Royal Caribbean Blog

The 1990s was the decade when cruising reached the masses, and it's the decade that would see Royal Caribbean launch so many cruise ships that would come to distinguish it to this day.

Royal Caribbean International, which was founded as Royal Caribbean Cruise Line in 1968, has some of the world's largest cruise ships at sea today. When they started, however, their first ship only measured around 23,000 gross registered tons!

By 1991, the company had considerably grown and touted a fleet of seven ships, including Monarch of the Seas, who made her grand debut that year. 

To think about the growth of cruise ships throughout the 90s, Monarch of the Seas measured around 73,900 gross registered tons, while Voyager of the Seas, the first-ever Voyager Class ship that launched in 1999, measured over 130,000!

Have you ever wondered what it was like to sail onboard a Royal Caribbean ship in the 90s? TikTok user @tikittytalk posted a promotional video from 1991 that gives a glimpse into what cruising then would have been like. 

Read more: Photos show what it was like to cruise on Royal Caribbean in the 1980s

The original video is small and grainy, but you get the idea of what it looked  like to cruise in the early 1990s on Royal Caribbean.

The video starts with passengers boarding in San Juan, Puerto Rico

Guests embarking on this specific voyage departed from San Juan on a Sunday evening.

As soon as they stepped foot onboard, they were waited on hand and foot. Crew members wearing white gloves are shown assisting passengers with their carry-on luggage. 

Some onboard amenities weren't that different

On the ship, guests could visit the salon to be pampered. Plus, the narrator states that everyone was "wined and dined virtually around the clock," with the Main Dining Room featuring a different international flavor each night. 

This is pretty similar to today, as Royal Caribbean launched new menus in January 2023 that highlight a different cuisine and cooking style each night, from Caribbean flavors to upscale French cuisine and even Mexican and Asian dishes! 

Aside from that, it's easy to find food (and drinks) around the clock while onboard Royal Caribbean ships. While newer ships have the most complimentary options, you'll always find a Windjammer Marketplace (aka the main buffet) and 24/7 cafe onboard even the oldest vessels, such as Grandeur of the Seas. 

The video then cuts to a cabin attendant preparing a cabin for guests 

Do you remember when Royal Caribbean cabin attendants used to leave nightly chocolates in your stateroom? 

Unfortunately, this, along with twice daily service, is no longer offered. Today, you are asked by your attendant when you'd like your cabin to be attended to. You may tell them in the morning or evening; however, they will not service your stateroom twice anymore.  

Moreover, the video shows this specific cabin attendant dressed as though they're headed to formal night. While cabin stewards are still required to wear a specific uniform, they are much more casual today. 

It is also interesting to think about how most cabins only had a window! Promotional videos today tend to show a balcony or multi-level suite. Back then, however, this was not the case. Suites were not as large, and there were very few, if any, standard balconies onboard. 

Monarch of the Seas, Royal Caribbean's ship that launched in 1991, only about 5% had private balconies onboard. 

In comparison, Wonder of the Seas, who currently holds the title for largest cruise ship in the world, has over 2,000 staterooms, including suites, with balconies onboard, which amounts to roughly 70%. 

Read more: What happened to Royal Caribbean's first cruise ships?

On sea days, you could expect a lot of fitness-related activities to be offered

On the top deck of the ship, Shipshape Aerobics were offered in the morning. According to the narrator, "They [were] a great way to get warmed up for all the activities ahead."

Plus, attending these classes would help you earn Royal Caribbean shipshape dollars, which were good for t-shirts and other prizes! Additionally, they'd have morning walkathons. 

While the fitness center onboard Royal Caribbean ships is known as the Vitality Fitness Center, it was called the Shipshape fitness center in the 90s. Inside, guests could find free weights and access the most popular machines, much like you can do today!

Alternatively, you could start your day with breakfast in the Windjammer Cafe

Whether you wanted to work up an appetite or sleep in, the narrator claims that you could "enjoy a nice leisurely breakfast with friends at the casual but captivating Windjammer Cafe,...which presents a decor that's as refreshing as the meals it serves you."

Today, you will not find indoor waterfalls inside the Windjammer, but that does not mean it still is not a great place to go to enjoy a quick breakfast before heading ashore. 

There weren't any shops or bars lining a single main thoroughfare 

Instead, you could browse through the shops of the Centrum. The popular Royal Promenade wasn't introduced until Voyager of the Seas launched in 1999. Before then, the main hub of the ships was the Centrum, which can still be found onboard some older Royal Caribbean ships today, such as Vision of the Seas and Jewel of the Seas. 

The Centrum onboard Royal Caribbean ships is an open air area that spans several decks of the ship. In the middle, you'll find a set of elevators, and various bars, lounges, shops, and dining venues are spread out on the higher decks overlooking the Centrum. 

The narrator says that you can find anything from designer fashions to elegant fragrances, fine arts, and souvenirs. 

The TikTok ends by talking about developing film

That's right! At one point, you could have film developed while onboard a Royal Caribbean cruise. You could even buy cameras and film if you forgot either at home!

Today, you can still buy cameras like Go Pros to use during your trip. However, they're pretty costly. 

Moreover, professional photography services were offered in the 90s, too.

Have you ever noticed there is no deck 13 on most cruise ships?

Historically, the maritime industry has been quite superstitious and some of that even holds up today with how decks are planned.

When you go on most ships, the elevators will have deck 12 followed by deck 14.  Not all ships do, but some certainly have this idiosyncrasy.

This can confuse some people that they missed a stop on a non-existent deck or simply wonder why it doesn't exist.

As you might imagine, the reason for skipping deck is out of fear the number brings bad luck.

As an example, Royal Caribbean's ground-breaking new cruise ship, Icon of the Seas, doesn't have deck 13.  A brand new cruise ship that launches in 2024 omits number 13 from its layout!

In fact, there's not even a room that ends in "13". 

Read more: 11 reasons Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas will change the cruise industry

Most Oasis Class ships skip deck 13, however, Quantum Class cruise ships have deck 13.

Radiance, Voyager and Freedom Class ships have it.  The Vision Class is too short to reach deck 13.

Another interesting twist is you wont find cabins on deck 13.  If a ship has a deck 13, they use it for sports activities or other public venues.

Part of the reason is higher decks are usually where you find public venues, but there may be a part of sailing public that would not want to stay on deck 13 because of the unlucky connotation the number has.

It's probably why many hotels in the United States also don't have a floor 13, because some customers wouldn't want to stay there.

Other cruise ship superstitions

Deck numbering isn't the only superstition that holds up to this day.  

If you cruise enough, you'll probably run into at least a few other superstitions within the cruise industry.

Godmothers

Every cruise ship has a godmother, which serves as a ceremonial position, and yes, it's almost always a woman.  Other ships have had women hold the role, including renowned athletes, celebrities and royalty.

The godmother's job is to give the ship a blessing for the safety of the crew members and passengers who will sail onboard it. 

Not only does having a godmother ensure luck is on the side of the ship and crew, it's a great marketing opportunity for the cruise line.

Lucky coins

New cruise ships also have a coin ceremony, which takes place at the time of keel laying.

Keel laying is an important milestone in new cruise ship construction. It's when shipbuilders place a pair of coins under the keel block of the new ship to bless the ship and as a symbol of good fortune.

Some Royal Caribbean cruise ships indicate where the coins are located. In the case of Oasis of the Seas, you will need to head up to the bow sundeck on deck 14.  The lucky coins are held in a cabinet that is welded to the ship and has a small commemorative plaque. 

Naming ceremonies

The Egyptians, Greeks and the Romans called upon their respective Gods to protect their ships and crew. 

The Vikings would make human sacrifices in honor of a new ship to appease the gods, and Greeks drank wine while blessing the new ship with water.

Many decades ago, they would smash a bottle of Champagne across the hull of a new ship for good luck.  They still do that today, but usually it's done mechanically, with the godmother pressing a button to make the magic happen.

Missing deck 17

Similar to skipping 13, some European cruise ships skip deck 17.

In Italy, the number 17 is considered unlucky, because the number 17 written in Roman numerals is XVII, which is an anagram of VIXI. This translates in Latin to "I have lived", which means to be dead.

For that reason, you may not find a deck 17 on their ships.  MSC Cruises is one line that goes from deck 16 to deck 18, such as on MSC Meraviglia, MSC Grandiosa, MSC Bellissima.

I took a quick, 4-night weekend getaway cruise onboard Royal Caribbean’s Grandeur of the Seas, which is the oldest ship in the cruise line’s fleet. Debuting in 1996, this Vision-class cruise ship is nearly 26 years old!

My sister and I booked the smallest and cheapest room available onboard Grandeur of the Seas to stick to our travel budget. We always like to save money when we can, so we tend to book the cheapest cabins onboard.

Like most cruises, the cheapest cabin available for this itinerary was an inside stateroom guarantee. Inside cabins have no windows or natural light, but still provide everything needed for a comfortable say. With a guarantee cabin, you cannot choose the location of your stateroom onboard. This often means staying in less desirable locations, typically in the front or back of the ship. 

Read more: Inside cabin vs. balcony room on a cruise ship

My sister and I had been looking for a weekend cruise to take this fall together, so we were excited to find a cheap sailing from Tampa, Florida. I had never cruised from Tampa before, although I reside in Florida, so this seemed like the perfect opportunity to visit the city. 

Given the ship’s age, we were not entirely sure what to expect onboard. Needless to say, we set our expectations pretty low about the entire cruise experience so we wouldn’t be disappointed. Of course, age is but a number if a ship is well maintained and refurbished from time to time.

The affordable price was the biggest draw for us to book this sailing, costing just $466 each. This 4-night itinerary featured two sea days, along with one day in Cozumel, Mexico. This price included gratuities, taxes and fees. Therefore, we each paid about $116 per day for this sailing, which felt reasonable considering we booked only the cruise two months ago.  

Our inside cabin was only 142 square feet, but I wouldn’t hesitate to book the same stateroom again on a Vision Class ship. Here’s what our cheap and small cabin looked like on Grandeur of the Seas. 

While Royal Caribbean is known for building the biggest and most innovative cruise ships in the world, Grandeur of the Seas is far from big or innovative

Instead, Royal Caribbean’s smallest cruise ship offers a completely different vacation than anything shown in the cruise line’s marketing material. 

You won’t find waterslides, zip lines or surf simulators on the top deck of Grandeur of the Seas. Rather, you can enjoy beautiful ocean views with plenty of places to relax around the small ship. Grandeur of the Seas represents a more traditional era of cruising before ships became floating mega-resorts.  

I love all kinds of cruising, so I was excited to step back in time onboard Grandeur of the Seas for a more low-key Royal Caribbean experience. Because there was less to do onboard, we ended up spending more time in our cabin than we normally do. With two sea days, it was fairly hot and humid to be on the outside decks, so we enjoyed retreating to our air conditioned inside cabin throughout the day.  

For this sailing, we were assigned cabin 3505 on Deck 3. As expected, our cabin was located at the very front of the ship

Since this sailing was short, we really did not care about the location of our stateroom. We anticipated that we would be assigned a cabin at the front or back of the ship, as these are often the cabins that people do not want to book. When you book a guarantee cabin, you get assigned the leftover staterooms. 

Read more: The 5 best cabin locations on a cruise ship

We were not surprised to find that our cabin was located at the very front of the ship. We were nearly the last row of inside staterooms while walking towards the front of the ship. The hallway had an interesting design as we approached the front of the ship, with a zig-zag hallway leading to our cabin. 

It’s been a while since I’ve stayed on a cabin located as low as deck 3! This made for easy access to the ship’s main atrium, which starts on Deck 4. I particularly appreciated the quick access to Cafe Latitudes in the morning, as I love a warm latte to start my day. 

Grandeur of the Seas also represents a time where many ships were built with more inside and outside cabins than balcony cabins; as such, there were very few balconies available to book onboard. 

On this small cruise ship, there are around 1,000 cabins onboard for guests to book and 780 of these are inside or outside cabins. There are only 95 suites and 122 balconies available. So, if you’re planning to sail on Grandeur of the Seas - or any other Vision-class ship - you will likely end up in either an inside or outside cabin like us. 

To our surprise, the inside cabin was in fairly good condition and the stateroom felt bigger than we anticipated

Once we boarded Grandeur of the Seas, we made our way to our cabin to unload our bags and check out our home-away-from-home for the next four nights. Since the ship was very old, we did not have high expectations for the condition of the stateroom. I anticipated a lot of rust, along with worn down furniture and an outdated bathroom.

After weaving towards the front of the ship, we found cabin 3505. At just 142 square feet, this cabin is on the smaller side for inside staterooms. For comparison, Royal Caribbean’s new Odyssey of the Seas has inside staterooms around 185 square feet in size. 

Regardless, our inside cabin on Grandeur of the Seas felt bigger than we had expected. We had a king bed at the back of the cabin, although we ended up separating the beds after one evening. While I prefer having the beds together, my sister insisted on separating the bed into the twin beds configuration after the first night. 

I will admit, it was difficult navigating around the side of the beds when they were configured together as a king bed. Once we separated the beds, we were able to navigate easier and the room felt more spacious. 

The bed was very comfortable. I was worried the mattress would feel over used given the ship’s age, but the beds seemed to be in good condition. Everything was clean as well. 

Next to the bed, we each had a small nightstand to use. These nightstands felt larger than a typical cabin nightstand, which we appreciated!

Behind the bed, we had two small lights that we used in the evening before bedtime. I wish these lamps had USB plugs for us to use, but we made do.

Adjacent to the bed was a small loveseat for additional seating in the cabin. I always appreciate having another place to sit other than the beds in a cabin. If you’re like us, this additional seating also becomes additional storage!

The cabin also featured a vanity with drawers for storage, along with a small TV and a safe to use during the cruise

As with most cruise cabins, we had a vanity space surrounded by drawers and shelving. The mirror was also illuminated with a bright light, which I use to get ready each day.

The sides of the mirror also opened for additional shelving. This was one area of the cabin where you could really see the wear and tear. This was simply cosmetic, but the hinges looked pretty rusted out and worn down. 

The drawers were quite large on the right side of the vanity - I was actually able to unpack my entire suitcase into these three drawers. We did not even use the space above the TV, although having ample storage would be necessary for a longer itinerary. 

We also noted that our cabin did not have a mini fridge, which is typically standard for most cabins these days. It would have been nice to keep our bottled water cool in a fridge, as this was a hot and humid sailing to Mexico!

As with most older ships, we had limited outlets to use for charging devices

Older cruise ships will only feature one or two outlets for you to use in your cabin. Newer ships have implemented charging strips with multiple outlets and USB ports to use, which is a welcomed change. To make sure I have enough ports to charge everything, I always bring a USB adapter to plug into the European outlets in my cabin.

This cruise I was a little scatterbrained - and unfortunately forgot to pack this. I also forgot to pack my portable charger, so I was struggling with just one outlet. 

My sister and I shared the two outlets during our cruise, so we had to be purposeful with our charging. Every time we left the room, we made sure to charge something for later. I did remember to grab my extra long phone charger, which was useful to charge my phone while using it in bed. 

The closet had ample space to unpack with hangers and drawers

While unpacking, we had more space for storage than we needed for this quick sailing. My sister and I both traveled with just carry-on luggage, so we did not have much to unpack. I ended up using the vanity drawers, so my sister used the closet space. She was able to hang everything up and we ended had extra space to store our luggage in the closet.

The closet came with a few hangers, although you might be needing more depending on how long your cruise is. The closet also featured more drawers rather than shelving, which was notable. Overall, we had plenty of space to unpack and store our things.

Our cabin was located next to noisy neighbors, and we could often hear them talking in the morning and late at night

The crowd onboard our sailing was there to have a good time! I can’t tell you how many bachelorette and bachelor parties we saw during our cruise, along with friend groups and family reunions sailing together.

As such, the sailing was not a quiet one! The hallways were buzzing with people ready to party. We could hear the cabin next to us whenever they were in the room - it felt as though we could hear their entire conversation. While we did not have much foot traffic at the very front of the ship, it still felt like we could hear plenty of noise. Luckily, I never forget to bring my earplugs when I cruise and this helped me sleep each night. 

One of the biggest surprises in our inside cabin was the condition of the bathroom, which we expected to be very outdated

After looking around the cabin, we decided to check out the bathroom. Typically on older ships, the bathrooms feel very outdated in terms of design and decor. In the spring, I sailed on one of Norwegian Cruise Line’s oldest ships, Norwegian Sun, and our bathroom was lime green colored! Last summer, our cabin on the oldest Carnival ship - Carnival Ecstasy - had bright blue, squishy flooring. In fact, the bathroom's toilet was also so close to the wall that we nearly had to sit sideways. 

Needless to say, we had low expectations for the condition of our bathroom for an old ship. I was expecting outdated decor, poor design and lots of rust.

To our surprise, the bathroom was much better than we anticipated and must have been refurbished in the recent decade. The vanity had light woodwork, which accented the white flooring and walls. There was a colorful backsplash behind the sink as well, which was a fun addition. 

Noticeably, we didn’t have much counter space or storage in the bathroom. Between the two of us, we filled up the bathroom counter quickly with our cosmetics. 

While the bathroom was better than anticipated, the shower was one of the worst I’ve had on a cruise ship

A cruise ship shower is normally nothing to write home about. Older ships tend to feature small, cramped showers - which are anything but luxurious. It’s not uncommon to have a capsule shower with either a dingy shower curtain or a space-pod type of plastic door. 

Luckily, newer cruise ships have redesigned bathroom spaces with larger showers, which really makes a big difference in the cruise showering experience. 

The shower was oddly shaped, almost like a trapezoid.  The worst part of the experience was the shower curtain, which would cling to us while showering. This made the tiny space feel even smaller! If you tried to push the curtain away, you had to deal with dripping water all over the bottom of the bathroom floor. 

I’ll admit that I don’t go on cruises to have a spectacular showering experience and I realize it is a small (maybe even silly) thing to complain about. But, it is a daily activity that we did not enjoy on Grandeur of the Seas. Also, if you had to bathe your kids, I can imagine it would be a nightmare experience in this cabin! 

Because of our loyalty status, we were also able to request upgraded toiletries for our sailing

When cruising with Royal Caribbean in a standard cabin, you will typically only find a 2-in-1 mystery liquid in your cabin - it’s advertised as ‘double duty’ shampoo and body wash. This soap leaves my hair feeling dried out normally, so I usually pack my own shampoo and conditioner when I cruise. I am fine using the provided mystery liquid as body wash, but having conditioner and better shampoo is a must. 

My sister informed me on this cruise that we can request exclusive toiletries onboard because of our Diamond + status. I had completely forgotten about this amenity, so we requested the upgraded toiletries from our stateroom attendant. After returning to the cabin on our first evening, these were provided for us to use! We loved having higher quality toiletries during our sailing. 

Overall, this inside cabin was comfortable during our short cruise on Grandeur of the Seas - and I would book it again!

Because this cruise was only four nights, this cheap and small inside cabin was perfect for us. Inside cabins have everything needed for a comfortable stay, especially during a short itinerary. I had set my expectations low for this cabin considering the ship’s age; to our surprise, it was better than expected. 

While the cabin was understandably outdated, I found the stateroom to be in similar condition to cabins onboard Royal Caribbean’s Voyager-class ships and Radiance-class ships. I’ve recently sailed on both of these ship classes, and our cabin on Grandeur of the Seas was very similar to my staterooms on Jewel of the Seas and Mariner of the Seas. 

I would absolutely book another inside cabin onboard Grandeur of the Seas. With very few balconies and suites to book anyway, most guests will find themselves in an inside or outside cabin onboard as well. Even though the room was quite small at 142 square feet, the stateroom become a cozy place to return to each evening. 

Star of the Seas will be the second of Royal Caribbean's Icon Class cruise ships when she launches.

Royal Caribbean has not announced many details about Star of the Seas, such as what will make this ship different than Icon of the Seas. This page will be updated periodically when Royal Caribbean reveals what the ship will offer to guests.

Being the second in the Icon Class, Royal Caribbean is expected to build upon the interest Icon of the Seas has generated.

Here is a look at the most important things we know about Star of the Seas.

Star of the Seas facts

Star of the Seas will be the second Icon Class cruise ship when she's built.

She will be based from Port Canaveral, Florida and her maiden voyage with paying passengers will take place August 17, 2025.

The ship is under construction at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland. 

Read more: Icon of the Seas sneak peek: Inside Royal Caribbean's next new ship

Star of the Seas should be right around the same size as Icon of the Seas, although Royal Caribbean is fond of making new ships just a little bit bigger than the previous vessel so they can market the new ship as the "biggest cruise ship in the world."

Icon of the Seas is 20 decks high and 1,198 feet long and measure 250,800 gross tons. It has more than 40 dining venues and bars, a waterpark, and seven pools, and can handle 9,950 people (2,350 crew and 7,600 guests).

Royal Caribbean International President & CEO, Michael Bayley, thinks Star will build on the impressive legacy Icon has already, "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."

Royal Caribbean has not announced any onboard activities, entertainment or things to do yet.

Star of the Seas construction progress

In February 2023, a steel cutting ceremony was held for Star of the Seas, which when the first piece of steel is cut. This is an important milestone in the construction of any new cruise ship.

Read more: How long does it take to build a cruise ship

In December 2023, the keel was laid at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland. The hull assembly of Star of the Seas followed shortly thereafter in late December.

The laying of the keel means a crane lowered a massive steel block to the bottom of the construction pool on trestles to signal the start of assembling the ship's hull.

When will Star of the Seas be delivered?

Royal Caribbean announced Star of the Seas will begin sailing sometime in "summer of 2025."

According to filings Royal Caribbean Group made with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, delivery of the ship from shipyard to cruise line should take place in the second quarter of 2025.

Delivery date represents when the ship would be handed over from the shipyard to the cruise line, but that is not when the ship is ready to enter service.

When a new cruise ship is delivered, formal construction is complete, but the ship still needs to be staffed, and amenities brought onboard as the ship prepares to enter service.

Incredible demand

Even though no Icon Class ship has sailed yet, the demand for this new ship class has been incredible, and Star of the Seas will be Royal Caribbean's follow-up to Icon of the Seas.

Read more: Royal Caribbean ship classes

Icon of the Seas is better booked than any other ship launch, and when Star of the Seas goes on sale, they'll expect similar results.

The company saw the largest booking day in its history when reservations for the Icon opened in October 2022. Royal Caribbean President & CEO Michael Bayley said Icon was "the best-selling product in the history of our business."

Next-gen power

Like Icon of the Seas, Star of the Seas will take advantage of cleaner fuel options.

This will be Royal Caribbean's third cruise ship powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), as well using some of the cleanest-burning marine fuel available to date with a proven lineup of industry-leading environmental programs on board.

With applications ranging from waste heat recovery systems to shore power connection, Royal Caribbean’s most sustainable ship will advance parent company Royal Caribbean Group’s journey to introducing a net-zero cruise ship by 2035.

When do bookings open for Star of the Seas?

Royal Caribbean opened bookings for Star of the Seas on December 5, 2023.

You can now book a cruise on Star of the Seas between August 2025 and April 2026. The new ship will offer seven-night cruises to the Eastern and Western Caribbean.

The inaugural sailing will visit three ports of call: Perfect Day at CocoCay, St. Thomas, and St. Kitts.

When it comes to vacationing, I typically always choose a cruise with Royal Caribbean. I really enjoy the ships, the entertainment and activities onboard, as well as the itineraries they offer.

I had been intrigued by all of the marketing I’ve seen around Virgin Voyages, but was initially put off of the higher prices. My husband and I don’t have any kids, and the idea of an adults-only cruise was definitely appealing. While we haven’t run into many issues where kids were a nuisance on our past cruises, there was one time where a tour group of teenagers onboard one of our sailings made the idea of an adults-only cruise sound like a dream.

I had always figured that I could sail on one of my favorite Royal ships for much less than a Virgin sailing, and kept going back to what I knew. However, I did not realize that Virgin Voyages offers a more all-inclusive type of pricing, especially when compared to Royal Caribbean. 

The fare for an interior cabin on Virgin Voyages for a 4-night Key West and Bahamas sailing was $1734, for two cruisers. Comparatively, within the last 2 years I have sailed on 3-5 night sailings on Royal Caribbean with our cabin, even including a Junior Suite, costing less than $1000. What I had failed to realize was just how much was included in Virgin’s base fare. 

They have what they call “Always Included Luxury” for their sailings, which includes not only the cabin fare, but also gratuities, group workouts, all food, essential beverages such as waters, juices, sodas and coffee stations, and even WiFi. We found that you can more often than not find a booking promotion that will also score you a “bar tab” which is a set amount of money that goes towards alcoholic drinks, mocktails, and specialty coffees. 

When we sail with Royal, we have to add in the automatic gratuities, we almost always buy a WiFi package for 2 devices, and before getting Diamond status we would always purchase a beverage package. Having these included in our fare literally saved us hundreds of dollars. With this knowledge, we decided to go ahead and book the cruise, and try out a new (to us) cruise line.

After spending 4 nights onboard a Virgin Voyages cruise, here is how I would compare the experience to Royal Caribbean.

We were both overwhelmed and underwhelmed by the planning process. 

While booking the cruise itself was easy, what came next completely threw us off. We are used to booking our cruise, and heading straight to the Cruise Planner to ensure that we have all of the add-ons we enjoy while cruising, and it was really refreshing to not have to add anything on to enjoy our Virgin sailing. 

However, that’s not to say that I didn’t miss the Cruise Planner when preparing for our Virgin sailing. Contrary to Royal Caribbean, where you can get all of your pre-cruise planning done from the computer or their app, Virgin requires you to do everything through their app. In a quick glance in the App Store, you’ll see that Virgin’s app scores a measly 1.6 stars, whereas Royal’s scores 4.8 stars. This immediately set the tone for how the planning stage would go for our cruise. 

The app was not intuitive, and I constantly felt lost on which page I was on and which page I needed to get to. It also was constantly crashing, and I experienced a lot of delays when things were loading. Since you are required to fill out all of your personal information prior to sailing on it, I had to tough it out, but it really made me miss the option of being able to fill out this information on a computer like Royal Caribbean allows.

You also have to utilize the app to pre book your complimentary dining reservations, which were completely filled by the time I booked my cruise about 45 days out from sailing. This left me scrambling trying to find out exactly where and what we would be able to eat once onboard. Each time I went to check if a restaurant had a reservation available, I had to go back to the home screen and navigate back to the dining section to check a new restaurant. 

I am also used to getting cruise documents prior to sailing, which typically include your sea pass and luggage tags. Virgin doesn’t require either of those, and doesn’t provide you with any documentation, so I arrived at the port feeling slightly helpless, without knowing what was exactly needed from me, and hoping I had what was needed to get on the ship. 

The boarding process set the tone for our cruise.

Luckily, the boarding process was extremely easy, and I actually got onboard in the quickest amount of time of any of my cruises. After parking, we approached a porter and found out that if you don’t want to carry on your luggage, they will provide the luggage tags for you at the port entrance and take your bags at that time. We were easily able to drop our bags and head inside to check-in. 

The port itself was well laid-out, and we were efficiently ushered towards an open check-in desk. Here we were given our bracelets, which acted as our sea pass and room key for the duration of our cruise. This was a huge improvement over having to carry a physical card around, especially seeing as most of my clothing doesn’t have pockets, and I have definitely lost a sea pass or two on my sailings before. The bracelet was thin enough that it wasn’t bothersome, and it felt like one less thing for me to worry about once onboard. All-in-all, from dropping our bags off to setting foot on the ship took us less than 15 minutes.

We were interested to see if the food lived up to the hype. 

One of the things I was most excited to experience was the food. This is something that Virgin Voyages is known for, as they famously don’t have a main dining room or buffet on any of their ships. Instead, they have over 20 included eateries onboard, with 6 reservation sit-down restaurants, a made-to-order pizza place, fresh scooped ice cream, and plenty of other options for every cruiser. 

Now, I am someone who actually enjoys the main dining room and buffet when sailing on Royal Caribbean. I enjoy knowing what to expect when it comes to the food, and getting to know the waitstaff throughout your cruise. I also appreciate the ease and quickness of eating at a buffet, as there are certain times I just want to grab a quick bite and not deal with a full sit down style service. 

I was interested to see not only how the venues worked onboard Scarlet Lady, but also how good the food was, as there weren’t any up-charge specialty restaurants. At first glance, when downloading the app and immediately realizing all of the 6 reservation-required restaurants had no availability, I was worried. 

I mean, if you wanted a sit down dining experience onboard, these were your only option, and I couldn’t get a reservation before 10 PM for any of the nights. I did a quick search online and found some forums from previous cruisers that they saved a lot of the seating availability for once you were onboard and connected to the WiFi. Luckily, that was the case for us, and we were able to get the dining reservations at the times we wanted, but we were definitely stressed leading up to the cruise. 

Our first stop onboard was The Pizza Place, which featured made-to-order personal pizzas. You placed your order at the counter, were given a buzzer, and waited just a few minutes until your pizza was ready. As a Sorrento’s fan, I have to admit that this pizza blew Sorrento’s out of the water. Not only could you customize what you wanted on your pizza, but they also had plenty of unique options on their menu to choose from, and you quickly had a fresh pizza to enjoy.

For our dinners, we ended up eating at their Italian, Mexican and steakhouse restaurants. I found these to be on par with Royal Caribbean’s specialty restaurants, which was amazing as they didn’t cost us any extra. The food was definitely a bit more adventurous than I am used to on a cruise, but the appeal is there for foodies and those looking to try new things. I was always able to find something that I enjoyed. 

For breakfasts and lunches, we mostly ate at The Galley. This food hall concept includes 8 different food venues, a specialty coffee counter, and plenty of drink stations throughout. This definitely was the closest area to a buffet, however instead of going and serving yourself, you had the option of finding a table and ordering through a server, from any of the venues, or standing in line to grab something yourself. These different food venues ranged from bento boxes, to sandwiches, salads, pastries, burgers, and more. There was absolutely something for everyone here, and it was a perfect quick meal. 

Another thing that we appreciated is that around the ship you could find various grab-and-go stations, mainly consisting of salads, wraps and sandwiches that could be enjoyed anywhere on the ship. Overall, the food lived up to the hype and is definitely a selling point for Virgin Voyages. 

Our cabin was impressively thought out

Of course, another extremely important aspect of cruising is your stateroom. We opted to go for an interior cabin on our sailing, and I wasn’t expecting much. I’ve stayed in interior rooms on various Royal Caribbean ships many times, and I tend to think of it as just a place to sleep, shower and change, and nothing more. 

However, this is another area that Virgin Voyages has won us over in. Immediately upon entering our stateroom, we were impressed with how large it seemed. Even though it was only 177-square-feet, it had enough room for a desk, seating area, and we were able to walk around both sides of the bed. For two people, we never felt cramped or that we were getting in each other’s way when moving around the cabin.

Another selling point for me was the amount of outlets in the room. Not only were their multiple outlets around the room, but they all included USB outlets in addition to the standard American plugs. This was helpful for us, as we are used to one measly outlet on Royal Caribbean, and needing to bring an extra outlet adapter just to charge all of our electronics. 

Probably one of my favorite features of the room was that the lights and TV were controlled by a tablet. If you’ve stayed in an interior room, you know just how dark they can be once the lights are turned off. With using a tablet I was able to turn them on and off from bed, and didn’t have to stumble across the cabin in the dark. 

They also had a variety of preset “moods” for you to choose from, which would change the room to different colors and hues, such as a Hangover setting with lower lights. Something else that we weren’t used to, was having a large selection of popular movies and shows to choose from. On Royal Caribbean, we are stuck with the 30–ish channels, that seem to somehow be almost all news or sports. This was a great way to ensure that if you wanted to spend some time in your cabin, you would have something to watch. 

We felt that the onboard activities and entertainment were lacking

While at this point we were blown away by the food and the room, we soon found out exactly where Virgin Voyages was lacking. We made our way up to the pool deck to see what it looked like, and were shocked to find just two very small pools for the entire cruise ship. 

These pools looked like they could comfortably fit no more than 20 people each, and it made me curious how that would work on our sea day. Spoiler - on our sea day I counted 45 people crammed in the pool at one point. 

This was extremely disappointing to us, as we love to spend our sea days by and in the pool. Royal Caribbean has done a great job in ensuring that there is a lot of space on their pool decks, and especially with their newer ships, having enough pools to fit the needs of their crowds. 

After realizing there was no way we would be fighting for a spot in the pool, we packed up our stuff and headed inside for the remainder of our pool day. I wasn’t all that shocked to see that many other people had the same idea, and were also looking for things to do inside and away from the pool decks. 

Just another one of the areas that I feel Royal Caribbean shines in, is having activities going all day long, with multiple choices to fit every cruiser at some point. I found myself missing the lineup that Royal Caribbean offers both through the day and into the evening. While the shows that Virgin Voyages did have were excellent, they often repeated throughout the cruise, and by the second night we had seen the only two shows we were interested in. 

Though, to their credit Virgin Voyages did offer some unique areas that we weren’t expecting to see on an adults-only ship. They had an arcade that was complete with retro games, and had the added benefit of not being sticky and gross from the lack of children. They also had seesaws and swings around the outdoor decks, as well as plenty of hammocks and hot tubs scattered around for people to enjoy. 

Virgin’s The Beach Club, at Bimini Bahamas offered a more upscale experience compared to Royal Caribbean’s Perfect Day at CocoCay

One of the things that I was most excited for on this sailing, was visiting Virgin’s beach club, the Beach Club at Bimini, Bahamas. This private beach club, while not on a private island, is one of their signature stops on their Caribbean and Bahamas itineraries. 

I am a huge fan of Perfect Day at CocoCay, as I enjoy the all-inclusiveness of the island, and not having to book an excursion to have a great time. I was hoping that this would be the same for The Beach Club, and we didn’t book any excursions for our day there.

Immediately upon entering The Beach Club, it reminded me of Coco Beach Club on CocoCay. However, unlike Coco Beach Club, Virgin’s beach club is included in your cruise fare. Upon entering, we were happy to see that there was plenty of seating around the pool area, with and without umbrellas.

There were two pools, one with a DJ booth and one with a volleyball net. Both had plenty of in-water loungers for people to enjoy as well. Making our way down to the beach, again we saw rows upon rows of complimentary seating, and some of the bluest water I’ve ever seen. This Beach Club truly felt like we should have paid a lot of money to access. 

Like other cruise  line private destinations, the lunch was also included. However, you were not going to find your typical island buffet here. Instead, you were able to order from a small menu featuring island-inspired dishes. While I can admit that these were on par with their food onboard, as a pickier eater I was left with not many choices to eat. I know that most cruisers would prefer this type of food, but personally, I have always been happy with the food at CocoCay, and the wide variety that ensures that everyone can find something suited to their taste buds.

Aside from the food, the rest of our day at this private destination was amazing. We got to enjoy the pool float party, where they threw about 50 inflatables into the pool for people to enjoy while the DJ kicked off the afternoon, as well as the beautiful beach.

We left The Beach Club agreeing that we would pick a future itinerary solely because of a stop here. We felt the value we received was well above what you receive at other private islands, for not paying anything extra. 

My husband and I both agreed that we would sail with Virgin Voyages again.

While we are lifelong Royal Caribbean fans, we both left this sailing agreeing that we would be happy to cruise Virgin Voyages again. We would be interested in trying one of their other ships, and a different itinerary to compare experiences. We agreed that if our friend group got together to sail again, we would urge them to choose Virgin sailing, as we saw a lot of groups having fun on our cruise. 

However, if the prices between a Royal Caribbean sailing and a Virgin Voyages sailing were similar, after the add-ons I would need to take into consideration with Royal, I would probably book with Royal first. I tend to be a creature of habit, and love knowing exactly what to expect with Royal. I also consider the ship part of the destination, and want to ensure that I can spend my sea days with fun things to do, and I know that I will find that on a Royal Caribbean ship.

Our sailing on Virgin Voyages opened up our eyes to trying out different cruise lines, and broadening our horizons. 
 

The escalating war between Israel and Hamas has resulted in Royal Caribbean pulling the plug on the rest of its planned cruise season in the region.

Royal Caribbean had already cancelled a few sailings from Israel, as well as visits to the country on other ships.

Guests booked on the November 1 and November 6 sailings received updates that their sailings had been cancelled as well.

"As you may be aware already, the geopolitical situation in Israel is escalating," Royal Caribbean wrote in an email to guests booked on these sailings.

In the email, Royal Caribbean conveyed the need for the safety of guests, crew, and the ship to make the change, "With your safety and wellbeing in mind, and in conjunction with our Global Security Department, we've decided that we must cancel our November 1st, 2023 Rhapsody of the Seas sailing."

Rhapsody of the Seas was scheduled to operate a 5-Night Greek Isles and 6-Night Med Highlights before moving to Barcelona, Spain to conclude their fledgling cruise season from Israel.

Guests will receive a 100% refund, including taxes and fees, pre-paid packages and gratuities, amenities, shore excursions, any flights purchased through Royal Caribbean, and pre-purchased Royal Caribbean Travel Protection.

Royal Caribbean was one of the first cruise lines to cancel cruises that visited Israel over the weekend when Hamas launched a surprise attack that targeted civilians and military personnel.

Since then, other cruise lines have cancelled their visits to Israel as well.  Sister brand Celebrity Cruises cancelled a visit to Israel that Celebrity Apex had scheduled for earlier this week.

MSC Cruises revised its Eastern Mediterranean itineraries for MSC Sinfonia and MSC Musica by removing stops in Israel.

"The safety of our passengers and crew is always our top priority and we have worked rapidly to revise the itineraries of MSC Sinfonia and MSC Musica to offer an extremely attractive alternative for the winter months," MSC Cruises CEO Gianni Onorato said in a statement.

Similar cancellations have been made by Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, and many other lines.

Cruise lines that have cancelled their scheduled visits to Israel are mostly re-routing to Turkey or Greece.

It's not just cruise ships bypassing Israel, as major U.S. airlines have temporarily suspended flights to and from Tel Aviv.

The U.S. State Department has issued advisories for the region, warning against travel to Gaza and urging increased caution in visiting Israel and the West Bank.  

A return to Israel next year?

Royal Caribbean has plans to return to Israel in 2024 with a new season of cruises on Jewel of the Seas.

Between August and October 2024, Jewel of the Seas is scheduled to offer 3- and 7-night Greek Isles cruises from Israel.

In addition to Jewel, Odyssey of the Seas and Voyager of the Seas have itineraries with planned stops in Israel.

Earlier this week, Royal Caribbean's Senior Vice President, Sales, Trade Support and Service, Vicki Freed said the company would review events taking place as they happen and see what transpires, "as far as next year goes, I think we just have to see where we are a month from now, two months from now."

"No choice but to cancel"

No one wants their vacation cancelled, but given the circumstances it seems understandable for many.

Leeor Plotkin is an Israeli that had a cruise booked on Rhapsody of the Seas for the November 1st sailing and sees more important priorities at the moment than a cruise.

"Obviously Royal Caribbean had no choice but to cancel given the situation here, and we as Israelis have much more important things to deal with at the moment," he wrote in an email to Royal Caribbean Blog.

"Since Royal set Haifa to be a home port I fell in love with cruising and this was supposed to be my fourth time on Rhapsody."

As for next year, he quipped about the chances for a better cruise season to come, "Hopefully next season on Jewel will happen as planned, and there will come a moment again when our biggest concern will be 'is the deluxe package worth it'".

The most popular type of cruise ship cabin to book is a balcony, and there are a few types that really stand out as great choices (along with a couple that you might want to think twice about).

It's easy to see the appeal of a balcony cabin on Royal Caribbean: You get more living space than an inside room, and a private verandah to enjoy the views and get fresh air anytime you want it.  Plus, the cost of a balcony cabin is probably not much more than interior cabins.

Read more: Inside cabin vs. balcony room on a cruise ship

No matter which Royal Caribbean ship you sail on, there's sub categories of balcony rooms to choose from that differ based on location, room size, and other factors. If you didn't know any better, you'd assume all balcony cabins are the same, but the reality is that's not the case.

Most balcony cabins are fairly interchangeable in the sense of how large they are, and where they are located.  The difference comes in a few special cases, which can make for a compelling choice.

If you know about these special balcony rooms, you might be able to get your family a room with bonus space or benefits.

Before you book any balcony room on a Royal Caribbean cruise, consider these balcony cabins as great (and not-so-great) choices.

Extra large Central Park balcony

I couldn't believe these extra large balcony cabins existed until someone pointed them out to me on a cruise.

On Royal Caribbean's Oasis Class ships only, you'll find the Central Park neighborhood (it's on Icon of the Seas too, but it remains to be seen if this trick works on that ship class yet). Each deck has balcony rooms that face into Central Park instead of facing the ocean.

There are two Central Park balcony cabins on each deck that have double the width of a normal balcony room. This is because these rooms are next to a storage area, and there's no cabin space available to create a different cabin. Yet, the balcony is still there.

The cabin numbers are on decks 10, 11 and 12:

• 10629
• 11229
• 11629
• 12229
• 12629

Whenever I sail on an Oasis Class ship, I always check if these extra large Central Park balcony cabins are available because you get double the balcony space.

Aft balcony

I think the first trick I ever learned from people that cruised more than I have is to book an aft balcony on Vision Class or Radiance Class ships.

Read more: 5 things people that cruise a lot would tell first time cruisers if they could

There's two reasons to book an aft balcony on these ships.

First, you'll probably get more balcony space.  Because of the way the aft cabins are situated, they tend to be set further back into the hull, but have a balcony that extends out to make up the difference.

Second, people that cruise a lot love the views aft cabins provide because it's a different experience.

On other Royal Caribbean ships, aft balcony cabins could have more space, but there tends to be more in the way of the view. Freedom and Voyager Class ships have a lot of metal superstructure that partially block the view. 

Read more: The 5 best cabin locations on a cruise ship

Connecting balconies

My favorite family cruise tip is to book connecting cabins instead of a single room.

Families tend to look at their cabin choice in the same way they'd pick a hotel room.  Because cruise ship cabins are smaller than your average hotel room, and you'll probably spend more time in your stateroom than in a land hotel, cramming into one room is a mistake.

This draws some people to book a suite to make up for the lack of living space, but suite prices can get very expensive.

Instead, look at two (or more) connecting balcony rooms.

On most ships, the balcony divider can be opened up between cabins adjacent to each other, which means you can end up with an extra large balcony space that rivals most suites.

Plus, you'll pay less than a suite and get separate bedrooms and bathrooms too!

Read more: 7 Best Royal Caribbean cruise ships for kids

Sky Junior Suite

I wasn't going to include suites in this list, but the Sky Junior Suite is an interesting exception.

When Icon of the Seas launches, she will have a new kind of Junior Suite category that greatly builds upon the standard Junior Suite offering.

On all other ships, a Junior Suite is essentially a glorified extra large balcony room.

Sky Junior Suite benefits include Suite Neighborhood access, all-day dining at two suites-only restaurants, free wifi, and concierge service.

Hump balcony

When I went on my first Radiance Class ship, we booked a hump balcony room and it felt like we hit the jackpot.

If you look at the design of a ship, towards the middle is usually a part that bulges outward, and rooms in this area can sometimes have significantly more balcony space.

There are hump balcony rooms on Radiance Class, Voyager, Freedom, Oasis or Quantum.

You will need to look closely at the deck plan to see which balconies are larger.

Avoid: Obstructed view

It can be tempting to book an obstructed view cabin to save money, but based on how many negative reviews I read, I'd advise against it.

There are certain balcony rooms that have something blocking the view, which Royal Caribbean refers to as "obstructed view".  It could be a partial obstructed view or full obstructed.

You're at a higher chance to get an obstructed view when booking a guarantee cabin.  This is because Royal Caribbean picks from leftover cabins your room assignment and as you might imagine, there are not many guests who want to book a room with an obstruction in the way.

Sometimes the obstruction can be minor, like a lifeboat below your balcony which makes it difficult to look down to the sea below.  But other obstructions can truly block your view in the academic sense of the word.

To avoid disappointment, I don't recommend booking these cabins. In fact, I'd sooner book an inside room instead of an obstructed balcony room.

Read more: Royal Caribbean cabins to avoid

Avoid: Virtual balcony

Despite the name, a virtual balcony isn't actually a balcony room.

The idea is simple: take an inside cabin and add a floor-to-ceiling television that has live views from the outside and augment it with a graphical representation of what a balcony would look like in the foreground.

It sounds nice on paper, but virtual balcony rooms don't compare to the real thing at all.

Think of a virtual balcony as an upgrade from an inside room, rather than a replacement for a balcony cabin.

If you want a balcony because you want the fresh air and extra living space, a virtual balcony will give you none of those.

Planning a cruise? Start here:

• 8 cruise tips for first-time Royal Caribbean cruisers
• What’s included in your Royal Caribbean cruise fare
• 5 quick and easy tips for finding a great shore excursion on your own
• Food on a Royal Caribbean cruise
• Which is the best Royal Caribbean cruise ship?
• What is the best time to go on a Caribbean cruise?

There's lots happening in the cruise world, including Royal Caribbean updates you should know about.

With a fleet of 26 ships, there are always going to be things happening and in an effort to keep everyone up to date, here's a quick run through of the latest news from this week.

Think of these as quick hits of changes and news that you should be aware of that changed in the last few days.

Final payment date change for long cruises

Royal Caribbean has changed when final payment is due for long cruises.

The new policy applies to sailings that are 15 nights or longer.

"As of today, guests will now have up until 120 days prior to sailing to make their final payment for sailings that are 15 nights or greater. Additionally, there will be a higher deposit amount required, per person, for new bookings made for sailings that are 15 nights or greater after today."

If you booked a cruise already, Royal Caribbean will grandfather you into the old policy, "no changes to your booking and payment schedule since you booked prior to these changes."

Hideaway Beach construction update

We have new photos to share of the construction progress being made at the new adults-only beach coming to Perfect Day at CocoCay.

Hideaway Beach will open to guests in January 2024, and is the first major expansion of the private island since the opening of the Coco Beach Club in 2020.

This new area will have an extra-cost, and it's meant for adults who want to enjoy a lively atmosphere and no kids.

Poolside cabanas, a new pizza restaurant, swim-up bar and infinity pool are what Royal Caribbean will add to keep adults in a party mood all day long.

Hideaway Beach is for guests 18 years or older and has an admission cost to enter.

Construction of On The Rocks is progressing, with a bright red color visible.

On The Rocks is located along the rocky shore and has live music, TVs to watch live sports, games like pool and shuffleboard.

More cruises from Israel could be cancelled

Royal Caribbean has already cancelled two cruises from Israel due to the conflict started by Hamas terrorists, and more cancellations could be on the way.

Royal Caribbean's Senior Vice President, Sales, Trade Support and Service, Vicki Freed, told Travel Weekly the cruise line will take things a step a time, "as far as next year goes, I think we just have to see where we are a month from now, two months from now."

She also posted on Facebook a heartfelt show of support to the Israeli people in this troubling time, "There are truly no words to describe the unfathomable situation in Israel right now. I am praying for the innocent civilians who've lost their lives and their families, those who’ve been kidnapped, the brave soldiers, and all of the people of Israel. It's heartbreaking to see the reports, photos and videos of such senseless violence. I stand with Israel today and always."

The October 9, 2023 and October 13, 2023 sailings on Rhapsody of the Seas were both canceled, along with port visits by Odyssey of the Seas.

Bahamas shipyard expanding operations

Grand Bahama Shipyard announced it will build one of the the largest floating docks in the Western Hemisphere, thanks in part to working with Royal Caribbean Group.

The shipyard, together with Royal Caribbean Group and Carnival Corporation, recently received approval to proceed with an expansion project that is estimated to bring billions of dollars in economic impact to Grand Bahama’s economy over the next 25 years.

The $600 million project includes the construction, delivery to Freeport, and commissioning of two world-class floating docks that will allow the shipyard to service the entire range of cruise ships in operation and under construction, as well as much of the world’s commercial shipping fleet.

"For more than 50 years we have partnered with The Bahamas to deliver exceptional vacations to millions of guests and create opportuni6es for local Bahamian communities," said Jason Liberty, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean Group.

"We are proud to expand our longstanding partnership and see establishing Grand Bahama as a premier maritime destination for repair and revitalization of all kinds of vessels, as a project that will drive economic growth for the Bahamian industry and create a positive impact for the people of The Bahamas for generations to come."

The two new floating drydocks are under construction in China, with expected delivery in 2025 and 2026.

Royal Caribbean Group joins global trade association for the methanol industry

Finding cleaner energy solutions for its cruise ships has become a top priority for Royal Caribbean Group, and the company is aligning itself with a trade group.

Royal Caribbean Group is the newest member of the Methanol Institute, which represents the world’s leading producers, distributors, and technology companies. 

Jason Liberty, President and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group said, "We are pleased to join the Methanol Institute, and as we seek sustainable energy solutions we recognize the importance of collaboration to help us transition to the energy platform of the future."

What are things to bring on a Caribbean cruise that you might not bring on other cruises?

The Caribbean is a region that includes a multitude of beautiful islands and coastal areas, all near the Caribbean Sea and large systems of coral reefs.

The Caribbean is also known for balmy weather and comfortable temperatures, making the region a preferred cruising destination.

So, if you’re planning to join a host of cruisers who choose the Caribbean as their destination, how should you prepare? 

No matter what area of the world you’re traveling to, it’s important to pack appropriately. We offer a full cruise packing list on our blog, but it’s important to be specific about the area of the world you are visiting. 

Read more: I've been on 12 Caribbean cruises, and I see passengers making the same 14 mistakes. Here's how to avoid them.

Since every place is different, you’ll want to prepare specifically for your journey.

What items are important to bring to the Caribbean? We’ll go over a selection of 23 important things to pack on your Caribbean cruise.

Read more: What to bring on a cruise to Alaska

Please note that we’ve linked items on Amazon, which contains an affiliate link. This affiliate link costs you absolutely nothing extra, but Royal Caribbean Blog makes a small commission if you purchase it.

1. Sunscreen

Places close to the equator, like the islands of the Caribbean, are subject to stronger UV rays. 

And you’ll spend plenty of time in the sun on your visit: on the ship’s deck, at the beach or a pool, or exploring an island excursion.

The heavy exposure to the sun can leave you at right for a bad sunburn. Getting a severe sunburn could ruin even the best visit to the Caribbean, forcing you to stay indoors while you heal and miss out on the fun.

Be sure to plan ahead by protecting yourself with a strong, high-SPF sunscreen, such as Banana Boat Sport Ultra SPF 30.

It’s also best to pack reef-safe sunscreen to protect local coral reefs from being bleached by the chemicals inside your sunscreen. Mineral sunscreens are a great option to protect the environment around you.

2. Aloe vera

If you forget a high enough SPF sunscreen and end up with a bad sunburn, aloe vera gel is a natural healing method for soothing the burn, healing skin faster, and getting rid of that redness for any vacation photos. 

This could be important for a visit to a Caribbean island, as you’ll likely want to make the most of your time on the island instead of heading home to grab a salve.  

Read more: 22 unpleasant cruise ship problems you aren't prepared for

Amazon makes their own house brand aloe vera that should do the trick.

3. Insect repellent

You’ll be spending lots of time outdoors, so don’t forget an insect repellent.

Bringing your own bug spray to repel insects will prevent you from having painful bug bites and keep you focused on your fun excursions ahead.

You can buy a travel-size insect repellent to ensure it's handy to keep around.

4. Beach bag

A large bag, such as a tote bag, is a helpful addition if you're planning on seeing the beach on your Caribbean stop.

A beach bag should be big enough to hold towels, swimsuits, extra clothes, water, snacks, sunscreen, and more.  We like the Tainehs Mesh Beach Tote Large Bag.

Make sure that you bring one with enough space to pack everything you need ahead of time.

5. Your seasickness medicine of choice

Whether you use Bonine, Dramamine, seasickness patches, or even ginger candies, it’s important to remember your seasickness medicine.

This is always helpful for your time spent on the cruise ship, but don’t forget that your boat adventures could continue in the Caribbean!

If you have a tender to take you ashore or any boat ride as part of your planned excursions, seasickness medicine will keep you feeling healthy.

6. Sunglasses or sunhat

Don’t only protect your skin from the sun—keep your eyes safe, too!

Wearing sunglasses will protect your eyes from UV rays and allow you to enjoy the beautiful sights on your trip.

If you wear glasses or would like to keep items off your eyes, try a sunhat instead for some extra shade.

7. Your own snorkel gear

If you’re planning on snorkeling at all in the Caribbean, consider bringing your own snorkeling gear.

This will save you money and time as you won’t have to purchase an extra set of gear. You’ll be able to jump right into the clear water and start searching for reefs and tropical sea animals. 

Especially if you’re planning multiple trips to the Caribbean, having your own snorkel gear is a great investment. 

9. Passport or ID 

While some Caribbean islands are U.S. territories (like the U.S. Virgin Islands), most of them are separate countries. 

Like with any international travel, this means that you will need to be prepared to deal with immigration on your visit. 

To be properly prepared, bring a passport or at least a valid ID and make sure that you are allowed on and off the island.

10. Breathable clothing

It's most likely that the weather will be hot and humid on your trip to the Caribbean. You should be prepared to sweat!

The best dress for this type of weather is flowy, breathable clothing (not necessarily short and tight).

Read more: Best travel clothes for women on shore excursions

Look for casual and lightweight pieces such as palazzo pants, open shirts, skirts, and other light clothing. 

Fabrics such as cotton, silk, and linen are best.

11. A swimsuit cover-up 

Of course, you'll want to go swimming and spend a lot of time by the beach on your trip. 

But don't forget about all the other fun excursions you can experience: shopping, tours, restaurants, parties, museums, and more.

To prepare for all the onshore experiences you'll have, be sure to at least bring a swimsuit cover-up or even a change of clothes.

Packing a simple cover-up like a T-shirt, jacket, or dress will ensure that you are appropriately dressed for any occasion you decide to join in.

12. Sandals or flip flops

If you’re not planning on doing much walking or sporty activities, I recommend some warmer, open-toed shoes like sandals or flip-flops. 

Shoes that are easy to slip on and off are best for beach days. And open-toed shoes will help your feet stay cooler in the hot weather. 

These Weweya sandals are very comfortable while still being stylish and should work well at the beach or in the sand.

Ultimately, pack a well-made, waterproof pair of open-toed shoes to help you stay dry, keep cool, and shake off sand.

13. Water bottle

We mention this item a lot in packing lists, but it's worth mentioning again for excursions out onto ports.

While you can, of course, purchase water from wherever you’re visiting, prices can be high in touristy areas. And it’s often inconvenient to stop your vacation to try to find a store.

Instead, keep yourself moving and saving money by bringing a packed water bottle ahead of time. You can fill it up at the Windjammer and other complimentary locations onboard, then bring it off the ship with no issues.

And since the weather will most likely be warm and sunny, it will be important to stay hydrated.

If you’d like to pack ice along in your water bottle, a Yeti or Hydroflask will keep your water cool all day long.

14. Walking shoes 

Some of my favorite shore excursions have been tours of different islands. 

On these tours, you can walk around and listen to the guy and explain some of the history and background while also seeing the sights and historical buildings around you. 

It's a great way to get some fresh air and some much-needed exercise in the middle of a sedentary cruise.

However, you'll want to be sure that you have the right kind of shoes for this excursion. Picking out a good set of exercise or walking shoes will help you have a great experience and keep your energy up during your tour.

15. Waterproof bags

From disembarking the cruise ship to relaxing at the beach, you'll still be interacting with the water for most of your trip. 

It's important that you keep your essentials safe by using a waterproof bag or at least a waterproof phone case.

Read more: 5 things I purchased for a cruise that I regretted buying

16. Rashguard

A long-sleeved athletic shirt, like a rashguard, can serve as a multipurpose tool for many needs. It can protect you from rashes, sunburns, chafing, and even jellyfish stings!

This is also a great option for water sports like surfing or jet skiing, which you’ll want to take advantage of on a visit to the Caribbean.

17. Sweater

This option isn't quite so intuitive, but pretty soon, you'll understand why it’s on the list. 

Tropical cruises can be quite warm during the day, but you'll find that the air conditioner pumps quite high on the cruise ship at night. 

It can get surprisingly chilly indoors on your cruise ship, so be sure to bring a sweater or a cardigan so that you aren't too cold while indoors. 

I find that the cabin and nighttime dining locations can be the coldest places on your cruise.

18. Long sleeve shirt and pants

Another lesser-known way of beating hot weather is by wearing long sleeves and long pants. 

Light-weight, long clothing can be most effective for protecting you from the sun and fending off bugs like mosquitoes.

If you’re doing any hiking or climbing, especially into the rainforest, consider wearing long sleeves and pants to protect yourself.

Your skin will thank you later!

19. Poncho 

Many tropical places experience a rainy season or a hurricane season that features heavy storms with lots of wind and rain.

In the Caribbean, this season could fall anywhere between May and October, with frequent, short thunderstorms on summer afternoons.

Considering that these storms arrive almost 6 months out of the year, it’s best to plan ahead by bringing a poncho or other rain gear. 

You never want to be stuck inside your cruise ship because you didn’t prepare for the weather!

20. Umbrella 

Personally, I don’t like wearing a poncho. 

They get hot and heavy when you’re experiencing a humid tropical rainstorm.

If you’re like me and prefer something lightweight that you can hold, an umbrella is a great option to help prepare for the rain. 

Read more: We asked our readers what one thing they wish they packed for their cruise

21. Water shoes

To help you prepare for all your possible water activities—from kayaking to boat tours—consider bringing a pair of water shoes.

This mesh footwear will protect your feet while allowing any water to flow through them instead of just pooling inside your shoe.

For more intense water activities, they’re a great way to make sure your feet are protected without getting soaked or slippery.

22. Power bank

Without a doubt, having a phone on you is important for any kind of travel.

You’ll be able to use it to find directions, get information on shore excursions, take photos of your beautiful surroundings, and even read books by the beach.

And having your phone go dead in the middle of a trip onto a foreign island could be the death toll to a lovely port day, depending on how much you were relying on it.

To prevent being cut off from your source of information, pack a phone charger or, even better—a power bank. I like this Anker portable charger as a good option.

Bringing a power bank will allow you to charge your phone anywhere without having to spend the time to find a compatible port. 

Many power banks fit right into your bag. I like to charge my phone in my bag as I’m leaving the ship and then unplug it when the charge is high and I’m ready to use it on the island. 

23. Portable fan

To help beat the heat, consider bringing a portable fan. Handheld fans that are small enough to fit in a bag still provide enough power to fan your face when it gets scorching.

Remember that you'll spend time on deck on the cruise ship on hot beaches, where you want relief from the heat. 

A handheld portable fan can be a helpful addition that provides instant relief and cool air.

What can you expect your cruise ship to look like?

The way a ship looks at night versus the day can sometimes be very different, and quite beautiful.

When the sun goes down, the ship's lights come on and its a stark contrast.

I especially appreciated the varied contrast between onboard views: whether morning or night, there was always something beautiful to see.

For my first cruise, I went on the largest cruise ship in the world because Wonder of the Seas embodied what's the latest and greatest from Royal Caribbean.

On such a large ship, there were many different beautiful structures and landscapes, and each one transformed with the time of day.

These 7 photos shows such contrasting examples of different locations on the ship and how each area transformed depending on the time of day. 

Read more: 11 things I wish I knew before setting foot on a cruise ship

Central Park was one of my favorite spots on the ship, a gorgeous on-board nature walk with plants, several dining venues, a bar, and a glass window perspective into the Royal Promenade below. 

When you shift your head up, you can also see the above decks, as displayed in these photos.

When I needed a quiet place to sit in the mornings, I came here. 

When I wanted to stare at the ship’s nighttime and listen to live music, I came here. 

Central Park provides a unique view of both the decks below and the ones above, lighting up the whole level at night.

No matter the time of day, it was a beautiful and peaceful place to relax. 

The pool deck became another favorite location for me. 

Of course, pools, hot tubs, ice cream stations, and multiple bars held its main draw for me.

However, it was also one of the highest points on the ship. 

This made the pool deck a great location to stand and look out into the ship, across the water to neighboring islands, or just to stare at the surrounding water.  

No matter the time of day, there was plenty to see: people around, beautiful decorations, and lights hanging from the deck.

This photo set exemplifies another bonus feature of the pool deck: the best view of the sky. 

Whether it was sunrise or sunset, this deck was the best place to see the sky’s changing colors. 

As dusk fell, too, we could watch carefully for the rising moon or shining stars. 

Especially on sea days when we were far from any lit islands, the night sky was incredibly clear. 

The right photo shows a glimpse of the crescent moon, but we were able to see many other night views during our time on the cruise. 

Deck 6 of Wonder of the Seas features the Boardwalk, several dining and shopping venues, the exit to the ultimate Abyss slide, and the AquaTheater.

The outdoor Boardwalk also has a Carousel and several shopping venues. The Playmakers bar and dining venue is located just opposite several shopping venues.

Further into the Boardwalk are several seating areas, a great spot where I could sit, relax, and chat with friends.

The Ultimate Abyss slide also exits right onto this area of Deck 6.

Finally, the deck features the AquaTheater, an outdoor ampitheater with the capacity for over 600 guests. 

The AquaTheater features unique showings of the water ballet, high-diving, and aerial performance, inTENse. 

The theater also presented complimentary movie showings throughout the cruise.

This Boardwalk is the perfect location to to walk around and talk, try the merry-go-round, enjoy a snack or a drink at Playmakers, or watch movies and performances.

As exemplified by these pictures, it also lights up at night, shining rainbow colors over the entire deck.

Another ever-changing feature on Wonder of the Seas is the rising tide bar.

Built like an elevator, but functioning like a regular drinks station, this bar boards on the Royal Promendade deck (Deck 5 on Wonder of the Seas) or Central Park, and passes up through Decks 5 to 7.

The oval-shape features glass barriers and a skylight for its stop on Central Park. 

Cushions chairs and stools allow you to sit, order a drink, and enjoy the view from the higher perspective.

Like a rising tide, the bar slowly inches forward. It constantly moves location on the ship, floating from each deck every half-hour.

This allows for a constantly-changing view both inside and out the bar.

Personally, every time I looked in the direction of the rising tide bar, I noticed it in a different location, changing the scenery inside the ship.

Read more: Ten Best Royal Caribbean Bars

Clear glass elevators on Wonder of the Seas allow for a wide-perspective view of the inside of the ship. 

From the elevators, I could see cruisers and employees and watch events going on. 

This also allowed us to keep track of our whereabouts, making it hard to get lost—even when inside an elevator. 

And, of course, we were able to enjoy the beautiful view from anywhere inside the ship. 

During the day, the elevators were lit up with natural light and views from below.

At night, we could see neon lights and parties happening all over the ship.

On a cruise, you can experience endless variations of views of the ocean, or neighboring islands. 

These photos show an example of that contrasting view. 

The left photo was our view of Sint Maarten on a port day, a morning perspective from the Windjammer buffet. 

The right was a nighttime view after a long day at sea, a perspective of just the wide ocean and the ship’s glowing lights. 

No matter what time of day, or where the ship was traveling, there was always something gorgeous to see onboard. 

Read more: 6 things to know before you book Wonder of the Seas