Royal Caribbean canceled another six months of visits to Labadee, so what should they do with it?
Share with me your thoughts, questions and comments via...
One man decided to jump off his cruise ship in a vain effort to avoid his high casino bill.
Not only did he not evade his bill, now he's in trouble with the authorities.
While sailing on Royal Caribbean's Rhapsody of the Seas near the Port of San Juan last weekend, a man jumped off the side of the ship. Reports say he did so to avoid his $16,000 gambling debt.
Jey Gonzalez-Diaz boarded Rhapsody for the August 31st sailing for a 7 Night Southern Caribbean that began and ended in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
According to the criminal complaint obtained by CBS News, and file in the U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico, the ship returned back to San Juan when the U.S. Customs and Border Protection inspection claims he jumped into the water as the ship disembarked around 9:15 a.m. local time.
According to investigators, he was rescued by a person that happened to be passing by on a jet ski. The rescue was recorded on surveillance video.
Authorities charged him with a federal crime.
Mr. Gonzalez-Diaz was tracked down later near the Puerto Rico Capitol Building by CBP agents, who found him carrying $14,600 in cash, two phones and five IDs.
According to the criminal complaint, Mr. Gonzalez-Diaz is accused of attempting to avoid monetary reporting requirements when traveling into the United States.
As stated in the complaint, Gonzalez-Diaz told officers in Spanish that he jumped off the cruise ship because "he did not want to report the currency on his possession because he thought he was going to be taxed duties for bring in the currency."
During the course of the investigation, Royal Caribbean said Gonzalez-Diaz had booked the cruise under the name "Jeremy Diaz". Plus, he racked up a $16,710.24 bill while on the ship that was "almost exclusively associated to Casino and Gaming expenses," the complaint said.
Other record checks of Gonzalez-Diaz's multiple identifications also revealed that a Jeremy Omar Gonzalez-Diaz has been in federal custody at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, since January, according to the complaint. Jey Gonzalez-Diaz told investigators that it was his brother.
When they asked him for his full name, he told investigators, "If you guys were good at your job, you would know that," the complaint said.
If convicted, Mr. Gonzalez-Diaz could face a fine up to $250,000 or a maximum five-year prison sentence, or both.
He has been released on bail.
Royal Caribbean shares loyalty matching with its two sister cruise line brands, and it means different perks if you sail on one or the other.
When you go from Royal Caribbean to Celebrity, you don't get your Crown and Anchor benefits. Instead, you get the equivalent status benefits in Captain's Club.
Royal Caribbean Group revamped its status matching to make it significantly better, and that's enabled me to try more cruises on both Silversea and Celebrity.
I wanted to share with you the best perks at each tier, biggest differences, and who benefits most from each program.
Before we dive into each program, here's a quick look at what each cruise line offers its most loyal guests.
| Brand | Program Name | Entry Tier | Top Tier | Status Match Across Brands? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Caribbean | Crown & Anchor Society | Gold (3 points) | Pinnacle Club (700+ points) | Yes |
| Celebrity | Captain’s Club | Classic (2 points) | Zenith (3,000+ points) | Yes |
| Silversea | Venetian Society | Member (1 voyage) | Milestone 500+ days | Yes |
When you look at each cruise line's program, the best benefits are always at the top.
One other difference is Royal Caribbean typically includes more benefits in their program than the other cruise lines because the other cruise lines include more benefits in their base fare.
There aren't exactly tiers with Venetian Society. There's one tier, but you earn Venetian Society days for the more you sail with them.
You get one Venetian Society day for each day you sail, regardless of the type of suite you're booked in.
Within Royal Caribbean Group, it's the easiest it's ever been to get equivalent status across each line.
Once you've earned status with one line, you can apply to have a status match with the others.
The key differences are the benefits between the programs are not identical and points earned on each cruise line are separate.
You can link your accounts through either the mobile app or the respective websites. Silversea doesn't have an app, so it's an online form to fill out.
Once it's processed, you'll instantly get the equivalent status. For example, a Diamond member in Crown & Anchor is automatically Elite in Captain’s Club.
It's a great advantage to be able to hop between cruise lines and have some level of recognition and benefits on your first sailing.
While each loyalty program is now potentially linked between each other, they aren't the same.
In my experience trying all three, it's clear each has its own approach to how loyalty benefits work and how it's best used. I was surprised how Silversea doesn't mention loyalty status at all on its Seapass card, but that's because it's not a focal point for their customers.
One major difference is how each line counts your points.
Royal Caribbean is one point per night, but you can earn more points per night if you're in a suite or cruising solo. Celebrity is similar, but points are earned based on cabin type and cruise length. Silversea is completely different and simply counts nights onboard and there are no tiers.
Another important difference is how each cruise line rewards their cruisers with perks.
Among these lines, Royal Caribbean includes the least with its cruise fare, so its loyalty program focuses on onboard perks, such as drinks, lounge access, and discounts.
Celebrity Cruises is similar, but includes more emphasis on discounts for things that cost extra, such as photo packages or internet.
Silversea has all-inclusive fares, so their approach with the Venetian Society is to offer incentives to sail again.
The top tier at each line is where you'll see some very impressive benefits.
You'll earn a free cruise after reaching any of them, and that's a substantial value before you dig into any of the additional perks.
The Zenith level in Celebrity has a free drink package, which was truly impressive to me when I tried them.
Crown and Anchor offers a blend of perks for suite guests and Pinnacle-only benefits that I always take advantage of when I sail.
Ever since Royal Caribbean Group introduced their revamped status matching, I think it's enabled more cruisers to try the various lines.
While you don't earn points by sailing the lines interchangeably, it does allow you to take advantage of status with one line and extend it to the others.
I found it so much more approachable to try Celebrity and Silversea if I knew I'd be starting off already with some level of recognition to it. Cross-brand matching makes it easier to experiment with new cruise lines without starting from scratch.
As each line launches new ships, I think the status matching enables cruisers to try them out and get a sense of what's different and better.
The expansion of Royal Caribbean's highly successful Icon Class cruise ships continues with construction of its fourth ship underway.
A keel-laying ceremony was held earlier today at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland. The first building block was placed in the dry dock where the ship will take shape.
This marks the official start of construction, and it's as much a celebration as it is a milestone.
The cruise ship is on track to debut sometime in 2027.
There's no name for this ship yet, and we don't know what will make it different from the the other three ships in the class.
Icon 4 follows up on Icon of the Seas and Star of the Seas, both of which are cruising now. Legend of the Seas is the third Icon Class ship, and will start cruising in August 2026.
The reason a new Icon Class ship stands out is because of how impressive these cruise ships have become in the short period of time since their debut.
Meyer Turku CEO Casimir Lindholm spoke at the event, "Icon 4 is a very significant ship for both the shipyard and the entire partner network. With this ship, Meyer Turku is further strengthening its position as one of the world's leading cruise ship builders."
"Each luxury cruise ship of this size creates 13,000 person-years of employment, and we are constantly looking for new shipbuilders to join our team at various stages from design to implementation."
The ship's keel is the first block, and it is maritime tradition to commemorate this phase of a new ship construction.
Another maritime tradition is to place the "lucky coins", which represent the shipyard and cruise line.
For Icon 4's ceremony, coins were placed under the first steel block to bring good fortune and protection to the vessel.
Construction of Icon 4 has now officially commenced while the third Icon Class ship is still under construction nearby.
Known as Legend of the Seas, this ship was put into water for the first time a few weeks ago at the end of August.
Having two cruise ships under construction at the same time is good business. It allows Royal Caribbean to keep the flow of new ships, and attention for them, at the forefront of attention.
The same thing happened when Icon of the Seas and Star of the Seas were being built.
While there's no word what the new ship will be named, there's plenty of speculation among cruise fans!
Royal Caribbean trademarks ship names with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, most of which never get used.
Examples of recent trademarks Royal Caribbean have made include:
It's important to note there haven't been any recent ship name registrations, with the last batch coming in 2023.
For what it's worth, Legend of the Seas had her keel laid on October 11, 2024 and the name was revealed February 18, 2025. So perhaps we need to wait an additional 4 months before we know Icon 4's name.
The fourth Icon class ship won't launch until 2027 and you can't book cruises yet for it.
Construction of the ship will continue for many months, with the ship's steel infrastructure being assembled to form the vessel.
The ship's keel is the first block, and other blocks will be joined together until the ship's primary structure is assembled. Then more of the ship's features are added in, such as cabins, interior structures, and paneling.
The next milestone is to float it out, where its dry dock is filled with water to ensure it can float.
After that, Icon 4 will continue construction work until it's ready for sea trials. This is when the ship actually sails into the ocean under its own power to test all of its systems. This is usually the last major step before delivery to the cruise line.
Royal Caribbean will reveal the ship's name, home port, and sailings, and other important details in the months to come.
Thank you for joining us for this a look at all the Royal Caribbean news from this week. We had plenty to share, so let us jump right in!
Royal Caribbean cancelled more visits to Labadee for at least another six months.
The cruise line confirmed it will cancel all upcoming visits to its private destination in Haiti through April 2026.
Violence in the country has necessitated the change, as the pause in visits continues.
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: Star of the Seas vs Icon of the Seas: Which to choose?
Check your email, because it looks like there are freebies being given out to certain cruisers.
Those lucky enough to get the email are getting a choice of three bonus perks, and I'd love to have any of them!
There's no discernable pattern to who's getting it, but you really should check your inbox.
A new policy is in effect if you don't bother showing up to the reservation you made for dinner.
Royal Caribbean announced a new penalty to those that book a specialty restaurant and then miss their reservation, for any reason.
The cruise line is making the change to ensure the high-demand restaurants don't go to waste.
I love the new drink package Royal Caribbean is selling on select cruises, but there's a catch.
It's not available on all sailings. In fact, it's only available on certain double digit length cruises.
It offers the Refreshment package, plus a few alcoholic drinks too.
There are 7 classes of Royal Caribbean cruise ships, and I've got a few tips for each one.
Every ship class has its own approach to the cruise, and I think knowing some of the best tricks can maximize the experience.
With these secrets, you can tackle your next cruise easier!
The 575th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available, where Matt wonders when we'll get confirmation about the new Discovery Class ships.
The project hasn't been formally announced, but it seems like the worst kept secret and he's surprised it's still not ready to be revealed yet.
Please feel free to subscribe via YouTube, iTunes or RSS, and head over to rate and review the podcast on iTunes if you can! We’d appreciate it.
There are more cruises that won't visit Royal Caribbean's private destination in Haiti.
The cruise line informed travel agents their ships will not make any scheduled visits to Labadee until at least May 2026.
It's a cruise line private destination operated by Royal Caribbean. The resort area is guarded by a private security force.
In emails sent to travel agents and guests, the change was made "in an abundance of caution" according to the cruise line:
"We have been monitoring the evolving situation in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and out of an abundance of caution, we're cancelling our visits to Labadee through April 2026."
Guests that purchased shore excursions in Labadee will be refunded the value to their SeaPass Account as an onboard credit.
The letter goes onto say, "We’re terribly sorry for the last-minute change."
Here's a list of the cancelled visits and what will be replaced with each instead:
This is an extension of cancelled calls to the port that began earlier this year. Previously, the cancellations had gone through October 2025, but a new round of changes were announced today.
Royal Caribbean last visited Labadee in the first quarter of 2025, after pausing calls to the destination in March 2024 and suspended all visits until October 2024.
Gang violence escalated in Haiti last year, and it has been under a state of emergency since March 2024. The U.S. State Department currently designated the country as a Level 4 "Do not travel" warning.
"Crimes involving firearms are common in Haiti,” the advisory reads. “They include robbery, carjackings, sexual assault, and kidnappings for ransom. Do not travel to Haiti for any reason."
No other cruise lines sail to Haiti.
Royal Caribbean doesn't know what the future will hold for other visits, so it's a "wait and see" approach.
Political and civil strife in Haiti is not new, and the travel warnings have been in places for many years.
Labadee, Royal Caribbean's private beach area, is a walled-off, exclusive beach on a peninsula in northern Haiti.
It's located 130 miles north of the capital, Port-au-Prince.
Haiti is experiencing gang violence that is targeting the country's government.
Gangs have grown in power since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021. They now control 90% of the capital, Port-au-Prince, and have expanded their activities, including looting, kidnapping, sexual assaults and rape, into the countryside. Haiti has not had a president since the assassination.
The first Kenyans arrived in Haiti in June 2024 and the force was supposed to have 2,500 troops. That Kenyan force has had issues with lack of funding and its current strength is below 1,000.
This week, the United States and Panama are proposing to replace the force with a “gang-suppression force” with a maximum of 5,550 uniformed personnel.
The force would have arrest and detention powers and more military-grade capabilities and lethal equipment.
If you're on a long cruise, you might have access to a new Royal Caribbean drink package that seems to be the perfect middle ground for lots of cruisers.
There are drink packages to buy on any Royal Caribbean cruise, and they offer unlimited drinks for the entire duration of the sailing.
For a lot of people, having unlimited drinks is the perfect solution for a enjoyable vacation without worrying about running up a big bar bill.
But there are cruisers who want to enjoy some drinks, but find paying for an unlimited drink package is overkill for their needs.
Now there's a new option that seems to cater to that crowd, but there's a catch.
Over the last week, cruisers have started posting screenshots of a new drink package option.
Known as Refreshment + 10 Drinks Package, it combines the Royal Refreshment package and 10 individual alcoholic beverages.
The Royal Refreshment Package is a non-alcoholic beverage package that pretty much includes every drink available on the ship that doesn't have any booze in it.
This includes:
On top of that, this new package has 10 alcoholic beverages of your choice you can order throughout the duration of the cruise. It's not 10 drinks per day, simply 10 drinks total.
Royal Caribbean says, "this is the package for ultimate flexibility".
The onboard price of a Royal Refreshment package is usually $32 to $42 per person, per day. A cocktail usually costs between $10 - $14 each. Pre-cruise sales have had the Refreshment package as low as $29.99 per person, per day.
Prices for the Refreshment + 10 Drinks Package have been spotted at $36.99 per person, per day when purchased online.
An important rule to be aware of is the cruise line does seem to require all adults in the same cabin to be required to purchase it if one does, which is a rule found with the unlimited alcohol package.
Before you run out to book the Refreshment + 10 Drinks Package on every sailing you have booked, you should know it's only available on select sailings.
Based on what cruisers have shared from their bookings, it's clear Royal Caribbean is only offering it on long sailings that exceed a week.
Most people are reporting it available on transatlantic, Panama Canal crossings, and other cruises that go well past 10 days.
As far as I can tell, it's not available on cruises that are a week or less. Or at least the people on them haven't shared any details of it yet.
In my opinion, it looks as though Royal Caribbean wants to satisfy a customer need on these types of sailings.
Long cruises that are more than a week are less likely to sell a full unlimited alcohol drink package because it's difficult to drink enough every day of the sailing to make it worthwhile.
I refer to this phenomenon as "drink package fatigue", where the novelty of having unlimited drinks runs out, and it seems almost like a chore to order drinks simply because you have the package.
The other factor is a drink package over 10 or more nights is going to have a high up front cost.
Even with pre-cruise sales, a cruise that is two weeks or more could have the Deluxe Beverage Package easily cost more than $1,000 per person.
I believe this particular drink package has more to do with bumping up drink package sales than anything else, but there's another factor at play.
Royal Caribbean is seeing a shifting demographic of younger cruisers going on ships. Half of Royal Caribbean cruisers are now Millennials or younger.
One trend among Millennials and Gen Z is more of them prefer non-alcoholic beverages than previous generations.
A recent study showed 23% of Gen Z and 24% of Millennials have tried these drinks more frequently than other generations.
Royal Caribbean has seen this trend and is already adopting to it.
They recently revamped their fleetwide drink menu, adding far more mocktails to it than ever before.
There are multiple pages of low-alcohol and zero-proof drinks to choose from.
The Royal Caribbean cruise experience is evolving, and it's moving well past simply sailing on a cruise ship.
Wall Street analysts, Cleveland Research Company, published comments on the trajectory of Royal Caribbean Group after a meeting with the cruise giant's investor relations. They see Royal Caribbean Group in the middle of a transition from cruise ships to total vacation.
"Over the past few years, Royal has essentially transformed the cruise industry into something more than just a cruise," the report starts out by saying. And that's primarily because of its focus on land-based destinations it's cultivating.
Cruise lines have had private islands for decades, but the difference is how Royal Caribbean is going beyond offering a secluded beach. There is a major shift in the scale, scope, and type of experience being offered that rivals even going on the ship.
The analysis by CRC says Royal Caribbean is "evolving into a total travel company" instead of just being a cruise line.
It's a very rosy picture for the cruise giant, as they're seen as a market leader in what they're doing and how it's translated into sales.
"Royal’s lean into these islands is now something that all peers are attempting to emulate," the report says.
Here's how the numbers break down:
That's a major shift because of the growth in popularity of Perfect Day at CocoCay. As of now, Eastern Caribbean sailings account for 65-70% of the Caribbean sailings overall because so many ships call on CocoCay (as well as the island being so close to Florida).
Royal Caribbean indicated that number "should look much more balanced" when Perfect Day Mexico opens in 2027.
Perfect Day Mexico is more than a counterbalance to CocoCay, it's set to be the new golden standard for what a vacation day will look like.
Opening in late 2027, the second Perfect Day is going to be massive. The footprint is over 200 acres, which is bigger than the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World and double the size of CocoCay.
The CRC report claims once it's fully operational, over 5 million passengers will visit it per year.
It also means more ships can visit the "underserved" Western Caribbean market, benefiting ships that homeport in Galveston, Tampa or New Orleans.
According to Royal Caribbean, today passengers typically don’t get off the ship in places like Cozumel or Nassau, but they think their beach club product will solve for that.
In addition to the Perfect Day spots, two new beach clubs will open too.
Royal Beach Club Paradise Island in Nassau will open in December 2025 and Royal Beach Club Cozumel in late 2026.
Unlike CocoCay, these are extra-cost admission areas owned and operated by Royal Caribbean that seek to offer the ultimate beach day.
CRC thinks over 1 million people could buy passes to each annually, and they believe the price will average upwards of $200 per person.
Building out private beaches means there could be certain itineraries where a ship visits three different ports that feature a Royal Caribbean private enclave.
By 2028, 90% of passengers sailing in the Caribbean will visit a private destination run by the cruise line. That number is 60% today.
Earlier this week, Celebrity Cruises opened pre-bookings for its first river cruises, and deposits sold out within minutes.
CRC notes the river boat design draws clear inspiration from the Edge Class ships.
Stateroom categories include River View, Infinite Veranda, Veranda, and two suite classes: the Skylight Suite and Vista Suite.
Included in the ticket fare is one shore excursion per day, dining, select wine and beer (option to upgrade), and internet access.
Suite guests receive butler service, exclusive dining access, daily cocktail hours, and laundry service once per sailing.
The first sailings will be 7-night sailings along the Danube and Rhine rivers, which CRC says account for the majority of European river cruise capacity.
Royal Caribbean offers its Refreshment Package as a way to enjoy unlimited non-alcoholic drinks, but is it worth it?
With the Refreshment Package, you can order almost any non-alcoholic beverage at any bar and restaurant on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship. This includes as much mocktails, sparkling water, premium coffee, and sodas on your cruise as you like.
This is a convenient way to budget how much you need to spend on drinks without worrying about a big bill later.
It's a popular extra add-on, but is the Refreshment Package worth it on Royal Caribbean?
Basically, any beverage on your Royal Caribbean cruise that doesn't have alcohol is included with the Refreshment package:
Guests who purchase the Royal Refreshment package will also receive a souvenir Coca-Cola cup, which can be used with the Coca-Cola Freestyle machines on select Royal Caribbean ships.
The drink package works as well while at Perfect Day at CocoCay or Labadee.
If you buy the Refreshment Package on your ship, it will cost $40 per person, per night (excluding gratuity).
However, you can save a lot of money if you pre-purchase it before the cruise begins.
Gratuity will be automatically added to the cost when you go to buy it, and is 18% of the daily cost.
Sale prices on the drink package can bring that price as low as $29 per person, per day.
It's why I always recommend pre-purchasing drink packages before the cruise begins to save money.
Royal Caribbean offers sales quite often through its Cruise Planner site and app. These sales apply to drink packages, WiFi, shore excursions, and more.
There is no risk in purchasing a drink package now and taking advantage of a price drop later. If you spot a better discount on something you already pre-purchased, you should be able to cancel the purchase and then re-purchase the same item under this promotion.
Royal Caribbean defines "premium coffees" as cappuccinos, espressos, and lattes. Thus, espresso based drinks are included with the Royal Refreshment package at any restaurant, bar, or cafe that serves espresso beverages.
This includes specialty coffees you can get at Cafe Promenade, Cafe Latte-tudes, or Cafe@Two70. At these locations, they serve Starbucks drinks and are included with a Refreshment Package.
However, the Refreshment Package does not work at Starbucks kiosks.
If you're someone that wants to have more than three or four non-alcoholic drinks per day, I think the Refreshment Package makes a lot of sense.
It's also the right choice if you don't want alcoholic drinks. If you want cocktails, beer, or wine, you should upgrade to the Deluxe Beverage Package.
The Refreshment Package is very popular with teenagers and young people that cannot drink alcohol yet. They'll make it worth their while buy enjoy a lot of premium coffees, mocktails and sodas. A growing amount of adults are opting for this sort of a drink package too.
There's no question this beverage package can save you money compared to ordering the same amount of drinks individually onboard. As long as you can drink enough every day to make it worthwhile, this is the right buy.
The soda package only includes soft drinks and a souvenir Coca-Cola cup, whereas the Refreshment package includes mocktails, coffees, juices, milk shakes and sodas.
So the difference is if you want just sodas or other beverages included with the package as well.
Ultimately the value is based on how much you'll actually drink on your cruise.
I think most people that buy it find it worthwhile for the convenience. One price and you don't have to worry about how much each drink costs.
You're on vacation, why be bothered with how much a drink costs.
Royal Caribbean positions the price so that it's more expensive than if you were a casual drinker that wanted one or two drinks per day, but it's a good value for those that truly enjoy a lot of beverages that aren't included in the cruise fare.
If you're someone that will probably have a couple drinks per day, every day of the sailing, then I think it's absolutely worth it. Factor in a latte in the morning, a couple of mocktails during the day, and bottled water here and there, and you'll be breaking even on the total cost.
The most important thing is to buy the drink package before the cruise begins to take advantage of a lower price. Waiting to book it onboard is a mistake.
Royal Caribbean has seven types of cruise ships, and each has its own distinct style.
The Icon, Oasis, Quantum, Freedom, Voyager, Radiance, and Vision Class ships come in different layouts, sizes, and onboard features.
Think of ship classes like models of cars. There are many similarities, but also a few ways they're different in how they look and function.
I've got tips and tricks to make the most of any of them, regardless of which ships you prefer or are sailing on next.
There are two Icon Class cruise ships in service (plus a few more on order): Icon of the Seas and Star of the Seas.
Book shows before the cruise begins: The shows on Icon Class ships are incredible, so don't miss out on them by not having a reservation.
You can make a reservation for shows on Icon Class ships up to 30 days before the cruise begins. Right now there isn't an exact cadence to when they are available to book, but usually it's about a month or less before your cruise sails.
Go on the water slides on a port day: The Category 6 waterpark is impressive, but your best bet is to try to ride the slides during a port day.
Either stay on the ship when your ship is docked in port, or plan to hit the slides before or after your tour.
There are more free (and better) dining choices: While I love indulging in specialty restaurants, you really don't have to spend extra for them.
Royal Caribbean invested more in convenient included restaurants, including my all-time favorite: Aquadome Market. There's also El Loco Fresh, Basecamp, Pearl Cafe, and of course Windjammer, Main Dining Room, and Sorrento's.
Some of the biggest ships in the world, the Oasis Class ships include: Oasis, Allure, Harmony, Symphony, Wonder, and Utopia of the Seas.
Try the Solarium Bistro: One of the least-crowded spots for a sit down meal that's included in your fare is Solarium Bistro.
It's a combination of buffet and plated meal, but most people are unaware it exists and it's a great alternative to the more crowded venues.
Don't miss the Mason Jar bar: My favorite bar experience on any ship is the country bar on Utopia, Allure, and Wonder of the Seas.
The Mason Jar is a Southern American restaurant, but it has a really fun country music bar that has great music, and even better cocktails.
Catch an AquaTheater show: I think the must-see performance on any Oasis Class ship is in the Aquatheater.
Plan to arrive at least 30 minutes early so you can get a really good seat. Keep in mind the first two rows are the "splash zone".
Think of the Quantum Class ships like a mash-up of big ship size with refined tastes. There are five ships in total: Quantum, Anthem, Ovation, Spectrum, and Odyssey of the Seas.
Two70: The don't miss venue on any Quantum Class ships is Two70, which has different events throughout the day.
This beautiful space has shows at night, and demonstrations involving its impressive roboscreens.
Book a North Star and Ripcord reservation before the cruise: Royal Caribbean opens bookings for its two most popular top deck activities before the cruise begins.
North Star pod and Ripcord by iFly require reservations, so get one about a month or so before the cruise begins.
North Star is free if you book a port day (like embarkation day), and in my opinion, you're not missing much for a paid one on a sea day.
Bumper cars are a lot of fun: It might seem like a gimmick to offer bumper cars on a cruise ship, but I really think they're worth trying.
It's a lot of family fun and worth the wait!
There are just three Freedom Class ships, but I think they're some of the best options for value, size, and fun things to do onboard: Freedom of the Seas, Independence of the Seas, and Liberty of the Seas.
Go to the helipad for sailaway: I love the helipad location for sailaway, and most guests don't know you can go there.
The perfect views from deck 14: If you want a great spot to sit, have a drink, and watch the world go by, I'd recommend the lounge on deck 14.
It goes by different names depending on which ship you're on, but it's the lounge on deck 14 accessible by the aft elevators.
Each ship has a special dining venue: Depending on the Freedom Class ship you sail on, Royal Caribbean has one restaurant you should seek out to eat at because it's impressive.
Arguably the best value in Royal Caribbean right now, the Voyager Class ships have the big ship feel, but without the premium price tag: Voyager of the Seas, Adventure of the Seas, Explorer of the Seas, Mariner of the Seas, and Navigator of the Seas.
Free sauna: Voyager Class ships offer saunas and steam rooms in the fitness area.
When you enter the gym, there should be an entrance on the left.
Visit the helipad: As one of three cruise ship classes offering access to the helipad, it's worth going there for a photo.
You can access it on deck 4 at the outside area and then walking forward.
Bring your bathing suit on embarkation day: Whether you want to hit the water slides, pool, or FlowRider surf simulator, the best time to go is on boarding day.
Pack your bathing suit or simply wear it to the cruise terminal and then go right to the pool deck. You'll find non-existent lines.
Small in size, the Radiance Class offer sailings to fantastic places around the world. They're a mix of versatile and relaxing.
There are a total of four ships in this class: Radiance, Serenade, Brilliance, and Jewel of the Seas.
There's a water slide for young kids: If you children are under the age of eight, take them to try the water slide.
The water slide on deck 12 is basic, but it's something young children should relish going down over and over.
There's a rotating bar: The Radiance Class has a bar up on deck 13 in the Viking Crown Lounge, and theoretically it spins.
At night, it has the capability to slowly rotate. It's often broken, but if it does work, it's a neat effect.
Thermal spa pass: You can buy a thermal spa pass, which gets you unlimited access to the steam room, sauna, and heated stone chairs.
You can buy it at the Vitality Spa, and it also includes a Rasul treatment session.
The oldest and smallest of Royal Caribbean's ships, there are just four of these left in service: Enchantment, Vision, Rhapsody, and Grandeur of the Seas.
The best Schooner Bar: All Royal Caribbean ships have a Schooner Bar, but I think the one on the Vision Class is the best in the fleet.
It's massive, has lots of seating, and fantastic ocean views too. Plan to visit at least a couple of evenings.
Park Cafe is hidden: You might miss Park Cafe if you didn't know it was in the adults-only Solarium.
This is where you can get sandwiches, salads, and even late night pizza. Don't worry, kids can go in to get a bite to eat too.
Free sauna and steam room: Inside the Fitness Center is a free sauna, steam room, and very large showers for anyone to use.
The showers are great for families, and the sauna and steam rooms are lesser-known amenities open to guests.
Just kidding, there are no Discovery Class ships.