Royal Caribbean had one of its best years ever in 2025 with the launch of a new ship, big announcements, and stellar financial performance.

It was also a busy year with lots happening. Sometimes the news was exciting and upbeat, and other times bad things temporarily overshadowed the fun.  Nonetheless, there was a lot to love and reflect on from this year.

With the end of the year just a few days away, I wanted to share which news stories garnered the most attention and notoriety in the year.

Here's a look back at this year's big Royal Caribbean news.

Perfect Day Mexico and beach club reveal

Jaws dropped when Royal Caribbean unveiled plans for new beach clubs and a second Perfect Day location.

Held at a special event in New York, Royal Caribbean announced the opening of Perfect Day Mexico, two beach clubs, and a new beach destination.

Perfect Day Mexico is the crown jewel of the announcement. Located in what is today Costa Maya, this is Royal Caribbean's biggest land project ever. 

Royal Caribbean cruisers will have the choice of miles of beaches, heated pools, a giant water park, and even the longest lazy river in the world.

Plus, the lazy river will have a few different "Tubes and Tequila Bar" locations you can stop at, where you latch your tube to a bar and take a break for a cocktail.

In addition, a new beach club is coming to Cozumel, Mexico.

Royal Beach Club Cozumel will open in December 2026 and offer a new beach getaway option that matches the cruise line's high standard.

The idea is to build the idyllic resort centered around the pool, beach, sun, food and culture.

There will be a pool with a swim-up bar, DJ, and plenty of Mexican food to enjoy too.

Finally, a new private destination will open in the South Pacific in early 2027.

Lelepa is located on the island of Vanuatu, and it's a different kind of product that doesn't fit into the other destinations mold.

A series of "villages" will be built to offer various beach options. There's no water park, DJ, or lazy river here. Instead, it's about relaxing and enjoying the natural beauty of the area.

Star of the Seas launch

A new Royal Caribbean joined the fleet this year.

Star of the Seas became the world's largest cruise ship and began sailing in August. The second in the Icon Class, Star measures 1,196 feet long and 219 feet wide. 

Although Star of the Seas is more similar to Icon of the Seas than not, there are a few key differences that help give Star a defining personality of her own. 

First, Royal Caribbean is raising the entertainment bar even higher with its new theater production, Back to the Future: The Musical, which will have the largest orchestra at sea. Not only that, but there are also new shows in the ice skating rink and AquaTheater.

The AquaDome Marketplace is getting a refresh, too. Instead of GNGR, Mac's, and Toast & Garden, guests will find Pig Out BBQ, Mai Thai, and La Cocinita. 

Similarly, the Lincoln Park Supper Club is replacing the Empire Supper Club. The $200-per-person specialty restaurant will feature a Chicago-inspired theme with the cocktails, menu, and music reimagined to reflect the spirit of the Windy City. 

Icon of the Seas confirmed for Galveston

People living in Texas and Oklahoma celebrated the announcement Icon of the Seas is coming to Texas.

Galveston will call Icon home beginning in August 2027.

This has been a long-rumored deployment, and it's confirmation means the Texas cruise market is getting one of the biggest and most impressive cruise ships in the world.

It opens up Icon to an entirely new cruise market in Texas, and the ship's arrival coincides with the opening of Perfect Day Mexico.

Labadee visits cancelled

Royal Caribbean ships were unable to visit Labadee through much of 2025, and that will continue into next year.

The cruise line halted visits to Labadee until at least May 2026.

The issue is the ongoing civil unrest and violence in the country, which forced Royal Caribbean's hand in making this decision.

"Out of an abundance of caution," the announcement read.

Nothing else has been announced since, but at least half of 2026 will begin without visits to one of Royal Caribbean's best known private beaches.

Loyalty points will be interchangeable

Perhaps the biggest loyalty program change ever announced by Royal Caribbean, we can expect a major shift next year.

The Points Choice program will be fully revealed in "early 2026", and will change how cruisers earn loyalty points when they cruise between lines.

The new program promises to allow cruisers to earn and apply loyalty points across the family of brands within Royal Caribbean Group.

It appears that means someone taking a Celebrity Cruise could earn Crown and Anchor Society points for that sailing. Or vice versa.

More details will be forthcoming in the early part of the year.

Drink package rule change

Royal Caribbean dropped its drink package exception rule in 2025, much to the dismay of many families.

There had been an unpublished option to allowed for someone who is unable or unwilling to drink alcohol to call in and get an exemption to the rule requiring all adults in the same stateroom to buy a drink package.

That workaround is now no longer available and it's because too many passengers were sharing drink package benefits.

"This change allows us to ensure guests are consuming their beverage package responsibly. Over time, requests for exceptions have increased, and sharing of packages has continued, which led us to implement this policy change," the company spokesperson said.

The original intent of the exception was to offer an alternative to guests who couldn't drink alcohol, such as expectant mothers, people in recovery, and other specific needs. However, too many people took advantage of it.

Broadway show was removed from two ships

A Broadway show performed on two different cruise ships was quietly removed with no replacement Broadway show.

Grease is no longer performed on Harmony or Independence of the Seas.

Instead, it appears cruise line created production shows have taken its place.

No reason was given why Grease was removed, but there's plenty of speculation related to costs.

New non-smoking casinos added

Non-smokers got some welcome news with new ways to gamble on ships.

Freedom of the Seas replaced Vintages wine bar with a non-smoking casino, while Wonder, Utopia, and Allure of the Seas had the Crown Lounge and even the Attic replaced with non-smoking casinos.

The idea is to offer more ways to enjoy the fun of the casino to those that do not care to be in a room sharing space with smokers.

The cruise line has not gone as far as banning smoking in the casino outright, providing a non-smoking alternative venue seems to be their new strategy.

Legend of the Seas details revealed

Legend of the Seas won't enter service until 2026, but 2025 was the year we got all the details about this new ship.

This is going to be one of the biggest cruise ships in the world, coming in at 250,800 gross tons, and be able to accommodate up to 7,600 passengers.

Legend of the Seas will welcome paying guests for the first time when she sails in Europe in summer 2026.

Legend remains in Europe through October, until the ship departs on a 13-night transatlantic sailing.

The new ship heads to Fort Lauderdale, Florida to sail in the winter.

Bookings are available now for all open sailings.

First Royal Beach Club opened

Sneaking in right before the end of the year, Royal Beach Club Paradise Island opened its beaches to cruisers in the final weeks of the year.

Located in Nassau, Bahamas, this is the cruise line's first beach club and it's designed to be the ultimate beach day option.

Think of it more like a "super shore excursion" than a private island beach day.  There's an admission cost, but it has unlimited food, drink, and Wi-Fi.  Plus, transportation is included.

The area is divided into three zones to provide a different vibe for everyone.

Plus, it's only open to Royal Caribbean cruise passengers in one of the busiest cruise ports in the world.

Just when it looked like all the North American cruises in 2027-2028 were released, Royal Caribbean has added more.

The cruise line quietly updated its deployment schedule to add a new batch of sailings that will come out in early 2026.

Referred to as "Remaining Caribbean", Royal Caribbean will add new sailings on an undisclosed list of ships during the week of February 9, 2026.

The deployment schedule was updated recently with the new plan.

Royal Caribbean hasn't yet updated the deployment schedule to indicate when cruises to Australia, China, or Singapore will be released for 2027-2028.

What you can expect in this deployment

While Royal Caribbean doesn't comment on what ships and itineraries will be posted in any deployment, I think it's safe to assume we can expect this one will fill in some gaps.

With the other deployments in 2027-2028 already announced, there are a few "gaps" in the schedule that do not account for where a ship will be until April 2028.

For example, Vision of the Seas' sailings are only bookable through late October 2027.  Vision is homeported in Baltimore and then there's nothing else scheduled for that ship.

Likewise, Jewel of the Seas posted schedule ends on November 5, 2027 with a sailing from Fort Lauderdale.

Symphony of the Seas has no cruises past January 2028, leaving a three month gap in her schedule. Symphony's 10 year anniversary is coming up in 2028, so it's likely a routine maintenance visit is likely.

Icon 4 is also missing from the schedule

Another notable missing deployment are the new Icon 4 sailings.

Royal Caribbean previously confirmed it will build a fourth Icon Class ship, but has not revealed its name, homeport, or where it will sail.

Historically, Royal Caribbean releases sailings on a brand new ship in its own release cycle.  New ships enjoy so much interest that it can stand alone when they are ready to open the sailings for booking.

However, it's entirely possible Icon 4 could be rolled into this "Remaining Caribbean" deployment.

The rumor mill is heating up with possibilities

If you're ready to go knee-deep into the "what if's" of Royal Caribbean, there are lots of rumors swirling about where ships might end up.

Please remember these are unconfirmed rumors that have not been confirmed or announced by Royal Caribbean.

Most people expect Icon 4 to be homeported in Miami because there is no other Icon Class ship based there for the 2027-2028 season.

Miami is typically reserved for Royal Caribbean's flagship (or at least one of them) and right now it's just Allure of the Seas homeporting in PortMiami.

An even juicier rumor began floating around the last few days of an Oasis Class ship being moved to Asia.

According to an admin on the Royal Caribbean Cruises Singapore Homeport Facebook group, Spectrum of the Seas will be moved away from China and back to Singapore.

The rumor says Spectrum will be replaced in China by Wonder of the Seas.  

This would be the first time an Oasis Class ship has been based outside of North America or Europe. Wonder of the Seas was originally planned to be based in China before her debut, but those plans were cancelled due to the global cruise industry shutdown of 2020.

Given the recent change in sailings to Japan due to geopolitical issues, these plans may or may not end up happening.

Here are all the new cruises released so far in 2027-2028

In case you missed any of it, Royal Caribbean has published new cruises to book in 2027-2028 around Europe, North America, and the Caribbean.

Here is a look at each of the deployments we have:

• Alaska
• Europe
• 7-night & Short Caribbean Year-Round
• Northeast, California & Texas
• Seasonal Caribbean

All of these deployments are open for booking immediately.

I went back on Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas for a quick 4-night cruise, and found a few helpful tips before you sail will benefit almost anyone.

Being one of the biggest Royal Caribbean cruise ships, Wonder of the Seas has so much to do onboard that you really can't squeeze it into just one sailing.

Part of the reason to book a cruise on Wonder is to experience all of the incredible bars, restaurants and activities.

I've sailed on Wonder of the Seas six times, and it's clear there are a few things everyone should know and do before they get onboard.

Do your online check-in to make boarding smooth

Download the Royal Caribbean app before your cruise begins and do the online check-in because it will make getting onboard so fast.

The app allows you to select a check-in time as well as enter everyone's important information. Then at the cruise terminal, all the staff needs to do is verify everything and you'll be on your way.

You can always tell who has done their online check-in and which families are starting off vacation waiting for the staff member to enter your info, take photos, and scan your credit card.

More importantly, doing your online check-in gets you access to the Express Boarding line.

This is a special line for those that did online check-in and they get a shorter line and onboard the ship faster. It's free to get Express Boarding, but you need to complete the steps in the app before embarkation day.

There are alternatives to the buffet that are less crowded

On any Royal Caribbean ship, the Windjammer buffet is usually the first place everyone thinks of for breakfast or when boarding the ship.

However, there are a few good alternatives with shorter lines.

El Loco Fresh (Deck 15) or Park Cafe (Deck 8) are both very good and far less crowded.

You'll find Mexican food at El Loco Fresh, such as quesadillas, tacos, and burritos.  Park Cafe has salads, soups, sandwiches, and grab and go snacks.  Both restaurants are included in your cruise fare.

I love going here to be able to get in, get something to eat, and then be on my way for more fun. 

Reserve shows before the cruise instead of on embarkation day

There are shows every night, but you need reservations.  I recommend booking them before the cruise begins in the app or Cruise Planner website. 

You can make reservations around 30 days before your cruise begins.

In the AquaTheater you’ll find InTENse. As the name implies, this show features an intense performance of high diving, slack lining, tight roping, acrobatics, and synchronized swimming by an all-female cast.

The ice-skating rink, Studio B, is home to the production of 365: The Seasons on Ice, which transports guests to all four seasons through technology-driven set design and professional performers. You’ll almost certainly be amazed watching the cast perform backflips, triple axels, and aerial performances on ice!

In The Royal Theater you’ll find the original production of The Effectors II: Crash n’ Burn, telling the story of a band of superheroes fighting their arch-nemesis, Crash. Although the storyline might sound cheesy, the combination of technology, drones, singing, and dancing makes this show a must-see while onboard.

Aside from these three main shows are smaller production shows and live music around the ship. 

Don't go to the water slides when there are long lines. Try these times instead

There are 3 water slides on Wonder of the Seas, and the best times to try them all is definitely not on a sea day.

I recommend going to the water slides at one of two times for minimal waits: on embarkation day before 1pm, or while the ship is docked in port.

Water slides are very popular with kids, and lines develop when the pool deck is busy.

However, a great cruise hack is to wear (or bring) your bathing suit on embarkation day and then hit the slides in the early afternoon. 

Most other passengers packed their bathing suits and their luggage may not be delivered until mid afternoon. This leaves the water slides open and with a short line.

There are public restrooms at the pool deck to change into your bathing suit.

The other really good time to try the water slides is when your ship is docked at a port of call.

Going to the slide when most other passengers are off the ship on a shore excursion means short lines as well.

Another idea is go directly to the water slides when you get back from a shore excursion, as the pool deck isn't usually too busy.

The Mason Jar is the best bar you didn't know about

The best bar on Wonder of the Seas you're not going to is up on Deck 15 at the Mason Jar.

This is a specialty restaurant, but at night the bar becomes one of the most fun spots onboard.  They have a country band that plays music and there are some really good drinks to try too.

I love the Mason Jar bar for the fun vibe, and a lot of cruisers completely miss out on the fun here.  Get a seat early, because it fills up!

The Crazy Quest is don't miss fun for adults

Want to try something fun without the kids that will surely make you laugh? The Crazy Quest is a must-see show.

This is an event for guests 18 years old or older, and it's a competition.  Teams of two work to complete challenges with the help of their seating section to get points.

It's pretty much a scavenger hunt, but with adult tones to it.  

The name "crazy" is well deserved given the antics guests get into in trying to complete the various challenges.

Johnny Rockets is free for breakfast

Ordinarily Johnny Rockets costs extra to eat there, but it's free for breakfast.

In the morning hours, you can go to Johnny Rockets for an American style breakfast and pay nothing extra for the food.

You'll only find free breakfast at Johnny Rockets on Oasis Class ships, and it seems like no one else knows about this trick for an uncrowded sit-down breakfast alternative to the Main Dining Room or Windjammer.

Pack pants for ice skating

Did you know you can go ice skating on Wonder of the Seas?

There are open skate sessions, but there are two dress requirements:

• You are wearing socks
• You are wearing long pants

Packing socks is never an issue, but since Wonder of the Seas sails to The Bahamas, it's easy to overlook packing pants.

Bring (and wear) pants to ice skating and enjoy a half hour of fun on the ice!

Book laser tag as soon as you board

Another fun activity in Studio B is laser tag.

Just like ice skating, laser tag has no cost and quite popular.  You can book a spot once you get on the ship and open the Royal Caribbean app, connect to the Wi-Fi, and then reserve a time slot.

Watch out for the short kids, because you'll turn a corner and get zapped without noticing them at your eye level!

Kids will love the midnight balloon drop

Photo by Scott Sanders

Children seem to love the balloon drop even more than the adults do.

On the first day of your cruise, there will be nets of balloons along the ceiling of the Royal Promenade.

If you can manage to keep your kids awake until midnight, head to the Royal Promenade when hundreds of balloons are dropped on you.

Kids love this, and they even get the chance to pop the balloons too!

Order these 5 unique drinks

Because Royal Caribbean has so many fun bars on Wonder of the Seas, there are a number of cocktails you should try.  

This list of drinks are only available at certain bars, so a bar hop activity should be a must-do for your family:

• PB&J Old Fashioned (Mason Jar)
• Lime and Coconut (Lime and Coconut)
• Cheshire Cat Cosmo (Wonderland)
• She's a Geisha (Izumi)
• Toasted Marshmallow Old Fashioned (Schooner Bar)

All of these cocktails are included with the Deluxe Beverage Package, and they're mighty tasty!

The Suite Sun Deck is the best in the fleet

If you're booked in a suite, make an effort to hang out in the Suite Sun Deck.

Exclusively for passengers booked in a Grand Suite or higher, the expansive Suite Sun Deck  has a private plunge pool, bar, and comfy loungers.

I love the mix of places to sit in the sun and shade. Plus, there are extremely large and comfortable sun beds that have no cost.

The bar means you don't have to go far for a drink.

Pre-book the Royal Beach Club for the best price

Every Wonder of the Seas cruise visits Nassau, where you can experience Royal Caribbean's new exclusive retreat.

The Royal Beach Club Paradise Island is a shore excursion reserved just for Royal Caribbean cruise guests (and Celebrity cruisers too), but there's limited capacity and the price is higher on the ship.

I recommend booking a day pass (or cabana) a few months before the cruise begins. You could save hundreds of dollars alone by pre-booking!

The first place I eat on any cruise ship I go on is almost always the buffet. It's been a family tradition since I started cruising, and it offers the greatest variety of food to satisfy everyone's needs.

What I love about Royal Caribbean's Windjammer buffet is how many different types of food they offer. On embarkation day you can expect salads, soups, Indian curry, burgers, pasta, a carving station, and much more.

Depending on which ship you're on, there are other buffets too, such as El Loco Fresh, Sorrento's or Solarium Bistro. No matter which one you choose, there are certain expectations of every cruiser that dines there.

You won't find a list of do's and don't posted on the wall as you enter, but I've found after many years of cruising that there are things everyone should be doing while dining at a buffet.

After sailing on Wonder of the Seas, I came up with my own list of the unwritten rules of the cruise buffet to follow.

There's no excuse not to wash your hands before walking in

There is an opportunity to clean your hands before entering the Windjammer, and everyone should be doing that every time.

There's no excuse for not doing it, regardless if you washed your hands two minutes ago, just took a shower, or anything else. 

I'm not a germophobe, but cruise ships are tight living quarters and reducing the risk of spreading something like Norovirus is worth it.

Not to mention it takes a few seconds to wash your hands at one of the stations. It's even faster if there's just a hand sanitizer option (as is the case on Royal Caribbean's smaller ships).

Don't cut the buffet line, unless you can swoop in quickly to get something down the line

There are buffet islands and the expectation is you'll wait in line for a turn to get to the food at that station if you spot something like.

Usually you'll see a couple of people already queued up, which is your indication to get behind them and wait for the food.

However, I do think you can "cut the line" if it's clear everyone is lined up for one or two things at the beginning of the buffet island and there's something at the other end that has no one in front of it and that's all you want.

It has to be a quick operation, however, to bypass the line and head straight to that item.  You need to swoop in, grab the serving spoon and add it to your plate, and then be on your way before anyone can even notice which Buffalo Bills Zubaz pants you're wearing.

This unwritten rule requires speed and a well-meaning field judgement that you're bypassing a line of people not waiting for the thing you want.

When in doubt, wait in the line. It won't take very long.

Read the room how long you can linger at your table

Buffet tables can be quite busy, especially in the morning or on embarkation day lunch.  So you should use them until it's socially appropriate to depart.

Certainly enjoy and use the table you pick while anyone at your table is eating. There is no rule about how long it should take to eat your food, so take your time and enjoy it.

But this rule has more to do with what happens after you're done eating.

If the buffet isn't busy, feel free to shoot the breeze and enjoy chatting with friends and family. If it's particularly not busy, you can use the tables for a card game.

But when the buffet is slammed, you should get up and be on your way to free up your table for someone else to eat. After all, there are plenty of chairs and tables elsewhere nearby to chat and hang out.

Once you're done eating, take a look around and see if your table is a hot commodity or you're surrounded by empty tables.

One order per person at the cooking stations

My controversial unwritten buffet rule is you should only have one order per person in line for the cooking station.

I love the cooking stations in the Windjammer, especially the Asian stir fry, because the food is freshly made and always tastes better than similar food pre-prepared.

The thing is we all gauge the line for the very popular cooking stations by who's in line.  I'll hop on a line that's 2 or 3 people deep, but will skip if it's any longer.

However, I believe the expectation is the amount of people in line represents how many orders are ahead of you.  It's frustrating to everyone else if someone is in line and places multiple orders, delaying the entire line.

I'm sure there are some people who will disagree with me on this one, but to those people, you're "that guy" in line that everyone suddenly finds frustrating.

Get a new plate every single trip to the buffet

I think it's a universal unwritten rule that at any buffet, you always get a new plate when going back up to the buffet.

Some people don't want to create an additional mess or be a burden so they believe re-using a plate is more "responsible", but the truth is it's a health concern to do so.

Despite your best intentions, you should always get a new plate when returning to the buffet for anything.

Always use the tongs

While on the subject of universal buffet truths, there is never an excuse to touch the food with your hands.

There are tongs or serving spoons for getting food, and that's the only acceptable means of retrieving food to put on your plate.

You'll sometimes see people use their hands to get bread, pastries, or other foods that are naturally eaten with your hands. I get it, those tongs can be tricky sometimes, but it's for everyone's benefit to use them.

Reserving a table requires something more obvious than a cup

It's a good idea to reserve a table before going to get your food so that you have somewhere to return and eat your food quickly.

However, you need to make it so painfully obvious you reserved it so there's no ambiguity.

I've seen people leave behind cups from the buffet station, and that's simply not clear if the table is reserved or the people that were there had a drink and are now finished.

A bag, hat, jacket, or some other personal belonging is all you need to mark the table as used.  You shouldn't rely on things provided by the restaurant as a marker, or you're bound to end up with a surprise guest at your table.

Beware turning around blindly or turning around suddenly

Imagine this: you finish getting food at a buffet and then turn around quickly to return to your table only to find something right behind you and your food all over both of you.

The buffet can get crowded, so you want to avoid sudden 180 degree turns. Often people are right behind you because they're eager to get food, get to their table, or trying to find their family.

Slow turns are the key to avoid a food spill.

There's usually more seating in the back

You can usually bet you will find empty tables the further you go away from the buffet. 

Nearly everyone prefers a table near the buffet stations for convenience of returning quickly, but I've found more tables in the rear.

Some Windjammers have outdoor seating too, such as on Quantum and Radiance Class ships. Just keep walking to the back to access it.

On Voyager and Freedom class ships, there are tables near the Windjammer bar that are usually empty as well.

Merry Christmas! The holidays are here, and so is our weekly round up of this week's Royal Caribbean news.

We have a sneak peek at Royal Caribbean's first beach club that will open in a few days in The Bahamas.

After taking a 10 minute ferry ride, Matt got to try out what this special kind of shore excursion has to offer.

From heated pools, to powder white sand, to a DJ party, we have a first look to share of what you can expect.

Royal Caribbean News

• 7 things that surprised me on my first visit to the Royal Beach Club
• Royal Caribbean surveying guests about what they want at new Greek Isles beach club
• Star of the Seas cabins to avoid
• 9 first time cruise questions that a group of 100 influencers asked
• 13 gifts that are perfect for a cruise too
• How I decorated my cruise ship cabin for Christmas for just $40
• I broke my own cardinal cruising rule and while it worked out, I had more anxiety than was worth it

Video: Royal Beach Club - First Look!

Have you subscribed to the Royal Caribbean Blog YouTube Channel? We share some great videos there regularly, all about taking a Royal Caribbean cruise! This week, we are sharing our latest video: Royal Beach Club - First Look! 

Multiple Royal Caribbean sailings cancelled after one ship is redeployed

At least 18 sailings on Freedom of the Seas have been cancelled so far as a result of a change in Royal Caribbean's schedule.

Affected guests were emailed a notification that their plans have been changed and the ship has been forced to be redeployed.

"We apologize for the inconvenience," the email said with an explanation of what options guests have to rebook or cancel.

Bigger cruise ships could finally be coming to Baltimore

Newly approved plans by the Maryland Transportation Authority Board could finally allow bigger ships to sail to Baltimore.

A vote was held to approve new bridges over Chesapeake Bay that would give enough clearance for bigger cruise ships.

Up until now, the bridges were too low for anything but Royal Caribbean's oldest and smallest ships.

Royal Caribbean doesn't have free Wi-Fi, but here are the internet options on a cruise ship

Royal Caribbean will likely never offer free Wi-Fi, but there are different options to stay connected.

Passengers can buy internet access packages, or rely purely on the Royal Caribbean app for free. Plus, there are other options to.

We recommend understanding your options before you sail to save money and be ready to go on the first day.

Royal Caribbean to help redevelop St. Thomas cruise port

Royal Caribbean is partnering with another Caribbean port to help redevelop what it offers.

The project's goal is to transform Crown Bay District into a vibrant, mixed-use destination for residents and visitors, with better commercial, recreational, and cultural spaces. 

Details are slim right now, but plans are in place to move forward.

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 588th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available, with Matt's thoughts on recent awards.

Cruise Critic announced its 2025 award winners, and Matt thought a few categories had the wrong winner chosen.

Please feel free to subscribe via YouTube, iTunes or RSS, and head over to rate and review the podcast on iTunes if you can! We’d appreciate it.

Going on a cruise is an easy way to travel, but first timers are bound to have questions.

I recently sailed with a group of 100 influencers, media, and vloggers aboard Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas. Our group chat was filled with excitement, karaoke seeking validation, and a lot of first time cruise questions.

I think it's natural to have questions, especially once you get onboard the ship. I know when I've traveled to a new country or region I'm never totally certain what to expect.

I compiled all of the newbie questions so someone else new to cruising can benefit from knowing the answers before they board.

How to do muster drill

Before any cruise can begin, an important safety drill is required of every passenger sailing.

It's called the muster drill, and it's similar to the spiel you hear on an airplane before it takes off.  You need to know what to do and where to go in case of an emergency.

One person wrote in the chat, "What was the thing we need to do check into before 4pm otherwise they call us out over the intercom."

They're right that you need to complete it before sail away, but it's really quick and easy.

With the Royal Caribbean app downloaded, click the Safety icon in the bottom menu and then watch the safety video and listen to a recording of the ship's emergency signal.

The last step is to go to your muster station and check-in. 

Your muster station location is listed in the app as well as on the back of your stateroom door. You can ask any crew member for help finding where your muster station is located.

When you arrive at your muster station, a crew member will scan your SetSail pass (or SeaPass card) and confirm you know what to do in case of an emergency.

That's it! You can knock it out quickly in just a few minutes and avoid being paged over the entire ship's public address system!

How to connect to Wi-Fi

As you might imagine, influencers are going to want to be connected to the internet and I've seen plenty of people struggle with it.

It's not complicated, but somewhat confusing how to get started. This is evidenced by the usual line of people on embarkation day at the Voom desk.

Connect your device to the ship's Wi-Fi network and you'll be given a prompt to either just use the Royal Caribbean app and have no internet access, or create an account for internet access.

Whether you prepaid for an internet package or want to buy it onboard, you need to first create an account.  This is your login for how you can switch devices later.

After creating an account, you'll have the choice to leverage the prepaid package you have or buy access on the spot.

Another question was can only one person be connected to Wi-Fi, and the answer is you can have as many devices connected at once as included in your package.

If you bought a one device package, you can have one device connected at at time. But you can log out of device one and then log in with device two.  There's no restriction on people, so if you want to let your spouse, friend, or vlogger friend use your account, you can share the login with them.

Are drinks in pineapples included in a drink package?

It's so tempting when you walk on the pool deck to order a pina colada that comes in a pineapple, but that will cost you extra.

Your Royal Caribbean Deluxe Beverage Package includes most drinks on the ship, but souvenir glasses or specialty drinks that come in fruit are not included.

If you order a drink served in a pineapple, you would only pay the difference for the pineapple. The drink package covers the actual beverage part, so you would pay the difference to cover the souvenir cup or fruit creation.

Do I need to carry photo ID?

In addition to your SeaPass card, someone asked if they needed to have their drivers license or passport with them while around the ship.

You definitely do not need to carry ID with you, as the ship has all your pertinent information associated with your SeaPass account.

With a scan of your SeaPass card, they can verify your name, age, and who you're cruising with.  In short, your room keys act as ID.

Does the ship accept Apple Pay?

Royal Caribbean ships are cashless, and you cannot use a credit card or tap to pay either.

Every transaction is done via your SeaPass card.  You cannot use Apple Pay, Google Pay, or a credit card for a specific transaction onboard.

"I checked and every single show is sold out for the entire cruise"

After boarding the ship, one person in our group was surprised to discover all the shows were already sold out for the sailing.

The truth is you need to prebook entertainment before the cruise begins. About a month before the sailing, you should be able to make reservations for any of the shows on Royal Caribbean's bigger ships.

There's no cost to make a reservation.

If, however, you find yourself in the same situation as this person and there are no more reservations left, there is always a standby line you can go to about 20-30 minutes before the show begins.

The reality is a lot of cruisers will make pre-cruise reservations for shows, but when it comes time for the show, they don't go because they're busy doing something else.

This is why the standby line usually works. But you'll want to arrive early to ensure you can get in.

Where is the shampoo and conditioner?

I think a lot of first time cruisers are genuinely surprised by the lack of included toiletries in standard cabins.

"Are the rooms supposed to have shampoo and conditioner? We can't find any," is what one person wrote.

Every cabin has a 2-in-1 shampoo and body wash in a dispenser that's inside the shower, but that's it. If you're in a suite, then they have upgraded toiletries that include shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and lotion.

My recommendation is bring your own toiletries, especially if you have special needs hair.  

I always pack my own shampoo and conditioner for cruising, because the stuff provided isn't high quality. At the very least, it's not the same hair products you're used to at home.

Where can I get something for motion sickness?

I think the chances you will get seasick on a cruise ship are pretty low, but it could happen.

If you find yourself feeling queasy, then you can go to Guest Services and ask for medicine.  Theoretically, they will provide you with free meds to take.

Personally, I prescribe to a "always be prepared" mentality, so I pack my own.  Bonine or Dramamine work quite well and you can get it without a prescription.

What food and drink is included and what costs extra?

Perhaps the top question any new cruiser has is what food is free on Royal Caribbean and what will cost you extra.

There were questions throughout our sailing regarding if certain foods, drinks, or services were included with the cost of the cruise.

A Royal Caribbean cruise includes the basics, so you won't go hungry or thirsty onboard.  But there's some food and drink that has an extra cost to it.

The exact specifics will depend on the ship, but there are few inclusions that are universal, regardless of ship:

• Main Dining Room
• Windjammer buffet
• Coffee shop with light snacks and pizza
• Water
• Milk
• Regular coffee and tea
• Flavored waters
• Hot chocolate (via instant packets)
• Lemonade
• Iced tea

This is a generalization, but the ship you sail on may have more options included.

When in doubt, you can ask a crew member before ordering what's extra.

I was excited for my first visit to Royal Caribbean's new beach club in The Bahamas, but a few things jumped out as surprises about this new offering.

I think the Royal Beach Club Paradise Island is poised to become easily the best thing you can do in Nassau. It's a high quality, limited capacity, beach offering exclusive to Royal Caribbean cruisers and it includes everything you'd want.

I tracked this project since its early inception, but a few things about my day weren't what I expected.  After all, this is a shore excursion, and there are differences you should be aware of compared to any other shore excursion or a visit to Perfect Day at CocoCay.

Here are a few surprises and fun observations I made while at Royal Beach Club Paradise Island.

Yes, the pools are heated

The number one question I've been asked since visiting the Royal Beach Club is about the pools.

Fear not, all of the pools are heated within the beach club. In fact, every beach club going forward will have heated pools.

Royal Caribbean recognized early on that having heated pools would be beneficial during the winter months, as The Bahamas can get warm, but not necessarily hot.

Combine that with strong breezes that are common for a barrier island that the club resides on, and having warm water is a good idea.

There's a mailbox to send postcards

A simple, yet fun idea was to include a mail drop on the island.

This beach club is not only in The Bahamas, but located within the country's capital of Nassau.  So mail service is possible since the beach club isn't located on a remote island, as CocoCay is.

The mail drop claims someone comes once a day to check it.  

Since you probably don't travel with postcards and international postage, they will sell you it at the nearby stand.  It costs about $4 to buy and send a postcard.

This can be a fun souvenir to send home and get later, or to share FOMO with friends and families that didn't come on the cruise.

There are very few power outlets, so bring a power brick

Maybe it's just me, but I wanted to capture all the moments from my day.  I think a lot of cruisers do too.

However, there's basically no power outlets to recharge your phone later.

The only power outlets I could find were in the cabanas that are available to rent.  I could not find power outlets at any of the bars or restaurants.

I recommend bringing a portable charger with you (like this one for just $20) so you won't run out of battery. (This link contains an affiliate link that costs you nothing extra, but I make a small commission)

You need to bring photo ID with you, even if you're just going to the beach club

Unlike a visit to Perfect Day at CocoCay, you need to take photo ID with you off the ship.

Royal Caribbean doesn't need it, but you'll need it before getting back on the ship.

When it's time to head back to the ship, the ferry will drop you off in the Nassau cruise port.  Even if you bypass all the shops and attractions, you need to show ID and your SeaPass card in order to get back on the pier and eventually the ship.

You could bring a passport, but a driver's license will work too. The port just wants to confirm you are who your SeaPass card claims to be.

The fritters don't have conch in them because it's not sustainable

In the name of research, I sampled everything on the menu at Paradise Grill. When I got to the "Fire Engine Fritters", something tasted different about it.

As it turns out, there's no conch in them.

I spoke with Royal Caribbean Vice President Food & Beverage, Linken D'Souza, and he said Royal Caribbean made the decision to not include conch because it's not a sustainable food.

The cruise line is very sensitive to environmental needs and being a part of solutions to protect the waters their ships visit.

The fritters weren't bad at all, and I thought with the "crack sauce" it came with had really good flavor.

Royal Caribbean hid security cameras in the lights

Maybe only I appreciate this level of "cruise nerd", but Royal Caribbean actually hid their security cameras so it doesn't take away from the tropical vibe.

An executive pointed out that they wanted the club's theming to really evoke a fun and tropical experience. Seeing hardware like a security camera detracts from it.

So if you pay close attention, the bottom of the lights on poles have a fisheye security camera that I would have never noticed until it was pointed out to me.

You can't use your SeaPass card to pay for anything in the beach club

I'm so used to CocoCay that I was a little surprised when I learned my SeaPass card wouldn't work on the island.

All the bars and souvenir shops take credit card, cash, Apple Pay, or Google Pay. 

In addition, it's a good idea to bring cash for tipping.

With just a week before its official grand opening, Royal Caribbean's new Royal Beach Club Paradise Island in the Bahamas is nearing completion.

Royal Caribbean invited me to experience this first-of-its-kind offering that it hopes will be a key differentiator from any competitor.

The beach club will open on December 23rd, but I got the chance to see most of the new club and what guests can expect when they arrive.

Let's take a tour of this new exclusive beach and party spot.

A new way to beach

Royal Caribbean built this beach club to offer something no one else has: combining a memorable cruise vacation with beach day add-on.

Located in Nassau, Bahamas it is strategically positioned to cater to many Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises ships that visit nearly every day.

Exemplifying how popular a port Nassau is, over 31,000 passengers visited the port on April 8, 2025.

Despite its record-breaking numbers, Nassau isn't the most popular cruise destination. Michael Bayley, President and CEO of Royal Caribbean International, even noted that it falls within the bottom ten percent in overall guest demand.

Enter the Royal Beach Club Paradise Island. This new experience is designed to appeal to guests who might otherwise stay on the ship or skip itineraries with Nassau. Its goal is to deliver on the high standards the cruise line has developed at other private destinations and on board its vessels. 

The 17-acre beach club gives Royal Caribbean and Celebrity passengers exclusive access to a pristine stretch of beach away from the crowds. 

The area is divided into three zones — Family Beach, Chill Beach, and Party Cove — to ensure that there's something for everyone. 

Chill Beach is a peaceful oceanfront area with a pool, swim-up bar, beachside bars, Paradise Grill, cabanas, and more.

According to the cruise line, must-try items at the Bahamian grill include the BBQ Black Bean Burger, Fire Engine Fritters, Pinwheel Shrimp Skewers with Guava Glaze, Bahama-Style Baked Mac & Cheese, and more. 

The Party Cove is the social hub of the Royal Beach Club Paradise Island and is primarily geared toward adults. 

The heart and soul of the area is the two-story Floating Flamingo Pool & Swim-Up Bar. The colorful, open-air structure serves as a visual focal point, setting the tone for lively fun.

Not only is the Floating Flamingo Swim-Up Bar the largest swim-up bar in the world, but it also features a resident DJ who keeps the energy high throughout the day, similar to the DJ at Hideaway Beach at Perfect Day at CocoCay. 

Another Paradise Grill location is situated within the Party Cove, ensuring guests have easy access to food, regardless of where they choose to spend their day.

Finally, Family Beach offers a casual, kid-friendly atmosphere with convenient access to food, drinks, and private spaces. It's home to the Shallow End Pool, a zero-entry pool with its own swim-up bar, as well as the third Paradise Grill location.

Unfortunately, the finishing touches are still being applied to this area, so I was unable to preview it.

However, this fun-filled area is where you'll find the two-story Ultimate Family Cabana, which goes for $10,000 per day. Despite its price, Royal Caribbean reports strong demand for the luxurious retreat.

The cabana includes a dedicated attendant and admission for up to 12 guests. Inside, families will find a private bathroom, a heated whirlpool, a spiral slide, a frozen drink machine, a television, and more. Don't worry, though — there are beachside and poolside cabanas that are more modestly priced, too. 

Admission to the Royal Beach Club Paradise Island is not included in your cruise fare. Similar to the Deluxe Beverage Package, the day passes are priced dynamically based on factors like the ship and sailing date. 

There are two types of passes available. The all-inclusive Day Pass with Unlimited Open Bar & Dining starts at $169.99 per person. 

Alternatively, the Day Pass with Non-Alcoholic Drinks & Dining is priced at $129.99 for guests ages 13 and older and $109.99 for children ages 4 to 12.

For a cruise aboard Utopia of the Seas in July 2026, the pre-cruise sale on the Cruise Planner has the Unlimited Open Bar pass listed at $139.99 per person, which highlights the value of booking in advance to secure the lowest pricing.

All inclusive, with food, drinks, and Wi-Fi

Something that makes the Royal Beach Club different is that it's all-inclusive.

Your day pass includes not just admission, but also unlimited food from the various restaurants around the club.

There's a mix of traditional favorites and Bahamian leaning cuisine too.

And of course, there's a wide selection of drinks too.

If you bought the non-alcoholic day pass, you could purchase individual alcoholic beverages.

The idea is to have the perfect beach experience, everything is already here waiting.

Bigger than I expected, and more chill too

After a few hours walking and exploring Royal Beach Club, it's clear how expansive this narrow strip of land truly is.

While it's narrow, it's also quite large. The total property is 17 acres in size, and while it may not seem that large when you see it from the ship, it feels much bigger when you arrive.

While one area wasn't open for my visit, I was still impressed how large the area feels. I'd call it deceptively large, and that means there's much more space to spread out and find your own area.

The other thing I loved immediately was how comfortable it felt, thanks to a strong breeze.

While December in The Bahamas is far from the hottest month of the year, there's a consistent breeze that helps keep things comfortable.

Depending on the time of year, there could be easterly trade winds or a fresh breeze.  Since it's kind of a barrier island, it enjoys more wind than if you were inland.  All of this means I think it may not feel as hot out as it is.

If there's one piece of cruise advice I always give, it's never travel the same day your cruise departs.  So when I broke that rule, it gave me more trouble than it was worth.

The reason why you never want to fly the same day your cruise departs is a travel delay could cause you to miss your cruise, putting your entire vacation in jeopardy.

So when Royal Caribbean invited me to sail on Wonder of the Seas to preview the opening of its new beach club in The Bahamas, I decided to break my own rule and roll the dice.

Why would I flagrantly choose to travel the same day as my cruise? I had a family commitment the day before the cruise began that wasn't negotiable. And I had spent a lot of time away from home this year on over a dozen cruises.

I booked a Brightline train that took me from Orlando to Miami. It departed at 5:40am and would arrive in Miami at 9:15am. Taking a train instead of flying lessened my concerns because Brightline's fleet tends to run on time with less delays or cancellations.

The good news is my train was on time and I made it to my Wonder of the Seas cruise, but I also regretted my choice a few times and realized why I won't do this again.

No matter how good the plan sounded, I had more anxiety than I expected

Maybe I'm just a worrywart, but until my train was firmly in South Florida, the level of anxiety I experienced surprised me.

At first it was concern over if my alarm would go off and would I wake up on time.  Then it was worrying about finding a parking spot at the train station.  And finally, would the train get me there on time.

I cannot even imagine how much more worried I would have been if I had been flying.  Flights are notorious for being delayed for all sorts of mundane reasons.

Boarding at the cruise terminal begins at 10am, but you have to be onboard by 3pm usually.  That means your buffer for delay or mistake is only a few hours.

In my situation, I felt better that I could always drive myself down to Miami in roughly the same amount of time the train would take.  That's not usually a fallback people who elect to fly can say.

I didn't expect to be so tired all day because of my long travel day

It came as no surprise waking up at 4am was difficult and I was initially tired, but it really dragged me down all day.

My plan was to nap on the ship once the staterooms opened at 1pm, but it was rough getting to that point.

I stopped to get coffee on my way to the train station, so that helped perk me up initially. But those first few hours onboard after boarding before cabins opened were rougher than I expected. I just wanted to lay down and nap.

When my room was ready, that's exactly what I did and it felt glorious.  But my nap left me feeling more lethargic than energized.

A very early start of travel started me off tired and it never really wore off.

In fact, I was in my cabin by 10pm because I just couldn't summon the energy to stay out later.

Had I traveled to Miami the day before, I could have slept much longer the night before the cruise and gotten onboard with a lot more rest.

My plans worked out, but I wouldn't want to do it again

In my case, I was lucky that I was able to make this cruise as scheduled. But I can't say I enjoyed how it all happened on embarkation day.

There are countless examples in the news of a family that misses their cruise ship because of a delayed flight or some other travel mishap.

Even when things go to plan, I found having such a small amount of buffer removed all the pre-cruise excitement and replaced it with angst.

Would I wake up on time? Would my train have delays? Will there be enough parking?

This isn't how I want any vacation to start, and I doubt others would too.  Perhaps there are que sera sera people out there that let fate take its course, but its definitely not my style.

My recommendation remains always travel at least one day before your cruise begins, and don't do what I did.