As hurricane and tropical storm watches go up around the Gulf Coast of Florida, Royal Caribbean has already made changes to its cruise ship plans.

The National Hurricane Center is monitoring the path of Hurricane Helene and is predicting already a category 3 storm with winds of 120-125 mph.

This would make Helene a major Category 3 storm, and it's headed north from the Yucatan peninsula through the Gulf of Mexico.

Helene was upgraded on Wednesday to a category 1 hurricane with 80-mph sustained winds. The storm was centered about 85 miles east-northeast of Cozumel, Mexico, early Wednesday.

So far, Royal Caribbean has changed the four of its ships paths to avoid going anywhere near the projected path of the storm.

Wonder of the Seas

One of the biggest cruise ships in the world is getting re-routed to avoid Hurricane Helene.

Royal Caribbean has changed itineraries for Wonder of the Seas and she will go from a Western Caribbean sailing to an Eastern Caribbean one.

RoyalCaribbeanBlog reader David Elliott is on Wonder of the Seas and reported, "Captain has just announced that we will be cancelling all current stops on the Western route to go to the East route.  We will be going to St. Thomas and St. Maarten."

Wonder of the Seas is sailing from Port Canaveral on a 7-night cruise that began on September 22.

Passengers sailing on the ship posted in a Facebook group their relief at the change, "And the announcement is in. Glad we will all be safe," wrote Karen Henschke.

Tim Johnson added, "Thanks Captain Rob for keeping us safe"

Rachel Majure wrote she didn't like the new itinerary includes one less port of call, "So bummed they cut out a stop."

Serenade of the Seas

Royal Caribbean also changed the itinerary of Serenade of the Seas.

Just like Wonder, Serenade will swap out her original Western Caribbean itinerary for something else.  In this case, the ship will head to The Bahamas.

John Edwards is on Serenade and shared a copy of the letter given to passengers in their cabin.

"Along with our Chief Meteorologist, Craig Setzer, we’ve been monitoring inclement weather along our intended path due to a developing tropical storm in the Yucatan Channel. In order to stay safe and well clear of this tropical system, we have decided to head to the Eastern Caribbean instead of Western Caribbean for this sailing. 

"As a result, we will skip our visits to Cozumel and Puerto Costa Maya, Mexico, and visit Nassau and Grand Bahama Island, Bahamas instead. While this wasn’t the original itinerary planned, we know you’ll have a memorable time!"

Serenade will now visit Nassau, Bahamas on September 24 and Grand Bahama Island on September 25.

Mariner of the Seas

The September 21st sailing of Mariner of the Seas will also skip a stop in Mexico due to Helene.

While Mariner of the Seas made it to Costa Maya, Mexico on Monday, the ship will skip a visit to Cozumel in order to get clear of the area.

Guests sailing onboard the ship received a letter informing them of the change. Reddit user dawson33944 posted a copy of the letter.

"In order to stay safe and well clear of this tropical system, we have decided to skip our visit to Cozumel and enjoy a Sea Day instead," the letter read.

Mariner is scheduled to return to Galveston, Texas on Thursday.

Independence of the Seas

Just like Serenade of the Seas, Royal Caribbean skipped a visit to Cozumel and will instead remain in The Bahamas.

The September 21st sailing of Independence was scheduled to be a 5-night Western Caribbean cruise to Cozumel and Perfect Day at CocoCay.

While the ship did make it to CocoCay, the ship will remain in The Bahamas and visit Nassau instead.

Staying ahead of the storm

In the letters sent to guests aboard cruise ships with an altered itinerary, Royal Caribbean reminds passengers that, "being onboard is one of the safest places because we are faster and can move out of the way of any inclement weather."

Royal Caribbean Chief Meteorologist Craig Setzer shared an update on X on Tuesday expressing his view on the intensity of the storm as it comes closer to the United States.

"I never say "prepare for a cat 4", just "prepare for a hurricane" but there is major hurricane possibility," he wrote.

According to Setzer, the disturbance continues to experience wind shear from an upper low over southern Mexico. This has kept quick organization of the cyclone restricted overnight.

But the models show a major storm, and the question is always where it will go. He thinks one concern is how far east it will veer and impact the Tampa Bay area with storm surge, "The members on the right/east side of the track are all notably stronger, meaning if the storm favors a more east track then it will likely be more intense.  This implies significant storm surge risk to the Florida west coast including Tampa Bay."

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis on Monday declared a state of emergency for 41 counties along and near Florida's Gulf Coast because of threats from the storm.

Royal Caribbean has cancelled an upcoming cruise on the largest cruise ship in the world for maintenance reasons.

In a rare situation where an entire sailing is cancelled, guests booked on the cruise were informed that their voyage will not happen.

The September 28 sailing of Icon of the Seas is now cancelled. In an email to travel agents, Royal Caribbean explained, "We are currently conducting unplanned maintenance onboard Icon of the Seas."

Icon of the Seas launched earlier this year in January, and made headlines for assuming the title of world's largest cruise ship. She surpassed Wonder of the Seas in gross tonnage, passenger capacity, and length.

At maximum occupancy, she carries 7,600 guest passengers and 2,350 crew members, equaling a total occupancy of nearly 10,000 people.

Royal Caribbean did not specify what issue is affecting the ship, or any details related to any incident.

The ship will need to remain in dock for the work to occur, "while our crew is working hard to address this as quickly as possible, there is still some work that needs to be done over a few days while the ship is docked."

The cruise line went on to apologize and explain passenger's options going forward, "As a result, we'll be cancelling our upcoming September 28, 2024, sailing. We understand the disappointment this news may bring and we're truly sorry for the impact to your vacation plans."

Icon of the Seas sails year-round from Miami, offering 7-night cruises to the Eastern and Western Caribbean. 

Refunds and credits for the cancelled cruise

A cancelled cruise is quite rare, and even though it's for some kind of mechanical issue, the cruise line wants to do its best to make it right.

Anyone booked on the Icon of the Seas September 28 sailing will get a 100% refund, including taxes and fees.  In addition, all pre-paid packages and gratuities, amenities, and shore excursions will be refunded.

On top of the refund, Royal Caribbean will also provide a Future Cruise Credit worth 100% of the cruise fare paid to be used towards another sailing.

That means anyone on the cruise got their money back, and equivalent credit to use on another cruise.

Future Cruise Credits will be available in approximately 14 business days.

Passengers that booked flights directly through Royal Caribbean will have those flights automatically refunded. However, if they pre-purchased air and transfers independently, Royal Caribbean will reimburse any travel change fees up to $200 USD per guest for domestic travel and $400 USD per guest for international travel.

What happened to Icon of the Seas?

Royal Caribbean did not specify the issue the ship encountered, but the current sailing is still happening.

Reddit user ArrogantAlmond posted, "I'm on Icon now, and we just got word that we're skipping St Thomas (which was Wednesday) because the ship has maintenance issues. We have to sail slower, so we need the extra day to get back."

Royal Caribbean Blog reader Chris Hodnett also confirmed the change in a X tweet.

Guests on the current sailing of Icon of the Seas received a letter with the update.

The letter said, "The ship is currently undergoing maintenance and will sail at a reduced speed. Unplanned maintenance happens, and our teams are hard at work to quickly address."

Guests on the current sailing are receiving onboard credit equivalent to one day of the cruise fare paid.

A slower speed is usually indicative of propulsion issues the ship.  It's not unheard of for a cruise ship to lose one of its engines or propellor systems (known as Azipods) that require the ship to sail at a slower speed.

The ship is still seaworthy and can get passengers safely back to port, but a slower speed means it cannot complete its itinerary in time, and perhaps that's why Royal Caribbean feels it best to keep the ship out of service for a week to make repairs.

In past examples, some ships have been able to operate at a slower speed, while others went immediately into dock for work.

Earlier this year, Radiance of the Seas had to cancel cruises because of propulsion problems that slowed the ship.

In 2023, Anthem of the Seas adjusted her speed as a result of engine problems and was able to continue operating. Oasis of the Seas also had a similar issue around the same time. 

In the case of Oasis, work was done while the ship kept operating with her other engines.

Cruise ships have redundant engines

While Royal Caribbean decided to take Icon of the Seas out of service, cruise ships are designed with redundancy in mind.

Cruise ships have multiple engines, and often not all engines are running even when there are no issues. This allows the ship to give engines a break, and have backups when a situation like this arises.

In most cases, the ship is able to continue operating safely, albeit at a reduced speed.

Royal Caribbean's highest loyalty program tier offers the very best onboard perks a cruiser can get.

Pinnacle Club requires 700 points to reach, and it's 525 points more than the next tier down.  It may seem like a lifetime of cruises away to reach the level, but every time I cruise, I'm grateful to have made it.

I have taken almost 100 cruises with Royal Caribbean, and accumulated over 800 points within the Crown & Anchor Society. My point total is pretty small compared to most other Pinnacles I know, but it still counts!

Read more: How to earn Crown & Anchor points quicker

I was never one to cruise just for loyalty status, but the benefits as you get towards the top are undeniably nice to have.  Royal Caribbean's benefits offer easy ways to save time and money, and it's difficult to imagine cruising without them.

Here's a glimpse at the exclusive perks that come with Pinnacle Club membership.

Priority everything

One thing that changed a lot when I moved from Diamond Plus to Pinnacle is you truly feel like you're cruising first class, even when you're not in a giant suite.

Royal Caribbean grants Pinnacle Club members priority boarding with suite guests, which means you have a special boarding line and lounge area in the cruise terminal.  When it comes time to board the cruise, you're among the first to board too.

Once onboard the ship, Pinnacles are allowed access to the Suite Lounge for the duration of the cruise (assuming there aren't too many onboard). This is a less busy alternative to the Crown Lounge, and also comes with great views too.

Access to Coastal Kitchen on the new ships is a tremendous benefit too, as it adds a new complimentary restaurant choice.  I've started eating more often at Coastal Kitchen than I ever did when I stayed in a suite.  Maybe it's because of the added value, or maybe it's because they have French onion soup on the dinner menu every night.  You decide.

Pinnacles have the option of wear a gold name tag that's given to them when the turn Pinnacle. Personally, I've never worn it, but many Pinnacles swear by it because they notice enhanced service from crew members.

I think my gold colored SeaPass card for being Pinnacle stands out enough, but you can't deny it crew members tend to do a double take when they see you're Pinnacle.

Just like embarkation, the suite concierge will escort you off the ship on the final day of the cruise, and you'll get luggage tags for the first group too.

Special added events

As a Pinnacle Club member, you'll get invited to various events during your cruise. Depending on your sailing length, there can be different events to choose from.

On my most recent sailing on Anthem of the Seas in Europe, I was invited to a Pinnacle lunch event where we had a group meal with other Pinnacles onboard and the chance to meet the officers.

Known as "Cheers with an officer", it's basically the Chops Grille lunch served in the Main Dining Room, and since everyone is a Pinnacle Club member, there are a lot of "war stories" being shared among big time cruisers.

Topics of discussion included favorite itineraries, upcoming cruises booked, and pretty much anything relevant happening in cruising right now.  It's like a super cruiser discussion thread in real life.

Pinnacles are also invited to other events, such as behind the scenes tours, Top Tier events, and more.

It's optional to attend any of them, but going adds a dimension of community you won't find at the other tiers.

So many free drinks

I thought getting 4 free drinks a day as a Diamond member was nice, but having 6 as Pinnacle makes a big difference.

Royal Caribbean gives free drink vouchers to use at any bar, restaurant or lounge every day of the cruise. It's an incredible benefit:

• Diamond: 4 drinks per day, per person
• Diamond Plus: 5 drinks per day, per person
• Pinnacle: 6 drinks per day, per person.

My kids get free drinks too, albeit they're at Diamond Plus level.

Since moving up to Pinnacle Club, I haven't bought a drink package since turning Pinnacle because I get so much value from my free drinks (and casino benefits).

Even if I use up all my drink vouchers for the day and pay out of pocket for 3 or 4 drinks, I'm still saving money compared to a Royal Caribbean drink package.

Free cruise incentive

If you think once you hit Pinnacle that you max out the rationale to continue cruising with Royal Caribbean, think again.

Besides wanting to take advantage of the added perks I already mentioned, Royal Caribbean will continue giving Pinnacles free cruises in the future.

When you hit 700 points, you'll get a free seven night cruise to the Caribbean in a balcony cabin to use. If you choose a cruise that matches all three of those conditions, then the base cruise fare is free except for port fees, taxes and gratuity.

If you want something else, then you have the choice to take a $2400 value to use towards any cruise, which means you could upgrade to a suite, or do a 9-night cruise, or simply sail elsewhere in the world.

You'll get another free cruise every 350 points after that, which means there's a good reason to keep going.  For example: 700, 1050, 1400, 1750, 2100, et al.

Incredible status matching with Celebrity

Royal Caribbean recently updated its status matching with sister line Celebrity Cruises, and the result is incredible.

I just sailed on Celebrity Reflection and was granted full Zenith level membership, which is Celebrity's top loyalty level.  

I was given a complimentary premium drink package, premium one-device wifi package, access to The Retreat (suite lounge), priority embarkation/disembarkation, and more.

I was blown away by how lucrative being a Zenith member is, and I got it all simply for being a Pinnacle Club member.

I sailed on Celebrity Apex last year before the status matching change, and the updated benefits make sailing on Celebrity so much more tantalizing.

Moving up to Pinnacle means you not only reach the top level of Royal Caribbean, but also Celebrity. That adds a major bonus to the value.

Reaching Pinnacle has changed how I cruise

While I don't think chasing loyalty status is a good reason to cruise, I can't deny I've enjoyed the benefits that have come with being Pinnacle.

In short, it's made me feel more valued by the cruise line for my loyalty, and meeting other Pinnacles has been a real highlight.

I think the benefits you get at Diamond are plenty good on their own, but if you find down the line getting closer to that 700 point threshold, it might make sense to think about a strategy to get there given how nice these added perks have been for me.

Explore the hidden benefits of cruising outside peak travel periods, such as fewer crowds, better deals, and unique itineraries.

You can take a cruise vacation throughout the year, but there are some great advantages to going during a less busy time.

According to Royal Caribbean Group CEO Jason Liberty, he expects cruise prices to go up over the next few years, which means finding a lower fare cost will become more difficult.

One strategy to go on a cruise while spending less is to book a cruise in the off season or shoulder season.

I always book a few Caribbean cruises in September or October because there are lower prices. The combination of peak hurricane season and kids restarting school brings a welcome price dip after the busy summer season.

All forms of travel see ebbs and flows, and going when others cannot travel is a top strategy for getting a better deal.

No matter where in the world you want to take a cruise, you'll find times of the year when demand wanes and that's good for consumers.

Here's a look at the hidden benefits of cruising outside peak travel periods.

When are off season cruises?

Depending on which region of the world you want to take a cruise, there are a few months to target for off peak demand.

One common thread among all off season times is the fact that school is in session. Family cruising is a big component to cruise demand.  Even if the kids aren't going on the cruise, a lot of parents skip vacations because they are unwilling to pull them out for a trip.

The shoulder season and off peak times to cruise by region are:

• Caribbean: September and October, January, May
• Alaska: May or September
• Europe: April, May, September, October
• Australia: October, November, March, and April

Read more: When is the best time to go on a cruise?

In the Caribbean, cruising during hurricane season (especially after August) is a double edged sword.  On the one hand, you'll get better prices than earlier in the summer. However, you run a higher your itinerary being modified or completely changed because of a tropical storm.

Don't worry, your ship will avoid the worst of any storm, if there is a hurricane present. Royal Caribbean actually has its own meteorologist on staff to provide expert guidance of where ships should go if there are any weather issues.

Better deals

If you take a cruise during any of these months, there's consistently lower prices. It's even when you might be able to find a last minute cruise deal.

In general, pricing tends to be lower for an off season cruise because less people want to sail.  It could be because of school or work schedules, or cooler temperatures.

If you're very flexible, you could watch Royal Caribbean's Going, Going, Gone rates for a super last minute deal.  I find consistently every year great prices on Alaska cruises in September or European cruises in October and November. However, it requires you to be nimble in the booking process.

When you compare the price of a summer season sailing vs one earlier or later, it could save you hundreds of dollars.

As an example, a 7-night Royal Caribbean cruise to Alaska on Anthem of the Seas September 5, 2025 starts at $811 per person, whereas the same cruise on July 11, 2025 starts at $1235 per person.

That's $2,469.68 for two people in July vs $1,621.88 in September. And that's just for an inside cabin, which will cost more since a lot of people prefer a balcony on an Alaska cruise.

You'll often find Kids Sail Free deals on a cruise during these lower demand times, which can really rack up savings for families.

Off season cruising has other financial benefits beyond the cruise fare.

There's a good chance your flights will be cheaper too, as peak summer pricing affects airfare just as much as cruise fare. Ditto for hotels for a pre- or post-cruise stay.

If you happen to go during the tail end of a season (September in Alaska or Europe), you may find deals on end of season merchandise too.

Smaller crowds

I love going to Alaska in May or Europe in September because of how uncrowded the places your ship visits will be.

While saving money is indeed a great reason to pick an off season cruise, I think the lower crowd numbers is the best reason.

What you'll discover during the shoulder seasons is there are fewer ships, as well as fewer land tourists to contend with. This means less people in your port, and shorter waits for museums, natural wonders, tours, and more.

In Alaska it's very apparent the difference between a cruise in June vs July when you walk into a port like Sitka or Skagway and notice far fewer tourists.

With smaller crowds, you can do more with less wait and my satisfaction rate with the experience is much better.

Unique itineraries

Another advantage of going on a cruise at the very beginning or very end of the cruise season are the special sailings you can book.

Seasonal cruise markets have to move ships into position, and then return them at the conclusion of their time there.  This means cruise lines will offer repositioning cruises that begin in one region, and end in a different one.

You could sail from Australia to Hawaii, or Hawaii to Vancouver.  There are also transatlantic crossings that feel like the classic ocean liner voyages of the past.

These cruises visit ports not usually included on a typical sailing, and in some cases it's the only opportunity to go to these places on a cruise ship.

Plus, repositioning cruises are longer cruises, which means they tend to be cheaper per night than other cruises and it's a great way to earn more loyalty program points.

Drink packages are such a popular cruise add-on, but they've also never been more expensive. This has lead to a growing trend of cruisers opting out of them and looking for other options.

You can expect to pay at least $100 per person, per day for a Royal Caribbean drink package if you buy it on your ship. And while there are discounts off that price if you buy it before the sailing begins, it still represents a major upfront cost.

For a 7-night cruise on the world's largest cruise ship, Icon of the Seas, the Deluxe Beverage costs $85.99 per person, per day if purchased on the Cruise Planner site. That comes out to $601.93 per person or $1,420.44 for a couple after adding gratuities, as all adults in a cabin need to buy a drink package if one does.

"Price of the deluxe package is absolutely out of control," wrote Stuart Etheridge on a Facebook post discussing the drink packages.

Brian Levor added, "With the package around $700 per person for a week, or single measured shots on the rocks $14+20%, it's just not worth it to me."

With such a high cost, some cruisers are seeking alternative strategies for enjoying drinks on board without overspending.

Here's what people that cruise a lot are doing instead of buying a costly beverage package.

Relying on rewards drinks

Those lucky enough to have cruised a lot already fall back on their daily drink vouchers.

If you reach Diamond level in Crown and Anchor Society, Royal Caribbean gives you 4 drink vouchers per day to use at any bar, lounge, or restaurant.

If you do the math and assume you'll use each of the vouchers for a drink worth $13 each, you'll save about $50 per day on drinks by relying on them exclusively.

Tony Diaz posted in the Royal Caribbean Dining Facebook group, "Use my 5 diamond drinks," and it echoed what a lot of other people said.

Ron Williams wrote, "I’m Diamond Plus, so I don’t get a drink package."

Michalena Vitucci also doesn't see a need to buy a drink package because of the vouchers, "Diamond points so never needed a drink package .. between my husband and I that’s 8 free drinks a day so we never needed to look into other options."

While the Diamond drink vouchers are indeed a fantastic benefit, the downside to this strategy is it won't help new cruisers at all.

In order to make it to Diamond, you need to have at least 80 cruise points.

Drink for free in the casino

A growing trend among cruisers is qualifying for the Prime status in Royal Caribbean's casino loyalty program.

To reach prime, you'll need to accumulate 2500 points between April 1 and March 31. Once you do, you can enjoy unlimited drinks at the casino bar on any Royal Caribbean ship. It even comes with a free cruise too.

While you can only get free drinks at one bar, it provides a tremendous cost savings opportunity considering it will work on any cruise you take while you still have Prime status.

Veteran cruisers that are also Diamond members love to combine the casino drinks with their aforementioned Diamond drinks to truly get the best value from their loyalty.

The downside to the free drinks in the casino is you first need to gamble enough to qualify.  Each casino point is equivalent to about $5 wagered, so there's a higher barrier to entry. Plus, gambling is addictive and despite the rules, the casino on Royal Caribbean ships tends to become a defacto smoker's lounge.

Pay as you go

Instead of a costly drink package, many cruisers are opting to pay as they go.

Drinks can be purchased on a Royal Caribbean cruise a la carte, and it's what everyone did prior to the introduction of drink packages.

The advantage of paying for each individual drink is if you're not much of a drinker.  Charging two or three drinks per day to your SeaPass card is going to be cheaper overall than a beverage package.

Plus, you can take advantage of drink specials and even the occasional free drink around the ship.

"I only have 1 drink per day typically. I’m not a big drinker and prefer water or iced tea," wrote Jeannie Grant.

Kevin Lewis added, "If I really want to have a couple drinks it's not gonna add up as much as the drink package." He also pointed out drinking at bars in the ports of call the ship visits is cheaper.

There's also a psychological effect of not having a drink package, as explained by Ken Kerby, "[I'll] drink less since I won’t be trying to make the most of what I already paid for."

The problem with paying as you go instead of a drink package is that your bar tab can quickly grow out of control if you get carried away.

Hope for a drink card to be offered

On some sailings, Royal Caribbean will offer a drink card that can only be purchased onboard the ship.

The drink card is a punch card that you can buy for a flat fee and it includes 10 drinks per card. It has the same allowances as a drink package, with drinks up to $13/$14 value on beer, wine, soda, or cocktails.

 Plus, you can share the drink card with other guests (unlike the drink package).

"On the Wonder last week you could get a card for 10 alcohol drinks for $90 or $106 with gratuities," wrote Amy Greive.

The problem with a drink card is there is no way to know if it will be offered on your cruise at all. That's because the ship's revenue department will offer it if alcohol sales are not meeting the goal for that voyage.

If it is offered, it's usually towards the end of the cruise.  This makes it impossible to plan or budget for prior to it showing up.

BYOB drinks

A smart idea for any cruiser is to bring non-alcoholic beverages with them onboard, as Royal Caribbean allows up to 12 bottles/cans of water, juice, or soft drinks.

Not only can you bring your own drinks, you could also bring water drink mixes to enhance the flavor of the water included with your cruise fare. (Contains an affiliate link, which costs you nothing extra to use).

Amy Burch wrote, "I bring those Mio flavor water enhancers to add to both tap water and lemonade on the ship."

You're also allowed to bring one bottle of wine per adult on the ship, providing a great alternative for light drinkers.

Book a suite

Royal Caribbean includes beer, wine, and cocktails during certain hours while in the Suite Lounge.

If you're booked in a Grand Suite or higher, Royal Caribbean includes admission to the Suite Lounge, where you can enjoy a happy hour selection of drinks, every day of the cruise.

Depending on the Royal Caribbean ship class you sail on, the hours vary for when you can get free drinks in the lounge.

• Icon & Oasis Class ships: Beer and wine available 11am to 11pm; Happy hour with all drinks for 3 hours in the evening
• All other ships: Happy hour with all drinks for 3 hours in the evening. Hours vary by ship.

The problem with this strategy is it's only available for a few hours each evening, and only in the Suite Lounge.  It's not convenient if you're elsewhere on the ship and/or outside of the time window.

When you pack for a Royal Caribbean cruise, you may want to bring all the comforts of home so that your stay at sea is just like being on land, but you should be aware there are some important rules about what you cannot bring on a Royal Caribbean cruise.

For the safety and well-being of all guests, certain items are prohibited from being brought on a cruise, and it will save you time (and embarrassment) by being aware of what you can and cannot bring on a Royal Caribbean cruise.

During the check-in process, security will scan all luggage (both checked and carry-on), and if they spot an item that meets the criteria, they can confiscate it and return it to you after the cruise concludes.

Illegal drugs

While it may not surprise you that illegal drugs and substances are banned from Royal Caribbean, CBD oil and CBD products are also prohibited. 

Even if you have a legally prescribed dose of marijuana, you cannot bring or smoke pot, edibles, cartridges onboard. Medicinal use is not permitted, and can result in serious legal troubles since Federal drug laws apply.

Alcohol

While Royal Caribbean does allow you to bring one bottle of wine per adult, any other alcohol is strictly forbidden.

Any alcohol you purchase onboard the ship or in a port will be stored by Royal Caribbean, and then returned to you on the last day onboard to be brought home.

Alcoholic beverages seized on embarkation day will not be returned.

You are also allowed to bring small quantities of non-alcoholic beverages in a carry-on or hand luggage onboard only on boarding day. Specifically, non-alcoholic beverages brought onboard may not exceed 12 standard (17 oz) cans, bottles or cartons per stateroom. Distilled water or specialized beverages such as, milk for medical purposes, dietary or infant use, are permitted.

Weapons

All firearms and weapons, parts, ammunition, explosives and incendiary devices are all prohibited from being brought on Royal Caribbean.

This includes (but not limited to): 

• Rifles
• Shotguns
• Pistols
• Revolvers
• All their components

Royal Caribbean specifies that guns, replicas, and ammunition are also not allowed onboard:

• Guns, operational or replicas
• Ammunition of all types
• BB Guns
• Compressed air guns, including paint ball guns
• Flare guns
• Gun lighters
• Gun / firearms parts
• Pellet guns
• Spear guns
• Starter pistols
• Realistic replicas of firearms
• All their components

Any kind of explosive is prohibited from going on a cruise ship.

• Blasting Caps
• Dynamite
• Fireworks
• Hand Grenades
• Plastic Explosives
• Bomb Making Components
• Replicas of Explosives
• Gun Powder

Sharp objects

Personal grooming items such as safety razors are allowed. Scissors with blade length less than 4 inches are allowed.

You also cannot bring any knives with a blade length of four (4) inches or greater.

These types of knives are not allowed either:

• Knives that are concealed or disguised as other commonplace objects
• Knives that incorporate locking blades
• Flick knives, automatic knife, push-button knife, ejector knife, or switch blade
• Sharp objects
  • Box Cutters
  • Ice Picks / Ice Axes
  • Meat Cleavers
  • Razor-type blades, such as box cutters utility knives and razor blades not in cartridge (Note: shaving safety razors are allowed.)
  • Sabers
  • Swords and Fencing Foils

Recreational diving knives are also still allowed but must be held in the custody of the Chief Security Officer.

Guests can purchase Alaskan Ulu knives while on their Alaska cruise, but must keep it in their stateroom and not bring it to public areas. 

Things that can catch on fire

Fire is a major threat to cruise ships, so anything that can generate a flame is prohibited.

Nothing with an open flame or heating element is allowed, except for hair curling irons and hair dryers.

This includes:

• Candles
• Clothing Irons
• Travel Steamer
• Hot Plates
• Incense & Burners
• Tea Cup Immersion Heaters
• Aerosols, except for personal care toiletries which are permitted
• Fuels, including cooking fuels and any flammable liquids
• Gasoline
• Gas Torches
• Lighter Fluid
• Flares
• Flammable Paints
• Turpentine & Paint Thinner
• Realistic Replicas of Incendiaries
• Hookahs & Water Hookah Pipes
• Car batteries
• Hoverboards
• Extension Cords and Multi-Plug Outlets/ Power Strips

You can't bring your tools on a ship

You'll have to leave your tool belt at home.

Royal Caribbean won't allow these handy items to be brought on a ship:

• Axes & Hatchets
• Cattle Prods
• Hammers
• Drills and Drill Bits
• Saws
• Other Tools (such as wrenches, pliers, screwdrivers) greater than seven (7) inches in length

Self-defense items

Martial arts and self defense items should remain in the dojo.

• Billy Clubs
• Black Jacks
• Brass Knuckles
• Kubatons
• Mace / Pepper Spray
• Martial Arts Weapons
• Night Sticks
• Nunchakus
• Stun Guns / Shocking Devices
• Throwing Stars
• Handcuffs
• Bows & Arrows

Sporting goods

You are allowed to bring sporting goods and equipment, but it cannot be used, displayed or carried in the public areas at all.

These are meant to be used as part of a shore excursion or activity on land.

This includes:

• Baseball bats
• Cricket bats
• Hockey sticks
• Skateboards
• Surf boards
• Golf clubs
• Bicycles

Chemicals

The following items or those similar are not permitted onboard:

• Chlorine
• Bleach
• Spray Paint
• Tear Gas
• Transformers
• Electrical Extension Cords
• Spillable Batteries (Note: Wheelchair batteries are permitted)
• Small Compressed Gas Cartridges
• Fire Extinguishers
• Other Compressed Gas Cylinders (Note: Dive tanks are permitted if they are empty; Medical gas bottles are also permitted)
• HAM Radios

Food

You can bring packaged dry snacks (e.g., chips, nuts, candy, etc.), but cannot bring food cooked from home or a restaurant.

The issue is due to public health policies related to any potentially hazardous foods (PHFs) or cooked food from restaurants or private homes, raw foods, etc.

If you are looking for the best Royal Caribbean cruise ship, how do you pick the perfect one from all the rankings?

Royal Caribbean offers cruises around the world on almost 30 ships, each that promises a great family vacation. Utopia of the Seas is the newest ship in Royal Caribbean's fleet, but does that make it the best ship? Is the oldest ship necessarily the worst ship?

Determining the best ship means finding the right ship for your personal tastes, budget and who is cruising with you.

Royal Caribbean prides itself on a consistent experience across all of its ships, but they aren't carbon copies of each other either.

Top 10 best Royal Caribbean ships ranked

1. Icon of the Seas
2. Wonder of the Seas
3. Odyssey of the Seas
4. Utopia of the Seas
5. Freedom of the Seas
6. Oasis of the Seas
7. Symphony of the Seas
8. Mariner of the Seas
9. Harmony of the Seas
10. Anthem of the Seas

Read more: Royal Caribbean ships by age

Icon of the Seas

Icon of the Seas has been sailing for less than a year, and it's hard to overlook this ship if you are cruising with a family.

Icon of the Seas is  a game changer for families, and it has enough onboard to rival any land resort. It also packs in just about every new idea Royal Caribbean has to offer it's most complete cruise ship to date.

Being the biggest ship in the world, means there is more space for the activities and things to do that will keep children and adults busy all cruise long.

Royal Caribbean has designed this ship to cater more to families than ever before.

You'll find new categories of cabins with parents and kids in mind. More than 70% of all rooms onboard Icon of the Seas will have balconies, and  82% of rooms have a high occupancy of 3 or more guests, which is more than double the Oasis Class ships.

Royal Caribbean also dedicated an entire neighborhood of the ship to families, known as Surfside.  Surfside is the ultimate stay-all-day neighborhood that has pools for kids and parents, family-friendly restaurants, and bars that have mocktails for the kids and cocktails for the adults.

Icon of the Seas is home to the largest water park at sea, Category 6, where you will find six recording breaking slides, including the first family raft slides at sea: Storm Surge and Hurricane Hunter. 

Royal Caribbean is building at least two more Icon Class ships that will also begin cruises over the next few years.

Oasis Class

Best ship: Wonder of the Seas, Symphony of the Seas or Oasis of the Seas

These are the largest cruise ships in the world, and they simply offer the latest and greatest that Royal Caribbean is known for onboard.

The six Oasis Class ships (with an unnamed 7th ship eventually joining the fleet sometime in 2028), have FlowRider surf simulators, zip lining, rock climbing, waterslides, clubs, specialty and complimentary restaurants and scenic evening strolls.

There is no shortage of things to do on an Oasis Class ship, including waterslides, Ultimate Abyss slide, two FlowRiders, mini-golf, zip line and more.

There are seven neighborhoods (eight on Utopia & Wonder of the Seas) on an Oasis Class ship, including Central Park outdoor space and the seaside-inspired Boardwalk. 

The shows on an Oasis Class ship are the best in the fleet, with three different theaters offering entertainment throughout your cruise. Watch a full Broadway show (such as Mamma Mia or Hairspray), check out the thrills of the AquaTheater performances, and be dazzled by ice shows in Studio B.

Oasis Class ships also have the most dining options of any Royal Caribbean ship, such as Chops Steakhouse, Izumi Hibachi and Sushi, Portside BBQ, classic Italian and much more.

Where they sail: Wonder of the Seas, Oasis of the Seas, Allure of the Seas, Harmony of the Seas and Symphony of the Seas offer 7-night Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises that include stops at the private destination of Perfect Day at CocoCay.

Some years, one Oasis Class ship sails from Europe for the summer.

Utopia of the Seas sails from Port Canaveral, Florida and only offers short 3- and 4-night cruises. 

Quantum Class

Best ship: Anthem of the Seas or Odyssey of the Seas

The newest class of Royal Caribbean ship does not compromise on entertainment, dining, or things to do with the Quantum Class ships.

Looking for some incredible things to do on a cruise ship? How about a skydiving simulator, or smash bumper cars into your fellow guest vehicles.  Then there is the observation capsule that takes you 300 feet in the air for breathtaking, 360-degree views. 

The Quantum Class ships are the only ones that feature Two70, which is a large circular space at the back of the ship where you will not only find a great view of the ocean, but also floor-to-ceiling screens that can transform the space along with their Roboscreen technology.

Music Hall is the perfect venue for anyone that loves live music performances, where cover bands perform and you can dance the night away.

The Royal Esplanade is located in the center of the ship and features dining and shopping opportunities.

Where they sail: Anthem of the Seas is in Europe for summer 2024 and will move to Singapore for a short season before alternating between Australia and Alaska cruises.

Spectrum of the Seas sails in Asia.

Odyssey of the Seas splits her time between winter cruises from Florida to the Caribbean, and summer cruises in Europe around the Mediterranean.

Quantum of the Seas and Ovation of the Seas sail to Alaska in the summer, and then spend the other part of the year in Australia.

Freedom Class

Best ship: Freedom of the Seas or Independence of the Seas

One of the most versatile cruise ships in Royal Caribbean's fleet, the Freedom Class vessels combine large size with lots to do onboard. In fact, the Freedom Class ships have been upgraded in the last few years with waterslides and other new features onboard.

You will find Splashaway Bay aquapark for kids on all three ships, along with Perfect Storm waterslides on Independence and Freedom. Liberty of the Seas has her own set of water slides, including the only ship to feature a boomerang slide.

If you are looking for dining, Independence has Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade, Izumi Hibachi & Sushi and Fish & Ships, a poolside eatery where guests can grab quintessentially British seaside treats. Freedom of the Seas launched the first Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen specialty restaurant concept in the fleet, that features made-to-order pizzas, freshly made pastas and a wide selection of wines and limoncellos.

All three ships offer great shows onboard, including ice skating performances in Studio B.  Independence of the Seas has its own Broadway show with Grease, while Liberty of the Seas has Saturday Night Fever Broadway show.

Where they sail: Independence of the Seas sails four and five night cruises the Caribbean from Miami.

Liberty of the Seas sails from New York in summer 2024 to Canada and Bermuda, before moving to Fort Lauderdale to offer short 3- and 4-night cruises to The Bahamas.

Freedom of the Seas is homeported in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where she offers 7-night Caribbean cruises. In 2025, Freedom will offer weekend cruises from Miami.

Voyager Class

Best ship: Navigator of the Seas or Mariner of the Seas

One of the best values in Royal Caribbean is the Voyager Class ships. These multifaceted vessels are a great choice for first-time cruisers, as well as anyone on a limited budget.  They are still "big ships" and offer plenty to do onboard, but at a fraction of the price of their mega ship sister vessels.

The Voyager Class is perhaps the most varied ships in the fleet, as the Royal Amplification process has added so many new and different options to these ships.

Mariner and Navigator of the Seas received the most striking changes in 2018 and 2019, respectively. Navigator has The Blaster aqua coaster, the longest waterslide at sea, and Riptide, the industry’s only head-first mat racer waterslide. Both ships also now feature Battle for Planet Z and Royal Escape Room: The Observatorium.

There are plenty of other additions to both vessels, including hibachi on Mariner and Hooked Seafood specialty restaurant on Navigator. Both ships have a Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade, as well as a Bamboo Room Polynessian-themed bar.

The other Voyager Class ships also have their own share of fun onboard, including a FlowRider surf simulator, mini-golf, rock climbing wall, ice skating rink and shows each evening. Adventure of the Seas has its own set of water slides that were added a few years ago.

Where they sail: Mariner of the Seas offers Caribbean cruises of various length from Port Canaveral.

Navigator of the Seas is homeported from Los Angeles, where she sails short cruises to Ensenada, Mexico, as well as 7-night Mexican Riviera cruises.

The other Voyager Class ships move around a bit more, offering cruises around the world. Adventure of the Seas will sail from Port Canaveral in winter 2024-2025.

Explorer of the Seas also splits time between North America and Europe, with cruises from Rome in the summer, and Port Canaveral in the winter.

Voyager of the Seas offers cruises from Port Canaveral.

Radiance Class

Best ship: Brilliance of the Seas or Serenade of the Seas

An underrated, yet impressive class of ships is the Radiance Class ships that combine sleek elegance with varied itineraries around the world.

Just because they are smaller than other ships, does not mean they compromise on the fun onboard. Royal Caribbean added new features and amenities to these ships, and you will find an outdoor movie screen, full-scale entertainment productions in the three-story theater, and plenty of restaurants, bars, clubs and lounges.

Radiance class ships are popular with Royal Caribbean veterans for their elegant offerings and relaxing atmosphere. In fact, Radiance Class ships have one of the best adults-only Solarium areas across the entire fleet.

Where they sail: The Radiance Class ships are world travelers, offering lots of places to visit. Brilliance of the Seas spends her winters in Tampa with short sailings to the Caribbean, along with cruises from Boston and Miami.

You can cruise on Jewel of the Seas from Amsterdam to Northern Europe in the summer, while choosing between cruises from Galveston to the Caribbean.

Radiance of the Seas offers some really interesting cruises, including open-jaw sailings (one-way) to Alaska in the summer.  She then transitions to Australia and sails the South Pacific.

Serenade of the Seas will offer cruises to the Caribbean from Tampa.

Vision Class

Best ship: Grandeur of the Seas or Enchantment of the Seas

Royal Caribbean uses the Vision Class ships to offer cruises to the most exotic locations around, because they can fit almost anywhere.

Like the Radiance Class, Vision Class ships still offer plenty to do onboard and have amenities such as a rock climbing wall, great pool deck, poolside movie screen, specialty dining and a grand Atrium area.

The lounges on these ships are equally impressive, and many repeat cruisers love the warm and thoughtful staff onboard these ships.

Where they sail: Vision of the Seas offers cruises in the winter from Fort Lauderdale, and Barcelona in the summer.

Rhapsody of the Seas calls Tampa and Venice/Ravenna, Italy home, with cruises to the Western Caribbean and Greek Isles.

Vision of the Seas sails year-round from Baltimore to Canada/New England, Bahamas, and Bermuda.

Enchantment of the Seas (the last Royal Caribbean ship to be stretched) offers cruises from Tampa to the Caribbean.

Grandeur of the Seas sails from Port Everglades and offers primarily long sailings to the Southern Caribbean.

What should you look for in the best cruise ship?

When you want to find the best Royal Caribbean cruise ship for you, the key is to understand what the ship offers and what it does not offer, and then weigh that against how much it will cost you.

Some important considerations you should look at in any ship is what it offers in:

• Kids Programming
• Signature activities (waterslides, Broadway shows, thrill attractions, open spaces, et al)
• Where it is sailing

If you want a never ending array of "things to do," then lean towards taking a cruise on the larger ships.  

If your idea of a good time is lounging by the pool and exploring the ports of call you visit, then any size ship will be fine.

The important thing to remember is to figure out if the ship you are looking at has a FlowRider, particular specialty restaurant or something else important to you onboard the ship.

The best ship depends on you

Picking the best ship is a lot like picking out the best movie or best restaurant: it is a subjective choice based on a variety of factors that every person weighs differently.

Since no one likes to hear that the answer is "it depends", here is as objective a breakdown as possible of what to look for in the best Royal Caribbean cruise ship.

Amenities, activities, and accommodations

At the heart of any cruise ship is what the ship offers onboard, and where you will call home during your vacation.

Royal Caribbean's cruise ships have four basic types of staterooms: inside, oceanview, balcony and suite cabins. These types of cruise cabins offer varying amount of living space and luxuries, and the some ships have more impressive cabins than others. 

Ultimately, the decision for which room you want is a question of what you can afford, but the larger and newer ships tend to offer the most expansive and luxurious accommodations.

What you do onboard is what makes Royal Caribbean stand out, and you will find various signature activities, fun things to do and multitudes of dining choices across an expansive layout.

Each cruise ship is made up of a different combination of onboard offerings and over the last decade, Royal Caribbean has varied these amenities considerably from ship to ship. So it behooves you to figure out which are the most important and pick the right ship for you.

My recommendations for the best ships

If you just want to know which ships I think might be best for certain people, here are my top picks for best Royal Caribbean ships.

• Best ships for new cruisers and families: Icon of the Seas, Wonder of the Seas or Utopia of the Seas
• Best ship if on a budget: Mariner of the Seas or Navigator of the Seas
• Best ship if you don't care about crazy activities: Brilliance of the Seas or Serenade of the Seas
• Best combination of value (price for what you get): Freedom of the Seas or Mariner of the Seas
• Matt's favorite ships: Icon of the Seas, Wonder of the Seas, Odyssey of the Seas, Utopia of the Seas

If you're looking for the sweet spot of Royal Caribbean loyalty program perks, it's right at the Diamond level.

At the Diamond level, you qualify for four free drinks per day of your cruise, and that is very lucrative. For a lot of cruisers, the complimentary drink vouchers are a defacto drink package and can save hundreds of dollars on every cruise.  

Plus, there's also a free day of WiFi, access to the Crown Lounge, and more that comes with being a Diamond member.

Royal Caribbean gives all of its repeat cruisers discounts, special offers, and even freebies to reward their allegiance to the cruise line.  By far, the most lucrative benefits begin when you reach the Diamond tier, which requires 80 cruise points.

Read more: Best cruises to maximize your Crown & Anchor perks

Every cruise point represents a night on a ship, although there are some ways to get more points quicker. If you want to get to Diamond as fast as possible, there are a few good strategies to get you there beyond simply booking a bunch of cruises.

Book suites instead of regular cabins

Royal Caribbean will give you an extra cruise point per night if you book any suite, including Junior Suites.

Moving up from one point per night to two points will cut the number of nights you need to cruise in order to reach Diamond, and it's the simplest approach.

Staying in a suite means you can bring your family with you as per normal, but instead of a lower category cabin, you move up to a suite.

As you might guess, staying in a suite will cost you more money.  However, if you're flexible, I've found the price difference to move up to Junior Suite or Grand Suite is not as egregiously expensive as you might think.

One thing to watch out for is RoyalUp, which allows you to bid for a stateroom upgrade.

If you win a bid to move up from a lower category cabin (i.e. balcony) to a suite, you will not get double points.

Go on a cruise solo

You can also earn an extra cruise point per night if you happen to cruise alone in a cabin.

Because cruise ship cabins are sold on a double occupancy basis, Royal Caribbean will give solo cruisers more points because they're effectively paying for a second person due to the single supplement fee.

There are two things to look out for when cruising solo in order to get that extra point.

First, studio cabins don't qualify for the extra point.  These are cruise ship rooms specifically designed for solo travelers. As such, they don't have the single supplement fee or the double points.

Second, to get that extra point, you need to book the original reservation as a solo cruiser.  This means you cannot book the cruise with someone else on the reservation and then later drop them or have them not show up for the cruise at all while still booked.

It used to not matter, but Royal Caribbean began enforcing that rule recently.

Combine the two strategies

If you really want to get to Diamond status as fast as possible, then I'd recommend booking a suite as a solo cruiser.

When you stay in a suite by yourself, you'll earn 3 points per night. This is the most points you can earn per night on any cruise.

If you were to employ this strategy on a 7-night cruise, you would earn 21 points from that sailing.

Taking it one step further, you could book two cabins for your family and book one adult in one cabin solo. This way you can accrue 3 points per night while still going on a cruise with your family.

Alternatively, you could book two separate standard cabins and at least earn double points for one of the adults.

In either scenario, make sure the adult with the most Crown and Anchor points is the one booked in the cabin alone.

In case you're wondering, the cruise line doesn't care where you sleep, so you can book two rooms, but sleep together in the same room.

How much money can Diamond status save you?

While the four free drinks per day are probably the best benefit you can get from being a Diamond member, there are many more great perks too.

The four free drinks you get add up to $56 per day. And don't forget, that's per person because everyone in your immediate family gets the same status.

The free day of WiFi access is equivalent to the $29.99 cost for a 24 hour pass.

You'll also get $6 of free play in the casino. You never know, that could end up generating a lot more money for you, but let's assume $6.

There are a number of coupons to apply to drinks. You'll need to specify them when you order, but it adds up.

• 50% off any two glasses of wine, beer or soda when purchased together: $7 x 2 = $14
• 50% off any two Johnny Rockets Milkshakes: $4.50
• 20% off any glass of wine, beer or soda: $1.38
• Receive one free non-alcoholic specialty coffee with the purchase of one Specialty Restaurant dinner: $8.95

Finally, there are shopping and service discounts you can get by being a Diamond member.

• 20% off any Spa Service (excluding Medi-Spa): $19.80 (60 minute Swedish massage)
• 15% off RCCL Logo Products (must spend $25): $3.75
• One free Photo: $19.99
• 10% off a Photo Package or Photobook: $19.90
• $5 off a $25 Dry Clean or Press: $5
• $10 off a $34.99 Wash & Fold Laundry Bag (5+ night sailings): $10
• Receive a discounted Stateroom Phone rate of $2 per minute: $5.95 per minute savings x 2 = $11.90

If you took advantage of every single Diamond discount given to you on a sailing, you could save $175.17 per person. Not every benefit will likely be used, but there are at least a few that most people should be able to take advantage of on every sailing.

Stepping stone to the top tiers

Once you make it to Diamond, I think you'll find it a gateway tier to the best perks Royal Caribbean can offer.

Many cruisers point to attaining Diamond status as a key milestone in their cruising journey because of the benefits it adds.

There are a few common, but avoidable, mistakes that new cruisers tend to make and I bet if you ever did them, you'd never make the same one again.

There are so many lists of travel mistakes people make during the cruise, from minor gaffes to major problems.

As an example, getting sun burned is something that happens to the best of us, no matter how many times you swear it will never happen again.

However, I think there are a few blunders that if you made them, you'd almost certainly never make again.

Fly in same day your cruise sets sail

The worst mistake you can make is never making it to your cruise ship at all because you were delayed arriving.

A lot of travelers will fly to the city their cruise ship departs from, but unfortunately flights get cancelled or delayed. If that happens to you and you miss the ship, you paid for a cruise you won't actually go on.

The boarding window on the first day is limited, and the ship will not wait for you if your flight plans cause you to be late.

Moreover, you're not entitled to a refund from the cruise line because of that situation.

On the Royal Caribbean message boards, twangster illustrated how recently two separate groups  at the Seattle airport missed their cruise because they tried to fly in the same day it began.

"Yesterday as I was in the process of working with a gate agent to find new alternatives for a delayed Seattle flight I saw two separate groups explaining to other gate agents they are going on an Alaskan cruise and now they were going to miss their cruise.  There was nothing the gate agents could do, there was no alternative flights to put them on. "

What you should do to avoid this mistake is never fly in the same day your cruise begins.  

Always plan to arrive at least one day before your cruise so that a travel delay doesn't mean you can't make the ship. If you're flying overseas for a cruise, I'd make it at least two days before the cruise.

Yes, there's the added cost of an extra hotel night, but the peace of mind it comes with is completely worth it.

Overpaying for things onboard

It's eye opening how much more cruise add-ons cost once onboard the ship versus if you pre-purchased them at home.

Whether it's a shore excursion, drink package, or WiFi plan, it all costs more onboard.

The best example is the Royal Caribbean drink package, which routinely costs more than $100 per person, per day when purchased on the ship.  At home, it's regularly $20-$30 cheaper per person, per day.

Read more: Drink package guide and advice

Internet packages are another easy place to save money, because there are no discounts once you get onboard.

I bought a 1 device internet package for my upcoming Utopia of the Seas cruise, I would only pay $23.99 per day, saving $4 per day. 

There are sales and discounts on pre-cruise purchases all the time, which means you could easily save hundreds of dollars if you bought it before the cruise.

Even if you're late to the game and check to buy these things just a few days before your cruise begins, you will save money instead of buying it onboard.

Being late back to the ship

Every time I've seen a video of a cruise ship passenger frantically running back to the cruise ship because they're late, I always swear it won't ever be me.

Your cruise ship is in port for a set few hours, and the all aboard time is a set time for you to be back onboard. Or else.

The cruise ship might wait a few minutes, but the Captain has to adhere to their schedule and depart on time. There's very little wiggle room for delays.

Passengers returning late could be from a variety of reasons: lost track of time, traffic delays, injury, got lost. Regardless, if you venture off the ship on your own, then it's your responsibility to make it back to the ship on time.

If you go on a Royal Caribbean shore excursion that was purchased through the cruise line, then the ship will wait for that tour.

I wouldn't go as far as to say not to venture off the ship without a cruise line excursion, but you do need to manage your time.

I recommend planning to arrive back to the ship about 2 hours before the all aboard time. That way, if there is some crazy delay, you'll likely be back with time to spare.

Not putting phone into airplane mode

The silent cruise mistake you won't know about until you get home is probably in your pocket.

Everyone has a cell phone, and if you bring your phone onboard without putting it into airplane mode, you can bet you'll end up with a giant bill.

A woman in the UK went on a Caribbean cruise and ended up with a £1186.59 bill because her phone was roaming for the entire trip.

When your phone is out of it's normal operational area, it tries to use other carrier's networks, and that comes with very high roaming rates.

Even if you aren't actively using your phone, you could get a big bill because most phones use the network even while idle to check for updates or messages.

There's a very simple way to avoid this costly cruise mistake, and that's to put your phone into airplane mode as soon as you get onboard.

Once your phone is in airplane mode, it cannot use other cellular networks (but you can still use WiFi).

Needing travel insurance when you don't have it

No matter how cautious you are, eventually everyone gets sick, hurt, or encounters unforeseen circumstances.

There are all sorts of reasons you might need to cancel your cruise at the last minute: sudden onset of an illness, loss of employment, major accident, death of a family member, and more. 

Once you're past the final payment date, there are major penalties for canceling your cruise. If you want to cancel just a few days before the cruise, there's not going to be any money returned to you, other than port fees and taxes.

Travel insurance is an affordable add-on cost that protects you against many common reasons people want to cancel a cruise. 

You can buy it through Royal Caribbean, through your travel agent, or even shop for it on your own.

Royal Caribbean cruise ships are floating destinations with so many different fun activities onboard, even if it's one of their smaller ships.

There are almost 30 ships in Royal Caribbean's fleet of ships today, but they're not all copies of each other. Every ship has its own array of options, and the smaller and older ships certainly have a different feel from the megaships.

Often someone considering a cruise vacation will hesitate to book a smaller ship out of concern they might be boring or not as impressive. The truth is even the smaller Royal Caribbean ships are still quite large, and they're designed for a big market.

Before you write off a smaller ship, here are my picks for the best things to do on Royal Caribbean's smaller ships that are easily overlooked.

Best things to do on a smaller Royal Caribbean ship

Movie theater

On the Radiance Class cruise ships, there's a dedicated movie theater onboard.

All Royal Caribbean ships show movies by the pool on a big screen, but you're subject to the weather conditions outside. Plus, there are only limited showtimes.

The Cinema on Radiance of the Seas, Brilliance of the Seas, Jewel of the Seas, and Serenade of the Seas is an enclosed theater with perfect viewing conditions for a movie, with continuously running showtimes.

And just like the pool deck, there's no cost to going to the movie theater.

Intimate lounges and bars

You'll find fantastic bars on the smaller Royal Caribbean ships that have a different feel to them on bigger ships.

There's a Schooner Bar on every Royal Caribbean ship, but you haven't truly experienced the Schooner Bar until you've tried it on a Vision or Radiance Class ship.

The Schooner Bar is massive and features a much more pronounced nautical theme to it. Plus, the layout of the room is so much better than on the bigger ships.

Equally impressive are two bars within the Centrum atrium area.

Vintages Wine bar actually faces the ocean and has beautiful windows to see out of, which adds to the ambiance.

At the base of the Centrum is the R Bar, and it's the perfect lounge to enjoy a drink entertainment. Given the bar and the stage are together, it's an immersive lounge experience.

On the Voyager Class ships, I love the layout of the English pub.  To be honest, it's much better on Mariner and Navigator of the Seas. The other ships have an odd triangle shaped bar layout.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention the Viking Crown Lounge on the smaller ships.

Royal Caribbean has gone away with this signature lounge on its newest and biggest ships, but the small ships still have it and it's my favorite spot to enjoy a view and a drink from inside.

Hidden viewing deck

My favorite place for sailaway can only be found on the smaller Royal Caribbean ships.

If you're on a Radiance, Voyager, or Freedom Class cruise ship, you can go out to the helipad on the bow of the ship.

Access is available by walking all the way forward on the outside promenade deck, which is either on deck 4 or deck 5.

The views here are incredible, and it's the best spot to watch your ship pull into port or sail out of a port.

More relaxed pool decks

If you want a classic cruise ship pool experience, the pools on smaller ships are where it's at.

The pools on smaller shops are a bit more peaceful in the sense there aren't water slides, splash zones, or multiple pools to contend with.  In short, it doesn't have the hustle of the megaships.

That isn't to say there aren't events, because you'll still find a bellyflop competition and world's sexiest man competition. But I think you'll find the pool deck a bit more chill.

Moreover, I think the Solarium on the Radiance Class ships are the best in the fleet in terms of layout, being completely enclosed, and a great bar scene too.

Rock climbing wall

You won't find the over-the-top zany sports deck activities on big ships, but even the small ships have a rock wall you can climb.

The rock wall is arguably the first "I can't believe they put that on a cruise ship" feature when it first debuted on Voyager of the Seas in 1999, and it's available on even the smallest ships.

Included in your cruise fare, you get strapped in and try your best to climb the wall and reach the top. 

It's fun for kids or adults, and it's a great sea day activity.

Thermal spa

On the Radiance Class ships there is a thermal spa you can purchase a pass to, and it might be your new favorite way to indulge.

You purchase a pass that gives you unlimited access to the thermal spa, which is a calming retreat.

It includes access to heated stone lounge chairs, a dry sauna, a wet sauna, and a rainforest shower room.

Special itineraries and ports

Just as important as the features available onboard the small ships are the places you can visit on them.

The itineraries are far more varied on a smaller cruise ship, giving you the opportunity to visit more exotic and/or interesting places.

Smaller ships can visit the Greek isles and ports along the Adriatic Sea.  They can also take you much further north in Alaska to see more of the Last Frontier.

You'll also routinely find longer sailings offered on small ships.  As an example, the big cruise ships sailing from Galveston, Texas just offer cruises in the Western Caribbean, but Jewel of the Seas has 11 night cruises that go to the ABC islands in the Southern Caribbean.

Similarly, Royal Caribbean bases small ships out of San Juan, Puerto Rico that can visit more ports along the Eastern and Southern Caribbean.

If you're looking for something more than the same itineraries, you could find them on a small ship.

Tips for making the most of a cruise on a smaller ship

The first thing you may notice about picking a smaller ship is the price tag, because older ships cost less than megaships.

Comparing the price of Grandeur of the Seas or Brilliance of the Seas to Icon of the Seas, and you'll see a stark difference.  The money saved means you can afford a nicer cabin or even another cruise booking.

If you're someone that usually books a balcony, keep in mind there are far less balconies on older ships, so book them early to ensure yourself of a cabin category you prefer. This is especially true on the Vision Class ships.

If you booked a smaller ship for the itinerary, be sure to focus on your time on land.  Plan out and book in advance great shore excursions so you can maximize the opportunity.

If you want a smaller ship but don't want to compromise on what you love about big ships, the Voyager Class is probably the sweet spot for you.