I'll be boarding Mariner of the Seas for our next group cruise and I'm listing my favorite things to do in each of the ports we are visiting.
Share with me your thoughts, questions and comments via...
Taking a cruise is a wonderful escape on its own, but what if you want to make the entire trip extra special?
There are lots of occasions when people want to make their cruise memorable, such as for an anniversary, birthday, graduation or other life event. For these kind of celebrations, I'll see questions about ways to enhance the experience.
Think of these tips as the proverbial "cherry on top" for a traditional cruise.
To be fair, these tips all deal with spending extra money on your cruise. You certainly don't need to spend money in order to have a memorable vacation, but throwing money around can certainly make a cruise stand out given the extras it provides.
Hopefully these tips can help transform any cruise you have booked into an even more special occasion and something you'll look back on fondly.
A straight forward way to surprise someone would be get them a more lavish cruise ship cabin.
Whether you move up from an inside cabin to a balcony, or a balcony to a suite, getting a bigger cabin is noticeable difference.
There are two ways you can upgrade your cabin.
The first, is contact your travel agent and simply pay more to move up to a higher category. This is the simplest way, although you're subject to the prevailing rates for that cabin. How much more will vary considerably, but you're likely to get a better price for an upgrade if you do this many months before your cruise.
The alternative is to roll the dice with a RoyalUp upgrade, which is a way you can bid for a stateroom upgrade.
Once you get to final payment date, you can let Royal Caribbean know how much you would be willing to pay if an upgrade situation presented itself.
There's no guarantee that because you see a RoyalUp upgrade opportunity that there's a cabin available, but there's no harm in trying either. Just keep in mind your bids are binding if it were to be accepted.
One of my favorite ways to travel and get excited even before stepping onboard my ship is to fly first class.
First class airfare is not cheap, but if you book it early, there can sometimes be a good deal. Moreover, this is a good way to use up those credit card points you may have stacked up.
You could also take a limo to the airport or stay in a suite at your pre-cruise hotel to complete the Hollywood treatment.
Is your cruise visiting one of Royal Caribbean's private islands?
At both Perfect Day at CocoCay and Labadee, you'll find cabanas you can rent for the day.
When you rent a cabana, you not only get a dedicated spot to enjoy with shade, bottled water, and floating mats to enjoy, you'll have a cabana attendant who can bring you drinks (and food at Perfect Day at CocoCay).
Staying in a cabana gets you
If you really want to go big, try one of the cabanas at the Coco Beach Club. While pricey, these are the most lavish cabanas Royal Caribbean has and the lunch you get is unrivaled.
Read more: Guide to Perfect Day at CocoCay Cabanas
The level of service with a cabana, along with the plush accommodations, make it a must-book nearly every time I visit either destination.
Perhaps no other is more synonymous with treating yourself (or someone else) than the Vitality Spa.
Spa treatments are all about being pampered, so it makes perfect sense to book a spa appointment.
You can book spa treatments and salon appointments online via the Royal Caribbean cruise planner before your cruise. There's a wide selection of choices to consider.
Read more: When should you buy Royal Caribbean add-ons
Royal Caribbean makes it very easy to decorate your cabin for a birthday, anniversary, or honeymoon with decoration kits.
You'll find these items in the cruise planner site.
The room decorations include door décor, mirror clings, photo frames and more.
There's nothing quite like exploring a port of call without having to wait for anyone else.
A private tour shore excursion can be not only liberating in the sense you get to do what you want, when you want, but it's also a great way to feel special since the entire tour is about your group.
There are a few ways to book a private tour, depending on the port you are visiting.
Royal Caribbean offers its own private shore excursion option through Private Journeys. Be sure to contact them at least a month or two before your cruise, as it takes them a while to get options together.
In most ports, you can also arrange a private tour on your own. It's important to do your research for reputable options, but there's usually a few operators that can do this.
Some good ideas for a private tour would be a sightseeing tour, catamaran ride, or ATV tour. But your imagination is usually the limit.
With all these splurges, you're going to want to capture the memories with a great photo.
Each night of the cruise, there will be photographers around the ship to take your photo. There is no cost to take the photos, and later you can stop by the Photo Gallery to see how the prints came out.
Whether it's formal night or not, get everyone together and dress to the nines, put on matching pajamas, or find that eclectic outfit at Target for ironic photos.
You could also arrange a private photo sitting. Most ships have the option for a sitting, where you can go to a studio and have a photo session. There is an obligation to pay for the time and photos, but these are where you might get some really great shots.
While I really enjoy the main dining room, there's nothing quite like specialty dining as a way to enjoy additional cuisines and cooking styles.
Royal Caribbean offers an unlimited dining package, where you can eat at a specialty restaurant every night of the cruise for dinner and lunch on sea days (and embarkation day).
Depending on which ship you're sailing, there's quite a few different choices to consider. On a 7-night cruise, you'll have opportunity to repeat a few (or all) of the restaurants so you can try one of everything.
Read more: How to know if you should buy a Royal Caribbean dining package
This tip requires more coordination, but if you're going to sail with a few other families and friends, then you could really splurge in style.
If you can book at least 8 cabins with a single travel agent, you could create a group with Royal Caribbean.
When you have a group, then you can work with Royal Caribbean's groups department to arrange special events onboard, such a renting out certain venues. Imagine having the water slides or bumper for just your group for an hour. Or renting out a lounge to have a private party? Your imagination (and budget) are the limit.
Before anyone books a cruise, talk with a travel agent about arranging this so you can get the important group backend logistics set up first.
Read more: Top things you didn't know travel agents can do for your cruise vacation
Just like a photo can remind you of a wonderful vacation, a piece of fine jewelry can be an everyday reminder of one too.
There are jewelry stores on Royal Caribbean ships, with some ships even having name brand jewelry, like a Tiffany's store at sea.
You could also go jewelry shopping while in port, as nearly every port I've ever been to has plenty of jewelry shops.
Whether you look for a new ring, earing, or necklace, picking out a new piece of jewelry can be a wonderful way to top off the cruise.
Royal Caribbean's suites are the top echelon of cruise ship cabins, and it includes many perks and benefits for booking one of these spacious staterooms.
Suites come in a few different sizes and layouts, but the common thread among them all is a cabin that provides the most space with the best amenities for guests onboard.
Royal Caribbean's suite program is not quite a "ship within a ship" concept that other lines have, but they do give their guests lots of extra attention and access other cruise ship passengers do not receive.
If you elect to try one of the bigger suites, you'll find palatial rooms with lots of living space. Some of these rooms even encompass two levels.
Suites are one of the first type of cruise ship cabin to sell out on any sailing because of how limited they are and how many people value staying in a room that gets all those benefits.
If you think a suite might be in your future, here's what you should know about a suite cabin, what it includes, and what you get for spending all that money.
While Royal Caribbean is not a luxury cruise line, it does offer very lavish suites on its ships, especially if you try one of the biggest suites on its newest ships.
The exact suite benefits depend on the type of ship you sail on. Essentially, there are two echelons of the suite program: the Royal Suite Class on Oasis Class, Quantum Class, and Icon Class ships, and then the suites on the rest of the fleet.
No matter which suite you book, you can expect access to a dedicated suite lounge, services of the suite concierge, reserved seating on the pool deck, double Crown and Anchor Society points per night of your cruise, and priority embarkation/disembarkation.
The exact benefits will be spelled out for you when you get onboard (as well as a week before the cruise in a welcome email from the suite concierge).
Something else you should know about suites is that they are only available with non-refundable deposits. This means if you were to change your mind later and cancel a reservation before the final payment date, you'd lose your entire deposit.
Royal Caribbean wanted to enhance the suite program on its newer ships, so they created a top-level experience, especially compared to land-based suite offerings.
The result is the Royal Suite Class, which categorizes suites into three tiers, each with its own set of benefits.
At the top is the Star Class, which not only encompasses the largest cabins onboard, but also includes all the benefits of the other suites, plus the added bonus of including a drink package for everyone in the cabin, internet access, and their personalized attendant for the sailing, the Royal Genie.
Each Royal Genie is shared by just 3 or 4 suites and is a cross between the suite concierge, butler, and magic maker. They can attend to your every need onboard and reserve seats at any show or restaurant without the need to plan ahead.
Read more: A beginner's guide to sailing in Star Class
As you probably guessed, Star Class is not cheap. Prices are almost always somewhere in the five figures, and some of the incredibly large suites can rival the price of a new car.
The people who tend to book these rooms are usually well-to-do guests who want personalized service aboard a ship that offers lots to do.
Read more: What is the most expensive suite on Royal Caribbean?
If the Star Class price tag isn't affordable, you'll find plenty of benefits in the next tier, Sky Class.
Sky Class is more in line with what you might find in any suite on any Royal Caribbean ship, but it also includes access to the suites-only restaurant Coastal Kitchen. Think of Coastal Kitchen as a main dining room for suite guests, with a rotating menu every day. Plus, it's open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
The primary benefits of Sky Class suites are complimentary internet access, suite lounge access, and Coastal Kitchen meals.
For those who book a junior suite, you'll be included in Sea Class, which does not include wi-fi or access to the suite lounge or concierge.
Junior suite guests can dine in Coastal Kitchen but only for dinner, subject to availibility.
If you book a suite that isn't on an Oasis Class, Quantum Class, or Icon Class ship, the experience is a bit more standardized.
Royal Caribbean opted not to expand the Royal Suite Class to older ships simply because those ships wouldn't be able to include the same amount of benefits found on the bigger ships. So they decided to keep the suite experience intact.
Don't take that to be a negative to staying in a suite on a non-Royal Suite Class ship. You'll still get the core suite experience, which includes:
Naturally, you'll want to know exactly what sort of suite perks you'll get during your stay.
Here's a breakdown based on Royal Suite Class and the rest of the fleet.
Read more: How to maximize the value of a cruise ship suite
Sea Class
Perhaps the most important person to get to know on your cruise if you are booked in a suite is the suite concierge.
Think of the concierge as Guest Services dedicated exclusively to suite guests.
Most ships have one suite concierge, although Oasis Class ships have two.
Right around a week before your cruise, the Suite Concierge will email you to prepare you for your cruise and provide instructions on what to expect.
The concierge can provide several functions including (but not limited to):
Read more: What is the difference between suite concierge and a Royal Genie?
It's important to quickly mention that despite the name, junior suites do not enjoy the full suite benefits. This means no suite lounge access or concierge services.
Think of a junior suite as a "really large balcony room". They do get double points and on Oasis or Quantum Class ships, access to Coastal Kitchen for dinner, but that's about it.
Given that the price of a junior suite can sometimes be nominally more than a balcony room, many people book junior suites simply for the extra space or double points.
Onboard Icon of the Seas, the world's largest cruise ship, you'll find a Suite Neighborhood that trumps all others in the fleet.
From The Grove Suite Sun Deck to the cruise line's first-ever two-story Coastal Kitchen restaurant, you might find it difficult to venture into other neighborhoods onboard!
The Grove overlooks the vibrant pool deck below, including Swim & Tonic, Royal Caribbean's first swim-up bar at sea. Plus, it's also home to a second suite-only dining option, The Grove, that features Mediterranean cuisine and al fresco seating.
Coastal Kitchen is the elegant suite-only dining room that's open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and has views straight into the enclosed AquaTheater.
Note that these amenities are only available to those who book Sky and Star Class rooms. Those staying in standard Junior or Sunset Junior Suites cannot access The Grove, and Coastal Kitchen is only available to them for dinner, subject to availability.
Read more: Guide to Icon of the Seas cabins and suites
Depending on the Royal Caribbean ship you book, there can be quite a few suite categories to choose from, which can make the decision of which suite to book complicated.
No matter which suite you consider, be sure to look at the layout and size of the room and balcony, as these can vary wildly.
If you're looking to splurge without breaking the bank, a junior suite can be the ticket.
Junior suites may not have all the benefits, but all that extra living space sure is nice to have, especially a full bathtub.
For couples that want to spread out a bit more, you can often find a junior suite at a reasonable price to move up to from a balcony.
If you're ready to try out a suite, then you'll want to consider either the Grand Suite or Owner's Suite.
Both Grand Suites and Owners Suites are the lowest tier of suites that include full-suite benefits. They're usually a very large room that includes both a living space and bedroom. The bed is usually on one side, with the sitting area on the other side. Most of the time, there's some kind of a divider between.
Grand and Owners suites qualify for Sky Class in the Royal Suite Class and are otherwise full suites on the rest of the fleet. The concierge services, lounge access, and priority treatment given to guests here are what draw many people to book these cabins.
If you plan ahead, you can sometimes book one of these suites at a reasonable price. Suites will always cost more, but many families find these types of suites affordable, especially when you factor in the extra service you get with them.
If you have kids and want separation from them, there are a few suites on the higher end that offer multiple bedrooms in one cabin.
Royal Caribbean has a few "family suites" that are designed to handle 5-6 guests, and often have two bedrooms and two bathrooms.
On Oasis, Quantum, and Icon Class ships, you'll find loft suites, which are two-story cabins that have vaulted ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows.
There are different types of Loft Suites:
Crown Loft Suites are eligible for Sky Tier perks, while Royal Loft, Owner's Loft, Grand Loft, Icon Loft, and Sky Loft suites receive upgraded Star Tier perks.
If money is no object, then you can book the Ultimate Family Suite or Ultimate Family Townhouse.
Available on select Oasis, Quantum, and Icon Class ships, these giant suites are designed for kids and their parents.
You'll find not only multiple bedrooms, but also an in-suite slide, a huge TV, a suspended chair, LEGO wall, play area, and hot tub.
Onboard Icon Class ships, the three-story Ultimate Family Townhouse has a "backyard" that opens right up to the family-focused Surfside Neighborhood.
The photos don't do the room justice in terms of how much fun they packed into a single cabin, but the price tag may curb your enthusiasm.
The price for the Ultimate Family Suite begins at $30,000 for a 7-night cruise and prices usually go much higher from there.
The Ultimate Family Townhouse is much more expensive, averaging around $80,000 for one week.
If you don't have kids in tow but still want lots of space for you and maybe a friend or two, then there are some rather large suites to consider.
The Royal Suite is a standard offering on pretty much all ships. They feel more like an apartment than a cruise ship cabin and are between 950 to almost 1,400 square feet in size.
Many even have a baby grand piano in the foyer, and usually have a hot tub on the balcony.
There are large bedrooms separated from the rest of the suite and enormous showers.
A Royal Suite is really great for someone who wants to spend a lot of time in their room and enjoy what the cabin offers. Many who book a Royal Suite prefer to have meals delivered to their cabin.
If the idea of a giant balcony with amazing views is appealing to you, then you should consider an Aquatheater suite.
Aquatheater suites are their own type of experience because, unlike other suites, the attraction here is the views you have of the Aquatheater below.
The cabin comes in either a one or two-bedroom configuration (with the two-bedroom qualifying for Star Class), but the real draw is the views.
The balcony wraps around the back half of the suite, which means you can have almost as much balcony space as you do living space inside. While at sea, you'll have views in almost every direction.
At night, you have the perfect seat for the Aquatheater performances below, without the hassle of getting a seat.
No matter how look at it, booking a suite is a splurge compared to lower categories of cruise ship cabins.
Similar to how first class on an airplane is a plusher experience than coach, staying in a suite provides lots of extras that are very nice to have access to while onboard.
It's rare to find a suite priced so low that the investment will pay for itself, so if you're considering a suite, look at it as purely a way to get more from your vacation because you can afford it.
Whether you are celebrating a special occasion, treating your family to something nice, or generally prefer the nicer things in life, a suite usually delivers an upgraded experience.
Three benefits truly stand out for booking a suite:
While there are many more benefits that you can take advantage of, these are the core perks that nearly everyone in a suite usually takes the most advantage of during their cruise.
Suites aren't cheap, but if you can afford one without putting a serious dent in your financial situation, it sure is a nice way to vacation.
Read more: Is a suite on Royal Caribbean worth it?
Speaking of not cheap, so many people want to know if Star Class is worth the high price just so they can have a Royal Genie.
When you have a genie, you don't have to plan anything on your own. The genie can arrange for pretty much anything you want to do onboard and it's an incredibly liberating experience. From bypassing the line for the FlowRider or laser tag to catered parties in your suite and priority elevator access, you will rarely have to wait for anything.
Just as with other suites, the question comes down to what you can afford. You could easily take the money you'd pay for a Star Class cabin and use it to pay for two or three sailings in a balcony cabin, but like Rolex watches, sports cars, and first class on airplanes, sometimes you just want the best there is and are willing to pay for it.
There's a cabin for just about everyone on a Royal Caribbean ship, so it all comes down to what your vacation budget looks like and how much you value the many perks a suite comes with.
Happy Sunday! I hope you are having a wonderful weekend and are ready to catch up on all the Royal Caribbean news from this week!
If you're thinking of booking a drink package, wifi, or shore excursion, when is the best time to book it?
You might be wondering if you're better off booking it now or waiting until you board the cruise. Ultimately, you're going to want to do what will save you the most money, time, or both.
Here's my recommendations for when you should book certain cruise add-ons so you get the best price.
The 460th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available, where Rebecca shares her Alaska cruisetour experience.
Royal Caribbean allows you to add-on a land tour portion to select Alaska cruises, and Rebecca tried it out when she sailed to Alaska this summer.
Please feel free to subscribe via iTunes or RSS, and head over to rate and review the podcast on iTunes if you can! We’d appreciate it.
{"preview_thumbnail":"/sites/default/files/styles/video_embed_wysiwyg_preview/public/video_thumbnails/vhsRnPCkN00.jpg?itok=JuWlTKVu","video_url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhsRnPCkN00","settings":{"responsive":1,"width":"854","height":"480","autoplay":0},"settings_summary":["Embedded Video (Responsive)."]}
Have you subscribed to the Royal Caribbean Blog YouTube Channel? We share some great videos there regularly, all about taking a Royal Caribbean cruise! This week, we are sharing our latest video — The Fool-Proof Royal Caribbean cruise — and don’t forget to subscribe here.
European cruises are a different experience than Caribbean cruises from a planning perspective.
Jenna just sailed on two different European itineraries and reflected on her cruises with what she would and wouldn't do again.
She has a list of 7 things she did right and 4 she did wrong on her Royal Caribbean European cruises.
Have you ever sailed on Mariner of the Seas?
If you haven't, we have a full review of what Mariner of the Seas has onboard and what to expect. From the activities, to dining, to the casino, we have a look at everything you can see and do on Mariner of the Seas.
Is it a good idea to book a balcony or suite on your next Royal Caribbean cruise?
If you want to know what makes a balcony different from a suite (and if it's worth spend more for a suite), here's a breakdown of a cruise balcony vs suite.
The secret to finding a cheap deal on a last minute Royal Caribbean cruise is a combination of flexibility and luck.
A cruise vacation is an attractive getaway, but finding a good price close to the sail date can be a challenge. Typically the best deals are when sailings are first put on sale up to two years in advance. As the sailing gets closer, prices tend to go up.
However, a last minute cruise deal is not unheard of, because there can be cancellations, itinerary changes, or simply weak demand for a sailing.
If you're looking to book a cheap cruise with just weeks to go before you get onboard, you're going to need some good internet searching skills, flexibility, and a little bit of luck.
There are plenty of strategies to get a last minute cruise deal, but the most important component is going to be how flexible you are with choosing a sailing.
Flexibility comes in many facets: how flexible you are on sail dates, the ship, itinerary, and departure port.
When you look for a last minute deal, you're probably looking at cruises that are past final payment date, which is 90 days prior to sailing. When Royal Caribbean gets past the point of final payment, they get a good sense of how booked (or unbooked) a sailing is and responds accordingly to fill up the rest of the ship.
Years ago, Royal Caribbean would have incredibly deep discounts for unsold cabins, but they've backed off that strategy a bit, due to higher demand for cruises overall.
In looking at prices for cruises coming up in the next two months, you will certainly spot reasonable prices for a cruise. After all, it's more important for the cruise line to get people onboard since the real revenue comes in onboard spending rather than the cruise fare itself.
When it comes to consistently finding a good last minute price, you're going to want to focus on four major areas.
Without a doubt, the biggest factor in getting a good price is going on a cruise when others are unable to sail.
Cruises when kids are in school is always a solid starting point. If you take a cruise in September, January, or early December, you're going to likely find far less families onboard since kids are in school. As a result, there's less demand.
Likewise, taking a cruise during "shoulder season" is an important time of year. This is when the weather or sea conditions may not be ideal, which leads some to opt not to cruise. On an Alaska cruise, the shoulder season would be May or September. In Europe it's late September and October.
If you can cruise during the times of year everyone else isn't going, you can usually find better prices.
Cruise prices will almost always be cheaper on a Vision, Radiance, or Voyager Class ship than an Oasis or Quantum Class ship.
Older ships simply don't offer as much to see and do onboard as the newer ships, and pricing is almost always cheaper to begin with, regardless if it's last minute or not.
Royal Caribbean's marketing is so effective that most cruisers tend to gravitate towards the newest ships so they can enjoy all the bells and whistles these ships offer.
Unfortunately, older ships tend to have (an incorrect) stereotype that they're rundown and boring. The reality is these ships still offer plenty to do, just not as much as the newer ships. Plus, for the right price, you can get some fantastic values.
Read more: Why you shouldn't avoid older and smaller cruise ships
In short, you're more likely to find a better price on an older ship than a newer one.
You may not find a great last minute deal on a cruise from Florida, but other less-common departure ports could get you a better deal.
Embarkation ports that cannot rely on a lot of people to drive to the port tend to have lower prices because nearly everyone has to fly there.
Examples include:
If you live in the area, or don't mind flying (more on that later), prices tend to be lower for cruises leaving from here and a last minute deal is more commonly found.
If there's one type of cruise that almost always has cheap fares close to sailing, it's a cruise where the ship begins in one port and ends in another.
Repositioning cruises are a necessary evil for the cruise industry so that a ship can move from one market to another to begin a new season.
The most common repositioning cruises are when ships move from North America to Europe (and then back again). Ditto for transpacific cruises between North America and Australia.
You may be tempted to start your search for a last minute cruise deal on the Royal Caribbean website, but there are a few resources you can leverage that may get you results faster.
It's always a good idea to reach out to a travel agent first. Travel agents do so much fare searches, that they could already be aware of a good price for a certain sailing. Moreover, their consortiums could have better rates than you can find online.
Even if you do spot a great price, it's not uncommon for travel agents to be able to find a better discount on top of it and sweeten the deal.
Read more: Top things you didn't know travel agents can do for your cruise vacation
There are a couple of third-party websites worth checking as well, just to see if they have something you haven't spotted yet.
Vacations to Go has a "90-day ticker" with a list of sailings of cruises departing within the next 90 days .
Cruisesheet.com is another aggregator of cruise deals you can reference.
Both sites are good jumping off points to start your search, and then circle back with your own travel agent to figure out the best possible price.
If a last minute cruise sounds like a great deal, you should remember a few important caveats.
If you're booking at the last minute you cannot be picky with your stateroom. Expect very few cabin category choices, and even fewer choices of where it's located.
Another consideration is if you are booking a cruise after the final payment date, you will need to make a full payment up front, rather than a deposit and then the rest later.
If you have to fly to your cruise, airfare prices could sink any deal you find for a sailing. Be sure to cross-reference airfare prices before committing to a cruise fare.
The easiest way around high airfare prices is to drive. There's no question last minute cruise deals benefit those within driving distance of cruise ports, such as those living in the southeastern United States.
If driving is out of the question, look at other airports to fly out of or into. If your cruise is out of Fort Lauderdale, consider flying into West Palm Beach, Miami or Fort Myers. Likewise, if you are flying out of New York City, try all the city airports as well as Westchester, Philadelphia or Hartford. A little drive can save a lot of money.
Also consider flying to or from your cruise a day or two earlier/later to see if prices change. It's a fun way to extend your vacation while saving money too.
Remember, your cheap cruise deal doesn't stop when you book your cruise fare.
From shore excursions to drinks to dining, there are a few other ways you can pinch pennies while on a cruise.
Alcohol, soda, and lattes all cost extra, and those costs could run up your cruise bill quickly.
Royal Caribbean includes quite a few drinks with your fare. The more of these you can consume, the less you'll spend.
If you're going to enjoy cocktails or beers, then try to wait until you get to a port of call. Prices for drinks off the ship are usually cheaper.
If you have your heart set on a Royal Caribbean drink package, be sure to purchase it before the cruise. The price will be higher onboard.
Say no to specialty dining and you'll also save some serious cash as well.
There are plenty of restaurants included with your Royal Caribbean cruise, and I think you'll find the food to be really good here as well.
Dining in the Windjammer, main dining room, or one of the grab-and-go locations will not compromise on your experience and keep costs low.
Did you know Royal Caribbean allows you to bring a certain amount of non-alcoholic drinks and even wine onboard?
By bringing your own soda and a couple bottles of wine, you can really save money without having to skip out on these items.
Another good way to save money is to tour the ports your ship visit on your own.
Instead of booking a cruise line shore excursion, walk around the port on your own and see what's around. You could bar hop, take a taxi to the beach, or just hang out at the port area.
If you're headed down the "cheapest vacation as possible" road, then now is a good time to cash out those credit card points.
You could use your credit card points for a free flight or hotel stay prior to your cruise. Or you could get a gift card for yourself to use in ports for spending money.
There's an art to a last minute deal, especially if you're looking for a slam dunk price instead of a "not that bad" price.
With some good internet sleuthing (and a good travel agent), you may be able to find a great getaway fare so that you can enjoy time relaxing onboard a ship enjoying (hopefully) beautiful weather and a fun atmosphere. The more flexible you are, the better your chances.
Equally important is being able to save money once you get onboard, because all those extras are very tempting. If you can avoid the additional costs, you'll be able to really save big money. Remember, you can have a great cruise without spending a ton on add-ons!
Ultimately, the difficulty in getting a last minute cruise deal boils down to luck with the right offer, at the right time, from the right embarkation port. When I search for last minute deals, it's not as difficult to find a good price as it is to find a good price on a sailing that you want to go on.
If you find a great price, act quickly as cabins go quickly in those final weeks. Unfortunately a lot of people miss out on a cheap cruise deal in the interim time they take to verify they can get time off from work, dog sitters, and other logistics.
Hopefully these tips help you net a great last minute deal and I wish you happy hunting!
If you forgot or didn't get around to booking another Royal Caribbean cruise onboard your summer cruise, you'll have a little extra time to book one.
Royal Caribbean has a new offer for a limited time where guest can still take advantage of the onboard booking bonus of extra onboard credit if they sailed on a ship in the last 30 days.
Typically you can only qualify for the bonus onboard credit when you book a cruise at the NextCruise office onboard a Royal Caribbean ship. Once you disembark the ship, there's no opportunity to get that offer again.
Now, there's a new opportunity to book a new cruise if you have sailed recently.
Here's a look at how to qualify for this new offer.
The Welcome Home promo is valid on new non-refundable bookings between July 1 and August 31, 2022 within 30 days of a previous sailing.
Welcome Home offers up to $600 USD to spend at sea onboard credit (OBC) per stateroom on sailings departing between July 1, 2022 – December 31, 2024.
Promo Code “SAILAGAIN” must be entered at the time of booking to receive the OBC.
OBC amounts are per stateroom and determined by category booked and sailing length:
Guest who qualifies for the offer, are eligible to create up to three bookings total with same named guests from previous sailing.
OBC is combinable with brand wide promotions, promotional OBCs, Next Cruise offers, instant savings, restricted discounts (for example, Seniors, Residents, Military), promo code driven offers, free upgrades, Crown and Anchor discounts, and shareholder benefits but not combinable with any other offer or promotion, including, but not limited to, Ultimate World Cruise, Standard Group, Interline, Travel Agent, Travel Agent Friends and Family, Weekly Sales Events, and Net Rates. OBC is nontransferable and does not apply to China departures.
If you haven't sailed on a cruise ship recently, you may still be able to save some money if you have an American Express card.
Select cardholders are seeing another cash back offer from American Express when you spend money with Royal Caribbean.
Log into your American Express account and look for the Amex Offers area to see if Royal Caribbean shows up.
Amex Offers are an area at the bottom of the page when you log into the American Express site, where you can earn all sorts of statement credits for buying things from certain vendors.
Select card members may see an offer to get up to $250 back in a statement for booking a new Royal Caribbean cruise.
Get a one-time $250 statement credit by using your enrolled eligible Card to spend a minimum of $1,000 in one or more transactions on cruise reservations booked at https://www.royalcaribbean.com, by phone at 1-866-562-7625 or by contacting your preferred travel advisor by 8/15/2022.
You'll have to check if the offer is available on your card, because not all card holders may get this particular offer.
Rebecca tried an Alaska cruisetour and has a full review of what this Alaska cruise add-on is all about.
Share with me your thoughts, questions and comments via...
One of the major cruise lines has dropped its Covid-19 testing requirement in practice, although the policy shift will not yet affect the majority of its sailings.
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd, which owns Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruise, announced a change in its pre-cruise covid testing policy on Wednesday.
All of its lines will drop a pre-cruise Covid-19 test requirement, unless the country the ship sails from requires it.
Essentially, there's no change to pre-cruise Covid testing for cruises from the U.S., Canada, Greece, or Bermuda. The difference is should one of those countries drop their testing mandate of cruise ships, then NCL wouldn't require it as part of their policy.
The upside to this change is it will make it easier for North Americans headed to Europe for a cruise to book a cruise, since it eliminates one more hoop to jump through. North Americans make up a large percentage of people that cruise from Europe on the "big three" cruise brands.
For cruises sailing in the U.S., the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has a policy that requires pre-cruise Covid testing of all cruise lines that have opted into the "highly vaccinated program."
NCLH's new policy goes into effect beginning August 1, 2022.
According to the company, they believe this change puts their policy in line with other forms of travel, "the relaxation of the testing policy is in line with the rest of the travel, leisure and hospitality industry worldwide as society continues to adapt and return to a state of normalcy."
NCLH reaffirmed their strong recommendation that all passengers be up to date on vaccination protocols and test at their convenience prior to travel.
The change by Norwegian is significant since up until now only a handful of smaller cruise lines operating in Europe dropped covid testing requirements and in very limited scenarios.
In light of NCLH's policy change, many Americans may be wondering when the CDC will drop the testing requirement.
The same day the United States removed the requirement of international flights to require a negative covid test, the cruise industry said it wants to next move to looking at pre-cruise testing requirements.
In a statement in June 2022, Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) said it wants the CDC to look at pre-cruise testing.
"As the CDC monitors the improving health landscape and works with airlines to support a smooth transition with the lifting of the pre-arrival testing requirement, we believe a review of pre-embarkation testing requirements for cruise travelers is also in order."
Just last week, Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley addressed the issue of pre-cruise testing, and he didn't think the U.S. would change policy for at least a little while longer.
Speaking onboard Ovation of the Seas, Mr. Bayley said, "I think pre cruise testing is going to be around for another couple of months."
"We obviously want it to go back to normal, but we're incredibly cognizant of our responsibilities to keep our crew, the communities and our guests safe."
Did you know July 6th is National Fried Chicken Day? Did you know you don't need an excuse to eat really good fried chicken?
I never considered myself much of a "fried chicken guy" until I went on Wonder of the Seas. Sure, I enjoyed fried chicken, but outside of Nashville, it was tough to find really good fried chicken.
Then I ate at the Mason Jar Southern Restaurant & Bar.
Maybe it was the country music band playing in the bar, or the PB&J old fashioned (I'd love to get a recipe for that, by the way) that I had a few sips of first, but the Meemaw’s Fried Chicken was really darn good.
The chicken fell apart quite easily at the first tug, so there was no wrestling with a tough bird this time around.
Even better was the same fried chicken they put on the "Nashville Hot" Crispy Chicken Sandwich.
We ended up dining at Mason Jar at least 4 different times (not counting a snack at the bar late at night), and I'm fairly certain every order I made had fried chicken as part of the recipe.
Then I tried Meemaw’s Fried Chicken N’ Waffles, which is a golden waffle topped with fried chicken and sweet maple syrup. It's an ideal mix between sweet and savory flavors. Suddenly, I began to question a lot of foods I previously thought I wasn't a huge fan of.
I can't sail on Wonder of the Seas every week (or so my wife tells me), but Royal Caribbean has shared a copy of Meemaw’s Fried Chicken so anyone can make it at home. A copy of Garth Brooks' "Friends in low places" not included.
Here's how to make the fried chicken at home inbetween Wonder of the Seas cruises.
Ingredients:
Chicken Marinade
Chicken Coating
Steps:
Marinate the Chicken
Coat the Chicken
Fry the Chicken
Doesn't the fried chicken look amazing? It tastes even better!
Next time you've got family coming over, wow them with this fried chicken recipe. Then tell them they should come on a cruise with you so you can compare this to the real thing on Wonder of the Seas. You know, in the name of "research".
You can save money on popular add-ons for your Royal Caribbean cruise if you buy it at just the right time.
Drink packages, specialty dining packages, internet, and shore excursions are just a few of the extras lots of cruise fans buy for their cruise vacation.
While you could wait to buy these items on your ship, you will pay more for them because Royal Caribbean typically offers a pre-cruise discount.
A common reason for trepidation to pre-purchase is not knowing fully if someone needs them. After all, Royal Caribbean includes a great deal of food and activities with your cruise fare.
While you can have a very nice cruise without spending extra on a tour, cocktails, specialty restaurants or the spa, these optional purchase will enhance your cruise experience. After all, you're on vacation and this is all about splurging and treating yourself.
If you decide to buy any cruise extra-charge items, it's a really good idea to take advantage of the lowest price possible so your money can go further.
Here is my advice for when to buy these cruise-addons.
You should buy a Royal Caribbean drink package at any point before your cruise because it will be cheaper online.
Royal Caribbean runs many pre-cruise sales, and even when there's not an active promotion going on, the price of an unlimited drink package is cheaper before the cruise that onboard the ship.
You'll find the drink packages available to purchase on Royal Caribbean's Cruise Planner website.
It can be a little confusing to understand how much of a discount you're getting, since Royal Caribbean bases its discounts on an unknown onboard price, and then combines the price of a drink package with a buy one get one 50% off deal.
When you look at the drink package price online, ignore the sale details and look at the price when you add the drink package to the cart.
It's a good idea to keep track of the drink package price, as there's new sale promotions every few weeks. These sales don't always lower the price, but sometimes it can.
It's a good idea to book your shore excursions at least 2-3 months before your cruise.
Just as important as the fun things to do on your cruise ship are the things you can do in the ports of call you will visit.
Royal Caribbean will list a variety of shore excursions you can pick from in the Cruise Planner, and some of the most popular excursions will sell out before your cruise.
Royal Caribbean will begin listing excursions as early as six months before your cruise (although they can show up even earlier than that).
Many cruisers prefer to book their shore excursions through the cruise line for the convenience and peace of mind Royal Caribbean offers. For that reason, tours can sell out.
I find the majority of people on a cruise don't start really booking tours up until closer to the sail date because they are unaware of all the tips and tricks cruise fans know, so you'll notice things begin to sell out around six weeks before the cruise begins.
Excursions selling out are at a much higher risk in destination cruises, such as Alaska or Europe. If you are booked on one of these sailings, it's a good idea to start booking up tours as much as 3 months before you sail.
You could always reserve a tour on your own, and outside tours do not sell out nearly as early. If you go on your own, it's a good idea to book these 1-2 months before the cruise.
Due to the popularity of Royal Caribbean's private destinations, you're going to want to book something fun here to do even earlier than shore excursions.
It's a really good idea to book a cabana as much as 4-6 months before your cruise to assure yourself of one, and get a lower price. Cabanas have become the hottest selling commodity at either Perfect Day at CocoCay or Labadee, so you're going to want to act fast to get one.
Read more: Guide to CocoCay Cabanas
The days of cabanas going unsold are pretty much gone, so act quickly if you want one. Just like everything else in the Cruise Planner, they're refundable if you change your mind later.
Another hot ticket is the CocoCay water park, which can sell out. The entire water park selling out is less likely, but the price going up certainly is common. So book that 3-5 months early whenever possible.
The other must-book early add-on is admission to the Coco Beach Club.
If the idea of going to an exclusive area of CocoCay appeals to you, then book your admission before it sells out. I suppose the word is out about this place, because it's pretty rare for the Coco Beach Club not to sell out before the cruise begins.
Other CocoCay extras like the zip line, helium balloon ride, and aquatic activities rarely sell out, so book them at your convenience.
There is one extra I'd recommend not booking in advance at Perfect Day at CocoCay and that's the Up, Up & Away Helium Balloon Ride. The balloon can only go up in near-perfect wind conditions, and that tends to be fairly rare.
My advice is hold off and if you get to the island and see it going up, run over and book a spot. You might pay more, but I think it's a safer bet than waiting for an almost inevitable refund when it gets cancelled.
Over in Labadee, the zip line is a good idea to book in advance just to get a good time. Zip line rides are based on ride times, and it's a good idea to go in the morning before it gets overly hot or the threat of rain grows.
Just like the drink package, the price of an internet package is always cheaper before the cruise.
These packages are good for the duration of your cruise, and are limited per device (not per person).
Unlike the drink package, wifi prices rarely change much. So you don't need to book it well in advance. Just book yourself a package at some point before you board.
These days, you absolutely should pre-book a specialty dining package before your cruise, at least a month before your sail date.
Ever since Royal Caribbean restarted cruises after the global health crisis, demand for specialty dining has gone through the roof. A combination of pent-up demand, new dining concepts, and more cash to spend on vacations have lead a lot more people to try specialty dining.
If you are booking an individual restaurant, book it before the cruise. Izumi hibachi is one restaurant you must-book before the cruise because it sells out quite often before the cruise begins.
If your cruise is over a major holiday, such as Christmas, New Years or Valentine's Day, pre-book a specialty restaurant to assure yourself of a spot. Everyone else will be thinking of a special meal on a special day.
Dining packages are just as popular, and it's becoming more commonplace to find dining packages sold out onboard. To be safe, if you want a dining package, buy it a couple months before your cruise.
Read more: How to know if you should buy a Royal Caribbean dining package
It's less clear of an advantage when to book a spa service, and it may make more sense to wait and book a spa service onboard on a port day.
Deciding to book a spa service before or after your cruise is not always a crystal clear decision, primarily because the spa services offered online do not always match up with the total services offered onboard.
Spa services are often discounted on the Cruise Planner, with the discount percentage depending on the day and time you select for the service. The most lucrative discounts are usually earlier in the cruise.
The challenge in figuring out whether to purchase or not prior to the cruise, is each day of your cruise will have some spa specials offered. These spa specials are usually combination offers, which are not offered as an option in the Cruise Planner before the cruise. In my experience, the Cruise Planner offers individual services which are good for those that just want a massage, service or therapy.
Royal Caribbean offers an onboard discount on an individual spa service, which varies depending on your Crown and Anchor Society status level.
You want to reserve a show as soon as you get onboard the ship.
Royal Caribbean allows guests on all ships to pre-reserve theater shows, but you're going to have to wait until you get onboard to do so.
Once on the ship, reservations open up via the Royal Caribbean app or at Guest Services.
You'll want to log onto the Royal Caribbean wifi and then open up the app and begin making reservations for shows because they will sell out, especially on ships that have must-see shows, such as the Oasis Class or Quantum Class.
There is no cost to make show reservations.