As the cruise industry stands on the merits of multiple quarters of financial success, cruise line executives see a lot of reason for even better days ahead.

Speaking at Seatrade Cruise Global conference in Miami, Florida, Royal Caribbean Group CEO Jason Liberty joined a panel of other CEOs during the keynote "State of the Global Cruise Industry" session to share insight into where cruising is going next.

The overarching theme for the keynote is cruise lines see many opportunities ahead.

Trends favoring taking a cruise

Mr. Liberty sees good times ahead for the cruise industry, thanks to secular and demographic trends that are favoring going on a cruise.

Thanks to a very healthy U.S. consumer, Mr. Liberty thinks so many data points are leaning in the direction of cruises.

"The appreciation for building memories with your friends and family coming out of Covid is at extraordinarily high levels of cruise."

In addition, he talked about the wealth transfer going on between generations, "Grandparents wanting to see that wealth transfer live, watching their kids and their grandkids experience that is also at all time highs."

He seemed to agree a lot with Carnival Corporation CEO Josh Weinstein's outlook on state of the cruise product, "we have evolved our product and our experiences to be at the very forefront of what our different customers and their different segments are looking to achieve."

One interesting statistic mentioned was there was 30.7 million people cruise passengers last year, and Mr. Liberty said about a third of them were brand new to a cruise ship.

"And you think about 10 million new people, coming in and will that number will grow each and every year. They are 4 or 5 times more likely to cruise again once they've had the experience."

Ambitions to do more private destinations

One question asked of Mr. Liberty was for an update on destination developments.

While he did not announce anything, he did allude to the idea that Royal Caribbean wants to offer more of those experiences, "I think for us, between the Royal Beach Club and Perfect Days, we have ambitions to do more of that."

"It's by far our highest rated experience that happens on land and that connected to other destination visits to other places is what's winning for us."

People that go on a cruise want a story

Mr. Liberty thinks people are going on a cruise not just for the typical vacation reasons, but to be able to share a humble brag when they get home.

"Our guests want to walk away with a story and they want to build a story," Mr. Liberty explained during the keynote.

"They're less focused on city tours. They're more focused on those kind of immersive culinary experiences that might happen on land, and then they want to build memories on the ships."

Pushing the experience with innovation

When the topic of innovation within the cruise industry came up, all eyes turned to Mr. Liberty because of the early wins on Icon of the Seas.

Royal Caribbean's first Icon Class ship has been a major innovation, setting a new standard for a family vacation and it was clear all the executives knew it too.

First and foremost, Royal Caribbean wants to ensure they are matching their customers' needs, "we all, I think, do is meeting our guests on the experiences that they're looking to deliver. Also meeting our guests when we think about in the dreaming and booking process, how do we take friction out of that customer experience, which I think is very important."

He also says while not necessarily super innovative, the progress with their land projects stands out, "you're seeing more immersiveness because the guests expectations of what their vacation experience should be like has broadened."

"If you want to compete with land, you want to take that share, and you need to have a product from end to end. You need to have an experience from dreaming to delivering that matches those expectations."

Nuclear power and the future of cruise ship fuels

How to make cruise ships more sustainable was a big topic of the keynote, with each executive talking about the challenges facing them. Supply of a next-gen fuel source seemed to be the overarching issue.

There are a number of options to help their cause, but cruise ships needs more options from suppliers. Shore power, marine bio fuels, and hydrogen are all options but severely lacking in availability.

Mr. Liberty pointed to the U.S. power grid as improving, but he wants more from it, "getting access to green sourcing, like nuclear as an example for shore power, we think is an important thing."

More importantly, he wants better access to cleaner fuel sources, "I think the key thing is bringing forward in the US to have those fuel sources, whether it's a green methanol or LNG, etc., available to us at the ports of call that we that we access and most of our bunkering takes place."

With reliable supply, then cruise ships can truly prepare for the future, "how do we make sure that when we come in and we fuel, we bunker our fuels, that those fuels are going to be available to us? And once we know that, then we can think about how do we retrofit our ships or what other actions can we be taking on the newer ships to get them ready to take on those alternative fuels into the future?"

Demand for China

When asked about future plans for China, Royal Caribbean Group has Spectrum of the Seas ready to go there now, with Anthem of the Seas going there in 2025.

Mr. Liberty said his company is "thoughtfully growing" in the Chinese market in order to return to their position there pre-2020.

"They are continuing to look for a Western experience that has the fine details of their Chinese culture and culinary etc. and we're all collectively very good at putting that together."

"We see very kind of prosperous future there, but we're going into it with a measured approach."

Ever since Brightline started offering train service between Orlando and South Florida, I've been hooked.

Not having to take the mind-numbing boring drive rife with traffic and slow downs is worth it every time, and I've become a convert to the train. I've taken at least a half dozen roundtrip rides, and it's an incredible innovation for anyone looking to get between the two areas.

Read more: I Rode on Brightline, Florida's New High-Speed Train

While I won't ever go back to driving myself, I did make one big change in how I approach my plans.

I started off always booking the Premium seats, but tried the economy Smart seats and don't see a good reason to go back.

Premium vs Smart tickets

Brightline has two classes of seats: Premium and Smart.  Think of them as business class and economy.

A Smart ticket gets you leather seats, complimentary WiFi and multiple power and USB connections at each seat.

Premium service adds complimentary snacks and beverages (including alcoholic beverages) and access to a Premium Lounge. Snacks and drinks are included both on the train and in the Premium Lounge.

In addition, the Premium car has a row of single seats, whereas the Smart cars are all double seating on each side of the aisle.

One other important difference is checked bags cost extra for Smart fares, but one bag is free per passenger with premium.

Depending on how far in advance you book your tickets and how much demand there is for that time, the prices can vary.

For a ride between Orlando and Miami, a one-way Smart ticket starts at $54 per person, while a one-way Premium ticket starts at $144 per person. I did find a 4:50am ticket going for $49 per person for a Smart fare, but the Premium was still $144.

If you book your ticket closer to the day of travel, or if there is high demand for a seat and tickets are selling quick, prices can go up quickly. I found peak pricing for a Smart fare to be $154 per person and $224 per person fo Premium.

Why Premium isn't worth it for me

My first few rides were all in Premium because I thought the added benefits were important to me.

Specifically, I booked it to get access to a single seat so I didn't have to sit next to anyone, along with the free food and drink that came with it.

I always enjoyed my rides in Premium, and the Premium Lounge was a nice touch when I got to the station early and had a lot of time to waste until the train left. 

After a few rides on Brightline, I started to consider if the benefits were really worth the extra cost.

I booked Smart fares for the last few rides on Brightline and I really don't see a good reason for me to go back.

While I have had to sit next to a stranger more often than not on my train rides while in Smart class, the reality is the person sitting next to me was only a necessity for the South Florida leg.  The vast majority of the ride (Orlando to West Palm or even Boca Raton) is quite empty.  Brightline hasn't made headways into the commuter market in Central Florida as it has in South Florida.  So at worst, I'm sitting next to a stranger for an hour of my 3 and a half hour ride.

The complimentary food and drink are nice, but I found the food choices to be nothing special. It's better than nothing, but it's just snacks and sandwiches I never thought much of.  

The included beers and cocktails are fun, but I'm certainly not drinking enough to "get my money's worth" out of it. Maybe one or two drinks, but I don't indulge on the train because I'm either driving when I get off the train, or I'm trying to do work.

One of the major reasons I love taking Brightline instead of driving is I get the commute time back to work on Royal Caribbean Blog and Cruise Blog. With the high-speed internet, it's like being in the office in terms of productivity. 

As for the luggage, the truth is I bring my luggage onboard with me to the train and there's no cost. I roll my full-size suitcase onboard, stick it in the luggage rack, and then take it off the train. Quite easy, and no need to check bags.

I quickly came to the conclusion that the Premium fare benefits are nice to have, but considering the cost difference you can expect, I don't see a need to book it.

The exception might be later this summer when I take my family on Brightline to go to Miami for our Icon of the Seas cruise. All those snacks and drinks make the ride more fun for the kids, and my wife prefers to check luggage when possible.

You shouldn't look at the Premium and Smart fares as being as different as coach and first class airfare. While the Premium benefits are nice, I find the Smart fares to be "good enough" and the added benefits not worth the price difference.

Before you book a cruise, you might want to compare the price of a shore excursion, drink package, or spa treatment.

Royal Caribbean's pre-cruise purchases are big business for the line, as it's a major source of revenue every quarter. But the price for these add-ons aren't the same across the board.

Royal Caribbean employs dynamic pricing for its add-on purchases, which means the price charged for the same shore excursion, drink package, or WiFi internet package could be different depending on which ship or sail date you go on.

In some cases, the price differences can truly be significant. 

As an example, for the May 20, 2024 sailing of Freedom of the Seas, the cost of an Overwater Cabana at Perfect Day at CocoCay is just $958. 

But on the June 29, 2024 sailing of Icon of the Seas, that same cabana is $4,999 (and sold out!).

The dramatic price differences could be a compelling reason to pick one sailing over another, especially if you're debating which week to book a cruise.

There's a hack you can use to preview the price of these cruise add-ons before you actually book a cruise.  

How to access the Cruise Planner without booking a cruise

This hack is pretty simple, you just need a web browser and a list of ship codes.

All you need to do is manipulate the website address of the Cruise Planner to see what's available.

Many thanks to Royal Caribbean Blog message board member ZBrady for outlining the instructions.

Step 1: Copy this URL

Use this URL and paste it into a Notepad or other blank document for easier editing:

https://www. royalcaribbean.com/ account/cruise-planner? bookingId=&shipCode=ZZ &sailDate=YYYYMMDD

Step 2: Find your ship code

You're going to need to replace the "ZZ" in the URL for "shipCode" to be the two letter ship abbreviation for the Royal Caribbean ship you want to sail on.

Adventure - AD
Allure - AL
Anthem - AN
Brilliance - BR
Enchantment - EN
Explorer - EX
Freedom - FR
Grandeur - GR
Harmony - HM
Icon - IC
Independence - ID
Jewel - JW
Liberty - LB
Mariner - MA
Navigator - NV
Oasis - OA
Odyssey - OY
Ovation - OV
Quantum - QN
Radiance - RD
Rhapsody - RH
Serenade - SR
Spectrum - SC
Star - ST
Symphony - SY
Vision - VI
Voyager - VY
Wonder - WN
Utopia - UT

Once you find your ship code, replace the "ZZ" in the URL with the exact ship code.  Yes, it needs to be capital letters.

Assuming you were looking for Wonder of the Seas, the URL would now be:

https://www. royalcaribbean.com/account/cruise-planner ?bookingId=&shipCode=WN &sailDate=YYYYMMDD

Step 3: Change the Sail Date

Then you need to change the sailDate value to be the first day of the cruise.

Let's assume you want to see what the December 1, 2024 sailing of Wonder of the Seas. 

You would need to enter 20241201 into the URL. The new URL would be: 

https://www. royalcaribbean.com/account/cruise-planner ?bookingId= &shipCode=WN &sailDate=20241201

Step 4: Enter the complete URL into private browser mode

As a matter of best practice, open an incognito or private browser window to and then copy and paste the URL and give it a try.

This hack appears to work only if you're not signed into your account, so it's easier and simpler to use an incognito window.

If you managed to enter the information correctly (i.,e. the right ship code and sail date), then it should work!

Why Royal Caribbean uses dynamic pricing

If you're wondering why the price of cruise add-ons costs more or less depending on the sail date and vessel, it's because this is more profitable for the line.

In general, newer cruise ships command higher prices. Not just for cruise fares, but also for the add-ons that come with it.

When demand for a sailing is higher, the price of the fare and the add-on generally goes up to match it. It's similar to how a baseball game ticket costs more for certain teams or airline tickets cost more over holidays.

On the flip side, if you happen to be on a sailing that has less demand and pay less than someone else does, it's not a bad deal. 

The price today could change later

Keep in mind that if you use this hack to preview the price of something, it could change at any time.

Royal Caribbean employs a pricing algorithm to its add-ons, and there are constantly new sales and promotions. This leads to price fluctuations all the time.

Your best bet is once you settle on a particular cruise to book, reserve any cruise add-on you absolutely want immediately to lock in the price.

All extras purchased on the Cruise Planner website are refundable up to the sailing, so if there's a better price at any point between when you make a reservation and your sail date, you can cancel and rebook at the lower price without any penalty.

This is one of our best tips for saving money, because with a little bit of vigilant checking, you'll end up with the lowest possible price for these items.

Alexa H. Bluth is a writer who lives in Sacramento with her husband, two sort of well-behaved teenage daughters, and two not-at-all well-behaved dogs. She took some time to write this guest post entry about what she's learned about cruising with teenagers and why they love taking Royal Caribbean cruises together as a family. You can check out a previous post she wrote about first time cruising here. 

If there’s one thing nobody wants to hear on a family vacation, it’s “I’m bored.”

So parents of teenagers might be hesitant to take them on a cruise. A common misperception is that cruising is only for senior citizens and parents wanting to drop their small kids at daycare to go drink rum punch by the pool (not that there’s anything wrong with that!).

You might be wondering, "Will my teenagers have fun on a cruise?"

The answer is a resounding YES. Cruise vacations are ideal for families with teenagers, with ships brimming with fun-filled activities and ports full of adrenaline-packed adventures.

What is there for teens to love about cruises?

Teen lounges

In addition to Adventure Ocean for younger kids, Royal Caribbean ships have teen areas on board for youth ages 12-17. 

They can come and go from these venues without signing in or out (unlike the younger kids). These offer a spot to meet new friends, chill out, play games, and more. The teen club staff typically hosts a bunch of activities, from scavenger hunts and game shows to karaoke and teen-only time on the FlowRider.

You’ll get a weekly schedule of teen activities in your room, or you can pick one up in the teen club.

Pro tip: Make sure your teen goes to the teen lounge on night one to sign up for activities and start making friends immediately.

Pools and hot tubs

While this is an obvious one, teens can spend hours basking in the sunshine and sea air and swimming in brisk, clear pools on a cruise ship. The pool deck offers a vibrant spot, often pulsing with pop music, for teens to hang out.

They can sip a mocktail or enjoy a snack or soft serve cone while they’re at it. And don’t forget the water slides that many new and amped-up ships boast!

Arcades

Most ships have arcades, offering a variety of games (for an extra charge). Teens can head there to enjoy a game of air hockey or Donkey Kong. Set a budget for them and let them enjoy!

Food

I mean, they’re teenagers, so this one is a no-brainer. Ships offer a vast variety of food, including grab-and-go items that teens can snag until the wee hours of the night.

My teens particularly love venturing out for quesadillas from El Loco Fresh, pizza from Sorrento's, desserts (plural) from the buffet, and soft serve on the pool deck.

Another bonus is that picky eaters often are willing to try new things on cruises because of the wide selection of foods available. You might even get them to try escargot in the Main Dining Room! Never say never.

Friendships

My kids always make friends in the teen areas with whom they meet up for the rest of the cruise. This is why having an internet package that allows them to message each other comes in handy. 

Don’t be surprised if your teen meets new friends that they stay in touch with long after the cruise.

If you have a shy teen, don’t fret. The teen club staff are particularly skilled at coaxing quiet kids into participating. Or, of course, there is plenty for them to do if the teen club is not for them.

Independence 

This is another of my kids’ favorite aspects of cruises. They don’t have to spend every moment with their parents and they have more freedom than on a land-based vacation.

They can hang out in the teen lounge or grab a slice of pizza at Sorrento's on their own. We typically let our kids have a fair amount of independence on cruises, but of course, it comes with a set of strict rules including never entering anyone else’s cabin, staying in populated public areas, behaving well, and not doing anything dangerous.

My eldest particularly enjoyed exploring the ship and going to game shows sans parents with their new-found friends and has even met up with one friend they met on a cruise who lives nearby. 

Port excursions

Port excursions are cruise highlights, for sure. What teen wouldn’t love horseback riding on a beach, zip lining through a jungle, rafting along the rapids of a glacial river, jet skiing through crystal clear water, or snorkeling in a sea teeming with colorful fish?

Port days will not disappoint, even if it’s a chill beach day of sunbathing and boogie boarding or a cultural tour through a historic city. These priceless days offer endless options of activities that will create lifelong memories for the entire family. 

Perfect Day at CocoCay

Need I say more? Royal Caribbean’s private island literally has an area called Thrill Water Park. If your itinerary includes a trip there, teens will dig the daring water slides, the massive wave pool, and the variety of food that is included in your cruise fare.

Your drink package will work on CocoCay, too, so if you’ve sprung for the deluxe soda package (which I recommend you do), teens can sip a soda or mocktail while they soak in the fun. 

Game and stage shows

The headliner shows on the main stage are often can’t miss, featuring everything from Broadway-style shows to juggling acts. The comedians on board often have a family-friendly show earlier in the evenings that teens can enjoy, too.

Meanwhile, teens tend to love trivia, “Name that Tune,” and other game shows. They might grumble about the idea at first, but trust me, once they’re playing, that competitive spirit will kick in and they’ll have a blast.

The cruise director staff’s enthusiasm is always reliably infectious. My teens tended to roll their eyes at the idea of “80s music trivia” but inevitably had fun with us trying to remember whether David Bowie or Billy Idol sang a song. If you really need a hook to get them to try it out, just tell them there are prizes. Teens love free stuff.

Activities

A scavenger hunt may sound cheesy to some teens, but you’d be surprised how much fun they’ll have racing through the ship searching for selfies with a couple with matching shirts, a crew member, or three generations of the same family. Plus, there are plenty more ship-sanctioned activities, such as silent discos and belly flop contests, that teens will love.

Many Royal Caribbean ships also have mini-golf courses, sports courts, and movies offered at the theater or by the pool. The newest ships in Royal Caribbean's fleet offer all sorts of incredible opportunities right on board. These include simulated skydiving, water slides, FlowRider surf simulators, bumper cars, ice skating, and water slides. Enough said. 

Family time

Family time, you say?! With teenagers?! Yep. There is something magical about cruising that truly does create memorable “together time.”

Don’t get me wrong, they will bury their faces in their phones, be embarrassed by everything you do, toss their soaking wet towels everywhere in the cabin, and glare at you when you wake them for an early port day. There will be many special moments, too, perhaps as you sail away from port with virgin daiquiris in hand and music blaring that makes it impossible not to be happy. 

You might also find that they enjoy dinners together in the Main Dining Room. They might also laugh at you screaming your head off while zip-lining on an excursion.

Their phones

Yep. Let’s be real, they’re teenagers. Get the internet package.

They will love posting selfies on Instagram and making TikToks at sunset. They can use the ship’s app to find out about activities or find their way around the ship.

And, as mentioned above, they can communicate and make plans with their new-found friends, and with their parents of course. 

Sunsets and sea views

Give teenagers some credit. They, too, will enjoy the spectacular ocean views and mesmerizing sunsets.

Encourage them to find a perch for the perfect sunset selfie or give them binoculars and designate them as the official family wildlife spotter.

I promise they will never forget these special moments on the vacation of a lifetime, and I guarantee that two words you won’t be hearing are “I’m bored.”

Watching your favorite team play doesn't take a break when you're on a cruise ship, and for those that are passionate fans, this means catching the game and rooting for their team no matter what.

Playmakers Sports Bar and Arcade is Royal Caribbean's sports bar venue, and it features lots of televisions that show a variety of sports programming. For casual game watching, it's a hot spot and can get very busy when there are major events happening.

On Wonder of the Seas, Playmakers has the Owner's Box, which is a private VIP alcove you can rent for a few hours and I wanted to see what it was like to get this during the onset of March Madness in the NCAA men's basketball tournament.

Playmakers is known for being a sports lovers paradise

The first Playmakers opened on Symphony of the Seas when that ship launched, and it's become a favorite of cruisers for its a la carte menu, viewing opportunities, and causal atmosphere.

Now it's found on several ships across Royal Caribbean's fleet, including the brand new Icon of the Seas.

Read more: Icon of the Seas information, tips & tricks

The Playmakers Owner Box VIP Section costs $350

The seating in Playmakers is on a first-come, first-reserved basis. There's no ability to make advanced reservations, which can be problematic if you really want to see a particular game and many other passengers do too.

The newer Playmakers have the Owners Box, which you can book during the cruise to assure you of space for your group.

It's really meant as a group activity, with enough space for a dozen or so people. 

On our spring break sailing, I wanted to catch the opening of the basketball tournament to see the University of Connecticut play (Go Huskies!).

It costs $350 for 2 and a half hours, although the staff were adamant we could stay for as long as our game was playing.

You get two pitchers of beer, 12 wings, and 2 appetizers from the regular menu. The beer is limited to what's on tap.

The Owner's Box is located near the Boardwalk

A velvet rope sections off the Owner's Box from the rest of Playmakers, and you'll find the most comfortable chairs  surrounded by televisions.

The staff welcomed us in and the restaurant's manager came by to ensure the games we wanted to see were on the screen. There are two large televisions, along with a few smaller sets that line the walls. You can easily watch 3-4 games at the same time, although Royal Caribbean's satellite feed is not quite the same as at home.

Luckily, they had most of the games available to watch, so it was just a matter of having the staff change the channel on each television to match what we wanted.

The box is open air, which means noise from the Boardwalk can easily bleed through.  Moreover, while the restaurant is air conditioned, the open air nature of the restaurant means the outside heat and humidity certain seeps in.

When we sat down, there was a large family activity going on that was quite loud. Plus, I'd be concerned in the warmer months of the year how hot it gets in the venue.

There are sound bubbles

Noise bleed from around the bar and in the Boardwalk is going to happen, so Royal Caribbean installed what I call "sound bubbles".

These speakers in the ceiling have a plastic dome around them to direct the sound directly downwards to whomever is sitting below it.

They do indeed work, and it allows you to easily hear the game you want to watch, even if it's noisy around you.

Playmaker's food is just what you want on game day

Burgers, wings, nachos, oh my! 

Whether you're in the Owner's Box or not, the comfort food at Playmakers is your typical sports bar selections that hits the spot for most people.

A lot of the menu is great for sharing, which is conducive to a group experience in the Owner's Box. It's easy to get nachos, and place it in the middle to share.

Besides the snacks and beer included with the rental, you can order anything else you'd like off of the regular menu. 

I think the onion ring tower, nachos, and buffalo crunch rolls are all worth trying there.  Those are great for sharing, but order your own Campfire Cookie because you won't want to give any of that up.

We had fun, but I wouldn't rent the Owner's Box again

UCONN won its game, and we enjoyed all the food and drinks provided, but I'm not sure I need to experience this again.

At $350, it's not outrageously expensive for a large group, but I'm not sure I need to spend the money for a dedicated area again. 

If you're a die-hard fan and you're on a cruise for a critical game, then you might consider renting the Owner's Box for your group. It certainly is nice having reserved seats and space to spread out.

The bar's service was impeccable, and they did just about anything to ensure we got what we wanted.

I glanced around a few times and even though it was the NCAA tournament, there were still stools and booths available that we could have sat at for free to watch the game. Perhaps if the price was closer to $100, it might have been worth it.

The decision to rent the Owner's Box truly comes down to your passion as a fan, and how important it is to you to have a reserved section.  

On one of the biggest cruise ships in the world, you'll find a giant suite that has more space and amenities than you ever thought possible on a cruise ship.

Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas has an entire neighborhood dedicated to just suites, and it's where you'll find some of the largest cabins on any cruise ship.

The Royal Loft Suite is one of the biggest suites on the ship, and also one of the most expensive.  It comes with the ship's best perks, known as Star Class. It comes with complimentary drink package, specialty dining, gratuities, and the services of the Royal Genie.  

Read more: My advice for someone using a Royal Genie on a Royal Caribbean cruise

It's a big room with the best benefits Royal Caribbean offers, and we got a chance to tour the cabin. Let's take a look inside.

The Royal Loft Suite has its own entrance on deck 18

The Royal Loft Suite is located within the suite neighborhood, which is an area of the ship that only has suite cabins. There are suites on other decks too, but this area is reserved exclusively for suite guests.

Unlike other suites that share a common hallway, the Royal Loft Suite has its own glass door that stops anyone from even reaching the actual door to the cabin. It's like its own mini-hallway.

A chime outside the glass door rings inside the cabin to allow entry.

Guests are welcomed into the foyer

As you walk into the Royal Loft Suite, it becomes apparent quickly this is a very different cruise ship cabin.

There is a baby grand piano on your right, a wet bar on your left, and floor-to-ceiling windows leading to the balcony.

The look of the room is also quite opulent, with hardwood floors and marble furnishings.

This suite features a large living room and dining area

Sprawling is the best word to describe this cabin, as the main floor has a dining room table that can seat up to 8 people.

Room service is included with this suite, and that includes being able to order food from specialty restaurants or the Main Dining Room. Guests staying in this cabin are able to have their meal served in the dining room.

To the right is the living room, and it has lots of space to relax.

There is a large couch, chair, and even a pair of hanging rocking chairs. I especially liked the couch had a chaise to it, making it far more comfortable for lounging.

There are two floors, with the master bedroom exclusively on the upper level

As the name implies, there is an upper loft area that is just for the master bedroom and bath.

Stairs lead to the upper level, where you'll find a king size bed. The bed overlooks the rest of the suite and has views to the windows, providing ocean views.

If you need privacy, a curtain can be extended by the push of a button to completely envelop the bedroom.

Behind the bed are more closets than you could possibly need, with floor-to-ceiling doors that offer drawers and hanging space.

The master bathroom has an amazing shower

The amount of extra space continues into the master bath, with dual sinks and lots of counter space.

Within the shower is a rainforest shower with a pair of handheld shower heads, along with various nozzles.

There's also a soaking tub nearby.

The toilet is separated by a door, and has a remote controlled bidet.

The balcony is smaller than other Royal Loft Suites, but has a better location

I was surprised by how much smaller the balcony space was on this balcony compared to the Royal Loft Suite balcony on Allure of the Seas, but Royal Caribbean made up for it with an ocean view that doesn't have the privacy issues other ships have.

The balcony has its own hot tub to enjoy, along with a table and chairs nearby.

There's also two more hanging rocking chairs that face the ocean, along with a wet bar and television.

The second bedroom has space for additional guests

On the lower floor is the second bedroom, which can sleep an additional two guests. The bed does not separate.

This room has its own doorway, along with storage and even a chair.  Just like the master bedroom, the television retracts down from the ceiling.

While the bathroom is not nearly as large as the master bathroom, it's still quite nice and has multiple faucets inside the shower.

The Royal Loft Suite comes with a genie

Just as important as the room is the services of the Royal Genie, who isn't quite a butler, but is just as helpful.

The genie is responsible for three cabins on Wonder of the Seas, and assists with just about every need their guests might have. Dinner reservations, seats for a show, escorting on and off the ship, and even getting elevators for their guests are just some of the benefits they provide.

Think of a genie as an "easy button" for the cruise, where you don't need to pre-book things and simply inform the genie what you want to do, and they will make it happen.

The Royal Loft Suite is one of the biggest and over-the-top suites you can book on a cruise ship

Cruise ships have become well-known for offering incredible experiences that you can't believe are available at sea, and this suite certainly fits the bill.

Suite accommodations are not about providing a dollar-for-dollar value, but rather, an option for the well-to-do that can afford it. Walking through the cabin, you quickly get a sense this is unlike other cruise ship cabins (or even lesser suites).

The combination of sprawling space and services of the Royal Genie mean anyone willing to pay the price tag to enjoy a stay here.

It looks as though Royal Caribbean will shift its cruise ship impacted by the Baltimore bridge collapse to Norfolk.

Vision of the Seas is the sole Royal Caribbean cruise ship sailing from Baltimore, and was out on a long sailing when the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed after being hit by a cargo ship.

Guests booked on the April 12 sailing of Vision of the Seas received an update late on Thursday to inform them that the ship will sail from Norfolk, Virginia instead.

Reddit user thrawaway1234567890 posted a copy of the letter confirming the change in operations.

"After the recent bridge collapse, Baltimore will not be prepared to safely embark guests on April 12, 2024. After exploring all options, Norfolk, Virginia was the best temporary alternate home port for Vision of the Seas," the letter explained.

Royal Caribbean last used Norfolk as a homeport between 2007 and 2010.

In addition, the April 12 sailing will need to be shortened by a day to come back on April 19 instead of April 20, resulting in a change in itinerary and dropping a visit to Royal Caribbean's private island of Perfect Day at CocoCay.

Vision of the Seas is currently on a 12-night Southern Caribbean sailing that is not due back into port until April 4.

Royal Caribbean's Vision of the Seas sails out of Maryland, offering cruises to the Bahamas, Southern Caribbean, Bermuda, and Canada/New England. Other cruise lines, such as Norwegian and Carnival, sail from Baltimore, too. 

Carnival temporarily moved to Norfolk too

Carnival Cruise Line announced a move to Norfolk earlier this week.

While the situation in Baltimore remains in flux as it relates to re-opening the Port of Baltimore waterways, Carnival announced they would temporarily move Carnival Legend’s Baltimore operations to Norfolk, Virginia.  

Carnival Legend is scheduled to return from its current voyage on Sunday, March 31. It will now return to Norfolk on Sunday, and guests will be provided complimentary bus service back to Baltimore. Carnival Legend’s next seven-day itinerary on March 31 will then operate from and return to Norfolk. Guests on the current and upcoming cruises are being informed of this change. 

What happened to the Key Bridge?

In the early morning hours on Tuesday, March 26, a cargo ship that suddenly lost power crashed into one of the support columns of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, causing parts of the bridge to collapse into the Patapsco River.

Video footage shows cars and trucks falling into the cold water below.

The nearly 1,000-foot-long cargo ship lost propulsion shortly after leaving the Port of Baltimore. The ship was traveling at a speed of 8 knots, which is about 9 mph, before crashing into the bridge.

The Singapore-owned ship, called the Dali, was departing Baltimore and heading to Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka.

Moments before the crash, the crew onboard issued a mayday call to the Maryland Department of Transportation and the Maryland Transit Authority so traffic could be stopped from both sides of the bridge. According to Baltimore mayor Brandon Scott, this mayday call “saved many lives.”

The mayor, along with Maryland Governor Wes Moore, declared a state of emergency soon after the bridge collapsed.

At the time of the collapse, there was a team of construction workers who were filling potholes on the bridge. With the bridge collapse, the workers were sadly tossed into the Patapsco River. Of the eight workers, two were rescued, two bodies were recovered, and four are still missing and presumed dead (at the time of this article).

The FBI stated that this incident did not have any terrorist involvement. It was purely an accident.

According to some analysts, The Port of Baltimore could be reopened in less than a year, but rebuilding the Francis Scott Key Bridge could take up to 10 years. Construction of the bridge cannot begin until after the cleanup.

President Joe Biden said in a briefing, “This is going to take some time. And the people of Baltimore can count on us, though, to stick with them at every step of the way until the port is reopened and the bridge is rebuilt."

The Francis Scott Key Bridge was more than 1.6 miles long and was one of the longest continuous truss bridges in the world.

Investigation is currently taking place to understand what caused the cargo ship to lose power.

Cruise prices are on the rise, and that makes free cruise offers through the ship's casino much more enticing than ever before.

Royal Caribbean has its own loyalty program tied to gambling in its casinos. Similar to land casinos, the more you play, the better benefits you get.

I never paid much attention to the casino offers and its perks because I only casually gambled on my cruises and wasn't aware of how lucrative the program can be. The more I cruised, the more I became aware of what it offered, and I was intrigued.

Read more: How to get free cruises through the casino

Let's stop here and remind everyone gambling is very addictive and is not for everyone. Know your limits, and you could easily spend much more in gambling losses than what you could get on a cruise. There is definitely a bigger picture to consider.

You can earn free cruise offers based on how much you gamble during a sailing, and if things go moderately right, you could come home with a free cruiser offer.

How I got a room just by playing in the casino

On my spring break cruise in March, I had some good fortune in the casino and won enough money at the beginning of the cruise to budget my gambling for the remainder of the sailing.

Usually I'll play $100-200 on any given day in the casino, primarily in the evening after dinner and nightly entertainment on the ship. But on this cruise, my early win allowed me to play a bit more since I had a cushion.

In short, you can earn one point for every few dollars you wager (not wins or losses, just how much you play). 

At the casino host desk, there is a sheet that lists how many points during that sailing you need to reach certain reward thresholds. The lowest milestone is 1200 points, where you can get an inside stateroom for free and just pay taxes and port fees.

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

I got my 1200 points, and then booked an open cruise booking with NextCruise, which is a requirement to get your free room.  Once I got home, I called Casino Royale and booked my cruise based on the available sailings that qualify.

Read more: 4 common mistakes people make when booking another cruise onboard their ship

You can't use the free cabin offer on any cruise. There are a list of blacked out sailings, and it's no surprise they are over holidays.

I found an  offer on Freedom of the Seas in May, and went ahead and booked it. I opted for an inside guarantee cabin, because I would get an additional $25 in free play at the casino if I went with that instead of picking a room.

I then checked how much my room would have cost if I paid cash for it that same day, and it was $1499.29.

I paid $204.29 for my free room, which was just the port fees and taxes.  Meaning, I saved $1295 on the booking.

Of course, I'd have to refer back to how much I gambled on my cruise to get it, and in this case, I came out ahead because of my windfall that buoyed my play.  That's not always going to be case.

The counter-argument when someone says "you're paying for the room, it's just in gambling losses" is while true, some people are going to gamble anyway in the casino.  It's one thing to go out of your way to gamble, but some people play enough whether there's a free room offer or not.

By offering cruises to further entice play, someone could continue to cruise and save a lot of money on their cruise fare.

Of course, luck isn't always on your side. I've been on cruises where it seems like the you cannot win anything, and losses can mount quickly.  It's entirely possible to lose thousands of dollars and come home with just an inside cabin on a weekend cruise to show for it. It's important to keep this in mind when playing, and be realistic about your play.

The best last-minute deal on the market

In addition to winning a cruise based on your play, Royal Caribbean will periodically send offers select members to entice them to come sail again and play in the casino.

It's not uncommon to get online, email, or even printed letters with an offer of a free or reduced fare cruise. Often, these are for sailings coming up in the next few months.

With regular fares being so much more expensive, it's impressive how lucrative these casino offers can be even for just casual play.

An added bonus to relying on casino bookings is you can cruise more, which helps catapult you up the Crown and Anchor Society membership tier ladder faster.

In my situation, I found my Freedom of the Seas sailing to be a steal. I paid money to gamble that I probably would have done even if there was no free cruise offer, and I came away with a bonus sailing.

While you should expect gambling losses, I still think the Casino Royale offers are the best deal you can get on a cruise these days, especially on a close-in sailing.

It's certainly not an option for everyone, but those that have a stomach for casual gambling might find the best Royal Caribbean cruise deals coming through the casino.