Royal Caribbean is the biggest cruise line in the industry, and it attracts millions of passengers every year.
I've taken at least one cruise every month of the year so far, often adding a second or third sailing within the same calendar month. It's an amazing vacation option that has taken me to the Caribbean and Europe, and I've got plenty more planned into next year too.
Though my cruises have been positive overall, things can always go wrong.
Here are the biggest mishaps I've encountered on Royal Caribbean cruises, and how I prepare for them in advance.
Getting seasick can ruin your day, so I bring the right medication
Many first-time cruisers are worried about getting seasick on a cruise ship. I think the chances of it happening are lower than most people assume, but there's definitely the possibility.
Even I occasionally get seasick if the winds are rocking the ship in the right direction. Earlier this year, I was sailing on Freedom of the Seas and I noticed I started feeling queasy on our sea day and recognized the telltale sign of motion sickness coming on.
The good news is you can combat seasickness quite easily and quickly, but it helps so to have the right things with you.
While there are homeopathic remedies, I prefer to have a supply of over the counter medication at my disposal.
I always pack Bonine chewable tablets with me (link contains affiliate link, which costs you nothing extra).
When I first started cruising, I would take one a day, beginning the day before my cruise began. As I've cruised more, I don't feel the need to take it daily, but they do work quickly if the symptoms of motion sickness begin while already onboard the ship.
Delays of any size can wreak havoc on travel plans, so I plan my schedule to account for them
Want to know the most costly mistake you can make on your cruise? Trying to fly in the same day your cruise begins.
Whether you're trying to save money on a hotel room or simply aren't aware of the risks, traveling the same day your cruise is scheduled to begin is playing with fire.
Air travel delays are notoriously bad, and they happen all the time. Because of this, I always pad my travel plans to add more travel time in case of a delay or cancellation.
If you miss the ship because your flight was cancelled or delayed, there's not much recourse to get you on the ship. Certainly travel insurance may pick up the tab on lost cost, but it won't replace the actual relaxing vacation you planned.
I always fly in at least one day before the cruise is set to begin for cruises that depart my own country. If I'm flying internationally, I'd bump that up at least two days before the cruise is set to begin. In fact, I'd recommend more days to not only account for travel delays but also jetlag.
Cabin noise can make sleeping difficult, so I always bring ear plugs
I have a high tolerance for noise, until it interferes with my sleep.
Most of the time, I have few problems with getting a good night sleep on a cruise ship. In fact, I often sleep better on a cruise, especially when I'm in an inside cabin that provides ideal sleeping conditions.
Just in case, I pack a supply of disposable ear plugs in my luggage.
Cabin noise can be the result of many sources, including rattling, other passengers, or music.
When you're awakened mid-sleep and you just want to get back to sleep, I don't have the energy to track down the source every time. So I'll grab my ear plugs, put them in, and get right back to sleep.
Power plugs can be scarce, so I pack an approved power adaptor
Royal Caribbean has gotten really good about adding enough power outlets in cruise ship cabins with its newer ships, but I always assume there aren't enough outlets in any cabin.
What do I need to plug in? My laptop, phone, wife's phone, smart watch are usually all plugged in at one time or another. And then when my wife needs to blow dry or straighten her hair, there's more outlets needed. Never mind my kids' devices.
If you're on a cruise ship built before 2010, there's a good chance your cabin will have just two power outlets.
As a result, I pack a power adaptor with me on every sailing I take.
Royal Caribbean recently banned multi-plug outlets, but there are still approved outlet adaptors you can take with you.
I bring a USB hub in my carry-on bag, and it ensures we can keep a few things charging concurrently. (Contains affiliate link, which costs you nothing extra to use)
Before my cruise, I start to drink more water to avoid travel stomach
Despite my hundred or so cruises I've taken in my life, my digestive track seems to get triggered by travel quite often.
Grumpy gut is not the result of a bacterial infection, just bad luck with the transition to new foods, dehydration from flying, changes in climate, or something else.
A couple days before the cruise begins, I'll try to drink more water to help keep everything moving. I feel this especially important on embarkation day of the cruise too, because it's so easy to go right to "I'm on vacation" mode and enjoy cocktails without enough water too.
Water alone won't always work, so I travel with medicine like Pepto Bismol or Imodium to quickly take care of the symptoms. (These are affiliate links that cost you nothing extra, but I get a referral fee if you buy something).