I'm a year-round cruiser, and taking a summer cruise involves a different strategy than other times of the year.

Summer in the Caribbean is actually the off-season for the region. Many of Royal Caribbean's ships head to Europe for the summer, leaving less ships sailing in North America.  Moreover, hurricane season encompasses all of the summer and fall, which adds another factor for lower demand.

Nonetheless, I take my family on summer cruises because the time off from school makes it the perfect time to getaway.

While we do sometimes take cruises to cooler climates, such as Alaska or Europe, the bulk of our summer cruises depart somewhere from Florida.

If you're going to cruise in the Caribbean this summer, here are my best tips for not feeling like a melted ice cream puddle all the time.

Prioritize morning or night activities

Want to get a run in on the jogging track? Or want to explore San Juan? Whenever possible, try to do this in the early morning hours or after sunset.

While the pools aren't open all night, there's usually a pool and hot tub open each evening to coincide with movies shown on the big screen.

Bring extra clothes because of the sweat factor

When you're packing for a summer cruise, assume you'll sweat through your first outfit of the day, especially on days you're in port.

The humidity in the tropics is extremely high, so even just standing around will get you sweaty.

It's a good idea to bring extra shirts and underwear that you can change back into when you get on the ship.  

You could send your soiled clothes out for washing via Royal Caribbean's laundry service, but it's costly.

Read more: 40 essential things to bring on a cruise

You will still need a sweater for indoor venues

While it will be hot and humid outside, inside the air conditioning will be pumping.

It's common to find the Main Dining Room, restaurants, and theaters chilly. If you're sensitive to the cold, you'll still want to bring a sweater with you.

You'll need shoes for the decks

You may not notice it at first, but the pool decks get very, very hot when in direct sunlight.  

Before you kick off your flip flips at the pool, keep them nearby when you want to talk to get ice cream or head to the bar.

Don't overdo it

It's easy to feel compelled to "go, go, go!" every day of your cruise, but the heat and humidity combination will hit you harder in the summer. Your body will struggle to keep up when the sun is bright and the humidity is above 80.

Schedule breaks during the day in port and on shore.  Taking an afternoon nap in your air conditioned cabin can feel so nice.  Or opt for shore excursions that include a beach break in them over arduous city touring. 

Another idea is to switch between "beach day" and "touring day".  Rather than doing a bunch of exploring every day, try to work in relaxing days at the beach to reset your body.

Look for indoor activities on sea days

While your Royal Caribbean ship will have lots of fun activities around the pool deck, you could opt for indoor activities.

Trivia, bumper cars, demonstrations, and bingo are all held in climate controlled environments, and it can make a big difference not being outside.

Hit the water slides as soon as they open in the morning

Going down water slides is fun, but there are two good reasons to try the slides in the morning as soon as they open.

First, the lines will be shorter when they first open.  Most passengers like to sleep in and take it easy, and then hit the pool deck in the late morning. Going on the slides as soon as they open means you can get a few runs in with less of a line.

Second, the sun isn't as strong in the morning compared to later in the day. That means time spent waiting your turn won't be as hot.

Stay hydrated

Drinking enough water is a very important step on any summer cruise.

Bring bottled water with you on shore excursions, and drink plenty of water onboard. You can get free water from any restaurant, and there are refill stations around the ship.

Many people will bring their own hydro flask or Yeti bottle with them to ensure they have more water with them at all times.

Read more: 40 essential things to bring on a cruise

Before you go on a shore excursion, be sure to fill your water bottle or bring a couple of bottles of water with you from the ship. 

Prepare for shore excursions

Before you head out for any shore excursion, be sure to take a few important steps.

• Wear a hat
• Wear light colored clothes
• Wear dry wicking clothes (bonus if it's SPF clothing)
• Apply sunscreen before you leave the cabin

Some people bring neck fans or cooling towels to wear. I'm not sold on them, but recognize there are people that use them, so it must work for them.

Most shore excursions provide water, but we’ve always appreciated having more with us.

Apply and re-apply sunscreen

Bring waterproof and reef safe sunscreen in a high SPF value to ensure you don't get sunburned (contains affiliate link, which costs you nothing extra).

Not applying sunscreen often is one of the most common cruise mistakes we see others making.

It's a good idea to apply it before you leave the ship so it's working as soon as you step off the gangway.

There's a new Royal Caribbean cruise ship joining its fleet.

Measuring 1,188 feet, Royal Caribbean's Utopia of the Seas was delivered today at the Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France and is on schedule for her maiden voyage from Port Canaveral, Florida to The Bahamas on July 19, 2024.

Delivery of the ship signifies transfer of ownership of a new cruise ship.

The 18-deck cruise ship has a maximum capacity for 5,668 guests and 2,290 crew members. That's a total of up to 7,958 people.

Utopia of the Seas delivered

Executives from Royal Caribbean took delivery of the ship at a ceremony at the shipyard.

Royal Caribbean Group President and CEO Jason Liberty, Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley and General Manager of Chantiers de l’Atlantique Laurent Castaing hosted Utopia’s first party of many to recognize the achievements of the nautical engineers, designers, architects and more.

"Taking delivery of Utopia of the Seas is an incredibly important milestone, as it marks yet another evolution of our game-changing ships and our mission to create the best vacation experiences responsibly," said Jason Liberty, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean Group. 

"From the ultimate multigenerational vacation on this year’s earlier debut of Icon of the Seas to now the ultimate weekend getaway on Utopia of the Seas, we are laser-focused on delivering a variety of vacation options and priceless memories for our guests."

"With the delivery of Utopia of the Seas, we have the keys to the ultimate weekend," said Michael Bayley, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean International. 

"This is the short vacation that packs every way to make amazing memories in a 3-night weekend or 4-night weekday getaway. Vacationers want every minute to be a minute well spent, and the unmatched combination of Utopia and Perfect Day at CocoCay will deliver that. We are proud and excited to soon debut Utopia in a big way!"

Utopia is the sixth vessel of the venerable Oasis Class, and is now the second largest cruise ship in the world, measuring 211 feet wide and 1,188 feet long. 

She is not as big as Icon of the Seas, which launched earlier this year and is 1,198 feet long, 20 decks high, and weighs 250,800 gross tons. That makes Utopia 10 feet less in height, two decks shorter, and 13,940 gross-tons lighter.

At 236,860 gross registered tons and 1,188 feet long, Utopia of the Seas is slightly larger than Wonder of the Seas, the newest Oasis Class ship at sea that launched in 2022. 

Royal Caribbean’s Oasis class debuted in 2009 with the introduction of Oasis of the Seas. Since then, the class has grown to include six ships, including Utopia of the Seas. 

More than two years of construction took place, with construction of the ship beginning in March 2022, and sea trials taking place in May 2024.

The cruise ship is not scheduled to leave Saint-Nazaire until June 23, 2024.

Utopia of the Seas will be based year-round at Port Canaveral beginning July 2024. 

A new market for a new ship

Utopia will be the first new Royal Caribbean ship to enter service with short cruises. Typically, new ships begin with at least 7-night cruises because it tends to be a more lucrative market.

Royal Caribbean's plan is to start with 3- and 4-night sailings designed to attract first-time cruisers who are hesitant to go on a longer sailing as their first cruise.

The idea is offer the very best new cruise ship in the short cruise market to give new cruisers an obvious choice of which ship is best for them to try. Shorter cruises allow passengers to get a taste of the best that Royal Caribbean has to offer without committing to a weeklong cruise. 

Combined with a stop at Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean thinks it will cement them as a first-time cruiser's dream choice.

Once they fall in love with cruises, Royal Caribbean pushes them to try Icon of the Seas or Wonder of the Seas, which offer 7-night cruises.

What's new and different on Utopia of the Seas

Despite being the sixth in the Oasis Class, you'll find tweaks, additions, and new offerings on Utopia of the Seas.

Utopia will boast five pools, three water slides, 21 dining venues, 23 bars, two casinos, eight hot tubs, and will be the only Oasis-class ship to include two Solarium suites.

The ship will have a brand-new Caribbean-themed bar, Pesky Parrot, in the Royal Promenade. That compliments the expansive Lime & Coconut bar on the pool deck.

Perhaps the most anticipated new feature on Utopia of the Seas is the a new immersive dining experience, Royal Railway - Utopia Station.

You'll feel like you've boarded a classic train car that can transport you to different places around the world and in different eras.

At launch, Royal Railway will offer a trip to the Old West, but more ideas will follow. The restaurant will cost extra, and pricing is not yet known.

Speaking of the pool deck, there will be a new food truck concept added for guests. It will serve up, "handheld favorites"

After enjoying a tropical cocktail, passengers can make their way to one of the many dining options onboard, whether it's Royal Railway - Utopia Station, the classic Main Dining Room, the two-story Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar, or casual Windjammer Marketplace. 

There will also be a zipline, laser tag, escape room, and rock wall to climb.

Inaugural sailing is next month

The first sailing of Utopia of the Seas will take place on July 19, 2024, offering a 3-night sailing to The Bahamas.

All of Utopia's sailings include visits to its private island, CocoCay.

Another Oasis Class ship to come

Utopia of the Seas is not the end of the Oasis Class.

Royal Caribbean placed an order for a seventh ship from Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard that is set to launch in 2028. 

The answer to which Royal Caribbean cruise ship is the biggest depends on when you check.

At the moment, the largest Royal Caribbean vessel (and largest cruise ship in the world) is the Icon of the Seas.

In 2024, Icon of the Seas beat out Wonder of the Seas as the largest ship, ushering in Royal Caribbean's new Icon Class.

She overtakes Wonder of the Seas in gross tonnage, passenger capacity, and length.

As of right now, it's unlikely that any other cruise ship will surpass her until 2025.

Read more: Royal Caribbean ships by size

In August 2025, Star of the Seas, the next Icon Class ship, will take her maiden voyage.

Only a few details have been released about Star of the Seas, and her size hasn't been confirmed.

However, Royal Caribbean has said that subsequent Icon Class ships will not be a foot bigger than Icon of the Seas.

In the meantime, Icon of the Seas takes the crown as the largest Royal Caribbean ship.

Royal Caribbean's newest ship, Utopia of the Seas, is the second largest Royal Caribbean ship (and the second biggest in the world).

Icon of the Seas officially began passenger cruises in 2024.

At maximum occupancy, she carries 7,600 guest passengers and 2,350 crew members, equalling a total occupancy of nearly 10,00 people.

That's the population of a small town, all gathered on one cruise ship.

Read more: I took the inaugural cruise on Royal Caribbean's newest ship. It was a giant party, but not everything was totally ready

She is 20 decks high, 250,800 gross tons, and 1,198 feet long. 

If Icon of the Seas were stood up on one end, it would be taller than the Chrysler Building in New York City and the Stratosphere Tower in Las Vegas!

The 20-deck ship has seven pools, eight distinct neighborhoods, and six waterslides that make up an entire water park.

Read more: Icon of the Seas size comparison

Despite surpassing Wonder's size, Icon of the Seas actually has fewer cabins than the Oasis Class ship.

Icon only has 2,805 cabins compared to Wonder's 2,867.

Royal Caribbean intentionally built its new ship this way to accommodate more families onboard in larger cabins that fit three or four passengers.

Here's some more data pitting Icon of the Seas vs. Wonder of the Seas:

Gross tonnage

• Icon of the Seas: 250,800
• Wonder of the Seas: 236,857

Length

• Icon of the Seas: 1,198
• Wonder of the Seas: 1,188

Total decks

• Icon of the Seas: 20
• Wonder of the Seas: 18

Maximum passengers

• Icon of the Seas: 7,600
• Wonder of the Seas: 6,988

Crew capacity

• Icon of the Seas: 2,350
• Wonder of the Seas: 1,551

Big or small ship?

There are pros and cons to going on a big cruise ship.

In general, the bigger the ship, the more space the cruise line has to add things to do while you are onboard.

Space is always at a premium on a cruise ship, so if a ship is bigger, it has more room to offer more activities.

Smaller cruise ships don't have nearly as many whiz-bang amenities, and for some people, this matters more than for others.

Read more: What’s the difference between a large and small cruise ship?

Royal Caribbean has a reputation for building innovative and large ships, and many of the smallest ships in the fleet would still be considered large if they suddenly became part of another cruise line.

Why cruise ships are getting bigger

The trend in the cruise industry is to build bigger ships, so typically the smaller ships are also the older ships.

There are a lot of great things about older ships. They come at a better value, with more unique itineraries, and a more intimate, close-knit atmosphere onboard.

Newer ships, which are typically larger, offer the latest and greatest, the most hyped activities and innovative amenities.

Every cruiser is different, so everyone feels differently about the importance of the age of your ship.  

Read more: 12 differences between the big and small Royal Caribbean cruise ships

So why are cruise lines building bigger ships?

Economy of Scale

The other aspect of making money is cost control and economies of scale make these bigger ships more profitable. 

Whether 1,000 or 5,000 passengers are onboard, there are common expenses such as wages for the captain, cruise director, chief engineer, and other staff that must be paid. 

Spreading these costs out over more passengers enhances profitability for the cruise line.  

What does this mean to the bottom line? 

According to Jason Liberty, Royal Caribbean Group CEO, “newer, larger ships can break even on cash flow at around 35% capacity while older, smaller ships are closer to 50%." This makes a significant difference.

Despite these new ships having a price tag of over $1 billion, they have proven to be more cost-effective as building one large ship is more feasible than building two smaller ones.

Once a cruise ship covers its costs, it can focus on additional revenue sources, the icing on the cake.

Read more: I went on Royal Caribbean's newest cruise ship and saw why the surging hype is real

Marketing

A key aspect of a successful marketing strategy is a great product, and bigger cruise ships are just that. 

These floating cities have tons of amazing amenities, especially for those guests who want to try the latest and greatest things.

With kids' areas, lounges, adult-only only sun decks, and world-class dining options, larger ships appeal to a broad target market. Whether it be families, solo travelers, honeymooners, or retirees, there is something for everyone.

New cruise ships create lots of buzz. 

With each new ship being bigger than the last, anticipation is heightened. Facebook groups monitor the construction progress posting pictures and providing updates on sea trials.

Travel agents and media provide reviews and YouTube videos with all the new details, to excite would-be passengers and drive sales with good publicity.

Great amenities and activities

New ships like the Icon of the Seas, Odyssey of the Seas, and Wonder of the Seas have all the newest bells and whistles, with the flexibility to operate in different regions such as the Caribbean, Europe, and Asia.

Odyssey of the Seas with its 17 different restaurants and a variety of bars and lounges means that cruisers will not be short on great food and drink options. New onboard activities like a skydiving simulator, virtual reality bungee experience, and the SeaPlex activity interior all keep kids and parents busy.

Guests can also rent casitas for an additional fee, so no worries about getting a great spot on the sundeck on busy sea days.

Wonder of the Seas features some brand-new design elements such as a designated suite neighborhood with more suite-only amenities.

In addition, the ship has a redesigned pool deck experience and a new kids' playscape. These new features on the fleet’s biggest ship will no doubt be a big draw for consumers.

Revenue

The purpose of these bigger ships is to make more money. A big part of this equation is to increase revenues, especially as it relates to the amount of onboard spending.

Gambling at the casino, specialty dining restaurants, spas, and drink packages among other additional fee-based activities are all geared toward this. 

With the exception of Utopia of the Seas, which offers 3 and 4 day cruises, cruise lines are putting their newest ships on 7-day sailings, giving cruisers more to do and more time to spend.

Older ships are more frequently sailing on 3-4 day cruises.

For a 7-day cruise, Royal Caribbean makes an average of $300 per person after deducting expenses. 

Passengers spending an extra couple hundred dollars on a drink or photo package, a massage, or playing blackjack, all help to improve margins, a significant impact on the cruise line's bottom line.

Suites

Larger ships mean more space. The development of a suite-only exclusive area is another revenue management strategy. 

Icon of the Seas has an innovative layout with a dedicated suites-only neighborhood.

The exclusive neighborhood has upscale amenities for guests who are willing to pay for them, such as a private two-story sundeck, and an exclusive restaurant, the Grove.

Suite guests also have access to the Coastal Kitchen dining room, which is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Suites are a huge source of revenue for the cruise line as they can cost tens of thousands of dollars more than a standard balcony or interior stateroom.

For example, a 7-day 2025 Eastern Caribbean cruise on Icon of the Seas costs $2,185 per person in an interior cabin.

Read more: I spent $2800 for 7 nights in a 157-square-foot room on the world's largest cruise ship. Take a look inside my tiny cabin

However, a one-bedroom Owner's Suite with Sky Class amenities is priced at $12,504 per person.

That's over 5 times the prices for just about double the space!

Even at this growing premium pricing, the demand for suites continues to grow.

Big Royal Caribbean cruise ships are great, but sometimes the commute of getting from your cabin to the fun can get tiresome.

On my last two cruises, I ended up with cabins on a lower deck than usual and near the stairs.  It might seem like a big deal, but it made a big difference in my enjoyment overall.

There are compelling arguments of where to pick your cabin.  Aft cabins offer great views, mid-ship cabins are more stable, and some balconies are larger because of the ship design.

Read more: Royal Caribbean cabin guide

I am one of those people that doesn't spend a lot of time in my cabin, but I do find myself going back and forth a lot. With so much happening onboard, sometimes you need your sunglasses, or laptop, or bathing suit, or playing cards. But I don't want them all at once.

Out of necessity, I've started booking cabins that are on a lower deck and near the staircases, and it's made my enjoyment of the cruise far better.

Being on a low deck helps avoid elevator waits

Picking a cabin that is just one or two decks away from the Royal Promenade is half of the strategy.

Conventional wisdom says to book a balcony cabin on a higher deck for the views. I'd argue in the Caribbean, there's a negligible difference in terms of views between deck 7 and deck 9.

Read more: The 5 best cabin locations on a cruise ship

Being on a lower deck means you can easily go up one or two staircases and get to the heart of what's happening on the ship. You'll mostly find activities between decks 3, 4 and 5 on most Royal Caribbean ships because that's where the theaters are located, along with Royal Promenade, and many bars.

If all I have to do is go up a deck or two, I can easily manage that and skip the elevator.

I find after 2 or 3 decks of going up stairs, I start to feel like Peter Venkman in Ghostbusters trying to climb 22 flights of stairs.

This same methodology would hold true if I was staying on a higher deck in regards to the pool and buffet, but I find there's more happening to draw me to the lower decks.

Read more: Choosing the Quietest Cabins on Royal Caribbean

Picking a cabin near stairs is even better

Now combine a lower deck cabin with a cabin in close proximity to staircases, and you've got a winning combination.

Royal Caribbean ships have two stairwells, with one towards the front and another mid-ship. 

If you pick a cabin all the way forward or all the aft, you're going to find a long distance to traverse each time you go to and from your room.

This is especially true on Quantum, Oasis, and Icon Class cruise ships where the hallways seem to go on indefinitely.

When I stayed in a room near the stairs, I found it so convenient to be able to get to my cabin. With kids, this is so helpful because inevitably, someone forgot something back in the room.

Plus, not having to go very far to get something from my room is quite convenient.

Because I enjoy spending most of my time around the Promenade, having a cabin near the stairs makes it so easy to get back and forth to get or drop off something.

Avoid cabins with noise bleed

Before you pick the first cabin on deck 6 near the stairs, you'll want to make sure it's not above or below a public venue.

Ideally, you'll pick a cabin that is one deck above and below another cabin.

You want to avoid any cabin that is above or below a pool, bar, lounge, or restaurant because of the potential of noise bleeding through to your cabin.

Read more: Choosing a cabin for your cruise

Additionally, don't book a connecting room if you don't know the person in the connecting room because the connecting door is poor at preventing noise bleed.

The key is to look at the deck plans on Royal Caribbean's website before you select a room.

Suites are the exception

This strategy works for inside, oceanview, and balcony cabins, but if you prefer to stay in a suite, you're out of luck.

Suites tend to be located on higher decks. On Royal Caribbean's newest ships, you'll find its Suite Neighborhood on decks 17 and 18.

If you want to book a suite, you probably won't be able to pick a cabin on a lower deck.

Read more: A $7,000 Suite on Royal Caribbean's Allure of the Seas

An oversold cruise ship isn't unheard of in the cruise industry.

Travelers may be used to hearing about oversold flights or hotels, but cruise lines do sometimes overbook their ships anticipating last-minute cancellations. It's much less likely for an oversold cruise ship to result in someone being booted off the ship, but it does rarely occur.

Unlike a flight, being out of a cruise vacation means a multi-day plan change and it's not like there are as many cruise ships as airplanes in service to pick up the slack.

In case you're wondering, here's how Royal Caribbean handles overbooked cruises so you know what to expect.

Looking for volunteers

In the weeks leading up to the cruise, Royal Caribbean monitors its bookings as part of its inventory management process.  If it sees a potential issue, the cruise line reaches out proactively to remedy the situation.

Guests sailing on Symphony of the Seas June 14, 2024 cruise received an email last week to ask select cruisers if they would consider rebooking.

Royal Caribbean did not come out and use words like "oversold" or "overbooked", but the email appears to be a way to free up cabins so the ship will not be oversold.

"Ahead of your Symphony of the Seas June 14, 2024, sailing, we are looking to see if you and your travel party have flexible travel plans," the email to booked passengers said.

The cruise line was quick to add that if you are committed to sail, to disregard the email.  The idea is to ideally find people booked on the cruise that might cruise a lot and can change their plans because this isn't their one and only major cruise they have booked.  Or, they are looking to find an opportunistic deal hunter that wouldn't mind deferring their trip in exchange for a good reason.

The exact compensation offered will depend on the situation, so don't take this example to be the most likely scenario you could expect.

In the case of Symphony of the Seas, guests had two choices:

1. Change to another Symphony of the Seas cruise departing from Cape Liberty, New Jersey in the same room category originally booked, plus get a full refund.

2. Cancel and get a 100% refund, plus 100% value of the cruise fare in the form a Future Cruise Credit.

With both scenarios, you'll get all your money back and a free cruise (or at least the value of a free cruise).

Usually forecasts work out

Why do cruise lines oversell cruises to begin with? It's because it's a practical approach to their business, Billy Hirsch, author of CruiseHabit, told Royal Caribbean Blog.

The reality is based on historical data there are usually people that either cancel at the last-minute or don't show up to the cruise.

"Even if a sailing is totally booked weeks out, there will almost always be some number of guests who cancel at the last minute or fail to show up. Trying to fill cabins at the last minute is risky and can harm price integrity," Hirsch said.

What cruise lines do is make a prediction, based on history, of how many empty staterooms they'll likely have ahead of sailing and sell that many extra rooms ahead of time.

"To cruise lines, cabins on a cruise are perishable commodities - if they aren't sold by sailing, they're worthless."

Read more: Royal Caribbean cabin and suites

As was the case with Symphony of the Seas, if those predictions are off, a lucrative offer can balance things back out, "If just before sailing it appears some guests will be turned away, lines tend to make, 'too good to refuse' offers, like a full refund, a 100% future cruise credit, and sometimes even additional credits or cash. 

"Usually forecasts work out, but when they don't, if those offers are so good that people are happy to accept them, then everyone leaves the port feeling good - whether on the ship or in a cab."

Can you be booted off a cruise?

It's extremely rare for a cruise to be oversold and not enough volunteers to make enough room, but it has happened.

In December 2023, guests on Quantum of the Seas sailing from Australia ran into a situation where a few passengers were left behind when the ship ran out of cabins.

Avoid guarantee cabins if you're worried about oversold cruises

In all my years of covering Royal Caribbean, the amount of oversold cruises occurring resulting in someone being kicked off a cruise can likely be counted on my hand. Nonetheless, there's one simple step to take to avoid the situation.

Guaranteed cabins (known as "GTY") are rooms sold without a specific assignment at a lower rate.  The idea is Royal Caribbean will assign you a room later from one of the unsold cabins.

Read more: What are the different types of cabins on a cruise ship?

While not an official policy that has been announced by Royal Caribbean, it stands to reason those with an unassigned room would be at a higher risk in this hypothetical situation.

If you're concerned about booking a guarantee cabin in the future, I would personally recommend you not worry about it. 

I've booked plenty of guaranteed cabins over the years, and will continue to do so. I believe the risk of an oversold cruise is so remote that it's not worth worrying about. Plus, the additional savings of a guarantee cabin are hard to overlook.

Cruise ships are nearly synonymous with food, but that doesn't mean you have to overeat.

Vacation represents an opportunity to indulge, and even if you aren't gluttonous, there are so many opportunities presented throughout the course of your cruise to eat. Some of this is a matter of convenience, while other food choices are certainly meant to appeal to your sweet tooth.

As an example, Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas has 27 different dining venues to choose from. That's a lot of food to consider.

While you certainly could eat everything you see onboard, you probably aren't looking to eat quite that much. 

If gaining weight on your cruise is not what you'd like to remember from your vacation, here are some easy ways to not overeat on a cruise.

Focus on unique dishes

When presented with food choices, start by eliminating familiar foods and focus on what you might not get at home.

Every calorie counts, so why not look for something different than what you usually have, rather than ordering a familiar dish you've had a number of times.

This is especially true at the buffet, where you could choose between burgers, hot dogs, or a variety of other food.

When browsing the buffet ask yourself, “Is this potato salad going to be better than what I can get at home?” 

Look for small plates at the buffet

There's an entire psychology to overeating, and one good tip is starting with a smaller plate.

Instead of grabbing one of the large buffet plates, go to the salad section and pick up one of the smaller plates.

Use the small plate and fill that up and start there.

That isn't to say you can only have one plate, but you might have some luck tricking your brain into eating less by still filling your plate.

Exercise to work off the excess food

If you see overeating as an inevitability, exercise is a good counterbalance.

Royal Caribbean cruise ships have terrific fitness centers that are included with your cruise fare. Treadmills, free weights, and exercise machines are available to use. In addition, there are exercise classes that have an extra cost.

Avoid the buffet

If you see the buffet as the largest draw to overeating, don't go there in the first place.

There are plenty of other places to eat on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship other than the buffet.

The Main Dining Room is open for breakfast every day, and is also open for lunch on sea days.

You could order room service and enjoy a meal on your balcony. Room service has an extra cost to it, but it's a fixed cost and doesn't matter how much food you order.

Some ships have great alternative options to the Windjammer, like the Aquadome Marketplace on Icon of the Seas.

Eat high protein food first

In general, it's a good idea to stay well-hydrated before you eat a morsel of food, and then when you do eat, prioritize your foods:

1. Eat all of the high protein foods first
2. Then eat fibrous vegetables and fruits
3. Save the carb heavy foods and desserts for last

Eat slowly, and drink water before and after a plate of food.

The idea is you'll feel full before you over do it.

Avoid the sugary tropical drinks

Besides food, the drinks on a cruise can add to overeating.

There are many cocktail choices on a cruise, so if you can avoid the sugary tropical drinks in lieu of wine, or liquor and mixers, that might help too.

Ask Main Dining Room waiters not to bring the bread basket

When you sit down for a meal in the Main Dining Room, there will be a bread basket waiting for you and this is a giant vat of carbs.

Temptation is tough to resist, so remove the temptation by asking your waiters to not bring you bread in the first place.

Eat like you normally do at home

Remember, you don’t have to "get your moneys worth" at the buffet. You don’t have to have two entrees just because you can. It’s not required that you clean your plate.

Try to stick to your normal eating routine at home, in terms of times and frequency you would eat.

Try new things, order your favorites, but don't order two entrees every night simply because you can.

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Having a cocktail on a cruise ship is one of the most stereotypical cruise activities, but the cocktail choices are evolving.

Royal Caribbean is always looking for opportunities to improve its offerings, and with a shifting demographic of younger cruisers going on ships, the menu choices are being altered too.

A 2023 survey by Drizly of consumer drinking trends found that Americans are opting more and more for non-alcoholic beverages, especially among Gen Z cruisers.

"The desire to try non-alcoholic (NA) beverages continues to climb with half of respondents having tried NA beer, wine or spirits. The NA category is sparking the most interest amongst Gen Z (23%) and millennials (24%) who have tried these drinks more frequently than other generations," the survey said in its findings.

The 2023 State of the Cruise Industry Report released by the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) revealed that passengers between the ages of 20 and 59 are now making up over 50% of passengers onboard cruise ships. 

This change in consumer preferences is something Royal Caribbean has already jumped on with its latest drink menu updates.

Jumping on the trend

Royal Caribbean Director of Beverage Operations, Ed Eiswirth, saw this trend emerging as early as 2020.

When cruises restarted in 2021, Royal Caribbean overhauled its fleetwide drink menu and introduced its first zero-proof drink menu.

His team found was Gen Z and Gen X are more interested in lower-ABV beverages than previous generations.

"I stumbled on a lot of research around sober-curious guests and especially around Gen Z being super curious. These are young people who still drink alcohol, but they consume a lot less. They’ll go out at night and buy one really nice, handcrafted cocktail and then switch to something that’s no-alcohol but that has just as much care taken and is really curated as well as a cocktail."

In addition, zero proof cocktails work for teens and tweens who want something beyond the usual assortment of beverages. As an example, you will see a Shirley Ginger on the menu, which is similar to a Shirley Temple, but made with ginger to give it more sophistication. 

Royal Caribbean event went as far as to add Gen Z programming on its cruise ships.  The "Hyperlink" events are daily events specifically for guests between the age of 18-25 years old.

Zero proof cocktails

With the launch of Icon of the Seas in 2024, Royal Caribbean went beyond the standard menu to craft a drink menu exclusively for drinks that had no alcohol in them.

Royal Caribbean actually built this menu to be more family friendly in its Surfside Neighborhood than for Gen Z, but it doubles for both purposes.

To be clear, these aren't virgin mocktails.  Royal Caribbean wanted its zero proof cocktails that work as standalone drinks.

"We really took the time to curate them as standalone drinks without alcohol and really look at blending flavors that work together versus a stock virgin daiquiri that is just an alcoholic drink we’ve taken the alcohol out of. We didn’t even consider putting alcohol in these as we put them together," Mr. Eisiwrth said.

The Lemon Post is a "family centric bar", where parents and their kids can enjoy a drink together.  

Alexandra Palmeri is Royal Caribbean's Corporate Manager of Beverage Operations, and she helped design 13 new bar menus just for Icon.

"When you start with alcohol and you start to deconstruct it, it becomes a lot more challenging to create a non-alcoholic mocktail. So we started from the mocktail perspective and then built it built it up that way," Alex explained.

Another bar on Icon, Rye & Bean, also has two mixologist-created zero-proof drinks that are unique to the venue.

Read more: 8 mocktails to try on your next Royal Caribbean cruise

Drink sales are big business

Offering passengers more drink choices is more than just keeping guests happy. It also pads the cruise line's bottom line.

Onboard spending is the category of revenue Royal Caribbean makes when people buy individual drinks or the even more lucrative drink packages.

Mr. Eiswirth said over the course of a year 44 million alcoholic beverage transactions are conducted across the 26 ships in the fleet.

The Deluxe Beverage Package, which includes alcohol and non-alcoholic drinks, ranges between $60 and $110 per person, per day.  The Royal Refreshment Package only includes non-alcoholic drinks, and costs $38 per person, per day. 

Read more: Royal Caribbean drink packages prices and guide

When Royal Caribbean Group reports its quarterly earnings to Wall Street, they often tout onboard spending by guests as one of the top reasons why profits are higher.

A Bermuda cruise is one of the few Royal Caribbean cruises that offers an immersive multi-day visit, and it's a different kind of experience.

Nealy all Royal Caribbean cruises offer port visits where you are docked for just a few hours.  It's enough time to take a tour and get a glimpse of what the area has to offer before your ship departs for the next destination.

Bermuda is different, because of how far away it is from almost every other cruise port.  Since North Americans prefer to take just a week of vacation at a time, most sailings to Bermuda are 7 nights or less, and that could mean a sailing that only visits Bermuda.

In my case, I booked a 5-night cruise on Liberty of the Seas with an overnight stay in Bermuda.

Our visit would include about 30 hours of time to explore Bermuda, and I was excited to take advantage of all that extra time.

A visit to Hamilton

Liberty of the Seas docked in Bermuda at the Royal Naval Dockyard just before 10am, and we would have until 4pm the next day to see as much of Bermuda as possible.

We started off with a visit to the capital of Bermuda, Hamilton. Unlike many Caribbean ports, taxis are quite expensive in Bermuda, but water ferries are very economical.

We hopped on the ferry that goes between the Royal Navy Dockyard and Hamilton for just $5 per person.  We didn't book it through the cruise line, as it's a short five minute walk down the pier to where the ferry picks you up. 

The ferry ride is 30 minutes from start to finish, but it felt faster than that. 

Once in Hamilton, we opted to explore the city on our own.  One major advantage to overnighting in a port is you don't have the fear of not making it back to the ship in time on that first day.

We grabbed lunch at The Hog Penny, which is an English pub. 

After we, window shopped around the waterfront.  While I can't say my kids enjoy leisurely exploring a port, my wife and I enjoyed the European feel Hamilton has along with the great sea breeze.

Exploring a port on foot means an open-ended adventure, but it usually results in a lot of walking.  In felt like the amount of walking was substantially more than I thought we would do, but it's a great way to see any city.

In the afternoon we took the ferry back to the Royal Naval Dockyard to relax and recharge on the ship.

Sunset sailing

Later that evening, we headed out for our next adventure. When Royal Caribbean docks overnight, the gangway is always open and it's effectively a floating hotel.

I had booked a 3-hour catamaran charter for just my family to enjoy an evening swim and take in the sunset.  I stumbled across Bermuda Yachts, and they offer private catamaran charters.

The cost was just $1,000 for 3 hours and included the boat, captain, and all fees.  Perhaps a bit much for just the four of us, but if you have a larger group, it might make more sense.  Plus, I love to find ways to foster family bonding, and we are definitely more at ease when it's just us.

Our catamaran picked us up at the pier near where the cruise ships dock. Justin was our captain, and he offered up a plan to take us around for a leisurely view of Bermuda by boat, followed by a spot to feed fish, swim, and then enjoy the sunset.

We started out going around the island and sailing past the coastline.  In early June, the high temperatures in Bermuda are in the mid-70s and by evening, it becomes cooler out.  Sunset isn't until 8:30, so there's still plenty of light.

It was great sitting on the bean bags they had at the front of the catamaran to see it all.

Our first stop was near a ship wreck, where Justin tossed bread into the water and suddenly a giant school of fish appeared.  Evidently this is a well-known spot among boats to feed fish, and the fish are always there to wait for it.

The kids loved seeing all the different fish come up and how they just waited near the surface for another bite.

The next step was an inlet with an empty beach.  Our catamaran went to just a few dozen feet off shore to let us swim and paddleboard.

The ocean temperature was still warm, so it was nice to get out and enjoy a swim without any crowds or anyone else around.

But the real coup de grace was the sunset.  Justin brought the catamaran off the shore of Bermuda, giving us an unobstructed view of the horizon to enjoy the sunset.

At first, I thought the sunset was going to be a busy because of cloud cover.  But as the sun came close to the horizon, the sky came alive with color.

It was a brilliant display of colors, and easily one of the most beautiful I've ever seen. 

In all, the catamaran ride was exactly what our family wanted out of a fun day on the water. It wasn't cheap, but I think splurging is part of what makes vacation worth it.  After all, it has to be special to make vacation feel different from a day at home.

Beach day

After a full day of exploring Bermuda on the first day, the second day in Bermuda started off feeling rough.  The kids would have preferred we sleep in, but that wasn't an option.

Bermuda is well-known for its pink sand beaches, but we didn't go to one of them this time.  Admittedly, we wanted to hit the "easy button" for today and decided to check out a nearby beach we could walk to.

Snorkel Park is located within the Royal Naval Dockyard area, and it's your typical beach that you'll find near any cruise port. Unremarkable, but convenient.

If it were my only day in Bermuda, I would have never gone here, but this was just an excuse to be in the water and enjoy the beach.

It's about a 10 minute walk from the ship, and then there's an admission fee to get in.  Two chairs and umbrella are $75. Food and drink are extra, although they have an all-inclusive option if you prefer.

We found chairs and umbrellas, and then got into the ocean for a brisk swim. It felt good to cool off, but the sand here was not nearly as soft or impressive as Horseshoe Bay would have been.

Nonetheless, we enjoyed some time taking it easy at the beach. 

After the beach, we stopped at the Frog and Onion Pub.  It's inside the Royal Naval Dockyard too, and also has a British pub vibe to it.

When you're in the same port two days in a row, I think it makes sense to take things easy rather than push yourself to see every little thing.  We certainly didn't see all Bermuda has to offer, but we had a great time nonetheless.

Bermuda wowed us

I enjoyed our visit to Bermuda much more than I expected, and I would love to come back again soon.

While Mexico is less expensive, and The Bahamas are a lot more convenient, I think Bermuda has great natural beauty to it and a populace that felt very welcoming.

Being on the water made a difference, and I liked the combination of comfortable temperatures along with beautiful sights.

On my next trip to Bermuda, I'd love to look at a longer catamaran ride.  And I might leave the kids on the ship if my wife and I wanted to explore Hamilton or St. George's. I doubt they'd mind sleeping in.

Like any port of call, it behooves you to plan ahead.  Researching the various things you can do makes taking advantage of an overnight cruise stop so much better. With so much time in port, you'll want to get more out of it all.

I love to take my family on cruises, and have been doing so ever since my first child was six months old.

After more than 44 cruises as a family, I've quickly learned a few tricks to saving money along the way.  Family vacations don't have to be expensive, especially if you know where to cut corners.

With Royal Caribbean leaning more into the family vacation market (especially with the launch of Icon of the Seas), taking your kids on a cruise is becoming even more popular.

If you're like me, you'll want to save every dollar you can so that you can pay for another cruise in the future (or splurge on a fun upgrade).

Read more: What is the best way to spend an extra $1,000 on a cruise?

Here are my list of easy ways I save money and expand our family vacation budget.

Skip the dining package for my kids

While my wife and I love to indulge in specialty dining on a cruise, my kids are fine with the included food and that's a big saving.

Not spending extra on specialty dining for the kids is as much about being frugal as it is being practical.  My youngest daughter only really wants to eat quesadillas, pasta with butter, and cheese pizza.  All of that she can get for no extra cost.

Depending on the restaurant, we will either feed her before or after the meal so she can sit with us during the meal.  Packing a drawing pad and colored pencils is a great way for them to pass the time.  It's also perfectly acceptable for the kids to run down to Sorrento's and bring back a pizza. 

There are exceptions to this rule, such as Izumi Hibachi, but if your kids are as picky as mine, don't overlook the complimentary dining choices.

Turn off the kids charging privileges

I trust my kids not to go on a spending spree onboard, but mistakes happen.  To simplify things, I'll go to Guest Services and turn off their charging privileges to avoid a future problem.

There are lots of extra costs on a cruise, from the arcade, to sodas, to souvenirs and they can all add up.

I always periodically check my onboard accounts to make sure there are no erroneous charges, and removing the kids' ability to charge is a good fail safe.

Take advantage of the included activities

Every Royal Caribbean cruise ship has a lot of fun activities included in the cruise fare, and it's a great idea to point my kids in that direction first.

There are pools, hot tubs, rock climbing walls, trivia contests, and live shows on every ship.  Plus, the newer ships have water slides, kids aqua park, bumper cars and more.

My kids really love laser tag, bumper cars, water slides, and miniature golf.

I'd be remiss if I didn't talk about the value Adventure Ocean presents.  It's included in your cruise fare, and you get the peace of mind as a parent of enjoying supervised programming that appeals to the kids.

Two cabins instead of a suite

My favorite cruise hack for families is to book two connecting rooms instead of one larger cabin.

Read more: 45 easy ways how to save money on a cruise

I think most families that look to book a cruise default to looking for one cabin that fits everyone.  This often leads to booking a suite, especially if you have more than 4 people in your cabin.

Instead, we book two smaller connecting rooms many times. It provides a cheaper price than a suite, and it gives us separation from the kids.  Plus, we get a second bathroom!

Of course, I do book suites with my family, but if I want to save money, I'll go for two cabins.

Using the free chat instead of buying an internet package

A very common concern if you have older kids is how to be able to message them onboard without paying for an internet package.

While buying everyone a WiFi package is an easy choice, it can be very expensive.

Instead, we'll leverage the Royal Caribbean app because it has a free chat feature.

If your kids are under 13 years old, they're not allowed to have a Royal Caribbean account.  In that situation, we'll log them into one of our accounts and we can still message them even if we are effectively messaging ourself.