Royal Caribbean Blog

Royal Caribbean is making a major change to its pricey beverage packages. 

Effective March 15, 2026, the Coca-Cola® souvenir cup and access to Coca-Cola® Freestyle machines will no longer be included with the Deluxe or Royal Refreshment Packages. 

Guests who would like access to the Coca-Cola® Freestyle machine can purchase a souvenir cup onboard for $4.99. 

Historically, you could pick up a Coca-Cola® souvenir cup on embarkation day as part of the drink packages’ benefits and have unlimited access to the Freestyle machines throughout the voyage. Now, the perk is an optional add-on. 

Soda will still be included in the packages. However, without the souvenir cup, guests will be limited to canned soda and fountain soda served directly from bars, lounges, and dining venues. Consequently, they will no longer have convenient access to the Freestyle machine’s flavor options.

Guests who prefer the variety offered by the Freestyle machines must decide whether the extra $4.99 fee is worth it. For a family of five, this could potentially mean shelling out another $25 — on top of what was already paid for the packages. 

The policy change only impacts the Deluxe and Royal Refreshment Packages, which are, ironically, the cruise line’s more expensive beverage options, costing anywhere from $32 to $115 per person, per day. 

The Classic Soda Package will continue to include the Coca-Cola® souvenir cup and access to the Freestyle machine. However, the souvenir cup cannot be used for unlimited refills on future sailings. Moreover, the drink package includes only one cup. If you lose the souvenir cup during your voyage, you must pay $4.99 to replace it. 

Royal Caribbean's Classic Soda Package costs anywhere from $9.99 to $18 per person, per day. However, if you utilize the Cruise Planner's pre-cruise sales, it's easy to score a deal for less than $15 per day. 

Coca-Cola® Freestyle machines are not available on the following ships: Brilliance of the Seas, Serenade of the Seas, Spectrum of the Seas, and Vision of the Seas.

Guests who purchase a drink package on or before March 15 will be grandfathered in

(Credit: sdale39/Reddit)

A Royal Caribbean spokesperson confirmed to Royal Caribbean Blog that drink package bookings made on or before March 15, 2026, will retain the previous benefits, including a soda cup and unlimited access to the Coca-Cola® Freestyle machines.

"Guests who purchased a Deluxe or Refreshment Package pre‑cruise on or before 03/15/26 will not have to pay for a souvenir cup if they request one. The Classic Soda Package will continue to include a souvenir cup," they clarified. 

What is included in the Royal Caribbean drink package?

While the Coca-Cola® souvenir cup is no longer automatically included with the Deluxe and Royal Refreshment Packages, the packages themselves still offer a wide range of beverages. 

No other changes were made to the Deluxe Beverage Package. As such, the package will continue to include unlimited alcoholic drinks, such as cocktails, liquor, beer, and wine (up to $14 per serving), along with a long list of non-alcoholic options:

• Beers: Domestic, imported, and craft beer brands
• Wine and sparkling wine by the glass
• Canned and fountain soda
• Fresh and bottled juices
• Smoothies and protein shakes
• Specialty coffee and teas (excluding licensed Starbucks® stores)
• Bottled and sparkling water
• CocoLove coconut water
• Red Bull
• Powerade
• Johnny Rockets® Shakes
• Mocktails (including non-alcoholic spirits), non-alcoholic beers, and non-alcoholic wines

The Royal Refreshment Package also covers a solid selection of non-alcoholic options — ranging from mocktails to specialty coffees, bottled water, juices, and standard canned and fountain sodas:

• Canned and fountain soda
• Bottled still water, sparkling water, and CocoLove coconut water
• Fresh-squeezed juices
• Smoothies and protein shakes
• Specialty coffees and teas (excluding licensed Starbucks® stores)
• Johnny Rockets® Shakes and Desserted Soda Floats
• Non-alcoholic spirits, wines, and beers (only available to guests of legal drinking age)
• Frozen drinks (e.g., non-alcoholic piña colada)

Both packages also include drinks ashore at Perfect Day at CocoCay and Labadee, Haiti. This means you can sip on a beachside strawberry daiquiri, beer, sparkling water, or crisp Diet Coke at no extra cost (depending on your package). 

Cruisers react to the sudden policy change

Loyal Royal Caribbean fans have taken to social media to share their thoughts about the removal of the Coca-Cola® souvenir cup from the drink packages. 

Overall, many see the move as a reduction in value, claiming that Royal Caribbean is trying to "nickel-and-dime" guests by stripping away small perks that were once standard inclusions. 

"Unbelievably cheap on Royal's part. It will no doubt be wrapped in a bs statement about 'reducing waste,'" one Redditor wrote. 

ArissP added, "Just a way to [eke] out more profit. The cups don’t cost that much to manufacture, so it’s just another way of increasing total profit."

"Oh this makes me so angry. I purchased the refreshment package so we could have that cup and smoothies. My cruise is the 22nd so we'll just miss out," someone else frustratedly commented. 

Not all reactions have been negative, though. A handful of cruisers acknowledged that they don't use the Coca-Cola® Freestyle machines, with the souvenir cups going to waste. 

"So much waste with these things. And on many boats, there just aren't very many freestyle machines, so often, one would not be inclined to make the trek to refill it," said AntifaMiddleMgmt. 

"We have 12 of these at home in a box in the basement. On our next [cruise] this summer, my wife and I weren't even going to bother picking ours up. My kids mostly use them for water at night next to their bed."

azspeedbullet agreed, writing, "Overall i think it is a good change. A ton of cups [don't] get used or only used for the cruise and then thrown into the trash 5 dollars is very reasonable to pay for that cup for those that really need it." 

"I rarely used it. My kid and I had the soda package and 99.9% of the time we just went to the bar to get a soda. My wife and son had an alcohol package. They never used it," SafetyMan35 chimed in. 

The list of things you can't bring on a Royal Caribbean cruise has been revised with a new look to it and a focus on certain policies.

The policy governing what you cannot bring on a cruise has been a "living document" that has updated to reflect trends.  Some of the items have been prohibited for decades, while others are new.

This week, the prohibited item list got an overhaul and a new look.  Instead of it being a simple list, there's more context and even a few changes.

This is a good reminder to check up on what's been revised to prevent bringing the wrong things on vacation that could get you in trouble.

A new look

The first thing you'll notice about this list of items that are prohibited on a Royal Caribbean cruise is the format.

You can find the list on Royal Caribbean's website, and it's a page that gets regular updates. We monitor it closely to look for policy changes.

Compared to a copy of the webpage from January 31, 2026, the list has undergone an update to flesh out select areas and rearrange others.

Revised prohibited items list

Old list format

Certain prohibited items now have their own section with explanations, likely to further elaborate on what's not allowed.

In fact, Royal Caribbean even goes as far as to add what's included on your cruise to give reassurance that not being allowed to bring an item won't ruin your vacation. As an example, the list of which drinks you cannot bring now includes the free drinks that come with your cruise fare.

Ironically, the banned item list now includes many things you can bring.  

For example, the entire toiletries section talks about you're allowed to bring them, with no restrictions mentioned. The same is true for most of the baby things section.

This is likely to clear up any confusion if something not mentioned, but frequently asked about, is permissible to bring onboard.

The list also says there's a hair dryer included in every stateroom, even though hair curling irons, straighteners and hair dryers are permitted

At the bottom of the page is the traditional format of a list of banned items.

New banned items and policy adjustments

Snacks have been added to the prohibited item list, although there isn't an actual allotment defined.

"You can bring on a sensible amount of your favorite pre-packaged sealed snacks. Keep in mind there are lots of complimentary grab and go items and food all around the ship."

Previously, there was no mention of snacks on the banned item list.  Perhaps this change reflects a change in the amount of food guests are attempting to bring on a cruise.

Similarly, luggage is now included on the list with an explanation there is no limit, but their bags will be scanned.

Royal Caribbean also added a section that pets are not allowed on its cruise ships, with the exception of service animals.

This is an important step as our team has witnessed an increase in the amount of passengers who bring their pets onboard while trying to pass them off as service animals. Perhaps our anecdotal data is reflected in calling out the ban now on the full list.

Lastly, the recent addition of smart glasses has gotten an update. 

In February 2026, Royal Caribbean added smart glasses to its banned list, but restricted them from being worn in certain areas.

The verbiage is now more plain spoken and explains the restriction on where you can and cannot wear them.

"There are limits to where smart glasses can be worn onboard. Smart glasses cannot be worn in the casino, spa service areas, restrooms, locker rooms, medical facilities, security screening locations, youth facilities, during back-of-house tours, in crew areas, or anywhere there is a reasonable expectation of guest and crew privacy."

Guests violating the rule will have them taken away, "Smart glasses users who are seen violating this policy will have the glasses confiscated."

New ban on smoking in Mexico

Smokers should be aware that Royal Caribbean has updated its policy regarding smoking to match Mexico's new rules.

Mexico has a total ban on smoking in public places that has been in place since 2023.

This includes beaches, parks, hotels, restaurants, and workplaces. 

Nothing has changed with where and when you can smoke onboard, but there's a warning to passengers to be aware you could face jail time if you try to smoke while ashore.

"In Mexico, vapes and e-cigarettes of any kind are banned and cannot be brought ashore. Regular cigarettes cannot be smoked in public places including at beaches, hotels, restaurants and parks. Violators face fines or even jail time."

Royal Caribbean has even more tropical fun planned for 2027 and 2028. 

The cruise line's newest deployment release adds more island-hopping options to the already packed lineup. Now, cruisers have even more options to choose from — ranging from short sailings aboard Jewel of the Seas to Southern Caribbean adventures on Vision of the Seas. 

Many cruises also highlight Royal Caribbean's upcoming additions to its private destination portfolio, visiting ports like Nassau (for the Royal Beach Club Paradise Island), Cozumel (for the Royal Beach Club Cozumel), and Costa Maya (for Perfect Day Mexico). 

New Royal Caribbean 2027-28 Itineraries

Starting with Jewel of the Seas, the Radiance Class ship will embark on a series of 3 and 4-night voyages from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in 2027 and 2028. This isn't exactly breaking news, as it was previously revealed that Jewel would offer sailings from Fort Lauderdale in the December 9, 2025, deployment release.

The 90,090-gross-ton vessel will officially relocate from Tampa to Port Everglades in April 2027 for short getaways to The Bahamas. 

Itineraries will visit popular ports of call such as Nassau and the cruise line’s private island destination, Perfect Day at CocoCay, along with Bimini, Grand Bahama Island, and Key West. 

Serenade of the Seas will also be based out of Florida, sailing a variety of cruises to the Western Caribbean from Tampa.

She will begin sailing from Western Florida in Oct. 2027, with voyages ranging from 5-night cruises to the Western Caribbean to longer 9-night Eastern Caribbean adventures. 

6-night voyages in 2028 will call at a mix of ports like Roatán, Cozumel, Costa Maya, and Progreso, while 8-night sailings will expand the itinerary to include additional destinations such as Belize City and George Town. 

Finally, Vision of the Seas will leave her seasonal homeport of Baltimore for sunny San Juan in Oct. 2027. This continues the trend of having an older ship stationed out of Puerto Rico. 

The Vision Class vessel will primarily offer weeklong cruises to the Southern Caribbean, visiting the picturesque ports of Antigua, Dominica, Barbados, Grenada, and St. Thomas. 

However, to kickstart 2028, Vision of the Seas will embark on a 6-night Southern Caribbean sailing to the ABC islands. 

Royal Caribbean Deployment Schedule

Royal Caribbean's 2027 — 2028 deployment release has almost been completed. The next round of sailings is scheduled for the week of March 2, 2026. 

As of now, the cruise line's Oct. 2027 — April 2028 deployments in Australia, China, and Singapore are still unavailable. 

Here's what's available for booking — and what else cruisers have to look forward to:

• NOW OPEN: Alaska (May 2027 — Sept. 2027)
• NOW OPEN: Europe (April 2027 — Oct. 2027)
• NOW OPEN: 7-Night & Short Caribbean (March 2027 — April 2028)
• NOW OPEN: Northeast, California, & Texas (April 2027 — April 2028)
• NOW OPEN: Seasonal Caribbean (April 2027 — April 2028)
• NOW OPEN: Remaining Caribbean (April 2027 — April 2028)
• Week of March 2, 2026: Singapore (October 2027 — April 2028)
• Week of March 16, 2026: Australia (October 2027 — April 2028)
• TBD: China (October 2027 — April 2028)

Royal Caribbean has offered summer cruises around Europe for years, but 2026 is set to make its biggest splash yet.

The European cruise season is about to start, and this year's offering is different in a few ways. Royal Caribbean is introducing new products and new experiences, both of which are designed to stand apart from every other vacation option.  Not just cruise ships, but destinations.

Royal Caribbean doesn't compete with other cruise lines. They see themselves as peers among the broader vacation market, looking to offer a fresh alternative to Airbnb, resorts, and the busy planning mess of trying to "see Europe".

You'll see this in the Mediterranean, when their new offerings open up alongside venerable favorites.

Here's why Royal Caribbean is about to reinvent European cruises this summer.

An Icon becomes a Legend

The next biggest cruise ship in the world will launch with Legend of the Seas entering service in early July.

Icon of the Seas debuted two years ago, and it instantly set a new standard for what we expect on a cruise ship. Legend may be the third Icon Class ship, but it's hardly a copy job.

Legend of the Seas will introduce a few new features, such as a "Charlie and Chocolate Factory" musical, immersive train restaurant, and many new dining choices.

Not to mention these Icon Class ships offer the best mix of resort, beach club, and theme-park-style experiences around.

Plus, Legend enters the crowded Mediterranean market. But like a heavyweight fighter, its entrance stands out from every other option there. Royal Caribbean isn't placing Legend there haphazardly. They want to make a statement and draw a line for consumers that there's a new big deal.

Legend of the Seas will sail 7-night Western Mediterranean adventures from Barcelona, Spain, and Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy. 

A bold beach club entry

At the same time, Royal Caribbean is opening a new entry to its portfolio that no other cruise line can match.

Beginning in April, the Ultimate Santorini Day is a full-day, curated experience that will give Royal Caribbean cruisers an exclusive new way to see this highly coveted Greek island.

The Royal Beach Club Santorini is the brand’s first ever Royal Beach Club in Europe. At the beach club, guests can take in unbeatable views and authentic, local flavors while enjoying the volcanic sand beaches and serene Mediterranean vibes.  

You'll be able to take in the views in Fira, explore the iconic white and blue domes of Oia, and enjoy the beach club experience.

Unlike a private island, this beach club is more like a "super shore excursion" that leverages the very best of what Royal Caribbean offers packaged into a beach day. Offering an exclusive destination gives passengers "the easy button" to seeing an island that is otherwise known for being crowded and difficult to traverse.

I'm going on my first Mediterranean cruise

The launch of Legend of the Seas has gotten to me, because I'm going to try my first Mediterranean sailing.

A new cruise ship is always exciting, but to combine it with incredible places I've always dreamt of visiting in Italy, France, and Spain means a whole new adventure.

Ever since I took my first cruises around Northern Europe, I'm ready to tackle the most popular destinations in this region.

The beauty of exploring the Med by cruise ship is I get a sample of what each city and country has to offer. Will I love Provence or Rome more? Will I eat over 4,000 calories a day in every city? These are the exciting questions I'm already pondering.

Truly, one of the best reasons to take a cruise is how much it opens you up to exploring the world. I started off with Bahamas and Caribbean cruises, but the more you sail, the wider your appetite for bigger adventure grows.

While it will be a challenge to mix seeing a new ship with visiting ports, I think you've got to get your feet wet one way or another.  Jumping right in is a good start.

Royal Caribbean has more ships sailing around Europe this summer

Of course, there are more adventures this summer in Europe that go beyond the big two entries.

Odyssey of the Seas is headed back to the Mediterranean once more. Odyssey has become a mainstay in Europe, offering a summer season there every year since her debut.

You can book 7- to 9-night cruises on Odyssey to places like Ephesus (Kusadasi), Turkey; Naples, Italy; Mykonos, Greece; and Santorini, Greece.

Another megaship offering Mediterranean cruises will be Harmony of the Seas.

Tied to her upcoming amplification, Harmony will sail 7-night adventures await on Harmony from Barcelona, Spain.

Harmony is getting new restaurants, an expanded casino,, new bars, and more.

Two more ships will sail the Med, and each expands the the cruise line's footprint in the region.

Brilliance of the Seas will offer 7–9-night vacations on Brilliance from Ravenna (Venice) and Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy and Athens (Piraeus), Greece.

Explorer of the Seas is sailing along the Adriatic and Mediterranean coasts.

I recently visited San Juan, Puerto Rico on a cruise ship visit and it reminded me how much there is to do in one city (and island).

I sailed on Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas for a 7-night Eastern Caribbean cruise and one of the ports of call was a visit to San Juan.

From bars, to historical sights, to shopping, and the beach, there's a surprising amount to do here. Most Caribbean ports are usually "one trick pony's", meaning they primarily lean in one direction for what to do.  But that's not really the case in Puerto Rico.

Before you purchase a shore excursion to take you around, I'd recommend exploring on foot on your own because it's a lot easier than you might think.

If you have a cruise ship visit to San Juan, here are my top recommendations for fun that won't break the bank.

Exploring the city's history is a must

The name "Old San Juan" lives up to to the reputation, because there is so much history you can take in during your visit.

Within a reasonable walking distance are a lot of historical sites you can easily get to in just a few hours. 

Here's an example of a walking tour that you could use as a loose guide of what to see. If anything isn't of interest, keep walking to the next one.

The two Spanish forts are probably the top must-sees within the city. El Morro and San Cristobal are excellent examples of traditional Spanish colonial forts.  

They're great for young kids too, because there is lots of climbing and exploring.  For adults, read the placards or just walk around and get a sense of what they looked like.

If you're a Walt Disney World fan, the castle at the beginning of "Pirates of the Caribbean" is based on El Morro.

Plus, admission to one fort gets you admission into the other one if you visit on the same day!

I'd also prioritize the Paseo de La Princesa, which is part of the old city wall.  

You'll get views of the harbor, wall, and it's a beautiful vantage point.

Within the city itself, you'll find lots of historical spots to see. It seems like around every corner is something else to see.

The city is built on a hill, so it's practically impossible to get lost

If you've never been to Old San Juan, it's a lot easier to walk around on foot than you'd imagine.

Because the city is built on a hill and your ship docks at the bottom of the hill, it's nearly impossible to get lost.

If you ever get turned around and have no idea where you are, just walk downhill and you'll run back into the cruise ship.

While the streets don't have a grid, it's still remarkably easy to know where you are. Plus, Americans can use their cell phones here and with the aid of Google Maps, you shouldn't have trouble getting around.

More bars and restaurants than you can imagine

I've visited Old San Juan many times across so many sailings. Initially I was drawn in by the history, but the food and bars are what I look forward to more today.

On nearly any street you'll find various bars and places to eat. Some are more formal than others, but each has its own character to it.

It's fun stumbling upon a "hole in the wall" bar and trying the drink special. Or grabbing lunch at a cafe that offers terrific people watching on the street.

My kids love how many ice cream shops there are, which is a must-do when we visit during the very hot and humid days of the year.

While there are a few well-known restaurants many people recommend, such as Raices or Barrachina (where the Pina Colada was invented), I think it's fun to see where the path takes you and try a random spot.

Recommended places to visit

If you've got a cruise ship visit to San Juan, here are a few ideas of places to hit up:

• El Morro: Old Spanish fort, you can skip admission and just look at it
• Raices: Traditional Puerto Rican restaurant with less adventurous food too
• Vaca Brava: Puerto Rican food, lots of seating for large groups
• Barrachina: Puerto Rican food, creator of the Pina Colada
• Catedral Basilica Menor de San Juan Bautista: Traditional Spanish church with grave of Juan Ponce De Leon
• Himalaya Ice Co: My kids' favorite ice cream spot
• Convento hotel: walk through this for an incredible decorated hotel lobby
• Santa María Magdalena de Pazzis Cemetery: Final resting spot for many prominent residents of Old San Juan

There are great beaches, but I'd save them for another port

Puerto Rico is well-known for being a tropical destination, but I'd save the beach day for a different port.

There aren't any beaches in Old San Juan, so you'd have to take an excursion or taxi to get to the beaches that are in a different area of San Juan.

While there's absolutely nothing wrong with the beaches here, I'm willing to bet every other port your cruise visits will offer a typical beach day. Instead, I'd lean into a day of city exploration while in San Juan.

People discover all sorts of ways to make their cruise even better with some really creative hacks.

What's more surprising to me is how many new cruise hacks get invented as time goes on, and I always have the same thought, "Why didn't I think of that?".

Some of these tricks are so clever it almost seems like it has to be against the rules or would get you in trouble.  While some people come up with ways to cheat the drink package that are definitely against the rules, most others are well within your rights to try.

After spending an afternoon hunting down new cruise hacks on Facebook, here are eight new tips that you could try out.

There are Amazon affiliate links in this article that cost you nothing extra to use, but I make a small commission if you buy it.

Buying a drink caddy to make family orders easier

I saw someone bought a drink caddy to bring on Utopia of the Seas and I immediately scoffed, but it actually is a smart idea.

Dedreanna bought the non-alcoholic drink package for everyone, so they were taking full advantage of the drink package investment and buying lattes, soda cups, milkshakes, and so forth.

I know from my experience, the second someone says they're going to get a drink, everyone else wants to get their drink order in too. So having a drink caddy for a family might not be a bad idea, especially if you need to transport the drinks up to another deck.

The four drink holder costs $13.99 and you could also use this at home just as much as on the ship.

This seems like the perfect idea to bring on my next family cruise so I can put my kids to work.

Bringing a food container to buffet to bring snacks for later back to the room

While we think of a cruise as being a never-ending stream of food, there are times restaurants close down. The Windjammer isn't open 24 hours, and closes before 10pm.

Traditionally, some cruisers brought Ziploc bags to take food back to the room and keep it fresh, but they're small and don't have any support for food that isn't meant to spill around.

A few cruisers recommended bringing a small food container so they could easily transport snacks back to the room for later. This is actually a great idea so you could have a "fourth meal", "second dinner", or whatever you want to call it.

The one that was recommended costs $11.98 and like the drink caddy, it's an investment you can re-use at home too.

Create DIY cocktails

As you may be aware, Royal Caribbean allows you to bring certain drinks on a cruise.  Leveraging these can turn into smart money-saving drink hacks.

• Bring your own bottle of champagne onboard and then ask for orange juice each morning to create your own mimosa
• Order a shot of Baileys to add to your mocha latte from Cafe Promenade
• If you're Prime in Casino Royale, stockpile cans of sodas or bottled water in your cabin to use later

It's a smart way to extend what you have access to onboard.

Use the showers in the gym so you don't have to wait

Did you know there are showers in the ship's fitness center that you can use for free? 

They're usually not occupied and much more spacious than your tiny stateroom shower. This is a great tip for anyone sharing a room with someone else.

Before you plan on this tip, I'd recommend bringing shower shoes, such as flip flops. Since it's a communal shower, it's a good idea to wear this to prevent the spread of any bacteria.

Make your own root beer floats

Instead of paying for a ice cream float, you can probably make your own.

If you brought root beer on the ship, grab a cup and a get soft serve ice cream and add it to your root beer.

Scooping my soft serve ice cream into my root beer to make a root beer float. 

Another idea is to get soda from your drink package and then follow the same steps. This works really well in the Windjammer, because they have both soda and ice cream readily available.

Eating at Johnny Rockets for free at breakfast

It almost feels like you're getting away with something when you enjoy breakfast at Johnny Rockets for no cost.

This isn't a new hack at all, but a surprising amount of people are still unaware. This is only available on Oasis Class ships, but breakfast is free there.  Lunch and dinner still cost extra.

They serve an American style breakfast, and it's usually less crowded than the Windjammer or Main Dining Room. This is mostly because most people don't know breakfast is complimentary.

Wake up to coffee every day

A "work smarter, not harder" hack is using room service as a wake-up service.

Room service usually costs extra, but the continental breakfast room service is complimentary. It includes coffee, toast, bagels, juice, and cereal and there's no cost.

The idea is to order room service each morning as a way to force yourself to be awake. Not only will they call before they arrive, but it forces you to get up and not roll over and go back to sleep.

Unlike your phone alarm, this alarm will bring coffee or a light breakfast for no cost! If you're going to be tired and unhappy about having to wake up, at least you can have coffee to go with it!

Stockpile bottled water

If you buy a drink package, get into the mantra of saying with each order, "... and a bottle of water".

While the official rules are you can only order one beverage per order with a drink package, the crew rarely will stop you from also getting a bottle of water to go with it.

I think the idea is they don't want you to be hungover or dehydrated, so bottled water is acceptable to throw in.

My advice is to order bottled water with any drink order you make so you can start bringing back extras to the room. I stock them in my cabin fridge for use later, like when we're headed off the ship for a shore excursion.  Or if I need a drink in the middle of the night.

I was at a party recently and the topic of cruise vacations came up, and that's when one guest asked if cruises were just something old people went on. 

I've been asked or heard similar statements many times over the years, so I'm not new to this line of thinking, but it's surprising that so many hold onto this misconception about cruises. Especially given how prolific new ships have been in garnering all sorts of press for being anything but conventional and dull.

The Cruise Lines International Association says 22% of all cruisers were millennials and 14% were Gen Z. Those numbers are much higher on Royal Caribbean, where the average age of a cruiser is a millennial now.

A study last year by Morning Consult Intelligence showed Gen Z and millennial respondents were showing a greater interest in booking a cruise on one of the mainstream lines, with a 2-5% jump year-over-year.

Unfortunately, despite these growing numbers of young people wanting to cruise, the narrative has not yet caught up with the facts. 

Targeting younger cruisers

Like all myths, there's a source of truth to them. But that's greatly changing with Royal Caribbean.

While some cruise lines may still retain an older demographic, the mainstream lines are moving forward to appealing to the younger generations.

"More than half of the millennials tell us they are more likely to consider cruising today compared to two years ago," said Royal Caribbean Group CEO Jason Liberty last year.

He says that up-tick in interest is because of, "the attractive value proposition of a cruise."

The result is almost 1 in 2 guests sailing on Royal Caribbean ships are millennials or younger.

The Royal Caribbean app has undergone tremendous updates and feature additions to make it more useful and more engaging. Not only does it contain activity information, but it has been designed to be more useful for younger cruisers.

Mobile badges make tracking which sailings and destinations you've visited more personal. There are "Netflix-style recommendations" for dining, nightlife, and excursions based on personal preferences.  And push notifications make it easier to browse add-ons that could be of interest (and save money too).

Younger travelers see a cruise ship as an easy way to explore different places in one trip, "Consumers place significant value on visiting multiple destinations and this is even more important to Millennial and Gen Z consumers; something that cruising is uniquely positioned to deliver on."

More parties, less formality

Beyond the stats, what you can experience on a cruise has changed over the years and many of the trends lean towards people that want more than classic cruise activities.

Royal Caribbean made waves when it launched a brand new ship specifically aimed at attracting new cruisers and those that want a party vibe.

Utopia of the Seas was designed to be the weekend party cruise ship, and other ships have shifted to this dynamic as well.

In addition to the traditional things to do, there are more parties and themed events than ever before.

Royal Caribbean dropped the "formal night" moniker years ago, instead opting to lean into theme nights. While wearing a tuxedo is quite rare to see on a ship, families dressing up with matching outfits for Y2K night, white night, and Caribbean night are all much more popular than ever before.

Royal Caribbean went even deeper with appealing to families with building out an entire area of Icon of the Seas to be dedicated to young families.

Offering more than ever for parents and children to do together draws younger cruisers to try a cruise.  Plus, their parents can opt for the party fun later in the evening after dropping their kids off at kids club.

"I'll be bored on a cruise"

Tangentially related to the idea only the "nearly wed and nearly dead" go on cruises is the idea it's a boring vacation.

This is probably rooted in the idea you wake up and go to the pool deck every day.  In truth, there's so much more to do.

Cruise ships offer shopping, surfing, water slides, ice skating, laser tag, and deck parties. There are Broadway shows you can see, video games to play, gambling in the casino, karaoke and so much more.

If you look through the daily activities on Royal Caribbean, you'll quickly see how much is available to try.

Royal Caribbean designs its ships to compete with Las Vegas or Orlando. They want it to be a floating destination with more to do and try. So much of what you can do on land is available to do on a cruise ship too. And odds are even more.

After booking a solar eclipse cruise, some passengers were worried they wouldn't see the eclipse, but Royal Caribbean has stepped in to clarify and adjust the plans. 

The August 6, 2026, sailing aboard Liberty of the Seas was marketed as a special voyage to witness the total solar eclipse on August 12, 2026.

However, according to guests, the original itinerary meant they would only "experience 94-96% [totality], which [would not] even be close to a total eclipse experience."

After receiving complaints, the cruise line adjusted the ship’s route to ensure passengers were positioned directly in the path of totality. The cruise line changed the itinerary for a once-in-a-lifetime sailing.

(Credit: plasmid732/Reddit)

"We're looking forward to welcoming you onboard Liberty of the Seas TOTAL Solar Eclipse & Spanish Flair cruise later this year! As we prepare for our upcoming adventure, we wanted to share an update to our itinerary," the letter sent to booked passengers reads. 

Continuing, it says, "To give everyone the best possible total solar eclipse viewing experience during our sailing, we'll adjust our route after our visit to Gigón, Spain. Instead of stopping in Lisbon, Portugal, we'll head directly to Vigo, Spain, which places us in route to the optimal viewing area."

Cutting Lisbon was an important and necessary change for this special sailing. Had Liberty of the Seas kept the Portuguese port of call on the itinerary, the visit would have been extremely short and largely impractical for guests hoping to explore the city.

Other Changes to Liberty of the Seas' Solar Eclipse Itinerary

(Credit: plasmid732/Reddit)

Axing Lisbon wasn't the only change made to the 9-night European voyage aboard Liberty of the Seas. 

Initially, the Freedom Class ship was scheduled to visit La Coruña on Aug. 11, followed by a day at sea before calls in Lisbon and Vigo. However, the revised itinerary now has the ship sailing directly from Gijón to Vigo, with the solar eclipse viewing taking place at sea on Aug. 12.

Additionally, the visit to La Coruña has been moved to after the eclipse viewing. The reshuffled schedule has allowed the cruise line to add an extra port to the itinerary — Le Havre (Paris), France — on Aug. 15.

"[W]e are now able to offer a more rewarding and unhurried visit to Paris," the letter adds, "In Le Havre, make your way over to Paris and see why it's the European center for excellence in cuisine, architecture, fashion, and the fine arts...Whatever you decide to do, it will be an amazing time, as you will still be on a high with that Solar Eclipse afterglow."

This is the updated solar eclipse 2026 cruise itinerary on Liberty of the Seas:

• Aug. 7, 2026: Southampton, England (Depart 5:00 p.m.)
• Aug. 8, 2026: Cruising
• Aug. 9, 2026: Bilbao, Spain (8:00 a.m. — 6:00 p.m.)
• Aug. 10, 2026: Gijón, Spain (9:00 a.m. — 6:00 p.m.)
• Aug. 11, 2026: Vigo, Spain (10:00 a.m. — 7:00 p.m.)
• Aug. 12, 2026: Solar Eclipse (Cruising)
• Aug. 13, 2026: La Coruña, Spain (7:00 a.m. — 6:00 p.m.)
• Aug. 14, 2026: Cruising
• Aug. 15, 2026: Paris (Le Havre), France (8:00 a.m. — 9:00 p.m.)
• Aug. 16, 2026: Southampton, England (Arrive 5:30 a.m.)

"Woot Woot! I’m just so glad they listened!"

The change has been met with widespread excitement online. Passengers expressed relief that Royal Caribbean listened to feedback, while other cruise enthusiasts chimed in with excitement over the rare celestial event getting the spotlight it deserved.

"That's actually really awesome and I'm glad to hear the company was receptive to feedback," one Redditor commented. 

Someone else added, "I’m not on this cruise but this is an incredible success story of a massive corporation listening to feedback from their customers. This is something other companies should take note of."

Solar Eclipse Cruise 2026: A Rare Viewing Opportunity at Sea

Witnessing a total solar eclipse is an extremely rare event, and it's even more special if you're at sea!

The total eclipse on Aug. 12, 2026, will be Europe's first total solar eclipse since 1999. As such, destinations along the path of totality are already preparing for a major tourism surge — cruises included. 

Along with Royal Caribbean, cruise lines like Carnival, Atlas Ocean Voyages, Albatros Expeditions, Holland America, HX (Hurtigruten Expeditions), Princess Cruises, and Virgin Voyages are offering unique itineraries that allow passengers to witness the eclipse from the water.

Read more: Carnival just added a solar eclipse cruise, and it's the hot trend for 2026

When I get in my cruise ship cabin, the first thing I look to do is prep it to be my temporary home by making important changes.

Not only do these changes personalize the room more, but I think it makes things feel more like I'd want it if it were my bedroom at home.

Because I cruise a lot, I've come up with my routine when I get into my room.  Some of it is personalization, and other aspects are about setting up the rest of the cruise to be as I want it.

Plus, I prefer to get it all done on embarkation day so I can enjoy the rest of the cruise without worrying about needing to still do something.

Here's my list of 16 things everyone should do when they get to their cabin on a cruise.

Make my room colder

Whether I'm in a giant suite or a small inside room, my eye immediately latches onto the thermostat when I first walk in.

It seems every time the cabins are prepped for the next sailing, the thermostats get reset to a neutral setting of hot vs cold, but in my opinion, it's almost always too warm.

Unless it's the middle of winter, I always crank the air conditioning back down to its coldest setting.

Part of why I do this is because cruise ship cabins tend to run hot, especially if you have a balcony or window, because the sun radiates heat in.

Plus, I find it easier to sleep if the room is cold instead of hot. Not to mention it's faster to raise the room temperature than try to cool it down later.

Look around the room for anything that's broken

My next step is to visually inspect my room to verify it's what I expected.

Most of the time, the room is exactly as I imagined, and things are in place and it's how it should be.

I rarely encounter any issues, but if there was one, I'd immediately pick up the stateroom phone and call the maintenance department so they can fix it.

Royal Caribbean has a team of maintenance workers that live on the cruise ship. They can be dispatched to deal with issues, large or small.

Put all of my travel documents, cash, and valuables in the safe

It's a good idea to collect anything valuable and put it in the stateroom safe.

You'll find the safe almost always in your closet, although on some ships it can be located in drawers.

I'll put my wallet, passports, cash, and any jewelry I don't need at the time away in the safe.

This might be a hot take, but I don't know why anyone would carry their wallet around the ship. The ship is cashless (Seapass card pays for everything) and I'll keep my tip money or casino cash in a pocket.  My car keys, driver's license, Macy's charge card, and George Costanza exploding wallet in my safe.

Unpack so I can be done with it

I've tried unpacking and living out of a suitcase, and unpacking feels more like living at home. But it's extra work.

I feel like unpacking all my clothes reduces clutter in the room and it feels more "normal" than just grabbing things from a suitcase. Plus, it's definitely easier to find specific clothing if I unpacked.

There's an impressive amount of storage space in your stateroom. Drawers, closets, and hangers are all available to use and most of the time there is more storage space than I can use.

On older ships, I recommend trying to keep your clothes away from the life jackets that are probably in your closet.  The life jackets have a tendency to smell a little bit, and that odor could get onto nearby clothes.

Hang up dresses, suits, and anything I don't want wrinkled

While I'm unpacking, I'll try to get my formal wear out of my suitcase immediately and onto hangers.

Royal Caribbean has "Dress Your Best" nights, which are better known as "formal nights". 

Plus, there are other themed nights where you might have packed a special outfit for it.

Your closet comes with an assortment of hangers, but if you need more, your stateroom attendant can provide them.

Hide my luggage

With unpacking complete, it's time to get those bags out of the way.

Don't leave luggage in your room or closet. Instead, you can fit it under your bed. 

This cruise tip reduces clutter, takes advantage of under-utilized space, and frees up valuable closet space.

Put decorations on my stateroom door

Another fun cruise trend to adopt is decorating your cabin door.

It might seem silly, but I've found it's a fun way to celebrate being on vacation and sharing part of your personality with others.

You can put up practically anything, but you cannot use any adhesives. Instead, magnets are suitable for arranging things on your door without damaging the door or paint job.

You could put up your names, battery-powered LED lights, a whiteboard, or "I'm on vacation" signs.  Some cruisers get very creating with all of this.

Check out my balcony

Another area to check is the balcony and door to it.

I think if you're in a balcony room, you'll probably instinctively head out to see what it's like anyway, but verify the door opens and closes as you expect.

The top issue I run into is a door that feels like a bank safe to try to open or close. Once you sail, I've had balcony doors have a loud whistling sound.  In either case, a call to maintenance can usually remedy the issue.

Also, there should be two chairs and a table, at the very least. 

If you booked connecting balconies, double check the balcony divider is open, and if it's not, ask your stateroom attendant to open it for you.

Check the power outlets work

Typically there aren't many power outlets in your room, but it's a good idea to verify the outlets all work.

To be honest, I can't think of a time when an outlet didn't work, but better safe than sorry.  I would hate to be getting ready for sleep only to realize I can't charge my phone.

Inspect the bathroom and shower

Perhaps the part of my cruise ship room I've had the most maintenance problems is the bathroom.

Clogged toilets and backed up showers are problems I've run into over the years. The good news is it's not common, and when it does occur, can be fixed quickly.

Here is my checklist for things in the bathroom to look at:

• Verify the toilet flushes
• Verify there is hot water
• Verify the sink works
• Verify the shower door/curtain works
• Verify the shower drains properly

If you have more than 340 points in Royal Caribbean's loyalty program, you're supposed to get upgraded toiletries in the room. 

Meet my stateroom attendant

The crew member you're likely to encounter the most on your cruise is your cabin attendant, and they can be really helpful.

Cabin attendants won't be around when you first get to your room.  They usually start their shift around 3pm, and will go door to door and try to say hello.

When you meet them, they'll ask if everything is acceptable in the room or if you have any preferences. They usually will have you their card with their name and phone number.  I'll stick the card on the vanity so I can easily find it if I need it later.

Besides alerting them to any issues you identified earlier, this is when you'll want to make certain requests:

• If you want your room cleaned in the morning or evening (Junior Suites and higher rooms get twice a day cleaning)
• If you need more towels
• Requests for buckets of ice
• Ask to open balcony dividers or connecting room doors

If you ever have any issues or concerns about your stateroom, this is the crew member to talk to. 

Change the bed configuration

Did you know every bed can be split or combined?

You can specify this ahead of time in your cruise reservation, but perhaps you changed your mind or the request never got fulfilled. Don't worry, you don't have to move any furniture around.

Ask your cabin attendant to make the change.

They can also set up a bed on the couch, or opt to leave it in "bed mode" if you prefer.  

When my kids are using a couch as a bed, they prefer to leave it as a bed because it's better for lounging and ensures if they want a nap, we don't have to track down the cabin attendant.

Read my "cruise mail"

As you enter your room, there should be paperwork on your vanity.  Just like your mail at home, some of it goes right in the garbage, but some of it is important. 

A list of Royal Caribbean benefits you're entitled to as part of Crown and Anchor Society is listed there, which is a good reminder to take advantage of them later. These include discounts on beer, spa treatments, photo packages, and more.

If you booked any shore excursions through the cruise line, your tickets should be in an envelope on your vanity.

You may also find invitations to events, welcome letters, and more.

I'll sift through it all, toss anything I don't need, and then stash the important stuff so I know where it is.

Place drinks in the cooler

Every cabin has a fridge, but it's more of a cooler than a true refrigerator.  Nonetheless, it works great at keeping drinks cold.

Whether you have complimentary beverages from Crown and Anchor Society or brought 12 bottles of water or any non-alcoholic beverage onto the ship, I'll put them in the "fridge" so I can enjoy them later.

Not only do I do this so the drinks are ready, but it clears up space.

Take a nap

With cabins usually ready by 1pm, I'm ready for a quick recharge by this point on embarkation day.

The first day is busy, and there's lots more fun waiting for me in the evening. So a strategic nap in the early afternoon allows me to sleep off my welcome aboard lunch and be refreshed for the rest of the day.

If I do it right, I'm awake and ready for more afternoon fun well before sailaway.

Do the safety drill

I've gotten in the habit of completing the safety drill as soon as I board the ship, but sometimes it doesn't happen.

In case I didn't do it earlier, now is the time to quickly take care of eMuster.

The drill consists of three parts. The first two, watching a lifejacket safety video and listening to the emergency horn, can be done via the Royal Caribbean app. 

You can actually do these two steps even before you're on the ship the morning of embarkation day.  We usually do it on the drive to the cruise terminal.

The final step is to go to your muster station to check-in.  On the back of the cabin door is a sign indicating where your muster station is.  It's also located within the "Safety" section of the Royal Caribbean app.

Which specialty restaurants are worth it is one of the top questions I'm asked, and I realized I'm usually recommending the same places.

Depending on which ship you're sailing, there are different assortments of specialty restaurants you can eat at. Each one has an additional cost, which makes it debatable if there's enough value to dine there. Plus, cruisers are curious of the quality.

Royal Caribbean includes really good food at its complimentary restaurants, so spending extra on specialty dining is a question of how much better can it be. Thanks to dining packages, the cost to eat out at a specialty restaurant is significantly less. Dining packages can reduce the cost by almost half, because of the bulk discount nature it has.

When I'm asked which specialty restaurants are the best ones to eat at, I realized I usually give the same ones over and over again.

Don't worry, there are plenty of great included restaurants I like too!

Here's why each of these restaurants is worthy of eating at, in my opinion.

Izumi Hibachi

When someone wants to know a good restaurant to go to with a large group, I almost always think of Izumi Hibachi first.

This is the definition of a "crowd pleaser" option because it combines a fun show element with palatable food that should appeal to both picky and adventurous eaters.

If you've never dined at a teppanyaki restaurant, the chef cooks for everyone at the table and the chef will play up the experience by performing tricks, telling jokes, and including everyone.

Kids love it because of the show factor. I believe this was the first specialty restaurant my kids would regularly get excited for because they knew it would be fun.

But the menu stands on its own as being really good as well. If you're picky, uneasy about Asian food, or not sure what to order, you can have chicken or steak and everything else resembling a vegetable on the side.

But if you love Asian food, there's fried rice, sushi, and plenty of other ways to customize your meal.

Izumi is fun, predictably fun, and very satisfying.

150 Central Park

When I hear "date night", the first place I think of is 150 Central Park because I think it has the perfect ambiance for that sort of evening.

I think 150 Central Park looks almost intimidating to someone who's never eaten there because it seems like it might be too fancy, but it's really not at all.

You can expect modern American food here, and their Beef Tenderloin for two is fantastic.

Yes, the ambiance is lovely and if you're seated in one of the tables that has the egg-shaped enclosed chairs, it adds to the charm.

I think it's also a great restaurant beyond date night. The menu is robust, and I like that it's different enough from other restaurant menus to not feel repetitive.

Giovanni's Italian Kitchen

It's hard to ever go wrong with Italian food, and I think Giovanni's Italian Kitchen hits the high mark.

To be clear, Royal Caribbean has three different Italian restaurants, but I'm talking about the newest version.  While I don't dislike Giovanni's Italian Table or Jamie's Italian, I think Giovanni's Italian Kitchen has a better menu overall.

Not only is the menu wider in scope, but there are so many top Italian food staples that I could there multiple times on a cruise.

I'm a fan of any restaurant that isn't a "one trick pony" when it comes to its menu. I like variety and you never know if you'll be in the mood for pizza, chicken parmigiana, or a plate of pasta.

In fact, their pizza is dangerously underrated. I think a lot of people think, "Pizza? I can get that at Sorrento's" but the quality of the pizza at Giovanni's Italian Kitchen is so much better. I'm a pizza snob and I think this version is amazing. Try the margherita pizza and tell me it's not impressive.

Since it's Italian food, it's also a very palatable menu. Everyone in your group should be able to find something to eat.

Playmakers

The most casual restaurant on my list is quite a crowd pleaser in Playmakers Sports Bar.

As you might expect with any sports bar, the menu has burgers, wings, fries, and more.  It's your classic comfort food, and it works really well.

No reservations required, and Playmakers is my go-to spot when everyone's too tired to get dressed up for dinner, but we want something beyond the Windjammer.

Their food is tasty, and a few dishes are superb.

I think Playmakers has the best burger of any restaurant, and their nachos, onion rings, and Buffalo crunch rolls are the things you'll probably dream about when at home.

It's not a giant menu, but there's good eats all around. As an added bonus, you can catch the games on one of the many TV's that surround the restaurant.

My wife would yell at me if I didn't mention the Campfire Cookie dessert, which is arguably the most decadent treat on any Royal Caribbean ship and so savory you'll want to come to Playmakers just for dessert.

Supper Clubs

I've eaten at both of the new supper clubs found on Icon of the Seas and Star of the Seas, and I was immediately so impressed by how much fun and different they are from a typical specialty restaurant.

Yes, it's expensive ($200 per person) and requires formal attire.  But if you're looking for a fancy night out to truly do something different, this is the restaurant for you.

Empire Supper Club has a New York theme, while Lincoln Park Supper Club has a Chicago theme.  Later this year, Legend of the Seas will debut a Hollywood theme.

What you need to know about each is they have a multi-course meal that pairs food, cocktails, and the music you hear.

These are high-end establishments where passengers actually dress up. You'll likely see tuxedos and ball gowns here.

As cruising becomes more casual overall, it's nice to have one place with a upscale vibe.

Chops Grille

If there's an "old faithful" entry for specialty restaurants, it has to be Chops Grille.

As Royal Caribbean's venerable steakhouse, I can't say it's a bad choice at all for where to eat.

You'll find a few different kinds of steaks to consider. On newer ships, there are even higher quality cuts you can order for an additional cost.

You'll find Chops on every single Royal Caribbean ship, which is the only specialty restaurant with that distinction.

I must have eaten at Chops at least 20 times or more, and it's consistently a quality meal. 

There are non-steak options on the menu, but I think the red meat stands out as being the top choice to get. 

Chops is a great choice for date nights, family dinners, and dinner with friends. It's fancy enough to pass for a special night out, but still retains a casual mass appeal.