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.

The next time you eat at Izumi, you might notice a change in what comes with your hibachi meal.

Izumi is the Japanese restaurant offered on many Royal Caribbean cruise ships that has an extra cost to diner there. A number of Royal Caribbean cruisers noted the cruise line has made a change to what comes with your meal when seated at a hibachi table.

TXcruzer wrote on the Royal Caribbean message boards, "There have been supposedly numerous experiences within the last month where grilled vegetables were no longer a part of the hibachi dinner."

"These individuals claim that fried rice and protein is the only thing currently being offered."

Sure enough, others chimed in to confirm the change.

What's changed exactly at hibachi

It appears the change is grilled vegetables are no longer offered when you sit at the hibachi tables.

The chef will make fried rice and the protein of your choice, but grilled vegetables are now omitted.

"I went to Izumi on my Allure sailing earlier this month and there were no veggies offered other than [edamame]," wrote Lucky.

NewRCCruiser22 added, "Can confirm at Izumi hibachi on Star last week the menu only includes protein and rice, there are no vegetables prepared on the hibachi table and are only available for an additional charge."

SebagoSue wrote, "We were just on Wonder and can also confirm there were no veggies cooked separately as a side dish as there always have been."

That person added you can still get vegetables if you choose it as one of your proteins because the meal includes up to two choices. A third choice can be added for just $5 more.

"One person ordered veggies as one of her choices, instead of a second protein and the chef cooked the same veggies we have had in the past just for her. "

Prior to this change, if you dined at the hibachi side of the restaurant, grilled vegetables would be included along with your protein and fried rice.

The cruise line has made no formal announcement, guests are noting the change as an observation.

The cost to dine at Izumi hibachi is listed at $70 per adult for dinner, and $45 per adult for lunch.  Both meals are the same menu.

You can usually reserve Izumi hibachi for less when pre-booking prior to the start of the cruise. For example, on an upcoming Utopia of the Seas cruise, the cost is $55.99 per adult for dinner and $35.99 per adult for lunch.

New Izumi menu made minor changes too

Royal Caribbean rolled out a slightly updated menu at Izumi in November 2025, possibly tied to the change to hibachi.

Aside from the new design, I spotted a couple of changes to the menu, such as the cost of the fixed price menu going up from $39 to $45.

In addition, there's a new dessert on the menu. The Izumi Chocolate Fluffy Cheese Cake has been added.  That has replaced the lava cake.

Another change on the hibachi menu is that it offers just beef. Previously there was beef tenderloin or NY Steak.

Izumi is the most popular specialty restaurant on Royal Caribbean cruise ships

According to the cruise line, Izumi is the most popular specialty restaurant in the fleet today.

"Izumi is actually the most popular restaurant by volume in the fleet," Royal Caribbean Vice President Food & Beverage, Linken D'Souza revealed earlier this summer.

It's available on nearly every ship in the fleet. All of the restaurants have sushi, cooked food, and soups as part of its menu.

Many ships offer a teppanyaki section too, where guests are seated around a heated table and watch as a chef entertains them while cooking food.

This form of "eatertainment" has become wildly popular with cruise ship guests because it combines great food with memory making experiences.

Royal Caribbean has recently expanded Izumi to offer a to-go sushi window, and even a chef-driven experience too.

With 2026 here, this might be the year certain Royal Caribbean rumors finally become reality.

Royal Caribbean always has a few projects in development in various stages. But they don't comment or announce things until everything is fully prepared.  In the meantime, the rumor mill swirls with possibilities.

In addition to all the confirmed changes coming over the next few years, there is still room for more updates and reveals.

While I lack a crystal ball, I think we could see three Royal Caribbean rumors confirmed by the cruise line in 2026.

A new credit card, closer tied into loyalty perks

Royal Caribbean hinted it was working on replacing its Royal Caribbean Visa Signature credit card with something better.

During an earnings call with investors last year, Royal Caribbean Group CEO Jason Liberty admitted the current card isn't exactly what they want to offer consumers and talked about a new replacement.

"We do have a co-branded credit card. It is tied today to our loyalty program, but not in the way that fits our ambition."

He added, "I think you’re going to see something very meaningful coming out of that very, very soon."

There's been no date given when the new card could debut, but Mr. Liberty gave the impression that the new card was going to be ready sooner than later. 

The mention of the new credit card came on the same call in which he said Royal Caribbean is aggressively investing in its loyalty and digital ecosystem. That could mean the new credit card would offer alternative ways to earn benefits or loyalty perks.

"Our guests are very focused on recognition and also being incentivized for the spend and loyalty that they provide." 

Points Choice: a new way to earn points on other cruise lines

Another big change to loyalty will be the new program to earn loyalty points when cruising on Royal Caribbean's sister brands.

Coming in "early 2026", the Points Choice program will offer for the first time the option to sail on Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, or Silversea but earn loyalty points for the program of their choice.

For example, you could sail on Celebrity Cruises and earn Crown and Anchor Society points.  

That's a big change because it would potentially make it easier to rack up points, even while not sailing on Royal Caribbean.

Points Choice will only apply to new cruises that you sail on in the future, and will not apply retroactively to previous sailings you already took.

We're waiting for more details to be released about the program that shares how points will be converted using brand-specific exchange rates.

This change is absolutely happening in 2026, but it remains to be seen when we'll be able to start point swapping.

Confirmation of the Discovery Class

Could 2026 be the year we finally get an official announcement about the long rumored "smaller" cruise ship class?

Royal Caribbean has tip-toed around "Project Discovery", but never formally announced it.  They've referred to it and even openly talked to passengers about it, but technically it hasn't been announced.

All we know about it is it will be a new cruise ship design that is smaller than the Icon Class ships.

We also know it's meant to focus on specialized itineraries.

"We want the ship[s] to be able to really focus on...the more exotic itineraries," Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley told guests a few months ago.

What we're hoping for this year is a formal announcement confirming plans to build the new ships and when the first ship might be ready.

We thought that announcement would have been made as early as 2024, but nothing has been revealed yet.

I've heard all the New Year's resolutions for losing weight, saving money, and being a better person, but what about ways to be a better cruiser?

I can't help but always think about my next cruise vacation, and this is the perfect time of year to gather inspiration for what to do in the year to come.

I started thinking about different ways I could give myself a gentle nudge in a different direction to push me a little out of my comfort zone.  While I won't be trying the FlowRider, there are other ways to mix things up without feeling intimidated.

Here are the 10 ideas I have for New Year cruise resolutions that might spark a new joy for you as you cruise in the new year.

Cruise like a first-timer for a day

The first thing I thought of was how I could cruise differently, and embracing a first time cruiser's attitude is just the ticket.

Because I cruise a lot, I probably have a distinct pattern to how I cruise, especially on the first day.

Instead, it might be fun to use the first day as an excuse to pretend it's your first cruise. Wander the ship, take the spa tour, ask questions, and generally be curious.

Veteran cruisers sometimes forget how magical cruising felt the first time, and this might be a way to get that spark back.

Sneak in a cruise for a long weekend

When you're at your desk day dreaming of a cruise, I'll often try to use the calendar to my advantage.

Royal Caribbean offers more weekend cruises than ever, so see if you can find a long weekend that would allow you to book another cruise.

For example, perhaps Labor Day weekend or Memorial Day weekend, which each have built-in days off.  You could then make a weekend cruise work with less paid time off required.

Alternatively, pick a weekend where you know one of the days off you would need is not going to be very busy. A lot of schools when they reach the end of the semester tend to wrap things up and have an easy go of it those last couple days.

Pick a night to really dress up

While formal night is not very popular anymore, dressing up for themed nights has never been more fun.

Every Royal Caribbean sailing will have themed nights, and this is the year you should finally give it a try.

I don't mean buy a shirt off Amazon that says "This is my party shirt". I mean, pick one theme and get a total outfit that goes all-in.

Whether you pick decades night, white night, or red night, start scouring stores for matching outfits that really stand out.  

Cruising is about having fun and I think the families that have distinct outfits not only get noticed, but they're great conversation starters.

Book the cruise you've been "saving for later"

This is the year you should finally book that one cruise you have wanted to take but always said "someday".

Whether it’s Alaska, Europe, or a longer itinerary, I think now is the time for it.

I took my family on their first European cruise this past summer and it was so much fun and rewarding that I only regret we didn't try it a couple of years earlier.

You never know what the future may hold, so take advantage of the opportunities now.  

Talk a crew member beyond "where are you from"

One of the best parts of cruising is meeting crew members because some of them are amazing people who make the experience that much better.

When you can tell a crew member isn't very busy, try striking up a conversation with them to get to know them a little bit better. 

Try asking them questions such as how long they’ve worked at sea, or what guests always miss. 

Not only do crew members pick up on trends you might overlook, but they've got really fun stories too.

Skip the show and go to the pool

I love a good night swim, or even a hot tub at night, so try it out too.

There's usually one pool or hot tub left open in the evening. Instead of seeing a show, grab a towel and hop in and enjoy some time when the pool deck is the least crowded.

Royal Caribbean will usually show movies or a sporting event on the big screen at night, so you could combine the pool with something to watch.

Go to the beach you've never been to at CocoCay

My comfort zone extends to Royal Caribbean's private island too, because I tend to do a lot of the same thing.

There are a number of beaches you can go to at Perfect Day at CocoCay, so this might be the year to try a new one.

Harbor Beach is vastly underrated as a great spot. Not only is it a very short walk from the pier, but it's right next to Skipper's Grill. You can grab snacks (ice cream anyone?) quite easily.

Another idea is to walk all the way down South Beach until you reach Cove Beach. It's about as remote a beach as you can find on the island.

If you want a different bar to hang out at, try the Wacky Seagull Bar on Chill Beach. They have chairs that look out to the ocean and lots of shade too!

Eat at the restaurant I always skip

My personal cruise resolution is to go back to restaurants I usually skip.

Johnny Rockets, Wonderland, Hooked are the restaurants I not only skip but don't even think about going to.  Instead, I'm going to give them all another chance this year.

I don't have to love it, but I'm sure I can find something to enjoy there. Plus, it will get me out of the same specialty restaurants I always eat at.

Come back to the ship early on one day

I was originally going to write "stay onboard while everyone else gets off the ship", but I think the happy medium is to come back early one day instead.

When you have a port that you're not sure what to do, get off the ship early and explore the shopping and dining.  Or head to a beach for the morning.

But instead of spending all day ashore, return to the ship early so you can enjoy short lines and quiet pools. This works even better if you went to the beach because you're already in your bathing suit!

Say yes to one spontaneous decision

A friend had this idea to go into a cruise with if something comes up to try, you almost have to say "yes".

• A last-minute specialty dinner
• An unexpected sailaway drink
• A random activity you overheard someone talking about in the elevator

This resolution might be the thing that helps create memories you never planned on in the first place.

A new ship, giant suites, and a trip back in time were just some of the amazing things I got to try on Royal Caribbean cruise ships in 2025.

I was fortunate to be able to go on 14 different cruises over the course of this year, which brought me to both coasts of the U.S. and an extended trip overseas in Europe.

I love cruising because of how easy it is to see the world, but there's also so much to experience onboard. Sometimes I book a cruise because of where it will take me and other times there's something new and exciting onboard to try.

I was inspired to share my top cruise memories of the year and hope you'll share yours in the comments below!

Took my family for their first European cruise

As soon as 2025 began, I had June circled on my calendar as the top cruise I was looking forward to this year.

I had taken two cruises to Europe already, but my family hadn't come yet.  This time, I was bringing them and we had an epic month of cruising and exploring planned.

Combining a pre-cruise trip to London and Paris, I took my wife and kids through so much of northern Europe and it's the kind of trip we still talk or reference regularly.

There's certainly nothing wrong with a Caribbean cruise, but seeing the world by cruise ship is a next-level opportunity. 

We got to see fjords, see a West End show, eat at countless cafes, and meet so many nice people in all the countries.  Having lunch in a German beer garden or snacking on fresh strawberries in Norway set new standards for food.

I loved how much we got to see and try out together.  It was by far the sort of cruise we'll measure all others against in the future.

Tried Silversea for the first time

Speaking of Europe, I got my feet wet with my first time on a luxury cruise.

While I had sailed with Celebrity Cruises a few times, Silversea is unlike anything I had experienced before (full disclosure, Silversea invited me to sail with them as their guest).  The quality, approach, and attention to detail of this style of cruising blew me away.

Silversea is a sister brand to Royal Caribbean, but the similarities stop fairly quickly.  Silversea has invested in creating an onboard experience where you feel like the center of attention anywhere you go.

Every room is a suite, and every suite has a butler. It's not that I need a butler, but darn if I didn't enjoy having someone unpack my clothes and draw me a bath!

I loved the intimate venues and careful attention each crew member paid to guests. I've never felt more like Norm from "Cheers" than on Silver Dawn. 

Sometimes you try something different and appreciate it, but don't necessarily fall in love. In the case of Silversea, I really want to get back on and try another soon.

I got onboard Star of the Seas before anyone else

Sometimes my job has great perks and this came when I was invited to fly to Puerto Rico and board Star of the Seas first.

Ever since Icon of the Seas first debuted last year, I've been astounded by how impressive Icon Class ships are.  Certainly Star of the Seas is no exception.

I went on two preview sailings to get a sense of what makes Star of the Seas stand out, and there's nothing like exploring a brand new cruise ship.

The differences between Icon of the Seas and Star of the Seas aren't substantial, but like a new phone, you can easily pick out small things that make a big difference.

There's no question the food hall is better on Star, and I greatly preferred Back to the Future over the Wizard of Oz. Even the supper club is better on Star.

Saw Back to the Future: The Musical for the first time

I mentioned I loved seeing Back to the Future: The Musical while I sailed on Star of the Seas and it was the kind of show I loved every minute of.

I was so happy to see there would be a Broadway musical on Star instead of an in-house production show, and this one did not disappoint.

It probably didn't hurt that I loved the Back to the Future trilogy as a kid growing up. I can quote half the movie (my wife told me not to do that during the show), and the musical is a faithful adaptation of the film.

It's a bit condensed for run time and certain parts from the movie are either removed or reworked to be practical for the stage. But it's a fantastic ride through a well-known story. The fact it's included with your fare adds to the value of this ship.

I started a new gym routine

On a personal note, I'm proud of myself for staying with a workout regiment that I began while sailing on Enchantment of the Seas.

I took my first cruise ever on Enchantment back in January, and since I knew Enchantment wouldn't have a lot to offer compared to big ships, I decided to hit the gym.

The fitness center is included at no charge on all Royal Caribbean ships and it's better than most gyms I've been to on land.

What started out as something to do has become part of my routine at home and at sea. Not only do I feel better about myself, but it's helped lower my cholesterol. 

I went many years without ever using any cruise ship gym, but I'm glad I finally gave it a try here.

I cruised in Star Class once, but had two genies

Sometimes doing "research" on a cruise is pretty darn fun, and that came when I got to try two instances of Royal Caribbean's top suite perks.

In March, I sailed on Icon of the Seas to see what the Star Class experience is like on that ship and if going over Spring Break would make it more valuable.

The Icon Loft Suite has enough space for a family, and practically includes everything on the ship.  

By far the best thing about Star Class is the Royal Genie, who takes care of your every need.

Royal Caribbean expanded the Royal Genie services to some of its smaller ships and I gave that a try while in a balcony cabin on Independence of the Seas in Europe.

I was skeptical how useful a Genie would be on a ship lacking all the amenities of a big ship, but truthfully I loved how much better our cruise was because of her attentiveness.

Being treated like a VIP is wonderful, and I can safely say that Star Class doesn't disappoint in that regard.

Don't worry, I made up for these experiences in a few inside cabins too.

I tried new dining options

Eating on a cruise ship is one of the top reasons I always cruise, and Royal Caribbean opened up new spots for me to try.

I got to dine at the Lincoln Park Supper Club on Star of the Seas, which is a $200 per person, six-course meal that combines music, cocktails and service.

I liked it even better than the supper club on Icon, and on a personal note, I was able to enjoy it with the company of a friend who just passed away earlier today.  I'll miss you and always think of you when I pass by this restaurant, Ann Marie.

Another new offering is the whiskey tasting seminar held in the Royal Railway on Utopia of the Seas.

Ever since Royal Caribbean opened an immersive dining restaurant, I've been hooked on how much fun it is.  With the whiskey tasting, you get a condensed version of the dining experience along with a great introduction to whiskey.

You would need to take 100 cruises for a week in order to reach Royal Caribbean's highest loyalty status, but a five year old just did it.

While sailing on Star of the Seas last week, the cruise line recognized Aydin Derakhshan as its newest Pinnacle Club member.

Similar to the airlines, cruise lines have loyalty levels that offer special rewards and benefits for repeat customers. 

For most tiers of the Crown and Anchor Society, kids under 18 years old can inherit their parent's status. However, to reach Pinnacle Club, you need to achieve it on your own by sailing enough to accrue the points.

Photo by Nora Ramadan

So yes, Aydin had to actually go on enough cruises to get his 700 points.

Aydin has now accumulated 702 points, making him the youngest person to hit the coveted status.

He reached Pinnacle in just 3 years

Photo by Twangster

Royal Caribbean holds a special event on all but the short cruises to thank its loyal customers and recognize repeat cruisers.

Whenever someone reaches 700 points, they get called up on stage to be awarded their new status.

Aydin and his family were sailing on the biggest cruise ship in the world, Star of the Seas, when he finally made it there.

The Atlanta, Georgia resident took his first cruise in 2022 and almost immediately started cruising.

The feat is even more impressive when you consider Royal Caribbean prohibits children younger than 6 months from cruising at all.  So Ayden got to Pinnacle in just while missing out on half a year of eligibility.

If you do the "cruise math", that works out to 117 suite or 234 non-suite nights per year the last 3 years.

At the Top Tier event, Aydin said his favorite ship was Star of the Seas and his favorite port of call was Royal Caribbean's private island of Perfect Day at CocoCay.

The previous youngest cruiser to reach Pinnacle was 7 years old

Royal Caribbean doesn't usually publish information about its cruisers, but according to cruise fans, Aydin beat out the record for youngest person to make it to Pinnacle by 2 years.

As of 2023, Ryan Tyson was recognized as the youngest Pinnacle member at 7 years old.

In a video he collaborated on with the cruise line, he said his favorite ship was Oasis of the Seas because it has Portside BBQ specialty restaurant.

He also loves all the activities onboard, including the SeaPlex, mini golf, and everything on the sports deck.

What you get for making it to Pinnacle

Now that Aydin has set a new record for being Pinnacle, he will enjoy a lifetime of special perks.

Off the bat, he'll qualify for a free cruise as a way to thank him for his loyalty.

Photo by Kenneth Jarvis

On any cruise he takes, he'll enjoy:

• Priority boarding in the suite line
• 6 complimentary drinks per day
• Free internet package every cruise
• Access to Coastal Kitchen and the Suite Lounge (assuming there aren't too many other Pinnacles onboard)
• A gold pin to wear around the ship
• Invitations to exclusive events
• Reciprocal status with Celebrity or Silversea

As a Pinnacle Club member myself, the amount of freebies you get is quite impressive.  The drink vouchers, Wi-Fi package, and priority embarkation are easily my favorite benefits of the bunch.

Congratulations to Aydin and his family

Achieving Pinnacle Club status is quite a milestone for anyone, but especially for kids who are brought onboard by their parents.

Being a super frequent cruiser is not just about bragging rights, but quite a fun way to see the world.  Going on that many cruises means at a young age Aydin has already visited a number of countries.

It can be argued that traveling with young kids is great for boosting their brain development, creativity, social skills, and global awareness. We don't know every port of call or country he visited, but cruising and being exposed to so many cultures is a great educational tool to "open your eyes to the world", figuratively speaking.

Welcome to the club, kid!