Royal Caribbean Blog

To err is human, to lose your cruise card is, well, common.

Cruises are unlike standard vacations, and if it is your first one, you'll find there is a learning curve in figuring certain things out. That said, there are a few mistakes you'll want to avoid so your trip goes smoothly from embarkation to debarkation. 

Steering clear of common pitfalls makes enjoying your cruise a lot easier. That way, you don't have to worry about losing money or wasting valuable time dealing with confusion over onboard charges. 

Having been on over 30 cruises, I've had plenty of chances to make mistakes and learn things the hard way. I've also seen countless other cruisers run into the same issues.

For example, I've spent far more on shore excursions, drink packages, and Wi-Fi by leaving those add-ons for the last minute. By planning ahead, I could have saved hundreds of dollars and had a better overall cruise experience. 

Although you won't get everything right the first time, knowing about the most common mistakes that most cruisers instantly regret can save you a lot of headaches.

Forgetting to cash out casino vouchers 

Forgetting to cash out casino vouchers is one of the easiest ways to waste money on your cruise. Royal Caribbean casino issues winnings in the form of printed vouchers that can be re-entered into machines for future play on the same voyage or redeemed before disembarkation. 

It is easier than you think to stash your casino voucher into a cabin drawer or pocket and completely forget about it. Unfortunately, once the casino closes, there's no way to get that money back — and the voucher cannot be used on future Royal Caribbean cruises. 

If your voucher is for a few cents, it is not worth worrying about. In fact, cruise casino vouchers can make for fun scrapbooking keepsakes. However, if you accumulated a $10 voucher on the first night, $35 on the second, and $100 on the third, you'll want to cash out before that money is gone for good. 

Not returning pool towels

One of my biggest quarrels with Royal Caribbean is that they track pool towels checked out to guests. Although I love that I don't have to worry about packing towels, forgetting to return them can result in unexpected charges on your SeaPass account.

The charge for an unreturned towel isn't enough to ruin your vacation, but it's an unnecessary expense that can be easily avoided. As such, when heading back to your cabin after a pool day or returning from a beachy excursion, make sure everyone in your group has their towel and immediately drop them off.

That way, you won't have to spend the final night trying to track down missing towels and waiting in line on disembarkation day to have the $25-per-towel charge removed from your onboard account. 

Leaving balcony doors open slightly

As implied by its name, Royal Caribbean is one of the leading cruise lines operating in the Caribbean. However, they sail to other warm-weather destinations, including the Mediterranean and the South Pacific. 

Although cruise ships have great air conditioning systems, there's one important caveat that many first-time passengers aren't aware of: leaving your balcony door ajar will shut off your stateroom's AC system. 

Consequently, make sure that you fully close and latch your balcony door whenever you're done using it. This will ensure you return to a cool cabin, rather than a humid box. 

Saving add-ons for the last minute

Never, ever save add-ons for the cruise ship. Popular extras like drink packages, specialty dining, and Wi-Fi will cost far more than if you pre-booked through the Cruise Planner. 

For example, it's not uncommon for the Deluxe Beverage Package to cost over $100 per person, per day on the ship. Online, however, you could save anywhere from 25% to 40%, depending on promotions and timing. In fact, I've seen drink packages discounted as low as $65 or $70 per day! 

The other issue with waiting to secure add-ons is availability. Onboard, you may have fewer specialty reservation options. This is especially true for smaller, popular venues like the Icon Class supper clubs, Izumi Hibachi, and Royal Railway. 

Using flushable wipes

On land, using flushable wipes may seem harmless, but they are one of the leading causes of plumbing issues on cruise ships.

Because ships have smaller, highly specialized sewage pipes, everything that's flushed must quickly break down to prevent clogs, which is why they use thin, rapidly dissolving toilet paper. 

If you flush other products, even those marketed as "flushable" or "biodegradable," you could cause major plumbing issues on the vessel. And just so you know, when a clog happens, it's not just your cabin that's impacted. Multiple staterooms will suffer the consequences of your actions because of the shared plumbing system. 

Assuming the buffet is open

Finally, one of the most common cruise mistakes is assuming the buffet is open 24/7. While ships do a great job of offering constant dining options, the Windjammer Marketplace has set operating hours and closes between meals for cleaning and resetting.

To avoid showing up when the buffet is closed, I'd recommend checking the daily schedule in the cruise app. That way, you'll know exactly when breakfast, lunch, and dinner service ends, as well as when it reopens. 

There's no shame in running to the Windjammer for a last-minute dessert, but you definitely don't want to show up half an hour after closing time and expect to find an array of options on display. At that point, you'll be limited to what's available at venues like Café Promenade and Café Latte-tudes. 

Forgetting their SeaPass card

Your Royal Caribbean SeaPass is arguably one of the most important items to carry around during your cruise. Not only does it function as your room key and onboard charge card, but it also serves as your identification for getting on and off the ship in port. 

If you go to disembark the ship without it, you will be turned away and forced to get it from your cabin before being allowed ashore. This is especially frustrating when you're with a shore excursion group and don't want to be left behind.

To avoid the hassle, make a habit of bringing your SeaPass card with you whenever you leave your stateroom. Many cruisers use a lanyard since it's easy to throw around your neck and harder to misplace than a lone card.  

One cruise ship passenger was so disappointed in what their cruise ship room looked like compared to the website description, that they called it a "nightmare".

Reddit user bambledsoe complained in a post online that their room on Royal Caribbean's Liberty of the Seas was a "scam" because they felt it didn't qualify to be referred to as panoramic or a suite. 

They booked an Ocean View Panoramic Suite, but felt the room didn't measure up to what was advertised.

"If you book the fantastic sounding Ocean View Panoramic Suite on this boat, check what your stateroom is. If it’s 1892-1910, you may as well cancel it because those rooms don’t qualify for the last two words," they wrote.

"They are slightly bigger than the standard non-balcony exterior rooms, but not really anything advertised." 

They also complained because the room was underneath the sports court, they could hear basketball being played until midnight.

According to bambledsoe, they were initially offered 10% of their cruise fare back as a credit, but eventually got $1,000 in onboard credit.  Still, they are upset and considering a class action lawsuit.

Their experience is a good reminder of how important doing research is for booking a cruise.

Cruise ship rooms aren't like airplane seats

One major difference in booking travel on a cruise ship is how much personalization exists.

All cruise ships have four major categories of rooms: inside, oceanview, balcony, and suites.  But there are so many sub-categories of cabins and variations based on a ship's class and year it was built.

You can never fully rely on the marketing description provided on the cruise line's website as your primary basis of selecting one room or another.  Certainly the stock images that are used across all ships aren't trustworthy, as they only provide a generic idea of what to expect.

Moreover, the complaint about cabin noise is an easily avoidable problem, because I always recommend checking deck plans to book a room that has other rooms one deck above or below it.

Booking a room underneath a public venue is one of the top cruise mistakes that we hear about.

Look for photos and videos of your room online

Say what you will about social media, but it's incredibly helpful when it comes to sharing cruise ship cabin photos.

So many people have posted videos and photos of their rooms on Facebook and YouTube that there's a good chance you can find what your exact room looks like.  Or at least a room that's the same category from the same ship.

In addition, you can easily seek advice from others about a certain room online.

Many people will post on message boards, Facebook, or Reddit to ask for someone else's experience in a specific cabin.  Once again, you might be surprised how often this works.

A travel agent can help you pick the right room

I think if this person had worked with a good travel agent, they could have avoided this situation in the first place.

Travel agents that sell a lot of Royal Caribbean cruises are well versed in how to pick a cruise stateroom, and they know not to pick rooms under common areas, and which room types might be best.

"Working with a knowledgeable and experienced travel advisor is essential to avoid the classic examples of expecting one experience and actually getting another," is what Zach Glenn, a Travel Advisor with MEI Travel, told me about this situation.

Jenn Greene is one of MEI Travel top performing agents, and she leverages her own experience in helping clients pick a room, " I have access to deck plan maps, actual photos from ship tours and much more. Often times a stock photo or AI generated photo will not show the real stateroom."

When I asked her how she guides a new cruiser to a specific cabin, she asks questions to understand their needs first, "Do you want to be in a quiet location so you can relax? Do you want to be near all the action? When it comes to say an oceanview vs a balcony, I ask how important having their own outside space is on vacation. You cannot guide a client without knowing how they like to travel."

This wasn't a "nightmare", but an avoidable problem

With all due respect to bambledsoe, I think anyone who's worried about encountering a similar situation should focus on looking up cabin reviews and other shared experiences before booking.

Booking a hotel or seat on an airplane is far simpler because there are less variables involved. It speaks to why booking a cruise online hasn't taken off like other forms of travel.

Working with a good travel agent, checking deck plans, and looking up photos or videos online are easy ways to see what a room looks like before you book.

Ironically, their Reddit post could now be helpful for others to avoid such a room in the future.

The United States and Iran reached an initial deal to end the war — and that's good news for cruise lines, including Royal Caribbean.

The announcement of the end of the US-Iran war announced on Sunday, and one of the ripple effects has been oil prices plummeting.

The two countries finally reached an agreement in June to extend their ongoing ceasefire and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, The Associated Press reported. 

Cruise companies like Royal Caribbean Group and Carnival Corporation & plc, benefit directly when major geopolitical tensions ease. This is because lower conflict risk in shipping corridors like the Strait of Hormuz helps stabilize fuel costs and reduces the chance of once-in-a-lifetime itineraries being rerouted. 

Stock markets also typically react positively to geopolitical de-escalation. According to The Associated Press, stock markets were rallying worldwide on Monday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average up 719 points, or 1.4%, as of 12:20 p.m. EST. The Nasdaq composite was 3% higher, too. 

Already, Royal Caribbean Group has seen shares move higher in early trading on June 15. The 14% jump over the past five days highlights how quickly cruise stocks can rebound when there are fewer risk concerns and more optimism. 

The US-Iran War began in February, when the United States and Israel began a series of sustained air and missile strikes against Iran, targeting the country's missile infrastructure, military sites, and leadership. During these strikes, Iran's Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, and several other high officials were killed.

The situation has been fluid since it began, with a brief ceasefire in April. The truce was violated numerous times by both sides, though. Additionally, both the U.S. and Iran had their own ideas of what the peace agreement would look like, with Iran quickly rejecting the first proposal for a 45-day two-phase ceasefire framework. Instead, they proposed their own 10-point plan.  

Although the war won't end overnight, world leaders from Europe to China welcomed the agreement, despite the uncertainty surrounding key issues like Iran's nuclear weapons program. 

The US-Iran deal will positively impact global oil prices

One reason the stock market is rebounding is that crude oil prices are dropping. The Associated Press said Brent crude oil fell 5.4% to $82.61, back to the same level as early March. 

Although that's still higher than the price of a barrel of Brent crude oil before the war, it is lower than the $120 peak seen not too long ago. 

Unsurprisingly, fuel is one of the cruise industry's largest and most volatile expenses. In Q4 2025, Royal Caribbean consumed 439,000 metric tons of fuel at $667 per metric ton, according to GuruFocus. Additionally, the company projects using 1.76 million metric tons throughout 2026, at a total cost of roughly $1.17 billion. 

60% of Royal Caribbean's 2026 fuel was hedged (or pre-bought) at $474 per metric ton, but the remaining 40% is subject to market fluctuations. This means that moderate changes in crude prices have a meaningful impact on costs and future earnings.

The decrease in the price of a barrel of crude oil translates to lower fuel volatility, which strengthens profit forecasts for Royal Caribbean Group. 

Still, the Strait of Hormuz, which carried a fifth of the world's crude oil before the war, won't open right away. As such, it will take months for the global oil crisis sparked by its closure to let up. 

My first solo cruise was nothing like I expected it to be.

In 2023, I embarked on a seven-night Eastern Caribbean cruise from Miami, Florida, to St. Thomas, St. Maarten, and Perfect Day at CocoCay aboard Symphony of the Seas. 

The catch? I was by myself. 

Initially, watching families in matching t-shirts taking selfies during sailaway, I was worried that I'd hate solo cruising.  

Cruising is inherently social, and I wasn't sure how I'd cope on my own. 

At the time, I was living by myself, so I wasn't unfamiliar with the concept of enjoying my own company. However, vacations were always a time to reconnect with friends and family to create shared memories. 

Needless to say, I was nervous, excited, and everything in between. 

After spending seven nights alone at sea, I learned that solo trips are far from the lonely nights in my cabin I had envisioned.

Still, there are a few things I wish I had known beforehand. 

Solo cruising isn't necessarily cheaper

For starters, cruising by yourself can actually be quite expensive. That's because most mainstream cruise lines, including Royal Caribbean, implement a hefty single supplement fee, as cruise cabins were specifically designed for double occupancy. 

This fee, which is often 100% of the standard fare, is charged to offset the cost of the unused berth in the cabin. In other words, even if you are sailing alone, you are still effectively paying for two passengers. 

In my case, I paid $1,393.20 for a standard, windowless inside cabin. Had another traveler been sharing the room with me, it would have brought the cost per person down to around $700, which is way more reasonable (in my opinion). 

There are a few ways to lower the overall cost if you decide to travel by yourself, though. 

First, be flexible with your sail date. Cruising during the shoulder season is more affordable than peak travel times, and that price difference can make a noticeable difference for travelers cruising alone. 

Second, be strategic about your cabin choice. Interior staterooms are typically the cheapest option, and while they lack natural light and a private outdoor verandah, I found my cabin perfectly fine when sailing alone. 

Although it wasn't the largest cruise room ever, I found coming back to my own stateroom each evening after being around masses of people to be relaxing. 

Plus, I never had to ask anyone if they wanted to shower first or share closet space; there was no bumping into or bickering with family members while trying to rush to get ready for dinner, either. 

Finally, consider sailing on a cruise ship with purpose-built solo cabins. These aren't as common on Royal Caribbean as on other lines, but they can be found on Quantum Class ships, as well as Adventure of the Seas, Brilliance of the Seas, Harmony of the Seas, Jewel of the Seas, Mariner of the Seas, Radiance of the Seas, and Serenade of the Seas.

Dining alone is awkward, but that doesn't mean it is a bad thing — cruise ships have so many different dining options!

When I first moved to New York City to pursue my master's degree, I was more anxious about eating alone than about my graduate-level courses. However, I quickly learned that it's far more common in The Big Apple than in my hometown, and most people don't bat an eye when they see someone at a table for one. 

As such, I kind of expected that my experience dining alone on a cruise ship would be similar. In reality, I found it to be much more uncomfortable than I thought, and I felt the loneliest when I ate alone in the Main Dining Room. 

On the first night, I was tucked into a dark corner, seated at a table for two on Deck 3. It didn't help that my wait staff was confused at the concept of me sailing alone! I was checked up on at least three or four times and constantly asked if anyone was going to be joining me.

As such, I quickly learned that the Main Dining Room isn't my favorite place to eat on a solo trip. I'd much rather grab a quick bite to eat at the buffet or splurge on a specialty restaurant where the overall experience is more communal, like Izumi Hibachi or The Chef's Table. 

The Windjammer, in particular, is a great option because it's so casual and judgment-free. In fact, it's not uncommon to see some crew members, like performers, dining alone! Plus, I love how easy it is to find a table with a view, which is much simpler than trying to request a window table in the dining room. 

I felt incredibly safe cruising by myself

Regardless of whether you're going on a cruise, backpacking across Europe, or simply flying alone to visit relatives in another state, traveling by yourself can be daunting. It's important to keep a close eye on your surroundings and never let your guard down. 

However, I found it much easier to stay alert while having fun on a cruise ship. For example, during popular events, like sail away or late-night dance parties, it was easy to spot security. This gave me a lot of reassurance as a young female traveling by herself. 

Even in port, I never felt too out of place. There was always a steady presence of other tourists, tour guides, and employees nearby. This was even more true on my Royal Caribbean–sponsored excursion in St. Maarten and when I was ashore at CocoCay. 

Something I really appreciated as a solo traveler was that I didn't have to worry about wandering dark streets alone at night. Once the sun went down, the ship came alive with energy, and passengers moved about the decks heading to dinner, shows, and other activities. 

Plus, it was easy to get back to my cabin at night. No matter where I was onboard, whether a late-night party, bar, or show, I was just a short walk and elevator ride away from my home away from home. 

You'll want to come up with a daily plan

When you are traveling alone, you don't have anyone to keep you accountable for your daily routine, which can make it tempting to do absolutely nothing.

Royal Caribbean makes it easy to see what's going on throughout the day on the cruise line's mobile app. The Cruise Compass gives you an easy-to-digest rundown on everything from showtimes to activities and dining hours. 

My best advice is to pick a few key activities that you want to attend each day, whether a trivia session, poolside competition, evening show, fitness class, or port shopping lecture. This leaves plenty of open time in your day while still giving it enough structure so that you don't waste your time sleeping or wandering the ship aimlessly. 

It's easier than you think to mingle with other passengers

On my first afternoon onboard, I grabbed a Strawberry Blonde cocktail and began wandering the ship to take it all in. In the elevator, I was asked about the drink by another couple, and we had a full-blown conversation about our favorite cruise drinks before I got off.

That same evening, I went to the first Hyperlink event of the cruise (the Hyperlink program is for guests between the ages of 18 and 25 and aims to bridge cruise ship activities following the teen club to more common adult offerings).

While I was there, I found everyone to be more social and welcoming than I anticipated, and I met two guests whose family "adopted" me for the week, allowing me to join them at dinner in the dining room and other activities, including Perfect Day at CocoCay's Thrill Waterpark.

Seeing how willing people were to jump into conversation made conversing with others a breeze, and I didn't feel as lonely as I thought I would the rest of the trip.

Of course, you must be willing to put yourself out there — you can't expect others to always start up a conversation! I found that once I did, the experience became surprisingly rewarding in ways I hadn't anticipated and boosted my confidence in my social skills. 

It's just as easy to enjoy your own company on a solo cruise

Finally, be sure to take advantage of being alone. That might sound weird, but realizing you aren't responsible for anyone else's schedule or preferences is so freeing. 

You get to pick exactly what you want to do in your free time, whether that's lounging in the Solarium during the day or watching a show at night.

Maybe there are a few shore excursions that you've been wanting to try that no one else in your life was interested in, or perhaps you want to take a bucket list cruise to somewhere like Asia or the South Pacific that you've been putting off. 

In the end, one of the best parts about taking a cruise is learning how to be okay with your own company — and I did exactly that on my first solo cruise.  

I spent 7-nights on a Royal Caribbean cruise in a balcony cabin because I wanted to make it as convenient as possible to enjoy everything Alaska has to offer.

While I've sailed to Alaska before, this is still one of my all-time favorite places to visit around the world. My wife wanted to celebrate her milestone birthday returning here, so a balcony room made sense to upgrade to.

I picked a balcony room on Royal Caribbean's Serenade of the Seas in cabin 7658, which has an added bonus that most other balcony rooms do not have. The cost of the room was $3458.50 for two people, including gratuities, taxes, fees, and port expenses.

This category 4D stateroom on deck 7 comes with double the balcony space, compared to a standard balcony.  

Here's a look around this room and why having a balcony on an Alaska cruise is worth it.

The balcony measures 41 square feet, which is perfect for families.

I've cruised over 100 times and stayed in plenty of balcony rooms, so when I see an extra large balcony, it stands out immediately.

Located towards the back of the ship, these category 4D cabins have an extended balcony that provides 41 square feet of space instead of 20.

There's room for two chairs and a table, but you could easily fit sun loungers in the space.

Having a private balcony like this meant we had lots of room to conveniently go outside anytime we wanted to go whale watching or enjoy the scenery passing by.

The problem with this balcony is there's no privacy

While the extra balcony space is fantastic, it comes at the cost of privacy.

The extra space doesn't have full walls. This is good for being able to see what's around you, but you can very easily see into everyone else's balcony and they can see into yours.

With a regular balcony, the walls provide enough privacy that you can feel like the area is just for you without prying eyes.

This is less about wanting to be naked on my balcony or anything like that. Rather, you feel like you're being watched by neighbors and it's a psychological discomfort. Moreover, we needed to be mindful of keeping the blinds drawn when we needed privacy inside the room.

I'd also add the odor of unruly passengers smoking on their balcony seemed to be more noticeable.

My large balcony was the perfect space for our glacier day.

If you ever question the high balcony cost on an Alaskan cruise, you will instantly forget about it when you sail near a glacier.

Our itinerary replaced Tracy Arm fjord with Endicott Arm fjord because of a rockslide issue. Nonetheless, we had a front row seat to an amazing displace of an ice age relic.

Serenade of the Seas slowly sailed into the fjord, providing views of water falls, seals, mountains, and more. 

Beginning at 6am, I put on my heavy hoodie and sat outside to enjoy unfettered views.  While other passengers had to find a spot on a public deck, I was able to enjoy my balcony.

The advantage of this particular room was it allowed my entire family and even some friends to join us on the balcony.  The extra space was fantastic.

Our stateroom had a giant closet, which gave us plenty of space to store our belongings.

Despite the room being fairly small, I was impressed by how much storage space there was.

Walking into the room, there is a large closet with two doors. There are shelves and hangers, which could easily store all the belongings my wife and I had.

In addition, there are drawers below the vanity.  

Once we stowed our belongings and put our empty suitcases under the bed, the room didn't feel as small.

The king size bed was positioned next to the balcony door for convenient viewings.

Royal Caribbean staterooms alternate between having the bed near the balcony, or the couch near the balcony.  Luckily, this room had the bed next to the balcony.

The beds can be split apart or left together to form a king sized bed.

The advantage of this room configuration is you can be in bed and look outside to see what's passing by.

Another nice benefit was Royal Caribbean added extra power and USB outlets near the bed because this ship was used for a world cruise a couple of years ago. 

In order to prep the ship for passengers that would spend months in the room, Royal Caribbean added much-needed upgrades around the ship.

The bathroom was tiny, but it had an important shower upgrade.

Unlike other Radiance Class ships, the shower was upgraded in two important places.

There are no clingy shower curtains here, as they were replaced with a plastic enclosure.  

In addition, the shower head is newer, which helps spread the water spray more evenly.

Compared to the cabin I had on Radiance of the Seas last month, this felt like a big improvement.

Balconies cost more than inside rooms, but I can see why they're worth it in Alaska.

I may have paid more to stay in a balcony instead of an inside room, but the views we had made it worth every penny.

We were lucky the weather was so cooperative, because it made it far more inviting to spend time on the balcony.

I didn't love the lack of privacy because of the balcony layout, but it didn't stop me from enjoying the space at all. A standard balcony might have felt more private, but the extra space was more important.

The outdoor space was very comfortably and is a great choice for any itinerary where you will likely spend more time outdoors.

Happy Sunday! Hope you are having a relaxing weekend and enjoying summer! It is time to sit back, relax, and catch up on all the recent Royal Caribbean news!

Legend of the Seas is now officially in Royal Caribbean's hands.

The brand new cruise ship was delivered this week, which means it's now part of the Royal Caribbean fleet and almost ready to enter service.

The ship will begin operating with paying passengers in just a few weeks.

Royal Caribbean News

• World Cup fever has reached cruise ships
• I avoid doing 7 things in my cruise ship cabin
• Three ports I've stopped booking shore excursions
• Why everyone is suddenly packing a fan for their cruise
• 7 mistakes that people keep saying is their biggest one on Royal Caribbean
• What everything cost on my Harmony of the Seas cruise
• What's included on Royal Caribbean's Legend of the Seas
• I paid $600 to sleep in a hotel in the same building as my cruise terminal. It was totally worth it
• My cruise ship cancelled visiting a popular fjord, but the replacement glacier was worth it
• I cruised on new ships from Disney and Royal Caribbean. Royal Caribbean's value can't be overlooked

New RCB Video: MUST EAT Places For Lunch on a Royal Caribbean Cruise

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 — MUST EAT Places For Lunch on a Royal Caribbean Cruise — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

Royal Caribbean passenger sues cruise line for $75K after tripping over parked mobility scooter

A passenger claims they stumbled over a mobility scooter while on a Royal Caribbean ship and is suing the line for injuries they sustained.

The incident occurred on Jewel of the Seas when the person says she was in a crowded casino and tripped over the parked mobility scooter.

According to the incident report, the trip caused the woman, "serious personal injury."

Royal Caribbean offers guests 100% refund and huge future credit if they're willing to cancel an upcoming cruise

An oversold cruise is prompting Royal Caribbean to email select passengers to ask if they'd volunteer to cancel and change to a different sailing.

The offer includes a full refund, plus a lot of onboard credit to someone that would accept it.

The email was sent to passengers on an upcoming Alaska cruise.

Construction begins on Oasis 7

Formal construction began this week on Royal Caribbean's seventh Oasis Class ship.

The likely last Oasis Class ship had its keel-laying ceremony held at a shipyard in France.

The new ship will join the fleet in 2028, almost exactly 20 years since the launch of the first Oasis Class vessel.

Royal ONE Visa Card Review: $99 per year, but benefits are worth way more than the fee

Royal Caribbean launched a new card, and our guest writer feels it's worth the hefty annual fee.

The added premium benefits help offset the $99 per year cost to have the card, although there is a caveat.

Still, perks like priority boarding and added rewards make it a compelling option.

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 612th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available, featuring an exclusive interview with Vicki Freed.

Matt was asked which cruise ports are the best for being able to walk off the ship and immediately explore.

Please feel free to subscribe via YouTube, iTunes or RSS, and head over to rate and review the podcast on iTunes if you can! 

Passengers on an upcoming sailing aboard Voyager of the Seas were asked to skip their upcoming Alaska cruise. In return, the cruise line offered a generous compensation package for those willing to voluntarily bail. 

According to an email shared on Reddit, the offer was targeted at those with flexible plans who could easily adjust their vacation schedules and allow Royal Caribbean to free up cabins. 

"Ahead of your Voyager of the Seas June 19, 2026, sailing, we are looking to see if you and your travel party have flexible travel arrangements," the email reads. 

Continuing on, "If your plans are set in stone, please mark this email as 'Read,' and gear up for your upcoming adventure — although there are some pretty sweet options below." 

(Credit: captain-catmando / Reddit)

Although Royal Caribbean doesn't explicitly state why they're offering cruisers substantial incentives to change their plans, it's been a tactic to open up cabins on overbooked sailings in the past. 

Oversold cruises aren't as common as oversold flights, but they do happen. As a result, cruise lines, including Royal Caribbean, try to rectify the situation with refunds, future travel credits, and lucrative rebooking options.

In this case, guests on Voyager of the Seas' June 19 sailing could either disregard the email, transfer to another 2026 Alaska cruise and receive a full refund plus a 50% Future Cruise Credit (FCC), or receive a full refund plus a 100% FCC.

The seven-night sailing departing from Seattle will visit Juneau, Alaska; Skagway, Alaska; Endicott Arm & Dawes Glacier, Alaska; and Victoria, British Columbia.

Option 1: Transfer to one of the listed cruises and get a full cruise fare refund plus a 50% FCC

The first option lets flexible passengers move to one of five sailings aboard Anthem of the Seas, Ovation of the Seas, or Voyager of the Seas. 

The available options are as follows:

• 7-Night Alaska Adventure Cruise aboard Anthem of the Seas (August 24, 2026): Round-trip sailing from Seattle to Ketchikan, Alaska; Sitka, Alaska; Endicott Arm & Dawes Glacier, Alaska; Juneau, Alaska; and Victoria, British Columbia. 
• 7-Night Southbound Alaska & Hubbard Glacier Cruise aboard Ovation of the Seas (August 28, 2026): Southbound sailing from Seward, Alaska, to Vancouver, British Columbia, calling at Hubbard Glacier, Alaska; Juneau, Alaska; Skagway, Alaska; and Icy Strait Point, Alaska. 
• 7-Night Alaska Adventure Cruise aboard Anthem of the Seas (August 31, 2026): Round-trip sailing from Seattle to Sitka, Alaska; Skagway, Alaska; and Victoria, British Columbia. 

• 7-Night Alaska Adventure Cruise aboard Voyager of the Seas (September 18, 2026): Round-trip sailing from Seattle to Juneau, Alaska; Skagway, Alaska; Sitka, Alaska; and Victoria, British Columbia. 
• 7-Night Alaska Adventure Cruise aboard Voyager of the Seas (September 25, 2026): Round-trip sailing from Seattle to Juneau, Alaska; Skagway, Alaska; Sitka, Alaska; and Victoria, British Columbia.

According to the email, "You'll receive a complimentary transfer to the sailing you selected in a similar category to what you previously booked. We'll also reimburse you for any non-refundable, pre-purchased travel expenses (e.g. hotel, flight) you have incurred." 

Moreover, those who booked with an FCC will be given a new FCC for any funds paid above the certificate amount. It will be valid for one year after the date it was issued. 

Finally, all passengers who select this option will be given an FCC valued at 50% of the cruise fare paid on the current booking. It can be used on another Royal Caribbean cruise departing on or before June 19, 2027. 

Option 2: Cancel and receive a 100% refund plus a 100% FCC

If none of the alternative cruises work, passengers cancel their sailing in exchange for a full refund, along with a 100% FCC to put toward any Royal Caribbean sailing they want.

The email states that these guests can expect to receive the refund to the original form of payment within fourteen business days. However, refund times vary depending on the financial institution. 

Overbooked cruises aren't unheard of

Earlier this year, guests aboard Oasis of the Seas' February 7, 2026, cruise out of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, received an email asking select cruisers to consider rebooking.

As in the past, Royal Caribbean didn't use the words "oversold" or "overbooked." Instead, they simply stated that they were looking for passengers with "flexible travel arrangements."

"Ahead of our Oasis of the Seas February 7, 2026, sailing, we are looking to see if you and your travel party have flexible travel arrangements," the email said.

Like the current offers available for the June 19 Voyager of the Seas cruise, those booked on Oasis of the Seas were given the option to cancel their booking and receive a 100% refund, plus a 50% FCC to be used on another Royal Caribbean sailing. 

Of course, the compensation offered depends on the situation and can vary greatly. 

"I dream of the day I receive one of these emails"

Many cruise enthusiasts view these offers as a win for flexible travelers. They're a chance to essentially take a heavily discounted vacation and possibly take a cheap future cruise. 

Redditors chimed in, breaking down the math and strategy behind the options to determine which was the better value. 

"Option 1 is the best bang for your buck. You are rescheduled to a later date and receive a refund of your original cruise fare. Your taxes and fees would be held for the rescheduled cruise. You then get 50% towards a future cruise. That’s a definite edge over #2 if you can travel on the provided dates," wrote Shot_Bread_9657.

trilliumsummer agreed, saying, "Option 1 is way better. You get a full refund, a free cruise on one of the options listed, and 50% of what you paid towards another cruise. About a 250% of value depending on the cost of the free cruise, could be more."

That said, taking advantage of these offers is completely optional. If you aren't flexible or can't imagine delaying your long-awaited vacation, you can ignore the email and continue your pre-cruise preparations. 

Some passengers on the Reddit forum agreed that although the offers were generous, they didn't feel they could change or cancel their vacation plans on such short notice.

"I feel like this is a great deal, but I also look forward to and plan in detail every cruise with my wife and kids. As tempting as it is, I am not the person who could just give up a vacation I am looking forward to," wrote Mundane-Orange-9799.

PurplePunch209 commented, "I got one of these and just continued with my cruise. No changes happened and just got back today."

The expansion of Royal Caribbean's wildly popular Oasis Class cruise ships continues, with construction of its seventh ship officially underway in France.

Just days after Legend of the Seas was officially handed over to Royal Caribbean, a keel-laying ceremony was held earlier at the Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France. The first building block was placed in the dry dock, where the ship will take shape over the coming months. 

"The first block of Oasis 7 has been set in the dry dock by the TGP, in the presence of Royal Caribbean Group and Chantiers de l'Atlantique teams — as Oasis 7's assembly officially begins," the shipyard shared on Facebook.

"A cherished shipbuilding tradition was honored: a symbolic euro and dollar coin were sealed in a steel tube, wishing the ship fair winds — in the shipyard and at sea."

(Credit: Chantiers de l'Atlantique / Facebook)

The ship's steel-cutting ceremony was held in October 2025. Now, however, the real work begins, as pre-assembled blocks will start arriving at the yard and being joined together in dry dock to form the hull.

At the time of publication, Royal Caribbean has yet to formally reveal the name of the upcoming ship. They have also not yet divulged information about what will make her different from the other vessels in the Oasis Class, such as Harmony and Utopia of the Seas. 

That said, it is almost certain that signature neighborhood concepts such as the Boardwalk, Central Park, and the Royal Promenade will return, alongside updated venues and reimagined concepts to give the ship a distinct feel of her own. 

(Credit: Royal Caribbean International / X)

According to Royal Caribbean Group, Oasis 7 is expected to debut in 2028 and will "deliver bold new adventures, standout dining, immersive entertainment and experiences designed for every type of vacationer."

Her launch is expected to succeed the fourth Icon Class ship, Hero of the Seas, which is currently under construction at Meyer Turku shipyard in Turku, Finland. 

Meanwhile, the steel-cutting ceremony for Icon 5 took place in January 2026, with that next-gen cruise ship also scheduled to launch in 2028. 

(Credit: Royal Caribbean Group)

Building three mega-ships at once is an incredible feat and a clear demonstration of Royal Caribbean's commitment to its next-generation fleet.

What about Discovery Class?

Long-time cruise fans have been eagerly awaiting construction to begin on the cruise line's upcoming Discovery Class. 

Back in January, the cruise line revealed plans to build two Discovery Class ships at the Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France, with the first debuting in 2029 and the second in 2032.

However, at the time of publication, construction had yet to begin on the first ship. 

Additionally, although Royal Caribbean has not made any further official announcements regarding its upcoming Discovery Class ships, its filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission provide a glimpse of what's swirling around at headquarters. 

Based on the SEC 10-Q filing, it appears that Discovery Class ships will have an approximate passenger count (berths) of 4,300. However, this has not been officially confirmed. 

If true, this would mean these ships would be larger than older mid-sized vessels like Radiance and Voyager Class ships, though still smaller than the Oasis and Icon Classes. 

While shore excursions can be a great way to see a new port of call, there are a few places I think you're better off without one.

To be clear, I'm not a shore excursion hater.  Some people never book tours, but I think tours are helpful in many situations, especially when traveling any significant distance from where the ship docks.

However, I've visited a few ports where I regretted booking a tour and realized later I would have been fine venturing out on my own.

I understand that new cruisers may be intimidated by the idea of touring a place independently because of the advantages a cruise line excursion offers. But with a little bit of planning and the right approach, I think it's very easy to give it a go.

Before you purchase an excursion, I'd recommend going it alone in these three places Royal Caribbean ships visit.

Tours around European cities always disappoint me

Regardless if I'm cruising with Royal Caribbean or Silversea, group excursions in Europe tend to leave me disappointed.

In fact, I politely informed my tour guide in Malaga and Alicante, Spain that I would be leaving the group because I wanted to tour on my own.

When your cruise ship docks in many European cities, you arrive in the city center. It's easy enough to get off the ship, turn on Google Maps, and find your way around to the major sights.

Bus tours around these cities are always mentioned as the worst shore excursions by our readers, and rightfully so. Their pace is slow, and it never feels like you got to experience any of it in meaningful way.

I believe you should immerse yourself in these cities by exploring them as you see fit. Group tours have uneven timings, and any insight I gain from the guide is offset by the inability to deviate from the tight turn around.

Thanks to mass transportation, I find it quite easy to get around European cities on your own. Every one I've been to has a tap to pay approach to hopping on a bus or metro.

I think you're much better off doing a little bit of pre-cruise planning and identify three or four places you want to see and then come up with a walking tour.  Heck, I used AI to make the tour for me and it worked fairly well.

The exception to this rule is if you want to go well beyond the city limits and more than an hour from where your cruise ship docks.

Cities like Bordeaux, France; Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy; and Paris (Le Harve), France should all be booked through the cruise line because you don't want a travel delay getting back to result in missing your ship.

It's so easy to explore Old San Juan on your own

If there's one Caribbean port I think you can skip tours, it's a visit to San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Similar to Europe, your ship will drop you off right in the middle of Old San Juan, and there's enough here for most people.

The history of Puerto Rico is perfectly encapsulated by what you will find in Old San Juan.  It's all walkable and not a very long distance to any of the popular spots from where your ship docks.

For Americans, your cell phone coverage works in Puerto Rico. This means you can use Google Maps to find your way around. Or just meander and see where the path takes you.

Considering the other ports of call on your cruise will be primarily beach days, I recommend skipping the beaches in San Juan and sticking to the city as a means of mixing up your itinerary. Too many beach days can feel monotonous after a bit.

Royal Caribbean's private island is so good, I don't think a tour makes any sense

Royal Caribbean sells a few excursions that go beyond its private island, but I really can't say I'd recommend any of them.

Perfect Day at CocoCay is a victim of its own success, because it's been designed so well and with so much to do that I really don't see any need to venture out.

There aren't many tours offered, but I'd argue almost all of them are better done at other ports. For example, the snorkeling and scuba isn't very impressive at CocoCay.  And I think swimming with the pigs is a waste of money. 

Instead, focus your day on what you can do around the island. Much of it is included in your cruise fare at no additional cost!

In addition, there are extra cost exclusive areas you could buy into that can be worth it.  

Of all the places in this article, I think Perfect Day at CocoCay is the least important place to ever consider booking an excursion. It's very easy to find lots to do around the island.

Do your research and you should find great DIY options

The caveat to this entire article is to do a little bit of pre-planning so you have an idea of how you'll get around any of these places.

In each case, I would look up the popular things to see and do and make your own plans to see them.

Yes, there are risks with going on your own and certain advantages of booking a tour with Royal Caribbean. But that's why it's important to have a plan for visiting any of them. I don't think the planning process for coming up with your own tour will take much effort.

To borrow an old Royal Caribbean marketing slogan, get out there and embrace a sense of adventure and see how much you find.

Move over magnets, the smartest thing to pack on a cruise is now a fan.

The first time I saw someone suggest packing a fan, I thought it was weird and unnecessary. But seemingly out of nowhere, I've seen so many people swearing by bringing a fan.

If you dig through older cruise posts, you'd read that you could ask your stateroom attendant for a fan in your cruise ship cabin. In fact, I think that's still possible.

What's changed is more people are bringing their own, both to ensure there is one for you to use and because this new generation of fans works better.

I packed a fan on my last three cruises, and I see now why they're so useful.

The cruise packing hack that can help you sleep better every night

Why you would want to have a fan in your stateroom is all about one thing: solving one of the biggest cruise cabin complaints.

Every Royal Caribbean cabin has air conditioning, but air flow and air conditioning are two different things.

This is especially true in the hot summer months, when it seems like the air conditioning struggles to keep up with the heat outside. This has been my experience when I'm staying in a balcony room that has a large glass sliding door where a lot of light comes in.

When the sun is shining, it can make the room feel warmer, and that's why fans are helpful.

A fan allows you to not only cool down, but add movement to the air and that's really helpful for sleeping. 

I'm used to having a ceiling fan on in my house at home, and you won't find those in any cruise ship room (not even suites).

Plus, a fan creates white noise.  For a lot of people, that is critical to being able to sleep.  

I was skeptical how a small fan would help, but I get the hype

The first time I bought a USB chargeable fan on Amazon, I was expecting it to be a waste of money. But after one night, I was hooked.

The fans are charged via USB, and have enough battery to easily last an entire night. They have multiple speed settings, so you can increase the rate and white noise.

But the genius of these is they have a magnetic base. This means you can place them almost anywhere in your room.

Because cruise ship rooms are made from metal, you can easily attach the fan to the walls or ceiling and position it exactly where you want it.

The first time, I put it in front of the air conditioning vent so the cold air blew right on me. On the next cruise, I had it on the wall closer to my face so I had a steady stream of air.

After a hot day walking around Cozumel, Mexico, I returned to my ship hot and sweaty.  While a quick shower helped, having the fan really made a difference in feeling like I was cooling down quickly.

Since you can buy one for less than $30 and then use it on every cruise, it's a really cheap add-on that removes the concern of if the cruise ship would have a spare fan for you to use.

And unlike a fan at home, these are small. They're about the size of a hardcover book, so easy to pack and don't weigh much.

The $25 item that can make your cruise cabin feel totally different

I tested out two different fans, and both worked very well.

The first fan I tried out had a wider base and 4 speeds to choose from.  Plus, it's adjustable so you can move the fan to point in any direction. (Affiliate link, which costs nothing extra but will generate a small commission for us)

At the medium speed, it should have enough battery to run for about 10 hours.

The second fan has an even bigger battery, so you probably could use it during the day and night.

It has other settings like a LED light and five speeds.

Given that either is less than $30, it's an inexpensive investment that should last you quite a few cruises. Unless you accidentally drop it.

The magnets on both were quite strong, so it's not going anywhere unless you accidentally drop it while trying to move it.