Passengers hate when a cruise skips a port.

Excursions you spent hours picking out go missed, plans are disrupted, and it feels like part of your vacation is suddenly missing.

And then it happened to me again. Before I even boarded my Silversea cruise this week, we had an itinerary change to drop two ports of call because of weather.

But after sitting through a live Q&A with a cruise ship captain explaining exactly how these decisions are made, I came away seeing itinerary changes very differently.

What I heard wasn’t about convenience, cost, or even just guest satisfaction. It was about avoiding situations that can turn dangerous faster than most people realize.

Weather changes quickly, even when it doesn't look it

While sailing on Silver Ray, Captain Giovani Schiaffino held a special event to explain why we were having a change in plans and more importantly, to illustrate the dangers had we not shifted plans.

One of the biggest misconceptions passengers have is assuming decisions are based on current conditions.

Royal Caribbean Group is always looking much further ahead, even up to a week early.

"We are always… looking ahead," the captain explained. "Four or five days ago… we noticed that there was something building up."

That "something" was a developing low-pressure system in the Atlantic, moving toward the coast of Portugal. Silver Ray was scheduled to start a sailing from Lisbon, and sail north to Porto and Vigo before heading south to the Mediterranean.

Royal Caribbean Group doesn't just rely on one app or report, they have multiple layers of forecasting.

Captain Schiaffino said they have three tiers of forecasts, including government reports, the Weather Reporting Institute, and even third-party sites like Windy.

They're taking into account a constant stream of real-time data from professional forecasting systems to make an informed decision. They're certainly not guessing.

Wind, waves, and what happens next

No one wants it to rain on their cruise, but precipitation isn't going to change cruise plans alone.

What the ship's Captain is worried about is what's happening out in the open ocean.

Captain Schiaffino broke it down into the factors they monitor, "Wind condition, sea state, precipitation… and what are they building in the ocean… storms… swell…"

In our case, the concern was the coming danger associated with strong winds and large waves.

"We have gust of 40 knots of wind and… five, six meters swell," he explained.

To put that in perspective, a six-meter swell is nearly 20 feet. Not only is that a very tall wave, but you get lots of motion.

"The period of the swell… the ship will be going up and down… sometimes the period can be anticipated… delayed… and that’s why the ship is moving too much."

That unpredictable movement is what makes conditions uncomfortable at best, but could be unsafe.

Why not just wait out the storm?

A common question passengers ask is simple: why not go to the port and wait for the weather to pass?

The Captain's answer surprised me because sometimes waiting creates a bigger problem.

"We could… stay 60 hours, 72… we were stuck… for three days," he said.

That would have an enormous ripple effect in the rest of our itinerary. Missing one port, and suddenly you're missing the next one too. The entire itinerary can fall apart.

He also mentioned there's another issue people don't think about, which is the port could close because of bad weather.

"Some ports… get closed for the bad weather… they don’t want to have any responsibility."

Cruise ships can handle bad weather, but the Captain is worried about everyone onboard

Modern cruise ships are built to sustain terrible weather conditions that they'll like never actually sail into. They can handle rough seas, but that doesn't mean they should.

The captain was blunt about this, "Ship is very stable… very solid… but I will avoid… I will be a criminal if I put a ship in six, seven meters swell."

That line stuck with me, because it reframes the entire discussion. This isn't about what the ship can do. It's about what the Captain is willing to risk.

Lots of people are involved with a change in plans

A cruise ship Captain isn't acting like Captain Kirk on instinct.  He involves a lot of people, both onboard and onshore.

It’s a coordinated effort between:

• The ship’s bridge team
• Cruise line operations teams
• Weather experts
• Port authorities

Royal Caribbean Group employs their own Chief Meteorologist, who is one of those key people in provide guidance.

Craig Setzer's primary job is detection and look at the incoming weather to see signs that skipping a port or sailing elsewhere is something to be considered.

Outrunning a storm is another option

A surprising insight from Captain Schiaffino was going faster is another way to avoid bad weather.

"I increased the speed in order to skip the passage of this weather," he said.

That means burning more fuel to stay ahead of the front and minimizing the impact to the ship and guests onboard.

Cruise ships are called "floating hotels", but they're constantly navigating changing conditions.

Why I'll look at itinerary changes differently now

I'll probably still be disappointed anytime a port gets skipped, but having the proper context helps understand it better.

The next time it happens, I won't chalk it up to some gut call, guess, or assumption. I'll know the ship's Captain saw something coming, and took a deeper look along with leveraging a heck of a lot of resources.

And after hearing how those decisions are made, that’s exactly what I would want them to do.

I was recently asked what's one dessert that can't be missed on a Royal Caribbean ship, and it got me thinking about the perfect answer.

Royal Caribbean serves lots of food on its cruise ships, and desserts range from the rich to to he decadent. Plus, they have timeless classics.

Certainly I would never fault someone for having the soft serve ice cream at the pool deck, but I quickly thought of one dessert my family will order every single cruise.

If your ship has Playmakers Sports Bar and Grille, you've got to try the Campfire Cookie for a home run of a treat.

We order a Campfire Cookie at least once a cruise

Royal Caribbean's sports bar has two desserts on its menu, each priced a la carte.

The Campfire Cookie is a warm, gooey treat that needs time to prepare before you can have it.  Usually it's about 15-20 minutes of prep time, which is a good sign because it means it's not mass produced.

It's a freshly baked and served hot chocolate chip cookie topped with marshmallows, but that description doesn't do it justice.

Baked and served in a sizzling skillet, the first layer is a warm, gooey chocolate chip cookie. It is topped with a generous layer of toasted marshmallows and served with Nutella and caramel sauce.

It's served with a side of vanilla ice cream and milk shooters. That's right, you're going to want to chug a shot of milk to help with the richness of it.

It's theoretically big enough to share, but good luck on relinquishing control of it to someone else. I find I want to keep eating bite after bite. So while you could share one between two people, I'd recommend ordering one for each of you to avoid the competition.

Why it's better than other desserts

Typical cruise desserts are mass produced and while they are sweet, there's nothing like a hot, baked, fresh dessert.

Each one is prepared when you order it, so you can't get it immediately.  The bake time starts off as a sign something special is coming.

It's also a consistently good dessert, meaning regardless if you order one on Symphony of the Seas, Independence of the Seas, or Star of the Seas, it's really good.

I also think the genius of this dessert is it hits multiple cravings at once: cookie, smore, and ice cream in one.

And yes, it's theoretically shareable because it's large enough. However, in practice, you probably won't want to.

Best time to order it

We've had the Campfire Cookie as both an after dinner dessert, as well as a snack.

If you're already having lunch or dinner at Playmakers, then we will tell our waiter that we intend to order the Campfire Cookie. That way, they can prep it and we just have to tell them we're ready for it and they can time it properly.

I think it's best in the evening, but we've come back aboard the ship after a shore excursion to have one as an afternoon snack.

Regardless of what time of day you order it, there's just enough time to have a drink while you wait.

It's an affordable treat for a great after-dinner stop

Everything on the Playmakers menu is priced a la carte, which means you only pay for what you order.

We will often wrap up dinner at the Main Dining Room and then head to Playmakers just for dessert.  Since it only costs $9, it's a reasonable cost and doesn't require a full cover charge.

It's decadent, and when nothing jumps out from the dessert menu elsewhere, my kids (and wife) will suggest we go get a Campfire Cookie instead.

No reservations are required (or available) at Playmakers, you just have to go there and order it from the waiter.

I've tried so many different Royal Caribbean desserts over the years, but none compare to the Campfire Cookie.

The red velvet cake at Chops Grille, mochi ice cream at Izumi, or Royal Cheesecake at the Main Dining Room are all pretty darn good.  But I don't think any of them are remotely on the same level as this cookie.

If you're going to spend money on one dessert on your cruise, make it this one. Even if you think you’re too full… this is the one time to ignore that feeling.

Playmakers has an over-the-top ice cream sundae too

If marshmallow isn't your thing, I could make a good argument for the other dessert on Playmaker's menu, the Touchdown Sundae.

Served in a football helmet, it's an impressive five scoops of ice cream piled on top of each other with caramel, chocolate syrup,
whipped cream and more! 

Yes, you get to keep the helmet after.

Happy Easter! Whether you are celebrating the beautiful Spring holiday with a luxurious meal, or hunting for eggs hidden by the Easter Bunny, I hope that you are having a relaxing Sunday.

Royal Caribbean revealed its new cruise ship coming next year, Hero of the Seas.

The fourth Icon Class ship is packed with new venues, updates, and a few surprises.

Launching in August 2027, Hero will be based in Miami.

Royal Caribbean News

• 5 subtle changes to coming to Hero of the Seas
• Royal Caribbean just changed the names of the zones at its Bahamas beach club
• Perfect Day Mexico gets green light again after legal fight
• Tampa cruise port plans a massive new terminal expansion to meet demand
• 6 things Royal Caribbean should steal from Celebrity Cruises
• The hidden robots quietly running your Royal Caribbean cruise
• What you need to know about the Royal Caribbean soda cup
• Royal Caribbean Drink Vouchers vs Celebrity Elite Happy Hour
• Experts predict "below average" hurricane season
• Royal Caribbean swaps cruise ships sailing from Europe in latest deployment change

New RCB Video: Hero of the Seas details, rumors and what's new

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 — HERO OF THE SEAS: Details, rumors, and what's new — and don’t forget to subscribe to our channel.

New Royal Caribbean credit card just announced that works across all brands

A new Royal Caribbean credit card was announced this week, and it will introduce new perks to encourage brand loyalty.

The new Royal ONE card comes in two versions, and it will allow guests to earn points they can use towards sailings on Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, or Silversea.

The new cards are about encouraging repeat cruisers to sail more and within the Royal Caribbean Group brands.

Royal Caribbean's new Treehouse Suites costs as much as $200,000 (and people are booking it)

One of the new ideas coming to Hero of the Seas is a three-deck Ultimate Treehouse Suite that costs over $200,000 for a week.

This is an epic suite that has just about everything a family could wish for in a cruise ship cabin, plus incredible theming and every perk available onboard.

It sleeps twelve, spans three decks, and includes a rooftop terrace with a private whirlpool, a two-deck teen area, and a hideout game room.

The worst shore excursions cruisers say they’d never book again

Some shore excursions are downright disappointing, and there's a clear pattern as to which ones were mentioned the most.

Over 500 responses were sent in for which tours cruisers disliked, and large sightseeing tours were by far the most commonly mentioned kind of cruise excursion that were filled with regret.

Nearly all the tours people did not like were ones that sounded great on paper, but didn't deliver on the expectations.

I stopped joining Facebook groups for my cruises

I hate to say it, but cruise ship Facebook groups have become more painful than helpful.

I used to always sign up for them, but they've largely become filled with unnecessary drama, misinformation, and spam.

While I like sharing in the pre-cruise excitement with others, I've stopped signing up for them to avoid the negatives.

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 602nd episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available, where Matt talks about the Ultimate Family Treehouse proves an idea.

The response to the Ultimate Family Treehouse has generally been intrigue, so Matt thinks it's time to expand this idea to other cabins.

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.

I've taken a few cruises on Celebrity Cruises and found policies and ideas that Royal Caribbean is missing out on.

Every cruise line has its plusses and minuses, including my beloved Royal Caribbean.  

Among the cruise lines, there seems to be a gamesmanship of trying to out do each other.  But since Celebrity and Royal Caribbean are owned by the same company, why reinvent the wheel?

I'm not advocating both lines operate exactly the same, but when there's a good idea, it's a good idea for both. After all, Celebrity ships visit Royal Caribbean's private destinations and beach clubs openly.

I came up with five ideas I think Royal Caribbean should copy from Celebrity Cruises immediately.

Passengers can drop their luggage off in their cabins before rooms are ready

The first time I took a Celebrity Cruise, I thought it was incredible that you could drop off your bags, cans of soda, or anything else you carried on in your stateroom before they're officially ready.

Like Royal Caribbean, cabins are not ready on embarkation day for you to use until the early afternoon. The difference is on Celebrity, you can stop by to drop anything you want off. 

This takes away a major pain point of boarding day, because rooms aren't usually ready until 1pm. Until then, you have to carry backpacks, strollers, and other knick-knacks around. For families, this is a big problem.

Heck, you could bring your luggage on the ship yourself too and avoid having to wait for the bags to be delivered later.

Keeping part of the buffet open late

I think Royal Caribbean has always lacked compelling late night food options that go beyond pizza.

On Celebrity, they keep one section of their buffet at Oceanview Cafe open much later after the rest of the buffet closes.

Part of the reason Celebrity does this is their late night pizza is located in Oceanview Cafe, so the venue is already open anyway.  However, you'll also find pastas, salad, and a few other options.

To Royal Caribbean's credit, adding the Aquadome Market and keeping that open until midnight is a worthy alternative. But that's only available on Icon Class ships.

Making the casino completely non-smoking

Both Celebrity Cruises and Silversea have completely non-smoking casinos, and Royal Caribbean should finally make that change too.

I admit, as a non-smoker, this is something that directly benefits me.  But given how much more space Royal Caribbean has given to building out non-smoking casino space, clearly there's a demand.

Today, Royal Caribbean's casinos are split into a smoking and non-smoking side. As you might imagine, the smoke (and odor) doesn't obey the dividing line.

Back in 2022, Royal Caribbean International CEO Michael Bayley said they saw a drop in casino business whenever they experimented with a non-smoking casino. I could be wrong, but I've not seen the line run another experiment since a temporary Covid restriction in 2021.

I think attitudes about smoking have changed a lot, and if they're willing to expand the casinos to offer more non-smoking space, that's a sign there's a lot of demand for that. I think it's time to rip the band aid off and copy Celebrity's lead.

A more full service cafe like Cafe al Bacio

Sometimes a small change makes a big difference, and Cafe al Bacio is a great example.

The genius of Cafe al Bacio on Celebrity is the service that comes with it.  You can get your own coffee at the bar, or take a seat and have someone bring it to you.

That might not sound like a big deal, but it really adds to making the venue feel like a coffee house vibe.  And I'm willing to bet I'll spend more on coffee if someone is offering to bring me another.

Pearl Cafe on the Icon Class ships is certainly a major step up from Cafe Promenade, but I'd love to see it go full service.

I love the theater design from the Edge Class ships

When I went on Celebrity Ascent, I was very impressed by how much the stage design contributed to making a regular musical revue show better.

First, the stage is more circular than a traditional stage, allowing the audience to surround it.  That adds a different dimension to the show, as you feel more immersed.

Second, there's an amazing LED screen behind the stage that does a better job of storytelling than lasers and lights ever could.

I really think this makes a typical cruise ship show of singing and dancing stand out more.

You don't have to check out towels

On Celebrity, pool towels are given out without having scan your Seapass card and it's so much better.

On Royal Caribbean, you have to scan the towels out, and then back in or face a $25 fee.

I get that they want towels to be brought back and not left all over, but it's one of those policies that seems to cause more problems than it solves.  Not only is having to scan towels in and out cumbersome, but there's been a real problem with incorrectly being charged for towels after the cruise is over.

Royal Caribbean has renamed the main areas of its private beach club in The Bahamas.

Since opening in December 2025, Royal Caribbean has quietly made small tweaks to improve the guest experience at Royal Beach Club Paradise Island.

This is the cruise line's private beach option in Nassau, Bahamas where cruisers can choose to purchase admission to it.

The latest change is to rename the key areas of the club.

It appears the name changes are more a reflection of how they're being used by guests, rather than a fundamental change in what's being offered.

Adjusting to match the experience

Royal Beach Club Paradise Island is the first of four beach clubs that will open by 2027, and the cruise line isn't afraid to make tweaks.

The change is reflected in the names of each beach going forward: Chill, Party and Paradise.

Family Beach is being renamed to Chill Beach, and Royal Caribbean is making the change because they want the area to be welcoming to all. A "family" area might sound like it's just for kids, and preclude someone from even going there.

As a result, the area formerly known as Family Beach will swap names to Chill Beach.

The new Chill Beach has a zero-entry pool, beach games, and more. In addition, family-focused activities including Captain Cool, beach games and pool games will continue to take place at Chill Beach (previously Family Beach)

The original Chill Beach will now be called Paradise Beach, as a way to reflect its location.

Signs around Royal Beach Club will be updated very soon to reflect the name changes.

Cabana name changes too

Since the zones are changing names, some cabanas are too.

Prior to the official name change news breaking, guests received emails from Royal Caribbean informing them that their cabana rental has changed in name only. The locations and amenities remain unchanged.

"We have a small update to share," an email to guests read. "Your Beach Cabana (Family Beach) is now called the Beach Cabana (Chill Beach)."

"That’s the only change—everything else about your reservation remains exactly the same."

Why Royal Caribbean likely made the change

Labels can make or break someone's decision how they spend their day at the beach club, and I think Royal Caribbean wants to make sure any assumptions are correct.

Simpler, more intuitive naming is a good idea for first-time visitors. And it doesn't create any pre-conceived notions about if a certain area should be avoided.

I think "family beach" may have kept some visitors from even going over to see the area because they believed it was just for kids.

In truth, the area formerly known as Family Beach was massive, especially the beach area. It was quite possible to get away from the crowds there.

Remember, each zone is just a starting point

Despite the names, you can go to any of the zones with or without kids.  Royal Caribbean likes to use colorful names to make it easy to distinguish.

Party Cove is where you'll find the DJ playing party music and a pool party vibe. Kids are welcome to join in.

Similarly, the new Chill Beach has more for young kids with a zero-entry pool. But it's also one of the largest beaches.

Basically, the names are primarily a general motif and not immersive.

Guest feedback is like gold to Royal Caribbean

Royal Caribbean places a high value on guest feedback about any of their products, but new ones get even more attention.

Every passenger that visits Royal Beach Club gets a post-visit email survey link, where they have the chance to rate just about everything offered.  Plus, there is an opportunity to enter suggestions or general feedback in text form.

They then aggregate the surveys to look for patterns, and potentially, a policy change.

Royal Caribbean even holds focus groups from time to time to ask more specific questions of cruisers.

Everyone says to join a cruise Facebook group. I wish I hadn't.

I love sharing information, meeting new people, and staying informed, but I stopped joining Facebook groups for my sailings.

As groups have risen in popularity, so have the problems.  What used to be infrequent annoyances have become far more commonplace, and it's the sort of things that turn me off from bothering to go about it.

I cruise a monthly basis, so I run across lots of groups. If I'm on a big ship, it's not uncommon for there to be hundreds of people in there.

I hate to paint with a wide brush, because there are lots of people who use Facebook to learn from others, share their own experiences, and generally help get excited about an awesome vacation that's coming up.

The drama, misinformation, and spam are why I don't recommend joining Facebook groups anymore for a cruise.

Know-it-alls, judging others, and drama is a big turnoff

Squabbles over silly issues usually crop up, even before the cruise begins.

A simple question about dress codes, where to find information, or other "cruise 101" posts conjure up responses that are plain nasty.

While the correct answer usually gets shared, it's mired with trolling messages and personal attacks.  Some people get annoyed anyone would ask a question that cannot be searched on Google first.  

Then there are the sarcastic and joke responses.  The people writing it think they're funny, but humor doesn't travel well in written form without being able to hear the inflection. That results in nasty comments back (because they think they're being attacked), or even someone thinking the joke response is the correct answer.

My personal pet peeve are the "weather pearl clutchers". These are the people that look at a 21 day weather forecast and start freaking out because there's any chance of rain. They bring the doom and gloom and bring down the vibe quickly.

All of it bogs down the usefulness of being in a Facebook group, and all it takes is one bored person to quickly set the wrong tone for everyone.

Some travel agents use Facebook groups to drum up business

The amount of unsolicited sales pitches in Facebook groups is a quickly growing problem.

Some travel agents will create a group as a means of gathering potential future sales leads. They lock down sharing links that might conflict with their own business interests, and share lots of posts offering to book future cruises.

I have no problem with someone marketing themselves and trying to grow their business, but a Facebook group that passes itself off as a place for everyone to meet isn't the place for that. 

Absentee group admins foster chaos

If a travel agent that rules their group with an iron fist is bad, a group with no admin at the helm is even worse.

Facebook has a bad spam problem, and if you start a public group for a sailing, you can start a countdown on an egg timer before someone will post advertising a taxi service, shore excursion in Roatan, or t-shirts to buy.

Beyond the spam, arguments grow out of control and problem makers are left unchecked.

Misinformation spreads fast, and it's tiring to try to help

Even if there's a benevolent group admin that does a good job at rooting out the worst offenders, incorrect info can still run wild.

On a recent sailing, someone asked which cruise terminal we were boarding from in San Juan, Puerto Rico and I saw a couple of people insisting it was the wrong port.

I certainly don't want to go into any group and try to correct everyone. And I don't think anyone wants to be "that guy" that responds to every post and risks being seen as annoying or a know-it-all.

On the one hand, I hate to see people lead astray with the wrong info. But on the other hand, I have no interest in trying to correct everyone, especially people that think they're providing the right answer.

This is especially true of dress codes, because they're quite subjective and open for interpretation.  Royal Caribbean doesn't really enforce dress codes much, so the result is a wide gap in personal preference.

One of the top reasons people book a cruise ship vacation is to explore the destinations it visits, but no one wants to book a tour that leaves you disappointed.

I asked our readers for what shore excursions they booked and instantly regretted, and I was surprised the general consensus wasn't one specific excursion, but a type of tour. 

We had over 500 responses to my question in just a few days. What surprised me wasn't just how many people had regrets, but how often they came from the excursions that seemed like the safest choices.

Large sightseeing tours were by far the most commonly mentioned kind of cruise excursion that were filled with regret.

On paper, these tours sounded like a sure thing.  But after taking them, the reality was many tours were the type cruisers wish they could do over.

Here is why this type of cruise ship shore excursion was lackluster, and the other tours our readers say they'd never book again.

City tours and long bus tours

The shore excursion most people regretted the most were bus tours, and it wasn't even close to the rest.

An excursion that takes you around a city seems like a safe and easy way to see a destination. In reality, many cruisers said they felt like they spent most of their port day staring out a bus window instead of actually experiencing anything.

• "We sat on a bus for hours and barely got out."
• "It was basically a drive-by tour with a few photo stops."
• "Felt like we saw everything… but experienced nothing."
• "Too much talking, not enough doing."

I've experienced this sort of regret too when I took a bus tour around a fjord in Norway. I wanted my family to see them, but so much of the tour is on the bus, with little outdoor time.

Our readers felt the same way, because a big frustration was how little time people actually had off the bus. Stops were often rushed, with just enough time for a quick photo before moving on.

• "Every stop felt rushed... like ‘take your picture and get back on.'"
• "We had 15 minutes here, 20 minutes there… it wasn’t relaxing at all."

Other issues with a bus tour can be the guide, and how easy it is (or not) to understand them. Or how knowledgeable they are of what you're seeing.

• "The guide talked nonstop, but none of it was memorable."
• "Half the time I couldn’t even hear what they were saying."

Ultimately, the issue with a bus tour is it feels like most of the time is spent in transit, rather than experiencing something. 

Our readers lamented that it left them like they wasted port time.

I recommend doing research before your visit to any port and honing in on an activity, place, or major sight.  Hop in a taxi, walk there, or book an excursion that only visits that place.

If you want to experience more of a destination rather than feel like you sat on a bus, you could hire a private driver or small group tour.  Because these excursions have less people, you can be more nimble and customize the experience.

Overcrowded and underwhelming beaches

The second most-mentioned regret was going to the beach, but this was more about one simple issue: expectation vs reality.

The complaint isn't against all beaches. Rather, a beach that didn't match up to expectations. People booked beach excursions expecting a pristine, relaxing escape, but what they got instead often felt crowded, expensive, and underwhelming.

• "It was packed—chairs right on top of each other."
• "Not worth what we paid at all."
• "I could’ve gone to a public beach for a fraction of the price."
• "Didn’t look anything like the photos."

Crowding was a major theme, especially at popular beach clubs tied to cruise traffic.

Tours that include a beach break will often end up at beaches that cater to cruise ship excursions because they have a large facility. 

• "Way too many people for the space."
• "Felt more like a resort pool deck than a beach day."

I've been to a few of these types of beaches, such as one in Jamaica that I would have volunteered to return to the ship within five minutes of arriving had that been an option.

When service and amenities don't live up to the marketing, it feels like you've been bamboozled.  It's one thing if you get sunburnt, drink too much, or have an annoying uncle with you.  But it's another when it feels like your day never had a chance to be fun.

The good news is beaches are easy to do on your own without an organized tour. You can easily search for the best beaches in any port your ship visits, and find lots of good recommendations.  

I would also look for reviews that speak to the location, exclusivity, or service components.  Find one that has exactly the vibe you're looking for.

Snorkeling photos look great, but the experience doesn't match the hype

Snorkeling tours was repeated a number of times, and it's primarily because the the idea sounded better than what they experienced.

Snorkeling can be very rewarding, but if it's too crowded or the weather doesn't cooperate, then it's lackluster.

• "The water was murky. You couldn’t see anything."
• "Too many people in the water at once."
• "We were all kicking each other trying to see fish."

Another issue is someone brand new might struggle to get the hang of how to properly snorkel.

• "I didn’t realize how hard snorkeling would be."
• "Spent more time trying to breathe than enjoying it."

Weather conditions are a major factor, and that's not the fault of the tour operator. A good snorkeling excursion relies on group size and instructors that can help everyone, even if they're brand new.

A small-group snorkel tour might be a good idea for minimizing those risks.  Also, if you can practice before the tour so breathing through a mask doesn't feel so foreign, that would help a lot.

Swimming with dolphins is expensive and overproduced

Dolphin swims are controversial, and also underwhelming for many readers.

Many cruisers said the experience felt overpriced and underwhelming. Dolphin encounters are usually a group event that involves very little individual time with the animal.

• "It was over so fast."
• "You spend more time waiting than actually with the dolphins."

A common complaint was how structured and limited the interaction felt.

• It felt very staged... like you’re just moving through a line."
• "You get your photo, your quick interaction, and that’s it."

Another issue is the ethical concerns of these tours.

• "It didn’t feel right once I saw the conditions."
• "After doing it, I wouldn’t do it again because of how the dolphins are kept."

I've never liked the idea of a dolphin encounter in a caged environment, so if you want to see marine life, I recommend booking a viewing tour of some kind in the open ocean.  You won't get a selfie with them, but it's best for both of you.

Glass-bottom boat tours sound so much more fun than they really are

Just like bus tours, taking a glass-bottom boat ride sounds great in theory, but rarely matches up.

The problem with this kind of a tour is how little you actually see.

• "The water wasn’t clear enough to see anything."
• "We were all squinting trying to spot something."
• "Definitely not what the brochure made it look like."

Like other tours on this list, the boats were crowded.  So when you add a small viewing area, that's a recipe for frustration.

For many, it ended up feeling like a passive, underwhelming ride.

There's so much luck involved with a glass-bottom boat ride in terms of the chances your boat passes over something interesting (or something interesting passes under your boat).  I'd much rather take my chances snorkeling.

Royal Caribbean got a lot of attention when it announced it would offer a 3-story treehouse suite on its new cruise ship, and the price is just as eye-opening.

Cruise fares for Hero of the Seas went on sale today and the Ultimate Family Treehouse suite is well over $200,000 for a week.

The fourth Icon Class ship was revealed earlier this week, and will introduce a number of firsts.

The triple-deck Ultimate Family Treehouse suite is new, as is an immersive train car dining experience, an expanded adults-only area, two new family raft slides, and a New Orleans-themed supper club.

The changes are part the next phase of the Icon Class ships, which will introduce the most significant changes to the Icon Class since the launch of the first ship in 2024.

The Ultimate Family Treehouse suite is not only new, but comes with an equally high price tag.

What's special about the Ultimate Family Treehouse suite?

This $200,000 treehouse suite might be Royal Caribbean's wildest cabin yet.

Designers wanted it to be the ultimate family living space with great spaces to hang out, great spaces to watch movies, and gorgeous views of the ocean.

It has a private whirlpool and sweeping ocean views. Two main bedrooms each include their own bathroom and balcony. Plus, a two-story hideout with game room, spiral staircase, and more.

Two of the floors will be for teens, with two main bedrooms, ensuites, and balconies.

• Space for up to 12 guests
• Three decks, including a rooftop terrace
• Private whirlpool and lounge area
• Outdoor kitchen for al fresco dining
• Game room hangout

There's only one of these suites on Hero of the Seas.

How much does the Ultimate Family Treehouse cost?

Royal Caribbean opened bookings for Hero of the Seas on Wednesday, and not unexpectedly, the Treehouse suite is expensive.

The cruise line uses dynamic pricing, so the cost differs from sailing to sailing, but here's a quick look at a few example prices:

Ultimate Family Treehouse prices per person (double occupancy)

• August 14, 2027: $112,246.86
• August 21, 2027: $90,223.21
• August 28, 2027: $90,223.21
• November 20, 2027: $114,494.43
• December 23, 2027: $105,877.98
• December 30, 2027: $187,660.14

The highest prices that cost well over $200,000 for two people are for holiday cruises and the first full sailing.

Despite the cost, this suite is already booked up on certain sailings. For example, the December 30th (New Years Eve) cruise is listed as having the suite sold.

There are somewhat lower prices if you're willing to sail during the shoulder season.

• September 11, 2027: $47,142.71
• October 9, 2027: $48,612.71
• November 27, 2027: $46,310.20
• December 11, 2027: $44,820.20

On Reddit, there was a mix of disbelief, shock, and thought provoking commentary.

"They wouldn’t keep building them if they didn’t sell," said one person. "Yeah I’ll never be able to afford it, but it’s still interesting to me," added another.

For comparison, the Ultimate Family Townhouse is also available on Hero of the Seas and costs a bit less.

This mega suite has an in-suite slide, movie-viewing room, karaoke machine and a "backyard" with a ping pong table, outdoor seating and a white picket fence leading directly to the Surfside area.

This cabin is a 1,772-square-foot space that is also three decks high, and sleeps up to eight people.

• August 14, 2027: $68,346.86
• August 21, 2027: $62,466.21
• August 28, 2027: $43,782.71
• November 20, 2027: $48,853.43
• December 23, 2027: $72,868.98
• December 30, 2027: $79,905.64

A record breaking new ship

Hero of the Seas will have nine swimming pools, the most we've seen on a cruise ship to date.

In fact, Royal Caribbean is adding a new pool, Coconut Cove, and expanding the Hideaway to have a second pool.

The ship's waterpark is getting a new family raft slide, as well as extending the ride duration of the other slides. The kid-friendly waterpark Splashaway Bay will have new features too.

Plenty of thrills are returning from the other Icon Class ships, such as skywalk-zip line Crown's Edge experience, Flowrider surf simulator, golf courses and rock climbing walls.

The sailings will include seven night sailings from Miami from August 2027, including stays at the private Perfect Day at CocoCay island.

Bookings are open now for Hero of the Seas.

Demolition at Royal Caribbean's new private destination in Mexico is now cleared to move forward following court rulings that lifted earlier injunctions.

On March 27, a hearing was held regarding the injunction, with the Mexican judge granting Royal Caribbean a suspension against the closure carried out by Procuraduría Federal de Protección al Ambiente (PROFEPA), the federal agency responsible for enforcing environmental laws and regulations, in January.

Earlier this year, PROFEPA halted demolition at one of three sites after inspectors found "landfilling and compaction activities on a dirt road in a low-lying coastal jungle area with mangroves, as well as demolition and debris removal, all without the required environmental impact authorization from the competent federal authority." 

(Credit: Francisco Javier Hernández / Facebook)

The provisional suspension was issued after environmental activists raised concerns about the large-scale project, claiming that Mahahual's drainage and sewage management problems could be worsened by the proposed water park. There was a debate over whether Perfect Day Mexico could damage the nearby mangroves, too. 

However, despite the environmental concerns, the judge ruled in Royal Caribbean’s favor, demolition work of dilapidated structures on the port the brand now owns to continue, a local news outlet reported.

(Credit: Francisco Javier Hernández / Facebook)

While critics argue that this ruling places corporate policies and economic interests above community and environmental protection, Royal Caribbean has made it clear that it cares about the environment and will do what it can to safeguard mangrove areas, coastal ecosystems, and local wildlife. 

Royal Caribbean has consistently said it plans to follow all regulatory requirements and minimize environmental impact as the project moves forward.

For example, when questioned about the project by El Financiero last year, Jay Schneider, Royal Caribbean's Senior Vice President and Chief Product Innovation Officer, said, "We are not going to touch anything at all in the mangrove conservation area," adding that the mangroves are already dying due to pollution from the municipal water treatment plant.

The company has also said it is committed to transparency and compliance with Mexican regulations as the legal process unfolds.

Why this matters

A project as ambitious as Perfect Day Mexico was bound to get the attention of a lot of people, and developing projects anywhere has its challenges.

On the surface, cruise fans can look forward to the eventual opening of a massive new private destination experience that builds upon the tremendous success of Perfect Day at CocoCay.

Just as important is this legal maneuver proves how committed Royal Caribbean is to improving the local community around Mahaual and protecting the environment.

Just last week, the company announced plans to build a new, state-of-the-art solid waste management facility in the area. This is an example of a win-win opportunity for company and community.

The current trash management that serves the area is less than ideal, and Royal Caribbean needs something more robust to support building Perfect Day Mexico.  Significantly strengthening local waste infrastructure in Mahahual not only gets them what they need, but ensures the people living in the community have access to it too.

The new solid waste facility will incorporate advanced sorting technologies, closed-loop processing systems, high-efficiency material recovery solutions, and best-in-class environmental controls, enabling more efficient waste handling, resource recovery, and reduced reliance on landfills.

Plus, they're working with Maritime Procurement Services (MPS), which is a local company and that boosts the economy there.

In October, Royal Caribbean announced plans to clean up the mangroves in the area because for years, the coastal wetlands have been used to discharge wastewater from the municipal treatment plant.

According to Mr. Schneider, the antiquated sewer plant was leaking into the surrounding mangrove ecosystem, contaminating both the mangroves and the beach adjacent to the cruise ship pier.

In turn, Royal Caribbean will build their own reverse osmosis system to provide drinking water as well as a treatment plant to clean up the area, which will later be transferred to the municipal government to serve the entire community.