Matt sailed on Liberty of the Seas for the first time and shares his thoughts on how this ship stacks up.
Share with me your thoughts, questions and comments via...
There's a lot of cruise ship tips and tricks, but what are the most repeated bits of cruise advice I give to readers every week?
I host question and answer sessions on our YouTube and Facebook channels every week, and there's all sorts of questions about going on a cruise that are asked. Over the years, I've definitely developed a few tenants of cruising that I think are critical.
To be fair, a lot of the advice I give out are opinions based on my own experience that I think will benefit others. But there are also some pieces of advice that I think are hard and fast rules everyone should follow because the consequences of skipping them could result in a dramatically worse experience.
While cruises are designed to be very easy going and require very little pre-planning, anyone that's cruised a lot will tell you the more effort you put in in advance, the higher dividends you see later in overall experience and avoiding problems.
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. These are universal truths that I think are imperative to having a great cruise and skipping them could lead to problems later on.
You might be able to skip all of them and still have a fun time, but you only stand to benefit and protect yourself against pitfalls by following these "commandments". My hope is they'll save you time, money, or both.
There are places in you vacation cut corners, but your flight to your cruise ship isn't one of them.
Flying in the same day your cruise ship departs is playing with fire when it comes to being able to make the cruise. Flights get delayed and cancelled all the time, no matter which time of year it is.
What you want to do is fly in at least one day before your cruise begins.
Sure, an extra night before the cruise sails means the added cost of a hotel room, vacation day from work, dog sitter, and a variety of other expenses. But it will cost you much more if you miss your cruise because your flight prevents you from getting to the ship before it departs.
It doesn't take a nationwide airline problem to be the reason your flight gets cancelled. Everyday flights get delayed and cancelled, and there's no reason to chance your entire vacation on the connecting flight being on time or a snow storm in Milwaukee shutting things down.
I've seen too many people miss their cruise because they flew the same day of the cruise, so add an extra day before and start your vacation sooner.
A lot of people will try to time Royal Caribbean's sale in the same way they would time a sale on jeans at the mall. Unlike retail stores, you can reprice purchases much easier before the cruise.
First and foremost, the price for that Royal Caribbean drink package, wifi, or shore excursion will cost less if you buy it before the cruise.
What you want to do is buy it in the Cruise Planner as soon as you think you know you want to get it. Lock in the price and then you're good.
However, if the price goes down at any point before your cruise, you can cancel and rebook it quite easily in the Cruise Planner website.
This may lead some to wonder why not just wait to see if there's a price drop, and if there isn't, book it in those last few days. The reason why that's a bad idea is because prices can go up.
Booking these things before the cruise locks in the price and protects you against a price increase, while still allowing you to re-price if the price goes down.
If your cruise vacation is that big trip you're going to take, be sure to book the cruise as soon as you can for the lowest price.
Generally speaking, the best prices for cruises are when they first go on sale. In the months leading up to your cruise, more people book up cabins on a given sailing and that drives up prices.
The best strategy for locking in the cruise ship cabin you want at the price you can afford is to book it as early as you can. Booking six, twelve, or even 18 months in advance will likely get you a better price than if you wait longer.
Moreover, booking early gets you the cabin category and location you really want.
While last-minute cruise deals do exist, they're few and far between and it may not line up with the time of year you want to sail. Or the cabin selections could be extremely limited.
Book early and if you're in certain countries, re-price up to final payment date if there is a lower price.
I used to consider travel insurance as a discretionary purchase that some people could skip, but it seems like the benefits greatly outweigh the cost.
Like all insurance, it's a waste of money until you need it.
Most people think of travel insurance in terms of health benefits if you were to get sick or hurt in a foreign country, but I think it's far more likely to come in handy in the course of regular travel.
Did you know travel insurance covers trip interruption and cancellations? It protects you when unforeseen events occur that would otherwise leave you high and dry financially.
Considering basic travel insurance is likely going to cost you much less than a drink package, it's an investment worth taking every time, just in case.
I hate wasting time on my vacation, and the biggest waste of time on a cruise is standing around in the cruise terminal doing things you could have done at home.
Royal Caribbean's check-in process is super simple and it behooves you to complete all the steps before the cruise so that you can breeze through the cruise terminal.
The goal of the online check-in is to get passengers from curb to ship as quickly as possible.
If you upload all your documentation, take a photo, and enter your billing information, you'll find it takes you longer to walk through the terminal than actually checking-in. It's time saved so you can do more onboard.
I get asked all the time if a certain Royal Caribbean cruise ship is good, or what is the worst ship in the fleet.
There isn't any ship I don't recommend and no ship is so bad everyone should avoid it. But there are ships that might not be a good fit for you and your family.
Not all Royal Caribbean cruise ships are the same, and that means they all don't have the same restaurants, activities, amenities, or features you might want in a ship.
The primary reason someone may not like a ship is because it lacks something they personally value as important. Water slides, specialty dining, public venues, or even types of cabins could be reasons why a particular ship isn't great for you.
What you want to do is compare the ship you are considering to other ships to figure out what it has and what it doesn't have, and then decide which you would prefer.
Managing expectations is key to having a great cruise, so don't get onboard and be surprised when something you assumed was going to be there isn't there.
I'm still shocked how many people don't use a travel agent when booking their cruise, but you only stand to benefit by using a good one.
Many are unaware travel agents still exist, or that they can be beneficial when it comes to cruises.
A travel agent's value is more than just booking a cruise. Anyone can book a cruise.
Travel agents' value is saving you time and money, as well as being your answer hotline along the way.
They may have special group rates or discounts you hadn't considered, but they're also the ones that sit on hold with Royal Caribbean instead of you when there's a problem or discrepancy.
If you used a travel agent and didn't like them, that's fine, find one that is awesome. They exist, you just haven't found them yet.
Just like how you can't rely on one restaurant, lawyer, or park as the basis for judging all other restaurants, lawyers, or parks, there are all sorts of travel agents out there. Get a personal recommendation from someone you know and trust and you'll be surprised how helpful a travel agent can be.
Oh, and a travel agent should never cost you anything extra. The cruise line pays them a commission and the price is the same whether you book directly with them or with the agent.
Specialty dining packages have never been as popular as they are today, so if you buy one, be sure to make reservations as soon as you get onboard.
Dining packages can save you a lot of money compared to going to the same number of restaurants and paying the normal cover charge. The "trade off" is you have to wait to book a reservation for a specific restaurant at a specific time until you get on the ship.
As soon as you board the ship, go to any specialty restaurant and ask them to make reservations for you. They can book any other specialty restaurant.
By making reservations on the first day as soon as you board, you'll likely get a time and location you really want.
Shore excursions can often be very "hit or miss" due to how many options there are and the variety of vendors.
The ports of call you visit are a major component to any cruise vacation, and you have just a few hours to make the most of your time there. It greatly benefits you to have a plan in place before you arrive to save you time, money, or sanity.
Once you book the cruise, look into which tours and things to do there are in each port you are visiting. Book tours through reputable providers and have a plan.
All too often people report back they had a disappointing time in port because the tour wasn't what they expected, they were unaware of what there was to do, or they simply chose poorly.
Read as much as you can about the places you'll visit and pick the right activity for you.
There's limited capacity for shows and signature activities, so make a reservation whenever you can, as soon as you can.
Royal Caribbean allows guests to book activities and shows up to a month before the cruise on Oasis and Quantum Class ships. Other ships may have reservations available once you get onboard and connect to the wifi to book it via the Royal Caribbean app.
Regardless of which way is available, book things up to assure yourself of a spot.
It’s not uncommon with some ships to find that some shows, tours and activities book up in advance.
Royal Caribbean wants to be the preeminent cruise line for families with young children.
Its next new cruise ship will come in at 250,800 gross tons, with the capacity to carry nearly 10,000 passengers and crew members.
When Icon of the Seas launches in early 2024, she'll be the first cruise ship in the fleet to have an area dedicated to young families.
Surfside is the name of the open air area on the back of Icon of the Seas, which is a brand new neighborhood concept.
Royal Caribbean envisions this area being a focal center for multi-generational families to enjoy time together, including kids, parents and grandparents.
The cruise line has gone on record already by stating it intends to make Icon of the Seas the very best choice for a family vacation, and not just a cruise vacation either.
"Icon will be the best family vacation in the world," is what Royal Caribbean's Senior Vice President and Chief Product Innovation Officer Jay Schneider said about the plans for this ship.
Royal Caribbean intends to follow up on that bold statement by creating a purpose-built neighborhood for families.
Michael Bayley, Royal Caribbean International President and CEO, said that young families are already a major group that sails with the cruise line, "younger families make up quite a large significant proportion of Royal Caribbean guests, and we see that number increasing over time."
"So this is a space that's very much dedicated towards a younger family."
The concept is not to build the largest kiddie area on a cruise ship, but a place where kids and their parents will want to go and spend time together.
Royal Caribbean Group CEO Jason Liberty pointed to consumer research that indicated family time was more than just something exclusively for kids to enjoy, "In going through the research, we knew that families wanted to stay together through the course of the day."
"In order to be able to do that, we needed to make sure that there were experiences within that neighborhood to bring that to life. And also tailored to the different generations."
To that point, Royal Caribbean designed Surfside to not be a compromise while on vacation. Kids and adults could enjoy time in the space together.
The new area must have a connection to the water, a variety in food and beverage, and plenty to do.
Royal Caribbean came up with a vibrant design that is reminiscent of a "surfer town that evokes fun and imagination." At the same time, it has to offer a relaxing experience where you can hang out and just be close to the water.
There's pools for adults, pools for kids, restaurants and bars for kids and adults. The idea is there's enough to keep you entertained throughout the day.
To start with, there are three water experiences to choose from, with the idea that families can hang out together:
Royal Caribbean also wanted to bring a few popular features from the Oasis Class ships, and one of those is the carousel from the Boardwalk neighborhood.
The carousel on Icon of the Seas will be beach-themed and feature 8 new characters.
There's also an arcade with over 30 different games to choose from, along with the Playscape area that was first introduced on Wonder of the Seas.
Surfside was also designed to ensure that all the kid activities were close by.
Surfside has 3 entrances, including a slide from Central Park.
Adventure Ocean and the teen club are also located right near Surfside. The idea is everything is connected, so you don't have to leave the space to get to another kid-centric area.
Another goal of Surfside was to make it easy for everyone to find something to eat and drink while in the neighborhood. This includes breakfast, lunch, dinner, and brunch.
Royal Caribbean says they've re-imagined the family dining experience and placed those experiences within Surfside.
Next to Splashaway Bay and next to a deep water pool, you have Surfside Bites that's a quick grab and go.
Then there's Surfside Eatery, which is Royal Caribbean's first buffet just families. You'll find all the family favorites from the Windjammer, but located within Surfside so you don't have to leave the neighborhood.
There's also a new specialty restaurant, Pier 7, which is described as a casual Boardwalk eatery.
The Lemon Post bar is also a new concept that is the first bar to feature an adult menu and a kids menu. This will serve traditional tropical cocktails, as well as mocktails.
Royal Caribbean has also come up with new stateroom options in the neighborhood that can cater to families of 3, 4, 5, and 6 people.
Read more: Guide to Icon of the Seas cabins and suites
The idea behind these new cabins is to offer spaces for parents and their kids to have to enjoy. This means staying together, but having space for kids and space for parents.
The Surfside Suite is one such cabin, which is a brand new kind of cruise ship stateroom. It has kids nook, where it can be closed off so parents can have privacy while still being able to see what the kids are doing in there.
The Family Infinite Balcony has a kids alcove with beds, TVs, and room to hang out. It also has a split bath so that families can have more flexibility. The infinite balcony can actually double as a movie theater with its own projector.
Then there's the Ultimate Family Townhouse, which is 3-stories and can hold up to 8 guests.
It has its own cinema, karaoke, patio, white picket fence, table tennis, and mailbox.
It has slides to move you from decks, as well as direct access to Surfside (no hallway walk required).
How much does it cost? According to Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley, the average cost of the Ultimate Family Townhouse in 2024 is $75,000 per week.
{"preview_thumbnail":"/sites/default/files/styles/video_embed_wysiwyg_preview/public/video_thumbnails/5jEiu2OO9ys.jpg?itok=z1sKKNVq","video_url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jEiu2OO9ys","settings":{"responsive":1,"width":"854","height":"480","autoplay":0},"settings_summary":["Embedded Video (Responsive)."]}
Despite February having the fewest days of any month, there are still plenty of Royal Caribbean cruises you can sail on this month.
This article is an effort to share what you need to know about going on a Royal Caribbean cruise in the month of February, with important news, tips, and helpful information along the way.
With the exception of President's Day holidays in the middle of the month, February is generally a slower month in terms of demand for cruises since school is in session.
Deal hunters will find good prices in the first two weeks, and the last week.
President's Week can see more families hopping on a cruise since there is either a long weekend or the entire week off for many schools.
Royal Caribbean's health protocols have not changed this winter, and they're fairly straight forward.
If your cruise doesn't visit Colombia or sail from Australia, pre-cruise testing is no longer required to sail.
At this time, only the following sailings have pre-cruise testing requirements:
Guests age 18 and up who are not fully vaccinated will need to present a negative result for a PCR test taken within 3 days or an antigen test taken within 2 days prior to sailing.
Guests under the age of 17 and fully vaccinated guests do not have have any testing requirements.
Tests must be arranged on your own and are at your own expense.
All guests aged 2 and above, regardless of vaccination status, must present a negative test result for a COVID-19 PCR test taken within 2 days before boarding day, or a self-administered Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) within 1 day before boarding, for sailings of any length.
February should be a little bit warmer than January, but it's still typically more comfortable outdoors than other months of the year,
High temperatures in the Caribbean in February are in the 70s, although it can drop as low as the 60s in The Bahamas. The Southern Caribbean is going to be the warmest, with high temperatures in the low 80s.
There is a good argument for February having some of the best weather of the year in the Caribbean because of the lower humidity levels, low rainfall, and generally comfortable weather outdoors. It's great for doing outdoor shore excursions without feeling excessively sweaty after.
While the weather may be lovely in the tropics, winter storms are still very prevalent back at home, which is why you want to be sure to arrive at least one day before your cruise so that if your travel plans are interrupted, you don't miss your cruise.
Read more: Packing for a Royal Caribbean cruise in the Winter
Is it warm enough to swim? Yes, albeit it won't be the most ideal pool or beach swimming conditions.
Average water temperatures throughout the Caribbean hover around 80 degrees (27 C), which is on the cooler side for the year, but not drastically cooler than the summer months.
The best thing about taking a cruise in February is you get to escape the winter cold that by now has become a tired trend.
Similar to January, you'll find low prices on cruises in February (if you can avoid the holiday in the month). This is especially true of 4- and 5-night cruises that leave on weekdays.
If there's a negative to taking a February cruise, it's getting to your cruise could be a challenge. With winter in full swing, snow and ice storms around the country can impact your ability to fly to your cruise on time.
It's extra important to fly into your cruise departure city at least one day early to protect against travel delays.
Yes, you can watch the Super Bowl on a cruise ship. In fact, it becomes a kind of big party around the ship to watch the big game.
Since a lot of passengers will want to watch the game, Royal Caribbean typically shows the game all around the ship at many venues. Depending on your ship, the game can be shown in bars, the pool deck movie screen and even in the Royal Theater. Exact locations will be posted in the Cruise Compass for that day.
In addition to showing the game in various spots, there will be typical football watching snacks as part of a "tailgate party" offering. These have included hot dogs, nachos, chips and more.
Read more: Guide to watching the Super Bowl on a Royal Caribbean cruise
Ready to pick a great sailing in February? It's the perfect month to getaway from the winter cold and enjoy a warm Caribbean beach instead!
Ideally, you'll book a cruise many months in advance to get the lowest possible rate, but a last-minute cruise deal for February still exists.
Here are a few picks for a great February sailing:
Happy weekend! We hope you are enjoying a wonderful and relaxing weekend and managing to stay warm. Now it is time to sit back with a cuppa tea or java, and check out the latest in Royal Caribbean cruise news.
Royal Caribbean had good news to share this week with his affirmation the eMuster drill isn't going anywhere.
Royal Caribbean International's Senior Vice President of Marine Operations, Greg Purdy, confirmed that Royal Caribbean will not revert back its muster drill to the old drill.
The news comes after both Norwegian Cruise Line and Disney Cruise Line went back to the traditional drill.
The 485th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available, where we discuss some of the top debated Royal Caribbean changes of the last few months.
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.
{"preview_thumbnail":"/sites/default/files/styles/video_embed_wysiwyg_preview/public/video_thumbnails/Chob2GiYNOE.jpg?itok=BRbmVspq","video_url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Chob2GiYNOE","settings":{"responsive":1,"width":"854","height":"480","autoplay":0},"settings_summary":["Embedded Video (Responsive)."]}
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 — The worst cruise ship cabins to avoid booking! — and don’t forget to subscribe here.
There are just some things I love to do every single time I cruise.
Some cruisers can’t wait to watch shows each evening whereas others look forward to elegant dinners and tranquil evenings on their balcony more than anything else.
These are the top 15 things I look forward to every time I go on a cruise ship.
How difficult is it to pack for a weeklong cruise with just a carry-on bag?
It's certainly possible, but you have to be strategic with how you choose the things to bring.
Here's how I packed for my 7-night Caribbean cruise with only a carry-on suitcase.
After taking 100 sailings, Marcy's approach to a cruise has changed a bit.
From cruising more frequently to booking better cabins, she shares what's different now compared to her early days of sailing.
Here are the top ways Marcy's cruising style has changed after 100 sailings.
Fear not, Royal Caribbean's new safety drill isn't going anywhere.
When cruises restarted in 2021, Royal Caribbean lead the way with a new approach to the safety drill that gave guests more time and flexibility to getting the maritime safety requirement taken care of during the course of the first day of their cruise.
The change was widely heralded by passengers who loved the change because of how much easier the process became.
In the last few months, two major cruise lines announced they were reverting back from eMuster to the traditional muster drill that required passengers to stop their vacation and attend a safety drill meeting.
Norwegian Cruise Line announced their change last week that they, "have made the decision to reinstate synchronized muster drills on embarkation day across all vessels in the fleet."
Disney Cruise Line made a similar decision in November 2022.
Greg Purdy is Royal Caribbean International's Senior Vice President of Marine Operations, and he unequivocally stated the cruise line has no interest in going back to an in-person muster drill.
"We have no intention of moving back," Mr. Purdy said when asked about other lines changing and if Royal Caribbean would do the same. "We are always looking for opportunities to improve. So if we see a way to improve our drill, we certainly will will pursue that."
"We're always open to change, but we're not so open to going backwards. So we will always look for moving forward and doing things if they're better to do for our guests and our crew."
The decision to stay with eMuster has a lot to do with the results it has produced.
He mentioned that Royal Caribbean has "extremely high percentage rates for guest participation", which is in part due to training of the crew members to facilitate it, as well as plenty of reminder announcements."
Mr. Purdy went on to say participation rates are higher with eMuster than the old way, "we're fairly aggressive about ensuring that you complete the safety drill prior to sailing. So we see rates typically upwards of over 97% on our ships for participation."
"That's actually better than the old traditional drill."
Technology has played a pivotal role in ensuring guest participation is higher because stateroom attendants have access to data if their guests have completed the muster drill yet.
"We're much more proactive and ensuring that you get to the drill or that if you have any questions that those are addressed."
Most importantly, guests get the important information while making the process easier overall, "This has been a real win for the guest and a win for those of our crew that are charged with with safety responsibilities in an emergency."
Mr. Purdy sees the eMuster as a good balance of explaining important information while giving guests a better overall experience, "we wanted to see how do we avoid crowds and how do we give people a more pleasant experience, but most importantly, an experience where the knowledge is transferred in a in a better way."
To that point, he thinks eMuster is a "big step" forward for the cruise line, "we think that it really was a a huge step for us as a quality vacation in the world."
Mr. Purdy pointed out that the old way of the muster drill had its own deficiencies to contend with, "one of the things we saw with that in those early days was that people were dragging those life jackets around the ship."
And since everyone had to stop what they were doing and go up or down stairs to their muster stations with the old drill, it lead to accidents, "not only were they damaging the life jackets, but they were also tripping them a lot of trips and slips."
Of course, Royal Caribbean switched to having the life jackets staged at the muster station and stored in cabins. But there were more issues.
"We started looking even more...you still have these crowds that are just kind of following flows and going to a muster station, but still having slips and trips, not having a comfortable or easy experience."
Royal Caribbean then added safety videos to stateroom televisions, but the advent of apps on everyone's phones lead to the idea of a digital approach to safety drills.
"As people got more used to using their phones, that's when the idea came up saying, couldn't we have an even better transfer of knowledge if we start to leverage the tools we have, which are the apps and the videos."
"And let's think it through, how could we make this safer and also eliminate this kind of period of time that everybody's in this moving down in the masses without really understanding kind of what they're doing or where they're going?"
The other major improvement of eMuster over the old drill was comfort for guests.
In the old way, people were lined up (often outdoors), which was problematic for elderly guests and young children.
"This is a situation that is counter to a good experience where we're ultimately transferring quality safety knowledge to the guests."
With eMuster, guests get the safety information in a better way, "they're able to have a more personal experience with the crew to ask them questions about the muster, to receive further instruction about donning the life jacket or or what should they bring."
Mr. Purdy went on to say surveys show that passengers are getting more of the important info with eMuster, "for us, this is really an improvement in the transfer of knowledge."
"We actually did surveys to test that, is their retention of knowledge better, and in fact, it was."
If you haven't experienced Royal Caribbean's new muster drill process, it's quite easy.
Within the Royal Caribbean app, you navigate to the safety area and watch a short, animated safety video demonstrating how to properly put on a lifejacket.
Then you play a sound clip of the emergency horn sound, so that you know what to expect.
Finally, you locate your muster station and report there to check-in with a crew member.
Once you arrive at the assembly station, a crew member will give you a very brief safety demonstration. After this is done, they will scan your SeaPass, indicating that you have completed the eMuster drill.
If you don't have a smart device or prefer not to do things digitally, you can go right to your muster station and a crew member will lead you through the process.
Read more: What to expect with Royal Caribbean's new virtual safety drill
Not only is eMuster a win with guests, but it's been a process approved by local authorities as well.
Mr. Purdy talked about how the U.S. Coast Guard and DNV maritime classification society to ensure everything is satisfactory, "we've had very good Coast Guard exams...the process seems to be very sound and working very well to maintain our crew knowledge and to keep our guests safe."
While eMuster was first rolled out after cruise ships resumed service in 2021, the concept had its origins prior to 2020.
When Royal Caribbean began working on a new approach to muster drills, they envisioned a benefit for norovirus incidents, "I remember being in a meeting saying this may help us with Noro at the time, because we thought, wow, people won't be people be able to transmit anything to each other because we have a little more space now through on the first day of that vacation when people are traveling in and coming from all these different places."
When the global health emergency hit, then the benefits of a distributed muster drill process increased dramatically, "We had thought that people on ships in general, in all of our ship design and flows, we try and avoid crowds having to be bottlenecked or to just have have any discomfort."
I asked Mr. Purdy what improvements or enhancements we can expect from the eMuster process.
"I think a lot of the eMuster improvements that we see near term are more in the kind of the technology able to do it without the unit being on WiFi [in case of power or internet problems]."
"I think we're always also looking at how do we improve the training of our crew to be prepared to answer whatever kind of are the trending questions that are coming up from our guests."
Whether eMuster or the old drill, Mr. Purdy pointed out Royal Caribbean was always looking at ways to enhance and improve the process, "it's not like we implement it and then forget about it. We really do look at how do we continually improve it."
We have a roundtable discussion of new dining room menus, Crown and Anchor changes, and cruise prices going up. Oh my!
Share with me your thoughts, questions and comments via...
Royal Caribbean's ship classes are known for offering some of the biggest cruise ships in the world.
Royal Caribbean groups its ships in classes, which are based largely on the ship's general design and structure.
Within each ship class, there can be variations of features, restaurants, or activities that have been added or modified over the years. While there may be three, four, or more ships within a particular class, the exact onboard activities can vary.
You might be wondering what makes Royal Caribbean's ship classes different from each other, and it boils down to the size of the ship, onboard amenities, and signature activities offered.
There are seven Royal Caribbean cruise ship classes. Each ship in the class was built around the same time and from the outside certainly looks similar.
Icon of the Seas entered service in January 2024, offering cruises from Miami and taking the title of the world's largest cruise ship. She is over 6% bigger than Royal Caribbean’s Oasis Class ships, and offers nearly unlimited activities, amenities, and dining options onboard.
This is the first new class of ships since the Quantum Class debuted in 2014, and the Icon Class is the first class to be powered by LNG (liquefied natural gas).
Icon of the Seas has several new features not found elsewhere in Royal Caribbean’s fleet, including the cruise line’s first onboard waterpark and indoor AquaDome space.
Icon Class ships, like Oasis Class ships, will be split into neighborhoods:
Related: Icon of the Seas: itinerary, features, and more
Why choose Icon Class: If you want the biggest, boldest, and most exciting cruise ships at sea, an Icon Class ship will provide all of that and more! The ship truly is the destination with the Icon Class, and it’s especially fun for families.
Related: 7 of the most cutting-edge features coming to Icon of the Seas
Related: Guide to Icon of the Seas cabins and suites
Royal Caribbean's Oasis Class ships offer the latest and greatest features found on any ship in the fleet, as well as in the industry. The Oasis Class cruise ships are the largest cruise ships in the world sailing today.
The Oasis Class ships can handle just about 5,500 passengers and have a gross tonnage of over 225,000 tons.
Related: All about Oasis Class cruise ships
If you are concerned about crowds and navigating a ship of this size, Royal Caribbean has you covered. Royal Caribbean designed the ship to be easy to get around and break up crowds. Seven neighborhoods help distinguish parts of the ship apart to guests, and there are so many activities on Oasis Class ships that everyone will be on their own schedule.
Oasis Class ships are among the newest Royal Caribbean ships, so they are packed with the latest and greatest.
Why choose Oasis Class: You want it all on one ship! The latest features, tons of activities, and great dining.
The innovative Quantum Class cruise ships were designed for users in the 21st century with a blend of high-tech, and tried-and-true family vacation experiences. These stylish new ships offer incredible views and activities onboard.
Quantum Class ships have signature features found just on these ships, and are a big hit with families of varied ages. Quantum Class ships are the sort of cruise ship that has something for everyone to enjoy, whether you are new to cruising or an established veteran.
Royal Caribbean has a subset within the Quantum Class called the Quantum Ultra Class. Spectrum of the Seas and Odyssey of the Seas are technically part of the Quantum Ultra Class. These ships are considered Quantum Ultra because they are slightly larger and have a few differences, including a Skypad, Teppanyaki restaurant, and a new Main Dining Room design.
Related: All about Quantum Class ships
Why choose Quantum Class: Families looking for lots to do onboard, along with some incredible features.
Royal Caribbean's Freedom Class cruise ships offer a big ship experience, with plenty to see and do onboard. In fact, Royal Caribbean updated two of them with much more to do in just the last few years.
Freedom Class ships represent an excellent value for families that want to cruise on a large ship, have lots of activities, but not break their budget. From a pure value standpoint, the Freedom Class ships are a great choice for a fabulous cruise experience.
Related: All about Freedom Class cruise ships
Freedom Class ships are essentially a slightly larger version of their Voyager Class sisters.
Why choose Freedom Class: Big ship experience, minus the premium price tag that the newer ships in the fleet currently command.
When Royal Caribbean introduced the Voyager Class, it revolutionized the industry with features and activities that we cannot dream of not having on a cruise ship these days. Mini-golf, the Royal Promenade, ice skating, and more all had their start on the Voyager Class.
Related: All about Voyager Class cruise ships
Just like the larger Freedom Class ships, Voyager Class vessels are a terrific value and offer some incredible itineraries. Royal Caribbean is not done investing in these ships, having added new restaurants, surf simulators, aqua parks, entertainment, and more over the last few years.
Why choose Voyager Class: Plenty to do onboard, newly added features, and terrific pricing. It is a great choice for families looking to save.
Radiance Class ships combine lots of glass and open areas to provide guests with a classic cruise experience.
Royal Caribbean's Radiance Class ships are stylish and get into many of the smaller cruise ports around the world that Royal Caribbean's larger ships cannot.
Related: All about Radiance Class cruise ships
Radiance Class ships do not skimp on things to do, offering varied dining experiences, as well as terrific live entertainment. Veteran cruisers enjoy the Radiance Class for the ship's refined offering and easygoing atmosphere.
Why choose Radiance Class: Beautiful ships that offer a time-honored cruise experience, with a connection to the ocean itself.
Royal Caribbean designed its Vision Class ships to fit into almost any port, which means guests can travel to exotic ports of call around the world.
Related: All about Vision Class cruise ships
Like the Radiance Class, Vision Class ships combine a small size with many activities that have been added over the years. Whether you are looking to "do it all" or just relax, Vision Class ships are a good choice.
Why choose Vision Class: Impressive itineraries that other ships in the fleet cannot offer.
Hope you had a great week and are staying safe out there. Hopefully you had a chance to keep up with what's new with Royal Caribbean this week. But if not, here's a roundup of this week's news.
What are Royal Caribbean's new main dining room menus like? Our team tried them out and shared their thoughts.
Earlier this month, Royal Caribbean began rolling out its new main dining room menu across the fleet. Symphony of the Seas was one of the first ships to get the new menu.
We wanted to see how the new menus compared to my previous dining experiences onboard Royal Caribbean ships, and ranked everything we ate.
The 484th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available, which has a first-hand report on what it's like to cruise with mobility special needs.
Rachel and Rebecca share their experience cruising on Liberty of the Seas after needing special wheelchair accessibility on their cruise.
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.
{"preview_thumbnail":"/sites/default/files/styles/video_embed_wysiwyg_preview/public/video_thumbnails/ET1_rhcjWIQ.jpg?itok=DspLnewa","video_url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ET1_rhcjWIQ","settings":{"responsive":1,"width":"854","height":"480","autoplay":0},"settings_summary":["Embedded Video (Responsive)."]}
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 — 9 incredibly easy cruise mistakes to avoid — and don’t forget to subscribe here.
Ever wondered what an inside room on one of Royal Caribbean's newest cruise ships looks like?
Elizabeth tried out a guaranteed inside cabin while sailing on a recent Symphony of the Seas cruise to see what you can get for that price.
Enjoy an in-depth photo tour of this Symphony of the Seas inside room and what you get with the 149 square foot space.
You'd be surprised how many times we've been asked about trying another kind of Royal Caribbean cruise ship after only sailing Oasis Class ships.
After all, Oasis Class ships have everything you could want on a ship, so will other kinds of ships be disappointing?
Many people are worried that, after they’ve experienced the “best of the best” by Royal Caribbean, a cruise on a different type of ship would not feel as special.
Have you ever tried going on a cruise alone?
Taking a cruise without knowing anyone else onboard might seem frightening to some, but there are a lot of people that actually prefer this form of cruising.
From being able to enjoy your cabin to yourself to trying to find conversations with others, cruising solo has its ups and downs.
Elizabeth shared her experience sailing solo on a 7-night cruise and what stood out from her experience.
We have a detailed look at what will be Royal Caribbean's first private beach club in Nassau, Bahamas.
Royal Beach Club at Paradise Island, The Bahamas was originally announced just before the cruise industry shutdown as a new kind of destination experience: not quite as secluded or open a as private island, but still an exclusive option for Royal Caribbean guests.
The project was originally announced in March 2020. Nothing new has been announced, but this our first look at the renderings for the beach option.
While there have not been any major updates announced, the cruise line insists the project is still a go. When asked for comments about the designs, Royal Caribbean had no comment.
We discovered concept art for the new beach club that provides context for what guests can expect.
Royal Caribbean calls the Royal Beach Club the "ultimate beach club experience" for cruise passengers, as well as a place to enjoy for Bahamians.
The project calls for a $110 Million investment that over the next 10 years is projected to return $1 billion in guest spend, government taxes and other expenditures.
It's located on the western end of Paradise Island, which is the narrow strip of land many cruise ship passengers are accustomed to seeing as they sail in or out of Nassau that features a lighthouse at the very end.
Royal Caribbean's Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) provides more details as to what guests can expect. It's important to note that these plans could change without notice. Since it's our only insight into what Royal Caribbean is/has planning/planned, it's better than nothing. Please keep expectations in line as merely a reference point.
"The proposed project will include the development of Paradise Beach and Colonial Beach to create an arrivals area, family zone, water sports centre, food and beverage services, and swimming pool and back of house areas in support of a world class beach experience."
It looks like this will be an extra cost experience, as the EIA mentions an entrance fee:
It is anticipated that with the payment of an entrance fee, the experience will include access to the Royal Beach Club, lunch and the rental of a beach chair. For an additional fee, guests will be able to purchase alcohol and sodas, a cabana, day-bed, clamshell, and participate in watersports and local tours.
There will be an array of activities available to guests, including, but not limited to, snorkeling, scuba diving, kayaking, jet skiing, floating mat rentals, inflatable water slides, parasailing, nature hikes, volleyball, and other sand and water related activities.
The construction of a family attraction will delight visitors of all ages and may include water fountains and splash zones. While the location is inherently beautiful, RCG will also ensure that additional landscaping is planted throughout the site.
Royal Caribbean purchased much of the land on the island, and also has access to additional land from the Bahamian government through a lease.
In looking through some of the proposals, we can see a few concepts for areas of the beach club. It's clear this is more than just a private strip of sand to enjoy.
The Conceptual Master Plan has a very low resolution image, but we can make out these features:
Upon project completion, Royal Caribbean believes its passengers will spend more time in Nassau.
During a call that could last up to nine hours, the Royal Beach Club experience will include four to five hours on Paradise Island plus additional time for shopping and other Nassau attractions.
As Paradise Island is close to the Nassau Port, guests will have direct and quick access to the harbor via water taxis.
Essentially, there will be a transit system that Royal Caribbean will establish where passengers walk off their cruise ship and through the Nassau Port area to reach the water taxi station.
From there, the water taxi can take them to one of two stops at the beach club.
Ever since Royal Caribbean announced the Royal Beach Club, it hasn't said much about it and that lead to speculation that the idea might have been cancelled.
Royal Caribbean executives insist it's simply paused, but still a go once funding for it becomes available.
In December 2022, Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley talked about port projects, such as the Royal Beach Club, "We have multiple other port type projects that are still operating. They're still in place. And our ambition is to continue with our strategy. But obviously we have to be mindful of all of the various issues that came from the pandemic."
"My ambition is to as quickly as possible... to get the capital to continue to to create these these products for the business."
The same week, Royal Caribbean Group CEO Jason Liberty echoed the sentiment that nothing is cancelled, "there's nothing that has has been canceled."
"We're going to be able to continue to grow each one of our brands and we're going to be able to invest in Perfect Days and in Royal Beach clubs, etc."