Have you ever noticed there is no deck 13 on most cruise ships?

Historically, the maritime industry has been quite superstitious and some of that even holds up today with how decks are planned.

When you go on most ships, the elevators will have deck 12 followed by deck 14.  Not all ships do, but some certainly have this idiosyncrasy.

This can confuse some people that they missed a stop on a non-existent deck or simply wonder why it doesn't exist.

As you might imagine, the reason for skipping deck is out of fear the number brings bad luck.

As an example, Royal Caribbean's ground-breaking new cruise ship, Icon of the Seas, doesn't have deck 13.  A brand new cruise ship that launches in 2024 omits number 13 from its layout!

In fact, there's not even a room that ends in "13". 

Read more: 11 reasons Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas will change the cruise industry

Most Oasis Class ships skip deck 13, however, Quantum Class cruise ships have deck 13.

Radiance, Voyager and Freedom Class ships have it.  The Vision Class is too short to reach deck 13.

Another interesting twist is you wont find cabins on deck 13.  If a ship has a deck 13, they use it for sports activities or other public venues.

Part of the reason is higher decks are usually where you find public venues, but there may be a part of sailing public that would not want to stay on deck 13 because of the unlucky connotation the number has.

It's probably why many hotels in the United States also don't have a floor 13, because some customers wouldn't want to stay there.

Other cruise ship superstitions

Deck numbering isn't the only superstition that holds up to this day.  

If you cruise enough, you'll probably run into at least a few other superstitions within the cruise industry.

Godmothers

Every cruise ship has a godmother, which serves as a ceremonial position, and yes, it's almost always a woman.  Other ships have had women hold the role, including renowned athletes, celebrities and royalty.

The godmother's job is to give the ship a blessing for the safety of the crew members and passengers who will sail onboard it. 

Not only does having a godmother ensure luck is on the side of the ship and crew, it's a great marketing opportunity for the cruise line.

Lucky coins

New cruise ships also have a coin ceremony, which takes place at the time of keel laying.

Keel laying is an important milestone in new cruise ship construction. It's when shipbuilders place a pair of coins under the keel block of the new ship to bless the ship and as a symbol of good fortune.

Some Royal Caribbean cruise ships indicate where the coins are located. In the case of Oasis of the Seas, you will need to head up to the bow sundeck on deck 14.  The lucky coins are held in a cabinet that is welded to the ship and has a small commemorative plaque. 

Naming ceremonies

The Egyptians, Greeks and the Romans called upon their respective Gods to protect their ships and crew. 

The Vikings would make human sacrifices in honor of a new ship to appease the gods, and Greeks drank wine while blessing the new ship with water.

Many decades ago, they would smash a bottle of Champagne across the hull of a new ship for good luck.  They still do that today, but usually it's done mechanically, with the godmother pressing a button to make the magic happen.

Missing deck 17

Similar to skipping 13, some European cruise ships skip deck 17.

In Italy, the number 17 is considered unlucky, because the number 17 written in Roman numerals is XVII, which is an anagram of VIXI. This translates in Latin to "I have lived", which means to be dead.

For that reason, you may not find a deck 17 on their ships.  MSC Cruises is one line that goes from deck 16 to deck 18, such as on MSC Meraviglia, MSC Grandiosa, MSC Bellissima.

Star of the Seas is the second of Royal Caribbean's Icon Class cruise ships.

Launched in 2025, Star of the Seas is a close follow-up to the wildly successful Icon of the Seas, although there are a few ways she will be different from Icon, such as improvements to the family features, dining changes, and more. 

After Star of the Seas, there will be at least two more Icon Class cruise ships. Legend of the Seas is on order and due in 2026, and a fourth unnamed Icon Class ship in 2027.

Here is a look at the most important things we know about Star of the Seas.

This page will be updated periodically when Royal Caribbean reveals what the ship will offer to guests.

Star of the Seas facts

Star of the Seas is based in Port Canaveral, Florida, and offers 7-night cruises to the Eastern and Western Caribbean.

Homeporting Star of the Seas near Orlando was a purposeful choice, as Royal Caribbean is targeting one of the biggest family markets for its ultimate family vacation cruise ship.

The official inaugural voyage is a 7-night cruise on August 31, 2025. This will be a 7-night Western Caribbean sailing that visits Perfect Day at CocoCay, Costa Maya, Roatan, and Cozumel.

Star of the Seas is right around the same size as Icon of the Seas.

Icon of the Seas is 20 decks high, 1,198 feet long, and measures 250,800 gross tons. She has more than 40 dining venues and bars, a waterpark, seven pools, and can handle 9,950 people (2,350 crew and 7,600 guests at maximum capacity).

Royal Caribbean is fond of making new ships just a little bit bigger than the previous vessel so they can market the new ship as the "biggest cruise ship in the world." However, this is not the case with Star of the Seas.

According to Jay Schneider, Royal Caribbean's Senior Vice President and Chief Product Innovation Officer, Star of the Seas will not be slightly larger than the world's biggest cruise ship, Icon of the Seas. He said, "The world's best family vacation was never about size for us. It still isn't."

New Star of the Seas features

Family

Much like Icon of the Seas, Star of the Seas has a heavy focus on the family experience.

Surfside, a neighborhood just for families, appeals to those 0-6 years old, but on Star of the Seas, the age has increased that to 10 years old. Splashaway Bay, Playscape, and The Water's Edge Pool will be updated to reflect this change. 

Located near Surfside is Adventure Ocean, where there are more "analog play" offered. The teen club has also been rebooted. In addition, Royal Caribbean is offering a "Find my kid" option in the app so parents can track where their kids are on the ship.

Plus, there's a family dog on Star of the Seas! Sailor is the name of the Chief Dog Officer, and you can meet her if you spot her around the ship.

Dining

There is a supper club on Star of the Seas, but it's not the same as the one on Icon of the Seas. Instead of the Empire Supper Club, which had a New York City theme, Star of the Seas has a Lincoln Park Supper Club with a Chicago theme.

Schneider said, "It's our flagship intimate fine dining entertainment concept [that] will bring forward that same formula that's worked so well in the Empire Supper Club. But again, themed menu, music, all paired to the Chicago and Chicagoland area."

Royal Caribbean has also improved one of its new restaurants, AquaDome Market.

The complimentary food venue has three new food halls: Mai Thai (Thai), Pig Out BBQ (American BBQ), La Cocinita (South American).

It still has two original food hall concepts retained: Feta (Mediterranean) and Creme de la Crepe (crepes). 

Cabins

Royal Caribbean is testing out facial recognition cabins on Star of the Seas. This is a pilot program, so Royal Caribbean isn't sure how many cabins will have this new feature.

Also, The Ultimate Family Townhouse will receive a "new look" and "uplift" according to Schneider.

Entertainment

Cruisers can expect to find similar onboard amenities as Icon of the Seas, including Crown's Edge, Category 6 waterpark, multiple swimming pools, and more.

There will be an extra hot tub onboard. "We are adding a little bit of incremental water weight back in a hot tub that will be adjacent between Lime and Coconut and the AquaDome Market that was originally planned on being there [on Icon of the Seas], but got pulled at the last minute due to water weight," Schneider said.

Incredible demand

The demand for this new ship has been incredible because of its follow-up to the ultra-successful Icon of the Seas.

The company saw the largest booking day in its history when reservations for the Icon of the Seas opened in October 2022. Royal Caribbean President & CEO Michael Bayley said Icon of the Seas was "the best-selling product in the history of our business."

Michael Bayley thinks Star of the Seas will build on the impressive legacy Icon of the Seas has already. "The idea of combining the best of every type of vacation into one ultimate adventure has created more excitement than ever anticipated, and Star of the Seas will be the next bold answer to the record-breaking consumer demand we’ve seen for Icon of the Seas."

Read more: Royal Caribbean ship classes

Next-gen power

Like Icon of the Seas, Star of the Seas will take advantage of cleaner fuel options.

This will be Royal Caribbean's third cruise ship powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), as well as using some of the cleanest-burning marine fuel available to date with a proven lineup of industry-leading environmental programs on board.

With applications ranging from waste heat recovery systems to shore power connection, Royal Caribbean’s most sustainable ship will advance parent company Royal Caribbean Group’s journey to introducing a net-zero cruise ship by 2035.

When do bookings open for Star of the Seas?

Royal Caribbean opened bookings for Star of the Seas on December 5, 2023.

You can now book a cruise on Star of the Seas between August 2025 and April 2026. The new ship will offer 7-night cruises to the Eastern and Western Caribbean. All sailings visit Royal Caribbean's private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay.

There are four different itineraries:

1. Perfect Day at CocoCay, St. Thomas, St. Maarten
2. Perfect Day at CocoCay, St. Thomas, St. Kitts
3. Perfect Day at CocoCay, Puerto Rico, St. Maarten
4. Perfect Day at CocoCay, Cozumel, Roátan, Costa Maya

Read more: Royal Caribbean's new cruise ship prices are more expensive than Celebrity's new premium ship

The escalating war between Israel and Hamas has resulted in Royal Caribbean pulling the plug on the rest of its planned cruise season in the region.

Royal Caribbean had already cancelled a few sailings from Israel, as well as visits to the country on other ships.

Guests booked on the November 1 and November 6 sailings received updates that their sailings had been cancelled as well.

"As you may be aware already, the geopolitical situation in Israel is escalating," Royal Caribbean wrote in an email to guests booked on these sailings.

In the email, Royal Caribbean conveyed the need for the safety of guests, crew, and the ship to make the change, "With your safety and wellbeing in mind, and in conjunction with our Global Security Department, we've decided that we must cancel our November 1st, 2023 Rhapsody of the Seas sailing."

Rhapsody of the Seas was scheduled to operate a 5-Night Greek Isles and 6-Night Med Highlights before moving to Barcelona, Spain to conclude their fledgling cruise season from Israel.

Guests will receive a 100% refund, including taxes and fees, pre-paid packages and gratuities, amenities, shore excursions, any flights purchased through Royal Caribbean, and pre-purchased Royal Caribbean Travel Protection.

Royal Caribbean was one of the first cruise lines to cancel cruises that visited Israel over the weekend when Hamas launched a surprise attack that targeted civilians and military personnel.

Since then, other cruise lines have cancelled their visits to Israel as well.  Sister brand Celebrity Cruises cancelled a visit to Israel that Celebrity Apex had scheduled for earlier this week.

MSC Cruises revised its Eastern Mediterranean itineraries for MSC Sinfonia and MSC Musica by removing stops in Israel.

"The safety of our passengers and crew is always our top priority and we have worked rapidly to revise the itineraries of MSC Sinfonia and MSC Musica to offer an extremely attractive alternative for the winter months," MSC Cruises CEO Gianni Onorato said in a statement.

Similar cancellations have been made by Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, and many other lines.

Cruise lines that have cancelled their scheduled visits to Israel are mostly re-routing to Turkey or Greece.

It's not just cruise ships bypassing Israel, as major U.S. airlines have temporarily suspended flights to and from Tel Aviv.

The U.S. State Department has issued advisories for the region, warning against travel to Gaza and urging increased caution in visiting Israel and the West Bank.  

A return to Israel next year?

Royal Caribbean has plans to return to Israel in 2024 with a new season of cruises on Jewel of the Seas.

Between August and October 2024, Jewel of the Seas is scheduled to offer 3- and 7-night Greek Isles cruises from Israel.

In addition to Jewel, Odyssey of the Seas and Voyager of the Seas have itineraries with planned stops in Israel.

Earlier this week, Royal Caribbean's Senior Vice President, Sales, Trade Support and Service, Vicki Freed said the company would review events taking place as they happen and see what transpires, "as far as next year goes, I think we just have to see where we are a month from now, two months from now."

"No choice but to cancel"

No one wants their vacation cancelled, but given the circumstances it seems understandable for many.

Leeor Plotkin is an Israeli that had a cruise booked on Rhapsody of the Seas for the November 1st sailing and sees more important priorities at the moment than a cruise.

"Obviously Royal Caribbean had no choice but to cancel given the situation here, and we as Israelis have much more important things to deal with at the moment," he wrote in an email to Royal Caribbean Blog.

"Since Royal set Haifa to be a home port I fell in love with cruising and this was supposed to be my fourth time on Rhapsody."

As for next year, he quipped about the chances for a better cruise season to come, "Hopefully next season on Jewel will happen as planned, and there will come a moment again when our biggest concern will be 'is the deluxe package worth it'".

The most popular type of cruise ship cabin to book is a balcony, and there are a few types that really stand out as great choices (along with a couple that you might want to think twice about).

It's easy to see the appeal of a balcony cabin on Royal Caribbean: You get more living space than an inside room, and a private verandah to enjoy the views and get fresh air anytime you want it.  Plus, the cost of a balcony cabin is probably not much more than interior cabins.

Read more: Inside cabin vs. balcony room on a cruise ship

No matter which Royal Caribbean ship you sail on, there's sub categories of balcony rooms to choose from that differ based on location, room size, and other factors. If you didn't know any better, you'd assume all balcony cabins are the same, but the reality is that's not the case.

Most balcony cabins are fairly interchangeable in the sense of how large they are, and where they are located.  The difference comes in a few special cases, which can make for a compelling choice.

If you know about these special balcony rooms, you might be able to get your family a room with bonus space or benefits.

Before you book any balcony room on a Royal Caribbean cruise, consider these balcony cabins as great (and not-so-great) choices.

Extra large Central Park balcony

I couldn't believe these extra large balcony cabins existed until someone pointed them out to me on a cruise.

On Royal Caribbean's Oasis Class ships only, you'll find the Central Park neighborhood (it's on Icon of the Seas too, but it remains to be seen if this trick works on that ship class yet). Each deck has balcony rooms that face into Central Park instead of facing the ocean.

There are two Central Park balcony cabins on each deck that have double the width of a normal balcony room. This is because these rooms are next to a storage area, and there's no cabin space available to create a different cabin. Yet, the balcony is still there.

The cabin numbers are on decks 10, 11 and 12:

• 10629
• 11229
• 11629
• 12229
• 12629

Whenever I sail on an Oasis Class ship, I always check if these extra large Central Park balcony cabins are available because you get double the balcony space.

Aft balcony

I think the first trick I ever learned from people that cruised more than I have is to book an aft balcony on Vision Class or Radiance Class ships.

Read more: 5 things people that cruise a lot would tell first time cruisers if they could

There's two reasons to book an aft balcony on these ships.

First, you'll probably get more balcony space.  Because of the way the aft cabins are situated, they tend to be set further back into the hull, but have a balcony that extends out to make up the difference.

Second, people that cruise a lot love the views aft cabins provide because it's a different experience.

On other Royal Caribbean ships, aft balcony cabins could have more space, but there tends to be more in the way of the view. Freedom and Voyager Class ships have a lot of metal superstructure that partially block the view. 

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

Connecting balconies

My favorite family cruise tip is to book connecting cabins instead of a single room.

Families tend to look at their cabin choice in the same way they'd pick a hotel room.  Because cruise ship cabins are smaller than your average hotel room, and you'll probably spend more time in your stateroom than in a land hotel, cramming into one room is a mistake.

This draws some people to book a suite to make up for the lack of living space, but suite prices can get very expensive.

Instead, look at two (or more) connecting balcony rooms.

On most ships, the balcony divider can be opened up between cabins adjacent to each other, which means you can end up with an extra large balcony space that rivals most suites.

Plus, you'll pay less than a suite and get separate bedrooms and bathrooms too!

Read more: 7 Best Royal Caribbean cruise ships for kids

Sky Junior Suite

I wasn't going to include suites in this list, but the Sky Junior Suite is an interesting exception.

When Icon of the Seas launches, she will have a new kind of Junior Suite category that greatly builds upon the standard Junior Suite offering.

On all other ships, a Junior Suite is essentially a glorified extra large balcony room.

Sky Junior Suite benefits include Suite Neighborhood access, all-day dining at two suites-only restaurants, free wifi, and concierge service.

Hump balcony

When I went on my first Radiance Class ship, we booked a hump balcony room and it felt like we hit the jackpot.

If you look at the design of a ship, towards the middle is usually a part that bulges outward, and rooms in this area can sometimes have significantly more balcony space.

There are hump balcony rooms on Radiance Class, Voyager, Freedom, Oasis or Quantum.

You will need to look closely at the deck plan to see which balconies are larger.

Avoid: Obstructed view

It can be tempting to book an obstructed view cabin to save money, but based on how many negative reviews I read, I'd advise against it.

There are certain balcony rooms that have something blocking the view, which Royal Caribbean refers to as "obstructed view".  It could be a partial obstructed view or full obstructed.

You're at a higher chance to get an obstructed view when booking a guarantee cabin.  This is because Royal Caribbean picks from leftover cabins your room assignment and as you might imagine, there are not many guests who want to book a room with an obstruction in the way.

Sometimes the obstruction can be minor, like a lifeboat below your balcony which makes it difficult to look down to the sea below.  But other obstructions can truly block your view in the academic sense of the word.

To avoid disappointment, I don't recommend booking these cabins. In fact, I'd sooner book an inside room instead of an obstructed balcony room.

Read more: Royal Caribbean cabins to avoid

Avoid: Virtual balcony

Despite the name, a virtual balcony isn't actually a balcony room.

The idea is simple: take an inside cabin and add a floor-to-ceiling television that has live views from the outside and augment it with a graphical representation of what a balcony would look like in the foreground.

It sounds nice on paper, but virtual balcony rooms don't compare to the real thing at all.

Think of a virtual balcony as an upgrade from an inside room, rather than a replacement for a balcony cabin.

If you want a balcony because you want the fresh air and extra living space, a virtual balcony will give you none of those.

Planning a cruise? Start here:

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

There's lots happening in the cruise world, including Royal Caribbean updates you should know about.

With a fleet of 26 ships, there are always going to be things happening and in an effort to keep everyone up to date, here's a quick run through of the latest news from this week.

Think of these as quick hits of changes and news that you should be aware of that changed in the last few days.

Final payment date change for long cruises

Royal Caribbean has changed when final payment is due for long cruises.

The new policy applies to sailings that are 15 nights or longer.

"As of today, guests will now have up until 120 days prior to sailing to make their final payment for sailings that are 15 nights or greater. Additionally, there will be a higher deposit amount required, per person, for new bookings made for sailings that are 15 nights or greater after today."

If you booked a cruise already, Royal Caribbean will grandfather you into the old policy, "no changes to your booking and payment schedule since you booked prior to these changes."

Hideaway Beach construction update

We have new photos to share of the construction progress being made at the new adults-only beach coming to Perfect Day at CocoCay.

Hideaway Beach will open to guests in January 2024, and is the first major expansion of the private island since the opening of the Coco Beach Club in 2020.

This new area will have an extra-cost, and it's meant for adults who want to enjoy a lively atmosphere and no kids.

Poolside cabanas, a new pizza restaurant, swim-up bar and infinity pool are what Royal Caribbean will add to keep adults in a party mood all day long.

Hideaway Beach is for guests 18 years or older and has an admission cost to enter.

Construction of On The Rocks is progressing, with a bright red color visible.

On The Rocks is located along the rocky shore and has live music, TVs to watch live sports, games like pool and shuffleboard.

More cruises from Israel could be cancelled

Royal Caribbean has already cancelled two cruises from Israel due to the conflict started by Hamas terrorists, and more cancellations could be on the way.

Royal Caribbean's Senior Vice President, Sales, Trade Support and Service, Vicki Freed, told Travel Weekly the cruise line will take things a step a time, "as far as next year goes, I think we just have to see where we are a month from now, two months from now."

She also posted on Facebook a heartfelt show of support to the Israeli people in this troubling time, "There are truly no words to describe the unfathomable situation in Israel right now. I am praying for the innocent civilians who've lost their lives and their families, those who’ve been kidnapped, the brave soldiers, and all of the people of Israel. It's heartbreaking to see the reports, photos and videos of such senseless violence. I stand with Israel today and always."

The October 9, 2023 and October 13, 2023 sailings on Rhapsody of the Seas were both canceled, along with port visits by Odyssey of the Seas.

Bahamas shipyard expanding operations

Grand Bahama Shipyard announced it will build one of the the largest floating docks in the Western Hemisphere, thanks in part to working with Royal Caribbean Group.

The shipyard, together with Royal Caribbean Group and Carnival Corporation, recently received approval to proceed with an expansion project that is estimated to bring billions of dollars in economic impact to Grand Bahama’s economy over the next 25 years.

The $600 million project includes the construction, delivery to Freeport, and commissioning of two world-class floating docks that will allow the shipyard to service the entire range of cruise ships in operation and under construction, as well as much of the world’s commercial shipping fleet.

"For more than 50 years we have partnered with The Bahamas to deliver exceptional vacations to millions of guests and create opportuni6es for local Bahamian communities," said Jason Liberty, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean Group.

"We are proud to expand our longstanding partnership and see establishing Grand Bahama as a premier maritime destination for repair and revitalization of all kinds of vessels, as a project that will drive economic growth for the Bahamian industry and create a positive impact for the people of The Bahamas for generations to come."

The two new floating drydocks are under construction in China, with expected delivery in 2025 and 2026.

Royal Caribbean Group joins global trade association for the methanol industry

Finding cleaner energy solutions for its cruise ships has become a top priority for Royal Caribbean Group, and the company is aligning itself with a trade group.

Royal Caribbean Group is the newest member of the Methanol Institute, which represents the world’s leading producers, distributors, and technology companies. 

Jason Liberty, President and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group said, "We are pleased to join the Methanol Institute, and as we seek sustainable energy solutions we recognize the importance of collaboration to help us transition to the energy platform of the future."

Royal Caribbean has a reputation for offering incredible activities on cruise ships, which includes its 10-deck-high slide.

The Ultimate Abyss has quickly become a hit with guests who flock to give it a try.

Towering 150 feet above sea level, it is a dry slide that sends guest plummeting down a 10-story slide.  To say it is a thrill ride on the high seas would be an understatement.  We felt it was our intrepid duty to try this gargantuan slide out ourselves, and report back what it is all about.

What is Royal Caribbean's Ultimate Abyss?

The Ultimate Abyss towers 150 feet above sea level at the aft of and offers a 100 foot drop.

The Ultimate Abyss is made up of two separate cylinders, a reflection of one-another, each with a diameter of approximately 2.6 feet and constructed of stainless steel.

Guests will twist and turn from deck 16 all the way down to deck 6, where they will exit on the Boardwalk.

It's only available on the Oasis-Class ships, with the exception of Allure of the Seas.

As if a 100 foot drop was not scary enough, there is a glass platform at the ride launch area to remind guests just how high up they are. Prior to going down the Ultimate Abyss, guests can take one last look at the Boardwalk, which is 10 decks below them, and then count their blessings and slide down.

During the ride down, you could reach a speed of up to nine miles per hour as they twist and turn in a serpentine-like movement.

There will be a new Ultimate Abyss on Utopia of the Seas, as Royal Caribbean wants to take back the title of the longest dry slide at sea.

How to ride

The entrance to the Ultimate Abyss is located on deck 16, near the very back of the ship.  It can be found by simply walking all the way to the aft of the ship on deck 16.

There is no means of signing up in advance, simply enter the queue when the ride is open and wait your turn.  In addition, there is no waiver to sign to participate.

You must be at least 44 inches tall and weigh no more than 300 pounds.

As you get closer to the entrance, you will be instructed on how to ride properly.  The important thing to know is to keep your elbows in and legs straight.  Not following these instructions can lead to a nasty (and painful) burn on your arms during the ride.

Right before climbing the stairs to the slide entrance, guests will take a mat that they will ride in.  At the top, the mat is placed at the very beginning of the slide, and the guest will enter the mat, placing their feet and most of their legs in the mat opening.  Then, grab the mat handle, lean back and head down when instructed.

During the ride, guests descend at a rate of up to nine miles per hour, through a variety of twists and turns.  While the slide is dark inside, there are spontaneous audio effects played at different parts of the ride, along with lighting effects.  All of this combines to provide a multi-sensory thrill.

At the conclusion of the ride, you will come to a stop along a long straightaway on the Boardwalk.  Step out, grab the mat and place it in the receptacle for used mats.

There is an on-ride photo option, where guests can get a photo of themselves that is taken just as they are about to end the slide ride.

How much does it cost to ride the Ultimate Abyss?

There is no cost to ride the Ultimate Abyss. It's free!

What's it like to ride?

The Ultimate Abyss lives up to its billing as a multi-sensory thrill ride.  Most guests that ride agree it is not as scary/intense an experience as one might think by looking at the slide.

The amount of turns, and the angles at which they occur, contribute to slowing guests down to a pace that is far more tolerable than a simple plunge.  It is quite common to be apprehensive at the top of the slide, but we found the ride down to be slower than we expected (which is not a bad thing).

Rides on the Ultimate Abyss are complimentary, and offered during most times of the day.  Lines certainly can develop for the Ultimate Abyss, especially on sea days and in the afternoons. To ensure a short wait, try to ride just as the ride opens or during dinner hours (after 5pm).

Ultimate Abyss is a lot of fun to ride, and definitely worth a few rides over the course of a cruise.  It is easy to get apprehensive about the experience, but the ride is big on fun and not as intense as one might imagine.

Which cruise ships have the Ultimate Abyss?

• Oasis of the Seas
• Harmony of the Seas
• Symphony of the Seas
• Wonder of the Seas
• Utopia of the Seas

Allure of the Seas does not have the Ultimate Abyss yet.

At least one sailing to Israel has been changed due to attacks by Gaza militants on Saturday.

A surprise attack on Israel by Hamas terrorists has brought a new wave of violence in the region, and these sort of incidents have historically meant cruise ships turning away.

UPDATE: A passenger on Odyssey of the Seas posted on the Royal Caribbean Blog message boards that Odyssey will skip Israel as well.

"The captain just announced (paraphrasing here) about half a hour ago, that we will not visit Israel due to the geopolitical situation, decision taken together with security experts and in view of the safety of passengers, staff and ship."

The passenger said while disappointing to have an itinerary change, he thinks it was the right choice, "I at least would not have felt safe there right now."

Instead, Odyssey is going to Bodrum in Turkey and Limassol in Cyprus.

Royal Caribbean offers Greek isles cruises on Rhapsody of the Seas from Haifa, Israel, which located in the northern part of the country.

The cruise line has yet to make a change to Rhapsody's upcoming itineraries.

Rhapsody of the Seas is currently in Santorini.

Royal Caribbean had to cancel cruises in 2021 from Israel due to unrest in the country.

Odyssey of the Seas was scheduled to sail from there, but sailings were cancelled once the attacks began there.

In fact, in countries where civil unrest occurs, Royal Caribbean typically cancels cruises to err on the side of caution.

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday that his country was “at war” because of the attacks by Palestinian militants. A barrage of rockets was fired indiscriminately into Israel,  and gunmen were sent into Israeli territory. It's the latest chapter in a bloody saga between the two sides that has lasted decades.

Celebrity Cruises cancels too

The Celebrity Apex is one such ship, which was scheduled to visit Israel this week.

A passenger onboard Apex posted on a message board that their itinerary has changed because of the attacks, "The captain recently announced that all stops in Israel were cancelled. "

"We are now heading to Cyprus and will overnight there.  Then we will have a sea day and arrive in Alexandria, Egypt a day early and have an extra day (now a total of 3 days) in Egypt."

Celebrity is not the only line that has changed plans.

Passengers on Holland America Line's Nieuw Standendam were already in Israel, but were quickly recalled back onboard.  A passenger posted, "three days in Holy Land has become three hours."

Royal Caribbean has a name for its second Icon Class cruise ship.

The cruise line announced on Thursday that the name of its next Icon Class ship to launch will be called Star of the Seas.

While the first Icon Class ship is about 100 days from entering service, Royal Caribbean is already eagerly looking towards the future with the second ship.

Royal Caribbean has orders in place for three Icon Class ships: Icon of the Seas, Star of the Seas, and an unnamed third Icon Class ship.

Why Star of the Seas? Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley thinks it's the perfect name for a ship that embodies the level of anticipation this new class has, "The idea of combining the best of every type of vacation into one ultimate adventure has created more excitement than ever anticipated, and Star of the Seas will be the next bold answer to the record-breaking consumer demand we’ve seen for nearly a year and counting with Icon of the Seas."

Star of the Seas was one of four ship names the cruise line put up for a vote on social media back in January of 2023. Other names included Idol of the Seas, Love of the Seas, and Queen of the Seas.

Star of the Seas did indeed win the poll on Twitter, garnering 44% of the vote.

Star of the Seas will debut in summer 2025, although there's no other details yet as to what will make this ship different or where she will sail from.

One detail we do know about Star of the Seas is she will be the third ship in Royal Caribbean's fleet to be powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), combining the use of the cleanest-burning marine fuel available to date with a proven lineup of industry-leading environmental programs on board. With applications ranging from waste heat recovery systems to shore power connection, Royal Caribbean’s most sustainable ship will advance parent company Royal Caribbean Group’s journey to introducing a net-zero cruise ship by 2035.

How Royal Caribbean picks a ship name

The decision of picking a ship name is not a simple one, as Royal Caribbean often considers dozens of names before settling on one.

Royal Caribbean will commonly register many trademarks for new cruise ship names with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. 

As an example, in December 2021, the company registered 24 new cruise ship names.

Why so many?

Part of the process is not only reserving names they intend to use, but also names they know they will not use. Because trademarks are a matter of public record, from a competitive advantage standpoint, they'll include other names to prevent tipping their hand in which direction they'll go.

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

Star of the Seas is already under construction

We now know the name of the second Icon Class ship, but construction has been underway for a while now.

In February 2023, a steel cutting ceremony was held, which when the first piece of steel is cut, it marks a pivotal point in the ship building process.

Other milestones include keel laying, floating out, and delivery.

Sky-high demand for Icon

The hype surrounding Icon of the Seas is unparalleled so far, with sales for the new ship through the roof and equally high intrigue surrounding the new features and ship design.

Royal Caribbean actually opened bookings up three months early for more Icon of the Seas cruises through 2026 due to how well-booked the ship is at the moment.

The cruise line saw the single largest booking day and highest volume booking week in its history when Icon was first revealed in October 2022. 

In May 2023, Royal Caribbean Group CEO Jason Liberty talked about the incredible demand the ship has experienced so far, "Despite being on sale for only five months, Icon is significantly more booked for her inaugural season at materially higher rates than any other Royal Caribbean ship launch."

Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley talked about this fact, "Icon is literally the best performing new product launch we've ever had in the history of our business, and we're delighted with volume and rate and that really is a full 24 product."

"Since Icon of the Seas was revealed almost a year ago, the response has been unprecedented by every measure."

Icon of the Seas will be 250,800 tons and hold up to 7,600 passengers, both of which are stats that eclipse the current largest cruise ship, Wonder of the Seas. Icon will also be about 10 feet longer than Wonder of the Seas, coming in at 1,198 feet long.

Icon of the Seas will remain in Miami, Florida and offer 7-night Eastern and Western Caribbean voyages, with all of them visiting Perfect Day at CocoCay. 

Currently under construction at the giant Meyer Turku shipyard in Turku, Finland, Icon of the Seas will have her first sailing begin in January 2024.

Two different Royal Caribbean cruise ships have reported having an issue with their propulsion systems.

Over the past few days, cruise fans have reported being notified of a propulsion issue on Oasis of the Seas and Anthem of the Seas.

Here's what we know about each ship's situation.

Anthem of the Seas

Customers with upcoming cruises on Anthem of the Seas have gotten emails from Royal Caribbean to inform them of itinerary changes because the ship must travel slower.

In the email, Royal Caribbean informed guests Anthem must sail at a reduced speed because of an issue with one of the ship's engines, "one of the ship's four engines requires maintenance which impacts our speed."

"While this impacts our ability to deliver on the original itinerary, we're confident that it will still be an exceptional cruise vacation."

Depending on the itinerary, scheduled stops in Port Canaveral, Florida or Nassau, Bahamas have been dropped from the itinerary. 

The October 30 and November 5 sailings are confirmed to have had changes to their itineraries.

Royal Caribbean apologized for the change in itinerary, "We're very sorry about this change to your itinerary. We look forward to seeing you onboard."

For at least one sailing, guests received a one-day cruise fare refund in the form of an onboard credit. 

Anthem of the Seas is currently sailing from Southampton, wrapping up her 2023 European cruise season.

Oasis of the Seas

Guests on the current sailing of Oasis of the Seas received a letter in their cabin to inform them of an issue with one of the ship's propulsion pods.

The ship's captain made an announcement and a letter was sent to reconfirm the details, "As our Captain announced, an electrical component in one of our three propulsion pods needs replacing. Our crew is currently working through the repairs as we speak."

"While everything else is functioning at 100%, as a precaution we've lowered our speed, which means we'll arrive in Orlando (Port Canaveral) Florida a little later than planned."

The reduced speed has had a minimal impact on the ship's itinerary, with a delay coming into Port Canaveral by about an hour.

The letter went on to apologize for the change, "We're terribly sorry for the impact to your cruise. Please know, your safety and comfort, along with that of our crew, remain our top priorities."

Oasis of the Seas is currently homeported in Cape Liberty, New Jersey.

In a Facebook group for Oasis of the Seas, a number of cruisers confirmed the issue, but also reported everything seems fine for them.

Tanya Stark-Beakes is on Oasis of the Seas on the current sailing and said the issue doesn't seem to have much of an impact, "It’s very minor. We’ll just be a little late to Port Canaveral (it initially started with having to deliver a patient to Virginia and having to go full speed after that). We’re still moving at a good pace."

Margaret Tricarico also confirmed nothing has changed much for them, "Yes, the Captain made an announcement around 8:30 last night. It’s fine. We’re motoring along and we can see the sun starting to rise on the horizon"

Cruise ships have redundant engines for this situation

Cruise ships encountering a propulsion issue is not unheard of by any means.

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.

Last month, Radiance of the Seas had a propulsion issue that required Royal Caribbean to cancel two sailings so that repairs could take place. Cancelling cruises for a propulsion issue is quite rare and indicative of an acute problem that necessitated a more prompt response.

Historically, ships with propulsion problems have been able to sail and either make repairs along the way, or hold off until a scheduled upcoming dry dock.