The places your cruise ship visits are among the top reasons people choose a cruise vacation, but there are mistakes and red flags to avoid when in port.

Each port of call has a variety of tours and activities you can do. You could book a tour through Royal Caribbean or something on your own. In either case, you want to carefully vet any excursion before you book it.

As a frequent cruiser, I've gone on all sorts of shore excursions in ports around the world, including the Caribbean, Alaska, and Europe. Most of my shore excursions have been great, but a few turned out to be duds.

It's a good idea to check what's included with the cost of your tour, safety protocols, what time it begins and ends, as well as what you'll actually do during the tour.

Here are the red flags I look for in any shore excursion before I book that could take away from your enjoyment.

Long transit times for a short visit

A shore excursion that involves many hours in transit to leave you with a short amount of time at the actual destination might be worth rethinking.

It's not uncommon to find a shore excursion that takes you to a bucket list worthy spot, such as visiting a major city, exploring Mayan ruins, or viewing natural wonders.

The problem with some of these tours can be you'll spend more time on a bus travelling to and from the site than actually at the place.

Common examples include Chichén Itzá, visits to Paris, or a transfer to Walt Disney World.

Sometimes cruise ships dock in ports significantly far from these places. While it is possible to go and see these areas, it involves a long bus ride.

If this is your only opportunity to ever visit, then perhaps a marathon bus ride is worth it.  Otherwise, save it for a land visit.

Read more: 8 cruise ship shore excursions our readers tried and instantly regretted

No refunds if your ship can't dock

Before you book any shore excursion, read the rules on cancelling.

In my opinion, any tour operator should refund all of your money (including the deposit) if your ship is unable to dock. Whether it's because of poor weather that day or an itinerary change, the refund policy should cover that scenario.

Most shore excursions don't include a refund if the weather is poor, but if you are physically unable to make it to the tour because your ship isn't in port, then they should refund your money.

If you book a tour with Royal Caribbean, this is standard practice.  However, some third party shore excursions you can book on your own may not offer it.

Read more: What to do if Royal Caribbean's shore excursions are sold out

Panoramic sightseeing tours

It might sound like a great tour, but panoramic sightseeing tours may leave you disappointed with time at the places you'll see behind a window.

Bus tours are great if you like a more casual view, or perhaps you have mobility issues. Moreover, never underestimate how wonderful air conditioning is in the summer months.

However, if your goal is to walk around and explore historical sights or beautiful natural wonders, I'd recommend avoiding a tour that advertises how much you can see from the bus you'll be on.

When I've done these sorts of tours, I usually end up frustrated that I didn't have enough time to see the places.  

"Let me give you a tour of the island"

An island tour from someone with a flimsy sign is not who you want to book a tour on the spot with.

When you walk out of the port area, there's usually a group of taxi drivers who want you to pay them to take you on a tour of the place you're visiting. While I doubt there are safety concerns with them, I would not recommend booking a tour with them because of how open-ended that can be.

Without knowing anything about the tour operator, their knowledge of the area, or total costs, I think there are too many variables.

If you want a driver for the day and/or a private tour of the port you're visiting, I'd recommend doing some research ahead of time and booking that in advance.  That way you can do your research online and read reviews and get recommendations for whom to work with.

Read more: Quick and easy tips for finding a great shore excursion on your own

Museum tours

Museums are a great idea for an activity in port, but you don't need to book an organized tour.

It's easy enough to get to most museums by taking a cab, and then once in the museum, exploring on your own.  

Not only will a museum shore excursion cost you more, but you'll be moving at the pace of the group and without the option to spend more time at the exhibits that interest you.

If you're worried about being able to understand the tour in your native language, there could be audio tours available from the museum or even utilize Google Translate app to be able to instantly translate signs.

Beach breaks

Just like museum tours, you don't need an organized tour to go to the beach.

Sometimes a shore excursion includes a visit to the beach in addition to the primary activity, but if you just want to spend the day at the beach, I'd question the value of an organized tour.

One issue with a beach shore excursion are crowds. If your tour is going to this beach, other shore excursions probably are too, and that's the recipe for a crowded beach day.  Sometimes crowded beaches are unavoidable, but in the Caribbean where beautiful beaches are a dime a dozen, I wouldn't do it.

The other issue with a beach break excursion is it's probably cheaper to book it on your own. 

Do your research and look up taxi rates along with the fees for accessing the beach, resort, or park.

Happy Sunday! We hope you are having a great weekend! Now it is time to sit back, relax, and catch up on all the Royal Caribbean news from the week!

After spending over a week on Royal Caribbean's Utopia of the Seas, Matt thinks the ship's best in class features really make it stand out.

For just short 3- and 4-night sailings, it's impressive how much there is to do onboard.  The ship has some of the best venues that you'll find on any ship, and there's more activities and parties than ever before.

Don't let the weekend party ship marketing fool you, Utopia is a great ship for a lot of reasons.

Royal Caribbean News

• New Caribbean cruises released for 2025
• I tried every Oasis Class cruise ship, here's how I would rank them
• The best things I ate on Utopia of the Seas
• I paid $30 to try the new escape room on Utopia of the Seas and it was worth it
• I had 2 hours to explore 1,000-year-old Mayan ruins. It was a remarkable experience
• Royal Caribbean makes $137 million Alaska port investment, new beach club director
• European cruise outfits and packing guide for women
• A private karaoke room costs $70 and it was a fun splurge for my family

New RCB Video: All the things I HATE about Icon of the Seas

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 — All the things I HATE about Icon of the Seas — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 540th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available, with a cruise review of Utopia of the Seas.

Matt shares his major takeaways from trying Royal Caribbean's newest cruise ship.

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

Why Royal Caribbean's cruise prices will keep rising

Demand for booking a Royal Caribbean cruise is so strong right now that the company expects prices to keep going up.

During the company's earnings call with Wall Street analysts, executives said talked about an upward trend in prices going in to 2025 and beyond.

Royal Caribbean sees its customers are willing to not only book more cruises, but book them at higher prices.

Vintage photos show what cruises used to look like

A cruise ship 40 years ago looked different than what we see today.

Photos from Royal Caribbean cruises in the 1980s reveal the experience is similar, but ships had different offerings too.

There was a midnight buffet, glitter-filled performances, Country Western nights, pirate night and more.

Things you should never do in the suite lounge

The suite lounge is reserved for passengers that booked a suite stateroom, and Matt thinks there are some good rules of thumb to follow in there.

Suite guests and Pinnacle Club members are able to access the lounge, which includes complimentary beverages in the evening, snacks throughout the day, a self-service coffee machine, and plush seating.

It's a wonderful perk for anyone staying in a suite, but Matt cautions what not to do in there.

After 90 cruises, these are the 5 best restaurants (one isn't on a ship)

Dinner is arguably the most popular meal on a Royal Caribbean ship, so Matt ranked the top restaurants in the fleet.

There are a lot of choices of where you can eat on your ship, including restaurants that have an extra cost. 

The top restaurants that stood out among all of them include one that isn't even on a Royal Caribbean ship.

Ready to catch up on what's happening with Royal Caribbean cruises?

With a fleet of 28 ships, there are always going to be things happening and in an effort to keep everyone up to date, here's a quick run through of the latest news from this week.

Think of these as quick hits of changes and news that you should be aware of that changed in the last few days.

Royal Caribbean backs new Seward cruise port purchase agreement

Image courtesy of The Seward Company

Plans were approved this week for a new $137 million cruise ship port in Seward, Alaska that should be ready for the 2026 cruise season.

The Alaska Railroad board voted to approve the purchase of the soon-to-be-built dock that can handle larger ships.

Royal Caribbean's role is to act as the anchor tenant, which gives Royal Caribbean preferential docking rights.  Other cruise lines can still use the port.

Image courtesy of The Seward Company

Plans are for a 68,000 square foot terminal building, which includes a 150-foot transfer span to connect cruisers to an Alaska Railroad train and other ground transportation.

The 750-foot, two-berth floating dock will be the largest floating pier in the state.

The deal is for 30 years and the vote allows the railroad to enter into agreements with the project developer.

Construction on the terminal is scheduled to begin this autumn after Seward’s cruise season ends.

New environmental director named for Royal Beach Club Paradise Island

Royal Caribbean appointed Stacy Lubin as director of environment and sustainability for its new beach club project in Nassau, Bahamas.

Royal Beach Club Paradise Island will open next year to offer a 17-acre beachfront experience in Nassau.

Ms. Lubin brings her 20 years of experience to oversee all environmental initiatives for the beach club.

Royal Caribbean has been adamant since the inception of the project for its commitment to protecting the environment, as well as supporting the people of the Bahamas by employing Bahamians.

The company outlined six key environmental pillars for the Royal Beach Club at Paradise Island:

• Zero waste to landfill
• 100% renewable energy by 2030
• No dredging and no overwater cabanas 
• Best-in-class wastewater treatment
• Protecting the island's natural habitat
• Local environmental monitoring 

Ms. Lubin will work with The Bahamas’ Department of Environmental Planning and Protection to ensure the club’s environmental practices meet both Royal Caribbean standards and local regulations.

Once completed, the Royal Beach Club at Paradise Island will have a public-private partnership, meaning that Bahamians will be able to own up to 49% equity and local businesses can take part in managing the majority of the experience.

More Royal Railway reservations available

If you have a cruise in fall 2024, there's a good chance you can now book Royal Caribbean's hottest new restaurant.

Royal Railway on Utopia of the Seas appears to have more reservations available to book in September, October and November.  Guests booked on sailings in these months reported being able to reserve a time.

Something else guests noticed is the price has gone up from $79.99 per adult to $119.99 per adult. Royal Caribbean employs dynamic pricing for its restaurants, and it also typically uses prices to help manage demand.

Royal Railway is arguably the most popular restaurant in the fleet right now, as the hype surrounding its launch on the new cruise ship has garnered a lot of demand to book it.

This is the first immersive dining experience Royal Caribbean has developed, and it's a dining experience that simulates a train journey.

There are to full size rail cars guests enter that has booths on both side of the car. Each booth has a large digital display that acts as a virtual window.

Read more: Trying out Royal Railway on Utopia of the Seas

Port of Tampa monitoring Tropical Storm Debby

While Tropical Storm Debby isn't expected to be a major storm, it is still a concern for the Port of Tampa Bay and the cruise ships that sail from there.

A hurricane watch has been issued for parts of Florida because future  Tropical Storm Debby has a chance of further development prior to making landfall this weekend.

In a public statement, the Port of Tampa Bay said they are monitoring the track of the storm for any impact to operations.

"Port Tampa Bay is coordinating closely with federal, state, and local agencies, as well as the maritime community to prepare for and respond to potential impacts of Tropical Depression #4."

According to the port, the United States Coast Guard has set Port Condition YANKEE, indicating the possibility of gale force winds (34-47 knots) entering the Bay in the next 24 hours.

So far the only change to schedule is for Margaritaville at Sea's Islander ship.  Instead of returning to Tampa on Sunday, the ship will be delayed and come back on Monday, Aug. 5, 2024. Additionally, the Islander's Aug. 4 departure was rescheduled to Aug. 5. 

There are two Royal Caribbean ships that operate out of Tampa currently.  

Grandeur of the Seas will depart Tampa on Saturday, August 3 to begin a 5-night Western Caribbean sailing.

Enchantment of the Seas will also embark on a 7-night Western Caribbean sailing on Saturday as well.

Demand for booking a cruise vacation is so red hot for Royal Caribbean right now that it's likely we'll continue to see an upward trend in cruise prices.

While there is variability in how cruises are priced, Royal Caribbean sees a willingness on behalf of the consumer to not only book more cruises, but pay more for it. The company had to adjust its earnings forecasts because they're getting more bookings than they expected at higher prices.

During Royal Caribbean Group's second quarter earnings call, Chief Financial Officer Naftali Holtz cited an example of bookings for Caribbean cruises for the coming few months.

Caribbean cruises in the third quarter will make up 42% of all Royal Caribbean Group sailings, and a lot of people are willing to pay more to go on them, "this product is booked ahead in both rate and volume and the strong yield growth is driven by new hardware and higher pricing on existing ships supported by our private destinations."

Translated from financial jargon, that means Caribbean cruises in the next 3 months have more cabins booked than normal, and the company is making more money already because people are willing to pay higher prices due to an investment in newer cruise ships and itineraries that visit Perfect Day at CocoCay.

Willingness to pay more

The top reason why you should expect Royal Caribbean cruise prices to continue to rise is because customers are demonstrating they will pay higher prices.

Looking ahead to the rest of 2024, Royal Caribbean Group CEO Jason Liberty spoke about this trend during the earnings call, "all the yield improvement that you're seeing in Q3 and Q4 is really being driven by price."

"I think it's a really strong indication that not only the willingness to pay more, but these prices continue to increase as we build and manage demand."

To put it in perspective, Mr. Liberty indicated Royal Caribbean Group's revenue for the second half of 2024 is 25% higher than it was in 2019, which was the previous high water mark for the cruise industry. 

If 2024 looks positive, 2025 looks even better for the company. They're taking more bookings for 2025 than for 2024, and that means the higher pricing trend will continue into 2025 and beyond.

"The strength in the commentary that we talk about on pricing and pricing increasing, it very much applies to 2025 and beyond," Mr. Liberty explained during the earnings call.

"So we feel very good. We're in a very strong book position for 2025, pricing is up and increasing are the trends that we continue to see."

"I think we feel really good about 2025. The pattern show pricing continues to accelerate."

When you combine sky-high onboard spending, prices, and demand, it's a formula for higher prices on average. That probably means less cheap cruise deals on the horizon.

If you're reading all of this and think surely consumers will buck against the higher prices, it's not something Royal Caribbean sees on the horizon.

One Wall Street analyst asked about "pricing sensitivity" from customers because of comments made by land-based hotel operators.  Royal Caribbean rebuffed that notion based on what they're seeing on their end.

Mr. Liberty explained, "the booking window continues to extend, so they're planning further out, their willingness to pay more for these incredible vacation experiences continues to increase."

Part of the reason why he believes cruise bookings are stronger than land vacations is because of the value gap between the two types of vacations, which Mr. Liberty estimates is around 20%.

For consumers, it's a sobering prediction for what the future holds in terms of prices, "the trends that we see is just continued acceleration on the pricing side."

Bargain hunters will need to be agile

While the trend is moving cruise prices higher on average, it's still possible to find an ultra-cheap cruise. 

Royal Caribbean prices its cruises largely based on supply and demand, and there are going to be deals out there, especially on sailings that have less demand.

First and foremost, Royal Caribbean will see the highest prices on its newer ships, such as Utopia of the Seas or Icon of the Seas. That's because new ships always command a higher price because they have the latest and greatest features on them.

Generally speaking, you'll find lower prices on older, smaller ships.  

As an example, try Adventure of the Seas out of Port Canaveral instead of Utopia of the Seas.  Or Freedom of the Seas out of Fort Lauderdale instead of Icon of the Seas.

Some of the best cruise deals are on longer sailings that take place while school is in session. Transatlantic crossings remain some of the best deals from a per-night cost basis.  

Transatlantic cruises take place in the spring and fall when cruise ships migrate from North America to Europe and then back again.

Read more: What it's really like to take a transatlantic cruise

The reason they're cheaper is they are longer, usually 10-14 nights, and a lot of families cannot go on vacation for that long a period.  Plus, families can't book them because their kids are in school.

The other strategy for a good cruise deal is a bit of luck.  Sometimes there's a last-minute cruise deal that pops up, and other times there are specific sailings in the coming months or years that are priced lower.  

Spotting these cruise deals can be just plain luck, or you could also rely on a good travel agent that monitors prices during the course of their daily work and can alert you when they spot something good.

Read more: 10 Secrets Royal Caribbean travel agents wish you knew

While I would not expect cruise prices to drop across the board, savvy consumers should be able to find some deals.  

But for the newest ships, don't expect a lot of wiggle room.  It's why booking early is still the best strategy to get the best price possible on these vessels.

As someone that cruises about once per month, I get to eat on Royal Caribbean cruise ships a lot, and dinner is usually a big deal on any sailing.

Some restaurants are included with your cruise fare while others cost extra. I like to go back and forth between what's included and not to not only get a wider variety of food, but also evaluate how each restaurant is. Menus change, and as I try new restaurants, it's good to go back and see how other venues compare.

The cost of a Royal Caribbean restaurants vary from included to hundreds of dollars per person. Luckily, I've had the chance to dine at nearly every restaurant on Royal Caribbean's ships.

I'm not a food critic or trained in evaluating restaurants. I just know what I like, and I go often enough to get a good sense of what seems to stand out, so here are my humble opinions on the top Royal Caribbean restaurants I'd recommend to anyone going on a cruise.

Coco Beach Club restaurant

In terms of food, I have never left the Coco Beach Club restaurant disappointed because the food quality is so good.

Located within the Coco Beach Club section of Perfect Day at CocoCay, the restaurant is included as part of your admission cost to enter the club. Club admission prices vary depending on the sailing, but it can be less than $100 per person or as high as $200 per person.

I think the filet mignon served at the Coco Beach Club restaurant is just as good, if not better, than the steaks you find on Royal Caribbean's ships. 

Friends who eat seafood rave about the grilled Bahamian lobster served, as well as the Coco lobster sandwich.

Usually private island food is nothing exciting, but Royal Caribbean broke the mold with the Coco Beach Club restaurant, and it's just as good as the food I've found on the ships.

150 Central Park

If there's a top quality specialty restaurant that flies under the radar, it's 150 Central Park.

Available on the Oasis Class ships, 150 Central Park is a modern American restaurant that might appear overly fancy, but the cuisine is not only approachable, but fantastic.

I could rave about the entire menu, but there's three items I order every single time I go because they are just so good.

The garlic bread served when you sit is simply amazing, especially if you can manage to snag the middle piece before someone else at your table does. It's not drowning in oil, but has more than enough to make every bite satisfying.

The beef tenderloin for two is large enough you can actually share it with a tablemate, or keep it all to yourself. No judgements.

I think this is the best cut of steak on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship (although the new Iconic cuts at Chops Grille on Icon and Utopia of the Seas might change my opinion on that).

To finish out the meal, the fried cheesecake balls are just about the best comfort food I've found on a cruise ship.

While it doesn't have the widest menu out there, I think 150 Central Park has enough going for it that it warrants not only trying, but eating at every single time you're on an Oasis Class ship.

Aquadome Market

Royal Caribbean's first foray into a food hall concept quickly became one of my favorite restaurants to visit, day or night.

Aquadome Market is a series of stalls that serve a specific cuisine.  Each is freshly prepared, and it's perfect for a quick bite or a full meal.

• Crèpes
• Asian
• Mac and Cheese
• Greek pitas and bowls
• Sandwiches and salads

First and foremost, all the food in Aquadome Market is included in your cruise fare. Plus, it's all really good.  Best yet, it's open late, so you can get something other than a sandwich or pizza past 9pm!

I think the crèpes, pitas, and Asian bowls are the best choices available, and every time I happen to be anywhere near deck 15, I'll think twice if I want to stop by for something from the market.

Izumi Hibachi

If there's an award for restaurant I always leave full, satisfied, and entertained, it's Izumi hibachi.

Teppanyaki dining is as popular on Royal Caribbean's cruise ships as it is on land because it combines freshly grilled meats, rice, and vegetables with a show.  

When we eat at hibachi, I know we aren't leaving hungry. There's a lot of food served, and usually by the end the chef is asking if anyone wants third or fourth servings.

There's the choice of many different proteins with your meal: chicken, beef, lobster, shrimp, or scallops.  If that isn't enough food, you can actually order sushi too.

Whenever I'm asked for one specialty restaurant to recommend to try for families, couples, friends, or random people from the internet, my first choice is hibachi because of how well-received it is.

Main Dining Room

In coming up with this list, I wrote down my list on a piece of paper and really struggled with which I would pick for my fifth choice, but it was too difficult to overlook the Main Dining Room. 

The Main Dining Room is an institution on any cruise ship, and while it may not be the flashiest restaurant (and definitely not the newest), there's a reason it remains the top spot for dinner on every single Royal Caribbean cruise ship.

While not every single dish is necessarily my favorite, I can always find a few things each night that I really like. The sheer variety of food served in this restaurant across your cruise is impressive.

Not to mention the service gets just as much praise as the food. There are some seriously talented waiters that truly make an effort to get to know you and want to ensure you have a fabulous meal.

Whenever I go too heavy into specialty restaurants on a cruise, I get a hankering to return to the Main Dining Room because I really enjoy the tradition and ambiance you can only find there.

If you're booked in a suite on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship, you'll get access to the cruise line's suite lounge. 

Suite guests and Pinnacle Club members are able to access the lounge, which includes complimentary beverages in the evening, snacks throughout the day, a self-service coffee machine, and plush seating.

I'm able to access the lounge either because I'm booked in a suite or because I've attained Pinnacle Club status in Royal Caribbean's Crown and Anchor Society loyalty program.

I like how quiet the suite lounge can be in the daytime, and how much fun it can be meeting other passengers during the happy hour each evening. I also like having access to the food and drink, along with the services of the Suite Concierge.

Here are five things I never do in Royal Caribbean's suite lounge.

Stuff yourself on food

There's snacks to enjoy in the suite lounge three times per day, and the exact variety will vary. By far, the evening hors d'oeuvres are the best choice with skewered meats, charcuterie boards, eggrolls, and more.

They can be tempting, especially because it's "included" and costs nothing to enjoy, but I won't load up my plate unless I'm starving or know I won't be eating for a while. I've made that mistake before and it resulted in ruining my appetite for dinner.

I think dinner on a Royal Caribbean cruise is the most celebrated meal of the day, and there's also the best choices around. 

I enjoy going to the suite lounge for a few pre-dinner drinks, especially on ships that have a bar in the suite lounge (such as the Radiance Class ships). It's a great way to meet people and enjoy complimentary alcoholic beverages without a drink package.

Read more: Royal Caribbean drink package information and tips

After a drink or two, having a snack can be mighty tempting, but I try to limit my consumption and snacking so that I can enjoy the great dinner service offered on the ship.

Have a phone call

The suite lounge isn't a library, but I do think it's important to be respectful of others in the lounge.

Just like on an airplane, train, or cafe, no one wants to hear someone else's phone conversation. 

If I get a phone call, I'll answer and quickly ask them to hang on or I'll call them back so I can step out of the lounge and take the call.  This is easy on the Voyager Class ships that have an outdoor deck to the suite lounge, but sometimes I'll actually walk back to my stateroom or another public area.

Part of the fun of the suite lounge is to have a conversation with someone there, but I do think phone calls tend to be louder.  And if someone has their speakerphone on, then it's just annoying to others to have to hear.

While it hasn't been an issue I've seen, I would always use headphones for any kind of audio while in the lounge. 

Stiff the concierge or bar staff

Tipping on a cruise is a bit of a gray area because it's not that well defined, but you should expect to tip while in the suite lounge.

How much and who you tip really depends on how much interaction you have with the staff.  

If I spend some time in the lounge and get to know the suite concierge, I usually tip that person at the end of the sailing.  The amount depends on how much I ask of them, how long the sailing is, and how well I get to know them.  There isn't a right or wrong amount, they're appreciative of what you can give them.

The sort of things the suite concierge can do for you is escort you off the ship to bypass the line of guests disembarking, fix billing issues, book specialty restaurants, or basically do anything Guest Services can do. On some cruises, I ask a lot of them, and others not so much.  Even if all I do is stop in to get an escort off the ship on disembarkation day, I'll tip them for the help.

Read more: 8 reasons to get off your ship as early as possible on disembarkation day

The other time to tip while in the suite is when you order a drink from the wait staff.

You can get complimentary alcoholic beverages every day in the suite lounge (refer to your welcome letter in your suite for exact hours) and there are waiters to take your drink order.

A dollar or two per drink is the customary tip, although some guests will tip a specific waiter at the end of the sailing.  

Sneak non-suite guests in

It can be tempting to want to bring friends and family into the suite lounge so you can all hang out, but it's against the rules if they aren't also in a suite.

This isn't so much about protecting Royal Caribbean (although it is strictly against the rules), but rather, being considerate of your fellow passengers.

Suite lounges are not big. In fact, many are quite tiny. It's why Royal Caribbean will sometimes restrict the amount of Pinnacle Club members that can access the lounge.

Leave my kids unattended

Don't confuse the suite lounge with the adults-only Solarium, but I still wouldn't let my kids just hang out alone in there either.

I like to take my kids into the suite lounge so we can enjoy time together, plus allow them to enjoy the suite benefits they're entitled to.  It's a good way to introduce them to what to expect, so when they're older, they know how to act.

I love my kids, but I know when left unsupervised, they can sometimes be loud or simply annoy each other and that can get loud.  This goes back to some of the other faux pas' I listed in this post about being respectful of other guests.

I have no problem sending my kids up to the lounge by themselves on a mission to grab a drink or snack, but never to hang out.

Karaoke is one of the most popular activities on a cruise ship, and there's a way you can enjoy it without having to wait for a turn.

On Royal Caribbean's newer cruise ships that have a Spotlight Karaoke venue, you'll find karaoke sessions throughout the day to attend where you can try singing along to musical hits.

On Icon of the Seas, Spotlight Karaoke has a private karaoke room you can rent, which is great for a small group to enjoy without a big crowd. I wanted to see if this was a great alternative to the typically crowded karaoke sessions.

Spotlight Karaoke is Royal Caribbean's best karaoke venue yet

Karaoke isn't new to Royal Caribbean, but it's traditionally been an event held in a multipurpose venue, which meant there were limited times to do it.

Royal Caribbean has started adding Spotlight Karaoke to its newer ships, including the brand new Icon of the Seas and Utopia of the Seas.

The private karaoke room costs $70

There are private karaoke rooms within Spotlight Karaoke you can rent on a first come, first rented basis.

I did not see an option to pre-book it on Royal Caribbean's Cruise Planner site, so we had to wait to get onboard the ship to book it.  Guest Services can book it for you, as can a Royal Genie if you're in Star Class.

This is meant to be a family or group activity, where you rent the space for one hour and have access to the full library of karaoke tunes to sing along to within a private setting.

On a recent Icon of the Seas sailing, my daughter and her friends loved going to karaoke sessions but always got frustrated when the line was long, or if there was adults-only karaoke sessions happening.  

I knew about the private rooms from when they first debuted on Oasis of the Seas in 2019, and asked about renting a spot.  It cost $70 and was for one hour.

You get the private room and then it's DIY in terms of hosting the karaoke session.

The karaoke rooms are located to the side of Spotlight Karaoke

The private karaoke rooms are easily overlooked if you don't know they exist.

On Icon of the Seas, the rooms are behind a door to the left of the venue.  It looks like a door to a crew member area, rather than where you'd find the rooms.

When we arrived for our karaoke session, the karaoke manager met us near the door and we were escorted into the room.

There's a large couch that extends across the back of the room, with the large karaoke screen the focus.  The idea is that everyone in the room can see the lyrics, just like if you were in the main venue.

The manager gave us a tablet, where we could search for songs by artist or title. It was not the most intuitive software I've ever seen, but once she went through the process one time, it was clear how to use it.

The library of songs is vast enough to probably find the songs you're looking for, especially if they're hit songs.  Deep cuts may be an issue, but I assume that would be the case in the main room too.

The room is private, but not soundproof

Besides not having to wait for a turn in karaoke, the other appeal of a private room is you could sing in privacy.  

While being in the room does potentially shield you from others on the ship hearing your attempt to sing, the room is not quite totally soundproof.

The kids went out of the room to test if they could hear the person singing in the private room, and it was definitely audible.  

The good news is if there's karaoke happening in the main room of Spotlight Karaoke, it's unlikely many people would be able to hear what's happening in the private rooms.

We had fun and the kids wanted to do it again

The private karaoke room rental delivered exactly what we wanted: a way to enjoy karaoke with my kid's friends without waiting for a turn in the main room.

The one hour rental is just long enough for everyone to have a turn and get the "karaoke bug" out of their system.  Moreover, as someone who would never get up on the karaoke stage, being able to sing in private was a welcome option.

At $70 for the hour, it's a quite reasonable cost considering you can easily get about 6-8 people in the room (especially if they're kids).  Plus, it was a reasonably priced splurge for the kids to do something fun.

Obviously you don't need to pay money to enjoy karaoke and there are many open sessions that cost nothing extra.  The reason to go with the private room is for those that want a "fastpass" to be able to sing what they want, when they want.  

Our family and friends had a great time trying it, and we rented it again while on Utopia of the Seas a few weeks later.

Royal Caribbean Group continued its trend of reporting strong quarterly earnings with its second quarter performance.

Thanks to strong demand and favorable timing of expenses, the company "above expectations" results for the second quarter.

Demand for cruises remains a constant for the company, which cited stronger pricing on close-in demand and continued strength in onboard revenue, as well as favorable timing of expenses, as reasons why results exceeded its expectations.

In a statement to the media, Royal Caribbean Group President and CEO Jason Liberty celebrated his company's strong performance, "Our momentum continues! We met our financial targets 18 months earlier than expected, have our balance sheet in a strong position, reinstated our dividend, and ... we are just getting started."

"Exceptional demand for our vacation experiences has accelerated our performance by generating significant yield growth over the past several years," added Liberty. 

"As we look forward, we remain intensely focused on driving strong shareholder returns by delivering a lifetime of vacations and taking a greater share of the rapidly growing $1.9 trillion global vacation market. This is underpinned by our formula for future success – disciplined growth and moderate yield growth while controlling our costs."  

Inside the second quarter

Total revenues for the second quarter were $4.1 billion, with a Net Income of $854 million, and Operating cash flow was $1.6 billion.

The average cruise ship sailed in the second quarter at 108% capacity. Occupancy rates over 100% are a good measure because it means there were more than two people in a lot of cabins.

Royal Caribbean is seeing high demand for its products along with high prices remaining in place since the last quarter. 

In fact, booking volumes were higher than the second quarter in 2023 and at record pricing levels. 

The company continues to be in a record booked position for 2024 sailings. Consumer spending onboard, as well as pre-cruise purchases, continue to significantly exceed 2023 levels driven by greater participation at higher prices.

"We have seen strength for all key products and are already taking more bookings for 2025 sailings than 2024," Mr. Liberty commented.

The company was particularly proud of the fact it achieved all three of its financial goals. For the 12 months ending June 30, 2024, the company achieved all three of its Trifecta goals: triple digit Adjusted EBITDA per APCD, ROIC in the teens, and double digit Adjusted EPS.

Loan update

Royal Caribbean Group took out many loans during 2020 and 2021 in order to stay in business, and some of the critical ones are now paid off.

"During the quarter, the company repaid the remaining balance of its ship related debt amortization deferral obtained on its export credit facilities during 2020 and 2021, which removed the remaining restrictions on capital return."

 "Our strong balance sheet allows us to expand capital allocation and reinstate a quarterly dividend, further supporting our goal of creating long-term shareholder value," said Royal Caribbean Group Chief Financial Officer Naftali Holtz.

Royal Caribbean has a new signature dining experience on Utopia of the Seas that offers the highest quality Japanese food you'll find on any of its ships.

Izumi Omakase is the third offering of Japanese cuisine by the cruise line, and it's the creation of Izumi Master Chef Travis Kamiyama.  He's been responsible for all the Izumi menus since the restaurant's inception.

There are two seatings per evening in a cozy room tucked between the sushi and hibachi sides of the restaurant.

As someone that dines at Izumi on nearly every sailing I go on, I was curious how different the food would be at Omakase and what exactly the experience entails.

The cost is $129.99 per guest, and it's an eight course meal that includes food and alcohol pairings. If you have the Unlimited Dining Package, there is a $59.99 surcharge.

The restaurant is in the middle of a revamped Izumi

On Utopia of the Seas you'll find Izumi in a brand new location, taking up residency in the middle of the Central Park neighborhood.

In fact, it's the largest Izumi Royal Caribbean has built to date, and includes a traditional sushi restaurant, hibachi tables, and now the Omakase option.

Most of the seating is inside the restaurant, but there are a few sushi tables outside too.

A table for six is an intimate dining experience

The Omakase table is a communal dining experience, where six people are seated together across a rather large wood table.

Similar to Chef's Table, you'll be seated with other passengers you may not know. Where you sit exactly is up to you, as there's no assigned seating.

Your host guides you through the meal

There are two people chiefly responsible for your meal, but the host is who you narrates the experience and explains everything.

Speaking both Japanese and English, each step of the meal is introduced with details of which ingredients are included and what to look for within the dish or drink.

Eight courses of food and drink

The menu has eight courses, and each comes with a drink pairing.

Just like any Royal Caribbean restaurant, they can accommodate dietary restrictions or special needs. As someone who does not eat shellfish, they were able to provide me alternatives for those dishes.  Another guest at my table did not drink alcohol, and was served mocktails instead.

According to Royal Caribbean, omakase private dining experience is not recommended for children and there is no kids pricing.

I was initially worried eight courses would be too much food, but each of the offerings was petite and I think just the right amount of food.

My eight course meal started off with a soup

The ichi course begins with a miso lobster bisque soup that comes with lobster meat and caviar.

Since I don't eat shellfish, my alternate soup was a mushroom soup.

A welcome glass of wine was served chilled with the soup.  This would be the only non-sake drink we'd have during the meal, although the host was adamant you could request other beverages at any point.

Sakura carpaccio was next

Our first batch of raw fish came with the ni course, and this was the first opportunity to taste the higher quality sushi.

Four pieces of sushi-grade fish were plated, and these were "meatier" cuts that tasted better than the sashimi I would usually get at Izumi.

With this course, we were also served our first cup of sake.  Sake is a rice wine, and each course had a different sake pairing to try.

Nigiri sushi was the most familiar course

I think if you imagine what sushi is, then a nigiri roll is probably what you think of.

For the san course, we were served three nigiri rolls along with the sake.

An oyster course followed that was "must-try"

At the shi course, guests were given a single oyster that came with a spicy ponzu sauce.

My tablemates commented the oyster was fantastic and implored the others who were hesitant to eat an oyster to give it a try.

My alternative was a spoonful of diced sashimi served in a spoon.  I think they wanted me to have the same sensation of being able to eat an oyster in that manner.

A tuna ball was a fun twist on sushi

For the go course, I can best describe this as a nigiri tuna roll rolled up into a ball.  

I had never seen this before, but it was akin to a bite-sized sushi roll and certainly made it easier to enjoy the flavors together.

The miso broiled cod was so flavorful

The best thing I ate during the omakase meal might have been during the roku course when I was served the miso broiled black cod.

I never would have imagined how good this tasted, and it was the dish I really wanted to get the recipe so I could make it at home.

This was an extremely tender piece of fish that had a miso glaze on it, and it was my favorite flavor of the evening.

The wagyu beef was a surprise hit

The last course before dessert was the wagyu beef served with pepper and I really liked this more than I thought I would.

Just like the cod, I enjoyed the flavor more than I expected probably because I did not account for the nikiri glaze.

A dessert to wrap it all up

The final course was a chocolate matcha served with a sorbet.

I generally don't eat many desserts on a cruise ship, but it was a sweet way to end the meal.

The whole dining experience took two hours

Our meal began at 6pm and we walked out of the restaurant a little after 8pm, just before the 8:30pm omakase meal was scheduled to begin.

Given this is a chef-driven meal, you have to expect it won't be an "in and out" type meal.  I don't think it felt unnecessary long. In fact, I thought the courses came in quick succession without major gaps at a reasonable pace.

My favorite dish was the miso broiled cod, followed by the "tuna ball".  There was was nothing I didn't like, and maybe the dessert was the only course I didn't care for.

The service was impeccable

I didn't know much of what to expect from an omakase meal, but I assumed the service would be excellent, and I was correct.

Our host was attentive and she made an effort to ensure everyone had everything they needed. Unlike a normal meal where a waiter has a few tables to attend to, she was focused only on us.

Omakase is the perfect meal for Japanese food fans

As someone that loves sushi, I walked away from my first omakase meal very satisfied and I thought it was the perfect meal for someone like me that really enjoys Japanese food.

Unlike hibachi or sushi, the higher price tag makes it more of a luxury to sample now and then. I'd love to try this with a group of friends, perhaps on a group cruise.

I think given the fact we had sake pairings and the notably higher quality food, it was well-worth the cost.  The caveat is you should be someone that loves sushi and is open to trying new things.  The food isn't that adventurous and didn't delve into the types of sushi that I think scare a lot of people away, such as octopus or caviar.

Overall, I thought Izumi omakase was better than I expected and it's the kind of meal worth trying as a special event.