Royal Caribbean will add a new cruise ship this summer, and there are a few dining surprises that were announced.

Legend of the Seas will be the third Icon Class cruise ship, and it will have 28 places to eat onboard. It's not only among the biggest cruise ships in the world, but it will be home to more casual, sit down, and fine dining choices.

I scoured the full list of restaurants and dining choices on the ship, and there were a few things that jumped out because they're new and unexpected.

In addition to returning foodie favorites, here are the four surprises we can look forward to eating at on Legend of the Seas.

The first Korean food choice

Royal Caribbean will add its first dedicated Korean food offering when Seoulmate opens.

This is one of six stations that will make up Aquadome Market, the complimentary food hall.

Royal Caribbean trademarked the name last year, leading to speculation a Korean offering was coming.

Korean rice bowls are on the menu, and it signals a new kind of option never before offered on Royal Caribbean ships. I think it's exciting when we get variations.

Tacos coming to Aquadome Market too

Royal Caribbean is pretty much overhauling the Aquadome Market lineup with, five out of six locations new options.

• 🆕 Seoulmate: Korean rice bowls
• 🆕 La Espanola: Spanish-style bites
• 🆕 Cajun kitchen: New Orleans gumbo
• 🆕 Adobo: Mexican street tacos
• 🆕 Simply Pressed: Fresh smoothies & juices
• Creme de la Crepe: Sweet French crepes

What surprised me is one of the food halls is offering Mexican food, when there's an El Loco Fresh down the deck.

To be fair, El Loco Fresh is more Tex-Mex than traditional/authentic Mexican food, and that may be the difference.

If you've never eaten at Aquadome Market, it's my favorite included restaurant on any Royal Caribbean ship. The variety of food, the fact it's open late night, and how fresh everything is prepared truly makes it stand out.

Plus, it's convenient to the pool deck since you can easily get to it from the Chill Island neighborhood.

To be clear, I'm all for more tacos in my life. So I'll take it upon myself to "research" the differences between this and El Loco Fresh.

Pier 7 isn't going anywhere

After the launch of Icon of the Seas, it looked like Pier 7 was going to be removed on Star of the Seas.  Fast-forward two ships and it's still here.

It's easily overlooked because it's located deep within the Surfside neighborhood, which is an area guests without young kids usually avoid.

To be clear, I think Pier 7 is the most underrated Royal Caribbean restaurant and given how cheap it's priced, I think it's worth eating at for everyone.  

Kids under 12 eat free, and if you pre-book a reservation, adults can have brunch for as little as $9.

I appreciate the menu offers very different options than what you'd find elsewhere, and there are some great healthier options available.

Plus, having an all-day brunch menu is welcome for anyone that enjoys breakfast for dinner.

The immersive train restaurant will have fine dining choices

We already knew Legend of the Seas will debut the first Royal Railway on an Icon Class ship, but now we have a look at what the menu will have.

I was able to test an early version of the restaurant at a mock-up at Royal Caribbean's headquarters, but everything at that point was conceptual.

Travel through China and indulge in mouthwatering Pork and Shrimp Siu Mai garnished with delicate caviar. And feast on butter chicken and palak paneer in India before awe-inspiring explorations through Persia, Turkey and Italy.

Since the Royal Railway Utopia Station was based in the Old West and a family-focused show, the menu had a different aim.

It looks like Legend Station will lean more into cuisine, and less on schtick.  This is a welcome change for those that eat at any specialty restaurant for the food first.

All the restaurants coming to Legend of the Seas

Royal Caribbean says Legend of the Seas will have the most places to eat at sea, so here's a look at what's coming.

• Quick Bites
  • Park Café ✅
  • El Loco Fresh ✅
  • AquaDome Market ✅
  • Surfside Bites ✅
  • Izumi in the Park $
  • Basecamp ✅
  • Trellis Bar $
• Around-the-Clock Cuisine
  • Pearl Café ✅
  • Sorrento’s ✅
• Sit-Down Eats
  • Surfside Eatery ✅
  • Windjammer ✅
  • Pier 7 $
  • Dining Room ✅
  • Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade $
• Celebration-Worthy Meals
  • Celebration Table $
  • Chops Grille $
  • Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar $
  • Hooked Seafood $
• Savor the Show
  • Hollywoodland Supper Club $
  • Royal Railway: Legend Station $
  • Izumi Hibachi & Sushi $
• Sweet Treats
  • Sprinkles ✅
  • Desserted $
  • Starbucks $
  • Sugar Beach $
• Suite Exclusives
  • Coastal Kitchen ✅
  • The Grove ✅

Former Royal Caribbean International CEO Adam Goldstein is back, but he's on his way to work with a different cruise line.

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NCLH) has undergone big changes and the drum beats demanding more change are echoing still.

NCLH is the parent company of Norwegian Cruise Line (and two other lines). The major problem has been NCLH has struggled financially compared to competitors, and some of its investors have had enough. Especially when competitors, like Royal Caribbean, are doing so much better.

On Thursday, Mr. Goldstein announced he's now working with activist investor Elliott Investment Management to help reshape Norwegian's future.  As the former head of Royal Caribbean, it has potential major impact for the industry.

This isn’t just a board seat pursuit. It's part of a broader bid to sharpen strategy, performance, and shareholder returns.

Who is Adam Goldstein?

Adam Goldstein is a name within Royal Caribbean that used to be among the most important people in the company.

Adam Goldstein joined the company in 1988 and later went on to serve as President & CEO of Royal Caribbean International from 2007 to 2014. From 2014 to 2018, he served as President & COO of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. His last role was vice chairman.

Then he suddenly left the company in 2020 without any explanation.

On Thursday, he announced Elliott has put his name forward as a potential director to serve on the Board of Directors.

"If appointed to the board, I would serve as a director for all of Norwegian’s shareholders, cruisers and travel agent partners – not any single investor," he said in his open letter to the cruise industry.

Norwegian Cruise Line investors call for big changes, want to be like Royal Caribbean

Things are getting dicey at NCLH as change has churned up more change.

Elliott Investment Management has built over a 10% stake in NCLH, and earlier this week went as far as to set up an activist campaign.

They believe Norwegian has lagged behind Royal Caribbean Group and Carnival financially because of mismanagement, overspending, and poor decisions.

They presented an entire new program that illustrates the differences between the three companies, and routinely uses Royal Caribbean Group as an example of how to do things better.

Elliott is calling for board changes, strategic overhaul, and stronger execution.

Why Adam Goldstein is getting involved now

After leaving Royal Caribbean abruptly, he's been largely missing in action from the cruise industry.  Now, he wants back in.

In his post, he says many people have reached out and asked him out of concern what is happening at Norwegian.

He believes Norwegian has world-class assets and can do much better financially.

"There are signs that Norwegian could be doing much better. Norwegian possesses industry-leading assets, leading the industry in investment-per-berth and featuring a premium cabin mix and compelling onboard amenities."

Financial results, he says, follow a strong guest experience and differentiated product.

"Financial results follow the guest experience, not the other way around."

He sees such strong demand for cruising across the entire industry, and believes Norwegian should be taking advantage of that growth.

"Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings... should be capitalizing on this moment."

Mr. Goldstein's involvement signals not just financial pressure, but adding someone who can help drive strategic and operational fixes.

Can this really fix things?

The investor counterstrike is massive in its scope, but its ambitions might be more than what's practical.

Vince Ciepiel is an Analyst with Cleveland Research Company, and reviewed the "Norwegian Now" plan that outlines the problems and ways to fix the poor corporate governance, cost mismanagement, and strategic errors.

He believes the plan has merit, but isn't realistic with how quickly it could make changes, "We view much of Elliot’s overall messaging in the plan as fair in general but likely too aggressive/optimistic on the solutions and timeline."

He was also quick to point out that Elliott takes special aim at Norwegian costs, but believes NCLH has gotten better at managing costs in recent years.

Moreover, he raised a red flag that cuts have already begun to negatively impact the customer experience.

"We would also flag that investors have been concerned on Norwegian’s cost cuts leading to brand/customer experience damage (i.e. reducing portion sizes in F&B, cutting back on onboard shows/performance budgets, reducing housekeeping) so the $ value of low hanging fruit operationally may not be as easy to capture as the Elliott presentation implies."

NCL: The new Southwest Airlines?

Cruise fans have already taken note of what's happening at NCLH, and it has them concerned.

X user The Cruise Life laid out the potential problems with Elliott's plan and how it could spell cutbacks and poor guest experiences. They base this on the fact Elliott Management is the same activist investor group behind the major changes at Southwest Airlines that have been criticized for disrupting what made that airline so beloved by fans.

"Loyal NCL cruisers have definitely seen unpopular cost cuts over the past decade in favor of profits. But let me make it clear: If Elliott Management has their way, the cost cuts of the past were paper cuts. This group wants to cut off the entire head in favor of profit."

"Make no mistake, change is coming for Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings. Today is a dark day for a brand we love so much. And while we disagree with several recent changes (Subway CEO?!), trust me when I say an activist investor group is NOT the solution any of us want."

For three nights, I woke up every morning to the feeling of vibrations as my cruise ship maneuvered into port. I pressed the automatic window shade to see the view of which Bahamian port we were in and take in the beautiful scenery.

I was aboard my sixth cruise on Royal Caribbean's Utopia of the Seas, which is one of the biggest ships in the world. It's still very much a new ship and because it offers short weekend cruises, it's become my preferred weekend escape mechanism.

During my three night voyage from Port Canaveral, Florida, we sailed to Nassau, Bahamas and and Royal Caribbean's private island in the Bahamas.

I stayed in an ocean-view stateroom on deck nine for $685. The cruise was offered as a "free sailing" through the casino loyalty program. Take a look inside the 187-square-foot space.

My room was at the front of deck nine

An oceanview stateroom is one category above an inside stateroom with no windows, but it's one category below staterooms with a balcony, and two below a suite.

Oceanview rooms are usually a bit larger than inside rooms and have a view.

If the price difference is negligible, moving up to an oceanview instead of an inside room can be a pleasant upgrade.

I was surprised how big the room felt as soon as I stepped inside my stateroom

The unusual layout of the cabin at the very front of the ship gave it more space than you'd get in an oceanview cabin on the side of the ship.

The room has a desk, mirror, outlets for charging electronics and USB ports

One thing I instantly notice anytime I go on a newer Royal Caribbean ship is how many more outlets are in the room.

As someone that works remotely from cruise ships, it's nice having a desk.  I use it as my mobile office location, as well as to store any important paperwork or flyers I'll need later.

There are drawers nearby that include a minifridge

The amount of drawers and storage space is impressive, especially for a ship only offering short cruises.

Suffice to say, there was more than enough space for my belongings.

Plus, there's a fridge to keep food or drinks chilled. It's not a true refrigerator, but perfect for my bottled water.

There is a couch across from the desk, and a closet

This stateroom is big enough to fit a full sized couch, with a closet next to it.

There are hangers provided in the closet, so it makes it simple to get what you need hung up.

Near the entrance to the room is a small bathroom that maximized the space

In this room is a private bathroom, that has sink, toilet, and shower.

There is complimentary 2-in-1 body wash and shampoo, but I'd recommend bringing your own hair products from home if proper hair care is important to you.  For kids, it's good enough.

There is a pull-out clothing line in the shower that you can use to dry bathing suits or any garments you need to launder yourself.

The king size bed can be split to create two twin beds if you're sharing the cabin

Nearly every Royal Caribbean bed can be split in two, which is perfect for anyone sharing the room.

The stateroom attendant can split or combine the beds at anytime, so don't fret if it's not in the right configuration when you get inside.

There are also two nightstands on either side of the bed with a lamp, charging ports, and a room phone on one side.

There is a large TV mounted across from the bed with a clever storage hack below

I thought it was smart that Royal Caribbean placed storage hooks in every cabin so you can get certain belongings off the floor.

The window provided a view of the front of the ship, which is unusual

The large window has an electric shade that you can open or close by pushing a button. 

This ensured the room stayed dark while I slept, and illuminated the cabin when I was ready for it.

The problem with this cabin is there was so much movement when the ship docked

From photos, this looks like an amazing room.  However, the amount of movement made sleeping a challenge.

Every time the ship docked, it felt like a mini-earthquake and it lasted long enough to wake me up and keep me awake.  This is because the room is above the bow thrusters.

I regretted booking this room because I prefer to sleep in while on a cruise.  If you're an early riser, this might not be a problem.

Next time, I'll pick a room more centrally located on the ship to avoid the motion problems.

Royal Caribbean's Main Dining Room is a staple of the cruise experience, and within its daily menu are a few must-eats that you might otherwise overlook.

Each night there's a new menu to choose from, but certain items stand out among those that cruise enough to repeat menus.

Sure, you can order the lobster tail, steak, or chicken cordon bleu and be happy with that. After all, they're great dishes. But they can blind you to delectable appetizers, sides, and entrees that deserve way more attention.

In my 20 years of cruising on Royal Caribbean, I've discovered underrated dishes that stand out as a great choice to order because they're something new, exciting, and totally delicious.

But trust me: You'll be glad you tried these items once you give them a chance.

Indian curry

I liked Indian curry before I ever cruised on Royal Caribbean, but the curry offerings on Royal Caribbean are fabulous.

Indian curry has garnered a cult-like following among cruise fans who recognize it's one of the consistently best options on the menu.  Plus, there's a rotating curry option every night of the cruise in the Main Dining Room, including a vegetarian and non-vegetarian option.

If you've never tried it, fear not, it's not as spicy as you might think. In fact, I think nearly all of Royal Caribbean's curries are quite mild and lack the authentic heat it probably should have. Nonetheless, it's quite tame and a great option for someone that has never tried curry.

Try the butter chicken or chicken curry when it's on the menu as a great starting idea. No vegetables, just chicken in a great tasting sauce.  Add in some rice and I bet you'll love it.

Escargot

Yes, the traditional French dish that serves snails is actually really good.

In reality, the baked snails are quite small and nearly drowning in garlic and butter. This makes escargot more palatable to someone trying it and if you eat it with bread, I doubt you'll taste anything other than the garlic and butter.

It's salty, savory, and lots of cruisers swear by it as a must-order item because it's different.  Few of us are fine diners at home, so the chance to try something different here and venture out is fun.

Crab cakes

According to the Royal Caribbean Dining group on Facebook, the crab cakes are underrated.

"I order this for dinner instead of appetizer," one person posted.

Available on the Welcome Aboard menu (night one), it's one of those dishes I'll see highlighted over and over again by cruisers.

Outside of those from Maryland who have higher standards for the dish, I think it's routinely one of the better options to try.

French onion soup

I don't know how much French onion soup can be hidden, but I'm putting it on the list because if you've ever thought "been there, done that", you haven't.

There's something about Royal Caribbean's French onion soup that truly stands out from the same soup I've had at plenty of other restaurants on land.

The salty broth, cheese, bread, and plenty of onions all combine to never disappoint.

I also appreciate it comes out as nearly scalding hot, which makes a difference with any soup.  I think soup should always be too hot to enjoy initially.  Plus, it lets the cheese and bread soak in more.

French onion soup has been on the Main Dining Room menu for as long as I've been cruising, and it's probably the top reason I'll choose to eat there instead of another venue.

Eggs benedict

Did you know the Main Dining Room is open every morning for breakfast too?

It's a traditional American breakfast, but many people swear by the eggs benedict as a must-order.  It's overlooked because a lot of people opt for scrambled eggs or an omelet.

Eggs benedict is a poached egg with Canadian bacon along with hollandaise sauce.

Many fans love this dish.

• "I have eggs benedict for breakfast on the first day of every cruise. Can’t wait!"
• "Best egg benedict in the fleet!"
• "Eggs benny....one of my favorite breakfasts."

Royal Caribbean has changed another entertainment venue into a casino on one of its ships.

While undergoing routine maintenance work in drydock, Radiance of the Seas returned to service this week with one notable change: a new non-smoking casino.

Reports from passengers onboard the ship indicated the Pub had been replaced with a non-smoking casino. Jeremy Thomasson posted, "Onboard now and can confirm Radiance has removed the Pub and replaced it with a Non Smoking Casino."

A video tour of the new casino was shared by Sea Days & Sunsets and the entire Quill & Compass Pub has been swapped out for a casino space.

The change is part of a greater trend on Royal Caribbean ships to offer more casino space while also offering an enclave for non-smokers.

Traditionally, cruise ship casinos offer a non-smoking and smoking side. But just like airplanes, sharing an enclosed space with smokers doesn't keep the smoke odor on one side.

The new casino space is still attached to the main casino on two ends, but there's a corridor in-between to provide some separation.

The non-smoking casino space has a dedicated bar, which takes the place of the former bar within the pub.

There are slot machines and some table games. In the video tour, it appeared the casino space was still being set up.

Gone is the pub, which leaves one less bar with entertainment onboard the ship.

Radiance of the Seas is one of the smallest Royal Caribbean cruise ships in the fleet, with a capacity of just 2,143 passengers.  Compare that to Icon of the Seas, which can handle 5,610 passengers at double occupancy.

Trend of adding more non-smoking casinos

Royal Caribbean has been on quest as of late to expand its casino offerings on its ships, a trend that began with the launch of Wonder of the Seas.

Wonder of the Seas launched in 2022, and was originally slated to debut in China.  Instead of a jazz club on deck 4 that all other Oasis Class ships had previously had, there were plans for a casino instead.

When Wonder of the Seas was shifted and debuted in North America instead, Royal Caribbean decided to experiment with keeping the casino.  Evidently it was a success, because more ships received the update.

Since then, all the Jazz on 4 venues on other Oasis Class venues have been replaced by non-smoking casinos.

On some ships, the cruise line has even moved the Crown Lounge loyalty space to offer an even bigger casino fingerprint.

On Freedom of the Seas, the Vintages wine bar was removed and replaced with a non-smoking casino.  

In this case, this added a casino on the Royal Promenade for the first time.

When Legend of the Seas debuts later this year, it will be the first ship in the fleet to have a two-story casino.

In fact, Legend will have the biggest casino space of any ship.

Why Royal Caribbean is adding more casinos

Adding more casinos has two benefits, but it comes at a price.

First and foremost, adding more gambling space provides more revenue opportunities for the cruise line.

Royal Caribbean Group does not break down its revenue it earns from gambling, but it's hard to imagine that based on how many more casinos are being added to ships that the move is not a profit generating space.

Traditionally, casinos have always been a profit generator for cruise lines.

Anecdotally, the casino loyalty program seems to be more popular than ever, and those that gamble enough to get free cruise offers are reporting an influx of additional offers.

For passengers, it's a case of good and bad news with the casino expansion.

Those that don't smoke and refuse to gamble in the regular casino because of the smoke odor have celebrated the expansion of casino spaces. 

It offers them an opportunity to enjoy gambling without the second hand smoke issues or even smell. Plus, a bigger casino means more capacity and possibly less crowds.

The downside is these new casinos replace bars and lounges that sometimes offered entertainment.

In the case of Radiance of the Seas, this change possibly means there is no longer a pub singer entertainer onboard. It remains to be seen if the pub singer will be moved to another venue.

With Jazz on 4, the jazz music was moved to Central Park on the Oasis Class ships to perform outdoors.

Similarly, when Royal Caribbean got rid of the comedy club space to make room for a casino, the comedy shows got moved to the Royal Theater.

Comedy in a large theater is adequate, but lacks the crowd work and sense of inclusion you get in a smaller comedy venue.

If you've ever been on a cruise ship and noticed there are moments that stick out for slowing everything down, you're certainly not alone.

While nearly all the experience being on a Royal Caribbean ship is fantastic, every cruise will have moments when you find it difficult to avoid a delay, regret, or general hassle.

I was on Royal Caribbean's Utopia of the Seas getting back on the ship after our day in Nassau when I ran into a very crowded elevator bank. Getting back on a ship can be one of those moments, but there are ways to circumvent the problem to a degree.

It got me thinking about other less-than-desirable situations on a cruise you might encounter and the tricks you need to know to beat them.

Lines at the cruise terminal

When you get to the cruise terminal, there's bound to be a line of people waiting to go through security and check-in for your cruise.

There's actually a shorter line you can get into simply by knowing how to complete the online check-in beforehand.

Express Boarding is available to anyone, but you need to know what to do and how to do it.

This special line is shorter and will get you onboard faster because you would have already completed all the important steps.

There's no cost to get Express Boarding, but you need to complete all of the online check-in steps within the Royal Caribbean app, including the selfie and health questionnaire. 

This is one of my favorite cruise hacks and worth doing every time to make check-in a breeze.

People reserving chairs at the pool deck

Whether you're at a Marriott resort or Royal Caribbean cruise, chair hogs are a thing. 

Some people get up early, reserve a bunch of lounge chairs by the pool, and then never relinquish them. Many times the chairs they reserve don't even get used for a few more hours after.

Royal Caribbean claims they have a policy to combat this practice, but I've rarely seen it enforced.

There are a couple workarounds (and no, I don't advocate moving their stuff. I don't want a confrontation on my vacation).

First, if you can get up to the pool deck before 10am, there's a good chance you'll have no problem getting a lounger yourself.

In my experience, it's the people that sleep in and roll up to the pool deck later in the morning or early afternoon that run into problems.

Another idea is to go to the pool on a port day, when there's far less demand for the pool. 

Staying onboard a ship on a port day is a frequent cruiser trick, and it feels like you have the entire pool to yourself.

Elevator congestion

I mentioned the issue earlier in this article about a crowded elevator, and you'll likely encounter crowded elevators multiple times during your cruise.

Elevators can get easily overwhelmed when a show lets out, dinner wraps up, or the aforementioned post-excursion rush.

The stairs are still the best alternative to crowded elevators. While taking the stairs may not be ideal, I find it can be faster in many cases than even waiting for an uncrowded elevator (especially if it's less than 4 decks).

I'd recommend taking the stairs if you're going under 3 decks.

For my excursion problem, you could take the stairs just a couple decks up and then wait for the elevator there. You'd be surprised how many people will get off the elevator at that point, freeing up space.

Waiting for a tender boat

It seems to be getting rarer to have a cruise with a tender port stop, but if you do, waiting for a tender boat in the morning can feel really frustrating.

Tender boats are slow loading and unloading, and they have a small capacity. With seemingly everyone trying to head ashore at the same time, it can lead to very long lines.

I find the best strategy if you have a tender port is to book a Royal Caribbean excursion to at least get you there.

Royal Caribbean excursions always get priority tendering.  This means you'll meet for your tour on the ship and then be escorted to a waiting tender boat just for those on a tour.

Say what you will about the advantages of a third party excursion, but I think in a tender port booking a cruise line excursion is a must-do to avoid the hassle and tender boat lines.

Waits for the water slides

Did you know most Royal Caribbean ships have water slides onboard? In fact, the Icon Class ships even have an entire water park!

A lot of people know about it, and that's why lines for the water slides can be among the longest waits you'll encounter on any Royal Caribbean ship.

Instead of taking your kids on a sea day and waiting in line, I have a few workarounds.

First, bring your bathing suits on embarkation day and hit the water slides as soon as you get onboard.

There's usually no line on the first day of the cruise because no one has their bathing suits with them (they're packed in their luggage). Change into your bathing suit at a public restroom and you'll practically have them to yourselves.

The second strategy is to come back early from a port day.

Get off the ship early and enjoy some time at the beach or on whatever tour you're doing. But if you can get on the ship a few hours before all aboard time, I've found the water slide lines to also be quite short.

Lastly, if all else fails, wake up early and hit the water slides then. 

Sea days will be the most crowded, but if you can get to the slides around 9am when they open, the lines are usually much shorter for a bit.

The "Why didn’t I know that?" regret

This is a problem I read about online after people get home from their cruise, where they realize too late they missed out on something they would have loved to do on their cruise.

Classic examples include:

• Missing a hidden venue
• Finding out about a perk too late
• Not using Crown & Anchor benefits
• Missing booking windows

There's a lot to see and do on a cruise, so I don't blame someone for overlooking one aspect of a cruise. However, I think avoiding FOMO is worthwhile with a little bit of prep work.

I recommend before going to bed to check the Royal Caribbean app or Cruise Compass to preview what events and activities are coming up tomorrow.

Before the cruise begins, try to pre-book everything possible. Shows, specialty restaurants, private karaoke sessions, and excursions are all things you can reserve and lock-in so there's no excuses later for missing it.

I also think joining a roll call group is a good idea to educate yourself on what's happening. Often times I don't know what I don't know until someone else mentions it and then I want to try it too. 

We have our own roll call section on our message boards or you can try a Facebook group.

Speaking of educating yourself, watch a ship tour video.  We have a full Royal Caribbean ship tours you can watch that cover every inch of the ship and don't include any sales pitches or my face in the video.

Lastly, don't miss out on the fun theme nights of your sailing.

You can look up the theme nights before your cruise begins and have the perfect matching outfit for everyone.

Surprise onboard charges

There have been plenty of cruises where I've asked aloud to my family, "who bought this?" as I point to a charge in the Royal Caribbean app.

In most cases, I forgot about something. But sometimes there's an error. 

On one cruise, the crew member misconstrued my terrible handwriting and thought I tipped them $80 at a restaurant. 

There are a few ways you can limit your onboard charges to avoid confusion later.

Prepaying gratuities is one way to eliminate a lot of onboard charges. Instead of getting a daily charge, I prefer to prepay so it's all take care of before I sail.

It's also a good idea to turn off in-app purchases for kids. You can go to Guest Services on the ship and ask to turn off their charging privileges to ensure they don't accidentally (or intentionally) start buying up arcade games.

And to lessen the surprise factor, I recommend checking your onboard account daily. This is so easy to do with the Royal Caribbean app.

Few people impacted the cruise industry as deeply as Richard Fain had.

With a career spanning decades, he became the leader of Royal Caribbean Group and an instant leader within the travel space. Under his leadership, Royal Caribbean launched the megaship era and revolutionized the cruise industry. But his biggest impact may have come with the cruise industry shutdown and guiding cruising back. 

He worked almost 40 years in cruising before stepping aside in recent years.

In his new book, Delivering the Wow he said, "Almost everybody is focused on what's going to happen next month or next year and I think it's the ability to focus on the north star that's key to success."

His words are an important reminder to almost anyone how important it is to be focused on your long term goal, despite the daily grind and distractions that can steer you away.

The advice in his book centers around a focus on how he used long term goals to guide him, in the same way mariners use the North Star to sail a ship at night.

"The north star is millions of miles away," he explained. "We don't expect to reach it. We're using the north star as a goal, a long-term direction. It's the same thing when you're building a business. It's just something we're constantly striving toward."

The advice is something that was important to him and the company as Royal Caribbean came out of the shutdown of 2020 and accumulated billions of dollars of debt and barely any income.

He called the realization that Covid would be a major problem prohibiting his business from functioning as "devastating".

Clearly the company's return to service and tremendous success in a few short years since 2020 has been the result of this business tenant emphasizing not losing sight of getting back to business.

Richard Fain's career

Richard Fain joined Royal Caribbean in 1988 and left a legacy that reshaped the modern cruise industry.

When he stepped into leadership, Royal Caribbean was a relatively small player with only a handful of ships. Over the decades, he helped transform it into one of the dominant forces in global cruising, with a fleet that spans continents and sets industry trends rather than follows them.

Royal Caribbean didn't just grow in size, it broadened its reach. Royal Caribbean expanded its portfolio to include Celebrity Cruises and later Silversea, giving travelers everything from contemporary mega-ships to premium and ultra-luxury experiences under one corporate umbrella. That diversification strengthened the company’s position and widened its appeal to different kinds of cruisers.

His leadership ushered in the megaship era. The debut of the Oasis Class vessels didn’t just build bigger ships, it fundamentally changed expectations of what a cruise vacation could be. Suddenly, a cruise ship wasn’t just transportation and a pool deck. They now have neighborhoods, entertainment venues, specialty dining, and attractions people had never seen at sea before. 

He was also a major supporter behind the bold reinvention of Perfect Day at CocoCay. What had once been a fairly typical private island stop became a full-scale destination with water park, cabanas, a massive freshwater pool, and experiences designed to rival shoreside resorts. 

It was another move that shifted the industry’s mindset because suddenly every other traditional cruise private island was obsolete. Since then, other cruise lines have quickly begun upgrading their own private islands to keep pace.

Decades of growth came to a halt in 2020 as the global shutdown hit cruise lines especially hard. Ships stopped sailing, revenue evaporated, and uncertainty hung over the entire sector. 

Through that period, Fain became a steady public voice for the company, frequently communicating with guests, travel advisors, and investors. Many credit his calm, consistent leadership during 2020 and 2021 with helping restore confidence that cruising would return.

Cruising did return, and Royal Caribbean emerged from it not just active, but strategically stronger. The company weathered the crisis, resumed expansion, and positioned itself for long-term growth.

He helped redefine what a mainstream cruise line could be, pushed the boundaries of ship design and destination development, and guided the company through one of the most challenging periods in its history. That combination of vision and resilience will likely define how his tenure is remembered.

A 13-night Celebrity Infinity cruise came to an early end when the vessel encountered a technical issue just before completing its itinerary. 

The Celebrity Cruises ship had departed Barcelona, Spain, on February 3 and was scheduled to conclude in Piraeus (Athens), Greece on February 16. Instead, an issue popped up that disrupted travel plans for the conclusion of the sailing.

According to multiple accounts from passengers aboard posted on Reddit, trouble began in the early morning hours of February 15, when the ship suddenly lost electrical power at approximately 3:00 a.m. while it was near Piraeus, Greece. 

Footage shared on social media shows tugboats pushing and pulling the ship as the crew worked to control its movement.

One passenger shared an account of the conditions on board during the power outage, describing how essential services like air conditioning, lighting and even toilets were affected. "No electric in the rooms, air con off, toilets off, Wi-Fi off," the added, recalling an announcement heard across the ship’s public address system.

The same guest said they heard an announcement for a "Bravo Bravo Bravo" alert, which is a code used on ships to warm of fire-related issues, although this hasn't been confirmed.

A letter given to passengers on the ship confirmed to the public that the ship experienced "a technical issue" while approaching Piraeus/Athens.

The cruise line did not go into specifics about what component or system failed, stating only that the onboard team was working to resolve the situation as quickly and safely as possible. "Your safety and well-being are our highest priority," the letter emphasized.

Celebrity Infinity is a 91,000 gross ton ship that can accommodate 2,170 passengers across 12 decks. The ship is 25 years old, having its inaugural sailing in 2001.

Cruise ending a day early

As a result of the unexpected shutdown, the cruise had to end one day earlier than planned. 

Originally, passengers were scheduled to begin disembarking on the morning of February 16, but with the issue, passengers were "encouraged" to disembark the vessel on the 15th instead. 

Celebrity offered a range of compensation packages to those affected. Every stateroom was promised a $300 reimbursement, and passengers were provided with access to free Wi-Fi in the terminal should they need to make onward arrangements. 

The cruise fare for the unused final day will be refunded to guests. Onboard credits will also be provided equivalent to one day of the cruise, calculated based on the amount each guest paid for their fare. 

Any prepaid packages, such as beverage, dining or shore excursions, will similarly see a one-day credit or refund applied. 

Guests will also get an extra $100 per person to pay for lunch or a taxi ride to cover incidentals.

For those who needed to change flights due to the sudden end of the cruise, the line agreed to cover up to $200 for domestic flight changes and $400 for international flight changes, per person.

Next cruise cancelled

On Sunday, Celebrity informed guests booked on the following sailing that the next cruise is cancelled.

"During our previous voyage, the ship experienced a technical issue and while our experts have been working diligently, we need additional time to complete necessary assessments and repairs."

"After carefully considering all options, we’ve made the difficult decision to cancel the February 16th, 2026, sailing. We sincerely apologize for this unexpected change and the disruption this causes to your travel plans."

The February 16th voyage was an 11-night sailing with stops in popular Mediterranean ports such as Mykonos, Katakolon, Iraklion (Crete), Rhodes, Limassol (Cyprus), Antalya (Turkey) and Kuşadası (Turkey).

Guests booked on this sailing will be given a full refund, plus additional compensation.

Hope you are having a great weekend.  Here is all of this week's Royal Caribbean cruise news.

Royal Caribbean added a new item to its banned list that has gotten a lot of mixed reactions.

Smart glasses are now banned from being worn in certain areas of the cruise ship.

The controversy about banning smart glasses stems from how is it fundamentally different than someone with a phone that can take photos.

Royal Caribbean News

• Forbes just named its first Five-Star rating restaurant on a cruise ship
• How I spent $972 on a 3-night Royal Caribbean cruise - and what I'd do differently next time
• I go on Royal Caribbean once a month, but I usually skip 7 places on a cruise ship
• 20 years of Royal Caribbean cruises: What I've learned
• Royal Caribbean cruise rules beginners accidentally break
• 6 cool new gadgets that you can take on a cruise
• New cruise math: How your points are changing without disrupting your favorite line
• 5 reasons to avoid shopping for cruises by just price
• It's not too late to book a spring break cruise, but you need to act quickly
• Why bad cruise weather isn’t just a hurricane season problem
• Should you take a short cruise from Florida?

Video: Biggest Time-Wasters on Royal Caribbean

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 — Biggest Time-Wasters on Royal Caribbean — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

Meet the cute puppy that will love on Legend of the Seas

When Legend of the Seas launches this summer, Skipper will be the "family dog" onboard.

The dog was recently born and now has a name.  Skipper plays on the traditional dog name each one has had, including Sailor and Rover.

Officially, Skipper will be the "Chief Dog Officer" and will live on the ship as a pseudo mascot and part of the crew.

He spent $500,000 in the cruise ship's casino to earn high roller rewards

Craig gambled enough in Royal Caribbean's casinos to earn its highest loyalty tier, which includes a lot of extra perks.

By his estimation, he had to have played through at least $500,000 to earn the 100,000 cumulative points to reach Masters level.

While the amount of money to wager is staggering, the benefits are equally compelling.

I always ask these 7 questions on a cruise and it makes a big difference

It's so important to speak up and get your cruise the way you want it by asking 7 questions.

Some of these questions are said out loud, and others are ones you should be asking yourself. 

Asking all of them will likely get you a better cruise overall.

Your embarkation day on a cruise, explained

The first day of a Royal Caribbean cruise is busy, but we have an easy guide to what to expect on embarkation day.

From check-in to muster drill to dining reservations, there's plenty happening and it can feel overwhelming for a new cruiser.

Luckily, Royal Caribbean makes the process quite easy but knowing what to expect can make it a lot more manageable.

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 596th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available, where Matt is asked if an old ship will be disappointing.

Many cruisers are hesitant to try an old ship because they're worried it won't be nearly as good as a new ship.

Please feel free to subscribe via YouTube, iTunes or RSS, and head over to rate and review the podcast on iTunes if you can! We’d appreciate it.