Of all the extra fees that come with a Royal Caribbean cruise, one in particular seems to be more problematic because of how easy it is to get overlooked.
It's no secret that the Royal Caribbean cruise fare does not include everything during your trip. Alcohol, shore excursions, souvenirs, and the spa all cost extra and for the most part, that comes as no surprise to new cruisers.
The one fee that seems to "get" people the most is the unreturned pool towel fee, and it's far more prevalent than you might think.
The cruise line offers as many pool towels as guests would like to use during the sailing, but they all need to be returned before the conclusion of the cruise.
The official policy states, "If guests do not return the same number of towels they checked out, a $25.00 fee per unreturned towel will be added to their onboard account. "
Sounds simple enough, but a lot of cruisers overlook ensuring their towels get back - and they are recorded as returned.
"Check your final invoice, you probably got charged"
On Reddit, IJustWorkHere99 shared a warning to other cruisers why you want to verify you don't have any towels left unreturned prior to the end of the cruise.
Upon returning to the ship, they thought they returned the towels properly, but it didn't get recorded.
"We were met just after security by two crew members accepting pool towel returns. They did NOT scan anyone's SeaPass or write down stateroom numbers for accountability of the towels," the person posted.
According to the post, the crew members were trying to expedite the return process because bad weather had forced everyone back early and they didn't want a huge line.
"They assured us that we would not be charged for the towels and that everyone's' accounts would be zeroized for towels that evening."
Sure enough, it turned out they got charged for the towels.
"Well guess what happened? They charged my mom $25 for a pool towel and they charged me $100 for 4."
A lot of other past cruisers reported similar situations.
"Family we were traveling with on Icon got slapped with the towel fine twice, even though I was with them the entire time that day and watched them scan and return," wrote Julianus.
"We had a random towel charge right before leaving that morning. Still waiting for the credit to come through," added theresketo.
Downtown-Ball6994 actually had $300 in pool towel charges after the cruise ended because of a mix-up in how returned pool towels were scanned, "It turned out that when the attendant scanned my wife’s card, instead of returning the towels that I checked out, it checked out an additional 6 towels to her."
"It took a few days to get the charge removed because they said that they had to call the ship and verify what happened."
What to do if you get charged for towels
The first thing to do is verify there are no unreturned towels on your onboard account before you debark the ship.
To verify you're in the clear, you just need to go to Guest Services and ask them to confirm it.
It takes a few seconds to do so, and you should go over on the last day of the sailing to make sure you're walking off the ship without any surprise charges.
In fact, having Guest Services print out a summary of all your charges on the last day is a good idea to verify there are no surprises waiting for you.
If you don't realize you are getting charged for unreturned towels until you get home, the good news is you can still call and get it fixed. It just takes longer to process this.
If you returned all checked-out towels but still received a charge, you can call Royal Caribbean's Post Cruise department at 1-800-256-6649 to assist with taking care of it.
It's much easier and faster if you can double-check the charges before you leave the ship.
Why do they charge for towels at all?
You might wonder why Royal Caribbean charges for unreturned towels, and it has to do with reducing waste.
The cruise line doesn't think guests covet towels enough to want to steal them and bring them home. After all, they're not great quality to begin with and have been reused many times.
The origin of the rule has to do with passengers leaving them behind in port, or elsewhere, rather than returning them.
If passengers leave towels behind at a beach somewhere, not only is it wasteful and littering, but it's quite noticeable where the trash is coming from to the locals.
The fee makes sure the towels get back to the ship, and not left for the local population to have to take care of.
Don't pack your own towels
Some people might be reading this article and think bringing your own pool or beach towels is a great workaround, but I think that's overkill for the problem.
Royal Caribbean offers towels for you to use onboard the ship or to bring to a shore excursion, and it's a terrific service (despite the issue of occasionally not recording those towels were indeed returned).
I don't recommend bringing your own towels because not only are they going to take up a lot of room in your luggage, but once they are soiled, it's going to be difficult to properly clean them.
It's my experience wet towels take a long time to air dry, especially if you don't have access to the outdoors.
Even if you have a balcony, then you need to ensure they don't fly away due to the wind or get soiled again from a passing rain shower.
Let's put it this way: going to Guest Services is a lot easier than packing and caring for a bunch of pool towels.
I love to cruise on Royal Caribbean, and in 2024 I got to cruise the most I've ever done in one year.
This year, I've been on a ship for 70 nights (and have another couple days left before the year ends).
Because I live in Florida, it's logistically easier to get on a cruise ship given how close the major ports are to where I live. Nonetheless, I also flew to New York and Europe to go on cruises in order to expand my options.
After so many cruises, you might think things would get rather repetitive, but I relish certain cruising traditions that I feel obliged to do every time.
On nearly every trip, I have some absolute must-dos that I simply can't skip. No matter how much I cruise, these are the six things that never get old.
Go to the Windjammer for my first meal onboard
It just doesn't feel like a Royal Caribbean cruise to me unless I start things off with lunch in the Windjammer buffet.
While I do occasionally hit up a specialty restaurant first (such as when I have a dining package), I still prefer lunch at the ship's buffet.
This is a cruising tradition going back to my very first Royal Caribbean cruise on Explorer of the Seas. I distinctly remember going to the Windjammer with my family and being amazed how much variety there was.
Besides nostalgia, I don't usually eat breakfast, so by the time I get going and on the ship, I'm pretty hungry and ready for a meal.
While the buffet can get busy on embarkation day, I try to go there before noon to beat the worst of the crowds.
With a belly full of food, I'm ready to start any cruise.
Spend my evenings in the pub with great music
When Royal Caribbean Blog readers ask me where to find me on a ship, I always tell them there's a good chance I'll be in the English Pub most nights.
You'll find a pub on nearly all the ships in the fleet, and they play the kind of bar music hits on a guitar that I really enjoy.
Basically, these are songs you likely know all the words to and likely have heard in many bars before.
Pub singers come in all styles, but my favorite this year had to be Kevin Phillip while he performed on Icon of the Seas. I'd book a cruise if I knew he was performing on it, because of how talented and engaging with the crowd he is.
The rare exception is when I'm on Utopia of the Seas and the Country Trio is playing, and then I'll skip the pub and head up to the Mason Jar bar.
Depending on the itinerary, ship, and who I'm cruising with, I'll dine at a variety of restaurants on Royal Caribbean that are included and cost extra.
My wife will attest to the fact I go out of my way to find my all-time favorite Royal Caribbean foods.
In no particular order, here's my cruise ship must-eats:
French onion soup from the Main Dining Room or Coastal Kitchen
Popcorn
Sushi from Izumi
Indian curry from the Windjammer
Asian stir fry from the cooking station in the Windjammer
These are deeply satisfying foods that I could probably eat every single day. I'm pretty sure on some cruises this year I did eat one of these every day.
There are other foods I love too, but this is the list of what I can find and seek out on pretty much every ship.
Try to plan at least one epic shore excursion
I'm not sure when this started, but one way I like to spice up any cruise I take is to plan a really fun shore excursion.
I think this was born out of visiting a port of call many times over the course of my cruising career, but I try to book a tour, cabana, private boat, or something else that truly stands out.
It's easy to fall into the same routine on cruises, especially as you repeat itineraries. So as a way to mix it up and also treat my family, I look for ways to do something a little different.
Royal Caribbean is fond of saying their ships are all about making memories for their guests, and I like to apply that mantra to my own plans. My kids may not remember the umpteenth time we sailed on Mariner of the Seas, but they definitely remember when we do something extraordinary.
Some examples from this year include:
Chartering a catamaran in Bermuda
Snorkeling in St. John
Staying in an Airbnb in London
If you want an easy but really fun shore excursion idea, look into chartering a boat. Whether it's a catamaran, fishing boat, or yacht, they are plentiful and never disappoint.
Take a nap
Call me old, call me boring, but I don't care. I love to nap on a cruise.
I don't usually sleep in, but right after lunch on a sea day, I usually feel a knack to lay down and take a break.
It's not only relaxing, but napping allows me to (probably) stay up later if I'm well rested.
Start planning my next cruise
As the cruise starts to wind down and we approach the last day or two of the sailing, I'll begin looking forward to my next sailing.
I think this is a coping mechanism for dealing with the end of a fun vacation, so starting to look at shore excursions or dining plans is a good distraction.
I'll also take this opportunity to see which of our friends or family could potentially join us. After all, cruising is more fun with friends!
If you love to cruise on Royal Caribbean, you'll want to mark your calendars in 2025 for the top event of the year.
Each year there are compelling cruises to consider booking, but there's one cruise that Royal Caribbean hosts that gets the most attention for good reason.
The President's Cruise is an annual tradition, where Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley sails on a specific sailing with the open invitation for cruise line fans to join him.
It might seem like a strange idea to go on a cruise specifically to be on a ship with the CEO and other cruise fans, but it's essentially a giant celebration of cruising.
Think of it like the Comic-Con of cruising, where people the super fans come out to see and be seen.
When is Royal Caribbean's President's Cruise in 2025?
Let's get right to it: the next President's Cruise is already scheduled for 2025.
It will be held on Utopia of the Seas on the September 22, 2025 sailing. That's a 4-night Bahamas cruise that sails from Port Canaveral, Florida.
To understand the appeal of going on a President's Cruise, you have to love cruising on Royal Caribbean. A lot.
The annual event began as a celebration of all things Royal Caribbean and the people that love sailing on the cruise line.
Royal Caribbean is not only one of the biggest cruise lines in the world, it's also incredibly popular. There are passengers that sail with Royal Caribbean dozens of times per year. Some even cruise more than they're on land.
Royal Caribbean has offered a President's Cruise for the past few years, and each year has seemingly been outdone by the previous year with special events, giveaways, and guest stars.
Of course, Mr. Bayley is sailing onboard the ship and there are opportunities to meet him during the sailing. He hosts certain events, and is otherwise around to meet.
A lot of cruisers relish the opportunity to meet him and have a moment to share what they like about the cruise line, as well as hear his thoughts on where the cruise line is headed.
And yes, some will take the chance to bring up issues they see with Royal Caribbean. That's a style he seems to embrace, as Mr. Bayley welcomes feedback.
In addition to Bayley, other top Royal Caribbean executives are onboard as well. It's basically a who's who of Royal Caribbean's leadership team.
With all those executives onboard, there's extra attention given to just about every facet of the sailing.
And then there are the passengers, many of whom are super cruise line fans. You won't find a sailing with more top tier Royal Caribbean cruisers that have enormous Crown and Anchor Society point totals.
Special events and surprises
While the President's Cruise is a normal Royal Caribbean sailing, there are a subset of events you can attend that go above and beyond what's typical.
You'll find Q&A sessions that offer behind-the-scenes insights from Royal Caribbean's top brass. There are special performances by musical celebrities, surprise events, and even special shore excursions.
Past musical acts brought on a President's Cruise have included Michael Bolton, Boy George, and Patty LaBelle.
Each day there's usually swag waiting in your cabin that you can't otherwise buy. Royal Caribbean branded everything, and lots of gifts to bring home.
Why you might be interested
First and foremost, a President's Cruise is going to appeal someone that loves to cruise on Royal Caribbean often.
It's also a one-of-a-kind experience to sail alongside Michael Bayley and other leaders. The access this sort of a cruise provides is really the only opportunity customers have to meet these folks.
Often Mr. Bayley will talk about upcoming ships, innovations, and company plans.
I think the exclusive events, unique souvenirs, and surprise gifts also factor in highly to consider going. Some of these are published before the cruise commences, but many others are revealed only once the cruise begins.
Then there's the social aspect where the top cruisers get a chance to meet up.
You can meet other die-hard Royal Caribbean fans, and a lot of super cruisers look forward to a President's Cruise like a reunion.
How to book the President's Cruise
Because the September 22, 2025 sailing of Utopia of the Seas is a regular sailing (as opposed to a charter sailing), anyone can book it like any other cruise.
An inside cabin starts at $1,213.26 per guest (including taxes and fees). For two people, the lowest price is $2,426.52. That price would be for a category ZI Interior Stateroom Guarantee, which means Royal Caribbean would pick the cabin assignment.
The cheapest balcony on this sailing is a Central Park View Balcony, which costs $3,372.52 for two people (including taxes and fees).
Any Royal Caribbean cruise is likely to sell out sooner or later, so space will be limited and you'll want to book as early as you can before prices go higher and more cabins sell out.
A woman claimed she was on a Royal Caribbean cruise and had an allergic reaction to something she ate, but then refused to pay the high price for medication onboard.
The woman posted a video on TikTok of her swollen face and disdain for the price the cruise ship's medical facility wanted to charge her.
"I've been on the boat for ... not even the full 24 hours and my face is swollen," she said as she took her sunglasses.
She did not say what she ate the triggered the reaction. She said she said she went to the medical center on her vessel and was told it would cost $390 for Benadryl.
"They do have it, but it costs $390 for them to give me Benadryl," she said.
Cruise ship medical bays have doctors and nurses onboard, and it's effectively a mini urgent care location to treat and triage minor issues. For major medical issues, the passenger will be taken off the ship to get treatment back on land.
For medical care onboard, they don't accept any insurance. You have to pay out of pocket and then be reimbursed after the cruise by either your own medical insurance or a travel insurance policy.
Unfortunately, most medical insurance plans don't cover cruise ships because they're outside of their country.
Luckily for this woman, she said at the end of the video she managed to get Benadryl from another passenger on the ship.
Fierce opinions
The comments for this woman's video exploded with opinions on the matter, as many had differing thoughts of what she should have done in this situation.
Many cruisers talked about how they bring all sorts of over-the-counter medications on vacation with them.
"I take the whole medicine cabinet with me on a cruise because I refuse!," said Deneanne Nicole.
Others recommended asking other passengers, who may have done just that.
"Girl. Go ask folks on the boat. Especially veteran cruisers. They have everything," said Baezivy.
Txfynest recommended, "Go on the Facebook travel group for your boat and ask the group hopefully you’ll be ok till yall port and get something."
Some viewers realized the need to plan ahead as a result of the video, "this is a learning experience for all of us. I need to take meds on my next cruise" gabrielabutcallmegaby commented.
Most of the comments centered around being prepared and bringing the right medications with you, just in case.
In fact, one of the top things cruisers shared they regretted not packing was over-the-counter medication.
No one wants to get sick on vacation, but it happens.
Whether you simply catch a head cold or you have a mild allergic reaction to a bug bite, having a variety of over-the-counter medication can make all the difference.
The importance of travel insurance
The real debate topic was the importance of travel insurance and how they would have handled the situation.
Toneee22 shared their experience when something similar happened, "I fainted on a cruise was taken 2 the infirmary & my bill came 2 $600. I paid the bill before I left & sent it 2 my insurance company. They reimbursed me $570, so my out of pocket was only the co-pay."
Christina Sanford Hamilton added, "I have travel insurance. Buy it annually and I always take two bags of meds and bathroom stuff."
A basic policy from Allianz costs $37 per plan and covers:
Flight, hotel, and vacation-rental cancellations
Meal and transportation expenses during delays
Rental-car insurance
Medical expenses, including evacuations
The exact cost will depend on how long the trip is, the age of the cruisers, add-on coverages, and other considerations.
Travel insurance also covers you for a last-minute need to cancel a cruise, such as a death in the family or loss of a job.
The best way to compare insurance plans is to go through a travel insurance aggregator.
My two favorite options are InsureMyTrip.com and TravelInsurance.com.
Both charge you nothing extra to use their services, so it's free to browse. Plus, they offer ways to compare specific plans from different travel insurance companies against each other.
You probably won't actually need the travel insurance, but if you do, you never want to be in a situation where you're debating getting the health care you need versus the out of pocket costs.
According to a report, a passenger on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship was detained for allegedly being violent towards crew members on his ship, and then died shortly after.
Fox 11 reports the passenger is being identified as Michael Virgil, and his family claims he died shortly after being injected "with some sort of sedative."
Several Royal Caribbean security team members were able to eventually detain a tired-out Virgil by using zip ties, handcuffs and either bear or pepper spray, according to the bystander and his video.
Virgil's family says he was injected with a sedative and died within an hour.
Royal Caribbean confirmed the man's passing in a statement to Fox 11, "We are saddened by the passing of one of our guests."
"We offered support to the family and are working with authorities on their investigation."
Virgil’s devastated family told FOX 11 that his shocking outburst was uncharacteristic of the dad, who was on the cruise with his 7-year-old autistic son and his fiancé.
“He didn’t deserve to die over it,” a relative told the station.
FBI investigation has begun
The FBI is now involved in the case and is investigating the fight and death. An autopsy will be performed.
The FBI’s Los Angeles field office issued a statement to USA Today confirming their agency responded as the cruise ship returned to dock on Monday.
The FBI did not have additional specifics to share in regards to how they'll conduct the investigation.
The FBI website describes their jurisdiction on cruise ship incidents as "complicated", "Cruise ship criminal jurisdiction is complicated, and keeping U.S. passengers safe at sea presents unique challenges."
The issue is related to the fact cruise ships are registered in foreign countries and crimes occur in international waters. Plus, the passengers and crew members may be from foreign countries.
So if there's a crime, other countries may want to investigate it too.
The location of the vessel, the nationality of the suspect or victim, the ownership of the vessel, the points of embarkation and debarkation, and the country where the vessel is registered all determine the FBI’s role and ability to investigate.
Cruisers reactions
News of the incident and the man's subsequent death spread across the internet quickly, with differing opinions on the situation.
On Facebook, many cruisers offered their own speculation as to what could have happened to cause the man to die so quickly.
Michael Snyder posted, "Leaving ugly comments won’t change the facts of this, the guy was out of control but his family he left behind are suffering his loss and very likely embarrassed by his actions no matter what caused them. The people he threatened and assaulted also suffered."
Becca Castro added, "Sad that this happened, sad for his family that was on their with him to witness all this and then deal with this."
Security measures on cruise ships
Royal Caribbean has its own security guide, which is required under the the Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act.
Every Royal Caribbean ship is staffed with dedicated security and medical teams to respond to alleged crimes. They are onboard, on duty and available at all times.
According to Royal Caribbean, crime allegations are reported to law enforcement officials in the next port of call, as well as to the nation where their ships are flagged.
The company also reports allegations of crime to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and United States Coast Guard (USCG), in compliance with United States laws.
For a crime such as the man allegedly assaulting with serious bodily injury, US federal law requires Royal Caribbean to report the incident to the FBI by telephone as soon as possible, to the United States Department of Homeland Security electronically and to the USCG in writing.
A crew member went overboard from a Royal Caribbean cruise ship, cruisers have posted online.
Photos have been shared of rescue craft in the ocean near the ship, attempting to locate the person.
UPDATE: The person has been identified as a crew member.
Guests sailing on Vision of the Seas shared updates they received, "it’s certainly a sad day. We lost a crew member yesterday. Search went on for about 6-7 hrs, before the Coast Guard could get here and take over," said Gwendolyn Salzman on a Facebook post.
A Royal Caribbean Group spokesperson issued a statement, "We immediately launched a search and rescue effort and are working with authorities. We are also providing support and assistance to our crew’s family during this difficult time. To respect the privacy of our employee, we have no additional details to share."
Original story below.
The incident has occurred near the conclusion of a Southern Caribbean cruise on Vision of the Seas.
Lori Green, who is sailing on Vision of the Seas, posted on Facebook, "Code “OSCAR” (man overboard) just announced on Vision of the Seas. Search and rescue has been deployed."
Reddit user blazinearth also took a photo of the search efforts, "Sending my thoughts and prayers to the family during this difficult time."
The report of the passenger overboard occurred around 1pm on Tuesday evening, as the ship was making its way back to Baltimore, Maryland.
At 7pm, a passenger posted on a Facebook page an update that the search is still ongoing, "Still searching for the person who went overboard. Coast Guard is here now and Captain said at some point the [Coast Guard] will take over the search."
The United States Coast Guard often steps in to help for a man overboard situation. They can run air and naval searches while the cruise ship uses its small craft to assist.
Vision of the Seas is sailing a 12 Night Southern Caribbean cruise that began in Baltimore.
This is one of Royal Caribbean's oldest and smallest cruise ships.
The 1997-built ship offers cruises year-round from Baltimore to Bermuda, The Bahamas, Caribbean and Florida.
Safety at sea
The chances of falling overboard on a cruise ship are extremely low.
Deck railings on Royal Caribbean cruise ships are at least 42-inches high, which comply Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act (CVSSA) of 2010.
In addition, there are thick metal or Plexiglas panels or metal bars are positioned under the railings to prevent people from slipping through.
When a man overboard situation occurs, the media usually reports on it and it leads some to wonder how it could happen in the first place.
An article from The Points Guy points out cruise ships have railings that are around chest height to ensure passenger safety and to prevent someone from slipping and falling overboard.
"The only way you risk a fall is if you're standing on furniture to peer over the side or climbing somewhere you're not supposed to. It's not possible for you to trip over a door frame or slip on a wet deck and fall off of a vessel."
Passengers going overboard are rare
The chances of a cruise ship passenger going overboard are quite low, but it does occasionally happen.
In a report from Cruise Line International Association (CLIA), there were 212 identified overboard incidents from cruise ships for either crew members or passengers between 2009 to 2019.
Of these overboard incidents, only 48 (or 28.2%) individuals were successfully rescued. Around 71.8% of people who go overboard from cruise ships are sadly never recovered or located.
The CLIA report also shows an overall decline in overboard incidents throughout the 10-year period. The overboard incident rate decreased 64% from 2009 to 2019, with an incidence rate of 0.00004 overboard reports per active lower berth in 2019.
The report states, “When compared with the growth in capacity in the industry over the study years, man overboard incidents continue on a downward trend.”
Royal Caribbean's most luxurious and expensive suites now come with a few extra costs.
Star Class is the upper most echelon of Royal Caribbean's suite program, where you get the biggest suites at sea, the services of a Royal Genie, and as much included in your cruise fare as you'll find on the cruise line.
However, the cruise line has changed what's included with the Star Class experience by adding surcharges to six restaurants.
While never a true all-inclusive experience, Star Class includes the most amenities. Guests receive complimentary specialty restaurant dining, a Deluxe beverage package (for all guests 21 and older) or Refreshment package (for anyone not legal to drink), minibar stocked with soda and water, laundry and pressing, and gratuities.
Regarding the complimentary specialty restaurant dining, there's now more added fees that come with it.
While sailing on Utopia of the Seas, our Royal Genie alerted us to extra costs at specialty restaurants to be aware of for cruises booked after November 1:
Royal Railway: $49.99+18% adults/ $24.99+18% kids surcharge
Izumi in the Park: $10 credit a day per person (instead of unlimited)
Playmakers: $20 food credit per day per person (instead of unlimited)
Chef's Table: $50.00+18% cover charge
Izumi Omakase: $60.00+18% per person
Izumi Hibachi: $15.00+18% surcharge
The language on what's included with Star Class on Royal Caribbean's website has also been revised.
Original information
Updated information
To be fair, Star Class has never been truly all-inclusive, and there have been certain experiences that cost extra. These new surcharges add costs on top of a very pricey cruise experience.
Charging extra for some food while paying for the Star Class experience is a hot debated topic among cruise fans.
In the Star Class Cruisers Facebook group, there's a level of frustration when having to pay more for these restaurants.
"So disappointing!," is what Lance Shalit posted. "Just charge me a little extra for the room and make everything included, even downloadable photos."
"That’s absolutely ridiculous. My last Star class sailing, I spent almost $30,000 on 3-night cruise. To get nickel and dimed like that for specialty dining is a dealbreaker," wrote Amanda Mann.
Erin wrote, "one of the best benefits is not being my families vacation genie and not worrying about anything. The cost has increased and with the decrease in benefits, it is no longer justified."
Anna Janke posted, "I just simply don't understand the dining upcharged. When the room is costing tens of thousands of dollars if Royal truly believes they need the extra pennies to cover specialty dining just increase the room price by $500 or so and nobody would probably even notice."
What's appealing about Star Class?
If you've never experienced Star Class, it's essentially the "easy button" for a Royal Caribbean cruise.
Available only on the cruise line's newest biggest cruise ships, it's a suite program that blends all-inclusive, butler service, and giant suites.
First and foremost, you'll find the biggest suites in Star Class. These suites can span two or three decks, and have multiple bedrooms, private hot tub, and other impressive amenities not found in other cruise ship cabins.
The Ultimate Family Suite is a great example of the sort of experience found within Star Class, as it includes just about everything a family would want during their cruise.
Movie room, PlayStation 5, hot tub, cozy couch, in-room slide, and stocked mini-bar make this cabin extremely fun.
If opulence is more your style, perhaps the Royal Loft Suite will suit your needs.
You'll find hardwood floors, a baby grand piano, marble furnishings, wet bar on the balcony, and the biggest cruise ship shower I've ever seen.
Regardless of which Star Class cabin you pick, they all come with the services of the Royal Genie.
The Genie is best described as your wish maker. They're not quite a traditional cruise ship suite butler, but they do a lot of the things a butler can do and more.
Genies can arrange just about everything you need on the ship. In many cases, they'll allow you to bypass the line and enjoy everything with no wait.
They can get you in for a FlowRider, laser tag, or Ultimate Abyss session without having to wait in line. They can book specialty restaurants, have food from specialty restaurants delivered to your suite, and even set up a cocktail party on your balcony.
What makes Star Class so appealing is how easy the cruise becomes to manage and enjoy. Anyone can have a great cruise without staying in Star Class, but this is the way to make it as easy as possible.
Even cruisers who are low maintenance have told me how special being in Star Class can be, and having those extras included made their cruise feel extra special.
Royal Caribbean has announced some exciting changes and updates this week.
While there can be big news reveals some days, such as the Royal Beach Club announcement last week, other times we get minor bits of news worth sharing too.
In trying to capture it all, here's a run-through of what's new in Royal Caribbean over the last few days.
Updated casino exclusion program
Royal Caribbean has updated its exclusion program details to make it a bit easier.
The exclusion program allows someone to prevent themselves from gambling in the ship's casino. Usually it's because that person has a gambling problem and needs a preventative measure in place.
You might be unfamiliar with this option, because the old program was not advertised, and it you did enroll, you would be banned from sailing on all Royal Caribbean ships.
Under the new program, there's an option for a one year ban or a lifetime ban from the casino.
To request a review of a lifetime ban, the casino requires at least a year to have elapsed before that request can be considered.
Once enrolled, the casino team will refuse your wagers. If you were somehow able to gamble, you would be ineligible to collect any winnings or recover any losses.
I was sailing on Utopia of the Seas this weekend and have these photos from our visit to Nassau that were taken on December 14.
Royal Beach Club Paradise Island is set to open in December 2025 and will come at an extra cost for passengers, providing a day pass to experience pools, food, and games.
It covers 17 acres of land, offering two stunning beaches, three pools, the world’s largest swim-up bar, and an array of dining and drinking options.
All-inclusive day passes and cabanas for Royal Beach Club Paradise Island will be available for purchase starting in spring 2025.
Don't forget, this is just one of three beach clubs currently planned.
They've got a Royal Beach Club going to Cozumel, Mexico, and Vanuatu.
Beach clubs are like a "super shore excursion" that aims to offer an elevated beach day experience for passengers who want a beach day with Royal Caribbean's standards in place.
A post from Royal Caribbean in reply to a disgruntled cruiser explained what the change affects.
"We're sorry for any confusion. Kindly note, this policy does not apply to non-alcoholic beverages, such as canned sodas and bottled water. Only alcoholic drinks."
This means drinks ordered with a drink voucher from the Crown and Anchor Society benefits that begin at the Diamond Level will have to be opened for the guest. Ditto for cans of beer ordered with a drink package.
So if you order a can of beer, expect it to be opened for you, regardless of if you want it to be opened or not.
Two Royal Caribbean ships had to have a passenger evacuated off the cruise ship for medical reasons.
The US Coast Guard rescued a man experiencing severe abdominal pain from Grandeur of the Seas shortly after the ship began a cruise.
Grandeur of the Seas is Royal Caribbean's oldest cruise ship, and she had departed from Fort Lauderdale to make her way to the Southern Caribbean for a 9-night voyage.
The US Coast Guard Southeast was called in when the 2,440 passenger cruise ship was 40 miles off shore, southeast of Miami.
#Breaking A @USCG Air Station #Miami rescue crew medevaced a 56-year-old male from a cruise ship, 40 miles southeast of Miami, Sat.
The aircrew transported the individual, who suffered severe abdominal pain to Jackson Memorial Hospital in stable condition. #SARpic.twitter.com/vhey8HT4hm
#Breaking A @USCG Air Station #Miami rescue crew medevaced a 56-year-old male from a cruise ship, 40 miles southeast of Miami, Sat.
The aircrew transported the individual, who suffered severe abdominal pain to Jackson Memorial Hospital in stable condition. #SARpic.twitter.com/vhey8HT4hm
A post on X/Twitter showed the rescue efforts after the man was airlifted off the ship.
While medical emergencies may be the last thing cruise-goers want to consider when planning their vacations, the video offers a glimpse into the emergency rescue procedures followed during life-or-death emergencies at sea.
According to the Coast Guard, the man was taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami in stable condition.
Grandeur of the Seas then resumed her sailing, heading to Labadee, Haiti.
Another rescue on Radiance of the Seas
On the same day, another Coast Guard unit was requested for assistance on Royal Caribbean's Radiance of the Seas.
Radiance was sailing from Tampa, Florida and had also just begun a cruise. Radiance is sailing a 7-night Western Caribbean cruise.
The Coast Guard was alerted when the 2,466 passenger ship was 13 miles west of Anna Maria Island.
The reported issue involved taking a female passenger off the ship, accompanied by her mother & father.
This time, a Coast Guard vessel was dispatched instead of a helicopter.
In a tweet, the Coast Guard said, "The female required higher level care and was transferred to awaiting EMS at Station Cortez."
Following the evacuation, the Royal Caribbean ship resumed her sailing towards the Western Caribbean.
Medical evacuations happen more often than you think
Posts from the US Coast Guard highlight the important work they do in cases of emergencies, and it's a good reminder that health issues can arise anywhere.
Passengers could be taken from a ship for a host of medical issues, such as symptoms of strokes, heart attacks, kidney failure, progressive acute illness, respiratory failure, pneumonia, and septic shock.
Cruise ships are equipped with basic facilities to triage any health issues they encounter until such a time the passenger can be taken off the ship to a full medical facility.
Cruise ship medical centers are probably bigger than you might think, but their function is to offer necessary treatments and if a patient has a more serious condition, get them off the ship so they can receive the full range of treatments they require.
All cruise ships have standards set by the American College of Emergency Physicians in how patients are treated onboard, as well as experience levels, certifications, and skills of the doctors and clinical staff onboard.
This pair of medevacs are a good reminder how important travel insurance is for anyone going on a cruise.
Most travel insurance plans include some level of Medical Evacuation & Repatriation coverage.
While the Coast Guard conducted these rescues, sometimes it can be done using an air ambulance, a commercial airline, or other ground transportation vehicles fitted with medical equipment.
According to the CDC, a medical air evacuation can cost between $25,000 to more than $250,000.
Remember, most primary health insurance plans, such as Medicare or an employer sponsored plan, do not provide coverage outside the United States.
Squaremouth, a travel insurance comparison site, recommends someone going on a cruise ship have a travel insurance plan that has at least $250,000 in emergency Medical Evacuation coverage.
Royal Caribbean Blog is an unofficial fan blog written for other fans of Royal Caribbean International. The Royal Caribbean Blog is not affiliated with Royal Caribbean International
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