Your cabin attendant can help you with getting extra towels, ice stocked, and beds arranged. Moreover, they're your go-to resource if you have any problems.

#55 Take photos of your favorite crew members

Take pictures of the crew and name tag that way you have it on your phone and readily available when completing the survey.

The post-cruise survey is very important to Royal Caribbean, and sometimes it can be difficult to remember names or how to spell them.

#56 Start a cruise fund

Start a vacation account as a cruise fund to save for your cruise.

Putting away a few dollars here and there adds up. Maybe it's money towards your cruise fare, or just extra spending money onboard.

Some people will automatically deduct a small amount from each paycheck to move into a special savings account to help budget and save more easily.

#57 Consider a travel credit card

Look at travel rewards credit cards to help fund your trip.

When used responsibly, credit cards have the potential to be very lucrative as ways to offset the cost of your trip. You can use their rewards programs to pay for airfare, have extra spending cash, or offset vacation costs that you'll accumulate during your trip.

Royal Caribbean has its own credit card that allows you to earn free cruises, but it's not necessarily the best travel credit card on the market.

#58 Pack a pashmina

For ladies that tend to get chilly often, it's a good idea to pack a pashmina.

It doesn't take up much room in your suitcase and it comes in handy to keep you warm on the deck or at shows and to put over you head when it is windy. Even the Caribbean sailing can be chilly at night.

#59 Purchase a lanyard for your SeaPass card

Something you won't think of until you get on the ship is how handy it is to have a lanyard for your SeaPass card.

It's a good idea to purchase a lanyard to carry your sea pass card on your neck, for ease of access.

#60 Send your special needs requests in before the cruise

If you have medical issues, or questions, always ask in advance via the Special Needs form.

Royal Caribbean will provide distilled water and an extension cord for a CPAP machine, free of charge, which was a blessing not having to fly with a gallon of water in your checked luggage.

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Let's take a peek at the what Royal Caribbean's next new cruise ship looks like while still under construction.

Icon of the Seas is at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland, where she is being assembled.

RoyalCaribbeanBlog.com commissioned a set of aerial drone photos to survey the progress being made for the benefit our readers.

These drone photos were taken on the morning of February 14, 2023.

Icon of the Seas will have her inaugural sailing January 2024, and the ship is already incredibly popular based on the bookings Royal Caribbean has seen so far.

"That ship literally has been the best-selling product in the history of our business," said Royal Caribbean International CEO Michael Bayley during last week's earnings call with investors.

"It's been absolutely outstanding in terms of the demand and the pricing that we're generating."

Icon is the first ship in a new class of Royal Caribbean cruise ships, and that means it introduces a host of new innovations and concepts that have resonated with consumers.

Icon of the Seas will have 26 new features never before seen on a Royal Caribbean ship, which includes 15 new water experiences.

It will have have more than 40 food and beverage concepts, with 23 of them completely new to Royal Caribbean.

The 20-deck-high vessel will feature a variety of new-to-fleet ideas, such as a water park, Vegas-style pool area, indoor AquaTheater, dedicated neighborhood for young families and so much more.

Royal Caribbean has also added new types of cabins that are designed to hold more guests.

The new ship will be 250,600 tons in size and take the title of the biggest cruise ship in the world.

The first sailing of Icon of the Seas will be a seven-night cruise from her homeport of Miami to the Eastern Caribbean on January 27, 2024.

Icon will then alternate between Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries through April 2025.

Much of the construction shows more cabins have been added since our last photo update.

Cabins are constructed elsewhere and then slid into the superstructure of the ship once the slot for them is ready.

Icon of the Seas was floated out for the first time in early December 2022.

Royal Caribbean shared a timeline of events for Icon in December, and the plan is for the new ship to have her first sea trials in May 2023.

Sea trials are when a new cruise ship tests out her systems at sea in order to evaluate performance and stability.

Icon's second sea trials are scheduled for June 2023, with deliver in the second half of 2023.

Once complete, she'll be a bit longer and higher than Wonder of the Seas, which is currently the largest ship in the world.

Icon will have two more passenger decks than Wonder, and about 10 feet longer.

Icon can accommodate up to 5,610 passengers at double occupancy (7,600 passengers if you maxed out every bed).

She will also be Royal Caribbean's first ship to use liquified natural gas (LNG) and fuel cell technology. 

Icon of the Seas is the first of at least three Icon Class cruise ships.

The next one will be completed in 2025 and the third in 2026.

Beyond the Icon Class, Royal Caribbean has no current orders for more ships, but the company hasn't ruled anything out.

Speaking with Royal Caribbean Group CEO Jason Liberty in December 2022, he said there is more time to order ships than a few years ago, "The level of demand for new ships was so high that you had to order ships much further out in order to have access to those slots. So you were seeing people order ships six or seven years out."

"If you think about the Icon one's and the Icon two's, there's a little bit more breathing time for us to have to place in those orders because of that structural change pre-pandemic."

Happy early Valentine's Day! Hope the holiday is filled with chocolate, flowers and a Royal Caribbean cruise! I'm spreading the Royal Caribbean love with our look at all the Royal Caribbean news from this week.

During Royal Caribbean Group's earnings call this week, the top executives shared details on a variety of topics that interesting to cruise fans.

The top brass talked about opening a CocoCay expansion, how much passengers are spending, and how popular Icon of the Seas is so far.

These important takeaways share how Royal Caribbean is doing and what their plans are for the rest of 2023.

Royal Caribbean News

• Royal Caribbean Group Q4 earnings beat Wall Street expectations with smaller-than-expected loss
• Cruise ship passengers are booking activities months earlier than in 2019 - and paying more too
• I cruise almost every weekend: here's my walking tour of Nassau
• Royal Caribbean laundry services on your cruise
• The craziest things we've seen on our Royal Caribbean cruises
• I checked out a private island in Honduras —with crystal clear beaches and all-inclusive drinks, it far exceeded my expectations

New RCB Video: 15 things I look forward to every time I go on a cruise ship

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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 — Boarding day tips you need in 2022 — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

Inside cabin vs. oceanview cabin: Is it worth an upgrade?

Comparing an inside cabin vs  oceanview cabin, you might be wondering if it's worth spending extra between the two.

Inside cabins are the cheapest option, but oceanview gives you a bit more space, and most importantly, natural light.

Let's help you decide if the differences are worth an upgrade from an inside cabin to an oceanview.

I cruised in a suite for the first time. Here are 5 things I learned from the experience

After trying a suite for the first time, Jenna has a few takeaways you should know about before trying a suite.

Suites have their own sets of amenities and benefits, but to best take advantage of these, there are definitely a few lessons learned.

Jenna shared 5 things she learned from her first time staying in a cruise ship suite.

Over 60 years old? A cruise vacation is for you!

Cruising is great for all ages, but it's well-suited for anyone over the age of 60 years old.

After years of family vacations, Brad fell in love with cruises and thinks it's the perfect kind of trip for seniors.

From the relaxing atmosphere to the many places you can visit, Brad shared 10 reasons you should give cruising a try.

When your clothes get dirty, soiled, or just need to be pressed, how do you handle laundry on a Royal Caribbean cruise?

Going on vacation for even just a few days will likely result in a lot of dirty clothes, and you may want your options are to take care of wrinkles, stains, and what to expect if you want to have your clothes laundered.

Laundry options on a cruise ship are limited compared to on land, especially if you're used to doing it yourself.

Since keeping clothes clean and wrinkle-free is something a lot of cruisers worry about, here's what you can expect when it comes to cruise ship laundry.

Self-service laundry options

If you'd like to do your own laundry on a Royal Caribbean cruise, you wont find any facilities to do it yourself.

Royal Caribbean does not offer any self-service laundry options. This includes washing machines or dryers.

Moreover, Royal Caribbean does not provide irons to use in any cruise staterooms.

Keep in mind that Royal Caribbean prohibits passengers from bringing irons onto the ship, because they are a fire hazard. It will be confiscated for the entire voyage.

Paid laundry and dry cleaning options

While you wont be able to do laundry on your own, there are paid laundry services available to Royal Caribbean passengers.

Both washing and dry cleaning services are available on all Royal Caribbean cruise ships.

For either option, you need to provide your stateroom attendant with the clothes to be cleaned, as well as a form listening all the garments. Look for a bag and form hanging in your cabin closet that you can use.

Once you have the form filled out and the clothes in the bag, just leave it on your bed and the cabin attendant will pick it up at their next cleaning.

Royal Caribbean offers:

• Wash & Press
• Pressing only
• Steaming only
• Dry Clean & Press

 The cost of the order will be deducted from your SeaPass account.

How much does laundry cost on Royal Caribbean?

The exact price depends on which laundry service you want, if it's expedited or not, and the type of clothing.

Pressing or steaming only will be the least-expensive laundry option, with dry cleaning being the most expensive.

How long does it take for Royal Caribbean to do your laundry?

The standard turnaround time for laundry on a Royal Caribbean ship is the next day by 5:30pm. This assumes you drop the clothes off with your stateroom attendant the day before.

Royal Caribbean also offers same day laundry service at a 50% extra charge.

Same day service must be picked up before 11am, so that it can be done before 5:30pm.

Wash and fold specials

Royal Caribbean ships usually offer a "Wash & Fold" special, where you can get as many clothes washed and folded that you can fit in one bag for a fixed cost.

For $34.99, you get a bag (usually plastic) that you can fill to be washed and folded for $34.99. Royal Caribbean says you can "fit as much as you can into the bag provided."

Just as your stateroom attendant for this special, although it's also advertised in the Cruise Compass as well.

How to get free laundry on Royal Caribbean

One of the best Crown and Anchor Society perks are for passengers that are at least Diamond Plus actually get this for free once per cruise.

Read more: The Crown and Anchor perks you should use on every Royal Caribbean cruise

While not free, there are discounts for the Wash & Fold bag for Gold members and higher (basically anyone that's cruised before).

If you're staying in a suite (Grand Suite or above), you automatically qualify for complimentary clothes pressing for the first formal night only.

Since the first formal night is usually the second night of the cruise, all you need to do is ask your stateroom attendant about the service on the first day so that there is sufficient time for it the pressed and returned to you before formal night.

Read more: What are the Royal Caribbean suite perks?

Laundry hacks to clean clothes yourself

While you wont find laundry machines you can use, there are a few ways to get laundry done on your own without paying the cruise line.

The tried-and-true method is to bring single-packet detergent on the cruise and then fill your sink up with water to wash small loads of laundry.

Wash the clothing in your sink and then hang the clothes to dry in your shower on the laundry line provided by the cruise line. This is best for undergarments and shirts, and kids clothing.

If the clothes don't dry fast enough, there is a hair dryer in the room you can use on anything that stubbornly won't dry.

Some cruisers on longer sailings (or back to back cruises) will bring their own clothes lines so they can dry more clothing at the same time.

Another idea is bring wrinkle-release spray that is useful for keeping clothes looking good after being packed away in your suitcase.

It's not your imagination: more people are booking up activities and things to do before their cruise than ever before.

If your approach to cruising has been to wing it and leave things to the last minute, you're likely going to face an uphill battle going forward if you want to try certain activities onboard.

One of the interesting anecdotes to come out of Royal Caribbean Group's quarterly conference call with Wall Street analysts was a revelation about how soon customers are booking things to do on a cruise.

Royal Caribbean Group CEO Jason Liberty talked about a change his company is seeing in how far in advance people book up experiences once booked on a cruise, "Approximately 60% of our guests book some of their onboard activities in advance of their cruise, representing double digit growth in pre-cruise purchase penetration when compared to 2019 at significantly higher rates."

So not only are people booking things sooner, they're also willing to pay more for it.

Prices of shore excursions, drink packages, and just about anything you can reserve before a cruise have anecdotally gone up by cruise fans.  The exact price of these items varies from ship to ship and sailing to sailing, but without a doubt, prices are generally higher for 2023 cruises compared to a few years ago.

This is exactly what Royal Caribbean wants from a business standpoint, because people that book things early generate more revenue for the cruise line.

"Every dollar a guest spends before the cruise translates into about $0.70 when they sail with us, and over double the overall spending when compared to other guests," said Mr. Liberty during the call.

While the dollars and cents of the cruise industry business may not matter much to you, the trend of booking earlier should.

Royal Caribbean offers many different activities and things to do on a cruise, and these are quite popular.

Cabana rentals, shore excursions, culinary classes and more are popular among cruise ship guests, and Royal Caribbean sees more people booking them sooner.  This puts people that wait to the last minute at a disadvantage if they want to lock in these activities for themselves.

"Our guests are now engaging with us to book on board activities much earlier than in 2019."

"So far, guests booked on 2023 sailings purchased onboard experiences an average of more than two months earlier than in 2019."

For the company, they see this as a win-win for the company and passengers, "This translates into more revenue, stickier bookings and happy guests."

What's driving this change? Royal Caribbean thinks at least part of it is a consumer that is more comfortable making online purchases.

"The consumer at all different levels have gotten more comfortable using digital commerce to make their purchases," Mr. Liberty said.

Higher prices for cruises too

Besides excursions, wifi, and drink packages, the price for a cruise will cost you more than in 2019.

At the onset of the earnings call, Mr. Liberty talked about how cruise prices cost more today, "Pricing for our vacation experiences was higher than record 2019 levels when we operated with normalized occupancy."

North American itineraries in particular are trending up in terms of costs, which is where about 70% of its deployments are in 2023.

"From a cumulative standpoint, these itineraries are now booked at the same load factor as they were in 2019 and at higher prices," Mr. Liberty stated.

So far in 2023, Royal Caribbean Group has enjoyed busier than normal cruise bookings during wave season, which is an industry term for a popular time to book new cruises.

Demand has been so strong that even higher prices haven't diminished interest in new bookings.

"The demand is that is that strong that we're able to raise price across these different products and really not seeing a pullback from the consumer as we continue to do so."

"And that is really a reflection of what we've seen since our last earnings call, or really since the announcement of the protocols being dropped."

"Just acceleration and the propensity to cruise across all three categories of new to cruise, first to brand first cruise has returned and in many cases is better than what we saw pre-COVID."

More helpful information

• Should you buy pre-cruise purchases now or wait to buy it onboard?
• 45 ways to save money on a Royal Caribbean cruise
• How much should I budget for a cruise?
• 30 Do's and Don'ts for the first day of your cruise
• The 20 worst cruise mistakes that will ruin your cruise vacation
• The best cruise itineraries for every type of traveler
• How to plan a Royal Caribbean cruise on any budget
• Best shore excursion in every Caribbean cruise port

Royal Caribbean Group posted its fourth quarter 2022 earnings on Tuesday with a smaller-than-expected loss.

The company reported a loss of $500.2 million in its fourth quarter and losses of $1.12 per share, which beat Wall Street predictions of of $1.37 per share loss.

Royal Caribbean Group posted revenue of $2.6 billion in the period, which met analysts' expectations.

The better results were a result of better pricing on close-in demand, strong onboard spend, favorable timing of operating costs, and lower interest expense.

"2022 was a pivotal year as we successfully returned our business to full operations and delivered memorable vacation experiences to 6 million guests," said Jason Liberty, president and chief executive officer, Royal Caribbean Group.

"We also returned to positive Adjusted EBITDA and Operating Cash Flow by consistently growing revenue and controlling costs. Our teams have worked tirelessly to deliver the best vacation experiences, responsibly, and we are grateful for their extraordinary efforts."

Fourth quarter numbers

Here's a breakdown of Royal Caribbean Group's fourth quarter earnings:

Ship capacity (aka load factors) across the fleet were at 95%, with Caribbean sailings reaching 100%, and holiday sailings close to 110%.

For the entire year, load factors were at 85% full. This averages out every sailing, in every market, for the year.

Total revenues per passenger cruise day were up 3.5% as-reported and 4.5% in Constant Currency, compared to the fourth quarter of 2019.

Royal Caribbean Group incurred a $130 million hit as a result of a lawsuit stemming from the former owners of the cruise ship docks in Cuba. The company that owned a port terminal in Havana prior to the Cuban Revolution, sued the cruise lines under the Helms-Burton Act, which allows certain U.S. nationals with claims on properties confiscated by the Cuban government on or after Jan. 1, 1959 to seek compensation from the companies operating those properties.

Royal Caribbean Group said it, "continues to vigorously defend" against the lawsuit.

For the full year, the company reported Net Loss of $2.2 billion compared to Net Loss of $5.3 billion in the prior year. 

Predictions for 2023

The year started off quite well for Royal Caribbean Group with a record-breaking WAVE season, driven by strong demand. 

Demand is so strong that the company had its seven biggest booking weeks in its history since the last earnings call in November 2022.

Customers are returning to a more normal process of booking cruises in advance, which RCG sees as confidence for its business that the booking window returns to normal.

All those drink packages, shore excursions, and wifi purchases continue to exceed prior years driven by greater participation at higher prices, which the company sees as quality and healthy future demand.

North America sailings, many of which visit Perfect Day at CocoCay, are leading the way and are booked in line with record 2019 levels for the full year and ahead for the second quarter through the fourth quarter.

Bookings for European itineraries have been accelerating during WAVE and are now higher than 2019.

"Leisure travel strength continues as consumer spend is shifting towards experiences, with cruising remaining an attractive value proposition," said Mr. Liberty.

"The quality demand trends further exhibit the strength of our brands and the growing propensity to cruise."

Happy weekend! We hope you are in the midst of a wonderful weekend full of things to do to pass the time between cruises.  We have a summary of all of this week's Royal Caribbean news in case you missed any of it!

Royal Caribbean has provided an in-depth look at its new neighborhood aimed at young families, Surfside.

When Icon of the Seas debuts, Royal Caribbean thinks it will have the best family vacation in the world, and they totally mean it.

Part of that strategy is by creating a purpose-built neighborhood for families.

Royal Caribbean News

• I learned how to surf on a cruise ship
• Alaska cruise ports guide
• How a cruise is totally different from other kinds of vacations
• What my $870 per night suite on Liberty of the Seas looked like

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 486th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available and this week, Matt reviews his Liberty of the Seas sailing.

Matt sailed on Liberty of the Seas for the first time, and he compares the ship to other Freedom and Voyager Class ships and talks about what stands out about Liberty.

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.

New RCB Video: 12 things I'd tell anyone new to cruise ship travel

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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 — 12 things I'd tell anyone new to cruise ship travel — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

10 commandments of a great cruise ship vacation

Thou shall follow these 10 cruise commandments for a thoroughly awesome vacation.

While a lot of cruise advice could benefit you, there are a few core tenants of cruise ship travel that I think are a must for just about anyone.

In reflecting on the cruise tips and advice I dole out each week, I wanted to come up with the 10 most important pieces of cruise advice I would give to just about anyone. 

This regular cabin includes free ice cream and suite lounge access!

Have you ever heard of the Ben and Jerry Sweet on Royal Caribbean's Freedom Class ships?

This Promenade View room is situated right above the Ben and Jerry’s ice cream parlor, and it comes with cow-themed decor, vouchers for free ice cream and highly-coveted suite lounge access - all for the same price as every other inside promenade stateroom onboard.

Best extras for a cruise under $10

When I sailed on Liberty of the Seas last week, I forgot to bring liquid soap and it reminded me of some cheap things to bring on a cruise that I always regret forgetting.

Underwear, toothbrush, sunscreen, are all examples of things you probably bring with you on any trip, but certain "good to have" extras for a cruise vacation aren't as obvious.

Before you hit the road to get on a cruise, double check you packed these under $10 things that will make your cruise better.

There's all sorts of extras you can bring on a cruise, but it seems I forget one or three of them when I actually go on a cruise.

Last week I sailed on Liberty of the Seas for a short 3-night cruise, and the first time I went to wash my hands in my stateroom bathroom I realized I forgot to pack liquid hand soap. While there's nothing wrong with the bar soap that Royal Caribbean provides, I prefer bringing my own for ease of use.

That got me thinking about other really cheap extras someone can bring on a cruise that enhance the experience.

While we have a great cruise ship packing list you can refer to, it's easy to overlook these extras because they aren't things that one might naturally consider in the course of preparing for a cruise.  Underwear, toothbrush, sunscreen, are all examples of things you probably bring with you on any trip, but certain "good to have" extras for a cruise vacation aren't as obvious.

Before you hit the road to get on a cruise, double check you packed these under $10 things that will make your cruise better.

Please note that I linked to each item on Amazon which contains an affiliate link. This affiliate link costs you absolutely nothing extra, but I make a small commission if you purchase it.

Liquid soap

$9.39 at Amazon

As previously mentioned, liquid soap is so nice to have in your cabin.

Washing your hands on a cruise ship is super important, but the bar soap the cruise line provides requires more work to work up a lather compared to liquid soap, and I never like the "dry" feeling it leaves me with after.

Instead we like to pack liquid soap to have in the bathroom.

Not only does it feel better on my hands, but it's faster and smells better too!

Laundry hamper

$6.99 at Amazon

Ever since I tried bringing a laundry hamper with me as part of my inside cabin hacks testing, it's become a staple of my cruise packing procedure.

On my last cruise, I forgot it at home (it was in a different piece of luggage than I ended up bringing) and it was then I realized how nice it was to have.

Without a hamper, I just designate a corner of my cabin closet as the laundry pile and it grows and grows until the end of the cruise. When it's time to pack up, I have to gather everything up.

With a pop up laundry hamper, it's so much easier to keep things organized and grab it when the cruise is over.

Luggage tag holders

$6.99 at Amazon

While remembering to print out luggage tags is a challenge in and of itself, having luggage tag holders gives me much more confidence they wont get ripped off accidently.

I've been using luggage tag holders for years as an easy way to display luggage tags without fear the paper tags would break off in the process.

Not only are they cheap, but they last a really long time.

My own shampoo & body wash

$7.99 at Amazon

I remember when Jenna took her very first Royal Caribbean cruise and I neglected to mention she should pack shampoo and body wash because the mystery liquid in the cabin showers is less than ideal.

After a couple days, she mentioned how bad it was and I was flabbergasted she was using it because I usually bring my own.

Along the same lines, I sometimes overlook packing my own and the stuff in the cabin never works as well.

Suites have upgraded toiletries that are much better, but it's still not as good as what you probably use at home.  This is especially true for women who have specific needs for their hair.

Depending on your brand, this one may come in above the $10 threshold, but even a cheaper one you bring will likely be better than what is waiting for you in the shower.

Aspirin

$4.59 at Amazon

If you have a Royal Caribbean drink package, there's a good chance a bottle of aspirin is a solid investment for the next day.

Between hangovers and drinking enough water every day, it's easy to run into a headache while on a cruise. 

Just like travel insurance, having a bottle of aspirin is so helpful when you really need it.

Chapstick

$1.49 at Amazon

Every time I take an Alaska cruise, after a day or two I suddenly remember I forgot to pack chapstick because it becomes apparent we need it.

Just like sunscreen, chapped lips can hurt quickly.

Other must-have cruise items worth bringing

In addition to the list of sub-$10 things I love to bring on a cruise, I thought it would be helpful to also include other items I would be disappointed if I forgot at home.

We all (should) know to pack the basics, such as underwear, socks, pants, and shorts. But there's a host of other things I strongly recommend you pack on your cruise too.

AirTags

Not only are AirTags helpful if you're flying, but they can be really useful if you're going on a cruise.

Include an AirTag in your luggage and you can easily track where your bags are using your iPhone.

Read more: I tried AirTags to track my luggage on a Royal Caribbean cruise

Reusable water bottle

You can get water around the ship, but it's much more convenient to have a reusable water bottle to stay hydrated.

Not only does it hold more water than any cup of water you'll find on the ship, they can be brought off the ship for shore excursions.

Noise cancelling headphones

Not only are noise-cancelling headphones useful outside of an airplane, they make a tremendous difference in being able to enjoy "me time" onboard a ship.

I really love putting them on when I'm on the pool deck so I can enjoy the breeze and sun while laying out in a lounger, without all the conversations, music, and noise you'd have to put up with around you.

For years, I've used and recommended the Sony WH-1000XM4 wireless noise-cancelling headphones for over-the-ear comfort and unbeatable noise cancellation.

I know a lot of other people that prefer the Apple AirPods Pro because they offer noise cancelling without the heft and size.

Read more: The best travel tech gadgets for a cruise ship vacation

Air freshener

Whether you're sharing a cabin with a friend or family member, what happens in the bathroom shouldn't be well-known to everyone else.

Poo pourri and other air fresheners are a must-pack item to keep your cabin bathroom from being a point of contention (or embarrassment) 

Magnetic hooks

Your cabin walls are metallic, which means you place magnetic hooks just about anywhere.

Storage space on Royal Caribbean ships is notoriously low, and magnetic hooks provide convenient ways to hang clothes and accessories.

I recommend these magnetic hooks if you have not purchased one yet.

E-reader

If you're a reader, bringing a Kindle or other e-reader is a must-have on a cruise.

You'll find lots of opportunity to read while on a cruise, especially on a sea day. The Kindle Paperwhite is perfect for the pool deck as well as in your cabin.

Night light

It shouldn't come as a shock that inside cabins are really dark at night because they have no natural light source.

This night light not only offers lighting, but it will only come on when someone moves around.

A cruise ship vacation offers an experience that in many ways is completely different from land vacations, which is actually a benefit.

Cruise lines consider their primary competition not other cruise lines, but rather, land vacations. To that point, they have ensured that the experience and value differs enough from their land-based alternatives in order to highlight the advantages a cruise has.

When comparing a cruise to a land trip, you'll find some inherit nuances and differences between cruises and other forms of travel. For many people that choose to cruise, these subtleties are a compelling rationale to cruise instead.

From value to entertainment to experiences, here are the major ways a cruise vacation is completely different from a land vacation.

Cruises are still the best value

When you consider that a cruise ship is a floating hotel that includes meals, snacks, shows, and transportation during your voyage, it's easy to see how much more value a cruise vacation has over a land vacation.

If you choose to visit a theme park or city, you'll not only need to pay for lodging, but also be on the hook for food and activities.

Cruises include much of that in their cruise fare.  There are certainly optional add-ons that will cost you extra on a cruise, such as specialty dining or excursions, but more is included with the base cost than on land.

To illustrate that point, Royal Caribbean Group CEO Jason Liberty told investors in November 2022 that the value gap is sizeable, "We've seen this 40% gap to land-based vacation [this year]. It used to be about 20%"

When travel insurance comparison site insuremytrip.com compared the price of a land vacation to a cruise, it noted customers were paying about 30% less for cruises, with the average land trip costing $6,426 — $1,469 more than the average cruise.

When you consider a mass-market cruise line like Royal Caribbean to land-based hotels and resorts, the value offered is hard to beat.

Part of that gap is because land resorts have seen their prices sky rocket, despite the global health crisis of the last few years.  Meanwhile, cruise ship prices did not move much at all during the same time.

While cruise ship prices are certainly on their way up now, a cruise vacation remains a terrific value.

People are more social on cruises

If you've ever walked through a hotel versus a cruise ship, you'll probably get more greetings and get to know your fellow passengers on a cruise ship.

So many cruise ship activities result in passengers participating together, such as shore excursions, shows, and even just sharing a table in a dining room.

The result is you're likely to strike up a conversation with a stranger on a cruise ship more than on land.

Similar to being at a bar on land, there's more opportunity on a cruise ship to be seated next to someone you don't know and that tends to breed conversations.

People that cruise a lot will tell you the friendships they've formed on cruise ships have been life changing in many cases. Passengers meet someone in a lounge or bar, and they become good friends and they end up cruising with.

Even if you don't find your BFF on a cruise ship, the nature of being with other people on a cruise ship in certain situations tends to lead to far more conversations with strangers than I've found when I'm on land.

Stateroom door decorations

One phenomenon of cruising is that some passengers will decorate their cabin door, which is something I've rarely (if ever) seen on land.

I'm not sure where or when this cruising tradition began, but a great number of passengers will bring print-outs, magnets, and all sorts of decor to attach to their stateroom cabin.

Many first time cruisers are unaware of this tradition, but I've seen plenty of them that love the idea and make plans to do it also on their next cruise.

Stateroom door decorations are a fun way to share your excitement about the cruise, as well as convey to others special occasions you're celebrating, or who you're cruising with.

In short, it's a fun excuse to celebrate being on vacation and you probably won't see the same at your land hotel.

Incredible customer loyalty benefits

If you compare a cruise line's customer loyalty benefits to any hotel or resort's program, I think you'll be shocked how much more cruise ship guests get.

Using Royal Caribbean as an example, after just one cruise, you're entitled to a number of discounts that you can use every day of the cruise. The Crown and Anchor Society perks for Gold members include:

• 50% off coupon for any glass of wine, beer, or soda
• 25% off any coffee beverage
• 10% off any wine, beer or soda by the glass

Once you hit the higher tiers, the perks really start to come in, such as free photos, discounts on balcony cabins, wifi plan discounts, and even free alcoholic beverages every day of the cruise.

Read more: The Crown and Anchor perks you should use on every Royal Caribbean cruise

Good luck finding any kind of similar benefits at a land based resort or hotel, even at their top levels.

You're somewhere different every day

It's pretty obvious a cruise ship will take you somewhere different every day, but this is a really big advantage for a cruise ship vacation.

When you do a land vacation, you pick a city, town, or resort and you're there for the duration of the trip.  While that place may be wonderful, variety is the spice of life, and being able to move around and see other places means more opportunity to mix things up.

You could do a beach day in one port, but then take in the culture and history of another.  Or double down on the beach. It's up to you.

Not to mention the fact that if a hurricane is headed for where you're going on a cruise, the ship can go elsewhere.  On land, you're stuck.

Beyond the weather, a cruise affords you the opportunity to visit cities and places in short order that are otherwise difficult to get to on your own. A great example are Alaska cruises, which visit cities, towns, and glaciers that are so remote it would be a more difficult task to see them on land.

And while you could travel around on a land vacation to try to replicate the same experience on land, you only have to unpack once on a cruise!

You don't have to worry about where to stay

If there's one aspect of planning a land vacation that gives a lot of travelers anxiety, it's where to stay to ensure it's clean, safe, and a good location.

With a cruise, you don't have to worry about picking a hotel in a bad part of town, or that the hotel you chose is rated poorly.