I recently tried one of Royal Caribbean's new Royal Signature Excursions, aimed at immersing guests in the local culture with reputable third-party operators.
According to the cruise line, these curated tours were hand-picked for their elevated benefits, such as amazing itineraries, food, and small group sizes.
When I discovered they were only available in 11 ports — and my weeklong Caribbean cruise aboard Icon of the Seas was visiting two of them — I knew I needed to test them out for myself.
Though I never imagined spending over $110 per person on a snorkeling excursion in the Caribbean, it was one of the most affordable Royal Signature Excursions that wasn't sold out yet.
My other option was the "Taste of St. Kitts: Wine Sampling, Local Treats & Beach" tour that cost over $300 per person! That was a hard pass from us.
In the end, the "St. John by Sea: Catamaran, Champagne & Snorkel" excursion was one of the highlights of our cruise and worth every penny.
The tour started out like any other Royal Caribbean-sponsored excursion
Because we pre-booked the tour through the Cruise Planner, we received our excursion tickets on embarkation day in our stateroom.
Since it was relatively last minute (about one month before our departure date), the pre-cruise sale wasn't as great as if the tour had been reserved around Black Friday.
As such, my partner and I paid $221.98 altogether, or $110.99 each. Still, knowing prices are usually more expensive in the Eastern Caribbean, I wasn't too upset.
Our tickets told us to meet our group in the Royal Theater at 7:00am, so we started our day with one of my favorite ways to ease into an early morning on a cruise: room service breakfast on our infinite verandah.
We were fully checked in and seated by 6:55am, though we weren't guided off the ship until closer to 7:20am. Once on the pier, we stood in line while tour operators passed around a medical questionnaire that everyone had to verbally answer.
In short, it said if you had conditions like asthma, heart disease, or epilepsy, you'd be disqualified from the excursion. It also informed guests that the use of full-face snorkel masks was prohibited in St. John.
Those who confirmed they weren't affected by the conditions on the list were given a small green boarding pass to hang onto until we reached the marina.
By 7:40am, we were loaded onto an open-air safari bus and began the trek through St. Thomas' steep, twisting roads during the morning rush hour.
We safely made it to the Compass Point Marina about 40 minutes later, and at this point, everyone was ready to get on the catamaran and take in the Caribbean's tropical sun.
We were split into two groups
My partner and I boarded the Dancing Dolphin catamaran, while others were sent to the Adventuress. Both were U.S. Coast Guard-inspected vessels, which was reassuring to hear.
There was ice water waiting on the bar when we embarked for guests to grab as they made their way to the outer deck. Though it wasn't too warm yet, it was refreshing to sip on after the bus ride while we listened to the safety announcements.
Our crew consisted of Ian, Cameron, and Deena, the captain. The trio had an amazing sense of humor that set everyone at ease.
Before we knew it, we were pulling away from the dock and sailing on the surprisingly calm waters toward Honeymoon Beach in St. John.
The ride to Honeymoon Beach didn't feel too long
Snorkeling gear, including masks, life jackets, and flippers, was passed out during the ride, so by the time we anchored offshore, everyone was eager to jump in.
They gave another short safety briefing, establishing boundaries as to where we could and couldn't swim and hand signals in case of distress, before allowing everyone in the water.
While most guests wanted to snorkel, there was an option to ride the dinghy to the soft white sands. This was appreciated, as it let everyone, regardless of their physical ability or comfort level, enjoy their time in St. John.
However, I couldn't resist jumping into the crystal-clear water. It was a little cooler than I thought, but I quickly got used to it.
We spent about an hour snorkeling. Overall, it was a quiet day for marine life, but we did spot a few stingrays and tons of fish.
As we made our way toward the catamaran, we heard Deena shouting to look underneath us. To my surprise, a sea turtle was grazing the ocean floor!
Back onboard, the crew was busy preparing fun libations and light snacks
I opted for the rum punch mimosa, while my partner went with a regular glass of champagne. However, they also had non-alcoholic drinks.
The crew kept the drinks flowing (literally, by carrying around pitchers of punch and champagne bottles around the deck!) for the entire 40-minute ride back to St. Thomas.
Light snacks, including cheese, fruit, crackers, and meat, were also served, but I was disappointed with how greedy some guests were, as the food quickly ran out.
Despite that hiccup, the ride back to the marina was calm and scenic, with views of the Virgin Islands' lush hillsides.
We spent time conversing with the guests around us. Surprisingly, both couples beside us either currently lived or had previously resided in North Carolina!
Read more: My favorite stop on my first cruise was St. Thomas
We definitely got our money's worth on our Royal Signature Excursion
Excursions — especially in the Bahamas and Caribbean, where I've been over 20 times — are often one place I decide to save, rather than splurge.
However, the Royal Signature Excursion reminded me that there's always something new to experience.
The small group aboard the catamaran made for a relaxing morning without feeling overwhelmingly crammed on a boat, which is how we felt in Mykonos last summer. The unlimited alcohol and snacks to fuel up after snorkeling were a nice touch, too.
Plus, the crew's friendly energy made the experience feel like we were connecting with old friends. They definitely struck the perfect balance between professionalism, safety, and fun.
That said, I'd be more interested in trying one of Royal Signature Excursions in a more culturally rich port, such as La Spezia, Italy, where you can go truffle hunting and enjoy a traditional Tuscan farmhouse lunch.
