Whether you are in college or taking your school-aged kids, spring break is a popular time to take a cruise vacation every year.

Spring break is the first major opportunity since the New Year holiday to go on vacation for more than just a weekend, and spring break is a popular time for many families and young people to take a cruise.

A getaway on a spring break cruise is probably more popular with school-aged families than college spring breakers, but you'll find both groups onboard.

What should you know about planning a spring break cruise, and what's different about a cruise this time of year compared to other times? We've got helpful information you should know before you sail.

How busy is a spring break cruise?

Probably the number one question about spring break on a cruise ship is how busy it is onboard.

Certainly more people look to go on a spring break cruise than in the weeks prior or after, but it doesn't mean the onboard experience is a zoo either.

Spring break tends to see increased families with kids.  School is on vacation break so there will be more kids will be vacationing and that includes cruises. After all, Royal Caribbean International is a family cruise line, and there will always be plenty of children onboard, whether it is spring break or not.

When you have more children, you also tend to get more passengers. Ships run higher volume than the double occupancy capacity numbers that are often used to measure ship guest counts.  

So it may seem seem "full" onboard since there are more people than usual on a cruise.

Are there a lot of college kids?

A Royal Caribbean cruise is not the prototypical spring break vacation of choice for the younger crowd, but there are some sailings that see their fair share of them.

Generally speaking, shorter cruises, such as 3 & 4 night sailings, can often see a younger college crowd looking for a party spring break cruise. The 4-night cruises especially tend to attract college groups because they are usually priced lower since they depart on a Monday and return on a Friday.

A short cruise might seem like the obvious choice for college student spring breakers, but a family vacation can also go on longer sailings.

Longer sailings tend to come with a higher price tag, and that can put it beyond a college friendly budget.

How much is a spring break cruise?

Like any cruise throughout the year, the price of spring break cruises will depend on the ship, length, cabin, and itinerary you choose.

The travel industry largely follows supply and demand principals the "in demand" aspect of spring break can lead to higher prices.

Here are some cruise basics if you're new to cruising and trying to wrap your head around a spring break cruise:

• Inside cabins will cost less than balcony staterooms, and balcony rooms will cost less than suites
• Short cruises tend to cost less in total, but longer cruises can be cheaper per night
• Most food and entertainment is included. 
• Alcohol costs extra, but unlimited drinks packages can save money.

Just like pricing out airfare, you need to compare cruise fare prices to get a sense of which sailing will be the best deal for you.  The best strategy is to book your spring break cruise as early as you can. Cruise prices tend to go up over time, so booking earlier will likely net you a better price.

Can I get a free cruise if I bring a group with me?

Yes, Royal Caribbean does offer benefits to the tour conductor (that's you) if you form a group with Royal Caribbean.

You can't just have a bunch of friends book a cruise and then ask Royal Caribbean for credit.  You must instead work with the groups department to create a group, and then be named the leader. Don't worry, this is pretty easy and even easier if you work with a travel agent.

A travel agency can set up a group with Royal Caribbean that can possibly save money, or get you special perks back.  Moreover, the travel agent can handle the logistical issues of payments, price adjustments and answering common questions.

When you organize a group, you're going to need to get 8 rooms booked in your group and then you can qualify for a free berth (passenger).

Bottom line, work with a travel agent to organize a group if you think you might be able to get at least 8 rooms.

Where do spring break cruises go?

Many college spring break cruises will visit destinations in the Bahamas and Caribbean.

Spring break occurs mostly in the month of March, as well as April.

The short 3- and 4-night cruises will visit Royal Caribbean's private island of Perfect Day at CocoCay and Nassau.

These cruise ships sail out of Port Everglades (Ft. Lauderdale), Port Canaveral (east of Orlando), or Miami.

Another popular destination is Cozumel. No matter where you go in the Caribbean, expect to find beautiful beaches and plenty of activities.

How to get a deal on a spring break cruise

The best way to get the best value on any cruise is to book it as early as you can while there are lower prices.

As you get closer to spring break, more and more people book cruises and that leaves less capacity, which in turn drives prices up.

If you're on a tight budget, booking a cruise more than a year in advance might get you a spring break for less money than if you wait to just a few weeks before the ship is scheduled to sail.

Another benefit of booking a cruise early is you can reprice it if the price drops before final payment date. Booking early is usually your best option.

Four-day cruises tend to be priced lower than three-day cruises. Longer cruises might cost more overall, but be cheaper per night.

Read more: 45 ways to save money on a Royal Caribbean cruise

Do I need a passport for a spring break cruise?

U.S. citizens may travel with only a birth certificate together with a government issued photo ID on cruises that begin and end in the United States.

It's a good idea to invest in a passport book, but not necessary.

Regardless, I highly recommend getting a passport to streamline the U.S. Customs process and protect yourself in case of an emergency.

Read more: Do you need a passport for a cruise?

Is there a way to know if I'm booked on a college party cruise?

Royal Caribbean will not tell you which groups are booked on a cruise you are sailing on.  There are usually various groups on any sailing, but some people would rather avoid a cruise if there are a lot of college-age kids.

The best strategy is just google your ship name, sail date, and the words "spring break" to see what comes back.

As an example, "Utopia of the Seas March 14, 2024 spring break" would return a result for a group on that week.

Even if you are booked on a cruise with spring breakers, it does not mean your cruise is going to be awful or ruined.  Having sailed on spring breakers an entire week on Mariner of the Seas in 2018, it ended up being a lot of fun. They did their special events, and we did what we liked. One nice thing about Royal Caribbean is that it rarely skews heavily towards one demographic entirely.

Cruisers can breathe a sigh of temporary relief in regards to a new tax that would have gone into effect soon.

The Mexican government approved a new tax last week that would target cruise ship passengers visiting the country. 

However, there's been a temporary reprieve.

Thanks to pressure applied by a number of cruise lines through the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA), the new tax won't go into effect as quickly.

According to a statement issued by the FCCA, a meeting on Friday resulted in Mexican officials delaying the implementation of its new Federal Law of Rights tax on cruise passengers from January 1 until July 1, 2025.

The new tax will add a $42 per person to enter the country. That's per sailing, not per port.

Mexico is a major country with many ports of calls that attract cruise ships. Over 10 million passengers are expected in 2025 alone.

When the new tax is added, it would increase the fees cruise passengers pay by 213% more than the average cost at Caribbean ports. The FCCA says it raises,  "serious questions about the competitiveness of Mexican destinations in the global cruise market."

Moreover, it's an unfair tax because of how it targets cruise ship passengers that are in the country for a few hours. 

"A family of four visiting a Mexican cruise port having to pay an additional $168 in fees for just a few hours ashore, while tourists crossing the border by land who visit for seven days or less remain exempt from this tax, will have far reaching impacts."

Historically, cruise ship passengers were exempt from tourism taxes, as guests sleep onboard the ship and some choose not to disembark in the ports of call. Under the new policy, all cruise guests would be charged the $42 fee regardless of whether they go ashore or not.

Not only would the tax be enormous, but it would largely be used to fund Mexico's military, rather than benefiting the ports or people nearby.

'Ripple effects'

This new tax has major implications beyond simply making a cruise more expensive.

The FCCA warns such a hefty tax could deter visitors, alter cruise itineraries, and create economic ripple effects in communities that heavily rely on cruise tourism.

If just 15% of cruise ships dropped calls to Mexico, the result would be a negative economical impact that could undermine the intended purpose of the tax to begin with.

"Even a minimal decrease in cruise traffic would result in millions of dollars in lost revenue for local businesses, tours, and services – offsetting or even surpassing the total tax revenue projected from the measure," the FCCA explained.

By making Mexico one of the most expensive cruise destinations in the world, it could make the country unattractive to lines from stopping there and that could lead to less income, fewer jobs and lower tax revenues for the government.

"The impact of this tax on Mexican tourist destinations will be disastrous," stated the Mexican Association of Cruises. "If implemented, we expect to see a progressive drop in arrivals, which will significantly affect employment for taxi drivers, tour guides, artisans, waiters, restaurateurs, craft store owners, pharmacies, and more.

Michele Paige, CEO of FCCA, emphasized the importance of addressing long-term concerns despite the temporary delay. "We thank the Mexican government for listening to our concerns and proposing a delay in the implementation of the tax that will fall mainly on American citizens.

"However, the removal of the in-transit tax exemption – which was provided to our industry over a decade ago for valid reasons that still apply today – was done without our prior input and after the legislation was passed. It is ironic that until this law was abruptly announced the industry was looking to grow business in Mexico, and now the opposite will occur."

Cruise passengers on one Royal Caribbean ship ran into a deluge of water on one coming out of the ceiling.

A guest on Allure of the Seas shared video from this weekend's sailing of water pouring out of the ceiling on one deck.

TikTok user joshuaofrichardson posted a 30 second video of water flooding the hallway, pooling outside stateroom doors.

No explanation was given in the video, but it looks like a water pipe likely burst above one of the ceiling panels, leading to water flowing unabated below.

Just like your house or a hotel, pipes can burst for any number of reasons and without warning.

Every cruise ship has a team of mechanics and maintenance crew members that live onboard the ship to deal with issues like this at any time of day or night.

The video appears to have been taken just minutes after the leak began. There was no mention of which deck this incident occurred on.

In the comments, the video author wrote, "update pipe stopped and leak being fixed and people moved right away to other rooms. RC does things right when nature rumbles."

In a follow-up video, joshuaofrichardson said crew members cleaned up the mess that evening, saying "everything's fine."

He also said any guests that had a cabin affected by the water were moved to another cabin.

He went on to commend Royal Caribbean for taking quick action and helping their customers out, "No loss or damage or anything like that to the people, so that's really great about Royal Caribbean, they do take care of you right away."

Allure of the Seas is sailing a 3-night Bahamas cruise that departed Miami on December 6, with visits scheduled to Nassau, Bahamas and Royal Caribbean's private island.

The 225,282 gross ton ship is one of the largest cruise ships in the world, and despite the leak, the sailing continued on without delay.

Internet reacts to the video

Since the video was posted, there have been over 320,000 views and plenty of comments.

As is such with viral videos of something going wrong, you get all sorts of hot takes from people across the internet.

"I’ve seen this in a movie before didn’t end well," Yodaj6 wrote.

"This is why I’ll NEVER go on a cruise," wrote Gwyn Wolters-Smith.

"omg the way I would be freaking out thinking we were sinking," was posted by Author Katherine Bryant.

Someone who is also sailing on Allure noted the issue wasn't affecting their deck, "I'm on this ship right now and didn't experience this. it must be below us."

Personally, I enjoy the creative comments that some people had to make a joke. Here are the top ones:

• "Why is the carpet all wet Todd? I don’t know Margo!"
• "All I know is Rose better move over this time! There was plenty of room for Jack"
• "on the upside the rugs are clean"

Other recent water incidents

Accidents involving water leaks and sprays occur from time to time, but they're quite rare.

Recently there's been a couple of notable incidents involving sprinkler system malfunctions on Royal Caribbean ships that soaked guests, but did not result in any significant damage to anyone.

During a Halloween sailing on Symphony of the Seas, the ship's sprinkler system went off on the Royal Promenade during a party.

A fog machine was the culprit in activating the sprinklers, and that's because smoke detectors measure the density of particles in the air, fog effects (especially dense fog effects) can 'fool' the detectors and trigger a fire alarm.

On the inaugural sailing of Wonder of the Seas in March 2022, a sprinkler malfunction on the ship’s Royal Promenade also flooded the area.

Once again, the water was contained and cleaned up, but caused a stir among passengers.

The reality is while these incidents are incredible to witness when they happen, they don't put the ship or passengers in any direct harm and it's more of a large nuisance and "oopsie" that gets taken care of quickly.

Happy December! We cannot believe that we are already one full week into the month – there is so much going on with holiday preparation and shopping and baking!

There's a new addition to Royal Caribbean's list of banned items you can't bring on a cruise.

The list of prohibited items was updated to include certain networking and satellite equipment, which includes closing a loophole some cruisers used to save money on an internet package.

Travel routers were being used to extend a one device internet package to be available to many more, and it appears that's officially not allowed.

Royal Caribbean News

• Royal Caribbean's new beach club in The Bahamas is a kind of super shore excursion
• Utopia of the Seas cabins to avoid
• 10 cruise ship tips that worked for our Royal Caribbean Blog staffers in 2024
• Ultimate Baby & Toddler Cruise Packing List
• I cruised from a port Royal Caribbean rarely sails from. it's a strange and different first day experience
• 7 things I wish I knew before setting foot on a Celebrity ship
• I got a free cruise from Royal Caribbean's casino. It was the perfect price, but I wish I had a window

Video: Why December is my favorite month to cruise

Have you subscribed to the Royal Caribbean Blog YouTube Channel? We share some great videos there regularly, all about taking a Royal Caribbean cruise! This week, we are sharing our latest video — Why December is my favorite month to cruise — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 551st episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available that delves into if a smaller Royal Caribbean ship is a good choice for a family cruise.

If you're taking a family on their first cruise, is it a good or bad idea to take them on a small ship?

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

Royal Caribbean has made a big change to the free casino offers

There's been an important change to those instant reward casino certificates.

Beginning with the December offers, the Casino Royale program is offering a new option where one guest is complimentary, while the second guest discounted. 

It's essentially a buy one free, second cheap offer.

These are the 11 things cruisers are actually scared of during their sailing

Forget falling off a cruise ship, people that cruise a lot have real concerns that concern them.

While there are plenty of cruise myths that keep people from trying a cruise, those that have sailed before have their own set of worries.

From passports to being left behind, our readers shared their top worries when cruising.

New phone scam targets Royal Caribbean cruisers

Be careful before searching for a Royal Caribbean phone number to call.

One cruiser shared an example of how they were almost scammed by a fraudulent phone number that claimed to be the cruise line.

She found the number on Google, but it turned out to be a scam.

Things cruisers regretted not taking on their cruise

What is an item you wished you had brought with you on your last cruise?

People shared in a Reddit thread the one thing they really wish they brought with them on their cruise.

With the holiday sales upon us, this is a good opportunity to net big savings on these cruise essentials.

It's hard to pass up a good deal, especially for a cruise that costs you next to nothing.  Well, sort of.

I sailed on a 5-night Western Caribbean cruise on Royal Caribbean's Serenade of the Seas from Tampa that was free as a result of my status with the cruise line's casino.

You may have heard about there are certain benefits for those that gamble enough in the casino on a cruise ship. While Royal Caribbean has a loyalty program, the casino has its own mini-loyalty program that is in addition to Crown and Anchor Society.

The second tier offers free drinks in the casino, discounts on internet access and at least one free cruise per year that you qualify.

I redeemed my free cruise offer, and it is indeed as advertised.  The only catch is you have to gamble to earn it.

How free is free?

The cruise fare is indeed free, and all I had to do was pay the taxes and fees of $397.00 for two people.

In exchange for earning enough points in Royal Caribbean's casino loyalty program, I was awarded a free cruise to book. This free cruise isn't based on how much you gambled on a particular sailing. Rather, it's an annual benefit of being at least Prime within Casino Royale loyalty program.

Anyone that hits Prime or higher status in a casino year gets awarded a free cruise. It's given out in April, and it's good for a cruise within a year to book and sail on.

Your free cruise can be used on more or less any seven-night or shorter cruise that does not fall on a major holiday. And you can't book on any ship that's less than one year old. So you won't be able to go on Icon of the Seas (yet) or take the kids while they're on Spring Break.

There are many sailings to choose from, but also a lot of blackout dates. You'll have to careful find the right one, and that's assuming the casino offers aren't sold out for that sailing.

If you're flexible, it's not too difficult to find one. There's usually a lot in the fall and early winter when school is still in session.

As a Prime member (minimum 2500 points), I am entitled to an interior cabin on my free cruise.

I selected a Serenade of the Seas cruise because it was convenient, offered an opportunity to visit two ports in Mexico, and I like sailing on Radiance Class ships.

I booked the cruise through Royal Caribbean's casino department and also got $25 of free play in the casino with my booking.

My cabin was small and dark, but enough space for just me

I was given cabin 3047 midship on deck 3.

It was a little closer to the forward elevator banks, but pretty much in the middle of the deck. While deck 3 might not be the most popular location to have a cabin, it's exactly where you want to be if you want to minimize the sensation of movement to prevent seasickness.

I booked it as an Interior Guarantee cabin, which meant Royal Caribbean assigned me the exact room number.  To be honest, I forgot to check when my room was actually assigned, but saw it was actually a good location given that it met my top three criteria:

• No connecting door
• Above and below other cabins
• Near an elevator

I've stayed in plenty of inside cabins before, and this was exactly the sort of room I expected.

It's a Category 2V cabin, and Royal Caribbean describes it as, "our most budget-friendly option" and "A cozy and comfortable retreat, Perfect for long naps after an adventure-filled day."

I'd say that's a good description. It's the right cabin for a place to sleep, shower, and change. Otherwise, you will probably be out and about doing things elsewhere.

The room has all the standard features all cruise ship cabins offer: a bed that can be split up, private bathroom with shower, couch, vanity, and closet.

One notable change in this cabin was it had a nightlight in the ceiling near the bathroom. It's a motion-activated light, so if the room lights were off, the nightlight would come on and illuminate the room temporarily until movement ceased.

It's a nice feature, and something you don't find on any Royal Caribbean ship. I'm guessing it's a feature added for Royal Caribbean's first ever world cruise.

I was disappointed there were not more World Cruise upgrades offered. I heard from other passengers they had USB and electric outlets added to their cabin for the world cruise sailing, but my cabin was not one of them.

Speaking of lights, this inside room gets very dark when you turn the lights off. Since there's no natural light, it's pitch black when you go to bed. That's great for anyone who is disturbed by lights when sleeping, but it was strange to have my alarm go off and it still be quite dark. Anyone staying in this cabin might consider picking up a sunrise alarm clock to help make it feel more normal in that way.

The private bathroom is exactly what I needed, and it has the bare essentials. It's a small bathroom space, but functional.

I had one issue with the toilet not flushing on embarkation day, but there was a crew member working on the issue before I could even report it and it never was a problem after that.

The king size bed takes up most of the room, and it was quite comfortable. You can ask your cabin attendant to split the bed at any time.

There's just 160 square feet of living space, but for one person it's plenty. Even with two people, you might have to shuffle a bit, but it's functional enough.

I don't mind staying in an inside cabin, but after a few days I started missing having natural light or being able to glance outside and see if it's sunny, rainy, or dark.

I'm not the type of person that needs sunlight to feel good. Rather, it gives me perspective on what the weather is like, have we docked yet, and most importantly, is it 3pm or 3am.

The lack of natural light in the morning made it a bit jarring to wake up in a completely dark environment. While I wouldn't go as far as to say I'll never do it again, it was my primary gripe with this sort of a cabin.

On a 5-night cruise, it's short enough that it wasn't a big issue. But if I was sailing longer than 6 or 7 nights, I might have to rethink the cost savings.

A free room, if you're okay with the gambling risk

I got my free cruise as promised, and it was exactly what I expected.

There's no question Royal Caribbean's casino rewards are arguably the best value in cruising today, but there's a major caveat that it involves significant risk.

Gambling is addictive, and you could end up losing a lot of money in the process of trying to earn a "free cruise". 

You should be in a financial position where you can afford to lose money gambling in the casino without damaging your personal finances.  The annual tier free cruise is a bonus, not your primary booking strategy.

I estimate it will take about $2,000 - $3,000 to earn enough points to make it to Prime status and qualify for the annual tier cruise. That's a lot of money to gamble and potentially lose.

Moreover, you could go in with that amount in mind but the addictive nature of gambling would lead you to spend much more. Without a doubt, it's something not to take lightly.

In my situation, I felt the risks were worth it and I came away feeling like I got more out of the situation with my complimentary sailing (and other Casino Royale benefits) to justify it all.

I had a great cruise that cost me very little for the actual booking, and I'll be qualifying again in 2025 for my next tier certificate.

Opening in 2025 is Royal Caribbean's first ever beach club, and it's going to take your beach day to a new level.

Royal Beach Club Paradise Island is going to open in late 2025, and it's being built on a 17-acre site that is just about the most prime real estate in all of Nassau.

The plan is simple, but the promise is enormous. Offer an unfiltered beach day experience that hits every important factor for any tourist, while making it an unforgettable experience exclusively for Royal Caribbean cruisers only.

While Royal Caribbean has built private island experiences, it's never tried a limited-capacity and extra cost beach offering.  It's a lot like building its own shore excursion that is designed, built, and operated with the cruise line at the helm.

The proposed site masterplan is available online, and it shows a variety of experiences tourists can expect. It's clear they want to offer a little of everything, so no matter how much chill, swim, beach, pool, or adventure you want, there's going to be something for you.

There will be two different beaches

The heart of Royal Beach Club Paradise Island is a beach day experience, and you'll find two different spots to enjoy the beautiful Bahamian waters.

Located on both ends of the property, you'll find a sprawling beach that features chairs and umbrellas, along with upgraded spots for your day.

Each beach faces the north shore, so it's nothing but the open ocean views in front of you.

There are beach cabanas, hammocks, and bungalows available. Of course, the beach bar is not very far away either.

You'll also find a snack shack at each beach when you need something a bite to eat.

Three pools for another lounge choice

A tropical getaway can include a dip in the ocean or pool, and there are three different pools to choose from.

Each pool has a swim-up bar, and they're big too. This not only spreads people out, but each has its own vibe.  One pool has a DJ and swim-up bar combo, similar to the Hideaway Beach experience at Perfect Day at CocoCay.

Another pool flanks the kids' water play area, and the other pool is located towards the end of the property.

There are also cabanas you can rent near the pools, so you don't have to go far from the fun.

New restaurants

Food is a big draw for any cruise experience, and there will be four different places to eat.

Royal Caribbean hasn't said what exactly the food offerings will be, but there will be "four island-style spots for quick bites and local fare."

One thing is for certain, Royal Caribbean wants to lean into the Bahamian culture as much as they can, so there will be a good mix of familiar and local options.

Artisan market

The sitemap shows there will be shopping opportunities that tie into the people of Nassau.

The artisan huts are in the center of the property, and it's an opportunity to highlight local crafts and businesses.

Fixing a problem cruisers have had for decades

A major reason Royal Caribbean is building its first beach club is to address a need its customers have told them for a long time.

Nassau is one of the most popular cruise ports, with Royal Caribbean pulling in around one million visitors each year. However, it ranks poorly among cruise ship guest surveys.

According to Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley, cruise ship passengers have, "come here many times before and there’s nothing new, fresh or innovative."

"There needs to be more product, more experience, more uniqueness, more options."

The result is a beach club that the cruise line thinks will solve problems across the board. It will give tourists the exact beach day experience they want, based on in-depth research.  That will improve the perception cruisers have of Nassau too.

For The Bahamas, they get a piece of the action as well. Royal Caribbean is creating an unique public-private partnership in which Bahamians will own up to 49% equity.

Individual Bahamians will have the opportunity to buy equity in the beach club and benefit from the profits. That's unheard of with a tourist beach day operation.  Certainly no hotel resorts around Paradise Island are offering that opportunity.

On top of all of that, 1% of gross revenue of the beach club will be invested in a new fund to develop other attractions around The Bahamas.

The big question for cruisers is the cost

If looking at the sitemap gets you excited, you're probably equally interested to know how much it will cost you to get in.

Royal Caribbean hasn't said anything about prices yet, and haven't put admission on sale yet. 

Almost certainly the admission cost will have variable pricing, which means the price will fluctuate based on which ship is in port and demand. That assumption is based on the fact that's how Royal Caribbean charges for all of its extra cost add-ons at its private islands.

The projected opening date is sometime between October - December 2025, according to a comment Mr. Bayley made recently.

There's a new stipulation tied to the free cruises Royal Caribbean gives away to its casino players.

Royal Caribbean offers incentive-based cruise giveaways where passengers that earn enough points on a given sailing can qualify for complimentary sailings.

Up until now, the cruises covered the fare of two guests, and passengers had to only pay taxes and fees.

Beginning with the December offers, the Casino Royale program has made some changes to what's included.

What's different is the offer is now cruise for one guest is complimentary, while the second guest discounted. It's essentially a buy one free, second cheap offer.

What's not clear yet is how much is the discounted fare exactly. Since cruise fares vary from sailing to sailing, the exact price could depend.

In reading the terms and conditions, it appears a solo cruiser would still have to pay for the second guest, "Recipients who sail as a single passenger without a guest in a double occupancy stateroom are responsible for the payment of the cruise fare for the second passenger, at the Casino discount rate. The Discount Stateroom Offer is not applicable to single occupancy staterooms.

The new "complimentary for one, discounted for the second" offering only applies to the 2,000 point and lower tiers. The 3,000 point and higher tiers are still listed in the traditional manner.

There's no word why Royal Caribbean has made this change.  There's no doubt Casino Royale's popularity among cruisers has been quite high, and it's arguably the best deal in cruising right now.

A positive change to the casino offers are free cruise offers at just 400 points, which is a significantly lower tier than ever before.

Royal Caribbean recently introduced an 800 point tier, but at 400, it makes the barrier to entry much easier.

Moreover, it appears there are newer ships and dates further out to book at the lower tiers.

How instant cruise reward certificates work

If you gamble in the casino on a Royal Caribbean ship, you can earn points for your play.  All you have to do is have your SeaPass card logged in before you start playing at a machine or table game.

Every Royal Caribbean ship features a casino equipped with table games, slot machines, and video poker. While the selection of games may differ slightly from ship to ship, and the size of the casinos can vary, their overall layout and offerings are generally consistent across the fleet.

Joining Club Royale is simple because every passenger is automatically enrolled, you just need to use your SeaPass card when playing.

For every $5 you wager in the casino, that is roughly equivalent to 1 point. On Video Poker, it's every $10. 10 points per hour playing $10-$15 blackjack.

The more you play and wager, the more points you earn.

There's a sheet at the casino host desk that lists all the cruise offers and point tiers available. You'll see two columns: money off or bonus offer.

The key is to earn enough points for any of the tiers, and make an open booking at NextCruise while you're still onboard.  That enables you to call Casino Royale after the cruise and book one of the sailings.

You need to book an open booking with NextCruise while onboard to be eligible for the bonus offer that's listed in the second column.

Instant certificates are typically valid for redemption within 30 days after your cruise. Sometimes, the casino will provide a physical certificate with a partial list of available cruises delivered to your stateroom. In other instances, the offer may not be available until after your cruise concludes.

Even after you get home, you can verify your instant certificate offer on the Casino Royale website.

Different from a targeted cruise offer

It's important to note the difference between an instant certificate earned from your play onboard versus an offer Royal Caribbean mails to you at home.

After playing in a Royal Caribbean casino, you may receive offers for free cruises. While the cruise line doesn't reveal exactly how these offers are determined, they are generally influenced by the number of points you earned during your last cruise and an assessment by the cruise line's system of your potential value as a guest if offered a complimentary stateroom.

It's impossible to anticipate who will get an offer, and the exact offerings will vary.  No matter what offer you get, you should book quickly because there are limited cabins available on a sailing at the casino rate.

There's no indication yet that these targeted offers have changed similar to the instant certificates.

Cyber Monday has brought a new round of big savings opportunities that piggyback on Black Friday for a Royal Caribbean cruise.

The best Cyber Monday deals could be your last chance of the year to bag a bargain find on cruises or add-ons. The shopping weekend officially kicked off on November 29 since Thanksgiving is pretty late this year. Although the sales-friendly holiday marks some of the year's biggest deals, Royal Caribbean has been offering early sales for most of November. While the Cyber Monday offer might just be a rebranded Black Friday offer, it's still when you can find some of our favorite items are on sale right now.

Cyber Monday will undoubtedly offer even more savings opportunities and another chance to get in on discounts before the craziness of the shopping season winds down.

Here's what to expect with Royal Caribbean's Cyber Monday sale. This post will be updated with new Cyber Monday offers as soon as they are revealed.

Royal Caribbean's Biggest Deal Ever

Deal hunters will note that Royal Caribbean is calling its promotion, "Our Biggest Deal Ever".

The Cyber Week Sale combines three promotions into one.

Here's a breakdown of what's being offered. Keep in mind there are terms and conditions that apply, and you should refer to them before booking.

First up is Buy One Guest, Get Second Guest 60% Off & 30% Off on 3/4 Guest. 

That's combinable with a Kids Sail Free deal that runs between November 8 - December 9, 2024 on sailings departing on or after November 9, 2024. As usual, Kids Sail Free comes with a lot of blackout dates and fine print.

Thanksgiving Sailings (Departing between November 22, 2024 – November 29, 2024); (Departing between November 20 - November 28, 2025), Holiday Sailings (Departing December 20, 2024 – January 3, 2025); (Departing between December 18, 2025 – January 1, 2026), Spring Break Sailings (Departing between March 7, 2025 – March 28, 2025); (Departing between March 6, 2026 – April 9, 2026), Holy Week/Easter sailings (Departing between April 12, 2025 – April 24, 2025), Radiance Alaska Cruise Tour Sailings (Departing May 16, 2025 – September 12, 2025); Summer sailings (Departing between May 22, 2025 – August 29, 2025); Anthem of the Seas sailings (Departing November 21 – December 28, 2024) and Chinese New Year sailing on Anthem of the Seas (Departing January 27, 2025).

The added bonus promotion for Cyber Monday is the Cyber Week Sale, which adds up to $800 Instant Savings.

Cyber Week Sale is available between November 28 – December 2, 2024, on sailings departing on or after November 29, 2024, and provides an instant savings per stateroom, varying by stateroom category booked, sailing length as follows: 

• 5 nights or less
  • $100 for Inside and Ocean View
  • $175 USD for Balconies
  • $325 USD for Suites
• 6 nights or longer
  • $175 USD for Interior and Ocean View
  • $250 USD for Balconies
  • $800 USD for Suites

Cyber Monday sale on pre-cruise add-ons

Royal Caribbean is also offering discounts on some of its cruise extras.

The Cyber Week Sale runs on Cruise Planner and app purchases made between Friday, November 30 - December 11, 2024.

You'll find discounts on cruises that depart between November 13, 2024 – December 31, 2025.

It applies to all of its ships, except for Spectrum of the Seas sailings not from Singapore and group excursions.

• Beverage: Up to 50% off
  • Evian Water Package: 50% off onboard prices
  • Refreshment Package: 35% off onboard prices
    • Kids (12 and below): 50% off Refreshment
  • Classic Soda Package: 35% off onboard prices
    • Kids (12 and below): 50% off Classic Soda
  • Deluxe Beverage Package: Discount varies by ship.
    • Interior/Oceanview Stateroom: Additional 5% off Deluxe (excluding Asia and Reposition
      sailings).
    • Seniors (65+): 40% off Deluxe Beverage (excluding Asia and Reposition sailings)
    • Diamond & above CAS members: 40% off Deluxe Beverage (excluding Asia and Reposition)

• Shore Excursions: Up to 50% off
  • Wynwood Walls tour: 10% off onboard prices
  • Perfect Day Passes: 50% off onboard prices
  • Perfect Day & Labadee Cabanas: Up to 50% off onboard prices
    • Seniors (65+): 25% off Shorex (excluding Caribbean, Alaska & Europe sailings)
    •  Platinum & above CAS members: 25% off Shorex on Caribbean sailings
• Internet: Up to 55% Off

• Dining: Up to 50% Off
  • Unlimited Dining Package on 3N – 14N sailings: Discount varies by ship
• Photo Packages: Up to 65% Off
  • Photo Packages from 5 - 100 Photos: Discount varies by ship
  • Private Photo Session: 60% off onboard prices
• Onboard Activities: Up to 30% off
  • All Access Ship tour
  • Observatorium
  • Mission Control Apollo 18
  • Escape the Rubicon
  • EscapeU: Freshman Year
  • RipCord by iFLY Two Minute Experience
  • North Star Extended Experience
  • FlowRider Private Lesson
  • FlowRider Group Lesson 

• Bundles: Black Friday/Cyber Monday Exclusive
  • Perfect Day Bundles
    • Thrill Big Package
    • Chill Big Package
    • Party Big Package
  • Deluxe and Voom
  • Refreshment and Voom
  • Soda and Voom 
• Spa: Up to 30% off
• Gifts & Gear: Up to 45% Off
  • Strawberries with Champagne: 35% off onboard prices
  • Anniversary Decorations with Champagne: 40% off onboard prices
  • Happy Birthday Decorations with Chocolate Cake & Strawberries: 40% off onboard prices
  • Happy Birthday Decorations with Vanilla Cake & Strawberries: 40% off onboard prices
  • Happy Birthday Bright Style: 30% off onboard prices
  • Happy Anniversary Decorations: 35% off onboard prices
  • Bon Voyage Decorations: 30% off onboard prices
  • 9 Chocolate Covered Strawberries: 30% off onboard prices
  • White Wine and Cheese: 35% off onboard prices
  • Red Wine and Cheese: 35% off onboard prices
  • Soft Octopus Travel Set: 25% off onboard prices
  • Royal Caribbean Beach Towel: 40% off onboard prices
  • Inky Beach Towel (TicTacToe): 40% off onboard prices
  • Inky Beach Set: 35% off onboard prices
  • Inky Octopus Family Travel Set: 25% off onboard prices
  • Winter Blanket: 25% off onboard prices
  • Luxury Robe: 35% off onboard prices
  • Alaska Polar Bear Hat: 40% off onboard prices
  • Cooler Bag with Water: 35% off onboard prices
  • Cooler Bag with Coca Cola: 35% off onboard prices
  • Cooler Bag with Diet Coke: 35% off onboard prices
  • Cooler Bag with Bud Light: 35% off onboard prices
  • Cooler Bag with Truly: 35% off onboard prices
  • Utopia Blue/Pink Towel and Tumbler Set: 25% off onboard prices
  • Icon Blue/Pink Towel and Tumbler Set: 25% off onboard prices

5 of our favorite Cyber Monday deals

It's unlikely we'll see this level of discounts carry forward past Cyber Monday and Travel Tuesday, so now is the time to get in on the best prices of the year.

Because there's so much variability with pricing, the actual savings will vary depending on your sailing.  Some people are seeing really low prices, while others not as much. 

Book a new cruise: It's easy to get hung up on the discounts Royal Caribbean has for its add-ons, but booking an actual cruise is a really good idea during Cyber Monday.

You can get up to $800 instant savings, and that's pretty much the most we'll see in a single offer at any time.

I think your best bet is to look forward to a cruise in 2026 or 2027 and start getting something booked now to take advantage of the sale. While you can absolutely start planning a new 2025 cruise, I think having cruises lined up even further out makes a lot of sense.

Drink packages: There's a good chance the lowest price you'll find for a Royal Caribbean drink package will be during this sale.

Prices for a drink package are as low as $54.99 per person, per day. Anytime you can get the Deluxe Beverage Package for less than $60 per day, that's a great price these days.

Remember, Royal Caribbean is charging at least $100 per day for the Deluxe Package onboard its ships, so waiting to book onboard would be a mistake.

Bundles: There are new bundles that Royal Caribbean is (allegedly) only offering for Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

These bundles offer combinations of popular add-ons, combining a drink package, admission to an area of CocoCay, and even WiFi.

Internet access: I already loaded up on WiFi plans during Black Friday, but Cyber Monday is a good reminder to take advantage of lower prices on it now.

The advertised discount is "up to 55% off", and I've observed prices for a one device package as cheap as $15.99 per day.

The price range seems to be between $15.99 and $21.99 per day for a one device package, and those savings add up when you consider onboard prices for the same package start at $27.99 and could easily go up from there.

Specialty restaurant lunch: If you want to dip your toe into Royal Caribbean's extra cost restaurants, the sale price on lunch is really good.

I've seen prices during Cyber Monday for just $15.99 for Chops Grille lunch or Giovanni's or Hooked for $14.99 each.

The lunch menu is similar to the dinner menu, and it comes at a fraction of the cost.

You can still take advantage of a better price on cruise add-ons

If you’ve already purchased add-ons like an internet package or spa service for your upcoming cruise, be sure to check the price of the add-on under the Cyber Monday sale.

If the price is lower, you can cancel and rebook the add-on with no penalty up to 48 hours before your cruise date.

To check if your sailing has this new offer available, log into the Cruise Planner on Royal Caribbean's web site look for any available offers. Keep in mind that not all sailings may see the sale applicable, nor are all offers significantly cheaper than previously posted.

If you spot a better discount on something you already pre-purchased, you should be able to cancel the purchase and then re-purchase the same item under this promotion.

After cancelling multiple visits to San Juan, Puerto Rico because of a damaged pier, many passengers want to know when cruise ships will be able to visit there again.

Royal Caribbean has been forced to cancel visits to San Juan and re-route ships away because of damage to Pier 3 West.

Ships have been sent to other destinations, including Royal Caribbean's private destination in Labadee, Haiti.  The result has been a lot of outrage by cruisers who got a last-minute itinerary change.

One family spoke with a local news outlet to share their shock at the change. They actually thought it was a joke at first.

Royal Caribbean's giant cruise ships cannot dock in San Juan because the US Coast Guard declared the facility remains closed to cruise ships until further notice.

The damage first occurred in April 2024 when allegedly it was broken after the MSC Meraviglia was involved, however, specific details are not known.

The loss of a dolphin mooring structure just off the main pier is the primary issue, and the Coast Guard is working on it.

Seatrade News said the Coast Guard work is "pending requested satisfactory assessment studies followed by a Coast Guard on-site inspection of the facility."

"Once the satisfactory assessment studies are presented to the Coast Guard, Sector San Juan Prevention port facilities personnel will conduct an on-site inspection of Pier 3 West to corroborate the findings in the assessments and determine whether the operational control may be lifted. To date, the Coast Guard has not received the requested studies, and the operational control remains in effect."

A representative of the Coast Guard went on to say that the agency is working with local authorities to determine if cruise ships can safely use the pier.

On Thursday, the San Juan Cruise Port issued a statement saying it is working "diligently with regulatory agencies to restore service to Pier 3 West."

Royal Caribbean has made it clear the issue is out of their control. Until the damaged pier is repaired and subsequently cleared by the United States Coast Guard, its ships cannot safely go there.

Canceling stops for now

As of now, Royal Caribbean has cancelled visits on two different Symphony of the Seas visits to San Juan.

The December 1 cruise is the latest sailing to have its itinerary changed, and because a ship the size of Symphony of the Seas cannot safely dock, there's no choice but to change itineraries.

Compounding the problem for cruise ship passengers are the ports that replace the original itinerary. 

In the case of Symphony, they dropped San Juan and St. Maarten, and replaced with Labadee and Falmouth, Jamaica.

Visits to Labadee have been mired in controversy because technically the private beach destination is in Haiti. Haiti has experience a recent uptick in violence, with three commercial planes shot at in November. That prompted the Federal Aviation Administration to prohibit U.S. airlines from flying to Haiti for at least 30 days.

That's on top of a U.S. State Department also recommends that Americans do not travel to the country.

However, Labadee is in a remote area, walled off from the country. It's not near any urban centers, and Royal Caribbean has been monitoring the situation carefully.

Moreover, dozens of Royal Caribbean ships have visited Labadee recently with no incidents.

Will your cruise skip San Juan too?

It's too early to tell which other upcoming cruises scheduled to visit San Juan will be impacted.

Royal Caribbean has taken a "wait and see" approach to determining if a change is needed to an itinerary. This could be because the situation is so fluid, if the Coast Guard were to allow ships back in, it's more difficult to change back an itinerary than keep it in place until it's clear a change is needed.

It's disappointing for passengers to be notified of an itinerary change, but the issue is firmly out of Royal Caribbean's hands while the local authorities and the Coast Guard sort it out.

That doesn't mean passengers are okay with these changes. Royal Caribbean Blog member Frank47 posted, "After customers have paid in full for their cruise RC alerts them they will have to divert to Labadie Haiti. That is totally wrong."

A commenter wrote, "My biggest ‘concern’ is that there’s no timeline for fixing this issue. Will it take a week, month, or year to fix? Some expectation setting from Royal would be appreciated."

Royal Caribbean is stuck in the middle of all of this, as the repair work and progress are all being handled by third parties. Properly estimating or being made aware of progress is not as easy as it sounds when you have different companies and government agencies all working together.

If your cruise is scheduled to visit San Juan in the coming weeks or months, there's a chance your itinerary could be changed.  Given the complexity of the work being done and the parties involved, there's no firm timeline to share as of yet.