It looks like Royal Caribbean may have a new way to speed up getting you on the cruise ship.

Royal Caribbean has steadily worked on developing ways to make the check-in and it looks like a new option may be on its way.

RoyalCaribbeanBlog reader Bridgetbien posted a screenshot of a new Express Boarding option that appeared in the Royal Caribbean app.

The pass was available for the November 3 sailing of Freedom of the Seas from Miami.  Miami is also the same homeport that the new Icon of the Seas will use when she debuts in 2024.

Read more: What it's like to cruise on Freedom of the Seas in 2023

After activating the Express Boarding option, the Set Sail pass turned purple. 

Bridgetbien reported they are staying in a balcony cabin and are Gold level in Crown and Anchor Society, so this isn't necessarily a benefit for suite guests or top tier members.

The new feature was activated after Bridgetbien completed the health questionnaire in the app, "We completed the health form and then the app showed confetti and balloons and that first screen popped up."

According to the pass, guests with this option can look for Express Boarding signs inside the Cruise Terminal.

Royal Caribbean has not formally announced this new Express Boarding pass option, and there's no clear indication who can get it or how to get it.  For the time being, it appears to be a limited test.

Not the first express check-in option

If a faster way to check-into your cruise sounds familiar, this isn't the first iteration.

In early 2020, Royal Caribbean began testing an Expedited Arrival option on select ships.

Guests that downloaded the Royal Caribbean app and filled out all the necessary information pre-cruise could qualify for an Expedited Arrival option.

Similar to Walt Disney World's old Fastpass system, guests with Expedited Arrival got to bypass the regular check-in line in the cruise terminal and instead walk through accelerated checkpoints to get onto the ship faster.

The new feature began rolling out to a few ships right before the cruise industry shutdown in 2019.

Following the cruise industry restart in 2021, Expedited Arrival was not seen again.

A long-running effort to make check-in easier

Royal Caribbean has been waging its own battle to make the embarkation day experience easier and faster.

In an industry centered around guest satisfaction and delivering fun, the check-in process has been a thorn in the side of that desire.

Royal Caribbean is fond of referring to its effort of getting passengers on the ship faster as going from "curb to ship".

Royal Caribbean was the first cruise line to implement facial recognition technology as part of the boarding process in select cruise terminals.

In fact, Royal Caribbean announced it would invest in facial recognition back in 2017 when they introduced a slew of new innovations coming to cruises over the next few years.

Prior to the pandemic, Royal Caribbean saw about 70% adoption rate of the cruise line app on a ship that had the app available. Since the restart of operations in 2021, the adoption rate jumped to the mid to upper 90s.

When Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas launches in early 2024, you're going to see a new look to its Royal Promenade that is filled with entertainment, places to chill, and lots to do all around.

Every new Royal Caribbean cruise ship since 2004 have had a Royal Promenade as the main thoroughfare and entryway onto the ship.

With Icon of the Seas, that tradition continues, but the cruise line has grandiose plans to evolve the concept and make it a destination.

It will have full glass views of the ocean for the first time ever in this space, and a host of new venues.

I was invited to come to Royal Caribbean's Miami headquarters to walk through their Innovation Lab and see how cruise line executives are previewing the venues on the Royal Promenade of Icon of the Seas.

Construction is still taking place around Icon of the Seas as it undergoes her second set of sea trials, but mocking things up is actually one of the best ways Royal Caribbean has found to get things right when the ship is ready.

The Innovation Lab is a place where Royal Caribbean constructs life-size replicas of structures, signage, and mock-ups to get a better sense of what their plans on paper will actually look like once built.

The team wanted to answer questions related to what does the Royal Promenade feel like, and how does it operate.

I was walked through the area by Royal Caribbean's Senior Vice President and Chief Product Innovation Officer Jay Schneider, who explained what anyone sailing on Icon of the Seas can expect when they get onboard.

"We do research early on, we brief everybody on what we want based on that research. But having it come to life isn't just a picture on a screen. It's also how are you actually going to experience this product? And those are a lot of the debates we have at this stage."

The hard work to get the Royal Promenade right is already paying off with early walkthroughs of the ship from the shipyard.

Mr. Schneider said this version of the Promenade has "seamless connectivity" to make it easier to get around. This means you can easily get between deck five and deck six, or head up stairs to Central Park on deck eight. Plus, there's an escalator from the Promenade to get you down to the casino and gangway on port days.

The Pearl

As guests walk aboard Icon of the Seas, they'll first be drawn to The Pearl, which Royal Caribbean calls an "arrival moment".

Mr. Schneider says the Pearl encompasses four things, "A gorgeous way to introduce the ship as you walk into it; It's an engineering marvel; It creates gorgeous views and it has an experiential moment inside of it that's different for everyone."

In short, it creates a visual and sense of awe that Royal Caribbean wants to give guests as they first walk in.

But what we didn't know is there's an unique space behind The Pearl that Royal Caribbean has developed.

"Behind the Pearl will be what we're calling kind of a service lounge experience, as well as gorgeous lounge space."

Mr. Schneider said they are still tinkering with exactly how this space will look and act, but it will blend both "high touch services" along with a lounge feel.

Previous renders of this area had multifunctional kiosks, but that idea has been scrapped. Instead, it will be a lounge.

Pearl Cafe

Something else that is new to this area is the giant whale sculpture that will be above Pearl Cafe.

Pearl Cafe is the evolution of the Cafe Promenade concept, that has complimentary casual bistro cafe experience with elevated bistro food.

There will be some extra-cost options in addition to the food included. As an example, there will be Starbucks brewed beverages that you can order, but are also covered by a Royal Caribbean drink package or Diamond drink voucher.

There will be the traditional coffee, water and juice beverage station that is complimentary, along with grab and go food.

"We're tinkering with grab and go, which has come through in our research really strong that our guests are looking for," Mr. Schneider explained.

"It's been one of the core complementary strategies for Icon is more grab and go."

"The idea of more casual access grab and go for guests was something that came through in the creation of Icon's research. And so you'll see, grab and go, you'll see complimentary sandwiches, and then you'll see some us tinkering with some for pay, like elevated dessert options that we think will resonate with people because they actually sell very well elsewhere on the fleet."

Royal Caribbean isn't sure what the food will be, but the ideas is to make it easier to grab something quick that isn't a slice of pizza, or require a trip up the Windjammer.

"They want quick, easy, grab and go options, and we don't have a lot of really quick, easy grab and go options that don't include a Windjammer plate. And so this is in response to that."

1400 Lobby Bar

When you walk onto Icon of the Seas, you'll pass through the 1400 Lobby Bar, which is a brand new concept for the cruise line.

"We internally think this is going to be probably the most home run of a bar that we have," Mr. Schneider said.

He believes it's location at the entrance when you walk in positions it such that it sets the stage for The Pearl, is adjacent to the escalators going down to the casino, and is at the heart of the ship.

The team thinks the 1400 bar will be a gathering place that has very comfortable chairs and provides a relaxed, indoor environment without music playing, "it's really meant to be that you can have a conversation... We're not trying to shout over music somewhere."

Dueling Pianos

A brand new venue for any Royal Caribbean cruise ship is a Dueling Pianos bar.

Located on deck six, this bar features Royal Caribbean's first double-pianist bar where the two performers take requests and involve guests in the musical fun.

There will be two 90-minute shows per night, and the entertainment team is still working out what else will happen here during the rest of the day.

The location of Dueling Pianos right next to The Attic comedy club on the Royal Promenade is deliberately to bring more entertainment and more energy into to Royal Promenade.

Nearly all of the venues (except The Attic) are fully open, so music can be heard from all over the Royal Promenade and for it to be more enticing for passengers to want to experience it all.

With all that music, it's also why there are no Promenade view cabins on Icon of the Seas.  Unlike Oasis Class ships that have cabins facing the Promenade, Royal Caribbean removed them so that they don't have to worry about noise bleed.

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

Thanks to that open layout, there will be bar service from technically the Royal Promenade into the bar while walking past Dueling Pianos.  Great if you want to grab a drink and hear a tune without having to go inside.

To get an idea of layout, Royal Caribbean mocked up a scale rendition of the pianos and the bar, so they could get a sense of how far from the pianos the bar would be located.

Drink menus are still be worked out as well, but there's an idea for a cocktail that includes pop rocks candy.

Potentially called "Snap, Crackle, Pop!", the new cocktail would be one of many new drinks you could try on a cruise. The idea follows up on the fun drinks Royal Caribbean's beverage team created for Wonderland.

Read more: I spent $60 to eat at Royal Caribbean’s most bizarre restaurant. I thought I would hate it, but it was one of the best meals of my cruise.

Lots of programming

Icon of the Seas will be packed with plenty of activities and entertainment, and part of this exercise was to show the thought process that goes into working through an event schedule.

In just considering the Royal Promenade, there's a lot of entertainment, from the Royal Theater, to the ice skating rink, to the dueling pianos, Boleros music, and more.

"If you think of entertainment in the Royal Promenade, this is more than we've ever done on a Royal Promenade before and really gives us really amazing entertainment," Mr. Schneider pointed out.

Sorrento's

Royal Caribbean's well-known complimentary pizza will have one change that aims to make it easier to get a slice.

The plan is to get away from having switchbacks and queues to handle the lines that form for pizza. Instead, they're hoping to improve the flow of guests with a larger footprint so the line can keep moving.

That isn't to say there won't be a line, but that there won't be a large line that requires the crew to set up stanchions to manage the line.

Sorrento's on Icon will also introduce a new beer experience, where crew members can pour you a glass of draft beer.  

A change as small as adding beer to Sorrento's is what Mr. Schneider describes as "little bets", which are essentially ideas that might not make headlines, but they are intended to improve the guest experience overall.

Other examples will include a mobile bar cart near the Flowrider, "Little things like that that you'll continue to see us do that are really meant to meet the needs identified by guests as they want more complimentary grab and go or for-pay grab and go depending on the type of experience."

Replacement for the library

You won't find a library on Icon of the Seas, as on other ships the venue was under utilized.

Instead, Royal Caribbean is experimenting with a take a book, put it back experience.

In Pearl Cafe you will find a pillar with books available to borrow, and evaluate how it performs, "this idea of grab a book in lieu of a library, we thought we'd try it. We'll see how it goes."

Just like the beer at Sorrento's, this is an example of something small Royal Caribbean is experimenting with on Icon.

Beverage center 2.0

The complimentary coffee and water station will look different than from other ships.

On ships today, you find a big carafe of coffee that eventually runs out, and somebody eventually comes over because they have to keep an eye on it and take it.

With the new beverage center, they make it easier to manage and all you have is a dispenser, with the refill functions at behind of house.

"And so the more you can move the guts back of house, the more you can monitor it and have a continual supply of whatever that liquid is for your guests."

You can now book a Royal Caribbean cruise to Alaska in 2025. 

Royal Caribbean released its Alaska cruises for the 2025 cruise season, and they're now available to book on the Royal Caribbean website. You can also speak with your travel agent.

Like in previous years, the cruise line will have four ships in Alaska during the 2025 season: Anthem of the Seas, Quantum of the Seas, Radiance of the Seas, and Serenade of the Seas.

The ship lineup for Alaska is a bit different this year, as Anthem of the Seas begins her first Alaska run ever, and Serenade of the Seas returns to the Alaska region.

Here's a look at Royal Caribbean cruises to Alaska in 2025

The new Alaska 2025 cruises are available to book between May and September 2025.

Anthem of the Seas will sail from Seattle and offer 7-night Alaska cruises.

Quantum of the Seas will also sail from Seattle, sailing 7-night cruises.

Both ships will visit popular Alaska ports, such as Skagway, Juneau, Sitka, and Icy Strait Point.  They also feature glacier viewings of Dawes Glacier, weather permitting. Depending on which sailing you pick, the itinerary will vary slightly.

Both Radiance Class ships will offer cruises from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Radiance of the Seas will offer 7-10 night Alaska cruises that can also combine with Land Tours to offer immersive visits to Alaska, including in-land destinations such as Denali. 

Radiance is sailing alternating, open-jaw itineraries between Vancouver and Seward.

Serenade of the Seas will sail primarily 7-night roundtrip cruises, including cruises that visit Hubbard Glacier.

Be sure to consult the Royal Caribbean website or your travel professional for further assistance with itinerary options and booking.

Related: 50 Best First Time Alaska cruise tips for a perfect vacation

What's the difference between open-jaw and round-trip cruises?

If you choose an open-jaw cruise, you will have different embarkation and disembarkation ports. This allows you to visit ports that you would not be able to on a round-trip cruise from Seattle. 

Cruisers who sail to Alaska claim that the more remote ports offer a more authentic view of Alaska, with more dynamic scenery and varied wildlife.

Rather than booking airfare to and from Seattle, you will have to book two one-way flights, which can often be more expensive. Plus, Anchorage is about 125 miles from Seward, so you will have to account for a 2+ hour drive from the airport when you either begin or end your one-way cruise. 

Related: How to choose the right Alaska cruise itinerary

Something else you should know about an open-jaw sailing is you must have a passport for an open jaw cruise. You cannot use a birth certificate and government ID for these types of sailings.

Related: Do you need a passport for a cruise?

Booking early is key if you want to score the lowest pricing

The lowest pricing for Alaska cruises tends to be when itineraries are released. While you can usually find a good deal on shoulder season sailings, if you have hopes of sailing during the peak of the Alaska cruise season (i.e., June-July), you should book as early as possible. 

Additionally, some highly desirable cruise cabins sell out quickly. If you want to book a specific stateroom, like a suite or aft balcony cabins on Radiance Class ships, you will not want to wait too long to place your initial deposit. 

Related: Pros and Cons of booking a cruise early vs last-minute

More about Alaska cruises

• How to choose the right Alaska cruise itinerary
• What is the best time to cruise to Alaska?
• What Is an Alaska Inside Passage Cruise?
• What to pack for a cruise to Alaska?
• Best things to do on an Alaska cruise

The biggest drawback to booking a Royal Caribbean specialty dining package is about to go away.

Royal Caribbean is experimenting with a new way to allow guests that purchase a specialty dining package to make reservations pre-cruise.

Guests have the choice to augment their cruise ship dining experience by spending extra on specialty restaurants.

There's an option to book individual restaurant reservations and pay for the cover charge to dine there, or buy a dining package that includes more than one restaurant at a discounted rate if you're willing to commit to more than one restaurant.

Up until now, guests that had booked a dining package had to wait until they got onboard the ship to make a reservation, and that created a pain point for them and added stress to the first day of the cruise as they would scramble once onboard to make reservations.

Read more: The Ultimate Guide to Royal Caribbean's Unlimited Dining Package

Instead, you'll be able to book reservations pre-cruise for specialty restaurants if you buy a dining package.

Royal Caribbean's Senior Vice President and Chief Product Innovation Officer Jay Schneider confirmed the change while brainstorming ways to make the embarkation day experience easier, "all dining, including dining packages will be reservable so that guests don't have to do that on day one. And people who book the dining package can actually have the same experience as people who book a specialty restaurant."

There isn't an exact date, but he indicated a probably first half 2024 launch, after the launch of Icon of the Seas. Sometime in the first half of 2024 is “likely”.

Don't worry, it's coming to the whole fleet, not just Icon.

It's part of a new dining system Royal Caribbean is devising for the three Icon Class ships and Utopia, "It's for our new dining system, which is currently coming for one, two, three and Utopia. And then we'll roll out to the rest of the fleet."

This would be a major improvement as up until now, guests that bought a dining package had to wait until they got onboard the ship to make a specific reservation.

This meant they would have the last chance to grab a dining time, as well as add a task once onboard the ship to do instead of relaxing and enjoying the start of their vacation.

Read more: Should you book a Royal Caribbean dining package?

Testing on Wonder of the Seas

Royal Caribbean is already testing the option for those with a dining package to pre-book on one of its ships, Wonder of the Seas.

In fact, Wonder of the Seas is being utilized as a "test bed" for Icon of the Seas before it launches.

Mr. Schneider talked about this process, "We designed Wonder to have all of the technology that Icon will get. And so everything you see on Wonder is actually purposely being tested on Wonder because we won't do testing of new software on a new ship."

Other changes Royal Caribbean has rolled out to Wonder of the Seas already include notifications from the Royal Caribbean app when your dining room table is ready with My Time Dining, and the ability to chat with Guest Services in the app instead of waiting in line.

The new changes culminated last week.

"All the different pieces and parts as you see getting tested on Wonder are proof points for Icon."

The advantage is Royal Caribbean can work out any issues early, and have it ready to go for Icon of the Seas knowing it works.

Making boarding day easier

Royal Caribbean is making the change to allow pre-cruise dining reservations for two reasons.

First, it reduces crowding on the Royal Promenade when guests first board the ship.

"We spent a lot of time researching with guests what their day one experience is, " explained Mr. Schneider.

"And what we've learned in that journey is that there is a lot of heavy lifting that the Royal Promenade today takes, that we wish it didn't."

To that point, they learned a lot of guests were running around trying to make dining reservations because they couldn't do it online.

The second reason is to make it easier for guests, because Mr. Schneider reported his team found having to wait until the day of the cruise to book reservations generated a great deal of "angst".

The feedback from guests was to make it easier by not having to go to various booths that Royal Caribbean would set up only on day one of the cruise on the Royal Promenade.

How reservations will work with a dining package

Once the new change gets rolled out, you'll be able to reserve a restaurant with a dining package very similarly to how you book an individual restaurant.

The idea is to allow guests to make reservations via the Royal Caribbean app or Cruise Planner website before the cruise begins.

Royal Caribbean is increasing its daily gratuities that its passengers pay for crew member service on its ships.

Each passenger pays a daily gratuity that covers the services of the crew members they interact with the most, and this daily rate is charged automatically unless the guest pre-pays it prior to the cruise.

As of November 11, 2023, the automatic daily gratuity charge will increase:

• Standard cabin (Junior Suites and below) going from $16.00 to $18.00 per day, per person
• Suite gratuity rate will change from $18.50 to $20.50 per day per person

Royal Caribbean last raised gratuities over a year ago on September 7, 2022.

The daily gratuity is shared among dining, bar & culinary services staff, stateroom attendants, and other hotel services teams.

Royal Caribbean stipulates in the unlikely event that a guest onboard being charged the daily automatic gratuity does not receive satisfactory service, the guest may request to modify the daily amount at their discretion by visiting Guest Services onboard up until the morning of their departure.

Read more: Royal Caribbean Gratuities: What you need to know

For new reservations, the adjusted gratuity amounts are effective as of November 11, 2023.

Guests who booked prior to November 11, 2023 can opt to prepay gratuities prior to sailing to take advantage of the current rates. On or after November 11, 2023, regardless of when the booking was created, gratuities paid while onboard are subject to the new, increased rates.

Pre-existing bookings confirmed prior to November 11, 2023 will not be subject to the increased guidelines as long as gratuities are paid in advance of sailing. Should guests opt not to pay gratuities until onboard, they will be subject to the newly suggested gratuity amounts.

Other onboard gratuity policies remain the same – an 18% gratuity will be automatically added to purchases for beverages, spa & salon services, room service, and mini bar items. These will be itemized on your receipt at the end of each purchase.

Matching Celebrity

Sister brand Celebrity Cruises raised gratuities earlier this summer, and it's not uncommon for cruise lines to follow each other.

In July, Celebrity Cruises announced it would raise its gratuity rates:

• $18.00 USD per person, per day for inside, ocean view, and veranda staterooms, increasing from $17.50.
• $18.50 USD per person, per day for Concierge Class and AquaClass staterooms, increasing from $18.00. 
• $23.00 USD per person, per day for guests of The Retreat, increasing from $21.00. 

How much are gratuities on other mainstream cruise lines?

In case you're wondering, here's what other cruise lines charge for their daily gratuities.

Carnival

The daily rate for standard staterooms increased to $16.00 per person, per day. Suite guests pay $18.00 per person, per day.

Norwegian Cruise Line

Passengers staying in standard and Club Balcony staterooms are charged $20.00 per person, per day, while the rate for Suites and guests staying in the The Haven is $25.00 per person, per day. 

Disney Cruise Line

The recommended daily rate for all guests in standard cabins if $14.50 per person, per day, while the rate for passengers booked in a Concierge stateroom or suite  is $15.50 per person, per day.

How gratuities work on a cruise

If you do absolutely nothing, then you can expect an automatic charge on your SeaPass account each day of the cruise.

The exception is in certain markets where tipping is not as ingrained as part of their culture, so Royal Caribbean includes daily gratuities as part of the price of the cruise.  This occurs in the Australian cruise market.

Each guest, regardless of age, will be assessed the daily gratuity as recognition for the hard work crew members do each day.

An alternative is to pre-pay the gratuity before the cruise begins.  When this opted into by the guest, then you'll pay the full gratuity amount before the cruise begins at final payment date.  It will show up as a line item on your final payment.

Pre-paid gratuities can be added to an individual reservation at any time outside of 48 hours of the sail date.

Guests that booked directly with Royal Caribbean can pre-pay gratuities by calling 866-562-7625 or logging into www.royalcaribbean.com before their sailing.

Guests that booked through a travel agent can request their agent add pre-paid gratuities to the guests' booking prior to sailing.

More info:

• Should you prepay gratuities for a Royal Caribbean cruise?
• Why do I have to pay gratuities for my toddler?

Just because you're on a cruise ship doesn't mean you can't get in on the spooky fun of Halloween.

You might think going on a cruise vacation over October 31st would forgo the holiday, but Royal Caribbean gets in on the fun too, and encourages its guests to do the same.

With Halloween already passed in Australia, we got a look at how Royal Caribbean celebrates Halloween aboard Brilliance of the Seas.

Brilliance of the Seas is sailing from Sydney, Australia to offer a South Pacific itinerary to New Caledonia & Vanuatu.

All Royal Caribbean cruise ships sailing over October 31st will have special holiday decorations and events. Unlike Christmas, there aren't decorations or events offered on cruises that are near, but don't go over Halloween.

Costumes welcome

Dressing up in costume is at the heart of any Halloween celebration, and you can dress up on a cruise ship too.

Ships offer Halloween costume contests, as well as generally encouraging its passengers to bring a costume.

You'll see lots of guests getting in on the fun too, with traditional ghost or vampire costumes, along with super heroes, skeletons, princesses and more.

Decorations

It doesn't feel like Halloween without a lot of cob webs, pumpkins, and signs to make it very clear which holiday you're celebrating.

Royal Caribbean puts Halloween decorations around the ship, primarily in public venues.

In the case of Brilliance of the Seas, the Centrum was decorated with lots of Halloween decorations.

In the Windjammer, there are Halloween decorations around the buffet stations to help set the mood.

Special events

Depending on your ship, there could be a variety of activities to choose from.

Music is at the heart of so many Royal Caribbean events, so on Halloween, you could have a Halloween Monster Bash.

This is when the DJ plays music for everyone in costume.

Speaking of costumes, you can also expect a costume contest to judge the best dressed. There are prizes for the winners.

On Wonder of the Seas last year, there was a Halloween parade down the Royal Promenade, and Halloween movies shown at the pool.

Trick or treating is also available in Adventure Ocean, along with arts and crafts too.

Check the activities once you get onboard the ship

If a Halloween cruise sounds like a great vacation, just keep in mind the exact activities will not be announced until you get onboard the ship.

Once you board the ship, activities are loaded on the Royal Caribbean app, or listed in the daily Cruise Compass.

The activities staff will determine the exact offerings, so remember that what's offered on your cruise ship could be different than another.

I had put off a Canada and New England cruise for years because it seemed like a secondary itinerary, but I wish I had done it sooner.

Cruise ships can visit so many places, and while the amount of ships heading north is relatively small, it's a destination you shouldn't sleep on any more.

I went on a 7-night cruise aboard Royal Caribbean's Serenade of the Seas to four ports across Maine and Nova Scotia.  

I was excited to try something new, but I wasn't prepared for how much I would love spending time in this part of the world.  It was even more eye-opening for me considering I grew up in New England, so this wasn't my first foray into the area.

From the beautiful landscape, to the terrific dining, and welcoming people, I not only had a great cruise, I really fell in love with the area.  

Many parts of the seven-night cruise surprised me, like how gorgeous everywhere we visited is and how I wanted to spend as much time as possible on shore.

Wild weather

Planning what to wear or how cold or hot it would be proved much more difficult than I anticipated. 

If someone is going to Alaska, it's very common knowledge the weather shifts a lot there, but I didn't get any sense of the same dynamic in the northeast.

Looking at the forecasts in just the last few days before the cruise, the forecast shifted a lot and I wasn't sure if it would rain, be cold, or hot in any of the places.

It wasn't until the day we set sail or so that the weather picture finally cleared up (literally and figuratively).

In speaking to crew members, they told us how lucky we were with the weather because rain has been dominant this cruise season.

The day before the cruise in Boston there was heavy rain all day, but the next day on embarkation day it was clear.  In Sydney, Nova Scotia, the temperature barely creeped above 60, while we were wearing shorts in Portland, Maine because it was 75 degrees.

My advice is wait to pack until just a few days before the cruise, but bring an extra pair of shorts and rain gear, just in case.

Read more: 7 best Canada and New England cruise tips

Maine was so much better than I expected

If you had asked me on embarkation day which ports I was excited to visit, I would have told you any day in Canada because I thought Maine was going to be more lackluster and familiar.

It turned out I was completely wrong about at least Maine.

Nova Scotia was beautiful and I enjoyed it, but I found I enjoyed Maine even more.

We visited Bar Harbor and Portland, and in both cases, our ship was located right in the heart of both towns. It enabled us to see and do more with less effort.

Bar Harbor's quaint town along with Acadia National Park within a mile and a half provided much more to see and do than I thought.  I was expecting a sleepy town with a few restaurants and pretty trees.  Instead, I found so many ways I could spend my day there and I loved it all.

Portland is a city, and that means a great deal of dining and shopping. There's also a number of beautiful lighthouses and just about every aspect of New England you'd want to see.

If I could do the cruise over again, I would plan out more of my time in Maine in order to maximize my time.

Boston was super easy to sail from

I had heard some horror stories about embarkation in Boston, namely long lines with no distinction between suites, Crown and Anchor status or anything.

As it turned out, embarkation was smoother in Boston than some cruise terminals in Florida.

The staff had everything set up from the start, and it was clear where to go and what to do for each step.

Sorry California, but Los Angeles still holds the title as worst embarkation experience in the United States in my opinion.

We did customs immigration halfway through the cruise

Every cruise I've taken up until now would have the immigration process occur at the conclusion of the cruise, but this time was different.

Because our cruise began in the United States, then went to Canada, and then returned to a US port midway through the cruise, we had to go through immigration on our visit to Bar Harbor.

Royal Caribbean made the process quite simple. If you had a cruise line shore excursion booked, they would escort you first through the customs process and then onto your tour.  

If you were going on your own into Bar Harbor, you got a time to report for customs interview process, and then could go on your way.  Think of it like when your luggage is ready to disembark the ship after the cruise.

I was expecting a super slow and backed up process, but it went incredibly quick.  Walk through the Main Dining Room, show your passport when it was your turn and go on your way.  In nearly all cases, the agents just waived you through.

The best part of this was because we had gone through the immigration process in Bar Harbor, we didn't have to go through it again at the end of the cruise in Boston.

This is a beer lover's dream cruise

I love a good craft beer, and both Nova Scotia and Maine had so many great choices.

No matter which port we visited, almost any restaurant would have at least a half dozen local brews to choose from on their menu.

If you went to a bar, there was a nearly overwhelming selection of local beers and I loved it.  Royal Caribbean's onboard beer selection is underwhelming, especially if you like hoppier beers.  

The next time I go on this itinerary, I'd be quite tempted to skip an unlimited beverage package because I'd much rather spend my money enjoying beers around the ports.

In case you're wondering, Tubular IPA by Orono Brewing Company, was my top choice during the cruise.

Staying solo in a Junior Suite felt palatial

I booked a Junior Suite for this cruise because at the time I thought it would be me and my wife without the kids, and wanted a nicer cabin to enjoy.

Unfortunately, she couldn't join me for this cruise so I ended up in the Junior Suite as a solo cruiser and the extra living space made the cabin feel just as big as other full suites without the price tag.

I stayed in cabin 1044 on deck 10 of Serenade of the Seas and it had 293 square feet of space, along with a 41 square foot balcony.

There was not only more walking space, but a full sofa and a blue chair and ottoman that I used as my office every day.

I know some people would point out that almost any cabin when you don't have to share it feels big, but I was surprised by just how big a Junior Suite felt with just me there.

Read more: I tried a Junior Suite to see if it’s worth it

Bar Harbor was so pretty, I would move there if I could

Within 15 minutes of disembarking my tender in Bar Harbor, Maine, I texted my wife that I wanted to move there.

Between the small town feel and fact it backed up against Acadia National Park, I really loved my time in Bar Harbor.

Admittedly I thought I was onto some kind of a secret until I learned every millionaire from the Gilded Age discovered Bar Harbor about 100 years ago.  You know what they say, good taste never goes out of style.

While I doubt we're moving to Maine anytime soon, I really could envision myself spending more time in Bar Harbor on some future summer vacation. Maybe I'm just a sucker for New England, but it had just the vibe I was looking for.

Happy (almost) Halloween! I don't have any bad Halloween themed puns to include here, just the latest Royal Caribbean news to catch up on before you hit up the neighborhood for candy.

Is a Junior Suite worth it to pay over $1,000 more for this cabin?

I took a recent cruise where I paid around $1,200 more to move up from an oceanview cabin to a Junior Suite and I think it was money well spent.

From the extra living space, to double points, to speedy embarkation, I tried out a Junior Suite and thought it was totally worth it.

Royal Caribbean News

• Royal Caribbean Group posts $1 billion profit as company sees skyrocketing demand
• Icon of the Seas is about to begin her second round of sea trials
• Cruise bookings are so hot that Royal Caribbean outperformed all of its predictions, defying slowdown fears
• Royal Caribbean CEO calls out Hamas attacks on Israel as "horrific terrorist attacks"
• Celebrity Cruises is adding a customer loyalty lounge on weeklong cruises
• 7 best Canada and New England cruise tips
• My favorite stop on my first cruise was St. Thomas. Here are 7 reasons why I'm already planning a trip back

New RCB Video: Avoid these Caribbean cruise tourist traps!

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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 — Avoid these Caribbean cruise tourist traps! — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

The secret crew-only areas on a cruise ship

Have you ever wondered what the crew areas of a crew ship look like?

Guests aren't allowed to ever go to these areas of the ship, which leaves a lot of people wondering what it's like there.

Bryan James works on Wonder of the Seas and shared a glimpse of what his cabin and crew restaurants, laundry, and stores look like.

New waterslide is being added to Thrill Waterpark

A new waterslide is being built at Royal Caribbean's water park on Perfect Day at CocoCay.

A new family flume slide is under construction, which will add a new slide designed to accommodate 2-4 people per raft.

It's being added to the Splash Summit Tower.

How Royal Caribbean's Main Dining Room works

Few cruise ship venues are as integral to the onboard experience as the Main Dining Room.

It's where you can go to eat dinner every night, along with breakfast, and lunch on sea days. The best part is it's included in your cruise fare.

How does the Main Dining Room work and what should you expect when eating there? We have a full breakdown of what to expect.

This cruise hack turns your cabin into a private area

If you're sharing a cabin with someone, this cruise ship cabin hack could make a big difference.

Using a shower curtain and magnets, you could section off part of your room to provide much needed privacy.

Creating a dark space can be perfect for light sleepers or those sharing a cabin with cruisers who use a different sleep schedule. 

Is Allure of the Seas the "worst" Oasis Class ship?

Allure of the Seas is the only Oasis Class cruise ship that doesn't have waterslides, the Ultimate Abyss, and many other ship wide enhancements, so does that make Allure a bad choice?

Often there are comments posted online about how Allure of the Seas feels outdated, so is that really the case?

Jenna sailed on Allure of the Seas to see for herself how the ship stacks up.

While a Canada and New England cruise might not be the most sought-after cruise itinerary, it's worth trying at least once.

The chance to see quaint towns, enjoy terrific seafood, and take in nature's beauty without the Caribbean heat are at the heart of why many try a cruise going north.

Royal Caribbean offers cruises to Canada and New England each year in the summer and early fall.  Cruises sail from New York, Boston, and sometimes Quebec or Baltimore. There are short and long cruises, and it's an important segment of Royal Caribbean's Northeast itineraries.

The appeal of vibrant fall foliage, watching excursions and lobster bakes draw many to these cruises.

If you're ready to try one, here are seven Canada and New England cruise tips to ensure you have a great time!

You can't plan for the weather

No matter which week or itinerary you pick, you'll be playing a guessing game as to what to expect when you go.

Between hurricane season and the transition between spring, summer, and fall, it could be hot, cold, rainy, or sunny. It's very similar to how difficult it is to plan around Alaska weather.

Unlike a Caribbean cruise that is going to be hot and probably sunny, one week in Canada can have very different weather to the next one.

What you will want to do when getting ready to pack for your cruise is keep track on the forecast, and try to see what the predictions are in the days leading up to your sailing.

Rain is probable, but it could just as likely be sunny. Make sure you bring rain gear, and even a pair of shorts.

It's also a good idea to pack fleece jackets or light sweaters you can easily take off or put back on.  Parkas or heavy jackets aren't necessary.

You dock very close to all the activities

It can be surprising how close your ship docks to the towns you visit on a Canada & New England cruise.

In most towns, you will dock downtown and be able to walk right into town and explore. This is different than many ports in the Caribbean or Europe, where ships dock far away.

This means you can easily do things quicker and without much transit time. 

While Royal Caribbean offers tours to many of the popular activities, you can easily find excursions to do on your own. In fact, Hop-on Hop-off buses visit places like the summit of Cadillac Mountain or the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic in Halifax.

Acadia National Park is just 1.3 miles from Bar Harbor, and you can walk along the Halifax waterfront.

You'll find towns very walkable and easy to explore on your own, so don't assume you need to have a shore excursion booked in order to get to the most popular activities.

The longer cruises are worth the time

Royal Caribbean offers Canada & New England cruises of various lengths, but you really should try to pick a longer sailing.

While the 4-night and 5-night cruises are cheap and easy to hop on, they usually visit just one or two ports and it may leave you feeling disappointed that you didn't get the full experience.

By picking a 7-night or longer Canada & New England, you'll get to visit ports in both Maine and Canada, and have access to more of the must-see sights this region is known for.

If you really want the best one-and-done itinerary, try an open-jaw sailing between Quebec and New York that visits ports throughout Northeast Canada and Maine.

Not everyone can make a week-long cruise work scheduling wise, but if you are teetering on which cruise to book, opt for the longer one.

Early summer advantage

By taking an early or mid summer cruise, you will find very comfortable temperatures on your cruise.

Cruises in June, July, and August will be comfortable out and that means you'll want to spend more time outdoors at lobster and clam bakes, whale watching, or sightseeing on the ocean.

August is likely the warmest month of the Canada and New England cruise season, with it being ideal for beach visits and pool time onboard.

The disadvantage of summer is it's the peak part of the season, and there will be multiple cruise ships in each port along with plenty of land tourists to contend with.

In addition, there's no fall leaf colors to see in summer.

If you prefer warmer temperatures over anything else, the summer is the way to go.

Fall foliage in late season

The opportunity to see the beautiful fall foliage is reason enough to book a Canada & New England cruise.

You'll need to book a cruise in September or October to enjoy the autumn feel and colors of the leaves. It's nearly impossible to know precisely when the leaves will be at their peak when you book a cruise a year in advance, but it won't be earlier than September.

Depending on how much rain the region gets, along with how hot summer is, will determine when the leaves start changing. You risk going when the leaves haven't changed yet or get there after they're mostly on the ground.

The best month for leaf peeping is October, although you're more likely to encounter colder temperatures and rain.

Lobster is a must-eat

Maine and the Maritime Provinces are the capital of sourcing lobster, and it's why you need to eat lobster on this cruise.

Many restaurants serve lobster rolls, broiled lobster, and bakes. If you remotely like to eat lobster, you need to go out of your way to eat some on this cruise.

If you're in Bar Harbor and other ports in Maine, order a lobster roll. Blueberry pie is also popular in this region.

Chowder is what you'll want to order in Boston, and Digby scallops are a great choice in Halifax.

If you love beer, there are so many great local brews you can try. Nearly every restaurant you go to will have a selection of local craft beers, so I recommend branching out and asking for what's local on tap.

Skip Peggy's Cove

I know this sounds crazy, but despite being an iconic symbol of the region, you're better off skipping Peggy's Cove in Nova Scotia.

I'm sure some will take umbrage with this tip, but the problem with Peggy's Cove is it gets overrun with tourists and it will take you about an hour to get there from Halifax. It's really more of a scenic stop, than a destination.

Lunenburg is a great place to explore while your ship is in Halifax. It's downtown is a UNESCO world heritage site. There's a fish market that overlooks the harbor has a great seafood.

Before you skip Halifax completely, make sure you explore the waterfront. It's a lovely boardwalk with shops, restaurants, and lovely views.  And you can walk there from your cruise ship, so no need to book anything special.