When I tried my first infinite balcony cabin, I wasn't impressed. But I had the wrong perspective to appreciate what they offer.

As I approached my first Star of the Seas sailing, I lamented I'd be in an infinite balcony because they aren't really a balcony.  It's more of a window experience, and that hasn't changed.

But my outlook changed after I spoke with some fellow writers about these rooms, and I realized while it's not a regular balcony experience, it can offer something a balcony can't offer.

In recognizing my own cruising style, I gave the infinite balcony another try. This time, I went in with a different mindset and I ended up liking this cruise cabin type a lot more than ever.

Disclosure: I sailed on a free trip on Star of the Seas to review the ship. The opinions expressed below are entirely mine and weren't subject to review by the line.

Why I disliked it

I think it's important to start with why I never liked the infinite balcony room before, because I suspect a lot of people feel the same way.

The first types of these rooms debuted on Celebrity Edge, and Royal Caribbean borrowed the idea for its Icon Class ships.

The idea is you have a convertible balcony space, but in practice it's an enclosed room with a window that opens.

When you open the window, all the air conditioned cold air gets sucked out and the room's air conditioning is actually disabled until you close the window.

I thought they were a gimmick, not the real balcony experience because you're not immersed in being outside like a traditional balcony.

It's not a balcony, and that's ok

While talking about how I don't like an infinite balcony, a colleague mentioned she really likes these cabins because it's like a private solarium.

She didn't dispute the fact it's a window and not a balcony, but as she talked more about her experience in this room, I realized having a bigger room with more space that's air conditioned isn't a bad thing.

In reality, it's too hot to be out on the balcony most months in the Caribbean.

When I stay in a traditional balcony, I might go out on my balcony for sail away or a moment here or there.  But I usually don't go out there because it's uncomfortable given the heat and humidity.

My realization was I actually could enjoy the view without melting in the heat.

Why an infinite balcony cabin is worth it

Having more usable space is the first reason I'd want to stay in an infinite balcony again.

If you never open the window, then the "balcony" area is part of the stateroom, so you gain extra square footage you can enjoy all day.

While on Star of the Seas, I treated it like a lounge area. I used it to work from my laptop, watch a movie, or simple relax and enjoy the view

With it enclosed, it also means I have more furniture to sit on and no concern it gets too hot out there.

The air conditioning keeps the space cool when the window is closed.

When my kids were younger, I was always nervous with them on a regular balcony because young kids always want to climb. 

But with this kind of a room, we would have had more space for them to crawl, climb, and play without those fears. I think an infinite balcony is a really good choice for families.

Another benefit to the window is you get far less noise.

When I was on Independence of the Seas earlier this summer, I had a traditional balcony and the whistling sound from the point where the balcony door meets the frame was an on-and-off-again problem.

But with this "balcony", I didn't have any such issue.

It's a window, and that's perfect for my needs

I know there people reading this and saying "It’s not a real balcony", and they're totally right. 

My point isn't to convince anyone it's a real balcony. Rather, to change your perspective on how to think about the room.

When I sail in an infinite balcony, I'm simply never opening the window. Once I understood that, I could appreciate the room more.

If you're like me and don't enjoy being hot and humid, then this room is a great compromise of space, views, and comfort.

There are lots of cruisers who never go out on their balcony for many reasons. Or they're like me and go on it once or twice just to say they did.

I'd rather have more indoor space that I can better utilize, than a nice balcony I'll rarely (if ever) go onto.

Final thoughts

If you've avoided infinite balcony cabins because you thought they were disappointing, I was right there with you.  But now I see them as a smart alternative, especially when it's hot outside.

I wish Royal Caribbean would do make a few fixes to improve the balcony aspect of it in the future, such as adding plastic dividers and keeping the air conditioning on when the window is open.  But in it's current form, I'm content with enjoying the extra space.

Some readers shared they agreed with my perspective, but think the name is misleading.  I don't disagree, but then again a Junior Suite isn't a suite and an Ocean View Panoramic is hardly panoramic. There's always some marketing in cruise ship staterooms.

The bottom line is I realized I just didn't spend much time on my balcony when I was in a traditional room, especially in the Caribbean, because it was too hot.

Getting back that extra square footage as indoor space is a great trade off to keeping the window closed.

Royal Caribbean appears to be sending offers to certain cruisers that we've never seen before from them.

Over the past week, we've seen different cruisers receive an email from the cruise line with an offer to take advantage of "an exclusive loyalty perk" and choose between three options.

It's not being sent to everyone, but those that do get the email have the choice of one of three things that could save a lot of money.

That's why one lucky cruiser was happy to open their email inbox and discover a special email from Royal Caribbean. 

Rom Nam received a special pre-cruise offer from Royal Caribbean, offering them a choice of a complimentary add-on. 

At first, they thought it was too good to be true. However, they called Royal Caribbean's Crown & Anchor customer service number at (800) 526-9723 to confirm that the offer was legit. 

According to the email, Nam can select one of three perks:

• Unlimited Wi-Fi for one device
• 3 daily drink vouchers
• 3-night specialty dining package

"[Royal Caribbean] verified [the offer] is from them, those are both emails that are used by Royal for marketing and loyalty programs at times. Not a scam.. the email was forwarded directly to the resolutions team who inspected the email and they could verify," Nam added on the Facebook post. 

Nam also shared terms and conditions for the special offer: "The Perks Your Way Offer applies to new individual bookings made August 25, 2025 – October 30, 2025 (“Offer Cruise”) on sailings departing November 1, 2025 – November 1, 2026 (“Offer Period”) by the Crown & Anchor Society member."

Unfortunately, because they booked their cruise on August 22, they didn't qualify for the complimentary perk. 

On Reddit, bitemytail posted a screenshot of the similar offer for their upcoming cruise.

"Got sent this offer but I'm not sure what to pick. Thoughts?" they posted.

According to bitemytail, they are a Gold member in Crown and Anchor Society with just 20 points and the email came in randomly to their inbox.

Another user mentioned they received a similar offer, but the benefits were a little different:

"I got the same email but my offers are not as good as yours- I got offered vip shows, champagne/strawberries, free hideaway beach pass, or 2 free photos. I was told I’d have to book an additional sailing within the promotional period to then redeem, not apply to a current sailing," commented Kristin Campbell.

Of course, it's important to be cautious when receiving unexpected promotional emails. Scammers often mimic branding to trick people into clicking links or sharing personal information, which can be costly. 

No pattern to who's getting the offer

If you're thinking "how do I get one of these emails", the answer is no one really knows.

So far, there's only been a handful of them reported and as the email indicates, it's being sent to "a select group" of people.

Royal Caribbean's marketing algorithm may have identified certain cruisers as being an ideal candidate to attract them back to cruise or to spend more.  It's really anyone's guess.

A lucrative offer

This is a very unusual offer by Royal Caribbean, as it's not something I can ever recall seeing.

Although Royal Caribbean's fares are pretty inclusive (i.e., you don't have to worry about shelling out extra money for food, entertainment, and transportation), there are plenty of ways to enhance your vacation.

You can, for instance, opt to splurge on a drink or dining package, or buy Wi-Fi to stay connected with friends and family back home.

That said, these add-ons don't come cheap. It's not uncommon for cruisers to pay over $60 per person, per day, for the Deluxe Beverage Package. 

The value of one unlimited internet device for a cruise is $26.99 per day, when purchased onboard the ship.

Three drinks per day could be as much as $42 per day, if you max out the cocktail price at $14 each (before gratuity).

Finally, the 3-night dining package costs $180 on an upcoming Oasis of the Seas sailing when purchased onboard.

The savings from this targeted offer could be applied to other onboard purchases, a new cruise, or pocketed. 

For as long as I can remember, the shower on a cruise ship was never the best feature in the cabin.

Most cruise ships have showers that look like a tube meant to beam people up into space.  Not only that, they were super tiny and it felt like I had to keep my arms in and tucked.

It was not only cramped, but made the shower experience less enjoyable.  When you have lots of hot water and great water pressure, that's not something to pass up.

Luckily, Royal Caribbean introduced a new shower for its cabins on the biggest ship in the world and it's a game changer.

Goodbye capsule showers, hello space!

Royal Caribbean is proud of so many innovations introduced on Icon of the Seas, but I think the shower design is unheralded win.

Because Icon was the first of its class, it was treated as a "white paper" ship and every aspect of it was rethought from the ground up, including cabin design.

On ships that came before Icon, standard cabin showers were a tight fit space that looked like a capsule.  In fact, it had curved plastic shower doors that truly felt like you were entering the turbo lift on a Star Trek ship.

The showers were even worse on the older, smaller ships that had a fabric shower divider instead of the plastic.  That curtain loves to cling to you while you shower.

They were certainly functional, but I can't say there was much enjoyment being in them because of how cramped it felt.  I was just glad I wasn't that tall, because I don't know how tall people managed to shower.

Shower design got a little better with newer ships, such as Odyssey of the Seas or Wonder of the Seas.  Clearly more space was given, but it was still a tube.

The improvement came with Icon of the Seas, which redesigned the space completely.

Gone was the capsule design, and instead, we got a shower that looks like one we might actually have at home.

It spans the width of the bathroom and has floor to ceiling glass, providing lots of space and most importantly, room for your elbows!

The glass door maneuvered inward and sideways to keep the bathroom less cramped. 

Another smart change was to add a bench to the shower, once again providing space and functionality to the shower.

It's a far more spacious design, and prior to Icon, you could only find showers like this in suite cabins.

The shower head is also adjustable, as it can slide up or down the pole to provide the right height.

There's a black release button on the back of the arm that the showerhead attaches to that you can press in order to make the adjustment.

Something else worth noting is there's a guard to prevent the shower from getting extra hot, but you can override it.

When Icon launched, there was some that claimed you couldn't get a hot shower on the new ship, but those folks didn't understand how the temperature controls worked.

The temperature control will stop at 38°C (100°F), but you can override it by pressing the black button on the left to move it past the stopper.

Having gone on Star of the Seas in a couple of different cabins, and in each the shower configuration was very nice.

A world different from the worst shower design

If you're saying "Matt, there's no way the shower on a cruise ship makes a difference", then I'd say you haven't cruised on a cruise ship with the cloth curtain showers.

On the Radiance, Vision and some Voyager Class ships are bathrooms that have a tube shower that have a cloth curtain instead of plastic.

This is problematic for two reasons.

First, the curtain does a very poor job at keeping the water inside the shower.  It flails open constantly and you're all but guaranteed to flood your bathroom.

Second, it tends to cling to your body as you're in the shower.

Like a needy ex, I hate clinginess, and then you have to remember that curtain has touched a lot of other people over the years. 

Carnival is joining the trend too

When one of our writers went on Carnival's newest ships, I noticed their shower design also departed from the tube shower.

On Carnival Jubilee, a balcony cabin had a "stylish and well-designed" bathroom.

"The best aspect of the bathroom was the large walk-in shower," wrote Allie Hubers when she sailed on Jubilee.

Just like Icon and Star, the shower was rather large with a glass door that maneuvered inward.

Welcome to this week's edition of the Royal Caribbean post round-up, where we summarize all of the Royal Caribbean news and information from this week into one handy-dandy post! There is plenty of great content to enjoy, so sit back, relax, and enjoy this week's round-up!

The water slide that injured a cruise passenger as it broke when he went down it is being repaired.

Royal Caribbean was making repairs to the slide on Icon of the Seas, and replacing the broken section.

According to reports from passengers, it could be ready to re-open very soon.

Royal Caribbean News

• Royal Caribbean adds two new perks to its VIP program
• Royal Caribbean's Legend of the Seas successfully floats out
• Celebrity is ready to sell its first river cruises, but there are more questions than answers
• Royal Caribbean is offering up to half off its drink packages during its Labor Day weekend sale
• Icon of the Seas vs. Star of the Seas
• Royal Caribbean brought back its $100,000 bling cup to sell on its new ship
• New Royal Caribbean casino website makes redeeming free cruises easier
• 6 Royal Caribbean app upgrades that need to be added
• I ate at the most expensive restaurant on Star of the Seas, and it's even better than the original

New RCB Video: 8 Things I Did SMARTER On The Newest Cruise Ship

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 — 8 Things I Did SMARTER On The Newest Cruise Ship — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

Here's what Royal Caribbean will change on Liberty of the Seas

We now know exactly what changes will be made to Liberty of the Seas when she's upgraded next year.

New deck plans have been released that show the upgrades and replacements that will take place during her Royal Amplification.

Liberty is one of three cruise ships scheduled for major upgrades in 2026.

Locals protest Perfect Day Mexico plans, Royal Caribbean responds

An online petition has gotten over 200,000 signatures asking to stop Royal Caribbean from building Perfect Day Mexico.

Royal Caribbean responded with promises to be transparent and open as it moves forward with the project.

Locals are worried about the impact on the environment and local community, but the cruise line says it has plans in place to avoid any of those issues.

I stayed in Royal Caribbean's $4,000 VIP Area on Star of the Seas

Paying extra for a suite gets you into an exclusive area on the brand new Star of the Seas.

There's an entire section of the ship dedicated to suite guests, and it spans three decks with restaurants, a lounge, and more.

Before you book, here's a look at what you can expect in this space as part of the extra cost.

I ate at 3 Star of the Seas restaurants for under $50 thanks to an easy trick

Specialty dining isn't always cheap, but with the right strategy you can enjoy it for less money than you might have thought possible.

Matt went on Star of the Seas and challenged himself to dine at three specialty restaurants and spend less than $50.

He managed to enjoy full meals at each restaurant, and the trick wasn't difficult to master.

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 574th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available! Ilana ranked all of the cruise line private islands, and you can probably guess where Perfect Day at CocoCay landed.

We update our podcast weekly, so subscribe for more updates via YouTube, iTunes, Google Podcasts, or RSS.

You can also leave us a rating or review on iTunes, so go ahead and check it out! We appreciate your feedback.

Royal Caribbean's popular pay-to-get perks program has been updated.

The Key is what the cruise line refers to as its VIP pass, where guests can enjoy certain perks that you'd otherwise need to pay for a suite or be a top tier loyal member to have access to.

Now there are two new benefits guests that buy it can enjoy, which Royal Caribbean believes will add even more value to the program. Guests who purchase it will enjoy bigger discounts on sports activities and a new spa savings credit, adding more reasons to consider this optional program.

Here’s a detailed breakdown of what's being added, and what remains the same.

The Two New Perks

50% Off Sports Activities Onboard

Previously, The Key included 25% off sports activities. With this update, that discount has doubled to 50% off.

That’s a meaningful change for families or groups who want to try several activities during their sailing. For example, a group FlowRider surf simulator session costs $79 per person onboard Utopia of the Seas.

With The Key's new benefit, that price drops to $39.50. Multiply that across a family of four, and the savings add up quickly.

Another popular activity are private or group lessons at the FlowRider surf simulator, which can be quite pricey.

$60 Off a $250 Spa Purchase

Royal Caribbean is also adding a new spa savings credit. Guests will now receive $60 off a $250 spa purchase, which can be applied toward treatments such as:

• Swedish or deep tissue massages
• Couples massages
• Facials
• Aromatherapy or hot stone treatments
• Specialized body wraps or scrubs

The credit is one-time use, non-transferable, and does not apply to taxes or gratuities.

If a 75-minute hot stone massage costs $259 before gratuity, the added perk drops the price closer to $199. That’s nearly the same cost as a standard 50-minute massage.

Perks included in The Key

The Key is a combination of included benefits, services, and experiences. The rest of the program is not changing. Here's what you still get:

Priority access during The Key’s designated arrival time

Guests can board the ship earlier with shorter wait times at check-in.

Carry-on bag drop with delivery to your stateroom

Instead of lugging your carry-ons around the ship on embarkation day, you can drop them off and have them delivered to your stateroom.

Exclusive welcome lunch in the Main Dining Room

Held on embarkation day, this luncheon features a signature menu with items from specialty restaurants, giving you a relaxed start to your cruise.

20% off specialty dining when you book on Day 1

This is a popular perk for guests who want to try restaurants like Chops Grille, Giovanni’s, Izumi, or Wonderland.

Access to fast lines at onboard activities

Skip the regular line for certain attractions and enjoy more time actually doing the activities.

Priority departure at tender ports of call

On ships that anchor offshore, The Key holders get off the ship more quickly.

Reserved seating at shows

Dedicated seating sections are available in major venues such as the Royal Theater, AquaTheater, Studio B, and Two70 (reservations required on some ships).

VOOM Surf & Stream high-speed internet

Each person who purchases The Key gets internet for one device, which is a major value driver since VOOM can cost $20+ per day per device when purchased separately.

Exclusive à la carte breakfast on departure day

Instead of the crowded buffet, The Key guests get a calmer breakfast option and a choice of departure time.

How much does The Key cost?

The price of The Key varies by sailing and ship but generally ranges between $24.99 to $49.99 per person, per day. 

Everyone in your stateroom who is over the age of six must purchase it if one person does, which means the total cost can add up for families.

For example:

• On a 4-night sailing at $38.99 per person, The Key would cost about $155.96 per person.
• For a family of four, that’s $623.84 total for the sailing.

How does this change the value of The Key?

Depending on your cruising habits, the two new perks could sway your decision to buy it or not.

Discounts on the Spa are a benefit for adults, as kids can't take advantage of it.  It's likely best for a couple that's buying The Key.

However, doubling the sports activity discount can add up to big savings... if your family will actually take advantage of them.

There aren't many sports activities that cost money, with the private FlowRider lessons being the most popular option. If your goal is to learn to surf on a cruise, this change could be quite beneficial.

Overall, most cruisers that buy The Key tend to do so because for other reasons:

• Priority embarkation
• Included welcome lunch on embarkation day
• Bundled internet package
• Storing carry-on bags on embarkation day

The other benefits, including the two new ones, are usually less utilized benefits because they have less universal appeal among guests.

Without a doubt, adding the new perks is more value than The Key had in the past. But it's value may remain in how you take advantage of it all.

Labor Day weekend is a relaxing vacation for some, but it can also be the perfect time to save money on a cruise.

Royal Caribbean has kicked off its Labor Day Sale advertising up to 45% off drink packages, although some top-tier loyalty members are seeing even higher discounts.

That discount grows to 50% off if you're Diamond or higher in Crown and Anchor Society or Prime or higher in Casino Royale.

There are many sales throughout the year, but major holidays usually see more lucrative discounts too.

This is a good opportunity to check the price of popular add-ons to see if there's a better price.

As an example, I'm seeing the Royal Caribbean cruise is a drink package priced as low as $54.99 per person, per day on a few of my sailings.  Considering Royal Caribbean has been charging $120 per person, per day for the same drink package onboard, that's a great deal.

In fact, all purchases made online are cheaper than waiting to book during the sailing.

The Labor Day Sale runs between August 27, 2025 - September 3, 2025 and applies to select sailings departing August 30, 2025 - December 31, 2026.

Beverage: Up to 45% off

• Evian Water Package: 40% off onboard prices
• Classic Soda Package: Discount varies by ship.
• Refreshment Package: Discount varies by ship.
• Deluxe Beverage Package: Discount varies by ship.
  • CAS Diamond and above: 50% off Deluxe Beverage Package

Dining: Up to 50% off

• Unlimited Dining Package on 2N – 25N sailings: 35% off to 50% off
• 3 Night/10 Dining Package: 30% off to 40% off
• Chops/Giovanni's/Sichuan Red + Your Choice Package: 20% off to 35% off
• Specialty Restaurants – Lunch: 25% to 40% off
• Specialty Restaurants – Dinner: 25% to 40% off
• Culinary Experiences: 25% to 35% off
  (Discount varies by ship.)

Shore Excursions: Up to 50% off

• PCC Products for sailings within 4 months: Up to 40% off
• PCC Products for sailings between 5 and 7 months: Up to 35% off
• PCC Products for sailings after 7 months: Up to 20% off
• Shorex for sailings within 4 months: Up to 30% off
• Shorex for sailings between 5 and 7 months: Up to 25% off
• Shorex for sailings after 7 months: Up to 20% off
• Royal Signature Excursions for sailings within 4 months: Up to 30% off
• Royal Signature Excursions for sailings between 5 and 7 months: Up to 25% off
• Royal Signature Excursions for sailings after 7 months: Up to 20% off
• Special Collection Tours: 40% off

Onboard Activities: Up to 25% off

• Behind the Waves - The Insider's Tour: Discount varies by ship.

Spa: Up to 30% off

• Spa treatments: Up to 30% off select times

Internet: Up to 40% off

• VOOM Surf + Stream Voyage Package 1, 2, 3, 4 Device(s): Discount varies by ship

VIP Passes: Up to 45% off

• The Key: Discount varies by ship.
• Royal Genie Package – Grand Suite and above: 20% off adults, 30% off kids
• Royal Genie Package – Junior Suite and below: 10% off adults, 20% off kids

Photo Packages: Up to 60% off

• Photo Packages from 5 - 100 Photos: Discount varies by ship.
• Private Photo Session: 50% off onboard prices

Gifts & Gear: Up to 35% off

• All Gifts & Gear products (excluding Inky Beach Towel): 20% off onboard prices
• Inky Beach Towel (TicTacToe): 35% off onboard prices 

You can re-price to get a better deal

If you already bought one one of these add-ons but it's now at a lower price, you can still take advantage of the price with the Labor Day sale.

Royal Caribbean allows you to cancel and rebook Cruise Planner purchases with no penalty.

It's easy to check, you just log into the the Cruise Planner on Royal Caribbean's web site look for the current prices.

I recommend ignoring the percentages off and focus on the total price when it's in the cart.

If you spot a better discount on something you already pre-purchased, you should be able to cancel the purchase and then re-purchase the same item under this promotion.

Up to $900 off on new cruise bookings

Royal Caribbean is also running a sale to coincide with Labor Day Weekend on new cruise bookings.

You can usually find a few different offers that are combinable at any given time, but this weekend has extra instant savings.

The "Beat The Clock" sale  applies to new, individual, and named group bookings at prevailing rates made between August 29 – 31, 2025 on sailings departing on or after August 30, 2025, and provides an instant savings per stateroom, varying by stateroom category booked, sailing length as follows: 

• 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
  • $900 USD for Suites

Another "Short Caribbean Kicker" applies to new, individual, and named group bookings at prevailing rates made August 29 – September 3, 2025, on a Short Caribbean sailing departing August 30-April 30, 2026, provides OBC, varying by stateroom category booked as follows: 

• $25 USD for Interior Ocean View, and Balconies
• $50 USD for Suites

The Labor Day Sale is combinable with the BOGO60, Kids Sail Free, and Short Caribbean Kicker promotions.

BOGO60, Kids Sail Free and Short Caribbean Kicker are also combinable with Crown & Anchor discounts; Beat The Clock is not combinable with Crown & Anchor discounts. BOGO60, Kids Sail Free, Short Caribbean Kicker and Beat The Clock are not combinable with any other offer or promotion, including, but not limited to, Standard Group, Interline, Travel Agent, Travel Agent Friends and Family, Weekly Sales Events, and Net Rates.

Royal Caribbean has brought back its bling cup that costs as much as a new house.

The cruise line introduced a goblet guests could buy on Icon of the Seas when that ship launched, and it was one-of-a-kind in cost and perks it provided.

This insanely expensive cup was sold in the Royal Bling store, and it's an ornately decorated chalice meant for the ultimate super fan. Only was one initially made for the first Icon Class ship.

To quote Jedi Master Yoda, "No... there is another."

Bling cup available on Star of the Seas

Royal Bling is located in the Aquadome Neighborhood of Star of the Seas, and it too is selling one of these cups.

The store only sells Royal Caribbean branded rings, necklaces, and other keepsakes adorned with the cruise line logo.

This particular cup costs $100,000 and comes with a lifetime benefit.

Buying it gets you an unlimited Royal Caribbean drink package for life.

That means you'll never have to pay for another Deluxe Beverage Package for yourself ever again.

The Deluxe Beverage Package includes cocktails, spirits, liquors, beers, wine by the glass, sodas, water, mocktails, premium coffee and tea, and fresh-squeezed juice. Basically almost any drink on the ship up to $14 in value.

If you're doing the math in your head, the Deluxe Beverage Package on the inaugural sailing of Star of the Seas for one person across seven nights is $65.99 per person, per day when pre-purchased online with a 45% off sale.  That's 461.93 before gratuities. 

The onboard price is $120 per person, per day for the same drink package.

Doing some "back of the napkin" math, if you only ever took 7-night cruises, you would need to take more than 150 cruises "break even" on the goblet purchase.

The novelty goblet is one of several jewelry choices cruises can purchase on the ship. Most of the other jewelry comes in at a much lower price point.

Yes, someone bought one on Icon of the Seas

Icon of the Seas launched in January 2024 with the golden cup for sale, and within a few months it sold.

Cruisers on Icon spotted the person with the cup, walking around the ship.

The unidentified male evidently purchased the cup, spending the six figure cost to get it.

"I’m currently on Icon and noticed the Royal Bling Cup at a cabana on Coco Cay and went to speak to the guy who was very friendly and mentioned what he intends to do with it after the cruise. It was a shock to see it being used as an actual cup," posted Mick on the Royal Caribbean forums.

According to the poster, he was told by the gentleman he intended to, "auction it off and you can buy tickets world wide to win it and the monies goes to charity."

We're unaware whatever happened to those plans, but in case you are wondering, there is a market for this sort of an item.

Royal Caribbean jewelry is sold exclusively at this store

Royal Bling is a new store that was launched on the Icon Class ships, and it's for the Royal Caribbean super fan.

The Royal Bling store has Crown and Anchor bracelets, rings, earrings and more. The jewelry is made by Effy Jewelry.

Cruise line loyalists are a passionate bunch, and representing their favorite cruise line in their everyday life is just as important to some as going on the ships.

Star of the Seas started sailing in August, and is one of the world's largest cruise ship.

In addition to a very expensive chalice, it has an entire water park onboard, seven pools, an entire neighborhood for families with young children, 40 different restaurants, bars and lounges.

At 250,800 tons, Star of the Seas is sailing from Port Canaveral and offer cruises to the eastern and western Caribbean.

It's now easier to track and manage your Royal Caribbean casino rewards, thanks to a website overhaul.

The new Casino Royale website is available to guests, which features a better integrated login, sleeker design, and makes managing offers easier.

The casino loyalty program is more popular than ever, but its website had been an old design that wasn't mobile device optimized and required guests to enter their Crown and Anchor Society number instead of their usual Royal Caribbean login credentials.

The new site has an easier to follow navigation, and works well on all devices.

It's also a step forward in the prominence of the cruise line's casino offerings.

Better design

About two weeks ago, emails went out to alert guests a new casino site was coming, and now it's here.

The new site promises to make it easier to track your offers and view your personalized dashboard of tier credit earnings conveniently in one location.

After logging in with the same credentials you would use to access the main Royal Caribbean site, you can link your casino account to other partner casino programs.

Royal Caribbean has loyalty matching with a few other casino programs, including Hard Rock Casino and MGM Casino.

The new site makes it easier to quickly see how many points you've accumulated, your status, and offers you may have waiting.

The offers, in particular, are the most useful feature since they are a way to redeem free cruises.

Players that gamble enough on a Royal Caribbean ship can earn complimentary future cruises to go on, based on either how much they wagered on a sailing or simply an instant offer.

You can now easily pick an offer to use, and then actually book the cruise through the website instead of having to call in to redeem it.

There is a list of sailings to choose from, and then a way to pick an individual booking.

The site takes users through the options of redeeming or applying the offer, and selecting which complimentary sailing they'd like to sail on.

The new site replaces not only an old site, but PDF documents that used to be the only way to track the options players had available.

How to earn a free cruise from the casino

If you want to earn complimentary casino cruise offers, here's what you need to know.

A reminder that gambling is very addictive and is not for everyone. Know your limits, and you could easily spend much more in gambling losses than what you could get on a cruise. There is definitely a bigger picture to consider.

The concept is simple: you can earn one point for every few dollars you wager (not wins or losses, just how much you play).  By far, you'll want to play slots (instead of table games) to earn points faster.

At the casino host desk, there is a sheet that lists how many points during that sailing you need to reach certain reward thresholds.

Depending on your sailing, the lowest milestone could be a few hundred points or closer to 1,000. The lowest tiers offer an inside stateroom for free and just pay taxes and port fees.

If you get more points, you can qualify for better cabins and/or more free play to go with it.

Casino Royale may add instant offers to your account, which are incentives to come back to cruise (and hopefully gamble). There's no rhyme or reason I've determined as to how these are offered.

In addition, if you can reach the Prime status within Casino Royale, then you can qualify for free annual cruise too.

A deepening casino integration

The new Casino Royale website coincides with Royal Caribbean's push into attracting more casino players.

A trend over the last few years has been to pursue and cater to more of its gamblers onboard.

Royal Caribbean has steadily been expanding its casinos on select ships, which has involved replacing public venues with new casino space.

On some Oasis Class ships, the Crown Lounge and Attic areas were replaced in order to make expand the casino.

On Freedom of the Seas, the wine bar was replaced with a non-smoking casino.

Not only are there more gambling areas on these ships, but they're non-smoking venues.

Royal Caribbean hasn't officially announced a change in policy to cater more to non-smoking gamblers, but it's my guess it has to do with maximizing onboard revenue as it does addressing a need passengers have been asking for.

For those that want a higher level of service and amenities, Royal Caribbean's new ship offers more for those that are willing to pay for it.

The brand new Star of the Seas has reserved areas just for those that booked a suite, which are the most expensive and lavish staterooms on the ship. It's also available to the top tier loyalty members, but it requires 700 cruise points to get there.

Guests that book a Sky Class or Star Class suite get access to these areas, and I wanted to show what the extra cost of a suite gets you in terms of suite perks.

Here's a look at the exclusive areas on Star of the Seas available for most passengers can't access so you can determine if it's worth it for you to spend extra.

The suite area is spread across three decks

Suite guests will have access to the Suite Neighborhood, which is on deck 16, 17, and 18.

This is one more deck of space than on Wonder or Utopia of the Seas, which are Oasis Class ships.

Access to all of it requires guests to use their SeaPass card to enter.

Since I was staying in a Surfside Family Suite, I had access to this area of the ship. However, for sailings on or after May 2, 2026, that perk will end.

I paid $4,472.60 for my suite on a 4-night sailing. 

The Suite Lounge is combined with an exclusive restaurant

On deck 16 is the area where I think most suite guests will spend the most time and it's a combination of lounge and restaurant.

The left side is the Suite Lounge, which has comfortable seating, a full service bar, and even a buffet area.

Before you reach any of it is the suite concierge, and there are two of them on Star of the Seas. 

The concierge is there to assist with any problems or concerns suite guests may have, such as billing issues, making restaurant reservations, or general questions.

Behind them is the Suite Lounge bar, where there is beer, wine, and soft drinks served from 11am to 11pm. A cocktail hour takes place in the evening. All of these drinks are included with the cruise fare as a suite guest when ordered in the Suite Lounge (or anywhere in the Suite Neighborhood).

This means you can enjoy unlimited drinks in the suite lounge during these select hours, making it a compelling alternative to a drink package.

If you proceed even further into the lounge, there's more seating and a food station.

Throughout the day there are light snacks and au d'oeuvres served. There's also a 24 hour coffee and espresso machine suite guests may use.

The suite lounge seating is essentially the "left side" of the space, with the rest reserved for Coastal Kitchen.

I enjoyed walking up to the bar and taking a seat for a drink and getting to know the very talkative bartenders. 

They'd often engage in conversation with other guests, and it's a fun way to meet people. As a solo cruiser, I love to engage in conversation with the crew members as a way to break up the quietness.

Coastal Kitchen is a restaurant that replaces the Main Dining Room

One of the best benefits of being a suite guest is access to Coastal Kitchen.

This is restaurant that is exclusively available to suite guests, and it's included in your cruise fare.

Guests staying in Sky and Star Class rooms can have breakfast, lunch, and dinner here every day.  Guests in Sea Class can go for just dinner.

Coastal Kitchen is like a Main Dining Room that's just for suite guests, offering a menu that changes each evening.  But I like there's a "classics menu" that has the same items each evening.

This means I can choose from a changing array of options, but still indulge in French Onion Soup when I want it.

I think dinner is it's strongest option, and breakfast is nice too for a relaxing start to your day.

Some suite guests will eat exclusively at Coastal Kitchen, but I prefer to mix it into my plans. Be sure to go there for the embarkation day dinner, because I think that's the best menu of any sailing.

Suite guests have a private pool, buffet, and loungers just for them

Moving up to deck 18, you'll find the Suite Sun Deck.

This is an entire pool area just for suite guests, and it's much larger than I expected.

Before you reach the pool, there's The Grove.  

The Grove is a buffet, but the food quality is so much better than the Windjammer. You'll find tapas, fruit, spreads, and even Magnum Ice Cream Bars.

I was impressed by the quality and selection available, and made a few trips up to The Grove for pseudo meals during my sailing.

Across from The Grove is a bar, where you can grab a drink or sit and enjoy another conversation opportunity.

Walking around the sun deck, there is a wading pool in the middle, plus a hot tub nearby.

You'll find seating all around the Suite Sun Deck, and this is more than just loungers.

There are chairs, day beds, suspended chairs, and more.  Some of it in the shade, and the rest in the sun.

This exclusivity is a big selling point for a cruise line that doesn't usually target luxury travelers

Suites on Star of the Seas aren't cheap, so the perks you get with them are a major reason to book one.

Having access to an entire neighborhood just for suite guests means you have essentially an enclave, especially if your suite is located on deck 16 or 17.

Not only is there a sense of exclusivity, but there are less people to compete with for the amenities. This is especially important on the Suite Sun Deck, because loungers and pool access is always in high demand on any cruise ship.

Royal Caribbean doesn't have a true "ship within a ship" concept like other cruise lines, but this is as close as they've come to having something similar to it.

More suite perks beyond the neighborhood

The benefits of staying in a suite go beyond the Suite Neighborhood.

Royal Caribbean includes a special check-in in the cruise terminal, as well as an escort off the ship by the concierge team when the cruise is complete.

There's also reserved seating at shows for suite guests.  And suite guests get an extra point per night in the loyalty program, which catapults guests faster to the higher tiers.

Junior Suite guests don't get access to most of this area

It's important to remind you that despite its name, Junior Suite guests don't get access to the full suite perks.

Sea Class Junior Suite cabins only have access to Coastal Kitchen for dinner, but not to the Suite Lounge, Suite Sun Deck, or the services of the concierge.

There are some Sky Class Junior Suite staterooms that would have those perks.

Royal Caribbean has a great app, but it could use a few upgrades.

While I think the Royal Caribbean app has come a long way and is one of the best in the cruise industry, there's always room for improvement.

I was using the app while I was sailing on Star of the Seas, and was frustrated by a few of its shortcomings. These aren't major problems or bugs with the app. Rather, they're necessary upgrades to make the app far more useful.

The cruise line has delved more into the digital realm by relying more on its app rather than a printed Cruise Compass.

So in the interest of making things better, I came up with a list of 6 features Royal Caribbean should add as soon as possible to its app to make it even better.

Ability to add custom events

An app feature I've heard many cruisers ask for years is the option to add their own events to the calendar.

When you scroll through the daily events, you can select an event and add it to your own calendar. Then Royal Caribbean reminds you with a push notification 30 minutes before it starts.

I really wish they'd add an option to create your own events within your calendar.

This would be useful for things like "Meet the kids at the slides", or "Go to Playmakers to watch the Yankees game".

It serves both as a reminder and means to block out time in your calendar for things happening on the ship that aren't listed in the app.

While I could always use my own calendar app on my phone, leveraging Royal Caribbean's app prevents double booking myself.

Search function

I really can't believe there is no way to search for an activity within the Royal Caribbean app.

While on Star of the Seas, I spoke to a member of the activities staff that were was going to be a WWE wrestling theme song trivia event but he didn't know when it was.

I had to scroll through every single day, looking carefully to spot it.

There should be a search function where I can search for a keyword in the activity title or description to make it simpler.  I think many guests are aware certain events may be occurring, but unsure when exactly.

This would make it so much easier to plan out favorite events, or filter certain events by themes.

See all events in a certain venue

Similar to the search function, I think you should be able to have a way to show all the events happening in a certain lounge, area, or room.

As an example, I love Two70 on the Quantum Class ships because of how innovative and fun it is.  So I'd love to see just the events coming up in Two70.

Or perhaps guests that love trivia would want to see all the trivia happening in the Schooner Bar on a given day.

Cruise countdown widget

I'm really surprised there isn't a proper countdown widget in the Royal Caribbean app that easily shows how many days until your next cruise.

I think it's safe to say everyone with a Royal Caribbean cruise booked is excited for the start of their vacation, so there should be a very prominent countdown option within the app.

Heck, I'd go one step further and add a way to have that countdown appear as a widget on your home screen. 

The excitement of an upcoming cruise is almost as good as the cruise itself, and having an easy to find list of how many days are left until the cruise begins seems like an easy win.

Ability to track Diamond drink vouchers

While the use case is the least of all my app feature requests, I think there's value in tracking how many drink vouchers you have left each day.

Diamond members in Royal Caribbean's customer loyalty program get 4 free drinks per day, every day of the cruise. They can be used at any bar, restaurant or lounge, and it's good for any drink up to $14 in value. 

Diamond Plus members get 5 drinks per day and Pinnacle Club members get 6.

As of now, the only way to know how many drinks you have left per day is to look at the bottom of the receipt or ask the bartender.

The reason why the receipt isn't trustworthy is sometimes a waiter or bartender doesn't actually use your voucher. They could accidentally charge your SeaPass card or simply give you a freebie.

It would be lovely to be able to see how many drink vouchers I have left each day without bugging a crew member.  And since it's all tracked digitally already, it seems like it would be an easy lift to pull that data into the app.

Order food from the app

Once upon a time, Royal Caribbean said it would bring mobile food ordering to its app.  They even tested it on Symphony of the Seas on at least one sailing.

But then other features got prioritized, and the idea fell to the wayside.

I think it's time to revisit this idea.

The concept is you can be somewhere on the ship in a public area and order food or drink. 

At the very least, being able to order a drink from your lounge chair would be a huge win. It means less wandering for bartenders and less waiting for guests. 

I know there are many times I spend more time trying to flag down a waiter than for the drink to be delivered.

Sure, I'd love for them to add pizza, Playmakers food, or sushi to a mobile delivery option.  And room service, while we're at it.

But let's at least begin with drinks.