Royal Caribbean Blog

My first solo cruise was nothing like I expected it to be.

In 2023, I embarked on a seven-night Eastern Caribbean cruise from Miami, Florida, to St. Thomas, St. Maarten, and Perfect Day at CocoCay aboard Symphony of the Seas. 

The catch? I was by myself. 

Initially, watching families in matching t-shirts taking selfies during sailaway, I was worried that I'd hate solo cruising.  

Cruising is inherently social, and I wasn't sure how I'd cope on my own. 

At the time, I was living by myself, so I wasn't unfamiliar with the concept of enjoying my own company. However, vacations were always a time to reconnect with friends and family to create shared memories. 

Needless to say, I was nervous, excited, and everything in between. 

After spending seven nights alone at sea, I learned that solo trips are far from the lonely nights in my cabin I had envisioned.

Still, there are a few things I wish I had known beforehand. 

Solo cruising isn't necessarily cheaper

For starters, cruising by yourself can actually be quite expensive. That's because most mainstream cruise lines, including Royal Caribbean, implement a hefty single supplement fee, as cruise cabins were specifically designed for double occupancy. 

This fee, which is often 100% of the standard fare, is charged to offset the cost of the unused berth in the cabin. In other words, even if you are sailing alone, you are still effectively paying for two passengers. 

In my case, I paid $1,393.20 for a standard, windowless inside cabin. Had another traveler been sharing the room with me, it would have brought the cost per person down to around $700, which is way more reasonable (in my opinion). 

There are a few ways to lower the overall cost if you decide to travel by yourself, though. 

First, be flexible with your sail date. Cruising during the shoulder season is more affordable than peak travel times, and that price difference can make a noticeable difference for travelers cruising alone. 

Second, be strategic about your cabin choice. Interior staterooms are typically the cheapest option, and while they lack natural light and a private outdoor verandah, I found my cabin perfectly fine when sailing alone. 

Although it wasn't the largest cruise room ever, I found coming back to my own stateroom each evening after being around masses of people to be relaxing. 

Plus, I never had to ask anyone if they wanted to shower first or share closet space; there was no bumping into or bickering with family members while trying to rush to get ready for dinner, either. 

Finally, consider sailing on a cruise ship with purpose-built solo cabins. These aren't as common on Royal Caribbean as on other lines, but they can be found on Quantum Class ships, as well as Adventure of the Seas, Brilliance of the Seas, Harmony of the Seas, Jewel of the Seas, Mariner of the Seas, Radiance of the Seas, and Serenade of the Seas.

Dining alone is awkward, but that doesn't mean it is a bad thing — cruise ships have so many different dining options!

When I first moved to New York City to pursue my master's degree, I was more anxious about eating alone than about my graduate-level courses. However, I quickly learned that it's far more common in The Big Apple than in my hometown, and most people don't bat an eye when they see someone at a table for one. 

As such, I kind of expected that my experience dining alone on a cruise ship would be similar. In reality, I found it to be much more uncomfortable than I thought, and I felt the loneliest when I ate alone in the Main Dining Room. 

On the first night, I was tucked into a dark corner, seated at a table for two on Deck 3. It didn't help that my wait staff was confused at the concept of me sailing alone! I was checked up on at least three or four times and constantly asked if anyone was going to be joining me.

As such, I quickly learned that the Main Dining Room isn't my favorite place to eat on a solo trip. I'd much rather grab a quick bite to eat at the buffet or splurge on a specialty restaurant where the overall experience is more communal, like Izumi Hibachi or The Chef's Table. 

The Windjammer, in particular, is a great option because it's so casual and judgment-free. In fact, it's not uncommon to see some crew members, like performers, dining alone! Plus, I love how easy it is to find a table with a view, which is much simpler than trying to request a window table in the dining room. 

I felt incredibly safe cruising by myself

Regardless of whether you're going on a cruise, backpacking across Europe, or simply flying alone to visit relatives in another state, traveling by yourself can be daunting. It's important to keep a close eye on your surroundings and never let your guard down. 

However, I found it much easier to stay alert while having fun on a cruise ship. For example, during popular events, like sail away or late-night dance parties, it was easy to spot security. This gave me a lot of reassurance as a young female traveling by herself. 

Even in port, I never felt too out of place. There was always a steady presence of other tourists, tour guides, and employees nearby. This was even more true on my Royal Caribbean–sponsored excursion in St. Maarten and when I was ashore at CocoCay. 

Something I really appreciated as a solo traveler was that I didn't have to worry about wandering dark streets alone at night. Once the sun went down, the ship came alive with energy, and passengers moved about the decks heading to dinner, shows, and other activities. 

Plus, it was easy to get back to my cabin at night. No matter where I was onboard, whether a late-night party, bar, or show, I was just a short walk and elevator ride away from my home away from home. 

You'll want to come up with a daily plan

When you are traveling alone, you don't have anyone to keep you accountable for your daily routine, which can make it tempting to do absolutely nothing.

Royal Caribbean makes it easy to see what's going on throughout the day on the cruise line's mobile app. The Cruise Compass gives you an easy-to-digest rundown on everything from showtimes to activities and dining hours. 

My best advice is to pick a few key activities that you want to attend each day, whether a trivia session, poolside competition, evening show, fitness class, or port shopping lecture. This leaves plenty of open time in your day while still giving it enough structure so that you don't waste your time sleeping or wandering the ship aimlessly. 

It's easier than you think to mingle with other passengers

On my first afternoon onboard, I grabbed a Strawberry Blonde cocktail and began wandering the ship to take it all in. In the elevator, I was asked about the drink by another couple, and we had a full-blown conversation about our favorite cruise drinks before I got off.

That same evening, I went to the first Hyperlink event of the cruise (the Hyperlink program is for guests between the ages of 18 and 25 and aims to bridge cruise ship activities following the teen club to more common adult offerings).

While I was there, I found everyone to be more social and welcoming than I anticipated, and I met two guests whose family "adopted" me for the week, allowing me to join them at dinner in the dining room and other activities, including Perfect Day at CocoCay's Thrill Waterpark.

Seeing how willing people were to jump into conversation made conversing with others a breeze, and I didn't feel as lonely as I thought I would the rest of the trip.

Of course, you must be willing to put yourself out there — you can't expect others to always start up a conversation! I found that once I did, the experience became surprisingly rewarding in ways I hadn't anticipated and boosted my confidence in my social skills. 

It's just as easy to enjoy your own company on a solo cruise

Finally, be sure to take advantage of being alone. That might sound weird, but realizing you aren't responsible for anyone else's schedule or preferences is so freeing. 

You get to pick exactly what you want to do in your free time, whether that's lounging in the Solarium during the day or watching a show at night.

Maybe there are a few shore excursions that you've been wanting to try that no one else in your life was interested in, or perhaps you want to take a bucket list cruise to somewhere like Asia or the South Pacific that you've been putting off. 

In the end, one of the best parts about taking a cruise is learning how to be okay with your own company — and I did exactly that on my first solo cruise.  

I spent 7-nights on a Royal Caribbean cruise in a balcony cabin because I wanted to make it as convenient as possible to enjoy everything Alaska has to offer.

While I've sailed to Alaska before, this is still one of my all-time favorite places to visit around the world. My wife wanted to celebrate her milestone birthday returning here, so a balcony room made sense to upgrade to.

I picked a balcony room on Royal Caribbean's Serenade of the Seas in cabin 7658, which has an added bonus that most other balcony rooms do not have. The cost of the room was $3458.50 for two people, including gratuities, taxes, fees, and port expenses.

This category 4D stateroom on deck 7 comes with double the balcony space, compared to a standard balcony.  

Here's a look around this room and why having a balcony on an Alaska cruise is worth it.

The balcony measures 41 square feet, which is perfect for families.

I've cruised over 100 times and stayed in plenty of balcony rooms, so when I see an extra large balcony, it stands out immediately.

Located towards the back of the ship, these category 4D cabins have an extended balcony that provides 41 square feet of space instead of 20.

There's room for two chairs and a table, but you could easily fit sun loungers in the space.

Having a private balcony like this meant we had lots of room to conveniently go outside anytime we wanted to go whale watching or enjoy the scenery passing by.

The problem with this balcony is there's no privacy

While the extra balcony space is fantastic, it comes at the cost of privacy.

The extra space doesn't have full walls. This is good for being able to see what's around you, but you can very easily see into everyone else's balcony and they can see into yours.

With a regular balcony, the walls provide enough privacy that you can feel like the area is just for you without prying eyes.

This is less about wanting to be naked on my balcony or anything like that. Rather, you feel like you're being watched by neighbors and it's a psychological discomfort. Moreover, we needed to be mindful of keeping the blinds drawn when we needed privacy inside the room.

I'd also add the odor of unruly passengers smoking on their balcony seemed to be more noticeable.

My large balcony was the perfect space for our glacier day.

If you ever question the high balcony cost on an Alaskan cruise, you will instantly forget about it when you sail near a glacier.

Our itinerary replaced Tracy Arm fjord with Endicott Arm fjord because of a rockslide issue. Nonetheless, we had a front row seat to an amazing displace of an ice age relic.

Serenade of the Seas slowly sailed into the fjord, providing views of water falls, seals, mountains, and more. 

Beginning at 6am, I put on my heavy hoodie and sat outside to enjoy unfettered views.  While other passengers had to find a spot on a public deck, I was able to enjoy my balcony.

The advantage of this particular room was it allowed my entire family and even some friends to join us on the balcony.  The extra space was fantastic.

Our stateroom had a giant closet, which gave us plenty of space to store our belongings.

Despite the room being fairly small, I was impressed by how much storage space there was.

Walking into the room, there is a large closet with two doors. There are shelves and hangers, which could easily store all the belongings my wife and I had.

In addition, there are drawers below the vanity.  

Once we stowed our belongings and put our empty suitcases under the bed, the room didn't feel as small.

The king size bed was positioned next to the balcony door for convenient viewings.

Royal Caribbean staterooms alternate between having the bed near the balcony, or the couch near the balcony.  Luckily, this room had the bed next to the balcony.

The beds can be split apart or left together to form a king sized bed.

The advantage of this room configuration is you can be in bed and look outside to see what's passing by.

Another nice benefit was Royal Caribbean added extra power and USB outlets near the bed because this ship was used for a world cruise a couple of years ago. 

In order to prep the ship for passengers that would spend months in the room, Royal Caribbean added much-needed upgrades around the ship.

The bathroom was tiny, but it had an important shower upgrade.

Unlike other Radiance Class ships, the shower was upgraded in two important places.

There are no clingy shower curtains here, as they were replaced with a plastic enclosure.  

In addition, the shower head is newer, which helps spread the water spray more evenly.

Compared to the cabin I had on Radiance of the Seas last month, this felt like a big improvement.

Balconies cost more than inside rooms, but I can see why they're worth it in Alaska.

I may have paid more to stay in a balcony instead of an inside room, but the views we had made it worth every penny.

We were lucky the weather was so cooperative, because it made it far more inviting to spend time on the balcony.

I didn't love the lack of privacy because of the balcony layout, but it didn't stop me from enjoying the space at all. A standard balcony might have felt more private, but the extra space was more important.

The outdoor space was very comfortably and is a great choice for any itinerary where you will likely spend more time outdoors.

Happy Sunday! Hope you are having a relaxing weekend and enjoying summer! It is time to sit back, relax, and catch up on all the recent Royal Caribbean news!

Legend of the Seas is now officially in Royal Caribbean's hands.

The brand new cruise ship was delivered this week, which means it's now part of the Royal Caribbean fleet and almost ready to enter service.

The ship will begin operating with paying passengers in just a few weeks.

Royal Caribbean News

• World Cup fever has reached cruise ships
• I avoid doing 7 things in my cruise ship cabin
• Three ports I've stopped booking shore excursions
• Why everyone is suddenly packing a fan for their cruise
• 7 mistakes that people keep saying is their biggest one on Royal Caribbean
• What everything cost on my Harmony of the Seas cruise
• What's included on Royal Caribbean's Legend of the Seas
• I paid $600 to sleep in a hotel in the same building as my cruise terminal. It was totally worth it
• My cruise ship cancelled visiting a popular fjord, but the replacement glacier was worth it
• I cruised on new ships from Disney and Royal Caribbean. Royal Caribbean's value can't be overlooked

New RCB Video: MUST EAT Places For Lunch on a Royal Caribbean Cruise

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 — MUST EAT Places For Lunch on a Royal Caribbean Cruise — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

Royal Caribbean passenger sues cruise line for $75K after tripping over parked mobility scooter

A passenger claims they stumbled over a mobility scooter while on a Royal Caribbean ship and is suing the line for injuries they sustained.

The incident occurred on Jewel of the Seas when the person says she was in a crowded casino and tripped over the parked mobility scooter.

According to the incident report, the trip caused the woman, "serious personal injury."

Royal Caribbean offers guests 100% refund and huge future credit if they're willing to cancel an upcoming cruise

An oversold cruise is prompting Royal Caribbean to email select passengers to ask if they'd volunteer to cancel and change to a different sailing.

The offer includes a full refund, plus a lot of onboard credit to someone that would accept it.

The email was sent to passengers on an upcoming Alaska cruise.

Construction begins on Oasis 7

Formal construction began this week on Royal Caribbean's seventh Oasis Class ship.

The likely last Oasis Class ship had its keel-laying ceremony held at a shipyard in France.

The new ship will join the fleet in 2028, almost exactly 20 years since the launch of the first Oasis Class vessel.

Royal ONE Visa Card Review: $99 per year, but benefits are worth way more than the fee

Royal Caribbean launched a new card, and our guest writer feels it's worth the hefty annual fee.

The added premium benefits help offset the $99 per year cost to have the card, although there is a caveat.

Still, perks like priority boarding and added rewards make it a compelling option.

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 612th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available, featuring an exclusive interview with Vicki Freed.

Matt was asked which cruise ports are the best for being able to walk off the ship and immediately explore.

Please feel free to subscribe via YouTube, iTunes or RSS, and head over to rate and review the podcast on iTunes if you can! 

Passengers on an upcoming sailing aboard Voyager of the Seas were asked to skip their upcoming Alaska cruise. In return, the cruise line offered a generous compensation package for those willing to voluntarily bail. 

According to an email shared on Reddit, the offer was targeted at those with flexible plans who could easily adjust their vacation schedules and allow Royal Caribbean to free up cabins. 

"Ahead of your Voyager of the Seas June 19, 2026, sailing, we are looking to see if you and your travel party have flexible travel arrangements," the email reads. 

Continuing on, "If your plans are set in stone, please mark this email as 'Read,' and gear up for your upcoming adventure — although there are some pretty sweet options below." 

(Credit: captain-catmando / Reddit)

Although Royal Caribbean doesn't explicitly state why they're offering cruisers substantial incentives to change their plans, it's been a tactic to open up cabins on overbooked sailings in the past. 

Oversold cruises aren't as common as oversold flights, but they do happen. As a result, cruise lines, including Royal Caribbean, try to rectify the situation with refunds, future travel credits, and lucrative rebooking options.

In this case, guests on Voyager of the Seas' June 19 sailing could either disregard the email, transfer to another 2026 Alaska cruise and receive a full refund plus a 50% Future Cruise Credit (FCC), or receive a full refund plus a 100% FCC.

The seven-night sailing departing from Seattle will visit Juneau, Alaska; Skagway, Alaska; Endicott Arm & Dawes Glacier, Alaska; and Victoria, British Columbia.

Option 1: Transfer to one of the listed cruises and get a full cruise fare refund plus a 50% FCC

The first option lets flexible passengers move to one of five sailings aboard Anthem of the Seas, Ovation of the Seas, or Voyager of the Seas. 

The available options are as follows:

• 7-Night Alaska Adventure Cruise aboard Anthem of the Seas (August 24, 2026): Round-trip sailing from Seattle to Ketchikan, Alaska; Sitka, Alaska; Endicott Arm & Dawes Glacier, Alaska; Juneau, Alaska; and Victoria, British Columbia. 
• 7-Night Southbound Alaska & Hubbard Glacier Cruise aboard Ovation of the Seas (August 28, 2026): Southbound sailing from Seward, Alaska, to Vancouver, British Columbia, calling at Hubbard Glacier, Alaska; Juneau, Alaska; Skagway, Alaska; and Icy Strait Point, Alaska. 
• 7-Night Alaska Adventure Cruise aboard Anthem of the Seas (August 31, 2026): Round-trip sailing from Seattle to Sitka, Alaska; Skagway, Alaska; and Victoria, British Columbia. 

• 7-Night Alaska Adventure Cruise aboard Voyager of the Seas (September 18, 2026): Round-trip sailing from Seattle to Juneau, Alaska; Skagway, Alaska; Sitka, Alaska; and Victoria, British Columbia. 
• 7-Night Alaska Adventure Cruise aboard Voyager of the Seas (September 25, 2026): Round-trip sailing from Seattle to Juneau, Alaska; Skagway, Alaska; Sitka, Alaska; and Victoria, British Columbia.

According to the email, "You'll receive a complimentary transfer to the sailing you selected in a similar category to what you previously booked. We'll also reimburse you for any non-refundable, pre-purchased travel expenses (e.g. hotel, flight) you have incurred." 

Moreover, those who booked with an FCC will be given a new FCC for any funds paid above the certificate amount. It will be valid for one year after the date it was issued. 

Finally, all passengers who select this option will be given an FCC valued at 50% of the cruise fare paid on the current booking. It can be used on another Royal Caribbean cruise departing on or before June 19, 2027. 

Option 2: Cancel and receive a 100% refund plus a 100% FCC

If none of the alternative cruises work, passengers cancel their sailing in exchange for a full refund, along with a 100% FCC to put toward any Royal Caribbean sailing they want.

The email states that these guests can expect to receive the refund to the original form of payment within fourteen business days. However, refund times vary depending on the financial institution. 

Overbooked cruises aren't unheard of

Earlier this year, guests aboard Oasis of the Seas' February 7, 2026, cruise out of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, received an email asking select cruisers to consider rebooking.

As in the past, Royal Caribbean didn't use the words "oversold" or "overbooked." Instead, they simply stated that they were looking for passengers with "flexible travel arrangements."

"Ahead of our Oasis of the Seas February 7, 2026, sailing, we are looking to see if you and your travel party have flexible travel arrangements," the email said.

Like the current offers available for the June 19 Voyager of the Seas cruise, those booked on Oasis of the Seas were given the option to cancel their booking and receive a 100% refund, plus a 50% FCC to be used on another Royal Caribbean sailing. 

Of course, the compensation offered depends on the situation and can vary greatly. 

"I dream of the day I receive one of these emails"

Many cruise enthusiasts view these offers as a win for flexible travelers. They're a chance to essentially take a heavily discounted vacation and possibly take a cheap future cruise. 

Redditors chimed in, breaking down the math and strategy behind the options to determine which was the better value. 

"Option 1 is the best bang for your buck. You are rescheduled to a later date and receive a refund of your original cruise fare. Your taxes and fees would be held for the rescheduled cruise. You then get 50% towards a future cruise. That’s a definite edge over #2 if you can travel on the provided dates," wrote Shot_Bread_9657.

trilliumsummer agreed, saying, "Option 1 is way better. You get a full refund, a free cruise on one of the options listed, and 50% of what you paid towards another cruise. About a 250% of value depending on the cost of the free cruise, could be more."

That said, taking advantage of these offers is completely optional. If you aren't flexible or can't imagine delaying your long-awaited vacation, you can ignore the email and continue your pre-cruise preparations. 

Some passengers on the Reddit forum agreed that although the offers were generous, they didn't feel they could change or cancel their vacation plans on such short notice.

"I feel like this is a great deal, but I also look forward to and plan in detail every cruise with my wife and kids. As tempting as it is, I am not the person who could just give up a vacation I am looking forward to," wrote Mundane-Orange-9799.

PurplePunch209 commented, "I got one of these and just continued with my cruise. No changes happened and just got back today."

The expansion of Royal Caribbean's wildly popular Oasis Class cruise ships continues, with construction of its seventh ship officially underway in France.

Just days after Legend of the Seas was officially handed over to Royal Caribbean, a keel-laying ceremony was held earlier at the Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France. The first building block was placed in the dry dock, where the ship will take shape over the coming months. 

"The first block of Oasis 7 has been set in the dry dock by the TGP, in the presence of Royal Caribbean Group and Chantiers de l'Atlantique teams — as Oasis 7's assembly officially begins," the shipyard shared on Facebook.

"A cherished shipbuilding tradition was honored: a symbolic euro and dollar coin were sealed in a steel tube, wishing the ship fair winds — in the shipyard and at sea."

(Credit: Chantiers de l'Atlantique / Facebook)

The ship's steel-cutting ceremony was held in October 2025. Now, however, the real work begins, as pre-assembled blocks will start arriving at the yard and being joined together in dry dock to form the hull.

At the time of publication, Royal Caribbean has yet to formally reveal the name of the upcoming ship. They have also not yet divulged information about what will make her different from the other vessels in the Oasis Class, such as Harmony and Utopia of the Seas. 

That said, it is almost certain that signature neighborhood concepts such as the Boardwalk, Central Park, and the Royal Promenade will return, alongside updated venues and reimagined concepts to give the ship a distinct feel of her own. 

(Credit: Royal Caribbean International / X)

According to Royal Caribbean Group, Oasis 7 is expected to debut in 2028 and will "deliver bold new adventures, standout dining, immersive entertainment and experiences designed for every type of vacationer."

Her launch is expected to succeed the fourth Icon Class ship, Hero of the Seas, which is currently under construction at Meyer Turku shipyard in Turku, Finland. 

Meanwhile, the steel-cutting ceremony for Icon 5 took place in January 2026, with that next-gen cruise ship also scheduled to launch in 2028. 

(Credit: Royal Caribbean Group)

Building three mega-ships at once is an incredible feat and a clear demonstration of Royal Caribbean's commitment to its next-generation fleet.

What about Discovery Class?

Long-time cruise fans have been eagerly awaiting construction to begin on the cruise line's upcoming Discovery Class. 

Back in January, the cruise line revealed plans to build two Discovery Class ships at the Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France, with the first debuting in 2029 and the second in 2032.

However, at the time of publication, construction had yet to begin on the first ship. 

Additionally, although Royal Caribbean has not made any further official announcements regarding its upcoming Discovery Class ships, its filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission provide a glimpse of what's swirling around at headquarters. 

Based on the SEC 10-Q filing, it appears that Discovery Class ships will have an approximate passenger count (berths) of 4,300. However, this has not been officially confirmed. 

If true, this would mean these ships would be larger than older mid-sized vessels like Radiance and Voyager Class ships, though still smaller than the Oasis and Icon Classes. 

While shore excursions can be a great way to see a new port of call, there are a few places I think you're better off without one.

To be clear, I'm not a shore excursion hater.  Some people never book tours, but I think tours are helpful in many situations, especially when traveling any significant distance from where the ship docks.

However, I've visited a few ports where I regretted booking a tour and realized later I would have been fine venturing out on my own.

I understand that new cruisers may be intimidated by the idea of touring a place independently because of the advantages a cruise line excursion offers. But with a little bit of planning and the right approach, I think it's very easy to give it a go.

Before you purchase an excursion, I'd recommend going it alone in these three places Royal Caribbean ships visit.

Tours around European cities always disappoint me

Regardless if I'm cruising with Royal Caribbean or Silversea, group excursions in Europe tend to leave me disappointed.

In fact, I politely informed my tour guide in Malaga and Alicante, Spain that I would be leaving the group because I wanted to tour on my own.

When your cruise ship docks in many European cities, you arrive in the city center. It's easy enough to get off the ship, turn on Google Maps, and find your way around to the major sights.

Bus tours around these cities are always mentioned as the worst shore excursions by our readers, and rightfully so. Their pace is slow, and it never feels like you got to experience any of it in meaningful way.

I believe you should immerse yourself in these cities by exploring them as you see fit. Group tours have uneven timings, and any insight I gain from the guide is offset by the inability to deviate from the tight turn around.

Thanks to mass transportation, I find it quite easy to get around European cities on your own. Every one I've been to has a tap to pay approach to hopping on a bus or metro.

I think you're much better off doing a little bit of pre-cruise planning and identify three or four places you want to see and then come up with a walking tour.  Heck, I used AI to make the tour for me and it worked fairly well.

The exception to this rule is if you want to go well beyond the city limits and more than an hour from where your cruise ship docks.

Cities like Bordeaux, France; Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy; and Paris (Le Harve), France should all be booked through the cruise line because you don't want a travel delay getting back to result in missing your ship.

It's so easy to explore Old San Juan on your own

If there's one Caribbean port I think you can skip tours, it's a visit to San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Similar to Europe, your ship will drop you off right in the middle of Old San Juan, and there's enough here for most people.

The history of Puerto Rico is perfectly encapsulated by what you will find in Old San Juan.  It's all walkable and not a very long distance to any of the popular spots from where your ship docks.

For Americans, your cell phone coverage works in Puerto Rico. This means you can use Google Maps to find your way around. Or just meander and see where the path takes you.

Considering the other ports of call on your cruise will be primarily beach days, I recommend skipping the beaches in San Juan and sticking to the city as a means of mixing up your itinerary. Too many beach days can feel monotonous after a bit.

Royal Caribbean's private island is so good, I don't think a tour makes any sense

Royal Caribbean sells a few excursions that go beyond its private island, but I really can't say I'd recommend any of them.

Perfect Day at CocoCay is a victim of its own success, because it's been designed so well and with so much to do that I really don't see any need to venture out.

There aren't many tours offered, but I'd argue almost all of them are better done at other ports. For example, the snorkeling and scuba isn't very impressive at CocoCay.  And I think swimming with the pigs is a waste of money. 

Instead, focus your day on what you can do around the island. Much of it is included in your cruise fare at no additional cost!

In addition, there are extra cost exclusive areas you could buy into that can be worth it.  

Of all the places in this article, I think Perfect Day at CocoCay is the least important place to ever consider booking an excursion. It's very easy to find lots to do around the island.

Do your research and you should find great DIY options

The caveat to this entire article is to do a little bit of pre-planning so you have an idea of how you'll get around any of these places.

In each case, I would look up the popular things to see and do and make your own plans to see them.

Yes, there are risks with going on your own and certain advantages of booking a tour with Royal Caribbean. But that's why it's important to have a plan for visiting any of them. I don't think the planning process for coming up with your own tour will take much effort.

To borrow an old Royal Caribbean marketing slogan, get out there and embrace a sense of adventure and see how much you find.

Move over magnets, the smartest thing to pack on a cruise is now a fan.

The first time I saw someone suggest packing a fan, I thought it was weird and unnecessary. But seemingly out of nowhere, I've seen so many people swearing by bringing a fan.

If you dig through older cruise posts, you'd read that you could ask your stateroom attendant for a fan in your cruise ship cabin. In fact, I think that's still possible.

What's changed is more people are bringing their own, both to ensure there is one for you to use and because this new generation of fans works better.

I packed a fan on my last three cruises, and I see now why they're so useful.

The cruise packing hack that can help you sleep better every night

Why you would want to have a fan in your stateroom is all about one thing: solving one of the biggest cruise cabin complaints.

Every Royal Caribbean cabin has air conditioning, but air flow and air conditioning are two different things.

This is especially true in the hot summer months, when it seems like the air conditioning struggles to keep up with the heat outside. This has been my experience when I'm staying in a balcony room that has a large glass sliding door where a lot of light comes in.

When the sun is shining, it can make the room feel warmer, and that's why fans are helpful.

A fan allows you to not only cool down, but add movement to the air and that's really helpful for sleeping. 

I'm used to having a ceiling fan on in my house at home, and you won't find those in any cruise ship room (not even suites).

Plus, a fan creates white noise.  For a lot of people, that is critical to being able to sleep.  

I was skeptical how a small fan would help, but I get the hype

The first time I bought a USB chargeable fan on Amazon, I was expecting it to be a waste of money. But after one night, I was hooked.

The fans are charged via USB, and have enough battery to easily last an entire night. They have multiple speed settings, so you can increase the rate and white noise.

But the genius of these is they have a magnetic base. This means you can place them almost anywhere in your room.

Because cruise ship rooms are made from metal, you can easily attach the fan to the walls or ceiling and position it exactly where you want it.

The first time, I put it in front of the air conditioning vent so the cold air blew right on me. On the next cruise, I had it on the wall closer to my face so I had a steady stream of air.

After a hot day walking around Cozumel, Mexico, I returned to my ship hot and sweaty.  While a quick shower helped, having the fan really made a difference in feeling like I was cooling down quickly.

Since you can buy one for less than $30 and then use it on every cruise, it's a really cheap add-on that removes the concern of if the cruise ship would have a spare fan for you to use.

And unlike a fan at home, these are small. They're about the size of a hardcover book, so easy to pack and don't weigh much.

The $25 item that can make your cruise cabin feel totally different

I tested out two different fans, and both worked very well.

The first fan I tried out had a wider base and 4 speeds to choose from.  Plus, it's adjustable so you can move the fan to point in any direction. (Affiliate link, which costs nothing extra but will generate a small commission for us)

At the medium speed, it should have enough battery to run for about 10 hours.

The second fan has an even bigger battery, so you probably could use it during the day and night.

It has other settings like a LED light and five speeds.

Given that either is less than $30, it's an inexpensive investment that should last you quite a few cruises. Unless you accidentally drop it.

The magnets on both were quite strong, so it's not going anywhere unless you accidentally drop it while trying to move it.

One of the biggest events on planet Earth has finally started, and Royal Caribbean has decorated its ships to join in on the celebration. 

The FIFA World Cup 2026 officially began on Thursday, June 11, in Mexico City. 

Over the next five and a half weeks, 48 soccer teams from across the world will compete in 16 cities across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. 

Why is this such a big deal? For starters, this is the largest World Cup in history, with the roster being expanded from 32 teams to 48. 

As such, FIFA expects attendance to top five million and generate around $3 billion in revenue — that's more than four times the ticket revenue of the men's World Cup in Qatar in 2022!

The momentum and excitement aren't limited to soccer stadiums or sports bars, either. Those on Royal Caribbean cruises have reported seeing World Cup-themed décor aboard ships. 

With Miami, Florida, serving as one of the key host cities for the tournament, the cruise line is embracing that connection through themed onboard programming and special events.

For starters, ship pubs have been transformed. The ceilings are lined with promotional flags, and the walls are accented with balloons matching team colors. 

Royal Caribbean also has an ongoing drink special called "Team Spirit," available for $14 (or included with the Deluxe Beverage Package). The base of the beverage is the same, comprised of pineapple, mango, and lemon juices. 

However, guests can choose a spirit to reflect the different countries represented in the tournament. 

These include:

• USA — Tito's Handmade Vodka
• Netherlands — Ketel One Vodka
• France — Courvoisier VS
• England — Beefeater London Dry Gin
• Mexico — Casamigos Tequila Blanco 
• USA — Maker's Mark Bourbon
• Canada — Crown Royal Canadian Whisky
• Brazil — Leblon Cachaça
• Spain — Vilarnau Cava Brut Sparkling Wine
• Germany — Jägermeister

And what's a themed cocktail if you can't watch the ongoing matches that inspired it? 

According to the cruise line, World Cup games will air across the ship in venues like Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade. They will also be broadcast on pool deck television screens and in all cabins. 

Thanks to Royal Caribbean's Starlink Wi-Fi, it's also possible for guests to stream highlights, follow social media reactions, check scores, and communicate with friends and family about ongoing soccer matches.

Other Royal Caribbean FIFA World Cup 2026 Programming

Since Royal Caribbean is the Official Miami World Cup 2026 Host City Supporter, the cruise line will play a visible role in local events tied to the tournament.

For example, at the FIFA Fan Festival™ Miami, Royal Caribbean will host an interactive 30x30 fan zone. Here, guests can play games, enjoy giveaways, and capture unique photo moments. 

Royal Caribbean will also activate a rock-climbing wall integrated into the existing playground outside the fan zone. 

Even Royal Caribbean's Chief Dog Officer, Rover, is joining in on the fun. She'll star in a special seven-episode social series called "Rover's World Cup Picks" that will be hosted by Ben Black and filmed aboard Icon of the Seas. 

The series will follow Rover as she predicts the winners throughout the tournament. According to Royal Caribbean, this offers a "fun and highly shareable fan engagement angle" to the World Cup experience. 

As an adult, I've come to appreciate that both Disney Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean have their strengths, but one consistently offers a better value. 

My first-ever cruise was aboard the Disney Magic. However, my family soon turned to Royal Caribbean because of its jaw-dropping ships and competitive pricing, primarily opting for ships like Freedom of the Seas and Oasis of the Seas instead of Disney Dream or Disney Fantasy. 

Disney Cruise Line delivers an immersive, detail-oriented experience that feels magical from the moment you arrive at the terminal. On the flip side, Royal Caribbean tends to focus more on massive, innovative ships packed with engineering feats. 

Within the past year, I've sailed on two of the newest ships at sea: Icon of the Seas and Disney Destiny. As much as I would have loved for them to be paid media voyages, every aspect of the trips was paid for with my hard-earned money, meaning I observed what worked, what didn't, and how each vacation stacked up in terms of overall value. 

Although I found myself trying to plan another Disney cruise before disembarkation day, there is no denying that Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas delivered the stronger overall value, especially when factoring in the included dining options, entertainment, and onboard amenities.

In the end, comparing a Disney cruise and a Royal Caribbean cruise is a little like comparing apples to oranges. Still, both are highly family-friendly cruise lines that have solid entertainment lineups alongside well-designed adults-only spaces and experiences.

Here's how my two experiences aboard Icon of the Seas and Disney Destiny stacked up — and why I don't think you can actually go wrong with either of them (sorry, Matt!). 

In April 2025, I sailed on a seven-night cruise on Icon of the Seas from Miami, Florida.

Royal Caribbean's Icon Class is advertised to deliver the "ultimate family vacation," featuring amenities like the largest water park at sea, countless dining options, and around-the-clock entertainment. 

Despite clearly being built for families, my fiancée and I wanted in on the action, so we booked a seven-night Eastern Caribbean cruise in April 2025, calling at ports like Perfect Day at CocoCay, St. Thomas, and St. Kitts and Nevis. 

Icon of the Seas was not cheap when she launched, and you'll still struggle to find affordable vacations on the massive vessel. Knowing that, we booked our trip nearly 16 months in advance to give ourselves plenty of time to budget and prepare.

Even still, our Neighborhood GTY stateroom cost over $3,800, breaking down to roughly $542 per night. Once we factored in travel-related expenses and optional add-ons like shore excursions, a drink package, unlimited specialty dining, and Wi-Fi, our total vacation cost was around $7,456. 

While it wasn't the cheapest cruise, it definitely could have been more expensive had we gone with an ocean-view balcony, and in the end, we weren't too unhappy with the cost, which came to about $932 per night (including the night we flew to Florida) for one of the newest and most impressive ships at sea.

Around a year later, I went on a short four-night Bahamian voyage on Disney Destiny from Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Being a cruise writer isn't all fun and games. At times, it can be difficult to separate work from play and create a healthy work-life balance. So, when planning my birthday cruise, I knew I wanted an experience that would be vastly different from the other countless voyages I'd covered for Royal Caribbean Blog and Cruise Blog. 

Enter Disney Destiny, Disney Cruise Line's newest Wish Class ship, sailing from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Like my vacation on Icon of the Seas, I knew a Disney cruise wouldn't be a cheap getaway, so we booked our four-night voyage in January 2025, or 16 months in advance. 

We reserved a Category 5C Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah for $3,125. This came out to around $781 per night, or $239 more expensive than my neighborhood infinite veranda on Icon of the Seas. 

In the end, we spent nearly $5,570 on the cruise fare, travel-related expenses, souvenirs, port adventures, and an unlimited thermal spa pass (which was SO worth it, by the way), or $928 per night. 

The short Bahamas cruise was not the most affordable vacation I have ever taken, but I was celebrating my 27th birthday along with several other personal and professional milestones, so I decided the splurge was worth it — even if I could have stretched my budget further on other lines or a land-based trip. 

Both ships offer a ton of different dining options, from poolside tacos to upscale steakhouses. 

Food is undeniably one of the most important parts of a cruise — and you can't go wrong with Icon of the Seas or Disney Destiny for quality and variety. 

That said, each ship has its strengths. Whereas Disney Cruise Line's themed dining rooms focus on immersive, character-driven stories, Royal Caribbean offers a more flexible main dining approach. 

With Royal Caribbean’s "My Time" (or "anytime") dining, guests can make reservations for the Main Dining Room around their own schedule, whereas Disney only offers two traditional, fixed seating times each evening.

Moving on, Royal Caribbean's specialty dining is family-friendly, giving guests a wider range of upscale options that everyone can enjoy together — from Teppanyaki to Italian, seafood, and more. 

On the other hand, Disney's specialty restaurants are strictly adult-only (and highly exclusive). Scoring a reservation for Palo can seem impossible if you don't hold status with the line — or book a pricey Concierge suite. 

Still, after over three dozen cruises on multiple lines, Palo stands out as one of the best meals I have ever had at sea, easily surpassing high-end venues like Celebrity's Le Voyage. So, yeah, it's worth the hype (if you can get in). 

When it comes to complimentary dining variety, Icon of the Seas features a wider range of included venues, from the AquaDome Market food hall to grab-and-go options from Pearl Café, El Loco Fresh, and multiple buffets. 

However, Disney Destiny also has a good amount of complimentary offerings, especially for a ship of its size. In addition to the Marceline Market buffet, Mickey & Friends Festival of Foods is an outdoor food court with five different stalls, ranging from Mexican to BBQ, pizza, and more. 

Either way, I was impressed with both vessels, and it's easy to sail on either without paying for specialty restaurants. 

Disney has pricey Wi-Fi packages that are almost impossible to justify.

Neither Disney nor Royal Caribbean includes Wi-Fi in their cruise fares. However, Royal Caribbean's internet packages are easier to justify from a value standpoint, especially if they're purchased during a pre-cruise sale.

For example, I paid just $21.99 for Royal Caribbean's VOOM Surf + Stream ahead of time through the Cruise Planner. 

Comparatively, Disney doesn't offer any pre-cruise sales, and I was shocked to see the base package priced at $27 per night aboard Disney Destiny. 

For full web browsing and streaming capabilities, I would have had to shell out nearly $150 on a four-night cruise. Instead, we took advantage of Disney's free messaging ability (which allows guests to use iMessage and WhatsApp for no extra charge) and only connected to cellular in port for $12/day. 

Entertainment-wise, Disney Destiny and Icon of the Seas are two of the best ships at sea, but Royal Caribbean has more variety.

Moving on, Royal Caribbean's entertainment lineup is more diverse, featuring high-diving productions in the AquaTheater, ice skating shows, and Broadway-style musicals. 

Disney's entertainment is also top-tier. However, they focus primarily on Broadway-style theater productions, where storytelling, staging, and quality musical performances take precedence over fast-paced entertainment.

I can't say that I saw a bad show on either ship. Disney's Hercules really went the distance on the Disney Destiny, and the talented Muses added a soulful twist.

Frozen was also a cute production, though I thought it was a little gimmicky, trying to use too much modern slang and humor to appeal to younger kids. 

Finally, Disney Seas the Adventure was exactly the kind of production you'd want to see on a Disney cruise. It featured beloved characters like Goofy and Minnie and was packed with energy, music, and Disney magic. 

As much as I love Broadway-style musicals, theater shows aren't for everyone. If you prefer action-packed entertainment and a wider variety of performances, Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas takes the cake. 

The AquaTheater show was especially impressive, featuring skateboarders and acrobatic tricks set against an indoor waterfall!

Disney's verandah cabins are sleek, elegant, and ideal for families.

Even on its oldest ships, Disney Cruise Line is known for maximizing comfort and functionality for families. As such, I much preferred my stateroom aboard Disney Destiny. 

For starters, the cabin was elegantly designed and had subtle magical touches throughout the stateroom without the decor feeling overly themed.

However, the best part about my Disney cruise cabin was the split bathroom, which separated the shower and bathtub from the toilet area. 

The toilet and sink were in the room closest to the cabin door, while the shower/tub combo and main sink were located in the next room. 

I loved this layout because it was so much easier to get ready, and my fiancée and I noticed that there was more storage than in standard cruise bathrooms.

Moreover, the shower itself felt luxurious with white tile, premium sea salt bath products, and a rainfall showerhead. 

Although neither of us used the tub, this is undoubtedly a huge advantage for families with younger children, too.

Moving on, there was nothing inherently wrong with my Central Park infinite verandah on Icon of the Seas, but it was the small touches in the Disney Destiny cabin that made it stand out. 

For example, while many went ballistic over the changes to Icon Class bathrooms, I found Disney's split layout more practical for families — that's not to say I didn't love the extra-large shower!

Additionally, the cabin itself felt a little more cookie-cutter and lacked the same attention to detail found in my room aboard Disney Destiny. 

I also missed having a real balcony, and because we faced the interior of the ship, we felt more exposed and less connected to the ocean.

For example, whenever we returned for an afternoon nap, we closed the blinds to keep guests in other cabins from looking directly into ours. As such, we also didn't benefit from the same level of natural light that generally floods an ocean-view room. 

This, of course, is a bit of an unfair comparison since I had an ocean-facing balcony on Disney Destiny. However, had I gone with the standard ocean verandah on Icon, we would have had to shell out nearly $3,000 more for our weeklong cruise – and we could not justify that. 

My Royal Caribbean drink package meant I didn't have to worry about racking up a large bill on drinks. 

Royal Caribbean has three different drink packages to choose from, giving passengers the ability to tailor their experience based on their drinking habits. 

My fiancée and I opted for the Deluxe Beverage Package, and for around $1,000, we enjoyed unlimited cocktails, soda, specialty coffee, bottled water, and more during our Icon of the Seas cruise. 

Having everything prepaid made it easy to order beverages without constantly thinking about running up a high onboard account.

On the flip side, Disney's base fare includes soda, which is a nice touch to help justify the higher price. However, they don't have any packages to bundle non-alcoholic or alcoholic drinks. Instead, you must pay for each one individually as you go. 

For me, that ended up working perfectly. Since I've recently embraced sobriety, I wasn't looking to down a ton of cocktails by the pool anyway. Instead, the included soda was all I needed and eliminated the need for a drink package. 

Still, since Disney does not offer any beverage packages, Royal Caribbean is more flexible for those who prefer to prepay for their drinks upfront. 

Icon of the Seas offered way more to do onboard. 

Finally, if you are looking for a ship with non-stop thrills, look no further than Icon of the Seas. This massive vessel features everything from the record-breaking Category 6 Waterpark to an ice skating rink, FlowRider surf simulator, rock climbing wall, mini-golf course, and more. 

This was definitely one of the advantages of Icon of the Seas. There was always something happening somewhere on the ship, whether you were looking for high-adrenaline attractions, live entertainment, or just a lively pool deck atmosphere.

Comparatively, Disney's focus is geared more toward storytelling, character-driven experiences, and a more relaxed cruise environment. Rather than spending our afternoons racing down waterslides, we'd kick back and watch a movie on the pool deck. 

In this case, the slower pace was exactly what I was looking for. I had no problem finding a lounge chair, applying lots (and lots) of sunscreen, soaking in the ocean views, and not feeling like I was missing out on anything happening elsewhere on the ship. 

Disney Destiny vs. Icon of the Seas: Which is better?

Ultimately, Disney Destiny and Icon of the Seas deliver unforgettable cruise experiences, but in different ways. For starters, Royal Caribbean leans heavily into scale, innovation, and nonstop activity, while Disney Cruise Line focuses on storytelling and attention to detail.

As such, if your idea of a perfect cruise vacation is filled with waterslides, unique entertainment, and endless things to do, Icon of the Seas is the best pick. It's a floating city where there's always something happening, and there's something for everyone. Icon is also a better pick for those who value flexibility when it comes to main dining times and drink packages. 

On the other hand, Disney Destiny has more thoughtful details that shape the onboard experience. From the stateroom design to the immersive dining atmosphere and themed entertainment, everything feels more intentional and a little more refined. 

Occasionally cruise ships have to change the itinerary for a variety of reasons, and I had my visit to one of the best Alaska glaciers cancelled by Royal Caribbean.

Just a month before the start of the Alaska cruise season, Royal Caribbean cancelled all of their visits to Tracy Arm fjord because of recent landslides there.

No one wants to book a cruise and then be told later the plans need to change, but safety always comes first.

The cruise line informed us we'd be headed to Endicott Arm and Dawes Glacier instead to replace our cancelled plans.

While I may not have been happy with the change, our replacement visit ended up being an amazing experience.

Cruise ship glacier visits are the highlight of any Alaska cruise

No matter which glacier your ship visits, seeing one of these natural wonders is a must-do.

Most Alaskan itineraries include an early morning where the ship sails into a fjord to slowly approach the glacier.

This is one major reason why sailing to Alaska by cruise ship is such an advantage, because the bigger glaciers are difficult or impossible to reach by land.

It's one of the best viewing opportunities you'll get, and it's a captivating day.

Glacier day is an early start

I was sailing on Serenade of the Seas, and we entered Endicott Arm around 6am to begin the 30-mile journey.

A lot of cruisers armed themselves with coffee or hot chocolate, bundled up, and headed outside to see everything as we passed by.

The ship moves slowly because the waterway is narrow, and there are floating pieces of ice along the way.

There's something to look at from anywhere on the ship, including your balcony or any public area of the ship.

Both sides of the ships have views of the coast and high cliffs that make up Endicott Arm. Not only is it a magnificent sight, but there are animal viewing opportunities along the way.

We spotted seals and whales, including a mom and baby seal on a piece of ice. 

Animal viewing will be sporadic, but when you see one, it's incredible.

A 600-foot tall glacier waits at the end

After about two and a half hours, we reached Dawes Glacier and got a front row seat to enjoy the view.

This is one of the best examples of a tidewater glacier, and it sits at the head of the fjord.

Our ship approached as close as was safe to do so, and then began a slow spin so everyone could get a good view.

I started off watching from my balcony room. In fact, we booked a balcony instead of an inside room specifically because we wanted to take full advantage of it on our glacier day.

The benefit of having a balcony is not only a private viewing area, but you could retreat indoors when we got too cold to warm up inside.  Meanwhile, we could still watch through the glass doors.

After taking in the first sights, I wanted a better vantage point, so I walked quickly to the front of the ship.

There are multiple public decks on a Radiance Class ship like Serenade, which helps spread everyone out.  I started off on the upper pool deck, moving to the front for a higher vantage point.

But I think the absolute best glacier viewing opportunity is the ship's helipad on deck 5.

You're right at the very front of the ship with nothing obstructing your view ahead. While this means it's the coldest spot to stand, I think it's worth it for what you get to see.

This is also a good reminder that while a balcony cabin is convenient, you could very easily book a less expensive stateroom and still enjoy the glacier viewing from any of the public areas.

Our ship did a full 360-degree spin so that everyone could get a view without having to run around the ship to a specific location.

We remained near Dawes Glacier for about a half hour before slowly beginning the journey back. Of course, this means another opportunity to enjoy the views around Endicott Arm once more, especially if you didn't wake up for the initial sail in.

I recommend bundling up because it's probably the coldest day of your cruise

Alaska cruises aren't as cold as you might think, but glacier day can get quite brisk. The combination of wind and nearby ice made this the coldest day of our cruise.

You will want to wear a couple of layers to keep yourself warm enough to enjoy the views.  I don't think you should go to the trouble of packing a parka jacket just for one morning, but you will need more than just a sweater.

A knit hat and gloves are a must-pack item for your Alaska cruise. They don't take up much space in your luggage, and will make a major difference in being able to stay outside longer.  

Instead of a giant parka, I think a combination of a warm fleece jacket and outer rain jacket should do the trick.  Add a t-shirt underneath it all, and those three layers should keep you warm enough.

These are affiliate links, which cost you nothing extra to use but we make a small commission.

You could also purchase hand warmers to bring with you, which you can stuff in your gloves, shoes, or jacket to also warm you up. A DIY approach is get a hot cup of black coffee and just hold it.  That could get you lots of extra warmth for no additional cost.

What to pack for an Alaska cruise is one of the most popular questions, but I don't think you need to pack an entire outfit just for your glacier viewing.  Instead, layer up and don't be afraid to take breaks inside to warm back up.

Endicott Arm & Dawes Glacier was worth it, even if it wasn't our first plan

Even though I booked an Alaska cruise with a different glacier stop in mind, Royal Caribbean still delivered a viewing we won't ever forget.

I certainly don't fault them for making a change to ensure the safety of everyone involved, and I'm even happier we got a picture perfect viewing chance as a replacement.

Even my teenage kids, who are usually jaded about nature, were out on the balcony to take it all in. And to take plenty of selfies too.

Glacier day should be a top priority, regardless of which one you visit.  Get up early, bundle up, grab coffee, and enjoy this amazing natural treat.