After I book a cruise, there's a sense of euphoria with all the excitement, but it's also when I start planning things out.

While you could probably book a cruise and do nothing else extra and still have a good vacation, I never leave things to chance. I always go through my checklist of important things to do before a cruise begins.

There are some very obvious things to do before any vacation starts, such as reserve a spot in the kennel, book a flight or hotel, or put in time off from work.  But I think there's more than that most people should be doing to avoid an easily avoidable issue later.

In all my years of cruising, I've found the most common problems tend to be ones that are avoidable with some early planning. You can't plan around every possible situation, but you can avoid the biggies.

With that in mind, I wanted to share the 15 things I always do before a cruise vacation so I can leave my house prepared for a great time.

Verify my passport is up to date

You can't go on any cruise without the proper travel documents, so the first thing I do is double check my passport is valid.

Not only does my passport need to valid today, but it needs to be valid when I go on the cruise. Be sure to double check the expiration date is well beyond the cruise you just booked.

I'm a major proponent of booking cruises very early, and sometimes I'll book a cruise up to two years in advance.  So it's critical my passport will be valid.

You don't need to have a passport for most sailings from the United States if you're a U.S. citizen, but I'd recommend everyone get one anyway. 

If your passport is going to expire, get the renewal process going immediately. Most of the time it's quick, but you don't want to discover your passport is invalid for travel the week before your cruise begins.

Find the perfect shore excursion for each port

Like many people, I love to go on a cruise for the places I'm going to visit.  The last thing I want to do is show up to a port and try to wing it, especially if it's somewhere I've never been.

I think a lot of people get excited for the places their ship will visit, and there's a myriad of choices of what you can do in each one.

I'll start researching shore excursion options right around 6 months before the cruise begins.  It doesn't make a lot of sense to do that any earlier because a lot of tour options may not even be available to book yet.

Sometimes the choice of what to do is obvious.  If my cruise stops in Antigua, I'm automatically going to look for a great beach to visit.

But if my cruise goes to Hamburg, Germany or Halifax, Nova Scotia, I'm going to need to learn about what there is to do before I book a tour.

If you have no idea where to start, I'll google "best things to do in ____" or I'll go to YouTube and do a similar search.  Sometimes I'll add "day trip ideas in ____" to ensure the results are ideal for a cruise ship visitor.

Royal Caribbean offers its own assortment of shore excursions, and that can also be a starting point for finding a tour.

No matter which tour I book or if I book through the cruise line, I always make sure I have a plan in place before my ship sets sail.

Buy any cruise add-ons and start tracking the price

One truth within Royal Caribbean is it will cost less to buy a drink package, WiFi, shore excursion, or spa treatment if you pre-book it before the cruise begins.

I'll log into the Cruise Planner website right after the cruise begins and book anything I know I want, such as a specialty dining package.

There's two reasons I pre-book immediately.

First, it will be cheaper than if I wait to buy it on the ship. Royal Caribbean runs sales quite often, and I can always re-price them if there's a lower price later.

If you spot a lower price, just cancel your purchase and then re-book at the lower price.  It's simple and quite effective.

Second, things sell out way quicker than they used to.  This is probably because Royal Caribbean has gotten much better at alerting its customers to what you can pre-purchase.

Things that always sell out include:

• Shore excursions
• Dining packages
• Royal Railway reservations
• Cabanas at Perfect Day at CocoCay or Labadee

It's a good idea to book what you know you need and think you need.  You can always cancel any of it up until a couple days before the cruise begins.

Make my dining arrangements

Before I step aboard my cruise ship, I want my dinner plans to be in place so I'm not scrambling for where to eat later.

If you booked My Time Dining, then you'll want to make reservations ahead of time in the app or website.

Thanks to the update in Royal Caribbean's dining packages, you can pre-book restaurants.

Buy a travel insurance plan

No matter if I go on a cruise or someone on my team does, we always sail with travel insurance.

You can buy a travel insurance plan immediately after you book a cruise, and it's a solid investment to protect you and your family for unforeseen situations.

In all reality, you probably won't need the insurance, but it's so helpful if you do need it.  And considering travel insurance for one trip is fairly inexpensive, I think it's well worth buying.

Join a roll call

For any cruise longer than a weekend, I'll join a roll call for that sailing.

There's almost always a Facebook group for each sailing, and it's a way to not only meet people on your cruise, but learn helpful information along the way.

The truth about any Facebook group for a sailing is you're going to encounter know-it-alls, complete newbies, wrong information, and fun stories.  But it's worth it simply for the opportunity to see what others are planning, be alerted to changes quickly, and otherwise get excited for the cruise.

In addition, you can join one of the Royal Caribbean Blog roll calls and virtually meet people on your sailing.

Check the dress codes

There will be suggestions of what to wear most evenings in the Main Dining Room, and you should check what they are before you sail.

Don't get too wrapped up in dress codes, because they're suggestions and rarely enforced.  But it can be a lot of fun to get dressed up on a cruise.

While I think the days of people wearing black tie clothing is passé, so many families love to get matching outfits to take photos onboard.

Or if you're sailing over a holiday, now is the time to get that embarrassing St. Patrick's Day beer belly shirt that my neighbor Kenny loves to wear.

Buy all those things on Amazon for my trip I said I'd get

If you're like me, you read a blog post or watch a video about how helpful a certain travel accessory or item is to have and think, "I should get one for my next cruise."

Well, now is that time!

I've left for too many cruises to realize at the airport or hotel I forgot to bring that one thing I wanted to try.

There are all sorts of essentials to bring on a cruise, so consider this your reminder to actually buy them.

Go to the bank to get cash

I'll go to the bank about a week before my cruise begins to have a certain amount of cash with me.

I never have cash in my everyday life because I rely on credit cards, but cash is useful on a cruise.

There are a few times it comes in handy:

• Tipping porters in the cruise terminal
• Gambling in the casino
• Taxis in port
• Tipping bartenders and waiters

How much cash you need really depends on your cruising style.  There is an ATM machine onboard if you truly underestimate your needs.

Complete online check-in

As soon as you can check-in for your cruise online, you should do it.

Royal Caribbean opens the check-in window opens 45 days before a sailing.

First and foremost, you can get a check-in time slot for the time to arrive at the cruise terminal. While check-in times are rarely enforced these days, it's still worth getting one.

Then, you should complete all the steps in the check-in process by using the Royal Caribbean app.  

Completing check-in online saves you time later in the terminal.  When I get to the terminal, I don't want to waste time standing around. I want to get on the ship!

Plus, it might get you a faster way onto the ship!

Add my SetSail pass to my wallet

After I complete online check-in, I add the SetSail pass to my Apple Wallet.

I learned this lesson the hard way a few times, where inexplicably the SetSail pass doesn't load on embarkation day within the Royal Caribbean app.

It's a weird bug, but it happens. But if I have the SetSail pass added to my digital wallet, it works every single time. Plus, it's faster to load when I need to show it.

Pre-book shows

Royal Caribbean allows passengers to book select shows on Icon, Oasis, or Quantum Class cruise ships before the sailing and it's totally free.

This allows you to get into a specific performance at a certain time and it makes planning your evenings a lot easier.

Plus, most shows will sell out and you'd have to wait in the standby line if you don't have a reservation.

You can usually book shows up to 30 days before the cruise begins from the Cruise Planner or Royal Caribbean app.

Watch a video ship tour

Whether I've been on the ship or not, I'll watch a cruise ship video tour on YouTube in the days before the cruise begins.

Part of the rationale is to learn about what the ship offers, and it's also to just get excited about the trip.

We have a lot of full ship tours on the Royal Caribbean Blog YouTube channel, each of which provides visuals of the ship and detailed commentary about everything to expect.

Print luggage tags

Last, but not least, I'll print out luggage tags and affix them to my luggage.

Luggage tags are necessary for getting your bags delivered to your cabin.  You give them to the porters and they take them onto the ship.

You can print the luggage tags by logging onto Royal Caribbean's site and accessing your online cruise documents.

Bring a bag I can use on shore excursions

There are lots of good things to pack on a cruise, but a bag you can take to the beach or around a city is super helpful.

I like this tote bag because it's useful for cruises and at home. I'm all for things I can use in my everyday life, plus a cruise vacation.

Having a small, yet practical bag to carry the essentials while going ashore (or to the pool deck) is really useful.

I recently stayed in a cruise ship cabin I knew was in a location that I recommend avoiding, but I was curious if it would be as bad as people say.

This cabin is located at the very front of the ship, offering a view you don't usually get. However, this room location is notorious for being bad with motion.

I sailed on Royal Caribbean's Utopia of the Seas, which is one of the newest ships in the fleet.  Some cruise advice is rooted in decades old lore, so I was curious if staying in a cabin all the way forward would be a mistake.

I didn't seek out this room, but it was what was left when I received an offer from the casino loyalty program for a "free cruise".

I decided to give it a try and see if the room's layout and view would make up for any potential issues with noise, movement, or something else.

I stayed in an oceanview cabin at the very front of the ship

My room was cabin 9500, which is at the very front of Utopia of the Seas.

Most cruise ship hallways go from the front to the back of the ship, but when you reach the front of the ship, the hallway turns sideways.

Unlike most oceanview cabins, this one faces forward instead of to the side, offering a view most other cabins don't get.  This is partially why I booked the room.

Plus, it's a large space.  The layout of the cabin adds more living space because the room is angled to the front.

Walking into the stateroom, the layout is typical of most standard rooms on Utopia.  A private bathroom is at one side, with the bed and closet space nearby.

In fact, there is a lot of storage space in these rooms. Frankly, I think the amount of storage space and closet configuration is superior on Oasis Class ships compared to the newer Icon Class ships.

There are two large closets on either side of the bed, with shelves and hangers inside.

Past the bed is a large couch and vanity.

The couch is plenty big, and it faces the large window. I thought it might be perfect for watching the world go by, but the window is angled enough so that you can't see the horizon if you're laying down on it.

The vanity has a mirror, electric outlets, and a chair.  When seated here, you can get a great view outside the window.

The window itself is massive and there's an electric curtain to open or close it.

A sign indicates the window should be closed at night to prevent ambient light from my cabin illuminating outwards and potentially causing trouble for the ship's bridge above.

There's not much to see at night, so that's not a problem.

The switch made it simple to open and close the shade, and the shade did a great job at blocking out the light to keep the room dark for sleeping. I was impressed how dark the room got when the shade was closed.

Since the window is angled, the head space quickly shrinks as you get closer to the window.  

Even though an adult cannot stand up straight right at the window, the room felt quite big and I'm certain a standard oceanview cabin would not have felt nearly as big.

Movement in the room made sleeping difficult

Conventional wisdom says cruise ship cabins at the very front of the ship should be avoided because they tend to have more of a sensation of movement. 

That advice was accurate for my sailing.

As Utopia moved through the ocean, any waves the ship encountered were broken by the front of the ship and the shudder seemed to be worse in my room than elsewhere.

One evening I was in the Mason Jar bar, and I had to go back to my room to get something. I instantly noticed the amount of movement was more noticeable in my room compared to the bar.

Personally, movement doesn't bother me as much because I think it helps me sleep.  A gentle rocking motion isn't so bad for how I like to cruise.

However, someone more sensitive to motion might find it nauseating.

The real problem with this room was when the ship would dock in the early morning hours.

On this 3-night cruise, we visited Nassau and Perfect Day at CocoCay.  On both stops, the ship used its bow thrusters to safely move it alongside the pier.

The problem is those bow thrusters are directly below my room and it felt like an earthquake each time they were used. 

Docking began around 6am or so, and it took about 20-30 minutes to complete the procedure.  This meant I was startled awake by the shuddering and it lasted long enough to make going back to sleep difficult.

I'm not someone to sleep until noon, but I'm also not an early riser. This would be the top reason I wouldn't book this room again.

A room at the front of the ship has a long walk

If I value sleep the most, convenience would be second.

The fact this room is all the way at the front of the ship and this is one of the biggest cruise ships in the world, the distance to walk was substantial.

It really meant that it wasn't quick if I needed to run back to the room for something.  Obviously this is a "first world problem" and I don't expect any sympathy for it.  But I guarantee anyone staying in this room might think twice if they truly need to go back to the cabin because of the distance.

When I've stayed in rooms much closer to elevator or stairs, I don't lament going back to my room as much.

The greater distance to walk is a minor gripe, but something else that added to my experience.

I was surprised how many people prefer this kind of a room

When I shared my experience staying in this cabin on YouTube, more people than I expected commented that they wouldn't mind booking this cabin.

The overarching theme among those that said they would book it seem to be they are early risers and don't sleep past 7am.

"Instead of turning me off of it you sold me on it. I would never close the window shade. I would lay under there at night to watch the stars. I wake up at 6am normally anyways."

"If I wanted to sleep in a hotel, I'd go to a hotel for cheaper and not go on a cruise ship."

"Ship movement doesn't bother me at all. In fact, I try and book as far forward and as high as possible. Love the rockin and rolling!"

Suffice to say, I don't agree with their assessment.  But it goes to show you why online cruise reviews are so subjective, and why you should never use them as a basis of booking a cruise or not.

I won't book this kind of room again

While I thought the view and window were great, I wouldn't book a room at the front of the ship again because of the poor sleep I got.

I can deal with the long walk and the extra movement, but the lack of sleep really bothered me.

It wouldn't be an issue on a sea day, but since Utopia of the Seas only does short 3- and 4-night cruises, it's almost all port days.

Someone posted on my YouTube video this would be a great room for toddlers because of the extra living space. Plus, they're short enough the lower ceiling wouldn't be a factor.

I thought the room itself was great, and I even got to see a SpaceX rocket launch from my window.  There's no denying it's something different and not your typical cruise ship room.

However, I think the advice to avoid cruise ship rooms at the front is still a mistake to avoid.

In the future, I'll stick to a room closer to midship for the convenience and less issues with movement.

Read more: How to choose a cabin

What is the best room you can get on a cruise ship?

What makes the decision so difficult is there are so many personal preferences and sub-categories to consider. How many people are you sharing the room with? Are you prone to getting seasick? Will you spend more time at the pool or casino? How much of a budget do you have?

There are lots of considerations that go into picking the perfect room, and it goes well beyond cost.

A stateroom is similar in some respects to a hotel room, but cabins tend to be smaller. Plus, I think a cruise ship room selection is more important because you're likely to be on a ship longer than a hotel.

Before you choose a Royal Caribbean cruise ship room, I would recommend looking at 4 important things first.

Cruise room types, explained

Let's start with the basics, because every Royal Caribbean ship falls into one of four major categories.

• Interior rooms: Smallest and (usually) cheapest rooms on a cruise ship, inside rooms have no windows or access to the outside. It's four walls with no view.
• Oceanview rooms: If a cabin with a view is important, an oceanview room comes with a window. Usually a bit larger than inside rooms, oceanview cabins have either a porthole or window that has a view outside (although you cannot open the window).
• Balcony rooms: Balcony rooms are the "Goldilocks stateroom" because they have access to fresh air via a balcony that has at least two chairs and a table. The convenience is undeniable, and the cost to move up is affordable compared to the next category.
• Suites: The luxury option for vacationers that want opulence with their room choice. Suites have the most living space, ideal locations, and often have separate living and sleeping rooms. Plus, they come with extra perks and included amenities.

All cabins on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship come with basic amenities, such as a private bathroom, bed, sitting area, closet, and vanity. The difference is bigger rooms may have more space, and suites have extra perks.

What is the best room location on a cruise ship?

The best room location sounds like a simple question, but it depends on your needs and preferences. Some people care more about proximity to areas they frequent, others want quiet locations above all else.  

The generally accepted ideal location for any room is to be in the middle of the ship, on a mid to lower deck. That's because you'll feel the least movement and be centrally located on the ship.

Rooms at the very front or on higher decks can sometimes feel like there's more movement because the roll and rocking of the ship tends to be worst there.

Don't let that scare you, as cruise ships are quite stable most of the time.

Being closer to an area of the ship you'll spend more time is important too. If you're someone that will be up at the pool all the time, why not pick a room on a higher deck so you can easily pop in and out without much of a trek.

But if you prefer bar hopping, the casino, or the restaurants, picking a cabin on a lower deck might make more sense.

But before you book any room, there are cabins to avoid because of noise issues.

The rule of thumb is to avoid rooms above or below a pool deck, bar, or other public venue. You want to book a room that has another stateroom above and below your cabin.

When my kids were young, I told my travel agent to find us a room near the kids club so we could quickly bring them back and forth. But as they got older, I switched to rooms close to the Royal Promenade so I could conveniently get to the evening activities.

Should you let the cruise line pick your room?

Royal Caribbean offers guests the option to let the cruise line pick their room assignment in exchange for a discount, but this comes with a few important things to know.

A guaranteed room assignment means at some point between when you book the cruise and the sail date, Royal Caribbean will choose the specific room from the leftover cabins that haven't been sold yet. 

It could take days, weeks, or even months for your room to be assigned and it could take all the way until the day of your sailing.

The potential issue is you may get a less desirable room location, such as a cabin all the way forward, a connecting cabin, or a cabin under the pool deck.

Not everyone hates their assignment, and it may end up being a perfectly adequate room.  Given the amount of money saved, booking a GTY room might be perfect.  

I think you should choose this option if you're flexible with a room location, not a light sleeper, and not particular susceptible to getting seasick.

Pick a room by balancing cabin size, budget, and amenities

Start the selection process with the least expensive cabin and moving up to see which option matches your needs and budget.

An inside room will suffice, but if you can afford to move up to a balcony or suite, then see how much more that option will be. There are wonderful aspects to each room type, but if you can't afford it, then it's not worth considering.

Royal Caribbean ships offer various room categories, including balcony rooms that face inwards, inside cabins with an LED screen that have an outside view, and many family rooms designed for larger families.

An inside room will be the cheapest option and small. But it gets you on the ship and you can argue you'll be so busy enjoying all the activities onboard and ashore, so why spend more on a room you will use for sleeping, showering, and changing?

It's an economical choice, but since it has no windows, that may be a stumbling issue.

Moving up to an oceanview or balcony cabin adds a way to look outside during your cruise, but the price can vary wildly.

On average, an oceanview usually isn't much more than a balcony. Think of it like moving up from a small to a medium popcorn at the movie theater. They price it so you think you may as well go for it.

The cost of a balcony can vary greatly, especially if you're sailing to Alaska or the Norwegian fjords because balconies are in high demand for those itineraries.

A suite rarely disappoints, but the price tag can be substantial. Royal Caribbean suites can easily cost between $10,000 and $30,000 for a 7-night cruise.  In fact, the epic 1,772 square foot Ultimate Family Townhouse averages over $100,000 per sailing.

Picking a cruise room based on price is a mistake because you'll likely end up disappointed in what's missing or how much you feel you overpaid for it.

Once again, I recommend working with a good travel agent to narrow down your choices and make it easier to find the right room for your family.

The Alaska cruise season lasts just a few months between May and September, but is there a best time to book that cruise?

Some cruisers prefer the warmest temperatures of July and August, while others will tell you early or late gets you the cheapest prices.  And yet, rain, mosquitos, and crowds can diminish the benefit of each month.

Our team has collectively sailed to Alaska dozens of times, and we've found there is a good argument for each month that depend on your priorities.

Each month has an advantage, but the ideal month to pick has to balance what you want the most versus the downsides.

Here's what you should know about the best month to cruise Alaska for you.

The best month for an Alaskan cruise depends on what you want the most

The perfect month for an Alaska cruise is really based on what factors are the most important to you.

It's a myth there is one single month that is universally the best month for an Alaska cruise.

Instead, you have to prioritize what's important to you.

Next, let's look at what each month offers as a good reason to sail then.

Lower prices if you sail in the shoulder season

Royal Caribbean calls the early and late months the shoulder season, because they have less demand than the peak of a season and act like a shoulder to building or lessening demand.

By far the cheapest Alaska cruises are almost always found in May, early June, and September. You could save hundreds or thousands of dollars if you take a cruise then instead of July.

These months are cheapest because it's when school is in session and families cannot go on a cruise vacation yet. That also means less crowds in the ports you're visiting.

However, these months are also the coldest months of the season in Alaska because they are at the very start or end of Alaska's short summer.

Another advantage of going in May or early June is it tends to be driest month. Regardless of any other factor, no one likes getting rained on during their day out and about.

What is the best month for seeing animals?

If your goal is to go whale watching, see sea lions, bears, & birds, then certain months are going to be better than others.

To be clear, you'll see plenty of animals around any month. Bald Eagles are particularly prevalent throughout the season.

But bear season differs from moose, humpback whale season, and salmon season has a late start.

The peak of bear-watching is late June or early July. 

There are multiple types of salmon, each with their own best time.  The most popular time is when the salmon swim upstream.  King salmon runs start in late May and the season runs through September.

June and July is when the humpback whales migrate through Alaska's Inside Passage.

The warmest months in Alaska

If enjoying the best temperatures is important to you, then I would pick late June through mid August.

Alaska weather is anything but predictable, but we typically see a significant warming trend right around July. Mid to late June is when we start to see temperatures climb, and July is the peak of summer when you t-shirts (and even shorts) are "in bloom".

The hotter temperatures continue into August and start to slide off by the time you get through the middle of the month.

However, the downside to a July or August Alaska cruise is you'll pay much more and contend with the worst crowds of the season.

A cruise in July to Alaska can see prices start at $1,000 per person for a 7-night sailing in an inside room. 

For example, Anthem of the Seas has a 7-night cruise from Seattle to Alaska, and an inside room is $1,350 per person, but a balcony room is $2,101 per person.

Since school is out of session, you'll find more families and kids. That means bigger crowds when you're ashore and more people touring.

What cruisers say is the best time to go on Alaska cruise

When the question of the best time of year was asked on Facebook, over 70 responses were shared from people that have gone there. Here's what they said.

The month with the most votes was August, which dominated the results. It had more than July and September combined. 

Moreover, July and August together received the most overwhelming majority of “favorite” responses.

The people that voted for May and June cited solid niche appeal, for being able to see snow, enjoy quieter ports, and take advantage of shoulder season value.

September shows strong support from travelers who like fewer crowds and fall colors.

The worst months to cruise to Alaska

There are downsides to any month to cruise to Alaska, but the end of the season is generally considered the least favorable time to go.

Royal Caribbean offers cruises in September (and sometimes into October), but this is when you'll encounter colder temperatures and more rain.

Cruising to Alaska in September sees some of the highest precipitation all year, although there’s a higher chance of nicer weather during the first half of the month. Temperatures average in the mid-50s and lows in the low-40s. 

October is perhaps the worst month to cruise to Alaska. Not only is October the rainiest month, but days are far shorter than during the summer, and the average high is under 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

Despite the colder temperatures and rain, I'd be willing to bet you'll find amazing Alaska cruise deals if you wait and sail in September.

If you're feeling lucky, I've seen the most last-minute deals for cruises in September than any other Alaska cruise month.

Month-by-month guide to Alaska

This table illustrates quickly the advantages of each month to cruise to Alaska.

I tried Silversea for the first time last year and it changed my perspective of cruising, but when I go again, I've already come up with some changes for the second round.

I went on Silver Dawn in summer 2025 to try out Royal Caribbean's luxury cruise line sister brand, and it was not at all what I expected. Having done Celebrity Cruises, I thought it would be more of the same, but I was very wrong.

The core cruise experience is still the same, but so much of what you experience onboard and ashore impressed and surprised me.

Thanks to Royal Caribbean Group's new Points Choice offering, I was reflecting on the amazing 7-night Norwegian fjords cruise. Maybe it's just how my mind works, but I look at past cruises for opportunities to make the next one better.

I came up with seven things I'd change when I try Silversea again.

I want to try their newest ships

Silver Dawn wasn't an old ship by any means, but I really want to prioritize their newest ship to see how that stacks up.

Silversea's newest ship class are the Nova Class, and there are two ships: Silver Ray and Silver Nova.  Like Royal Caribbean, new ships tend to represent the latest and greatest features.

While Silversea doesn't have a waterpark, rock wall, or carousel, it does lean into experiences a lot more.  I'm curious what the very best this luxury line has to offer is like, and how it compares to a slightly older ship.

Now that I think about it, down the line I'd like to try an older ship too to see what that's like. But a new ship is high on my must-do list.

I need to preplan with my butler better

If there's one area of my first Silversea cruise that missed the mark, it was my interactions with my butler.

I had a great butler, but I didn't think I took advantage of what they offered as much as I should have.  And in retrospect, I think that's because I didn't communicate in advance as much as I should have.

My butler did a good job at guessing my needs sometimes, but next time I'd try coordinating times and then committing to them better.

I regret not having dinner in my suite at least once, just to experience it.  I think picking a port day (instead of a sea day) would be best so I could come back from a tour and not have to worry about getting dressed up for dinner.

I know it sounds silly, but the fact the genie will draw a bath for you was much better than I expected. Bubbles, music, and a glass of wine was the perfect way to relax after a long day of touring.

The thing is I need to start my day with times and ideas for what to plan for so the butler can have it ready for me later. 

I'd rethink my dinner plans

I ate great on my first Silversea cruise, but it became clear I misjudged the culinary offerings after a couple of nights.

I ended up loving Atlantide, which is similar in nature to the Main Dining Room.  It had so many fantastic choices that really jived with the sort of food I typically order.

In fact, the complimentary dining was outstanding. I made a point to hit up La Terrazza for their morning and lunch buffets because the quality and selections were terrific.

Another lesson learned was you really need to pre-book specialty dining to get a good time.  La Dame and Silver Note were fabulous, but I had to shoehorn them in because I took too long to book it.

I think I went in assuming reservations wouldn't be as critical as Royal Caribbean, but I was wrong on that.

Speaking of Silver Note, I thought I would have made it back there for a drink at the bar to enjoy the jazz but never did.  I need to remedy that the next time around. I love a good drink coupled with live music, and the entertainment at Silver Note was really good.

I want to try the cooking class again

I tried the S.A.L.T. cooking class on Silver Dawn, and even though I clearly have terrible cooking presentation skills, I'd love to try it again.

The idea behind the S.A.L.T. Lab is you get to cook a dish inspired by the cuisine of the region you're visiting.  All of the ingredients and supplies you need are prepared for you.  Heck, they even clean up after you!

To be fair, berry compote isn't easy to prepare or serve because there's a fine line between burning it and then keeping it all together so it's not falling apart. Nonetheless, I thought it was a lot of fun.

I thought it was such a different idea and something you'd never find on Royal Caribbean. While I have no aspirations to be a cook or teach myself how to make these dishes at home, I think it's just a fun thing to try.

I'd plan to go to more activities

Just like other cruise lines, there are a good assortment of activities around the ship.  In fact, I probably I didn't try as many as I should have on my first cruise.

Trivia is by far the most popular activity on Silversea. There's a progressive nature to it, and I'd love to give it a try on day one so I can get in on the fun. Plus, it's a great way to meet other passengers.

Because a Silversea ship is relatively smaller than any Royal Caribbean ship (just a few hundred passengers), it's much easier to meet other passengers, especially at bars or during events.

I got to chat to a few people around the ship, but I think going to activities helps that cause too.

If I have a cruising fault, it's I fall into the same routine and I need to force myself to get out there and try new things.  Next time on Silversea I intend to do that!

Arts Café is the best place for work

The coffee shop on Silversea is probably the best spot I've found on any ship to get work done while staying properly caffeinated.

I used to think Celebrity Cruises' Café al Bacio was the gold standard, but I think Arts Café has it beat.

The service is great at both, but the staff at Arts Café knew my coffee order very quickly and kept the refills coming. 

Since any cruise I go on is a "work trip", finding good places to work is important.  My cabin works fine, but the chairs aren't as conducive for long periods of sitting and typing.  I try to find chairs and tables with a good height so I'm not leaning over the keyboard too much.

Plus, the views inside and outside at Arts Café were fantastic.  When the weather cooperates, a scenic view to go along with my iced coffee is all I need.

More pool time

To be fair, we were in Norway and the weather wasn't always great for hanging out at the pool. Nonetheless, I wish I spent more time there.

Unlike Royal Caribbean, there's no crowds on the pool deck and I wish I had spent more time there just laying out and enjoying being outdoors more than I did.

On one particularly warm day, I was in the pool and hot tub and it was great. The pool was heated, and it felt great to hang on the edge and close my eyes.

Next time, I'd like to visit the pool more than just once.

I've stayed in different Royal Caribbean suites, and I think anyone trying one for the first time should take advantage of a few important tips.

Suite cabins aren't cheap, but they are impressive in how spacious they are and how many extra perks you get.

Most recently I stayed in an Infinite Grand Suite on Star of the Seas and I focused more on the perks Royal Caribbean offers to its suite guests.  These benefits are both an incentive to book and a reward for spending more on a more expensive room.

None of the suite benefits will make a suite a good value, but that doesn't mean you can't maximize what's included. By utilizing these extras, it certainly makes enjoying the suite go well beyond the room itself.

My week on Star of the Seas was fantastic, but I've found there's a bit of a learning curve to how to get the most out of a suite. Here's what I think first-timers staying in a suite should know.

Reach out to the concierge before the cruise

You should get an email from the suite concierge about a week or so before your cruise (usually 3-5 days prior), and this is a tremendous resource.

This is your open invitation to email them any pre-cruise requests you may have, such as dining.

Since you can now book specialty restaurants when pre-purchasing a dining package, the suite concierge is useful for handling Coastal Kitchen reservations.

If you're in a Sky Class or higher, you're able to dine at Coastal Kitchen for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Reservations are especially important for dinner.

If you're wondering if you can rely just on Coastal Kitchen instead of specialty restaurants, I think most nights you definitely can. Just like the Main Dining Room, the menu rotates at Coastal Kitchen.  Some menus might be more appealing than others.

You could easily alternate between Coastal Kitchen and the Main Dining Room depending on which menu is more appealing.  But don't overlook Coastal Kitchen as one of the best suite amenities.

Speaking of the concierge, any questions or problems you have should be directed to them.  Don't bother going to Guest Services when you have access to them.

Go to the Suite Lounge or Sun Deck as soon as you board

The moment you step aboard your ship, you have access to suite amenities, including the suite areas of the ship.

I'd recommend heading up to the Suite Lounge and/or Suite Sun Deck to start enjoying these venues. Both area areas just for passengers booked in a suite.

I especially love the Suite Sun Deck on the Icon Class ships or Utopia and Wonder of the Seas. They're large, have lots of seating in the shade and out in the sun, and have a bar nearby.

Plus, going to the suite-only areas means a less crowed start to the cruise. Because they're exclusive, it's an enclave you should get to know quickly. 

I've noticed the suite areas are less crowded on the first day or two because other suite guests haven't discovered them yet.

Plan around happy hour

Every Royal Caribbean ship has a Suite Lounge, and you'll want to hang out there in the evening.

The Suite Lounge hosts a happy hour in the evening, usually between 5-8pm (hours vary slightly depending on the ship), where there are hors d'oeuvres and complimentary drinks served.

While free drinks are a good enough reason to come, I think it can be a fun social experience too.

You'll find a lot of other suite guests in the lounge chatting and hanging out.  It can be a good opportunity to meet people and maybe make a new friend.

Regardless of the other passengers there, the bartenders in the Suite Lounge are fun and usually bring a lot of energy and personality. In my experience, bartenders that work in the Suite Lounge usually get promoted to work there because they've demonstrated a great connection with guests.

Look for reserved seating at shows

Whether at the Aquatheater, Royal Theater, or Studio B, there is a special section of seating for suite guests.

You'll still need to make a show reservation ahead of time, but the reserved seating ensures you have seats available if a lot of other people who made reservations rush in first.

The reserved seating may not be in an optimal spot, but I've found it to be a good backup seating option if you cannot find seats together elsewhere in the theater.

Room service is included

If there's one suite benefit I forget about the most, it's the complimentary room service.

Royal Caribbean waives the $7.95 fee that usually comes with room service, so I'd recommend ordering as much or little as you like.

Start off your morning with breakfast on your balcony, have a mid-afternoon snack brought, and maybe order dinner in if you had a long day in port.

Not only can suite guests order room service, they can order off the Main Dining Room menu too.  As long as the Main Dining Room is open when you place the order, you can alternatively order off their menu.

This is a great way to full take advantage of your big suite and have a full meal in your room.

Skip the disembarkation line on the last day

One of my favorite suite perks of all time is the escort off the ship on the final morning.

Suites include priority embarkation and disembarkation, but the walk off the last morning has saved me so much of my own sanity over the years.

There can be a long line to disembark the ship, especially if you want to walk off the ship later in the morning.  

Speak to the Suite Concierge ahead of time, and they'll tell you where and when to go so they can meet you and bypass the entire line and give you a cut right to the front.  It feels almost wrong, but it's included as a benefit so enjoy it!

Tips for suites by ship

I wanted to add a bonus section for secrets and tricks that depend on which ship you're sailing on, because the amenities vary by ship.

On Icon Class ships, the Suite Lounge has a view of the Aquatheater. You can not only watch a show if you're there for dinner on select evenings, but see the cast rehearsing.

The three big ship classes have complimentary beer, wine, water, and soft drinks in the Suite Lounge from 11 AM to 11 PM, which means you can go up there and grab something and be on your way.

Admittedly, the suite perks on a smaller, older ship aren't as robust as the ones on Icon, Quantum, or Oasis Class ships. Nonetheless, a suite is still a great room choice.

While you don't have Coastal Kitchen or a suite sun deck nearly as impressive as the big ships, I think the Suite Lounge is really nice on the smaller ships.  In fact, the Radiance Class lounges have the best bar set up.

Plus, many of the smaller ships have a Suite Lounge with both indoor and outdoor space.

Be sure to take advantage of the reserved pool seating areas for suite guests (look for the gold colored loungers). 

Unfortunately, there's no included Voom packages on smaller ships, so you'll want to pre-book internet access to take advantage of better pricing.

You love to cruise, but you're taking a first-timer with you, so how do you prevent going overboard with cruise overload?

As someone that's cruised a lot, I love to share this fun with friends and family. Often, we'll invite people that we know to cruise with us, and it's either their first time or it's been many years since their last trip.

It's easy to start bombarding them with everything you think they need to know, along with dozens of questions about how to approach dining, port days, and everything inbetween.

The problem is if you go too deep, you risk turning them off to the entire trip. They might look at a cruise as a logistical obstacle course instead of a fun escape.

I think the important thing is to focus on the big picture, so here are my recommendations not to overwhelm a first time cruiser.

You don't have to figure everything out immediately

After you all booked the cruise, don't feel like you need to plan everything out immediately.

You're excited, they're excited, but cruise planning as a group is kind of like dating. You don't want to come on too strong with everything you want to know and do.

My recommendation is to start off the process by getting them booked on the cruise and assist with picking the right cabin, dining time choices, and the basics.

Unless you convinced them to book a last-minute cruise, you'll have months to get to the rest.  

Sure, planning early is the best approach, but let them enjoy the "I just booked a cruise" feeling before breaking out the planning spreadsheet.

Plan dinners, but leave the other meals open

I think dinner is the most important aspect of any group cruise because it's a single time for everyone to meet up and share in their daily activities.

What you don't want to do is plan out your day like a military operation.

You should leave a certain amount of organic discovery to every day. Let them explore and enjoy things as you once did.  

Certainly if they text you to meet up for breakfast or lunch, go for it. But you don't need to plan for it if they'd prefer to sleep in or do their own thing.

Explain the cruise rhythm, not every activity

You can't wait to show them all the fun stuff to do, but you don't want to hit them with a Wikipedia lengthy explanation.

New cruisers usually have certain misconceptions about what a cruise is like, and they'll probably ask you if they'll be bored, feel trapped, or one of the other tropes.

Start off with giving first-timers an overview of how a cruise day flows, such as the mornings, afternoons, and evening.

It's hard to convey how open-ended a cruise is, because you could do a ton of activities one day but nap and sleep off the next day. So I think it's better they understand that the daily rhythm matters more than knowing the schedule.

Shore excursions: suggest, don't assign

Probably the first pre-cruise booking I'd look into are shore excursion plans.

The destinations a cruise ship visits is among the top reasons anyone books a cruise, so it's a logical starting point for planning.

Let them do some research and you do your own, and come back with 1-2 solid options per port instead of a laundry list of ideas. If you've been to the ports of call, then you can offer a suggestion to guide them.

The last thing you want to do is pick it all without taking into account what they're interested in doing. This is especially true in a port like Cozumel, where you could visit the beach, Mayan ruins, shop, or see a museum.

Set expectations about costs early

I think a cruise is a great value, but there are some upfront costs that you don't want to scare them with.

There are probably three big surprises to anyone's vacation budget after you book the cruise

• Drinks
• Internet
• Gratuities

The fact there's no free WiFi is usually a big surprise to newbies because they're used to ubiquitous internet access on land, especially at hotels.

They don't have to buy an internet package, but they should understand it'll cost money and be cheaper to prebook.

The other big cost that can add up quickly are drinks. Some drinks are included, but most cost extra. 

Drink packages are a convenient budget tool, but they have sticker shock.  A drink package for two people on a 7-night cruise can easily cost over $1,000.

I think clarity upfront prevents awkward conversations later.

Give them one "must-do" per day

Another trick to avoiding falling into the trap of overplanning your day is to highlight a single activity and leave the rest to chance.

On port days, this is easy. Pick a shore excursion, tour, or activity you'll do and make that the primary focus.

But on sea days, choose one activity that should be the group event to highlight.

• A show
• A specialty meal
• A sailaway party

Letting the rest be optional discovery not only allows them to feel like you're not dictating what you'll do, but gives them the chance for relaxation or their own contributions to what you've planned.

Resist the urge to make them cruise like you

My last recommendation is my most important: they don't need do what you do on a ship to have a good time. There's a difference between a great cruise and your cruise, and they're not mutually exclusive.

I think first-timers need space to form their own opinions. You can certainly guide them and offer recommendations, but they're not your kids that you're bringing along.

When I've brought a first timer on and showed them the ropes but set them free to have plenty of time to vacation how they like to, it usually results in them feeling in control of their vacation. Plus, they get to lean into the things they prefer.

Having a relaxed approach to planning tends to lead to repeat cruisers. Cruising sells itself when you don’t overmanage it!

In just weeks, Royal Caribbean's new beach club became Nassau's top-rated cruise experience, and it explains why private destinations matter more than ever.

Royal Beach Club Paradise Island opened in late December, and it's already a ratings win with cruise ship passengers.

Speaking during an earnings call with Wall Street analysts, Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley explained how the new beach club has completely changed how cruise ship passengers view Nassau.

"Within four weeks, the Royal Beach Club has already become the number one top rated experience in the in Nassau for our cruise guests," he said.

That's a tremendous change of fortunes, and exemplifies how private destinations are going to change cruises in the future.

A big hit with cruisers

Mr. Bayley shared some incredible stats to illustrate how popular Royal Beach Club has become in less than a month of operation.

As it opened, they slowly scaled up capacity to ensure, "we've got the product absolutely perfect."

Clearly, they got it right quickly.

According to Mr. Bayley, the Royal Beach Club has, "already outperformed all other products that are available in the market." 

Sure, Royal Beach Club is better than other Nassau shore excursions, but that's almost to be expected. What he said next was more eye opening.

"Our latest results show at about 0.8 of 1%, behind Perfect Day [at CocoCay] for a satisfaction delivery, which means that the [Net Promotor Score] is really stunning."

Up until now, Perfect Day at CocoCay has been the gold standard for guest satisfaction scores by Royal Caribbean guests.  In terms of popularity, Perfect Day is to Royal Caribbean as the iPhone is to Apple.

Mr. Bayley said they want to push the beach club to, "get to exactly the same level of satisfaction as Perfect Day." It seems as they're close.

"We feel like we're going to have a huge success with the product."

A predictable beach day

While beach clubs cost extra to visit, Royal Caribbean sees it as a can't-miss beach day that is sure to extend the fun and level of expectations to their port visit.

Royal Caribbean Senior Vice President and Chief Product Innovation Officer Jay Schneider described the new operation in The Bahamas as, "this is the perfect beach day."

He called the beach "breathtakingly beautiful" and pointed to things like adding a heated pool, optimal sight lines of the ocean, and a dedicated team to delivering a great experience.

One key differentiator about a beach club is it's more of a controlled experience for guests compared to a traditional port. Crowds, logistics, and variability are all more predictable for both guests and cruise line.

Part of the reason why Mr. Bayley cited such high guest satisfaction rates is because the experience has been fine tuned to offer consistent guest satisfaction while allowing them to scale experiences without sacrificing quality.

This speaks to one of the top concerns any vacationer has about any shore excursion they take: is it going to be as good as it looks on paper.

Beach clubs are part of a strategy to make better cruises

Royal Beach Club Paradise Island is the first beach club to open, and two others will open up this year.

The next one to open will be this summer with Royal Beach Club Santorini in the Greek Isles. At the end of 2026, Royal Beach Club Cozumel will open in Mexico.

All three beach clubs have one thing in common: they're cruise ports that get a lot of cruise ship visits and Royal Caribbean wants to offer something to stand out from every other thing there.

It's no coincidence that Nassau and Cozumel are two ports that will have a beach club, because each "anchors" itineraries in their respective part of the Caribbean.

When the other new beach clubs open this year, the goal is to offer something fresh and new.

Cozumel is a port that is visited on nearly every single Western Caribbean itinerary, and a beach club there provides something new to try. 

In Greece, they think this will be a new way to experience one of the most popular destinations in the Mediterranean, "everybody's bucket list is to go visit Santorini, and we've crafted just the most amazing day for you," Mr. Schneider explained.

"Santorini is a great location, where we know guests are looking for gorgeous views, great pictures of the blue roofs, excellent Greek food, and the spectacular service Royal Caribbean is known for."

Each of these beach clubs are an "easy button" for cruise ship passengers to pick an excursion without worrying about quality, value, or safety.

By relying on controlled capacity, elevated amenities, and premium experiences, a Royal Beach Club visit is positioned to offer more than "just another beach day".

Happy weekend! We hope you are in the midst of a wonderful weekend full of things to do to pass the time between cruises.  We have a summary of all of this week's Royal Caribbean news in case you missed any of it!

At long last, Royal Caribbean announced it's building the Discovery Class cruise ships.

The announcement was made, but there's no indication yet what the size will be, what features will be onboard, or any other clues about what will make Discovery different.

The first ship will be ready in 2029.

Royal Caribbean News

• Royal Caribbean's AI push helps explain why cruises cost more
• Royal Caribbean CEO shoots down rumors of what Discovery Class ships could be
• Judge agrees to review urban development plan semi-related to approving Perfect Day Mexico project
• Winter storm rerouted two ships to have a cruise to nowhere
• Royal Caribbean ship skips private island and shortens port visit because of winds
• Royal Caribbean delays return of cruise ship by a day because of winter storm
• Royal Caribbean opinions that divide cruisers, according to Reddit
• What you gain (and lose) by choosing an older cruise ship
• Drink package vs Diamond Vouchers
• Is a balcony cabin on your cruise worth it? 7 reasons to try one
• 4 things that are different about dinner on a cruise ship in the 80s vs today
• It's been two years since Icon of the Seas debuted. How it went from launch to legend

Video: Royal Caribbean Confirms a New Discovery Class 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 — Royal Caribbean Confirms a New Discovery Class Ship For 2029 — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

First sailing of Legend of the Seas has been moved up

Royal Caribbean added an even earlier first sailing on Legend of the Seas this summer.

For the second time, the inaugural sailing has been changed as a result of the new cruise ship being ready even sooner than expected.

Guests that were booked on the previous first sailing will have the first chance to switch to the new voyage.

4 reasons your cruise will cost more in 2026

Royal Caribbean Group executives said it pretty clearly this week: cruise prices are higher than last year.

A combination of strong demand and strategic pricing have pushed prices higher, and we're now seeing the result in advertised fares.

During an earnings call with analysts, there were four signs that point towards a more expensive cruise in 2026.

Is 3 nights enough time on Utopia of the Seas?

As the newest Oasis Class ship, is it worth it to sail for just 3 nights on Utopia of the Seas?

While your time onboard is limited, it's still one heck of a weekend escape to enjoy the very best Royal Caribbean has to offer.

Truthfully you cannot do everything in that short time span, but there's still a lot of good reasons to go anyway.

Should I use a travel agent to book a cruise?

I think everyone should use a travel agent to book a cruise, especially first timers.

Travel agents can be an incredible resource for planning cruise vacations because of their deep knowledge of the lines, ships, and cabins. 

Plus, they could even save you money with access to special fares.

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 594th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available, sharing things Matt is annoyed by from other guests.

Unfortunately, some people that go on a cruise do things that are truly irksome and Matt has a list of his personal worst of the worst list.

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.