If the winter cold weather has you thinking it might be time to book a cruise, Royal Caribbean has some deals you ought to consider.

Royal Caribbean's Wave season deals began this month, in which the cruise line is offering sales on cruises going through early 2025. Since our readers likely want to get away sooner than 2025, there's also a great array of choices you can find low prices for that depart in the first half of this year as well.

The current promotion offers 30% off every guest and Kids Sail Free deals when booking a cruise between January 3 to January 31, 2023. 

In searching for cruises that depart between January and May 2023, I found super low rates on cruises that visit the Caribbean, Alaska, and the Mexican Riviera.

Like any last minute cruise, the "catch" with these deals is you're going to have to act fast to not only book them, but ensure prices for airfare are reasonable as well.

Since now is one of the best times of the year to book a new Royal Caribbean cruise, here's a look at some of the best deals you can book for a winter or spring getaway.

Cruise deals

In looking through the cruise deals for sailings in the first half of 2023, here are some of the top picks:

Alaska

It's never too early to start thinking of a cruise to Alaska, and there are some really low rates for the beginning of the Alaska cruise season.

• Radiance of the Seas 7-night Northbound Alaska & Hubbard Glacier cruises begin at $350 per person (the southbound route is also similarly priced) for May 26, 2023.
• Brilliance of the Seas 6-night Pacific Coastal cruise from Los Angeles up to Vancouver is just $350 per person too, sailing April 12, 2023.
• Radiance of the Seas has a rare roundtrip sailing from Vancouver to the Alaska glaciers on May 11, 2023 starting at $521 per person.

Caribbean

If a warm-weather escape is what you want, there are lots of deals on cruises around the Caribbean.

• Rhapsody of the Seas 7-night Southern Caribbean cruise from Barbados is just $351 per person for March 19.  There are lots of other inexpensive sailings in January, March and April.
• Voyager of the Seas 7-night Southern Caribbean cruise from San Juan, Puerto Rico begins at $438 per person on February 12, 2023.
• Radiance of the Seas from Galveston, Texas to the Western Caribbean has a cheap sailing on April 15, 2023 for a 6-night cruise.

Mexican Riviera

For our west coast friends, Navigator of the Seas has a lot of great rates left for cruises in January and February 2023.

Sailing from Los Angeles, there are 7-night sailings that visit Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallarta and Mazatlan, beginning at $471 per person for the April 28, 2023 sailing.

More deals beyond

These are just some of the cheapest prices I could find for a 7-night cruise that leaves in the next few months.

Royal Caribbean uses this time of year to boost its sales for the rest of the year, so you can find great prices for sailings later in the year, especially the fall.

In general, cruise pricing tends to favor those that book early and there are great rates to be had for cruises not just this year, but over the next few years.

Royal Caribbean is also advising that more deals will be coming this month, including flash deals of $550 instant savings and discounts on beverage and dining packages, shore excursions, internet and more throughout the month.

Renewed demand for cruises

It's not your imagination, a lot of people are looking at a cruise vacation.

According to a AAA survey, 52% of adults in the United States this year are likely to consider a cruise vacation. That's up from 45% a year ago.

Why are so many people looking to cruise? In short, many travel experts see 2023 as a big bounce back year for travel after the events of the past three years.

Royal Caribbean already saw a record-breaking Black Friday sales event, and AAA believes new cruise ships are enticing a lot of folks to try a cruise.

What to look for in a cruise deal

Ready to book a cruise for this year? There's plenty of options, so here's my advice for sifting through all the options.

Don't just chase the lowest price

It's tempting to sort cruise prices from lowest to highest and harp on the cheapest price you can find, but you'll want to look at the big picture first.

First, look at the choice in cabin because that super low price is almost certainly for an inside cabin. There's nothing wrong with staying in an inside cabin, but some people want more space and a view with their cruise.

You'll also want to see if the price is for a guarantee cabin or not.

A guarantee cabin is when Royal Caribbean assigns your stateroom location, meaning you are unable to select exactly where on the ship your cabin will be. If you aren’t picky about your cabin location, booking a guarantee rate can be a nice way to save money.

If you’d prefer picking your own cabin location, though, expect to pay slightly more per person on the cruise fare.

Read more: What you need to know before booking a cheap cruise

Price out flights and other travel considerations

Royal Caribbean has some great cruise fares you can book, but the airlines might not.

Before you book a cruise, you'll want to quickly check airfare prices to ensure you can afford the price to get you to that cheap cruise deal.

If you're looking at a cruise more than 3 months from now, you'll probably be fine in terms of flights.  But if you're looking to getaway sooner, last minute flight prices could be a challenge.

Read more: Why booking a last-minute cruise isn't always a great idea

Check with your travel agent first

If you see a great price listed for a cruise, your next step should be to ask your travel agent to price it out.

Travel agents can see a host of discounts you might not think of, as well as agency rates and special offers.

Plus, a travel agent may be aware of other deals available based on pricing they've been tracking.

Royal Caribbean offers passengers the opportunity to book another cruised while onboard a cruise, but is it worth it?

The NextCruise desk is open every day of your cruise, and it's where you can go to book another Royal Caribbean (or even Celebrity Cruise) sailing.

The idea is simple: you're having a great cruise, why not book another? It seems like a good idea because the cruise line has extra incentives for booking.

A lot of readers are curious if it makes sense to book a cruise onboard, or if the offer isn't as lucrative as it sounds.

Here are the reasons why you should book another cruise while you're onboard your next sailing, and why you might want to wait.

Extra onboard credit

The best reason to book a cruise at NextCruise while on a Royal Caribbean cruise is the extra onboard credit you'll get.

The price of a cruise is the same whether you book onboard or at home, but Royal Caribbean will give you extra onboard credit for booking onboard.  It's a bonus on top of other promotions the cruise line has, and is one of the best ways to rack up onboard credit.

How much credit? It depends on how long your sailing is and the type of cabin:

• 4-5 night cruises
  • Inside/Oceanview: $25
  • Balcony/Junior Suites: $50
  • Grand Suite & Above: $150
• 6-9 night cruises
  • Inside/Oceanview: $50
  • Balcony/Junior Suites: $100
  • Grand Suite & Above: $300
• 10 nights or longer cruises
  • Inside/Oceanview: $100
  • Balcony/Junior Suites: $200
  • Grand Suite & Above: $600

You could also book an open booking, which is kind of like a certificate that you can apply to a future reservation. 

The amount of onboard credit for an open booking is less than a specific booking you could make, but it's better than nothing!

• 5-7 night cruises: $25
• 8-10 night cruises: $50
• 11-14 night cruises: $75
• 15+ night cruises: $100

In short, you're getting free money to spend on your sailing simply by booking another cruise.

Reduced deposit

Another nice to have benefit of booking a cruise at NextCruise is you'll have to lay out less money initially.

Royal Caribbean allows guests to book a sailing with only $100 per person deposits on select fares.

Once again, the deposit amount depends on the type of cabin you select, but this takes the sting out of the initial reservation cost.

Combinable with other promotions

Want to know the easiest way to get a lot of onboard credit? Take advantage of NextCruise while there's another offer by Royal Caribbean so that you can stack the offers.

The extra onboard credit mentioned earlier in this article is combinable with most other Royal Caribbean promotions, such as Kids Sail Free.

It's also combinable with Crown & Anchor exclusive savings.

The NextCruise offer is combinable with most groups, such as a lovely Royal Caribbean Blog group cruise!

You can book friends and family

Did you know in addition to getting that onboard credit and reduced deposit for yourself, you can also loop in anyone else that you want to sail with?

Royal Caribbean will allow you to book up to three staterooms for yourself, friends, or family on any cruise with the same benefits.

Grace period for suites

As you may or may not know, suite bookings are non-refundable, but if you book at NextCruise, you get a grace period to change your mind.

If you make a NextCruise booking for a Grand Suite stateroom or higher, changes made during the first 30 days after the NextCruise booking was made are not subject to a change fee, but will remain non-refundable.

This means you can change sailings, or even cancel without incurring the $100 per person change fee that would otherwise be applicable to a non-refundable cruise fare.

Keep in mind after the first 30 days, the change fee is applicable again.

Extras for booking early during the sailing

While I don't think this is necessarily a reason to always book a cruise, but sometimes the NextCruise desk runs special extras you can get for booking.

A commonly offered benefit is if you book a cruise at NextCruise early in the sailing (usually the first day or two), you can qualify for a free bottle of champagne or gift bag.

Whether or not something like this is offered on your sailing will vary, but I've seen this as an incentive posted in order to drum up business early in a sailing, when the NextCruise desk is usually not busy.

Why you shouldn't wait to book a cruise onboard

If all of this sounds great, there's still a very good reason not to wait to book a cruise once you get onboard a ship.

Royal Caribbean's cruise prices fluctuate all the time. The price can change minute-by-minute depending on which cabins get booked.

Remember, cruise fares are dynamic and respond to the company's internal pricing methodology that is largely based on how many rooms are left.  The more cabins that get booked up, the less inventory there is for a particular sailing, and that can drive prices up.

The risk you run if you wait to book a cruise until you get onboard, is the price can go up between now and then, which would negate any savings you'd receive from the extra onboard credit offer.

Ideally, you'll visit the NextCruise desk while on a sailing because while on your cruise, you think it would be great to book another vacation.  In that scenario, booking at NextCruise makes a lot of sense for all the reasons mentioned earlier in this post.

But, if you're at home and your next cruise vacation is weeks or months away, you should probably book a cruise now and not wait to protect yourself against a price increase.

Sure, the extra onboard credit and reduced deposit are nice, but at the end of the day, I'd rather pay the lowest price for the cruise fare than run the risk the price goes up just so I could net some extra credit.

What to look for before you book onboard

If you do find yourself at the NextCruise desk, there are a few things to double check before you hand over your credit card to book a cruise.

First and foremost, look at the cruise fare type that you are booking.  Specifically, refundable or non-refundable deposit.

I can't stress enough how important it is to be fully aware of the pros and cons of these fares.  Almost certainly any quote the NextCruise agent makes will be for a non-refundable cruise fare. 

There's nothing wrong with these types of deposits, but you should clearly understand what happens if you want to change the sailing, date, and/or ship and associated fees that come with it.

The next thing to check is your travel agent is listed on the reservation. 

If you booked with a travel agent for the sailing you're on, NextCruise should automatically associate the new booking with your agent.  Verify that is the case, or if you prefer to keep the reservation to yourself so that you can transfer it to another agency later, you can do that (make sure you complete that process within 30 days of booking).

Also verify you have the right dining choice, traditional or My Time Dining.

Lastly, look at the extra costs, such as travel insurance and gratuities.  Sometimes the agent will add them on, but if you already have travel insurance, then you don't need to have that cost there.

In short, don't assume anything.  When you get the print out at the desk, verify everything you were told and promised is written down on the sheet.

Should you book your cruise at NextCruise?

If you're on your cruise ship and have the inclination to book another sailing, yes, there's no reason not to book with NextCruise because of the incentives offered.

The extra onboard credit and reduced deposit are wonderful benefits to booking.

However, if you're at home, your best bet is to still book a cruise now and lock in the price. Overall, cruise prices tend to go up over time, and the best prices tend to be when booked as early as possible.

Welcome to this week's round-up of all the Royal Caribbean news and happenings.  Hope you are staying warm and are ready to cozy up to the cruise happenings this week.

Royal Caribbean revealed the new main dining room menus this week.

Symphony of the Seas is the first ship to roll out the new menus, which will eventually make it fleetwide by the end of the month.

The new menus have a new layout, with a distinct theme for each evening.  In addition, there's no longer a subset of menu selections that stays the same every night.

This is Royal Caribbean's first refresh of the dining room menu in over five years, which offers guests new choices alongside fan-favorites that remain on select evenings.

Royal Caribbean News

• Royal Caribbean experiments with new entertainment for younger Millennial guests
• 15 free things to try on your next cruise
• How long does it take to get off a cruise ship?
• Kids Sail Free dates and tips
• I visited 13 countries by cruise ship in 2022: 8 things I learned will change how I cruise in 2023
• Alaska cruises from Seattle Guide & Review

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 482nd episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available, where Matt and Billy share their wishes for changes Royal Caribbean would make in 2023.

Trying to be as practical as possible, this week's episode is about things they want to see change in policies or offerings.

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: Boarding day cruise ship tips for 2023

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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 — Boarding day cruise ship tips for 2023 — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

23 Do's and Don'ts for your Royal Caribbean cruise in 2023

Ready for your cruise this year? Here's the top tips for how to tackle any cruise sailing in 2023.

Cruising in 2023 is as "normal" as it's been in quite a while, but there are quite a few good tips to follow for your sailings this year.

From ways to save time, to money, to pitfalls to avoid, these are the do's and dont's for a 2023 cruise.

What I wish Royal Caribbean would copy from other cruise lines

I love Royal Caribbean, but there's always room for improvement and I think there's a few things other cruise lines do better.

While the grass may not necessarily be greener on the other side of the cruise line fence, these are a few ideas I like that I wouldn't mind seeing Royal Caribbean add to their ships.

Check out my list of the ideas and things to do that I wouldn't mind seeing Royal Caribbean "borrow" from other companies.

10 cruise ship tips that worked for our Royal Caribbean Blog staffers in 2022

We share lots of tips and tricks, but which secrets are our staff's favorites?

Our staff spent a cumulative 270 nights on cruises last year, and we wanted to share the best tips for our readers from our own experience.

The Alaska cruise season is quite short, with just six months to choose the best time to cruise Alaska.

The Alaska cruise season runs between May and September, which happen to be the most temperate times of the year in the 49th state. 

The spring and summer months are when nearly all cruise ships visit each year. You'll find many hours of daylight in the summer with long days.

It is hard to top the majestic beauty of rugged glaciers, plethora of unique animal sightings, or huge mountains. Going on a cruise to Alaska is an extremely popular kind of cruise, because it offers an easy way to see so much in a compact amount of time.

Royal Caribbean also sails to Alaska in early May and into late September or even October, where you can find some great deals.

While it is impossible to see and do it all over the course of a one week cruise, Alaska has the power to enchant even brief visitors.  So while you are stuck at home, this may be the perfect time to start planning a cruise to The Last Frontier.

There are advantages of cruising in each of the summer months, including when prices will be higher or lower.

Here is your guide for figuring out the best times to visit for your first (or 50th) Alaska cruise.

The best time to cruise to Alaska if you want to avoid crowds

There are definite ebbs and flows to demand and crowds in the ports you will visit depending on which month you sail.

If you are looking for the months with the lowest crowds in Alaska, try for May or September.  These are the "shoulder season" months, which is when the season begins and ends, and is when you will find less people vying for a cruise. 

Moreover, going during May or September is also when most kids are still in school, which means families are unable to cruise during this period.

The downside to these months is the weather tends to be the most unpredictable, and that can be an issue with possibly impacting your shore excursions.  Most notably helicopter and boat excursions are the most at risk for cancellation.

Since Alaska cruises are so dependent on outdoor activities, your best chance for sunny days can be opposite of when the best time for crowds are each season.

Read more: What is the best month to cruise to Alaska?

The best time to cruise to Alaska for good weather

The weather in Alaska can, and will, change multiple times per day, but you will find the warmest months to be June, July and August.

The median months will see higher temperatures and longer days for touring, and it represents the limited summer that Alaska enjoys. However, July and August tend to also have higher levels of precipitation.

Here's a look at the average temperatures in Southeast Alaska:

• May: average high 54 degrees and average low is 39 degrees
• June: average high 62 degrees and average low is 47degrees
• July: average high 65 degrees and average low is 51 degrees
• August: average high 63 degrees and average low is 48 degrees
• September: average high 55 degrees and average low is 41 degrees

If you do book a cruise during summer, be sure to plan your shore excursions well in advance to avoid tours selling out.

If you are willing to trade warmth for less precipitation, then go for May. In fact, the end of May and early June offers some of the best weather in the region throughout the year.

If you want to see snow on the ground, April or early May is the best month for that.

Most cruise passengers tend to avoid the early season because of the school calendar and cooler weather.  By going in the summer months, many people get to enjoy Alaska when things are in full swing and of course the warmer weather.

Read more: Comparing the Royal Caribbean ships sailing in Alaska 2022

The best time to cruise to Alaska for low prices

Alaska is not a cheap cruise, but if you want to save money on your cruise fare, then your best bet is May or September.

For the same reasons May and September feature lower crowds, these months see most often the lowest prices for a cruise because of the combination of colder temperatures and the school calendar.

Read more: What is the cheapest month to go on a cruise?

The best time to see the Northern Lights on an Alaska cruise

Few places allow for viewing of the aurora borealis, and the best time see the Northern Lights is in September.

September is the time of year when the sun sets earlier during the cruise season, which means the sky gets darker and makes for the most ideal viewing conditions.

Of course, temperatures during September will be lower than other times of the year, but the opportunity to see the Northern Lights is a real treat.

As mentioned in this article, not only does September provide the opportunity to see the Northern Lights, but you will also enjoy less crowds and likely lower prices on a cruise.

Read more: Top 10 tips for planning your Alaska cruise

The best time to cruise to Alaska to see wildlife

You will see plenty of wildlife during your Alaska cruise throughout the cruise season, including whale watching, sea lions, bears, & birds.

The best months to catch a glimpse of the amazing fauna that call Alaska home are the months of June and July. 

• Moose: Moose give birth around June.
• Caribou: June is the best month to see herds of caribou
• Humpback Whales:  June and July is when the humpback whales migrate through Alaska's Inside Passage.
• Black bears: Spring is ideal because the new vegetation lures back in sheep, mountain goats and black bears. July is also good because that is when salmon runs start to get busy.
• Brown bears: July and August are when you will have a better chance to see brown bears since they are near rivers and streams.
• King Salmon: King salmon runs start in late May.
• Bird watching: June is when you have a good chance to see unusual birds migrating.
• Bald eagles: You'll find eagles throughout the season, but August is a great time since they are found near the sockeye salmon spawning locations.
• Killer Whales:  Your best chance at seeing Orcas is from May to the beginning of June.

Read more: What Is an Alaska Inside Passage Cruise?

Which month should I book my Alaska cruise?

Ultimately, there is no perfect time to sail to Alaska, as each month offers its own advantages and disadvantages, and choosing when to cruise to Alaska comes down to your preferences.

Alaska cruise in May: Cheap prices when you cruise in May

May has always stood out as a great time to take a cruise. The weather in May is usually mild, with temperatures ranging from the mid-40s to the mid-60s. 

One of the biggest advantages of cruising in May is that you get to avoid the peak season crowds. The summer months are the busiest time for tourists in Alaska, and the ports and attractions can get overcrowded.

By cruising in May, you can beat the rush and enjoy a more relaxed and peaceful experience. You can also take advantage of the lower rates offered by the cruise lines during the shoulder season, which can help you save money.

Additionally, May is an ideal time to take advantage of the extended daylight hours and enjoy some outdoor activities. Alaska is known for its outdoor adventure opportunities, and the springtime weather is perfect for hiking, fishing, and kayaking. You can take a guided hike through the wilderness or try your hand at fishing in one of Alaska's many rivers. 

Alaska cruise in June: Summer without the biggest crowds

The weather in June is usually warmer and more stable than May, with temperatures ranging from the mid-50s to the mid-70s. The longer days allow for more time to explore the state's natural beauty, and the scenery is simply stunning. The warm temperatures also make it an ideal time to participate in outdoor activities.

Another reason June is a great month for an Alaska cruise is that the ports are in full swing. The peak season for Alaska tourism starts in June, and the ports are buzzing with activity. The shops, restaurants, and attractions are all open and ready to welcome visitors, offering a wide variety of experiences to choose from. The larger crowds can add to the atmosphere and make for a lively and enjoyable vacation.

Finally, June is an excellent month for a family vacation. With the school year coming to a close, many families take advantage of the opportunity to travel together during the summer months. Alaska offers something for everyone, with activities and experiences that appeal to all ages. Whether you want to hike in the wilderness, go whale watching, or learn about Alaska's history and culture, there is something for everyone.

Alaska cruise in July: Wildlife spotting and higher prices

The weather in July is usually warm and pleasant, with temperatures ranging from the mid-50s to the low 70s. This makes it an ideal time for outdoor activities. The only issue with a July Alaska cruise is the rain, as the state averages around 12 inches of rain in the month of July.

July is also a great month for wildlife sightings in Alaska. The state is home to a diverse range of wildlife, including bears, moose, caribou, and whales. In July, the whales are usually in full migration, making it an ideal time for whale watching. Visitors can take a whale watching excursion to see humpback whales, orcas, and other marine life up close. The salmon are also in full run during this time, which attracts bears and eagles, making it an excellent time to spot these animals in their natural habitat.

One downside to July is the price of your cruise will be higher than other months of the year. It's the very peak of the Alaska cruise season, which makes July expensive.

Alaska cruise in August: Rain and high temperatures

You'll likely encounter the highest chance of rain if you take an Alaska cruise in August, but it's also when you can expect to find the most comfortable outdoor temperatures. 

On average, more than half the days in the month of August experience rain.  This may seem like a reason to skip an Alaska cruise in August, but it's still a great time to take in lots of activities around the state.

The price of an Alaska cruise in August should be cheaper than June or July, especially if you can take a cruise in the latter half of the month.

Bears in Alaska are still around because they're looking for food, such as berries or salmon. You're also quite likely to see many bald eagles that are also interested in salmon.

Alaska cruise in September: Return to cooler temperatures and lower prices

Other than May, September is the best month for an Alaska cruise if you're looking for a deal.

The average temperature for an Alaska cruise in September is in the mid-50s and lows in the low-40s. It's also very likely to encounter rain, as September is an even rainier month than August.

With school back in session, demand from families drops each week.  The closer you can get to the end of the month, the less you'll pay as a result of lessening demand and cooler temperatures.

If you prefer fewer crowds and lower pricing…

If a cruise with fewer crowds is important to you, it might be a good idea to avoid Alaska cruises in June, July, and August. Not only will there likely be more guests onboard during the summer, but in the ports you are visiting as well. If you are looking for a more quiet experience onboard and on shore, consider cruising to Alaska in May or September.

Plus, as prices are cheaper in the shoulder season, it can be an excellent opportunity to upgrade your stateroom category or splurge on add-ons like excursions, dining packages, or beverage packages.

A suite that costs $2000 per person in May may cost upwards of $3300 per person in mid-July. Such a large price difference allows you to enhance your Alaska cruise experience in other ways, whether booking a once-in-a-lifetime helicopter tour or kayaking through fjords.

However, it’s not necessarily a good idea to pick a cruise based solely on price. While price should definitely be a consideration, it’s important to consider other factors before choosing an Alaska cruise.

If you want the best weather…

If having the highest chance of warm temperatures and sunny days is important to you, cruising to Alaska in the peak summer months is your best bet.

Weather can get fairly warm in June, July, and August, which can make port days more comfortable. It’s not uncommon for the weather to be nice enough for t-shirts in the summer as opposed to the raincoats and down jackets you may have to wear in early spring or fall.

That being said, while the shoulder season in Alaska may lead to cooler temperatures and more rain, packing appropriately will keep you dry and warm when exploring Alaska’s ports.

Additionally, June, July, and August may come with more crowds, but offer several more hours of daylight compared to in the fall. This can be a huge advantage for Alaska cruises in the summer.

More hours of daylight on an Alaska cruise means more time to sightsee, whether in port or when sailing through the Inside Passage. Juneau, for example, sees around 18 hours of daylight in June compared to just 12 in September.

If you’re hoping to spot wildlife…

If spotting wildlife is a priority for you on an Alaska cruise, pick your sailing date carefully. June, July, and August are fantastic times to cruise Alaska to view wildlife, as these months bring the highest chances of spotting whales, bears, and salmon.

If you plan to book a whale watching excursion or want to see bears, you may be left disappointed if you cruise to Alaska at the very end of the season.

Nothing is guaranteed

No matter how much planning you do before selecting your cruise dates, it’s very important to remember that nothing is guaranteed on an Alaska cruise. Sure, it may be more common to view Alaska’s wildlife in the peak of summer, but it’s also possible you’ll see little to no wildlife at all on your cruise, or that you will see a plethora of wildlife in the shoulder season!

Likewise, while weather should be colder during the shoulder seasons of May and September, Alaska’s weather is quite unpredictable. You might be surprised with warm days in September or chilly, rainy days in July! Packing for all seasons is a must when cruising to Alaska.

In addition, sailing in the shoulder season does not necessarily mean there won’t be crowds onboard. While it’s possible the ship will not be sailing at 100% capacity, it’s unlikely you will encounter an empty ship. Plus, Royal Caribbean will adjust prices according to demand, so if a shoulder season cruise is not selling well, prices may drop until more people book the cruise.

Whatever month you choose for your Alaska cruise, though, is sure to bring the opportunity to visit charming towns, explore phenomenal nature, and make memories with family and friends. There’s no right or wrong time to cruise to Alaska, but having an idea of the pros and cons of each season should help decide which time of year works best for you.

Read more on when to cruise to Alaska:

What it's like to go on an Alaska cruise in the early season

What it's like to go on an Alaska cruise at the end of the season

What is the best time to cruise to Alaska? (month by month)

It's no secret that I love cruising on Royal Caribbean, but there are a few things I wish my favorite cruise line would borrow from the competition.

Overall, I think Royal Caribbean is the best cruise line out there for its approach to mainstream cruising.  Suffice to say, I have no issues with continuing to cruise with Royal Caribbean.  But like any company, there's always room for improvement.

Over the years, the cruise industry as a whole tends to follow trends and it's not uncommon for one line to introduce a change or new concept and for other lines to take notice of it and incorporate it into their approach.

A great example of this is the change from a traditional muster drill to eMuster drill that occurred in 2021. This was a change Royal Caribbean was among the first to introduce, and other lines quickly adopted it as well.

Along those lines, I can't help sometimes but see what other lines are doing and wish Royal Caribbean would at least take some of those ideas or approaches into their ships.

For the record, this wouldn't be the first time Royal Caribbean took inspiration from another cruise line. A classic example is the virtual balcony, which was copied from Disney Cruise Line's virtual porthole.

While the grass may not necessarily be greener on the other side of the cruise line fence, these are a few ideas I like that I wouldn't mind seeing Royal Caribbean add to their ships.

NCL: Add new venues to older ships

I was watching a video from Emma Cruises of the NCL Sky, which was launched in 1996, and was impressed this 25+ year old ship has as many new venues as it does.

When Norwegian refurbished the ship in 2019, they added 8 new venues (along with updated public spaces and refreshed cabins).

To be fair, Royal Caribbean's Royal Amplified program added some wonderful new venues to existing ships, but the program bypassed the Vision and Radiance Class cruise ships. NCL Sky is a ship even older than the Vision Class ships.

I was impressed when I saw NCL added a sushi bar, pub, mojito bar, Starbucks, and a few new lounges to a ship as old as NCL Sky.

Of course, this refurbishment occurred pre-2020 when the cruise industry was flush with cash. Times are very different now, but eventually cruise lines will recover financially and be in a position to refurbish older ships again. When they do, I'd love to see more love for the older vessels.

Carnival: Variety of free (and good) restaurants

When Royal Caribbean introduced El Loco Fresh to its ships as a complimentary restaurant on the pool deck, it was a revelation in having quick access to good and free food.  I wish we'd get more of these sort of venues.

I hear a lot from cruise fans that if there's one thing Carnival Cruise Line does well, it's their complimentary food offerings.

BlueIguana Cantina, Guy’s Burger Joint, Carnival Deli and Big Chicken are all great examples of complimentary dining venues that offer some really good food.

What makes these restaurants stand out is not just that they're complimentary, but they're pretty darn good too.

If you wanted a quick bite to eat without paying extra on Royal Caribbean, you probably had to go the Windjammer. Newer ships might have had El Loco Fresh or Boardwalk Dog House, but these are few and far between and lack the variety of food Carnival has.

While it's early, I think Royal Caribbean is going to move more in this direction with Icon of the Seas when it launches. However, the rest of the fleet could use these sort of options too.

Piggybacking on the first point in this article about adding new venues to older ships, let's also get more great complimentary dining added to existing ships to keep up with Carnival's food game.

Disney: Split bathrooms

Since Disney Cruise Line launched, their approach to offering families more space and options in cabins has been a big deal.

I believe Royal Caribbean has taken notice of the family cruise market more than any other line in their approach to offering equally compelling options for kids (and their parents) onboard, but the cruise cabins could still benefit from something Disney does well.

In short, I like the split bath concept that comes in standard cabins.

With a split bath, there's two bathrooms. One has a shower with a tub (rare on cruise ships) and a sink; the other has a toilet and sink.

Having a split bathroom is super helpful for families, as well as almost anyone sharing a cabin with another person.  While I think two bathrooms helps families out a lot, this concept can benefit just about anyone.

Unrelated, but Disney's brand of shampoo, conditioner, and soap smell great too!

When Icon of the Seas launches next year, it will have more family cabins than before. Icon will have 82% of rooms with a high occupancy of 3 or more guests, which is more than double the Oasis Class ships.

Read more: Guide to Icon of the Seas cabins and suites

Celebrity: Include gratuities in cruise fare

It's time we stop pretending gratuities for the crew members are some kind of a separate cost that isn't inherently part of the overall cruise price.

Royal Caribbean still charges an automatic gratuity that you either pre-pay or get charged each day of the cruise.  So one way or another, you're going to pay it.

I think Celebrity Cruises did the right thing by just incorporating gratuities into the cruise fare and taking the ambiguity of tips out of the equation.

In 2020, Celebrity Cruises rolled out the "Always Included" plan, which means cruise fares now include automatically Wi-Fi, drinks and gratuity.  

The cruise line says they made this change in an effort to avoid "confusing promotions, complicated add-ons and limited-time offers."  

Other than cruises from Australia, Royal Caribbean doesn't include gratuities in its fare.  This is likely because it helps market the price of the cruise as being lower.

While I don't think Royal Caribbean needs to include as much it its cruise fare as Celebrity does, gratuities should absolutely be part of the base cruise fare.

Not only do the crew members deserve it, but the notion that tipping on a cruise is somehow optional is antiquated.

Princess: Alaska cruise itinerary variety

I have loved every single Alaska cruise I've ever taken, and I'd love to see Royal Caribbean offer more options.

While Royal Caribbean has added more cruise ships to Alaska in recent years, the market leader in Alaska cruises is arguably Princess Cruises.

In 2023, Princess will have six ships sailing to Alaska that feature 14 unique itineraries, including stops at Glacier Bay National Park.

A great example is on the Majestic Princess, which offers a cruise tour where you visit four national parks: Glacier Bay, Denali, the Kenai Fjords and America’s largest national park, Wrangell-St. Elias. The 15-night trip combines a seven-night cruise from Vancouver to Whittier, Alaska, with another week on land, ending in Fairbanks.

Princess also offers Alaska cruises from San Francisco, an embarkation port Royal Caribbean doesn't serve.

I think Royal Caribbean has a compelling Alaska program, but I also think there's more opportunity here than what we've seen thus far. Alaska has so much to offer, and it seems to sell so well that investing more in the region seems like a no-brainer.

MSC: Late-night visits to its private island

They say turnabout is fair play, so I think it's time for Royal Caribbean to take a page out of MSC's play book.

MSC has been known to certainly borrow other cruise line ideas, so if there's one thing MSC does well it's their late-night visits to Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve.

Just like Perfect Day at CocoCay, MSC has a private island in The Bahamas. Whereas Royal Caribbean ships will stay until the late afternoon at best, MSC's ships offer evening activities.

MSC's ships don't allow overnight visits (although sometimes the ship will stay docked overnight), but they do allow guests to stay on the island until around midnight.

By staying late into the evening, it opens up so much more time to enjoy arguably one of the best features of any Royal Caribbean cruise: private island visits.

When MSC offers a late night stay, passengers can go to a party that has DJ, bonfire, and dancing. Bars on this part of the island stay open late, as well.

This seems like an easy win for Royal Caribbean to offer more out of their highly-rated private island, especially in the summer months when the sun doesn't set until much later.

A cruise vacation offers one of the best values you can get right now compared to almost any trip.

Whether you are sailing to the Caribbean, Alaska, or Europe, cruise ships are among the best priced vacation options because of everything you get included with your cruise fare.

Even Royal Caribbean recognizes how good of a deal a cruise is these days. Last month, Royal Caribbean Group CEO Jason Liberty talked about the value proposition a  cruise vacation enjoys, "The value gap between a cruise and land based vacation during the pandemic expanded quite a bit."

"We're still at a significant value to what it would cost for you to have anything close to a similar experience on land."

A big component of what makes a cruise so darn enticing is everything that comes with it, including some fun activities.

Royal Caribbean has built a reputation over the years as the cruise line to go to when you want to enjoy lots to do on a ship. The cruise line is known for being a leader in "I can't believe they put that on a cruise ship."

So in the spirit of sharing that value, here's a list of some free things you can do on Royal Caribbean cruise ships so that you can make sure you enjoy all of it on your next cruise.

Go rock climbing

Royal Caribbean first made a name for itself in onboard activities when they added a rock climbing wall to its cruise ships.

Now a staple of any Royal Caribbean ship, the rock wall is an opportunity to challenge yourself to get to the top of the wall.

There are even multiple courses on each wall that provide varying degrees of difficulty so you can keep increasing the stakes to reach the top.

Play mini-golf

I can't think of another family-friendly activity not involving water that resonates so well as mini-golf.

Most Royal Caribbean cruise ships have a mini-golf course, where you can play 9 or more holes as often as you like.  Some ships even have the course traverse two decks, adding more to the experience.

Just like mini-golf on land, the choice of keeping score or keeping it casual is up to you.

Sing karaoke

Usually if you go to a karaoke bar on land, there's an expectation of a drink minimum, but not on Royal Caribbean.

Karaoke is one of the most popular evening activities, where you can see who has real skills, who thinks they have real skills, and who is clearly on stage just to have a good time.

You'll find  karaoke held almost every night (some ships have a dedicated karaoke lounge), and the song library are usually extensive enough to find something you know.

Don't hesitate if you think you might want to sing, because the sign up list tends to fill up fast.

If you have kids, look for special family and teen karaoke sessions, where the crowds can be more tolerable.

Try the water slides

For a long time, Royal Caribbean didn't really have water slides on their ships, but that's changed quite quickly.

Royal Caribbean offers water slides on most ships (although the Quantum Class notably doesn't have any), and these slides are open every day of your cruise to enjoy.

It's easy to label water slides as something for the kids, but adults will find these equally fun.

Learn to surf

If your Royal Caribbean ship has a FlowRider, you might try your hand at stand-up surfing.

Available on a first-come, first-served basis, the FlowRider is another signature activity on most Royal Caribbean ships where waves are simulated using powerful water jets.

To be honest, the mastering the FlowRider is more akin to skate boarding than perhaps surfing, but it's still a terrific physical challenge and something you can do over and over again (provided you wait in line for another turn).

Enjoy live music every night

Royal Caribbean's live musical entertainment is second-to-none in the cruise industry.

Every night you'll find plenty of live musical acts, including a guitarist, piano bar player, and live bands.

Much of this live music is meant to get the crowd into the experience, whether singing along or dancing to the music. 

A lot of cruisers will bar hop to check out the various live acts each evening. Sometimes one performer is so good that you want to spend all evening enjoying it.

Challenge your noggin at trivia

An underrated cruise ship activity are daily trivia sessions.

On any day of the cruise, Royal Caribbean will host all sorts of trivia sessions on a variety of topics. They can be general trivia, geography, music, favorite movies and more.

While there are cheap prizes if you win, the real fun of trivia is competing against other guests to see who know more on the topic.

On longer sailings, Royal Caribbean organizes progressive trivia, where each trivia session counts towards an overall score.

See Broadway show

Select Royal Caribbean ships offer Broadway shows that are the exact show you would have seen on The Great White Way, and included in your cruise fare.

The musicals available on Royal Caribbean include Mama Mia, Hairspray, Grease and more!

There  is no cost to making advanced reservations, and you certainly could wait to get a seat onboard if you so choose.

On other Royal Caribbean ships that don't have a Broadway show, there's still musical and dance acts that perform in the theater. While these lack the plot of a full show, they still incorporate a great deal of musical melodies you're likely to know.

Watch a new release movie

You can watch classics and recently released films on the ship's movie screen.

These movie screens are giant, and you can pull up a chair from just about anywhere on the pool deck to watch it with your family. Many cruisers opt to stay in the pool and watch the movie while floating.

On Radiance Class ships, there is actually a dedicated movie theater with movies throughout the day.

Bungee jump

Combine virtual reality and a bungee experience and you get the SkyPad.

The SkyPad straps guests into bungee chords, where you can bounce up and down with an optional VR helmet on to provide the sensation of moving through an augmented reality world.

Ice skate

On Royal Caribbean ships that have an ice skating rink, guests can put on a pair of ice skates and hit the ice rink during their sailing.

Check the Cruise Compass for open skate sessions during your sailing.  Royal Caribbean will provide you with complimentary ice skate and safety equipment rentals.  Just be sure to pack long pants and socks.

Ride the carousel

Guests of any age (that means you) can enjoy a ride on the carousel in the Boardwalk for no additional cost.

The carousel is just plain fun for kids and adults. Eighteen figures are suspended from stainless steel poles along with one ADA accessible chariot are rideable.

Be sure to also check out the carousel at night because like the fairs of the past, nighttime is when these rides really shine when they are all lit up.

Sky dive (safely)

The Quantum Class ships offers every guest one time in the  iFly by RipCord "indoor" skydiving simulator.

RipCord by iFly is a skydiving simulator that will be a first for cruise ships.  Rather than descend from 10,000 feet in the sky, RipCord allows guests to get the sensation of skydiving without the incredible risk.

Set in a recirculating indoor vertical wind tunnel, guests can feel like they're falling from the heavens in a safe environment.  You wear the gear and goggles as if you were jumping out of an airplane, so it's as authentic an experience as you can get without the airplane.  Trained instructors are with you the whole time in a totally controlled environment.

Try a zip line

On Oasis class ships, guests can soar 9 decks above the Boardwalk neighborhood, stretching 82 feet from end to end.

Passengers must be at least 52" tall to participate and weigh a maximum of 275 pound, also must at least weigh 75 pounds.

The zip line is free and guests must sign a waiver.

Weekend in the Bahamas

If your cruise happens to visit Perfect Day at CocoCay, it's hard to overlook the value of what a day here gets you as part of the cruise.

Royal Caribbean's private island in The Bahamas is more than just a plot of sand with an umbrella nearby. There's multiple beaches, a pool, and lots of food to keep you busy at no additional cost.

So many cruises from the United States now visit CocoCay, and that means you get an entire day to take advantage of what you can do there.

The "Perfect Day" moniker may be a marketing tool, but there's real truth to how much fun you can have while visiting. In fact, so much of the experiences found at CocoCay are included with your cruise fare.

If you're between the age of 18 and 25, there's now more activities for you to do on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship than before.

Royal Caribbean has quietly unveiled a new activities program aimed at an age group that has traditionally found itself on the periphery of things to do on a cruise ship.

The new activities are referred to as the Hyperlink program, and they aim to bridge cruise ship activities following the teen club age to the more common adult offerings.

Speaking to travel agents on Wonder of the Seas last week, Royal Caribbean Director of Entertainment Activities & Media Operations, Ken Rush, talked briefly about the new option.

"We have been doing we've been doing a trial on the Symphony of the Seas of what we're calling the Hyperlink program, which is going to be a new program for the 18 to 25 year olds. So we're doing that right now and it's coming."

Since then, the program has been spotted in the Cruise Compass of other ships across the fleet, including Odyssey of the Seas and Wonder of the Seas.

It's not clear yet which ships offer it or not.

Addressing a need

For many young adults on a cruise, they see a gap in programming that appeals to them once they are too old for the teen club.

Royal Caribbean limits the teen club to passengers 17 years and younger, which means anyone between the age of 18-20 is found in a middle ground of being too old for the teen club, but not old enough to drink.

Examples of events

In looking through the Royal Caribbean app, we can see examples of the events the Hyperlink program includes.

Similar to the teen events, there are now special events listed that cater only to guests between the age of 18-25.

It appears the goal is to gather passengers of this age so they can meet and spend time together with the intention of fostering new friendships.

Just like other events, there's no pre-registration needed. Guests of this age can simply show up at the selected time and location.

Royal Caribbean's activities staff curate the event, just like other events onboard.

More for millennials

There are an estimated 80 million millennials in the United States, making them the largest generation currently.

The Hyperlink program is aimed at guests at the younger end of the spectrum, as the millennial generation spans anyone born between 1980 and 2000.

An estimated 32% of millennials have already taken a cruise in the last five years, and Millennials seem to like the idea that cruises are transportation and accommodation in one. The appeal of leaving your bags unpacked the entire trip has caught on, and cruise lines are highlighting this as they expand their offerings.

While millennials may not make up the majority of cruise passengers right now, getting them on board will become increasingly more important as they get older.

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.