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6 reasons to refuse to upgrade your cruise ship cabin

In:
28 Aug 2023

You might want to think twice before trying to win a cruise cabin upgrade.

I think it's fair to say a lot of people dream about being able to move up to a bigger and more lavish cabin. Whether it's from an inside to a balcony cabin, or all the way up to a spacious suite, who wouldn't want to pay less and get a nicer room?

The saying "if it sounds too good to be true, it usually is" sometimes holds up when it comes to bidding for a cabin upgrade.

Royal Caribbean allows guests to place a bid for a nicer room, potentially at a cheaper price than booking that cabin outright. While the bidding program is definitely a legitimate option you can consider, there are downsides to Royal Up you should know about before placing a bid.

4 bedroom suite

Since you'll pay more to win a cabin upgrade bid and have to change from the room you booked to something else, here are six reasons to turn down the opportunity to upgrade your cruise ship cabin.

You can't pick your room location

freedom-hallway

For a lot of people, picking the best rooms on a cruise ship means having control of exactly where the room is located, but you'll give that up with Royal Up.

When you place a bid for a room upgrade, you let Royal Caribbean pick the specific cabin to be assigned if you win the bid. There's no option to choose between cabins, and it's akin to a guaranteed cabin room assignment in that regard.

You could end up with a room that is at the far end of a hallway, and not only does that mean a longer walk to the elevators, but also potentially an issue if you are prone to motion sickness. A midship cabin is preferable for someone that is concerned about getting seasick.

Read moreHow to beat seasickness on a cruise ship

Central Park balcony

Likewise, your winning bid might end up with a room near a public venue and you could get noise bleed that keeps you up at night or awake in the morning. Ideally, you want a room that is above and below other cabins and away from bars, pools, or other noisy venues.

There are some people who are not picky about their room location, especially if they are getting a better cabin at a cheaper price.  Just be clear about the fact you'll let the cruise line pick your specific cabin should your bid be accepted.

Bidding is a complete guess

Anthem door

Don't get your hopes up, because there seems to be no pattern to how to actually win a room upgrade bid.

The program is similar to a silent auction, where the cruise line sets a minimum bid, and you make a bid without knowing what anyone else bid. Heck, you don't even know if there are actually any open cabins to be upgraded into.

While the Royal Up website provides a very easy to understand bid evaluator that ties a higher price to an increased chance at winning, the reality is max bids don't always win, and plenty of people have won upgrades with a minimum bid.

Read moreHow can you win that Royal Up stateroom upgrade bid? It's pure luck

Odyssey of the Seas

Jenn Greene, a Travel Planner with MEI Travel, called the bidding program "random" when describing it to her clients, "Royal Up is completely random. I let clients know that it’s more like a lottery than a guarantee. And that if you really want it bid high. With ships sailing full, I am seeing less opportunities for clients to bid."

As they say, you can't win if you don't play, but the whole process could just give you false hope of moving up and leave you disappointed.

It's expensive

Icon of the Seas sunset suite

While you might be able to save money on a cabin upgrade by bidding instead of changing your original reservation, it's not free.

Royal Caribbean gives you a range of prices you can bid, and that price you offer is going to be charged for two people, even if you're cruising solo.

That means you're adding onto the overall cost of your vacation, and more money spent on your cabin means a bigger vacation budget.

PerfectDay-SouthBeach

A lot of cruisers will tell you that money is better spent on experiences on the ship, such as shore excursions or specialty dining. Or better yet, money towards another cruise booking!

If you're on a tight budget, spending money to upgrade your cabin is going to balloon what you have available and may not actually be a deal in the grand scheme of things.

If you have more than one cabin booked

Connecting rooms

My favorite strategy for cruising with a family is to book two connecting cabins instead of one room, but this idea is incompatible with Royal Up.

You can certainly place bids for both rooms, but there's no promise if you win both rooms get upgraded. Or that the winning bid room will be anywhere near your other room, even if you booked connecting rooms.

Moreover, let's say you win a bid for one room to move up to a spacious suite.  You cannot move the people from the other room into the upgraded cabin and/or cancel the other room.

In short, if you have more than one cruise ship cabin booked and care about being anywhere near each other, Royal Up would be a mistake.

If you booked a specific sub-category of cabin

Aft Wonder of the Seas

If you do your research, you may spot certain special rooms that are quite rare and in high-demand.  So placing a bid to upgrade your room means forgoing those rooms.

As an example, Royal Caribbean's family cabins offer significantly more space and a separate sleeping area for the kids along with an extra bathroom.  Technically, these are inside or oceanview rooms, and a bid may get you in a higher category regular cabin.

There's also aft cabins, hump cabins, and a slew of other hidden gems that are advantageous because they have extra large balconies, preferable views, or are in a great spot.

Hump room

If those kind of considerations are important to you, do not accept an upgrade offer.

You might not get extra points

Wonder-Junior-Suite

If you booked a balcony and then move up to a suite with a winning Royal Up bid, you won't get the bonus Crown and Anchor points.

Royal Caribbean gives suite guests an extra point per night in its loyalty program for booking a suite.  But that only applies if you actually book a suite from the beginning.

Those that book a standard cabin but end up in a suite from Royal Up will still only get one point per night.

Diamond Lounge sign on Adventure of the Seas

If you don't care about moving up the loyalty program ranks as much as you care about which cabin you stay in, then you can safely ignore this advice.  But there are a lot of beneficial Crown & Anchor perks at the higher levels that would be nice to get to faster.

Planning a cruise? Start here:

Royal Caribbean News Round-Up: August 27, 2023

In:
27 Aug 2023

Welcome to this week's edition of the Royal Caribbean post round-up, where we summarize all of the Royal Caribbean news and information from this week into one handy-dandy post! There is plenty of great content to enjoy, so sit back, relax, and enjoy this week's round-up!

What's it like when there's passengers on a cruise ship?

Sometimes cruise ships move between new home ports without any passengers onboard, and in the case of Oasis of the Seas, the crew got to enjoy the ship to themselves for a few days.

One crew member shared what it's like to sail on an empty cruise ship with no passengers.

Royal Caribbean News

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 509th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available, sharing what you should know before you pick a cruise.

Before you book any cruise, Matt shares the important things to know and do (especially if you're new  to cruising).

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.

Video: 4 things I think Royal Caribbean should change IMMEDIATELY!

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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: 4 things I think Royal Caribbean should change.

Why you should avoid cruises with lots of sea days

celebrity-summit-at-sea

Should you pick a cruise with a lot of sea days? Maybe not.

Sea days can feel monotonous because some people prefer to explore the ports of call rather than lounging around the ship. Then again, a lot of veteran cruisers love sea days.

We thought of 6 reasons not to book a cruise with a lot of sea days, just in case you wanted to think about which sailing is right for you.

Weirdest things our readers have seen other people do on a cruise ship

snow on board cruise ship

The more you cruise, the more often you see something completely unexpected.

People-watching is something everyone enjoys no matter where you are, and you can sometimes see something unexpected while on your cruise.

Our readers shared the oddest things they witnessed on a Royal Caribbean cruise.

After 100 nights at sea, here are my biggest cruise regrets

Regrets after 100 nights of cruises

Jenna has sailed on cruise ships for 106 nights (so far) and still has a few things she wish she could do over again.

If you have an upcoming cruise, it’s helpful to know what to avoid during the entire process so that you can avoid stress and hassle later on.

Whether booking one itinerary over another, packing more efficiently, or booking a risky flight schedule, there are a few things she wishes she did differently.

Allure of the Seas is the last Oasis Class ship with some classic features

Allure of the Seas

Because Allure of the Seas did not get a Royal Amplification yet, she remains the last Oasis Class ship with amenities and venues that have since been removed on other ships.

In the meantime, guests can enjoy a few classic features you either can’t find on the others or are slowly being phased out.

10 of the biggest misconceptions people have about a cruise before sailing

In:
26 Aug 2023

Going on a cruise ship can be confusing for a first-timer who has never sailed before.

Liberty of the Seas

You don't have to go very far to run into one of the often repeated myths that exist about what a cruise is all about. Many of these are rooted in experiences from decades ago, and quite a lot has changed in the cruise industry.

Cruise ships have gotten larger and more sophisticated. Moreover, they've evolved past the generation of ships that people may remember. Part of the issue is in many cases, pop culture continues to portray cruise ships as if it's still the 1990s. Stereotypes are hard to break, and it perpetuates a certain expectation many people who have never cruised think about when they imagine a cruise vacation.

It's been my experience that so many tropes about a cruise are outdated and misinformed preconceived notions that are quickly dispelled once you look into what the reality is truly like.

Woman standing in front of pool deck on Symphony of the Seas

People who have cruised many times would be the first to tell you that a cruise vacation can vary greatly depending on the line you choose, the cruise ship you pick, the time of year, and a variety of other factors. It's no different than if you were to take a trip to New York City: not every vacation there is the same kind of experience.

Before you write off a cruise vacation, here are the top ten commonly cited myths about a cruise and why they are plain wrong.

"I'll get seasick"

Balcony view

We will begin with a misconception that actually has some truth to it, in that while it is possible you could get seasick on a cruise, it's unlikely and easily preventable.

I've taken over 70 cruises and I have on a few occasions gotten seasick. It's not ideal, but when it happens, there are easy ways to combat it.

First, you could prevent seasickness from ever occurring. You can take over-the-counter medication, such as Dramamine or Bonine once a day to ensure the symptoms never begin. When I started cruising, I always followed this regiment and it always worked. These days, I don't take it preemptively, but if I do get queasy during the cruise, I'll pop one of the pills and very quickly start feeling normal again.

dramamine-bonine-split

Another option is to ask your doctor for a patch that goes behind your ear that you'll wear throughout your cruise. It's another easy way to ensure you never get seasick.

There are a variety of homeopathic strategies too, such as ginger pills, eating green apples, peppermint, and even wristbands.

The reality is while you could get seasick on a cruise, the chances are quite low, especially if sea conditions aren't terrible. A cruise ship is far more stable than a fishing boat that you may have been on, and it takes a lot to get a ship swaying.

If you talk to people that cruise a lot, they'll tell you in most cases, you cannot notice the ship moving at all and that instances of motion sickness are pretty low overall.

"Only old people take cruises"

Couple in Junior Suite

There's an old saying that people who go on cruises are "the nearly dead and the newlywed," and it's a stereotype that comes from cruising in the 1970s or 1980s.

Cruise ships evolved from ocean liners, and in those days, the only people who could really afford to cruise were older people. It was expensive and took a great deal of time, which is something families didn't have a lot of.

Fast forward to the 1990s, and the cruise industry begins its pivot towards the family cruise market. Cruise ships become bigger and offer more to do than ever before. With more ships comes more inventory and that helps lower prices (more on high prices later).

Family cruise travel really took off in the 2000s, and you'll find a great mix of ages on the mainstream cruise lines, such as Royal Caribbean.

On an average Royal Caribbean cruise, you'll find guests of all ages. Toddlers, school-aged kids, teens, adults, seniors, and probably a guy named Big Dawg Ron. You get a good mix of people so it never feels like one demographic dominates the ship.

In fact, Royal Caribbean designs its cruise ships to have something for millennials, baby boomers, gen-Xers, and gen Z. It's meant to provide a little of everything, and you get to decide what appeals to you.

Splashaway Bay and Water's Edge

Royal Caribbean's ships have kids clubs and areas of the ship designed specifically for kids and teens in mind. Their new Icon of the Seas cruise ship has an entire area of the ship reserved just for young families.

Will there be retirees onboard? Absolutely. But you will also find lots of other ages too, and probably way more young people than you thought would be there.

"I'll feel claustrophobic onboard"

In my experience, the top two reasons people have resisted going on a cruise are fear of getting seasick (see above) and the feeling they'll be trapped onboard.

It's difficult to convey in a blog post, but cruise ships are much bigger than you think. It's one thing to see a photo or even a video of a ship, but when you see them in person, you realize just how massive these ships are.

There are public decks and spaces you can go to, and I think you'll find the ship more like a city than a cramped space. 

Promenade Deck

From shows, to restaurants, to the pools, it's more likely you will not feel stuck.

If you're worried that you'll feel claustrophobic on a ship, you should understand there are so many things to do onboard and many places to go. Moreover, your ship will visit plenty of ports along the way, giving you an opportunity to disembark the ship and explore these countries.

With plenty of open deck space, it's easy to avoid that closed-in feeling. 

"Cruises are too expensive"

Wonder of the Seas in Port Canaveral

Whether based in the old days of cruising or an assumption from seeing the glitzy new ships, the idea that taking a cruise is expensive is truly incorrect.

A cruise vacation remains one of the best values in travel when compared to taking a land vacation.

Just like a land trip, prices will vary depending on a variety of factors, but when you consider a cruise includes not just a hotel room, but food, entertainment, and a means of which to get you to different ports, that's a lot for one price.

Read moreWhat's included in your Royal Caribbean cruise fare

Wonder of the Seas pool deck

No matter your budget, there's a cruise you can afford. There are cheap inside rooms on short weekend cruises, lavish suites, and plenty in the middle too.

Throughout the year there are different cruises you can take and in general, a Royal Caribbean cruise is affordable. While there are pricey cruises (especially over holidays), bargain values still exist on many ships. The beauty of having 28 ships in the fleet is that there's likely something for everyone, and with a little research and flexibility, I'm certain you can find something in your price range.

Ovation of the Seas docked

Like all mass-market cruise lines, Royal Caribbean offers a module cruise experience. Your cruise fare gets you onboard with a certain set of amenities included, and it's up to you if you want to spend more to get a drink package, shore excursion, wifi, or some other extra.

Similar to a land vacation, you can take a cruise on the cheap or splurge with an over-the-top vacation. It's just important to remember a cruise is not inherently expensive.

Read moreWhat's worth paying extra for on a cruise?

"I'll be bored"

AquaTheater show on Wonder of the Seas

Similar to the concern of feeling trapped on a cruise, many people worry there isn't enough to do and they'll be bored.

I think this myth comes from all the imagery of people sitting by the pool and enjoying a sunny day. Sure, that looks great, but what else is there to do besides sleep, eat, and hang out at the pool?

The answer is much more than you ever thought possible.

Teenagers on cruise ship slide

Cruise ships offer a myriad of activities and onboard entertainment. There are water slides, rock climbing, zip lines, ice skating, trivia, shopping, cooking demonstrations, dance parties, shows, and so much more.

Browse a past schedule of activities from any Royal Caribbean cruise ship and you'll see an example of just how much there is to do in the morning, afternoon, and evening. One thing Royal Caribbean does better than many other lines is keep the fun going well into the evening.

Royal Caribbean also has full Broadway shows on some of its ships. This includes Mamma Mia, Cats, Saturday Night Fever and more. Other ships feature Broadway-style musical revues and dance performances. All the shows on any Royal Caribbean ship are included in your cruise fare.

There are movies shown throughout the day and evening by the pool deck, karaoke to sing to, gambling in the casino, silent discos, DJs, live bands, and guitarists.

Royal Caribbean likes to compare itself to Las Vegas in terms of entertainment, and you'll find quite a lot of entertainment to keep you busy.

Most people who take a cruise will tell you there's simply more to do than they possibly can handle in just one sailing. It's why so many people cruise over and over again.

"I have to get dressed up"

freedom-main-dining-room

Another myth rooted in the old days of cruising is concern about a dress code.

While dress codes do exist on Royal Caribbean cruise ships, they are minimal and barely enforced. Think of them as suggestions rather than hard and fast rules.

There's no dress code for what to wear around the ship, other than shoes and a cover-up for a restaurant.

It's really the dining venues that have rules about what you can wear and in practice, these are less stringent than you might think. The Main Dining Room has a daily dress code, and specialty restaurants have their own dress code. Regardless, you won't have to wear the same clothes you might wear to a prom.

Family at Windjammer

Royal Caribbean's dress codes act more as guidelines than rules, and you will see most passengers wearing fairly casual clothing to meals. For breakfast and lunch, there's really nothing more expected than not a bathing suit. At dinner, there's a different expectation, but some passengers wear shorts while others get more dressed up. Most guys will wear jeans or slacks with a collared shirt. Ladies are usually seen in a cocktail dress, blouse and jeans, or something else casual.

If you prefer to skip a sit-down meal altogether, there's a buffet and other casual restaurants you can go to and grab something quick to eat too.

At the very least, you will not have to get dressed up if you don't want to. There are lots of options for meals, and outside of restaurants, there are no dress codes to adhere to on Royal Caribbean.

"Bad things always happen on cruise ships"

Crew member emuster

If you watch the news, you'd think there's always someone "falling" off a ship, power outage, fire, or some other calamity. Unfortunately, the reality of the safety of cruise travel is completely misconstrued by the mainstream media in so many examples.

Let's be clear: statistically, cruising is a very safe vacation.

No one falls off a cruise ship unless they are doing something they're not supposed to or are somewhere they are not supposed to be (such as getting on top of a railing).

Cruise ships are regularly inspected by the U.S. Coast Guard (and other maritime agencies of other countries). Plus, every cruise ship has its own team of engineers and mechanics to keep the ships working properly. 

Crew members drill on every sailing to ensure they know what to do in case of an emergency. When you go on a cruise, you'll see this in action likely while your ship is docked in port. Ships have fire doors, water-tight sections, sprinklers, smoke alarms, and firefighters to deal with any issue.

Have there been incidents on cruise ships? Of course, just like there have been airplanes or buses that have crashed. They're the exceptions, not the norm.

"I have to eat with strangers"

Symphony of the Seas main dining room

I don't blame you if you are not interested in having meals with strangers. It's your vacation, and the last thing you want is an awkward meal with random people.

Today's big ships have lots of flexibility so you do not have to eat with strangers if you don't want to.

If you choose to eat at any specialty restaurant or casual dining venue, you will only eat with your own party (with the exception of the Hibachi specialty dining, and to be fair, it's like that on land too).

Family eating in main dining room

Royal Caribbean also offers My Time Dining, where you can eat in the Main Dining Room on your schedule and be seated with just your group. Cruisers who choose this format can head to dinner any time within set hours to get a table by themselves (or with a group if they like).

The traditional dining option in the Main Dining Room could seat you with someone else you don't know. This is the option where you have dinner every night at the same time with the same table and wait staff.

You can request a table to yourselves for traditional dining by requesting it before the cruise.

Mariner of the Seas dining room

If you are booked in traditional dining, you should contact Royal Caribbean prior to your cruise to make the request. Send an email to [email protected] about 2-3 weeks prior to your sailing with your request. This strategy usually works for most people. 

Read moreHow to not eat with strangers on a Royal Caribbean cruise

"I can't eat healthy"

Windjammer food on a plate

Eating healthy on a Royal Caribbean cruise is far from an oxymoron. Rather, it is a state of mind that is definitely achievable with the right kind of planning, and a little motivation.

Being on vacation is an excuse for some people to indulge more than they would at home, and you'll find no shortage of sweet and savory foods.

Ultimately, it's up to you how healthy you eat on a cruise, because there are plenty of healthy choices and ways to control portion size. While cruises are well-known for their amazing indulgences, there are just as many good-for-you choices too (but no one really writes articles about those).

mdr-dining-food-vegetable-greek-moussaka

Every menu has healthier choices you can order, in addition to salad bars, made-to-order cooking stations, and vegan and vegetarian options.

Just like any restaurant you go to near your home, there are healthy and not-so-healthy choices you can order. But if you want to avoid gaining weight and eat smart, you will find those options too.

"Cruising isn’t real travel"

The myth that cruising doesn't provide an immersive or compelling experience like land travel does is simply a case of snobbish opinions within the travel industry.

You will find authentic experiences in the places your ship visits that don't visit the typical tourist spots. The cruise line will provide as many shore excursions as possible that cover a variety of things to do, including the tacky and adventurous.

Plus, you don't have to take a cruise line excursion at all. You could get off the ship and explore on your own and discover your own off-the-beaten-path spot.

Tulum beach in Mexico

Some cruises offer overnight visits, but most have enough time to get a taste of what the city or town you visit has to offer.

A cruise is what you make of it, and the same is true of the places you can visit on land. You could choose to see the top tourist spot in town, or hop on a bus and visit a local market. It's an open-ended choice and offers as much cultural immersion as you'd like.

10 biggest misconceptions people have about a cruise before sailing and why they are wrong

Goal! Royal Caribbean takes the helm as official vacation sponsor for Miami's premier soccer club

In:
25 Aug 2023

A new partnership has been formed between Miami's leading cruise line and soccer club.

Royal Caribbean becomes vacation sponsor of Inter Miami CF

On Friday, Royal Caribbean announced, "an unprecedented, multiyear partnership" with Inter Miami CF. The soccer club was established in 2018 and is in the Eastern Conference of Major League Soccer.

Royal Caribbean will be the soccer club's main partner and Official Vacation Partner.

The new partnership builds on the cruise line welcoming international star Lionel Messi, who joined the team for the 2023 season.

Royal Caribbean is no stranger to sponsorship deals, as the company has been a corporate sponsor of different teams in the past.  It provides them with a new way to advertise their vacations to the public.

Icon of the Seas aerial at night concept art

With the impending launch of Icon of the Seas in January, the cruise line is clearly getting ready to turn up the advertising of the new ship to get the public's attention.

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.

Thrill Island and Surfside

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.

World’s Largest Cruise Line is Set to Become the Club’s Main Partner and Official Vacation Partner

Royal Caribbean Group CEO Jason Liberty spoke on the new deal, "Royal Caribbean started in Miami more than 50 years ago, and we have always had heart and passion for our community. It's been exciting to see Inter Miami’s success, including their recent Leagues Cup title, energize South Florida. As the Club’s Main Partner, we are thrilled to build on that momentum together and deliver memorable moments to fans around the world."

Royal Caribbean's SVP and Chief Marketing Officer, Kara Wallace, also heralds the new relationship, "Royal Caribbean and Inter Miami have won the hearts and minds of fans from around the world. Together as partners, the possibilities to reach more dreamers and adventurers are exponential from ship to pitch, especially as we look forward to the arrival of Icon of the Seas."

What the partnership will bring

Terminal A pink color

The sponsorship deal means a lot of cross brand promotion.

You can expect to see stadium LED, in-game content, fan zone activations, the Club’s digital and social platforms and more starting with the next home game at DRV PNK Stadium.

In addition, both partners will share community service initiatives in South Florida.

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast Episode - What to know before you book

In:
24 Aug 2023

Listen to the Show

Before you book any cruise, I think this is the important things to know and do (especially if you're new  to cruising)

Share with me your thoughts, questions and comments via...

On this episode:
Running time:

Royal Caribbean raises prices at some of its specialty restaurants

In:
23 Aug 2023

The price to eat at a few of Royal Caribbean's extra cost restaurants appears to have gone up recently.

Portside BBQ

Specialty restaurants are an optional add-on passengers can indulge in that is not included with a Royal Caribbean cruise.

Depending on the restaurant, there could be a cover charge to dine there that includes all the food, or a la carte pricing.

Read moreFood on a Royal Caribbean cruise

Playmakers on Oasis of the Seas

It seems some of the restaurants have had price increases this summer that point to a trend in the change.

Across at least 4 restaurants, we've spotted new prices to dine there. 

It's not clear exactly when the prices went up because Royal Caribbean does not announce these sort of changes.  At the very least, it seems prices were raised at some point over the summer.

Of course, the cost of food in general has been going up around the world, and is not just a cruise ship issue. Last year, U.S. consumers saw the largest annual increase in food prices since the 1980s. 

Brunch at Mason Jar

Due to global disruptions to the food supply chain and inflation, food prices have gone up overall, so it's likely these fiscal pressures had an effect on what Royal Caribbean had to charge.

The U.S. Labor Department reported earlier this year restaurant prices outpaced grocery prices on a 12-month basis.

Walt Disney World increased prices across-the-board on countless food & beverage items in late 2022.

Izumi sushi

During Royal Caribbean Group's first quarter earnings call with investors, Royal Caribbean Group Chief Financial Officer Naftali Holtz said inflation was impacting the cost of food, "We continue to actively manage persistent inflation across categories, including food and beverage, airfare, and shoreside human capital."

He added the company was taking measures to find ways to mitigate inflation, and that work was mentioned by Chief Executive Officer Jason Liberty in the second quarter earnings call, "the actions that we took to position ourselves to really kind of outperform and to grow our margins. A lot of all that work really helped absorb the vast majority of -- a pretty significant inflation that we saw across a lot of the items that impact our product."

Here's a look at the recent price increases we've noticed when comparing menus on Wonder and Oasis of the Seas to older copies of the menu we could find elsewhere.

Read moreWhat's included in your Royal Caribbean cruise fare

Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade

Playmakers

In comparing prices of food at Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade on Wonder of the Seas, it's clear prices have gone up.

Food is served a la carte, and its known for offering bar food that you can enjoy while watching one of the many television screens to catch a game.

All the entrees went up from $9.00 to $11.99.

Burger at Playmakers

The wings went up too:

  • 12 wings: $10 to $13.99
  • 24 wings: $14 to $19.99
  • 50 wings: $25 to $29.99

Appetizer prices were increased:

  • Pile on nachos: $6 to $8.99
  • Poke nachos: $8 to $12.99
  • Chicken tenders: $4 to $6.99
  • Fries: $3 to $5.99
  • Pigskin sliders: $7 to $10.99
  • Onion ring tower: $6 to $7.99
  • Buffalo chicken crunch roll: $5 to $7.99
  • Jalapeno poppers: $5 to $7.99

Old menu

Playmakers October 2022

New menu

Playmakers August 2023 menu

It is important to note that Playmaker's menu prices hadn't changed since at least 2019.

Portside BBQ

There's only one Portside BBQ, and it is on Oasis of the Seas, and it also had a price jump.

bayportkat on the Cruise Critic message boards posted a photo of the new dinner menu, which indicates the prices changed in the past sailing.

Here's a look at changes for the Portside BBQ dinner menu.

The Signature combo went from 2 cuts for $12.49 and 3 cuts for $15.39 to $16.99 and $21.99, respectively. 

The Pitmaster Special price was changed from $9.99 to $14.99.

  • Single cuts: $3.89 to $5.99
  • Sides: $2.99 to $3.99
  • Pitmaster Faves: $6.49 to $9.49
  • Desserts: $2.79 to 3.99

Old menu

Original Portside BBQ menu

New menu

August 2023 menu for Portside BBQ

Just like Playmakers, the menu prices at Portside BBQ had not changed since the restaurant opened in 2019.

Mason Jar Brunch

Mason Jar with kids

Whereas the other restaurants are priced a la carte, it looks as though the cost for brunch at the Mason Jar on Wonder of the Seas has also gone up.

Last month, Royal Caribbean Blog message board user OCSC Mike reported the normal price had gone up from $24.99 to $34.99. 

Mason Jar brunch price

This is the onboard price for brunch, and Royal Caribbean usually provides a discount if pre-purchased before the cruise on the Cruise Planner website.

Izumi sushi

Izumi sushi over the top view

In comparing prices on Wonder of the Seas, our team also noticed a price change for sushi at Izumi for its sushi offerings.

All the appetizers have gone up one dollar in cost when comparing today's menu to a menu from earlier this year.

  • Vegetable fried rice: $9 to $10
  • Shrimp and pork wonton soup: $7 to $8
  • Seaweed wakame salad: $7 to $8
  • Pork gyoza dumpling: $8 to $9
  • Tofu-ginger salad: $7 to $8
  • Crispy Rice Spicy Tuna: $13 to $14
  • Crispy Chicken Kara-Age: $8 to $9
  • Shrimp firecracker spring roll: $9 to $10
  • Shrimp & vegetable tempura: $11 to $12

All the signature rolls are now $15, whereas some had been $13 or $14 previously.

Chef's Signature Rolls are now $18. Previously they had been priced between $15 and $17.

Chef's Sushi Selection went from $16 to $17 and the assorted sashimi went from $21 to $22.

Bowls & More

  • Beef or Chicken Teriyaki: $17 to $19
  • Yaki Udon: $19 to $20
  • Tonkotsu Ramen: $13 to $14
  • Spicy Miso Ramen: $13 to 14
  • Poke Bowl: $17 to $18
  • Hibachi Vegetables: $13 to $14

Desert prices at Izumi have not changed.

Old menu

Izumi menu

New menu

Izumi menu in 2023

Royal Caribbean's most expensive specialty restaurant ever will take 3 hours and cost $200 per person

In:
21 Aug 2023

When Royal Caribbean's new cruise ship starts sailing, it will have its most ambitious and expensive extra-cost restaurant ever.

Empire Supper Club

Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas is being designed from the water line up as a brand new evolution in cruising, and there are plenty of firsts, including 20 unique dining options.

One of the new restaurants on Icon of the Seas will be a high-end specialty restaurant that offers a "taste of old New York" and it wont be cheap.

The cruise line calls it the Empire Supper Club, and this throwback restaurant is unlike any other dining venue on its ships so far. Top quality food along with entertainment in a paced meal is what Royal Caribbean hopes will be a very cool idea that provides another option for those seeking a refined meal.

Icon of the Seas

Icon's most elegant dining establishment is something brand new and has a lot of people curious what we can expect.

Welcome to old New York

Old New York

The Empire Supper Club looks to be the most elegant restaurant created by Royal Caribbean to date.

Guests will enjoy an eight-course meal, all paired with with cocktails that have been specially created for Royal Caribbean by a world renowned mixologist. Tony Abou-Ganim has worked with James Beard Award-winning chefs, Bellagio and more.

When you eat at the Empire Supper Club, expect an experience, not just dinner.

Live music in Empire Supper Club concept art

The venue can only seat 38 people and there will be only one seating per night, which means this will be a hot ticket to get into given its low capacity.

Each meal will take approximately three hours, and there will be a three-piece band playing, which means guests get not just a top quality meal, but entertainment too.

Royal Caribbean hopes it will be a throwback to old New York. Appropriately enough, you'll find the New York-themed restaurant in the part of the ship that is also inspired by the same city, Central Park.

A pricey dinner

langoustine meal from Empire Supper Club

While no prices have been listed yet, Royal Caribbean did give a ballpark estimate for how much a meal will cost.

In talking with travel agents recently, Royal Caribbean's Senior Vice President, Sales, Trade Support and Service, Vicki Freed, said she expects the price to be right around $200 per person.

"It'll probably be about $200 a person," she explained in talking about the restaurant. "We haven't landed exactly on the price, but it's going to be worth it because it's going to be a beautiful eight course meal paired with the mixologist, the cocktails and the wines."

martini-cocktail-bar-alcoholic-alcohol

Royal Caribbean has plenty of specialty restaurants that have cover charges, but none that have a per-person price tag approaching the Empire Supper Club.

In comparison, here are prices for other specialty restaurants from the upcoming inaugural sailing of Icon of the Seas (with a 10% discount off onboard prices):

  • Chops Grille: $62.99 per person
  • Giovanni's Italian Kitchen: $48.99 per person
  • Izumi: $35.99 per person
  • Hooked: $57.99 per person
  • Izumi Hibachi: $57.99 per person

While the price is higher than other restaurants, it's also different from any other specialty restaurant the cruise line has come up with.

While the Chef's Table experience on other ships is also a curated meal experience, The Empire Supper Club is taking things to a new level with the menu and drink pairings.

Royal Caribbean said caviar and wagyu beef would be among the items that we can expect to see on the menu (the full menu has not been released yet).

"Most elevated dining experience we've created"

Central Park render on Icon of the Seas

The high price tag isn't without merit, as Royal Caribbean wanted to come up with something that is substantially different from anything else.

Royal Caribbean Vice President Food & Beverage, Linken D'Souza, spoke about the Empire Supper Club a few months ago and he is excited to bring something so different to guests to try, "Empire Supper Club is what I would say is the most elevated dining experience we've created at Royal Caribbean."

"Food will be paired with cocktails, and then we'll pair it with music as well. So it'll be a full immersive dining experience."

playing the cello

From the sounds of it, this will be an intimate setting.

Just as food and drinks get commonly paired together, Royal Caribbean thinks pairing music to the meal will add to the sensory experience.

As mentioned earlier, the menu isn't set yet, but Mr. D'Souza's team is working on a variety of concepts for the menu, including an elevated oyster course, butterflied Caesar salad, and even testing out a rabbit dish. Don't worry, even if the rabbit course makes it to the menu, Mr. D'Souza said there will be other meat options too to pick from.

"It's really a set menu that allows you with a couple of choices around entrees."

Old supper club

Almost all the ingredients will be American sourced ingredients to match the New York menu they are aiming for.

He used the word "elevated" a lot to describe the meal at Empire Supper Club because of how fundamentally different it will be from other restaurants, "it really is an elevated food experience that's tied together with a really elevated beverage experience."

"It's really challenging us to come up with food and now figure out how to pair it, because you can pair wine easily. But, we're saying how do we pair a cocktail in a really meaningful way so that it's really an experiential combination between the food and the cocktail, and now you're layering music."

Royal Caribbean's new Chief Meteorologist worries about the weather for your cruise so you don't have to

In:
19 Aug 2023

Royal Caribbean has a new weather expert on staff who's job it is track bad weather and ensure cruise ships aren't near potential problems.

Craig Setzer at work

Craig Setzer is the company's new Chief Meteorologist, and as as we know, the only chief meteorologist working in the cruise industry.

Mr. Setzer took on his new role in August, and has over 25 years of experience in the field. He's an Emmy-winning former TV Meteorologist, having worked at CBS News and a few local television stations. In fact, he was CBS' Chief Meteorologist.

He also remains involved with the National Hurricane Center, teaching at World Meteorological Organization workshops, and presenting at American Meteorological Society conferences around the country.

Craig Setzer at CBS

Following his television career, he spent considerable time in providing his expertise in court cases related to marine weather, atmospheric lighting and visibility, storm-related damage and losses, wind drift, and human exposure in extreme conditions. 

Mr. Setzer posted on his Twitter account that working with Royal Caribbean is a dream role, "It’s a dream job utilizing my tropical & marine meteorology experience and allowing me to explore/advance operational maritime science in a way I couldn’t before."

Craig Setzer tweet

According to Royal Caribbean Group's job posting for the Chief Meteorologist position earlier this year, Mr. Setzer will be responsible for providing expert analysis of weather systems, such as hurricanes, typhoons and any other kind of severe weather that could impact cruise ship sailings.

His guidance to the fleet with weather-related support and guidance is what ensures ships can alter itineraries, or simply take a different route to ensure a safe and comfortable experience for passengers.

Storm in Port Canaveral

Royal Caribbean was the first line to create the role of a meteorologist following a weather-related incident involving a Royal Caribbean ship in 2016.  

Historically, cruise lines used outside vendors to provide them with forecasts. 

After an internal investigation of the unsettling event, the cruise line decided they needed an in-house, dedicated resource.

Since then, the cruise line decided it was time to mitigate the chances of that sort of event from happening again by hiring someone in-house to provide better direction.

Royal Caribbean's first Chief Meteorologist, James Van Fleet, also came from a television background, and worked in the role from its inception until earlier this year when it was announced he was leaving the position.

Already busy tracking storms

hurricane-winds-hurricane-season

If Mr. Setzer's social media postings are any indication, he's been busy tracking weather events in just the first few weeks on the job.

Hurricane Hilary is headed towards California, and he's been sharing key details about the intensity of the storm and what people can really expect.

He debunked some headlines related to the storm, sharing that he expects the storm to be much weaker by the time it reaches the United States.

Tweet by Craig Setzer

"Some folks see this headline, 
...HILARY IS A LARGE AND POWERFUL CATEGORY 4 HURRICANE...
& see the center point cone headed toward California, thinking cat 4 is going to hit California. That's not correct."

"Looking at the forecast details reveal Hilary will be a much weaker but very wet storm by the time it reaches the US. Flooding will be main threat for Calif, AZ, much of the western US."

Royal Caribbean's Navigator of the Seas had her itinerary changed, and Mr. Setzer was involved in that decision.

Letter sent to passengers on Navigator of the Seas

RoyalCaribbeanBlog reader YoungFamilyExplorers shared a photo of a letter sent to passengers onboard the cruise ship with the new times in port, and the decision was made with the assistance of the Chief Meteorologist. 

Of course, he's also focused on the Atlantic for tropical storm development.  Hurricanes in the Atlantic are usually where the greatest impact to itineraries occur.

The U.S. government's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) originally predicted a "near-normal" year with 12 to 17 named storms for the 2023 hurricane season, with five to nine would become hurricanes.

NOAA increased its forecast on August 10 to a prediction of an "above normal" year for hurricanes, because of record-warm sea surface temperatures.

The new prediction is for 14 to 21 named storms for the season as a whole, of which six to 11 could become hurricanes. Two to five could become major hurricanes, according to NOAA.

The Atlantic hurricane season runs between June 1 and November 30.

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast Episode - First time trying Royal Caribbean

In:
17 Aug 2023

Listen to the Show

Craig has never cruised Royal Caribbean, but gave it a try after sailing other lines.

Share with me your thoughts, questions and comments via...

On this episode:
Running time:

Fear not: Royal Caribbean CEO declares cruise line won't charge for pizza to delight of fans

In:
17 Aug 2023

Fear not, Royal Caribbean won't be charging you for pizza on your next cruise.

Sorrento's on Allure

A customer survey made its way around the internet that posed the question if people would consider paying extra for the pizza that is currently free onboard.

Cruise fans erupted in an avalanche of condemnation that the cruise line would even consider charging cruise ship passengers for pizza.

The controversy reached Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley's desk, as he took to social media to calm concern over such a change.

How it all started

Sorrento's Pizza

Last week, a RoyalCaribbeanBlog reader shared a copy of an email survey he received from Royal Caribbean asking about many topics, including opinions on making the free pizza an extra charge item.

Royal Caribbean surveys are a commonly used tool for the company to evaluate and get feedback on all aspects of its operations.  However, the question of charging for pizza was something new, since the Sorrento's Pizza onboard has always been a complimentary option.

Email survey

The question on the survey was, "If Sorrento's Pizza was offered for a fee, would you still dine there?".

It then asked if changing Sorrento's from complimentary to an extra cost venue would stop them from cruising with Royal Caribbean, "How would Sorrento's Pizza being offered for a fee impact your likelihood to choose Royal Caribbean in future?"

As word spread about this question, a lot of cruise fans began to worry that charging for pizza was a step on the slippery slope of higher cruise costs.

Pizza and beer

In fact, it seemed many people were more upset with the precedent it sets, rather than actually paying for the food.

Dawn Thompson's comment on social media exemplified many people's thoughts ont he matter, "I understand cruise ships lost a lot of money during Covid, but trying to make up all that money at once by putting an up charge on everything! They will lose their base and limit the amount of new customers and lose more!"

"We are not charging for pizza"

Michael Bayley

Mr. Bayley posted on his Facebook page an update that addressed the pizza survey and to assure guests there will not be a change.

He first explained how the survey question came to be, "A couple of weeks ago we conducted one of frequent small group guest surveys. As usual we asked questions on this n that!  Including customer thoughts on $ charges for Pizza!   The question was posted with the result that many emails and comments were sent! "

According to him, 80% of the respondents said they were against Royal Caribbean charging for pizza onboard its cruise ships.

"The survey said 80 per cent of guests were opposed, 20 per cent of guests said they would still go for Pizza with a charge."

Bayley Pizza quote

He also said about a quarter of the people would consider changing other cruise lines if Royal Caribbean began charging for pizza.

Most importantly, Mr. Bayley assured cruisers the free pizza isn't going anywhere, "To calm all our Pizza lovers don’t worry we are not charging for Pizza."

A relief to cruise fans

Royal Promenade on Adventure of the Seas

For many cruise fans, this update was a welcome sigh of relief.

Nancy Bridges posted, "Thank you for listening, Michael."

Tracey Garner added, "Thank you for listening to your loyal customers! It is very much appreciated!"

Mike Barngrover joked, "That's a relief Michael. I did not want to move my cruises to Carnival."

Russel Lomas suggested working on the surveys so they aren't as easily misconstrued, "You may want to think about how the question was worded in the survey so that in future people to do not get into an uproar on social media about issues or questions like this."

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