Taking a baby on a cruise is an unforgettable adventure, but it comes with its own unique surprise. 

After all, cruise vacations are known for being relaxing, convenient, and packed with activities, but traveling with a baby adds a whole new layer of considerations to the mix. 

Having recently experienced my first cruise as a parent, I realized there was so much I didn’t know before we boarded the ship. From what to pack to how to navigate the ship with a stroller, there were countless moments where I found myself learning as I went.

If you’re like me, you’ve probably read a few articles and checked out forums for tips on traveling with a baby. However, nothing truly prepares you for the unique quirks of life aboard a cruise ship when you’re juggling nap schedules, diaper changes, and feedings while still trying to enjoy your vacation. 

I’m here to share what I wish I had known before setting sail, so you can feel more confident and prepared when it’s your turn to embark on this memorable journey.

Be Prepared to Pack More Than You Think

One of the most important lessons I learned while cruising with a baby is that being overprepared is essential. Although I was aware that certain items might be hard to come by onboard, I didn’t realize just how limited the availability would be, especially when it came to baby essentials. 

On Icon of the Seas, there were absolutely no baby products available for purchase. No diapers, wipes, bottles, baby food, or even age-appropriate toys! This was something I definitely did not anticipate.

Even if these items had been available, it’s important to note that the ship’s shops have limited hours, often not aligning with your needs. This means that if you forgot something or ran out of essential items, you might not be able to get them easily. 

We were glad we packed as much as we did, as it ended up being more than just helpful—it was a lifesaver. 

From diapers to baby wipes, we used everything we brought and still had to stock up on more wipes while we were in port just to be on the safe side. Packing everything you could possibly need will ensure you don’t find yourself in a pinch during your cruise.

Excursions Have More Restrictions Than You Might Expect

Before booking our cruise, we imagined ourselves spending every day in port and lounging on the beach with our baby. It seemed like the perfect plan, especially since we knew our little one would only be able to use the Baby Splash Zone onboard—not the pools—making beach excursions a great way for her to swim.

However, we were surprised to learn that most of the excursions, even the basic beach trips, had age restrictions starting at around four years old. I’m still unsure whether this is due to transportation liability or safety concerns, but it definitely left us feeling a bit disappointed. 

There were very few excursions available to families with babies, and we ended up either searching for independent activities on our own or simply strolling around the port, which isn’t exactly what we had in mind for a vacation. It’s important to research your excursions ahead of time and confirm if they’re baby-friendly, so you’re not left scrambling at the last minute.

Family-friendly options, for even the youngest cruisers

I was excited to learn that the Icon of the Seas offers an Adventure Babies room, which is a fantastic service for parents traveling with young children. 

The room is designed for babies aged 6 to 36 months and allows parents to drop off their little ones for baby care sessions for a small fee. It was a great opportunity for us to have some adult time to explore activities that weren’t suitable for a baby, such as the waterpark, adult comedy shows, and specialty dining.

However, it's essential to know that this service is not available on every ship, so be sure to check whether your cruise line offers similar services. Also, reservations are required, and because the room’s capacity is limited, it can fill up quickly, especially during busy sailings with many young children. 

They also offered plenty of family programming, like black light puppet shows, bedtime stories under the stars, and others. 

Another great tip is to check with the cruise line if they offer Adventure Ocean programming, as many ships provide complimentary toy rental bags filled with age-appropriate toys. These bags are a lifesaver and allow you to exchange them for a fresh set of toys anytime during your trip.

The other wonderful option are the babysitting services. They have a fee, but it's worth it.

A balcony cabin is essential for families with small children

While cruising has always been a dream vacation for me, I never realized just how important the type of cabin would be when traveling with a baby. While I’d happily sleep anywhere on a cruise, the cabin became a central part of our experience with a baby in tow. 

One of the early challenges was which Royal Caribbean cabin to book for our family. We got lucky when booking our cruise, as the lowest cabin category came with a guaranteed balcony. Having this extra space was more important than I expected. With a baby, you’ll need a quiet, dedicated area outside of your cabin to enjoy some fresh air, converse with your partner, or simply relax without disturbing your little one. 

We used our balcony not just for quiet moments but also as a play area for our baby. Watching the water and people-watching from the balcony became part of her daily routine. I don’t think I could go on a cruise again without booking a cabin with a balcony, as it gave us much-needed space and comfort during our time at sea.

Navigating the ship with a stroller can be tricky

If you’re planning to bring a stroller on board, be prepared for some tight squeezes. We opted for a travel stroller, which was more compact and easier to navigate compared to our everyday model. However, I didn’t anticipate just how difficult the hallways would be to navigate. 

On embarkation and disembarkation day, the hallways were packed with suitcases, making it a challenge to move around. But it wasn’t just those days that proved tricky—every single day was an obstacle course. Cleaning carts, scooters, and other items often blocked the path, forcing us to squeeze through narrow spaces, sometimes bumping against walls. 

If we had brought a wider stroller, there’s no way we would’ve made it through. It’s definitely something to consider when traveling with a baby, as hallways can get crowded, making stroller navigation a bit of a hassle.

Read more: 7 Best Royal Caribbean cruise ships for Kids

Additionally, we’re used to hopping on and off stairs quickly, but that wasn’t an option with the stroller. Navigating through the ship’s multiple levels meant that we had to wait for elevators. Unfortunately, this wasn’t always convenient since elevators can get crowded, and not all elevators accommodate strollers easily. 

Plus, during peak hours, you can be waiting a while for one to open up that is big enough for you to fit in with a stroller. 

There were a few times when we felt like we were in a race against the clock, trying to catch a lift before it became overcrowded with other guests. If you’re someone who is used to being on the move quickly with stairs or walking fast, this was definitely a noticeable change in our typical flow.

Food for babies on a cruise is easier to find than I thought

A major concern for us going into this cruise was whether our baby would have enough options to eat. She had recently started eating solids but still required soft foods, so we packed purees as a backup, just in case. 

However, we quickly realized that we didn’t need to worry at all. The cruise staff, both in the Main Dining Room and the Windjammer buffet, were incredibly accommodating and more than willing to prepare food for our baby. 

In the dining room, the waitstaff quickly brought over fruits and vegetables as soon as we were seated, so she could start eating while we waited for our own meals to arrive. In the Windjammer, we were impressed with the variety of fresh fruits and vegetables available, and the staff was happy to steam fresh broccoli from the Asian station upon request. 

It was such a relief to know that we didn’t need to bring along jars of baby food or worry about feeding her at mealtimes. The wide selection and the willingness of the staff to cater to our baby’s needs made a huge difference and allowed her to enjoy meals with us like a little foodie!

Expect to interact with other guests and crew more frequently than you’re used to

Normally, when we cruise, we tend to keep to ourselves or stay within our travel group. However, with a baby on board, things were different. Our little one had a natural curiosity and loved to interact with everyone she met, prompting many friendly conversations. 

Crew members and fellow guests alike enjoyed chatting with her, whether in the elevators, during meals, or while walking around the ship. People were genuinely interested in hearing about our experience traveling with a baby and often joked about how she was earning her cruise loyalty status at such a young age. 

We were surprised by how many new connections we made just by being parents with a baby. Traveling with a young child opened up more opportunities to interact with others and make lasting memories with fellow cruisers.

Read more: 50 tips for cruising with kids

Cruising with a baby makes for a stress-free family vacation

One of the biggest advantages of cruising with a baby is the convenience of always being close to your cabin. Whether she needed a nap, a diaper change, or just some quiet time, we could easily retreat to our cabin without the stress of coordinating transportation or worrying about getting back to a hotel. 

We never had to feel guilty if we needed to leave a meal or activity early because we knew our cabin was just a few steps away. The convenience of being so close to our “home base” made it easy to explore the ship and ports at our own pace without the added stress of complicated logistics. 

Plus, the best part of a cruise—only having to unpack once while visiting multiple destinations—is always a huge perk! Cruising offered a level of ease that made it the perfect first family vacation with our little one.

Taking a baby on a cruise may seem daunting at first, but with the right mindset and preparation, it can turn into an enjoyable and stress-free experience. 

Looking back, I’m so glad we chose this as our family’s first big adventure. Despite the challenges, like figuring out how to navigate the ship with a stroller or adjusting to excursion limitations, we created memories that will last a lifetime.

Cruising with a baby comes with its own set of challenges, but it’s also an opportunity to create unforgettable memories. The key is to find your rhythm, stay flexible, and embrace the unexpected. 

These tips are designed to help you feel prepared, confident, and ready to make the most of your time at sea. With the right preparation, your family cruise can be an enjoyable and memorable experience for everyone.

When it comes to traveling with a young child, there are countless considerations that go into the planning process

Among the most essential parts is the packing list, which can make or break your family trip. Depending on where you are traveling, this list may vary, as some destinations will offer easy access to certain items, while others might require you to bring everything yourself.

However, when cruising, it is vital to pack anything and everything you might need over the course of your vacation, as cruise ships rarely carry baby and toddler items on board for purchase. While you might find what you need at a port of call, this isn’t always a guarantee, and tracking down essentials could disrupt your plans or your child’s comfort. As a result, it’s best to pack in abundance and prepare for all scenarios, so you don’t find yourself scrambling for supplies mid-cruise.

Recently, I embarked on a 7-night cruise with my 6-month-old baby and, after some trial and error, am confident that I perfected her packing list. Here is everything I packed, along with what I recommend for anyone planning to cruise with a baby or toddler.

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Cruise clothing must-haves for a baby

Naturally, the most important item for a cruiser of any age is clothing! Your child’s age, habits, and needs will help determine how many outfits you might need for your cruise. 

For our baby, we planned two outfits per day, with an additional three extra outfits as a buffer. We used almost every single outfit due to mealtime messes and the occasional diaper mishap. To ensure nighttime comfort, we packed pajamas for each night, totaling eight, which included one for our night at the pre-cruise hotel.

Since we were heading to the warm Caribbean, and our ship had a Baby Splash Zone, we brought three long-sleeved swimsuits with built-in UV protection. Keeping our baby’s sensitive skin protected from the sun was a priority, so we also packed three sunhats to swap out as needed. 

Read more: I took my 6-month-old on a cruise. This is the best ship for a baby, and I want to go on one again

Having more than one hat was helpful since one inevitably ended up damp or sandy after beach outings. For older toddlers who are walking, be sure to pack comfortable shoes, as cruise ships involve a fair amount of walking. If you’re planning for beach or pool time, consider swim shoes to protect their feet from hot sand or poolside surfaces.

To help preserve her clothing, we packed five bibs, as she’s currently in a heavy drooling phase, and we hoped they’d catch any spit-ups before they reached her outfit. 

Alongside the bibs, we included a selection of bows and headbands to accessorize. We also packed six burp rags, which proved invaluable for quick cleanups and saved us in many messy moments. These were particularly useful when kept in our diaper bag and stroller for easy access.

You will also want to look ahead in your cruiser planner before sailing to see if there are any theme nights you would like to participate in. Some typical themes you may find are White Night, Caribbean Night, Formal Night, and more.

However, you may also have more specific themes depending on when you sail. We cruised over Halloween, which meant we also had to pack our costumes to dress up while onboard. 

Sleeping arrangements

Living within driving distance of the port made it convenient to bring our own pack-and-play. I highly recommend the Guava Lotus Travel Crib if you’re in the market for a travel crib. It’s incredibly easy to assemble, folds down small, and comes with a durable carrying case. This fit perfectly in our large suitcase, making it easy to transport.

Most cruise lines offer a pack-and-play if you request one, and they’ll bring it to your cabin. However, reviews on these cribs are mixed—some receive full-sized cribs, while others get mini versions, and the condition can vary. 

Because of this uncertainty, we chose to bring our own pack-and-play, especially since we’d planned to pack our own crib sheets, which might not fit a mini crib. This decision gave us peace of mind, knowing she’d be comfortable and in a familiar sleep environment.

If you’re traveling with an older child who isn’t ready for a bed or pull-out sofa, inflatable toddler beds or bed rails are portable and work well for cruises. Certain inflatable toddler beds also fit under the blackout tents, which are a must-have for creating a separate, dark space for your child in the room.

Speaking of, one item I consider essential when sharing a room with a small child is a blackout tent. While there are many options available, we opted for the more affordable Hiccapop Black Out Tent, which worked perfectly for our needs. Not only did it take up minimal suitcase space, but it also helped us create a separate “room” for her. 

We could leave our cabin lights on while she napped, and our travel sound machine in the tent helped block out noises from the hallways. For parents of older children sleeping on the pull-out sofa, another option is using blackout curtains and metal hooks to create a temporary “room” around their sleep area.

In addition to the tent, we brought two sleep sacks, which our baby sleeps in each night. This familiar item helped create a sense of routine for her, which was essential in the new environment of a cruise cabin.

Everyday essentials to pack

As mentioned, you won’t find baby supplies like diapers and wipes for sale on most ships. This means you’ll need to bring enough diapers and wipes to cover the entire trip. To avoid running out or facing high costs, be prepared with plenty. As a point of reference, we found wipes in port at Roatan for $10—much more than what we pay at home!

One great tip is to use an empty diaper box as storage. We filled it with diapers, wipes, and other essentials, taped it back up, added a luggage tag, and it was delivered directly to our stateroom—just like our suitcases. This saved space in our main bags and kept everything organized.

When it comes to swim diapers, pack enough for each pool or beach day you have planned, especially if your ship has a Baby Splash Zone. Swim diapers aren’t allowed in regular pools onboard, but these splash areas are a great alternative and perfect for young ones.

For formula-feeding parents, it’s wise to bring more than you think you’ll need. We carried ours in our carry-on bag to avoid issues during embarkation and packed an extra can just in case.

For added convenience, you can email [email protected] about a month or two before your cruise to request distilled water in your cabin. Though ours wasn’t there when we first arrived, our stateroom attendant quickly brought it to us, and it was refilled as needed. This saved us from packing large water bottles for formula preparation.

We packed enough bottles and a compact bottle-cleaning kit, which has been a game changer. This kit includes a drying rack, cleaning brushes, and a soap container, all in a small case. It made keeping bottles clean on the go incredibly easy.

If you’re breastfeeding and need to store milk, request a medical-grade refrigerator, as the cabin coolers won’t keep milk at a safe temperature. 

For pumping, an extension cord might be necessary since most ships lack conveniently placed outlets. You can request this via the stateroom form emailed shortly before your trip. You can always ask your cabin steward once onboard, too. 

For parents deciding whether to bring a stroller, I’d recommend opting for a lightweight travel stroller over an everyday one. Cruise ship hallways can be narrow, especially when cleaning carts or suitcases are out. Our travel stroller was easy to fold, lightweight, and perfect for navigating the ship’s halls. Additionally, it had a decent compartment underneath, which proved useful for holding essentials.

Medications and toiletries

Another critical category is over-the-counter and prescription medication. While this applies to travelers of all ages, it’s especially important for babies and toddlers, as finding infant medications on board is unlikely. We packed infant Tylenol, gas relief drops, teething tablets, infant Benadryl, and baby cough syrup, just in case. These items take up minimal space, and having them gave us peace of mind.

Along with diapers and clothing, another must-pack item is sunscreen. While you can often find sunscreen available onboard, the ship’s shops aren’t always open when you might need them, and the prices can be quite steep. For example, sunscreen at Perfect Day at CocoCay costs $35 for a single bottle. 

We took extra care to bring sunscreen specifically suited for our baby’s sensitive skin. For her, we opted for an infant-friendly formula gentle enough to use multiple times throughout the day. For ourselves, we packed our usual spray sunscreen, which saved us both money and time during our vacation. Having our preferred brands on hand gave us peace of mind and kept everyone protected from the strong sun at sea and in port.

Read more: How to make your own DIY cruise first aid kit

One item we discovered to be invaluable was Miss Mouth’s Messy Eater Stain Treater spray. We use this spray at home to keep her clothes looking fresh, and it proved just as essential during our cruise. With a baby, spills are inevitable, especially when trying new foods and snacks onboard. We found ourselves reaching for the stain remover frequently, and it easily handled the daily messes. 

Along with the stain remover, we packed a few packs of SinkSuds, anticipating that we might need to wash a few items in our cabin sink. As it turned out, we had a couple of accidents and needed to wash clothes more than once. The SinkSuds worked remarkably well in the small bathroom sink, helping us keep her clothes fresh even without access to a washing machine.

An inflatable tub was another must-have item that made our cruise experience much smoother. If you’re in a standard cabin, you will have just a shower and no tub, which can make bathtime tricky with a young child. Some parents may be comfortable showering with their little ones, but for us, it quickly became clear that our baby’s slippery spaghetti noodle antics made it challenging to keep her safe in the shower.

The inflatable tub fit perfectly inside the shower stall, giving her a safe space to enjoy a bath without the chaos of managing her in the shower. Beyond bathtime, this tub also served as a cozy, contained play space. 

We often set it up on the balcony, allowing her to sit safely while enjoying the views, or we’d use it inside the cabin to keep her occupied for a few minutes. 

The best part? It packs down almost flat, making it easy to store in a suitcase. I would recommend this for anyone traveling with a baby or young child who still needs a tub.

Extras we found surprisingly useful

Since our baby had only recently started trying solid foods, we decided to pack a few pureed pouches to make sure she’d have familiar options available. While the ship’s dining areas offered plenty of fruits, vegetables, and even some meats she could nibble on, having her favorite purees on hand gave us peace of mind. 

If you’re traveling with a toddler with specific food preferences, bringing a few of their favorite snacks can be a smart move, as it can be hard to find familiar items onboard. That said, the kids’ menus and options were impressive, and the crew went out of their way to accommodate requests when possible.

Along that note, disposable bibs were another fantastic addition. Babies can be messy eaters, and it’s not always possible to rinse out reusable bibs quickly between meals. Disposable bibs pack down incredibly small, and it was a relief not to have to worry about cleaning them after each use. 

In fact, we’ve added a few to our regular diaper bag for everyday use, since they’re so convenient in situations where we don’t have immediate access to a sink or washing facilities.

Disinfecting wipes was another essential item for us. Our baby is in a phase where everything she can reach goes straight to her mouth, and being able to sanitize surfaces like high chair trays and other communal items helped us keep things clean and safe for her. Having these wipes within reach was a huge help, as we didn’t always know when items had been last cleaned.

We also brought a packable swim float, which became a go-to item for days spent at the beach. As I mentioned earlier, when wet, our baby turns into a slippery noodle, making it hard to hold onto her safely. The swim float not only gave her a safe spot to enjoy the ocean on port days but also came with a canopy that provided shade from the sun. 

It even had a few attached toys that kept her happily occupied while we relaxed. This float was compact enough to fit in our luggage and took only seconds to inflate, making it a wonderful choice for a beach or pool day.

For anyone cruising with young children, I’d highly recommend bringing a rechargeable stroller fan. Living in Florida, we always have one on hand, but it proved especially useful on the cruise. It clipped to the edge of our stroller and kept her cool during warm port days, while fellow passengers often remarked how they wished they’d brought one too. Even on the ship, this fan came in handy in the sunniest areas.

While some might not see the need for this next item, small waste bags were absolutely essential for us. We keep these in our diaper bag anyway, but they were especially useful in the small cruise cabin. Since rooms are typically serviced once a day, used diapers can quickly start to smell in confined spaces. These bags helped contain odors and kept the trash clean, making for a more pleasant environment throughout our stay.

Read more: I went on a cruise with my baby and used the babysitting service multiple times. It was the best thing ever for parents

One of the most recommended items for family cruises is an over-the-door shoe rack, and while I was skeptical at first, it turned out to be incredibly useful. Babies and toddlers require a surprising amount of supplies, and cruise cabins are notoriously short on space and storage options. 

We used this shoe rack to organize her clothes, wipes, burp cloths, and toys, keeping all her commonly used items in one convenient spot. Having easy access to these essentials saved us time and hassle, especially when getting her ready for outings or mealtimes.

Another item that proved to be helpful was a pop-up hamper. While this is a good addition for any cruiser, it was invaluable with a baby onboard, as we went through multiple outfits each day. The hamper kept our cabin organized, and when it was time to pack up, it folded neatly into our suitcase.

Read more: 30 cruise cabin hacks that cruisers love

What to leave behind

One tip we picked up before our cruise was to take advantage of the Adventure Ocean Babies program, which some ships offer as a convenient onboard daycare service. If your cruise includes this option, you can safely skip packing extra toys, as they provide a variety of play options that you can rent out throughout the week. 

The daycare has a catalog of different toy bags designed to keep young ones entertained, and you can even swap them out mid-cruise if your child needs a change. This saved us a lot of space and effort! 

For instance, they had a light-up piano that kept our little one engaged—something we would never have considered packing ourselves. So, if you’re on a ship with this service, you can travel lighter knowing there will be fun, safe toys waiting for your child.

Packing takeaways and tips

At the end of our cruise, my husband and I went through all the items we’d packed to determine what we’d bring again and what we could skip next time. While we initially packed more than we probably needed, we found we used nearly every item, which felt like a packing success! 

After a bit of reflection, we decided we could reduce some of our clothing options, especially since we dined casually in the Windjammer buffet more often than we’d anticipated. Packing fewer dressier outfits and adding more comfortable daywear would have suited our actual cruise experience better.

The inflatable swim float is another item we’d bring again, though it may not be necessary for every family. It’s ideal for infants but only for children up to about 12 months, so families with toddlers may find it less useful. 

We’d also likely skip packing our own pureed foods in the future. With more confidence that we could find suitable food onboard, especially as our daughter continues to try more foods, we realized the ship’s offerings were more than adequate for her needs.

Another item that may not be necessary was bringing our own pack-and-play, which significantly increased our luggage load. Since we were within driving distance of the port and didn’t have to worry about flight weight restrictions, bringing this along made sense for us. 

However, if you’re flying or aiming to pack light, it’s worth considering the ship’s options. Many cruise lines offer complimentary or rentable cribs or pack-and-plays that can be prearranged, which can help lighten your load. Despite the extra bulk, the pack-and-play allowed our baby to sleep soundly in a familiar setup, so it was a worthwhile addition.

In the end, our baby essentials added up to an additional large suitcase, but it was worth it to have everything we needed at our fingertips. Packing for a cruise with a baby may feel overwhelming at first, but with each trip, you’ll get a clearer idea of what’s essential and what you can leave behind. 

For us, we’re satisfied knowing that—at least for one family member—we managed to avoid overpacking while still being fully prepared for a smooth, enjoyable cruise.

Cruises have a unique appeal when it comes to vacationing with little ones. 

There’s no packing and unpacking between destinations, plenty of activities for all ages, and, crucially, opportunities for parents to have some alone time. Unlike other vacations that can feel like nonstop parenting marathons, a family-friendly cruise like those offered by Royal Caribbean allows parents to unwind and recharge.

Royal Caribbean markets itself as the ultimate family-friendly cruise line, and it’s easy to see why. If you’re looking for a more adult-centered experience, there are other cruise lines to explore. But for families, especially those with babies, Royal Caribbean’s setup is ideal. 

Our 7-night sailing on Icon of the Seas was my baby’s first cruise and my first time navigating a vacation with a child in tow. Thankfully, the ship’s thoughtful amenities and the Adventure Ocean program helped make the experience unforgettable.

Adventure Ocean: A game-changer for parents

Over my years of cruising, I’ve come to know and love most of what Royal Caribbean has to offer, but this trip brought me into new territory as I explored their renowned youth program: Adventure Ocean. Specifically designed for families, this program offers activities and babysitting services for children aged 6 months to 12 years, with age-appropriate groupings to ensure every child has a fun experience.

Adventure Ocean’s Royal Babies & Tots (or Adventure Ocean Babies on the Icon of the Seas) is designed for children from 6 months to 36 months. It includes activities and playtime that keep little ones engaged, allowing parents to enjoy some time to themselves. 

For older kids, there are even more options: Aquanauts (ages 3-5), Explorers (ages 6-8), and Voyagers (ages 9-12), each with spaces and programs geared to their interests.

What to love about Adventure Ocean

Adventure Ocean is a fan favorite among families, and it’s easy to see why. It’s not uncommon to hear that parents often find that their children prefer spending time here over accompanying them around the ship. 

Between the vibrant play spaces and the expertly crafted activities, it’s no wonder kids beg to return. From black-light puppet shows to bedtime stories under the stars in Surfside, the programs are entertaining and enriching, making Adventure Ocean a true win-win for parents and children alike.

During our cruise, there were endless activities for kids, including a haunted house experience just for little ones and themed play sessions. These features set Adventure Ocean apart, showcasing Royal Caribbean’s dedication to creating a memorable family-friendly experience.

Babysitting services

For parents of babies, one of the most valuable services is the Adventure Ocean Babies program, available on select Royal Caribbean ships. 

While there is a small hourly fee—$6 per hour until 6 p.m. and $8 per hour from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m.—it’s an affordable rate compared to the cost of babysitters on land. Where I live, babysitting can cost upwards of $20 an hour, so this onboard service felt like an amazing deal.

Reservations are required for the baby program due to the need for a safe ratio of caregivers to children. On our sailing, the Icon of the Seas’ baby and toddler room could accommodate ten children during sea days and eight on port days, with multiple staff members in the room at all times. Knowing my baby was in good hands with qualified staff made it easy to relax and enjoy some much-needed time for myself.

Registration for Adventure Ocean Babies

One of the best tips I received was to go directly to Adventure Ocean for registration as soon as we boarded. It’s a small but important step, as registration ensures your little one is on the list for the program and avoids any last-minute hiccups. Additionally, for the Adventure Ocean Babies program, early registration lets you book time slots before they fill up.

After completing the mandatory muster drill, we went straight to the Adventure Ocean area. There were no lines, and we were greeted by a friendly staff member who walked us through the registration process on a tablet. 

The form allowed us to share essential information about our daughter’s eating and sleeping habits, as well as any special needs. We also designated who in our party was allowed to check her out of the program.

One helpful feature we received during registration was a DECT phone. This phone allowed the staff to reach us anytime while we were on the ship, which brought tremendous peace of mind. 

However, it’s worth noting that this phone only works on board, so we were unavailable if we took a shore excursion. We signed an agreement acknowledging a replacement fee if the phone was lost or damaged, ranging from $25 to $300 depending on the condition.

Booking time slots

Once we completed registration, we were ready to book our initial time slots. Initially, families are limited to reserving six hours at a time, with the option to check back after Day 3 to see if additional hours are available. 

Knowing in advance when we wanted baby-free time was helpful, and we used the Cruise Planner to map out activities. This way, we maximized our experience and secured the care slots we needed.

An added bonus we learned about was nursery access for families booked on Royal Caribbean excursions during port days. This option allows parents to use the service even when nursery capacity is limited. 

By reserving spots specifically for families on Royal Caribbean excursions, Royal Caribbean ensures parents can enjoy these special activities without concern for their little ones’ care. While we briefly considered booking a nursery slot on a port day to take an excursion that involved bus transportation (which we wouldn’t do without a car seat), we ultimately decided against it.

Still, this option is fantastic for families with older kids, especially since many excursions have a minimum age limit of around 4 years old. I was surprised that even beach breaks, which seem ideal for small children, were often restricted by age requirements. 

Knowing that parents of toddlers can still enjoy these excursions without worry, thanks to the nursery, is a big plus for families looking to make the most of their trip.

Exploring Adventure Ocean

After completing registration and chatting with the friendly nursery staff, we took a quick tour of Adventure Ocean. The spaces designed for older kids were impressive; it was easy to see why children would love spending time there. 

Because no children were currently present in the nursery, we were allowed to take pictures—something we couldn’t do otherwise, and we appreciated the thoughtfulness behind that policy.

I wasn’t sure what to expect from the Adventure Ocean Babies room, but I was genuinely pleased with what we found. Right as we entered, a half-wall partition with a door separated the main nursery area from the entrance. This setup kept the space safe and clean by preventing people from walking through unnecessarily. The partitioned area allowed us to handle drop-off and pick-up procedures while still being able to see clearly into the main room.

For added safety, the door leading into the room is locked and can only be opened by staff members from the inside. The room was spacious, clean, and thoughtfully arranged with features for little ones’ enjoyment and comfort. A large playmat in the center, surrounded by toys and a rocking chair, was designed for play and comfort. 

To one side, there was a small table for toddlers, along with a row of lockers for storing any items brought from our stateroom. The bathroom was designed specifically for small children, with pint-sized toilets that even the youngest could use.

Beyond another half-wall, we discovered a quiet area with cribs and a changing station. This part of the room was kept dim, with a low-level sound machine playing softly for children who needed to nap during their stay. It was clear that a lot of thought went into making the space as functional and cozy as possible.

Toy lending bags

One surprise we discovered was the availability of toy lending bags through Adventure Ocean. These bags, available to families with young children, are filled with age-appropriate toys, books, and activities to keep little ones entertained in the cabin or around the ship. It’s an excellent option for parents who don’t want to pack a ton of toys but still want their child to have engaging activities on board.

We picked up a toy bag on the first day, and it included a variety of fun, safe, and clean items like a light-up piano, rattles, squeaky toys, and more—all of which kept our daughter happily occupied during downtime in the cabin. 

Each bag is carefully curated by age group, so parents can feel confident that the toys are suitable and safe. These are not only free to borrow, but you can exchange the bag for a new one as often as you like, so there’s always something fresh and exciting for your child.

This service really added a special touch to our family cruise, and it’s a great example of how Royal Caribbean has thought through the details to make traveling with young kids easier. The toy lending bags allowed us to pack lighter and still have all the entertainment essentials we needed for a relaxing family vacation.

Our first reservation: smooth sailing on a sea day

Our first nursery reservation was scheduled for the second day of the cruise, a full day at sea. We had reserved the 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. slot, hoping to experience the record-breaking water park—something we couldn’t fully enjoy with our baby in tow. We arrived a few minutes early, just in case there was a line.

The check-in process was quick and straightforward, which put us at ease. The staff verified our reservation times and then asked to see our SeaPass card for scanning. 

They provided a small label with our baby’s name, stateroom number, and reservation time, which we were instructed to place on her back. Next, they inquired about her last feeding and diaper change and whether she would need to be fed or put down for a nap while in the nursery.

Parents can leave a prepared bottle or bring formula in pre-portioned containers to be mixed as needed for bottle-fed babies. 

If bottles aren’t labeled, staff will mark them with tape and your child’s name to ensure they’re only used by your baby. Parents are also asked to provide diapers, wipes, and other essentials, such as a favorite toy or pacifier. We even had the option to leave our stroller with them, making it easy to enjoy the water park without extra baggage.

The check-in process took under five minutes, and then we were off. Since our baby attends daycare during the week, she was comfortable in the nursery environment, which resembled our daycare’s setup back home. Thanks to the time change we had experienced the night before, her nap schedule aligned perfectly with our reservation.

One of the conveniences of Royal Caribbean’s nursery is the DECT phone system, which allows parents to stay connected without interrupting their activities. 

Between each water slide ride and exploration of the ship, we made a point to check the phone for missed calls, which gave us great peace of mind. Knowing we could be reached immediately made it easier to relax and enjoy our time together.

When our two-hour session at the water park was over, we made our way back to Adventure Ocean. By then, the nursery was busier, and another family was checking their child in. We learned that the nursery only allows one family in the room at a time, which keeps the space from getting crowded and adds an extra layer of safety for the children.

The pickup process was just as smooth as check-in. After scanning our SeaPass card to confirm we were authorized to pick up our baby, the staff shared a quick overview of her time there. They noticed she loved the bouncer chair and spent a good part of the session happily playing. 

When she began showing sleepy cues, as noted in our registration, they laid her down in one of the cribs, where she napped. This attention to detail and personalized care reassured us that she was in excellent hands.

Since she was still sleeping, they allowed one of us to go into the room to get her. They quickly buzzed me in, and I was able to pick her up from the crib to try to preserve the nap. We really appreciated this, as anyone who has dealt with a sleeping baby knows that waking them early can end badly.

After starting off with a positive experience, we were able to breathe a sigh of relief. Even though our daughter is used to childcare, you never know how they may react in a new environment, and with this room having a larger age range than our home daycare, we weren’t sure if that would impact anything.

Following experiences

Since the next day was Day 3 and we were feeling confident, we called them in the morning to see if there were any extra time slots available. We were in luck! While they didn’t tell us exactly how much time was available, they asked what hours we were looking for. We reserved a dinner slot that night, so we could relax and enjoy the Main Dining Room without feeling rushed.

Later that evening, we also took advantage of some post-dinner time. My husband tried out the thrilling Crowns Edge experience, while I spent some time meeting the Chief Dog Officer, Rover. It was refreshing to share some “grown-up” time together without worrying about our little one.

This experience was very similar to our first, and when we returned, our daughter was napping again. This time, they mentioned they initially tried to put her in a crib, but she had trouble settling. So they placed her in her stroller, rocked it a bit, and she drifted off. The staff even pushed her stroller into the dimly lit crib area, letting us roll her out peacefully, which was a nice touch and something we’d pre-approved as a backup option.

Our third reservation was on Day 4, and it was our first time testing a past bedtime drop-off. Normally, we stick to a strict bedtime routine, but we decided to loosen the reins and go with the flow.

We dropped her off at 7 p.m. so we could catch the 7:30 p.m. adult comedian show. We made sure to do our usual pre-bed routine, including bath time and changing her into pajamas but saved her evening bottle for Adventure Ocean Babies. 

When we picked her up later, we were glad to hear she had settled in, finished her bottle, and fallen asleep in a crib. I managed to transfer her back to our cabin without waking her up—something I’m sure fellow parents can appreciate as a small victory!

Our last reservation was on Day 6 from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., so we could catch a favorite show, Love & Marriage. However, I’d mistakenly remembered it as a 2 p.m. reservation and didn’t realize until we showed up at 1:50 p.m. Luckily, since they weren’t at capacity, they extended our reservation, letting us stay until 4 p.m.

Half an hour later, however, our phone rang—alarming us, since it had been practically inactive the entire cruise. The staff informed us that our daughter was crying, and they couldn't soothe her. We immediately left the show and headed over to pick her up.

When we arrived, I found one of the staff holding her, trying to calm her down. It was uncharacteristic of our daughter to be so upset, and I wondered if she might have taken a small tumble since she’s still learning to sit up unassisted. 

They assured me that she was physically fine but was simply unable to self-regulate at that moment. I took her into the hallway to soothe her while the staff helped gather our stroller and diaper bag. Once she calmed down, we returned to our cabin, where she napped and woke up as back as her usual self.

Reflecting on this, I realized she might have been experiencing early signs of separation anxiety, a typical stage for infants. She was also starting to teethe, which has made her a bit more irritable than usual, a pattern we noticed even after returning home.

Overall thoughts

Even though our last session at Adventure Ocean Babies was cut short, I felt relieved knowing she was in capable, caring hands. 

Babies cry—it's how they express themselves. I've seen plenty of adults shed tears on a cruise (especially later in the evening after a few drinks), so it’s all part of the experience! What matters most is how children are responded to, and Royal Caribbean has clearly taken the time to vet their Adventure Ocean staff, prioritizing professionalism and warmth.

Cruising with a baby might seem daunting, but Royal Caribbean’s family-friendly approach and well-designed Adventure Ocean program make it an enjoyable experience for parents and little ones alike. 

Whether you’re a first-time parent cruiser or seasoned sailor, you’ll find that this combination of amenities and thoughtful services allows for a memorable, relaxing trip that everyone in the family can enjoy.

As a long time traveler, I loved cruises, but what would it be like to bring a baby on a cruise ship?

Having been on over 15 cruises in my life, I thought I knew everything there was to know about cruising. I’d sailed through tropical paradises, explored countless ports, and enjoyed seemingly endless amenities aboard different ships. Yet, despite all of these experiences, I was stepping into entirely new territory on this particular trip — cruising with a baby in tow.

​​When I first mentioned taking our 6-month-old on a cruise, I got more than a few raised eyebrows. One family member even called me “brave.” Looking back, I’m not sure if it was bravery or just a bit of naïveté, but cruising has always been a big part of our lives, and we wanted our daughter to experience it from the start. There seemed no better time to rip off the band aid and dive into family cruising.

Even as an experienced cruiser, bringing a 6-month-old on board introduced a host of fresh challenges and a bit of nervous excitement. From managing a stroller on deck to syncing our schedule with our daughter’s naptime, I knew this trip would be unlike any other. I soon discovered a whole new side of cruising—one that revealed how well-suited it can be for families with young children. It was an eye-opening experience in the best way.

Read more: I've been cruising with my kids for 14 years. Here are the biggest mistakes I've made since they were babies

Planning the cruise

Since we live in Florida, cruising has always been our preferred way to vacation. Living so close to major embarkation ports offers easy access to a variety of ships and itineraries, which makes planning for a unique getaway far easier and avoids the hassle of long-distance travel. 

When we found out we were expecting our first child in April of 2024, I couldn’t wait to start planning for her first cruise. I’d always imagined we’d have her join us on our travel adventures, and the idea of her first cruise became an exciting milestone.

As I looked into options, I learned about Royal Caribbean’s Infant Policy, which states, “Infants sailing on a cruise must be at least 6 months old as of the first day of the cruise and/or CruiseTour.” 

However, for Hawaii voyages, transpacific and transatlantic routes, and some South American cruises, the minimum age is 12 months. Additionally, any cruise with three or more consecutive days at sea also requires infants to be at least 12 months old on embarkation day.

Knowing these guidelines early on was reassuring, especially as new parents. It allowed us to focus on shorter itineraries and prioritize cruises with fewer sea days. With these considerations, we felt confident in choosing a cruise that would be a comfortable, exciting, and safe experience for our little one. 

After all, a successful family vacation starts with the right planning, and knowing Royal Caribbean had policies in place made all the difference.

With the age restrictions in mind, one ship quickly emerged as the perfect choice for our baby’s first adventure at sea: Icon of the Seas. Billed as the "Ultimate Family Vacation," this ship promised an experience like no other, especially for families with young children. 

Our chosen itinerary was a 7-night Western Caribbean and Perfect Day cruise, allowing us to explore beautiful destinations while enjoying all of the ship's family-friendly amenities. The different neighborhoods, variety of dining options, and activities tailored for children were perfect for our first trip as a family of three. We were eager to see if Icon of the Seas could live up to its family-oriented reputation.

When it was time to book, we were in luck — a “Kids Sail Free” promotion was running, and we were thrilled to be able to take advantage of it. I’d always known this was one of the best deals for families, but as a frequent cruiser without kids, I’d never had a reason to use it before. This time, though, it felt like an ideal way to offset some of the extra costs of traveling as a family.

We initially planned to book the most affordable option and assumed that it would be an interior cabin. However, I quickly realized one of the interesting changes that come with booking a family cruise: adding a third passenger (even a baby) could actually make the balcony cabin more economical than both the interior and ocean-view options! To my surprise, adding our daughter as a third guest made the balcony stateroom the most affordable.

Read more: 7 Best Royal Caribbean Cruise Ships for Kids

About 90 days before our sailing, we received our room assignment and learned we’d be staying in a Surfside Family View Balcony Stateroom. This interior balcony room overlooked the bustling Surfside neighborhood, a family-centric area of the ship filled with activities and amenities just for kids. We got lucky with our specific stateroom, as it was just a few cabins from the end, allowing us a partial ocean view as well. Knowing we’d likely be spending a lot more time in our room compared to past cruises, we were thrilled to have a balcony that offered views of the action. We could people-watch and enjoy the lively atmosphere of Surfside right from our room while our baby napped.

One concern did cross our minds, though. On a previous cruise, we’d stayed in a Boardwalk View Balcony on an Oasis Class ship, where noise from the AquaTheater could be a bit disruptive, especially during late-night shows. We worried that the Surfside area might have a similar vibe, with the sounds of kids’ activities echoing throughout the day. Still, being in a space designed specifically for families felt perfect for our first cruise as a family of three. We couldn’t wait to see if the Surfside Family View Balcony would live up to its reputation as a top pick for families.

Embarkation day with an infant

Another change for us this time was deciding to drive to the port the day before the cruise. Since moving to Florida, we’d usually gone against the “fast and loose” approach with timing for previous cruises. 

Living just 3-4 hours from all the Florida ports that Royal Caribbean sails from, we typically hit the road early on embarkation day, making it to the port with time to spare. It was simple and stress-free when it was just the two of us. Re’d get up early, pack the car, and go with hardly a stop along the way.

However, after a few road trips with our baby, we’d learned that traveling with a tiny human meant more stops, slower packing, and an extended morning routine. 

Even getting out the door took longer than we were used to! With that in mind, we decided to take the age-old advice of heading to the port a day early, ensuring a stress-free start to our trip. The last thing we wanted was the added pressure of unexpected delays, traffic, or baby-related detours on embarkation day.

We opted to stay at the Intercontinental Miami, conveniently located close to the port, to make our embarkation as smooth as possible. Knowing we’d be minutes away from the ship gave us peace of mind and made the whole experience feel more like a true vacation from the start.

When embarkation day finally arrived, we were excited to head to the port and officially kick off our long-awaited family cruise. As seasoned cruisers, we knew the boarding process well, but adding a stroller into the mix brought new challenges. 

Thankfully, the entire process was still as smooth as I remembered, with staff going above and beyond to make the experience stress-free. They quickly directed us to the elevators and guided us through the handicap and stroller security screening areas, which were surprisingly efficient.

Unfortunately, our check-in time coincided perfectly with our baby’s usual nap schedule. I worried the busy terminal might disrupt her routine, but luck was on our side. Our little one fell asleep in her stroller, undisturbed by the bustling atmosphere around her. 

To my relief, she managed to nap her way through most of the check-in process and even onto Icon of the Seas. Watching her sleep despite the commotion was a promising start, and I felt reassured that she could handle the excitement of the cruise ahead.

Once onboard, our first order of business was to complete the muster drill at our designated station. After that, we headed straight to Adventure Ocean, following a popular tip we’d read about beforehand: go directly to Adventure Ocean upon boarding to register your child and reserve hours for the Adventure Babies program. Knowing that these slots could fill up quickly, especially on a ship geared toward families, we didn’t want to miss our chance.

Unlike the Adventure Ocean program for kids aged 3 and up, the Adventure Babies program requires reservations for a fee, adding an extra layer of planning for families. For our sailing, we were allowed to reserve six hours on day one, with the option to check back on day three for additional availability. 

Fortunately, I’d planned ahead and used the cruise planner to outline the activities we wanted to enjoy as a couple. This way, I arrived ready to book our preferred time slots without our baby, maximizing our hours strategically.

With no guarantee of extra slots later in the cruise, I reserved time slots that worked best with our schedule, even if they were farther out. Knowing we had some dedicated baby-free time booked allowed us to look forward to a few adult-oriented experiences while still enjoying the family-centered atmosphere on board.

After we had completed our two most important tasks for the day, it was finally time to explore our new home away from home for the next seven nights. One of the first things that struck us about cruising with a baby was the necessity of using the elevators instead of the stairs due to the stroller. This minor adjustment highlighted how different our cruising experience would be this time around.

Fortunately, the elevators on Icon of the Seas were impressive; we never had to wait long for one to arrive. However, we quickly discovered there were several areas of the ship where taking a quick flight of stairs would have been more efficient than retracing our steps to find an elevator bank. 

While this was a small inconvenience, it served as a reminder of the unique challenges and adjustments that come with traveling with a little one, and it didn’t significantly impact our overall experience.

Exploring the ship 

With our logistical tasks behind us, we made our way outside to Surfside to check out this vibrant, kid-centric area for the first time. As soon as we arrived, we were immediately impressed by the fun and colorful designs that surrounded us, along with the thoughtful touches that had been implemented throughout the space. Surfside truly seemed to be designed for ultimate family fun, featuring a dry slide, carousel, splash pad, playscape, eating venues, and, most importantly for us, the Baby Bay.

Baby Bay is essentially a baby and toddler splash pad, an area only certain Royal Caribbean ships offer, typically located next to Splashaway Bay. Since babies and children who need diapers are not allowed in regular pools or Splashaway Bay, it was essential for us to choose a ship that included this feature. 

These splash zones are smaller versions of the traditional splash pads but allow diapered children to enjoy water play safely. Knowing that we would be visiting warm destinations during our cruise, having the option to take our baby into a designated water area to cool off and enjoy the sunny weather was a must-have for us. It felt like a huge relief to know that our little one could join in the fun while we soaked up the sun, making our family experience much more enjoyable.

We found ourselves a little underwhelmed by the Baby Bay on Icon of the Seas, especially compared to the impressive Splashaway Bay situated right next to it. It honestly felt like an afterthought in terms of both size and features, particularly when we thought of the more engaging Baby Splash Zones found on many of the Oasis Class ships.

We noticed that there weren’t many older toddlers in this area, which made us wonder how long the novelty might last for kids older than a year. 

While the space provided just enough entertainment for our baby, we questioned whether it would fully engage slightly older children. We both agreed that toddlers might quickly grow bored with the limited features or feel frustrated by not being able to join the excitement of Splashaway Bay right next door.

While Baby Bay met our needs and was a safe space for little ones, it felt like it could benefit from a few additions. Enhancements like more interactive water elements or a larger space might make it more exciting for a broader age range, keeping older toddlers entertained. That way, they’d be able to stay engaged and enjoy the fun without feeling restricted.

Another great aspect of Surfside was the carousel. Our daughter loved watching it turn and was even happier when she got to ride it. It was a fun, simple activity we could easily return to throughout our trip.

A detail I hadn’t thought to look for on previous cruises—but was impressed to find on Icon of the Seas—was the availability of baby changing stations throughout the ship. At home, I’m often discouraged by the lack of convenient changing stations, especially since most men’s bathrooms don’t include them, which limits my husband’s ability to help. 

Right away, we noticed plenty of family bathrooms on board, each equipped with clean, well-placed changing stations and even baby wipes, which was a thoughtful touch. This setup made it easy and stress-free for both of us to confidently explore the ship with our baby.

Our stateroom setup

Not long after we began exploring the ship and getting our bearings, our room was ready. Upon entering, I was immediately impressed. As with most cruise ship cabins, it was compact—something we had expected—but what stood out was the impressive storage space. 

This was a huge asset for us, given how many supplies we had to bring along. Cruising with a baby means packing a lot of extra items we wouldn’t have needed in the past, so it was a relief to have ample space to unpack and stay organized for the week.

Before sailing, I had researched how other families set up their staterooms to optimize having a pack-and-play and still have enough space to move around the cabin. We knew this would eat up a large chunk of our limited space, but it was a non-negotiable, unfortunately. 

We opted to put it in the center of the living area, which did end up taking up most of the space. We were able to push it to one side and create a tiny walkway to squeeze through to the balcony. 

It was not ideal, but we had to work with what we had. When the pack-and-play wasn’t in use, we would take the blackout tent off, wedge it between the sofa and balcony, and put the pack-and-play on the couch. This freed up the walkway and vanity, allowing us more access to the cabin.

Another feature I was thrilled about was the abundance of power outlets throughout the cabin. Typically, I find only one or two American outlets near the vanity, far from where I actually need them. In contrast, our cabin came with a smart variety of outlets and ports. We had USB plug-ins on one side of the bed, a standard outlet on the other, and several additional USB and USB-C ports conveniently located around the room.

My favorite discovery, though, was the outlets in the bathroom. This might seem like a minor feature, but on previous cruises, outlets have been at the vanity, meaning I’d have to dry my hair in the main cabin – a tricky situation with a sleeping baby. 

Thanks to this bathroom outlet, I could quietly dry my hair without disturbing my husband and baby, allowing them to sleep soundly. It’s a small detail, but it highlighted how thoughtfully designed this ship was for families like ours.

I am a firm believer that any cabin on a cruise is better than not being on a cruise. One thing that I have seen time and time again in my research of cruising with small children, however, is the importance of having a balcony if possible. This immediately proved true for us in many ways. 

First, our baby is a people-watcher. She loves to see what is going on and doesn’t like missing out on anything. We were able to take her outside on our balcony easily and let her take in the sights and sounds of Surfside. The balcony was also a great escape for us parents when the baby was napping. 

We were able to sit out there and get fresh air and have conversations in normal volumes without feeling like we would disrupt her sleep. 

While a balcony isn’t essential for every family cruise, I’d highly recommend it if it’s within budget. It added a whole new level of convenience and relaxation to our trip, and it’s a feature we’d consider essential for future cruises.

Read more: When is a cruise ship balcony worth it?

Dining with an Infant

Before we knew it, our ship was sailing away from Miami, and our cruise had officially begun. After a successful lunch at the Windjammer, we opted to try the Main Dining Room on night one. 

While I was a bit nervous about how a more formal dining experience would go with a baby, I was encouraged by other cruisers who shared positive stories about dining with young children. 

When we arrived at our table, we requested a high chair, which was promptly brought over, with the tray wrapped in plastic to show it was clean – a touch I really appreciated. Armed with toys to keep her entertained, we also ordered some fruits and veggies for her to chew on, as she’s just started eating solids. 

The wait staff were incredible, bringing out her food items within minutes, knowing that a baby’s mealtime operates on its own schedule, quite different from a leisurely, multi-course dinner.

The staff was attentive and engaging with our baby, coming over to say hello, play peek-a-boo, and entertain her between courses. 

Unfortunately, even with the staff’s best efforts, after about 40 minutes, our baby decided she was done sitting, so we wrapped up our meal. The staff were kind enough to pack some to-go desserts, even helping us navigate our stroller out of the busy dining room.

The following nights, the timing of the Main Dining Room didn’t always align with her naps, so rather than pushing through a sit-down dinner, we opted for the Windjammer buffet. This flexibility allowed us to dine when it worked best for us, and the lively atmosphere gave her plenty to watch, which kept her engaged. It was also a great opportunity for her to try a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables as part of her solids journey.

Staff and guest interactions

Throughout our trip, the crew members on Icon of the Seas were incredibly attentive and welcoming to our baby. They often remembered her name, went out of their way to say hello, and would help us gather foods like steamed broccoli for her. Their genuine care and thoughtfulness really enhanced our experience and made us feel valued as a family.

One thing I hadn’t anticipated was how much we’d end up interacting with other guests and crew, all thanks to our baby. As someone who is usually more introverted, I don’t often start conversations with strangers, but our baby seemed to have other plans. 

She would make eye contact and smile at people nearby, prompting friendly exchanges. It was a great way to connect with other travelers and share experiences, especially with those interested in cruising with young children.

I had some initial reservations about how other guests might react to a baby onboard. With so much online commentary about families cruising, I was a bit apprehensive about potential negative reactions, but we had only positive interactions. Everyone we met was incredibly kind, making us feel that we belonged and that cruising with a baby is truly embraced on a family-friendly line like this one.

Excursions and infant-friendly options

One of my biggest concerns about cruising with an infant was the potential limitations on excursions. Most excursions come with age requirements of 3-4 years or older, even for something as simple as a beach day. This restriction left us with few options at our ports, so I wasn’t entirely sure what our best choices would be. 

I didn’t feel comfortable going on any excursions that required riding in a vehicle since we hadn’t brought our car seat on board, so we focused on activities within walking distance or those accessible by ferry. This allowed us to prioritize our baby’s safety while still enjoying some light exploration.

I want to note that I’ve been incredibly fortunate to have already visited all of these ports on previous cruises, allowing me to experience the must-see excursions in the past. This familiarity made it easier to accept skipping certain excursions, as I didn’t feel like I was missing out on anything major. I realize, however, that this could pose a more significant challenge for families cruising to these destinations for the first time.

We ended up selecting a single beach excursion that was just a quick, five-minute ferry ride away. One of my main priorities was to keep our return to the ship as simple as possible so we could head back quickly if needed. 

This excursion had the ferry running back and forth all day and was actually in sight of the ship. For the other three ports, we decided against booking excursions, opting instead to explore the port areas on foot or enjoy a beach day at Perfect Day at CocoCay.

Utilizing Adventure Babies

One resource we were thrilled to have onboard was Royal Babies and Tots, which gave us the opportunity to enjoy a few experiences just for us. We got in a date-night dinner, and my husband had a chance to try the adventurous Crown’s Edge (while I lucked into meeting the Chief Dog Officer, Rover). 

We also explored the largest waterpark at sea and even caught one of our favorite shows, Love and Marriage. Having qualified childcare that was easily accessible was a huge comfort and allowed us to balance family time with a bit of fun for ourselves.

One thing I was disappointed to discover was that Adventure Ocean didn’t have a dedicated baby playroom. I’d read that some other ships have an open play area with soft flooring and toys available without a reservation—an ideal space for letting our baby roll around and play outside of our cabin. 

When we asked the Adventure Ocean staff about it, they explained that Icon didn’t include this playroom, opting instead for the playscape and other features in Surfside. While Surfside is the ultimate spot for kids, those specific features are definitely geared toward older children.

However, we were pleased to find out that the ship participated in a toy rental program, offering a variety of toys packed in different bags that you can "rent" throughout your vacation. These toys are free to borrow, and you can swap them out anytime. 

This was a fantastic way to keep our baby entertained with fresh toys all week, including larger ones like a light-up piano—things we wouldn’t have been able to pack ourselves.

Something else we observed was that the staff at Adventure Ocean clearly puts a lot of effort into creating memorable experiences, especially around the holidays. Since we cruised over Halloween, we had the chance to see how Royal Caribbean transforms the ship with festive touches for families. 

The Promenade was decorated with Halloween inflatables and fun decor, adding to the excitement and making it easy to celebrate the holiday as a family.

They didn’t stop with decorations, though—the ship was alive with themed events designed for every age group, and Adventure Ocean was at the heart of it. Trick-or-treat stations were set up around Icon, with an early timed segment in Surfside creating a festive scavenger hunt, and the staff even put together a kid-friendly haunted house. 

For families, they hosted a costume contest parade and a lively Monster Bash, where kids and adults alike could dress up and celebrate together. 

For parents, these thoughtful additions meant that the cruise was engaging for all family members—even our baby could soak up the sights, sounds, and festive energy without us needing to go out of our way to seek out holiday fun.

Perks of cruising with Royal Caribbean

One added benefit of cruising with Royal Caribbean is that if you hold a Crown & Anchor status, your children automatically share your status until they turn 18. After that, their status adjusts based on the number of nights they’ve sailed. 

Before our cruise, I emailed [email protected] a few months in advance to arrange this, and they assigned our daughter a Crown & Anchor number, giving her Diamond status before she even set sail. 

Since she’s still an infant, she doesn’t drink anything other than formula and small amounts of water, so we happily used her four complimentary non-alcoholic beverage vouchers each day. This little perk felt like a fun bonus and allowed us to enjoy a few extra treats along the way.

Setting realistic expectations

Something that helped my husband and me enjoy this cruise was going in with the mindset of having no expectations. Because we’d both cruised to these ports before, we didn’t feel the need to check off every attraction. 

We’ve had the chance to experience many of the shows and activities Royal Caribbean offers across its fleet, so this time, we focused on activities unique to Icon of the Seas. 

We approached the cruise with the understanding that our baby’s schedule would dictate our days, which made it much easier to go with the flow and embrace flexibility. Some days, this meant one of us staying back in the room while she took a good nap, letting the other explore a show or activity. 

Other times, it meant returning to the room early if she wasn’t up for whatever we were doing. By going into this experience knowing it wouldn’t look like our previous cruises, we could adjust our plans without feeling any disappointment. 

This approach allowed us to relax and have a memorable vacation, even if it was a different kind of cruise than what we were used to. In fact, my husband did a solo excursion while we were in port in Costa Maya, while I hung back with our baby. 

Overall thoughts on taking our baby on Icon of the Seas

Taking your baby on a trip essentially means parenting without the comforts of home, but it’s also what you make of it. We could either change diapers at home or do it in the Caribbean! Cruising gave us the flexibility of a vacation without the usual stresses of planning a land-based trip, like finding suitable accommodations, arranging meals and activities, or coordinating transportation.

Ultimately, Icon of the Seas was a fantastic choice for our first cruise as a family of three. With a constant variety of activities available, we never had to wonder what to do next. 

Our baby especially enjoyed the Baby Splash Zone, watching other guests try the FlowRider, gazing at the floating tiles inside The Pearl, and all the bright lights and murals decorating the ship. Every corner seemed to offer something fun and stimulating for her.

Reflecting on our trip, some of our favorite benefits of cruising with a baby were the ease of returning to our cabin whenever we needed a break or nap and the freedom to leave an activity or meal early if necessary. There was no pressure to stick to any set schedule, allowing us to fill our days as we pleased and always with options close by.

While we felt that Icon of the Seas, and Surfside in particular - with its dedicated kid-friendly activities - would be ideal for children 3 and up who can fully enjoy the attractions, we still had a great experience. The ship’s amenities made it easy for us to keep our baby engaged and comfortable, and we appreciated the thoughtful touches for families.

We enjoyed our trip so much that we’ve already booked her next cruise in just a few months. It’s safe to say we’re happily raising a future cruiser!

When it comes to vacationing, I typically always choose a cruise with Royal Caribbean. I really enjoy the ships, the entertainment and activities onboard, as well as the itineraries they offer.

I had been intrigued by all of the marketing I’ve seen around Virgin Voyages, but was initially put off of the higher prices. My husband and I don’t have any kids, and the idea of an adults-only cruise was definitely appealing. While we haven’t run into many issues where kids were a nuisance on our past cruises, there was one time where a tour group of teenagers onboard one of our sailings made the idea of an adults-only cruise sound like a dream.

I had always figured that I could sail on one of my favorite Royal ships for much less than a Virgin sailing, and kept going back to what I knew. However, I did not realize that Virgin Voyages offers a more all-inclusive type of pricing, especially when compared to Royal Caribbean. 

The fare for an interior cabin on Virgin Voyages for a 4-night Key West and Bahamas sailing was $1734, for two cruisers. Comparatively, within the last 2 years I have sailed on 3-5 night sailings on Royal Caribbean with our cabin, even including a Junior Suite, costing less than $1000. What I had failed to realize was just how much was included in Virgin’s base fare. 

They have what they call “Always Included Luxury” for their sailings, which includes not only the cabin fare, but also gratuities, group workouts, all food, essential beverages such as waters, juices, sodas and coffee stations, and even WiFi. We found that you can more often than not find a booking promotion that will also score you a “bar tab” which is a set amount of money that goes towards alcoholic drinks, mocktails, and specialty coffees. 

When we sail with Royal, we have to add in the automatic gratuities, we almost always buy a WiFi package for 2 devices, and before getting Diamond status we would always purchase a beverage package. Having these included in our fare literally saved us hundreds of dollars. With this knowledge, we decided to go ahead and book the cruise, and try out a new (to us) cruise line.

After spending 4 nights onboard a Virgin Voyages cruise, here is how I would compare the experience to Royal Caribbean.

We were both overwhelmed and underwhelmed by the planning process. 

While booking the cruise itself was easy, what came next completely threw us off. We are used to booking our cruise, and heading straight to the Cruise Planner to ensure that we have all of the add-ons we enjoy while cruising, and it was really refreshing to not have to add anything on to enjoy our Virgin sailing. 

However, that’s not to say that I didn’t miss the Cruise Planner when preparing for our Virgin sailing. Contrary to Royal Caribbean, where you can get all of your pre-cruise planning done from the computer or their app, Virgin requires you to do everything through their app. In a quick glance in the App Store, you’ll see that Virgin’s app scores a measly 1.6 stars, whereas Royal’s scores 4.8 stars. This immediately set the tone for how the planning stage would go for our cruise. 

The app was not intuitive, and I constantly felt lost on which page I was on and which page I needed to get to. It also was constantly crashing, and I experienced a lot of delays when things were loading. Since you are required to fill out all of your personal information prior to sailing on it, I had to tough it out, but it really made me miss the option of being able to fill out this information on a computer like Royal Caribbean allows.

You also have to utilize the app to pre book your complimentary dining reservations, which were completely filled by the time I booked my cruise about 45 days out from sailing. This left me scrambling trying to find out exactly where and what we would be able to eat once onboard. Each time I went to check if a restaurant had a reservation available, I had to go back to the home screen and navigate back to the dining section to check a new restaurant. 

I am also used to getting cruise documents prior to sailing, which typically include your sea pass and luggage tags. Virgin doesn’t require either of those, and doesn’t provide you with any documentation, so I arrived at the port feeling slightly helpless, without knowing what was exactly needed from me, and hoping I had what was needed to get on the ship. 

The boarding process set the tone for our cruise.

Luckily, the boarding process was extremely easy, and I actually got onboard in the quickest amount of time of any of my cruises. After parking, we approached a porter and found out that if you don’t want to carry on your luggage, they will provide the luggage tags for you at the port entrance and take your bags at that time. We were easily able to drop our bags and head inside to check-in. 

The port itself was well laid-out, and we were efficiently ushered towards an open check-in desk. Here we were given our bracelets, which acted as our sea pass and room key for the duration of our cruise. This was a huge improvement over having to carry a physical card around, especially seeing as most of my clothing doesn’t have pockets, and I have definitely lost a sea pass or two on my sailings before. The bracelet was thin enough that it wasn’t bothersome, and it felt like one less thing for me to worry about once onboard. All-in-all, from dropping our bags off to setting foot on the ship took us less than 15 minutes.

We were interested to see if the food lived up to the hype. 

One of the things I was most excited to experience was the food. This is something that Virgin Voyages is known for, as they famously don’t have a main dining room or buffet on any of their ships. Instead, they have over 20 included eateries onboard, with 6 reservation sit-down restaurants, a made-to-order pizza place, fresh scooped ice cream, and plenty of other options for every cruiser. 

Now, I am someone who actually enjoys the main dining room and buffet when sailing on Royal Caribbean. I enjoy knowing what to expect when it comes to the food, and getting to know the waitstaff throughout your cruise. I also appreciate the ease and quickness of eating at a buffet, as there are certain times I just want to grab a quick bite and not deal with a full sit down style service. 

I was interested to see not only how the venues worked onboard Scarlet Lady, but also how good the food was, as there weren’t any up-charge specialty restaurants. At first glance, when downloading the app and immediately realizing all of the 6 reservation-required restaurants had no availability, I was worried. 

I mean, if you wanted a sit down dining experience onboard, these were your only option, and I couldn’t get a reservation before 10 PM for any of the nights. I did a quick search online and found some forums from previous cruisers that they saved a lot of the seating availability for once you were onboard and connected to the WiFi. Luckily, that was the case for us, and we were able to get the dining reservations at the times we wanted, but we were definitely stressed leading up to the cruise. 

Our first stop onboard was The Pizza Place, which featured made-to-order personal pizzas. You placed your order at the counter, were given a buzzer, and waited just a few minutes until your pizza was ready. As a Sorrento’s fan, I have to admit that this pizza blew Sorrento’s out of the water. Not only could you customize what you wanted on your pizza, but they also had plenty of unique options on their menu to choose from, and you quickly had a fresh pizza to enjoy.

For our dinners, we ended up eating at their Italian, Mexican and steakhouse restaurants. I found these to be on par with Royal Caribbean’s specialty restaurants, which was amazing as they didn’t cost us any extra. The food was definitely a bit more adventurous than I am used to on a cruise, but the appeal is there for foodies and those looking to try new things. I was always able to find something that I enjoyed. 

For breakfasts and lunches, we mostly ate at The Galley. This food hall concept includes 8 different food venues, a specialty coffee counter, and plenty of drink stations throughout. This definitely was the closest area to a buffet, however instead of going and serving yourself, you had the option of finding a table and ordering through a server, from any of the venues, or standing in line to grab something yourself. These different food venues ranged from bento boxes, to sandwiches, salads, pastries, burgers, and more. There was absolutely something for everyone here, and it was a perfect quick meal. 

Another thing that we appreciated is that around the ship you could find various grab-and-go stations, mainly consisting of salads, wraps and sandwiches that could be enjoyed anywhere on the ship. Overall, the food lived up to the hype and is definitely a selling point for Virgin Voyages. 

Our cabin was impressively thought out

Of course, another extremely important aspect of cruising is your stateroom. We opted to go for an interior cabin on our sailing, and I wasn’t expecting much. I’ve stayed in interior rooms on various Royal Caribbean ships many times, and I tend to think of it as just a place to sleep, shower and change, and nothing more. 

However, this is another area that Virgin Voyages has won us over in. Immediately upon entering our stateroom, we were impressed with how large it seemed. Even though it was only 177-square-feet, it had enough room for a desk, seating area, and we were able to walk around both sides of the bed. For two people, we never felt cramped or that we were getting in each other’s way when moving around the cabin.

Another selling point for me was the amount of outlets in the room. Not only were their multiple outlets around the room, but they all included USB outlets in addition to the standard American plugs. This was helpful for us, as we are used to one measly outlet on Royal Caribbean, and needing to bring an extra outlet adapter just to charge all of our electronics. 

Probably one of my favorite features of the room was that the lights and TV were controlled by a tablet. If you’ve stayed in an interior room, you know just how dark they can be once the lights are turned off. With using a tablet I was able to turn them on and off from bed, and didn’t have to stumble across the cabin in the dark. 

They also had a variety of preset “moods” for you to choose from, which would change the room to different colors and hues, such as a Hangover setting with lower lights. Something else that we weren’t used to, was having a large selection of popular movies and shows to choose from. On Royal Caribbean, we are stuck with the 30–ish channels, that seem to somehow be almost all news or sports. This was a great way to ensure that if you wanted to spend some time in your cabin, you would have something to watch. 

We felt that the onboard activities and entertainment were lacking

While at this point we were blown away by the food and the room, we soon found out exactly where Virgin Voyages was lacking. We made our way up to the pool deck to see what it looked like, and were shocked to find just two very small pools for the entire cruise ship. 

These pools looked like they could comfortably fit no more than 20 people each, and it made me curious how that would work on our sea day. Spoiler - on our sea day I counted 45 people crammed in the pool at one point. 

This was extremely disappointing to us, as we love to spend our sea days by and in the pool. Royal Caribbean has done a great job in ensuring that there is a lot of space on their pool decks, and especially with their newer ships, having enough pools to fit the needs of their crowds. 

After realizing there was no way we would be fighting for a spot in the pool, we packed up our stuff and headed inside for the remainder of our pool day. I wasn’t all that shocked to see that many other people had the same idea, and were also looking for things to do inside and away from the pool decks. 

Just another one of the areas that I feel Royal Caribbean shines in, is having activities going all day long, with multiple choices to fit every cruiser at some point. I found myself missing the lineup that Royal Caribbean offers both through the day and into the evening. While the shows that Virgin Voyages did have were excellent, they often repeated throughout the cruise, and by the second night we had seen the only two shows we were interested in. 

Though, to their credit Virgin Voyages did offer some unique areas that we weren’t expecting to see on an adults-only ship. They had an arcade that was complete with retro games, and had the added benefit of not being sticky and gross from the lack of children. They also had seesaws and swings around the outdoor decks, as well as plenty of hammocks and hot tubs scattered around for people to enjoy. 

Virgin’s The Beach Club, at Bimini Bahamas offered a more upscale experience compared to Royal Caribbean’s Perfect Day at CocoCay

One of the things that I was most excited for on this sailing, was visiting Virgin’s beach club, the Beach Club at Bimini, Bahamas. This private beach club, while not on a private island, is one of their signature stops on their Caribbean and Bahamas itineraries. 

I am a huge fan of Perfect Day at CocoCay, as I enjoy the all-inclusiveness of the island, and not having to book an excursion to have a great time. I was hoping that this would be the same for The Beach Club, and we didn’t book any excursions for our day there.

Immediately upon entering The Beach Club, it reminded me of Coco Beach Club on CocoCay. However, unlike Coco Beach Club, Virgin’s beach club is included in your cruise fare. Upon entering, we were happy to see that there was plenty of seating around the pool area, with and without umbrellas.

There were two pools, one with a DJ booth and one with a volleyball net. Both had plenty of in-water loungers for people to enjoy as well. Making our way down to the beach, again we saw rows upon rows of complimentary seating, and some of the bluest water I’ve ever seen. This Beach Club truly felt like we should have paid a lot of money to access. 

Like other cruise  line private destinations, the lunch was also included. However, you were not going to find your typical island buffet here. Instead, you were able to order from a small menu featuring island-inspired dishes. While I can admit that these were on par with their food onboard, as a pickier eater I was left with not many choices to eat. I know that most cruisers would prefer this type of food, but personally, I have always been happy with the food at CocoCay, and the wide variety that ensures that everyone can find something suited to their taste buds.

Aside from the food, the rest of our day at this private destination was amazing. We got to enjoy the pool float party, where they threw about 50 inflatables into the pool for people to enjoy while the DJ kicked off the afternoon, as well as the beautiful beach.

We left The Beach Club agreeing that we would pick a future itinerary solely because of a stop here. We felt the value we received was well above what you receive at other private islands, for not paying anything extra. 

My husband and I both agreed that we would sail with Virgin Voyages again.

While we are lifelong Royal Caribbean fans, we both left this sailing agreeing that we would be happy to cruise Virgin Voyages again. We would be interested in trying one of their other ships, and a different itinerary to compare experiences. We agreed that if our friend group got together to sail again, we would urge them to choose Virgin sailing, as we saw a lot of groups having fun on our cruise. 

However, if the prices between a Royal Caribbean sailing and a Virgin Voyages sailing were similar, after the add-ons I would need to take into consideration with Royal, I would probably book with Royal first. I tend to be a creature of habit, and love knowing exactly what to expect with Royal. I also consider the ship part of the destination, and want to ensure that I can spend my sea days with fun things to do, and I know that I will find that on a Royal Caribbean ship.

Our sailing on Virgin Voyages opened up our eyes to trying out different cruise lines, and broadening our horizons. 
 

Everyone likes easy ways to improve their cruise ship vacation, and Royal Caribbean just asked its fans for their best suggestions.

Royal Caribbean asked on its Facebook page for the best Royal Caribbean cruise tips, and it generated a lot of suggestions.

Whether it's your first cruise or you're a seasoned pro, tips and hacks that can help make the most of someone's cruise is always welcome. You never want to walk off of a ship and realize that you missed out on something. 

To kick off the discussion, Royal Caribbean shared one of our favorite tips: Johnny Rockets is open for breakfast on Oasis Class ships only and it's free! 

The post generated over 250 comments, and here's the best of the suggestions made by cruise fans.

1. Planning Ahead

The great thing about cruising is that you can get most, if not all, of your planning out of the way before ever stepping onboard. 

Robert Hildebrandt knows how to maximize time on your cruise vacation: planning ahead. By pre-booking as much as you can, including dining, excursions, drink packages, activities and more, you can board your cruise ready to enjoy the ship and just relax. 

2. To-Go Orders

Have you ever tried to book a specialty dining restaurant, but there weren’t any seatings available that fit your agenda?

Rebecca JoAnne has found a great hack to still be able to enjoy your favorite dishes, by ordering your food to go.

Utilizing this hack, she has enjoyed eating Izumi on her balcony several times. 

3. Avoid the crowds

There is nothing worse than having your plate full of food and searching for an empty table in the Windjammer during breakfast. So what do you do when you want to enjoy a buffet breakfast but without the crowds?

Brian Carty recommends heading to the Solarium Bistro if you’re sailing on Oasis and Quantum class ships.

Here they serve a smaller version of the Windjammer breakfast buffet, with a laid-back vibe.

4. Don’t fly the same day as your cruise departs

Now this may not be a secret, but not flying the same day of your cruise is one of the most important things you can do for any cruise.

Cassie Stapleton put it best, if you’re flying to your cruise, always plan to arrive the day before. You never know when a delay may happen, and you don’t want to miss your cruise because of one. 

5. Hold onto your belongings

When sailing through the ocean, you can expect to experience some wind. What many people don’t realize is how strong that wind can be, taking their towels and belonging off of their chairs.

Chelsea Rushton Fitchett advises future cruisers to bring towel clips or bands for those windy sea days so your towel stays put on your chair. 

6. Finding a quiet place

There is nothing better than experiencing the fresh air while sailing. However, it can be hard to find a peaceful place onboard to do so, with all of the different activities going on.

Johnna Stanton knows the perfect spot to go when onboard Freedom and Voyager class ships is the outside promenade deck to not only enjoy the view, but also get away from the noise on the other decks. 

7. First day lunch 

The Windjammer is known for being a hotspot on the first day for lunch. Majority of the cruisers will head straight there after boarding to get their first fix of food.

However Eric Lynn knows that when they bob, you weave - and suggests heading over to Park Cafe instead if sailing on an Oasis Class ship. Not only do they serve great lunch options in Central Park, it is also much less crowded than the Windjammer. 

8. Check-in

When it’s time to get on your cruise, you don’t want to have to wait any longer than you have to. With Royal Caribbean’s check-in process, you have to choose a check-in window for boarding.

Shelley Clifford suggests checking in as soon as it opens to ensure that you can get the earliest boarding time and start enjoying your vacation sooner. 

9. Keeping track of your SeaPass

When you’re onboard, your SeaPass card is your lifeline. You use it to get beverages, open your cabin, embark and disembark the ship, and more. This is one thing you do not want to lose.

Kassandra W. advises that cruisers get a lanyard and pouch prior to their cruise to hold their SeaPass card. She says not only will it help keep you from misplacing it, but it will handy when you need to use it.

10. Utilize all of your cabin space

We all know that cabin space is limited, and you don’t want to give up precious closet space to hold your suitcases.

Diana Baker let’s newer cruisers in on a hack: store your suitcase under your bed.

Not only does this keep it out of the way and free up cabin space, but you can also pull it out to use as a hamper for dirty clothes.

11. Keep the air conditioning running in your cabin

Some ships have a card slot to activate your ship cabin's air conditioning, but it doesn't need to use just your SeaPass card.

Tom Hinrichs suggested using any kind of gift card works in the slot to keep your room cooled while you're away.

12. Treat the crew members

Crew members are so helpful and important on a cruise, especially your cabin attendant.

Cathy Pye Barrett brings small gift bags on the ship and each day of her cruise, she drops a few goodies in one for her room attendant.

On the last day, she puts cash in one.

Michelle Taylor echoed Cathy's suggestion, "Tipping the hard working staff is important to us. A little bit goes a long way. It makes me appreciate others so much more."

13. Laundry bag

Dirty clothes pile up quickly on a cruise.

Sandy Volandt brings a laundry bag to place our dirty clothes in. This is similar to our cruise cabin hack of bringing a laundry hamper.

14. Pack a highlighter

A tried-and-true cruise tip is to bring a highlighter with you on your cruise.

Teresa Moretti suggested to bring a highlighter to mark all the things you can do in the Cruise Compass.

15. Take photos of crew member name tags

The post-cruise survey is so important for Royal Caribbean and the crew members. 

Among other things, the survey helps recognize crew members that stand out, but it's up to the guest to remember and note the guest's name.

Angie Coard takes a photo of name tags of the crew that she wants to acknowledge in the post-cruise survey, "It helps them out a lot when they are praised by the guests and they all work so hard!"

More cruise advice

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

On all of my cruises, one thing I have never made it around to was trying the FlowRider. While I’ve enjoyed watching others try it, I hadn’t taken the plunge for myself. I set out to find out if I could really learn to surf on a 3-night cruise.

Royal Caribbean is known for many things, but one of the activities that they are known for the best, is the surf simulator better known as the FlowRider. The FlowRider has 30,000 gallons of rushing water, mimicking what it is like to surf on the ocean. I’ve seen boogie boarders struggle to stay on, so watching stand up surfers being able to stay up has always been impressive.

When I noticed that Royal Caribbean offers a FlowRider surf lesson for my upcoming 3-night Liberty of the Seas sailing, I decided to sign up and find out if it is possible to learn to surf in only 3 days. 

Prior to getting onboard, I had some nerves about attempting to try it.

As a previous spectator of the FlowRider, I’d been scared about falling and hurting myself, or not being able to actually stand up on the board, especially in front of a crowd of people watching.

While I couldn’t guarantee that those wouldn’t happen to me, I did take the one preventative measure I could, purchasing a rash guard and swim shorts to wear over my bathing suits to prevent any “wardrobe malfunctions”, which the force of the water has been known to cause. 

Trying out free sessions first

With my nerves in full force, I decided that I should head straight to the FlowRider after getting on board to get my feet wet, hoping to beat the long lines and spectator crowds.

The first session was a "Mixed Wave" session on embarkation day.

It turns out that they only allow you to try stand up surfing during their mixed wave sessions, which were offered only once a day.

On the third day, the other sessions offered were “Boogie Boarding” or “Advanced Standup Surfing” only. 

The first Mixed Wave session was at 3pm, so I made my way to the FlowRider for my first attempt.

Upon arriving I had to sign a lengthy waiver, which included many safety videos about how to properly fall to avoid injury. Once I finished signing those, I was given a blue wristband.

It turns out that everyone who wants to attempt to surf during open sessions is given a blue wristband. You’re then given 1 “turn”, consisting of 2 attempts to prove that you can stand up on your own.

If you pass, you’re given a white wristband and can continue surfing during both the Mixed Wave and Advanced Standup Surfing sessions. 

I had assumed that while I would be limited to my one turn at a time, that once I fell twice I would be able to get back in line and try again. They told me that they didn’t allow this due to trying to limit injuries from guests not being able to stand up and getting knocked over time and time again.

At that point I was glad that I had booked a lesson, as it was a dedicated hour for a small group to try as many times as you could. 

With it being the first day, the lines were very low with only 5 of us out there. Three of the other riders were very experienced, and even brought their own boards with them to ride on. I was the only one trying to stand up for the first time. 

When signing the waiver I saw that everyone has to prove that they can ride the boogie board before attempting to stand up, so when my turn was up I headed over to the boogie board. The staff told me to go out into the middle of the FlowRider on the board, and then come back to the sidelines.

I'm not sure what the thought process behind that was, but nevertheless after my 15 second ride, I was deemed worthy to try stand up surfing.

Years ago my husband had tried surfing, and the instructors held his arms to help get him out into the water, from which he was able to stay up for a while. I was expecting that they would do the same for me, but I learned that after the shut-down, they no longer could hold guests' arms to guide them out into the FlowRider.

This meant that once you got yourself onto the board, you had to bend over and bounce backwards into the rushing water, and then try to stand up and steady yourself.  

Of course, with this not being the lesson I booked, I also got very minimal instruction from the staff. They can’t be spending the whole open session training people how to stand up, with the typically long lines of people waiting to take their turn. I was hoping for some more tips and guidance, but they gave me the basics and sent me out on my way.

On my first attempt, I got knocked off my board in just a few seconds. I rode the waves up to the back and made my way back down for my second attempt.

Hoping that now I had a feel for the water I would be able to stay on longer and at least make it farther out into the waves.

Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case, and after around 10 shaky seconds I was knocked off for my second time. While walking to bring the board back to the front of the line, one of the instructors not-so-encouragingly told me to stick to boogie boarding. 

With my single turn being over, I couldn’t try again until the next mixed wave session which was the next day.

While I understand that they’re trying to limit injury, it was frustrating that the line was so small and I couldn’t keep trying until the session was over. This made me more nervous that I wouldn’t be able to learn to surf in just three days if I was only getting 1 turn per session. 

Trying again on day 2

On the second day, I woke up early to head out for another surfing session.

There were only three other people there for the session, and the instructors seemed a bit more relaxed and willing to offer me guidance, which I very much needed.

During my first attempt, I wiped out again after about 10 seconds.

Before starting my second attempt, I received even more instructions from not only the staff, but also other surfers who had mastered stand up surfing. With their tips, I was able to stand up and surf for 45 seconds on my own. 

Knowing that my single turn was over, I headed to dry off and watch the rest. The staff ended up letting me try for a second turn, citing that they were in a good mood that morning.

I took them up on it, and was able to again stand up for around 45 seconds on my next two attempts. This still wasn’t good enough for a white bracelet, so I had to wait until my lesson later that evening to ride again. 

Trying a private surfing lesson

At 8pm on the second day of the cruise, we headed back up to the FlowRider for my lesson, which was a group lesson. There were 7 of us total, with no one having tried to stand up before.

During the lesson we again had to prove that we could ride a boogie board, but this time they had us get up onto our knees on the board and navigate the board across the FlowRider.

This seemed much more useful than my boogie board test out earlier in the cruise, and truly gave us a feel for how the littlest of movements in your body can affect how your board turns. 

With that out of the way, it was time to try standing up again.

For the lesson, the instructors use a rope that both they and the rider hold onto while on the board. This imitates the holding onto each other's arms that they used to do during open sessions, and allowed them to help us out into the middle of the FlowRider.

Immediately I realized how much more efficient using the rope was was than trying to bend over and stand up while in the middle of the waves. 

The instructor that wasn’t holding the rope was on the sidelines giving us tips to stand up straight, open our chest, put our weight onto our back leg and more to keep us up.

We exclusively held the rope for our first two attempts, which were well over a minute each. On our third attempt, we were instructed to drop the rope once we got out to the middle, where it was time to put our lesson to the test. 

Our biggest pieces of training were:

1. Put all of your weight in your back leg
2. Stand up straight with your chest open
3. The slightest shift in weight will dictate where your board goes

With the training behind me, I stayed out there and upright for almost two minutes.

I was able to focus on my form, and attempt to navigate back and forth across the area. I even got a spin in there, though it did ultimately cause me to fall off at the end.

I went out for my last attempt of the trip, and not only was able to stand up and stay on, but also was able to walk off on the side rather than falling off the board. 

With 7 people in the group, and the lesson being only an hour, we didn’t get as much time to ride as I would have hoped. However, even with the limited time, the instructors were able to help all 7 of us learn how to surf on the FlowRider. 

Does it hurt when you fall?

If you're like me, you're worried about falling and how much it hurts when you lose your balance on the FlowRider and hit the pad.

I was pleasantly surprised at how cushy the pad was, and it had quite a bit of bounce to it, designed with falling in mind.

In the waiver and lesson, they stressed the importance of holding your head once you fall and riding the wave back up, to limit head injuries.

Though I didn't notice any pain in the moment, I did start to develop bruises on my elbows from falling on them. However, these were minor and I was anticipating much worse injuries. 

Can you really learn to surf on a cruise ship?

If the timing of the private lesson works for your schedule, it is the best way to learn how to stand up. Not only do you get the use of the rope, but you also get specific advice to help you. And of course, you get more than one turn during the lesson. 

While I’m not ready to go out and invest in my own board quite yet, and my bruises are still healing, I am happy to know that I was able to learn how to surf on a 3-night cruise.

Who knows, maybe you’ll catch me out there on my future cruises! 

There is nothing better than finding a great deal on a cruise, especially a cruise fare that starts in the double digits.

Not only does a low price allow me to cruise more often, but I'm also able to budget more on the extras that matter to me. While I’ve seen prices for short cruises in the $100’s, we recently spotted the deal of the year: a $99, 3-night cruise on Liberty of the Seas.

This was Liberty’s first sailing out of her new home port, Fort Lauderdale, FL. She had previously been in Galveston, TX since 2015. She dropped her last guests off in Galveston on October 30, and then made the 2 day trek to Fort Lauderdale to set sail again on November 1. 

After going on my first 3-night cruise this summer, I knew that this would be a perfect getaway. While normally a cruise priced this low would keep my expectations relatively low as well - that was not the case here. I sailed on Liberty in 2019, and knew that it was a great ship with the perfect amount of onboard activities.

For this cruise, I was sailing with my mom who had only ever been on Oasis of the Seas for our wedding, and she found that to be too overwhelming. I knew that she would love a Freedom class ship, and was excited to show her around.

How I found a $99 Cruise Fare

Just like flights, cruise prices are constantly changing. They can vary by length, destinations, occupancy and current promotions.

If you have the flexibility to go on last minute cruises, some of the best prices you'll find are the Going, Going, Gone rates. These deals are sent out weekly to Royal Caribbean's travel agent partners, and are only available for a short period of time, or until it sells out.

In early October, the weekly Going, Going, Gone flyer had dozens of sailings listed, but this 3-night cruise from Fort Lauderdale was one of the lowest rates, with only a 2-night Freedom of the Seas cruise coming in lower at $89. For $10 more, who doesn't want an extra night?

We knew we had to act quickly, so we confirmed that we could make these dates work, and contacted our travel agent to secure the booking!

Cruise Planner Purchases

With the cost of the cruise being so low, we were able to splurge on some extras that we could enjoy. 

We purchased the Unlimited Dining package during a cruise planner sale. We always enjoy the offerings in the Main Dining Room, but I wanted my mom to experience the other options onboard.

When going to purchase my internet package, which luckily was serviced by Starlink, I noticed that The Key was only $2 more per day than Voom Surf and Stream. Having never tried The Key, but reading Jenna’s recent review on her experience with it, I figured why not try it! It was nice to have priority boarding in the terminal, as well as being able to avoid the Windjammer for lunch on the first day. 

We also decided to purchase Royal Caribbean's drink package, as it’s nice not to have to worry about how much you’re spending once you’re onboard.

I’ve also been able to try a variety of new drinks when having the package, since it is reassuring that if I don’t like the drink I’m not out $15. 

Stateroom

We booked a month before the cruise was set to sail, and there were still plenty of staterooms available in all categories. The $99 price tag was for a Guarantee Interior stateroom, and was the per person price.

About two weeks before boarding, we were assigned our interior stateroom on deck 2. Around this time we got an email for a chance to bid on a RoyalUp offer. Our offers ranged from $10 - $130 per person, for a Spacious Interior Stateroom to an Ocean View Balcony. 

I have made Royal Up bids before, without success, though most of those sailings were at or near capacity. We realized that this sailing still had staterooms available in every category at this point, and we decided to bid the minimum ($30) for a chance at a Panoramic Ocean View.

Within an hour, I received the email notification that we had won the bid, and were reassigned to Deck 12. 

One of the gripes I’ve heard about Liberty in recent years is that the staterooms were in need of an upgrade. We were pleasantly surprised to find that our room had looked renovated, and offered plenty of storage. After speaking with our stateroom attendant, we learned that the rooms on these decks had been added within the last few years, which would explain why they didn’t feel rundown. 

I have never sailed in a Panoramic Ocean View cabin before, and immediately fell in love with it. With the floor to ceiling windows that were angled out, I felt like I had found a cheat code for room categories. Not only did we have amazing views, but it is always so refreshing to have natural light in the cabin. 

Itinerary

Due to Liberty arriving from Galveston the same day that we embarked, the cruise didn’t depart until 8pm at night. In fact, the earliest check-in time you could select was 2:30pm. This was helpful for us, as we decided to drive down the morning of the cruise from Sarasota. The drive is only 3 hours, and it was nice to have a leisurely morning, and be able to avoid the rush-hour traffic. 

This cruise had one stop at Perfect Day at CocoCay, and a sea day. This was perfect for us, as it was my mom’s first time at CocoCay, and also gave us a full day to enjoy the ship. 

One of my favorite parts of going to CocoCay is that you don’t have to spend any money to have fun. We decided not to do any excursions, and just enjoy the island. After walking around to see the offerings, we opted to grab some chairs on South Beach, and spent the day enjoying the sunshine, floating bar, and of course, the mozzarella sticks. It really was the Perfect Day! 

Our last day was a Sea Day, which was a perfect opportunity to relax and take it slow.

After having breakfast in the Windjammer, we went to search for a spot in the Solarium. We had a feeling at this point that the cruise wasn’t sailing at capacity, but when I looked around the Solarium at 9am and there were no chair hogs in sight, that is when I knew for sure.

It turns out that we only had 2,800 passengers on board. I felt like we had won the lottery, as we’ve never had so many choices on which chairs to choose! We spent the day relaxing, watching the World’s Sexiest Man and Belly Flop competitions, and tricking my mom into riding The Tidal Wave water slide. 

Dining

With having the Unlimited Dining Package, our first night’s dinner was at Sabor. This restaurant was replaced with Izumi on Freedom of the Seas and Independence of the Seas. It will likely be replaced when Liberty eventually goes to her dry dock, so I knew I needed to go while we still could. Starting with fresh guacamole, and then ordering 3 more courses, we left feeling like we wouldn’t need to eat again for the rest of the cruise.

Of course, this wasn’t the case. What can I say, cruising really brings out my appetite! We enjoyed Chops Grille our second night, which I knew would impress my mom. She said it was the best meal of any cruise she has been on. We rounded out our third night with an excellent meal at Giovanni’s Table. 

We ate breakfast every morning at the Windjammer buffet, and were happy with the offerings they had. With the lower capacity, it was easy to find a table, and the lines never felt crowded. 

Of course, there were also a few trips to Sorrentos included. There is something about pizza at sea that just makes it taste better. 

How Much Does a $99 Cruise Really Cost

When booking a cruise, it’s important to remember that there are extra fees that will be added into your final cost.

When booking a cruise, you'll notice a line item for Taxes, Fees and Port Expenses. These include any government imposed fees, tolls, taxes, as well as fees or charges incurred from docking in port. These fees are charged per person, and vary per cruise.

Additionally, you'll want to factor in daily gratuities, which are currently $16 per person, per day for non-suite staterooms, and $18.50 per person, per day for suites.

You’ll also want to factor in any Cruise Planner purchases, such as excursions, dining, drink and internet packages, or onboard spending you may want to do.

So, how much did this $99 cruise end up costing us? Let’s break it down:

Cabin type & party size

Cruise length: 3 nights

Stateroom category: Guarantee Interior

Passengers: 2 adults

Base cruise fare

Cruise fare: $198

Taxes, Fees and Port Expenses: $192.50

Prepaid gratuities: $96

Base price after taxes and fees: $486.50

Cruise extras

RoyalUp: $60

Deluxe Beverage Package (including gratuities): $472.35

Unlimited Dining Package (including gratuities): 235.98

The Key: $125.94

Onboard spending: $26

Parking at port: $45

Grand total

Grand Total: $1,451.77

As you can see, the $99 cruise fare advertised rate ends up costing a bit more once you factor in the fees and taxes. Had we not purchased the extra packages (and if I had remembered my flip flops and didn't have to buy them onboard) the total cost of the cruise was $486.50, or $234.25 per person.

After you factor in all the extras we decided to buy (and a new pair of flip flops), we spent about $725 per person, for a 3-night vacation.

Final Thoughts

We had an amazing time on this cruise, especially considering the price. With the fare being as low as it was, we felt like we were able to splurge in other areas like dining and the drink package. 

We felt that the value we got on this vacation was much higher than the rate that we paid. We would have never been able to enjoy all of what we did on a land vacation for that same price tag. Finding cruises at such low rates allows us to cruise more often, which is what’s most important for us!

When you think of working remotely, a cruise ship may not be the first setting that pops into your head. However, with the latest technology updates on certain ships, maybe it should be.

The FCC recently approved the use of Space X’s Starlink service on cruise ships. A few weeks ago, we cruised on Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas to put Starlink to the test.

In our review, we noticed that the Wi-Fi speeds were better than any other at-sea internet we’ve used before, making it the best option we’ve used to stay connected while cruising.

It's not clear if Royal Caribbean will continue to offer Starlink, or if/when it will be added to other ships. For as long as they do offer it however, it opens the door for remote workers to efficiently work from a cruise ship.

Freedom of the Seas offers 3 and 4 night cruises to the Bahamas, leaving from Miami, and offers plenty of space for those needing to get some work done. These shorter weekend cruises are the perfect way to try out a cruise for the first time, or a new ship. It also provides a great opportunity to try working remotely from a new location.

For our sailing, our option to purchase internet was the same as the Voom packages, offering Surf & Stream, and Surf packages.

We recommend purchasing the Surf & Stream internet package if you’ll be using any video conferencing while working. If you only need to check your email or use a chat system, like Slack or Google Chat, the Surf option should work well. 

When looking for somewhere quiet to take meetings or focus, the best place we found to work was the Library / Card Room. This smaller room often goes unnoticed by other cruisers, meaning you’ll often find yourself a quiet room with few other people.

Some of our other favorite spots to work from were the Star Lounge, Viking Crown Lounge, and the outside seating areas on Decks 4 & 12. While most of these spaces don’t have activities during the day, we recommend checking the cruise planner prior to settling in to be sure you won’t have any surprise disruptions while you work. 

With the addition of Starlink, most of the ship had strong connectivity, and was much more reliable than we had ever experienced before.

Our interior stateroom did have some buffering when logging onto a video call (primarily due to our cabin being further from a wifi hub), but we were able to load, stream and surf without issue. 

One of the biggest frustrations on other ships we've experiences is trying to use the internet while sailing between ports of call. With the other at-sea internet offerings, it would take minutes for a single web page to load, and we didn't even consider trying to stream any videos.

Starlink gave us the ability to bypass these struggles, and ensure that we were connected regardless of where the ship was located.

With the ability of being able to work and connect seamlessly during the day, enjoy all of the activities in the evening, and wake up somewhere new every morning, Freedom of the Seas may just be the best place to work remotely now. 

I just went on my first weekend cruise, and it was a pleasant surprise. 

Originally being from the Midwest, whenever I would plan to go on a cruise, I wanted to maximize my vacation. I figured if I had to pay to fly down to the cruise port, I may as well book for at least 7 nights to make the travel time worth it.

Now that I live in Florida, it is a lot easier to get to many of the ports, and I’ve found that my cruising options have grown. I can easily take a weekend cruise, without the hassle of multiple travel days, taking up my PTO. 

For my first 3-nighter, I went on the Freedom of the Seas out of Miami, Fl. The primary purpose of this trip was to test the new SpaceX Starlink internet service, but it also gave me the opportunity to try my first weekend cruise. 

Read more: I tried Elon Musk's Starlink internet on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship

The shortest cruise I had been on before this was a 5-night cruise, so I was worried that this trip would be over before I knew it. Royal Caribbean has so many fun activities and experiences onboard, that I wasn’t sure how I would fit in all of my favorite things in just 3 nights.

We drove down to the port early Friday morning, getting on the ship just after 11 AM. After grabbing some pizza at Sorrentos, testing the Wi-Fi speeds and getting some content for the Royal Caribbean Blog TikTok account, I set off to begin my vacation. 

I hadn’t been on Freedom since before it was renovated, so I decided to explore the ship to get my bearings. I wanted to ensure that I didn’t miss a thing, as our cruise had 2 stops in Perfect Day at CocoCay and Nassau. This meant that there weren't any sea days, which was new for me.

After watching the ship sail away from the helipad, we went to dinner and then checked the schedule to see what they had planned for that night. I was surprised to see that the first night’s activities and show schedules weren’t filled. There weren't productions in the Royal Theater or Studio B, though that may have just been for this sailing.

Looking forward throughout the weekend’s schedule, it seemed that a majority of the popular activities were saved for nights 2 and 3. 

Day two was spent at CocoCay.

We spent most of our day at Coco Beach Club, but on our way back to the ship I started to realize that the crowd on this short cruise was leaning towards a younger age, with more of a party vibe.

There was a dance party in the Oasis Pool between the swim up bar and DJ booth, with more people than I had ever seen in there before. 

That evening we went to watch karaoke, where the party atmosphere from the pool had continued. Before the singers start, the activities staff announced their name and where they were from.

Based on the number of singers from Miami, and the cheering from the crowd when that was announced, we realized that most of the cruisers were local. When we’ve taken longer cruises, most of the people that we meet tend to be from the Midwest and Northeast, especially when cruising in the wintertime. 

We also started noticing that there were a lot of bachelorette parties, groups of young friends celebrating birthdays, and large multi-generational families cruising with us. This made sense as it is less of a time commitment than a longer cruise, making it easier for people’s schedules to align, and get away together for a weekend. 

The most surprising thing to me was that they packed three of Royal’s most popular activities on the last day.

After another port day in Nassau, most of the ship gathered to watch the International Belly Flop competition, Battle of the Sexes and Love & Marriage. This crowd was eager to participate in these games, with multiple people ready to audition or sign up. 

Overall, my first 3-night cruise was a weekend well spent. I’m someone who always believes that I could use a few more nights on a ship, but with the activities schedule not being as packed as I expected, I was still able to see and do everything I had wanted to, as well as get a little bit of relaxation time. 

One of my worries before going on the cruise was that before I knew it, the weekend would be over. It may help that I have another cruise coming up, but I felt that I was able to experience everything that Freedom had to offer, while still having a great vacation.

With the costs of these cruises typically being lower, the ease of getting to the port and having to take less PTO, I am already looking ahead to see when I can book another 3-nighter.

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