Carnival Cruise Line announced it was scrapping its lifetime loyalty program and switching to one that rewards the amount spent on cruises over two years. Is this a good or bad change, and will Royal Caribbean do the same?
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Royal Caribbean expanded its VIP offerings by selling arguably its best benefits a la carte on older ships.
Have you ever thought, "I'd pay money not to have to wait in line?" while on a cruise? Then this is the service for you.
Up until recently, the Royal Genie service was exclusively available on the newer and bigger ships only. However, it's now being sold on at least two ships: Independence of the Seas and Freedom of the Seas.
You get the services of a Royal Genie, and it can be used with any stateroom, even a tiny inside cabin. This gets you front of the line access, just about every extra cost included, and white glove service that no other passengers on your ship will enjoy.
Royal Caribbean rolled it out in April, and I booked it for an 8-night North European sailing on Independence of the Seas.
I wanted to know how effective it would be on a smaller ship, given that I've tried it on the big ships.
The new option is non-refundable and non-transferable, so there's no way to cancel after you book (trust me, I tried).
It costs $300.00 per adult per day, and $200.00 per child per day (Guests under age 6 are complimentary).
For my family of four over eight nights, it cost me $9,600 in total. And yes, I paid for all of it out my own pocket. Nothing was gifted to me by the cruise line or anyone else.
Benefits of booking a genie include:
What you get with the Royal Genie is the "easy button" for your cruise, from start to finish.
I had Thaires (Thai) as my genie, and her job was to make my cruise as fun, magical, and easy as possible.
A few weeks before the cruise began, I got an email introducing her and her services. Just like the Royal Genie on Royal Caribbean's big ships, these pre-cruise emails are meant to introduce and get to know the genie, while sharing your personal preferences.
I find the pre-cruise communication not that important. I'll share my specialty dining requests and which beverages I want in the stateroom, but the real fun begins when you get onboard.
Your genie meets you in the cruise terminal and this is when everything becomes instantly easier. They escort you onboard, and it's at this point they will do almost anything to ensure you have a better cruise.
Here's a list of simple and not-so-simple things my genie did:
There's more, but this is all I could remember specifically from the trip.
You message your genie through WhatsApp, but they will greet you around the ship. Most genies will wait for you at the entrance to a restaurant or theater to escort you in, get you in a reserved seat, and attend to any requests you have.
Every genie has their own style, which means each one leans more into online or in-person communication, and they like to surprise you.
Thai decorated both of our staterooms, something I've never seen a genie do. She also spent some time with us during the day to get to know us better.
Ultimately, the job of the genie is to remove obstacles and include every possible add-on you can imagine.
There are two areas the genie cannot help. First, is their services only work on the ship. Even in the cruise terminal they can't assist, and when you're off the ship, that's time you can't use them.
The other area was actually delivering food. Thai said she wasn't allowed to physically deliver food or drinks. If I wanted any, she could arrange to have it delivered by the room service team.
With other genies, I've had the genie bring me food or drink, even to a bar or public area. However, that wasn't possible this time around.
The Royal Genie Package is the very definition of a splurge and not a dollar-for-dollar value.
I think Royal Caribbean is offering this to a certain clientele that value convenience over everything else. Up until now, they were relegated to only the new ships.
I've had a Royal Genie on a few other ships over the years, and the experience on Independence was just as good as those. If you're worried it's a watered down version, fear not.
Thai did just about anything and everything asked of her to make it easier. I loved being able to text her my coffee order and avoid waiting in a long line at Cafe Promenade.
When our ship was delayed getting into Rotterdam, there was a giant line of passengers waiting to disembark, but Thai escorted us to the front of it and we bypassed everyone.
The only disappointment is that you can't take full advantage of what the Royal Genie can do given your cabin limitations. I was in a balcony cabin and there wasn't enough room to truly enjoy the genie perks you'd find in a mega suite.
At $300 per person, per day, there's no denying it's a very pricey upgrade. One can make the argument that if you were going to buy an unlimited drink package, The Key, and Unlimited Dining Package, that covers at least half the daily cost and it's not absurd a cost as it may look on paper.
I think Royal Caribbean would be the first to admit this isn't an offering for everyone. It's something to cater to certain families that prioritize their comfort and make the cruise as easy as humanly possible.
I loved my week with Thai, and it was so nice getting treated like a VIP from start to finish. I liked it even more than I expected, even if the ship doesn't have as many venues compared to newer ships.
Royal Caribbean's first beach club will open in December and you can now make reservations.
Royal Beach Club Paradise Island will open in late December 2025, and we now know how much admission will cost.
This is the first of its kind offering by the cruise line, where Royal Caribbean passengers have exclusive access to a beach that is designed to be the ultimate beach day.
Unlike Perfect Day at CocoCay or Labadee, admission costs extra. There's a limited capacity, and it's meant to be an optional choice for cruisers who want to indulge in its offering.
The earliest day passes are available to book for all Nassau stops on or after Saturday, December 27, 2025.
There are multiple admission types to get you into the beach club.
Royal Caribbean offers dynamic pricing for all of the beach club admission. I found the pricing for Utopia of the Seas December 26, 2025 sailing to attempt to find exemplary prices to give a ballpark idea.
Keep in mind this is the week of Christmas and New Years and it's on a brand new ship, which means these prices are likely on the high end of the spectrum.
There are two types of day passes available, which includes purely admission into the club and access to the facilities, including chairs, umbrellas, food and drinks
| DAY PASS WITH UNLIMITED OPEN BAR & DINING |
|---|
| Includes: |
| Starting from $169.99 Guests ages 21+ |
|
| DAY PASS WITH NON-ALCOHOLIC DRINKS & DINING | |
|---|---|
| Includes: | |
| $129.99 Guests ages 13+ | $109.99 Kids ages 4–12 (Ages 3 and under are free) |
*Alcoholic drinks are available for purchase à la carte with this day pass option. | |
All admissions include unlimited dining, unlimited beverages, free Wi-Fi, round-trip transportation and all general amenities.
If you'd like to bring the whole family with friends, try a cabana.
Cabana rentals come in a few different sizes, with some of Royal Caribbean's biggest (and most expensive) cabana rentals ever.
The Ultimate Family Cabana gets you a cabana attendant, welcome amenity, dining area, private bathroom, private shower, private changing room, wet bar, reserved beach space, heated whirlpool, spiral slide, wooden swing, cozy hammock, loungers, suspended net lounger, frozen drink machine, TV, Bluetooth connection, charging outlets, lockable storage, and mini fridge.
Those looking to party all day might consider renting the party deck.
Located on the second floor of The Floating Flamingo (the world’s largest swim-up bar), it includes dedicated food & beverage service, lounge seating, mini fridge, cooler table, charging station, beach towels, ceiling fan, shoe cubbies and lockable storage.
For larger parties, you can reserve both east and west sides of the Party Deck.
For parties larger than 12 guests, entry to The Party Deck for up to 6 additional guests can be purchased separately.
Located at Party Cove, the Day Bed comes with day passes for up to 2 guests, complimentary dining, unlimited drinks (alcoholic & non-alcoholic), free Wi-Fi, roundtrip transportation, and all general amenities.
If you want to experience the best of fun in the sun at both the beach club and Perfect Day at CocoCay, there's a bundle option.
The Royal Beach Club Paradise Island Refreshment Package + Thrill & Chill Combo includes:
It's priced per day of the cruise, rather than a flat fee like the other options. Royal Caribbean says the price of the bundle at checkout is up to 45% less than those products added to cart individually.
Looking over the prices, you should know that the concept is to offer the very best beach experience.
Royal Caribbean has two goals: offer an unparalleled beach experience and give passengers a high quality shore excursion choice in Nassau.
Located on 17 acres at the western end of Paradise Island in Nassau, there's a mix of party and family time.
Regardless of which zone you end up spending most of your time, expect high energy throughout the club.
Royal Caribbean did a lot of research from its customers, and they want a day with music, drinks, and a fun vibe. It's not meant to be a quiet spot, even if you're in Chill Beach.
"It's going to be one of the, I would argue, it will be the most amazing beach day in essence," said Jay Schneider, Royal Caribbean's chief product innovation officer, earlier this year when he spoke to use about the big plans.
"Chill is not quiet… It is relaxed, but there is a little bit of energy built into what our guests expect out of Chill," Schneider said.
Family Beach is designed for what Royal Caribbean calls “relaxed energy” because it's a space where families can play, swim, and unwind together without sacrificing convenience or comfort.
The Royal Beach Club Paradise Island is the first foray into the exclusive beach spot arena, and Royal Caribbean has plans for more.
A second club will open in Cozumel, Mexico in 2026.
Guests will find great views, access to the water, and likely something that builds upon the success and lessons of the beach club in Nassau.
Full details and a layout have not been revealed for the Cozumel beach club, but it's likely related to the fact the cruise line wants to take some feedback from the Bahamas club to then use in Mexico.
Plus, the Cozumel club has more space and a different perspective to build upon.
Both beach clubs are meant to outflank other cruise lines by offering superior shore excursions that are unrivaled.
While private islands are common among the major cruise lines, beach clubs are new and extend the highly rated ship experience to land because it's managed by Royal Caribbean.
Offering passengers high guest satisfaction choices that inherently create memories is the core DNA for these new beach clubs, which the cruise line feels will translate into more bookings and higher revenue.
My family has only ever cruised in North America, so the opportunity to go on a European cruise was too good to pass up.
I went on an 8-night Northern European cruise on Royal Caribbean's Independence of the Seas, which began in Southampton, UK.
When I boarded the ship, I met a lot of cruisers who also flew from the United States for this voyage and many lamented how tired they were because they came in just before the cruise began.
Immediately, I realized they had made a mistake I avoided in planning out their trip.
Flying to Europe for a cruise means not only more travel logistics, but adjusting the local time as well as the general travel fatigue it comes with.
Not only would I never think to extend my Caribbean cruise in such a manner, I think adding time on either end of the cruise to see more of the continent is a must-do.
You should fly at least two days before your cruise departs when traveling overseas, but I'd recommend coming in even earlier than that.
Jet lag can ruin your trip, and it should be your first goal when traveling to ensure you don't start off over tired.
Put yourself on local time immediately upon arrival, and don't sleep until a reasonable bed time in the new time zone you're in. It's not foolproof, but I've found it the best strategy for reducing the chance of being jet lagged.
While avoiding jet lag is important, the real mistake is not allocating enough time to enjoy what Europe has to offer.
Port stops on your cruise will be short, so to really feel like you had time in Europe, I'd add more days before or after the cruise.
I flew in a week before my cruise departed, and we visited both Disneyland Paris and London.
Not only did we get to enjoy what each place had to offer, but I was able to catch up on the lost sleep in the flight over and prepare my body so I'd be ready for the cruise.
The people who flew in a day before the cruise seemed to be overly tired for the first couple days of the cruise, and I think I was able to enjoy the start of the cruise more.
I think the overarching goal for many on any European cruise is to see as much as they can.
The first question you'll get from friends or family is what you saw and did. While you don't have to impress anyone, I think it feels like a goal to work in more highlights.
Travel is as much about a humble brag as it is enjoying where you're going.
I was glad we spent so many extra days before the cruise so it truly felt like it wasn't one of those "it was over much too quickly" kind of vacations.
There's a good chance the airfare for a European cruise could be one of your top expenses. Coming in early means more return on that price.
While you might see added costs of hotel, food, and entertainment arriving to Europe earlier, squeezing more value from your flights is just as important.
Long-haul flights are taxing. Flying can cause dehydration, and even under the best conditions it's a lot of added stress.
Given how pricey flights are, I think it makes sense to ensure the uncomfortableness of flying and the tiredness it induces be more worthwhile from the trip.
More time in Europe seems to me to make the long, difficult flight more worthwhile.
Don't overlook adding days at the end of your cruise as a way to maximize your travel time.
I think most people look to front load their vacation with bonus days in Europe prior to the cruise, but you could easily add more time at the end too.
Spending a few extra days after the cruise is over makes the last day of your cruise so much easier. You don't have to rush to catch a flight, and you can linger on the ship longer to enjoy a final breakfast.
I'm actually doing both this trip, spending an extra week in Europe at the conclusion of my cruise.
Happy Sunday! Hope you are having a relaxing weekend and enjoying summer! It is time to sit back, relax, and catch up on all the recent Royal Caribbean news!
Royal Caribbean cruisers can breath a sigh of relief that more itinerary changes aren't likely to occur for cruises to San Juan, Puerto Rico.
The Port of San Juan posted an update that the U.S. Coast Guard has approved repairs made to the pier.
For months, Oasis Class ships were unable to dock because of damage to the moorings.
Royal Caribbean spoke about the significance of the Oasis Class, and how it set a new standard overnight.
The Oasis Class ships redefined cruising, and almost 20 years later, they're still as relevant today as back then.
Oasis was a radical departure from the ships that came before it, with each new Oasis Class pushing boundaries further.
Would you share a stateroom with your parents?
Cruise ship rooms are notable for how small they tend to be compared to hotel rooms, so sharing that small space with other adults isn't easy.
Jenna shared a tiny inside room with her parents and while it wasn't ideal, it did save them a lot of money.
Older and smaller ships may not be advertised much, but they're still great ships to sail on.
Some new cruisers question if it's worth it to go on an old ship because they're worried it will be disappointing.
Not only are they wonderful vessels to sail on, but they are a terrific value.
Allie sailed on Anthem of the Seas in Asia and came across a number of things she did right and wrong.
Part of trying new itineraries is trial and error, and some gambles work out while others do not.
We hope these experiences help you have a better cruise too.
Have you subscribed to the Royal Caribbean Blog YouTube Channel? We share some great videos there regularly, all about taking a Royal Caribbean cruise! This week, we are sharing our latest video — WORST & BEST Places On A Cruise Ship For A Cabin— and don’t forget to subscribe here.
There's a good chance Royal Caribbean's big ships will finally be able to resume visiting San Juan, Puerto Rico.
For many months the biggest ships in the world have been unable to visit San Juan because of damage to the pier.
Repair work has been slow, and it meant the only pier that was able to accommodate Royal Caribbean's giant Oasis-class ships was unavailable. As a result, it forced the cruise line to cancel visits to the port, often at the last minute.
It now appears that's finally been fixed.
The Port of San Juan posted an update on their Facebook page indicating the proper repairs have been made and authorities have approved it all.
Pier 3 West has been officially restored, after completing a rigorous structural assessment in accordance with U.S. Coast Guard requirements. The slora restriction is lifted and the full use of the facility is enabled.
“It has been a long road, but our priority has always been to meet all the requirements established by the regulatory agencies and ensure the safe arrival of cruise ships in the coming years,” said Clarivette Diaz, General Manager of San Juan Cruise Port.
We deeply thank all the technical teams, consultants and agencies who made this long-awaited breakthrough possible.
We continue to work with commitment so that San Juan continues to lead as the base port of the Caribbean.
El Nuevo Dia reported the repairs are complete as well, "San Juan Cruise Port (SJCP) confirmed this Friday the reopening of Pier 3 West for vessels over 910 feet in length."
Royal Caribbean has not commented or announced any expectations yet related to the pier's status.
According to the port schedule, it appears the next Oasis Class ship scheduled to visit San Juan is Wonder of the Seas on August 6, 2025.
Icon of the Seas will follow with a visit on August 12, 2025.
Other smaller Royal Caribbean ships will visit before Wonder does, but smaller ships have not had an issue docking because they can fit into other piers.
While San Juan has a few piers, only Pier 3 West can handle Royal Caribbean's Oasis Class ships.
Based on reports, damage to the pier that can handle the biggest ships took place in April 2024 when allegedly it was broken after the MSC Meraviglia was involved, however, specific details are not known.
Following that incident, the U.S. Coast Guard assumed operational control of the facility.
In a statement released in November, the Coast Guard confirmed that Pier 3 West would remain closed to cruise traffic until further notice. The decision is contingent upon a series of structural assessments and an on-site inspection. While other piers at the San Juan Cruise Port remain operational, none are equipped to accommodate the largest cruise vessels, including those of the Oasis Class.
“Since the loss of the facility's mooring structure, Coast Guard Prevention personnel have been actively working with the San Juan Cruise Port and the Puerto Rico Ports Authority to determine if the structure remains sound for cruise ship operations,” said Capt. Luis J. Rodriguez, Commander of Coast Guard Sector San Juan and Captain of the Port.
Capt. Rodriguez added, “We understand the inconvenience of this matter, however, it is critical we ensure the safety of the port, the cruise ships and the thousands of people who operate on or visit the island through this port facility. My team stands ready to move ahead immediately once we receive the awaited studies from San Juan Cruise Port and the Puerto Rico Ports Authority.”
The loss of a dolphin mooring structure just off the main pier is the primary issue.
A dolphin is a group of pilings arrayed together to serve variously as a protective hardpoint along a dock.
Repairs and assessment are out of Royal Caribbean's hands, as it's work managed by port authorities and subject to approval by the Coast Guard.
A Royal Caribbean ship has changed plans for two sailings so far due to "maintenance work" that's forced the ship to reduce speed.
The issue occurred at some point during the June 21, 2025 sailing on Independence of the Seas after the ship departed Hamburg, Germany,
The 8-night cruise was scheduled to visit Rotterdam, Netherlands at 10am the following day, but the Captain informed passengers they'd be late into port.
The exact problem was not disclosed by the cruise line or the Captain, but passengers were told they'd be late coming into port.
"We've had to make some adjustments to the times we'll visit Rotterdam, Netherlands, due to speed restrictions from ongoing maintenance onboard," the letter to passengers said.
"Rest assured, all maintenance work is being conducted with the utmost safety."
Independence was originally scheduled to arrive in Rotterdam at 11am. The initial updated estimate was to arrive by 1:00 or 1:30pm, but that slipped until about 2pm.
While the ship was still in Rotterdam, Royal Caribbean sent out an email to passengers booked on the next sailing their itinerary would be altered too.
Independence of the Seas is a Freedom Class ship, first launched on April 30, 2008.
She is 154,407 gross tons and was one of the largest cruise ships in the world when built.
The 15-deck ship has a 4,370 passenger capacity and a crew capacity of 1,370.
Independence of the Seas is scheduled to sail a 7-night Norwegian Fjords cruise next, beginning on June 29th.
"We wanted to inform you about some changes to our itinerary," the email read.
"Due to speed restrictions from ongoing maintenance onboard, we’ve had to make some adjustments."
The new plan is to skip a scheduled visit to Alesund, Norway and replace it with a sea day.
However, Independence will arrive one hour earlier into Molde, Norway at 7am instead of 8am.
No other changes to the itinerary has been made.
The cruise line was quick to apologize for the last minute change and assure passengers the ship is still safe to sail on, "We’re sorry for the inconvenience. Please know that all maintenance work is being conducted with the utmost safety."
Passengers on the June 29th sailing will receive some onboard credit for the change in plans.
"As a token of our appreciation for your understanding, you’ll receive a credit to spend onboard per stateroom," is what the email said.
Any shore excursions booked through Royal Caribbean will be fully refunded automatically.
Mechanical problems can occur on cruise ships, just like they can on airplanes, buses, or trains.
Given that they operate every week, propulsion problems are fairly rare.
Independence of the Seas is not a new ship, but Royal Caribbean invests a lot of money into routine maintenance. However, engine problems will still occasionally happen.
It's common when there is an issue for the ship's speed to be affected and itinerary changed, rather than cancelling the entire sailing.
Maintenance can be done to the ship while in port if necessary, rather than pulling it out of service completely.
Instead of booking a tour on my Royal Caribbean ship visit to Hamburg, Germany, I let a stranger plan my day and it worked out really well.
Months ago I was just starting the planning process for my European cruise aboard the Independence of the Seas.
Hamburg is a port I've never been to before, and we only had a few hours of time to visit. I wasn't sure how to best use the time, but I knew I wanted to visit a beer garden, because it seemed like a very German thing to do.
Unrelated to this, I went for a visit to a facsimile of what a beer garden is like at Walt Disney World, where they have the Biergarten restaurant in Epcot.
Our waitress started talking to us, and I noticed her nametag said she was not only from Germany, but near Hamburg. I asked her for any recommendations for what to do in town.
Her name is Sariana, and she lives in Bremen. She worked at Walt Disney World for a few years as part of an international employee work program.
As it turned out, she was not only a cruiser, but also a viewer of Royal Caribbean Blog on YouTube and volunteered to show us around when we arrived.
I had my doubts how serious she was, or if she'd even show up. Sure enough, the week our Independence of the Seas cruise departed, I got a message from her that she hadn't forgotten about us and wanted to help.
She suggested since we loved eating at the fake beer garden, why not try the real thing.
We picked out one place and Sariana made all the arrangements for my family and a few friends to meet up to eat there.
Unfortunately, that place was sold out, but she had a few other suggestions and we landed on Hofbräu Hamburg. It's located right in the city center, and is a traditional German beer garden.
The best way I can describe a beer garden is it's like a big party room, where you drink giant glasses of beer, eat traditional Bavarian/German food, and enjoy a ruckus good time.
You're seated at what is essentially picnic tables, and you very well could eat with or near other patrons.
The menu was giant, and I could have eaten a heck of a lot more. I wanted to try so many things, but unlike the food on Royal Caribbean, each entree is quite large.
We ordered schnitzel, Bavarian potato soup, spätzle, and more.
And yes, I indulged in a liter of beer. Not only is it traditional, but we all were looking forward to sharing beers together.
The food was so good, and we had a great time sharing cruise stories, talking about how life is different in our countries, and just enjoying each other's company.
Sariana was sure to let the servers know we had to be finished by a certain time. Evidently if we hadn't, the two hours we had allocated for lunch wasn't long enough at a beer garden.
Going into Hamburg and eating with Sariana and her sister reminded me why I love to cruise.
We got to meet amazing people and try foods in a foreign city that we otherwise would not have done otherwise.
I doubt we'd have ever planned a land vacation to Hamburg, and even if we did, without the love of cruising, I never would have had the opportunity to spend time with Sariana and her family.
I think we all had a great time being in Germany and doing a very German thing. When you add friends to the equation, it becomes the perfect kind of day.
When artificial intelligence first became mainstream with ChatGPT, I would have warned you against using it for planning your cruise.
Since the early adopters embraced artificial intelligence in 2023, it's leaped a considerable amount in terms of capabilities, and I think it can play a helpful role in planning a vacation.
The problem with planning a cruise is it's very nuanced and cruise line (and even ship) specific. I've found AI tends to lump policies and lines together and jump to certain conclusions that aren't reflective of the reality.
However, it's much better at land travel because there's so much more information available.
For my Royal Caribbean cruise to Europe, I determined booking traditional shore excursions was going to be a mistake because it's so easy to get around the cities of Europe on foot and via public transportation.
Instead, I started coming up with a list of places I wanted to visit in each city. That's easy, but how to manage it all so I can see everything in the best order?
I created a spreadsheet of the restaurants, historical sights, and interesting places I wanted to visit in each city. I compiled this list by watching a lot of YouTube videos to get a sense of what there was to do.
My goal was to determine the best order to see everything, minimize backtracking, and incorporate lunch and snack breaks.
I could have spent time popping each area into Google Maps, but I'd have to cross reference hours of operation and then figure out the transportation system in each city.
Almost immediately, I was ready to give ChatGPT a try.
Using ChatGPT is easy, but the secret is to be as descriptive and specific as you can in your prompts to get the answer you want. What I'm effectively asking it to do is read my mind with what I want.
I started out with Oslo, Norway, and wrote out exactly what I wanted. Here's the prompt I used:
I want to visit Oslo, Norway and visit these 4 places:
- Opera house
- Royal Palace
- Vigeland Sculpture Garden
- Karl Johans GateCreate a walking tour that begins where Royal Caribbean cruise ships dock, and ensure the walking tour takes a logical path to minimize backtracking, while taking us through the most scenic and beautiful areas tourists might be interested to see.
Prioritize walking, but if utilizing public transportation (such as the metro system) makes sense, than include that.
Our hours in port are 10am to 6pm, but plan to have us back at the ship by 4pm at the latest.
We have teenagers and tweens with us, so keep the walking pace leisurely.
Suggest spots for lunch or a snack where appropriate, but the 4 places identified are the top priorities to see.
It generated a time based list of each place to visit, how to get there, and what to look for at each spot.
There's a certain amount of trust that its plan will work out, but I was willing to try.
I then asked it to export the tour to a custom Google Map, after reading an unrelated article about how easy it's become to create custom maps.
It initially gave me directions how to add each pinpoint on my own, but at the end it offered to provide a downloadable KML file that I could import into My Maps to save time.
"Heck yea I want to save time!"
It gave me the code to use, I saved it as a file, and then imported the data into Google Maps. Instantly, I had a map planned out with all our stops and in which order to use it.
I repeated this process for each port. After trying it once, it becomes very quick.
I loved how easy it all was to create these custom tours, but I was sure to verify it wouldn't lead me astray.
In our first port of Oslo, ChatGPT guessed incorrectly which port we'd dock at. It thought we would be at the Akershus Cruise Terminal, but Independence of the Seas docked near Akker Brygge.
That meant our walking plan was off kilter because our starting point was at a different area of town.
That's not a big deal, because my custom Google Map allowed me to pick the closest spot, and get walking directions and go from there.
In fact, leveraging Google Maps was the best idea. ChatGPT had the plan, but Google Maps gave me real-time advice on if I should walk, taxi, or use public transportation.
I'd advise anyone to export the data into Google Maps to easily reference where you're going.
In Copenhagen, it was correct where we docked and just about everything.
Sometimes the coordinates it used for the custom Map would be off by a block, but it got me so close that I could easily look around and figure it out.
The lesson is you still need to double check your plan as you go, and not simply blindly follow it.
I think I absolutely did the right thing by planning out my city tour in each port on my own with the assistance of AI, but it couldn't do everything.
I wish I had more information along the way, like I would with a tour. Or at least more information at the places I visited.
On the one hand, I don't love traditional tours where the host points out everything around you at all times and shares an endless stream of historical facts. But on the other hand, I wish there was a little more information about the things we saw.
An audio guide is what I probably want, but audio guides have a lot of extra fluff in them. I'd love to be able to ask questions on the fly, like who is that statue and why are they important? Or what else is nearby that might be cool to see?
Or I could have ChatGPT provide more detail on each stop and I could somehow reference that information in Google Maps or bookmark it somehow.
Without a doubt, using AI to plan my city touring in Europe was a really smart decision that made it so much easier.
I loved how it organized and analyzed what I wanted to do.
However, it was critical that I put in the effort to find interesting things to do rather than rely on it to provide them.
Plus, you can't blindly let it lead you. Consider it your first suggestion, but always double check it as you progress.
Lastly, I'd highly recommend having Google Maps and a cellular data connection so you can make the right transportation decision easily. My favorite eSim to use is Orange sim (this is an affiliate link, that costs you nothing extra but I make a small commission).
The newest and biggest ships get the most attention, but there are lots of good reasons to sail the older ships too.
New cruisers might be tepid about going on an older ship because they're not sure if it's better to cruise on a small ship.
When I started cruising, I thought small ships were going to disappointing and lack the aspects of a cruise that I thought I needed. But the more I cruised, the more I discovered what smaller ships can offer.
Royal Caribbean's older ships might be the best choice for value and what they offer onboard.
The age of a cruise ship is a detail, but it doesn't tell the whole story of what a cruise ship is all about.
In general, an older ship usually correlates to being smaller too. As ships have been built over the years, they've gotten bigger and added more activities, restaurants, and special areas.
The first thing you'll notice about an older Royal Caribbean ship is the size, and the second thing is what it may not have onboard.
If you've cruised on new ships, you may quickly notice if there's an area or feature not onboard. But if you've never cruised before, the differences may not be as obvious.
Older ships may not have as many dining choices, or they may not have the updated menus with them.
You may also find there's less of the top deck signature attractions that families clamor for. A ship built 10-15 years ago would have more than a ship built 20 years ago. It's almost like a sliding scale in that regard.
Something else different about an older ship is the aesthetic of the vessel, such as the cabin decor and look of the halls and public venues.
It's not a problem, but going from a brand new ship to an older ship would have a different look and feel.
There are many good reasons to try an older ship, so don't let it stop you.
I think the top reason I pick an older ship is the value. Older ships don't command the higher prices that new ones do, and that opens up more possibilities.
Spending less on a cruise means money saved, or you could move up to a bigger stateroom.
The other best thing about an older ship is where it sails to, as you're more likely to find more exotic destinations on them compared to new ships.
While new ships are relegated primarily to the same traditional ports, older ships get to visit more far flung places.
Something else I like about older ships is they have received upgrades that keep the ship interesting.
Depending on the exact ship, there could be new restaurants, water slides, or even shows onboard. Many of these concepts come from new ships, so you can experience the better options without paying for a new ship.
However, there's no question a new ship has the latest and greatest Royal Caribbean has come up with.
New ships are fun because of how much there is to do, eat, and experience. It's overwhelming in a good way, and I love it.
Families especially love new ships because there's more specialized for them. You'll find many more areas dedicated for kids programming on new ships, especially younger cruisers.
New ships have an undeniable cool factor to them. There's a humble brag that comes with being able to say you tried a new ship.
If you're sold on the idea of trying an older ship, here are the best small Royal Caribbean ships to consider.
Brilliance of the Seas: The Radiance Class is my favorite small ship in the fleet because they're beautiful ships with good variety of dining choices.
I'd pick Brilliance for where it sails to, as well as the fun onboard. I've sailed the most on Brilliance, and it's never disappointed.
Mariner of the Seas: One of early my favorite cruise ships, Mariner of the Seas has some of the best upgrades of any older ship.
Because it has a Royal Promenade, it has a big ship feel without the new ship price. I consistently find great deals on Mariner, which also contributed to why I've sailed as often as I have on it.
Freedom of the Seas: Another ship that got fun upgrades as part of a refurbishment, Freedom of the Seas is even bigger than Mariner and it's probably the best "step down" from a new ship to try first.
I think there are really good reasons to cruise on a small and old ship, so don't limit yourself just to the new ones.
While I think a new ship is ideal for a new cruiser because they offer the greatest variety of how to cruise, older ships are a good idea to graduate to as you want to sail more often.
Families that want non-stop activities and the best options for kids of varying ages will still find new ships to be ideal.
If you're worried about being bored on a small ship, pick a port intensive itinerary so you're less dependent on the ship.
Writing off a ship based on age or size alone is a mistake because of how much more of the cruising experience you can take advantage of. From different places to visit, venues to try, and money to save, I think older ships are a great idea for just about anyone.