My family has been taking cruises ever since my kids were old enough to sail, and spending a holiday like Thanksgiving at sea was surprisingly satisfying.

I think most people associate major holidays that center around family being celebrated at home, but I've found real advantages to going on a cruise instead.

We picked a 7-night cruise on Royal Caribbean's newest cruise ship, Star of the Seas, to spend Thanksgiving and enjoy not only the holiday but getting away from it all.

Since this is a holiday sailing, a lot of other people have the same idea.  The ship has a maximum capacity of 7,600 people, along with 2, 350 crew members.  That means there can be as many as 10,000 people onboard the ship.

While that sounds daunting, the truth is this ship has been engineered to a point you'd never know that many other people are onboard with you. And it made for a Thanksgiving vacation that perfectly suited our needs.

The ship has so much to do, including a touch of holiday spirit

You won't confuse Star of the Seas for spending Thanksgiving at grandma's house, but that's not a bad thing either.

This is the biggest cruise ship in the world, and that means it's packed with so much to do.  In fact, this is why I love to cruise because of how much there is to do.

Our cruise departed on the Sunday before Thanksgiving, and for the actual holiday, our ship was docked in Roatan, Honduras for the day.

It's a little surreal when you're on a cruise ship for a holiday because you might forget what day it is.  Rest assured there are plenty of reminders.

Royal Caribbean decorated the ship with Thanksgiving messaging and colors.  It's nothing over the top, but a nice touch.

Plus, there are special Thanksgiving events aboard:

• Thanksgiving wordsearch
• Thanksgiving trivia
• Thanksgiving scavenger hunt
• Thanksgiving Scattergories game

Of course, there's plenty of the usual cruise ship activities too.  Royal Caribbean's activities staff will add some holiday fun to the mix, but you can easily fall back on what you'd expect on any other cruise. 

There's a special Thanksgiving menu for the traditionalists

Even though spending Thanksgiving on a cruise ship is anything but traditional, you don't have to forgo the basics.

Royal Caribbean ships still serve a full Thanksgiving dinner in the Main Dining Room (or Windjammer buffet), where you can get all the classic foods.

The main offering is a turkey dinner, complete with mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce, and and vegetables.

Plus, there's pumpkin and pecan pie to choose from.

I can't say it will be the best turkey dinner you've ever had, but it's undeniably a turkey dinner you did not have to prep, cook, or clean up after.

You can still watch all the football

A lot of people associate watching football games as much with the holiday as they do the food.

The major NFL football games are available to watch on the ship, and you can see it both in your stateroom as well as at various bars.

If you want the big game energy, Playmakers Sports Bar has the game on so many screens surrounding the bar that you can't miss it.

Plus, there's beers, bar snacks, and lots of people cheering along with trying to figure out why the Lions and Cowboys always play on Thanksgiving.

Spending thanksgiving in a pool is the best

But the best thing about a Thanksgiving cruise aren't all the things you can do at home on a ship. Rather, it's what else you can do!

The fact you can enjoy a warm Caribbean cruise means time in a bathing suit at the pool.  Or on shore at a beach.  For a lot of people that travel from colder weather back home, this is a real treat.

Even in late November, it's still plenty warm for outdoor activities.  High temperatures each day were easily in the low to mid 80s.

Not to mention Star of the Seas is packed with lots of activities onboard to try, including a brand new Price is Right show where you could win cash prizes or even a new car.

I think the real appeal of cruising over a major holiday is you get to combine the holiday traditions with the best things about taking a cruise.

It's officially Black Friday and that means Royal Caribbean's deepest discount of the season.

Like retailers, Royal Caribbean rolled out early Black Friday sales a few weeks ago. But today, the official sale for the shopping holiday is out and it's a good opportunity to see if there's a better price.

Plus, the amount of instant savings off a new cruise is the best it's been the entire month.

If you've been waiting, here's a look at what Royal Caribbean has on sale now.

What's new with the Black Friday sale

Royal Caribbean is offering up to $1,000 off new sailings booked this weekend.

Cruises booked between November 27, 2025 – November 30, 2025 can qualify for instant savings depending on how long your cruise is and which stateroom category you choose:

5 nights or less

• $125 USD for Inside and Ocean View
• $200 USD for Balconies
• $400 USD for Suites

6 nights or longer

• $225 USD for Interior and Ocean View
• $300 USD for Balconies
• $1000 USD for Suites

The instant savings for Black Friday are combinable with their Kids Sail Free, Free 3rd & 4ths, and BOGO60 offer that has been running during November.

My favorite Royal Caribbean deals right now

Royal Beach Club passes: One of the deepest discounts I've seen this year is a great price on the new beach club opening.

Royal Beach Club Paradise Island will open in a few weeks and prices are at the lowest so far.

Think of this like a special shore excursion available exclusively to Royal Caribbean passengers (as opposed to an included visit similar to Perfect Day at CocoCay).

Prices for an adult admission that includes alcohol is between $129 - $149 per person. Prior to the sale, prices were closer to $200 - $250 each.

Book a new cruise: The extra savings Royal Caribbean is offering during the actual Black Friday holiday, I think now is the right time to look at cruises for the coming years.

Getting up to $1,000 off your cruise in a single sale is not common, so while you have your family over for Thanksgiving, it might be the time to look for the right sailing.

Don't forget, Royal Caribbean just added new Texas cruises on Icon of the Seas, Alaska cruises and European cruises in 2027-2028, along with more Caribbean cruises.

All-In Package: A limited time offer for just Black Friday is an All-In Bundle, and it's a great combo offer.

Basically, you get the most commonly purchased add-ons in one: drink package, WiFi, dining package, and even access to the new Royal Beach Club.

The pricing for the All-In package without the Day Pass is $119.99 per person.

It's worth pricing out the individual components of the package to see if you could save more buying them separately, but for a lot of people the bundle is a better deal. For my sailing, it was $139 less expensive to book the bundle than all separately.

If you cannot drive to your cruise port, you might be struggling with trying to decide when to fly in for your cruise. 

It's tempting to fly the same day as your cruise departure in order to save money and vacation days, but the risk of being delayed or cancelled means you could put your entire cruise vacation in jeopardy.

In all my years of going on Royal Caribbean cruises, one observation I've made is people that miss their cruise because of a travel delay is a very avoidable problem.

There always seem to be at least one person on every sailing that posts on social media that they missed their cruise because they tried to fly in the same day as the cruise departure.

Here are the top reasons not to fly the same as your cruise departs and when to fly in instead for a cruise.

Always fly in at least one day ahead of time (more for overseas)

In deciding when to fly in for your cruise, you should always arrive at least one day before the morning of departure.

Flying the same day as your cruise departure has too many risks. If you miss the cruise ship, Royal Caribbean will not refund your money, regardless of the reason.

Sure, travel insurance might cover it if it's a travel delay, but that won't make up for the vacation you planned.

I recommend always planning to arrive at least one day early before the cruise sets sail. This provides a buffer so that if your flight is cancelled or delayed, you have more time to still get to the embarkation port.

This is especially important if you're flying from a smaller airport that does not have many flights each day.

If you are flying overseas, such as to Europe, then I would recommend expanding that to at least 2-3 days before the cruise begins.

Not only are there less of these flights should it be cancelled, but you will need time to adjust your body clock to the local time and fight jetlag.

Simply put, the risks of flying in on the day of in order to save money are just not worth it. Here's why to fly in for your cruise early instead.

Weather is so unpredictable

You do not need to be a travel expert to know airlines will delay and cancel flights all the time because of bad weather.

Storms will throw off the entire flight schedules for days, especially if they are tropical storms or major winter storms. In fact, I think blizzards, snow storms, and ice storms are more likely to cause your flight to be changed than a hurricane.

Airlines don't play games with bad weather. When they see something coming, they'll cancel a flight quickly so that they can keep their aircraft out of its path.

But even if the bad weather is not as damaging in nature, a few hour delay could be the difference between you making the flight or not.  

Not only do you need good weather at your home airport, but it needs to be clear where you're flying into.  Florida is notorious for pop-up thunderstorms in the summer, which will shut airports down for hours.

Less stress

The last thing you want to do is start off your well-deserved vacation with added stress of will you make it on time.

Flying the same day as your cruise, even when everything is on time, is still a big guessing game until you actually land.

Call me crazy, but I don't want that kind of mental anguish before any of the fun begins.

You get more time to enjoy the cruise on embarkation day

If you fly the same day of your cruise, that will delay when you can actually get to the cruise terminal and step aboard.

I always want to be at the cruise terminal as early as possible so I can board sooner rather than later. Remember, the cost of your cruise doesn't change if you board at 11am or 2pm.

Having a few extra hours on embarkation day can make a big difference in enjoying the trip.  Plus, those first few hours on the first day are the best time to get a lot of things done and take advantage of smaller crowds on the pool deck.  Kids will really appreciate the shorter lines for water slides.

Getting aboard earlier also means less lines at the buffet.  As the afternoon goes on, the Windjammer gets very crowded.

I'm usually so excited for my cruise to begin that I want to get on the ship as early as I can and start enjoying what I paid for!

You can expand your vacation

An added bonus of not flying the same day your cruise begins is you can explore the port you're sailing from.

Royal Caribbean sails from major cities, and that means historical sites, tourist attractions, beautiful beaches, and plenty more to see and do.

You might combine your cruise with a land vacation too, such as a trip to Walt Disney World, New York City, or London.

I find tacking on a land trip to my cruise not only ensures I make the cruise, but I get to experience lots more in the countries and cities I'm traveling to.

In some cases, these are once-in-a-lifetime destinations that you'll want a few days to enjoy.  And if it's a place I've been before, there's always new restaurants or spots to check out since my last visit.

Freedom of the Seas may not be Royal Caribbean's newest cruise ship, but I think it might offer the best value in cruising.

When I go on any cruise ship, I look for things to do onboard to keep me occupied and weigh that against how much it costs. Newer ships may offer the most to do, but they also have a premium price tag.

I've sailed on Freedom of the Seas 8 times, and the more I visit this ship, the more I'm convinced it's the perfect balance of getting the most for what you pay.

The 3,926 passenger ship launched in 2006, and was once the biggest cruise ship in the world.  Despite losing that title many times over, it's a big ship with lots for families to enjoy. 

I went back on Freedom of the Seas to see what's new and why this is an underrated choice for an affordable cruise vacation.

The upgrades are why I prefer this ship over others

Freedom of the Seas is about 20 years old, but the difference maker are the changes Royal Caribbean has made to the ship.

Cruise ships get refurbishments every few years and occasionally new features.  The assortment of changes Royal Caribbean made to Freedom are the perfect collection to improve the ship overall.

Most recently, Vintages wine bar was replaced with a new non-smoking casino. 

This is a wonderful change because it expands the casino options while offering a smoke-free environment smack dab in the middle of the Royal Promenade. As a casual gambler, I love the option and the fact it's so convenient.

The biggest changes came with the ship's Royal Amplification that took place in 2020. This is when a number of changes were made, and each has its own reason I enjoy it.

A lot was added, but I think there are three key areas where the ship was radically improved.

New water slides were added with the Perfect Storm slides.

It's amazing for a long time, Royal Caribbean had no water slides on its ships, but they're on nearly every ship now.  It's a crowd pleaser. Kids and adults enjoy them, and they're perfect fun on sea days.

Plus, there's also a giant aqua park for kids at Splashaway Bay. 

There's no cost to use Splashaway Bay, and it's the perfect spot for kids to get absolutely soaked.  There's even a smaller water slide that's perfect for younger kids.

Sticking with the top deck, the pool deck was redesigned to have a "Caribbean resort-style" feel to it.

Marketing aside, I think it's just a nicer pool deck experience over all.  Besides the aesthetic of the loungers, a new Lime and Coconut Bar was added to replace the original pool bar.  This bar has an expanded drink menu and much more seating.

Plus, there's now an El Loco Fresh on the pool deck for convenient snacks and meals. It's included with your cruise fare, and I ate much more burritos than I care to admit.

Royal Caribbean also added so many new restaurants to the ship:

• Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen
• El Loco Fresh
• Izumi Hibachi & Sushi
• Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade

The Playmakers location on deck 4 between the atrium and Casino Royale is the perfect spot, and I love there's an indoor sports bar with so many TV's to catch nearly any game.

Izumi is now the most popular specialty restaurant by volume across the cruise line, and there's no question the hibachi option is something so many families love to try.

Don't overlook Giovanni's, as it has the new menu offerings that you can otherwise only find on the newest ships in the fleet.

The pizza at Giovanni's is underrated, and I think their revamped Italian favorites are fantastic. Try the giant meatball!

Sailing on Freedom of the Seas will probably cost you less than a new ship

I usually save the cost section of my cruise reviews for later in the article, but I think we need to talk about it now.

It's hard to make generalizations about cruise prices because of the dynamic pricing each sailing has, but I'm willing to bet you will find a great deal on Freedom.

While everyone has their own definition of what's a deal, I believe the cost of a Freedom of the Seas cruise sits in the sweet spot of cost and what it includes.

If you pick an older and smaller ship, such as a Radiance or Vision Class ship, it will likely cost less. But those ships compromise greatly on how much there is to do aboard, especially for families.

Freedom of the Seas sails out of Miami, Florida and offers short 4- and 5-night cruises.

It's not unusual to find prices starting as low as $259 per person for a 5-night sailing.  The range of prices might go up slightly, but most of the advertised prices are in the $300-$500 per person range for an inside cabin.

That's a significant saving compared to the larger Oasis Class ships that also offer 4- and 5-night cruises, which average between $550-$750 per person as a starting price.

Crowded at times, but not problematic

Crowds on a mainstream cruise line are to be expected, but I think Freedom of the Seas handles crowd flow pretty well overall.

The ship maxes out at 4,500 passengers if every bed is sold, but it didn't feel crowded when I've sailed on it.  You won't confuse Freedom for a small ship or yacht by any means, but I doubt you will consider to be akin to be "packed like a sardine can."

You'll encounter lines and crowds at certain times, like in the Windjammer buffet for breakfast, or waiting to get back on the ship while docked in port. If the sun is shining on a pool day, expect all the loungers to be taken up by mid-morning too.

Nonetheless, there are areas of the ship you can find refuge from other people.  The outside deck on deck 4 is my favorite spot to seek a place to sit with a view of the ocean and barely anyone else around. There's also a lot of extra seating on the upper pool deck, within the card room, or during the day time in the Olive or Twist bar at the very top of the ship.

It felt like the flow of guests was good, but there are always pain points.  Elevators can be easily inundated and the Royal Promenade can get packed when there's a special event, such as a dance party. These are not issues unique to Freedom, as most cruise ships experience this.

Good assortment of included food, but a better variety of extra cost restaurants

You will not go hungry on Freedom of the Seas, and I think the food included with your cruise fare to range between "good" and "very good", with some options standing out.

The included restaurants on Freedom of the Seas include:

My dining strategy on Freedom is to rely on the complimentary spots and sprinkle in specialty dining options.

The Windjammer Marketplace has the widest variety of food, so it's the crowd pleaser option.  Picky eaters, adventurous eaters, eaters on a diet, eaters wanting a second dinner, they have it all.

The best thing about the Windjammer is the assortment of international foods to go along with the American staples. This is especially true at dinner.

In the Main Dining Room, I found the service to be quite speedy.  Royal Caribbean made changes to address speed of service while updating their menus in order to address consistency concerns.  

I think the result has been hotter food that comes out in a reasonable time.  I've sailed enough with Royal Caribbean to have my favorite dishes, but I love how flexible the waiters are to make sure they can find something you love.

I'm also a self-admitted El Loco Fresh addict. I love making a taco salad or grabbing a burrito any chance I get.

There are also a few specialty restaurants that cost extra, and this is where you can enjoy different cuisines that go beyond what's included.  Plus, the quality of the choices is usually better.

The best thing about paying for specialty dining is you get to indulge more. It's not cheap, so I'd recommend buying a dining package or pre-booking individual reservations before the cruise begins because Royal Caribbean offers discounts.

The cabin decor is what I like least about this cruise ship

If I had to pick something about Freedom of the Seas that is lacking, it's the look and feel of its staterooms.

Royal Caribbean as a rule doesn't update its cabin aesthetics over the years. That means when you step inside your room, this is when you're most likely to feel like you're on a 20 year old cruise ship.

That means a peach and teal color scheme, chipped paint or wood, and tube-like bathroom showers. It's all functional, but hardly what you'd consider to be modern or up to date.

Truthfully, the look of the cabin is less important than it sounds. You'll notice it, but you'll also likely get over it quickly. And the room is functional and clean. Plus, you're likely going to spend little time in the cabin because of all the things to do around the ship.

Freedom of the Seas has a mix of staterooms of varying sizes and amenities. There are 1,963 staterooms spread across the 13 passenger decks. Nearly half of those are balcony rooms.

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.