When your cruise ship comes into port, how much time will it take to get off the ship?

Cruise ships travel the world, with stops in many ports along the way. Whether it's the last day of your cruise or just a scheduled visit somewhere, the disembarkation process can be different depending on a few factors.

There's crowds to contend with, along with the logistics of getting passengers and belongings off the ship, local authorities, and more.

If you're to cruising, you want to know how long does it take to get off the cruise ship. Let's break down everything you need to know about debarking a cruise ship so you know exactly what to expect.

How long does it take to get off a cruise ship while visiting in port?

On a day your cruise ship visits a port of call, the disembarkation process depends on a few factors.

Before anyone can get off a cruise ship, the country you are visiting needs to clear the ship. Usually a maritime entity will board the ship and do some kind of an inspection to verify the paperwork is accurate and all regulations are being followed.

This must be done at every port of call, even private islands operated by the cruise lines.

How long it takes local authorities to clear a ship depends and can be a few minutes or closer to an hour.

Once the ship is good to proceed the next question is your ship docking at a pier or shuttling guests off via tenders?

The fastest option is if your ship can dock at a pier.  Once the ship is tied up and local authorities clear the ship, guests can walk off the ship just as fast as they can pass through security to indicate they've checked out for the day.

Tender boats have a limited capacity and it takes time to load them up and then subsequently unload them later. The result is usually a wait onboard the ship for a spot on a tender, followed by a wait for the tender to proceed to shore.

No matter which method you have to disembark the ship, you'll need to scan your SeaPass card to show you're off the ship. This is done to have an accurate guest head count for later in the day to know if all passengers are onboard.

Keep in mind any minors need to have an adult present when disembarking the ship, including teenagers. If you want to meet your teens later on shore, they will need an adult with them to disembark the ship. If not, they'll be denied disembarkation.

So how long does the whole process take? Once the gangway is open for disembarkation, the real wait is simply how many other people are ahead of you.

When the gangway is open early in the morning, there's rarely a backup of guests to get off the ship (unless it's a tender stop).

If your ship is docked at a pier, expect the disembarkation process to only take a few minutes from when you get down to the gangway area.  In most cases, the longest time required  is the time needed to walk down the pier once off the ship.

If your ship is tendering, you're at the mercy of how many tenders are available, distance from shore, and demand from fellow guests. It could be 10-15 minutes or as long as an hour. 

How long does it take to get off a cruise ship when the cruise is over?

The process for getting off your cruise ship and going home when the cruise is over has a few more steps you should be aware of.

Royal Caribbean will publish a time your ship is due back into port, but this is only the time the ship docks.  Not the time guests can actually walk off the ship.

Just like a port call, your cruise ship will first need to get clearance from local authorities. Sometimes this is a mere formality and sometimes the inspection takes a while longer. There's no way to know in advance what to expect.

In order to prevent a mass exodus at the same time, Royal Caribbean divides up its passengers by groups. 

Once the ship is cleared, the first people allowed off the ship will be anyone taking their own luggage off the ship. 

Known as self-debark or "walking off the ship on your own", you are responsible for taking all your belongings off the ship and getting them through the cruise terminal.

The longest wait for this is from other people wanting to be among the first to walk off the ship, and there can sometimes be a line of guests waiting to walk off the ship in the morning. This is especially true for weekend cruises when locals are eager to get off the ship and back to work in time.

The good news is the time to walk off the ship is fairly quick once the line starts moving.  As long as there's no delay in the cruise terminal backing up the line, you should be able to walk off the ship in a matter of minutes since all you'll need to do is scan your SeaPass card to indicate you are off the ship.

I've found the longest waits can be for elevators in the morning of the last day of the cruise, rather than a wait to walk off the ship.

If you chose to have Royal Caribbean take your luggage off the ship for you, then you'll need to wait for your group number to be called.

The group numbers correspond to your luggage tag number. When a number is called, it means all the luggage for that number are ready to be picked up in the cruise terminal.

You could walk off the ship before your luggage tag number is called, but you'll simply end up waiting in the cruise terminal for all the luggage to be brought out. Plus, you'll create a crowd and that causes issues for everyone else.

Once your number is called, then you proceed to the gangway area and scan your SeaPass card as you leave the ship.

The time needed to walk off the ship is usually pretty steady, especially at Royal Caribbean's newest cruise ship terminals. This includes:

• Port Canaveral: Terminal 1
• PortMiami: Terminal A
• Port Everglades: Terminal 18
• Galveston: Terminal 3

Don't worry if your cruise comes back to another terminal, things will likely still move quick enough.

The biggest issue with knowing how long it will take to walk off the ship are factors no one can truly know in advance:

• How many other guests will try to get off the ship at the same time as you?
• How long it will take authorities to clear the ship?
• Will there be any logistical issues encountered that slow the process?

It could take a few minutes or an hour to walk off the ship once it's over.

The entire process will take a few hours to get every single passenger off the ship when the cruise is over. Usually the last guests are walking off the ship in the 9:00am hour.

Suite guests

If you're staying in a Royal Caribbean suite, the disembarkation process can be faster than for other guests.

The suite concierge can provide expedited disembarkation, which means they will escort you and other suite guests off the ship at a pre-arranged time and bypass some of the line.

In my experience, this means the concierge will walk you past some or all of the line leading up to the check-point where you scan your SeaPass card.  This can save a lot of time, if the check-out line is backed up.

Similarly, a Royal Genie will provide the same service for their guests, albeit just for Star Class passengers. This includes a dedicated elevator and better luggage support on the final morning.

What's earliest time you can walk off if you take your own luggage?

Self assist early walk off is the first to leave the ship after clearance from local authorities. 

The issue here is what time the ship gets cleared, and there's no definitive way to know in advance.

In a lot of cases, it can begin around 7:00am. Sometimes earlier, sometimes later.

Do not assume the time listed for your ship to dock at the pier is the time you can actually walk off the ship.

Top ways to get off the ship fastest when your cruise is over

If your goal is to be able to get off your cruise ship fastest when it's over, here are some tried-and-true methods that work for a lot of people.

Walk off with your own luggage

If you can take your own luggage off the ship, then you can disembark just as soon as the ship is cleared. This puts you more in control of your own destiny.

You can even start lining up for disembarkation before the ship is cleared to ensure you're among the first off the vessel.

Of course, this means you have to lug all your belongings out of your room, down the hall, and into an elevator.  Then you have to be able to physically carry everything without any assistance off the ship. Solo cruisers and couples may be able to do this, but families usually find it impossible.

Have a passport

If you have a passport, you'll be able to get through the cruise terminal much faster than if you have just a birth certificate.

Most Royal Caribbean terminals now have facial recognition for guests with a passport. It's the fastest way to get on your way.

Stay in a suite

The suite concierge provides so many benefits, and priority disembarkation can be worth its weight in gold if getting off the ship with a minimal wait is important to you.

When long lines develop for walking off, the concierge can shave off a lot of time with their ability to cut the line.

You'll need to stay in a Grand Suite or higher for this benefit, and suites are far from inexpensive.

Purchase The Key

A benefit of being a guest that purchases Royal Caribbean's VIP program, The Key, is you'll get a special luggage tag.

You won't get to cut the line, but you will be assured your luggage is among the first delivered to the cruise terminal.

Welcome to the first week of 2022, and here is your look at all of the Royal Caribbean news you might have missed in the past week.

New internet speeds, ship construction, and island expansions are just some of the changes Royal Caribbean has lined up for 2023.

The new year means a variety of initiatives and projects will become reality this year, and it's important you're aware of these big changes.

Check out our list of 5 changes coming to Royal Caribbean in 2023.

Royal Caribbean News

• What does tender mean on a cruise ship?
• The 10 best-selling cruise ship products our readers couldn’t stop buying in 2022
• How I kept from gaining weight on my cruise
• Best Miami hotels near the cruise port
• Ultimate Guide to Puerto Plata cruise port

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 481st episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available, recorded live while onboard Wonder of the Seas.

Matt and Beci sum up the final group cruise of 2022, and talk about the fun they had onboard.

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.

New RCB Video: A look at the secret crew-only areas on cruise ships

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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 — A look at the secret crew-only areas on cruise ships — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

12 things I'd tell anyone new to cruise ship travel

A cruise vacation is unlike other kinds of vacation, which is a compliment and an advisory of what to expect.

No doubt a first cruise brings with it all sorts of emotions and expectations, so in planning a cruise, Matt has a list of things every new cruiser should know.

Hopefully these 12 tips for a new traveler will help anyone avoid some early mistakes.

2023 Cruise Planning Guide

Ready to jump head-first into planning a Royal Caribbean cruise?

There's so much to tackle when you start looking at any cruise vacation, so we've come up with the perfect jumping-off point of information and advice for anyone planning a cruise.

Consider this a "Royal Caribbean 101" approach to cruise planning.

What a $13,000 suite on Wonder of the Seas looks like

Have you ever wanted to see what one of the biggest suites on Wonder of the Seas looks like?

I recently stayed in a two bedroom AquaTheater suite on Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas, which came out to cost around $13,000.

Take a tour of spacious my hotel room at sea complete with views of the ocean and two bedrooms.

There's so many great travel products out there, so how do you know which ones are truly the best? 

It seems like every year there's more gadgets, devices, and useful tools you can bring on a cruise, from carry-on bags, to chargers, to appliances. Suffice to say, there's a lot to choose from.

I polled the Royal Caribbean Blog readers in our wonderful message board community to get a sense of which of these products they cannot go on a cruise without.

Please note that I linked to each item on Amazon which contains an affiliate link. This affiliate link costs you absolutely nothing extra, but I make a small commission if you purchase it.

If you’re looking to boost your travel arsenal before heading off on your first cruise of 2023, consider one of these reader favorites.

Anker 6 Port USB Charging Station

$24.99 at Amazon

Did you know that Royal Caribbean will confiscate surge protectors or power strips?

If your family is anything like mine, you'll have plenty of electronics that need to be charged during your cruise and a USB hub is critical.

A USB hub will take up one electrical outlet in your cabin, while providing six new USB outlets you can use to keep everything charging at once.

Royal Caribbean Luggage Tag Holders

$11.99 at Amazon

When you print your Royal Caribbean luggage tags, you'll need to attach them to your luggage.  Since they are made out of paper, it's easy for them to rip or get accidently torn off.

Plastic sleeves will ensure it is far less likely for your luggage tags to get ripped off, and they're re-useable for many cruises to come.

Wyze Luxury Night Lights

$22 at Amazon

If you've ever tried to get out of bed at night in your Royal Caribbean cruise cabin once all the lights are out, you know how dark the room can get (especially if you're an inside cabin).

Battery operated night nights mean you can easily get around the room without keeping a light on that makes it more difficult to fall asleep (or have to turn one on that blinds you).

Plus, these are motion-activated. So the light is off unless you need it.

GREATMAG Magnetic Hooks

$11.99 at Amazon

One of the best tips for your cabin is to buy magnetic hooks to use for adding additional storage in your room.

Your cabin walls are metallic, which means you place magnetic hooks just about anywhere.

Storage space on Royal Caribbean ships is notoriously low, and magnetic hooks provide convenient ways to hang clothes and accessories.

Poo-Pouri Spray

$12.53 at Amazon

We're keeping it real: everyone goes to the bathroom eventually and if you're sharing a cabin with just about anyone, you'll want to cover up the evidence.

Whether family or friends they are cruising with, our readers pack a bottle of Poo-Pouri to ensure their cabin bathroom is inviting for all.

Liquid IV

$24.99 at Amazon

I had never even heard of this item, but a few readers really recommend packing something like Liquid IV to stay hydrated onboard.

The product is a daily electrolyte drink mix that promises to keep you hydrated faster than water alone, and has a better taste than plain water.  

Hyc00 Travel Duffel Bag

$22.99 at Amazon

Our readers really like taking a carry-on bag with them that they can re-use at any point during the cruise.

A "catch all" or "carry on" bag allows them to keep travel documents and essentials with them on embarkation day, and it can double as a carry-on bag for their flight to the cruise.

Ziploc bags

$10.84 at Amazon

Between the magnetic hooks and ziploc bags, these two items would win the most popular travel product our readers loved.

Ziploc bags have so many uses on a cruise. It can keep clothes dry, protect your phone, serve as a travel mechanism for snacks, store wet clothes, and so much more.

Pinzon Premium Packing Cubes

$26.99 at Amazon

I had to include packing cubes on this list, even if I don't personally use them.

Our readers love the idea of packing cubes because it helps make the packing, unpacking, and re-packing during a cruise simpler.

Apple AirTag 4-Pack

$99 at Amazon

Ever since I tried AirTags out on a cruise, I can see why our readers love these things.

Our readers loved adding these small devices to their checked baggage to keep track of where their belongings were during the boarding process. It was even more helpful when flying to their cruise.

More information

• I tried the best inside cruise ship cabin hacks to see how well they
• The best travel tech gadgets for a cruise ship vacation
• The Ultimate Cruise Packing List
• What not to bring on a Royal Caribbean cruise

Warm sunny days, savory food at every turn, and family memories. Taking your first cruise has high hopes for a great vacation experience.

When you're new to cruising, there's all sorts of emotions you may be feeling, including excitement, anxiety, impatience, and hope. 

In talking with new cruisers I'm reminded of the highs and lows pre-vacation planning brings from when I first started cruising.

Now, with over twenty years of cruising experience under my belt, I go into almost any cruise with a sort of "auto pilot" sense to the planning process.  My brain is tuned to what to expect and what to do next in a variety of scenarios.

Of course, I made plenty of rookie cruise mistakes along the way as I got to this point. Everyone learns along the way in becoming a veteran cruiser.

I know what it’s like to just be starting out and have a mind filled with questions, anxieties, and concerns.

So, if you’re new to cruise ships and looking for advice to help you prepare, here are 12 tips that I’d tell a new traveler to help them avoid some of my early mistakes:

1. Don't worry

It may feel daunting when you look at all the things to consider when booking a cruise: 

• Which cabin to choose?
• How to pick the right ship?
• What is the best shore excursion?
• When should I book my flights?
• Which hotel should I stay at before my cruise?

It's easy to feel overwhelmed seconds after you decide on taking a cruise, but you're very capable of handling this kind of a trip.

By virtue of the fact you're asking these questions, you're already many steps ahead of most other cruisers that will be on your ship.

Unfortunately, most people on a cruise ship book the ship and then that's about it.  They may buy a drink package or internet plan before their cruise because of a Royal Caribbean marketing email, but a lot of people simply show up for the vacation. This sets them up for more pitfalls than you because you're already asking the right questions.

A cruise ship vacation is designed to be very approachable, so even if you do no research in advance, you'll still probably have a good time onboard. The fact so much is included compared to a land vacation makes it easier to plan around.

You’ll make mistakes. Everyone does (myself included). But that’s just part of the experience.

The good news is by being on this site and learning about cruises, you're already going to side-step a few common pitfalls and at the end of the cruise, you're very likely to come away loving the experience and wanting another trip!

2. Use a good travel agent

Before you book any cruise, find a really good travel agent to work with.

Yes, travel agents are still a thing, and they are invaluable when it comes to cruise ship travel, especially for those new to cruising.

Note that I included the word "good", as not all travel agents are created equal.

A good travel agent has a great deal of experience with the cruise line you are sailing on, and knows the ins and outs of the experience. They've "been there, done that" and have a host of satisfied clients that swear by their travel agent.

You might be thinking "booking a cruise can't be that hard", and you're right. But the booking process is just the starting point for where a good agent comes into play.

As a new cruiser, you're going to have a lot of questions.  Certainly articles on this site can help answer some, but many questions you have will be personal and related to your situation.

• Can you save more money by booking two cabins instead of one?
• How much more will it be to add another person to the reservation in a few months?
• What happens if Royal Caribbean accidentally cancels your tour or even your entire cruise?
• What's the difference between refundable and non-refundable cruise fare?

Basically, you don't know yet all the questions you will have between now and your cruise beginning. A good travel agent is there to help you along the way.

They'll save you so much time, and maybe some money too.

If it matters, I always use a travel agent to book my cruises.

How do you find such an agent? Ask friends and family for a recommendation. Here is one such recommended travel agency that specializes in Royal Caribbean. 

3. Learn as much as you can before you get onboard

"Knowledge is power" isn't just something we tell our kids so they'll study harder in school. It's a fact when it comes to travel.

The more you know about your ship and itinerary, the better prepared you'll be and less likely to waste your time or money along the way.

If there's a regret I hear from new cruisers the most, it's they wish they knew about something before they ever went on their first cruise.

Some easy ways to learn about your cruise are:

• Read an old Cruise Compass
• Pre-purchase some of the extra add-ons before your cruise 
• Learn about dress codes

4. Choose your cruise ship based on what is important to you

There are so many cruise ships in Royal Caribbean's fleet, so when choosing the right one, prioritize what you care about.

The TV commercials show all these fun things you can do onboard, but do you need waterslides, surf simulators, or observation pods?

Are you looking for water slides? Skip the Vision class. Need a full Broadway show? Liberty of the Seas has it, but not Freedom of the Seas. Want a nursery for your toddler? Don't book Explorer of the Seas.

Don't feel like you have to book the ship that has the most to do onboard just because it has everything. You may find a great choice in other ships too because it has just what you need.

5. Pack light

I admit that I still struggle with this, but overpacking is so tempting when it comes to a cruise.

The fear of getting onboard a cruise ship only to realize you forgot something really important is an all too real concern.

I think all too often people pack for “just in case” and “what if” instead of the reality of the trip.

While it can be tempting to bring more than you need “just in case,” remember this: you can wear clothing more than once, such as pants or shorts. Plus, you can send clothes out to be dry cleaned and it won't be terribly expensive.

Pack light and you'll have less to carry, saving you the hassle and stress of lugging suitcases around the airport.

Read more: The Ultimate Cruise Packing List

6. Get travel insurance

Whether you’re a cruise veteran or a brand new cruiser, don’t leave home without making sure you’re protected in case something goes wrong. 

Between lost luggage, broken bones, medical emergencies, deaths in the family, and a host of other unexpected problems, life gets in the way.

To ensure you’re protected, buy travel insurance.

I never go on a cruise without it because I know just how quickly things can go sideways.

You never know what might happen. Make sure you’re protected. It will also give you peace of mind and help you travel with confidence.

7. Go with the flow

No matter how well you plan your cruise, something will go awry. You can plan out every day, but you’ll rush around and be unhappy if there are any glitches in your well-curated schedule.

And there will be hiccups. And glitches. And all kinds of inconveniences, both major and minor. 

I think it's a good idea to plan ahead and look forward to certain activities, but you should also be prepared to sometimes adopt a "que sera sera" approach if things don't go your way.

Is it raining the day you wanted to go swimming? The performance you booked cancelled? Restaurant you wanted booked up? You'll still have a good time doing something else.

Don't let an inconvenience or cancellation ruin your entire cruise. Shrug your shoulders and look for something else you can do to make up for it.

If you run into a true game-stopping issue, leverage that really good travel agent I implored you to book with and they can get on top of it too.

8. Take a tour of the ship on the first day

We have full walkthrough tours of Royal Caribbean cruise ships on our YouTube channel that you can watch over and over again, but it's so helpful to get your bearings once onboard.

It can be helpful to get a lay of the land shortly after you board so that you can truly understand where your cabin is located relative to the amenities, restaurants, bars and entertainment venues that appeal to you. 

After you board your ship, head to the pool deck and work your way down the ship, deck by deck, walking the main public areas on those decks. 

This is a great way to quickly acclimate yourself to the ship layout and set yourself up for a great start.

9. Do the online check-in as early as you can

Your time is everything on vacation. Once you clock out of work and head to your cruise, the amount of vacation time starts to tick away, so don't waste any of it in the cruise terminal.

Royal Caribbean provides a super easy way to do online check-in before the cruise.

Check-in begins up to 45 days before the cruise sail date, so the first thing you'll want to do is download and install the Royal Caribbean app now.

At the 45 day window, grab a check-in time immediately. You can come back to the rest of the check-in later, if you prefer.

Then at some point before the cruise, finish everything in the online check-in. Yes, including taking a selfie photo.

The more time you spend at home doing the check-in, the less you'll spend in the cruise terminal. That means more time on the ship.

10. Remember everyone is in the same boat ship

Sometime very different about a cruise than a land vacation is how much more talkative and friendly cruise ship passengers are than what you're used to on land.

In an elevator, on a shore excursion, at the blackjack table, you'll run into other guests and it's easy to ignore them, but you never know who you may meet on a cruise. Just like you, they're probably new to cruising too. And if they aren't, you may be able to learn a lot from them.

I'm no social butterfly, but simply saying, "hello" is a great first step. You don't have to make friends with everyone you meet, but people that cruise a lot will tell you the fellow passengers they meet are often a real highlight of the cruise.

This applies to crew members too!

Crew members are working onboard, but are people too! Many love to get to know their guests and have plenty of interesting and amusing stories to share.

Don't be afraid to take a minute and talk to your stateroom attendant, waiter, bartender, NextCruise agent, or trivia host. They come from all over the world, and I've found the more crew members I meet, the more respect I have for what they do.  Plus, you learn all sorts of things about the places they've visited, the countries they call home, and fun insight into the cruise experience.

11. Talk to someone if there's a problem

The RoyalCaribbeanBlog message boards are filled with people that come back from a cruise and complain about an issue that they could have gotten fixed onboard.

If something is not as expected or disappointing, do not just accept it. Instead, speak up while onboard and nicely inform crew members of the issue, and ask how it can be resolved.

If something is disappointing you, or not as expected, you should seek out a crew member to remedy the problem.

Whether it is a broken fixture in your stateroom, another guest causing a problem, or a medical concern, don't just suck it up and let it ruin your cruise.

Crew members are there to make your cruise fantastic, and they will do what they can to address your concerns. Even if you think there probably is no chance they can do something, you never know the lengths crew will go to enhance your trip.

12. Get your travel documentation set

A common rookie mistake is not checking that you have all the right documentation for a cruise.

If you don't have a passport, be sure to get one. If you do have a passport, double check the expiration date that it will not expire before your cruise ends.

Make sure you booked the cruise under your legal name, which matches what your passport has listed.

Not only should you ask this question, but ask it well in advance of your cruise. All too often, people dig out their passports or birth certificates only to realize it is too late to change things.

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

More cruise advice

• 2023 Royal Caribbean Cruise Planning Guide
• Picking a Cruise Line and Ship
• 25 best Royal Caribbean tips, tricks & hidden secrets
• 5 Costly lessons learned on a cruise (and how to avoid them!)
• 15 really cool things to do that you can only find on Royal Caribbean cruise ships
• Top things to do after booking a Royal Caribbean cruise

To celebrate my daughter's birthday, we spent six nights in a two-bedroom AquaTheater suite on the Wonder of the Seas.

The stateroom is one of the Star Class suites, which means it has the top benefits offered by Royal Caribbean and is one of the most palatial staterooms. For my family of 4, the price came out to $13,000 for the 6-night cruise.

We had originally booked Harmony of the Seas but Royal Caribbean changed deployments and swapped out Harmony for the cruise line's newest mega ship, the Wonder of the Seas.

Take a tour of spacious my hotel room at sea complete with views of the ocean and two bedrooms.

Let's take a look around my room complete with views of the ocean, two bedrooms, living room, and plenty of storage.

My suite is located on deck nine, near the Boardwalk neighborhood...

...an outdoor area that has dining and entertainment.

My stateroom is located at the end of the deck, which means it is a far walk to the elevators. But it has a ton of living space.

When I tapped my room key card and opened the door, I walked into the living room.

This suite has two bedrooms, let's start with the master bedroom.

It has a bed, desk, television, and so much closet space.

Next to each side of the bed are built-in outlets, including USB outlets.

The plush bed is surrounded by a wood structure with two large closets on the left of the bed.

The two full-size closets have hangers provided for you

We found the amount of closet space to be more than we needed, even on a seven night cruise

Like all staterooms, there is a safe for personal documents, cash, and any other valuables

The master bathroom has a shower and tub, with adjustable shower head.

All suites have a bathtub in addition to a shower (even Junior Suites)

The shower head can be detached, as well as moved up and down for optimal positioning

There's also a long, yet narrow, countertop with sink.

The other bedroom can sleep up to 4 people, with two pullman beds that can be opened from the walls.

The second bedroom has its own door, which makes for better privacy for anyone sleeping here.

It also has its own television, along with desk and mirror.

Across from the second bedroom is a full bathroom

Each shower has upgraded shower toiletries, including shampoo, conditioner, and body wash

Hand soap is included as well

The living room curtains and air conditioning are controlled by a touch panel, which you can use to open or close curtains.

Now let's move into the living room

The living room has a large couch, table with chairs, and comfortable chair

The table is the perfect spot for snacks or meals delivered by room service

There is also a large television in the living room

The in-room coffee maker can make a quick cup of coffee anytime you want

The "pièce de résistance" of the AquaTheater suite is the balcony.

There are two balcony doors, one in the living room and one in the master bedroom

All AquaTheater suites are on the back of the ship, with a giant wrap-around balcony that extends to both sides of the cabin

As the name implies, you can get perfect views of the AquaTheater during any of the evening performances

There is also a very large table for gatherings on the balcony

Royal Caribbean also included lots of chairs and loungers to use while on the balcony

Arguably the best benefit of this suite is the Royal Genie services, which provides VIP privileges to everyone staying in the cabin.

While not cheap, I felt overall the suite delivered on a luxurious space for my family with an expansive amount of living space that make it a good option for families looking to splurge.

More information:

• Royal Caribbean Suites Guide & Review
• My advice for someone using a Royal Genie on a Royal Caribbean cruise
• What is the difference between suite concierge and a Royal Genie?
• A beginner's guide to sailing in Star Class
• What is the most expensive suite on Royal Caribbean?
• How to maximize the value of a cruise ship suite

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

Royal Caribbean teased a celebration for its customer loyalty program that will include new offerings.

Coinciding with Crown and Anchor's 25th anniversary, guests can expect events to take place throughout 2023.

The celebrations will kick off by unveiling new, fresh and redesigned program gifts, along with onboard amenities, to recognize members’ loyalty to Royal Caribbean. 

Pros and Cons of sailing on an older Royal Caribbean cruise ship

When you sail on an older cruise ship, there are some tradeoff's and benefits.

Older ships don’t offer nearly as much to do as ships but that doesn’t mean you should avoid old cruise ships.

In fact, many cruisers find that older ships offer a more relaxed cruise experience at a lower cost than new ships. Plus, older ships visit some of the most unique destinations offered by Royal Caribbean.

I sailed with a first-time cruiser to see what she thought about a Royal Caribbean cruise

Once you start cruising a lot, it's easy to forget what it was like when you were a new cruiser.

Jenna took a friend on Liberty of the Seas, which was her first cruise ever.

They shared the good and the bad—about her first Royal Caribbean cruise.

More Royal Caribbean information

• Tips for cruising as an adult with your parents
• Best way to see Alaska: Land or cruise?
• Where do cruises go from New York?

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 480th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available with an exclusive interview with Royal Caribbean Group CEO Jason Liberty

Mr. Liberty shares where he sees things right now, and what the short term future holds for the cruise line!

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.

New RCB Video: I spent $250 to upgrade my cruise cabin: worth it or waste of money?

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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 — How to choose the right Alaska cruise — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

Merry Christmas! The holidays are here, and so is our weekly round up of the articles and news we shared about Royal Caribbean.

Royal Caribbean confirmed it will have a new main dining room menu beginning in January 2023.

This is the first new dining room menu in over five years for the cruise line.

Royal Caribbean cautioned that the exact menu selections may change, so test menus that have been used so far may not be the final product.

Royal Caribbean News

• Royal Caribbean changes Diamond drinks benefit to be easier for passengers that stay up late
• Royal Caribbean Group CEO talks ordering new ships, port projects & more
• Royal Caribbean announces plan to build first carbon-neutral cruise ship
• What's different about a Royal Caribbean cruise ship and the last ocean liner?
• Why January is the best time for last-minute cruises

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 479th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available featuring an inside look at why Royal Caribbean is changing the main dining room menus.

Royal Caribbean Vice President Food & Beverage, Linken D'Souza talks about the dynamics of changing a dining room menu and what we can expect when it rolls out.

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.

New RCB Video: 8 Things I Won't Do Again on Royal Caribbean

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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 — 8 Things I Won't Do Again on Royal Caribbean — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

15 tips to cruising for cheap on less than $100 per day

Want to go on a cruise for cheap? We have some easy ways to enjoy a cruise for less than $100 per day.

Between planning in advance and avoiding certain onboard purchases, you can easily keep that cruise cost down.

Royal Caribbean releases 2024-2025 Caribbean sailings for sale

Ready to book a Caribbean cruise in winter 2024?

Royal Caribbean released its year-round and summer Caribbean sailings for the 2024-2025 cruise season.

The new itineraries are loaded into Royal Caribbean's website and available for immediate booking. 

Royal Caribbean removes Diamond Plus benefit from Crown and Anchor Society perks

There's been a change to one benefit for Diamond Plus members.

Royal Caribbean it has decided to rescind access to the Concierge Lounge due to overcrowding in the lounge.

Due to high counts of top-tier members on most sailings, Royal Caribbean had to limit access to the Concierge Lounge altogether.

Royal Caribbean is tweaking one of its most popular Crown and Anchor Society benefits.

The line announced two changes on Thursday that will slightly affect how the Diamond level drink vouchers work.

Both changes are intended to make redemption and tracking of this benefit easier.

If you are Diamond, Diamond Plus, or Pinnacle, you can get a set amount of complimentary beverages every day of your cruise, which includes alcoholic beverages.

Both of these changes go into effect on all sailings departing on or after December 16th, 2022.

Changing the time vouchers rollover

The time of day when your Diamond drinks reset is the first change.

Royal Caribbean provides complimentary drinks each day to its Diamond, Diamond Plus and Pinnacle guests.

Prior to the change, your daily drink vouchers would get reset at midnight. This meant if you didn't use up all your drink vouchers before midnight, you'd lose them and any drinks consumed after midnight would count against the next day's vouchers.

Instead, Royal Caribbean is changing the daily schedule so that these vouchers are now redeemable from 5:00 AM to 4:59 AM the next day. 

This means that your daily complimentary vouchers will now reset at 5:00 AM every morning allowing you to get more out of this benefit during prime hours of each day, including your after-midnight drinks.

The logic here is to allow the late-night festivities to continue past midnight, since most people think about the entirety of a night out as still the same day.

Drink voucher count

The other change is a formal announcement of a policy we heard was changing.

To make it easier to track how many drink vouchers you have left, Royal Caribbean is adding a tracker to the printed receipt that is given upon receiving your complimentary drink. 

At the bottom of the receipt, there will now be a line of text which indicates how many vouchers you have used towards your daily balance, e.g., “C&A Beverage Voucher [# Used] of [# Total].” You’ll never lose track of your complimentary drink vouchers ever again!

This change was first announced in early November, when Royal Caribbean said it would start giving guests a paper receipt with the Diamond drink voucher redemption.

Prior to this change, there was no receipt to sign and the vouchers were all managed in the backend. 

Giving guests a receipt allows for easier billing discrepancy tracking.

For instance, you ordered a $3 coffee and they may have applied your voucher – and you don’t learn about it until you’re at dinner, wanting that nice $13 cocktail and you’re out of vouchers.

How the Diamond drink vouchers work

Royal Caribbean provides complimentary drinks each day to its Diamond, Diamond Plus and Pinnacle guests.

Guests who are at a lower tier of Crown and Anchor Society (Gold, Platinum, or Emerald) do not qualify for the drink vouchers.

• Diamond: 4 beverage vouchers valid all day at any bar (except Starbucks)
• Diamond Plus: 5 beverage vouchers valid all day at any bar (except Starbucks)
• Pinnacle: 6 beverage vouchers valid all day at any bar (except Starbucks)

Drink vouchers are loaded automatically every day on a guest's SeaPass account. 

This includes alcoholic and non-alcoholic options, and includes any beverage up to $14 per drink.