There are 2 new Royal Caribbean ships coming out in 2024, but is it a good idea to book an inaugural voyage or wait until later to try out the new ship.
Share with me your thoughts, questions and comments via...
You'll need to be a little bit older to access the adults-only pool on your next Royal Caribbean cruise.
It looks like Royal Caribbean has changed the minimum age to access the Solarium area on its cruise ships.
In an update sent via email, the cruise line indicated it is responding to guest feedback by changing the minimum age.
Going forward, guests will need to be 18 years old or older to access the Solarium. Prior to this change, guests had to be at least 16 years old.
"At Royal Caribbean, our guests' feedback matters. This is why we have decided to keep our 'adults-only' areas consistent, and update the Solarium age restriction from 16+ to 18+ years old."
The update was sent to travel agents.
While the age limit has changed, kids are still allowed to walk through the Solarium, such as to access the Solarium Bistro restaurant. The difference is they cannot stop and spend time in the venue or its pools.
Historically, a ship will waive the minimum age for cold weather cruises when the public pool for all guests is too cold, such as on Alaska cruises.
The minimum age of 16 years old to access the Solarium has been in place for many years.
The subject of changing the minimum age has been a hot button topic for years, and it usually comes up as a question to Royal Caribbean executives on a Presidents Cruise event.
Perhaps related is the fact the change comes just a few months after the 2023 President's Cruise, when some guests voiced their concern regarding the minimum age in the Solarium.
It's not clear exactly why the change was made now after so many years with 16 being the minimum, other than "guest feedback".
One benefit of making the Solarium only available for 18 year olds or older is that aligns better with other adult-only areas.
Some guests expressed frustration in that the Solarium allowed 16 and 17-year-olds, but the minimum age for adults at the new Hideaway Beach area of Perfect Day at CocoCay is 18 and above.
The exact offerings depend on the ship, but inside the Solarium you will often find a pool, hot tub, seating area and a bar. Some ships have food inside the Solarium at a Park Cafe or Solarium Bistro location.
Another difference between the Solarium and the main pool are the loungers tend to be padded.
Some ships have a totally glass-enclosed Solarium area, while other ships are open-air. The glass keeps the heat in, and often, the Solarium is one of the warmest spots onboard.
On Royal Caribbean's newer cruise ships, you'll find a greater variety of seating, included padded couches and other comfortable seating.
There is no additional cost to access the Solarium.
With a topic like age restrictions, there's no shortage of opinions on Royal Caribbean's policy change.
Pippa Madden wrote, "I really had no idea it was such an issue."
Many readers celebrated the news, but questioned how effective it would be in terms of the rules being enforced. Tom Thomasson exemplified many comments, "About time. Now if they will enforce it."
There are a few well-known guest conduct policies that are policy on paper, but rarely enforced. The so-called "chair hog" problem of guests reserving pool loungers, dress code in the main dining room, and curfew rules at select venues are examples of such long-standing gripes cruisers have with a lack of rule enforcement.
Read more: How to beat the chair hogs on your cruise ship
Ryan Longo thought the cruise line should have gone further, "Should be 21 but 18 is good enough."
There's a new way to spend your day by the pool on the newest Royal Caribbean cruise ship.
Guests can now book an in-pool daybed on Icon of the Seas for an additional cost.
Royal Caribbean has added the new option to its Cruise Planner website, which are located in the Hideaway neighborhood.
The Hideaway is located on deck 15 above Surfside neighborhood , and it's essentially a beach club or Vegas pool party scene that the cruise line is going for. Access to The Hideaway is complimentary, but there are daybeds you can choose to rent.
The Hideaway Pool is the first suspended infinity pool at sea, and it's one of the signature options on Icon of the Seas.
You'll find tiered lounge space, hot tubs and a bar specializing in Champagne and Champagne-based cocktails.
There are two types of day beds, with the option to reserve them on port days or sea days.
Both types include amenities provided for up to 2 - 4 guests.
The cruise line warns daybeds are uncovered with limited access to shade.
The in-pool daybed are a full-sized daybeds which, "channel beach club party vibes at the first suspended infinity pool at sea."
It includes:
Royal Caribbean describes it as, "Whether you're lounging with friends or jamming to the beat, these In-Pool Daybeds are your haven of comfort onboard. Your exclusive retreat awaits. Space is limited and may sell out — book yours today!"
The other option is an oceanview daybed, and as you might imagine, the difference is its location.
The amenities are the same, but offer full-size daybeds which overlook the ocean.
These include:
Guests under the age of 18 will receive complimentary mocktails to substitute the champagne bottle.
In comparing prices across multiple Icon of the Seas sailings, the prices for the daybeds in the Hideaway seem to be the same.
Another option for a private retreat near a pool are the casitas, which are available on the pool deck.
Casitas have been offered on other Royal Caribbean cruise ships for an extra cost. On Icon of the Seas, they will have an additional fee as well.
Located at Chill Island on Deck 16, casitas cost more than day beds, but also offer more included, like towels, a tabletop cooler, water bottles, a charging outlet, and dedicated bar service at the touch of a button.
The full list of what you get for a casita on Icon of the Seas:
Amenities are provided for up to 6 - 8 guests.
Since the new option appeared to book, cruise fans aren't surprised to see such a new extra cost option.
Xaa wrote, "Those beds will sell everyday. People want them. If they were free, the hogging and associated conflicts created would be constant. "
Gilley wasn't a fan just because of the lack of shade, "it’s in the sun, no umbrella. I will pass."
asquared17 added, "I don’t know how comfortable I’d feel with spending money for what is essentially an island that anyone could swim up to and haul aboard."
The Hideaway is a new type of neighborhood on a cruise ship, and Royal Caribbean thinks it will offer something very different than other pools.
A combination of music and location, The Hideaway is designed to offer a beach club experience.
"Perfectly perched in the center of the new Hideaway neighborhood and with its own resident DJ, it's the ultimate spot to keep the beach club vibes going all day. Designed with disappearing edges for seamless sunsets and full-sized daybeds surrounded by water, this signature suspended infinity pool will make for your most snap-worthy sea day yet."
After planning a cruise vacation for months or years, the last thing you want to do is come home wishing you had done something you could have done.
Cruise ships are packed with a a great deal of things to do, and then there's the fun to be had on shore. It's easy to list it all now, but when you get on the ship time becomes fleeting and you could miss out on a few things on your personal "must-do" list.
Whether you ran out of time, neglected to walk over, or were too timid to give it a shot, there's plenty of things you might regret not doing on a cruise.
I asked our readers what is one thing they regret not trying on a cruise to get a sense of the top things they would love a chance to do over again.
Whimsical or weird?
Ben wrote, "I’ve been on Anthem a few times and haven’t tried Wonderland. I heard it’s not everyone’s favorite but I feel I need to try it at least once."
Wonderland is indeed a different kind of restaurant. It's loosely based on the "Alice in Wonderland" story and the food and service is anything but conventional.
Royal Caribbean's ice skating shows are an impressive feat of skill and poise, but some may overlook it.
Judy Carson wrote, "Going to the ice show. We miss it time and time again."
Admittedly, ice skating may not sound like something you absolutely need to see, but I'm always impressed by these shows because of how well put together they are. The choreography, music, and of course abilities of the skaters really stand out.
Having done the zip-line on Royal Caribbean's Oasis Class ships, I can see why some might side step a visit.
Located on the back of the ship on the Sports Deck, they can develop long lines and it's directly in the sun. During the warmer months of the year, it can get very hot out there.
And then there's the chasm below you must traverse during the ride, which may give guests some trepidation about giving it a try.
"The zip line. Hours way too short," is what Jennifer Allred said.
Steve Welker also lamented not going on it, "Zip line, maybe one day!"
And don't forget about the zip line in Labadee, which is significantly longer than the one on the ships.
Suzanne SG wrote, "I did over 30 cruises and finally did the zip line on Labadee! Why I waited till my 60s is a mystery, but happy I finally did it! Loved it!"
Royal Caribbean's version of the Newlywed Game, the Love & Marriage game show came up on our reader's list of regrets.
"IK missed the Love and Marriage show for the first time in my life," wrote Andrea Toth.
"I regret missing it. It was in the afternoon and I was busy but I did regret not going."
On his Alaska cruise, Rich Harrington listed not taking a helicopter tour.
Alaska's glaciers are incredible sight, and the best way to see them is by helicopter or seaplane. They are, however, quite pricey. Usually the price of a helicopter ride starts at $500 per person.
If you can get past the price, the access these rides give you are unparalleled. You'll fly up and land on a glacier and explore the ice caves or take a dog sled ride.
Is surfing your thing? You won't know until you try.
Andrew Maiewski shared, "While I know I would fail miserably at FlowRider surfing. I still have yet to try body boarding, which I kinda want to do."
With the FlowRider, you can try stand-up surfing or boogie boarding, and there's no cost. It's simply first come, first surf.
Read more: I learned how to surf on a weekend cruise. Here is my advice if you want to try it too
Is it worth spending extra for a balcony room on an Alaska cruise?
Connie Jackson seems to think so, "Balcony cabin on my Alaska cruise" is what she listed as a regret.
If you have a balcony cabin in Alaska, you can more easily pop out from your cabin to see the beautiful scenery passing by. It's certainly more convenient than going out to a public deck.
Read more: Best cabins to book for an Alaska cruise
One of Royal Caribbean's signature onboard activities is the rock wall, and it's something I have yet to try either!
Chris Buchner wrote, "Rock climbing!! Did it on my last cruise, and I regret not trying it many cruises ago!"
Sandra roof added, "My husband finally did the rock wall last week. He's 53 and in great shape. He flew up that wall on the hardest one. The attendant even said he made it look to easy. I was proud of him."
No matter how far up the wall you make it, going up the rock wall is a good test of your own personal endurance, and a fun challenge too.
Sometimes the best thing to do on a cruise is nothing at all.
Rebecca Jackson posted, "Slowing down a bit and relaxing."
Getting away from it all is a major draw of any cruise, and with all of the fun activities onboard, it's easy to lose sight of just enjoying time away from the daily routine.
Whether that comes in the form of sitting in a lounger by the pool, taking an afternoon nap, or reading a book, there's plenty of ways to not do much while on a cruise.
A few readers shared they regretted not giving scuba or snorkel dives a try on their cruise.
Both Justin White and Daniella Price wrote they wish they had a chance to try an underwater dive on their cruise.
Royal Caribbean sometimes offer scuba classes onboard so that guests can then work towards their certification, including a dive in one of their upcoming ports.
There's almost always snorkeling or other underwater excursions offered in Caribbean ports as well.
I'm guilty of not getting enough sleep on a cruise, but that's because of how much fun there is to try!
Maxine Bucholtz wrote, "More sleep!!" and I agree it's difficult to find the motivation to sleep when there's so much happening around you.
The FOMO (fear of missing out) is real on a cruise. You'll see a daily list of activities jam packed with things to do, along with exciting ports, and opportunities to go out with friends and family.
However, taking the time to sleep in and relax is important too. It's a good idea to pick a day and set the alarm late and embrace rolling out of your cabin well into the double digit times.
Mustering the strength to stand in front of a room full of strangers and belt out a tune is not as simple as it sounds.
A few readers had karaoke on their list of regrets, saying they would have liked to give it a try.
You'll find karaoke on almost every night of the cruise, and it's really popular. In fact, even if you want to try it, you'll need to act quickly because so many people do karaoke that it often fills up quickly.
Royal Caribbean's signature dry slide may seem daunting, but a lot of readers regret not giving it a try.
The Ultimate Abyss is 10 stories long and puts you in the dark as you descend through the twists and turns while riding a mat.
On Utopia of the Seas, the Ultimate Abyss slide will be even longer and add a few tweaks.
In addition to it being longer, the slide on Utopia will have rollers in to to bump up your speed as you go along and a section where you're going to be able to see the other rider.
Many readers also had the water slides on the ship they were on previously as something they wish they had done.
You'll find water slides on most Royal Caribbean cruise ships, and they are a fun (and free) activity you can try.
As you might imagine, the lines do get long, but they are as fun as they look.
My advice for being able to do the water slides without as long of a wait is to go on embarkation day. Pack your swimsuit in your carry-on bag and go right when you get on the ship.
Read more: 30 Do's and Don'ts for the first day of your cruise
Collene Felts listed not watching the sunset from an upper deck as her regret, and I think sunsets at sea are so beautiful to see.
While photos usually come out nice, it just doesn't do it justice.
They're great for a selfie, or to just take in the moment. It's one of those surreal moments to just enjoy life on a cruise ship and take it all in.
A few people regretted not spending more to book a Royal Caribbean suite.
Tim Lott wrote buying a suite as something he wanted to do, and Dayna Richards responded, "We had one of the rear facing suites on Harmony of the Sea. When it came time to disembark, we were escorted past the entire passport line. We were out of there in five minutes. My husband said we will ‘always book a suite from now on. "
Gwendolyn Salzman added, "A suite! But, I could do a couple cruises for the price of one suite. So, I chose the lower priced cabins so I can cruise more often."
Certainly the perks of a suite are impressive, and it's a lovely way to spend your time while on a cruise. Between the larger living space in your cabin to the services provided by the concierge, the experience will spoil you.
Whether he meant this in jest or not, R.D. Wheeldon had skeet shooting on his list and he missed out on this activity by about 30 years or so.
Back in the 1970s and 1980s, you could shoot clay pigeons off the back of a cruise ship. That's right, you'd be given a shotgun to shoot targets off the back of a ship.
The practice came to an end at some point in the 80s or 90s, but it was something you could have done back in the day.
Read more: 8 Cruise ship activities Royal Caribbean abandoned
A few readers wish they had the opportunity to try the Skypad before Royal Caribbean closed it.
Greg Brockman wrote, "I wish I had tried SkyPad before it closed."
The Sky Pad was a trampoline where guests put on a virtual reality visor to engage in a game as they jump.
Once inside, participants bounced up and down on the trampolines with the aid of the bungee cords. As you jumped on the trampoline, you jumped in the game.
Similar to the FlowRider surf simulator and sky diving simulator, it was meant to offer guests a gravity-defying fun top deck experience.
In retrospect, Jennifer Stoeckeler wish she had bought Royal Caribbean's drink package to help curtail costs, "I regretted not buying the drinks package. So many pretty cocktails. If I went on another I would. Cruising is great!"
A few others had drink package on their list because it ensures you have a fixed price for all the drinks you care to enjoy onboard.
Royal Caribbean has three primary drink packages to cater to various tastes, and while the cost is high up-front, it is truly unlimited once onboard the ship.
There are a few ways to get a discount on a Royal Caribbean drink package so you don't have to pay top dollar for it.
Speaking of drinks, Cheryl Watt wished she tried a wider variety of drinks.
It's easy to fall into the rut of ordering the same familiar drinks on any cruise. Sharon Birmingham combats this by actually having a list of drinks to try when she cruises.
Here's our list of 21 drinks to order if you have a cruise drink package.
What's better than going on a cruise? Going on two cruises in a row!
Bev Taylor and Chris Gonterman listed a back-to-back cruise as their cruise regret.
When someone says they are doing a back-to-back cruise, it means they are doing multiple cruises in a row on the same ship.
Royal Caribbean started as a company in 1968, and by the 1980s, had made a name for itself with a small fleet of impressive cruise ships and had become an increasingly popular cruise line.
Song of Norway, Nordic Prince, and Sun Viking had lead the way for the company, and Song of America & Viking Serenade joined the fleet in 1982. By the end of the 80s, the new Sovereign Class would redefine what a cruise ship consisted of as it ushered in the first megaships.
Though the 1970s had concluded optimistically, the 1980s were ushered in by a recession in the United States. The cruising public became more cautious about their disposable vacation income, and the cruise lines began advertising strenuously, anticipating and countering rival company offers. Discounting, free airfare and the necessity to increase onboard revenues emerged as urgent cruising realities of the harsher 1980s.
Despite these challenges, the cruise industry managed to grow in the 1980s and Royal Caribbean found itself right in the middle of a struggle with competitor lines for building ever-increasingly larger ships. Song of America had proven the economies of scale was the future of cruise ships, and it would send Royal Caribbean down the path of building a ship as massive as Sovereign of the Seas.
Read more: What happened to Royal Caribbean's first cruise ships?
As the decade came to a close, Royal Caribbean had positioned itself perfectly for the immense growth the 1990s would bring.
Here's what it was like to cruise on Royal Caribbean in the 1980s.
Before even looking at the onboard experience, cruise ships in the 1980s were smaller than today.
Nordic Prince was 18,346 GT and 552 feet long, whereas Wonder of the Seas is 236,857 GT and 1,188 feet long.
A lot of the marketing material for a cruise in the 1980s was centered around the good times you could have onboard a cruise ship. They were selling what we would call today "a vibe" of being away from it all and enjoying time on a floating oasis.
Similar to today, the pool deck was the epicenter of activity on a cruise ship. A holiday spent tanning and enjoying the warm Caribbean sun was a major selling point.
Of course, dining was an important aspect of a cruise in the 1980s as well. In the marketing material, Royal Caribbean said La Chaine de Rotisseurs (a French international gastronomic society), "thinks our food is consistently superb."
"Our cuisine, in fact, could be one good reason the readers of Travel/Holiday magazine voted our ships among the world's best."
Just like today, ships had their own bakeries onboard. And a cruise in the 1980s still had a midnight buffet in the dining room, which was slowly phased out by the 2000s.
The main dining room was a focal point of dining, as specialty restaurants wouldn't become an option for another decade.
Royal Caribbean wanted to offer the kind of vacation where everything was made available and not as much thinking as a land trip.
They also marketed a cruise as a great way to celebrate, "As tensions disappear at sea, relationships flourish. Which means those starry-eyed couples aren't all newlyweds. Some may be celebrating silver and golden wedding anniversaries. Or even second honeymoons. You'll also find that about a third of our passengers are single."
What was a cruise ship cabin like in the 1980s? Decor style aside, they had a lot in common with a cabin today.
Royal Caribbean staterooms vary in size, in price, and in location. Some are even available with connecting staterooms to accommodate four or five people. Others offer third and fourth Pullman beds.
All cabins had:
An interesting selling point was the entertaining aspect of having your own room, "Since most accommodations have beds that convert to sofas, you can use your stateroom for more than sleeping. You can use it for entertaining. Passengers very often invite friends to their staterooms to enjoy champagne or drinks before dinner. Or for a bon voyage party before sailing."
In terms of service in a cabin, a lot has changed since the 1980s. Room stewards do the same basic services you can expect today, but the marketing material advertised more offerings, "Every stateroom has a steward, who performs a little shipboard magic every evening. When you go out for dinner or dancing, you'll leave a pleasant sitting room."
"But when you come back, you'll find a cozy bedroom. With fluffed-up pillows. Turned-down covers. And fresh fruit in the basket on your dressing table. This is the kind of attentive service you'll get every single night.
"And every single day, we'll make your stateroom neater than you left it. We'll also leave clean towels and a bucket of ice. Pick up and return your laundry. Deliver a schedule of activities and coming events, along with ship news and weather forecasts. And provide beverage and snack service, 24 hours a day. "
While the Viking Crown concept is retained in many of Royal Caribbean's ships today, the feature was designed initially for Song of Norway. Royal Caribbean made a name for itself with its signature space, the Viking Crown Lounge.
Entertainment on a cruise in the 1980s included a variety show that had a ventriloquist, comedian, cabaret singer, or big-band era music.
There was also passenger talent night and masquerade night on cruises of this era. On passenger talent night, guests would sing, dance, make magic, or just about anything else they were brave enough to demonstrate for their fellow guests and crew.
Masquerade night is just what it sounds like: it is an old-fashioned costume gala. Prizes are given for Most Humorous, Most Original and Most Artistic costume. Guests were encouraged to bring a costume, but the staff could provide necessary materials to build their own onboard.
Once your ship made it to port, it was time for a shore excursion. There were 7-night cruises from Miami that went to Jamaica, Grand Cayman, Playa del Carmen, Mexico, and Cozumel, Mexico.
An Eastern Caribbean itinerary sailed from Miami to the Bahamas, Puerto Rico, and St. Thomas.
Bermuda runs in 1985 included four days in Bermuda before returning to New York.
If you preferred a longer cruise, Nordic Prince and Sun Viking sailed 10-night cruises from Miami down to the Southern Caribbean, going as far as Barbados.
Longer cruises offered a more traditional cruise experience to get to more exotic ports, and they were still a staple of the industry. Today, 7-night cruises are the norm, and longer sailings tend to be outliers, especially in the Caribbean.
Being the 1980s, ships had certain features that no longer are a thing. Royal Caribbean advertised access to cable, Telex, and regular news bulletins. There was also a "Chinese laundry".
Skeet shooting off the back of the ship was still offered, where guests were given shotguns to shoot clay pigeons into the ocean.
The core cruise experience is largely the same then as it is today. The primary difference is what's offered onboard ships now, as well as the immense size difference.
Cruising as evolved since its early days, and some fads come and go, while other aspects of cruising remain the same today.
Read more: 10 Ways Cruising Has Changed in the Last 30 Years
Matt shares his thoughts on Royal Caribbean's Hideaway Beach adults-only area reveal.
Share with me your thoughts, questions and comments via...
Are you looking for information about the latest news, cruise ship information, or offering by Royal Caribbean? You're not alone.
New ships, incidents, and things you can buy for a cruise were among the list of most-Googled things about Royal Caribbean, according to data from Google.
Searches for the popular cruise line rose in January at the start of Wave season and then peaked again in July.
The internet has always been a useful place to get Royal Caribbean news and updates, and interest surrounding a Royal Caribbean cruise nets quite a lot of search traffic.
At Royal Caribbean Group's most recent earnings call, the company reported a doubling in website visits compared to 2019.
In looking at Google's search trends, we get a look at what people are predominately interested in, especially topics that are noteworthy at the time.
Google categorizes its search data in two segments: top searches and rising searches.
Top searches are the overall most searched phrases, while rising searches are the things people Google a lot at once, almost always related to something newsworthy.
Think of it like searching for "New York" vs "New Years eve in New York". The first can be searched throughout the year, but the latter is only relevant in the weeks leading up to the holiday.
Let's look at the rising data, which gives insight into the hottest search trends of the year. I've omitted queries that are essentially the same phrase, but worded differently:
Just like a car accident on the side of the road, the public can't seem to not be interested when someone jumps or goes overboard from a cruise ship.
Unfortunately there have been a few cruise ship passengers that have gone overboard because of either jumping or doing something they shouldn't do that gets them in a precarious situation.
The media jumps on news related to people going overboard cruise ships because it seems to get attention, probably because people who aren't familiar with cruises may not understand how it could happen.
A 2022 article from The Points Guy points out that cruise ship railings are sufficiently high enough on all decks and balconies to ensure someone does not slip and fall overboard.
"The only way you risk a fall is if you're standing on furniture to peer over the side or climbing somewhere you're not supposed to," the article's author states.
"It's not possible for you to trip over a door frame or slip on a wet deck and fall off of a vessel."
Not being somewhere you're not supposed to, or doing something you're not supposed to, is key to safety at sea, "Play by the rules and remain in control of your actions, and you don't have to worry about inadvertently falling overboard from a cruise ship."
Royal Caribbean made an "oopsie" in March when guests were able to book a VIP pass that didn't actually exist.
Royal Caribbean added a new Premier Pass to its website that appeared to be a new extra cost pass. It included WiFi, exclusive tours and more at a bargain price.
Unfortunately, it was too good to be true.
An email went out a few days later to inform anyone that bought the Premier Pass was a "system glitch" and was never intended to be put on sale in the first place. Any purchases made were cancelled.
An uproar ensued because people wanted the cruise line to stand by the option, especially in cases where the guests cancelled another purchase in lieu of the Premier Pass.
Royal Caribbean's next (and final?) Oasis Class ship will be Utopia of the Seas, and it generated a lot of interest when Royal Caribbean revealed details about the ship.
Utopia of the Seas will debut in summer 2024 and offer 3- and 4-night cruises only, which is a big change for Royal Caribbean.
Typically, new cruise ships start off with 7-night cruises because demand is so high and more lucrative for these cruises. Older ships usually offer short cruises.
Utopia will instead do short cruises with a stop at Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean's private island in the Bahamas.
Royal Caribbean seems to want to embrace the new to cruise market and target people who have never taken a cruise with a ship that stands out from the competition. The hope is new cruisers that aren't sure they will like a cruise or not tend to go with short cruises, and by giving them one of Royal Caribbean's newest and best ships, it will hook them to this kind of vacation.
Read more: Royal Caribbean has a plan to dominate short cruises with a new ship and private destinations
There's actually two new Royal Caribbean cruise ships entering service in 2024, which is a bit unusual.
Icon of the Seas will join the fleet first and sail weeklong itineraries to the Caribbean from Miami. Each cruise also stops at Perfect Day at CocoCay.
In July, Utopia of the Seas will start offering cruises from Port Canaveral.
The next new Royal Caribbean cruise ship has garnered a lot of attention, Icon of the Seas.
Icon of the Seas will be the first ship in the Icon Class. She will be 250,600 tons and hold up to 7,600 passengers, both of which are stats that eclipse the current largest cruise ship, Wonder of the Seas.
Not only is she big, but Royal Caribbean is loading her up with all sorts of new offerings.
Icon will have new types of cabins, a water park, new neighborhoods, and plenty of activities inbetween. It will also offer a bigger array of dining venues, bars and deck-top attractions than any cruise vessel ever built.
There have been a few tropical storms that have had an impact on Royal Caribbean ships this year.
Hurricane Hillary, Idalia, and Lee all forced the cruise line to change plans to avoid the path of the storm.
Cruising in hurricane season has its challenges, but an itinerary change is usually the worst to come out of it. When there is a tropical disturbance, a lot of people take to Google to figure out if there have been any changes or cancellations to their cruise.
Royal Caribbean's chief meteorologist works with ship captains to chart an optimal course and avoid the worst of any storm.
Most likely if you're searching for a Royal Caribbean cruise in 2024, you're looking to plan a cruise for next year.
One of the best strategies is to book a cruise many months in advance (instead of at the last-minute), so people searching for 2024 cruises is about trying to find the best Royal Caribbean cruise to sail on next year.
As previously mentioned, there are two new Royal Caribbean ships debuting in 2024, and that could also contribute to additional interest in a 2024 cruise.
Perhaps no extra-cost add-on is as popular as Royal Caribbean's drink package.
There's three primary drink packages you can buy for a Royal Caribbean cruise, in addition to a water package and coffee card.
Drink packages are very popular because they provide an easy and convenient way to let guests enjoy unlimited drinks without having to worry about paying for each drink.
It's not surprising there's interest in a cruise this year as well.
The cruise planning process extends to the months and weeks leading up the actual sailing.
From shore excursions to spa treatments to things to do onboard the ship, you can always learn more about your cruise ship and plan around what to do.
Not sure if Google goofed on this to include a Carnival ship with Royal Caribbean results, or a lot of Royal Caribbean fans are simply curious about Carnival's newest ship.
The second in the Excel Class, Celebration can accommodate 6,600 guests.
Cruise ship sustainability has moved a step forward with a successful test of a new kind of fuel.
Royal Caribbean reported it tested a new biofuel alternative on a cruise ship this week that is part of the company's overall environmental strategy.
Symphony of the Seas became the first in the maritime industry to successfully test and use a biofuel blend in Barcelona to reduce the ship's carbon emissions.
Becoming a sustainable company has been an established goal, and a new type of fuel is part of the plan to get to that point. By introducing methods that reduce emissions today, Royal Caribbean Group is ultimately advancing the decarbonization of its operations.
Today, in Barcelona, Symphony of the Seas became the first ship in the maritime industry to successfully test and use a biofuel blend in Barcelona to meet part of her fuel needs.
Royal Caribbean confirmed onboard technical systems met operational standards, without quality or safety concerns, demonstrating the biofuel blend is a reliable "drop in" supply of lower emission energy that ships can use to set sail across Europe and beyond. The tests across Europe also provided valuable data to understand the availability and scalability of biofuel in the region.
Last fall, Navigator of the Seas tested out biofuel when she sailed from Los Angeles, California and became the first a cruise ship to sail from a U.S. port while using renewable diesel fuel.
The test on Navigator was conducted on a three-night cruise to Ensenada, Mexico in October 2022 with one engine powered by 30 tons of biodiesel.
The test lasted three months.
The sustainable biofuel blends tested were produced by purifying renewable raw materials like waste oils and fats and combining them with fuel oil to create an alternative fuel that is cleaner and more sustainable.
The biofuel blends tested are accredited by International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC), a globally recognized organization that ensures sustainability of biofuels and verifies reductions of related emissions.
Biofuel greatly reduces carbon emissions compared to the burning of the fossil fuels used in marine gas oil. It's processed through an oil refinery and is molecularly identical to diesel.
Royal Caribbean Group President and CEO Jason Liberty credits the advancement as an important milestone, "Following our successful trial of biofuels this summer, we are one step closer to bringing our vision for net-zero cruising to life. As we strive to protect and promote the vibrant oceans we sail, we are determined to accelerate innovation and improve how we deliver vacation experiences responsibly."
With Symphony of the Seas departing from the Port of Barcelona and Celebrity Apex departing from the Port of Rotterdam, both ships accomplished multiple sailings using biofuel and contributed critical data on the fuel's capabilities.
More tests are planned for this fall when they use different types of biofuels on upcoming European sailings.
In a statement, Royal Caribbean Group said it plans to continue to use alternative lower carbon fuel as part of its overall plan.
In addition to biofuels, Royal Caribbean Group is building ships that can leverage liquefied natural gas, or LNG, to reduce emissions.
Commonly referred to as a transition fuel, LNG results in 95% fewer particulate matter emissions, nearly eliminates sulfur emissions and reduces nitrogen emissions by 85%, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by up to 20%.
LNG isn't the ultimate solution, but a step in the journey.
Royal Caribbean Group calls its overarching sustainability goals "Destination Net Zero", and biofuels are one way it intends to get there.
Announced in 2021, there are two simple goals:
Destination Net Zero's four-pronged approach includes:
Utopia of the Seas was successfully floated out at the Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard in St. Nazaire, France.
Royal Caribbean's Utopia of the Seas is the latest in the line's Oasis Class of ships.
This important first step in the journey of cruise ship construction occurred over the weekend, where the ship transfers to a "wet dock" to finish construction work.
New ships are first assembled in a dry dock, where blocks of the ship are put together on land. Once the exterior of a vessel is complete, it's ready to move to the ocean.
The process itself took nearly 15 hours, beginning with filling the new ship’s dry dock with more than 46 million gallons of water overnight. Utopia was then moved into an outfitting dock, where it will be completed in summer 2024. Since construction on the next Oasis Class ship started in April 2022, the new vacation has taken shape with more than 74 blocks of steel that have been lifted and assembled into place.
The float out of any cruise ship is an important milestone in the process of construction.
With Utopia in wet dock, work will continue leading up to her handover to Royal Caribbean. She will remain in her basis until such time she is ready for delivery.
This is the fourth Oasis Class ship built at Chantiers de l’Atlantique in Saint-Naizaire, France (Wonder, Harmony and Symphony of the Seas).
Utopia of the Seas may be the sixth ship in the Oasis Class, but she's far from a carbon copy of her sister vessels. While she will have a number of features you can find on other Oasis Class ships, Royal Caribbean has added a few tweaks and additions that make her stand out.
The new ship will have a new tiki bar experience, new dining experiences, immersive dining, and an open deck filled with plenty of activities. The 295-foot-long Ultimate Abyss slide will reclaim the title of "longest dry slide at sea".
Utopia will be the first Oasis class that uses a more environmentally friendly fuel type, Liquified Natural Gas, or LNG.
There's plenty of dining changes to expect on Utopia as well.
Something brand new to Utopia of the Seas is an immersive dining experience that combines visuals and dining to create something not seen before on Royal Caribbean.
The Royal Railroad will feature a classic train motif that delivers a mixed reality experience. After prototyping the train car experience at Royal Caribbean's Miami headquarters, the team feels confident it will deliver an incredible new option for passengers.
Izumi has been moved up to Central Park, which is a first for the Oasis Class. Izumi will also have a new pickup window which allows quick grab and go offerings for guests.
Park Cafe will have a new evening terrace experience, which the cruise line hopes will invigorate evenings in this neighborhood.
Giovanni's Italian Kitchen and Wine Bar has been relocated into the deck 11 and 12 former Wonderland location.
Utopia of the Seas will debut in July 2024 and enter service offering short cruises to The Bahamas from Port Canaveral, Florida.
The 236,860-ton ship will be the second largest ship in the world at the time she launches, right behind equally new Icon of the Seas.
Royal Caribbean will change its traditional playbook by starting off a new cruise ship with just short cruises, which the line hopes will capitalize on the short cruise market.
This is a big change for the line, because traditionally new ships start off with the more lucrative week-long cruise market. Royal Caribbean is flipping the script and putting Utopia in the short market first.
Why the dramatic change? It's all about drawing in new cruisers.
Someone that has never cruised before may be leery of trying a cruise, and hesitant to commit to 7-nights. Instead, they opt for short cruises.
Traditionally, Royal Caribbean deploys its older and smaller ships to the short cruise market. While these ships are still great choices for a vacation, there's simply nothing like a new ship.
Royal Caribbean is betting by offering short cruises on a brand new and impressive ship, new cruisers will flock to try it and subsequently book more cruises.
Welcome to this week's edition of the Royal Caribbean post round-up, where we summarize all of the Royal Caribbean news and information from this week into one handy-dandy post! There is plenty of great content to enjoy, so sit back, relax, and enjoy this week's round-up!
Royal Caribbean may be known for their family cruises, but they're adding a new adults-only offering.
Opening in January 2024, Royal Caribbean unveiled details for Hideaway Beach area of Perfect Day at CocoCay, which is reserved just for guests who are at least 18 years old.
It will have an infinity pool, swim-up bar, sports bar, cabanas and new restaurants all in an adults-only enclave. In fact, the cruise line intends for the area to have a "Vegas pool party" vibe.
The 512th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available, where Matt shares how his Independence cruise went.
Matt is back from Independence of the Seas for a quick 3-night cruise ands shares how the first day of the cruise was different than so many other embarkation day experiences he has had.
Please feel free to subscribe via iTunes or RSS, and head over to rate and review the podcast on iTunes if you can! We’d appreciate it.
{"preview_thumbnail":"/sites/default/files/styles/video_embed_wysiwyg_preview/public/video_thumbnails/BhzKSKR9LH4.jpg?itok=cA0tAwY4","video_url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhzKSKR9LH4","settings":{"responsive":1,"width":"854","height":"480","autoplay":0},"settings_summary":["Embedded Video (Responsive)."]}
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: Why to refuse to upgrade your cruise ship cabin
You can plan all you want, but some lessons can't be learned until you actually cruise.
Calista took her first ever cruise on Wonder of the Seas and was surprised by many aspects of cruising, especially compared to other forms of travel.
In retrospect, these experiences will benefit her on future cruises, and maybe help you plan your first cruise too!
Is it worth spending extra to stay in a Royal Caribbean suite? A lot of our readers think so, and shared their favorite photos to prove it.
Suites aren't cheap, but they come with a lavish amount of living space, enhanced amenities, and priority service.
We asked readers to share their best photos that explain why they loved their suite rooms, and we received hundreds of entries.
The majority of the public have never been on a cruise before, and perhaps that's because they have a certain trepidation about trying a cruise.
The popularity of cruising has exploded over the last decade, but some people might be skeptical of trying it themselves.
Before stepping foot on a ship, Calista was worried too and avoided cruises for years. She know sees why all those concerns were unwarranted.
Royal Caribbean's crew members are known for their excellent service and it's very common for them to go above and beyond what's expected.
The more you cruise, the more likely you will run into an exceptional crew member who really cares about an issue or request you have while onboard.
I asked the RoyalCaribbeanBlog community to share examples of times that Royal Caribbean staff have gone above and beyond to provide exceptional customer service for their family while sailing.
Want to save money on a cruise, or do you want to get the lowest possible price on a cruise?
The key to finding a great cruise deal is to know where and when to look.
No matter the time of year, these tricks should get you a great price so you can maximize every dollar of your vacation budget.
Every now and then I'll take a shore excursion and realize I've made a mistake.
I've usually had good luck with choosing a tour, but occasionally I'll run into one that makes me wish I had chosen something different.
Here are five times I took a cruise ship shore excursion and reconsidered my decision almost immediately.