Royal Caribbean has come a long way with not only the design of its massive cruise ships, but also the accommodations onboard.

With so much hype around the brand-new Icon of the Seas, it’s easy to forget about Royal Caribbean’s forgotten new cruise ship, Odyssey of the Seas. I sailed onboard Odyssey of the Seas last year for a 12-night itinerary around the Mediterranean and it was a fantastic cruise. During this sailing, I upgraded to an entry-level suite for just $300 from an inside cabin - an absolute steal!

Not long after, I also sailed on Grandeur of the Seas for a fun weekend getaway to Mexico. As the smallest ship in Royal Caribbean’s fleet, “Lady G” is also the oldest ship for Royal Caribbean at 27 years old. In an effort to save money, we booked the cheapest cabin onboard - an inside cabin.

It was quite the change of scenery to go from sailing on Royal Caribbean’s new cruise ship to boarding the oldest ship in the cruise line’s fleet. There’s something to love about each of these ships, although the two are vastly different.

After sailing in Royal Caribbean’s oldest and newest cabins, it was eye-opening to see the progression of cruise cabin design from the cruise line. I was fascinated to see how the cruise line has improved cabin design over the span of 26 years. I had positive experiences sailing in both of these cabins from Royal Caribbean, even despite the age of Grandeur of the Seas.

Here is how the cabins compared onboard the oldest and newest ships from Royal Caribbean.

Looking at Royal Caribbean’s fleet of cruise ships, we can see vessels that were built across the span of nearly three decades.

Each ship class represents a new chapter of innovation for Royal Caribbean. It’s easy to see just how far the cruise line has come in terms of ship design, technology, and modernization when you compare her oldest ships to the newest vessels.

Some might argue that comparing a suite on a brand-new cruise ship to an inside cabin on a tired, old ship doesn’t make much sense. Although different stateroom types, there were many interesting features, amenities, and upgrades to note between the two cabins.

Odyssey of the Seas debuted as the newest ship from Royal Caribbean in July 2021 after a delayed launch during the pandemic. She did not hold the title for long, as Wonder of the Seas set sail as the newest ship for Royal Caribbean in early 2022.

Some might call Odyssey of the Seas the forgotten new cruise ship from Royal Caribbean - but there are many reasons to love the Quantum-Ultra class ship. Odyssey of the Seas measures 167,000 gross tons and has a maximum capacity of 5,510 guests. The new ship offers many different types of cabins to book, including high-end suites in the Royal Suite Class to affordable inside cabins.

On the other end of the spectrum is Grandeur of the Seas, which is part of the Vision Class. At a fraction of the size, she measures 73,000 gross tons and holds around 2,446 guests at capacity. Before the pandemic, Royal Caribbean announced plans to retire Grandeur of the Seas; however, these plans were scraped and Grandeur of the Seas is here to stay!

Back in the 1990s, many cruise ships were built with few balconies and suites - and Grandeur of the Seas is no exception.

Of the 997 cabins onboard, Grandeur of the Seas has 122 balconies and 95 suites. The vast majority of cabins available to book are inside and oceanview staterooms, with 400 interior and 380 outside cabins on Grandeur of the Seas.

In comparison, Odyssey of the Seas has 1,000 more staterooms, amounting to 1,922 cabins in total. Of these, 125 are suites and an astonishing 1,482 are balconies. Surprisingly, the new cruise ship has fewer oceanview and interior staterooms than Grandeur of the Seas. Odyssey of the Seas only has 132 oceanview staterooms and 366 inside cabins for accommodations.

As such, many guests are likely to find more reasonable prices for a balcony on a newer Royal Caribbean ship. With more balconies available to book, demand is likely not as high as Grandeur’s coveted 122 balconies. Since we booked our weekend getaway cruise somewhat last minute, I was not surprised to find only interior and overview cabins available on Grandeur.

When sailing on Grandeur of the Seas, the interior cabin was surprisingly spacious, albeit rather outdated.

My expectations for our cheap cabin on Grandeur of the Seas were quite low considering the ship’s old age. However, I found the room to be quite spacious upon arrival - even though it was only 142 square feet. Comparatively, interior cabins on Odyssey of the Seas are larger and measure around 180 square feet.

The cabin featured a comfortable king bed, which we ended up separating into two twin beds, along with a vanity, closet, TV, and bathroom with shower. It was a "no frills" type of cabin with just enough for us to have a comfortable cruise vacation.

However, I appreciated that the communal space had a loveseat for additional seating. Most of the newer interior cabins that I’ve sailed on recently, including Norwegian Viva and Carnival Celebration, do not have anywhere to sit other than the cabin’s beds. I appreciated having this space to sit (or throw my belongings at the end of each day).

Our cabin certainly showed its age with dated decor, including darker accents and oak cabinets. Some of the cabinets looked worn down, which I anticipated given the ship’s age. But, we did not spend much time in our cabin since we were busy enjoying the ship anyway!

Grandeur of the Seas has not received a refurbishment in over ten years, so there could be some upgrades in the cabin.

The last time Grandeur of the Seas was refurbished was in 2012, so the cabins onboard have not received attention in quite some time. I anticipated the cabin would be in worse condition than it was; however, it was looking a little tired. A few modern upgrades would really enhance the stateroom experience on Grandeur of the Seas.

To start, there were only two US outlets in the cabin to share between the two of us, along with two European plugs. I appreciate newer ships that have many outlets and USB ports for charging devices. Of course, this was not a priority back in the 1990s when people traveled with very few electronics.

The worst part of our cabin was the bathroom, as it was a tiny, cramped space. Although the overall design elements of the bathroom had aged better than I expected, the shower was shaped like a trapezoid. 

The clingy shower curtain wrapped around me while using the shower, leaving very little space for maneuvering around. It was unpleasant, to say the least.

On the contrary, our bathroom was beautifully designed in our cabin on Odyssey of the Seas!

When I cruise on older ships, it feels like the cabin’s bathroom design was an afterthought. This was probably in an effort to cram as much as possible into a tiny space, leaving little room for the bathroom. Now, it’s pretty clear that cruise lines are designing bathrooms to be more spacious with larger showers.

For example, I just sailed on Norwegian Viva - the newest ship from Norwegian - and the interior cabin’s bathroom was truly stunning! I couldn’t believe the cruise line spent the time and energy to create such a beautiful bathroom for even the ship’s cheapest cabins.

(Bathroom for inside cabin on the brand-new Norwegian Viva)

Similarly, our bathroom on Odyssey of the Seas was also very stylish and modern, featuring a marble-pattern floor with a large walk-in shower and massive tub. The walk-in shower felt luxurious compared to most cruise ship showers!

The bathroom was particularly well designed with the toilet having its own separate space and entrance across the hallway. The toilet room also featured its own vanity and sink. Since the shower space also had its own sink, this meant my sister and I could get ready at the same time without fighting over the mirror. I loved the split-bathroom design and hope this trend continues with bathroom design.

While I agree that it’s tough to compare a new suite to an old interior cabin, I do think this upgrade emphasizes how Royal Caribbean is paying more attention to its bathroom design for cabins.

Over the years, Royal Caribbean has also placed an apparent emphasis on offering a more exclusive suite experience.

It was clear onboard Odyssey of the Seas that Royal Caribbean’s newer cabins have come a long way in 27 years with improved design, amenities, and functionality. I felt spoiled staying in a suite on Odyssey of the Seas, as I normally cruise in the cheapest interior cabins available.

While I had originally booked an interior cabin on this cruise, I was super excited when my $300 bid to upgrade to a junior suite was accepted! This was my first experience staying in a Royal Suite Class stateroom.

(Coastal Kitchen restaurant - exclusive to suites only - on Odyssey of the Seas)

Odyssey of the Seas features Royal Suite Class, which includes Royal Caribbean’s most luxurious accommodations with three tiers of suites. These include lucrative benefits, such as access to an exclusive restaurant and some even include drink packages and concierge service.

In fact, most of the cruise industry has shifted towards offering a more enticing suite experience for guests with secluded areas onboard. The newest cruise ships have a resort-within-a-resort space for guests looking to splurge on a suite experience.

Our entry-level suite on Odyssey of the Seas was equally stylish as it was functional.

Since we would be sailing for 12 nights on Odyssey of the Seas, this junior suite became our home away from home - especially on a port-intensive itinerary. The cabin was very spacious with an extended balcony and large bathroom.

We also had a small living room area with a blue sectional next to the bed. Again, I love having a place to sit in my cabin that does not involve me sitting on my bed, particularly with dirty or sweaty clothes.

I appreciated the modern design elements of our stateroom on Odyssey of the Seas. The woodwork was light with marble countertops. This made the space feel light and airy compared to dark and cramped.

Royal Caribbean has certainly prioritized keeping cabins feeling fresh and modern with its decor choices. I believe the cabins onboard Odyssey of the Seas will age nicely compared to the dated design of older ships.

Our newer cabin on Royal Caribbean had so much storage that we didn’t even use all of the drawers.

In my experience, Royal Caribbean’s newest cabins also have better storage options with more drawers, shelving, and closet space. Our suite obviously had inherently more space at 300 square feet, which is about double the size of our cabin on Grandeur of the Seas. I prefer to unpack my suitcase on every cruise when I first board so my luggage can be put away until it’s time to disembark.

Regardless, we had a lot of luggage for this cruise and still had empty storage spaces after unpacking. Royal Caribbean utilized much of the space to incorporate more areas for unpacking, such as the closet spaces next to the beds in addition to the large closet opposite of the bed as well.

This is another area of improvement that I’ve experienced with newer cruise ships. Since cruise cabins are small to begin with, Royal Caribbean has created storage with nooks and crannies that were once wasted space.

Although a minor improvement, we appreciated having plenty of outlets and USB chargers.

It’s not uncommon to find only one or two outlets in an older cruise ship cabin. In fact, our cabin on Grandeur of the Seas had more outlets than most ships that are comparable in age. When I sailed on the 31-year-old Carnival Ecstasy last year, the entire cabin only had one singular outlet!

Running out of outlets is not necessarily something you will need to worry about on a newer Royal Caribbean ship. With everyone bringing multiple devices that need daily charging, cruise lines have added more space for outlets and USB ports.

I still utilized my European adapter with more plugs because I had so many devices that needed charging; however, having so many outlets to use between the two of us was a necessary improvement.

Our Odyssey of the Seas suite was awesome, but I would also sail again in Grandeur of the Sea’s inside cabin.

The price was right for us to upgrade on Odyssey of the Seas, but that is not usually the case. This is especially true today as cruises are sailing at full capacity and prices are rising. In the future, I would absolutely spend $300 to upgrade to a junior suite again. Sailing in a suite on a brand-new cruise ship was a special treat for this inside-cabin fanatic.

When sailing on Grandeur of the Seas, there were a few apparent areas of improvement. For instance, the bathroom’s attention to detail and progressive design was a huge improvement on Odyssey of the Seas compared to Grandeur of the Seas. I do not doubt that the cruise line will continue allocating more space and investing more time into the bathroom design.

Even still, I would not hesitate to book another interior cabin on Grandeur of the Seas - or any other older Royal Caribbean ship for that matter. Interior cabins are always the most affordable and still provide everything you need for a comfortable stay.

However, I would be more likely to book a port-intensive sailing for an older Royal Caribbean ship in the future. In this case, the cabin is not as important since most of your vacation time is spent ashore.

Have you ever wondered how much it costs to operate a cruise ship? Spoiler: it’s not cheap!

Operating a cruise ship, let alone an entire cruise line, is no small feat. Feeding, accommodating, entertaining and transporting thousands of passengers around the globe requires serious logistics, planning and execution.

Diving in Royal Caribbean’s annual and quarterly financial statements, we can estimate just how much it costs to operate one of Royal Caribbean’s cruise ships. Although I cruise for both work and leisure, my day job is in the field of data analytics thanks to my background in math and statistics. I wanted to analyze Royal Caribbean’s financial statements to get a better understanding of the operational costs of a cruise ship.

Royal Caribbean is the world’s largest cruise brand and currently operates 26 ships in their fleet. In 2024, this number will increase to 28 ships with the addition of Icon of the Seas in January and Utopia of the Seas in July.

However, Royal Caribbean Group operates more than just Royal Caribbean International. The company also operates two more cruise lines, including the premium brand Celebrity Cruises and ultra-luxurious brand SilverSea. Celebrity Cruises operated 15 cruise ships in 2023 with the addition of Celebrity Ascent in Q4 of 2023. Finally, SilverSea’s fleet is comprised of 12 luxury cruise ships.

Seeing how costly it is to operate a cruise ship was eye-opening to say the least. Come along as we analyze Royal Caribbean’s recent financial statements.

Overview

Each brand of Royal Caribbean Group appeals to a distinct demographic of cruisers, with Royal Caribbean aiming to be the best family-friendly cruise line in the world. The cruise line is designed for those with children, along with old and young couples. 

Those looking for a more upscale, adult cruise experience will want to sail on sister-brand Celebrity Cruises. Finally, SilverSea operates its fleet for travelers looking for an expedition cruise or ultra-luxurious vacation with an all-inclusive style of cruising.

Since Royal Caribbean Group operates three cruise lines, the company releases one financial report for all three brands: Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and SilverSea Cruises. Royal Caribbean is the largest of the three brands, followed by Celebrity Cruises and SilverSea Cruises.

Comparing the three brands’ capacities and gross tonnage, we can get an idea of how Royal Caribbean’s expenses and revenues are allocated. According to Royal Caribbean’s investor portal, the breakdown of each cruise line’s total capacity across its fleet based on double occupancy is the following:

• Royal Caribbean International = 92,584 (71.46%)

• Celebrity Cruises = 32,280 (24.92%)

• SilverSea Cruises = 4,692 (3.62%)

Royal Caribbean’s investor portal also provides data for each fleet’s total gross tonnage, which is how cruise ships are measured by size. According to Royal Caribbean Group, the total gross tonnage of each cruise line is the following:

• Royal Caribbean International = 3,823,107 GT (68.97%)

• Celebrity Cruises = 1,384,459 GT (24.98%)

• SilverSea Cruises = 335,400 GT (6.05%)

As expected, Royal Caribbean International makes up right around 70% of the company’s overall gross tonnage and capacity, followed by Celebrity Cruises at 25% and SilverSea at 5%.

What costs are associated with operating a cruise ship?

There are six major areas of operating expenses that are aggregated to calculate a total cruise operating expense both annually and quarterly. According to Royal Caribbean Group’s Form 10-Q for Q3 of 2023, cruise operating expenses are comprised of the following:

1. Commissions and transportation: This consists of expenses directly associated to passenger ticket revenue, which includes travel agent commissions, airfare and other transportation expenses, credit card fees, and varying port costs based on passenger head counts.
2. Onboard expenses: Includes direct costs associated with onboard and other revenues, such as cost of products sold onboard, vacation protection insurance premiums, costs for tours before or after cruises, concession revenues, procurement and management related services.
3. Payroll and related expenses: Salaries for shipboard personnel.
4. Food expenses: Includes cost of food for both guests and crew members.
5. Fuel expenses: This includes any expenses related to fueling the ship, including delivery, storage, emission consumable costs and financial impact of fuel swap agreements.
6. Other operating expenses: A catch-all category that consists primarily of operating costs related to repairs, maintenance, non-variable port costs, vessel related insurance, entertainment and losses/gains related to sale of ships.

For 2023, Royal Caribbean Group reports that 26.36% of operating expenses went to commission costs, followed by 22.80% to other operating expenses, 15.09% to payroll expenses, 14.44% to fuel expenses, 10.88% to onboard expenses and 10.43% to food expenses.

How much did Royal Caribbean spend operating their cruise ships in 2023?

In the same Q3 report for 2023, Royal Caribbean Group spent $5.9 billion on cruise operating expenses. Since this only includes data through September 2023, we can estimate cruise operating expenses for Q4 to be around $1.9 billion.

Based on this estimate for the fourth quarter, we could guess the 2023 annual cost for cruise operating expenses will be around $7.84 billion. This would be an increase from an annual expense of $6.6 billion in 2022 and $6.1 billion in 2019. Of course, this is an estimate based on data given in the report from Royal Caribbean Group.

Similar to many industries, Royal Caribbean Group has dealt with the rising cost of inflation. Moreover, the cruise line reported additional capacity and higher occupancy on its cruise ships, which has also contributed to increased expenses. The quarterly report for Q3 cites the following as major contributors to increased cruise expenses in 2023:

1. $586.8 million increase in Commissions, transportation and other expenses

2. $190.0 million increase in Onboard and other expenses

3. $163.4 million increase in Food expense

4. $136.4 million increase in Other operating expense

5. $70.0 million increase in Fuel expense.

Let’s make a few assumptions about Royal Caribbean’s cruise operating costs

Unfortunately, Royal Caribbean Group does not provide any ship-specific data in their financial reports. Because of this, we have to make some more assumptions regarding operating cruise expenses with the information we are given. Most of these assumptions are based on fleet size and ship size.

Royal Caribbean International operates the largest fleet of the three brands with the most capacity and gross tonnage. As such, we can assume the Royal Caribbean International has the highest overall cruise operating expense. Based on gross tonnage, Royal Caribbean International makes up about 68.97% of the company’s operating fleet.

Because of this, let’s keep it simple and assume that 68.97% of Royal Caribbean Group’s operating costs are spent on the Royal Caribbean International brand. Using this logic, we can allocate 24.98% of operating costs to Celebrity Cruises and 6.05% to SilverSea.

I realize this is a high-level assumption, as one could argue that Royal Caribbean International is cheaper to operate per guest than Celebrity Cruises and SilverSea. Premium and luxury cruise brands are more expensive and likely require more operational spending on a guest-level.

But, I want to keep the math simple and keep the proportions based on overall fleet size, capacity and gross tonnage.

How much does Royal Caribbean spend to operate its entire fleet?

Based on our general assumptions, we can estimate that Royal Caribbean Group spent the following on cruise operating expenses for each brand. Again, these are estimations based on the company’s 2023 quarterly report, along with fleet size and general expense assumptions based on each brand of Royal Caribbean Group.

• Royal Caribbean International = $5.41 billion (68.97%)

• Celebrity Cruises =  $1.96 billion  (24.98%)

• SilverSea Cruises = $474 million (6.05%)

Now that we have a general idea of how much Royal Caribbean Group spends to operate each brand annually, let’s figure out how much it costs for Royal Caribbean International to operate their individual cruise ships.

With little data available from Royal Caribbean Group, we can really only draw assumptions from the gross tonnage and capacity if we want to understand the cost of operating a single cruise ship.

How much does it cost to operate a Royal Caribbean cruise ship based on capacity?

Royal Caribbean operates a fleet of 26 ships currently with 6 different classes of ships. This will change in 2024 with the Icon Class, but we are only looking at operating costs for 2023.

Royal Caribbean’s Vision Class is home to the oldest and smallest ships, which are arguably the least expensive to operate. A smaller ship means less guests to feed, entertain, transport and accommodate. In addition, these older ships have the least amount of crew members to pay.

The oldest ship, Grandeur of the Seas, has an estimated capacity of 1,950 guests with gross tonnage of 74,100 - as reported by the cruise line. On the other end of the spectrum is the Oasis Class, which are the biggest ships in the world (excluding Icon of the Seas for 2023). Wonder of the Seas is currently the largest ship operating for Royal Caribbean International with an estimated capacity of 5,734 guests and a gross tonnage of 236,857.

We can assume Oasis-class cruise ships are the most expensive to operate using similar logic: more guests to feed, entertain, transport and accommodate, along with more crew members to pay. Fuel expenses are likely more for these massive ships as well.

Based on an annual cruise operating expense of $5.41 billion for Royal Caribbean International, we can calculate an estimated cost based on the cruise line’s total capacity of 92,584 guests at double occupancy. This will allow us to get a general idea of how much Royal Caribbean spends annually for each ship based on capacity. Similar rates can be calculated for Celebrity Cruises and SilverSea.

• Royal Caribbean International = $58,449

• Celebrity Cruises = $60,718

• SilverSea Cruises = $101,171

Using this calculation, Wonder of the Seas would have an annual operating expense of $335.15 million based on capacity. This is nearly $1 million dollars per day! We can also calculate the rate for Grandeur of the Seas too with an annual operating expense of $113 million. Here are the average annual cruise operating expenses by ship class based on capacity for Royal Caribbean International:

• Oasis Class: $322 million

• Quantum Class: $243 million

• Freedom Class: $221 million

• Voyager Class: $188 million

• Radiance Class: $123 million

• Vision Class: $119 million

Looking at the entire fleet of 26 ships and calculating the annual cost per ship, we can calculate an average estimate of $208 million to operate one of Royal Caribbean’s cruise ships each year.

How much does it cost to operate a Royal Caribbean cruise ship based on size?

Now that we’ve looked at cost based on capacity, let’s look at some estimates based on gross tonnage. We can calculate the operational cost based on gross tonnage under the assumption that larger ships are more expensive to operate.

In this case, Royal Caribbean’s total gross tonnage for its entire fleet is 3.8 million (excluding Icon of the Seas). Taking into account the annual operating costs for each cruise line, we can estimate that Royal Caribbean International spends approximately $1,415 per gross ton annually.

Using this rate, the biggest ship, Wonder of the Seas (236,857 gross tons), would show a similar annual cost around $335.26 million. The smallest ship in Royal Caribbean’s fleet, Grandeur of the Seas (74,100 gross tons), would have an annual operational cost of $104 million.

How much does it cost to operate a cruise ship daily?

Here are the average daily cruise operating expenses by ship class based on capacity for Royal Caribbean International:

• Oasis Class: $883,440

• Quantum Class: $667,768

• Freedom Class: $605,849

• Voyager Class: $517,240

• Radiance Class: $338,288

• Vision Class: $328,279

While these are simply estimates, other sources online have provided similar values for the daily annual cost to operate one of Royal Caribbean’s cruise ships. For example, Business Insider reported in 2022 that Symphony of the Seas costs $1 million each day to operate. My calculations show an estimated daily cost around $883,440 for an Oasis-class ship.

How much will it cost to operate Icon of the Seas?

No one knows how much it will actually cost to operate Icon of the Seas - and we may never know the exact cruise operating expense unless Royal Caribbean provides that number. We might get a better idea of Icon’s operating expense when Royal Caribbean Group releases their quarterly reports in Q1 or Q2 of 2024.

However, Icon of the Seas is expected to cost Royal Caribbean a whopping $2 billion. In comparison, Allure of the Seas held the previous record for most expensive cruise ship to build at $1.43 billion. Due to its sheer size, we can assume Icon of the Seas will be the most expensive cruise ship for Royal Caribbean to operate in 2024.

Based on size and using our previous assumptions, Icon of the Seas at 250,000 gross tons would have an estimated operational expense of $355 million annually or a daily cost of $920,000.

I would venture to guess the actual cost of operating Icon of the Seas will be more than $355 million; however, without any further data from Royal Caribbean Group, we really cannot forecast accurately.

Final Thoughts

At the end of the day, I’ve simply drawn a few high-level assumptions and calculated estimates based on these assumptions. I would love to see more brand, fleet and ship specific data from Royal Caribbean Group regarding operating cruise costs, as it would be fascinating to see.

My estimates show that the average annual cost of operating a cruise ship for Royal Caribbean is around $208 million. The biggest cruise ships in the Oasis Class are likely the most expensive to operate while Royal Caribbean’s Vision Class ships are the most affordable. We can estimate that Oasis Class ships cost $322 million, which is around $1 million to operate daily. On the other hand, Vision Class ships might cost closer to $119 million annually. 

When it comes to data analytics, it’s important to remember not everything is as black and white as we want to believe. Royal Caribbean Group operates three distinct cruise lines between Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and SilverSea. Each of these brands offer very different cruising experiences at drastically different price points. In the same way, Royal Caribbean Group has differing expenses to ensure each brand is successful.

I will be interested to see Royal Caribbean Group's annual financial report for 2023 to see the operating cruise expense for the year. Of course, with a new ship class launching in 2024, Royal Caribbean International's expenses will certainly increase. 

With so many great travel products to choose from, how do you know which are the best items to purchase and pack for your cruise?

We recently asked our readers, “Name one item you bought for a cruise that you now can't travel without”. We received hundreds of responses from our readers with their favorite cruise purchases of 2023. Our readers loved everything from packing cubes to portable fans to pack for their cruises.

While your cruise cabin will have the majority of what you need for a comfortable stay, there are some must-have items that you should consider purchasing. These include many gadgets, tools and devices that you can bring onboard your cruise ship to enhance your experience.

We’ve compiled a list of the top 15 best-selling cruise ship products for 2023 that our readers can’t stop raving about! If you are looking to expand your cruise travel must-have products before setting sail in 2024, take a look at the list below.

As a note, we have provided affiliate links these Amazon products. Our site receives a small commission when you purchase items from these links - at no extra cost to you. The small commission helps support our site.

In addition, RoyalCaribbeanBlog now has its own Amazon store front! Here, you can see all of the popular Amazon items that we recommend for your cruise travel needs. Everything from outfit suggestions to cruise gadgets and devices are linked here. We also receive a small commission when you purchase from our Amazon store front.

1. Portable USB fan

I was surprised to see this as the top response from our readers! Many commented how they pack a portable USB fan to keep in their cabins while cruising. A small, USB-charged fan like this helps provide airflow in the cabin, which is great for sleepers who prefer to sleep with a fan on. Cruise cabins do not have fans, so packing a small one in your luggage is a great idea.

Here are two portable fans powered by USB that have rave reviews. The first one has adjustable tripod legs so you can clip it wherever you need. The second item would work well on a nightstand or cruise vanity.

Link: snawowo Mini Handheld Personal Portable Fan, Baby Stroller Fan, Car Seat Fan, USB or Battery Powered, with Flexible Tripod Clip on Student Bed Desk Bike Crib Treadmill Camping Traveling(Dark Blue) | Price: $22.99

Link: Gaiatop USB Desk Fan, 3 Speeds with Strong Airflow, 5.5 Inch Quiet Small Portable Table Fan, 90° Rotate Personal Cooling Fan For Bedroom Home Office Desktop Travel (Black) | Price: $8.99

2. AirTags

In a post-pandemic cruising world, many travelers are purchasing and using AirTags, which are small tracking devices that connect to Apple products. The small tag can be placed inside luggage while traveling to your cruise embarkation port. You can track your items right on your phone so you know exactly where to find your belongings at all times. 

AirTags work on a single battery for about one year, so no need to recharge. The devices connect using bluetooth, so you can be sure to know exactly where you luggage is while traveling and cruising. I even like to use these after handing off my luggage to the cruise porters so I know for sure that my luggage was boarded on the ship.

Link: Apple AirTag - Single | Price: $23.99

Link: Apple AirTag - 4 Pack | Price: $78.99
 

3. Magnetic hooks

One of the best-selling cruise products is a pack of magnetic hooks! This was one of the top responses from our readers as an item they simply cannot cruise without.

Since cruise cabins are made of magnetic walls, these magnetic hooks can be used to hang a variety of things, such as coats, hats, lanyards, umbrellas, etc. With cruise cabins being so small, it’s important to be as organized as possible to keep the stateroom from getting cluttered.

Link:  Neosmuk Magnetic Hooks, 27 lb+ Heavy Duty Earth Magnets with Hook for Refrigerator, Extra Strong Cruise Hook for Hanging, Magnetic Hanger for Cabins, Grill (Silver White, Pack of 10)

Price: $7.80

 4. Motion-activated nightlight

Many readers shared they always bring a motion-activated nightlight on their cruises. If you’re someone who stays in an inside cabin when cruising, you have likely have done the ‘zombie walk’ to the bathroom in the middle of the night.

Without any window or balcony, an inside cabin stays completely black throughout all hours of the day. Even if you cruise in a cabin with some natural light, it can be difficult to navigate the small and unfamiliar space in the night. Packing one of these portable, motion-activated night lights can help you safely walk around your cabin in the night. Here are two popular options from our readers.

Link:  Night Light Motion Sensor [Battery Powered] with Rotating Base for Indoor Use in Bathroom, Hallway, Cruise Cabin & More White  | Price: $17.99

Link:  WYZE Rechargeable Night Lights with Dusk to Dawn & Motion Sensors, Warm & Soft White Step Lights for Bathroom,Hallway, Bedroom, Kids Room, Kitchen, Stairway, 3 Pack | Price: $35.98

5. European adapter

Another top-selling product from cruise fans is this 2-pack of European USB adapters. Many cruise ships have limited charging outlets, especially older cruise ships. However, almost every cruise ship has a European outlet to use. Instead of letting this outlet go to waste, purchase one of these adapters so you can easily charge your devices.

In fact, I personally never cruise without this adapter! It’s one of the best cruise products that I purchased in 2023 and even gave these as gifts to my cruise-loving family members.

Link: . [2-Pack] European Travel Plug Adapter, VINTAR International Power Plug Adapter with 1 USB C, 2 American Outlets and 3 USB Ports, 6 in 1 Travel Essentials to Most of Europe Greece, Italy(Type C)

Price: $22.99
 

6. USB charging hub

Similar to the European adapter, our readers can’t stop purchasing these USB charging hubs and cruise-approved power strips. Having enough chargers for all of your devices is a necessity when cruising.

If you’re like me, this means charging upwards of four to five devices each night between my phone, laptop, watch, iPad, etc. Those traveling with multiple people in the same stateroom will undoubtedly want to pack one of these products! Here are three of the most popular items on our Amazon storefront to ensure you have enough outlets for charging devices during your cruise.

Link: Cruise Power Strip No Surge Protector with USB Outlets - Ship Approved (Non Surge Protection) Cruise Essentials in 2023, 2024 & 2025 | Price: $17.99

Link: Anker Charger, 60W 6 Port Charging Station, PowerPort 6 Multi USB Charger for iPhone 15/Pro/Pro Max/14/13, iPad Pro/Air/Mini, Galaxy S23/S22/S21, Note 20 Ultra, LG, HTC, and More | Price: $29.99

Link: Cruise Essentials,6 Ft Power Strip with 3 Outlets and 4 USB Ports(1 USB C), Non Surge Protector for Cruise Ship, Travel, Home Office, ETL Listed, White | Price: $13.98

7.  Packing cubes

This would be the number one item on my cruise essential list! I simply cannot travel without packing cubes once I started to use them last year. Our readers also loved purchasing packing cubes in 2023, as it was one of the top-selling products from our Amazon storefront this year.

Packing cubes help you stay organized in your suitcase, while compression packing cubes can also help you save space in your luggage. Once you’re onboard your cruise, simply remove the cubes from your suitcase and place in the drawers or shelves of your cruise cabin. It couldn’t be easier! These are three of the most popular packing cube sets in 2023.

Link: Veken 8 Set Packing Cubes for Suitcases, Travel Essentials for Carry on, Black Luggage Organizer Bags Set for Travel Accessories in 4 Sizes (Extra Large, Large, Medium, Small) | Price: $16.98

Link: Veken 6 Set Packing Cubes for Suitcases, Travel Organizer Bags for Carry on Luggage, Suitcase Organizer Bags Set for Travel Essentials Travel Accessories in 4 Sizes(Extra Large, Large, Medium, Small) | Price: $16.99

Link: PFEYRPK Lightweight Compression Packing Cubes for Suitcases, Compressible Expandable Travel Packing Organizer with Clear Toiletries and Backpack Bag, Travel Essentials for Carry on Luggage 7 Set | Price: $19.99
 

8. Travel white noise machine

This is one product that I am eyeing for my 2024 cruises and it’s one product that many of our readers considered a must-have item! Similar to a fan, many cruisers like to sleep with white noise playing.

Cruise ships can be noisy, especially when you cruise during peak times, like spring break. This small, portable white noise machine is the perfect solution to keep you sleeping soundly in the night. This one below is a battery operated and reviews state that it lasts a few nights on each charge.

Link: White Noise Machine Babelio Mini Sound Machine for Adults Kids Baby | 15 Non-looping Sounds | Timer | Easy to Pocket and Travel - White

Price: $18.99

9. Over-the-door shoe organizer

Cruisers raved in our comment section about how much they love packing an over-the-door shoe organizer for their travels. With cruise cabins being so small, it’s crucial to stay as organized as possible.

Packing an over-the-door shoe organizer helps keep clutter off the floor. You can hang up more than just shoes, as many claim to put anything and everything in these small compartments.

Link:  24 Pockets - SimpleHouseware Crystal Clear Over The Door Hanging Shoe Organizer, Gray (64'' x 19'')

Price: $8.87

10. PooPouri Spray

This one needs little explanation. All of that delicious cruise food has to go somewhere! You’ll likely be sharing your cabin bathroom with at least one other person, if not multiple people. 

We know that sharing a small space on a cruise ship can be tough enough, even when your cabin is clean. Having some of this travel-sized Poo-Pourri spray can help keep your stateroom smelling fresh and inviting for all.

Link: Poo-Pourri Before-You-Go Toilet Spray, On-The-Go, Travel Size Variety 10 mL - Original Citrus, Lavender Vanilla and Fresh Air 0.34 Fl Oz (Pack of 3)

Price: $9.97
 

11. Hanging cosmetic bag

Another top selling cruise product from 2023 was a hanging cosmetic bag. Organization is key in your cruise cabin, if you haven’t picked up on that yet. With limited bathroom space, I love to pack a hanging cosmetic bag that hangs from the back of the bathroom door.

This hanging cosmetic bag is easy to travel with. It folds up conveniently and also has waterproof storage compartments. All of your cosmetics will be in one location from your suitcase to your cruise stateroom.

Link: BAGSMART Toiletry Bag Travel Bag with Hanging Hook, Water-resistant Makeup Cosmetic Bag Travel Organizer for Accessories, Shampoo, Full-size Container, Toiletries.

Price: $22.39

12. Luggage tag holders

Luggage tag holders continue to be one of the top-selling products for cruisers. Every cruise line requires guests to print out luggage tags to be placed on suitcases that will be checked at the cruise terminal.

Instead of using tape or staples, place the printed luggage tag into these plastic luggage tags. This will ensure your tags stay put on your luggage and do not get ripped or damaged. These from Amazon are specifically designed for Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises.

Link: Highwind Cruise Luggage Tag Holder for Suitcases | Compatible with Celebrity 2022 Royal Caribbean Luggage Tag Holders Travel Essentials Cruise Lanyard - 4 Pack

Price: $7.99
 

13. Pop-up hamper

One simple product can make your cruise cabin exponentially more organized! Many readers responded that they cannot cruise without packing a pop-up mesh hamper. No one wants to think about laundry while cruising, but you also don’t want a huge pile of dirty, stinky clothes on the bottom of your closet.

Instead, consider packing one of these small hampers. These mesh hampers pack super easily at the bottom of your suitcase and pop-up once you’ve reached your cruise cabin. You can keep all of your dirty laundry in the hamper, just as you might do at home.

Link: Collapsible Mesh Pop Up Laundry Hamper with Wide Opening and Side Pocket – Breathable, Sturdy, Foldable, and Space-Saving Design for Laundry Clothes and Storage. (Black

Price: $7.99

14. Small liquid hand soap

Most cruise ships will only provide you a small bar of soap to use for hand-washing in your cabin. But washing your hands is crucial on a cruise to ensure you have clean hands to stay healthy. My family has been packing liquid hand-soap for years and we love the ease and convenience. 

Many readers responded to our poll that they love to pack some liquid hand-soap for their cabin. It’s a small luxury, but totally worth it. You can even buy reusable bottles to bring on your cruises.

Link: Softsoap Liquid Hand Soap, Fresh Breeze - 7.5 Fl Oz (Pack of 6) | Price: $7.35

Link: Owlyee 2oz Foam Bottle (3PCS) Empty Foaming Pump Dispenser for Hand Soap, Lash Cleanser, Shampoo to Travel (60ml, Green) | Price: $7.99

15. Motion sickness medication

While it might not be likely that you will get seasick on your cruise, it’s best to be prepared for the worst. Cruise ships can encounter rough seas or storms unexpectedly. Whether you’ve earned your sea legs or not, it’s a good idea to be prepared for seasickness.

Many of our readers commented that they pack seasickness medication like Bonine and Dramamine. Make sure you purchase a non-drowsy formula to use during the day, such as the options linked below. In addition, some find that Seabands work well to combat motion sickness.

Link: Non-Drowsy Bonine for Motion Sickness Relief, Sea Sickness, Car Sickness, Nausea and Vomiting, with Meclizine Hcl 25mg, Raspberry, Travel-Sized 16ct (Packaging May Vary) | Price: $5.94

Link: Dramamine Non-Drowsy, Motion Sickness Relief, Made with Natural Ginger, 18 Count | Price: $6.98

Link: LYJEE Motion Morning Sickness Wristbands for Anti-Nausea, Car Sea Sickness, Acupressure Relief Bands for Pregnant Women Adult | Price: $7.98

The pricing for any new cruise ship will usually cost more than other ships, and it appears Royal Caribbean's new ship will continue that trend.

Bookings for two brand-new cruise ships from Royal Caribbean Group were recently released - and prices for the 2025-2026 cruise season are surprising. Based on anecdotal data Royal Caribbean’s Star of the Seas is coming out to be more expensive than Celebrity Cruises’ new premium ship, Celebrity Xcel. 

Read more: Star of the Seas: Itinerary, features, and more

Following the announcement of the next vessel in the Icon class of cruise ships, Royal Caribbean also released the first sailings for prospective guests to book. Just a few weeks prior, sister-brand Celebrity Cruises released sailings for its newest cruise ship, Celebrity Xcel. This will be the fifth ship in the award-winning Edge class of ships for the cruise line. 

Both ships are set to debut in the second half of 2025, with Star of the Seas’ inaugural sailing taking place on August 17, 2025 from Port Canaveral, Florida. Similarly, Celebrity Xcel will set sail for the first time on November 18, 2025 from Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Keen Royal Caribbean fans on Reddit noted the apparent price discrepancy between the two brand-new cruise ships debuting in 2025. One user on Reddit shared various cabin prices for two 7-night itineraries onboard each ship. In the post, Celebrity Xcel had notably lower prices for most stateroom categories compared to Star of the Seas. 

Celebrity Cruises is a considered a premium cruise line, whereas Royal Caribbean is a contemporary cruise line. What this means is a premium line tends to be more sophisticated and high-end, whereas a contemporary line might be more casual. Royal Caribbean targets families while Celebrity Cruises caters to an adult-centered experience. 

Although Celebrity Cruises is a premium cruise line, prices for Royal Caribbean’s Star of the Seas are consistently more expensive. I wanted to see if this trend was consistent for all current sailings available for both Star of the Seas and Celebrity Xcel, prompting further analysis.

On average, Celebrity Xcel is 41.24% cheaper than Star of the Seas when comparing the base fares

During the winter season of 2025-2026, Star of the Seas and Celebrity Xcel will both be sailing 7-night Caribbean itineraries from Florida. This creates a nearly perfect scenario to compare prices between the two brand-new ships. 

For this basic analysis, I looked at prices for an interior guarantee, outside guarantee and balcony guarantee for both Star of the Seas and Celebrity Xcel. I priced out five different itineraries from each ship between November 2025 and March 2026. Each itinerary was a 7-night Caribbean sailing for two guests. 

Overall, the average cost to sail on Star of the Seas was $4,755 while the average cost of Celebrity Xcel was $2,794 for the five itineraries I looked at. Here’s how the average cabin prices compared between the two ships; 

Average Interior Cabin:

• Star of the Seas - $4,076
• Celebrity Xcel - $2,487

Average Outside Cabin: 

• Star of the Seas - $4,728
• Celebrity Xcel - $2,694

Average Balcony Cabin: 

• Star of the Seas - $5,463
• Celebrity Xcel - $3,201

Even with Celebrity’s All Included pricing, Celebrity Xcel’s average cost was still 23.07% cheaper than Star of the Seas

One way that Celebrity Cruises differentiates its brand from Royal Caribbean is by offering an inclusive pricing option. If you book the All Included cruise fare with Celebrity, you will receive a drink and internet package at a bundled discount. This creates a more all-inclusive style of cruising with Celebrity Cruises with basic drinks and wi-fi included with your cruise purchase. 

Surprisingly, even when comparing a base cruise fare from Star of the Seas with an All Included pricing from Celebrity Xcel, the new Celebrity ship was still cheaper. 

Overall, the average cost for Celebrity Xcel was $3,658 across the five itineraries, which is still cheaper than the average cost for Royal Caribbean’s newest ship at $4,755. Here is the breakdown of the cabins for Celebrity Xcel’s All Included price.

Average Interior Cabin:

• Star of the Seas - $4,076
• Celebrity Xcel: All Included - $3,323

Average Outside Cabin: 

• Star of the Seas - $4,728
• Celebrity Xcel: All Included $3,530

Average Balcony Cabin: 

• Star of the Seas - $5,463
• Celebrity Xcel: All Included- $4,122

In the graph below, you can see the consistent trends of Celebrity Xcel’s more affordable pricing compared to Star of the Seas

To ensure the pricing example on Reddit was not an outlier data point, I priced out the three different cabins for five itineraries. For each month, Star of the Seas is more expensive than Celebrity Xcel for the base cruise fare and All Included pricing. 

Since Celebrity Xcel’s deployment schedule is not available after March 2026, this was as far out as I could price the comparisons. Historically, Celebrity Cruises has sailed their newest Edge class ships in Europe during the vessel’s inaugural season. Star of the Seas only has sailings available to book through April 2026, although it would not be surprising if Star of the Seas sailed year-round from Port Canaveral. 

Many users on social media shared their thoughts regarding the pricing between Star of the Seas and Celebrity Xcel

Reading the Reddit thread, it was interesting to hear the multiple perspectives regarding Star of the Seas having a higher price point than Celebrity Xcel. 

To start, some users felt that looking at the two ships was not necessarily comparable; Royal Caribbean’s newest ship is packed with amenities and onboard thrills while Celebrity Xcel targets an entirely different audience. 

One user commented, “This is an apples-to-oranges comparison. Celebrity doesn’t have the waterpark, Aquadome, Central Park, Surfside, etc. Royal Caribbean saw a market for higher-income families, which is not targeted by Celebrity, and is going for it. If prices are too high, then they will come down. It’s supply and demand.”

Many responded that Star of the Seas shows similar pricing to Disney Cruise Line - and Royal Caribbean is likely looking to tap into this potential segment of cruisers. “Key words here are family and kids. Royal Caribbean is going after families with children who are willing to pay a premium to have a once in a lifetime vacation,” responded one user.

Others on social media were not surprised by the pricing discrepancies. One user commented that Star of the Seas would be the biggest ship in the world with the most to do on it. In addition, Royal Caribbean has a broader market than Celebrity’s and the pricing makes more sense.

Continuing, the user said, “There is some branding specialization here too. You go on Celebrity to go to cool places and have a nice elegant time when you’re on the ship, but the ship life is pretty chill. Icon class, the ship is the destination and the ports are secondary.”

Royal Caribbean states that demand is through the roof for the new Icon Class of ships

It’s no secret that Royal Caribbean designed Icon of the Seas to appeal to the family vacation market. There is more included than ever before on Icon of the Seas - and Star of the Seas is sure to be very similar. 

Icon of the Seas will be the biggest ship in the world at a whopping 250,800 gross tons. When you include crew members, Icon class ships will be able to hold nearly 10,000 people. 

With so much hype around the newest ship class from Royal Caribbean, the cruise line shared that demand was unprecedented. Guests are booking cruises on Icon of the Seas at prices that the cruise line has never experienced before. In fact, the cruise line shared that Icon of the Seas has been its best performing product in the company’s history. 

When the name of the ship was announced, Michael Bayley, Royal Caribbean International president and CEO, commented, “The idea of combining the best of every type of vacation into one ultimate adventure has created more excitement than ever anticipated, and Star of the Seas will be the next bold answer to the record-breaking consumer demand we’ve seen for nearly a year and counting with Icon of the Seas.”

Celebrity Xcel is the fifth cruise ship in the very popular Edge-class for Celebrity Cruises

Although not targeting families, Celebrity Cruises’ Edge Series has been wildly popular for the cruise line. The mid-sized cruise ship was innovative and revolutionary for Celebrity Cruises. Picture a resort-style cruising experience that whisk away cruisers to more than 50 countries and 120 ports of call. 

Celebrity Cruises states, “We’re changing the game again. Celebrity Xceldoes exactly that. Our newest ship combines all the greatest hits of our Edge Series and adds even more—and entirely new—experiences that will change the game all over again. This ship truly excels into a class of its own”.

Similarly, the president Laura Hodges Bethge promises that Xcel will excel beyond her sister ships with new experiences that have yet to be revealed. The cruise line promises new exciting details in the coming months with ‘visionary new spaces’ and ‘delicious new food and drink concepts’ for Celebrity Xcel.

Celebrity’s Edge-class ships sail around the world with destinations in Alaska, Australia, Europe and the Caribbean. 

One of the biggest draws to taking a cruise is having the opportunity to visit beautiful destinations around the world. If you cruise often with Royal Caribbean, you’ll likely find yourself sailing frequently to the Caribbean (as the namesake suggests). On the flip side, one downside of cruising is that the destinations you visit could be quite touristy, especially if it’s a busy cruise port.

There is a fine line between being a tourist and getting roped into a tourist trap. By definition, a tourist trap aims to attract tourists and their money by offering overpriced experiences, services, souvenirs, food or entertainment.

Most often, tourist traps feel like a waste of your time and money. These are usually crowded with other tourists who were roped into the same overrated experience. In the end, you’ll feel disappointed and conned by tourist traps - and unfortunately, there are plenty of tourist traps to avoid in the Caribbean.

When taking a cruise, you have the option to book an excursion through the cruise line or explore independently. While there are some choices better than others, no one wants to feel like they were scammed by a tourist trap. 

Here is our list of tourist traps to avoid in the Caribbean.

Señor Frogs

If there is one bar you should avoid throughout your Caribbean cruises, it’s Señor Frogs. These bars are conveniently located right next to the cruise port where you disembark the ship. Señor Frogs has mastered the art of the tourist trap thanks to its strategic placement at each cruise port. 

Unfortunately, Señor Frogs is a huge tourist trap around the Caribbean - regardless of which port you’re docked in.

Most are roped into Señor Frogs by the party ambiance, along with fun drinks, loud music and vibrant decor. The promise of a party vibe is the biggest selling point. What you’ll find is a crowded bar with overpriced drinks and mediocre food. Unsurprisingly, Señor Frogs serves low-quality alcohol with the hopes of getting tourists drunk enough that they’ll continue purchasing overpriced drinks. 

Señor Frogs also relies on gimmicky marketing, balloon animals and crazy hats to rope in cruise ship passengers. Honestly, you’re probably better off purchasing drinks in port elsewhere or even onboard your cruise. There are plenty of other great bars to party at throughout the Caribbean with authentic cuisine and reasonably priced drinks. 

Costa Maya Port

One of the absolute worst tourist traps in the Caribbean can be found at the Costa Maya cruise port. If you walk off your cruise in Costa Maya, you’ll find yourself navigating a maze of shops with sellers hounding you to come into their shops. 

After walking through some initial shops, you’ll reach the main center of the cruise port, which is surrounded by even more shops. In fact, you cannot simply exit the Costa Maya cruise port without wandering through the maze of shops. You’ll need to turn on blinders to exit the port area without going into any shops. 

If your ship is docked with other cruise ships in port at the same time, you can expect the port area to become extremely congested. 

The cruise port of Costa Maya also features a large pool, which is free to use. However, you’ll be approached to visit nearby shops and bars during your time there. You can also find animal encounters, such as swimming with dolphins, in the Costa Maya port area. As you can imagine, this experience is also a tourist trap and will cost you hundreds of dollars.

Atlantis Resort in The Bahamas

One of the most popular Caribbean destinations in the world is the Atlantis Resort in Nassau, Bahamas. This massive resort is ocean-themed and located on Paradise Island and spans across 171 acres. Essentially, the resort is famous for being famous.

If your cruise ship docks in Nassau, you’ll see many excursions to Atlantis offered. As such, prices to visit Atlantis for cruise ship passengers have skyrocketed in recent years. Considering you won’t have more than a few hours at the resort when visiting on a cruise ship, it’s tough to justify the price.

For example, Royal Caribbean offers a shore excursion to Atlantis to swim with dolphins and visit the waterpark for $465 per person! This only includes 6 hours at the resort, costing you about $77 per hour for each person to visit Atlantis.

While this is not a traditional tourist trap, the cost to visit Atlantis for only 6 hours is astronomical. Your time and money is better spent at a different resort in Nassau.

Diamond’s International

Similar to Señor Frogs, the strategic placement for Diamond’s International at every Caribbean port should be a red flag. While purchasing affordable jewelry in the Caribbean is a common practice, Diamond’s International is one tourist trap you should rethink visiting. 

To start, Diamond’s International is likely receiving a financial kickback from the cruise lines. This is why you will see many advertisements throughout your cruise encouraging you to step inside to look at the jewelry. Diamond’s International also offers cruisers a free charm to get you in the door as a marketing tactic. You can collect the charms - which are cheaply made - throughout Diamond’s International locations with a punch card. 

Although some might have good experiences, many consider Diamond’s International to be a tourist trap. Be sure to do your due diligence with research if you choose to shop inside these stores during your cruise. 

Hell in Grand Cayman

Perhaps the poster child for tourist traps, you’ll find "Hell" in Grand Cayman. This interesting rock formation is made from limestone rocks eaten away by algae, giving it a volcanic appearance. Legend has it that the name "Hell” evolved long ago from an early British Commissioner touring the island, who apparently exclaimed the formation reminded him of what hell must look like. 

Regardless, Hell in Grand Cayman is a tourist trap. The small rock formation might be interesting, but the entire appeal comes from the notion that you can say, “I went to hell!”

The country built an entire attraction around the rock formation with platforms and shops to visit. Even on the Grand Cayman Department of Tourism website, it states, “In the Cayman Islands, tourists can go to Hell. This uniquely named attraction is located in the district of West Bay on Grand Cayman.”

Many tours will stop at Hell in Grand Cayman, but it’s certainly not a site that you need to go out of your way to visit.

Dunn’s River Falls in Jamaica

Located in Ocho Rios, Dunn’s River Falls has been a top attraction for visitors and cruisers alike. Dunn’s River Falls is a large waterfall that allows you to climb around thanks to its naturally terraced rocks. There are natural pools of water with the river ending at the beach with views of the sea. 

While it seems like a great place to visit, you’ll be surrounded by tons of tourists and other cruisers. The Dunn’s River Falls has been around for many years, but the attraction is now littered with tourists everywhere. If you’re taking an excursion through the cruise line, you can expect dozens of other tours visiting at the same time. You even need to form a human chain to navigate the falls with your guide to ensure your group stays together. 

There’s no chance you’ll get a decent picture on the falls without hundreds of other tourists in the background. As with any tourist trap, you’ll have to navigate a gift shop and market.

Key West Southernmost Point

While Key West does not have as much cruise ship traffic as other destinations, the island is the southernmost point in the continental United States. If you make your way to the southern side of the island, you’ll find the famous monument stating, “Southernmost Point Continental U.S.A."

This tourist trap might not be soliciting your money, but it is wasting your time. There is always a line to take pictures with this monument sign. Because Key West is usually hot and humid, you can expect to be drenched in sweat waiting in line. When visiting this tourist trap back in February, I was frustrated to see so many people cutting around the line to take pictures with the sign. 

If you’re near the sign and there is no line for a picture, it is a fun memory to have. However, it’s not really worth your time to wait in a long line to snap a picture with it.  

Honorable Mention: Maho Beach in St. Maarten

While this might be controversial, some could argue that Maho Beach in St. Maarten is a tourist trap. The St. Maarten airport is located on the edge of the island with a strip of beach right at the end of the runway. As such, you can sit on the beach and watch the planes land incredibly close to the ground. 

Maho Beach is certainly unique, as it's best known as the "Airport Beach." For most cruisers, this would be a one-and-done kind of experience. The beach itself is nothing special and somewhat small, so it gets crowded quickly. There is one bar nearby that has food and drinks available, but that also becomes quite busy as the day goes on.

However, if you are an aviation geek (like my husband) then this is a worthwhile experience. My husband had Maho Beach on his bucket list for many years and absolutely loved visiting. You can track when the most exciting planes are landing to ensure your time is worthwhile. However, the others in our group (who were not aviation geeks) were underwhelmed and ready to leave after an hour or two. 

Honorable Mention: Stingray City in Grand Cayman

Another popular stop in Grand Cayman is Stingray City, which is an area filled with shallow sandbars. Visitors can take a quick 25-minute boat ride to swim, pet and interact with stingrays. The area has become known as "Stingray City" and many excursions will take cruisers out to the sandbar to interact with the stingrays.

In my opinion, this is a one-and-done type of experience. Stingray City can become very crowded with the boats on the sandbar, which can create a hectic experience. Not to mention, stingrays can be dangerous if you accidentally touch them the wrong way or happen to step on one in the sand. 

Some find Stingray City to be underwhelming and overcrowded. This means you won’t get much time with the rays, as other boats will be competing for time with the animals too. 

Royal Caribbean has suspended all excursions to Nassau’s Blue Lagoon Island following a deadly boating incident in the Bahamas. The cruise line announced that it has suspended all excursions to Blue Lagoon Island through November 23, 2023. 

The cruise line offers a variety of excursions to Blue Lagoon Island, including snorkeling, beach breaks and encounters with dolphins. 

On November 14, 2023, a ferry boat filled with Royal Caribbean cruise passengers heading to the popular shore excursion in Nassau experienced rough seas and began to take on water. The double-decker boat slowly capsized, sending distressed passengers into the turquoise sea.

Unfortunately, the incident at Blue Lagoon Island turned fatal with one passenger, a 75-year-old American woman, passing away.

Royal Caribbean confirmed that the incident occurred during a shore excursion. Independence of the Seas was the only Royal Caribbean ship docked in Nassau on the day of the incident. 

In a notification from Royal Caribbean to guests who pre-booked excursions to Blue Lagoon Island, the cruise line said, “ We are currently working with local authorities to evaluate the boating incident that took place during a shore excursion. In light of the incident, we have decided to cancel all Blue Lagoon tours through November 23, 2023”

Guests booked on Blue Lagoon Island excursions through Royal Caribbean will receive a full refund for canceled excursions. There are no other excursions in Nassau currently impacted by the incident. In the communication to guests, Royal Caribbean reassures customers that safety is the top priority for the cruise line and apologized for any inconveniences caused. 

It’s unclear at this time whether further excursions to Blue Island Lagoon will be suspended. Presumably, the investigation could result in more Royal Caribbean excursions In Nassau to be canceled pending the results of the investigation. 

Many cruise ship passengers choose to travel to Blue Lagoon Island during visits to the port. The beautiful island is located about three miles northeast of Nassau, which is the capital of the Bahamas.

Details surrounding the terrifying incident

According to Nassau police, the ferry departed  for Blue Lagoon Island from Paradise Island around 9:30am. There were approximately 100 passengers onboard the ferry during the incident. As the ferry was approaching Blue lagoon Island, the boat reportedly hit a large wave and water started to flood the ferry. 

Police chief superintendent Chrislyn Skippings told Nassau Guardian ”The vessel experienced rough seas in the area, which resulted in the boat taking on water and becoming submerged in waters just outside of Blue Lagoon.”

The local authorities also shared that emergency teams from the island arrived quickly to the scene to assist the distressed ferry. Luckily, the boat was near shallow waters and did not submerge completely.  

Following the incident, local authorities reported a 74-year-old woman from Colorado sadly died in the incident. One report cites a police statement sharing that authorities attempted to rescue the woman from the water while the ferry was sinking, but she was unresponsive. CPR was reportedly performed after the passenger was taken to a dock, but she was pronounced deceased at the scene. All other passengers were safely rescued but two people needed additional medical attention. 

Videos on social media show the chaos

All over social media, videos began to surface of the ferry incident from passengers onboard the vessel. One TikToker, Kelly Schissel, chronicled the chaos onboard the Blue Lagoon Island ferry. 

“Our boat is sinking. So that’s fun. Everybody’s freaking out” says Kelly Schissel while showing the ferry capsizing.

In the background of the TikTok, you can hear screams from fellow passengers onboard the doomed ferry. Passengers can also be seen wearing life jackets and huddling to one side of the ferry. 

Kelly shares that she’s on the top floor of the ferry while simultaneously filming the ferry slowly submerging into the Blue Island Lagoon. “[We are] literally sinking,” she says in the TikTok.

In a second response video, the TikToker continues to share that guests on the bottom level allegedly heard the captain laughing about trying to do a donut-like maneuver by whipping the aft around quickly in a circular motion. While approaching the shore of Blue Island Lagoon, Kelly shares that she also thought the captain was maybe trying to show off with a quick maneuver. 

“I just don’t think it worked out the way he wanted it to” theorizes Kelly.

While the ferry continues to take on water, Kelly’s original TikTok shows many passengers panicking while still onboard the vessel. One passenger can be heard screaming amid the chaos. At one point, a male passenger jumps into the sea and encourages others to do the same. In Kelly’s TikTok video, passengers can be seen in orange life jackets jumping into the choppy waters of the Caribbean Sea from the listing ferry. 

In the comments section of her TikTok, Kelly shared that she safely made it off the ferry. She continued to share that the Blue Lagoon Island ferry appeared closer to the shore than it actually was, contrary to many peoples’ perception. 

The TikToker recounts how passengers were left without instructions during the incident.

In a second video, Kelly recounts the incident, sharing that the ferry captain made a sharp turn that sent everyone towards the front of the ship. When it was clear that there was an issue, Kelly said people started to panic and freak out.

Since Kelly was on the top deck of the Blue Lagoon Ferry, she said it was difficult to understand the severity of the situation initially. 

“Then one of the crew members that was downstairs ran upstairs. She is crying. Freaking out. Absolutely bawling while grabbing a life jacket.”

Throughout the incident, Kelly shares in her TikTok that the crew members were hysterically crying and did not provide any guidance or instructions. Eventually, guests started to jump into the ocean when it was clear that instructions would not be provided.

“It was actually pretty rough waves, so a lot of people were just trying to stay above water, even with their life vests on,” says Kelly in her second TikTok video. Although the water was warm and the weather was good, she shares that the seas were very choppy, which made the situation worse. 

The doomed vessel settled on the shore with the top half of the vessel above the waterline. After guests were brought ashore by other vessels, Kelly states that the survivors received hot dogs, chips and water. 

For many cruisers, Blue Lagoon Island is a popular destination while docked in Nassau, Bahamas. 

Royal Caribbean previously offered many excursions to Blue Lagoon Island. When Matt from Royal Caribbean Blog visited the island on a shore excursion a few years ago, he found at least nine different excursions that included a visit to the Blue Lagoon Island. 

Excursions to Blue Lagoon Island include a variety of options with shore excursions through Royal Caribbean. These include beach day passes, dolphin swim encounters, stingray experiences, Segway tours and more. 

Blue Lagoon Island is surrounded by pristine blue seas and white sandy beaches. There are multiple beaches across the island and many activities for guests to enjoy. Given the close proximity to Nassau, Blue Lagoon Island has been a popular destination for cruisers on shore excursions.

Taylor Swift fans and cruisers alike…. Are You Ready For It? And by it, we mean a Taylor Swift Fan group cruise on Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas. 

If you are a fan of Taylor Swift and love to cruise, there's a sailing for you.

Marvelous Mouse Travels announced a 4-night group cruise will take place in October 2024 that will focus on celebrating all things Taylor Swift. The travel agents are huge fans of Taylor Swift and therefore wanted to coordinate a fun getaway for other Swifties to celebrate their love of Taylor Swift. 

This special sailing sets sail the day after Taylor Swift’s record-breaking Eras Tour comes to Miami on October 21, 2024. Whether you’ve snagged tickets to the concert or you simply want to meet other Swifts, the group cruise is open to all fans of Ms. Swift. 

It’s time to pack away your cardigans and set sail with fellow Swifties into the gorgeous sunsets of the Bahamas. Even better: You won’t need to wait in the dreaded Ticketmaster queue to attend this Swiftie gathering!

During the Taylor Swift Fan group cruise, Taylor Swift fans will enjoy cocktail parties, Taylor Trivia, themed dance parties, friendship bracelet swapping and Taylor-themed karaoke. All events are included in the cruise fare and exclusive to those participating in the group cruise. 

According to the agency, there’s already been a huge demand for the Taylor Swift Fan group cruise. Thanks to TikTok, many Swifties have already secured their cabins onboard the sailing. In fact, the travel agents said they needed to request additional cabins onboard Allure of the Seas to meet the popular demand!

However, it’s important we make it abundantly clear that Marvelous Mouse Travels is not affiliated or endorsed by TASRM or Taylor Swift. Sadly, Taylor Swift herself will not be making any appearances on this cruise. Instead, this is meant to be a fun gathering for all fans of Taylor Swift to share in their love of the global pop star. 

Group cruises are organized sailings that allow fans to sail together onboard a cruise while participating in group activities

Royal Caribbean has a long-standing reputation of building some of the biggest and most innovative cruise ships in the world, making Allure of the Seas an excellent choice to host a group cruise.

Most often, you’ll book group cruises through a travel agency to ensure you have access to all the exclusive, organized events that take place on the ship. During the cruise, group cruisers take part in special events and activities with fellow group cruisers.

Marvelous Mouse Travels states, “The cruise fare also includes special themed activities available on this sailing only. Details will be released soon, but you can expect Taylor inspired theme nights and activities like Taylor karaoke, trivia, scavenger hunts, door decorating contests and more!”

However, you won’t be spending every waking moment of your cruise doing group activities. On most group cruises, there are one or two daily planned events throughout the sailing. In this way, you can still find time to yourself onboard your cruise if you need to recharge your social battery.

How much does it cost to sail on the Taylor Swift Fan group cruise?

Prices for the organized group cruise start at $1,573 for two guests, depending on which stateroom you choose to book. Balcony staterooms - dubbed “Karma is the breeze in my hair on the weekend” for this special sailing - will cost more $1,967.

As with any cruise, you will need to take into consideration what type of stateroom you want to sail in to budget appropriately. According to the information page, Boardwalk Balconies are already sold out for the Swiftie Group Cruise. 

To book your spot onboard the Swiftie group cruise, you’ll want to book directly with Marvelous Mouse Travels. The organizers note that events will have capacity limits and only those who book directly with the agency will be guaranteed a spot for events during the group cruise. Because of this, if you choose to book independently, you might not be able to participate in all of the activities during the cruise. 

Airfare is not included in the cruise fare. You will also need to book your own drink package, shore excursions, specialty dining and internet. These are available for pre-purchase through the cruise planner or you can book onboard; however, the fare for the Taylor Swift Fan cruise does not include these premium add-ons.

This won’t be the first time Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas will been filled with Taylor Swift fans

It might be hard to believe now, but Taylor Swift once performed live onboard Allure of the Seas for a small stadium of fans before she was the A-list superstar she is today. 

Back in January 2011, Taylor Swift performed onboard Allure of the Seas, which was the world’s newest and largest cruise ship at the time. The concert was in front of about 735 passengers, although Allure of the Seas can hold 5,400 passengers at maximum capacity. 

On January 21, 2011, Taylor Swift performed a live concert for cruisers when the ship was docked in Cozumel. The small concert look place on Allure of the Seas’ signature AquaTheatre. In an interview after her performance, Taylor noted how Allure’s AquaTheatre was such a unique venue for her to perform at. She shared how cool it was to see fans not only in the amphitheater itself, but also fans watching from their Boardwalk Balconies above the stage.  

While most performances on cruise ships coincide with the launch of a new ship, Taylor’s performance on Allure of the Seas did not. At the time, Taylor Swift was planning to embark on her Speak Now tour following her third album release. 

If you wanted to attend the concert in the AquaTheatre, guests needed to earn a pass for the performance. During the cruise, Allure of the Seas hosted multiple contests and opportunities for guests to earn a coveted ticket for the concert. Some of these included Taylor karaoke and a Taylor Swift lookalike contest. Since the AquaTheatre can hold less than 800 people on Allure of the Seas, passes to the concert - even then - were hard to come by. 

Many Swifties (myself included) begged their parents to cruise on Allure of the Seas for the chance to see Taylor Swift in such an unconventional venue. One could argue that Taylor Swift is the biggest star to ever perform on a Royal Caribbean cruise. 

Taylor Swift continues to be a massive pop-star with her chart-topping music and wildly popular stadium tour

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you probably know that Taylor Swift has quite literally been boosting the economy with the unprecedented demand for her tour. Between her Grammy-nominated album releases and three-hour-long Eras concert tour, Taylor Swift is the biggest name in pop culture. 

For many Swifties, the tour has become more than just a concert - it’s an opportunity to meet other like-minded fans. Call it what you want, but Ms. Swift’s popularity has cultivated a community filed with dedicated and passionate fans. 

Fans bonding over a mutual love of Taylor Swift makes the perfect opportunity for a marvelous time onboard Allure of the Seas. You’re sure to be enchanted meeting so many Swifties onboard!

I recently sailed on Royal Caribbean’s Grandeur of the Seas, and while the cruise fare was relatively cheap at $466.50 per person, the additional costs of cruising and traveling added up quickly. 

My sister and I were eager to have a fall getaway and we had never cruised on Grandeur of the Seas before. Since this cruise was only 4-nights, we thought it was the perfect opportunity to sail onboard the ship, commonly referred to as “Lady G”. 

I spent approximately $1,512.71 on a 4-night cruise to sail on Royal Caribbean’s oldest ship between my flights, internet, specialty dining and travel costs. I'm not sure if I would want to spend that much again unless the itinerary included more interesting ports. 

I flew across Florida for the cruise - from Destin to Tampa - for $250

Living in Florida is perfect for an avid cruiser like me, but the Florida Panhandle is about as far from the cruise ports as you can get in the state. Rather than making the 6 hour drive to Tampa for the cruise, I purchased a flight instead. 

To be frank, I hate driving in Florida and do not handle the stress with grace behind the wheel. I grew up driving on rural highways in South Dakota, so the massive interstates in Florida continue to give me driving anxiety.

Purchasing a flight was the best choice for us, even if it was more expensive than hitting the road. Given the upward trending costs of flights these days, $250 seemed more than reasonable to fly on Delta Air Lines. 

My sister and I both flew with carry-on luggage, so we did not have any additional luggage expenses. However, we did leave our car at the airport; this ended up costing us $51.90 for the five nights. Had we driven to Tampa, we likely would have spent more than this to park at the cruise port. 

• Flights to Tampa: $250
• Airport Parking: $51.90
• Total: $301.90

To have someone take care of my dogs at home, I paid an in-home dog sitter $350 for five nights

When pricing out a cruise, I always forget about the additional cost of my dogs. Since my sister is my go-to (i.e. free) dog sitter when I travel, I needed to pursue another option because she would be traveling with me this time. Unfortunately, my husband would not be home to watch the dogs either. 

I have two large Aussiedoodles, so boarding can get expensive with two dogs. Because I prefer to keep them at home if I can, I hired a dog sitter to come to our house to take care of them. The total cost for this pet care was $350 for the five nights we would be away, including a tip. 

But, you can’t convince me that this was not money well spent to know my dogs were well cared for during our cruise. Peace of mind is priceless!

• Dog sitter total: $350

The night before the cruise, we spent the night at the Tampa Marriott hotel connected to the airport for $150.96

The cardinal rule of cruising is that you should arrive to your embarkation port the day before your cruise, especially if you are flying. We opted for a flight that arrived later in the evening, which allowed us to work at home in the morning. This also saved on cost for the dog sitter and airport parking. 

I had never traveled to Tampa for a cruise before, so I was not sure the best area to stay prior to the cruise. Because we did not have much time to explore the city, we opted for a convenient option at the airport. 

We paid $150.96 for one night at the Tampa Airport Marriott. This was a perfect choice for us because it was connected directly to the airport, so we did not need to take transportation. We were able to walk directly from the passenger terminal to the hotel. 

Because I have status with Marriott, we had access to the hotel’s lounge for both breakfast and dinner. This easily saved us $50 each because we did not need to pay for meals until we boarded the cruise. 

• Hotel in Tampa: $150.96

We spent $54.48 on Uber rides to and from the cruise port

Staying in the airport hotel was cost-efficient for us; however, we still needed an Uber ride the following morning when it was time to board our cruise. We had a leisure morning at the hotel enjoying breakfast and coffee before making our way to the Tampa Cruise Terminal.

The cost of the Uber to the cruise terminal from the Marriott Airport Hotel was $27.96, including a tip for the driver. We were surprised to see the cruise terminal was located in the heart of downtown.

Read more: Top things Uber & Lyft riders should know for getting to their cruise ship

After the cruise ended, we ordered an Uber to take us back to the airport. The cost of this Uber on a Monday morning was only $26.32. I anticipated this to cost more given the number of people looking for transportation, but that was not the case.

• Uber to cruise port from airport hotel: $27.96
• Uber to airport from cruise port: $26.32
• Total Uber Cost: $54.28

The 4-night cruise on Grandeur of the Seas was $466.50 to stay in an inside cabin guarantee

Cruising in an inside guarantee cabin is almost always the most affordable option on a cruise ship. In addition, Grandeur of the Seas was built in the 1990s when ships featured very few balconies. Because of this, most cabins onboard are outside or inside cabins anyway. 

We did not mind sailing in an inside cabin since the cruise was only four nights. I was eager to see the cabin’s condition consider the ship’s age; however, we were impressed by the stateroom overall. It was apparent Royal Caribbean had refurbished the ship at some point, although it still lacked modern amenities. 

In fact, the cabin’s design and condition was very similar to my recent experiences onboard Radiance, Voyager, and Freedom Class ships. The worst part of the cabin was the oddly-shaped shower and dealing with noisy neighbors. 

Onboard the cruise, we paid an additional $74 for tips between drinks and dining service

Although we had prepaid our gratuities, we still had additional tipping expenses onboard our cruise. My sister and I both qualify for the complimentary Diamond Plus drinks each day. But, these drinks are not automatically charged with gratuities in the same way you’d be charged for an individual drink.

Because of this, I always tip a few dollars on my Diamond drinks to ensure the bartenders are taken care of. I spent $14 on additional tips during my cruise since I did not have many drinks throughout the sailing. 

I also spent $60 on additional tips for our stateroom attendant, dining room waiter and assistant waiter. On a shorter cruise, I usually tip $20 to each of these crew members to express my gratitude for their hard-work and service. But, these are optional and at the cruiser’s discretion, especially if you've prepaid your gratuities. 

• Drink Tips: $43.98
• Additional tips: $60.00
• Total Additional Tips: $103.98

We decided to splurge on an Internet package and specialty dining during our cruise

It’s easy to spend a lot of money on your cruise with additional add-ons once onboard. Everything from specialty dining to internet access and casino play can rack up quite the bill.

I never forget to purchase internet when I cruise, as I need this for my multiple remote jobs. I also prefer keeping in touch with those back home, such as the dog sitter for daily pup-dates. Moreover, I want to have access to the internet in case there is an emergency. 

Sometimes it’s cheaper to pre-purchase internet depending on the sailing’s length - this is especially dependent on any promotions that Royal Caribbean is running. For a 4-night sailing, it’s normally cheaper to purchase internet onboard to take advantage of my two free internet days, which I receive as a Diamond Plus member. 

For the higher-tier internet package for our 4-night cruise, including my loyalty discount, I paid $51.98. I dream of the day that internet access on a cruise ship will be included!

Additionally, my sister and I decided to splurge on specialty dining for the first night of our cruise. Boarding day can be hectic and I enjoy winding down with a more upscale meal and dining experience in a specialty restaurant. 

Using our Diamond Plus specialty dining benefit, we can get a free cover charge with the purchase of a full-price cover charge. Essentially, this is a BOGO deal that can be used on the first or second night of the cruise. 

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

We had a fantastic meal in Giovanni’s Italian Table costing $63.09, which included a service charge and tip for our incredible waiter.

• Internet package: $51.98
• Specialty dining at Giovanni’s: $63.09
• Total Onboard Purchases: $115.07

During our stop in Cozumel, we walked around the port but did not spend any money

We booked this cruise because of the price and dates rather than the itinerary. For this 4-night cruise, we had two sea days and one port stop in Cozumel, Mexico. My sister and I have cruised a lot in our lifetime, so we were happy to simply walk around the Cozumel port and not spend any money. 

Excursions in Cozumel can also be pricey depending on what you want to do during your time ashore. During the day we visited, it was very hot outside; so, we lasted maybe 30 minutes in the heat before making our way back to the ship. 

If you are looking to budget appropriately for your upcoming cruise, be sure to include the cost of your port activities or excursions. Some cities are easy to explore on your own while others might require an excursion to see or do what you want. 

• Money spent in port: $0

Between the cost of the cruise, airfare, dog sitter, transportation and onboard expenses, I spent $1,512.71 to sail on Grandeur of the Seas

My sister and I had a great time on our cruise, although we both agreed the final cost of the entire vacation was more than we expected. It’s easy to see a fantastic cruise price and think you will be enjoying a budget-friendly trip. However, the extra costs of cruising, traveling and simply enjoying vacation can add up quickly. 

Aside from the cruise itself, the most expensive aspects of my cruise came from the $350 dog sitter, $250 flight and $150 hotel cost. More often than not, the cost of pet care exceeds other areas of cruising - at least for me! It’s much more cost efficient for me to cruise without my sister so she can stay behind and watch my dogs (sorry, Angie). 

For $1,500, I think I’d prefer to save up for a bigger cruise with either a more interesting itinerary or a newer cruise ship. But, sometimes a short weekend cruise is more accessible in comparison to a bigger cruise. Even still, there always seem to be unexpected charges 

If you’re planning a European cruise with Royal Caribbean in the next two years, you will have fewer ships and itineraries to choose from when compared to previous seasons.

Royal Caribbean recently announced European itineraries for the summer of 2025 - and it’s apparent the cruise line is continuing to reduce its presence in the region. By the summer of 2025, only six ships will be sailing in Europe for the cruise line. 

For comparison, Royal Caribbean had nine ships sailing in Europe for the summer of 2023. This is a 33% reduction in the number of cruise ships from Royal Caribbean’s fleet that will be deploying for the European season. 

Based on double occupancy, the passenger capacity in 2025 for European itineraries will be reduced by about 23% from the 2023 European season. Deploying larger ships to the region has salvaged some of the lost capacity due to the reduction in ships for Royal Caribbean. 

For the summer of 2024, the European region will only receive seven ships from Royal Caribbean’s fleet - one of which includes the Ultimate World Cruise on Serenade of the Seas.

Despite unexpected, increased demand for European cruises in the last quarter, Royal Caribbean is continuing to focus on increased capacity to its private island: Perfect Day at CocoCay. 

Over the years, Royal Caribbean has been slowly reduced the number of ships sailing in the European region. This downward trend is all but confirmed by the 2025 European deployment schedule.

Although Royal Caribbean has been reducing ships in Europe, the cruise line is sending bigger ships to the region.

For the 2024 and 2025 European seasons, Royal Caribbean has opted to increase the size of ships sailing around the Mediterranean and Northern Europe. In prior years, the cruise line would sail mostly Vision and Radiance-Class ships in the region, which are among the smallest in the fleet.

The largest ship will be Allure of the Seas, which is an Oasis-Class ship that will be returning to Europe for the first time since 2015. Sailing from the UK once again will be Independence of the Seas, which is a Freedom-Class ship that will replace Anthem of the Seas. 

Other large ships sailing in the region include Odyssey of the Seas, followed by Voyager of the Seas and Explorer of the Seas. Brilliance of the Seas will be the smallest ship sailing Europe next summer, which has a capacity of 2,140 passengers.

Compared to other cruise lines, Royal Caribbean’s European presence is much smaller. For example, competitor Norwegian Cruise Line will be sending eight vessels to Europe in 2024 and 2025. The cruise line’s two newest ships - Norwegian Viva and Norwegian Prima - will both be sailing in Europe during this time.

For Royal Caribbean’s European season, Odyssey of the Seas - which first debuted in 2021 - will be the newest ship sailing in the region. Allure of the Seas is the second newest ship from 2009 followed by Independence of the Seas, which was built in 2008. Royal Caribbean’s other ships scheduled to sail in Europe are all 20+ years old. 

Larger ships are restricted to certain ports due to their size, leading to less varied European itineraries. 

Although Royal Caribbean is planning to send bigger ships in the coming summers, this comes with its own set of challenges. Most important, larger ships cannot access certain ports due to size restriction. 

Sailing larger ships around Europe means Royal Caribbean’s itineraries are less varied. You can still find port-intensive sailings, but options are more limited. You’ll only be able to cruise from five departure ports in Europe starting in 2025: Southampton (London), Ravenna (Venice), Civitavecchia (Rome), Piraeus (Athens) and Barcelona.

Notably missing from the European summer schedule in 2025 include the British Isles, Arctic Circle, Baltic cities and Iceland. Royal Caribbean has always offered these European itineraries in the summer, but these sailings in particular are missing from the 2025 schedule. 

If you are looking for more diverse itineraries such as these, you will likely need to check out another cruise line, including sister brand Celebrity Cruises. Even with a smaller fleet, Celebrity Cruises is planning to send six cruise ships to Europe for 2024 (2025 sailings have yet to be released). You can find longer sailings to more interesting, unique destinations throughout Europe. 

Royal Caribbean also released a handful of short European itineraries with very few long sailings scheduled.

One of the most surprising shifts in Royal Caribbean’s planned deployment schedule is the shift towards shorter European sailings. Interestingly enough, there are quite a few short sailings between 2 and 5 nights. 

Although Royal Caribbean has amped its weekend sailing options to the Caribbean, this is one of the first times we’ve seen the cruise line offer shorter itineraries in Europe. For example, you can book a 5-night cruise to Germany and Belgium on Independence of the Seas. In addition, Explorer of the Seas and Allure of the Seas each offer a few 5-night cruises to Italy, France and Spain. 

Looking at the 2025 summer schedule, Royal Caribbean’s website only shows two 12-night sailings. There is one 12-night cruise on Odyssey of the Seas to Greece and Turkey while Independence of the Seas is only sailing one 12-night cruise to the Canary Islands. The deployment schedule for the summer of 2025 shows a few 9-night and 10-night itineraries throughout Europe, but the vast majority are 7-nights.

This is a diversion from Royal Caribbean’s typical European summer schedule, as the cruise line has always offered multiple itineraries for 12-night to 14-night cruises.

Despite "roaring demand" demand for European itineraries, Royal Caribbean is focusing on increased capacity at Perfect Day at CocoCay.

In a recent 2023 Q3 earnings call, CEO Jason Liberty specifically called out the unexpected, strong demand for Europe in 2023. 

“While the Caribbean remains a standout performer this year, we were particularly pleased with the strength and quality of cruising demand for European itineraries. This acceleration of demand for Europe contributed to the better-than-expected yield performance for the quarter,” stated Liberty. 

In fact, the accelerated demand for Europe resulted in better-than-expected yield performance for the quarter and is expected to increase revenue for these itineraries. However, according to Royal Caribbean, Europe only accounts for just 17% of the cruise line’s capacity compared to the Caribbean’s share of 55%.

Royal Caribbean is clearly pivoting from other markets to focus on increasing capacity to its private island: Perfect Day at CocoCay. With the new adults-only Hideaway Beach planned for the end of the year, the cruise line is aiming to increase the number of guests to the private destination.

“Obviously, we've planned to open Hideaway Beach at the end of this year in time for Icon and Utopia - that’s going to increase our ability to add more gas to Perfect Day by about 3,000 people. So that allows us then to continue to increase our capacity into Perfect Day,” said President Michael Bayley during the earnings call. 

Royal Caribbean Blog followers expressed disappointment and frustration over the 2025 European deployment schedule. 

With a more limited selection for European itineraries in the coming summers, some cruisers expressed frustration with Royal Caribbean.

To start, many followers mentioned the disappointment with Royal Caribbean’s planned itineraries from Southhampton. “Very poor from Royal for Northern European…Indy has such poor itineraries and nothing for Iceland/Arctic circle? It’s as though we’re an afterthought. Not impressed,” said Mark Middleton on Facebook. 

“I don’t see Scotland or Ireland. We booked a Scotland/Ireland with NCL. We are pretty loyal to Royal Caribbean but wanted and needed more time to pay it off. Plus with some research it looked like RC was going to be more with nothing included," said Jennifer McCrory.

Follower Lynsey Bolton felt similarly, commenting, “Gutted as no 14 night Med/Canaries cruises for Summer 2025 from Southampton. Will have to try an alternative cruise line but desperately wanted to cruise with RC again!”

In addition, the cruise line has opted to swap the newer Anthem of the Seas with Independence of the Seas - something that many view as a downgrade.

User DS shared, “Real shame that Royal treat the UK clientele so poorly and have put Independence back in Southampton. All other cruise lines bringing new ships while Royal brings a 15-year old tired ship urgently in need of cabin refurbishment. Many UK residents will almost certainly now go elsewhere.”

Other followers were disappointed in Royal Caribbean’s decision to sail older ships to Europe. “Come on Royal Caribbean!! These sailings are second rate for Southampton and Europe .... we deserve better and newer ships too!” said Alison Guest.  Follower Sean Chan agreed, posting, “Love how Royal dumps old ships for Europe itinerary.”