Royal Caribbean Blog

Taking a Royal Caribbean cruise vacation is always a good idea, but it can be especially memorable over a holiday, such as St. Patrick's Day. 

The cruise line's newest vessel, Star of the Seas, is currently celebrating her first St. Patrick's Day at sea. Royal Caribbean Blog's Head Honcho, Matt Hochberg, reports that the ship is decked out in green, with themed decorations, festive activities, and unique, limited-time partnerships. 

The Royal Promenade is filled with inflatables, ranging from larger-than-life leprechauns to four-leaf clovers and horseshoes. 

There's even an inflatable rainbow near the 1400 Lobby Bar — though, unfortunately, there’s no pot of gold at the end (the closest thing is the Pot of Gold slot tournament in the casino at 11:00 p.m.)

And what's a holiday without a balloon drop? The crew aboard Star of the Seas has already prepared for the celebration, with green and white balloons hanging from the ceiling. 

The Pearl, the Royal Promenade's moody centerpiece, is illuminated in green and gold for the occasion. This helps cast a festive glow on the central thoroughfare, where you'll find everything from the Guest Services desk to the 24-hour Pearl Café and Royal Caribbean-branded shops. 

The Bell & Barley Pub is also getting into the St. Patrick’s Day spirit with a selection of themed drinks that are available all week. 

"We are commemorating this occasion on board with a pub takeover featuring Jameson's Irish Whiskey. Our team has collaborated with our partners at Diageo to create three signature drinks," said Ed Eiswirth, Senior Director of Beverage Operations at Royal Caribbean. 

"These cocktails will be available throughout the week, as one day of celebration is simply not enough."

The three "Lucky Sips" include the Golden Clover, Pot 'O Gold, and Charmed Apple. The Golden Clover ($14) is made with Jameson Irish Whiskey, mango, lime juice, mint, and Angostura bitters. Pot 'O Gold ($14) is also crafted with Jameson Irish Whiskey, though it leans into a sweeter vibe with amaro, peach, lemon juice, and a peach ring garnish.

Finally, the Charmed Apple ($14) is the only beverage on the limited-edition menu that doesn't use Jameson Irish Whiskey. Instead, it features an Espolòn Silver Tequila base, blended with Cointreau, passion fruit, Granny Smith apple, and lime juice.  

In addition to decorations, the daily planner is filled with St. Patrick's Day-themed activities, such as trivia, a balloon drop with the cruise director staff, and family arts & crafts at Adventure Ocean. 

Star of the Seas is currently on a 7-night Western Caribbean cruise from Port Canaveral (Orlando), Florida. She departed on March 15 and is scheduled to call at CocoCay, Cozumel, Roatán, and Costa Maya before returning to Florida on the 22nd. 

It's the dawn of a new era for Nassau cruisers — if you're sailing with Royal Caribbean, that is. 

Private cabanas aren't a new concept. In fact, some of the dreamiest are the overwater cabanas at the Coco Beach Club. However, Royal Caribbean invested in perhaps its most swanky cabana yet at its all-new beach club in The Bahamas. 

The Ultimate Family Cabana is a one-of-a-kind retreat designed to feel like a beachside villa that goes far beyond the average beach set-up. 

Available at the Royal Beach Club Paradise Island, the cruise line's extra-cost private club in Nassau, the Ultimate Family Cabana is unlike traditional cabanas that offer private loungers, shade, and other basic amenities. 

Instead, the two-story sanctuary feels like a miniature beach house — complete with everything from a slide to a private bathroom, reserved beach space, frozen drink machine, television, and more. 

Here's what you can expect inside.

Royal Caribbean's new Ultimate Family Cabana

Before you even walk inside, you will realize this cabana is unlike any other. With its premium amenities, the Ultimate Family Cabana is poised to become Royal's top-of-the-line product when it comes to perfect beach days. 

Royal Caribbean's largest cabana is located within the Family Beach area of the beach club, just steps from the zero-entry pool and picturesque beach. 

However, you may not want to spend much time outside the cabana. As you enter, you're welcomed by an expansive living room with comfortable chairs and couches that could easily live on someone's private lanai. 

There's also a dedicated dining area, complete with a large table and seating for the whole group. This is convenient, seeing as the cabana can accommodate up to 12 people. 

Moving on, one of the highlights of the Ultimate Family Cabana is the frozen drink machine, ensuring you can get all-you-can-(reasonably)-drink piña coladas and daiquiris with no wait. 

Nearby is a small shaded kitchen, housing a fridge and sink. Opposite the kitchen is the cabana's private bathroom. This means you won't have to trek far for restroom breaks during your ultimate beach day. 

Upstairs is where you’ll find some of the best views in the entire beach club. The second level opens to a plush daybed, table, chairs, and a wet bar. This makes it easy to sip on a crafted cocktail or snack while enjoying the breezy deck.  

The entrance to the neon orange spiral slide is also on the second level of the Ultimate Family Cabana. One neat feature of the slide is that there's a button at the top that "primes" it with water. This ensures that you don't get stuck or burn your bottom on the way down. 

Even if you aren't an avid slide-goer, you will want to visit the second level at least once — mostly to take in the scenery of the turquoise Bahamian waters.

You can also people-watch, as the elevated vantage point offers sweeping views of the Family Beach area and pool. You can even see the towering Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island. 

Back downstairs, the Ultimate Family Cabana continues to impress with its beachfront hot tub. This ensures that, even on the chilliest Bahamian days, you can soak up the sunshine and white-sand shoreline. 

The best part is that the hot tub is located steps from a private beach area. As such, you'll have a dedicated space to relax away from the hustle and bustle — all without fighting for a prime lounge chair! 

That's not all, either. Just beyond the hot tub, the cabana’s private beach area also features a hammock. I don't know about you, but I could easily fall asleep reading here. It's the perfect spot to catch up on anyone's endless "TBR" (to-be-read) list! 

No matter how you choose to spend your day at Royal Caribbean's Ultimate Family Cabana, you'll find it has ample spaces to relax and recharge. It's the best of both worlds, really — you can enjoy the newly-opened Royal Beach Club while having a private space with luxurious amenities to retreat to. 

How much does the Royal Beach Club Ultimate Family Cabana cost?

The Ultimate Family Cabana's amenities sound incredible, but the cost is a big part of the equation, too. Affording this slice of paradise isn't for the casual budget cruiser. 

The onboard price for the cabana is $10,000. However, you can save thousands by reserving it through the Royal Caribbean Cruise Planner. 

For example, during my upcoming cruise on Utopia of the Seas in July 2026, the Cruise Planner lists the Ultimate Family Cabana with a 30% discount, bringing the price down to $6,999.99.

Comparatively, day passes to the Royal Beach Club Paradise Island cost around $97 to $110 per person, depending on whether you want unlimited non-alcoholic or alcoholic beverages included. 

Despite the hefty price tag, Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley claimed the demand for the cabana is unprecedented. 

"In the first hour when we opened for sale, we sold our Ultimate Family Cabana for one day at $10,000, which was quite remarkable...Subsequently, we've sold a lot of days in the Ultimate Family Cabana at $10,000," he said during an earnings call last year. 

Royal Caribbean's new Royal Beach Club Paradise Island

The Royal Beach Club Paradise Island is Royal Caribbean's newest addition to its growing private destination portfolio. 

The private beach club destination was created in partnership with The Bahamas and is located on Paradise Island — a narrow strip of land near the Nassau cruise port. 

Unfortunately, the 17-acre beach club isn't included in your cruise fare. As such, it acts more like an optional shore excursion, with access to the private beaches, heated pools, unlimited beverages, and local cuisine available for an added cost. 

The Royal Beach Club Paradise Island is divided into three main areas: Family Beach, Party Cove, and Chill Beach. Family Beach is where the Ultimate Family Cabana is located, along with the Shallow End Pool & Swim-Up Bar, Paradise Grill location, and more. 

Party Cove is the social hub of the beach club — think non-stop music, flowing drinks, and a lively energy that's tailored toward adults. Here, you'll find the world's largest swim-up bar, rentable day beds, another Paradise Grill, and more. 

Finally, Chill Beach was designed for guests who want a relaxed atmosphere and peaceful oceanfront spaces. Complete with beach bars, another pool and swim-up bar, and easy-access to local cuisine at the Paradise Grill, it’s the perfect spot to unwind without feeling overwhelmed by activity. 

Currently, Royal Caribbean offers two types of day passes to Royal Beach Club: the Open Bar Day Pass (Unlimited Open Bar & Dining) and the Non-Alcoholic Day Pass (Unlimited Non-Alcoholic Drinks & Dining). 

Because of the day pass options, it’s worth noting that your Royal Caribbean drink packages don’t carry over to the Royal Beach Club. Even if you have the Deluxe Beverage Package, you'll need to purchase the Open Bar Day Pass to enjoy unlimited alcoholic beverages ashore. 

Read more: I visited Royal Caribbean's Royal Beach Club Paradise Island. The heated pools and all-inclusive pass fixed a long-standing problem

You check the weather forecast before your cruise and suddenly your excitement turns into dread: rain every day.

While it looks like your Caribbean vacation is about to be washed out before it even begins, the truth is it probably won't. That scary-looking forecast doesn't mean it will rain all day, or even for every long. In fact, it's more likely the rain will miss you and end up with plenty of sunshine.

The thing most people don’t realize is Caribbean weather forecasts are famously misleading. 

Before you panic, here's some reassurance why that "rain forecast for the entire cruise" rant is probably not as bad as it looks.

Why Caribbean forecasts almost always show rain

Weather forecasting relies on models, and the models in the Caribbean are not nearly as sophisticated or well-developed as those in the United States.

Part of the reason for this is because there are less weather stations around the Caribbean. Many countries don't have the financial resources to buy a radar station and that means there's far less weather radar information to feed into models.

I'm not saying the weather forecasts are useless, but don't take them as the gospel truth for what to expect.

Rain is common in the tropics

As someone that lives in Florida, I know that when there's rain in the forecast, it's rarely an all-day affair.

When you get into the warm months of the year, rain storms tend to pop-up and develop as the day goes on. Warm ocean water + humidity = pop-up storms.

That means you start off the day sunny, see clouds in the afternoon, and experience a quick downpour.  Or not at all.  Tropical rain storms are usually small cells that move quickly and may hit one beach, but not another.

Even if the forecast is accurate that it will rain, it's doubtful the rain will last very long. Sometimes it's a few minutes, sometimes an hour or so.  But most of the day is likely to be rain-free.

That forecast is a percentage chance, not a guarantee

Something else you should look at in any weather forecast is the percentage chance of rain.

It may list rain every day of your cruise, but that doesn't mean it's a guarantee. Often the percentage listed is far less than 100%, and that means forecasters aren't really sure.  They see the potential for precipitation, but it's unclear when or where exactly it will rain and for how long.

So meteorologists use a percentage in their forecast to handicap the likelihood of rain. Even a 70% or higher chance or rain may result in no rain at all.

Weather apps show rain icons even if the chance is small. A 30–40% chance of rain may mean a short shower somewhere nearby.

This is one of those situations as a cruiser you need to have a "glass is half full" approach and hope for the best.

Why cruise ships are good at avoiding bad weather

On sea days, you have the best chance to avoid the worst rain.

Cruise ship Captains can reroute around large storm systems. That's not to say they'll avoid every rain cell, but they will seek a better route if there's a big system out there. In fact, Royal Caribbean has its own meteorologist to help predict bad weather and keep ships away from it.

In the case of a hurricane, Royal Caribbean could re-arrange ports or change itineraries.  They won't do that for a regular rain storm, but it's important to know major storms have contingency plans.

How to read a cruise weather forecast correctly

Before you text your family your "cruise is ruined", here's what I'd look at in any forecast.

Start by looking at hourly forecasts, not daily icons. If your ship is going to depart by mid afternoon, you could miss the worst of the rain.

Next, check precipitation percentage, not just symbols. They're estimates and anything less than 50% is probably not worth changing any plans around.

Lastly, even if it does rain, expect short bursts of rain, not constant storms.

Prepare for rain, but expect sunshine

My advice is understand that, yes, it could rain. But it probably won't be a washout.

Plan for a fun time ashore and enjoy your day.  However, if it does rain, don't let it stop you in your tracks.

Heck, if there's no lighting, hop in the pool or ocean and embrace being wet while you're already wet!

If you have plans on land, packing rain ponchos might be prudent. Or just duck under cover and let it all pass.

If your cruise is going to Alaska, the weather changes so quickly there that rain is likely. But it usually moves on soon enough.

Gambling is risky — however, sometimes trying your luck in the cruise casino is rewarding and can save you thousands on future vacations. 

One such cruiser, Redditor Apprehensive-Gap1339, recently took to Reddit to share how they turned one lucky run in the casino into nearly $50,000 worth of Royal Caribbean sailings, equating to over 100 nights at sea. 

The original idea began on a 14-night transatlantic cruise from Miami to Southampton, in which they began to wonder if they could "hack" the Casino Royale program and walk away with two free cruises each year. 

"...[I]f we're paying for 2 cruises on average per year...why not try to hit the 2,500 points or in this case it was 3k on that sailing to get 2 free guaranteed cruises (one for hitting prime and one for 3k on one cruise). I had never gambled on a cruise ship before this," they explain. 

Read more: Royal Caribbean crew member shares how to earn free cruises in the casino

Continuing on, "Statistically if you play the slots you'll lose about 85% of what you put in so it would have been about a projected $2500 loss if odds played out. I actually ended up about $500 at the 3k points mark (I got lucky!) Little did I know that genuinely good cruise offers started rolling in as soon as I got back to shore."

Offers included 7 to 8-night voyages on Oasis Class ships in balcony cabins. Because Apprehensive-Gap1339 works remotely, they were able to book multiple cruises throughout the year without worrying about the sail date or PTO. 

However, as they began to sail more and gamble less, their offers gradually became less generous. They went from getting offers in balcony cabins on newer ships to windowless, interior staterooms on older vessels. 

(Credit: Apprehensive-Gap1339/Reddit)

Since their very first casino offer cruise on Oasis of the Seas in November 2024, every sailing they've embarked on has been booked through the Casino Royale program, totaling 105 nights at sea and 144 loyalty points. 

"I am not saying this is a magic free-cruise hack but my net gambling losses over the whole experiment was $1,195.16. I did not gamble in all of 2025-2026," they add. 

Across their 15 casino-offer cruises, they've taken one one-way and fourteen round-trip sailings from ports like Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Tampa, Boston, Los Angeles (San Pedro), and Port Canaveral. 

Read more: I gamble a lot on Royal Caribbean ships to earn free cruises. Here are my 10 hacks to maximize the cruise casino perks

During their adventures, they visited nearly 50 ports of call across the Bahamas, Caribbean, Mexico, Bermuda, Canada, and Europe, with the most visited stops being Perfect Day at CocoCay (10x); Nassau (4x); Philipsburg, St. Maarten (4x); Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas (4x); Labadee, Haiti; (3x); and Falmouth, Jamaica (3x). That said, their favorite destinations were Bermuda, Lisbon, Halifax, and Aruba. 

Apprehensive-Gap1339 primarily sailed on Oasis Class ships, calling vessels like Symphony, Oasis, and Utopia of the Seas home on over 55 different cruises. However, he also sailed on Independence of the Seas (21x), Navigator of the Seas (7x), Brilliance of the Seas (7x), Grandeur of the Seas (7x), and Enchantment of the Seas (5x). These experiences gave them a deeper understanding of the Royal Caribbean fleet, learning what different classes offer. 

"I understand that I am extremely lucky to be in a position to do this. It's a little surreal to be only 1 night away from diamond plus. This resulted in memories that I will remember forever and for that I am very very grateful. I am only sharing this in an effort to provide some real financial transparency into the real costs and into what is possible/real with those that are curious about casino offers."

Here's a breakdown of how Apprehensive-Gap1339 turned a little casino play into major cruising rewards that, out-of-pocket, would have cost around $50,000. 

How much did they gamble to begin receiving Royal Caribbean casino offers? 

Casual gamblers who put $50 or $100 on a slot machine and then walk away aren't likely to see any worthwhile rewards pop into their email inbox. 

According to Apprehensive-Gap1339, they initially aimed for 2,500 points in the casino to earn Prime status. However, they ended up with some beginner's luck and made it to 3,000 points, only losing $1,195:

"The first big run happened because I got to 3,000 points on a transatlantic and then the offers started pouring in after that. My original math...was that I had about $17,500 of slot coin-in to end up down about $1,195, which was lucky."

(Credit: Apprehensive-Gap1339/Reddit)

"Typical casino slot [odds] should have put me closer to a loss of closer to $2500-3000. That outcome should not be treated as normal but for the sheer amount of offers I was able to take advantage of it was incredible."

For them, slots were the easiest way to track their casino points evenly. As such, they avoided the table games and only focused on the slot machines, where you gain one point per $5 bet.

Casino points are tracked via SeaPass cards, so when gambling, remember to sign into the machine with your cruise card. Otherwise, the points won't go toward your Royal Caribbean casino loyalty program progress. 

Casino offers aren't "free"

Although the cruise fare is "free" guests booking a casino offer are required to pay taxes, port fees, and other expenses. In their Reddit post, Apprehensive-Gap1339 included a cost breakdown to help give a better understanding of how much he saved versus what their out-of-pocket spend would have been. 

According to their post, they spent $1,942.20 on gratuities, $2,028.64 on WiFi, $2,591.65 on port fees and taxes, and $3,600.84 on flights. 

Excluding the initial casino spend, their out-of-pocket cost was a little over $10,000, breaking down to $96.11 per night. That is a great value considering everything that's included in a cruise — ranging from accommodations to food, select beverages, entertainment, and transportation. 

Had they booked each sailing through Royal Caribbean's website, the cost would have come out to around $49,848 for the 15 cruises. 

Apprehensive-Gap1339 would not hesitate to do something like this again, but they would do a few things differently. For starters, they would take advantage of more back-to-back cruises to cut down on the cost of airfare, which was more expensive than over 100 days of gratuities and Wi-Fi. 

Additionally, they wouldn't cruise at the same pace they previously did. 

"I would not do [this] again at this same pace. That pace was just a little too much to be [fully] enjoyable," they explain, "There were stretches where I was cruising an absurd percentage of my days, and while it was amazing, it also gets tiring always being in transit, half-packed, managing flights, dealing with laundry, and just not being home."

Read more: I got a free cruise in the ship casino. Here's what it really cost me

Royal Caribbean casino Prime benefits

Apprehensive-Gap1339's initial goal was 2,500 casino points because that's the threshold for Prime status, which unlocks the first real, worthwhile benefits, including:

• 10% Vitality Spa discount
• Waived fee for cash advances in the casino
• Complimentary drinks in the casino
• Discount on VOOM Wi-Fi
• Annual cruise in an inside cabin (up to 7 nights)

Club Royale is more akin to airline and hotel loyalty programs than the cruise line's Crown & Anchor Society. In other words, points must be accumulated annually to reach certain status levels. So, if you reach Prime status this year, you aren't grandfathered into the tier for life.

(Credit: Apprehensive-Gap1339/Reddit)

The Club Royale qualification period runs from April 1 through March 31 of the following calendar year (i.e., April 1, 2025 — March 31, 2026, then April 1, 2026 — March 31, 2027). 

Read more: I spent $500,000 in a cruise ship casino this year. Getting Royal Caribbean's top casino status gets a lot of perks, but is it worth it?

The Royal Caribbean Cruise Planner is your go-to tool for planning your vacation. However, even after you've booked your add-ons, it pays to regularly check the ongoing sales and promotions to potentially save money.

Add-ons bought through the Royal Caribbean Cruise Planner are fully refundable up to two days before your cruise's departure date. 

This means that if you purchase the Deluxe Beverage Package for $78.99/day and later notice that it has decreased to $69.99/day, you can cancel your purchase, have the funds credited back to your original form of payment, and rebook at the lower price. 

The same goes for specialty restaurants, shore excursions, Wi-Fi packages, VIP passes, and more. 

It is important to note that Royal Caribbean will not automatically issue any refunds if the price of an add-on drops. You must request it and rebook at the lower price. Moreover, if you cancel an add-on while on the ship, it will be refunded as onboard credit. 

Making a habit of revisiting the Cruise Planner website can help maximize your savings. It never hurts to check the current rates for add-ons, especially during flash sales. Adjusting your current booking can help you take advantage of better discounts!

Here's an easy-to-digest guide on how to cancel and rebook pre-cruise purchases through the Royal Caribbean Cruise Planner. 

First, you must log in to access the RCCL Cruise Planner

These first steps will be familiar to anyone who has navigated to the Cruise Planner in the past, whether to browse the available add-ons or make entertainment reservations. 

In the right-hand corner of Royal Caribbean's website, click on "Sign In." This will then open a pop-up window asking for your email address and password. 

After logging in, you'll see a list of your upcoming cruise(s). If your next cruise is missing, simply select "Add a Cruise" at the bottom of the page to link your booking to your Crown & Anchor account. 

To do this, you'll need to enter your last name, date of birth, and reservation number. As an example: "Wilson, 12/31/1980, 5310089."

Once your reservation is successfully linked, you can navigate to the Cruise Planner by clicking on "Plan my cruise."

Open up your order history to see all past purchases

There will be a small circular icon with your initials in the top-right-hand corner. Click on it to open a drop-down menu. 

Directly underneath "Profile" will be a link labeled "Order history." This is where you will want to go to see all your past Cruise Planner purchases. 

From here, you can select which order you want to cancel. This might be for something as simple as changing a My Time Dining reservation or rebooking a drink package for a lower price. 

Follow the Cruise Planner's instructions to complete the cancellation. Once it's done, you'll be redirected to a webpage displaying a confirmation message with the exact refund amount and the original form of payment used (if applicable).

The refund is not automatic and may take a few business days to be processed, depending on your banking institution. 

Rebook your cruise add-ons

Once you've canceled your past purchases, you can rebook your desired add-ons for the lowered price. Pre-cruise sales change frequently, so if you notice a price drop, it's worth canceling and booking again to lock in the better rate on everything — from tours to internet packages and drinks. 

First, you must locate the add-on and add it to your cart. This can be done by clicking on the "Reserve" or "Purchase Now" button.

Multiple cruise add-ons can be added to your cart and bought at once. Payments can be made with a debit or credit card, as well as with onboard credit. Royal Caribbean also lets guests split the payment, using a portion of the onboard credit and billing the remainder to their personal card.  

An email confirmation is sent out once the payment goes through, and you can view your add-on(s) in the "Order history" tab, giving you easy access to manage, cancel, and review your Cruise Planner purchases before your sailing. 

Read more: 10 Things to check after booking a Royal Caribbean cruise (that could save a lot of money!)

Royal Caribbean Cruise Planner phone number

You can also call a Royal Caribbean vacation planner to help modify your add-ons. U.S. residents can call (800) 205-9812 between 7:00 a.m. and 2:00 a.m. EST to speak with a live agent. 

However, making changes through the Cruise Planner website is typically easier and more time-efficient, as you do not have to waste time on hold, explain your situation, or provide secure payment details over the phone.

When should you buy Royal Caribbean add-ons?

You can wait to purchase add-ons like drink packages, specialty meals, and internet on your Royal Caribbean ship. However, you will pay more than if you were to secure them before embarkation. In fact, planning ahead can often save you hundreds — if not thousands — of dollars. 

When, for instance, I sailed aboard Icon of the Seas, my partner and I pre-purchased the Deluxe Beverage Package for $990.92, including the mandatory service charge, over four months before our spring break sailing. This breaks down to around $70.78 per person, per night, whereas if bought on board, it's not uncommon for the Royal Caribbean drink package to cost upward of $100 per person. 

Generally speaking, it's best to buy add-ons as soon as you can. Shore excursions and specialty restaurants, for example, have limited availability. As such, you shouldn't be surprised if many tours are sold out in the weeks leading up to your voyage, especially if you're visiting somewhere like Alaska or Europe. 

Drink packages, internet, and other popular services also tend to increase in price as your sail date approaches. As mentioned, if you buy an add-on and later notice that the price has decreased, it's extremely easy to cancel the original purchase and rebook it at the lower rate through the Cruise Planner website. 

Consequently, there is no harm in securing your add-ons early. You will have the flexibility to cancel and rebook if a better deal appears before your cruise. However, you won't have to worry about sudden price increases affecting your vacation budget. 

Read more: When should you buy Royal Caribbean drink package, wifi, tours & other add-ons

As someone that cruises every month on Royal Caribbean ships, there are things I'd never do on a cruise.

Of course there are plenty of Royal Caribbean policies and rules to follow, and those go without saying as things not to do on a cruise.

Through all of my cruising, I've discovered a few hard and fast rules for how to cruise to avoid problems later. There are some things I might not prefer, but recognize that's a "me thing". As an example, I prefer Traditional Dinner instead of My Time Dining as my cruise dinner choice.

But I have a handful of full-stop, no discussions allowed type cruise tips I'll tell anyone to follow because I think breaking them would set yourself up for a potential problem later.

Here are six things I'd never do on a cruise after cruising for 20 years and enjoying them as a passenger.

Ignore problems without asking for help

I get emails, message board posts, and Reddit threads filled with complaints from cruisers who come home after a cruise with problems that could have been resolved onboard the ship.

While not every problem you encounter on a cruise ship is something that can be totally fixed, I think too many cruisers tough it out and let it ruin their vacation.

If something is broken, disappointing, or not as you expected it, I'd start off by seeking the proper crew member to talk to about the issue. Then I'd escalate the issue before giving up.

Here are some examples. Let's say your stateroom is too hot because the air conditioning isn't cooling sufficiently.

First, start with your stateroom attendant. Alert them to the issue and then call the maintenance department (there's an extension on your cabin phone) to get someone in there.  Telling your cabin attendant keeps them in the loop of the issue for escalation later.

If the maintenance team comes and the issue isn't resolved, ask your cabin attendant to speak to the deck supervisor and explain the issue to then. Ask them to come in the room to see what you're experiencing and work with them.

Crew members are there to make sure your vacation is excellent, and they'll do whatever they can to assist.

Cruise without travel insurance

I think you're crazy to cruise without travel insurance given how many complexities exist in traveling today that I wouldn't want to leave things to chance.

Admittedly, I used to skip buying travel insurance when I was younger out of a combination of ignorance, being cheap, and high risk tolerance.  But that's changed and now the safety net a travel insurance policy provides seems like a must-buy for every trip.

Travel insurance covers so much more than your medical insurance includes, and most will take care of you in situations that aren't your fault.

Airline delays, lost baggage, a death in the family, unexpectedly losing your job, hurricane disruptions, and more are common scenarios that travel insurance kicks in for that you would otherwise be left without any compensation.

Cruise lines are sympathetic to people's unexpected plights in life, but they're under no obligation to offer last-minute refunds if someone gets sick, diagnosed with a severe disease, or an airline cancels all your plans.

Moreover, travel insurance also can go beyond covering the usual medical bills. Did you know cruise ship medical centers don't accept any travel insurance? It's all out of pocket and out of network service that you'll need to seek reimbursement for later.

Travel insurance is probably an extra cost you won't need, but if you do, it's the best investment you ever made.

Plan my tours to end at least a couple hours early

Any shore excursion or tour I take, I'll plan to be back to the ship at least two hours before the all aboard time.

While your time in a port of call is short, I don't play games with making it back to the ship on time.

As a general rule of thumb, I'll plan to be back to the ship two hours early.  I think this provides enough buffer for unforeseen delays or stops. Traffic, backups in security, or even a "we need to buy a souvenir at this store" stop are the sort of things I don't want to put us in danger of missing the cruise ship.

Of course, if we get back to the port area with plenty of time left, then I'm good with taking some extra time to hang out in the port area near the ship. As long as I can run back to the ship, there's far less risk involved with being that close.

Feed any animals

No matter how cute an animal looks or how much my kids think it would fun, I never feed any animals on a cruise ship.

The most common culprit are birds. I will never understand why some people think it's a good idea to feed seagulls and other birds food.

Wild animals don't understand "okay, that's enough". They get more aggressive because they want more (especially when you stop) and it tends to attract their friends that also want in on free food.

Plus, some animals will defecate when fed and that creates an entirely different issue.

Suffice to say, don't feed wild animals and leave the birds alone.

Limit myself to just the included food

I get it: cruise vacations aren't cheap and the food Royal Caribbean includes in your fare is pretty good and plentiful.  But, if I'm on vacation, I think limiting oneself on principle is a mistake.

While I'm not advocating going all-in on food that costs extra, I think you can splurge for a specialty restaurant, latte, or bucket of popcorn without financial strain.

On most cruises I take, I like a blend of included and specialty food. It's rare I only go for the extra cost stuff anymore because there are some fantastic included restaurants.

Wait until the first day to book my shows

If you're on a newer ship that offers pre-cruise reservations for shows, book them at all costs.

When I boarded Star of the Seas for spring break this week, there was a long line of people waiting at the box office to get a show reservation.

There's no cost to make a show reservation and it's pretty quick too. It just requires a little bit of advanced planning.

Considering how good Royal Caribbean's shows are, I wouldn't chance it to try to get into a show once onboard.

This 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.

How does a cruise vacation compare to an all-inclusive resort in Mexico?

Jenna's taken over 30 cruises, but she stayed in her first all-inclusive, but was worried she'd feel bored or "trapped" there.

While the resort had some impressive amenities, the high price tag was hard to ignore.

Royal Caribbean News

• Royal Caribbean’s Cozumel beach club project will include new public beach access
• Carnival just copied Royal Caribbean’s plan to make cruise dinners faster
• Royal Caribbean just unveiled 2 new cocktail menus on its cruise ships
• El Niño watch issued, what it means for cruise ships during hurricane season
• 5 cruise complaints you can safely ignore
• I've cruised on Royal Caribbean ships for 20 years. Here are 5 things that live up to the hype and 2 I tell first-timers to skip
• Photos show what cruise ship midnight buffets used to look like
• I stayed in a 299-square-foot Junior Suite on a Royal Caribbean cruise. The extra space and loyalty points were worth it
• When can you book shows on Royal Caribbean?
• What a crew member cabin on Star of the Seas looks like
• I cruised Royal Caribbean and Norwegian. It's obvious why NCL is in desperate need of changes
• The deceptive cheap cruise offers that trick too many vacationers

New RCB Video: I'm Never Cruising From This Port Again

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 — I'm Never Cruising From This Port Again (Not Royal Caribbean's Fault!) — and don’t forget to subscribe to our channel.

Royal Caribbean Brings "America’s Got Talent" to Sea

The popular talent show, "America's Got Talent" is coming to Royal Caribbean's Legend of the Seas with a new stage show this summer.

"America's Got Talent LIVE" will be the first time the franchise will debut at sea.

The show promises to bring the excitement of the Got Talent universe to Legend’s Royal Theater, with a mix of acts, including magicians, aerialists, musicians, and acrobats.

Port Canaveral is working on a fix to Royal Caribbean cruise parking that has annoyed passengers

Overcrowded parking has been a problem at Port Canaveral, but it should be fixed soon.

The port is constructing a massive 13-story parking garage that will add over 3,000 new spaces for those sailing out of Terminals 5 and 6.

It should be complete in a few more months.

This $10 accessory make Royal Caribbean embarkation way easier

Luggage tag holders are a simple solution to making sure your bags make it to your cabin.

They're cheap to buy, seem to last forever, and really work well at reducing the chances your luggage tags get ripped off accidentally.

They provide peace of mind that my luggage tag will remain intact during embarkation. Also, they hardly take up any space for packing.

New app feature added that could save you from missing your cruise ship

No one wants to be a pier runner, so a new feature in Royal Caribbean's app could help with that.

Guests spotted a new countdown feature in the app, along with a progress bar.

It seems this offers a very obvious reminder to anyone that may have lost track of time while in port.

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

We've just released the 600th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast. In it, Matt shares etiquette advice for the Main Dining Room to avoid being "that guy".

You can subscribe to the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast via YouTube, iTunes, Google Play or RSS.

Royal Caribbean is rolling out two new drink experiences on its ships.

Periodically, the cruise line will offer new drinks or cocktails for its guests that coincide with special events, new brand partnerships, or as a way to offer more than just traditional cruise drinks.

One of these new offerings is a year-long celebration of cocktails and wines created by female master distillers and winemakers.

The other introduces a new Aperitivo Hour happy hour with discounted cocktails in select bars.

Here's what you can look for on your next sailing.

Royal Caribbean launches Aperitivo Hour happy hour

Royal Caribbean is leaning into an Italian tradition with a new happy hour option.

A new Aperitivo Hour being introduced on ships.

In Italian culture, apertivo is a pre-dinner "warm-up" held in the early evening to stimulate the appetite, typically featuring light, bitter-sweet cocktails like a Spritz or Negroni.

Available between 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm, Ed Eiswirth, Royal Caribbean's Director of Beverage Operations, said there are five new cocktails that will cost $10 when ordered during happy hour at Vintages or Giovanni's Wine Bar.

What cocktails are included

The drink menu consists of:

• Aperol Spritz
• Hugo Spritz
• Miami Spritz
• Campari Spritz
• Negroni

New cocktails celebrating International Women’s Day

At the same time, Royal Caribbean launched a new drink menu to celebrate women-lead drink makers.

There's a limited-time drink menu celebrating International Women’s Day, which will be offered this year featuring 3 cocktails and 2 wines.

All of them were created with spirits or wines from female master distillers and winemakers. This is part of Royal Caribbean’s effort to highlight women in the beverage industry.

Spirits and wines featured

• Mijenta Tequila
• Woodford Reserve
• Appleton Rum
• Zolo Malbec
• Villa Maria Wines

The "Cheers to Her" menu has six drinks on it

• Strawberry Sunset
• She Shines
• Villa Maria Sauvignon Blanc
• Coffee Boulevardier
• Desert Light
• Zolo Malbec

Where guests can try the new drinks

The new menus are available for an undisclosed amount of time, but here's what we know.

The Aperitivo Hour appears in Vintages Wine Bar and Giovanni’s Wine Bar. While the International Women’s Day cocktails likely offered fleetwide at select bars. The Schooner Bar would be a good guess for where you could find it.

Availability may vary by ship or sailing.

Royal Caribbean has been pushing recently to highlight drinks and cocktails that go beyond what most vacationers think of on a cruise. While there's nothing wrong with a pina colada or daiquiri, the cruise line has promoted and added many more drink options.

Plus, these new options are a great choice for guests who enjoy craft cocktails and wine experiences.

As an added bonus, the Aperitivo Hour provides a lower-cost drink option before dinner. This is helpful for those that do not have a drink package (although a beverage package covers these cocktails too).

Royal Caribbean recently partnered with a whiskey maker

The two new cocktail menus follow another recent partnership that was added with Pappy Van Winkle.

Available on ships with a Mason Jar (Allure, Wonder, and Utopia), there are new drinks for those that want top shelf bourbon whiskey.

The specialty curated collection of bourbons available at the restaurant includes Pappy Van Winkle 15 Year and 20 Year, Pappy Van Winkle Family Reserve Rye 13 Year, Sazerac 18 Year, and others. These offerings join Royal Caribbean’s robust beverage line and specialty cocktails.

This high-end bourbon is something to appeal to those that prefer this sort of a drink.

Meteorologists at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced that the likelihood of an El Niño developing by mid-summer has significantly increased — but what does that mean for the upcoming Atlantic hurricane season?

According to the NOAA Climate Prediction Center, a transition from La Niña to ENSO-neutral is expected within the next month, with a 55% chance that the ENSO-neutral conditions are likely to continue from May through July 2026. Afterward, there's a 62% chance that El Niño is likely to emerge and persist through at least the end of 2026. 

To understand what this means, it helps to look at the broader El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) cycle, which comprises La Niña, ENSO-neutral, and El Niño. The three phases play a key role in global climate patterns, affecting everything from weather to wildfires, ecosystems, and economies. 

El Niño is a natural climate pattern marked by warmer-than-average sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean and occurs every 2-7 years. It weakens trade winds and changes global atmospheric patterns. 

On the flip side, La Niña is associated with cooler-than-average Pacific waters, which results in stronger trade winds and enhanced Atlantic hurricane activity. 

Whereas El Niño leads to wetter conditions in the southern U.S. and warmer, drier weather in the northern part of the country, La Niña causes colder and stormier winters in the northern U.S. and Canada, while producing drier, warmer winters in the South. 

For Florida cruisers, the resurgence of El Niño during the 2026 hurricane season is encouraging, as it could mean that there are fewer named tropical storms during the season's most active weeks. 

The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through Nov. 30. However, the busiest part of the season is typically August through October. If El Niño takes hold, this destructive period may see fewer storms, and thus impact fewer cruise itineraries. 

How does El Niño affect hurricane season?

Just because El Niño could reduce storm activity during the peak hurricane months doesn’t guarantee a quiet season. For example, Hurricane Idalia made landfall in Florida's Big Bend region as a strong Category 3 storm during the strong El Niño year in 2023. 

Official seasonal hurricane forecasts haven’t been released yet, but they will provide more insight into how the developing El Niño could affect the 2026 hurricane season. 

AccuWeather is scheduled to release its prediction on Wednesday, Mar. 25, followed by Colorado State University on Thursday, Apr. 9. 

Read more: What experienced cruisers do differently during hurricane season

However, La Niña is generally when Atlantic hurricanes are more favorable due to the stronger trade winds and reduced wind shear. This makes it easier for storms to form and intensify. 

Moreover, during El Niño, the atmosphere over the warm Pacific experiences a broad rising motion, which is offset by sinking air over the tropical Atlantic and Africa. The increased atmospheric stability over areas where storms are most likely to develop makes it harder for hurricanes to form and intensify, which often leads to fewer overall storms. 

"With a strong El Niño forecast to form, it's a good bet we'll see a below-average season in the Atlantic. Still, most El Niño seasons still have 1-2 high-end hurricanes," said Andy Hazelton, an associate scientist at the University of Miami’s Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies, in an X post. 

"Most of the time they recurve (like Erika 97) thanks to an enhanced subtropical jet, but occasionally you get a storm that sneaks through (like Betsy 65). While it's impossible to tell the details of individual storms at this range, the flavor of the season seems fairly clear: likely less activity in the Caribbean and deep tropics, with what does form mostly in the subtropics and East/Central Atlantic."

Are we in El Niño or La Niña?

Right now, we're still in La Niña. "La Niña continued in February 2026, with below-average sea surface temperatures (SSTs) persisting in the east-central equatorial Pacific Ocean," the Climate Prediction Center's recent Diagnostic Discussion reads. 

However, the equatorial subsurface has continued to rise, showing the above-average surface temperatures across the Pacific are getting warmer than usual. 

The discussion continues, "[T]he increasing odds of El Niño are supported by the large amount of heat in the subsurface ocean and the expected weakening of the low-level trade winds. If El Niño forms, the potential strength remains very uncertain, with a 1-in-3 chance that it would be 'strong' during October-December 2026."

Read more: Check these 5 things in your travel insurance policy before hurricane season

As Royal Caribbean nears the opening of its new beach club in Cozumel, Mexico later this year, they've made an announcement related to beach access.

As part of the company's dedication to community well-being and sustainable tourism, Royal Caribbean is developing new public beach access in the Zona Hotelera Sur area, a recent press release revealed. 

Public beach access in the Cozumel area has long faced challenges, including traffic conflicts, limited signage, and inadequate lighting. As such, relocating the path will ensure greater accessibility, improved safety, and enhanced facilities.

The cruise line plans to begin construction as soon as it obtains all of the necessary regulatory and environmental permits, with the current public beach access remaining open until the new facilities are fully operational.

Read more: We got our first look at Royal Caribbean's private beach club in Mexico

This new initiative aligns with Royal Caribbean's SEA the Future sustainability program. While the cruise line is focused on offering memorable vacation experiences aboard its fleet of ships and award-winning private destination portfolio, they want to do so in a way that sustains the planet, energizes local communities, and accelerates local innovation. 

Uplifting and upholding environmental preservation, economic development, and sustainability means that these destinations will be accessible and desirable for generations to come. 

"We are excited to bring the Royal Beach Club experience to Cozumel while ensuring that beach access, a right guaranteed under Mexican law, is available to all. This initiative reflects our dedication to creating shared value by improving safety, accessibility, and infrastructure for the community,” said Ari Adler Brotman, President, Royal Caribbean Mexico.

Royal Beach Club Cozumel is set to open in 2026

An official opening date has yet to be announced for the Royal Beach Club Cozumel. However, it's expected to open to cruise passengers in 2026. 

Like the Royal Beach Club Paradise Island, the next private destination is designed to operate as an extra-cost shore excursion, unlike the complimentary access guaranteed to everyone visiting Perfect Day at CocoCay. 

The main idea behind the new beach club is to give guests easy access to breathtaking ocean views and a curated beach experience unlike any other. 

At the Royal Beach Club Cozumel, patrons will find everything from swim-up bars to oceanfront pools, private cabanas, snorkeling opportunities, local street markets, tequila tastings, cooking classes, and more. 

Pricing and day pass availability have yet to be revealed by the cruise line.