What better way to learn how to improve your Royal Caribbean vacation than from loyal cruisers themselves?
Royal Caribbean International took to Facebook to ask its customers for their best "pro" tips, ranging from off-the-menu snack hacks to the best theater seats and more.
The post received over 90 comments in around 24 hours, with seasoned guests eager to share the small tricks that they've learned.
Depending on your cruising style, not all of these tips may apply to you. However, you never know what useful hacks you'll come across that will make a world of difference on your next vacation!
Write down your favorite crew members' names
You've likely heard a lot about the post-cruise survey, whether from dining room servers or Guest Services staff. The results are important because they're used for staffing decisions, service improvements, and crew recognition.
One Facebook user gave a great suggestion to help remember crew members who went above and beyond during your sailing. Although you don't have to give anyone a shout-out, positive feedback helps the cruise line decide whether crew members should get another contract, raise, or promotion.
"I write down names to give good reviews on the survey. The more good comments in a [crew member's] file the more internet time they're given. That's major when they’re halfway around the world from their families. The comments are also considered for raises and promotions," said Kathy Eilen Mattei.
Don't be afraid to splurge on connecting cruise rooms
Cruise cabins are much smaller than standard hotel rooms. Although some are designed to accommodate three or four guests, it can be a tight squeeze and not ideal for long family vacations.
Jeremy Randolph recommends that families spend the extra money on connecting staterooms, "even if it means getting two inside cabins."
In addition to the added living space, having two staterooms means you will have two bathrooms, which can make a huge difference when getting ready for an early morning excursion or rushing to freshen up before dinner.
Bring a hanging organizer for more storage space
(Credit: Ashley Molitor / Facebook)
Cruise staterooms also aren't known for offering an abundance of storage space. Although many ships do have clever storage solutions, some creativity on your end may help keep everything a little more organized and accessible.
Ashley Molitor, for example, never travels without a hanging organizer. The portable, easy-to-pack storage instantly adds extra shelving for clothing, shoes, and other miscellaneous items. It also makes the closet look much more put-together.
Royal Caribbean's team loved this pro tip, commenting, " Packing level: expert unlocked!🧳✨ love this hack."
Pack magnetic hooks
There's an even more popular storage hack in the cruise community. Many travelers swear by magnetic hooks since they give you dedicated space to hang lanyards, swimsuits, tote bags, hats, and more.
Alisha Mc, for example, loves using magnetic hooks to hang bathing suits and create a place for her cruise lanyards. Another cruiser, Lisa Davis, agrees, saying that magnetic hooks have been the most helpful cruise hack she's learned.
You can even bring magnetic hooks with clips to help keep daily schedules and shore excursion tickets organized without cluttering up the vanity area!
Bring shower curtain magnets for older ships
Most Royal Caribbean ships have bathrooms with capsule showers that feature a rounded, sliding door. Older vessels, however, such as Vision and Radiance Class ships, have shower curtains instead of enclosed pods.
"[Since] some ships still have shower curtains... use magnets to pop on the bottom of them as it helps keep them in place. It avoids them attacking you while you’re trying to shower!" suggests Courtney Troka.
It is a simple but effective tip, especially for a moving ship, where lightweight curtains can easily move and cling to your skin.
Get passports for everyone
Many first-time cruisers aren't sure whether a passport is necessary or not. Generally speaking, U.S. citizens can go on a lot of cruises without a passport (so long as they depart from and return to the same U.S. port), but having a valid passport is highly recommended.
"Get passports for everyone kids included. It's... efficient for flights and cruising. As well as just walking [through] the facial recognition at TSA at the port when you disembark if you cruised with a passport. You don't even take it out to show it. People with random documents use the slow line to have docs checked," explains Nancy Merryman Wickersham.
Those without passports have to show physical documents, which can result in longer lines at embarkation and disembarkation while the staff verifies the paperwork. Not only that, but passports allow you to sail on more worldly itineraries to destinations like the Mediterranean, South Pacific, and beyond.
Check in for your cruise at midnight
Royal Caribbean's online check-in portal opens 45 days before your cruise departure date, and those who complete the process as soon as possible are among the first to choose their desired check-in times.
If you want to guarantee an earlier arrival time, Cruising with Shannon says you should check in at midnight when it opens. Otherwise, you might end up stuck with an afternoon appointment and waste your first day on the ship.
"I love getting the early times and that makes so much [of a] difference. I'm all about maximizing my time on the ship," she adds.
Start your cruise with a relaxing specialty lunch
Embarkation day is hectic, to say the least. Between shuffling through the terminal, boarding the ship with thousands of other passengers, exploring the vessel, and finishing the muster drill on time, it's easy to feel like the day flies by in a blur.
That's why many guests like to carve out time for a low-key specialty lunch. Choosing a quieter restaurant means you can kickstart your vacation on a positive note, rather than head straight to the buffet like nearly every other guest.
"Book whichever specialty dining venue is open for lunch on embarkation day. We avoid WJ if at all possible. So much nicer to begin a cruise with a nice quiet lunch," agrees Judy Rouse.
Don't overschedule yourself
Modern-day cruise ships are nothing short of impressive, floating cities, offering everything from countless dining options to jaw-dropping entertainment, retail shopping, high-end spas, water parks, and more. Each ship also has a jam-packed daily schedule with trivia sessions, live music, poolside competitions, and family-friendly parades.
With so much happening at once, it's very tempting to fill every hour of your day with shows, meals, excursions, and other activities. However, this isn't necessarily the smartest strategy for making the most of your cruise vacation.
"My cruise hack is not to overschedule myself. I review the cruise compass and when there are 2 things (or more!) that I want to do at the same time, I check to see if an activity is offered at a different time, or consider whether I really need to play Sudoku in a group setting," explains Teffany Hefner.
Try something new
As important as it is to not overschedule yourself, you also don't want to miss out on all the exciting and unique amenities on the ship.
"Try something new! Check out the daily planner and pick something you’ve never done. It could be something you always wanted to try or something you never thought of. Have fun!" suggests Suzanne Potts.
Downtime helps you relax and recharge, while stepping out of your comfort zone is often what makes a cruise so memorable.
Stock up on bottled water
Between alcoholic beverages, fountain drinks, and specialty coffees, it is important to stay hydrated, especially if you are traveling somewhere warm like The Bahamas, Caribbean, or Mediterranean.
Thankfully, two of Royal Caribbean's drink packages include bottled water: the Royal Refreshment Package and Deluxe Beverage Package.
"If I have the drink package, I will get bottled water before heading [to my] room for the night. I'll have it through the night or when I wake up," says Ann Fick.
Sarah Molitor also says that you can get a case of water delivered to your stateroom on embarkation day before arriving. This is a good hack for those who are not planning to splurge on a pricey drink package.
Don't overlook this breakfast option
Did you know that Royal Caribbean ships have free room service? Okay, that isn't entirely true. Although you can get free breakfast delivered to your room, the options are pretty limited, and it is only available during certain hours.
Still, it is a convenient perk if you don't want to rush to the Windjammer before your excursions — or want to sit on the balcony while pulling into port and enjoy freshly brewed coffee, fruit, and light pastries.
"[Get] free room service for Continental breakfast. If you have a balcony, this is just the best!" Christine Cappuccia commented.
Try Royal Caribbean's secret sandwich at CocoCay
Royal Caribbean ships offer plenty of delicious food, and their private destinations do as well. However, you'll find some of the best options if you look beyond the standard menu offerings — starting with CocoCay's "Secret Shack" Sandwich.
Essentially, it is an amalgamation of two regular menu items — the chicken sandwich and mozzarella sticks — with marinara sauce drizzled on top. (Pro tip: if you are not visiting CocoCay, you can recreate the iconic secret sandwich in the Main Dining Room during sea day lunch.)
Jacob Millstein also recommends taking the coconut cookies to the soft-serve machine and topping them with a swirl of ice cream to level up sweet treat o'clock.
Easy anti-wrinkle hack
Steamers and irons are not allowed on Royal Caribbean ships due to their fire hazard risk and potential safety concerns.
That, however, doesn't mean you have to walk around the ship with wrinkled clothes. Many cruisers rely on things like anti-wrinkle spray, but one cruiser suggested something even more innovative.
"No steamers or irons allowed, ladies, use your flat irons to help with some wrinkles in your clothes, works great on collars!" says Kelly Costa Coelho.
Eat at Giovanni's on Utopia of the Seas for amazing AquaTheater views
Utopia of the Seas is the only cruise ship in the fleet that has a Giovanni's Italian Kitchen with an al fresco dining patio. Although the concept of outdoor dining on ships isn't new, this is the first time an open-air terrace overlooks the lively Boardwalk neighborhood.
While it is a worthwhile experience in and of itself, Jami Lynne gave an excellent suggestion for cruisers who want to combine their dinner experience with a show.
"Book [Giovanni's] on Utopia right before the aquashow and request the balcony seating so you can watch the show while you eat dinner," she explains.
The Solarium Bistro is a quieter place to get a buffet breakfast
The buffet is a quintessential cruise experience, where you will see passengers load their plates high with an unbelievable amount of food. Unsurprisingly, it's a popular choice for many guests since there's so much variety, and it's easy to find something for everyone.
However, that means it can also get really busy, especially during peak meal times. Thankfully, there's another option on many newer ships, including Oasis and Quantum Class vessels, that gives passengers a more relaxed buffet experience without the crowds.
"For Oasis Class and other ships with the Solarium, their breakfast is a smaller version of the Windjammer… fewer crowds, great food, and perfect views," explains Ron Harrison.
Buy arcade credits for the cruise
Royal Caribbean isn't an all-inclusive cruise line, meaning you can expect to pay for add-ons like drink packages, Wi-Fi, specialty restaurants, shore excursions, and more.
Arcade credits are an optional expense, too. However, you can save money on them by purchasing credits in advance through the Cruise Planner, as suggested by Pam Jaffe.
The savings aren't anything monumental, but there's no reason you should pay more for something when it's so easy to buy credits before you sail for less.
Use the gym showers
Since cruise rooms only have one tiny shower, there's an easy workaround to ensure that everyone is ready in time to snap a few professional photos before dinner.
"[My husband] showers in the gym while I can shower and get ready for dinner in the cabin!" Susan Greenhouse Knutson shares.
This is an easy hack that helps give everyone a little more space, privacy, and time to freshen up.
Bring Ziploc bags for late-night snacks
Cruise ships have endless food options, from the buffet to the Main Dining Room, poolside quick-service spots, late-night pizza, room service, and more.
Still, sometimes it’s nice to have your own small stash of snacks on hand, especially since the options get more limited as the night goes on.
"I always pack [Ziploc] bags to keep cookies (or other snacks) [in] my cabin refrigerator (cooler). Sometimes a midnight snack is needed," remarks Sondra Branch-Young.
