Did you get Royal Caribbean onboard credit on your next cruise, but now sure how to spend it?

Onboard credit is essentially free "cruise cash", but there was not only restrictions on how you can use it, but a few ways to make your credits go further.

Spending it wisely is a good idea to ensure it helps maximize your vacation experience, especially if you have a lot of it.

How does onboard credit work?

Think of onboard credit as free money you get to spend while on your cruise.

Royal Caribbean's ships are cashless, which means all your transactions occur via your SeaPass account. When you buy something onboard, you scan your SeaPass card and the cost is debited against your account.

Onboard credit is money the cruise line places in your account that goes against any purchases you make during the cruise.  

When a guest receives onboard credit, their SeaPass account is credited with that amount of money to offset any onboard purchases, such as shore excursions, specialty restaurants, spa treatments, drink purchases and anything else you can charge to your SeaPass account.

Once onboard your Royal Caribbean cruise, a guest's SeaPass account will receive a credit that corresponds to the onboard credit value they were promised.

A common misconception is you can take onboard credit and apply it towards a specific purchase.  Your onboard credit is applied against any and all onboard purchases you make in general. So there is no need to worry about ensuring you use it for one purchase or another.

How to get Royal Caribbean Onboard Credit (OBC)

There are a lot of ways to get onboard credit, but you may not have access to all means of getting onboard credit. Regardless, it is important to understand all the possible manners available.

The simplest answer on how to get onboard credit is you have to be given onboard credit from someone else, either Royal Caribbean or another entity.  

Let us explore the possibilities.

Booking promotion

The most common way guests receive onboard credit is to receive it from Royal Caribbean as part of a deal to book a cruise.

Royal Caribbean regularly offers onboard credit as an incentive to get guests to book a cruise.

These are typically periodic promotions, where the amount of onboard credit you receive is tied to the stateroom category you book, as well as the exact promotion offered. Some promotions will offer more onboard credit than others.

The amount of onboard credit will vary from promotion to promotion and it is important to read the deal's rules and conditions. There can be hundreds of dollars of onboard credit offered, including up to $500 per cabin.

This may not be the most lucrative source of onboard credit, but it is regularly the simplest way of getting some.

Booking onboard

If you happen to be on a Royal Caribbean cruise and cannot wait to reserve space on another sailing, then take advantage of Royal Caribbean's onboard booking bonus.

Royal Caribbean incentives its guests to re-book another cruise while still onboard by offering them extra onboard credit on top of whatever promotion is currently running.

Guests can visit the NextCruise office and get up to $500 in onboard credit to spend on their current sailing or defer it to an upcoming sailing.

The onboard credit you get at the NextCruise office is free money, because Royal Caribbean is rewarding you for reserving another sailing and is one of the best, and most lucrative means of getting a lot  of onboard credit.

Book with a travel agent

We love using travel agents to book our Royal Caribbean cruises for the wonderful value they provide in terms of service, but travel agents are also a great source of onboard credit.

In general, many travel agents offer their own booking bonus for working with them.

The amount of onboard credit a travel agent can give you on top of whatever Royal Caribbean is offering will vary greatly, and depends on the agency size and the stateroom category you book.

Onboard credit is one way travel agents differentiate themselves from one another and take steps to earn business.

Royal Caribbean Visa credit card

Royal Caribbean has its own branded Visa credit card, which allows guests to earn points that can be redeemed for onboard credit on future cruises (as well as other rewards too).

Each purchase you make with the card earns you points, and as you save those points, you can redeem them for onboard credit.

As an example, the Royal Caribbean card will net a guest $100 in onboard credit for 10,000 points.

Price drops

Sometimes Royal Caribbean will give onboard credit if the price you paid for a cruise is now cheaper than when you paid.

Royal Caribbean Group shareholder

If you own at least 100 shares of Royal Caribbean Group stock at the time of sailing, you can get onboard credit.

The benefit is only available for the stateroom in which the shareholder (with a minimum of 100 shares) is sailing. 

• $250 Onboard Credit per Stateroom on Sailings of 14 or more nights
• $100 Onboard Credit per Stateroom on Sailings of 6 to 13 nights
• $50 Onboard Credit per Stateroom on Sailings of 5 nights or less

There is no limit on how many times you may take advantage of this discount, but it is one benefit per sailing.

Active or retired military members

From time to time, Royal Caribbean offers active and retired military personnel onboard credits.

It usually applies to those who are active or retired from the United States Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, National Guard, Reserves or Canadian National Defense.

A Royal Caribbean mistake

No one is perfect, certainly not Royal Caribbean, and while you probably will not like the mistake itself, the silver lining is often Royal Caribbean offers guests onboard credit as a means of making it up to them.

Incidents like poor service, billing inaccuracies and other frustrations are often handled with onboard credit (in addition to remedying the situation as best they can).

The exact amount of onboard credit will depend on the nature of the incident.

Cancelled cruise

In a lot of cases, Royal Caribbean will try to make up for a cancelled cruise with onboard credit.

Hurricanes, a health crisis, maintenance issues and a variety of other possibilities can lead to Royal Caribbean cancelling a cruise.

In order to smooth things over with guests, the cruise line may offer onboard credit for a new sailing in order to make up for the disappointment of having to cancel the original sailing.

Royal Caribbean gift certificate

It's not well-known, but Royal Caribbean sells gift certificates and the value gets applied as an onboard credit.

Before you run out and buy one, I don't recommend buying them because of the complicated redemption rules. They don't work as easily as traditional gift cards.

However, gift certificates are truly the only way to give someone else onboard credit without being a travel agent.

How is onboard credit different from a future cruise credit?

While onboard credit and future cruise credits might sound the same, they apply to different aspects of your cruise booking.

An onboard credit is for spending on purchases made on your cruise while you're actually sailing, whereas a future cruise credit is for booking another cruise.

The two are not interchangeable, and you cannot use future cruise credits as spending money on a cruise as you would onboard credit. Moreover, you cannot convert Future Cruise Credit into Onboard Credit.

What happens if I don't spend all my onboard credit?

If you have unused non-refundable onboard credit because you didn't spend it all, you lose it. Nearly all onboard credit is non-refundable because it's a gift from the cruise line or a travel agent in a "use it or lose it" scenario.

You cannot roll over the onboard credit to another cruise.

Sometimes guests will get refundable onboard credit, usually as the result of cancelling a purchase while onboard a cruise (i.e. shore excursion). In this scenario, unused onboard credit will be refunded back to your credit card.

It's a good idea to check with guest services while still onboard your cruise for which type you have. Never assume it's refundable.

What are the best ways to spend your Royal Caribbean onboard credit?

Spa

Bookable: Pre-cruise and onboard

Splurge and treat yourself with a spa treatment!

Royal Caribbean's Vitality Spa isn't cheap, but onboard credit is a great way to use your free money on something that you can instantly enjoy.  

For a lot of cruisers, going to the spa is an essential way to relax and enjoy time away from work, school, and the daily routine.

Shore excursions

Bookable: Pre-cruise and onboard

Your ship will many ports of call during your cruise, so onboard credit might be the ticket to a fun day on shore.

There's usually a multitude of tours you can consider, and onboard credit can be spent before the cruise or once onboard. My advice is to book shore excursions before your cruise because many tend to sell out.

Gratuities

Bookable: Onboard only

Gratuity on a Royal Caribbean cruise is compulsory and you'll either pay it before your cruise or automatically every day of the sailing.

The automatic daily gratuity charge is $16.00 per day, per person in standard cabins (Junior Suites and below) and $18.50 per day per person for suites.

These gratuities cover your stateroom attendant, and dining room staff, and it's important way to thank their hard work.

If you elect for the automatic gratuity, each night of your cruise there will be an automatic charge on your SeaPass account per person. Your onboard credit will be offset against your total spending onboard, including the gratuities.

Specialty dining

Bookable: Pre-cruise and onboard

Royal Caribbean's specialty restaurants are a great way to enjoy top-notch dining, but they come with an extra cost.

The cost of a specialty restaurant differs depending on the restaurant.  Most have a cover charge, but there are a few a la carte restaurants.

As an example, Giovanni's Table for lunch comes in at $25 per person, whereas Chef's Table dinner is about $100 per person.

Another way to use your onboard credit is to buy a specialty dining package, which includes a set amount of specialty restaurant meals for a fixed price.

If you're planning to eat at more than 2 specialty restaurants, a dining package makes a lot of sense to buy instead.

Extra cost onboard activities

Bookable: Pre-cruise and onboard

Not every fun thing to do on your Royal Caribbean cruise is included in your cruise fare.

North Star:  $25
iFly skydiving simulator: $55
Behind the scenes ship tour: $49 to $129
Escape room: $20
Private Flowrider lessons: $69 to $500
Fitness classes:$12
Cooking classes: $35 to $70
Video games in arcade: $1 to $3 per game

Laundry

Bookable: Onboard only

You're going to amass a pile of dirty laundry during the cruise, so why not get some or all of it cleaned for you?

Royal Caribbean offers full-service laundry options for an additional cost:

• Wash & Press
• Pressing only
• Steaming only
• Dry Clean & Press

Souvenirs

Bookable: Pre-cruise and onboard

Whether you want a Royal Caribbean brand shirt or a pair of designer sunglasses, you can find a great array of choices onboard to buy.

Some souvenirs are cheap, while others can be hundreds of dollars.  The Royal Caribbean branded items tend to be much less expensive than the designer items.

There's also lots of toys and kid-focused items you can purchase, and when your kids start begging for a must-have gift, this could be the perfect time to use your onboard credit.

Look for sales advertised in the Cruise Compass as ways to possibly save money on something to bring home later.

Drinks

Bookable: Onboard only

Individual drinks can be ordered at any bar, lounge, and restaurant.  After all, few things are as synonymous with being on vacation as a fruity drink!

Royal Caribbean includes some drinks in your cruise, such as water, tea, coffee, juices, and milk. But anything with alcohol will cost extra.

Instead of paying for each drink individually, you could use your onboard credit towards a Royal Caribbean drink package. They have a large up-front cost, but if you can drink enough during your cruise, a drink package can save you a lot of money.

Adventure Ocean after hours care

Bookable: Onboard only

Adventure Ocean is complimentary until 10pm, at which point there is an hourly charge.

As a parent, I find the cost worth every penny so that I can enjoy more time without the kids!

If you have a toddler or infant, the nursey has an hourly charge anytime of $6 during the day and $8 at night. 

Wifi

Bookable: Pre-cruise and onboard

Staying connected for pleasure or work (or both) is a necessity for many, and you have to buy an internet package if you want access to the full internet.

You don't need an internet package to use the Royal Caribbean app or the chat feature in the app, but anything else will need a wifi package.

Royal Caribbean sells a few different internet packages, both before the cruise and while onboard.  Keep in mind that a wifi package will be cheaper if you pre-purchase before the sailing on the Cruise Planner site.

Photos

Bookable: Pre-cruise and onboard

Every evening there will be photo opportunities to get professional photos taken, and the price of a single photo starts at $19.99.

Photo packages allow guests to take home a select amount of photos taken onboard their Royal Caribbean ship. One photo package covers all guests in your stateroom.

Whether you buy a single photo or an entire package, your onboard credit can be used towards it.

Casino

Bookable: Onboard only

You can't directly apply onboard credit to a game in the casino, but you can charge your SeaPass account. Those charges can, in turn, be offset against your onboard credit.

How do I know if I have a Royal Caribbean onboard credit?

Prior to the cruise, you may see onboard credit listed in your account that you can use on Cruise Planner purchases. Keep in mind not all onboard credit is spendable before the cruise.

A good way to get a sense of how much onboard credit you should be getting is to ask your travel agent.  Royal Caribbean will list onboard credits you are entitled to in the invoice for the cruise when you book.

On the ship, your onboard credit will automatically appear on your account, typically two or three days into your sailing.

If all else fails, once you get onboard your cruise ship, you can go to Guest Services and inquire how much you have.

Can you cash out onboard credit?

Yes, but it's kind of a cruise hack.

Guest services will not issue your onboard credit back to you as cash, but the casino will.

You can go to the casino cashier and get a cash advance against your SeaPass account, which is a charge like anything else you buy onboard.  That charge will be rectified against your onboard credit. Keep in mind the casino charges you 5% on every cash advance you make (unless you are Prime or higher in Casino Royale).

There is a workaround, where any money you take out as a cash advance from a slot machine does not accrue the 5% charge for some reason.

Ask the casino cashier for instructions on how to make a cash advance from the slot machines.

Can you pay gratuities with onboard credit Royal Caribbean?

If you go with the automatic gratuities that get charged each evening of your cruise, yes, your onboard credits will be deducted against the gratuities you are assessed (and anything else you charge).

It's a common misconception you can apply your onboard credit directly towards gratuities.  The automatic gratuity is a charge like anything else you buy, so if you spend nothing else on your cruise, then your onboard credit will be applied towards your total expenses.

Can you use onboard credit in the casino?

You cannot directly access the onboard credit, but you can get a cash advance from your SeaPass account.

This charge will be an expense on your final bill, which any onboard credits you have will be deducted against.

The casino will charge you a 5% fee (unless you are Prime or higher in Casino Royale), unless you make the charge at a slot machine. Slot machines do not have a fee when withdrawing money from your SeaPass account.

How to use onboard credit in the Cruise Planner

When you add any pre-cruise purchase in the Cruise Planner to your shopping cart, there is an option to redeem onboard credit.

Remember, not all types of onboard credit may be available for use in the Cruise Planner. Onboard credits offered by a travel agent are not usually available until you get on the ship.

When you checkout, in addition to entering your credit card information, you have the option to apply some or all of your onboard credit to the purchase.

Don't worry, if you change your mind later and want to cancel your Cruise Planner purchase, the onboard credits will instantly become available again to use.

The end of a cruise vacation can stir up many emotions, but most (if not all) passengers feel a hint of post-cruise depression set in on disembarkation day. Thoughts of returning to work, cleaning your house, and cooking your own meals can make even the toughest passengers dread returning home.

Nonetheless, you have to return home eventually after your time onboard, and we recommend that you get off your ship as early as possible on disembarkation day. For most cruise itineraries, this means disembarking around 7AM instead of, say, 8 or 9AM.

While shortening your time on a Royal Caribbean cruise may sound unappealing, the truth is that by disembarking just an hour or two earlier than other passengers, you can reap a wide range of benefits.

From shorter wait times in the cruise terminal to avoiding chaos at the parking garage, here are 8 reasons to get off your ship as early as possible.

How can I get off the ship as early as possible?

Before explaining the top reasons why you should disembark your cruise early, you should have a basic understanding of how Royal Caribbean’s disembarkation process works.

You have two options for disembarkation: self-disembarkation or using luggage tags.

Self-disembarkation is when you carry your luggage off the cruise ship with you. By transporting your own luggage off the ship, you have the freedom to leave whenever you want. This works well for cruisers who packed light or who don’t mind lugging suitcases off the ship, down the gangway, and through the cruise terminal.

Self-disembarkation is also a nice option for those who want as much flexibility as possible when leaving the ship. If you booked an early flight, you may prefer to disembark your ship as soon as the gangway opens instead of waiting until your luggage tag number is called.

Related: Self-disembarkation on a Royal Caribbean cruise

If you opt not to do self-assist disembarkation, you should adhere to the disembarkation time on your cabin’s luggage tag number. Near the end of the cruise, luggage tags will be delivered to your stateroom. Each of these luggage tags has a number, and this number coincides with the time in which your luggage will be ready for you in the cruise terminal.

If you don't like the disembarkation time given on your luggage tag, you can change your luggage tag number to the time that works best for you—simply head to Guest Services and get a different luggage tag.

Now that you have a better idea of how to disembark a cruise ship, let’s move into the top 8 reasons to get off your ship as early as possible on disembarkation day.

There’s nothing to do onboard on disembarkation day

Although Royal Caribbean cruise ships are packed with activities and entertainment, you’ll be hard pressed to find anything interesting to do on disembarkation day.

With such a short turnaround time between cruises, there’s no time for activities like waterslides, trivia, and production shows.

Truthfully, there’s a rushed atmosphere onboard on disembarkation morning. If you’re suntanning on the pool deck at 9AM, you might get a few strange looks from crew members.

While there are no activities offered on disembarkation day, select breakfast venues, including the Windjammer and Main Dining Room, are open. We recommend grabbing a quick breakfast and getting off the ship as early as you can.

Avoid lines to leave the ship

While you won’t usually encounter an exceptionally long line to disembark your cruise ship, it’s best to avoid waiting in lines whenever possible. More often than not, the earlier you try to disembark your cruise ship, the shorter of a line you’ll experience.

Related: How long does it take to get off a cruise ship?

Not only will you avoid a long line just to leave the ship, but you won’t have to wait as long to have your passport and documents checked in the terminal. This is even more true if you’re traveling with a birth certificate and ID instead of a passport.

Those with passports can usually go through a fast-moving line during which a facial recognition device confirms your identity. Those without passports, on the other hand, have to wait in a line to have their documents manually checked.

If you disembark at the same time as everyone else, there’s a chance you’ll have to wait in line longer than you'd prefer.

Get taxis and Ubers more quickly than other passengers

In addition to lines in the cruise terminal, disembarking your ship early means you’ll spend far less time waiting in line for transportation to the airport.

With thousands of passengers leaving the cruise port at the same time, disembarkation day can be a bit hectic. Taxis and rideshares see high demand all at once, and unfortunately, many passengers end up waiting longer than they would like for a ride to the airport.

By getting off your ship as early as possible on disembarkation day, you can be among the first to call an Uber or Lyft, and it’s unlikely there will be any wait at the taxi line.

Beat the traffic in the parking garage

If you drove to your cruise port, you don’t want to get held up at the parking garage on disembarkation day. It’s typical for long lines of cars to form as thousands of other passengers try to exit the parking garage all at once.

No one enjoys waiting around in their car when they could be on the way home. By getting off your ship as early as possible on disembarkation day, you can be one of the first out of the parking garage.

Get home earlier if you’re driving

Driving to your cruise port? The earlier you disembark your cruise ship, the earlier you can hit the road.

It’s always hard to relax knowing there’s a long drive ahead of you. Getting home earlier means you can start to unpack and relax, even if it means you’re no longer on a cruise ship.

Our recommendation is to wake up early, grab a takeaway coffee and pastry from Cafe Promenade, and hit the road before most passengers have even made it to breakfast.

More time to make a flight

We’ve all seen frantic, disheveled passengers sprinting through an airport terminal to make their flight on time. Many of us, in fact, have been those exact passengers ourselves—I know I’m guilty. By disembarking your cruise ship as early as possible, you give yourself more time to make a flight.

As a rule of thumb, we recommend booking flights no earlier than noon on disembarkation day, but the exact time can vary from airport to airport. If you’re flying from Fort Lauderdale, which is only 5 minutes away from the cruise port, you will (more than likely) be able to make an 11AM flight with little rush.

Making a noon flight from Venice, Italy when your cruise ends in Ravenna would be much more stressful—the cruise port is over two hours from the airport.

Related: The 20 worst cruise mistakes that will ruin your cruise vacation

As long as you don’t book a flight too early, disembarking your cruise ship as early as possible will give you enough time to make your flight and account for any unexpected delays.

Account for security lines at the airport

My small, regional airport at home almost never has a line at security, but the same cannot be said about airports near popular cruise ports.

Many of the world’s busiest cruise ports are also located near the world’s busiest airports. Whether at the Los Angeles, Miami, or Orlando airport, you might encounter longer-than-anticipated lines at security.

If you don’t have TSA Precheck or an alternative priority security screening like CLEAR, you want to make sure you arrive at the airport with plenty of time before your flight. There’s nothing more stressful than rushing to the airport only to find out a long security line could cause you to miss your flight altogether!

Fly standby on an earlier flight

When I disembarked Symphony of the Seas earlier this year, I was off the ship by 7:45AM. My flight home, however, didn’t depart Miami until 12:30PM, and I was dreading waiting around the airport for several hours.

On route to the airport, I opened my American Airlines app and realized I could fly standby on a 9AM flight to my connection in Los Angeles. I never would have booked this flight outright as it left very little time to get to the airport and go through security after disembarking.

As a standby passenger, though, I could attempt to make the earlier flight with no risk of missing my flight later in the day.

To my surprise, I was able to fly on both my flight from Miami and my connecting flight home as a standby passenger. I was home over five hours earlier than I would have been on my initial itinerary!

Had I dilly-dallied around the cruise ship for another hour before disembarking, I never would have made the standby flight at 9AM. From now on, I’ll always get off the cruise ship as early as possible on disembarkation day if I can get on a standby list for an earlier flight.

Packing for a cruise is no simple task, regardless if you are a first-timer or veteran. The combination of various "what to wear" scenarios coupled with the inability to run to the store to buy something you need gives a lot of people pause when trying to figure out what to pack.

There are so many fun things to do on a cruise, in addition to all the great excursions. How do you pack everything? 

It's my experience that a really good cruise packing list helps a lot, because it can assist with being prepared for cruise line dress codes, what to wear on shore, evening wear, and everything you may need in your cabin too.

Planning ahead can be a great time-saver, as no one wants to use valuable vacation time doing detours while in port in a search for a forgotten item. Or missing out on a great activity, such as a galley tour, because you don't have closed toe shoes. 

After many years of cruising, here is the list of important things you should pack for any cruise ship vacation. I hope with this list, you can avoid common cruise packing mistakes and be ready for an amazing trip!

This Royal Caribbean cruise packing list is as all-encompassing as we could make it, so if you need specific cruise packing lists for different cruise itineraries, check these out:

• Alaska Cruise Packing List
• Bahamas Cruise Packing List
• Mediterranean Cruise Packing List

Luggage

Before you start packing, it is always a good idea to make sure you have the right luggage. Royal Caribbean does not have a specific limit on the number of suitcases. For most, this will be guided by transportation options, especially flying, which has restrictions on both the size and weight of bags. 

When you arrive at the cruise terminal, you will hand your larger bags over to a porter, and they will be delivered to your cabin later on embarkation day. 

For that reason, you will need to bring a manageable carry-on bag, which should have room enough for important valuables, required documents, and anything else you need right away, such as flip-flops and a bathing suit. 

If you are bringing on wine or champagne, this will also need to be packed in your carry-on. 

Daytime clothes and accessories

As with most trips, clothing is going to your primary focus and take up the bulk of your suitcase.

The total number of outfits that you are going to want to bring depends on the length and type of cruise. There are no self-service laundry facilities onboard, but washing, pressing, and dry-cleaning services are offered (prices vary per item). It is best to plan clothes for the number of days plus a return home outfit. Two outfits per day is a good rule of thumb (day and night).

For casual daywear pack:

• T-shirts and/or tank tops
• Shorts
• Swimsuits and appropriate cover-up
• Sundresses
• Comfortable pair of flip-flops and/or sandals
• Jeans and pants
• Activewear/workout gear
• Clothes for onboard activities, such as the all-access ship tour, zip-lining, and rock climbing, which require closed-toe shoes
• Socks
• Sunglasses
• Hat
• Lanyard for SeaPass card

Evening clothes and accessories

For evening events, the dress code varies, but cruisers are less formal than they use to be. Many guests wear "smart casual" for formal night; Royal Caribbean's website explains the dress code to help with packing for evening wear. 

"Smart Casual: Think of this as a step up from your typical dinner wear, dress to impress: 

• Collared shirts, dresses, skirts, blouses, or pantsuits for women
• Jackets, sports coats, and blazers are snazzy for men 

Formal wear:   

• Suits and ties or tuxedos 
• Cocktail dresses or evening gowns 
• Don't forget a shawl, wrap, or light sweater. Some venues are cooler in the evenings. 

There are also fun theme nights, such as the White Party, 70s or 80s nights. They differ by ship, but a previous Cruise Compass will indicate what can be expected. Also include: 

• Nicer shoes (heels, flats, loafers, etc.)
• Sleepwear
• Jewelry

Related: Everything you need to know about formal night on a Royal Caribbean cruise

Ports and excursions

Whether it is a beach day, bicycle tour, or snorkeling, there are a few things you should probably include for your port days.

It is always a good idea to keep valuables such as a phone and wallet safe when venturing out in ports. Cross-body bags with secure locks or a money belt are good options. It never hurts to stick an umbrella or rain ponchos in your bag in case any tropical showers pop up.

For general water/beach outings, consider packing:

• Mask and goggles
• Snorkel and fins
• Water shoes (where needed)
• Life jackets/flotation devices (especially for children)
• Waterproof phone carrier
• Towel clips (the ship provides towels)
• Beach bag
• Bug spray
• Sunscreen and lip balm
• Rain poncho 
• Appropriate footwear 

Packing for Colder Climates

Cruising to colder climates, like Alaska, has become increasingly popular and requires different considerations for weather and activities.

The amount of rain and temperature can vary during an Alaskan cruise, so you should be prepared to keep warm and dry. Layered dressing is the way to go in this climate. Here are some suggestions:

• Shirts and T-shirts for inner layers
• Warm layers, such as fleece pullovers
• Waterproof jacket
• Suitable closed-toe shoes
• Boots for hiking where needed
• Gloves, hat and scarf
• Binoculars
• Water-resistant backpack/cross-body bag for onshore
• Insect repellant is especially important for Alaska
• Hand warmer packs

Location specific requirements

The cruise planner will list important details for excursions. For example, in Rome, there is no access to the Vatican or St. Peter’s Basilica with exposed shoulders or knees. This applies to both men and women.

For those who love camouflage clothing, it is important to note that it is illegal in some Caribbean countries, such as Jamaica, Barbados, and St. Lucia, as it is reserved for military use. Some non-camo options should be included when packing.

Sunscreen is a must and cruisers should be aware that some destinations require reef-safe sunscreen to help protect the health of their coral reefs. These products don’t contain harmful chemicals such as oxybenzone, octocrylene, and octinoxate. Reef-safe sunscreens are readily available in popular drugstores and other retailers. Ports in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Aruba, and Hawaii are some of the locations that require these types of sunscreens.

Kid stuff

Traveling with younger kids can definitely add more to your packing list. Beyond the standard clothes suggested for adults, consider including:

• Diapers – pack plenty of extra ones, including regular and swim
• Baby wipes
• Rash cream
• Kids' medicines
• Extra plastic bags for wet items
• Extra clothes
• Light blanket
• Stroller
• Car seat where necessary
• Bottles/sippy cups
• Baby food and formula
• Beach toys
• Activities like coloring, stickers, books, etc.
• Inflatable bathtub to place in the shower for younger children

Also, make sure that you download any favorite shows and games on tablets or phones prior to boarding the ship!

Toiletries

When it comes to toiletries, the cruise line only provides soap and shampoo; many people prefer to bring their own. Here are some of the main things to consider bringing:

• Shampoo and conditioner, and other hair products.
• Skincare products
• Makeup
• Eye care – glass cleaners and contact solution
• Dental – toothbrush and toothpaste (and floss for the 1% that actually do as their dentist tells them)
• Curling / flat irons (cabins have blow dryers)
• Shaving products
• Brush, comb, elastics/ hair accessories
• Deodorant
• Nail products
• Shoe rack to help with organization
• Sewing kit

Tip - For some reason, travel sized products can be pricey despite their size. Reusable travel bottles are a good solution, especially if you don’t need a large quantity of product.

First Aid and Medications

While some items can be purchased onboard, it is a good idea to have a ready-made first aid kit for easy access during the cruise. The last thing you want to do is spend time running around in port to find something,

Unfortunately, some people suffer from sea sickness, but there are a number of well known remedies such as Gravol, wrist bands and patches.

Here are some common medications/ first aid items to pack:

• Sea sickness remedies
• Pain and allergy products
• After-burn care (aloe), lip balm (SPF), and bug spray
• Anti-itch cream/ hydrocortisone
• First aid items such as band-aids and anti-bacterial ointment
• Upset stomach medications
• Cold medicine
• Eye drops

Valuables/Carry-on

The last bag to pack is your carry-on. Once the luggage is dropped off at the terminal, this should contain everything needed until the cabin is ready.

• Money (small denominations for tips/ foreign currency)
• Credit cards
• Cell phone and charger 
• Tablet/ computer 
• Headphones/earbuds
• Camera
• Required medication (at least 3 days extra worth)
• Eyewear – glasses, sunglasses,
• Contacts
• Comfort items such as  gum and mints
• Phone battery (can’t be packed)
• Masks (where required)
• Hand sanitizer and wipes
• Pen/highlighter

Although most people keep documents on their phone, I always feel better having hard copies as well just in case something happens to my phone. Documents to consider:

• Boarding passes
• Country-specific entry requirements (e.g. visa)
• Hotel reservations
• Transportation details
• Insurance details
• A list of key numbers and reservations
• SetSail passes
• Luggage tags
• Excursion details

Tip: Passports applications are taking longer right now, so do keep this in mind if you are traveling to a destination that requires one. It is important to check the expiry date as most countries require passports to be valid for at least 6 months.

Drinks and Beverages

Royal Caribbean allows guests to bring a specific quantity of drinks onboard. This can be a great money saver or is nice if you have a specific beverage you really love. 

According to Royal Caribbean, each guest can bring one 750 ml bottle of wine or champagne as long as they are of legal drinking age

Guests can also bring non-alcoholic beverages up to 12 standard (17 oz.) cans, bottles, or cartons per stateroom. Milk and distilled water brought on for infant, medical, or dietary use are permitted. 

Corkscrews will be provided for guests to enjoy their drinks in their stateroom, and if guests wish to enjoy their wine or champagne in our dining or bar venues, a corkage fee will be applied.

Guests who purchase alcohol bottles onboard, in a port-of-call, or bring more than the two permitted bottles on boarding day, will have their items safely stored by the ship. These bottles will be returned on the last day onboard for enjoyment once home.

Outlets

Royal Caribbean ships have standard plugs, and most Caribbean ports have the same electrical outlets as those in the United States. However, for your pre-and post stay for international cruises, you may require adaptors and converters.

Adaptors are inexpensive to purchase but do vary by destination, so check what is required for your travel destination. 

In addition, some items may need a converter that, as the name implies, converts it to the proper voltage. This is more likely to be an issue for items like flat or curling irons. These can be much more expensive, so best to do your research ahead of time to determine what is needed.

Miscellaneous

Although there is plenty of food and drinks on the cruise, there are times when it is helpful to have a pre-packaged snack on hand. Protein and granola bars can be great options, as well as favorites like goldfish or cheerios that can calm down a tired toddler.

Other items to consider:

• A night light, as cabins can be dark 
• Earplugs
• Reading material – some people love reading on a Kindle or their tablet, but for those that don't remember to bring a book or magazine.
• Flashlight
• Straws
• Towel clips to keep your towel from blowing away
• Fan, but must be cordless (can plug into USB)
• Multi-outlet USB Charger (non-surge)
• Magnetic hooks 
• Ziplock bags 
• Water bottle
• Wrinkle release spray
• Watch 
• Laundry bag 
• Prepackages snacks - protein bars, kids treats

E-Packing

This is a growing category that I have added to my packing list. With more and more apps, I have to give more thought to what I need to have on my phone for travel, what I consider e-packing.

Some people like to print out everything, which is a good strategy as well, but for some things, it is best to have an app. 

• Royal Caribbean's App -- you will need this onboard, get information on activities, your schedule, book entertainment, etc.
• Airline and transportation apps
• Boarding passes
• Vaccine proof
• Excursion details/tickets
• Country-specific requirements like Canada’s ArriveCAN app, that much be completed prior to arrival

I also create a specific travel folder for all of my travel-related emails, such as transportation details and cruise planner purchases.

What to leave at home

There is a whole list of items that can’t be brought onboard, so it's best to know about this ahead of time and not waste space or risk losing them.

There is a detailed list of prohibited items on Royal Caribbean's website, and among many are items that heat up, which can cause a fire hazard on the ship. Anything that could interfere with the safe operation of the ship or the safe and secure environment of guests and crew are prohibited.

Here are some common items that the cruise line does not permit onboard:

• Beer, hard liquor and spirits
• Marijuana (even if medical products), CBD Oil / CBD Products
• Irons and steamers
• Kettle, coffee maker or hot plate
• Candles
• Any other device that produces heat
• Baby Monitors
• Extension cords
• Perishable foods and meats
• Hookahs and water hookah pipes
• Weapons including pepper spray
• Toy gun replicas
• Hoverboards
• HAM radios

Download the Printable Checklist

Want to have this entire list in an easy-to-print list?

You can click here to easily download out cruise packing list!

After spending a week on Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas, I had a great family spring break vacation, and I know I greatly benefitted from some pre-cruise planning.

After years of cruising, it's become apparent to me how important just a little planning ahead of time can do to improve your vacation experience.

While you could simply show up to the cruise ship and have a good time without any forethought, planning out a few aspects of your vacation adds a lot to the experience and avoids some common cruise pitfalls.

On a ship as big as Wonder of the Seas, you're also competing in a way with your fellow guests for opportunities and things to do onboard. From dining, to entertainment, to waiting, there's a limit on how much you can do onboard and I firmly believe your time on a cruise ship can be optimized.

In retrospect, here are five super simple things I did before my cruise began to eliminate hassles before they could ever occur.

1. I did everything in the pre-cruise check-in

When you step foot into the cruise terminal, your cruise vacation begins and ideally, your time in the terminal is as quick as possible so you can get onto the ship.

Royal Caribbean has made it super simple to breeze through the check-in process by making the entire process digital via the Royal Caribbean app.

First and foremost, at 45 days before my cruise, I grabbed an early check-in time to ensure we could likely get onboard first. It's a good idea to set a calendar reminder to get a time right away, because a lot of people will be vying for those early times.

Next, complete every step of the check-in process before the cruise.  

1. Scan your passport
2. Take a selfie photo
3. Add your emergency contact info
4. Add a credit card

If you don't do these things at home, you're going to do it at the terminal with the agent.  It feels like the agents often struggle with their tablets working correctly, and it just wastes time.

Because we did everything at home, every terminal representative we encountered merely had to look over our paperwork, verify it was all there, and sent us on our way.

Your vacation time is precious, so don't waste it in the cruise terminal.

2. Booked my shows early

If you're sailing on an Oasis or Quantum Class ship, you can pre-book shows and you really need to do this as soon as it becomes available.

While you can probably still get into the shows without a reservation, having a reservation really makes the entire experience so much simpler.

At around 30 days before your cruise, the shows will become available to book and it's complimentary to book shows.

It's quite clear enough people have gotten the memo about booking shows that times go quickly, so you'll want to book it right away. Put a calendar reminder for this time too.

By having the show reservations, there was no concern once onboard if we would be able to see a particular show time or having to waste time standing in a standby line.

3. I took a ride share to the port instead of parking

This tip was not part of my original plan, but I was really glad to have taken a Lyft ride to the port instead of driving myself.

The day before the cruise, we discovered a nail in the tire of our family car and there wasn't enough time to get it patched before we left the next morning for the cruise.  As a result, I decided to use Lyft instead.

We live about an hour from Port Canaveral, so driving to the port so we've almost always driven ourselves in the past.

The reason why I'm including getting a ride to the port on this list is because the parking situation in Port Canaveral (and other Florida ports) has become much more of a problem than in the past.  In short, the parking lots at the port seem to be fuller than ever before.

Wonder of the Seas departs from Terminal 1, and the main garage was already quite busy when we got there. There are more ships and bigger ships sailing than in the past, and the overflow lots are now the norm instead of the exception.

By taking Lyft, we pulled right up to the terminal, dropped our luggage with the porters and we walked right into the terminal.  It was a breath of fresh air compared to having to wait in the traffic to get back into the terminal and find a spot.

If this sounds like a "first world problem", it definitely is, but we saw the backup to get into Terminal 1 only get worse as the day wore on. 

4. I did traditional dining instead of My Time Dining

While 5pm is earlier than I would like to have dinner, the ease of which it is to have a fixed table and time seems to greatly outweigh the downsides to My Time Dining.

My Time Dining is great since you can eat at different times during your cruise. This is super helpful when you have a later day in port, but there's also more waiting and it always seems the people waiting to get in for My Time Dining look annoyed.

To be fair, our family has always done traditional dining when we eat in the Main Dining Room, but since this article is about how to be stress-free, there's no doubt having a set time every day with no waiting is the definition of that.

When it was our dinner time, we walked right into the Main Dining Room and sat at our table. We had menus in hand and a drink order being taken shortly thereafter.

I'm not advocating no one should do My Time Dining, rather, I think traditional is just easier.

Read more: My Time Dining versus Traditional Dining

5. Pre-booked my shore excursions

It feels like waiting to figure out your plans on shore the day you get to the port is becoming a new mistake.

Royal Caribbean's shore excursions seem to be selling out much faster than in years past, and if you try winging it with a vendor in port, there's just too much ambiguity as to what the experience could end up being.

The issue is exacerbated in Perfect Day at CocoCay because Royal Caribbean's marketing machine has been so effective in getting the word out. The result is everything other than a floating mat is sold out months before the cruise begins.

Prior to the cruise, we made reservations for shore excursions in St. Thomas and St. Kitts and we not only loved both of our tours, but I was glad to not have to deal with trying to navigate a last-minute tour decision.

Whether you book a tour through Royal Caribbean or on your own, it's a good idea to plan it out well before the cruise begins and to have a plan in place so that you can be assured you'll it's all waiting for you when you arrive.

More information:

• Top 10 cruise ship shore excursion mistakes to avoid
• 5 quick and easy tips for finding a great shore excursion on your own
• When do shore excursions become available to book for my Royal Caribbean cruise?

6. I took naps

This is such a small thing, but taking a nap really makes your day seem more care-free.

We had three sea days on this sailing, and I found myself taking a nap every day of them right after lunch.  While there is indeed so much to see and do on Wonder of the Seas, I relished a refreshing doze in my cabin.

It certainly helped with any FOMO that I had been on Wonder of the Seas a few times already, but if your goal is have an easy going time of things, I really think a good nap helps a lot.

Plus, taking a nap meant I had more energy for evening activities. Especially late-night fun in the casino or bars around the ship.

Sometimes it's the little things that can put yourself at ease during your trip.

As your Royal Caribbean cruise approaches, there is one important step you shouldn’t overlook: selecting an early check-in time.

45 days prior to your cruise, you can check in to your sailing via Royal Caribbean’s website or the Royal Caribbean app. During the online check-in process, you'll upload identification documents, provide credit card information, and, most importantly, select a check-in time.

Your check-in time is the time at which you can enter the cruise terminal on embarkation day. The earliest check-in time is around 10:30AM and the latest in mid afternoon, and we always recommend reserving the earliest time available.

The earlier you get onboard your cruise, the more quickly you can start the vacation you’ve been dreaming about for so long. Beyond just starting your vacation earlier, though, are a range of other benefits you can experience by boarding earlier than most other passengers.

Here are the top 11 reasons to get as early a check-in time as possible for your cruise.

Fewer crowds at the cruise terminal

One of the best reasons to get an early check-in time is to avoid crowds at the cruise terminal. The embarkation process is fairly straightforward, but it entails going through several lines before you can board your ship.

First you’ll enter a line outside the terminal for other passengers with your same check-in time. Then, as you enter the terminal, you’ll enter a line to have your documentation checked. Finally, you’ll enter a line to go through security.

Waiting in line is not anyone’s idea of a fun vacation, so make sure to get an early check-in time to be among the first in the cruise terminal.

Best parking spots at the port

If you have an early check-in time, you’ll be among the first to arrive at the cruise terminal. Even though 1,000 other passengers may have your same check-in time, there will be far less competition for a great parking spot compared to later in the day.

If your check-in time isn’t until 1PM and you plan to park your car in the lot, you’ll be stuck with the worst spots. Getting an early check-in time means you can snag the coveted spots near the entrance of the closest garage to the terminal.

Avoid parking garage delays

It’s an all too common scenario: you’re ready to park your car but are stuck in a long, slow moving line of traffic. No one likes being stuck in traffic at any time, but especially when you’re ready to board your cruise!

Depending on your cruise ship, between three thousand and seven thousand people will board the ship on the same day. Managing thousands of people is never easy, and this can lead to crowds not only in the cruise terminal, but also in the parking garage.

Avoid delays to park your car by selecting an early check-in time. If you’re lucky, you’ll be among the first to park your car, which will surely be quicker than later in the afternoon.

Start your vacation sooner

Who doesn’t want to start their vacation as soon as possible? Having an early check-in time for a Royal Caribbean cruise means you can get your vacation started earlier than other passengers.

The earlier you check-in and board your ship, the faster you can explore your ship, order your first cocktail by the pool, and hang out in a jacuzzi. With the earliest check-in times, it’s feasible to be onboard before 11:30AM, allowing you to make the most of your first day onboard.

Passengers with late check-in times—think 1:30 or 2PM—will feel a lot more rushed on embarkation day. After they get onboard and eat a quick lunch, they’ll have to rush to their eMuster safety drill station and get ready for dinner.

Why rush when you can relax? Reserve an early check-in time to kick your vacation off the right way.

Best selection of dining times

Royal Caribbean’s dining packages can offer a great value on specialty restaurants, but they come with one major disadvantage: you can’t make dining reservations until you board the ship.

This means you may be limited on dining times and restaurant availability compared to those who paid full price for each restaurant by booking their reservations without a dining package. And since dining packages are extremely popular, many other passengers will be rushing to make dining reservations on embarkation day.

Related: The Ultimate Guide to Royal Caribbean’s Unlimited Dining Package

Popular dining times—from 6 to 7:30PM—can book up quickly. One way to snag the best dining times is by getting onboard early and immediately heading to a specialty restaurant. Luckily, you can make reservations for all specialty restaurants at a single location, so there’s no need to visit every single restaurant to book your dining time.

Note: The exception is with Izumi Hibachi. If you plan to make hibachi reservations, be sure to head to Izumi once onboard.

Beyond specialty dining, though, you can be among the first to head to the Main Dining Room to confirm or request reservations. If you have any questions about your dining time or would like to request a new table, you can do so before other passengers arrive.

Shorter lines for the buffet

Nothing screams “first day of a cruise” quite like rushing to the Windjammer for embarkation day lunch. Royal Caribbean’s buffet gets extremely busy on embarkation day as thousands of hungry passengers search for a quick lunch to start their vacation.

One of the best advantages to having an early check-in time is getting onboard before most other passengers, and this also means getting to the Windjammer more quickly. If you’re one of the first to board your cruise ship, you’ll encounter fewer lines and crowds at the buffet, making the start to your vacation much less hectic!

Related: Where can I eat on the first day of my Royal Caribbean cruise?

Alternatively, you could choose to dine elsewhere instead of the buffet. Other restaurants are open on embarkation day, from specialty dining venues like Chops Grille to quick grab and go spots like Park Cafe. While the Windjammer is convenient, it can be uncomfortably busy on the first day of your cruise.

Register kids at Adventure Ocean more quickly

Cruising with kids? If you plan to drop your kids off at Adventure Ocean, you can register them for the program on embarkation day.

Adventure Ocean, Royal Caribbean’s children's programming, is complimentary for ages 3-17, but all children must be registered. The best time to register kids for Adventure Ocean is on embarkation day, and registration opens around 12:30PM.

Related: 50 best cruising with kids tips & secrets

Registration only takes a few minutes, but you’ll want to avoid the lines you might find later in the afternoon. The earlier you register your kids at Adventure Ocean, the less you have to worry about, and the sooner you can start trying fun activities onboard.

Try activities before everyone else

Speaking of fun activities, the sooner you get onboard, the sooner you can try signature activities like the FlowRider, rock climbing wall, Skypad, and waterslides.

Not all passengers know that these activities are open as soon as you board the ship, leading to far fewer lines and wait times.

If you’re eager to try the zip line, head to the sports deck right after lunch. Unlike on a busy sea day, you might be one of the only passengers in line, allowing you to fly across the zip line several times in a row with no wait!

Be sure to confirm activity times in the Royal Caribbean app’s daily schedule to make sure the activity you’re interested in is open. We also recommend wearing tennis shoes on embarkation day if you plan to participate in sports activities.

Reserve entertainment and activities before other passengers

There are certain activities and production shows that must be reserved in advance, and spots can fill up quickly. Comedy shows, the escape room, and the North Star observation pod are all examples of activities that require a reservation.

Luckily, you can pre book some entertainment and activities ahead of time on Royal Caribbean’s Cruise Planner website. Broadway shows, for example, can be reserved at no extra cost starting 30 days before your cruise. We recommend doing this to ensure you can reserve the best day and time that work for you.

Some activities, though, can only be reserved once onboard. If you’re sailing on a Quantum Class ship and want to try RipCord by iFLY, the ship’s indoor skydiving simulator, you’ll need a reservation. While you can reserve the paid option of this activity before your cruise (a 2 minute flight), the complimentary option (a 1 minute flight) is only available to book onboard.

Related: 15 free things to try on your next cruise

The limited amount of complimentary flights will fill up more quickly than you think, so having an early check-in time gives you a head start on reserving these activities.

Be the first at the pool

Crowded pool decks are a common sight on a cruise ship, but not on embarkation day. If you want to avoid crowds, pack your swimsuit in your carry-on bag and head to the pool right after you get onboard.

Embarkation day is perhaps the most empty you’ll see a cruise ship pool during your entire vacation. With so much happening on the first day, from exploring the ship to unpacking, many cruisers wait to use the pool until later in their cruise.

Related: 25 things you need to know for the first day on a cruise ship

Plus, most passengers don’t think to bring a bathing suit in their carry-on bag. If they dropped off their luggage with the porters at the cruise terminal, they’ll be swimsuit-less for the majority of embarkation day.

Even so, you can still encounter crowds at the pool on embarkation day, especially if you’re on a short weekend cruise. Having an early check-in time means you can eat lunch and change into your bathing suit before most other passengers have boarded the ship!

Hotel check-out

Many passengers stay at a hotel the night before their cruise begins, especially if they fly to the cruise port. Most hotels require you to check out around 11AM, which coincides perfectly with the earliest check-in times for a Royal Caribbean cruise.

If you need to check out of your hotel at 11AM but your check-in time at the terminal isn’t until 2PM, this could lead to several hours waiting around with your luggage.

Getting the earliest check-in time possible means you can wake up, have breakfast, and head to the cruise terminal as soon as you check out of your hotel.

Ready to plan your first cruise but not sure where to start?

Cruising is easier than it looks, but like any form of travel, there are lots of considerations and important do's and don'ts when it comes to doing it well.  After all, you're going to spend thousands of dollars on a vacation, so you ought to get the most out of the investment.

From money saving advice to travel hacks to mistakes to avoid, here's our best advice on planning your first cruise so you can set yourself up for a super fun vacation.

Where you want to cruise to?

It's debatable what aspect of the cruise you should start with first, but I think it makes the most sense to pick which part of the world you want to visit on a cruise ship.

Royal Caribbean offers cruises to Alaska, the Caribbean, Europe, Asia and Australia.  There are repositioning cruises and other sailings too, so there's lot of choices.

Many people that have never cruised before often have an idea in mind for where they want to sail to, so it makes sense to narrow your search to one region.

There isn't a right or wrong choice, but there's no sense in going somewhere you aren't that interested in visiting just because it's cheaper.

You may pick one region and then decide to change to another region because of prices, logistics, or some other factor.  But it's easier to start with one area and plan from there.

More information

• The best cruise itineraries for every type of traveler
• 15 countries you didn't know you could cruise to on Royal Caribbean
• 10 Royal Caribbean cruise destinations not to be missed

Budget

We'd all love to book the most extravagant suite on the itinerary that visits the coolest places, but money is the ultimate equalizer when it comes to vacation, so you need to be realistic about what you can afford.

Like any vacation, you probably have a ballpark idea of how much you're willing to spend and it's a good idea to have that number in mind when picking the right cruise for you.

The truth is that the price of a cruise can vary greatly depending on a variety of factors. For example, a 3-night weekend sailing for two adults can start as low as $550 for two adults. On the other hand, a splurge on an expansive multi-story suite could cost up to $80,000 for your entire family. 

Of course, the cost of a cruise can vary depending on itinerary, ship selection, how long you sail for, how many people are joining you onboard, and when your chosen date is. It’s important to do your research and compare different packages before selecting the best option for you.

You'll need to not only consider the cruise fare, but also shore excursions, getting to and from the ship, and other incidentals.

A cruise is one of the best vacation values out there because of everything included in your fare, but you need to realize how much more is going to cost extra and be able to afford all of it. New cruisers may be surprised to find many extras not included in a Royal Caribbean cruise, such as drink packages, internet access, shore excursions, spa services and more.

Having a budget in mind will help narrow your choices when you select a ship or cabin.

More information

• How much does a cruise cost?
• 45 ways to save money on a Royal Caribbean cruise
• How to plan a Royal Caribbean cruise on any budget

How to choose a cruise ship

Royal Caribbean operates a fleet of almost 30 cruise ships, so you might be wondering how to pick the right cruise ship for you.

First and foremost, not every cruise ship is the same. In fact, many ships differ from their sister vessels of the same class!

There is no bad ship to pick, but you need to figure out which activities and amenities are important to you to figure out which ship has those.

In the first step, you determined which region you want to sail to, and that will dictate which subset of ships are available. If you want a summer Caribbean cruise, you may find many ships in Europe and that leaves you with less choices than a winter Caribbean cruise.

It's a good idea to make a list of the things you absolutely want to have on a cruise ship to help narrow the list. Some popular considerations include if a ship has:

• Water slides
• A nursery for toddlers & infants
• Has lots for kids/teens to do
• A Broadway show
• Is one of the newest ships
• Has a specific specialty restaurant

There's plenty more, but these are the usual things people think about when choosing a cruise.

If you have kids, you might pick an Oasis Class or Quantum Class ship because of all the things there are to do for kids onboard.  But if you're seniors cruising as a couple, those same activities might not matter to you.

More information

• Best first-time cruises on Royal Caribbean
• Royal Caribbean ship classes ultimate guide
• 8 questions to ask yourself before picking a cruise ship
• The ultimate cruise itinerary for first timers: from 3 nights to 3 weeks

Why is this ship so much cheaper/expensive than the others?

In your search, you may find one ship or sailing coming in significantly less than the rest. If you're like me, you might be wondering is there a good reason for one to be so much cheaper.

The pricing of any cruise relies on many factors, but usually it boils down to one of these:

• How new or old the ship is
• Which homeport it is sailing from
• Overall demand for that particular sailing

In general, newer ships tend to cost more than older ships. This is just because newer vessels offer more to do, and they command a premium price.

In addition, certain homeports are less desirable than others.  Cruises from Florida's east coast tend to have higher prices than cruises from Florida's west coast, or Baltimore, or Galveston. This is because newer and bigger ships are on Florida's east coast, whereas older ships tend to sail from the other ports.

The exact itinerary can also play a role in pricing, as there can be less demand for cruises that are longer than 7-nights. This has more to do with family's abilities to take that much time off school or work.

How to choose a cruise ship cabin

Related to your ship choice will be what type of stateroom you want to stay in.

There are lots of cabins across many categories. Rooms come in various sizes, layouts, views, and amenities. Just like the cruise ship, what matters to you is the important consideration here.

There are four basic types of cabin categories:

• Inside
• Oceanveiw
• Balcony
• Suite

As you probably guessed, inside cabins cost the least but offer the smallest space and no outside views. A Royal Caribbean suite is the largest cabin with lavish furnishings and plenty of space, but will cost significantly more.

When it comes to selecting an ideal cabin for a vacation, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Some people will prioritize price over luxury, and others will rationalize a vacation is worth a splurge.

In choosing the best stateroom, weigh these factors:

• Budget
• Cabin location
• Stateroom type & size

Your vacation budget may dictate which cabin categories are within reach. Someone on a tight budget may not be able to even consider a balcony or suite.  But if you can spend more, then there's a wider range of choice.

For those looking to save money or make the most out of their time on board, an inside room might be the way to go. These rooms offer all the comforts of a traditional hotel room without having natural light or outdoor settings. Inside staterooms are generally more affordable than other options, but they still come with various amenities such as comfortable beds, private bathroom, and flat-screen television. 

If you want to take in some ocean views while onboard, an oceanview room could be just what you’re looking for. These staterooms come with large windows that allow you to enjoy plenty of natural light during your stay.

Of course, a balcony room has indoor and outdoor space at usually a very affordable rate (compared to suites). You'll get a private balcony that you can enjoy at your convenience. 

Finally, if you’d like the ultimate in luxury onboard experience then a suite might be the right choice for you. Suites come with extra amenities such as separate living areas and luxurious bathrooms equipped with spa-like showers or whirlpool tubs - perfect for taking some time out from sightseeing or partying! Plus many suites are located in prime locations on board giving you easy access to all that ship has to offer - from top-notch restaurants and bars to on-deck pools and entertainment venues.

If you’re going on a shorter cruise, it may not be worth investing in an expensive room – since you’ll likely be running around trying to enjoy as much as possible during your voyage.

But if you’re embarking on a longer journey, having a larger and more luxurious room can make all the difference in terms of comfort and relaxation. Having more space means being able to spread out and truly indulge in your cruise experience. You can take naps, read books or watch the beautiful landscape pass by from your private balcony – creating an unforgettable experience that will stay with you long after the ship docks back home. 

More information

• Choosing a cabin for your cruise
• Avoid these mistakes when picking a cruise ship cabin
• What are the different types of cabins on a cruise ship?
• What is the best location on a cruise ship?
• What's the difference between a balcony and a suite cabin on a cruise?

What to look for in a cruise price

Cruise ship prices are advertised as being simple, but when you dig in there are some important things you should know.

The price of a cruise will vary widely. Inside cabins can cost just a few hundred dollars, while some suites go for as much as $75,000. 

Almost any cabin you pick is based on double occupancy, so that means Royal Caribbean is assuming there will be two people in the room and charge you for each person. It doesn't matter how old these first two people are, the price doesn't change.

If you're looking to cruise by yourself as a solo cruiser, you will still have to pay a single supplement fee to make up for the loss of revenue from that second passenger in your room.  While there are studio cabins that don't have a single supplement fee, they are few and far between.

When you choose a cabin, Royal Caribbean may give you the choice of you picking a cabin or letting them pick.  By letting them pick, you'll get a guarantee cabin.  This means you will not get any cabin of lesser category, but the cruise line will pick it later.  

Guarantee cabins have an advantage of being cheaper, but the exact location is up to Royal Caribbean and you may end up with a room at the end of the ship, or an obstructed view.

The price of a cruise will include:

• Cruise fare
• Taxes
• Port Fees

You optionally add gratuities or travel insurance to that cost. Then there's the extras we talked about earlier that are not included in your fare, such as wifi, beverages, excursions and more.

Equally important is the fare type you select. Royal Caribbean offers non-refundable and refundable cruise fare.

Just like an airplane ticket, non-refundable cruise fares are cheaper but come with penalties for cancelling or changing.  Refundable cruise fares allow changes, but you'll pay more overall.

Before deciding on any cabin or fare type, pay special attention to the cancellation policy.

One of the top first time cruise mistakes is booking a cruise and wanting to change or cancel it later. There are strict policies related to changing your reservation, so check when final payment date is, and what sort of penalties come with changing your mind later.

How to save money on a cruise

Before you book anything, there are a few ways you could knock off a few hundred dollars or more from your total cost.

Book as early as you can

Try to book your cruise as early as you can because prices tend to be cheapest when booked early.  

If you can book a cruise 6, 12, or 18 months ahead of time, you can really get a much better price than someone that books closer to the sailing.

Plus, you'll have a greater selection of cabins.

Cruise during the shoulder season

One of my favorite ways to save money is go on a cruise during times of the year that most others cannot go.

Every region cruise ships visit have a peak season, low season, and shoulder season. 

Shoulder season is the time period between peak and low season when you'll find slightly cooler temperatures but at an affordable price point. This is a great option if you're looking for a balance between temperature and cost-effectiveness. 

Prices will be higher in peak, and lower other times of the year.  But there can be tradeoffs of cruising in lower demand times of year, such as temperatures, crowds, or precipitation.

Book a guarantee cabin

If you're not picky about where your cabin is located on the deck, guarantee rooms can save lots of money.

Some people want to be in a specific location, but if you don't mind a longer walk from your room to the elevators, a guarantee cabin reservation might save a lot.

When you book a guarantee, you won't know your cabin location until closer to your sail date. There's no specific time Royal Caribbean will pick the room, as it could go right up until the day before your cruise. 

Purchase cruise add-ons and extras

Once you have your cruise booked, you'll want to tackle all the extra purchase you could buy.

Royal Caribbean gives guests two choices for its gratuities: pre-pay them before the cruise or get charged automatically every night of the cruise. 

Gratuities are compulsory and cover your stateroom attendant and dining room staff. It does not include gratuities for other crew members or purchases, such as drinks or spa services.

The advantage of pre-purchasing gratuities is you lock in the gratuity rate (in case the price goes up later), and it's one less charge on your final bill at the end of the cruise.

Travel insurance is an optional add-on that you can buy through Royal Caribbean or on your own through a third party.

Like all insurance, travel insurance is probably a waste until you need it, and then, it's the best investment you've ever made.

Travel insurance doesn't cover every scenario, but it does help a lot if there's unforeseen circumstances that require you to cancel a cruise (especially at the last minute). Without it, you'll be left with a major penalty for cancelling and lots of money lost on a vacation you didn't go on.  For piece of mind, I recommend travel insurance.

Next, you're up to the optional add-ons that can be purchased prior to the cruise on the Cruise Planner website.

You can buy drink packages, dining packages, wifi, excursions and many other extras, and buying them in advance will cost you nothing more than if you bought it onboard. In fact, many of these items are cheaper if you buy them before the cruise.

How to pack for your cruise

What to pack for a cruise seems to give a lot of first time cruisers a lot of anxiety because they are worried they will be ostracized for not being properly dressed.

Yes, there are dress codes on Royal Caribbean ships, but they're far less stringent than it seems on paper.

Consult a cruise packing list for a good starting point on what you need to bring with you.

Also keep in mind the weather you're going to, as warm weather destinations will need more comfortable and lightweight clothing than a cruise to a cooler weather climate. Packing for an Alaska cruise involves much more than packing for a Bahamas cruise.

Think about what your plans are for each port you will visit, as well as what to wear to meals at the ship's restaurants.

You should also be aware of what things you cannot bring on a cruise ship because they are prohibited.

More information:

• What to wear on a cruise that works for all dress codes
• The worst cruise packing mistakes to avoid
• The ultimate kids cruise packing list
• 40 essential things to bring on a cruise
• I packed for a 7-night cruise with just a carry-on and personal item
• Best things to bring on a cruise under $10 I always regret forgetting to bring

Do online check-in

If you want to make the check-in process as fast and easy as possible at the cruise terminal, be sure to download the Royal Caribbean app and do the online check-in process.

45 days before the cruise sails, you can get a check-in time via the app.  It's important to do this early to get a convenient time for you, and it's very simple via the app.

Use Royal Caribbean's app to do the check-in because the app has a a feature to scan your passport, saving you time from entering the information manually if you do it on a computer.

Completing all of these questions, and especially taking the photo, saves so much time in the cruise terminal.

How to find shore excursions

Your cruise ship will visit at least one port, with most cruises going to more than one, so you'll want to have plans for the day there.

When a cruise ship visits a port, you don't need to have a tour booked. You could disembark the ship and walk around on your own, but not every port is conducive to this approach because often cruise ports are far from a city or cultural center.

Your best bet is to book a tour before the cruise begins to assure yourself of a spot, and have a plan locked in to avoid wasting time figuring out what to do.

Royal Caribbean sells its own shore excursions through its website before the cruise, as well as onboard the ship.

Excursions through the cruise line are curated and generally reliable. Nearly all are run by third party operators, but they are vetted by Royal Caribbean to ensure it meets certain criteria. Plus, booking them is super simple through the website.

Of course, tours booked through the cruise line will probably cost more because the cruise line is taking a percentage of the cost for themselves. Plus, tours offered by the cruise line are not necessarily indicative of every type of activity available.

At CocoCay and Labadee, you can only book tours through Royal Caribbean.

Alternatively, you could book a tour on your own.

In any port you visit, there are a myriad of excursion operators that you can book through. You can usually find out about most of them through an internet search.

When booking a shore excursion on your own, it's important to look up reviews of them to determine how reliable and reputable they are. You want to make sure they're not a "fly by night" operation, and that you'll be able to get back to the ship before it departs.

This is a good opportunity to remind everyone that the all-aboard time your ship has is a requirement to be onboard, or you will be left behind.

One advantage Royal Caribbean shore excursions have is if a tour is running late, Royal Caribbean will ensure you get back to the ship.  If you book a tour on your own, it's up to you to figure out the logistics of getting back on time.

My advice is look at what Royal Caribbean offers and then look at what you can book on your own and determine the best option for you. There isn't a right or wrong answer whether to book a shore excursion on your own or through the cruise line. Each has its pros and cons.

Regardless of who you book your tours through, it's critical to book your shore excursions before the cruise because tours often sell out.

More information

• Best shore excursion in every Caribbean cruise port
• Top 10 cruise ship shore excursion mistakes to avoid
• 7 ways to have a great time in port without a cruise ship shore excursion
• 5 cruise ship shore excursions I tried and instantly regretted
• 5 quick and easy tips for finding a great shore excursion on your own

When your clothes get dirty, soiled, or just need to be pressed, how do you handle laundry on a Royal Caribbean cruise?

Going on vacation for even just a few days will likely result in a lot of dirty clothes, and you may want your options are to take care of wrinkles, stains, and what to expect if you want to have your clothes laundered.

Laundry options on a cruise ship are limited compared to on land, especially if you're used to doing it yourself.

Since keeping clothes clean and wrinkle-free is something a lot of cruisers worry about, here's what you can expect when it comes to cruise ship laundry.

Self-service laundry options

If you'd like to do your own laundry on a Royal Caribbean cruise, you wont find any facilities to do it yourself.

Royal Caribbean does not offer any self-service laundry options. This includes washing machines or dryers.

Moreover, Royal Caribbean does not provide irons to use in any cruise staterooms.

Keep in mind that Royal Caribbean prohibits passengers from bringing irons onto the ship, because they are a fire hazard. It will be confiscated for the entire voyage.

Paid laundry and dry cleaning options

While you wont be able to do laundry on your own, there are paid laundry services available to Royal Caribbean passengers.

Both washing and dry cleaning services are available on all Royal Caribbean cruise ships.

For either option, you need to provide your stateroom attendant with the clothes to be cleaned, as well as a form listening all the garments. Look for a bag and form hanging in your cabin closet that you can use.

Once you have the form filled out and the clothes in the bag, just leave it on your bed and the cabin attendant will pick it up at their next cleaning.

Royal Caribbean offers:

• Wash & Press
• Pressing only
• Steaming only
• Dry Clean & Press

 The cost of the order will be deducted from your SeaPass account.

How much does laundry cost on Royal Caribbean?

The exact price depends on which laundry service you want, if it's expedited or not, and the type of clothing.

Pressing or steaming only will be the least-expensive laundry option, with dry cleaning being the most expensive.

How long does it take for Royal Caribbean to do your laundry?

The standard turnaround time for laundry on a Royal Caribbean ship is the next day by 5:30pm. This assumes you drop the clothes off with your stateroom attendant the day before.

Royal Caribbean also offers same day laundry service at a 50% extra charge.

Same day service must be picked up before 11am, so that it can be done before 5:30pm.

Wash and fold specials

Royal Caribbean ships usually offer a "Wash & Fold" special, where you can get as many clothes washed and folded that you can fit in one bag for a fixed cost.

For $34.99, you get a bag (usually plastic) that you can fill to be washed and folded for $34.99. Royal Caribbean says you can "fit as much as you can into the bag provided."

Just as your stateroom attendant for this special, although it's also advertised in the Cruise Compass as well.

How to get free laundry on Royal Caribbean

One of the best Crown and Anchor Society perks are for passengers that are at least Diamond Plus actually get this for free once per cruise.

Read more: The Crown and Anchor perks you should use on every Royal Caribbean cruise

While not free, there are discounts for the Wash & Fold bag for Gold members and higher (basically anyone that's cruised before).

If you're staying in a suite (Grand Suite or above), you automatically qualify for complimentary clothes pressing for the first formal night only.

Since the first formal night is usually the second night of the cruise, all you need to do is ask your stateroom attendant about the service on the first day so that there is sufficient time for it the pressed and returned to you before formal night.

Read more: What are the Royal Caribbean suite perks?

Laundry hacks to clean clothes yourself

While you wont find laundry machines you can use, there are a few ways to get laundry done on your own without paying the cruise line.

The tried-and-true method is to bring single-packet detergent on the cruise and then fill your sink up with water to wash small loads of laundry.

Wash the clothing in your sink and then hang the clothes to dry in your shower on the laundry line provided by the cruise line. This is best for undergarments and shirts, and kids clothing.

If the clothes don't dry fast enough, there is a hair dryer in the room you can use on anything that stubbornly won't dry.

Some cruisers on longer sailings (or back to back cruises) will bring their own clothes lines so they can dry more clothing at the same time.

Another idea is bring wrinkle-release spray that is useful for keeping clothes looking good after being packed away in your suitcase.