Royal Caribbean Blog

Royal Caribbean has announced a new policy for those that skip a specialty restaurant reservation they have booked.

In an email sent to travel agents, the cruise line said it will now implement charges for no-shows at its specialty dining venues across the fleet.

They're making this change to improve access to limited-capacity restaurants and encourage those that make a reservation to stick to their booking.

Specialty restaurants are a major focal point of any ship these days, but reservations aren't easy to come by. This is especially true for the very popular restaurants.

What's changing with this policy

Royal Caribbean will now charge a guest that books a specialty restaurant but fails to show up without cancelling in advance.

The new policy was sent to travel agents first, as a heads up.

We will be implementing charges for no-shows at specialty dining reservations across the fleet. Our goal is to preserve these limited seats for clients eager to experience our exclusive, limited-capacity dining options. By encouraging guests to honor their reservations, we aim to enhance the overall experience. Update excludes your clients who have an existing Dining Package or booked in Star Class suites.

Royal Caribbean has not yet disclosed the exact fee amount.

Why Royal Caribbean is Making this change

Demand for specialty restaurants has gone up tremendously in the last few years, and the introduction of a few very popular and limited capacity venues has exacerbated the trend.

Specialty restaurants traditionally have very limited seating. Even the more popular restaurants found on many ships (Chops Grille, Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen, Izumi) have a fraction of the seating you'd find in the Main Dining Room..

Two of Royal Caribbean's newest restaurants are extremely small, yet very popular. The Royal Railway can handle 48 guests and the Empire Supper Club is even smaller, at only 38 people.

A no-show reservation means a table often sits empty, even while other guests are eager to dine there.

By discouraging no-shows, it appears Royal Caribbean wants to ensure those that want to dine there can do so, especially if they are holding a table for someone that isn't coming.

Moreover, specialty restaurants are an important revenue stream. An empty table represents lost income.

Who Is exempt from no-show charges

Not every guest will be affected by the new policy.

Guests with dining packages: If you have a dining package, such as the Unlimited Dining Package or 3-Night Dining Package, they won’t be subject to no-show charges. 

Since they’ve already prepaid for their specialty dining, the cruise line doesn’t need to recoup lost revenue in these cases.

Star Class suite guests: The highest (and most expensive) level of Royal Caribbean’s suite program, Star Class guests enjoy perks like unlimited specialty dining, concierge service, and access to a Royal Genie. Their inclusive experience already covers dining reservations, so they will not face no-show fees.

The new policy is focusing the policy on individual, a la carte reservations.

How this changes what to plan

When you make a dining reservation going forward, you'll need to plan ahead to avoid incurring this charge.

Making a “just in case” reservation that goes unused could now carry a cost. Instead, you'll want to be more mindful or hold off until you're certain of your plans.

Of course, you can still cancel and avoid the fee. Royal Caribbean’s Cruise Planner and onboard app make it straightforward to modify bookings.

Many guests accidentally miss reservations because of conflicting entertainment or shore excursions. Be sure to carefully check schedules before booking.

What other cruise lines do

In case you're wondering, Royal Caribbean isn't the first cruise line to charge a no-show policy.

Norwegian Cruise Line requires cancellations to be made 24 hours in advance.  If cancellation occurs with less than 24 hours’ notice, the full price of the cover per guest will be charged.

"We strive for excellent service; therefore, we can only hold your dinner reservation for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, the unclaimed reservation will be released and the full price of the cover per guest will be charged to you."

Carnival charges a no-show cancellation fee at only certain restaurants, but with a much smaller window.

For the Chef's Table, Bonsai Teppanyaki and Thing 1 & Thing 2 Birthday Breakfast, there will be a charge of the full price of your dining reservation for cancellations made within 48 hours of your scheduled dinner reservation or no-show.

When I tried my first infinite balcony cabin, I wasn't impressed. But I had the wrong perspective to appreciate what they offer.

As I approached my first Star of the Seas sailing, I lamented I'd be in an infinite balcony because they aren't really a balcony.  It's more of a window experience, and that hasn't changed.

But my outlook changed after I spoke with some fellow writers about these rooms, and I realized while it's not a regular balcony experience, it can offer something a balcony can't offer.

In recognizing my own cruising style, I gave the infinite balcony another try. This time, I went in with a different mindset and I ended up liking this cruise cabin type a lot more than ever.

Disclosure: I sailed on a free trip on Star of the Seas to review the ship. The opinions expressed below are entirely mine and weren't subject to review by the line.

Why I disliked it

I think it's important to start with why I never liked the infinite balcony room before, because I suspect a lot of people feel the same way.

The first types of these rooms debuted on Celebrity Edge, and Royal Caribbean borrowed the idea for its Icon Class ships.

The idea is you have a convertible balcony space, but in practice it's an enclosed room with a window that opens.

When you open the window, all the air conditioned cold air gets sucked out and the room's air conditioning is actually disabled until you close the window.

I thought they were a gimmick, not the real balcony experience because you're not immersed in being outside like a traditional balcony.

It's not a balcony, and that's ok

While talking about how I don't like an infinite balcony, a colleague mentioned she really likes these cabins because it's like a private solarium.

She didn't dispute the fact it's a window and not a balcony, but as she talked more about her experience in this room, I realized having a bigger room with more space that's air conditioned isn't a bad thing.

In reality, it's too hot to be out on the balcony most months in the Caribbean.

When I stay in a traditional balcony, I might go out on my balcony for sail away or a moment here or there.  But I usually don't go out there because it's uncomfortable given the heat and humidity.

My realization was I actually could enjoy the view without melting in the heat.

Why an infinite balcony cabin is worth it

Having more usable space is the first reason I'd want to stay in an infinite balcony again.

If you never open the window, then the "balcony" area is part of the stateroom, so you gain extra square footage you can enjoy all day.

While on Star of the Seas, I treated it like a lounge area. I used it to work from my laptop, watch a movie, or simple relax and enjoy the view

With it enclosed, it also means I have more furniture to sit on and no concern it gets too hot out there.

The air conditioning keeps the space cool when the window is closed.

When my kids were younger, I was always nervous with them on a regular balcony because young kids always want to climb. 

But with this kind of a room, we would have had more space for them to crawl, climb, and play without those fears. I think an infinite balcony is a really good choice for families.

Another benefit to the window is you get far less noise.

When I was on Independence of the Seas earlier this summer, I had a traditional balcony and the whistling sound from the point where the balcony door meets the frame was an on-and-off-again problem.

But with this "balcony", I didn't have any such issue.

It's a window, and that's perfect for my needs

I know there people reading this and saying "It’s not a real balcony", and they're totally right. 

My point isn't to convince anyone it's a real balcony. Rather, to change your perspective on how to think about the room.

When I sail in an infinite balcony, I'm simply never opening the window. Once I understood that, I could appreciate the room more.

If you're like me and don't enjoy being hot and humid, then this room is a great compromise of space, views, and comfort.

There are lots of cruisers who never go out on their balcony for many reasons. Or they're like me and go on it once or twice just to say they did.

I'd rather have more indoor space that I can better utilize, than a nice balcony I'll rarely (if ever) go onto.

Final thoughts

If you've avoided infinite balcony cabins because you thought they were disappointing, I was right there with you.  But now I see them as a smart alternative, especially when it's hot outside.

I wish Royal Caribbean would do make a few fixes to improve the balcony aspect of it in the future, such as adding plastic dividers and keeping the air conditioning on when the window is open.  But in it's current form, I'm content with enjoying the extra space.

Some readers shared they agreed with my perspective, but think the name is misleading.  I don't disagree, but then again a Junior Suite isn't a suite and an Ocean View Panoramic is hardly panoramic. There's always some marketing in cruise ship staterooms.

The bottom line is I realized I just didn't spend much time on my balcony when I was in a traditional room, especially in the Caribbean, because it was too hot.

Getting back that extra square footage as indoor space is a great trade off to keeping the window closed.

If you're looking for a fun-filled weekend but don't want to use up a lot of PTO days, Wonder of the Seas is a new fix for that.

Wonder of the Seas is the newest Royal Caribbean party ship sailing from Miami, Florida, and I was lucky enough to be onboard for the ship's first 4-night sailing. 

Joining her sister ship, Utopia of the Seas, Wonder of the Seas is part of Royal Caribbean's push to have more of its big ships sailing short Caribbean itineraries.

These getaway cruises have proven to be massively popular for the cruise line, as cruisers can vacation without taking as many vacation days. To meet the rising demand for shorter cruises, Royal Caribbean is shifting its strategy by offering its biggest, most impressive cruise ships.

I’m a big fan of shorter cruises, as I have a hard time taking too much PTO from work. After recently cruising on Utopia of the Seas this winter, I was excited to see Wonder of the Seas beginning her season of short Caribbean itineraries. 

Here’s what it was like sailing a short cruise on Royal Caribbean’s newest party ship.

Wonder of the Seas has plenty of parties and late-night activities

Royal Caribbean has been branding Wonder of the Seas as “Miami’s New Weekend Wonder.” The ship is now decked out for “wilder weekends” with 10 next-level parties. The Oasis class vessel features more than 15 dining spots with international flavors, four pools, and 10 onboard bars.

As promised, our cruise was packed with parties and late-night activities. In fact, I ran out of time to try all of the hosted parties during our short 4-night cruise to the Bahamas. Starting with the lively Sailaway Party, it was easy to see our cruise would have a lively crowd.

Later that evening, the ship hosted Bring the Beat Back: A Party Through the Decades, a themed party in the Royal Promenade with music from the 70s, 80s, and 90s. This party was extremely popular and well-attended, and many cruisers dressed for the occasion.

During our sea day the next morning, I was eager to attend the Plunge Day Pool Party on the pool deck. The vibes were high with many cruisers dancing and singing from Wonder’s two main pools. This was one of my favorite parties of the entire cruise, as I much prefer a mid-day party versus a late-night gathering.

Other popular parties included the Let’s Dance Street Party, Royal Kappa Chi, and Silent Toga Party. In addition, you could attend karaoke, midnight parties in the nightclub, and the famous Crazy Quest gameshow. If you’re someone who likes to party and dance the night away, there’s no shortage of parties to attend.

Our sailing was popular for groups traveling together

Our 4-night cruise on Wonder of the Seas was packed with large travel parties. This isn’t surprising, as shorter cruises are ideal for everything from family reunions to bachelor and bachelorette parties, milestone birthdays, and other celebrations at sea.

These quick getaway sailings are especially popular for large parties because they’re affordable, convenient, and easy to coordinate. With most short cruises lasting just 3 to 5 nights, they’re far less expensive than weeklong itineraries. In addition, longer cruises require more PTO days and planning, which can be difficult to align across busy work, school, and family schedules.

In fact, I’d argue that Oasis Class ships are some of the best in the industry for group travel. Most of my extended family cruises have been aboard Oasis Class vessels, and they’re always crowdpleasers for kids, adults, and everyone in between.

Read more: 6 things to know before you book Wonder of the Seas

At 236,000 gross tons, Wonder of the Seas truly has something for everyone. Families with children can enjoy nonstop action, from onboard thrills to Adventure Ocean youth programs and the Social100 teen club. Adults hoping for a reprieve from the youngest cruisers can enjoy the expansive adults-only Solarium, along with an array of bars and lounges.

Between the variety of dining, onboard attractions, entertainment, and multiple neighborhoods, Wonder of the Seas was a popular choice for groups traveling together. Don’t be surprised to find large travel parties if you’re cruising on Wonder of the Seas, as the party atmosphere will likely continue to attract celebratory groups.

The cruise was energetic, but never out of control

I’ve taken my fair share of party cruises, including a few particularly spirited cruises with Carnival Cruise Line. I wasn’t sure what to expect for our cruise on Wonder of the Seas, although I’ve been on other Royal Caribbean weekend cruises, and the craziest experiences have been over spring break.

Even still, I was prepared for a party atmosphere onboard, especially considering Royal Caribbean’s “wildest weekend” branding for this cruise. I love having a good time, but chaotic, out-of-control crowds aren’t really my scene.

Throughout our cruise, there was definitely an energetic ambiance, but I never felt like things were rowdy, hectic, or disorderly. The only time we experienced a noisy crowd was during our Nassau sailaway in the Solarium. Even then, the group of adults chanting and taking shots wasn’t over-the-top.

If anything, I found the older kids and rambunctious teens to be more of an issue. It wasn’t uncommon to find groups of teens sitting around the stairwell. I even saw a few teens hitting their vapes throughout the ship, and not in the designated smoking areas.

The ship was busy at times with some long lines

One of the biggest downfalls of cruising on a mainstream, mega cruise ship is dealing with crowds. This can inadvertently lead to long lines across the ship for the popular amenities and restaurants.

Although the ship was definitely busy at times, Royal Caribbean designed Wonder of the Seas in a way that helps ease crowds and prevent bottlenecks. Like all Oasis class vessels, Wonder of the Seas utilizes its distinct neighborhood concept to disperse crowds and reduce congestion.

However, when you’re cruising with thousands of other passengers, there are bound to be crowds. In particular, embarkation day was especially busy in the Windjammer buffet and Royal Promenade. Actually, the Windjammer buffet was always busy and crowded when we visited. In my opinion, the buffet space is too small to accommodate such a large crowd.

Another busy venue was Sorrento’s pizzeria in the Royal Promenade. While the line moved quickly, there was always a small mob of people waiting for a fresh slice of pizza. Because this was one of the few late-night food options, the party crowd seemed to gravitate here in the evenings.

The most popular attractions also had long lines. For instance, I considered riding the zip-line across the top deck, but the line was always too long. In the scorching summer heat, the slow-moving line wasn’t worthwhile for me. Those cruising on Wonder of the Seas should consider trying all of the onboard thrills on embarkation day or while the ship is docked in port to avoid the longer lines.

We loved Royal Caribbean’s signature entertainment each night

Royal Caribbean’s Oasis class vessels have some of the best entertainment in the entire cruise industry. While other cruise lines are making obvious cost cuts to their entertainment, Royal Caribbean continues to invest heavily in its signature wow-factor entertainment.

The first evening, we attended the ice show on Wonder of the Seas, known as 365: The Seasons on Ice. I’m a huge fan of Royal Caribbean’s ice skating performances, as they’re the only cruise line with this style of entertainment. We were amazed at the ice stunts throughout the awe-inspiring performance.

Wonder of the Seas also features an AquaTheatre in the aft of the ship. This is another signature performance venue that you can only find on Oasis class ships, although the new Icon class features a redesigned, indoor AquaDome.

Read more: Review of Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas Cruise Ship

Onboard Wonder of the Seas, the AquaTheatre show is called inTENse and features an all-women cast of highly-skilled athletes. The women perform gravity-defying stunts, high dives, synchronized swimming, and acrobatics in the small pool. This impressive production was fantastic, so much so that we attended the show again. You won’t find entertainment like this on any other cruise ship!

In the Royal Theatre, you’ll find other production shows, including the technologically-heavy Effectors II: Crash and Burn. This musical headliner show is certainly geared towards kids and families with its superhero-themed storyline and music. While it won’t win any awards, the full-scale production was fun to watch with cutting-edge technology.

Finally, Wonder of the Seas also featured Voices, an a cappella-style production in the Royal Theatre. This was our least favorite production show of the cruise, as the pre-recorded vocals felt gimmicky for an “all-voices” performance. The graphics also featured obvious post-pandemic photos with masks and social distancing, which might have better aligned with the ship’s debut in 2022.

Four nights weren’t enough time to do everything we wanted

Wonder of the Seas is a massive vessel, clocking in as the 4th largest cruise ship in the world. The only cruise ships larger include Royal Caribbean’s Icon class ships and sister-ship Utopia of the Seas.

Being a ship of this magnitude, it’s impossible to experience every restaurant, amenity, and activity onboard. In a short 4-night cruise, you have to accept that you can’t do it all.

We did our best to make the most of our time onboard. For instance, we splurged on a dinner at Chops Grille the first evening so my friend could experience one of the specialty restaurants on her first cruise.

The other evenings, we had fantastic dinners in the main dining room, which is included in your cruise fare. Because we enjoyed the main dining room experience so much, we opted to visit Izumi Sushi for lunch instead of dinner. I highly recommend checking the schedule for a specialty dining lunch, as it can often save you money compared to the standard dinner price.

We didn’t get a chance to try all the complimentary restaurants, including Boardwalk Dog House and Solarium Bistro — and we barely scratched the surface of all the specialty dining options.

In particular, we wished we could have tried venues besides the Windjammer buffet for breakfast. With late nights watching the entertainment and attending the parties, we often missed the 9 a.m. cutoff time for the additional breakfast spots, such as Johnny Rockets and the main dining room. This would also alleviate some congestion in the Windjammer, which is the only breakfast option open after 10 a.m.

Brunch was not offered in the dining room either, which would be a seemingly good fit for a party-branded cruise ship. I hope Royal Caribbean reconsiders the operating hours for breakfast, given the late-night vibe of the ship.

I already booked another 4-night cruise, but this time on Utopia of the Seas

For many years, Carnival Cruise Line dominated the short cruise market, but Royal Caribbean is now shifting the landscape. With some of the world’s newest and biggest ships sailing on 3-night and 4-night itineraries, short cruises no longer mean sacrificing ship size.

It’s hard for me to take time away from work to sail on 7-night cruises, so I prefer embarking on quick, getaway cruises to save time and money. It’s just enough time to get into a vacation mindset, even if I don’t get around to experiencing every single restaurant, show, or activity onboard.

I’ve already booked another weekend getaway cruise for February 2026, but I’ll be sailing on Utopia of the Seas from Port Canaveral, Florida. This is only because cruising from central Florida is more convenient from my home in the Panhandle!

I wouldn’t hesitate to take a short cruise on Wonder of the Seas again, as we had a fantastic time without too much chaos onboard. There are plenty of parties to keep the most energetic cruisers entertained, but the energy was never out of control. Overall, Wonder of the Seas showed that a short cruise can still feel like a real vacation with a perfect mix of fun, relaxation, and big-ship experiences, without feeling overwhelmed.

Royal Caribbean appears to be sending offers to certain cruisers that we've never seen before from them.

Over the past week, we've seen different cruisers receive an email from the cruise line with an offer to take advantage of "an exclusive loyalty perk" and choose between three options.

It's not being sent to everyone, but those that do get the email have the choice of one of three things that could save a lot of money.

That's why one lucky cruiser was happy to open their email inbox and discover a special email from Royal Caribbean. 

Rom Nam received a special pre-cruise offer from Royal Caribbean, offering them a choice of a complimentary add-on. 

At first, they thought it was too good to be true. However, they called Royal Caribbean's Crown & Anchor customer service number at (800) 526-9723 to confirm that the offer was legit. 

According to the email, Nam can select one of three perks:

• Unlimited Wi-Fi for one device
• 3 daily drink vouchers
• 3-night specialty dining package

"[Royal Caribbean] verified [the offer] is from them, those are both emails that are used by Royal for marketing and loyalty programs at times. Not a scam.. the email was forwarded directly to the resolutions team who inspected the email and they could verify," Nam added on the Facebook post. 

Nam also shared terms and conditions for the special offer: "The Perks Your Way Offer applies to new individual bookings made August 25, 2025 – October 30, 2025 (“Offer Cruise”) on sailings departing November 1, 2025 – November 1, 2026 (“Offer Period”) by the Crown & Anchor Society member."

Unfortunately, because they booked their cruise on August 22, they didn't qualify for the complimentary perk. 

On Reddit, bitemytail posted a screenshot of the similar offer for their upcoming cruise.

"Got sent this offer but I'm not sure what to pick. Thoughts?" they posted.

According to bitemytail, they are a Gold member in Crown and Anchor Society with just 20 points and the email came in randomly to their inbox.

Another user mentioned they received a similar offer, but the benefits were a little different:

"I got the same email but my offers are not as good as yours- I got offered vip shows, champagne/strawberries, free hideaway beach pass, or 2 free photos. I was told I’d have to book an additional sailing within the promotional period to then redeem, not apply to a current sailing," commented Kristin Campbell.

Of course, it's important to be cautious when receiving unexpected promotional emails. Scammers often mimic branding to trick people into clicking links or sharing personal information, which can be costly. 

No pattern to who's getting the offer

If you're thinking "how do I get one of these emails", the answer is no one really knows.

So far, there's only been a handful of them reported and as the email indicates, it's being sent to "a select group" of people.

Royal Caribbean's marketing algorithm may have identified certain cruisers as being an ideal candidate to attract them back to cruise or to spend more.  It's really anyone's guess.

A lucrative offer

This is a very unusual offer by Royal Caribbean, as it's not something I can ever recall seeing.

Although Royal Caribbean's fares are pretty inclusive (i.e., you don't have to worry about shelling out extra money for food, entertainment, and transportation), there are plenty of ways to enhance your vacation.

You can, for instance, opt to splurge on a drink or dining package, or buy Wi-Fi to stay connected with friends and family back home.

That said, these add-ons don't come cheap. It's not uncommon for cruisers to pay over $60 per person, per day, for the Deluxe Beverage Package. 

The value of one unlimited internet device for a cruise is $26.99 per day, when purchased onboard the ship.

Three drinks per day could be as much as $42 per day, if you max out the cocktail price at $14 each (before gratuity).

Finally, the 3-night dining package costs $180 on an upcoming Oasis of the Seas sailing when purchased onboard.

The savings from this targeted offer could be applied to other onboard purchases, a new cruise, or pocketed. 

For as long as I can remember, the shower on a cruise ship was never the best feature in the cabin.

Most cruise ships have showers that look like a tube meant to beam people up into space.  Not only that, they were super tiny and it felt like I had to keep my arms in and tucked.

It was not only cramped, but made the shower experience less enjoyable.  When you have lots of hot water and great water pressure, that's not something to pass up.

Luckily, Royal Caribbean introduced a new shower for its cabins on the biggest ship in the world and it's a game changer.

Goodbye capsule showers, hello space!

Royal Caribbean is proud of so many innovations introduced on Icon of the Seas, but I think the shower design is unheralded win.

Because Icon was the first of its class, it was treated as a "white paper" ship and every aspect of it was rethought from the ground up, including cabin design.

On ships that came before Icon, standard cabin showers were a tight fit space that looked like a capsule.  In fact, it had curved plastic shower doors that truly felt like you were entering the turbo lift on a Star Trek ship.

The showers were even worse on the older, smaller ships that had a fabric shower divider instead of the plastic.  That curtain loves to cling to you while you shower.

They were certainly functional, but I can't say there was much enjoyment being in them because of how cramped it felt.  I was just glad I wasn't that tall, because I don't know how tall people managed to shower.

Shower design got a little better with newer ships, such as Odyssey of the Seas or Wonder of the Seas.  Clearly more space was given, but it was still a tube.

The improvement came with Icon of the Seas, which redesigned the space completely.

Gone was the capsule design, and instead, we got a shower that looks like one we might actually have at home.

It spans the width of the bathroom and has floor to ceiling glass, providing lots of space and most importantly, room for your elbows!

The glass door maneuvered inward and sideways to keep the bathroom less cramped. 

Another smart change was to add a bench to the shower, once again providing space and functionality to the shower.

It's a far more spacious design, and prior to Icon, you could only find showers like this in suite cabins.

The shower head is also adjustable, as it can slide up or down the pole to provide the right height.

There's a black release button on the back of the arm that the showerhead attaches to that you can press in order to make the adjustment.

Something else worth noting is there's a guard to prevent the shower from getting extra hot, but you can override it.

When Icon launched, there was some that claimed you couldn't get a hot shower on the new ship, but those folks didn't understand how the temperature controls worked.

The temperature control will stop at 38°C (100°F), but you can override it by pressing the black button on the left to move it past the stopper.

Having gone on Star of the Seas in a couple of different cabins, and in each the shower configuration was very nice.

A world different from the worst shower design

If you're saying "Matt, there's no way the shower on a cruise ship makes a difference", then I'd say you haven't cruised on a cruise ship with the cloth curtain showers.

On the Radiance, Vision and some Voyager Class ships are bathrooms that have a tube shower that have a cloth curtain instead of plastic.

This is problematic for two reasons.

First, the curtain does a very poor job at keeping the water inside the shower.  It flails open constantly and you're all but guaranteed to flood your bathroom.

Second, it tends to cling to your body as you're in the shower.

Like a needy ex, I hate clinginess, and then you have to remember that curtain has touched a lot of other people over the years. 

Carnival is joining the trend too

When one of our writers went on Carnival's newest ships, I noticed their shower design also departed from the tube shower.

On Carnival Jubilee, a balcony cabin had a "stylish and well-designed" bathroom.

"The best aspect of the bathroom was the large walk-in shower," wrote Allie Hubers when she sailed on Jubilee.

Just like Icon and Star, the shower was rather large with a glass door that maneuvered inward.

Welcome to this week's edition of the Royal Caribbean post round-up, where we summarize all of the Royal Caribbean news and information from this week into one handy-dandy post! There is plenty of great content to enjoy, so sit back, relax, and enjoy this week's round-up!

The water slide that injured a cruise passenger as it broke when he went down it is being repaired.

Royal Caribbean was making repairs to the slide on Icon of the Seas, and replacing the broken section.

According to reports from passengers, it could be ready to re-open very soon.

Royal Caribbean News

• Royal Caribbean adds two new perks to its VIP program
• Royal Caribbean's Legend of the Seas successfully floats out
• Celebrity is ready to sell its first river cruises, but there are more questions than answers
• Royal Caribbean is offering up to half off its drink packages during its Labor Day weekend sale
• Icon of the Seas vs. Star of the Seas
• Royal Caribbean brought back its $100,000 bling cup to sell on its new ship
• New Royal Caribbean casino website makes redeeming free cruises easier
• 6 Royal Caribbean app upgrades that need to be added
• I ate at the most expensive restaurant on Star of the Seas, and it's even better than the original

New RCB Video: 8 Things I Did SMARTER On The Newest Cruise Ship

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 — 8 Things I Did SMARTER On The Newest Cruise Ship — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

Here's what Royal Caribbean will change on Liberty of the Seas

We now know exactly what changes will be made to Liberty of the Seas when she's upgraded next year.

New deck plans have been released that show the upgrades and replacements that will take place during her Royal Amplification.

Liberty is one of three cruise ships scheduled for major upgrades in 2026.

Locals protest Perfect Day Mexico plans, Royal Caribbean responds

An online petition has gotten over 200,000 signatures asking to stop Royal Caribbean from building Perfect Day Mexico.

Royal Caribbean responded with promises to be transparent and open as it moves forward with the project.

Locals are worried about the impact on the environment and local community, but the cruise line says it has plans in place to avoid any of those issues.

I stayed in Royal Caribbean's $4,000 VIP Area on Star of the Seas

Paying extra for a suite gets you into an exclusive area on the brand new Star of the Seas.

There's an entire section of the ship dedicated to suite guests, and it spans three decks with restaurants, a lounge, and more.

Before you book, here's a look at what you can expect in this space as part of the extra cost.

I ate at 3 Star of the Seas restaurants for under $50 thanks to an easy trick

Specialty dining isn't always cheap, but with the right strategy you can enjoy it for less money than you might have thought possible.

Matt went on Star of the Seas and challenged himself to dine at three specialty restaurants and spend less than $50.

He managed to enjoy full meals at each restaurant, and the trick wasn't difficult to master.

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 574th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available! Ilana ranked all of the cruise line private islands, and you can probably guess where Perfect Day at CocoCay landed.

We update our podcast weekly, so subscribe for more updates via YouTube, iTunes, Google Podcasts, or RSS.

You can also leave us a rating or review on iTunes, so go ahead and check it out! We appreciate your feedback.

Liberty of the Seas is finally getting its much-needed Royal Amplification. 

Earlier this year, Royal Caribbean announced plans to upgrade three of its older cruise ships with new features as part of its next phase of ship updates. 

Royal Caribbean Blog has already shared the plans for Ovation of the Seas, so in this article, we'll take a deeper look at what changes are coming to Liberty of the Seas. 

Liberty of the Seas' Royal Amplification is scheduled to take place in late April and May 2026. Liberty will depart from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on April 3, 2026, on a 16-night one-way cruise to Southampton. She's not scheduled to re-enter service until May 29. 

There's a lot of exciting stuff on the horizon — though Sabor fans might be a little heartbroken. 

Deck-by-deck changes coming to Liberty of the Seas

Starting on Deck 2, the Conference Center is being removed and replaced with 24 new inside cabins. The Loyalty Desk is also being moved to near the aft elevators. 

Moving on up, the Shore Excursions desk is being relocated to Deck 3, taking the place of the On Air Club. On Deck 4, the former Shore Excursions area will be replaced with an expanded casino. 

Royal Caribbean has been expanding its casino footprint on a few of its ships. Freedom of the Seas, for example, had its wine bar replaced with a non-smoking casino directly off the Royal Promenade. 

More casino space means more revenue, and it's the most likely reason that Royal Caribbean decided to replace the On Air Club with the Shore Excursions desk.

Aside from the bigger casino, Deck 4 has a lot of other changes coming its way. Starting at the forward section of the deck, Sabor is being replaced with Izumi Teppanyaki. This shouldn't come as a surprise, though. 

Recently, Linken D'Souza, Royal Caribbean's Vice President of Food & Beverage, said that Chops Grille is no longer the most popular specialty restaurant by sheer number of guests served. Instead, Izumi is the most popular restaurant by volume in the fleet. 

The Teppanyaki experience is even more appealing than standard sushi fare. D'Souza calls it "eatertainment," since it combines a multi-course meal with a show, where the chef cooks right at your table. 

Further back, the Boleros Bar is being replaced with a full-service Starbucks. 

There's not much being changed on Deck 5. However, the Connoisseur Club will become the Royal Escape Room. This will give guests a new, interactive activity, as the escape rooms have become popular on other ships in the fleet. 

Decks 6 and 7 will also remain the same. However, Deck 8 will receive a few new inside staterooms. These include cabins 8127, 8129, 8131, and 8133 in the front of the ship.

Moreover, since the Loyalty Desk is being moved to Deck 2, there will be room for more interior cabins towards the aft elevator bank: 8441, 8443, 8445, and 8447. 

Likewise, the Card Room on Deck 10 is being removed to make way for new staterooms, highlighting Royal Caribbean's focus on increasing occupancy by repurposing underused public spaces. These new cabins include 1343, 1345, 1347, and 1349. 

Things become more interesting on Deck 11. First, new ocean-view and balcony staterooms are being added near the Vitality Fitness Center: 1150, 1152, 1154, 1155, 1100, 1102, 1104, and 1106. 

The Solarium is staying the same, but the pool deck is going to receive a major upgrade. For starters, the standard Pool Bar will be transformed into the popular Lime and Coconut Bar. Moreover, Squeeze will become El Loco Fresh and Cantina Fresca. 

Don't worry, though. Although the pool deck will be completely reimagined with a fresh look and new casitas, the Splashaway Bay aqua park for kids isn't going anywhere. 

The Lime and Coconut will extend onto Deck 12, replacing the Sky Bar. 

Finally, Royal Caribbean plans on adding 10 new cabins near the Adventure Ocean youth club: 1892, 1894, 1896, 1898, 1900, 1902, 1904, 1906, 1908, and 1910. 

Changes coming to two other ships

As mentioned earlier, Ovation of the Seas is one of three Royal Caribbean ships getting major upgrades through the cruise line's Royal Amplification process. 

Like with Liberty of the Seas, Ovation's casino will be expanded, effectively eliminating the Music Hall. Moreover, the ship will get a Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen and an Izumi Teppanyaki, as well as a Pesky Parrot tiki bar — a Quantum Class first. 

The ship will also get a brand-new Sound Cellar, Ultimate Family Suite, and Panoramic Suite. 

Harmony of the Seas is the other ship getting an overhaul in 2026. 

During her drydock, Harmony's pool deck, including the Solarium, will be revitalized. Likewise, the pool deck will receive The Lime & Coconut. Other updates include the addition of Samba Grill Brazilian Steakhouse, the largest Casino Royale in the fleet, and the Ultimate Family Suite. 

Royal Caribbean's popular pay-to-get perks program has been updated.

The Key is what the cruise line refers to as its VIP pass, where guests can enjoy certain perks that you'd otherwise need to pay for a suite or be a top tier loyal member to have access to.

Now there are two new benefits guests that buy it can enjoy, which Royal Caribbean believes will add even more value to the program. Guests who purchase it will enjoy bigger discounts on sports activities and a new spa savings credit, adding more reasons to consider this optional program.

Here’s a detailed breakdown of what's being added, and what remains the same.

The Two New Perks

50% Off Sports Activities Onboard

Previously, The Key included 25% off sports activities. With this update, that discount has doubled to 50% off.

That’s a meaningful change for families or groups who want to try several activities during their sailing. For example, a group FlowRider surf simulator session costs $79 per person onboard Utopia of the Seas.

With The Key's new benefit, that price drops to $39.50. Multiply that across a family of four, and the savings add up quickly.

Another popular activity are private or group lessons at the FlowRider surf simulator, which can be quite pricey.

$60 Off a $250 Spa Purchase

Royal Caribbean is also adding a new spa savings credit. Guests will now receive $60 off a $250 spa purchase, which can be applied toward treatments such as:

• Swedish or deep tissue massages
• Couples massages
• Facials
• Aromatherapy or hot stone treatments
• Specialized body wraps or scrubs

The credit is one-time use, non-transferable, and does not apply to taxes or gratuities.

If a 75-minute hot stone massage costs $259 before gratuity, the added perk drops the price closer to $199. That’s nearly the same cost as a standard 50-minute massage.

Perks included in The Key

The Key is a combination of included benefits, services, and experiences. The rest of the program is not changing. Here's what you still get:

Priority access during The Key’s designated arrival time

Guests can board the ship earlier with shorter wait times at check-in.

Carry-on bag drop with delivery to your stateroom

Instead of lugging your carry-ons around the ship on embarkation day, you can drop them off and have them delivered to your stateroom.

Exclusive welcome lunch in the Main Dining Room

Held on embarkation day, this luncheon features a signature menu with items from specialty restaurants, giving you a relaxed start to your cruise.

20% off specialty dining when you book on Day 1

This is a popular perk for guests who want to try restaurants like Chops Grille, Giovanni’s, Izumi, or Wonderland.

Access to fast lines at onboard activities

Skip the regular line for certain attractions and enjoy more time actually doing the activities.

Priority departure at tender ports of call

On ships that anchor offshore, The Key holders get off the ship more quickly.

Reserved seating at shows

Dedicated seating sections are available in major venues such as the Royal Theater, AquaTheater, Studio B, and Two70 (reservations required on some ships).

VOOM Surf & Stream high-speed internet

Each person who purchases The Key gets internet for one device, which is a major value driver since VOOM can cost $20+ per day per device when purchased separately.

Exclusive à la carte breakfast on departure day

Instead of the crowded buffet, The Key guests get a calmer breakfast option and a choice of departure time.

How much does The Key cost?

The price of The Key varies by sailing and ship but generally ranges between $24.99 to $49.99 per person, per day. 

Everyone in your stateroom who is over the age of six must purchase it if one person does, which means the total cost can add up for families.

For example:

• On a 4-night sailing at $38.99 per person, The Key would cost about $155.96 per person.
• For a family of four, that’s $623.84 total for the sailing.

How does this change the value of The Key?

Depending on your cruising habits, the two new perks could sway your decision to buy it or not.

Discounts on the Spa are a benefit for adults, as kids can't take advantage of it.  It's likely best for a couple that's buying The Key.

However, doubling the sports activity discount can add up to big savings... if your family will actually take advantage of them.

There aren't many sports activities that cost money, with the private FlowRider lessons being the most popular option. If your goal is to learn to surf on a cruise, this change could be quite beneficial.

Overall, most cruisers that buy The Key tend to do so because for other reasons:

• Priority embarkation
• Included welcome lunch on embarkation day
• Bundled internet package
• Storing carry-on bags on embarkation day

The other benefits, including the two new ones, are usually less utilized benefits because they have less universal appeal among guests.

Without a doubt, adding the new perks is more value than The Key had in the past. But it's value may remain in how you take advantage of it all.

Royal Caribbean's newest cruise ship has reached an important construction milestone. 

Legend of the Seas, which is under construction at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland, has touched water for the first time.

Construction began in January 2024 with the celebratory steel-cutting ceremony, meaning it's taken around 18 months to get to this point. 

During her float out, over 90 million gallons of water filled the dock. It's a major step forward in the mega ship's construction process, bringing her closer to sea trials and her anticipated debut. 

Now, the construction will focus more closely on the interior, as most of the exterior work has been completed. For example, the ship's 2,805 cabins will be installed and decorated soon. 

Legend of the Seas is the third Icon Class ship and will join her sisters, Icon and Star of the Seas, in August 2026. 

During her inaugural season, Legend of the Seas will sail from Barcelona, Spain, and Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy, marking the first time an Icon Class ship will offer cruises around the Mediterranean. 

European itineraries range from 3 to 13 nights and call at ports like Naples, Italy; Florence/Pisa (La Spezia), Italy; Palma de Mallorca, Spain; Provence (Marseille), France; and more. 

She'll then move to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, following a 13-night transatlantic cruise at the end of October. Her first sailing from Florida is scheduled for November 11, 2026. 

"Legend of the Seas continues the state-of-the-art Icon Class, which allows the Finnish maritime industry to showcase its unique expertise at its best," said Casimir Lindholm, C.E.O. of Meyer Turku. 

"The shipyard, Royal Caribbean, and an extensive network of partners work together to develop the processes and concepts from ship to ship. Alongside its sister ships, Legend of the Seas will also mark an important milestone in increasingly responsible shipbuilding."

As the third Icon Class ship, guests can expect a similar framework to Icon and Star of the Seas. However, there will be a few changes. 

For starters, the supper club will have a Hollywood theme, compared to New York on Icon and Chicago on Star. 

Moreover, it's likely that the entertainment line-up will differ from her sister ships. Onboard Icon of the Seas, for example, the Broadway-style musical is The Wizard of Oz. It was replaced by Back to the Future: The Musical on Star of the Seas. 

Royal Caribbean plans on building a fourth Icon Class ship

According to Meyer Turku's Facebook post, the shipyard is already preparing the dry dock for the fourth Icon Class ship. 

"As Legend starts her outfitting phase, the dry dock awaits the keel laying of the fourth Icon Class ship," the post reads. 

Little is known about the next-gen Icon Class ship. However, it’s expected to build on the innovations introduced with Icon, Star, and Legend of the Seas. 

Celebrity Cruises is getting ready to put its first ever river cruises on sale, but a lot of questions remain.

The company held a webinar for travel agents and revealed that the deposit is $500 per reservation, however, they haven't shared many other details yet. Key information, such as itineraries, ship deck plans, and departure dates, is still under wraps. 

Guests can place a $500 deposit starting at 9:00am EDT on September 3, 2025, for early access to bookings once they officially open. This means that those who take advantage of the refundable deposit option will be among the first to secure a spot on Celebrity’s debut river sailings.

Celebrity said that the reason they're requiring deposits is because of the demand for the new cruise product; it's the first time a mainstream cruise line will offer river cruises. 

"We are excited to offer guests the chance to experience the first-ever Celebrity River Cruises vacations in 2027 with Priority Booking Access," said Laura Hodges Bethge, President of Celebrity Cruises. 

"Guests will enjoy the warm hospitality Celebrity is known for, on innovative ships, with land experiences unlike any other, as we set sail on Europe’s iconic Danube and Rhine rivers."

However, placing a deposit does not guarantee anyone an actual booking. Starting on September 9, 2025, Celebrity Cruises will be converting the priority deposits into actual ship and sail dates. Conversions will be done based on Captain's Club loyalty status.  

To place a deposit on September 3, you can visit celebritycruises.com/river, call Celebrity River Cruises at 1-833-474-8803, contact a trusted travel advisor, or visit Future Cruise on board.

General sale for Celebrity's river cruises will open to the public "later this summer."

Read more: Celebrity confirms when they will open bookings for river cruises

Here's what we know about Celebrity River Cruises

Celebrity River Cruises will have a fleet of 10 ships. However, when the line debuts in 2027, it will start with just two vessels sailing the Danube and Rhine Rivers.

According to executives, each river ship will accommodate around 180 guests and be designed after the cruise line's award-winning Edge Class series, which launched in 2018. 

Edge Class ships, including Celebrity Edge, Celebrity Apex, Celebrity Beyond, Celebrity Ascent, and Celebrity Xcel (in Nov. 2025), focus on connecting guests to the ocean with their outward-facing designs and innovative features like the cantilevered Magic Carpet.

All cabins on Celebrity's river ships will be based on double occupancy, meaning the vessels won't be outfitted with staterooms for three or four guests. 

Additionally, the fares will be more inclusive than when sailing on their mainstream ocean cruise ships. All Celebrity River Cruises will include:

• Dining (including a 24-hour option)
• Drinks (select wine, beer, cocktails, coffee, and soft drinks, with the opportunity to upgrade)
• Wi-Fi
• Onboard experiences
• One complimentary shore excursion every day

Cruisers also have the option to add a pre- or post-cruise stay in Prague and Budapest when Celebrity's river cruises open for booking.

What Celebrity hasn't revealed about its river cruises yet

Although it's nice to know that the cruises will be more inclusive, one of the biggest questions remains unanswered — the price.

Because of the inclusivity and exclusivity of the river cruises, they'll likely be more expensive than their standard ocean sailings, but we don't know how the fares will compare to other river cruise lines. 

Celebrity also hasn't shared the dates of the first river cruises in 2027, as well as the ships' deck plans or cabin layouts.