As a cruise expert that shares travel advice every day, I encounter a lot of first time cruisers and some of their concerns aren't worth the angst.

I've run Royal Caribbean Blog for 15 years and I love helping everyone have a better cruise experience through tips, advice, anecdotes and recommendations. I love learning new things from about cruising as much as newbies do.

Because everyone vacations differently, it's understandable why people have their own approach to cruising.  But I've found new cruisers tend to sometimes get hyper focused on things that aren't as worth the concern as they think it warrants.

I'm sure we've all experienced things like this in life where we go in worried about an aspect of an experience only to realize later on it wasn't a big deal at all.

While there are problems you should always be vigilant about (like when to fly in for your cruise), here's my list 6 things new cruisers worry about that aren't worth the anxiety.

Negative cruise reviews

One of pet peeves are people that seriously want to change their cruise plans because of bad reviews they read online.

The power of the internet is such that you can share your opinion with the world, and while this can sometimes be helpful, the reality is negative reviews aren't very trustworthy.

The reason why you really shouldn't be that concerned with negative reviews of a cruise ship is because those people are not professional reviewers by any means.  In most cases, they let a singular issue dominate their review. Or they have a personal preference that they convey as being indicative of being problematic for everyone.

To illustrate my point, find a negative review of a film, restaurant, or place you've been that you love. You'll read them and probably roll your eyes because the complaint is either baseless or completely different from anything you've ever had. 

Plus, cruising is such a personalized experience. Everyone on the ship is not doing the same thing.  One person could stay in their stateroom and only order room service for an entire week, while someone else is a party animal and is out and about from for 18-20 hours per day.

I enjoy reading cruise reviews for recommendations and entertainment.  But never use them as a basis for which ship to sail on (or not).

Theme nights and dress code

Frankly, I think new cruisers get hung up on what they "need" to wear on a cruise ship more than they ought to.

Yes, there are theme nights and dress recommendations, but they're just that: recommendations.  

You will not be ostracized or kicked out if you don't dress for Caribbean night or white night. It's an optional choice for how you might indulge the theme.

The Main Dining Room dress code is another area where I think too much emphasis is placed on what you can and cannot wear. This is especially true of what to wear on formal night.

The reality is Royal Caribbean rarely, if ever, enforces their dress codes in the Main Dining Room. I probably would prefer they would clamp down a bit more than they do, but there's really no fashion police at all.

As a new cruiser, I'd say to use the theme nights and dress codes as suggestions, in the same way there's afternoon trivia at 4pm you could attend or not at all. Don't place too much emphasis on what you wear in the evening being critiqued by the cruise line for approval.

Check-in times

Ever since Royal Caribbean restarted cruising in 2021, they put a huge emphasis on adhering to check-in times at the cruise terminal. While check-in times matter, it's not nearly as critical as they used to be.

As part of the check-in process, you can select a check-in time and some cruisers get really worried about checking in exactly at midnight when check-in opens to get it.

In reality, it's not a big deal if you don't have the first check-in window time as much as it might seem. 

While no one wants a 2pm check-in time, my point is there is far less emphasis and restrictions on check-in times at the terminal as there was a few years ago.

My recommendation is to do your online check-in time, but don't sweat it if you get an 11am or noon check-in time.

Parking off site to save money

My "sorry, not sorry" part of this article is here: the amount of money you save parking off site isn't worth the hassle or extra time needed.

Yes, parking off site will save a little bit of money.  But it's not going to be a lot, and worse, the shuttle services are frustrating.

Because you're at the mercy of a shuttle to get you to and from the terminal, you're inevitably going to waste time waiting for a shuttle.  And in many cases, there are lots of other people who want to do the same thing and that makes the waits worse.

Waiting for a shuttle is worse after the cruise is over when everyone else is competing with you at the same time to get back to their car.

Parking at the cruise terminal will cost you more, but I think the convenience is well-worth it.

If it will rain during the cruise

Rain or shine, you'll have a fun time on the cruise. More importantly, you shouldn't get worked up because it could rain.

Caribbean cruises sail through the tropics where it's not a question of it will rain, but when and for how long.  But unlike rain storms at home, rain in the Caribbean is usually short lived.

If you look at a weather forecast for a Caribbean cruise, it's not unusual to see rain predicted for every day. But that doesn't mean it will be a rained out vacation.

Thunderstorms and passing showers are very common, and there are not nearly as many weather stations around Central America and the Caribbean as there are in the United States.  So forecasts generally fall under the, "it will probably rain, but we're not sure" umbrella.

In fact, it's common to be in port and have rain in one spot but not another. 

You should certainly look up the weather forecast to get an idea of temperatures, but don't plan around rain because it's impossible to know with any certainty what to expect.

The Key

Over the years, I've found Royal Caribbean's VIP add-on a nice perk, but not as critical as some new cruisers think.

I think newbies read what's included and over value what it offers, compared to how useful it really is.

It's ironic that as someone who hates waiting in lines for things, I'm not a fan of a program that gives you priority boarding to the ship.  But I think the problem is you can get similar results without paying for it.

I won't turn this into a full review of The Key, so I'll simply say as a new cruiser, you won't be at a disadvantage without The Key as you might think.

It's Sunday and it's almost Thanksgiving, but before you sit down with the family to give thanks for all the great cruises you took this year, I wanted to share this week's Royal Caribbean news with you.

A number of Royal Caribbean cruise ships closed their waterslides at the same time.

It's not unusual for any ship to conduct maintenance, but having a few ships with closed slides at the same time is interesting timing.

Moreover, the work being done is the same on each: replacing see-through parts of the slide with new sections.

Royal Caribbean News

• Royal Caribbean surprisingly bringing back beer we thought was long gone
• How Royal Caribbean climbed in the 2026 best cruise line rankings vs last year
• I always do these 6 things to avoid mishaps onboard
• Do cruise prices drop at the last minute?
• I paid just $272 for a room on Royal Caribbean's Freedom of the Seas. It was tiny, but the deal was too good to pass up
• Black Friday sale has Royal Caribbean drink packages as low as $46.99 per day
• Royal Caribbean cruise ship Wi-Fi drops price up to 55% off in Black Friday deal
• All about Icon Class ships
• I tried an aft balcony on Celebrity's newest ship — it's my new favorite

New Video: Things to NEVER Do in Your Cabin on a Cruise

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—Things to NEVER Do in Your Cabin on a Cruise—and don’t forget to subscribe here.

Family of man booted from Royal Caribbean cruise for alleged assault continue vacation without him

A passenger was kicked off a cruise ship, but his family decided to continue the cruise without him.

Reports claim Royal Caribbean kicked off a man in Australia after he allegedly beat up another man just four days into the sailing.

Despite this, the man's family decided to stay onboard and continue the 10-night voyage without him.

After 100 cruises, there are 5 ships that I'll always revisit

Matt just took his 100th cruise with Royal Caribbean, and he has five ships he'll gladly go on every time.

While there isn't a bad Royal Caribbean ship, there are a few that stand out as top favorites.

Whether you're going on your first cruise or looking to get on every ship too, these are the five Royal Caribbean ships Matt highly recommends.

Biggest packing regrets from cruisers

We asked cruisers what's one thing they brought on a cruise but regretted packing it.

Over 200 comments were shared with things that seemed like a good idea to bring, but ended up being either useless, redundant, or unnecessary.

Consider this your warning of what not to waste your energy bringing along when you sail.

Diamond tips and etiquette to avoid becoming a problem and enjoy the loyalty perks

Making it to Diamond level is a big deal, but there are lots of unwritten rules you should know about it.

A surge in cruise demand has seemingly pushed a lot more people to make to this upper Crown and Anchor Society tier, and it adds a lot of great benefits.

However, you'll want to be aware of how to best utilize your Diamond status to avoid problems later.

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 584th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available at all our links.

Of all the cruise topics Matt is asked about, a few are hot button issues he can't help but not rant about every single time.

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.

If you've been waiting for a Black Friday discount on Royal Caribbean's internet packages, it appears your time has come.

Royal Caribbean began its Black Friday sale more than two weeks ago, but most cruisers didn't see any significant discount on Wi-Fi packages.

Deal hunters on the Royal Caribbean message boards started reporting a price drop for their internet access purchase to coincide with the updated promotion.

"Offer was just sent a few minutes ago under Black Friday 55% sale," wrote Eddie305.  He noted he's been watching for a price drop since February.

Others reported seeing a lower price too. As always, discounts will vary from sailing to sailing.

Here's what to expect and why a pricing glitch is frustrating some people.

Black Friday discount on Wi-Fi

Voom internet packages could be priced lower with the latest adjustment to the Black Friday preview sale.

The advertised discount is "up to 55% off", and I've observed prices for a one device package as low as $19.99 per day.

The price range seems to be between $19.99 and $22.99 per day for a one device package. That's a significant savings compared to the onboard price, which has the same package start at $27.99.

To get that 55% off number, you'll need to purchase a multiple device plan.

Think of it like buying in bulk: you save more by buying more. Royal Caribbean offers a 1, 2, 3, or 4 device package, and the cost difference to buy a 4 device package compared to a 3 device package is usually pretty slim.

Here's an example from an upcoming Star of the Seas sailing in March 2026:

• 1 Device: $174.93
• 2 Devices: $286.93 (30% off additional devices - $112 extra)
• 3 Devices: $321.93 (45% off additional devices - $35 extra)
• 4 Devices: $342.93 (55% off additional devices - $21 extra)

As you can see, the deepest discount hits if you want to add a third or fourth device to the plan.

Now is the time to re-price, but watch out for this glitch

Consider this article a good opportunity to check if your internet package price has gone down, and then cancel and repurchase to get the lower price.

Royal Caribbean allows you to cancel and rebook pre-cruise purchases without a penalty. Cancel, re-buy it at the lower price, and you'll get the refund from the original purchase in a few business days. In my experience, it almost always ends up being on the same credit card billing cycle as the revised purchase.

However, I observed an issue others did as well that you should be aware of.

User need2cruz posted an example, "Mine says $247 40% for our next trip,  but when I get to check out it keeps glitching back to the old price of $295 30% off.  I have tried on both web browser and on the app.  It always reverts to the old higher price, right when I try to process payment."

When I re-priced my internet package, I saw the same issue.  The price jumped when moving between the cart page and the checkout page.

In my case, I was able to get around this issue by going back to my shopping cart and removing the Wi-Fi package. I then re-added it to my cart, and I got the lower price and was able to check out.

Tip: You can share your internet package

Unlike the beverage packages, internet packages are shareable and ideal for families.  

Royal Caribbean's Starlink connection is usually reliable enough to support streaming video while on the ship.  You could watch a sporting event, catch up on TV shows, or keep up with new YouTube content.

The multi-device plan allows up to the designated amount of devices to be logged in at one time. You can log out of one device and then log in with a different device and that's permissible.

The "catch" with sharing an internet package is you share a single login, which is usually not a problem with family.  

The other potential hiccup with sharing an internet package is anyone can "boot" someone else off either accidentally or intentionally. 

When you max out the amount of devices that can be connected at once and then try to connect an additional device, it prompts you to either disconnect one of the devices or force disconnect one.

It's been my experience a game of "musical internet device chairs" commences until everyone gets situated once again with the right devices connected. It's always best to remember to log out, but easier said than done.

Reaching Diamond status is a big deal for a lot of cruisers because of all the perks Royal Caribbean includes.

More cruisers than ever have made it to Diamond status, thanks to a surge in cruise demand. Cruising has not only become more accessible to the public, and a lot of people are coming back again and again.

When I reached Diamond level many years ago, I was excited for getting access to the dedicated lounge.  Since then, Royal Caribbean added new benefits, such as drink vouchers, that made it even more useful.

If you're getting close to Diamond, I think there are things I wish I knew before I made it there so that you can avoid missing out and not committing any faux pas' along the way.

The Crown Lounge is more like a social club than a rowdy spot

As a Diamond member in Crown and Anchor Society, there's a dedicated lounge for you on every ship.

One of the most surprising things about this space is it's less like a bar scene, and more like a quiet area. It's not a library by any means, but I think there's a certain expectation among many cruisers it's somewhere to keep the volume to conversation level.

This is especially true in during the day, because the lounge is where you'll find people reading, playing cards, enjoying coffee, or sitting with friends.

In the evening when cocktails are served, it gets the busiest with more guests in there to hang out.

Basically, be respectful of others in the lounge when it comes to how loud you are.  It seems to be unwritten rule not to take phone calls in there, nor is it acceptable to use it as a playground for young children. To be clear, kids are allowed and welcome in the Crown Lounge. Just like the adults, they can't be rowdy in there.

Frankly, I think the Crown Lounge has a stuffy feel to it, but it's largely been that way ever since I first got access to it.

You need to specify when using your Diamond drink vouchers

Without a doubt, the best benefit of Diamond level is the four drink vouchers you get everyday.  You'll want to take full advantage of this "mini-drink package" in a few ways.

I think it's incredible that Royal Caribbean gives all of its Diamond members four free drink vouchers per day to use on pretty much any drink.

First, make sure you tell the bartender or waiter when you order the drink that you want to use your voucher.

If you don't say anything, they may charge your SeaPass account for the beverage.  So be sure to mention when ordering the drink that you want to use your Diamond voucher.

Second, be sure to also specify the liquor you want in the cocktail so you get full value from your voucher.

If you ask for an Old Fashioned, they're going to likely use the well liquor that is the cheapest option.  But you can ask for a brand name liquor and it's still included in your voucher value.

Lastly, don't let your daily vouchers go to waste!

If you don't use all four of them every day, you should order extra bottles of water.  Stock piling bottled water in your stateroom is a good idea so you have access to it when you need it later, or to bring them on shore excursions.

You can't bring friends into the lounge

As neat as the Crown Lounge is, you cannot bring friends or family that aren't Diamond yet.

Over crowding in the lounge is bad enough as it is just among the Diamond, Diamond Plus, and Pinnacle Club members.  So Royal Caribbean prohibits non-Diamond guests from coming in.

When you make Diamond, your spouse and kids under 18 also get your Diamond status too.  So don't worry about having to leave them behind.

However, if you're cruising with friends or family that are not Diamond yet, then the lounge is not available to them.

This is part of the reason why the cruise line switched to offering vouchers for drinks to be used at any bar.  You can enjoy this benefit anywhere else on the ship, so you can spend time with others and not lose out on vouchers.

Ask the Diamond Concierge for help with small problems onboard

I think one of the least utilized Diamond perks is the Crown Lounge concierge.

The Diamond concierge is akin to the Suite Concierge, although I'm not certain they have as much "power" in pulling strings. Nonetheless, they are still a useful option.

Basically, the Diamond concierge is a step up from Guest Services and likely has a shorter line too.

You can go there to settle billing issues, get questions answered, and even make reservations.

One adjustment to make when you get to Diamond is to stop and think if the Diamond concierge could assist instead.  It might save you time in line at Guest Services or a trek to that desk.  Or perhaps you can just combine some hors d'oeuvres with your inquiry.

The free coffee machine in the lounge is a hidden gem

You won't see the coffee machine listed on the benefits list, but so many Diamond members love having access to it.

Inside the Crown Lounge is a self-service coffee machine that makes espresso, coffee, and lattes. It's free to use and is available 24 hours per day.

There are cups there, so you can enjoy it in the lounge or take it elsewhere around the ship or back to your stateroom.

For many cruisers, this is just what they need every day. It's a step up from the complimentary coffee you get around the ship and doesn't require using a drink voucher at Cafe Promenade.

It should come as no surprise that the machine is busiest in the morning, and you'll also find an assortment of breakfast items as well.

Each morning there are various pastries and light bites that you can grab to accompany your coffee.

How the free day of internet works

A very common question new Diamond members want to know is how to use that free day of WiFi access included in your Diamond benefits.

You're entitled to a one day (24 hour) pass of internet access, and it can only be redeemed onboard the ship. You cannot apply or use it towards a pre-cruise purchase.

Once on the ship, connect to the ship's WiFi. Sign up for an internet access plan, and you should see your free day discount listed.

Is it cheaper to wait to the ship and use your free day or pre-purchase? It depends on the length of your cruise, as it can save you money if you're on a short 3-nighter. Otherwise, buy an internet package in advance.

If you've been holding out for a Royal Caribbean drink package, now might be the time to buy one.

Royal Caribbean started its Black Friday sale with an early access sale last week, and that sale continues this week leading up to the actual holiday.

Traditionally, this shopping holiday is one of the best times of the year to buy a drink package because it usually coincides with the lowest prices of the season.

If you're like me, Black Friday is an annual reminder to check drink package prices to see if there are any new discounts.

Drink packages as low as $46.99 per day

Perhaps the most popular add-on you can buy for a Royal Caribbean cruise is a drink package, and select sailings are seeing prices as low as $46.99 per person, per day.

In going through my upcoming cruises I have booked, I saw varying prices that differ from ship to ship.

The lowest Deluxe Beverage Package price I could find was $46.99 per person, per day on a 7-night Serenade of the Seas cruise to Alaska.

With that price, it would take just 4 cocktails per day to break even on the price. Or 3 cocktails and one specialty coffee from Cafe Latte-tudes.

On a Brilliance of the Seas cruise I have booked in March 2026, the Deluxe Beverage package is just $48.99 per person, per day. That means I'll need to have coffee in the afternoon too in order to break even.

Remember, these are just examples of discounts that you might spot. Each cruise has its own pricing based on Royal Caribbean's algorithm that factors in the type of sailing, newness of the ship, and how well the drink package is selling so far.

The rest of my cruises that I have booked have varying prices:

• Star of the Seas 7-night: $53.99
• Wonder of the Seas 4-night: $62.99
• Utopia of the Seas 3-night: $53.99
• Legend of the Seas 7-night: $58.08

Other cruisers found even more lucrative prices than I did with this sale.

Michael Poole shared a screenshot of his package coming in at just $41.99 per person, per day for his upcoming sailing. Meanwhile Kathryn Koo claims her 15-night transatlantic on Odyssey of the Seas is priced at $27.99 per person, per day.

Margit Ritzert shared a $46.99 price, Mike Stacy found it for $43.99

No matter which sailing you pick, it's likely a substantial discount considering Royal Caribbean is regularly charging over $100 per person, per day for the same package when purchased onboard ships. In fact, all purchases made online are cheaper than waiting to book during the sailing.

Sale runs through December 12

Royal Caribbean's Black Friday sale officially will be available until November 30, 2025. But then the Cyber Monday sale begins on December 1st and will go through December 12th.

Because Royal Caribbean employs dynamic pricing for its cruise add-ons, the name of the sale is less relevant than what the actual out the door price ends up being.

"Up to 50% off" is the listed discount for beverage packages during these sales, but savvy cruisers know the percentage off any product is not always the total story.

More importantly, the price could change at any point during the sale period.  It's a good idea to periodically re-check the price, especially on the actual Black Friday or Cyber Monday holiday.

Here's the fine print for drink package discounts through the holiday sale season:

Beverage: Up to 50% off

• Evian Water Package: 50% off onboard prices
• Classic Soda Package: 35% off onboard prices; CARBINTL sailings – 40% off onboard prices
  • Kids Savings (age under or equal to 12): 50% off Classic Soda Package
  • Cabin Offer (Interior and Oceanview): +5% off on Classic Soda Package sale offer.
• Refreshment Package: Discount varies by ship.
  • Kids Savings (age under or equal to 12): 50% off Refreshment Package
  • Teens Savings (age under 18/21, > 12): 40% off Refreshment Package
  • Cabin Offer (Interior and Oceanview): +5% off on Refreshment Package sale offer, excluding RBC
    sailings
• Refreshment + 10 Drinks Package: 15% off onboard prices; ASIA sailings – 35% off onboard prices
• Deluxe Beverage Package: Discount varies by ship.
  • CAS Diamond and above: 55% off Deluxe Beverage Package
  • Prime Casino Royale members: 55% off Deluxe Beverage Package (thru March ’26)
  • Signature Casino Royale members: 60% off Deluxe Beverage Package (thru March ’26)
  • Masters Casino Royale members: 65% off Deluxe Beverage Package (thru March ’26)
  • Cabin Offer (Interior and Oceanview): +5% off on Deluxe Beverage sale offer, excluding sailings
    with 50% offer and RBC sailings. 

It's not too late to get a better price

If you already bought a drink package, you can still take advantage of a Black Friday or Cyber Monday price drop.

Royal Caribbean allows guests to cancel (and then re-book) any pre-cruise purchase up to 48 hours before your cruise date with no penalty.

To check if your sailing has this new offer available, log into the Cruise Planner on Royal Caribbean's web site look for any available offers.

One of the best reasons to sail on a slightly older Royal Caribbean cruise ship is when you can get a great deal, even if it's an inside room.

Freedom of the Seas is approaching being 20 years old, but don't let her age fool you. The ship got a massive upgrade in 2020 that added a lot, plus recent changes to its casino. That has added a lot to what this cruise ship can offer.

So when I received an offer to sail in an inside cabin on Freedom of the Seas for just port fees and taxes, I jumped at the chance.

Not only would I be able to go back onboard a favorite ship of mine, but also sneak in another getaway cruise before the end of the year.

Here's what it's like to choose one of the smallest staterooms on Freedom.

How I got such a low price

The secret to paying just port fees and taxes on what is essentially a "free cruise" is I received the offer through Royal Caribbean's casino.

I think the casino loyalty program is the best value in cruising right now, and you don't need to be a mega gambler in order to qualify for these offers.

Basically, I play enough in the casino on my sailings to qualify for offers to be mailed to me. Most casino pros recommend at least 200 - 300 points per sailing at a minimum to likely qualify.

One offer had an inside stateroom for free on a 5-night Freedom of the Seas cruise scheduled to visit Perfect Day at CocoCay and Cozumel. Spoiler alert, we didn't visit either of those places.

All I had to pay were the port fees and taxes.  Since I was sailing solo, I paid just $272. I got $39.58 refunded onboard when we didn't go to the scheduled ports.

An inside room is small, but it's perfect if I'm alone

You can argue the virtues of if an inside room is a good idea or not, but I really don't mind them. This is especially true when I'm on the cruise without my family.

With the kids in school, the choice of taking an inside room wasn't a problem. The casino offers are inflexible in that regard, although I might have been able to spend more to upgrade to a balcony.  I felt if I'm getting a "free room", I'm going to take advantage of that and limit my costs.

Royal Caribbean assigned me cabin 6669, which was a short walk from the aft elevator bank. I greatly prefer to have a cabin near the elevators instead of down the hall, so this worked out well.

Plus, it was one deck from the Royal Promenade.  This made it very convenient to be able to run back to my room for anything.

Royal Caribbean opens its cabins on embarkation day usually at 1pm, and I walked into a small space, but since it was just me, it's all I needed.

I've stayed in a lot of inside rooms on cruise ships, and while their exact dimensions or configuration may differ slightly, they all tend to have a similar feel.

There's a private bathroom, sitting area, vanity, and bed.  Plus, you'll find closet space too.

One thing I noticed immediately was the cabin decor felt like a 20 year old ship. As a rule of thumb, Royal Caribbean never updates its stateroom look during scheduled maintenance. They have never commented why, but I assume it's a cost issue.

While the motif may be dated, it's not a big deal. You adjust quickly to it and it doesn't affect the enjoyment of the cruise. It's just something that may initially jump out.

When I entered the cabin for the first time, the beds were pushed together to form one bed. That's not inherently a problem, but one of my favorite cruise hacks is to have the beds split apart to make the room feel bigger.

With the beds together, it required climbing over the bed to get in or out of the bed. But with them split, it's much easier to get around.

Plus, it made the space feel more open.

The bathroom is certainly big enough for just one person, but it's effectively the same bathroom layout and size as most non-suites cabin bathrooms on this ship.

There's a little storage space behind the mirror, but you can also stash some things below.

Just a reminder that Royal Caribbean only provides the 2-in-1 shampoo and body wash, so be sure to pack your own shampoo, conditioner, and body wash.

At the vanity, you'll find all of the power outlets for the room.

There are no USB plugs, so you'll need to bring your own adaptor.  I recommend buying this power adaptor because it offers 4 USB outlets, and will work in both US or EU power outlets. (Affiliate link means I'll make a small commission if you buy it, but it costs you nothing extra)

I also received complimentary soda and bottled water, but that's because I'm a top tier member within Crown and Anchor Society.

When you reach the upper tiers of the program, there are a lot of freebies that you get every sailing. Not only does this save me money, but it's so convenient to have them waiting in the cabin.

Opposite the desk and chair is the couch. I rarely ever use my couch for a place to sit, as it tends to accumulate various belongings as the cruise goes on.

The couch isn't big enough to sleep on, unless you're rather short or a child perhaps.  But it's not very deep either, so I think it's best suited for a visitor stopping by.

I was surprised how large the closet is, as there are both shelves and plenty of hangers.

You could easily store your clothes and suitcases in here, although I prefer to slide my suitcase under my bed.

The perfect getaway cabin

Considering the low price I paid for this room, I have no complaints about the cabin.

The outdated decor doesn't mean much since I basically used the room to sleep, shower, and change.  Otherwise, I was mostly out and about the ship. I even chose to do most of my work from public venues.

The downside to an inside room is there's no natural light, so you cannot easily tell the time of day. Nonetheless, I adjusted quickly and would set alarms so I knew if I was sleeping too late.

I think most people that choose a room like this on Freedom of the Seas are doing so to save money and get to cruise for a lower price. If so, this stateroom should offer the perfect way to get aboard without any extra frills.

Your next visit to Royal Caribbean's private island could have a beer that's been missing for almost six years.

It's been a while, but the cruise line confirmed it's bringing back the Chilla Thrilla beer to Perfect Day at CocoCay.

The cruise line introduced this exclusive brew that was produced in partnership with Funky Buddha Brewery.

Before you throw a few back, here's what's been revealed.

Coming to private destinations and ships

When Royal Caribbean opened Perfect Day at CocoCay, the introduced a lot of firsts, including a branded beer.

Chilla Thrilla was available for just a few months in 2019, as the cruise industry shutdown of 2020 halted distribution.

When cruises restarted in 2021, the beer wasn't brought back because of apparent supply chain issues.

However, that's changing, as Royal Caribbean confirmed Chilla Thrilla is coming back. The cruise line shared on its social media feeds an update:

The Royal Caribbean x Funky Buddha Brewery Chilla Thrilla is a refreshing blonde ale brewed with a splash of mango and guava, perfect for a full day of soaking up the sun.

Grab this Florida-brewed tropical ale at any of our private destinations and ships sailing out of the US.

This marks the first time since early 2020 the beer will be available, and it sounds like as long as your cruise ship sails from the U.S., you'll be able to sample it. Funky Buddha claims the beer is available on any ship sailing to the Caribbean.

In fact, it's already been spotted on Explorer of the Seas.

And yes, the beer is included with Royal Caribbean's popular drink packages.

What does it taste like?

According to the brewer, Chilla Thrilla is a "Blonde Ale with Mango and Guava". 

It's a drink meant to evoke a tropical taste, which is why it leans in the fruity direction.

"A crisp body and tropical vibe makes Chilla Thrilla perfect for a day packed full of fun in the sun."

Funky Buddha claims it pairs well with the food you can get at CoocCay, including a Cuban sandwich, mango and habanero wings, carnitas tacos, fresh citrus and stone fruits.

Beer fan site Untappd listed the fan reviews of Chilla Thrilla at 3.5 stars across over 500 reviews.

Over the past year, I've done a lot of cruise travel.

I've taken over a dozen Royal Caribbean cruises this year, in both the Caribbean and Europe, from Mexico to Norway to the Dominican Republic to Germany, and much more.

Although my cruises have been positive overall, things can always go wrong.

Here are the biggest mishaps I've encountered on Royal Caribbean cruises, and how I prepare for them in advance.

Dining is a top priority, so I pre-book it all and never book My Time Dining

The food on a cruise ship is always a highlight, so it's one of the first focuses I place in my cruise planning process.

My approach is to have all of my dining picked out and reserved before I step foot on the ship.

This used to be impossible if you had specialty dining in mind, but now that Royal Caribbean allows guests to pre-book with the dining packages, it can be done.

I find pre-booking reservations so important because it eliminates wasting time on embarkation day running around and wasting vacation time making bookings. Plus, it removes the guess work out of if there will be availability for the day and time you want.

More controversially, I never book My Time Dining for my dinner in the Main Dining Room. Instead, I book traditional dinner and pick a set time.

I know plenty of our readers swear by My Time Dining, but I avoid it because of the long lines that develop at peak hours.

While traditional dining is inflexible, I never have a wait for a table and I can walk right in and go straight to my table and have the same table, waiter, and table mates without any concern of how long it might take to get seated.

My Time Dining isn't a mistake, it's just more complicated and I prefer simplicity in this case.

Even though I cruise a lot, I'll pack seasickness medicine

I amaze myself when I get seasick, but it does happen from time to time.

The good news is I never am worried about it because I pack medications to easily deal with it. Most of the time I don't get motion sickness, but a couple of times I'll start to feel off and recognize I'm probably seasick.

I always pack Bonine chewable tablets with me (link contains affiliate link, which costs you nothing extra).  

There are other remedies for avoiding getting seasick, but I find popping a pill like this works the best.

Some experienced cruisers say you can get seasickness medicine from Guest Services or the medical facility for free, but I never rely on that because it's not an official policy.  Plus, if I'm feeling queasy, it's easier to get what I need from my stateroom and have it ready to go.

I avoid traveling same day as my cruise begins

Anyone that plans to fly to their cruise ship the same day it is scheduled to depart is playing with fire.

Between bad weather, government shutdowns, mechanical failures, and airline staffing issues, there are all sorts of opportunity for your travel plans to be negatively impacted.

You should never, ever fly the same day of your cruise.  Instead, plan to arrive at least one day early so if your flight plans change, you can still make the cruise.

When traveling overseas, I'd recommend bumping that up to at least 2-3 days early. Not only do you need to make sure your flight is on time, but you'll have to wrestle with jetlag.

You can make arguments about some of my other pieces of advice in this article, but I truly believe this is one you're wrong to fly the same day.  Heck, I live in Florida and will come in a day early for a cruise out of Miami because I never trust public transportation.

I always have travel insurance purchased

The chances of you getting sick or injured on a cruise are pretty low, but I'll still buy travel insurance every single time.

There are so many unknown factors beyond getting hurt while traveling that could ruin your trip and cause you great financial hardship.

• Losing your job right before the trip
• Death in the family
• Hurricane or bad weather changing your plans
• Cancelled flights
• Lost luggage

When it comes to last-minute cancellations, you're going to be out of luck without travel insurance.  No matter how good of a sob story you have, Royal Caribbean isn't giving your money back if you want to cancel in those days leading up to the cruise.

And of course the cost of onboard medical treatment isn't cheap either (and they don't take any insurance onboard). 

Travel insurance is inexpensive and the safety net every traveler should have before they step foot aboard a cruise ship.  It's peace of mind that should anything negative come up unexpectedly, you're covered.

Before the ship sets sail, I have an internet package and I prep my phone

While there are some people that like the idea of disconnecting while on a cruise, I'm definitely not one of them.

I not only value being able to stay in contact with friends and family while on my cruise vacation, I think it makes my trip better.

That's why I always buy an internet package for my cruise. I even buy an extra one so I don't have to swap between phone and laptop, and that's so I can stay in contact easier while onboard.

The key is to pre-purchase an internet package before the cruise begins to save money compared to buying a package onboard the ship.

Equally important, I'll put my phone into airplane mode to avoid roaming fees.

One of the most common and costly mistakes people make on a cruise is allowing their phone to roam while at sea, and that can rack up hundreds of dollars in fees.

Before your ship sails away, put your phone into airplane mode so it won't start roaming.

Buying a WiFi package means I can easily text or call anyone (thanks to WiFi calling), and avoid an unexpected cell phone bill when I get home.

Getting sleep is important, so I'll pack ear plugs

On some occasions noise from creaking, other passengers, or ambient noise can make sleeping more difficult while aboard.

I always have disposable ear plugs packed for this situation (link contains affiliate link, which costs you nothing extra).  

It's rare that I need them, but over the years I've run into situations where it's needed. Most commonly it's a result of windy conditions that cause the ship to rock more than usual, and that can make hangers clang together or the stateroom ceiling creak.

Rather than try to ignore the noise, I'll quickly grab a pair of ear plugs and head back to sleep quicker.

Cruise ships are often compared to cities, and there are certain ones you'd love to go back and see again.

I just took my 100th cruise while sailing on Royal Caribbean's Freedom of the Seas, and it's a milestone that made me reflect on all the sailings I've taken since I started cruising in 2006.

In those almost 20 years, I've been on most of the ships in the fleet.  There are still a few I have yet to sail on, but I hope to try them all some day.

In the meantime, there are a handful of cruise ships I'll gladly sail on again because they stand out for offering a superior experience. In a lot of cases, they speak to my preferences and how I like to cruise.

Whether you're going on your first cruise or looking to get on every ship too, these are the five Royal Caribbean ships I highly recommend.

Utopia of the Seas has everything in a weekend cruise

I've loved Oasis Class ships since I first tried Oasis of the Seas in 2010, so picking a favorite is like choosing a favorite child.

I picked Utopia of the Seas because it's part of the latest generation and has the best in class features that just make it stand out.

Purists will complain the ship only sails short cruises instead of 7-nighters and that diminishes the appeal, but I'm willing to overlook the issue because Utopia is just better than the rest of the ships in its class.

Yes, it's marketed as a "weekend party ship" and you get an energetic bunch on there, but my goodness, they included so many smart ideas on Utopia.

Here's a few examples of things you'll only find on Utopia and none of the other Oasis Class ships:

• Best pool deck
• Flat Tire restaurant
• Royal Railway restaurant
• Izumi in Central Park
• Best Giovanni's location

Utopia also has my favorite bar on any ship, the Mason Jar. 

Plus, the non-smoking casino on this ship is massive. Royal Caribbean gutted the comedy club and loyalty lounge and replaced it with a sprawling non-smoking casino area that feels like a land based casino. 

While I wish it still had a dedicated comedy club because comedy in the Royal Theater doesn't hit the same, there's no doubt the casino is an upgrade.

It's also very similar to Wonder of the Seas, but I picked Utopia because Wonder doesn't have the Royal Railway, Flat Tire, or Izumi in Central Park. Little tweaks, but enough that I'd be lying if I said I didn't prefer them.

Freedom of the Seas has great prices and lots to do

I've sailed on Freedom of the Seas 8 times so far, and it's not a coincidence I've ended up back on onboard.

Not only are the Freedom Class ships great values that deliver a big ship feel, but the upgrades it received in 2020 easily make it the best of the class.

Freedom is a big ship, with a maximum capacity well over 4,000 passengers. There are water slides, a great variety of specialty restaurants, expansive aqua park for kids, and a great bar scene.

You're also very likely to find a good value when sailing on Freedom of the Seas. Both the Freedom and Voyager Class represent the best dollar-for-dollar value today because they're older ships (20 years old in 2026), but they also have a lot to do onboard.

Just like Utopia, it too got a nice upgrade with a non-smoking casino that replaced Vintages on the Royal Promenade. A welcome change to non-smokers that enjoy gambling.

The chief downside to Freedom is in its cabins, which still have a twenty year old motif to them. The light pink cabin doors, dated bedding, and lack of outlets are not reasons I recommend the ship. 

They're things I hope are some day improved, but in the meantime, I can live with them because the rest of the ship makes up for it.

The hidden gem ship is Odyssey of the Seas

Odyssey of the Seas is in some ways Royal Caribbean's forgotten new ship.

It launched right as the cruise industry was recovering from the shutdown of 2020, and Wonder of the Seas entered service so quickly after Odyssey that it felt like it was quickly overshadowed.

What I love about Odyssey is it's the Quantum Class ship that got everything right.  I always liked the Quantum Class ships, but never loved them until Odyssey came along.

Royal Caribbean figured out a lot of things with Odyssey.  They added Playmakers and reworked the SeaPlex to make it a place everyone would like to enjoy, not just teenagers.

They reworked the pool deck and opened it all up, while also making it feel like you're at a resort.

Odyssey has the new Giovanni's Italian Kitchen restaurant, as well as a unified Main Dining Room. 

If you haven't sailed on Odyssey yet, you really should book something on it because it's easily overlooked, yet a ship I think doesn't get enough praise for being that darn good.

My favorite budget cruise ship is Mariner of the Seas

If you've got sticker shock looking at Icon of the Seas, you'll find much more reasonable prices on Mariner of the Seas.

Mariner is a Voyager Class ship, and first launched in 2003. While a 20 year old cruise ship might seem less than ideal, recent upgrades boost this ship's appeal.

It has a Playmakers sports bar, water slides, laser tag, tiki bar, and a handful of specialty restaurants I frequent anytime I'm onboard.

I've sailed on Mariner 13 times, and I think the reason I love to come back is the good mix of low prices and fun activities onboard.

Similar to Freedom, Mariner is the kind of ship you book because you want to spend less, but still have enough to do. And like Freedom, Mariner's upgrades make it a more compelling choice than other ships within its class.

Out of all the ships I've sailed, Icon of the Seas is my favorite

It's been almost two years since Royal Caribbean reset the standard for all other cruise ships when they introduced Icon of the Seas, and it remains at the very top of my recommended ship list.

The array of innovations, tweaks, and additions make Icon a must-try for pretty much everyone. I think Royal Caribbean got so much right with this ship while also improving guest pain points that it stands out from the rest of the ships in the fleet.

For someone new to cruising, I think it's a wonderful introduction because it just makes everything so effortless. You'll find so much to do, enticing options, and a frictionless vacation.

I especially like the pool variety, incredible water slides, the fully enclosed AquaTheater, and really good included dining choices.

The only downside to Icon is it will cost you more than any other ship on this list.  Both Icon and Star of the Seas command premium pricing, so don't expect a bargain basement price.

Speaking of Star, yes, I love Star and would recommend it too. The reason I picked Icon was simply because they're so similar and Icon was the original, so I opted for it.

Don't kid yourself, every other new ship out there is trying to catch up with the Icon Class, and none have come close to matching it.