Royal Caribbean Blog

The decision to buy a Royal Caribbean beverage package is something a lot of cruisers wrestle with, because the benefits of having a fixed cost for unlimited drinks has to be weighed against the question of "need" and overall cost.

There are three different drink packages you can buy either before the cruise or once onboard.

Many cruisers are curious if a drink package makes sense to buy, so here are the top reasons to know that you need to buy a drink package on your next cruise.

You like having a fixed cost for all your drinks

The most compelling reason to get any drink package is for the flat fee to enjoy unlimited drinks on your cruise.

Budgeting for a vacation involves a lot of costs, and the last thing anyone wants is a surprise bill at the end of the cruise that is much higher than expected.  Investing in a cruise drink package assures that soda, booze or coffees will not run up your bill.

If you pre-purchase a drink package prior to the start of the cruise, not only will you save money, you will spread out the total cost of the cruise vacation.

Of course, you could always wait until the first day of the cruise to see how your drink consumption is going and elect to buy a drink package once onboard.

You are cruising with a lot of friends or family

I believe people cruise differently when they are sailing with just their family, versus a larger group. To that point, having a drink package might make a lot of financial sense if you are going to be socializing a lot on your cruise.

Going on a cruise with extended family and friends is a fantastic way to catch up and make new memories that you will be laughing about for years to come.  In my experience, hanging out with people for extended periods of time leads to wanting to have a drink.  Whether you all decided to do a few rounds of beers at the pool or want to enjoy a few glasses of wine with dinner, a drink package will make the decision to join in a heck of a lot easier.

When you do not have a drink package, you begin to question if you want to get another drink to be a part of the crowd, or be fiscally responsible and skip this round.  No good stories include, "...and then I decided to save some money and not order a drink."

Convenience is important to you

There is no doubt that having a drink package means not worrying about your bar bill.  With beers, cocktails, coffees and more included, the notion of racking up a giant bill is eliminated.

In fact, having a drink package makes it super simple when you are at any bar, restaurant, lounge or theater to simply take your SeaPass card out and grab a drink.  Gratuity is included with the drink package, so there is no math to calculate and no bill at the conclusion of the sailing to rectify.

For many people, a drink package is a very liberating experience.

Bottled water, soda or premium coffee is something you drink a lot

Royal Caribbean includes some drinks with the cruise fare, but if you are used to having a soft drink with meals, wine with dinner or a latte every morning, buying a beverage package might be right up your alley.

While buying a Diet Coke here, or bottled water there is not going to cost you a fortune, these drink package purchases do add up, especially if it is a habit.  Bottled water is one area that a lot of guests tend to buy because they need them for tours in the ports of call the ship visits.

If you have a drink package, the convenience of being able to grab a bottle of water or have a second shot of espresso is far less worrisome.

You want to try drinks

One of the best advantages of having a beverage package is being able to sample drinks without worrying you are wasting money if you do not like it.

You may have heard about all the amazing cocktails you can have on a cruise, like a Lavaflow, Miami Vice or Strawberry Daiquiri. Ordinarily, you might shy away from buying one because you do not want to spend money on a drink you may not finish.  With a drink package, there is no risk involved.

In fact, Royal Caribbean offers a wide variety of beers, cocktails and liquors with its drink packages and you may find trying a few drinks during the cruise to be a fun pursuit.

You are going to Perfect Day at CocoCay or Labdee

My mom used to always remind me that you do not need to drink to have a good time, and while accurate, having a few drinks at the beach or pool is still fun!

If your ship visits either of Royal Caribbean's private destinations, you can only buy beers or cocktails from the cruise line and that makes a drink package purchase far more compelling.

These private islands are all about enjoying the natural beauty surrounding you, and having a few drinks along the way seems to be a common pastime. Just like a sea day on the ship, drink package benefits work on these private islands and extend the value they provide.

What do you think?

If you have cruised before, is a drink package worth it?  If you are new to cruising, what concerns do you have? Share your comments and questions in the comments!

Royal Caribbean recently announced it would reposition Spectrum of the Seas to Australia as a gesture to thank the humanitarian efforts put forth to combat the wildfires. The cruise line has now opened bookings for two complimentary sailings.

Royal Caribbean announced the two sailings will take place on Spectrum of the Seas:

• Saturday February 29th to Wednesday 4th March
• Saturday March 7th to Wednesday 11th March

If you have been a Volunteer First Responder, head to www.ARoyalThankYou.com for your chance to get a free sailing.

To be eligible to enter for the chance to win a prize, Volunteer First Responders must visit www.aroyalthankyou.com, follow the prompts to the promotion entry page, input the requested details (including full name, date of birth, address, email, contact number and proof of government emergency service ID), answer the following promotional question “What do you believe is the most important characteristics of a Volunteer First Responder?” (150 words or less) and submit the fully completed entry form during the Promotional Period.

The complimentary cruises include:

• Cruise fare
• All taxes and fees
• All meals in the main dining rooms, excluding specialty restaurants
  • Including Beer and Wine service at Dinner meals (Guests 18+ only)
• All tea, coffee, soft drink and bottled water
• Voom WIFI – discounted price of $5 per day per device (surf & stream)
• Shows and entertainment
• Activities including:
  • iFly
  • Flowrider
  • SeaPlex, including games arcade and bumper cars
  • North Star
  • Sky Pad
  • Adventure Ocean Youth Program
  • Fitness Centre, excluding specialty classes

Entries close AEDT Tuesday 25 February 10am. Winners will be notified by end of the business day on Tuesday 25 th February 2020.

Hope you are having a great weekend.  Here is all of this week's Royal Caribbean cruise news.

Royal Caribbean released a new map of the Perfect Day at CocoCay cabana map.

The new map lists locations in the newly opened areas of South Beach and the Coco Beach Club.

Royal Caribbean News

• An updated deployment schedule shows 2021-2022 sailing releases pushed back a couple weeks.
• Royal Caribbean is testing a new family steel drum lesson activity.
• Frequently asked questions about Oasis of the Seas.
• Wondering if last minute cruises are really cheaper?
• The 25 best Royal Caribbean tips, tricks & hidden tricks.
• Everything you should know about the Royal Caribbean app.
• What is the best room on a cruise ship?

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 342nd episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available, all about what to pack for a Royal Caribbean cruise.

In this episode, Matt breaks down what you need to know about packing for a cruise and how to manage it so it is not overwhelming.

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

New RCB Video: Top 10 Biggest Royal Caribbean Cruise Ships in the World!

Have you subscribed to the Royal Caribbean Blog YouTube Channel? We share some great videos there regularly, all about taking a Royal Caribbean cruise! This week, we are sharing our latest video — Top 10 Biggest Royal Caribbean Cruise Ships in the World! — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

Royal Caribbean Around the Internet

Washington Post wrote about the increased popularity of overwater bungalows.

Cruise Radio shared a first time Royal Caribbean cruise guide.

Royal Caribbean showcased the top 10 bucket-list worthy Mediterranean beaches.

Love Royal Caribbean? Need a "fix" until your next cruise? Every week we share our readers' favorite Royal Caribbean cruise photos so that we can all enjoy a "virtual escape" onboard!

We kickoff this week's edition with a photo by Bob "Carp" Carpenter of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge as Rhapsody of the Seas sailed out of Tampa.

Here is a look down the pier at CocoCay, taken by Michael Kho.

Our next photo is of the ice skating show on Navigator of the Seas. Photo by Nicole Waite.

Spiralqueen grabbed this shot of Grandeur of the Seas docked at Perfect Day at CocoCay.

Stuart Cole sent in this photo of sail away from Sydney on Ovation of the Seas.

Here is a great looking sunset from Harmony of the Seas, taken by Peter Slinger.

Our final photo is by Joe Moran (@JLMoran) from on a sunset catamaran in Bermuda.

Thank you to everyone for sharing these wonderful photos with us.  If you would like to share your best Royal Caribbean cruise photos, use this form to submit them.

Have a great weekend!

Royal Caribbean is offering 60% off second guest, kids sail free and up to $450 instant savings on cruises booked this weekend.

The Dive Into Deals sale runs between February 21 - 23, 2020 and is valid on select sailings departing on or after March 21, 2020.

It includes:

• Instant savings of up to $300 USD per stateroom 
  • Sailings 5 nights or less, $50 savings for Interior and Ocean View, $75 for Balconies and $150 for Suites
  • Sailings 6 nights or longer, $75 savings for Interior and Ocean View, $100 for Balconies and $300 for Suites
• BOGO60 provides 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. BOGO60 savings applied to cruise fare at checkout.  
  • In addition, BOGO60 offers up to $150 instant savings per stateroom on select sailings. Instant 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
    • Sailing 6 nights or longer, $50 savings for Interior and Ocean View, $75 for Balconies and $150 for Suites.
    • Instant savings do not apply to China departures. 
• Alaska Kicker
  • Applies to new bookings made between February 1 – March 3, 2020.
  • Alaska Kicker applies to select sailings departing between May 15, 2020 - September 11, 2020 on Ovation of the Seas, Radiance of the Seas and Serenade of the Seas.
  • $25 savings for Interior and Ocean View, $50 for Balconies and $100 for Suites.
• Kids Sail Free applies to new bookings made between February 12, 2020 – March 31, 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 of 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 March 1, 2020 – December 17, 2020 and January 8, 2021 – May 17, 2021.
  • Offer excludes 2020 President’s Day sailings (Sailings between February 14 – 17, 2020), 2020 Spring Break sailings (Sailings between March 14 – 23, 2020), 2020 Holy Week/Easter sailings (Sailings between April 3 – 17, 2020), Peak Summer (Sailings between May 15 – August 31, 2020), 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).
  • Taxes, fees, and port expenses are additional and apply to all guests.

BOGO60, Kids Sail Free and Alaska Kicker are combinable with each other as well as promotional OBCs, NextCruise offers, instant savings, restricted discounts (for example, Seniors, Residents, Military), Promo Code driven offers, Free Upgrades, Crown and Anchor discounts and Shareholder Benefits. Dive into Deals Sale is combinable with BOGO60, Kids Sail Free and Alaska 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 but not combinable with Crown and Anchor discounts. Offer 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 is known for building some of the world's largest cruise ships in the world, so I have a look at the top 10 biggest ships in Royal Caribbean's fleet today and in the future!

Size is not everything, but it sure is impressive! Our newest video has a ranking of the largest Royal Caribbean ships based on gross tonnage.

And if you love this video, there’s plenty more for you to enjoy over on our Royal Caribbean Blog YouTube Channel!

By the way, have you subscribed yet? Be sure to subscribe to our channel and never miss a single video!

So check out the video and then let us know: Which of these big ships is your favorite? 

Our newest podcast episode is out to help give you a quick "audio escape" to a Royal Caribbean cruise!

Episode 342 is available for downloading, which focuses on one aspect of the cruise experience many of us can use some improvement with... packing!

Matt shares what you absolutely need to pack on a Royal Caribbean cruise.

Here’s the podcast page for Episode 342. And don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast via RSS, Stitcher or on iTunes!

Take a listen and as always, let us know what you think! Please rate and review the podcast on iTunes and leave your comments below!

The highly anticipated next release of new Royal Caribbean sailings for May 2021 - April 2022 has been pushed back a couple weeks.

Royal Caribbean has shared a new schedule of when the new sailings will go on sale.

• Week of March 9, 2020: China – Phase 2
• Week of March 9, 2020: Short Caribbean
• Week of March 16. 2020: Australia
• Week of March 23, 2020: China – Phase 3
• Week of March 30, 2020: Singapore & Transpacifics

Essentially, China Phase 2 and Short Caribbean will now both be released the week of March 9, instead of the week of Week of February 24 and March 2, respectively.

These 2021-2022 sailings are in addition to the ones that were released in November & December 2019.

All itineraries and openings are subject to change without notice. 

Deployment schedules gives consumers an idea of when to expect particular cruise schedules to become available to start looking at future cruises.

Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas was revolutionary when she debuted in 2009, and more than 10 years later, she is still one of the most beloved ships in the fleet among cruisers.

Her $165 million transformation in 2019 added a thrilling combination of new Royal Caribbean experiences for guests to enjoy.

With so much to like about this ship, here is a look at some of the most frequently asked questions about Oasis of the Seas.

Where does Oasis of the Seas depart from?

Oasis will offer 7-night Bahamas cruises from Cape Liberty, New Jersey, starting Sept. 5; and 7-night Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries from Miami, beginning November.

While sailing from PortMiami, Oasis of the Seas sails from Terminal 1.

When was Oasis of the Seas refurbished?

Oasis of the Seas underwent a refurbishment in 2019 as part of the Royal Amplified program, that added a number of changes, including , including the cruise line’s first barbecue restaurant, Portside BBQ; and guest favorites, from the tallest slide at sea–the Ultimate Abyss–to popular live music venue Music Hall, and a reimagined, Caribbean pool deck. 

There were quite a few changes made, but here are the most noteworthy ones:

• Caribbean-style pool deck makeover, complete with Lime & Coconut signature bar. New day beds, casitas and variety of seating were added.
• Ultimate Abyss slide (dry slide)
• The Perfect Storm water slides
• Splashaway Bay aqua park
• Portside BBQ specialty restaurant
• El Loco Fresh complimentary Mexican restaurant
• Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade
• Sugar Beach candy shop
• Spotlight Karaoke venue
• Music Hall venue
• Bionic Bar
• Revamped Adventure Ocean
• Mission Control: Apollo 18 escape room

In short, the 2019 upgrades to Oasis enhanced the ship to bring it in line with any new cruise ship available to sail on today. These additions are aimed to keep the ship just as relevant and intriguing as any new Royal Caribbean ship.

How much does it cost to go on Oasis of the Seas?

The price for a cruise on Oasis of the Seas will depend on a variety of factors, so pricing can really run the gamut of options.

Many first timers are curious how much does a cruise cost. The total cost is a combination of the cruise fare, transportation, gratuities, beverages, specialty dining, shore excursions, internet, photos and more.

How much a Royal Caribbean costs depends so much on the choices you make before and during the cruise. Many of the extra costs are optional, but then again you are on vacation and indulging is what makes vacation so fun.

With a few exceptions, Oasis of the Seas typically offers 7-night cruises with prices that are budget friendly, as well as more extravagant suite options for those that want to splurge.

Is Oasis of the Seas a good ship?

It is very common to be curious if Oasis is a "good ship", especially among new cruisers.

Oasis of the Seas is not only a great ship, she is among the best ships in Royal Caribbean's fleet in terms of the amenities and activities it offers, quality service onboard, and the latest innovations.

The ship is one of the largest ships in the world, with plenty of space to offer things to do onboard for guests of all ages. Water slides, specialty dining, an escape room, pools, ice skating, a Broadway show and more await you on this ship.

Does Oasis of the Seas have formal nights?

Yes, on a 7-night sailing, Oasis of the Seas will offer two formal nights. 

Formal night will be held on Day 2 and 5 on Western itineraries and Day 2 and 6 on Eastern itineraries. 

What times are the shows on Oasis of the Seas?

Exact times of shows and activities will vary from sailing to sailing.

To get a ballpark idea of what shows, activities and times are on Oasis, consult a past Cruise Compass. Copies of a recent Cruise Compass are a great way to learn about what your ship offers, as well as get an idea of what to expect in terms of show times.

Royal Caribbean does allow guests to pre-book shows on Oasis of the Seas via the Cruise Planner site.  Around 45-60 days prior to sailing, entertainment for Oasis of the Seas becomes available to book. Reserving a show time has no additional cost, and assures you of a spot in a specific performance.

If you are unable to book a show in advance, there is always a standby line available to wait in, which means closer to show time, any open seats will be available on a first-come, first reserved basis.

What restaurants are free on the Oasis of the Seas?

• Windjammer
• Park Cafe
• Boardwalk Dog House
• Solarium Bistro
• El Loco Fresh
• Sorrento's
• Cafe Promenade
• Main Dining Room
• Johnny Rockets (breakfast only)

How many pools does Oasis of the Seas have?

There are four primary pools on Oasis of the Seas, along with a series of whirlpools, and Splashaway Bay aqua park.

The pools are not heated. The Beach Pool is saltwater, and the other pools are fresh water filtered pools.

The pools are located on deck 15 and 16.

What shows are playing on Oasis of the Seas?

Among the many things to do on Oasis of the Seas are the signature shows. This includes:

• Cats, the Broadway musical, in the Royal Theater
• One Sky in the Royal Theater
• Aqua80s in the AquaTheater
• Frozen in Time in Studio B

There is no additional cost to see these shows

Is Oasis of the Seas the largest cruise ship in the world?

While Oasis of the Seas used to be the largest cruise ship in the world, she no longer holds that title.

Oasis is the fourth largest cruise ship, having been surpassed by sister vessels Allure of the Seas, Harmony of the Seas and Symphony of the Seas.

Has it been a few years since your last Royal Caribbean cruise?

If so, welcome back! This video is all about sharing some of the big changes Royal Caribbean has made in the last couple years that ought to get you up to speed on where things stand today.

And if you love this video, there’s plenty more for you to enjoy over on our Royal Caribbean Blog YouTube Channel!

By the way, have you subscribed yet? Be sure to subscribe to our channel and never miss a single video!

So check out the video and then let us know: What's the most exciting change to happen on Royal Caribbean in the last few years?