Royal Caribbean Blog

With the holiday season underway, the Royal Caribbean Blog staff is gearing up for another exciting year covering the cruise industry. We're also thinking ahead and sharing what experiences we'd love to see implemented on the Royal Caribbean fleet. 

Understandably, we're all huge fans of the Royal Caribbean brand here. However, after reflecting on our experiences this past year and what other cruise lines have done well, there are a few ideas that we'd love to see come to life. 

From enhancements to CocoCay to new specialty restaurants and better app features, here's what's topping our Royal Caribbean wish list this year. 

Over-the-water swings at Perfect Day at CocoCay

Royal Caribbean has mastered its private destination formula, between the award-winning Perfect Day at CocoCay island and the brand-new beach club in Nassau. Still, there are things the cruise line could borrow from competitors to make the experience even better. 

"I visited Carnival's new private destination of Celebration Key this summer, and I was impressed by the destination's massive lagoon. It makes Oasis Lagoon feel small!" said Jenna DeLaurentis. 

"One feature I really loved at the lagoon was the Sunshine Swings Bar. Instead of chairs, this bar has swings that hover over the lagoon. Although Perfect Day at CocoCay has a similar swing setup at Captain Jack's bar, the private island doesn't have any over-the-water swings. I thought this was a really cool feature, and I would love to see something similar at CocoCay!" she added. 

Nighttime events at Perfect Day at CocoCay

Something else our team would love to see is later port visits to CocoCay. Royal Caribbean introduced late-night visits in 2019. However, they were short-lived and haven't returned. 

"I wish there were nighttime events at CocoCay. Experiencing the island after dark with music, lights, and fun activities like bonfires would make a day at CocoCay feel even more special and memorable," said Ryan Hart. 

MSC Cruises offers a glimpse of what evening programming could look like at a private island, including beach parties hosted by a lively DJ, bonfires, and an illuminating lighthouse show at MSC Ocean Cay Marine Reserve. 

App enhancements 

Royal Caribbean Blog's head honcho would love to see some upgrades made to Royal Caribbean's mobile app. While it’s better than other cruise lines’ apps, there are still areas that could improve its functionality and user-friendliness.

"There should be a search function where I can search for a keyword in the activity title or description to make it simpler," remarked Matt Hochberg. 

"While on Star of the Seas, I spoke to a member of the activities staff who was going to be hosting a WWE wrestling theme song trivia event, but he didn't know when it was. I had to scroll through every single day, looking carefully to spot it," he explained. 

Information about the Discovery Class

Royal Caribbean has been hinting about the upcoming Discovery Class for a while, and Elizabeth is hopeful that 2026 will finally be the year when cruisers get some long-awaited details about the smaller ship class. Currently, all of Royal Caribbean's smallest ships are over 20 years old, including Vision of the Seas and Jewel of the Seas. 

"Lately, I’ve been exploring other cruise lines, like Celebrity Cruises, which offer smaller, better-maintained ships. Celebrity's Solstice Class ships come in at around 122,000 gross tons, making them a little bit smaller than Royal Caribbean's Freedom Class. The smaller size makes the ships feel more intimate, and the cruise line announced a major refresh to its Solstice Class vessels, which will enhance the onboard experience even more," said Elizabeth Wright. 

"Rather than focusing on mega Oasis and Icon Class ships, I wish Royal Caribbean would put a little more love into its older classes, whether that's through significant updates to the ships with refreshed staterooms, or finally introducing a new, smaller class to give cruisers something exciting to look forward to."

More diverse itineraries 

One criticism Royal Caribbean has recently received is that its itineraries are repetitive. While there's no denying the popularity of ports like Perfect Day at CocoCay; Phillipsburg, St. Maarten; Bermuda; Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy; and Santorini, Greece, many cruisers crave fresh destinations and unique experiences. 

"Brazil is one of my favorite countries in the world, and I've been waiting for Royal Caribbean to release new itineraries to the region," explained Jenna. 

"Royal Caribbean used to offer cruises throughout Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay over a decade ago, but these itineraries have not been offered post-COVID. Currently, MSC Cruises offers cruises around Brazil, but I'd love to see Royal Caribbean return to the region."

Different homeports for Icon Class ships

With the announcement of Icon of the Seas heading to Galveston, Texas, in 2027, Ryan is eager to see further homeport expansions for the mega-ship class. 

So far, Icon Class ships have been concentrated in Florida (i.e., Miami and Port Canaveral), which makes them less accessible for cruisers living elsewhere in the country.

"I’d love to see more sailings of Icon Class ships out of the Northeast. Having a new, modern ship closer to home makes planning a trip easier, and it feels exciting to have a fresh option that’s different from the usual departures," he said. 

Better fast-casual dining options

Although Royal Caribbean's newer ships offer plenty of dining options, from poolside tacos at El Loco Fresh to freshly made crêpes in the AquaDome Market and grab-and-go sandwiches at the Spare Tire, they still fall short compared to other cruise lines, namely Carnival. 

"I'd like to see more quick casual dining options on Royal Caribbean, similar to what you can find on Carnival with Guy’s Burger Joint and Big Chicken," explained Allie Hubers. 

"I’d especially like to see more options added to older ships in Royal Caribbean’s fleet during refurbishments to keep options fresh. I think this is one area where Royal Caribbean could really make some big improvements with some new signature eateries with excellent execution."

Thai specialty restaurant

On a similar note, Jenna thinks they could expand their specialty dining portfolio to include a wider array of cuisines beyond the standard steakhouse, Italian trattoria, and sushi options. 

"I would also love to see a sit-down Thai specialty restaurant on Royal Caribbean. Although the cruise line debuted Thai food in the AquaDome market on Star of the Seas, the menu is limited at the small food stand," she said. 

"Thai cuisine is one of my favorites, and I would love to have a restaurant with a wide range of noodle dishes, curries, and my favorite Thai dessert — mango sticky rice. Norwegian Cruise Line debuted a Thai specialty restaurant aboard NCL Aqua in 2025, so I hope Royal Caribbean will one day follow suit."

Just when it looked like all the North American cruises in 2027-2028 were released, Royal Caribbean has added more.

The cruise line quietly updated its deployment schedule to add a new batch of sailings that will come out in early 2026.

Referred to as "Remaining Caribbean", Royal Caribbean will add new sailings on an undisclosed list of ships during the week of February 9, 2026.

The deployment schedule was updated recently with the new plan.

Royal Caribbean hasn't yet updated the deployment schedule to indicate when cruises to Australia, China, or Singapore will be released for 2027-2028.

What you can expect in this deployment

While Royal Caribbean doesn't comment on what ships and itineraries will be posted in any deployment, I think it's safe to assume we can expect this one will fill in some gaps.

With the other deployments in 2027-2028 already announced, there are a few "gaps" in the schedule that do not account for where a ship will be until April 2028.

For example, Vision of the Seas' sailings are only bookable through late October 2027.  Vision is homeported in Baltimore and then there's nothing else scheduled for that ship.

Likewise, Jewel of the Seas posted schedule ends on November 5, 2027 with a sailing from Fort Lauderdale.

Symphony of the Seas has no cruises past January 2028, leaving a three month gap in her schedule. Symphony's 10 year anniversary is coming up in 2028, so it's likely a routine maintenance visit is likely.

Icon 4 is also missing from the schedule

Another notable missing deployment are the new Icon 4 sailings.

Royal Caribbean previously confirmed it will build a fourth Icon Class ship, but has not revealed its name, homeport, or where it will sail.

Historically, Royal Caribbean releases sailings on a brand new ship in its own release cycle.  New ships enjoy so much interest that it can stand alone when they are ready to open the sailings for booking.

However, it's entirely possible Icon 4 could be rolled into this "Remaining Caribbean" deployment.

The rumor mill is heating up with possibilities

If you're ready to go knee-deep into the "what if's" of Royal Caribbean, there are lots of rumors swirling about where ships might end up.

Please remember these are unconfirmed rumors that have not been confirmed or announced by Royal Caribbean.

Most people expect Icon 4 to be homeported in Miami because there is no other Icon Class ship based there for the 2027-2028 season.

Miami is typically reserved for Royal Caribbean's flagship (or at least one of them) and right now it's just Allure of the Seas homeporting in PortMiami.

An even juicier rumor began floating around the last few days of an Oasis Class ship being moved to Asia.

According to an admin on the Royal Caribbean Cruises Singapore Homeport Facebook group, Spectrum of the Seas will be moved away from China and back to Singapore.

The rumor says Spectrum will be replaced in China by Wonder of the Seas.  

This would be the first time an Oasis Class ship has been based outside of North America or Europe. Wonder of the Seas was originally planned to be based in China before her debut, but those plans were cancelled due to the global cruise industry shutdown of 2020.

Given the recent change in sailings to Japan due to geopolitical issues, these plans may or may not end up happening.

Here are all the new cruises released so far in 2027-2028

In case you missed any of it, Royal Caribbean has published new cruises to book in 2027-2028 around Europe, North America, and the Caribbean.

Here is a look at each of the deployments we have:

• Alaska
• Europe
• 7-night & Short Caribbean Year-Round
• Northeast, California & Texas
• Seasonal Caribbean

All of these deployments are open for booking immediately.

I went back on Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas for a quick 4-night cruise, and found a few helpful tips before you sail will benefit almost anyone.

Being one of the biggest Royal Caribbean cruise ships, Wonder of the Seas has so much to do onboard that you really can't squeeze it into just one sailing.

Part of the reason to book a cruise on Wonder is to experience all of the incredible bars, restaurants and activities.

I've sailed on Wonder of the Seas six times, and it's clear there are a few things everyone should know and do before they get onboard.

Do your online check-in to make boarding smooth

Download the Royal Caribbean app before your cruise begins and do the online check-in because it will make getting onboard so fast.

The app allows you to select a check-in time as well as enter everyone's important information. Then at the cruise terminal, all the staff needs to do is verify everything and you'll be on your way.

You can always tell who has done their online check-in and which families are starting off vacation waiting for the staff member to enter your info, take photos, and scan your credit card.

More importantly, doing your online check-in gets you access to the Express Boarding line.

This is a special line for those that did online check-in and they get a shorter line and onboard the ship faster. It's free to get Express Boarding, but you need to complete the steps in the app before embarkation day.

There are alternatives to the buffet that are less crowded

On any Royal Caribbean ship, the Windjammer buffet is usually the first place everyone thinks of for breakfast or when boarding the ship.

However, there are a few good alternatives with shorter lines.

El Loco Fresh (Deck 15) or Park Cafe (Deck 8) are both very good and far less crowded.

You'll find Mexican food at El Loco Fresh, such as quesadillas, tacos, and burritos.  Park Cafe has salads, soups, sandwiches, and grab and go snacks.  Both restaurants are included in your cruise fare.

I love going here to be able to get in, get something to eat, and then be on my way for more fun. 

Reserve shows before the cruise instead of on embarkation day

There are shows every night, but you need reservations.  I recommend booking them before the cruise begins in the app or Cruise Planner website. 

You can make reservations around 30 days before your cruise begins.

In the AquaTheater you’ll find InTENse. As the name implies, this show features an intense performance of high diving, slack lining, tight roping, acrobatics, and synchronized swimming by an all-female cast.

The ice-skating rink, Studio B, is home to the production of 365: The Seasons on Ice, which transports guests to all four seasons through technology-driven set design and professional performers. You’ll almost certainly be amazed watching the cast perform backflips, triple axels, and aerial performances on ice!

In The Royal Theater you’ll find the original production of The Effectors II: Crash n’ Burn, telling the story of a band of superheroes fighting their arch-nemesis, Crash. Although the storyline might sound cheesy, the combination of technology, drones, singing, and dancing makes this show a must-see while onboard.

Aside from these three main shows are smaller production shows and live music around the ship. 

Don't go to the water slides when there are long lines. Try these times instead

There are 3 water slides on Wonder of the Seas, and the best times to try them all is definitely not on a sea day.

I recommend going to the water slides at one of two times for minimal waits: on embarkation day before 1pm, or while the ship is docked in port.

Water slides are very popular with kids, and lines develop when the pool deck is busy.

However, a great cruise hack is to wear (or bring) your bathing suit on embarkation day and then hit the slides in the early afternoon. 

Most other passengers packed their bathing suits and their luggage may not be delivered until mid afternoon. This leaves the water slides open and with a short line.

There are public restrooms at the pool deck to change into your bathing suit.

The other really good time to try the water slides is when your ship is docked at a port of call.

Going to the slide when most other passengers are off the ship on a shore excursion means short lines as well.

Another idea is go directly to the water slides when you get back from a shore excursion, as the pool deck isn't usually too busy.

The Mason Jar is the best bar you didn't know about

The best bar on Wonder of the Seas you're not going to is up on Deck 15 at the Mason Jar.

This is a specialty restaurant, but at night the bar becomes one of the most fun spots onboard.  They have a country band that plays music and there are some really good drinks to try too.

I love the Mason Jar bar for the fun vibe, and a lot of cruisers completely miss out on the fun here.  Get a seat early, because it fills up!

The Crazy Quest is don't miss fun for adults

Want to try something fun without the kids that will surely make you laugh? The Crazy Quest is a must-see show.

This is an event for guests 18 years old or older, and it's a competition.  Teams of two work to complete challenges with the help of their seating section to get points.

It's pretty much a scavenger hunt, but with adult tones to it.  

The name "crazy" is well deserved given the antics guests get into in trying to complete the various challenges.

Johnny Rockets is free for breakfast

Ordinarily Johnny Rockets costs extra to eat there, but it's free for breakfast.

In the morning hours, you can go to Johnny Rockets for an American style breakfast and pay nothing extra for the food.

You'll only find free breakfast at Johnny Rockets on Oasis Class ships, and it seems like no one else knows about this trick for an uncrowded sit-down breakfast alternative to the Main Dining Room or Windjammer.

Pack pants for ice skating

Did you know you can go ice skating on Wonder of the Seas?

There are open skate sessions, but there are two dress requirements:

• You are wearing socks
• You are wearing long pants

Packing socks is never an issue, but since Wonder of the Seas sails to The Bahamas, it's easy to overlook packing pants.

Bring (and wear) pants to ice skating and enjoy a half hour of fun on the ice!

Book laser tag as soon as you board

Another fun activity in Studio B is laser tag.

Just like ice skating, laser tag has no cost and quite popular.  You can book a spot once you get on the ship and open the Royal Caribbean app, connect to the Wi-Fi, and then reserve a time slot.

Watch out for the short kids, because you'll turn a corner and get zapped without noticing them at your eye level!

Kids will love the midnight balloon drop

Photo by Scott Sanders

Children seem to love the balloon drop even more than the adults do.

On the first day of your cruise, there will be nets of balloons along the ceiling of the Royal Promenade.

If you can manage to keep your kids awake until midnight, head to the Royal Promenade when hundreds of balloons are dropped on you.

Kids love this, and they even get the chance to pop the balloons too!

Order these 5 unique drinks

Because Royal Caribbean has so many fun bars on Wonder of the Seas, there are a number of cocktails you should try.  

This list of drinks are only available at certain bars, so a bar hop activity should be a must-do for your family:

• PB&J Old Fashioned (Mason Jar)
• Lime and Coconut (Lime and Coconut)
• Cheshire Cat Cosmo (Wonderland)
• She's a Geisha (Izumi)
• Toasted Marshmallow Old Fashioned (Schooner Bar)

All of these cocktails are included with the Deluxe Beverage Package, and they're mighty tasty!

The Suite Sun Deck is the best in the fleet

If you're booked in a suite, make an effort to hang out in the Suite Sun Deck.

Exclusively for passengers booked in a Grand Suite or higher, the expansive Suite Sun Deck  has a private plunge pool, bar, and comfy loungers.

I love the mix of places to sit in the sun and shade. Plus, there are extremely large and comfortable sun beds that have no cost.

The bar means you don't have to go far for a drink.

Pre-book the Royal Beach Club for the best price

Every Wonder of the Seas cruise visits Nassau, where you can experience Royal Caribbean's new exclusive retreat.

The Royal Beach Club Paradise Island is a shore excursion reserved just for Royal Caribbean cruise guests (and Celebrity cruisers too), but there's limited capacity and the price is higher on the ship.

I recommend booking a day pass (or cabana) a few months before the cruise begins. You could save hundreds of dollars alone by pre-booking!

The first place I eat on any cruise ship I go on is almost always the buffet. It's been a family tradition since I started cruising, and it offers the greatest variety of food to satisfy everyone's needs.

What I love about Royal Caribbean's Windjammer buffet is how many different types of food they offer. On embarkation day you can expect salads, soups, Indian curry, burgers, pasta, a carving station, and much more.

Depending on which ship you're on, there are other buffets too, such as El Loco Fresh, Sorrento's or Solarium Bistro. No matter which one you choose, there are certain expectations of every cruiser that dines there.

You won't find a list of do's and don't posted on the wall as you enter, but I've found after many years of cruising that there are things everyone should be doing while dining at a buffet.

After sailing on Wonder of the Seas, I came up with my own list of the unwritten rules of the cruise buffet to follow.

There's no excuse not to wash your hands before walking in

There is an opportunity to clean your hands before entering the Windjammer, and everyone should be doing that every time.

There's no excuse for not doing it, regardless if you washed your hands two minutes ago, just took a shower, or anything else. 

I'm not a germophobe, but cruise ships are tight living quarters and reducing the risk of spreading something like Norovirus is worth it.

Not to mention it takes a few seconds to wash your hands at one of the stations. It's even faster if there's just a hand sanitizer option (as is the case on Royal Caribbean's smaller ships).

Don't cut the buffet line, unless you can swoop in quickly to get something down the line

There are buffet islands and the expectation is you'll wait in line for a turn to get to the food at that station if you spot something like.

Usually you'll see a couple of people already queued up, which is your indication to get behind them and wait for the food.

However, I do think you can "cut the line" if it's clear everyone is lined up for one or two things at the beginning of the buffet island and there's something at the other end that has no one in front of it and that's all you want.

It has to be a quick operation, however, to bypass the line and head straight to that item.  You need to swoop in, grab the serving spoon and add it to your plate, and then be on your way before anyone can even notice which Buffalo Bills Zubaz pants you're wearing.

This unwritten rule requires speed and a well-meaning field judgement that you're bypassing a line of people not waiting for the thing you want.

When in doubt, wait in the line. It won't take very long.

Read the room how long you can linger at your table

Buffet tables can be quite busy, especially in the morning or on embarkation day lunch.  So you should use them until it's socially appropriate to depart.

Certainly enjoy and use the table you pick while anyone at your table is eating. There is no rule about how long it should take to eat your food, so take your time and enjoy it.

But this rule has more to do with what happens after you're done eating.

If the buffet isn't busy, feel free to shoot the breeze and enjoy chatting with friends and family. If it's particularly not busy, you can use the tables for a card game.

But when the buffet is slammed, you should get up and be on your way to free up your table for someone else to eat. After all, there are plenty of chairs and tables elsewhere nearby to chat and hang out.

Once you're done eating, take a look around and see if your table is a hot commodity or you're surrounded by empty tables.

One order per person at the cooking stations

My controversial unwritten buffet rule is you should only have one order per person in line for the cooking station.

I love the cooking stations in the Windjammer, especially the Asian stir fry, because the food is freshly made and always tastes better than similar food pre-prepared.

The thing is we all gauge the line for the very popular cooking stations by who's in line.  I'll hop on a line that's 2 or 3 people deep, but will skip if it's any longer.

However, I believe the expectation is the amount of people in line represents how many orders are ahead of you.  It's frustrating to everyone else if someone is in line and places multiple orders, delaying the entire line.

I'm sure there are some people who will disagree with me on this one, but to those people, you're "that guy" in line that everyone suddenly finds frustrating.

Get a new plate every single trip to the buffet

I think it's a universal unwritten rule that at any buffet, you always get a new plate when going back up to the buffet.

Some people don't want to create an additional mess or be a burden so they believe re-using a plate is more "responsible", but the truth is it's a health concern to do so.

Despite your best intentions, you should always get a new plate when returning to the buffet for anything.

Always use the tongs

While on the subject of universal buffet truths, there is never an excuse to touch the food with your hands.

There are tongs or serving spoons for getting food, and that's the only acceptable means of retrieving food to put on your plate.

You'll sometimes see people use their hands to get bread, pastries, or other foods that are naturally eaten with your hands. I get it, those tongs can be tricky sometimes, but it's for everyone's benefit to use them.

Reserving a table requires something more obvious than a cup

It's a good idea to reserve a table before going to get your food so that you have somewhere to return and eat your food quickly.

However, you need to make it so painfully obvious you reserved it so there's no ambiguity.

I've seen people leave behind cups from the buffet station, and that's simply not clear if the table is reserved or the people that were there had a drink and are now finished.

A bag, hat, jacket, or some other personal belonging is all you need to mark the table as used.  You shouldn't rely on things provided by the restaurant as a marker, or you're bound to end up with a surprise guest at your table.

Beware turning around blindly or turning around suddenly

Imagine this: you finish getting food at a buffet and then turn around quickly to return to your table only to find something right behind you and your food all over both of you.

The buffet can get crowded, so you want to avoid sudden 180 degree turns. Often people are right behind you because they're eager to get food, get to their table, or trying to find their family.

Slow turns are the key to avoid a food spill.

There's usually more seating in the back

You can usually bet you will find empty tables the further you go away from the buffet. 

Nearly everyone prefers a table near the buffet stations for convenience of returning quickly, but I've found more tables in the rear.

Some Windjammers have outdoor seating too, such as on Quantum and Radiance Class ships. Just keep walking to the back to access it.

On Voyager and Freedom class ships, there are tables near the Windjammer bar that are usually empty as well.

Merry Christmas! The holidays are here, and so is our weekly round up of this week's Royal Caribbean news.

We have a sneak peek at Royal Caribbean's first beach club that will open in a few days in The Bahamas.

After taking a 10 minute ferry ride, Matt got to try out what this special kind of shore excursion has to offer.

From heated pools, to powder white sand, to a DJ party, we have a first look to share of what you can expect.

Royal Caribbean News

• 7 things that surprised me on my first visit to the Royal Beach Club
• Royal Caribbean surveying guests about what they want at new Greek Isles beach club
• Star of the Seas cabins to avoid
• 9 first time cruise questions that a group of 100 influencers asked
• 13 gifts that are perfect for a cruise too
• How I decorated my cruise ship cabin for Christmas for just $40
• I broke my own cardinal cruising rule and while it worked out, I had more anxiety than was worth it

Video: Royal Beach Club - First Look!

Have you subscribed to the Royal Caribbean Blog YouTube Channel? We share some great videos there regularly, all about taking a Royal Caribbean cruise! This week, we are sharing our latest video: Royal Beach Club - First Look! 

Multiple Royal Caribbean sailings cancelled after one ship is redeployed

At least 18 sailings on Freedom of the Seas have been cancelled so far as a result of a change in Royal Caribbean's schedule.

Affected guests were emailed a notification that their plans have been changed and the ship has been forced to be redeployed.

"We apologize for the inconvenience," the email said with an explanation of what options guests have to rebook or cancel.

Bigger cruise ships could finally be coming to Baltimore

Newly approved plans by the Maryland Transportation Authority Board could finally allow bigger ships to sail to Baltimore.

A vote was held to approve new bridges over Chesapeake Bay that would give enough clearance for bigger cruise ships.

Up until now, the bridges were too low for anything but Royal Caribbean's oldest and smallest ships.

Royal Caribbean doesn't have free Wi-Fi, but here are the internet options on a cruise ship

Royal Caribbean will likely never offer free Wi-Fi, but there are different options to stay connected.

Passengers can buy internet access packages, or rely purely on the Royal Caribbean app for free. Plus, there are other options to.

We recommend understanding your options before you sail to save money and be ready to go on the first day.

Royal Caribbean to help redevelop St. Thomas cruise port

Royal Caribbean is partnering with another Caribbean port to help redevelop what it offers.

The project's goal is to transform Crown Bay District into a vibrant, mixed-use destination for residents and visitors, with better commercial, recreational, and cultural spaces. 

Details are slim right now, but plans are in place to move forward.

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 588th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available, with Matt's thoughts on recent awards.

Cruise Critic announced its 2025 award winners, and Matt thought a few categories had the wrong winner chosen.

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

Your cruise cabin quickly becomes your home away from home, but this month, I splurged on decorations to make our cabin feel even cozier for Christmas.

The holiday season is always magical with twinkling lights, Christmas trees, and seasonal decor everywhere you look. My husband and I look forward to decorating our house each year for the Christmas season. Once November hits, our home stays festive through January with decorations!

Because we were jetting off to Australia for a 12-night cruise to New Zealand, I decided to stop by my local dollar store to pick up some seasonal decorations for our cabin. It might seem frivolous or unnecessary, but my husband and I are huge fans of the holiday season.

More importantly, we’ve spent multiple Christmases apart over the years because of my husband's military deployments. So, we truly cherish the time we’re able to spend together during the holidays.

I figured the dollar store would have plenty of inexpensive options to bring onboard for decorations, and I was right! Our local Dollar Tree was filled with holiday decor, and I was pleased to find many lightweight, easy-to-hang items that would work perfectly in a cruise cabin. Some items were more than $1.25, and I also purchased other cruise-related essentials to bring along. 

My plan was to bring the decorations aboard, enjoy them for the duration of the cruise, and leave them behind at the end of our trip. Because everything was so affordable, I didn’t mind parting with it at the end of the cruise. But, in the end, I gave our Blu hostess a bag filled with decorations and Christmas goodies for her to enjoy. 

In addition, leaving the decorations behind meant freeing up extra space for shopping on the way home. I love bringing back treasures from my travels, so I knew that space would be put to good use.

Here’s how I spent $40 at the dollar store to decorate our cabin and get into the Christmas spirit during our cruise. 

First, Celebrity Edge was decorated beautifully for the holidays around the ship!

If you’ve ever cruised during the Christmas season, you know cruise lines truly deck out their ships from head to toe in holiday decor. Throughout December, you’ll find beautiful displays, festive garlands, and massive Christmas trees placed all around the ship. It's pretty much impossible to forget that it’s the most wonderful time of the year, even on a cruise ship!

The Grand Atrium on Celebrity Edge was covered in garland and warm, glowing lights when we boarded. I was so excited to see that the decorations were already up when we boarded right after Thanksgiving. 

Walking into the ship immediately felt festive and cozy, which set the tone for the entire cruise, despite the hot Australian heat! It truly felt like we were in the Christmas spirit from the moment we boarded.

In addition, there was a huge Christmas tree in the atrium, decorated with beautiful ornaments and twinkling lights. It quickly became one of our favorite spots onboard. 

The massive Christmas tree made the perfect backdrop for happy hours or after-dinner drinks while enjoying live music in the atrium. I also loved seeing it lit up in the mornings when we stopped by Cafe al Bacio for our daily coffee, making our early mornings feel special and festive.

As the cruise went on, even more holiday displays appeared around the ship. Toward the end of the sailing, a beautiful, over-the-top gingerbread display popped up outside of Eden. The display included intricately detailed gingerbread houses and spectacular Christmas decorations. Almost every passenger walking by stopped to admire the display and take a picture!

We booked an AquaClass Infinite Veranda stateroom for our cruise, which gave us plenty of space to decorate.

For this sailing, we decided to splurge on an Infinite Veranda cabin with AquaClass perks. We booked cabin 9268 on Deck 9 aboard Celebrity Edge, and it turned out to be a great location. Our cabin was quiet and tucked away from heavy foot traffic. In addition, it was conveniently located on the ship so we never felt far from restaurants, lounges, or elevators.

Our stateroom included a couch, vanity, king bed, and the Infinite Veranda space. The bathroom was also surprisingly spacious, and we were impressed by how much extra room the Infinite Veranda added to the cabin. Unlike a traditional balcony, the Infinite Veranda features floor-to-ceiling windows and a small sitting area that blends seamlessly into the living space.

This layout made the entire cabin feel open and more spacious than a standard stateroom. Because the walls are magnetic, I packed my magnetic hooks to hang Christmas decorations and lightweight items around the cabin. 

I also brought a few heavy-duty metal clips from the dollar store for extra flexibility, knowing we’d likely have more to hang on the walls than normal. My husband was surprised these heavy-duty clips were from the dollar store, as he was impressed by the quality. 

I decorated our cabin after unpacking our suitcases and immediately wished I had brought even more decorations.

On embarkation day, I was eager to unpack my belongings and get settled in our stateroom. After unpacking my clothes and feeling organized, we started decorating the cabin for Christmas. 

For decor, I packed tinsel-style Christmas trees to hang around the stateroom. They were simple, but lightweight to pack and festive for our stateroom. Because they weren't expensive, I didn’t worry about them getting damaged. 

I actually purchased even more decorations to pack, but I decided not to bring them since they didn’t fit well in my suitcase. Some decorations already looked bent before packing, so I didn't trust they'd survive the flight to Australia! The tinsel pieces ended up being the easiest and most practical option.

The first thing we added was a large red Christmas bow on our cabin door. I didn’t bring Christmas magnets for the door, although that would have been another easy option. One of our neighbors used magnets on their door, which I thought looked really cute.

We loved having the big red Christmas bow on our door because it made our cabin easy to spot in the hallway. The glittery bow felt festive without being too much. I used a heavy-duty clip from Dollar Tree to hang it, and it stayed in place for all 12 nights without any issues.

Inside the cabin, we placed a small snowman near the entrance, so we were greeted by him every time we came back. Across from it, Edge-class staterooms have a small cubby with a built-in light that usually holds a piece of decorative art. We swapped that out for two small Christmas trees that fit perfectly in the space. With the light above them, they added a nice little holiday touch.

I also brought Christmas window clings to decorate the mirror. They weren’t traditional stickers, which was important because I didn’t want anything that could leave residue or damage the cabin. If you plan to decorate your cruise cabin, it’s always worth double-checking the rules and sticking with removable options.

That said, the window clings didn’t hold up very well. They slowly fell off throughout the cruise, and after putting them back up several times, we eventually gave up and tossed them.

We added two more tinsel Christmas trees to the main wall of the cabin, hanging them with magnetic hooks. Because they were so lightweight, one hook per decoration was enough. If you plan to bring anything heavier, you’ll probably want stronger or extra hooks. I loved waking up each morning and seeing those little Christmas trees on the wall.

When you’re cruising in warm weather, especially during summer in New Zealand, it’s easy to forget that it’s actually Christmas. Having a few simple decorations in the cabin helped it feel cozier and a bit more like home.

I also packed a few other Christmas-themed cruise essentials from the dollar store.

Before every cruise, I make sure to bring a handful of must-have products I rely on. One of my non-negotiables is a bottle of liquid hand soap for the bathroom. I absolutely hate using a bar of soap to wash my hands on a cruise, especially during a longer itinerary. 

Liquid soap just feels cleaner to me, and bars of soap tend to get mushy after a few days. It’s a small upgrade, but it makes a noticeable difference in your cabin experience. 

While shopping at the dollar store, I found an adorable bottle of liquid soap shaped like Santa. It was a fun change from my usual Softsoap and fit right in with the Christmas theme in our cabin. And for $1.25, it was a steal! We ended up using most of the liquid during the cruise and tossed the bottle before disembarkation.

The dollar store is also a great place to pick up self-care items. I like bringing face masks and body scrubs to make evenings in the cabin feel a little more relaxing. Instead of spending a lot at the spa on a facial, I’d much rather do a face mask at night while watching a Christmas movie.

In addition to face masks, I packed these seasonal winter berry shower fizzies for the cabin. They're similar to a bath bomb, but dissolve on the shower floor instead and release a light scent as the steam builds. This is an easy way to make a standard cruise ship shower feel a little more luxurious! I’d use one at the end of the day after dinner, and it was a nice way to wind down before bed.

Similarly, I always stock up on these $1.25 antibacterial wipes from Dollar Tree by Biopure. They come in a pack of 40 and are surprisingly good quality for the price. The small pack is easy to travel with, so I keep it in my bag at all times. I bring them on excursions, to the buffet, to the pool deck—basically everywhere!

My dollar store had some fun seasonal scents that I couldn’t resist. I picked up the sugar plum and cherry pie scents, which were a nice change from the regular wipes! 

I’ve even written a full article about why these wipes are a cruise must-have. For example, these wipes contain aloe and vitamin E, so they don’t dry out my hands like some sanitizers do. Studies have also shown that sanitizing wipes can be more effective than hand sanitizer alone, especially when handwashing isn’t available. 

I was determined to stay healthy on this cruise, and I made it home without getting sick. I honestly credit those wipes for doing their job, and I loved the festive Christmas scent as a bonus.

I loved decorating our cabin for Christmas, and I would do it again!

I didn't plan to decorate the cabin to look over-the-top, but we appreciated having a cozy, festive space that felt like home during our 12 nights aboard Celebrity Edge. Coming back to a festive cabin after a long day in port or a sea day made it feel more personal and relaxed. This truly became our home away from home! 

I liked that everything was inexpensive and easy to pack from the dollar store. I didn't feel bad leaving it behind at the end of the trip. In fact, our hostess at the Blu restaurant was excited to use the decorations for her cabin! The extra space in our suitcase was quickly used for the many different treasures we purchased in New Zealand. 

I spent around $40 on everything at the dollar store, including some other cruise-essentials like toothpaste, sunscreen, and hand sanitizer. While it might seem unnecessary, bringing Christmas decorations brought us extra joy during our cruise without adding stress or clutter. 

If you love the holidays and you're planning to cruise in December, I'd highly recommend adding a few basic decorations to your cabin as an easy way to make the experience feel even more magical.

Royal Caribbean has partnered with the U.S. Virgin Islands to redevelop the St. Thomas cruise port. 

On Wednesday, December 17, the Virgin Islands Port Authority (VIPA), Royal Caribbean Group (RCG), and Cruise Terminals International (CTI) signed an agreement to modernize the Crown Bay cruise port. 

The goal is to turn the Crown Bay District into a vibrant, mixed-use destination for residents and visitors, with better commercial, recreational, and cultural spaces. 

Not only that, but the project will have significant financial benefits for the community, including new jobs during the construction phase, the creation of entrepreneurial opportunities for local businesses, and better opportunities for taxi drivers and local tour operators. 

"Royal Caribbean Group proudly supports the revitalization of the Crown Bay District. By providing elevated experiences for our guests while also paying respect to the local culture and delivering significant economic benefits to the community, we can collectively usher in a new future for [the] U.S. Virgin Islands," said Melissa Morales, Senior Director, Destination Development, Americas, Caribbean, and Europe, Royal Caribbean Group.

Kevin Goldstein, Head of Development for the Americas for Cruise Terminals International, added, "Crown Bay is a priority destination within CTI's global portfolio, and this agreement provides the underpinning for a very significant and substantial long-term investment into St. Thomas and [the] U.S. Virgin Islands."

"We are extremely excited to continue our collaboration with Royal Caribbean Group and Virgin Islands Port Authority partners toward the realization of this ambitious and exciting redevelopment of Crown Bay," Goldstein continued. 

Read more: I tried one of Royal Caribbean's new VIP excursions in St. Thomas

Royal Caribbean isn't the only cruise line that's investing in port redevelopment

Carnival Cruise Line is also making waves in Mexico, with a major project announced for Ensenada. 

Like Nassau, Ensenada ranks poorly in customer satisfaction surveys. However, Carnival's redevelopment plan aims to elevate the guest experience while benefiting the local community.

The $26-million Ensenada Bay Village project, in partnership with ITM Group and Hutchison Ports ECV, will focus on celebrating the culture, community, and natural beauty of Baja California, Mexico.

Additionally, the venture will create new opportunities for local artisans, vendors, and tour operators, generating around 350 direct and 800 indirect jobs that deliver more than $120 million in annual revenue for the local economy. 

Highlights of the new port area include curated gastronomy experiences, artisan crafts, an adults-only pool area, chocolate and tequila tastings, river rides, a zip line, and more. 

Read more: Carnival announces bold plans to upgrade cruise port in Mexico

Thousands of guests have been informed that their booked sailings on Freedom of the Seas have been canceled due to redeployment scheduling. 

Passengers on at least 18 voyages aboard Freedom of the Seas received the dreaded email notification this week. 

"Due to a change in itinerary planning, and after exploring all our options, our October 26, 2026, Freedom of the Seas sailing has been redeployed," the email reads. 

"The time and effort you took to plan your cruise is important to us, and we apologize for the inconvenience," the cruise line continued. 

Others chimed in via social media that their voyages were impacted, too. 

"My Thanksgiving cruise was canceled as well, November 23," someone shared on Reddit. 

"Our February 1, 2027 cruise got cancelled too. We moved to January 4, 2027, not sure what’s going on," Jeffery Todd commented on Facebook. 

(Credit: Hankidan/Reddit)

Another person said, "My sailing also got cancelled Sept 14-19th from Miami. Just got an email today. Not happy."

"We were set to depart Sept 10 for our [10-year] anniversary and had splurged on several 'extras' to treat ourselves. Now we have to rebook and likely won’t get the great early bird deals we had," someone else added. 

The canceled sailings range from 4-night cruises to Nassau and Perfect Day at CocoCay to 5-night voyages to Cozumel and CocoCay, as well as 5-night Western Caribbean itineraries that include stops in Jamaica and The Bahamas. 

Here's a full list of all the impacted cruise dates on Freedom of the Seas:

• Sept. 10, 2026
• Sept. 14, 2026
• Sept. 24, 2026
• Sept. 28, 2026
• Oct. 8, 2026
• Oct. 12, 2026
• Oct. 22, 2026
• Oct. 26, 2026
• Nov. 5, 2026
• Nov. 9, 2026
• Nov. 19, 2026
• Nov. 23, 2026
• Dec. 3, 2026
• Dec. 7, 2026
• Jan. 28, 2027
• Feb. 1, 2027
• Feb. 25, 2027
• March 1, 2027

Royal Caribbean did not provide a specific reason for the cancellations beyond the vague "change in itinerary planning." However, the cruise line offered options to rebook on alternative sailings or issue full refunds. 

Rebooking options available for impacted cruise passengers

According to the email sent to the guests on the Oct. 26, 2026, voyage, there are three options available.

The first allows them to rebook one of three sailings aboard Freedom of the Seas at a protected rate. This means that the original stateroom category price will be protected or lowered to the current advertised fare. 

The replacement sailings are:

• Oct. 3, 2026: Labadee and Perfect Day at CocoCay
• Oct. 17, 2026: Perfect Day at CocoCay and Labadee
• Oct. 31, 2026: Perfect Day at CocoCay and Labadee

"If your booking was already paid in full and your cruise fare decreases, we'll provide you with a refund for the difference," the email adds. 

The second option allows passengers to rebook any other Royal Caribbean sailing without paying the usual non-refundable deposit change fee.

Guests, however, are responsible for any difference in pricing for the cruise fare, taxes, fees, gratuities, and other non-cruise fare items, such as specialty restaurants and excursions. 

Finally, if passengers cannot find a new itinerary that works for them, Royal Caribbean will issue a full refund of the paid portion of the cruise fare and any prepaid amenities to the original form of payment. 

Cruisers react

Having a cruise canceled is always disappointing, and many passengers took to social media to express their frustration and disappointment over the disrupted plans.

"[O]ur perfect day and Mexico cruise we've had booked since last April got cancelled and our options now kinda suck," a Redditor remarked. 

"Bummer, we were on that sailing too and it would have been a first cruise for my parents and my sister's family. This will be fun to rebook for all of these people," another comment read. 

Others argued that Royal Caribbean should have offered more compensation to impacted travelers. 

"$100 [in onboard credit] would cost them next to nothing but would at least say 'we recognize that this is an inconvenience to you,'" one person wrote. 

"This does stink, [them] not offering anything. In addition to these options a cruise credit would have been nice," someone else agreed. 

Disclaimer: An earlier version of this article was posted, saying that at least five Freedom sailings had been impacted. This has been corrected to include the 18 voyages sent to travel agents. 

Plans to construct a new Chesapeake Bay Bridge could allow larger cruise ships to sail into Baltimore.

On Thursday, the Maryland Transportation Authority Board unanimously voted to advance a plan to replace the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, as reported by WTOP News. 

The "Alternative-C" plan would see the construction of two four-lane bridges over the bay, doubling the current capacity. Additionally, it would increase the vertical clearance of the bridge to match that of the Key Bridge when it’s completed. 

This would give vessels an extra 50 feet of clearance, potentially allowing larger ships that were previously unable to pass beneath the existing bridge access to the Port of Baltimore for the first time. 

The total cost of the project is estimated to be between $15 billion and $17 billion. Design work could begin as early as 2028, with construction scheduled for summer 2032, pending approvals and other formal requirements. 

Despite the high price tag, the bridge would greatly benefit the local economy, with an economic analysis estimating that the bridge project would generate anywhere from $17 billion to $23 billion and create 61,300 to 75,600 jobs. 

"This recommendation is an exciting step that moves us closer to a Bay crossing that provides a smoother travel experience for those who drive over the bridge and the Marylanders who live by it," said Maryland Department of Transportation Acting Secretary Samantha J. Biddle in a statement. 

"Alternative C is the option that best supports Marylanders' current and future daily travel needs with the least environmental impact on our treasured Chesapeake Bay."

What a taller bridge could mean for Baltimore cruises 

Vision of the Seas, a Vision Class ship measuring less than 79,000 gross tons (GT), is the only Royal Caribbean cruise ship that sails from Baltimore due to the current restrictions. 

Other cruise lines, including Carnival, also deploy smaller ships to Baltimore because the existing Chesapeake Bay Bridge limits the size of vessels that can safely pass beneath it. Carnival Pride, for example, comes in at 88,500 GRT. 

Neither Vision of the Seas nor Carnival Pride represents the cruise lines' modern mega-ships and state-of-the-art features of today's fleet. 

Read more: My first Royal Caribbean cruise from Baltimore: Essential tips for Maryland sailings

The decades-old ships lack many of the amenities found on newer ships, such as expansive waterparks, multiple specialty dining venues, and high-quality entertainment options. 

As a result, Baltimore cruises are more limited in onboard offerings and are typically reminiscent of a more traditional era of cruising. 

A taller Chesapeake Bay Bridge could remove the current limitations and allow larger cruise ships to sail from Baltimore, opening the door for newer, larger vessels to homeport in Baltimore.

Moreover, it could convince Royal Caribbean to deploy a ship to Baltimore year-round. In March 2025, the cruise line's deployment schedule revealed that it was pulling Baltimore cruises during the winter of 2026 and 2027. 

However, a few months later, the deployment schedule confirmed that Vision of the Seas would return to Maryland, albeit seasonally. 

She'll be based out of Baltimore from May to October 2027, with plans to offer 5- and 9-night cruises to Bermuda and Canada/New England. 

Demolition of the remaining sections of the Francis Scott Key Bridge is ongoing

On March 26, 2024, Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge partially collapsed after being struck by a container ship. It was the second-longest bridge in the United States and the third-longest in the world. 

Following the accident, cruise operations in Maryland came to a screeching halt as officials assessed the damage and implemented safety measures.

Demolition of the bridge's remaining piers, ramps, and aboveground structures was initially planned for 2024. However, the Maryland Transportation Authority postponed it to 2025. 

The process officially began in July 2025 and is expected to take around nine months, with an estimated completion date of around April 2026. As a result, the opening of the replacement bridge has been pushed back to late 2030. 

Going on a cruise is an easy way to travel, but first timers are bound to have questions.

I recently sailed with a group of 100 influencers, media, and vloggers aboard Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas. Our group chat was filled with excitement, karaoke seeking validation, and a lot of first time cruise questions.

I think it's natural to have questions, especially once you get onboard the ship. I know when I've traveled to a new country or region I'm never totally certain what to expect.

I compiled all of the newbie questions so someone else new to cruising can benefit from knowing the answers before they board.

How to do muster drill

Before any cruise can begin, an important safety drill is required of every passenger sailing.

It's called the muster drill, and it's similar to the spiel you hear on an airplane before it takes off.  You need to know what to do and where to go in case of an emergency.

One person wrote in the chat, "What was the thing we need to do check into before 4pm otherwise they call us out over the intercom."

They're right that you need to complete it before sail away, but it's really quick and easy.

With the Royal Caribbean app downloaded, click the Safety icon in the bottom menu and then watch the safety video and listen to a recording of the ship's emergency signal.

The last step is to go to your muster station and check-in. 

Your muster station location is listed in the app as well as on the back of your stateroom door. You can ask any crew member for help finding where your muster station is located.

When you arrive at your muster station, a crew member will scan your SetSail pass (or SeaPass card) and confirm you know what to do in case of an emergency.

That's it! You can knock it out quickly in just a few minutes and avoid being paged over the entire ship's public address system!

How to connect to Wi-Fi

As you might imagine, influencers are going to want to be connected to the internet and I've seen plenty of people struggle with it.

It's not complicated, but somewhat confusing how to get started. This is evidenced by the usual line of people on embarkation day at the Voom desk.

Connect your device to the ship's Wi-Fi network and you'll be given a prompt to either just use the Royal Caribbean app and have no internet access, or create an account for internet access.

Whether you prepaid for an internet package or want to buy it onboard, you need to first create an account.  This is your login for how you can switch devices later.

After creating an account, you'll have the choice to leverage the prepaid package you have or buy access on the spot.

Another question was can only one person be connected to Wi-Fi, and the answer is you can have as many devices connected at once as included in your package.

If you bought a one device package, you can have one device connected at at time. But you can log out of device one and then log in with device two.  There's no restriction on people, so if you want to let your spouse, friend, or vlogger friend use your account, you can share the login with them.

Are drinks in pineapples included in a drink package?

It's so tempting when you walk on the pool deck to order a pina colada that comes in a pineapple, but that will cost you extra.

Your Royal Caribbean Deluxe Beverage Package includes most drinks on the ship, but souvenir glasses or specialty drinks that come in fruit are not included.

If you order a drink served in a pineapple, you would only pay the difference for the pineapple. The drink package covers the actual beverage part, so you would pay the difference to cover the souvenir cup or fruit creation.

Do I need to carry photo ID?

In addition to your SeaPass card, someone asked if they needed to have their drivers license or passport with them while around the ship.

You definitely do not need to carry ID with you, as the ship has all your pertinent information associated with your SeaPass account.

With a scan of your SeaPass card, they can verify your name, age, and who you're cruising with.  In short, your room keys act as ID.

Does the ship accept Apple Pay?

Royal Caribbean ships are cashless, and you cannot use a credit card or tap to pay either.

Every transaction is done via your SeaPass card.  You cannot use Apple Pay, Google Pay, or a credit card for a specific transaction onboard.

"I checked and every single show is sold out for the entire cruise"

After boarding the ship, one person in our group was surprised to discover all the shows were already sold out for the sailing.

The truth is you need to prebook entertainment before the cruise begins. About a month before the sailing, you should be able to make reservations for any of the shows on Royal Caribbean's bigger ships.

There's no cost to make a reservation.

If, however, you find yourself in the same situation as this person and there are no more reservations left, there is always a standby line you can go to about 20-30 minutes before the show begins.

The reality is a lot of cruisers will make pre-cruise reservations for shows, but when it comes time for the show, they don't go because they're busy doing something else.

This is why the standby line usually works. But you'll want to arrive early to ensure you can get in.

Where is the shampoo and conditioner?

I think a lot of first time cruisers are genuinely surprised by the lack of included toiletries in standard cabins.

"Are the rooms supposed to have shampoo and conditioner? We can't find any," is what one person wrote.

Every cabin has a 2-in-1 shampoo and body wash in a dispenser that's inside the shower, but that's it. If you're in a suite, then they have upgraded toiletries that include shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and lotion.

My recommendation is bring your own toiletries, especially if you have special needs hair.  

I always pack my own shampoo and conditioner for cruising, because the stuff provided isn't high quality. At the very least, it's not the same hair products you're used to at home.

Where can I get something for motion sickness?

I think the chances you will get seasick on a cruise ship are pretty low, but it could happen.

If you find yourself feeling queasy, then you can go to Guest Services and ask for medicine.  Theoretically, they will provide you with free meds to take.

Personally, I prescribe to a "always be prepared" mentality, so I pack my own.  Bonine or Dramamine work quite well and you can get it without a prescription.

What food and drink is included and what costs extra?

Perhaps the top question any new cruiser has is what food is free on Royal Caribbean and what will cost you extra.

There were questions throughout our sailing regarding if certain foods, drinks, or services were included with the cost of the cruise.

A Royal Caribbean cruise includes the basics, so you won't go hungry or thirsty onboard.  But there's some food and drink that has an extra cost to it.

The exact specifics will depend on the ship, but there are few inclusions that are universal, regardless of ship:

• Main Dining Room
• Windjammer buffet
• Coffee shop with light snacks and pizza
• Water
• Milk
• Regular coffee and tea
• Flavored waters
• Hot chocolate (via instant packets)
• Lemonade
• Iced tea

This is a generalization, but the ship you sail on may have more options included.

When in doubt, you can ask a crew member before ordering what's extra.