Royal Caribbean's newest cruise ship will have one of the most famous soccer players of all time to name the ship.

Royal Caribbean announced that Lionel Messi will be the "official icon of Icon of the Seas". This appears to be a role similar to a ship's Godmother.

As part of a longstanding maritime tradition, Messi will take part in the iconic naming celebration for Icon in January 2024 in Miami. The Icon of Icon will have the honor of bestowing safekeeping onto the new ship, its crew and the millions of families who will create memories of a lifetime on board in the years to come.

This means he will welcome the new ship at an exclusive naming celebration in Miami. The naming ceremony will take place on January 23, 2024.

"I’m thrilled and honored to join the Royal Caribbean family to celebrate the arrival of the game-changing Icon of the Seas," said Lionel Messi, Royal Caribbean International’s Icon of Icon. 

"Icon is beyond anything else that’s out there for family vacations, with incredible never-before-seen features, all designed for making memories together."

Royal Caribbean's choice seems to have been in the making for a few months.

In July 2023, the cruise line invited the soccer star onto the bridge of a cruise ship to meet cruise line President and CEO, Michael Bayley.

The next month, Royal Caribbean announced an advertising agreement with Inter Miami CF, which is the club Messi plays for. More details are forthcoming related to Royal Caribbean and Inter Miami CF celebration of the arrival of Icon with the next phase of the partnership.

Who is Lionel Messi?

Photo © Chbm89 | Dreamstime.com

In case you're not familiar with Lionel Messi, he's one of the most well-known soccer stars today and arguably one of the best of all time.

Born in Argentina, he spent most of his career playing for FC Barcelona, where he made a name for himself as one of the top goal scorers.

He rose to fame for his playmaking skills and has won numerous individual awards, including the FIFA Ballon d'Or, which he has won multiple times.

Changing the status quo

As part of the announcement, Mr. Bayley said the choice of Messi to be the ship's Icon was based on the fact that his career matches that of the new ship.

"It’s that ability to make such a widespread impact and change the status quo that the Icon of Icon must personify, and Lionel Messi has proven to be the perfect example of that for years in the world of sports and most recently in introducing a new era of excitement and passion for fútbol in Miami and the U.S."

Icon of the Seas is built with far more family-focused activities than other cruise ships, and it's a brand new type of cruise ship.

Scheduled to begin sailing in January 2024 and already available to book, will feature a water park, kids club, entire portion of the ship for young families, and more dining and entertainment than on any other ship since.

Icon of the Seas will have more cabins to cater to families with higher capacities, thanks in large part to new room designs.

Adults aren't being left out either.  While the kids are busy with all of their activities, there's a jazz club, elevated supper club, adults-only pool and bar, dueling piano bar, and lots more.

What is a cruise ship godmother?

Every cruise ship has a godmother, and it appears Messi will be serve that role.

It's a ceremonial position that is traditionally held by a woman, but in recent years that has changed.  Symphony of the Seas had a Godfamily, and Norwegian Cruise Line had a Godfather for one of its ships.

Other ships have had women hold the role, including renowned athletes, celebrities and royalty.

The Icon's job is to give the ship a blessing for the safety of the crew members and passengers who will sail onboard it. 

Royal Caribbean's partnership with Ben & Jerry's ice cream is coming to an end.

The cruise line informed travel agents that the line will remove Ben & Jerry's from its cruise ships before the end of the year.

Royal Caribbean has ice cream shops that stocked the Vermont brand ice cream on 13 of its cruise ships.

In an announcement to travel agents, the line said the final date will be December 15, 2023, "Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream Shop onboard 13 of our ships will be moo-ving out and making way for something sweeter!"

Replacing Ben & Jerry's will be an in-house brand of ice cream.

"We're excited to announce that our own Ice Cream Parlor will be replacing Ben & Jerry's. We hope your clients saved room for dessert!"

The partnership brings to an end a multi-year deal that has had the ice cream on many of its ships for a long time. Ben & Jerry's cost extra, and was not included in the cruise fare.

Depending on the ship class, you could find Ben & Jerry ice cream as a stand-alone location on the Royal Promenade, or as a section of another venue.

The standalone locations had Ben & Jerry decor, seating, and of course the signature cows nearby.

A change to the sweet cabins

Did you know on Royal Caribbean's Freedom Class cruise ships there was one cabin that was themed to Ben & Jerry's signature cow mascot?

These special cabins had extra perks that came with the room, but they too are already on their way out.

These rooms (cabin 6305) included Suite Lounge access, as well as free ice cream every day.

The cow decor was dropped in 2022, but the benefits remained.  Then in 2023, we received reports that the benefits were also being removed.

What will replace it?

Royal Caribbean has not announced what ice cream will replace it exactly, but it's likely going to be the same sort of ice cream the line has planned for Icon of the Seas.

Sprinkles is the name of the complimentary soft serve ice cream available on the new cruise ship.  

It's not clear what the new venue name will be. Cups & Scoops was one brand available on the original Oasis Class ships, but Sugar Beach has been the name of the dessert shop

The rumor mill is swirling with the possibility of Royal Caribbean eyeing a new resort in Freeport, Bahamas as part of a bigger plan to revamp the harbor.

Prior to the cruise industry shutting down in 2020, Royal Caribbean announced plans for redeveloping Freeport's harbor and create a combination new port and resort.  Those plans fell through during the shutdown.

There's now word of a potential purchase of the Xanadu Beach Hotel in Freeport as part of plans to develop a resort and water park destination, according to The Tribune report.

According to "multiple well-placed sources", Royal Caribbean is in talks with the property owner to buy the line, and that negotiations towards an offer being made by the cruise line.

Royal Caribbean has made no announcement, nor have they confirmed or denied the original report. 

The deal could cover an area of 40-50 acres, which would be tied to redeveloping Freeport's harbor.

One source indicated that the project could be used by sister brand Celebrity Cruises as well.

The Xanadu Beach Hotel was built in 1968 and then purchased by Howard Hughes in 1972. Mr. Hughes lived at the hotel until just before his death in 1976.

It was an escape for Hollywood stars, and included 215 rooms and an 80 slip marina. Stars such as Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Lucille Ball visited there.

It closed in 2011.

The original Freeport plan

The original plan for the cruise giant was to purchase the Grand Lucayan resort in Freeport, and tie that to a harbor deal.

Royal Caribbean had about 20 projects on the drawing board prior to the global health crisis, including the Freeport project.

Under the deal announced in 2020, there were to be two locations that included a port terminal and the Grand Lucayan hotel.

The first phase of the Lucaya Property would have been a beachfront destination with a 526-room hotel, shopping village, spa and wellness center, water-based family entertainment including a massive water and adventure theme park, a 40,000-square-foot convention center, adventure activities such as zip lines and off-roading, restaurants and bars, entertainment and lively nightlife. 

The enhancement and expansion of the port terminal, to be called Harbour Village, would have been nine miles west of the Lucaya Property, at the cruise terminal in Freeport Harbor. Here, visitors would have been able to enjoy numerous spaces with multiple shopping and dining venues, beach areas, shore excursions and more. 

The plan was for it to be finished in winter 2022.

Freeport still an option

It remains to be seen if a deal to purchase the Xanadu property will happen, or if a Freeport project in general will continue, but it seemed like the cruise line is still eyeing the possibility.

In March 2023, Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley told Bahamian media that he was "increasingly optimistic" that its Freeport port project will finally happen.

"I would say we are increasingly optimistic about the timing of that. In the coming months hopefully we will be in a position to make some positive announcement on Freeport."

"Our intent is to bring more capacity into Freeport. The first step, which will be in conjunction with others, is investing in improving the port."

Mr. Bayley said development of a water-based adventure theme park for passengers in close proximity to the port area was still the plan.

Selfies aren't just for influencers anymore. It's actually the important step to do pre-cruise to get on the ship faster.

When the day arrives to get on your cruise ship, the last thing you want to do is waste time in the cruise terminal instead of boarding the ship.  Yet, too many people skip a pivotal step that can move things along quicker.

Royal Caribbean has made its app easy the key to boarding your ship.  Similar to an airline boarding pass, you can do it all via the app. But unlike a flight, cruise ship passengers are asked to take a photo of themselves.

The purpose of taking a photo of your face is so that ship security has a record of it, and you have to do it before embarkation.

The photo is optional in the app, but if you wait to take the photo in the cruise terminal, you'll waste time there and more importantly, take longer to get onboard.

Read more: Royal Caribbean app walkthrough and tips

This might sound like it's not a big deal to take a photo before the cruise, but Royal Caribbean is about to make it far more important.

Why taking a selfie will become more important

It's easy to overlook taking a selfie during the check-in process, but soon you'll definitely want to do it ahead of time.

Royal Caribbean is getting close to introducing a new way to check-in for a cruise that rewards passengers who do everything they need to do before embarkation day.

A new Express Boarding option is being tested in PortMiami on at least one ship, and it's meant to speed up the process for people who do everything they are supposed to in the app ahead of time.

This means you scan your passport, take a selfie, and enter your credit card and emergency contact details.

It might not sound like a big deal to have the fastest way onboard, until you're waiting in a line that you didn't have to wait in.  No one likes waiting in line when others can breeze past them.  

Find the right spot for the photo

One word of advice to avoid having to re-do the photo later is ensure you pick a spot that has a neutral background.

Royal Caribbean doesn't want things in the background, so take the photo in front of that boring hallway in your home instead of in the car or at the office.

Speaking of things that don't belong in the photo, make sure you aren't wearing any hats or sunglasses in your selfie photo.

If you don't do this, you'll have to re-take the photo in the terminal.

How to take selfie

You can take a selfie photo and upload it two ways.

The easiest is through the Royal Caribbean app. You can start the check-in process 45 days prior to your cruise departure date. 

Once you have the option to check-in, you'll see "Check-in now" enabled.  From there, "Travel Info" is the first section to complete.

The selfie photo is available under "Snap a security photo".

Alternatively, you can do the check-in on the Royal Caribbean website.  The problem with the website is you need a way to take a photo and get it to your computer.  There's no doubt taking a photo from your phone while already in the Royal Caribbean app is easier.

Read more: Royal Caribbean check-in process guide

More tips to speed up embarkation

In addition to taking a selfie, you'll want to to do a few more things.

Be sure to enter all of the information in check-in process so that each section has a green check mark next to it. This means entering your personal information, travel documents, credit card, and emergency contact information.

A day before the cruise, the health questionnaire will become available in the app, and that's the final step in checking in for the cruise.

On boarding day, there are also a few good tips to assist in getting from curb to ship as quick as possible:

• Have your travel documents (passport) in hand
• Take a screenshot of your SetSail pass, just in case the app doesn't work
• Have luggage tags printed and attached to your luggage

Read more: 15 Royal Caribbean boarding process tips for a fast embarkation

A suite on a cruise is expensive, but it's also one of the most sought-after types of cruise cabins because of how enjoyable the experience is.

The price of a suite will vary considerably, with the Ultimate Family Suite on Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas costing $80,000 per week. That's at least ten times what a balcony cabin would likely cost, but it's also a microcosm of the demand suites get by cruise ship passengers.

The attraction to a book a suite is all about the service and benefits you get by staying in one.  There many types of cruise ship suites, but you can expect a bigger room than standard cabins on cruise vessels, better location onboard, and plenty of extra perks included for the price.

Free wifi, extra restaurants, added service, and less waiting in lines are just a few of the perks available with some suites.

Read more: Royal Caribbean suites guide & review

While a suite is likely not a dollar-for-dollar value, it is compelling enough a proposition that some cruisers jump at the chance to move up to a suite.

If you're debating if a suite is worth it, here are the best reasons to book one instead of a standard cabin.

Less waiting

My favorite benefit to staying in a suite is less lines to deal with during the cruise.

Staying in a suite is the closest thing cruise lines offer to an express line to bypass lines, or at least reduce them. By paying extra, you get added service and shortcuts along the way.

On embarkation day, there will be a special line in almost every port for those staying in a suite. This provides a shorter line to wait in to check-in, and when it's time to board the ship, suite guests get to go first.

Onboard the ship, there can be opportunities for suite guests to bypass lines.  There can be reserved seating in shows, and if you have a Royal Genie, you can forget about waiting in just about any line on the ship.

The saying, "time is money" applies to suite guests, and it's nice to have bypasses along the way.

Exclusive areas on the ship

If you're in a suite, there will be special areas of the ship reserved just for you.

Royal Caribbean does not have a "ship within a ship" concept that other lines have, but there's still a few spots reserved just for suite guests and these alone can be worth the price of a suite.

Every ship has a suite lounge, where you can go anytime to socialize and enjoy complimentary drinks and light snacks at certain times.

You'll also find reserved seating on the pool deck for suite guests, which is immensely beneficial on sea days when the pool is the busiest.

On Royal Caribbean's newest ships, there are entire neighborhoods for suite guests.  Wonder of the Seas and Icon of the Seas both have a section of the ship for the exclusive use of suite passengers.

Bigger cabin

If you think having more space in your room doesn't matter, wait until you see how much more space there is in a suite.

Cruise ship cabins are typically smaller than hotel rooms, but suites will make you feel like you're back at home with the square footage found in them.

Some suites have extra bedrooms, bathrooms, or even a dining room.  The really large suites are incredible to see, because it's hard to fathom just how large these cabins are compared to other rooms.

The Ultimate Family Townhouse measures 1,772 square feet and is three decks high.  Compare that to a balcony cabin on Icon of the Seas that comes in at 204 square feet.

More conventional suites are still quite large. A Grand Suite on Icon measures 431 square feet, which is more than double that of a balcony.

Read more: Icon of the Seas cabins and suites guide

Having that extra space is a major reason why a lot of people book a suite. They want to feel like they can spread out, and if they're sharing the room with others, every extra foot makes a difference.

Concierge services

It's amazing how much better your cruise can be with the help of the suite concierge.

The concierge is there to be a dedicated resource for suite guests. Think of them like Guest Service just for suite guests, but with less lines and more service.

They can assist in making reservations, including pre-cruise.  They can escort you off the ship, get you a tender ride without a wait, and be your aid should a problem arise.

Their job is to make your experience on the ship better, and it's a really nice way to solve problems or simply enhance it all.

Freebies

Depending on the ship you pick, staying in a suite can get you a lot of extras included in your cruise fare that you would otherwise have to pay extra for.

All suites across all ships include free alcoholic beverages in the Suite Lounge each evening, which means there's less of a need to purchase an unlimited drink package.

If you cruise on a Quantum, Oasis, or Icon Class cruise ship, the included perks drastically increase. For Sky Class passengers, you'll get complimentary Wi-Fi access, access to a special restaurant, and room service too.

Star Class guests get pretty much everything included, including any specialty restaurant, extra-cost beverage, and gratuities.

Read more: What is Star Class?

Twice a day cabin service

Royal Caribbean cut back housekeeping to once a day on its cruise ships, but suites still get service twice per day.

Having your cabin attendant service your cabin in the morning and evening is a pleasant benefit, and it means towels get replaced quicker, beds are made if you took a nap, and your room just feels tidier. 

I've grown accustomed to this change in standard cabins by now, but having that twice-a-day service is a really nice benefit.

More loyalty points

If you're looking to move up the ladder of Royal Caribbean's customer loyalty program faster, staying in a suite is the best strategy.

Royal Caribbean will give you an extra point per night for staying in a suite, so that means two points instead of one (or three, if you're staying solo in a suite).

This is important because the sooner you reach the higher tiers of Crown and Anchor Society, the sooner you'll get to enjoy the best benefits, such as free drinks every day.

Getting to Diamond, Diamond Plus, and Pinnacle Club really adds significant value to how you cruise, so booking a suite to get there faster might be a really good idea.

Read more: My top 5 favorite Diamond, Diamond Plus and Pinnacle Club perks

Better cabin location

Want to reduce your walking distance when getting around the ship? Stay somewhere with less movement? A suite is the easy button for that.

You'll typically find suites in the most desirable places on the ship so that you can have the best views, stability, and convenience.

To avoid getting seasick on a cruise, you'll want a cabin mid-ship (definitely not at the front), and it's no coincidence that you'll find suites in these areas.

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

Is a suite on a cruise worth it?

It won't be cheap, but a suite has a lot of nice perks that come with it, and it might make sense for you to spend extra to stay in one.

When you consider what you get for booking a suite instead of a regular cabin, the higher price might make sense if you can take advantage of the added value.

Experts will tell you the best time to book a cruise is as soon as you pick out the right ship and itinerary, but some people still wonder if they're better off waiting to book a cruise later to try to get a better deal.

It's understandable why you might think there's a special or better time to book a cruise, because in other forms of travel there are inside scoops on when is the best time to book. 

The reality is a cruise ship is priced differently, and waiting to book is usually a mistake because of how the industry works.

While there are exceptions and times when a promotion seems lucrative, the best time to book a cruise is when you see a price that fits in your budget and and seems like a good price. If you think it's a good deal, go ahead and pull the trigger on booking it. There's no telling if or when the price may go down.

What is the best day to book a cruise?

There are definitely better days of the week to book a flight, but that's not the case with cruises.

Royal Caribbean does offer "Going, Going, Gone" rates on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, they tend to be very limited offers on close-in sailings. If you're planning your family vacation, waiting for one of these to roll around isn't a great strategy.

Prices of a cruise can change by the minute, and there isn't any kind of pattern that favors one day over another. While the cruise line's internal pricing logic isn't publicly known, anecdotally, there isn't any reason a price would be less on a certain day.  When it's time to raise or lower the price, it happens in real-time.

Just to confirm this theory, I reached out to a travel agent to get a sense of their experience.  Considering how many cruises they book every day, I wanted to know if there was a better day of the week to book a cruise.

"There isn't a best day of the week to book a cruise, as prices change often," said Sharla Manglass, Travel Planner with MEI & Mouse Fan Travel.

"Some people seem to believe that waiting for Black Friday, WOW, or Kids Sail Free sales will be the best option for them."

What is the best month to book a cruise?

There isn't necessarily one month that's better than another, but cruise lines love to tie sales to major holidays.

The month of November stands out because it has two of the most well-known shopping holidays: Black Friday and Cyber Monday. While these sales tend to favor retail sales more, the truth is cruise lines trot out special bonus incentives for those that book a cruise during these days.

In fact, cruise lines get into the "spirit" of Black Friday by starting sales a week or more in advance, so you'll have time in the second half of November to take advantage of the sales.

However, it's a mistake to wait to book a cruise until Black Friday. Instead, book the cruise now.

Royal Caribbean allows price adjustments with no penalty until final payment date, so if you do notice a price drop when Black Friday rolls around, call Royal Caribbean or your travel agent to get the cruise fare adjustment.

Plus, you might find that Black Friday cruise deals are not very different from promotions you’ll see throughout the rest of the year. Unlike retail and technology stores, for example, cruise pricing does not drastically change on Black Friday. You might find that the Black Friday promotion is nearly the same as other promotions during the year.

What is the best time of year to book a cruise?

If you had the inspiration to book a cruise, ideally it would be in the beginning of the year during Wave Season.

“Wave Season” is a cruise industry term for the time of year in which cruise lines tend to offer their best promotions. Wave season traditionally occurs between January and March. The name comes from the fact bookings in this period are what carry the cruise industry for the rest of the year.

Wave season promotions vary based on year, but you might see savings like 60% off a second guest and up to $150 onboard credit to use onboard. If you’re browsing Royal Caribbean’s website during wave season, you should take advantage of the offer to hopefully save some money and get onboard perks.

The other really good time of year to book a cruise is when Royal Caribbean releases new itineraries.

Generally speaking, the best prices for a cruise are when a new sailing is put on sale and all the cabins are open to book. Inventory is at its highest, and prices only go up as rooms get booked.

Cruise itineraries are usually released around two years in advance. The first batch of new cruises go on sale around November and December, and the rest come out in February, March or April.

One way to stay informed about new cruise itineraries is by subscribing to Royal Caribbean’s marketing emails or following Royal Caribbean Blog.

Can I book a cruise at the last minute?

Your best bet is to always book as far in advance as possible, you could try for a last-minute booking instead.

Truthfully, booking a cruise at the last minute is a crapshoot.  If there are any good deals, the choices are going to be limited in terms of dates, ships, and cabin choice.

Equally importantly, you'll have to pay the entire fare at once, because cruises booked less than 90 days before sailing require deposit and the full fare to be paid at the same time.

The bigger issue is there may simply not be a last-minute cruise deal to be had.  Cruise ships are sailing full, and people are booking cruises earlier and in more numbers than ever before. 

However, if you're very flexible with when and where you sail, there could be something out there if you keep your eyes out for price drops. If a cruise is past final payment date and not all rooms have been booked, Royal Caribbean may drop prices in order to encourage more passengers to book the cruise.

It helps a lot if you can drive to your cruise so that you don't have to then figure out last-minute airfare or hotels.

Should you book your next cruise on the ship?

Cruise lines offer additional incentives if you book another cruise once on their ship, but it's not always the best strategy.

If you're on a ship and are suddenly struck with the inspiration to book another cruise, yes, booking onboard is a good idea. You will receive up to $600 in onboard credit  and a lower deposit amount simply for booking a cruise on the ship.

That may sound like a great reason to wait to book onboard, but waiting to book a cruise until you get on a ship is a mistake. Even if you have a cruise coming up in a few weeks or months, it’s almost always better to book a future cruise you are interested in while at home now because the price could go up between now and your sailing, negating the advantage of booking on the ship.

How do I know if I'm getting a good deal when I book?

Cruise ship travel has changed significantly over the last century. 

Main Dining Room. Royal Caribbean

From the ocean liners that preceded it, to the dawn of the cruise ship, and then onto the mega ship, leisure travel by sea has come a long way.

The cruise industry has made rapid improvements and innovated through each era, with a boom of activity beginning in the 1990s as ships transformed into floating cities.

Here's a look at what cruise ship travel looked like over the decades.

Pre-1914 B&N steamers. Norwegian Maritime Museum

By the end of the 19th century, Norway's scenic wonders attracted hundreds of tourists. British and German vessels began calling on the Norwegian coast during the summer.

B&N Line (Bergen Line and Nordenfjeldski Steamship Company) welcomed tourists to Norway and the Mediterranean. They called their vessels, "tourist yachts".

Oslofjord, Norwegian America Line's short-lived flagship in 1939 in Havana. Bard Kolltveit & John Maxtone-Graham

Ocean liners were the precursor to modern day cruise ships, but they were quite different in their design and approach to sailing.

Ocean liners were built to offer comfortable accommodations across oceans at the highest speed possible. They weren't leisure craft, as they were more suited for getting their passengers across vast distances as fast as possible.

Commodore Cruise Line Boheme ship in Miami in 1982. Bard Kolltveit & John Maxtone-Graham

The first cruise lines emerged in the 1960s, with Commodore Cruise Line and Norwegian Cruise Line founded in 1966.

Cruise lines in these days primarily relied on ferries or old ocean liners. Commodore took over building a half-complete ferry under construction that had been cancelled.

Commodore Cruise Line became the first company to operate week-long cruises out of Florida year-round.

Arne Wilhelmsen and family. Arne Wilhelmsen

Royal Caribbean was founded in 1968, with Song of Norway as her first ship. She was one of the first large ships to be built specifically for Caribbean cruising instead of a converted ferry or ocean liner.

The Song of Norway originally weighed 18,000 gross tons and had a capacity for only 724 passengers. 

Song of Norway's embarkation lobby in 1970. Bard Kolltveit & John Maxtone-Graham

Cruising in the 1970s was quite different from cruising today. Song of Norway had its own radio station, guests received a passenger list of everyone onboard, there was a midnight buffet, and skeet shooting was available on sea days.

Main Dining Room. Royal Caribbean

Cruise ships had evolved to offer more creature comforts than ocean liners ever did. Ships in the '70s were small, and the industry was starting to grow.

Meeting the Captain. Royal Caribbean

On a cruise ship in the 1970s, you could dance..

Man shooting skeet. Royal Caribbean

... shoot skeet off the back of the ship...

Marketing photos in brochure. Royal Caribbean

... and  many other activities.

Viking Crown Lounge. Royal Caribbean

In the 1980s, the cruise industry had to deal with the growing pains of a recession and strong competition from many lines.

Nordic Prince. Royal Caribbean

Cuise ships in the 1980s were smaller than today. As an example, Nordic Prince was 18,346 GT and 552 feet long, whereas Icon of the Seas is 250,800 GT and 1,198 feet long.

Party crowd. Royal Caribbean

Just like the decade was known for, a cruise in the 1980s was about a way to celebrate and relax.

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.

Workout class. Royal Caribbean

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.

The mandatory boat drill is completed. Royal Caribbean

Sovereign of the Seas in Miami passing Song of America. Royal Caribbean

The cruise industry evolved once again in the late 1980s into the 1990s with the introduction of the mega ship.

Windjammer on Sovereign of the Seas. Royal Caribbean

Sovereign of the Seas, the world's largest purpose-built cruise ship at the time, was designed as a way to offer certain onboard amenities that Royal Caribbean executives dreamed up.

The launch of Sovereign of the Seas in 1988 introduced the era of the mega ship, and vessels became larger and larger. 

Royal Caribbean promotional video

While the ships got bigger, the core experience remained the same, as guests were told they would be "wined and dined virtually around the clock," with the Main Dining Room featuring a different international flavor each night. 

Centrum on Legend of the Seas. Royal Caribbean

In the 1990s, ships got bigger and they could experience more than ever thought possible on cruise ships. Rock climbing walls, mini-golf courses, and the first specialty restaurants were added.

Pool on ship top deck. m. van hintum

Voyager of the Seas ushered in a new era of cruising with another leap in ship size.

The addition of an indoor promenade was revolutionary with the Voyager Class. There were onboard activities that was previously not available on a cruise ship.  

More importantly, it introduced the concept of guests being able to do physically activities onboard that were never considered previously.

Oasis of the Seas Youth Zone. Royal Caribbean

In the 2000s, cruising had reached new heights of popularity and Royal Caribbean capitalized on that with the biggest ships yet.

Oasis of the Seas became the world's largest cruise ship by a factor previously unseen.

Oasis was more than 40 percent larger than the previous largest ships in the world (Freedom Class), coming in at 225,282-tons and accommodating 5,400 passengers.

Icon of the Seas leaving shipyard in Turku. Royal Caribbean

Cruise ships have continued their trend to grow and add more for passengers to do.

Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas will set the new bar for biggest cruise ship in the world with 20 decks and a length of 1,198 feet.

Royal Caribbean is adding a new souvenir photo benefit to most of its loyalty program tiers.

Members of the Crown and Anchor Society received an email on Thursday notifying them of the program change.

Royal Caribbean's customer loyalty program has many benefits for repeat cruisers and the photo benefits have been updated.

Read more: Crown and Anchor Society loyalty program info, tips & secrets

Beginning on sailings departing on or after December 9, 2023, guests will have updated photo benefits.

Here's a breakdown of what each tier will receive:

Platinum

20% off a single photo, photo package, or a photobook

Emerald

25% off a single photo, photo package, or a photobook

Diamond, Diamond Plus, Pinnacle Club

• Free digital or printed photo of your choice
• 30% off a single photo, photo package, or a photobook

It should be noted Jewel, Radiance, Grandeur and Vision of the Seas do not offer digital downloads, and only prints.

A single photo or digital download sold onboard the ship usually costs $19.99 for a single print or download. 

In the announcement, Royal Caribbean said they were making this change to reward guests, "Your loyalty deserves to be celebrated, and what better way than capturing and preserving those unforgettable moments?"

What's different about this change?

If you're curious, this new benefit replaces a photo benefit that previously existed.

According to our notes, this change replaces the buy one, get one discount that was previously offered:

Platinum

Buy one, get one 50% off - Photo

Emerald

Buy one, get one 50% off - Photo

Diamond, Diamond Plus, Pinnacle Club

10% off a Photo Package or Photobook

Changing benefits

The addition of these new benefits is part of an ever evolving benefit structure by Royal Caribbean.

Earlier this year, the cruise line announced a change to the name of its loyalty lounge.

Also in 2023, Royal Caribbean introduced a new design to its crystal blocks for top tier members. They also made other changes, including Emerald members no longer have the option to pre-select your welcome beverages, because all guests will now receive complimentary water in their stateroom when they arrive.

Additionally, the cruise line removed the welcome snack as a loyalty benefit.

The value of daily drink vouchers for Diamond members and above went up to $14.

Lastly, the free bag of laundry on sailings five nights or longer is restricted to be redeemable only on the day of the ship's Wash & Fold laundry promotion.

Related: The Crown and Anchor perks you should use on every Royal Caribbean cruise

How to use this offer

You can redeem the photo benefits that Crown and Anchor provides you once onboard your ship. It's not available to use pre-cruise.

If your ship has an interactive kiosk you can use to order prints, then this is very simple.

Just scan your SeaPass card to view any photos you have taken with the ship's photographers.  Select which prints you would like to buy, and then look for a promotions icon in the top right corner.  

Once you click on it, you'll see whichever photo offers you have.  The photo benefit tied to your Crown and Anchor Society level should automatically appear.

Every person in your family that has the same tier status is entitled to the benefit, so you could redeem this offer for each person.  For example, a married couple that is Diamond status, could get 2 free prints by logging in as each person via the kiosk and ordering a print.

Alternatively, you can ask one of the crew members working in the photo gallery to assist.

January is the heart of winter in the northern hemisphere, so while temperatures are likely to be at their coldest, is this the right time for a cruise?

Picking the right month for a cruise depends on various factors, but January has its own considerations. It's also not as popular a month to take a vacation because nearly everyone just had time off with the December holidays just a few weeks earlier.

Among the cruise industry, January is actually one of the best months to go on a cruise because it has a few advantages that draw many back year after year.

You might be surprised how good of a time it is to go on a cruise in January.

Lowest prices of the year

Assuming you skip a cruise that goes over the New Year holiday, cruises in January tend to be quite inexpensive and that's because of the lack of demand.

Cruise prices tend to reflect demand, and when there's less demand, prices are usually lower.  In January, kids are back in school and adults are back at work.  It's not very common to take vacation time in January considering the built in time off that comes with Christmas and New Years.

Due to less demand, you will probably have a higher chance at finding a last-minute deal in January than in many other months. Keep an eye out for January cruise deals starting in November each year and check frequently to make sure you’re aware of the best deals being offered.

Read more: Ultimate Guide to last-minute cruise deals

Just like the cruises, flights tend to be cheaper too for a January cruise.  With less people in general interested in a vacation, you may find that getting a flight to your embarkation port isn't as expensive as a month or two later.

A winter escape

Nostalgia for a winter wonderland usually runs out by the time bitter cold temperatures arrive in January, so a January cruise is a great idea to get out of town.

By taking a January cruise, you get to head south and to warmer temperatures.  There’s something extra wonderful about suntanning on a beach when everyone else is freezing back home!

Less kids

If you prefer going on cruises with less kids onboard, then January is the perfect month for you.

With the exception of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day weekend, most kids will be in school and unable to cruise. Therefore, far fewer families and children will be onboard your cruise ship.

With school back in session, school aged kids will be far less likely to be on your sailing for the longer sailings.  Three night weekend cruises can still get their fair share of families from driving distance towns, but a seven night cruise should have less.

Of course, toddlers and other young children not yet in the day school system may be there, so don't expect an adults-only sailing.

Perfect outdoor weather

It's warm in the Caribbean year round, but January is one of the most comfortable months to be outside in this region.

January is the start of the dry season in the Caribbean, so you can expect less humidity and more comfortable temperatures than what you’ll find during the summer months. Plus, hurricane season is not a concern during January.

January can also be a great time to book shore excursions you wouldn’t otherwise book during the warmest months of the year. Visiting Mayan ruins in Mexico, hiking in St. Kitts, and exploring downtown Cozumel can be much more enjoyable in January compared to July or August.

The only downside to the lower temperature and humidity is the possibility of a cold front sliding through, especially in The Bahamas.

It’s not uncommon to see January averages in the Bahamas in the low 70s, which can surprisingly feel quite chilly on cloudy and windy days. Ocean temperatures can be colder, too, making swimming less comfortable.

If your cruise is headed further south, east, or west, it should be plenty warm to swim. Remember, ocean temperatures take longer to cool or heat up than air temperatures, so one cold front will not dramatically affect how warm the water is.

All things considered, weather is unpredictable and, more often than not, you’ll encounter warm, sunny skies on a cruise in January. Regardless of whether the forecast shows 70°F or 85°F, it will almost certainly be warmer than the weather back home!

Best cruises in January

If you're sold on a January cruise, there's plenty of great choices to consider.

In the winter, most Royal Caribbean ships offer cruises from North America. The abundance of ships in North America means there are more opportunities to find last-minute cruise deals and more flexibility over which ship to book.

Here are some ideas for which cruise to pick for a January sailing.

Cruises to Mexico

What's better than a cruise that gets you warm temperatures, tacos, beaches, and lots to explore?

Royal Caribbean offers a lot of itineraries that visit the Yucatan Peninsula, which means going to places like Cozumel and Costa Maya.

Not only are these ports sufficiently south to almost guarantee warm temperatures, but a visit in January is idyllic because of how less humid it is outside.

Mayan ruins are a favorite shore excursion, but since these ruins are located in the jungle, it can be downright sweaty most times of the year.  By going in January, you could check them out for yourself with far less perspiration involved.

In fact, being outdoors in general is lovely in Mexico, so don't overlook a beach day visit either.

Cruises to Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao

If your goal is to find the absolutely hottest temperatures, you will want a Southern Caribbean cruise.

Cruises that go to the "ABC Islands" of Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao are as far south as you can get in the Caribbean, and temperatures in this region rarely change much throughout the year.

The average high temperature in Aruba in the month of January is 86°F and the average low is 76°F. You won't have to worry about being chilly here.

Since these islands are known for their beaches, a Southern Caribbean cruise is perfect for this month.

West Coast cruises

Have you cruised from Los Angeles yet?

If you take a seven night cruise down the Baja Peninsula, you will get to visit the Mexican Riviera with the best possible weather.

Ports such as Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan, and Puerto Vallarta are very popular in winter because of how wonderful the weather can be.  By taking a January cruise, you could combine not only a January escape, but also an excuse to try this itinerary.

Read more: Mexican Riviera cruise guide

Cruise ships are marvels of engineering, and they're anything but quick to build.

Whether it's a new class of ship or the fifth in a series, the process takes many years and involves a number of key milestones.

Royal Caribbean is close to launching Icon of the Seas in January 2024, which will be the first Icon Class cruise ship to be constructed.  That ship took over 7 years to come to fruition.

Meanwhile, Royal Caribbean has orders for three other new ships to follow: Utopia of the Seas, Star of the Seas, and an unnamed Icon Class ship. All of these ships require years of planning to become more than a name on a piece of paper.

How long it takes to build a cruise ship depends on when you start measuring. It usually takes about 12 to 18 months for a cruise ship to be built, depending on a few factors.

The process of building a cruise ship goes back much further, and in many cases, the start of a cruise ship's life is not known to the public.

Cruise lines will often wait months or years before announcing a new ship to the public.  In the case of cruise lines that are publicly traded companies, they have to divulge the existence of the project because significant money is required to be financed to pay for them.

With Icon of the Seas, the ship will begin service in January 2024, but was first announced as a new ship back in October 2016. The initial concept and early planning occurred well before then.

Step 1: Placing an order

Before any steel can be cut to build a new cruise ship, an order has to be placed.

New cruise ships are expensive, and shipyards don't work on promises.  So what typically happens is a cruise line will get funding for a new ship to coincide with a new ship order.

Most, if not the entire amount of the ship is borrowed from one or many financial institutions.  It's a lot like getting a mortgage for a house. Banks lend the money because they feel the cruise line is capable of paying back the loan due to the lucrative nature of the cruise industry.

Cruise ships aren't cheap either.  New Royal Caribbean cruise ships now easily cost one billion dollars. Icon of the Seas has an estimated construction cost of $2 billion, which makes Icon one of the most expensive cruise ships ever built. 

Of course, paying back that money isn't something to languish. In the case of Oasis of the Seas, the loan amortized over 12 years.

In some cases, the public is told basic information about the ship and in other cases, very little.  In almost every case, many more details come out later in the process.

There's two reasons to hold back information: competitive advantage and marketing.

By taking months to to announce ship details, it gives less time for other cruise lines to match.  Plus, taking longer to announce information generates more interest among the public over time.

Step 2. Steel cutting

Actual construction of the cruise ship doesn't begin until months after the contract is signed.

When the first piece of steel is cut, it marks a pivotal point in the ship building process, setting off an array of crucial landmarks to follow. This major milestone indicates that the groundwork has been set and the foundations have been laid for any further adjustments.

Icon of the Seas had its steel cutting ceremony on June 16, 2021. That's almost five years after the original announcement!

This is as much a ceremonial event as it is a step in the process, with executives from the cruise line meeting at the shipyard for plenty of photos.

By this point, the ship name and basic details will be announced to the public.

With the first piece of steel being cut, building a cruise ship doesn't begin at the bottom and you work your way up. Rather, smaller pieces of the ship are assembled so that they can be put together later.

Each of these blocks is pre-assembled elsewhere, and there can be as many as 80 blocks per ship. 

Cruise ships are built in a module process, where engineers break down the ship into smaller pieces that they later assemble. The reason ships are built in this manner is so that different engineers and specialists can work simultaneously, which cuts down on overall construction time.

Tug boats brought these giant pieces of what will become the hull of the ship to the shipyard so that they can be joined together.

Step 3: Keel laying

As those blocks get assembled, eventually there's enough of them in the shipyard to start putting things together.

The ship's keel is the first block, and it is maritime tradition to commemorate this phase of a new ship construction.  Think of the keel as the "base" to build the rest of the ship on top of it.

Just like steel cutting, this is another big to do, and there's a ceremony involved. Executives from the shipyard and the cruise line meet to celebrate.

Royal Caribbean held the keel laying ceremony for Icon of the Seas in April 2022, which means it took about 10 months.  Keep in mind that Icon of the Seas' construction was delayed due to the global health crisis of 2020, so the ship might have been completed a year earlier under normal circumstances.

With the keel laid, now the ship will begin to look like a sea going vessel.  Blocks are welded together and you get a bigger and bigger vessel.

Step 4: Float out

As the blocks are are joined and the ship becomes more than a bunch of blocks, the ship will reach a point where it's time to put her in water.

This process is referred to as a float out, and it's when the dry dock is filled with water and it becomes a wet dock. It's also the first time the ship floats.

Icon of the Seas had her float out in December 2022 and it culminated the work of more than 10,000 people.

At this point in construction, a new ship could move to a new location in the shipyard to the outfitting dock for the rest of the construction to be completed.  This is when all parts of the ship get assembled, and more features get added.

The float out can take many hours.  In the case of Utopia of the Seas, it took 15 hours to complete and more than 46 million gallons of water added overnight.

Step 5: Sea trials

Once the ship starts coming along and it has its primary systems installed, it will be ready for sea trials.

The ship isn't ready yet, but it's important to ensure it can sail and operate nominally before it's ready to be handed over to the cruise line. Think of it like a test drive that takes a few days.

If it's a new ship in a class, then more is done in sea trials than a subsequent ship in a class.   That's because a new class is an unknown, and more testing is needed to determine the ship's limits.

When sea trials take place, hundreds of specialists run tests to help assess different technical areas of the ship, and there were more than 450 specialists who helped to run the four days tests on the ship’s technical areas during this round of sea trials. 

Icon of the Seas had her first sea trials in June 2023, where the main engines, hull, brake systems, steering, noise, and vibration levels were all tested.

Between preparing for the trial and the tests themselves, there were over 2,000 specialists who put in more than 350 hours of work in helping Icon of the Seas pass this important milestone. 

Then in November 2023, Icon took her second set of sea trials. During this test, the ship's noise, vibration, speed, fin stabilizers, automation, and main engine adjustments were tested.

When sea trials are complete, the ship isn't quite ready yet. There's still more work and some final work to be done before it's handover.

Step 6: Delivery

The final stage of cruise ship construction at the shipyard is the delivery when the cruise likes ownership of the ship.

During the construction process, the shipyard is responsible for the vessel, but at delivery, that onus falls to the cruise line. 

As you might imagine, delivery is a big deal and a celebration. It's the culmination of years of construction, and so executives from the cruise line and shipyard are present to celebrate.

Icon of the Seas was delivered on November 6, 2023, exactly 873 days after the first piece of steel was cut. That's 2 years, 4 months, 21 days.

Step 7: Finalization

The ship might look complete when you photograph it from the outside, but there's still more work to do. The construction process is complete, but the ship isn't ready. 

Soft furnishings need to be added, crew members recruited and brought onboard to staff up the vessel, artwork brought onboard and more.

Royal Caribbean typically moves its ships to a different site to complete this work. Icon of the Seas moved to Cadiz, whereas Wonder of the Seas went to Marseilles, France.

It's possible some work could continue during this process.  Shows, restaurants, or entertainment might need to wait for deliveries or be refined still. 

Step 8: Shakedown cruises

At this point, the ship is mostly ready, but the cruise line will want to test everything.  Think of it like a dress rehearsal before a show opens on Broadway.

The ship could take a series of very short cruises with guests onboard as a way to test everything out.  It allows the crew members real-world experience to do their job, and identify any issues before the public gets onboard.

Usually shakedown cruises have cruise line employees and their families as the passengers.  You can't pay to get on one of these cruises.

Shakedown cruises can also double as a preview sailing for travel agents and members of the media.  There will be more passengers, but the ship likely won't be totally full yet.

The point of these short sailings is to run through everything, promote the ship from a marketing perspective, and celebrate reaching the finish line.

Step 9: Christening

The maritime industry is very traditional, and no ocean going vessel is seaworthy until it's christened.

The christening involves members of the clergy, music, media, the ship's Godmother.

Every cruise ship has a godmother, which serves as a ceremonial position. 

Women have traditionally held the role, including renowned athletes, celebrities and royalty.

The godmother's job is to give the ship a blessing for the safety of the crew members and passengers who will sail onboard it. This is done by smashing a bottle of Champagne against the bow.

Step 10: Maiden voyage

The inaugural voyage is the first official cruise with paying passengers.

It might be a short sailing again, a transatlantic, or a 7-night cruise.  It all depends on the timing.

Maiden voyages are a big deal and it means the ship is ready for regular service with passengers and it's a giant party. Cruise fans know how important the first sailing is, just as much as the cruise line. It's like a birthday, homecoming, and New Years Eve rolled into one.

More information

• How cruise ships got so big
• How much does it cost to build a cruise ship?
• Why aren’t cruise ships built in the United States?
• Is it a boat vs ship? What's the difference?