Royal Caribbean Blog

On one of the biggest cruise ships in the world, you'll find a giant suite that has more space and amenities than you ever thought possible on a cruise ship.

Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas has an entire neighborhood dedicated to just suites, and it's where you'll find some of the largest cabins on any cruise ship.

The Royal Loft Suite is one of the biggest suites on the ship, and also one of the most expensive.  It comes with the ship's best perks, known as Star Class. It comes with complimentary drink package, specialty dining, gratuities, and the services of the Royal Genie.  

Read more: My advice for someone using a Royal Genie on a Royal Caribbean cruise

It's a big room with the best benefits Royal Caribbean offers, and we got a chance to tour the cabin. Let's take a look inside.

The Royal Loft Suite has its own entrance on deck 18

The Royal Loft Suite is located within the suite neighborhood, which is an area of the ship that only has suite cabins. There are suites on other decks too, but this area is reserved exclusively for suite guests.

Unlike other suites that share a common hallway, the Royal Loft Suite has its own glass door that stops anyone from even reaching the actual door to the cabin. It's like its own mini-hallway.

A chime outside the glass door rings inside the cabin to allow entry.

Guests are welcomed into the foyer

As you walk into the Royal Loft Suite, it becomes apparent quickly this is a very different cruise ship cabin.

There is a baby grand piano on your right, a wet bar on your left, and floor-to-ceiling windows leading to the balcony.

The look of the room is also quite opulent, with hardwood floors and marble furnishings.

This suite features a large living room and dining area

Sprawling is the best word to describe this cabin, as the main floor has a dining room table that can seat up to 8 people.

Room service is included with this suite, and that includes being able to order food from specialty restaurants or the Main Dining Room. Guests staying in this cabin are able to have their meal served in the dining room.

To the right is the living room, and it has lots of space to relax.

There is a large couch, chair, and even a pair of hanging rocking chairs. I especially liked the couch had a chaise to it, making it far more comfortable for lounging.

There are two floors, with the master bedroom exclusively on the upper level

As the name implies, there is an upper loft area that is just for the master bedroom and bath.

Stairs lead to the upper level, where you'll find a king size bed. The bed overlooks the rest of the suite and has views to the windows, providing ocean views.

If you need privacy, a curtain can be extended by the push of a button to completely envelop the bedroom.

Behind the bed are more closets than you could possibly need, with floor-to-ceiling doors that offer drawers and hanging space.

The master bathroom has an amazing shower

The amount of extra space continues into the master bath, with dual sinks and lots of counter space.

Within the shower is a rainforest shower with a pair of handheld shower heads, along with various nozzles.

There's also a soaking tub nearby.

The toilet is separated by a door, and has a remote controlled bidet.

The balcony is smaller than other Royal Loft Suites, but has a better location

I was surprised by how much smaller the balcony space was on this balcony compared to the Royal Loft Suite balcony on Allure of the Seas, but Royal Caribbean made up for it with an ocean view that doesn't have the privacy issues other ships have.

The balcony has its own hot tub to enjoy, along with a table and chairs nearby.

There's also two more hanging rocking chairs that face the ocean, along with a wet bar and television.

The second bedroom has space for additional guests

On the lower floor is the second bedroom, which can sleep an additional two guests. The bed does not separate.

This room has its own doorway, along with storage and even a chair.  Just like the master bedroom, the television retracts down from the ceiling.

While the bathroom is not nearly as large as the master bathroom, it's still quite nice and has multiple faucets inside the shower.

The Royal Loft Suite comes with a genie

Just as important as the room is the services of the Royal Genie, who isn't quite a butler, but is just as helpful.

The genie is responsible for three cabins on Wonder of the Seas, and assists with just about every need their guests might have. Dinner reservations, seats for a show, escorting on and off the ship, and even getting elevators for their guests are just some of the benefits they provide.

Think of a genie as an "easy button" for the cruise, where you don't need to pre-book things and simply inform the genie what you want to do, and they will make it happen.

The Royal Loft Suite is one of the biggest and over-the-top suites you can book on a cruise ship

Cruise ships have become well-known for offering incredible experiences that you can't believe are available at sea, and this suite certainly fits the bill.

Suite accommodations are not about providing a dollar-for-dollar value, but rather, an option for the well-to-do that can afford it. Walking through the cabin, you quickly get a sense this is unlike other cruise ship cabins (or even lesser suites).

The combination of sprawling space and services of the Royal Genie mean anyone willing to pay the price tag to enjoy a stay here.

It's not always easy to go on a cruise if you have more than four people in your cabin.

Royal Caribbean creates great cruise experiences for the whole family, and makes it easy to plan a cruise for four people or less. But what if you have a bigger group? 

For groups of five or more, more challenges can arise. 

You often cannot book one on the website but will have to call Royal Caribbean or ask your travel agent to take care of it.

Whether you’re a family with many kids, a big friend group, or an extended relative family reunion, it’s natural to want to stay close to the group you’re traveling with.

Picking the right stateroom for your family involves choosing the right size, finding the best location, and ensuring that everyone is comfortable and has enough privacy. 

Your family’s cabin will become your home on the seas, so it’s important to find the best fit.

Not every cruise ship will have stateroom options available, but here are your best bets if you’re looking for a room that fits all of you.

Read more: Royal Caribbean will add new cruise ship cabin categories, including rear-facing and sunset balcony rooms

Family oceanview stateroom

For families who want to stay all together in one cabin, a family oceanview stateroom—also called the “ultra spacious ocean view” is a great, affordable option.

It has space for six people and requires a minimum of five people to book the room.

This stateroom ranges from 265 to 328 square feet of space. It features a king bed, with additional bunk beds in a separate area, and a living area with a sofa bed.

The cabin also features an ocean view, usually through a window or a set of portholes. This brings in natural light and provides a window into the outside world.

However, a major drawback to this cabin is its location on the deck, which is usually all the way forward. 

Staterooms in the very front or back of the cruise ship are more subject to feeling the motion of the ship, which can cause seasickness.

Because a larger group is required to book this room, it won’t sell out quickly. It’s also one of the cheapest options for a group of five or more.

Available on: Oasis Class, Freedom Class, Voyager Class, Radiance Class, Vision Class

Family interior stateroom

The cheapest single-cabin option for five to six guests is the family interior or “spacious interior” stateroom.

It is windowless, with no ocean view, but can accommodate larger families.

Two twin beds can stay separated or convert to a Royal King, providing different options for bed configurations. 

Two Pullman beds pull out from the ceiling or fold down from the wall, leaving plenty of space in the room until the beds are needed.

A family interior stateroom also has a private bathroom and a sitting area with a sofa that converts into a double bed.

This room is a great choice for families who don’t need an ocean view or a balcony, want to save money, or are looking for a variety of bed configurations.

Available on: Oasis Class, Freedom Class, Vision Class

Family promenade view stateroom

Similar to the family oceanview stateroom, the family promenade stateroom—or, “spacious promenade view” offers a spacious cabin with a special view.

This stateroom is an interior room that looks out onto the Royal Promenade. 

It is spacious, spanning 327 square feet, and can accommodate up to six guests.

The stateroom features a set of twin beds that can convert to a larger bed, a sofa in the sitting area, and either bunk beds or Pullman beds for extra sleeping space.

This stateroom has a better location, closer to the middle of the ship, and a unique view as it looks out onto the activity of the Royal Promenade.

However, one disadvantage is the large amount of noise that can come from the music, events, and crowds gathered below.

Available on: Freedom Class

Family Infinite Ocean View Balcony

New categories on Icon of the Seas promise extra options for families and big groups.

The Family Infinite Oceanview Balcony is a new cabin on Icon of the Seas that combines an infinite balcony with additional space for families.

The stateroom is 285 square feet and sleeps 6 people. The convertible balcony spans 50 square feet.

Two twin beds can convert into a Royal King, and a separate alcove holds bunk beds for kids.

With families in mind, there are games inside the room and two televisions—so everyone gets their own remote.

The bathroom is also split into two compartments, so multiple guests can use it at the same time.

Available on: Icon of the Seas

Royal Loft Suite

If your group is willing to splurge on a suite, the Royal Loft Suite is a high-end, luxurious choice.

This suite boasts Star tier suite benefits, 560-580 square feet of space, and a large private balcony. 

Read more: Royal Caribbean suites guide & review

The “loft” configuration means that there are two floors, allowing guests to spread out over the stateroom and give each other privacy.

This family space can sleep up to six guests, with two sets of twin beds that convert to a Royal King and one double sofa bed.

For families who need a lot of space, this huge suite is an expensive but worthwhile treat. 

If you can afford it, a Royal Loft Suite is one of the best ways to stay with a lot of people without tripping over each other.

Available on: Oasis Class, Quantum Class, and Icon of the Seas

Ultimate Family Suite

Another splurge-worthy suite is the Ultimate Family Suite, only available on a select few ships. 

This is one of the few staterooms for huge groups and families, as it can sleep up to nine people.

This suite is part of the Star tier as well, boasting the highest level of Royal Caribbean suite benefits.

Read more: Guide to Icon of the Seas cabins and suites

A king-sized bed, two twin beds that can convert to kings, four twin-sized bunk beds, and a double pull-out sofa bed ensure that everyone has ample choice at bedtime.

Video games, table tennis, Connect 4, and an in-room slide all provide entertainment right in the stateroom.

And the wide balcony features a private Jacuzzi! 

For large families who want to stay together and enjoy activities right in their own stateroom, the Ultimate Family Suite is an incredibly exciting option.

Available on: Symphony of the Seas, Spectrum of the Seas, and Wonder of the Seas

Two staterooms

If all else fails, you can always book two staterooms.

The cost of two separate staterooms can be cheaper than one large family stateroom. 

Not only that, but you also get the benefit of having two bathrooms.

This is also a bonus for groups of adults or families with older children because it provides separation and additional privacy.

Guests over 21 can have their own room, so just make sure that you’re booking at least one adult in each room.

Booking two rooms doesn’t mean you’ll be completely separated from your group, either. There are connecting staterooms, which have a door between them for easy flow. 

This is convenient to keep open during the day, essentially creating a multiple-room cabin with two adjoining rooms.

Available on: all Royal Caribbean ships

Ultimate Family Townhouse

Royal Caribbean has added multiple new categories on Icon of the Seas that particularly cater to families.

The Ultimate Family Townhouse is the summation of suites onboard, feeling more like a townhouse than a cruise ship cabin.

With a view of the ocean and the Surfside neighborhood, this three-story suite can sleep 8 guests.

The room spans 1,772 square feet with two balconies. The balcony on level one is 410 square feet, while the balcony on level two is 90 square feet.

Two-bedroom spaces hold a king bed, two sets of bunk beds, and a double sofa bed.

The room features an impossible amount of games and activities for kids, including a slide that connects the second and main levels!

Available on: Icon of the Seas

There's a choice on any Royal Caribbean cruise to eat at the restaurants that are included or the restaurants that cost extra.

From the Windjammer buffet to room service to Jamie’s Italian and Japanese cuisine at Izumi, there are flavors for every guest’s taste.

Complimentary restaurants are included in your cruise fare, but specialty venues come at an extra cost.

These alternative restaurants can come a la carte (meaning, charged per dish), or with a set entrance fee per person.

Specialty restaurants are often higher quality, and more elegant than the complimentary options. 

Royal Caribbean ships include popular choices such as Chops Grille, Jamie’s Italian, and Wonderland.

Whether you’re interested in an unlimited package or in trying a specific restaurant, our guide will provide everything you need to know about specialty dining on a Royal Caribbean ship.

What are specialty restaurants?

Guests tend to like specialty restaurants because there is different cuisines offered.

If you value one particular type of food or want a certain sort of atmosphere, a specialty restaurant gives you a way to choose and focus on that energy for the length of your meal.

They’re also a great option for special occasions, such as birthdays or anniversaries.

Royal Caribbean’s specialty restaurants come in different shapes and sizes, with all sorts of cuisine.

The venues available vary by ship, but fleet-wide options include:

• 150 Central Park
• Chops Grille
• Giovanni’s Table
• Giovanni’s Kitchen
• Hooked Seafood
• Izumi
• Izumi Hibachi
• Izumi in the Park
• Jamie’s Italian by Jamie Oliver
• Johnny Rockets
• Johnny Rockets Express
• Mason Jar
• Chef’s Table
• Sabor
• Samba Grill
• Sichuan Red
• Fish and Ships
• Playmakers
• Wonderland
• Empire Supper Club

To double-check which venues are free and which come at an extra cost, you can always take a look at your Cruise Compass or refer to the Royal Caribbean app.

Which restaurants are a la carte?

Royal Caribbean’s specialty restaurants are either a la carte, meaning that each dish comes at an extra price, or they have a cover charge per person.

The a la carte restaurants on Royal Caribbean’s ships are Portside Barbeque, Izumi Sushi, Sichuan Red, Johnny Rockets, Fish and Ships, Basecamp, and Playmakers.

Other specialty restaurants charge a fee to each person to enter, and once you do, all the dishes and desserts are included. 

The only items you may still have to pay extra for would be alcoholic or specialty drinks.

Read more: Royal Caribbean Drink Prices

Is specialty dining worth the extra cost?

If you consider every part of the dining experience—from dressing up to food to service—part of the cruise’s entertainment, specialty dining might be a good option for you.

If meals are a key part of enjoying your cruise, focusing on a few specialty restaurants is a great way to elevate your experience.

Buying a dining package makes for a smart method of saving money. 

Instead of dining at a certain number of specialty restaurants and paying the list price for each one, you save money by paying a set price for one package.

Because most specialty restaurants have a cover charge of about $35-60 per person, a dining package can save a lot of money!

A dining package is great for someone who wants to enjoy a lot of specialty dining restaurants during their cruise. On Royal Caribbean ships that have a lot of specialty restaurant choices (such as Oasis, Quantum, and Icon Class ships), splurging on a dining package also opens up your options.

How do dining packages work?

If you’re interested in trying popular specialty restaurants, you can purchase meals individually or use a dining package to streamline your experience.

These packages provide flexibility for guests to pay once, and then choose which venues they’d like to try.

This way, guests can enjoy multiple specialty restaurant meals at a discounted rate.

Read more: Royal Caribbean specialty dining packages guide

You can even choose between multiple package configurations.

The options offered vary by ship, but usually these include:

• 3 Night Dining Package
• Chops Grille + 1 Package
• Unlimited Dining Package

3 Night Dining Package

The 3-night package gives you access to three dinners at unique specialty restaurants. 

For this set cost, you can dine at three different venues. Guests can even use this package to dine at the same venue multiple times.

Chops + 1 package

The Chops + 1 package includes one meal at Chops Grille and an additional free meal at any specialty venue of your choice. 

You cannot use your second meal at Chops Grille; you must select a different restaurant.

Unlimited Dining Package

For one price, the unlimited dining package gives you access to multiple specialty restaurants every night of your sailing.

It also includes lunches at specialty restaurants on sea days, 40% off bottles of wine under $100, and 20% off bottles of wine over $100.

You can use this package to dine at the same restaurant multiple times, but the Chef’s Table and other culinary activities are excluded from this package.

Subject to which ship they are sailing on, guests can use the unlimited dining package at the following restaurants:

• 150 Central Park
• Chops Grille
• Giovanni’s Table
• Hooked Seafood
• Izumi
• Izumi Hibachi
• Jamie’s Italian by Jamie Oliver
• Johnny Rockets
• Sabor
• Samba Grill
• Sichuan Red
• Wonderland

While it is included in the package, there is an additional $10 charge per person for the Izumi Hibachi experience.

The price of each package varies depending on the sailing and ship.

Can I use my dining package at an a la carte restaurant?

A la carte restaurants that put a price on each menu item are still included in specialty dining packages.

Guests with a dining package usually get a $20 or $35 credit towards food at those restaurants per day.

This goes toward the cost of the food items and can be used once a day.

How do I make reservations?

For individual meals at a specialty restaurant, you can reserve a time in advance on the Royal Caribbean website or mobile app, through the Cruise Planner. 

Royal Caribbean does not yet allow guests with a dining package to make reservations before the cruise. However, the cruise line plans to change this in 2024.

In the meantime, you can make reservations as soon as you get onboard by going to any specialty restaurant and speaking with the staff there.

They will do their best to get you a spot at the day and time you prefer.

Can I make changes to my reservations?

If you’d like to make any changes to reservations onboard, you can speak to the hospitality staff onboard.

Again, this can be done by going to any specialty restaurant and speaking to the staff at the counter. 

But you can even call them directly from your stateroom phone for assistance.

Is there a dress code for specialty restaurants?

Specialty restaurants have their own dress code, which is primarily "smart casual", although dress codes are loosely enforced.

However, the style of dress depends on which specialty restaurant you’re dining at.

At a more casual venue, such as Johnny Rockets or Playmakers, you could certainly wear simple clothing like jeans and a T-shirt.

But there are more formal, elegant venues, such as Izumi, Chops Grille, or the Empire Supper Club where it would be appropriate to dress more formally. In fact, the Empire Supper Club requires men to wear a jacket.

Worst case scenario, if the staff turns you away, you only need to go back to your room and change before returning.

Looking for more information about Royal Caribbean dining?

• How does Royal Caribbean dining work?
• Food on a Royal Caribbean cruise 
• How Royal Caribbean's Main Dining Room works and what to expect
• Your really dumb cruise ship dining questions answered

Should you sail on Royal Caribbean's Harmony of the Seas for your next vacation?

I previously sailed aboard this massive Oasis Class ship in 2018. However, eight years later, I wanted to get back on board and see if she still lived up to the hype, especially after her multi-million-dollar Royal Amplification. 

This dry dock added new amenities, such as the Lime and Coconut Bar, Pesky Parrot, Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade, and more to the 226,963 gross-ton ship. 

As such, I embarked on a three-night voyage aboard Harmony of the Seas from Barcelona, Spain, to Palma de Mallorca and Marseille, France. While short, the sailing gave me enough time to experience many of the ship's venues and updates, entertainment offerings, and overall atmosphere.

Here's what my cruise on the Harmony of the Seas ship was like — and whether she's the right choice for your next vacation. 

About Harmony of the Seas

Debuting in 2016, Harmony of the Seas is the third Oasis Class cruise ship to enter Royal Caribbean's fleet. Currently, she is the sixth-largest cruise ship in the world, behind Icon of the Seas, Star of the Seas, Wonder of the Seas, Symphony of the Seas, and Utopia of the Seas. 

Still, despite not being the biggest cruise ship in the world, Harmony of the Seas has a lot to offer guests. In fact, she's so large that she's split into seven distinct neighborhoods, including:

• Central Park: Sprawling park with thousands of live plants, live music, high-end shopping, and al fresco dining
• Boardwalk: Family-friendly neighborhood inspired by a classic seaside pier, featuring casual restaurants, the AquaTheater, arcade games, and the hand-carved carousel
• Royal Promenade: Main thoroughfare full of shopping, dining, bars, and lots of fun events. This is also where you'll find Guest Services, Next Cruise, and the photo gallery
• Pool and Sports Zone: Home to Harmony's main pools, whirlpools, waterslides, FlowRider surf simulators, mini-golf course, sports court, and adults-only Solarium
• Vitality at Sea Spa and Fitness Center: Dedicated wellness area featuring the full-service spa, salon, thermal suite, and fitness center
• Entertainment Place: Indoor entertainment hub with the multi-story Royal Theater, the largest casino in the fleet, and an ice skating rink
• Youth Zone: Kid- and teen-focused area packed with Adventure Ocean facilities, a special teen lounge with private outdoor space, and more

This layout makes the massive vessel easier to navigate and helps disperse crowds. For example, the Royal Promenade is the ship's main thoroughfare filled with casual dining options, bars, shops, and essential services. However, if you move to the Pool and Sports Zone, you'll find a completely different atmosphere centered around outdoor fun and relaxation. 

Here, guests can enjoy multiple swimming pools and hot tubs, test their balance on the FlowRider simulators, race down the Perfect Storm waterslides, or soak up the sun on the revitalized adults-only Solarium sun deck. 

Speaking of her size, at double occupancy, Harmony of the Seas can accommodate nearly 5,700 passengers. On my particular sailing from Spain, there were a lot of Europeans on board. However, the demographics will shift when Harmony returns to the United States and begins offering Caribbean voyages. 

 Cruise embarkation

My sister and I flew to Barcelona, Spain, two days before our scheduled embarkation. This gave us a buffer in case of a sudden flight mishap. Thankfully, we arrived on time and saw some of Barcelona's famous sights before heading to the terminal, including Casa Batlló and the Cathedral of Barcelona. 

We also made time to explore as much of Barcelona's food scene as possible, trying Jon Cake's Basque cheesecake, enjoying tapas at Tantarantana, and stopping for coffee at D·Origen Coffee Roasters, which is recognized as one of the top 100 coffee shops in the world.

Before we knew it, it was time to hail a cab from our pre-cruise hotel and make our way to the cruise terminal. Thankfully, embarkation at the Barcelona cruise port was smooth and well-organized. 

We only ran into one small issue when the check-in agent escorted my sister to another port employee to verify her credit card information for her SeaPass account. 

Even with the short delay, we were on board in around twenty minutes and eager to begin our cruise, starting with a quick stop at our cabin to drop off our carry-on bags. 

Harmony of the Seas interior cabin

Since this was such a busy itinerary, my sister and I decided to book the cheapest available cabin: Category 4V Inside Stateroom. The fare came to $1,286.74, or $643.37 per person, including gratuities. By foregoing a balcony, we had a more generous budget for shore excursions, local cuisine, and other travel-related expenses. 

Our 172-square-foot cabin was located on Deck 10 in the aft (or back) of the ship. The location ended up being a highlight because it wasn't far from an elevator bank, meaning we could easily get to popular dining venues like the Main Dining Room and Windjammer on Deck 16. It was also tucked away from the louder public areas, such as Dazzles, which helped it feel quiet and relaxing at night. 

Overall, the layout was basic and nothing out of the ordinary, with two twin-sized beds (that could have been combined to create one queen-sized bed), a vanity, dresser, closet, safe, mini-fridge, flat-screen television, an ensuite bathroom, two nightstands, full-length mirror, and a small chair. 

Having sailed on Harmony before, my sister and I weren't surprised by the charging options or storage options. In the stateroom, we found both standard American and European outlets, along with USB ports. 

Additionally, although we didn't fully unpack on our three-night cruise, we agreed that — between the built-in dresser, closet, and deep nightstand cubbies —  there would be more than enough storage to keep everything organized and tidy on longer sailings. 

Moving on, there wasn't anything special about the bathroom. It was cramped, which is to be expected for a cruise bathroom, but perfectly sufficient for daily use. 

One feature I really appreciated was that the shower had two shelves, giving my sister and me dedicated space for our toiletries. Comparatively, some ships only provide a single small shelf, which is just large enough to hold four travel-sized bottles. 

The biggest downside to our cabin was that Royal Caribbean didn't give existing cabins much attention during the ship's dry dock. As such, my inside stateroom showed a few signs of wear and tear, including a massive yellow stain on the carpet between the two twin-sized beds. One of the hooks on the bathroom door was broken, too. 

Food on Harmony of the Seas

Being an Oasis Class ship, Harmony of the Seas offers a lot of dining choices for guests, including some new additions that were added during the ship's dry dock. 

When sailing on Harmony of the Seas, you will find a lot of variety, with each restaurant falling into one of two categories: complimentary or specialty.

Complimentary restaurants are those that are included in your cruise fare, while specialty restaurants cost extra. It can either be a set cover charge or à la carte, meaning you only pay for what you order. 

Here's an overview of the complimentary and specialty dining options aboard Royal Caribbean's Harmony of the Seas ship:

Complimentary dining

1. Park Café
2. Windjammer Marketplace
3. Solarium Bistro
4. Main Dining Room
5. Cafe Promenade
6. Sorrento's Pizza
7. Boardwalk Dog House
8. El Loco Fresh
9. Sprinkles
10. Coastal Kitchen (suite guests only)

Specialty dining

1. Johnny Rockets
2. Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade
3. Giovanni's Wine Bar
4. Giovanni's Italian Kitchen
5. Chops Grille
6. 150 Central Park
7. Samba Grill
8. Izumi Hibachi & Sushi
9. Vitality Café (pop-up in the On Air Club)
10. Starbucks

My sister and I primarily stuck with the included options, eating at places like the Windjammer Marketplace, Boardwalk Dog House, and Main Dining Room. 

However, we did splurge on a Campfire Cookie from Playmakers for dessert (if you know, you know!). It's impossible to get enough of this ooey-gooey skillet cookie, and the waitstaff was kind enough to work around my sister's hazelnut allergy. 

Unfortunately, most of the dining aboard Harmony of the Seas left us unimpressed. For starters, we were served a raw chicken piccata in the Main Dining Room one evening. Another afternoon, my sister grabbed a raw burger from the Solarium Bistro. 

Additionally, when we grabbed El Loco Fresh for lunch on embarkation day, the chips were stale. This was disappointing, as both of us love snacking on chips and salsa. 

That said, there were a few hits. For example, Sorrento's Pizza was far tastier than usual, and the prime rib in the dining room was tender, flavorful, and cooked just right. 

Surprisingly, we loved the Boardwalk Dog House, too. I'm not the biggest hot dog fan, but the bratwurst loaded with sauerkraut hit the spot after a long day ashore. You can't go wrong with a Royal Kummelweck sandwich, either. 

Overall, Harmony of the Seas offers a lot of variety, from convenient fast-casual restaurants to upscale steakhouses, Italian kitchens, and more. 

Based on my experience, however, the quality felt inconsistent and left a lot to be desired. We chalked up the bad dishes to it being one of the first sailings out of dry dock, with the crew still working on getting into a solid operational rhythm. 

Entertainment and activities 

There is no shortage of activities, shows, and events aboard Harmony of the Seas. In fact, there is so much going on that it was impossible to cross everything off on a short three-day voyage. Heck, I think it would be difficult on a seven-night cruise, too!

Still, we made the most of our limited time onboard and tried to experience as much as possible, from the jaw-dropping AquaTheater show to iSkate in Studio B, and watching karaoke in the On Air Club. Other shows aboard Harmony of the Seas include:

• Columbus, The Musical! 
• The Fine Line 
• Hideaway Heist
• 1887: A Journey in Time 
• iSkate
• Voices

Overall, the entertainment is one of Harmony of the Seas' selling points. The AquaTheater shows, in particular, are one of my favorite parts of sailing on an Oasis Class ship, and I was wowed by The Fine Line!

Between high-diving stunts, synchronized swimming, and aerial choreography, it was hard to believe that I was on a cruise ship in the Mediterranean. 

iSkate was a lot of fun, too. The talented performers showed off their best moves to a mix of their favorite tunes, and I liked how there wasn't a plot to try to follow.  

If you are overwhelmed by everything available on Harmony of the Seas, the best place to start is the Cruise Compass. Every Royal Caribbean ship offers a daily Cruise Compass, which documents the daily schedule, gives a detailed breakdown of restaurant hours, and more. You can find it in the mobile app or ask Guest Services for a paper copy. 

Moving on, there are so many fun activities offered on Harmony of the Seas, including:

• The Ultimate Abyss dry slide
• Perfect Storm waterslides
• Two FlowRider surf simulators
• Splashaway Bay
• Baby Bay
• Zip line 
• Carousel 

• Adventure Ocean
• Social100 
• Casino Royale
• Two arcades
• Two rock climbing walls
• An ice skating rink
• Escape room

Since we didn't have a lot of time on the ship, we focused more on resting and recharging between long port days. The Solarium became our go-to spot to relax in the afternoons. 

Although they didn't add the highly requested pool, it's still a nice spot to escape the hustle and bustle of the main pool deck. Plus, there is a new outdoor sun deck area that's perfect for sun tanning — or burning, if you're like me! 

That said, if you are an avid gambler, you'll love the expanded Casino Royale aboard Harmony of the Seas, which is the largest casino in the Royal Caribbean fleet. 

Essentially, the cruise line removed The Attic and Crown Lounge from Deck 4 and turned it into a massive non-smoking casino. Personally, I think the placement outside Studio B is a little awkward, but at least it's a smoke-free place. 

I tried my luck with my $6 FreePlay and didn't win anything (shocker!). My sister isn't a fan of casinos, and she much preferred the arcade space on the Boardwalk. Plus, it was close to the carousel, which we always try to ride on Oasis Class ships just for giggles! 

My Harmony of the Seas review: Is the ship worth it?

I've been on over three dozen cruises, including ten aboard Oasis Class ships. They have been one of my favorite classes of vessels for over a decade, and my sailing aboard Harmony of the Seas reaffirmed my love for these innovative ships. 

However, not everything was perfect aboard my sailing. For instance, I thought the food was lacking. I'm usually pretty generous when it comes to cruise food, but being served two undercooked meals and stale chips on embarkation day made it difficult to overlook the inconsistency — especially after sailing on ships like Celebrity Ascent and Sun Princess with more hits than misses. 

Moreover, I wish Royal Caribbean had given the cabins a little more TLC during Harmony's amplification. While the public spaces felt refreshed (with some being entirely new), our stateroom showed noticeable signs of wear, including a large stain on the carpet and a broken hook in the bathroom.

That said, the overall vibe of Harmony of the Seas was so much fun, and I loved most of the new additions, including the Pesky Parrot and Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade. 

Plus, the entertainment remains among the most unique at sea. Between the AquaTheater productions, ice skating shows, live music, and other activities, it was impossible to feel bored! 

Even on a short three-night sailing, my sister and I both left feeling like we could have spent another few days onboard without getting to a point where we were twiddling our thumbs. 

So, at this point, you're probably wondering whether I'd recommend Harmony of the Seas, to which my answer is yes. Despite the issues with the food and cabin, my sister and I had a great time aboard this Oasis Class ship, and the shortcomings were outweighed by everything done right. 

Let's welcome spring with Royal Caribbean! It was a busy week with Royal Caribbean news, and we have a summary of all of the news from this week to make certain you did not miss any of it.

Following the collapse of a bridge in Baltimore, Royal Caribbean will shift cruise ship operations to Norfolk.

On Tuesday, the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland collapsed after it was struck by a cargo ship.

Because the Baltimore port is no longer suitable to safely embark guests, Royal Caribbean sought several different options for Vision of the Sea's return.

Vision of the Seas is currently the only Royal Caribbean ship that sails out of Baltimore.

An April 12th sailing of Vision was supposed to begin and end in Baltimore, but has been moved to Norfolk, Virginia, and cut short a day.

Royal Caribbean News

• Royal Caribbean is working on options for its cruise ships following Baltimore bridge collapse
• Photos show a tiny crew-only cabin on Icon of the Seas
• Royal Caribbean's Secret Weapon: Private islands & beach clubs aim to set a new standard in the industry
• I stayed in the cheapest cabin on Royal Caribbean's Harmony of the Seas for $463 a night. Take a look inside my 172-square-foot cabin
• Photos show Utopia of the Seas is nearing completion
• 6 mistakes I saw people make on my spring break cruise
• Can I share my Royal Caribbean beverage package with someone? What you need to know
• 5 reasons you'll regret downsizing to a smaller cruise cabin

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 528th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available, where Matt reviews his recent Wonder of the Seas cruise.

Listen to the episode for more information on booking your next spring break cruise and spending $2,000 on a Hideaway Beach cabana.

Please feel free to subscribe via iTunes or RSS, and head over to rate and review the podcast on iTunes if you can! We’d appreciate it.

New RCB Video: 10 Things People Don’t Realize about Royal Caribbean’s alcohol package

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 — 10 Things People Don’t Realize about Royal Caribbean’s alcohol package — and don’t forget to subscribe to our channel.

Comparing the Royal Caribbean ships sailing to Alaska in 2024

Is an Alaskan cruise on your bucket list for 2024?

We've developed a comparative guide for each vessel (and its itineraries) that is sailing to Alaska this year.

Whether you're hooked on a Quantum Class ship or are looking to explore unique ports on Radiance of the Seas, here's everything you need to know about your options.

11 reasons to get as early a check-in time as possible for your cruise

The earlier you get onboard your cruise, the more quickly you can start the vacation you’ve been dreaming about for so long.

Beyond just starting your vacation earlier, though, are a range of other benefits you can experience by boarding earlier than most other passengers.

Here are the top 11 reasons to get as early a check-in time as possible for your cruise.

After five cruises with Norwegian, here's why I am coming back to Royal Caribbean

Allie discovered that the grass isn't always greener on the other side when it comes to changing cruise lines.

A loyal customer of Royal Caribbean, she decided to give Norwegian Cruise Line a try.

However, her experience turned into one of disappointing bait-and-switches, last-minute itinerary changes, and broken trust. 

Here's why she's returning to Royal Caribbean.

How does Royal Caribbean dining work?

Ready to dive into Royal Caribbean cruises, but still confused about the dining process?

Royal Caribbean dining is extensive, so it's easy for first-time cruises to get confused.

This article is your guide. In it, we share information about everything from what's free to what isn't, dress codes, and dining packages.

A Royal Caribbean drink package is all about convenience, but there are strict rules about how you can use it.

I think the unlimited beverage package is one of the most popular add-ons to a Royal Caribbean cruise.

The idea of unlimited drinks on your cruise is an attractive one. Getting endless drinks without you ever needing to look at a bill or receipt sounds like what vacation is all about.

However, these packages come at a high price.

The increased demand for drink packages has set prices even higher, leading many cruisers to look for ways to hack the system.

Is there a way to only pay for one package? 

Can you share your drink package with someone else?

Before you try to skip the high prices and share a beverage package with another guest, here’s everything you need to know.

Understanding the drink package

Royal Caribbean offers three drink packages: the soda package, the Royal Refreshment package, and the deluxe beverage package.

Because the deluxe package includes drinks with alcohol, it is one of the most popular options for a cruise.

The deluxe package offers:

• Cocktails, spirits, liqueurs
• Beer
• Wine (by the glass)
• Mocktails
• Premium coffees & teas
• Fountain sodas / Coca-Cola Freestyle beverages
• Coca-Cola souvenir cup included
• Bottled still and sparkling water
• Fresh squeezed juices
• 40% discount on bottles of wines under $100. Bottles of wine above $100 will receive a 20% discount.
• Discounts on drinks served in a souvenir container or inside fruit

The deluxe drink package ranges from $55 to $125 per person, per day.

Only adults 21 years of age and older (or 18 years of age in Australia and the U.K.) may purchase this package, ensuring that they are of the legal drinking age.

Every adult must buy a drink package (if one opts for it)

Per Royal Caribbean’s policy, each package is a personal package for one guest.

If one adult purchases a drink package, Royal Caribbean requires all adults staying in the same stateroom to buy one.

“All packages are for single guest use and cannot be shared by multiple people,” their website states.

“Any guest wishing to purchase an alcoholic beverage package must do so for all guests of legal drinking age in the same stateroom.”

This means that each adult must purchase a drink package, not allowing you to share one package among multiple people.

If some adults in your group do not wish to purchase a drink package, there is a workaround

Royal Caribbean no longer offers an exemption to the drink package rule, even if someone is pregnant, has a medical reason they cannot drink alcohol, or are a recovering alcoholic.

However, one way to avoid buying multiple packages is to book each adult in separate rooms.

If you are traveling with children and staying in multiple staterooms, you can book each adult separately.

You don’t necessarily have to sleep in those separate rooms, but if you are booked in different cabins one guest won’t be required to buy a package.

You are not allowed to share with someone

Royal Caribbean does not permit guests to share alcohol with someone else.

The cruise line is looking to make money on each drink sold individually.

They also have no way of confirming if the person you’re sharing a drink with is legally allowed to drink.

To prevent any sharing, bartenders only serve drinks to guests who present their own SeaPass cards. This verification is required so that no one tries to buy a drink using someone else’s card or package.

Drink package benefits are reserved only for the person who purchased them, but some people still try to cheat the system by sharing with someone else.

However, the risk far outweighs the reward.

If you get caught sharing drinks with someone who doesn’t have the same drink package, the cruise line can cancel the drink package without a refund, and even charge you the price of all the drinks you previously ordered.

A former bartender shared on Reddit the story of one man who thought he could outsmart the crew members.

But he didn’t get away with it. At the end of the cruise, Royal Caribbean revoked the guest’s drink package and charged him for every single drink consumed during the cruise.

With the normal, full-price charge, he ended up paying $3,000 just for those drinks.

Bartenders are pros at spotting people trying to share their package.

They will usually limit you to one drink every 5-15 minutes. Staff watch for this behavior, and if they see you walking away and handing off a drink to someone else, you will certainly get in trouble.

Additionally, don’t forget that there are cameras in nearly every corner of the ship!

The likelihood that you would get caught is very high.

If you are found sharing your drink package, the cruise line reserves the right to cancel your drink package and charge you for all drinks purchased.

Royal Caribbean Drink Package Tips

To help you maximize your beverage package and have the best experience possible, we have some extra tips for you.

Know the rules: Make sure that you familiarize yourself with all the terms and conditions governing your package.

This way, you will know how to maximize its benefits and also prevent yourself from inadvertently breaking any rules.

Take advantage of all the beverages onboard: enjoy the wide selection of unlimited drinks you can enjoy, from specialty cocktails to wine to soda.

Pace yourself: Don’t forget to drink responsibly! Avoid overindulging, and ensure that you have a safe and healthy experience. 

Guests who are found to be out of control in their drinking can also have their drink package revoked, or at least be refused service until sobriety returns.

It looks as though Royal Caribbean will shift its cruise ship impacted by the Baltimore bridge collapse to Norfolk.

Vision of the Seas is the sole Royal Caribbean cruise ship sailing from Baltimore, and was out on a long sailing when the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed after being hit by a cargo ship.

Guests booked on the April 12 sailing of Vision of the Seas received an update late on Thursday to inform them that the ship will sail from Norfolk, Virginia instead.

Reddit user thrawaway1234567890 posted a copy of the letter confirming the change in operations.

"After the recent bridge collapse, Baltimore will not be prepared to safely embark guests on April 12, 2024. After exploring all options, Norfolk, Virginia was the best temporary alternate home port for Vision of the Seas," the letter explained.

Royal Caribbean last used Norfolk as a homeport between 2007 and 2010.

In addition, the April 12 sailing will need to be shortened by a day to come back on April 19 instead of April 20, resulting in a change in itinerary and dropping a visit to Royal Caribbean's private island of Perfect Day at CocoCay.

Vision of the Seas is currently on a 12-night Southern Caribbean sailing that is not due back into port until April 4.

Royal Caribbean's Vision of the Seas sails out of Maryland, offering cruises to the Bahamas, Southern Caribbean, Bermuda, and Canada/New England. Other cruise lines, such as Norwegian and Carnival, sail from Baltimore, too. 

Carnival temporarily moved to Norfolk too

Carnival Cruise Line announced a move to Norfolk earlier this week.

While the situation in Baltimore remains in flux as it relates to re-opening the Port of Baltimore waterways, Carnival announced they would temporarily move Carnival Legend’s Baltimore operations to Norfolk, Virginia.  

Carnival Legend is scheduled to return from its current voyage on Sunday, March 31. It will now return to Norfolk on Sunday, and guests will be provided complimentary bus service back to Baltimore. Carnival Legend’s next seven-day itinerary on March 31 will then operate from and return to Norfolk. Guests on the current and upcoming cruises are being informed of this change. 

What happened to the Key Bridge?

In the early morning hours on Tuesday, March 26, a cargo ship that suddenly lost power crashed into one of the support columns of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, causing parts of the bridge to collapse into the Patapsco River.

Video footage shows cars and trucks falling into the cold water below.

The nearly 1,000-foot-long cargo ship lost propulsion shortly after leaving the Port of Baltimore. The ship was traveling at a speed of 8 knots, which is about 9 mph, before crashing into the bridge.

The Singapore-owned ship, called the Dali, was departing Baltimore and heading to Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka.

Moments before the crash, the crew onboard issued a mayday call to the Maryland Department of Transportation and the Maryland Transit Authority so traffic could be stopped from both sides of the bridge. According to Baltimore mayor Brandon Scott, this mayday call “saved many lives.”

The mayor, along with Maryland Governor Wes Moore, declared a state of emergency soon after the bridge collapsed.

At the time of the collapse, there was a team of construction workers who were filling potholes on the bridge. With the bridge collapse, the workers were sadly tossed into the Patapsco River. Of the eight workers, two were rescued, two bodies were recovered, and four are still missing and presumed dead (at the time of this article).

The FBI stated that this incident did not have any terrorist involvement. It was purely an accident.

According to some analysts, The Port of Baltimore could be reopened in less than a year, but rebuilding the Francis Scott Key Bridge could take up to 10 years. Construction of the bridge cannot begin until after the cleanup.

President Joe Biden said in a briefing, “This is going to take some time. And the people of Baltimore can count on us, though, to stick with them at every step of the way until the port is reopened and the bridge is rebuilt."

The Francis Scott Key Bridge was more than 1.6 miles long and was one of the longest continuous truss bridges in the world.

Investigation is currently taking place to understand what caused the cargo ship to lose power.

They say the grass isn’t always greener on the other side - and that sentiment seems to be true for me when it comes to trying new cruise lines.

After sailing with Royal Caribbean for 20 years, I started to get the itch to branch out. I had taken almost every itinerary available with Royal Caribbean to destinations that interested me the most, including Europe, Asia, Alaska and the Caribbean.

I started to feel tired of Royal Caribbean’s itinerary offerings when I would research my next cruise. In all honesty, I mainly decided to jump ship (not literally!) because of Norwegian Cruise Line’s unique itineraries to more exotic destinations.

However, after so much cruising with Royal Caribbean, I’ll admit that I was excited to see what other cruise lines had to offer. I had only cruised with Norwegian Cruise Line once before - and that had been more than one decade ago.

After these four cruises, I’m seriously reconsidering future sailings with Norwegian Cruise Line. I found that I appreciated and missed Royal Caribbean more than I had anticipated. In fact, I feel like I’m returning to an ex-boyfriend that I dumped.

Now, I resonate more with the sentiment of, “You don’t know what you’ve got ’til it’s gone." Here’s why I am returning to Royal Caribbean and sister cruise line Celebrity Cruises.

Breaking up with Royal Caribbean

Before this year, I had cruised almost exclusively with Royal Caribbean for most of my life. My family had sailed only a few times with other cruise lines, including Carnival Cruise Line and Norwegian Cruise Line.

However, Royal Caribbean was our favorite cruise line and my family sailed with the cruise line every year growing up. My sister and I earned Diamond Plus loyalty status in college while we continued to cruise with Royal Caribbean into adulthood.

As a longtime loyal cruiser with Royal Caribbean, I have taken 29 cruises with the cruise line to date. While most of these were around North America, about one-third of these cruises were to international destinations throughout Europe and Asia.

Even as I graduated college and married my husband, we continued to cruise with Royal Caribbean because it felt like home.

However, my husband and I don’t have kids quite yet and the family-friendly cruising style with Royal Caribbean started to appeal to me less. Royal Caribbean’s newest ships are literally packed with thrills and attractions to be the perfect family vacation.

Read more: Which cruise line is best? Fans say why they prefer Royal Caribbean over Carnival

However, I’ve become a destination-focused cruiser as I’ve gotten older. I prefer to sail on itineraries where I can visit new countries, cities and islands. My perfect cruising is checking another country off my bucket-list; unfortunately, cruising repeatedly to Perfect Day at CocoCay wasn’t scratching that itch.

Looking at Royal Caribbean’s itineraries left me feeling bored. On the other hand, I was excited to see how many unique and rare itineraries Norwegian Cruise Line had to offer.

The start of something new

Each cruise line has it’s own appeal, although many have similarities when it comes to the cruising experience as a whole.

However, one of the ways that Norwegian Cruise Line differentiates itself from other mainstream cruise lines is with its epic itineraries. As a major player in the cruise industry, Norwegian Cruise Line has comparable prices with affordable sailings.

While other cruise lines are building ships bigger than anything in their fleet, Norwegian Cruise Line has actually built newer, smaller ships. The cruise line’s new Prima Class has built ships that hold right around 3,000 passengers.

Because of this, Norwegian Cruise Line’s newest ships can sail almost anywhere in the world without size restriction. You’ll find Norwegian Viva and Norwegian Prima sailing to more far-flung destinations around Europe.

After seeing the different destinations I could visit with Norwegian Cruise Line, I was ready to figuratively jump ship. I wanted to spend my time and money on a cruise that allowed me to visit destinations on my bucket list.

Last year, I booked a 10-night cruise to the British Isles for October 2023 and an exotic itinerary to Africa in January 2024. Additionally, I booked a 4-night cruise on Norwegian Viva to Key West and a 2-night repositioning cruise from Malaga, Spain to Lisbon, Portugal.

I also appreciated how Norwegian Cruise Line allowed you to book more all-inclusive cruises with included airfare, drink packages, internet discounts and excursion discounts. For example, my 10-night itinerary on Norwegian Star to the British Isles was only $3,000 total for two guests, which included round-trip airfare to London.

Read more: Norwegian vs Royal Caribbean comparison

Constant, last-minute itinerary changes

With four sailings planned on Norwegian Cruise Line, I was most excited for my 12-night cruise to South Africa from Mauritius. The itinerary had stops in Reunion, Madagascar, Mozambique and South Africa. This was a dream itinerary where I planned to book African safari excursions for each day!

With my cruises booked, I was surprised to see emails start rolling in regarding itinerary changes for my cruises. Of the four cruises I had booked, I began receiving communication from Norwegian Cruise Line about itinerary adjustments for three of those cruises.

Since I booked most of these cruises exclusively for their itineraries, my heart would sink every time I would get yet another email from Norwegian Cruise Line about itinerary changes. At first, the itinerary changes only pertained to my British Isles sailing in October and Key West cruise in December.

My British Isles sailing was revised to include reduced port times in Edinburgh, Scotland and Portland, England. I was disappointed to see Norwegian Cruise Line reduced our time in Edinburgh by an hour, as it was our most anticipated stop.

The 4-night cruise on Norwegian Viva removed Key West entirely and replaced the port stop with Nassau, Bahamas. This was extremely annoying, as I booked the cruise because I wanted to visit Key West.

According to the emails provided by Norwegian Cruise Line, these changes were due to “port congestion." However, there were no other ships scheduled to be in port at the same time as us. In fact, our British Isles cruise on Norwegian Star was the last cruise of the season!

Read more: How does one of Norwegian's oldest ships compare to Royal Caribbean's oldest ship?

Bait-and-switch

The biggest blow came almost immediately after I made the final payment for my 12-night African itinerary. Norwegian Cruise Line sent an email with a totally different itinerary than the original one we booked! I felt like I had been catfished after just making the final payment days before.

The country of Mozambique was dropped entirely from the itinerary, as we had two scheduled port stops here. One sea day was added and adjustments were made to the ports in Madagascar. Again, this was cited as “port congestion” according to Norwegian Cruise Line. I was devastated, as this was one of the reasons I had booked the cruise.

Rumors circulated that Mozambique was dropped due to safety concerns or a yellow fever breakout. These are understandable - and more believable - than port congestion. 

This was the third itinerary I booked to be impacted by port congestion, so I started to grow suspicious at this point. Also, Mozambique was removed from all of the ship’s African itineraries for the season. I have a hard time believing that Mozambique had port congestion for every single sailing over the course of three months.

Unfortunately, further emails were sent with even more changes to my African safari cruise. This time, port times were reduced for multiple ports of call. The cruise line shared the changes were in the name of sustainability.

“We are committed to providing the best vacations at sea and have been working tirelessly to continue to elevate the quality of our offerings and overall guest experience while driving a positive impact on society and the environment. As we optimize itineraries for fuel efficiencies, we have modified Norwegian Dawn's itinerary as shown below,” said the email.

Missed ports

Although I was already annoyed about the constant itinerary changes, I was still excited for my cruises with Norwegian. Unfortunately, I encountered further disappointment during my highly-anticipated cruises.

To start, we encountered a bad storm during my 10-night British Isles cruise. This caused us to miss two of our port stops in Dublin and Isle of Man, as both of these were tender ports and the waves were too rough to tender. I was surprised to find our itinerary apparently had three tender ports, as this information alone was hard to find on our reservation confirmation.

However, there is probably a reason no other cruise lines were operating this late in the season around the British Isles. Sailing this late in October is risky, and perhaps Norwegian Cruise Line finds taking the risk to be profitable since they have the monopoly.

Missing a port during a cruise isn’t unheard of, as this is also one of the risks of cruising in general. You are at the mercy of the weather and your ship’s captain. But, I have been extremely lucky that I had never had a missed port before with all of my cruising.

Fast forward to January - I am sailing away from Mauritius with an anticipated arrival in Madagascar. History repeats itself that we were unable to dock in Madagascar, although we had already arrived to the port area and everyone was ready to disembark. The entire ship was disappointed and I even saw some shed tears during breakfast.

Luckily, we were able to visit our second port in Nosy Be, Madagascar the next day; however, the captain of our ship warned us that he would be reevaluating whether we could arrive. The weather was iffy and tender operations were quite slow, but I was able to check Madagascar off my bucket list.

I was anxious for most of the cruise about whether we would actually be able to dock in the ports of call on our itinerary. I realized I had never felt this kind of anxiety cruising with Royal Caribbean before, even while sailing to more exotic destinations like China, Thailand, Malaysia, Israel and Lithuania.

Of course, you can encounter bad weather during any cruise. However, Norwegian Cruise Line was the only cruise line operating in these regions during both of these cruises. There is probably a reason other cruise lines opt not to sail this time of year!

Bad luck or a trend?

When it was announced that we would miss our port in Madagascar, I was fed up with Norwegian Cruise Line’s shenanigans. I had flown halfway around the world to have Mozambique removed from the itinerary and now my time in Madagascar was being threatened.

To make matters worse, the onboard gift shop had destination t-shirts for Mozambique. Rubbing salt in the wound! For many guests onboard, including myself, this might have been our only opportunity to visit the country.

Perhaps it was a stroke of bad luck that I had all of these itinerary changes and missed ports with my Norwegian cruises. Regardless, this seems to be a pattern with Norwegian Cruise Line with changing itineraries, dropping ports and shortening port time under the disguise of port congestion or sustainability efforts.

As a new Norwegian cruiser, I started researching this sort of bait-and-switch on cruise forums. Come to find out, many have reported having the same things happen to them. Even worse, most report that Norwegian Cruise Line does not communicate itinerary changes until after final payment dates, which was the case for me.

Although the cruise contract allows companies to make these changes, this started to feel like poor organization and cost-cutting measures. I still do not trust that Norwegian Cruise Line was being honest about the reasons for the changes, especially when sharing the negative impacts immediately after final payment when you are locked into your reservation.

In fact, the cruise line just came under massive scrutiny for butchering an Antarctica itinerary just a few weeks ago. Guests were notified that they wouldn’t be sailing into Antarctica until they were onboard and noticed the itinerary had changed in their apps.

Mind you, I have only once had an adjusted itinerary after booking a cruise with Royal Caribbean. After booking my honeymoon cruise to Greece and Croatia, our sailing had an itinerary change from Dubrovnik to Split. This was a bummer, but we were still visiting Croatia and the change was months in advance.

Smaller qualms

Because I am so destination focused when cruising, these disappointments are enough for me to be extremely hesitant to book further itineraries with Norwegian Cruise Line. This is especially true for any bucket-list itineraries, as it seems like any itinerary booked will likely have further adjustments.

However, I had other qualms about Norwegian Cruise Line that did not impress me. For example, face-to-face immigration was horribly operated during my African cruise. People were literally fighting and screaming to get through immigration - it was unlike anything I had seen before. I've done face-to-face immigration with Royal Caribbean multiple times on various ships and it's always been extremely organized and civil. 

This was just the tip of the iceberg for issues during this cruise. In addition, we had to embark in Mauritius without any sort of terminal. This left us dragging our luggage for hours in a make-shift tent during high temperatures. Many guests fainted or experienced heat stroke.

Our disembarkation in Cape Town was just as chaotic, as we disembarked into a parking lot of gravel. Again, there was no terminal, the wind was causing a minor dust storm of gravel and guests were struggling to walk with their luggage.

The cruise line’s tendering operations were highly disorganized on both of my cruises. We had to wake up hours before arriving to the port so we could wait in line for a tender ticket. I’ve never had an issue getting tender tickets with Royal Caribbean, as they have most often been distributed the day before.

Finally, the entertainment was extremely lacking on all of my Norwegian cruises. I am used to Royal Caribbean having entertainment every evening on a cruise. I found this was not the case with Norwegian Cruise Line, as multiple nights had no headliner entertainment. Perhaps this was because I was sailing on older cruise ships, but even Norwegian Viva only had headliner shows for two of the four nights.

Coming back to Royal Caribbean

Needless to say, the grass wasn’t greener on the other side. I was disappointed with many aspects of my Norwegian cruise experiences, especially related to the itinerary changes and missed ports. It all comes down to trust.

I realize that this disappointment can be true with any cruise line, but four cruises was enough for me to rethink my plans with Norwegian. I have a cruise booked to Asia with Norwegian for next January; however, I don’t trust that this itinerary that I am being sold is the one that will come to fruition.

Although all cruise lines are businesses that need to make money, I feel a little icky about the way Norwegian Cruise Line treated me as a customer. I am hesitant to spend more money booking itineraries that are likely going to change even before I get onboard.

On the flip side, I don’t have trust issues with Royal Caribbean after having good experiences time and time again with the cruise line. Royal Caribbean hasn’t given me a reason to doubt their operations and ethical business practices - I’ve been fairly treated as a customer.

As someone who wants to take interesting itineraries to new destinations, I think Celebrity Cruises will be a good fit moving forward. In fact, I have two cruises with Celebrity Cruises this year and one cruise with Royal Caribbean scheduled for next year.

If I am going to spend my hard-earned money and vacation time on a cruise, I would rather sail with a cruise line that has proven itself trustworthy to me. You can find me happily sipping my free Diamond Plus cocktail on the top deck of a Royal Caribbean ship soon!

Cruise prices are on the rise, and that makes free cruise offers through the ship's casino much more enticing than ever before.

Royal Caribbean has its own loyalty program tied to gambling in its casinos. Similar to land casinos, the more you play, the better benefits you get.

I never paid much attention to the casino offers and its perks because I only casually gambled on my cruises and wasn't aware of how lucrative the program can be. The more I cruised, the more I became aware of what it offered, and I was intrigued.

Read more: How to get free cruises through the casino

Let's stop here and remind everyone gambling is very addictive and is not for everyone. Know your limits, and you could easily spend much more in gambling losses than what you could get on a cruise. There is definitely a bigger picture to consider.

You can earn free cruise offers based on how much you gamble during a sailing, and if things go moderately right, you could come home with a free cruiser offer.

How I got a room just by playing in the casino

On my spring break cruise in March, I had some good fortune in the casino and won enough money at the beginning of the cruise to budget my gambling for the remainder of the sailing.

Usually I'll play $100-200 on any given day in the casino, primarily in the evening after dinner and nightly entertainment on the ship. But on this cruise, my early win allowed me to play a bit more since I had a cushion.

In short, you can earn one point for every few dollars you wager (not wins or losses, just how much you play). 

At the casino host desk, there is a sheet that lists how many points during that sailing you need to reach certain reward thresholds. The lowest milestone is 1200 points, where you can get an inside stateroom for free and just pay taxes and port fees.

If you get more points, you can qualify for better cabins and/or more free play to go with it.

I got my 1200 points, and then booked an open cruise booking with NextCruise, which is a requirement to get your free room.  Once I got home, I called Casino Royale and booked my cruise based on the available sailings that qualify.

Read more: 4 common mistakes people make when booking another cruise onboard their ship

You can't use the free cabin offer on any cruise. There are a list of blacked out sailings, and it's no surprise they are over holidays.

I found an  offer on Freedom of the Seas in May, and went ahead and booked it. I opted for an inside guarantee cabin, because I would get an additional $25 in free play at the casino if I went with that instead of picking a room.

I then checked how much my room would have cost if I paid cash for it that same day, and it was $1499.29.

I paid $204.29 for my free room, which was just the port fees and taxes.  Meaning, I saved $1295 on the booking.

Of course, I'd have to refer back to how much I gambled on my cruise to get it, and in this case, I came out ahead because of my windfall that buoyed my play.  That's not always going to be case.

The counter-argument when someone says "you're paying for the room, it's just in gambling losses" is while true, some people are going to gamble anyway in the casino.  It's one thing to go out of your way to gamble, but some people play enough whether there's a free room offer or not.

By offering cruises to further entice play, someone could continue to cruise and save a lot of money on their cruise fare.

Of course, luck isn't always on your side. I've been on cruises where it seems like the you cannot win anything, and losses can mount quickly.  It's entirely possible to lose thousands of dollars and come home with just an inside cabin on a weekend cruise to show for it. It's important to keep this in mind when playing, and be realistic about your play.

The best last-minute deal on the market

In addition to winning a cruise based on your play, Royal Caribbean will periodically send offers select members to entice them to come sail again and play in the casino.

It's not uncommon to get online, email, or even printed letters with an offer of a free or reduced fare cruise. Often, these are for sailings coming up in the next few months.

With regular fares being so much more expensive, it's impressive how lucrative these casino offers can be even for just casual play.

An added bonus to relying on casino bookings is you can cruise more, which helps catapult you up the Crown and Anchor Society membership tier ladder faster.

In my situation, I found my Freedom of the Seas sailing to be a steal. I paid money to gamble that I probably would have done even if there was no free cruise offer, and I came away with a bonus sailing.

While you should expect gambling losses, I still think the Casino Royale offers are the best deal you can get on a cruise these days, especially on a close-in sailing.

It's certainly not an option for everyone, but those that have a stomach for casual gambling might find the best Royal Caribbean cruise deals coming through the casino.

When you go on a Royal Caribbean cruise, dining includes a variety of choices that you can choose from each day.

Everyone needs to eat, and the cruise line is famous for some tasty meals.

Whether you’re enjoying a gourmet meal at a specialty restaurant, savoring a leisurely breakfast delivered to your stateroom, grabbing a quick bite between activities, or heading to formal dinner at the Main Dining Room, the dining experience is sure to delight.

Understanding the delectable dining options available will help you have an amazing cruise on a Royal Caribbean ship.

Cruisers—especially those trying Royal Caribbean for the first time—have plenty of questions about the dining process.

What’s free onboard? Will you need to make reservations?

We’ve created this guide to delve into all your questions about the process of dining on a cruise ship.

How does dining work on a cruise?

Major cruise lines include four types of dining on their ships: an onboard buffet, Main Dining Room, room service, and a selection of alternative restaurants.

The buffet

First, the onboard buffet is a free, casual option where guests can serve their own plates for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Royal Caribbean’s buffet is the Windjammer, and it is 100% free, included in your cruise fare.

The Windjammer will have several stations open with a variety of different cuisines.

It’s a great option for a casual meal and also affords a lot of different choices for those who are picky eaters or have dietary restrictions.

Read more: 12 reasons to eat at the buffet instead of the dining room on your cruise

The Main Dining Room

The Main Dining Room offers a more formal experience, where waiters serve from a set menu each day.

It is always open for dinner, but breakfast and lunch times vary depending on the day. Hours will be posted outside the dining room and in the Cruise Compass.

For dinner, the experience is divided into two scheduled options. When you book your cruise, you can choose either My Time dining or traditional dining.

My Time dining gives you the flexibility to choose what time you eat each night. It typically runs between 6:00 and 9:30 P.M. and is first-come, first-served.

Traditional dining has a specific assigned mealtime and table. There is usually an early seating starting around 5:15 - 5:30 P.M. and a late seating around 7:30-8:00 P.M.

Room service

Room service is usually available around the clock, with a selection of both free meals and options that cost extra.

Most breakfast options are free, and you can order it by filling out the order form in your cabin and hanging it outside on your door knob. 

As long as you put your order in before you sleep, it will be delivered in the morning during your selected time window.

Expanded breakfast and all-day menus, as well as late-night orders, may come with an additional charge.

Alternative restaurants

Lastly, every ship has a series of alternative restaurants that vary depending on the Class and ship.

The larger the ship, the more options are available.

These options range from complimentary snack spots, like the Café Promenade, to gourmet extra-cost restaurants, like Izumi Hibachi.

Read more: 7 reasons to eat at specialty restaurants instead of the Main Dining Room on your cruise

Is dining free on a cruise?

Cruise ships have a wide range of free dining: the Windjammer buffet, the Main Dining Room, room service breakfast, and alternative restaurants like Sorrento’s Pizza, Solarium Bistro, and Park Café.

Complimentary restaurants are included in the cruise fare, no matter what time of day you choose to eat there.

Read more: What's included in your Royal Caribbean cruise fare

Most ships also have a selection of extra-cost alternative restaurants, as well. Some have a la carte charges, while others have a set fee per person.

These are called specialty restaurants and include popular options like Chops Grille, Izumi Japanese Cuisine, and Jamie’s Italian.

If you’re not sure which restaurants are complimentary and which are specialty, you can take a look at your Cruise Compass or the Royal Caribbean Fact Sheet for that ship.

How do dining packages work?

If you’re interested in trying some of the popular specialty restaurants onboard a Royal Caribbean ship, you can purchase meals individually or buy a dining package.

You can purchase meals at any specialty restaurant on your Cruise Planner before the cruise, or onboard when you arrive.

You may pay a set fee per person, or a la carte (aka, per dish ordered).

However, you can also streamline your experience by purchasing a dining package.

These packages come in various configurations, such as a 3-night dining package or an unlimited package.

This provides flexibility for guests to choose which restaurants they’d try, adjusting based on their preferences and budget.

The unlimited dining package allows you to dine at specialty restaurants every day of the cruise for one set fee.

Where do I make reservations?

You can book reservations in advance on the Royal Caribbean website or mobile app, through the Cruise Planner.

Here, you can efficiently browse options, check the price and availability, and secure your desired reservations with just a few clicks.

You can also make reservations when you get onboard, by going to the Main Dining Room or any extra-cost restaurant and speaking with staff there.

You can even call from the phone in your stateroom to request a reservation.

By reserving a spot in advance, guests can avoid long wait times and ensure they have their preferred time slot.

Are drinks free?

What drinks are included in your cruise fare, and do any drinks cost extra?

Basic beverages, like tap water, tea, drip coffee, some juices, and lemonade are included in the price of your cruise.

Soda, bottled water, specialty coffee, smoothies, milkshakes, most juices, and alcoholic drinks cost extra.

If you plan on drinking a lot of extra-cost drinks, there are also beverage package options.

Purchasing one can save you money in the long run.

Do I have to dress up for dinner?

Cruises used to be sophisticated experiences where passengers dressed elegantly every day.

While a Royal Caribbean sailing is still a luxurious experience, you’re hardly required to dress up.

Voyages lasting one week or less will usually have one formal night in the Main Dining Room, where passengers can wear anything from a sundress or nice slacks with a button-down shirt, to ball gowns and tuxedos.

Other than that, resort casual attire is usually acceptable.

Generally, guests dress more formally in the evenings and at the Main Dining Room and specialty restaurants. At venues like the Windjammer and snack spots, guests dress pretty casually.

However, you must always wear a shirt, shoes, and a coverup over any swimsuits when dining.

Read more: What to wear on a cruise that works for all dress codes

What if I have dietary restrictions?

The culinary staff on Royal Caribbean’s cruise ships are careful and experienced when it comes to catering to special dietary requirements.

If you are on a diet, vegan or vegetarian, have food allergies, eat halal, keep kosher, or are gluten-free or lactose intolerant, you can let the cruise line know and chefs will work to make sure you have something to eat.

Read more: Eating gluten free on Royal Caribbean cruise ships

The important thing to remember when making a special meal request is to request as early as possible.

You can email [email protected] at least 45 days before your sailing (or 90 days before European/South American sailings and 100 days before Australia/Asia sailings). Include your name, booking number, ship name, and sail date alongside your special requests.

There is no extra charge for meals tailored to your diet.

Can I eat whenever I want?

Food is usually available around the clock on cruise ships.

Even in the middle of the night, you can order room service at an extra charge, or try late-night snacks at various venues around the ship, such as Sorrento’s pizza.

Restaurants are usually scheduled so that at least one venue is open at any given time. You can always look at the Royal Caribbean app or your Cruise Compass to see what is available.

At the Windjammer and other complimentary venues, you can show up at any time.

For dinner at the Main Dining Room, you will be assigned to a specific time if you select traditional dining.

Most extra-cost specialty restaurants also require a reservation.

What happens to leftover food on cruise ships?

You may be wondering what happens to food waste on a cruise well.

Well, the hospitality staff and crew members in charge of provisions have developed the logistics so there is little waste.

Areas below deck store food in freezers, refrigerators, or at room temperature, ensuring that nothing spoils.

Any food ingredients left over from one sailing will simply be used on the next one.

Leftover prepared food gets disposed of through incineration, offloading at port (as either compost or fertilizer), or grinding it into a purified liquid that is released into the ocean.

Read more: How long does it take for a cruise ship to get ready for a new group of passengers? Here's what a hotel director has to say.