When it comes to making a bid to upgrade your Royal Caribbean cabin, there's a mix of strategy and a dash of luck involved.

Cruise ship passengers can choose to bid for a stateroom upgrade through Royal Up for less than it would have cost to have booked the room outright.

The cruise line uses Royal Up to sell unsold cabins, while passengers could get a better room.

The trick to winning a Royal Up bid isn't as simple as putting in the highest possible bid. Based on our experience, there's a few different factors at play.

If you're wondering what it will take to get a room upgrade, here are the tricks other cruisers have found.

First, check if there's actually a room available

The first truth of Royal Up is just because you can place a bid does not mean there's a room available.

Royal Up is used for both selling unsold cabins and guarding against a last-minute cancellation.

What it's really asking is if there was a room available, how much would you bid for it.

Before you get hopes up, I'd recommend making a mock booking for the cruise you're sailing on via Royal Caribbean's website to see if there are actually cabins in that category available.

This is especially important with suites, as they are the most desirable staterooms and have the least inventory.

The closer you are to your sail date, the less likely there are unsold cabins left.

While you're looking at which cabins are left, you could also simply call Royal Caribbean and ask how much to upgrade your cabin "the old fashioned way". Not only could it be for a reasonable price, but there's no guessing or algorithm to contend with.

The room you're already booked in plays a factor

Many cruisers swear the cabin you booked is taken into consideration for which bid is accepted.

A reader wrote, "It's as much the cabin you're currently assigned as it is your bidding."

"If you have a cabin type that will sell easily vs a more expensive cabin, your chances increase. Last two upgrades were from junior suites to higher category suites."

For example, if you're booked in a centrally located balcony, your bid would be more desirable than someone booked in a balcony at the very front of the ship. Or at least, that's what we think.

Part of the reason Royal Caribbean offers stateroom bidding is to maximize the profitability of a sailing. Many people believe the algorithm takes into account:

• How much you originally paid for the cabin
• How much you bid
• How likely and how much it could resell your old cabin

No one really knows how the Royal Up system works, but this rationale seems to hold up given that simply placing a maximum bid doesn't always work.

Try bidding for upgrades on an offseason cruise

I think your highest chance of success with Royal Up is to try it out on a less popular cruise.

If you can take advantage of a shoulder season cruise when there are less families onboard and demand is lower, you might have better luck.

Being on a cruise with higher availability of rooms simply will help your chances.

That isn't to say you can't win an upgrade on a spring break or Christmas cruise, but it's likely Royal Caribbean will sell the cabins conventionally without needing to offer them as an upgrade.

More bid upgrade tips

Many cruisers have shared in their experience, bidding a little more than the minimum has won them a Royal Up.

Going just a few dollars above the minimum price works just as well as max bid.

Plus, in some cases the max bid price will cost more than the stateroom might have cost outright.

Also, keep your hopes in check for that suite.

Reality check: everyone wants a suite, but bidding on a Promenade View cabin is more likely to get accepted because less people are interested in it.

If you book your cruise in an interior room, I think you'll have a better shot at winning a Royal Up when trying for a balcony or lower category room.

Royal Caribbean ships typically have a lot of room categories that offer different views and spaces.  Even just upgrading to a "spacious" room could make your voyage more enjoyable.

Don't rely on Royal Up as your primary room selection strategy

Think of Royal Up like playing the lotto at home: you don't play it expecting to win.  

Instead, book the room you really want and will enjoy for a cruise. You should never depend on winning a Royal Up because the odds are against you with so many other people trying to Royal Up too.

As someone who travels almost every month on Royal Caribbean ships, I get to try a lot of cruise ship food.

Royal Caribbean executives have said that food is one of the top two reasons people book a cruise, and I've found a list of my favorites that I'll order every time I visit.

While I'm no food critic, I think these are dishes that truly stand out as being really darn satisfying.  

Based on my dining experiences and personal tastes, these are the top 15 best Royal Caribbean food if you love to eat.

Tomahawk steak from Chops

If you're a steak lover, you probably should try the Tomahawk steak option.

It's available as one of the premium cuts at the Chops Grille specialty restaurant. That means there's an additional cost on top of the restaurant's cover charge. 

My readers raved about this steak and implored me to try it when I sailed on Icon of the Seas recently. It's a giant piece of high quality steak.

I don't consider myself a steak expert, but I think this is the ultimate steak for anyone that considers themselves one.

World from Wonderland

One of the most different specialty restaurants you'll find is Wonderland, which is loosely based on the Alice in Wonderland tales.

Their dessert is so darn good. It not only tastes good, but looks so cool.

You are served a chocolate globe and then warm chocolate is poured on top of it to melt it all into a gooey and rich dish.

French Onion Soup from Main Dining Room

You don't have to pay extra for all of the best food, because an all-time favorite Royal Caribbean food is the French Onion Soup.

I've had French Onion Soup at a lot of restaurants, but Royal Caribbean's version is verifiably better. I'm not sure exactly why, but they do it right.

It's served piping hot with a fresh layer of melted cheese and just the right mix of onions, broth and bread.  Plus, the soup broth flavor is top notch.

It's also available every night at Coastal Kitchen on the dinner menu there.

There's a DIY version of this soup on some nights in the Windjammer, but it never hits the same way.

Crepes from Aquadome Marketplace

I probably could call out each of the food halls at Aquadome Market as worthy of being on this list, but the Crepes station deserves top honors.

The proof is in the consistently long lines for people waiting to get one.

It's freshly made just the way you want, and the perfect snack or meal.

Brisket from Portside BBQ

One of the most underrated restaurants across Royal Caribbean is Portside BBQ.  I don't know why it isn't on more ships, but it's really good.

Among the choices on the menu, I don't think you can go wrong with the beef brisket.  It's tender, smoked, and almost melts as you eat it.

Ranger Cookie from Cafe Promenade

Whenever I poll cruise fans for their favorite snack on Royal Caribbean, the Ranger Cookie comes up as a winner.

First and foremost, it's chewy and not brittle.  That's a win.  Plus it has a really good sweet flavor to it.

I'm not a huge coconut fan, but these cookies are probably the best quick snack around.

Kummelwick Sandwich from Park Cafe

Ever since I tried my first Kummelwick sandwich on Oasis of the Seas back in 2010, I've been hooked on this snack.

It's a roast beef sandwich served on a Kummelwick roll, and you can choose to have mustard, au jus, and/or horseradish served on it.

I think they've tweaked the sandwich over the years, but it's still a solid "I wasn't hungry, but I want one" kind of snack.

Broiled cod from Izumi Omakase

When I tried the new chef-driven Japanese restaurant on Utopia of the Seas, I expected the sushi to be my favorite food. But I fell in love with the broiled black cod.

Among the courses, this was my favorite for the incredible flavor.

It's really tender and after I finished it I wanted two more (I didn't get them, but I need to get back and have it again).

"Deep dish pizza" bread from Lincoln Park Supper Club

I'm a sucker for a good starter, and Lincoln Park Supper Club was exactly the right choice.

The "Deep dish pizza" bread is essentially a deconstructed pizza.  You are served the bread, and then add the cheese and toppings.

Indian curry from Windjammer

Want to know the most underrated food Royal Caribbean has on all of its ships? Indian curry.

You can get it every day in the Windjammer buffet or at dinner at the Main Dining Room. Each day they offer different varieties. 

I've been eating Indian food on Royal Caribbean since my first cruise and it's consistently one of the most flavorful dishes you'll find and remarkably satisfying.

Spaghetti Bolognese from the Main Dining Room

I know spaghetti and meat sauce isn't an exotic dish or something new you've never tried, but it's still one of my go-to MDR dishes to order.

There's something about their sauce that stands out, but the Spaghetti Bolognese is likely my top comfort food on Royal Caribbean.

Asian stir fry station in the Windjammer

The variety of food served at the cruise ship buffet is amazing, but I'll overlook it all if there's Asian stir fry available.

At one of the cooking stations that are usually at the back of the Windjammer, there is a custom stir fry offered (it's sometimes called Mongolian Grill too). You tell the chef which ingredients to include, as well as the sauce.

It's combined with noodles and a protein and it's the kind of food you can eat over and over again.

Margherita pizza from Giovanni's Italian Kitchen

Ever since Royal Caribbean overhauled Giovanni's, I've found so many new favorites.  But I think the margherita pizza is their best option.

It's not that surprising considering the cruise line tapped a master pizza expert to help them craft their pizzas.

Trust me, it's so much better than what you'll get at Sorrento's.

Filet mignon from Coco Beach Club

There are many candidates for the best steak across Royal Caribbean, but I think the best filet mignon isn't even on a cruise ship.

Available at the Coco Beach Club, it's easily the best steak I'll reserve the beach club just to have it.

I'm not good at describing how steak tastes, but compared to the versions at Chops, 150 Central Park, or other restaurants, I'll always prefer the Coco Beach Club version.

Fried cheesecake at 150 Central Park

Fried food usually a solid win for taste, but the fried cheesecake at 150 Central Park is worth the cost of admission alone.

This dessert is so sweet, and they serve you two.  Every time I think "I'll only eat one" but of course, I cannot help but eat them both.

Buddha bowl at Pier 7

Easily overlooked, but Pier 7 on the Icon Class ships has some great food, including the Buddha bowl.

A mix of fresh vegetables, fruit, grains, and a protein, I think it has a great combination of satisfaction while feeling guilt-free.

It appears as Royal Caribbean is changing stateroom assignments and room sizes on its next new cruise ship.

Legend of the Seas will launch in July, and it will be the third Icon Class ship and likely assume the title of world's largest cruise ship along with its sister ships.

Some cruise ship passengers booked on Legend of the Seas received emails that changes have been made to select cabins.

Not every passenger booked on Legend of the Seas got a notification of a room change, but certain cabins are changing the capacity which has led some people to be upgraded or moved to a different cabin that can accommodate their party size.

Here's what we're seeing so far related to this change.

"Royal Caribbean changed my cabin"

Based on what cruisers have posted online, select rooms have been recategorized on Legend of the Seas.

Here's one example of the change:

After a recent accommodations review, we've noticed that some staterooms, including yours, have been recategorized in our system. The great news is we'll relocate you to a like-for-like stateroom in the same category you booked.

In this case, it looks like the cabin they booked was changed to a new room category. The original cabin assignment has changed and the guest will have their reservation moved to a different room of the same category.

The person was booked in cabin 12292, which was a category D5 ocean view balcony with 3 people.  As a result of this change, their new cabin assignment is 8682.

Royal Caribbean utilizes sub categories for its cabins based on location, size, and how many people it can accommodate.

The difference between a category D4 and D5 balcony can sometimes be as simple as how close it is to the center of the ship.

Another example of the change is someone that was booked in a Surfside Family View Balcony.

While we know you originally booked a Surfside Family View Balcony, you'll now receive a complimentary upgrader to an Ocean View Balcony!

In all cases of room changes, there's been no extra charge or price change to the reservation.

So far, the common denominator with this change seems to be all the rooms had three people booked on the original reservation.

Jenn Greene, a travel advisor with MEI Travel, shared four different clients received an email similar to the one listed above and all of them had three people booked in the cabin.

Behind the scenes changes to reservations

Beside the room recategorizations, emails were sent out to other people booked on Legend of the Seas to inform them their reservation would be inaccessible for a couple weeks.

After a recent review, we're doing some behind the scenes maintenance. Kindly note, while we conduct this update, your booking will be unavailable to access on the app and website for about two (2) weeks from today. 

While Royal Caribbean does system maintenance routinely, it's unusual for a reservation to "disappear" for an extended period of time while they work on the backend.

"Rest assured, your reservation remains intact and unchanged," the email said.  

Legend of the Seas begins sailing this summer

The brand new Icon Class ship enters service in July with cruises around the Mediterranean.

While it might be the third Icon Class ship, it will not be a direct copy of Icon or Star of the Seas.

Legend will add an immersive train car restaurant that takes you on a virtual gastronomic tour through Asia and Europe, inspired by the travels of Marco Polo.

In fact, there will be 28 places to eat on this ship, including a revamped AquaDome Market food hall that will have all new food stands, along with a brand-new juice and smoothie bar serving freshly squeezed refreshments.

Roald Dahl’s "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" will be performed aboard as the musical show in the Royal Theater.

The Hollywoodland Supper Club will offer a fancy multi-course menu set to the music of the golden age of Hollywood.

The 7-night Mediterranean cruises from Barcelona and Rome will visit destinations like Marseille, Naples, and Palma de Mallorca.

In November 2026, the ship will move to Fort Lauderdale to offer 6- and 8-night Caribbean itineraries. These sailings will visit Aruba, Curaçao, and Royal Caribbean's private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay.

Bookings are open for all of its sailings through April 2027.

The ship boasts six waterslides, seven pools, an entire section of the ship dedicated to young families, as well as a dueling piano bar.

The ship is currently under construction at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland.

It's expected to be about the same size as both Icon and Star.  That puts the new ship at about 250,800 gross tons and can accommodate approximately 5,610 passengers at double occupancy or up to 7,600 passengers at maximum occupancy.

I think finding the cheapest cruise is all about choosing the right time of year.

There are certainly many factors to how Royal Caribbean prices a cruise, including age of the ship and stateroom category, but the date your sailing take places often has the biggest impact.

Certain times of the year are going to always be cheaper and that's because of demand. Our own research shows higher demand greatly drives up the price, regardless of the ship or cabin type.

If you're chasing lower prices for a cruise, you really ought to focus on when the time of year and departure date as key factors in finding a lower price.

Here are my tips for booking a cruise at the lowest price possible.

When is the cheapest time to cruise?

Regardless of if you want to cruise to the Caribbean, Alaska, Asia, or Europe, the lowest prices are always during the shoulder season.

This industry term refers to the months of the year where there's far less demand, usually at the beginning or end of the cruising season in a region.  Hence the term "shoulder" because it augments the higher peak demand in the middle.

For example, you'll typically see lower prices for an Alaska cruise in May or September. Likewise, the Caribbean has lower prices the first two weeks of December.

Each region has its own cadence to when you'll find the shoulder season.  Europe has a longer cruising season than Alaska, and prices in the fall greatly differ from the summer.

The Caribbean is a year-round destination, so it doesn't have a shoulder seasons. Rather, Caribbean demand has peaks and valleys, and one week could be significantly cheaper than the next week.

If you're sold on a shoulder season cruise, there can be a few downsides.

The cheapest times to cruise are almost always when school is in session, which means families would have to pull their kids out of class to take advantage of a lower price.

Another issue can be the weather. Alaska tends to be rainy and colder at the beginning and end of the season. Plus, the lessened demand may see some stores, restaurants, or activities closed until the peak season begins.

What is the cheapest month to cruise?

Here's your shoulder season "cheat sheet" for which months will have the best prices because there's usually less demand.

When comparing the price in these months versus other months, you should see a dip in prices.

• Alaska: May, early June, or September
• Australia & New Zealand: April or November
• Bermuda: May, September, or October
• Canada & New England: May or October
• Caribbean: January, September, October or early December
• Mediterranean: March, April or November

You can include nearly all of hurricane season as a cheaper time of year to go on a cruise, especially mid-August through the end of October. The risk of a tropical storm, oppressive humidity, and school in session all contribute to lower demand.

When is the cheapest time to book a cruise?

One of the oldest pieces of cruise advice is to book early, and I think it's still the best time to book a cruise.

Because of how popular cruises are right now, the chances of a last-minute deal have lessened greatly. That's made booking early even more important.

I recommend booking a cruise at least one year early for three important reasons:

• Best chance at a lower price
• Highest availability of cabins, especially suites
• You can reprice the cruise if there's a price drop later

The closer you get to the sail date, the less cabins there are because other people book the cruise. That in turn drives up the price.

These days, Royal Caribbean prices each sailing individually with a pricing algorithm. In truth, conventional cruise sales are more marketing than actual widespread changes in price.

What this means is you shouldn't wait for a specific sale or time of year to book a cruise, because AI has become so sophisticated that cruise prices don't change based on any single promotion anymore.

It's also why last-minute deals are drying up compared to just a few years ago.

A Royal Caribbean cruise in 2026 is exactly the kind of vacation millions will enjoy, and there are important things to do and avoid on any sailing.

Royal Caribbean is planning a big year with the launch of a new ship, opening of two beach clubs, and likely many more announcements to come in the new year.

I think it's of paramount importance to be prepared with the right tips and advice before you board so you can maximize your cruise vacation.

Here is my list of 16 simple do’s and don’ts to fully enjoy a Royal Caribbean cruise this year.

Don't wait to book a cruise

Prices are only headed up for a 2026 cruise, so you'll want to book sooner than later.

Royal Caribbean Group executives have already told Wall Street analysts they expect to continue a steady climb in prices to match demand.

What this means for consumers is your best bet is to book a cruise now and not wait for a price drop that may never happen.

Book early and lock in the price, along with the cabin category you prefer.

Do take advantage of the Royal Caribbean app before and during your cruise

The key to getting onboard your Royal Caribbean ship faster and then knowing everything that's going on is to use the cruise line's app.

Download it a few months before the cruise so that you can use it to do the online check-in.  This will not only get you an early check-in time, but probably get you access to a faster line too.

I'd go as far to say the Royal Caribbean app is critical to have so you can get things done faster. 

Do book with a travel agent

Travel agents provide a wealth of knowledge and will save you time too.

Because of how personalized a cruise is compared to other vacations, new cruisers will greatly benefit from working with a good travel agent.

They can take advantage of group rates, offer advice on the best ship or accommodations for your family, and be your advocate if there's a billing problem later with Royal Caribbean.

A good travel agent should cost you nothing extra to use, so I'd recommend using one when booking any cruise.

Don't try to save money and fly in the same day your cruise begins

It's tempting to book a flight the same day as your cruise departs, but you're playing with fire if you do that.

A cruise ship will not wait if your flight is delayed or cancelled, and there are no refunds either. While travel insurance would reimburse you, it still doesn't make up for the lost vacation. 

Instead, you want to book a flight at least one day before your cruise begins.  At least two days earlier if it's an overseas flight.

This strategy ensures a travel delay doesn't impact your ability to go on the cruise.

Do purchase travel insurance

The more I cruise, the more value I see in buying a travel insurance policy.

Travel insurance covers so many unforeseen circumstances and is fairly inexpensive (cheaper than many shore excursions), so I think it's a must-buy for all cruisers.

Travel interruptions, lost baggage, weather-related port changes, and injuries are all covered by travel insurance.  But you'd be out of luck getting any compensation without it.

Don't wait to book add-ons once on the ship

There's simply no excuse for waiting to buy a drink package, Wi-Fi package, or any other extra until you get on the ship.

Royal Caribbean discounts those same items if you buy it before the cruise begins, and the savings can be substantial.

Drink packages are especially discounted before the sailing, as are passes to the Royal Beach Club, Hideaway Beach, or other exclusive areas.

Not only will the price be higher onboard, but there's also a much higher chance it will sell out. Because Royal Caribbean has gotten so good at getting the word out there about its app, more people than ever are using it and it's quite common for excursions and dining to get fully booked up.

I recommend logging into the Royal Caribbean site or the app at least a few times before the cruise begins to check prices and see what's available. The sweet spot is around 2-3 months before your cruise is set to begin.

Do online check-in as soon as possible

Royal Caribbean allows you to check-in up to 45 days before your cruise begins, and I'd recommend getting it done ASAP.

Most people prefer an early check-in time at the terminal, and those early time slots go quickly.

Use the Royal Caribbean app to quickly log in and get a check-in time. You can come back later and fill out the rest of the information needed to check-in later.

Definitely do not show up to the cruise terminal without your online check-in complete, because you'll waste time in the terminal doing it there instead.

Don't let the cruise line pick your room unless you're very flexible

You could save a lot of money by letting Royal Caribbean pick your stateroom location, but you need to be clear on what that really means.

That option will get you a guarantee cabin, meaning later you'll be assigned a room based on what's left unsold. That isn't inherently a bad thing, but usually there's a reason those cabins are unsold.

You could end up with a room at the very front or back of the ship that is more susceptible to getting seasick. Or you could get a connecting room with a not-so-noise proof door between you and a strangers cabin.

I don't want to scare anyone, because guarantee cabins aren't necessarily a bad choice. But you give up control of the exact location and some cruisers might not want that.

If you sleep like a rock, don't get seasick, and barely spend any time in your stateroom, then a GTY room could be the right choice for you.

Do expect your cruise to be sold out

I'll see comments from cruisers surprised that the sailing is sold out, but that's pretty much the norm these days.

Cruising has never been so popular and demand for a cruise vacation is at an all-time high. It's not a question of "if" your cruise will sell out, but when.

That might give you pause about the ship feeling crowded. Keep in mind cruise ships are designed with a full capacity in mind, and they do a pretty good job at distributing everyone.

The typical times you'll find crowding is:

• Around the pool deck on a sea day
• Dance parties
• When a show lets out
• The first few hours of embarkation on the first day

You should expect crowds occasionally, but that doesn't mean a bad time either. You can usually find uncrowded areas quickly.

Do the safety drill as soon as you board

You have a few hours to complete the muster process, but I think it's best to knock it out as soon as you're onboard.

The morning of the cruise before you even get to the cruise terminal, watch the safety video and listen to the emergency alarm in the Safety section of the Royal Caribbean app.

One person can do it per cabin and check it off for everyone else in the cabin.

Then when you step aboard, head to your muster station and check-in there.  

Completing the muster drill first means you don't have to worry about it later and there's nothing else to do and you can start enjoying your vacation.

Don't forget to check what the theme nights are

Each evening has an optional theme for dinner, and a lot of families enjoy dressing up and being a part of the fun.

It's totally fine if you don't want to participate, but many like the idea of themed outfits.

You can look up the theme nights before your cruise begins and buy what you need before you board.

Don't choose a dinner time that you'll regret later

When you book a cruise, there are two choices for dinner in the Main Dining Room: traditional and My Time Dining. Each has its pros and cons, but I'd recommend understanding them all fully before making a choice.

The issue with choosing poorly is you risk frustration and disappointment later.

In a nutshell, traditional dinner is always at the same time, but has no waiting or check-in.  However, it may curb your port or ship plans because there's no way to alter the time.

My Time Dining offers the choice of anytime to dine in the evening, but you need to make reservations and pre-plan or risk waiting in a standby line for a table.

Yes, you could change your mind later on the ship if it doesn't work out as you expected, but there will be limited options.

Don't wait to verify your travel documents

Don't wait until the last minute to see if your passport is expired or if your daughter's boyfriend actually has a passport.

Depending on where you're sailing and which country you live in, there are different requirements for proper documentation. In short, if you have valid passports that won't expire within six months, you should be safe to cruise anywhere Royal Caribbean sails.

It's a good idea to pull out everyone's passports now and double check everything and renew them before it's too late.

Do book shore excursions and tours before they sell out

The days of walking off your cruise ship in a port and finding a great tour are less likely because of how easy it is to pre-plan.

Excursions are popular because of how easy they are to do. Book it, show up, and then they take care of the rest.

I'd recommend booking a shore excursion at least 4-6 months before your sailing to ensure you're ahead of the curve when it comes to tours selling out.

I cannot imagine walking off the ship and haggling with tour operators blindly without reviews, photos, and comparisons.

Don't wait to sign kids for Adventure Ocean

The kids club will open for registrations at 1pm on the first day of the cruise and this is the best time to get them set for the fun later.

While you can register kids for Adventure Ocean or teen club at any time, you'll find lines and a slower process if you don't do it during the open house period on embarkation day.

Plus, it's easiest for kids and teens to make friends on the first day because everyone is new and looking to meet others.  After the first day, groups are made and it's a little more socially difficult.

Don't wait until you're home to fix billing problems

Was your stateroom shower busted most of the cruise? Did that charge for a towel you returned not get taken off? Get those issues taken care of while you're still on the ship!

In my experience, it's far easier to get those things sorted out quickly onboard because they have all the information and people necessary to reach in one space. One you're home, the shoreside team will have to coordinate with the ship and that adds delays until they can sort it all out.

I recommend not walking off that ship on the final morning until you're confident your final bill and any issues you wanted addressed are complete.

Welcome to the first week of 2026, and here is your look at all of the Royal Caribbean news you might have missed in the past week.

At just 5 years old, Aydin is the youngest person ever to reach Royal Caribbean's highest loyalty program tier.

While sailing on Star of the Seas, he was recognized by the ship's crew for making it to Pinnacle Club status at a special ceremony.

He's been on enough cruises in his short life to earn 700 points in Crown and Anchor Society.

Royal Caribbean News

• Royal Caribbean passengers impacted by airspace closures after U.S. strike on Venezuela
• New way to buy cruise line merchandise without being on a ship
• You might be able to save up to $400 on a Royal Caribbean cruise with new discount codes
• Our readers say these are their favorite Royal Caribbean cruise ship snacks
• Non-refundable deposits: What are the restrictions and is it worth it?
• 10 New Year's cruise resolutions to make in 2026
• After 14 cruises in 2025, these are the best things I did on Royal Caribbean cruise ships this year
• Inside vs balcony cabin on Wonder of the Seas
• Can you bring alcohol on a Royal Caribbean cruise?

Video: Royal Caribbean Drink Package Guide for 2026 cruises

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: Royal Caribbean Drink Package Guide for 2026 cruises.

Royal Caribbean made a change to the menu at its most popular specialty restaurant

Cruisers have noticed Royal Caribbean recently dropped what's included at Izumi hibachi.

Vegetables are seemingly now not included anymore with the meal, and it's just the proteins and fried rice.

Grilled vegetables are offered either as one of the proteins or for a $5 surcharge.

3 Royal Caribbean rumors that might be confirmed in 2026

With a new year, maybe this is when we'll get confirmation details about three major rumors.

The cruise line always has a number of projects and initiatives in development, but there can be information leaks occasionally.

I hope this is the year we'll get further details on a few key rumors that have been swirling for a long time.

What this strange looking thing on a cruise ship is really for

No, it's not a harpoon. But a lot of cruisers think this is something much more nefarious than it really is.

On Oasis Class ships, the pool deck has a retracted piece of equipment that is often the source of intrigue.

While there are plenty of funny ideas, it's a pretty mundane piece of equipment.

Why are cruises so popular right now?

Cruises have never been more popular, and it's largely because of how attractive they are for a vacation.

By 2028, 42 million people worldwide will go on a cruise and that's up from 34.6 million in 2024.

This rapid growth is fueled by a growing segment of the population that is intrigued to try it out.

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 590th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available, with Matt reminiscing about things he wishes Royal Caribbean would bring back.

Some concepts and features were so good, and yet, they were removed.  He'd love for a few of them to be brought back because they were so darn good.

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.

Cruise ship passengers set to depart on Royal Caribbean cruises this weekend are dealing with flight cancellations and delays as a result of a temporary airspace closure.

The U.S. military strike against Venezuela in the early hours of Saturday have left the airspace over Puerto Rico closed to commercial flights.

Two Royal Caribbean ships have scheduled departures this weekend, and it's left some passengers scrambling to try to get to the ship on time.

UPDATE: Both Jewel of the Seas and Brilliance of the Seas have cruises departing on Saturday and Sunday. Jewel of the Seas will remain in San Juan for a few extra hours.

While the cruises are sailing as scheduled, it's created a logistical problem for many trying to get San Juan for the start of the cruise.

Jewel of the Seas delayed

Passengers booked on the January 3rd sailing of Jewel of the Seas received an email from Royal Caribbean to inform them of a slight delay.

"We’re closely monitoring the evolving situation in Venezuela and the impact it has made on travel plans."

As a result, we will be departing later than originally planned today to ensure everyone possible can sail with us."

While we don’t have an exact timeframe to provide, we anticipate we will be departing from San Juan around 10:30 PM local time. This situation remains fluid, and we're committed to keeping you informed if anything changes."

The email also contained a link to a survey for passengers who have not arrived yet. Presumably, the survey is to get a better sense of how likely delayed passengers are to actually arrive for the sailing.

Airlines cancelling Caribbean flights

Royal Caribbean has not announced any changes to its cruise departures from San Juan, Puerto Rico, but airlines have made changes.

The Federal Aviation Administration ordered commercial aircraft to avoid airspace in parts of the region following U.S. strikes on Venezuela.

Over 350 flights have been cancelled to and from Puerto Rico’s Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport.

Posts on social media indicate many people that had cruises booked are unable to get to San Juan on time.

"My flight got canceled due to air space being shutdown," wrote Ryan H. on Facebook group for the Brilliance of the Seas sailing departing on Sunday.

Mark D. added, "Our flight from Newark to San Juan was cancelled, and United told us we couldn’t get there till Monday. We won’t make the cruise."

Dawn H. wrote, "We were cancelled when we arrived to [Dallas] with no flights until the 1/6. [Royal Caribbean] told us to sit and wait for an email to confirm if they will delay, cancel, or go ahead with the sailing."

As of the posting of this article, Royal Caribbean has not announced any delays or cancellations to its cruise ships.

Jewel of the Seas is scheduled to depart on Saturday and luckily for those passengers, most took the sage travel advice of flying in at least a day early and likely arrived before the airspace closure.

"That's why you take the age old advice to ALWAYS fly in the day before the cruise," posted one person in the Jewel of the Seas Facebook group for the January 3rd sailing.

Virgin Voyages warns its passengers of delays

While there's been no official announcements from Royal Caribbean pertaining to the airspace closure, another cruise line sent an email to booked passengers.

"We understand that flight disruptions may prevent some Sailors from joining us for our next departure from San Juan. Any Sailor unable to embark due to this situation will receive a full voyage credit to use on a future Virgin Voyages sailing."

This means Virgin is offering its passengers no penalty for cancelling at the very last minute for this weekend's sailing.

"Virgin Voyages is actively assessing all options and working through every possible scenario to support our Sailors during this unprecedented disruption. We understand the frustration this situation causes, particularly following what we hope was an exceptional voyage."

"We will provide updates as soon as confirmed information becomes available. Sailors should continue to monitor their email for the latest details."

What happened in Venezuela

The closure of the commercial airspace is fallout from the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife by the United States. Strikes were also conducted against military and strategic infrastructure near the Venezuelan capital of Caracas.

It all took place in the early morning hours  of Saturday with attacks on La Carlota air base, Port La Guaira, and Higuerote Airport.

The latest incident follows months of a tense military and diplomatic standoff between the two nations. According to the BBC, the U.S. took the action to arrest Maduro because of U.S. indictments against the President and his wife. The two are charged in New York with narco-terrorism, drug trafficking, and weapons-related offenses.

Because of the military activity and associated safety concerns, airlines have had to temporarily avoid flying in or out of the region. 

Back in 2017, Royal Caribbean introduced non-refundable deposits as a way to offer lower prices to consumers, but it comes with certain restrictions and important rules to know.

I was hesitant to book non-refundable fares for a long time, but I now strategically use them to lock in a lower cruise price. 

You could save hundreds of dollars, but you have limited options in changing your mind later.

With the fees that may come with this deposit, I wanted to share the restrictions that exist when booking non-refundable deposit and if these deposits are worth it.

What is non-refundable deposit, and why does it exist?

Similar to airlines or rental cars, Royal Caribbean offers a lower priced deposit option that has penalties for changing it later.

The cruise line will take hundreds of dollars off your cruise fare compared to a refundable deposit if you're willing to agree to the non-refundable terms.

Royal Caribbean added non-refundable fares as a way to incentivize guests to book cruises at a lower price and keep their reservation.

The goal is to prevent last minute changes or cancellations (especially at the final payment date) that would disrupt the ship's inventory for that sailing.

Plus, it acts as a marketing tool to offer lower priced cruises to the public. Those looking for the cheapest fares will see more attractive prices.

Restrictions with a non-refundable deposit

If you're shopping for Royal Caribbean cruise and have the choice of a non-refundable deposit, should you consider booking it? Here are the major restrictions of these kinds of deposits.

Non-refundable deposits won't allow for a cash refund

As the name implies, your deposit is not refundable if you were to cancel.

Cancelling would incur a change fee, with the remaining value after the change fee will exist as a Future Cruise Credit.

Non-refundable deposits have limited flexibility

If you want to cancel or change the ship and/or sail date, you will incur a $100 per guest change fee. 

Multiple adjustments to the ship and/or sail date of a booking will result in the assessment of a $100 per guest change fee for each qualifying change made to the reservation. There is no limit on the number of change fees that can be incurred.

All suites are non-refundable deposit

Most staterooms have the option to book non-refundable deposit, except for suites.

All suites are non-refundable deposits and that's because there are so few of them compared to other cabin categories. Royal Caribbean made them non-refundable to ensure guests were not cancelling them at the last minute.

No change fee if you change rooms on the same sailing

You can still upgrade or downgrade your cruise cabin on the same sailing.

No change fee will be assessed upon swapping between category types on the same ship and sail date.

You can switch to non-refundable later

The choice of booking a non-refundable deposit is offered when you book the cruise, but you could change to it later.

Up until the final payment date, guests can contact Royal Caribbean to change from refundable deposit to non-refundable deposit and take advantage of a potential lower fare.

In some cases, a price drop could make it advantageous to switch to non-refundable deposit. And yes, you can do it right up until the final payment date (usually 90 days before the sailing begins).

This strategy works well when booking a cruise a year or more in advance, and then repricing the same sailing right before the final payment date.  Once you get just a few months from the start of the cruise, there's a good chance you would know if you're actually going to go on that sailing.

And no, you cannot move from non-refundable to refundable deposit later without essentially cancelling your initial reservation and incurring the change fee.

Are Royal Caribbean's non-refundable deposits worth it?

The answer depends on your comfort level with your travel plans.

How much you value flexibility, how certain you are of the cruise booking to proceed, and if saving money is important to you are all important factors to consider.

The ideal non-refundable deposit is for someone who is completely certain they will go on the ship and sail date they have selected and does not anticipate ever needing to cancel.

Examples could be a vacation during a built-in time off from school or work, honeymoon, or larger family trip.

I've found it's best to book non-refundable fares when your travel plans feel like they're "written in stone".

I think there's more ambiguity when you try to book a cruise over a year in advance, because your wants and needs could change before then.

Of course, how much cheaper a non-refundable deposit is plays a role. Not only is it more attractive to book the cheapest cruise price, but even with a change fee, it may simply be less expensive overall to opt for it.

It's critical to understand when booking non-refundable fares of the penalties that you'd face for changing your mind later.

I almost always book non-refundable cruise fare now because of the cost savings, as well as the fact I rarely cancel my cruise plans.

A top question asked by new cruisers is "Am I allowed to bring alcohol on my Royal Caribbean cruise ship?" because they want to save money.

The answer is some is allowed, but not all.  Royal Caribbean has very strict rules about which alcohol you can bring and when.  

You cannot bring as much alcohol as you want, but the amount you can bring is great for light drinkers or anyone that wants to augment their consumption.

Here's a look at if you can bring alcohol on a Royal Caribbean cruise.

You are allowed to bring a small amount of alcohol on embarkation day

You cannot bring beer or liquor ever on a Royal Caribbean ship, but you are allowed some wine or champagne.

The official rule is any adult of legal drinking age can bring one bottle of sealed 750 ml wine, sparkling wine/champagne on the first day only. If you're on a back-to-back cruise, guests are allowed to bring one 750 ml bottle of wine or champagne for each individual sailing.

Wine should be brought onboard via carry to avoid the bag being held by security for additional screening to verify it's not liquor.

Keep in mind there's a rule that if you bring wine on your ship and open it in a bar or restaurant, you're subject a corkage fee.

For years the corkage fee wasn't actually enforced, but the cruise line has started to be more vigilant about it, so you should expect to pay the $15 per bottle fee.

There is no corkage fee if you're enjoying the wine in your stateroom.

You cannot bring any of these types of alcohol:

• Boxed wine
• Beer
• Liquor
• Seltzers

The ship's security will seize any alcoholic beverages brought aboard and will return them to you at the end of the cruise, assuming it's sealed.

No, you can't sneak alcohol onboard

Royal Caribbean states its security staff is actively looking for guests that try to cheat the system and bring booze onboard.

The internet is full of tricks to smuggle alcohol on a ship, but security may inspect luggage or containers they suspect of containing alcohol such as:

• Water bottles
• Soda bottles
• Mouthwash

Any containers holding alcohol they find will be disposed of and not returned.

In fact, it could get you kicked off the ship.

Guests who violate any alcohol policies, may be disembarked or not allowed to board, at their own expense, in accordance with our Guest Conduct Policy. 

No matter what hack you see on TikTok, it could put your entire vacation in jeopardy.

You can bring alcohol on your ship while in port

If you're visiting a country and want to bring back wine, beer, or a liquor that you purchased ashore, Royal Caribbean will allow you take it on the ship but they'll hold it for you.

You cannot drink it on the ship, but they will allow you to bring it home.

When you reboard the ship, security will safely store these items on the ship. These bottles will be returned on the last day onboard so you can bring it home.

You can bring non-alcoholic drinks

Royal Caribbean lets you bring many more non-alcoholic drinks on the ship, which are a popular way to save on onboard spending.

On embarkation day only, you can bring up to 12 standard (17 oz.) cans, bottles or cartons per stateroom. This means bottled water, sodas, juice, or energy drinks can be brought on the ship.

You should also carry these drinks in your carry-on luggage instead of in your checked luggage. The reason is security will see bottles or cans in the scanning machine and may not be able to determine if its alcohol or not. In that situation, they'll hold your luggage back and you'll need to go down to security to claim it later.

While Royal Caribbean includes some drinks in your fare, bringing your own soft drinks expands what choices you have instead of having to pay for it.

There is no limit for bringing milk and distilled water brought on for infant, medical, or dietary use.