Royal Caribbean Blog

Navigator of the Seas offers short cruise vacations to the Bahamas, and between its getaway sailings, recent ship wide update, and low price point, there is a lot to love about her!

Weekend sailings, visits to Royal Caribbean's private island, water slides and great dining are just some of the fun things you can find on Navigator of the Seas.

If you have a cruise booked on Navigator, or are considering booking a cruise, here are my favorite things about this ship and tricks for making the most of your vacation!

Water Slides

One of the new features added to Navigator of the Seas are the Blaster & Riptide water slides, and these are an instant hit with everyone.

Royal Caribbean has begun to embrace having water slides on their cruise ships, and these are two types of water slides not available on any other Royal Caribbean ship.

The Blaster is Royal Caribbean's first aqua coaster, and it is also the longest water slide at sea.  You hop into a raft and race down more than 800 feet of dips, drops and straightaways that extend over the side of the ship.

On Riptide, you can go on a headfirst mat racer slide that provides a completely different perspective on the way down. Just try to keep your eyes open the whole time!

Water slide tips

Pack your bathing suit in your carry-on luggage on embarkation day so that you can take advantage of the slide being open with much shorter lines.  Most guests do not have their bathing suit in those first few hours onboard, which makes this the best time to ride the slides with minimal waits.

Don't be afraid to say excuse me. The stairs leading to the top of the slides are shared between both slides, but often some guests will congregate together while waiting and block the way. Be sure to politely ask to move past them if you do not see the end of your line.

Bamboo Room

Tiki bars are all the rage, and Navigator of the Seas features the largest edition of the Bamboo Room onboard.

Serving a South Pacific vibe, the Bamboo Room offers a great variety of cocktails, many of which are unavailable anywhere else on the ship. In fact, there is a wide range of drinks to choose from.

There are even a few food items on the menu, if you choose to indulge.

The Bamboo Room is the perfect spot to meet friends and family for a pre-dinner drink, or round out your evening, and it really stands out from the usual bar and lounge scene onboard.

Bamboo Room tips

Ask the bartenders for suggestions. The cocktail menu has a lot to choose from, so do not hesitate to ask the bartenders and waiters for what they prefer or which beverages are the most popular.

Check out the decor. Being a tiki bar, the Bamboo Room has a lot of kitsch to it, including a parrot that appears periodically in the digital art.

Your drink package works here. Just like any bar or lounge, your drink package covers beverages ordered at the Bamboo Room!

Family fun

One of the areas Royal Caribbean targeted for updating on Navigator of the Seas in her 2019 refurbishment was the family areas onboard.

Adventure Ocean and the Teens Club have been transformed, with a new approach to these areas. Adventure Ocean has been reworked with more free play space. The Living Room (teens club) has been reimagined, complete with a backyard hideaway area. If you have younger children (under 36 months), there is a nursery onboard as well.

When the kids are not in the club, you can challenge them to a round or three of laser tag. Located in the ice skating rink, teams face off in the Battle for Planet Z. It is another complimentary offering, and a very popular sea day activity.

Navigator of the Seas also features an updated mini-golf course on deck 12 that is a fun challenge for all ages.

Family fun tips

Register kids for Adventure Ocean on the first day. There will be an open house held (usually in the early afternoon) of the first day of the cruise, so be sure to go up to meet the staff and meet the staff. Plus, it will save you time later.

Try mini-golf at night. Not only is it not nearly as hot during the evening, but a round of mini-golf after the sun sets is a great evening activity.

Specialty restaurants

Navigator of the Seas features some of my favorite specialty restaurants on any ship! While there is plenty of great complimentary food onboard, sometimes you just feel like indulging a bit with something different.

Sushi lovers will really enjoy Izumi, which is among the most consistently good restaurants across Royal Caribbean's fleet. There is a good variety of sushi and Japanese specialties, including the popular hot rock options.

Jamie's Italian was added in 2019 and serves up an inspired menu of fresh takes on classic Italian dishes. The creation of celebrity chef Jamie Oliver, it is must-eat whenever I am onboard.

If seafood is more your thing, Hooked Seafood has a lot of compelling choices, including lobster, muscles and more.

Don't overlook the other great specialty dining on Navigator of the Seas, including Chops Grille, Playmakers Sports Bar & Johnny Rockets. Having all of this variety is one more reason why Navigator of the Seas stands out as a great choice.

Specialty dining tips

Buy a dining package. If you know you want to try more than one specialty restaurant, your best bet is to purchase a dining package.  Dining packages will absolutely save you money compared to trying to dine at the same amount of restaurants and paying the cover charge individually.

Try the sushi making class. A really fun activity offered onboard is the sushi making class.  One of Izumi's chefs takes you through the process of how to make a few different kinds of sushi rolls, and you get to eat all of your creations after! Be sure to come hungry, because it is basically a meal.

Escape Room

Royal Caribbean has been adding escape rooms to many of its cruise ships, and the escape room on Navigator of the Seas is a must-do!

The Observatorium is one of the most challenging escape rooms I have tried across the fleet. If you have never done an escape room, you have one hour for you and a group of other guests try to solve a series of clues, puzzles and patterns that will lead you to unlocking the solution to the larger puzzle.

I have found escape rooms to be a completely different kind of thrill, because it pits your wits against the clock to solve them all. You will have to work with your team to figure it all out, and the sense of accomplishment if you manage to escape in time is an amazing feeling.

Escape Room tips

Pre-book if you want to try it. Spots for the escape room go quickly, so be sure to pre-book it on Royal Caribbean's Cruise Planner site before the cruise.

Don't be shy. You will be grouped with other guests, but the key to beating the escape room is communication. You need to talk with each other, and in some cases, split up and assign tasks. They key is maximizing your time and having groups work together to figure it all out.

Lime & Coconut

The entire pool deck was revamped on Navigator of the Seas, and it is home run with all the changes that have been added, including the Lime & Coconut bar.

First and foremost, the pool deck has been re-done with casitas, loungers, more hot tubs and a very inviting poolscape. As soon as you see the pool, you know exactly where you will want to go everyday. 

The crown jewel of the new pool area is the Lime & Coconut bar, which is a triple level bar scene that is a combination of bar, party spot and place to be seen.

The first two levels of Lime & Coconut have their own bars, and the third deck is a rooftop sun deck that is great for relaxing, and chilling.

Pool deck tips

Get up early for a casita. Those awesome looking casitas are reserved early, so if you want one, set your alarm early and then catch up on sleep after you grab yours.

Watch the sunset from the Lime & Coconut. Royal Caribbean designed this new space to have a nightlife to it, and I think it has the best vantage point for catching a beautiful Caribbean sunset.

Try the signature drinks. The Lime & Coconut bar features its own selection of drinks not available elsewhere, so be sure to grab one of the menus and try them all (and they work with the drink package)!

Try El Loco Fresh. No day at the pool is complete without some grab-and-go Mexican food from El Loco Fresh. Located near the pool, it is easy to grab chips, quesadillas, tacos and more to bring back to your chair.

Perfect Day at CocoCay

Sailings on Navigator fo the Seas will include at least one visit to Royal Caribbean's completely revamped private island in the Bahamas, Perfect Day at CocoCay.

While Navigator is where most of the focus is right now, CocoCay is worthy of booking any cruise and will become an absolute highlight of any sailing.

Your visit at Perfect Day at CocoCay can include time at the beach, pool, or water park, and you can tack on a zip line or helium balloon ride, fantastic dining or even a cabana or day bed.

All cruise lines throw out words like "paradise", but CocoCay really hits all the high-notes for a fun day.

Perfect Day at CocoCay Tips

Check out our Do's & Don'ts of Perfect Day at CocoCay!

Plan what you want to do before the cruise. Like so much of Royal Caribbean, you stand to greatly benefit by pre-booking as much as you can. Many things sell out, and booking in advance will be cheaper than waiting to book onboard.

Don't skip the food. CocoCay does not have just typical private island food. There is a tremendous variety, and almost all of it is complimentary! Be sure to try the crispy chicken sandwich and mozzarella sticks at the Snack Shack!

Drink & WiFi packages work at CocoCay: If you buy an unlimited drink package or internet package, those benefits extend to your time at Perfect Day at CocoCay. It greatly enhances the value of these packages by having a full day of use here.

In the wake of Royal Caribbean's announcement that Allure of the Seas will not sail from Galveston in 2021 as planned due to a delay in construction of a new terminal, the cruise line is offering more choices to those on affected sailings.

There are now three options for anyone booked on Allure of the Seas from Galveston:

1. Move reservation to a corresponding reservation on a Liberty of the Seas sailing.

The original cruise fare will be price protected at the original cruise fare rate or reduced to the current cruise fare rate (whichever is lower). This excludes taxes, fees, gratuities, and other non-cruise fare items.

Holiday sailings (Christmas, New Year's, and Easter) are excluded from this option.

2. Full refund to the original form(s) of payment, including any non-refundable deposit.

Guests can expect to receive your refund 45 days after you submit their refund request.

3. Move reservation to any 7-night Caribbean itinerary within 4 weeks of their original sail date.

Guests have until July 7th, 2020 to let the cruise line know if they would like to change their sailing from Liberty of the Seas. 

These new choices come days after many guests took to social media to complain about the lack of choice involved in making a shift from an Oasis Class ship to a Freedom Class ship.

Originally, guests could either have their reservation moved to a Liberty of the Seas sailing, or get a 100% future cruise credit.

Royal Caribbean cited the new terminal delay was caused by the closure of shipyards along with the disruption to the supply chain. Thus, the cruise line decided to postpone construction of a new terminal in an effort to cut costs. The new target completion date for the terminal is September 1, 2022.

The stock market took a big hit on Thursday, and Royal Caribbean's stock (RCL) was no exception, falling in value by double digits.

The cruise line's stock was down 14.28% at the close of trading, finishing the day at $54.51.

Travel stocks are no stranger to these downturns in the market, as travel-related companies were sharply lower across the board. Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd (NCLH) was down 16.46% and Carnival Corp (CCL) was down 15.30%.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average saw a wide sell-off, due to fears of a COVID-19 second wave, along with a dire economic forecast by the U.S. Federal Reserve. 

Economic data appeared to back up the Fed’s dour economic projections, with jobless claims still more than double their peak during the Great Recession and continuing claims at an astoundingly high 20.9 million.

Deaths of Americans from COVID-19 could reach 200,000 in September, a grim result of the United States’ economic re-opening before getting growth of new cases down to a controllable level, according to a leading health expert.

Note: Matt Hochberg has no position in any of the stocks mentioned, nor does he own any cruise line stock.

Royal Caribbean announced more cruise cancellations caused by the current state of world health, as well as new regulations imposed by Denmark.

Instead of resuming China sailings in the beginning of July, Royal Caribbean has extended its cancellations through July 12, 2020 for Quantum of the Seas and Spectrum of the Seas, as well as Voyager of the Seas sailings through September 2020.

The cruise line had cancelled all of its China sailings through the end of June during the last round of cancellations, but now the resumption of sailings in China may not begin until at least July 12.

Additionally, Copenhagen, Denmark has restricted all non-essential travel through August 31, 2020. As a result, the following sailings have been cancelled:

• Brilliance of the Seas departing on August 21, 2020
• Jewel of the Seas departing August 8 - 22, 2020

We continue to monitor the progress and evolution of the current environment as we begin to balance continued safety with a gradual return to normalcy. At the forefront, the health and well-being of our guests and crew, as well as the communities we visit, fuel the decisions we make as a corporation. As we work to prepare our ships for their operational return, extensive planning and research have proven essential.

Guests booked on any of the affected sailings have the following choices for compensation.

125% Future Cruise Credit to re-book a new cruise by December 31, 2021 for sailings departing on or before April 30th, 2022. This will automatically be issued by July 24th, 2020 via email if no action is taken.

Taxes and fees, as well as any pre-purchased amenities or onboard packages will be automatically refunded to the original form of payment within 45 days from the cancellation date.

Lift and Shift: If you prefer to move your cancelled booking to a 2021 sailing, you can take advantage of Royal Caribbean's new policy where the cruise line will price protect the original pricing and/or promotion on the same itinerary, length, product, and stateroom category as your original sailing within 4 weeks (before or after) of the original sail date in 2021.

You will need to contact your travel agent by June 25th to take advantage of this option.

100% Refund: if you prefer a full refund, you have until December 31, 2020 to request a refund and deactivate your certificate. You can expect to receive your refund 45 days after you submit your refund request.

The internet is such a powerful tool for researching pretty much any topic, including learning about Royal Caribbean cruises.

Many cruisers, regardless of if they are first-timers or veterans, will take advantage of the wealth of information online to help answer questions and learn about new topics.  Heck, it is why this site was created!

One of my favorite video series are WIRED's Autocomplete interviews, where celebrities are asked questions based on what people are searching Google for about them.  In the spirit of those types of questions, here are the top 10 questions people are searching Google for about a Royal Caribbean cruise.

Which Royal Caribbean cruise ship is the best?

The "best" is a relative term, because what makes something great for one person may not matter to another. Just like favorite sports teams, restaurants, or airlines, every person ranks certain attributes higher than others.

I truly believe there is no one ship that is better than the rest, and I recommend a cruise on any of their ships.

However, I also recommend a first time cruiser research what a ship offers to ensure it is a good fit for them.  Not all Royal Caribbean ships are the same, and what the ship offers (and does not offer) may make it a better fit for someone.

What you want to do is identify which amenities, activities, venues and itineraries are included on a particular vessel and then determine which combination works best for you.

The key to finding the best Royal Caribbean cruise ship is not some arbitrary list compiled by a writer in Boca Raton. Rather, the best ship for you is the one that offers the types of features you are looking for in a ship.

Do you want a ship with a nursery? Water slides? A lot or a few specialty restaurants? Broadway shows? Top-level suites?

Picking the best cruise ship is about determining which ship has just the right combination of what you want onboard.

How much is the drink package on Royal Caribbean?

The exact cost of a Royal Caribbean drink package will vary from ship to ship, and sailing to sailing. There is no set amount across the fleet, so it greatly depends on which sailing you end up booking.

There are three types of drink packages offered on Royal Caribbean ships:

Deluxe Beverage Package

Better known as the unlimited alcohol package, this package offers a combination of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, including beer, wine by the glass, cocktails, most liquors, premium coffees & teas, bottled water, juice and more.

If purchased prior to your cruise on the Cruise Planner site, the Deluxe Beverage package often costs between $48 - $65 per guest, per night (excluding gratuity). The price will be higher if purchased onboard, usually between $63 - $70.00 per guest, per night.

Refreshment Package

The non-alcoholic drink package includes pretty much any drink that does not include alcohol on your cruise, such as mocktails, juices, coffee and teas.

The price per night of the Refreshment Package is $29.00 per guest (excluding gratuity).

Soda Package

A drink package that includes just soft drinks will cost you $12.99 per guest (excluding gratuity).

What is the newest ship from Royal Caribbean?

As of the posting of this article, the newest Royal Caribbean cruise ship is Spectrum of the Seas. She is the first Quantum-Ultra-class cruise ship, and sails exclusively in Asia.

Spectrum of the Seas had her maiden voyage on April 18, 2019.

There are a number of new ships on order, set to debut at some point in the next few years. Prior to the global cruise shutdown, the schedule for new ships was for Odyssey of the Seas to debut in November 2020, and Wonder of the Seas in 2021.

What is included in a Royal Caribbean cruise?

There is quite a lot of value packed into what's included in your Royal Caribbean cruise fare, but understanding the breakdown of what is complimentary and what costs extra is a common concern.

The basics of what is included are:

• Your stateroom cabin
• Meals and snacks (at complimentary venues)
• Select non-alcoholic beverages
• Children's programming
• Activities & shows
• Signature activities & games
• Fitness center access
• Pools

The exact specifics of what is included will vary from ship to ship, but there is a general baseline across the fleet of what is included across the board. 

If you happen to book a suite, or are a top tier member of Crown and Anchor Society, you may get additional benefits and amenities included.

The bottom line is you can go on a cruise and never spend another dime and have a great vacation that leaves you rested, well-fed, and entertained. I do not think it is very likely many people actually go on a cruise and never spend anything extra, but there still is a tremendous value when you consider what is included with your cruise fare.

Why is Royal Caribbean the best cruise line?

Just like the question about the best cruise ship, what makes Royal Caribbean the best cruise line has no universal answer for everyone.

Royal Caribbean is known in the industry for offering fun vacations on cruise ships that pack a ton of entertainment and activities for a great price.

Their ships visit incredible destinations around the world, have two lovely private islands, and are very popular choices for families.

When it comes to picking the best cruise for kids, Royal Caribbean's newest and recently refurbished ships tend to be the best choices.  Royal Caribbean's newest cruise ships offer the most dedicated space to kids programming, as well as the most onboard activities that kids (and their parents) will enjoy.  This includes rock climbing walls, ice skating, water slides and more.

How do I get the best deal on a Royal Caribbean cruise?

Everyone wants to save money and get the lowest possible price on a cruise, so it is natural to seek out the best strategies for getting a great deal.  Here are the top ways anyone can do this:

Book early

The best prices for cruises are found early on when cabin inventory is highest. 

Royal Caribbean sells its cruises largely based on the concept of supply and demand. When a sailing is first offered, supply is at its highest because no one has purchase a stateroom yet. As time progress, more and more staterooms are reserved and stateroom inventory drops, so the price increases conversely.

The earlier you can book, the best chance you will have at getting a good price on your cruise.

Use a travel agent

Perhaps the most common mistake I see among first time cruisers is not using a good travel agent.

Travel agents should cost you nothing extra to use, and offer a substantial amount of experience and advice in helping you find the perfect sailing at the lowest price.

Having a travel agent will save you time, and perhaps money too.  They can also steer you away from common pitfalls, and are invaluable when problems occur. 

Take advantage of price drops

Throughout the year, Royal Caribbean offers various cruise sales: BOGO deals, 72 hour sales, WOW sales, leap day sales and more are offered and each promotion comes with it different pricing and booking incentives.

From when you book your cruise until the final payment date of your cruise, North American guests can cancel and rebook under the new promotions without any penalty (residents of other parts of the world need to check local laws and policies).

Go during slower times of the year

An easy way to knock hundreds of dollars off the cost of your cruise is to book a sailing when most others cannot go on a vacation.

In general, you will find lower fares if you are willing to cruise during the "shoulder seasons" and/or when school is usually in session.

This includes:

• January (minus New Years holiday)
• Most of February
• May
• September
• October
• First two weeks of November
• First two weeks of December

Is Carnival or Royal Caribbean better?

This is a tough question to answer because it is is a very subjective question.

Both are mass-market cruise lines with big fleets of ships and visit a lot of common destinations. So what makes one better than the other?

First, I need to disclose I have never sailed on a Carnival cruise ship, and I run a blog about Royal Caribbean. So I am far from the most objective person in the world on this topic.

What makes Royal Caribbean stand out is their dedication to being a market leader. Their cruise ships are built to be destinations in and of themselves, and the cruise line has repeatedly been an innovator in the industry with many accomplishments.

The value offered is also something that stands out to me. How much you pay versus what you get for that money is something that seems to provide a great balance on Royal Caribbean's side of things.

Royal Caribbean's ships are the largest in the world, offer some incredible things to do onboard, and include the best private island experience in Perfect Day at CocoCay.

Which Royal Caribbean ship is best for adults?

The good news is there a lot of great choices for adults on any Royal Caribbean ship, so I think the best ship for anyone will be based on which options the ship has onboard.

If you want the greatest variety of dining and entertainment, an Oasis or Quantum Class ship is a solid choice because it offers the latest and greatest offerings by the cruise line.

That being said, the rest of the fleet offers a lot to like for adults. The Radiance Class ships have arguably the best adults-only solarium across the fleet, the amplified Voyager Class ships have a lot of the features from the Oasis Class at a fraction of the price, and many veteran cruisers appreciate the simplicity (and low price) on Majesty or Empress of the Seas.

The key is to look at what each ship offers (all Royal Caribbean ships have an adults-only Solarium pool), and weigh price, activities and where the ship sails.

Which is the oldest Royal Caribbean ship?

The oldest Royal Caribbean ship sailing in the fleet is Empress of the Seas.

Formerly known as Nordic Empress, Empress of the Seas was launched on August 25, 1989. The ship was actually retired, and then returned to Royal Caribbean's fleet after an 8 year absence.

Is Royal Caribbean all inclusive?

In short, no, Royal Caribbean cruises are not all inclusive, however, there are some add-ons you can purchase that will get you pretty darn close to an all inclusive cruise experience.

While a Royal Caribbean cruise includes a lot of things to do, dining, beverages and activities, there are still some elements that will cost you extra beyond the cruise fare:

• Soft drinks
• Alcoholic beverages
• Shore excursions
• Gratuities
• WiFi
• Specialty dining
• Spa
• Casino
• Souvenirs
• Photos

For all of these extra costs, you can opt to pay along the way (pay for it if/when you choose to use it), or purchase a package that includes some of these items for a fixed cost.

Regardless of which direction you take, in almost every case it is less expensive if you pre-purchase via Royal Caribbean's Cruise Planner site.

Royal Caribbean is offering 60% off second guest, kids sail free and up to $350 instant savings on 2021 cruises this weekend. Crown and Anchor Members could get up to $400 off 2021 cruises.

The Sunshine & Savings Sale applies to new bookings made between June 11 – June 14, 2020.

It includes:

60% savings off the price of cruise fare of the second guest booked in the same stateroom as first, full-fare paying guest. BOGO60 also provides 30% cruise fare savings for third guests and higher booked in the same stateroom as the first two qualifying guests.

Instant savings of up to $200 USD per stateroom on select sailings departing on or after August 1, 2020. Savings amount determined by category booked and sailing length:

• Sailings 5 nights or less, $25 savings for Interior and Ocean View, $75 for Balconies and $75 for Suites
• Sailings 6 nights or longer, $50 savings for Interior and Ocean View, $100 for Balconies and $200 for Suites

Instant savings applied as instant rebate to the price of cruise fare at checkout. Instant savings do not apply to China departures.

Crown and Anchor Sale applies to new bookings made between June 11 – June 16, 2020 to Gold, Platinum, Emerald, Diamond, Diamond Plus, and Pinnacle Crown & Anchor Society members.  CAS Bonus provides up to $50 USD instant savings per stateroom on select sailings departing on or after August 1, 2020.  Savings amount determined by sailing length:

• Sailings 5 nights or less, $25 savings
• Sailings 6 nights or longer, $50 savings

Kids Sail Free applies to new bookings made between June 1 – June 30, 2020.  Kids Sail Free provides free cruise fare for 3rd guests and higher who are 12 years old or younger as of cruise departure date, booked in the same stateroom as the first two qualifying guests in a triple or quad-occupancy stateroom.

Kids Sail Free applies to select 4-night or longer Alaska, Bahamas, Bermuda, Canada, Caribbean, CaribNE, Coastal, Europe, Hawaii, Repositioning and all 2020 Serenade of the Seas sailings departing between September 1, 2020 – December 17, 2020 and January 8, 2021 – May 17, 2021.

Offer excludes 2020 Thanksgiving sailings (Sailings between November 21 – 28, 2020), 2021 President’s Day Sailings (Sailings between February 12 – 15, 2021), and 2021 Spring Break and Easter sailings (Sailings between March 13 – April 4, 2021).

2021 Kicker Sale applies to new bookings made between June 1 – June 30, 2020.

2021 Kicker Sale offers instant savings of up to $150 USD per stateroom on select sailings departing between January 1 – December 31, 2021. Savings amount determined by category booked and sailing length:

• Sailings 5 nights or less, $25 savings for Interior and Ocean View, $50 for Balconies and $75 for Suites
• Sailings 6 nights or longer, $50 savings for Interior and Ocean View, $75 for Balconies and $150 for Suites

BOGO60, Kids Sail Free and 2021 Kicker are combinable with each other as well with promotional OBCs, NextCruise offers, instant savings, restricted discounts (for example, Seniors, Residents, Military), Promo Code driven offers, Free Upgrades, Crown and Anchor discounts, CAS Sale and Shareholder Benefits.  Sunshine and Savings Sale is combinable with BOGO60, Kids Sail Free and 2021 Kicker as well as with promotional OBCs, NextCruise offers, Instant Savings, restricted discounts (for example, Seniors, Residents, Military), Promo Code driven offers, Free Upgrades, and Shareholder Benefits, with CAS Sale but not combinable with other Crown and Anchor discounts.  Offers are not combinable with any other offer or promotion, including, but not limited to, Standard Group, Interline, Travel Agent, Travel Agent Friends and Family, Weekly Sales Events, and Net Rates.  Promo Code driven offers are based on select ships and sail dates and must be applied at time of booking; limit one promo code per booking.

Offer available to residents of United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, and select countries in the Caribbean. 

Royal Caribbean announced on Tuesday it was postponing its scheduled cruise ship upgrades on 4 vessels, but the cruise is still planning to do this work down the line.

Royal Caribbean Senior Vice President of Sales and Trade Support & Service Vicki Freed spoke to travel advisors in a weekly webcast on Wednesday and reiterated the cruise line's commitment to adding these upgrades.

I want to make sure to reiterate that they are simply being placed on a temporary hold. And we look forward to amplifying these great ships sometime in the near future.

The previously scheduled amplifications were to take place in 2020 and 2021:

• 2020: Explorer of the Seas & Allure of the Seas amplifications postponed
• 2021: Liberty & Adventure of the Seas amplifications postponed

Allure of the Seas was scheduled to undergo a 58-day, $165 million transformation that would have added new features, including the Ultimate Abyss, the tallest slide at sea; The Perfect Storm trio of waterslides, completely redesigned Adventure Ocean kids and teens spaces, the first Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar, and Music Hall.

Similarly, Explorer of the Seas was planning to get a $110 million amplification that would have added a number of changes from bow to stern.

Royal Caribbean's Royal Amplified program was announced in March 2018, and it was a $900 million investment in the Oasis, Freedom and Voyager Class cruise ships.

The program managed to enhance a number of ships, including: Independence of the Seas, Mariner of the Seas, Navigator of the Seas, Oasis of the Seas and Freedom of the Seas.

The Royal Amplification program breathed new life into existing ships, and drove revenue as high as guest satisfaction with the changes.

"Our vessel modernization program is driving strong results," Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. Chairman and CEO Richard Fain said,  "These upgrades are expensive, but our guests love them and reward us accordingly."

Incidentally, the indefinite postponement of these ship upgrades means certain amenities that became "cult-classics" among some cruise fans will live on longer, including Sabor and the Champagne Bar. These were to be replaced with new venues during the amplification process, but have a new lease on life for the time being.

Royal Caribbean confirmed that while Allure of the Seas will no longer sail from Galveston in 2021, she will call Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale home instead.

A day after Royal Caribbean announced due to pier construction delays in the Galveston terminal Allure of the Seas will not be able to call Galveston home because the current pier will unfortunately not be ready to welcome an Oasis Class ship. 

Royal Caribbean Senior Vice President of Sales and Trade Support & Service Vicki Freed confirmed that Allure of the Seas will instead sail from Port Everglades.

I'm sure you're likely wondering, "Now that the Allure of the Seas is not going to Galveston, where will she be going, Vicki?" Well, we're aren't really sure of her exact itineraries just yet, but it's been confirmed that she will sail from Fort Lauderdale in the winter of 2021 and 2022.

Royal Caribbean cited the new terminal delay was caused by the closure of shipyards along with the disruption to the supply chain. Thus, the cruise line decided to postpone construction of a new terminal in an effort to cut costs.

In addition, the upgrades and enhancements that were scheduled as part of the ship's Royal Amplification have been postponed until further notice.

Taking Allure of the Seas' place in Galveston will be Liberty of the Seas, which has been homeported there for years.

In order to accommodate guests who were booked on Allure of the Seas, the cruise line is working on rebooking guests into the "best available stateroom".

Prior to Allure's winter 2021-2022 season, Allure of the Seas will start out in Miami, then transition to Port Canaveral and then remain there until she moves to Port Everglades.

Whether you are new to Royal Caribbean, been on a cruise and going back, or even a cruise veteran, I have some helpful tips to share for maximizing your cruise experience.

Looking back on the cruises I have taken, I compiled the top things I wish I knew before I ever got onboard any Royal Caribbean ship.

There is no single way to cruise, but there are some "best practices" that anyone can use to make their next sailing free of common mistakes.

Read an old Cruise Compass

When you are trying to pick the right ship for you, reading a past Cruise Compass is a great way to learn about what the ship offers.

You will likely have questions about what there is to do onboard. In fact, the activities offered onboard may play a major role in which ship you end up booking. 

There is no way to know in absolute terms what your upcoming Royal Caribbean cruise will, or will not, offer, because Royal Caribbean does not publish activities or entertainment schedule in advance.  However, you can learn about what to expect on your sailing by consulting a past Cruise Compass to see what was offered on similar sailings.

The Cruise Compass is the ship's daily newspaper that is distributed to guests on each day of the cruise.

Generally speaking, Royal Caribbean sailings on a particular ship do not change that much from week to week in terms of the activities or entertainment offered. There will be some discrepancies, like perhaps the movie selection or comedian, but you will get a ballpark idea of what to expect.

With this information, you can have a good idea of what is offered onboard and how often it is shown.

Pre-purchase to save money

You will want to pre-purchase some of the extra add-ons before your cruise because it is going to save you a lot of money.

Royal Caribbean offers a lot of packages, and whether it is a drink package, internet package, or a dining package, they are all significantly cheaper if you buy them before the cruise.

Besides being able to split up the total cost of your cruise, it will save you money overall because Royal Caribbean offers a discount if you pre-purchase instead of waiting to buy it on the ship.

In addition, it will save you time onboard the ship as it means you will not have to take time on the ship to stand in line to book something.

What you want to do is track prices periodically by logging into Royal Caribbean's Cruise Planner site. The cruise line usually runs sales every few weeks that can sometimes reduce the price even more, so it is a good idea to take advantage of these deals when they are offered.

The best part about these price drops is if there is a lower price, you can always cancel and rebook your purchase and take advantage of the lower price without any penalty.

Don't skip specialty restaurants

Royal Caribbean's specialty restaurants, which have an additional cost to dine there, are among the best dining locations at sea, and I think you may be missing out if you do not try one or four of them.

You can, and should, still dine at the complimentary restaurants, but working in a specialty restaurant or two on a few nights of your cruise can really give you a nice change of pace and exposure to cuisines that are not available elsewhere on the ship.

I think it is worth it to spend a little bit extra for specialty restaurants because I think they are great choices.

If you think you might want to dine at more than one specialty restaurant, a dining package is a great way to save money overall on the cost.

Don't fear the dress codes

I know it sounds scary, and the idea of having to dress up on your Royal Caribbean cruise may seem like an arduous task, but you should know the dress codes onboard are not nearly as bad as you might think.

Even though on one or two nights of your cruise there is something called formal night, do not worry.

Formal night is a dress code where the main dining room requests guests wear something a little more upscale than usual. For men, a collared shirt and nice pants (tie and jacket optional). For ladies, it means a cocktail dress or something similar.

On most seven night sailings, there will be two formal nights, so pack accordingly. On shorter cruises (3-5 night sailings), there will be one formal night.

Keep in mind that formal night dress code only applies to the main dining room, and no where else on the ship. If you are not dining in the main dining room on formal night, you do not have to dress up because the dress code does not apply anywhere else on the ship.

And of course, the inevitable question is what do you wear on formal night? If you are wondering how formal is formal, the answer is it is really not that bad. 

Formal night is not going to look like a scene out of early 1900s cruising. Rather, it has become a relative term that means "something nicer than the other nights of the cruise". It is not to say you need to wear a tuxedo or ball gowns or recreate your senior prom.

If you wanted to skip formal night and the dining room, there are specialty restaurants that have usually a more relaxed dress code to them, or just skip it altogether and go to a place like the Windjammer or another complimentary grab-and-go style restaurant and enjoy your meals there while wearing whatever you want.

Book your cruise as early as you can

To get the best possible price on your Royal Caribbean cruise, booking as early as you can is critical.

The reason why booking early is so important is because the best prices are found the earlier one books a cruise. Royal Caribbean sells its cruises largely based on supply and demand.

When a sailing is first offered to the public, supply is at its highest because no one has purchased a stateroom yet. As time progresses, more and more staterooms are reserved, and thus, inventory drops, so prices tend to rise.

So the earlier you book the cruise, the best chance you will have at getting a good price on your cruise.

How early is early? Essentially, it means as early as you can afford to do so. Royal Caribbean puts its itineraries on sale as much as two years in advance of the sail date, and while that may be a bit too far in advance for most to plan a vacation, the earlier you ca book the cruise, the better chance you have for that lower price.

If you live in a country like the United States or Canada, you can take advantage of price drops between when you book and the final payment date. Royal Caribbean will allow you to re-price the cruise if the price goes down, assuring yourself of the lower price.

While last minute deals can sometimes work out to nab a deal for some people, last minute cruise discounts are few and far between these days, and it is just too risky to put your entire vacation on the line for trying to find a great price close to when your vacation begins. Not to mention the fact waiting until the last minute means very few choices of the type of staterooms available.

Choose your cruise ship based on what is important to you

Royal Caribbean has over 20 ships in its fleet, and while they have a common core experience across all of them, each vessel offers different amenities and activities. This means you need to be aware of what each ship offers (and does not offer), and make sure these are things that are important to you.

Royal Caribbean categorizes its ships by class, which are groupings of ships that share a common structure and layout.  Think of ship classes like types of cars: pickup trucks, sedans, minivans, etc. Within each type of vehicle, you have individual car models.  This is akin to how Royal Caribbean categorizes its cruise ships.

In addition to just size and tonnage, each ship includes various entertainment, activities and onboard amenities.  What you want to do is think about which features you want to have on your ship and then see if that ship offers it.

Are you looking for water slides? Skip the Vision class. Need a full Broadway show? Liberty of the Seas has it, but not Freedom of the Seas. Want a nursery for your toddler? Don't book Majesty of the Seas.

Working with a good travel agent can make this process easier, as they can assist in narrowing down the choices for you.

You should also be aware that within each class, ships can vary greatly due to a number of recent upgrades.  Do not assume all ships in a class are necessarily identical.

Ask if the food is not what you want

If the food selection you find in a restaurant is not what you are looking for, be sure to speak up and ask for something different. Do not just "suck it up" and assume what is on the menu is the only things available.

Royal Caribbean offers a fantastic variety of dining choices across its ships, but you might want something cooked or prepared differently. 

Perhaps you have a dietary restriction or preference that you would prefer. Or you just feel limited in your choice. Politely talk to your wait staff about what options you have. In general, as long as they have the ingredients and you make the request in advance, they can absolutely accommodate a great variety of requests.

Be aware that some changes take extra time, so give the staff advanced notice. Usually 24 hours will suffice for special meals or foods.  You can ask to speak to the head waiter on the first day if you have a pattern of food prep that you would like to have while onboard and discuss options.

The bottom line is the staff wants to make you happy, so do not feel like you are being bothersome for asking.

You do not need a drink package

It seems like a lot of first time cruisers find the idea of getting an unlimited drink package quite attractive, primarily due to the convenience and potential savings offered by them. However, a drink package is not a must-have for everyone.

First and foremost, there are plenty of non-alcoholic drinks included with your cruise fare. Some first time cruisers mistakenly believe a drink package is necessary to have anything other than water onboard.

There are some great alternatives to getting a drink package that will not break your budget, while still allowing you to enjoy your favorite cocktails and beverages onboard.

To be clear, I usually buy an unlimited drink package for my cruises because I have found it works for the way I like to cruise, but many other cruisers cite the fact it does not make financial sense to have a package for them.

The key is to determine in your case if a drink package is worth it. Weigh the costs of the package, your itinerary, how often you like to drink, and your vacation budget and make a decision off those considerations.

Get to your cruise port early

Being early is a great strategy on Royal Caribbean ships for two important reasons.

First, you want to arrive to the city your cruise will sail from at least a day ahead of time to guard against travel delays, such as cancelled flights, car accidents or any travel delay that might put your cruise vacation in jeopardy.

Seasoned travelers know the key is to give yourself extra time so if you do encounter a delay, you have a buffer.  Instead of arriving to your departure city on the day of your cruise, plan to arrive at least one day early to assure yourself that even a cancelled flight means you can still make the ship.

Arriving a day early means you start your vacation sooner, and you get the added bonus of being able to explore and enjoy the city your ship departs from.

In addition, you will want to get to the cruise port early on embarkation day to beat the crowds.

By arriving to the cruise terminal early, you will beat the majority of guests who arrive later in the day and that means shorter waits to check-in and get onboard. Plus, you will have extra time onboard the ship on your first day!

If you are wondering what time constitutes early, sometime between 10:00 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. is a good target. The price you paid for the cruise is the same whether you get on board the ship at 11:00 a.m. or 2:00 p.m., so you may as well get the most time possible onboard your ship!

Shore excursions can be exhausting

One of the things that sold me on cruising was waking up in a different port every day, but when you plan your shore excursions, you should know they can be exhausting.

What you want to do is know your family's limits and plan breaks, or alternate excursions between intense touring and more casual relaxation.

A good example is if in one port you want to visit historical sites and explore a city, that will likely involve a lot of walking, so perhaps plan the next day to be something more laid back.  Perhaps a day at the beach, or sleep in before heading out for another adventure.

I find if you try to go back to back with lots of walking, it is easy to burn out and end up with not-so-happy feet and family members.

A good idea is to plan breaks and generally take it easy. Sure, the places you visit and the activities offered look amazing and you want to do it all, but downtown is not a problem or something to be avoided.  Vacation is enjoyable from a lounge chair or at the top of a mountain, so make sure you are not over doing it.

Your thoughts

What advice did you wish you had for your first cruise? If it is your first time, what concerns or questions do you have? Share your tips, suggestions and questions in the comments below!

Royal Caribbean teased its upcoming 2021-2022 summer season in Australia, South Pacific and New Zealand to Crown and Anchor Society guests, boasting the addition of Quantum of the Seas to the mix.

The new sailings will officially open for guest bookings on June 11.

Highlights include Quantum of the Seas sailing from Australia for the first time ever, along with Ovation of the Seas in Sydney.

Radiance of the Seas will sail from Brisbane.

Royal Caribbean will offer 8-12 night vacations to the South Pacific.

Say Kia Ora to adventure in New Zealand, rediscover Australia’s beauty rich and rare, or simply embrace the island life in the South Pacific. All while sailing on state-of-the-art Royal Caribbean ships filled from bow-to-stern with unforgettable holiday experiences.

Some sailings are already appearing on Royal Caribbean's website, including a 3-night sampler cruise from Sydney on Quantum of the Seas on December 10, 2021.

Royal Caribbean announced in March that Quantum of the Seas would leave China and offer cruises to Alaska. Typically when ships that sail to Alaska are finished with the cruise season there, they transition over to Australia to offer sailings down under.