Royal Caribbean Blog

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. 

Labor Day weekend is a relaxing vacation for some, but it can also be the perfect time to save money on a cruise.

Royal Caribbean has kicked off its Labor Day Sale advertising up to 45% off drink packages, although some top-tier loyalty members are seeing even higher discounts.

That discount grows to 50% off if you're Diamond or higher in Crown and Anchor Society or Prime or higher in Casino Royale.

There are many sales throughout the year, but major holidays usually see more lucrative discounts too.

This is a good opportunity to check the price of popular add-ons to see if there's a better price.

As an example, I'm seeing the Royal Caribbean cruise is a drink package priced as low as $54.99 per person, per day on a few of my sailings.  Considering Royal Caribbean has been charging $120 per person, per day for the same drink package onboard, that's a great deal.

In fact, all purchases made online are cheaper than waiting to book during the sailing.

The Labor Day Sale runs between August 27, 2025 - September 3, 2025 and applies to select sailings departing August 30, 2025 - December 31, 2026.

Beverage: Up to 45% off

• Evian Water Package: 40% off onboard prices
• Classic Soda Package: Discount varies by ship.
• Refreshment Package: Discount varies by ship.
• Deluxe Beverage Package: Discount varies by ship.
  • CAS Diamond and above: 50% off Deluxe Beverage Package

Dining: Up to 50% off

• Unlimited Dining Package on 2N – 25N sailings: 35% off to 50% off
• 3 Night/10 Dining Package: 30% off to 40% off
• Chops/Giovanni's/Sichuan Red + Your Choice Package: 20% off to 35% off
• Specialty Restaurants – Lunch: 25% to 40% off
• Specialty Restaurants – Dinner: 25% to 40% off
• Culinary Experiences: 25% to 35% off
  (Discount varies by ship.)

Shore Excursions: Up to 50% off

• PCC Products for sailings within 4 months: Up to 40% off
• PCC Products for sailings between 5 and 7 months: Up to 35% off
• PCC Products for sailings after 7 months: Up to 20% off
• Shorex for sailings within 4 months: Up to 30% off
• Shorex for sailings between 5 and 7 months: Up to 25% off
• Shorex for sailings after 7 months: Up to 20% off
• Royal Signature Excursions for sailings within 4 months: Up to 30% off
• Royal Signature Excursions for sailings between 5 and 7 months: Up to 25% off
• Royal Signature Excursions for sailings after 7 months: Up to 20% off
• Special Collection Tours: 40% off

Onboard Activities: Up to 25% off

• Behind the Waves - The Insider's Tour: Discount varies by ship.

Spa: Up to 30% off

• Spa treatments: Up to 30% off select times

Internet: Up to 40% off

• VOOM Surf + Stream Voyage Package 1, 2, 3, 4 Device(s): Discount varies by ship

VIP Passes: Up to 45% off

• The Key: Discount varies by ship.
• Royal Genie Package – Grand Suite and above: 20% off adults, 30% off kids
• Royal Genie Package – Junior Suite and below: 10% off adults, 20% off kids

Photo Packages: Up to 60% off

• Photo Packages from 5 - 100 Photos: Discount varies by ship.
• Private Photo Session: 50% off onboard prices

Gifts & Gear: Up to 35% off

• All Gifts & Gear products (excluding Inky Beach Towel): 20% off onboard prices
• Inky Beach Towel (TicTacToe): 35% off onboard prices 

You can re-price to get a better deal

If you already bought one one of these add-ons but it's now at a lower price, you can still take advantage of the price with the Labor Day sale.

Royal Caribbean allows you to cancel and rebook Cruise Planner purchases with no penalty.

It's easy to check, you just log into the the Cruise Planner on Royal Caribbean's web site look for the current prices.

I recommend ignoring the percentages off and focus on the total price when it's in the cart.

If you spot a better discount on something you already pre-purchased, you should be able to cancel the purchase and then re-purchase the same item under this promotion.

Up to $900 off on new cruise bookings

Royal Caribbean is also running a sale to coincide with Labor Day Weekend on new cruise bookings.

You can usually find a few different offers that are combinable at any given time, but this weekend has extra instant savings.

The "Beat The Clock" sale  applies to new, individual, and named group bookings at prevailing rates made between August 29 – 31, 2025 on sailings departing on or after August 30, 2025, and provides an instant savings per stateroom, varying by stateroom category booked, sailing length as follows: 

• 5 nights or less
  • $125 USD for Inside and Ocean View
  • $200 USD for Balconies
  • $400 USD for Suites
• 6 nights or longer
  • $225 USD for Interior and Ocean View
  • $300 USD for Balconies
  • $900 USD for Suites

Another "Short Caribbean Kicker" applies to new, individual, and named group bookings at prevailing rates made August 29 – September 3, 2025, on a Short Caribbean sailing departing August 30-April 30, 2026, provides OBC, varying by stateroom category booked as follows: 

• $25 USD for Interior Ocean View, and Balconies
• $50 USD for Suites

The Labor Day Sale is combinable with the BOGO60, Kids Sail Free, and Short Caribbean Kicker promotions.

BOGO60, Kids Sail Free and Short Caribbean Kicker are also combinable with Crown & Anchor discounts; Beat The Clock is not combinable with Crown & Anchor discounts. BOGO60, Kids Sail Free, Short Caribbean Kicker and Beat The Clock are not combinable with any other offer or promotion, including, but not limited to, Standard Group, Interline, Travel Agent, Travel Agent Friends and Family, Weekly Sales Events, and Net Rates.

Royal Caribbean has brought back its bling cup that costs as much as a new house.

The cruise line introduced a goblet guests could buy on Icon of the Seas when that ship launched, and it was one-of-a-kind in cost and perks it provided.

This insanely expensive cup was sold in the Royal Bling store, and it's an ornately decorated chalice meant for the ultimate super fan. Only was one initially made for the first Icon Class ship.

To quote Jedi Master Yoda, "No... there is another."

Bling cup available on Star of the Seas

Royal Bling is located in the Aquadome Neighborhood of Star of the Seas, and it too is selling one of these cups.

The store only sells Royal Caribbean branded rings, necklaces, and other keepsakes adorned with the cruise line logo.

This particular cup costs $100,000 and comes with a lifetime benefit.

Buying it gets you an unlimited Royal Caribbean drink package for life.

That means you'll never have to pay for another Deluxe Beverage Package for yourself ever again.

The Deluxe Beverage Package includes cocktails, spirits, liquors, beers, wine by the glass, sodas, water, mocktails, premium coffee and tea, and fresh-squeezed juice. Basically almost any drink on the ship up to $14 in value.

If you're doing the math in your head, the Deluxe Beverage Package on the inaugural sailing of Star of the Seas for one person across seven nights is $65.99 per person, per day when pre-purchased online with a 45% off sale.  That's 461.93 before gratuities. 

The onboard price is $120 per person, per day for the same drink package.

Doing some "back of the napkin" math, if you only ever took 7-night cruises, you would need to take more than 150 cruises "break even" on the goblet purchase.

The novelty goblet is one of several jewelry choices cruises can purchase on the ship. Most of the other jewelry comes in at a much lower price point.

Yes, someone bought one on Icon of the Seas

Icon of the Seas launched in January 2024 with the golden cup for sale, and within a few months it sold.

Cruisers on Icon spotted the person with the cup, walking around the ship.

The unidentified male evidently purchased the cup, spending the six figure cost to get it.

"I’m currently on Icon and noticed the Royal Bling Cup at a cabana on Coco Cay and went to speak to the guy who was very friendly and mentioned what he intends to do with it after the cruise. It was a shock to see it being used as an actual cup," posted Mick on the Royal Caribbean forums.

According to the poster, he was told by the gentleman he intended to, "auction it off and you can buy tickets world wide to win it and the monies goes to charity."

We're unaware whatever happened to those plans, but in case you are wondering, there is a market for this sort of an item.

Royal Caribbean jewelry is sold exclusively at this store

Royal Bling is a new store that was launched on the Icon Class ships, and it's for the Royal Caribbean super fan.

The Royal Bling store has Crown and Anchor bracelets, rings, earrings and more. The jewelry is made by Effy Jewelry.

Cruise line loyalists are a passionate bunch, and representing their favorite cruise line in their everyday life is just as important to some as going on the ships.

Star of the Seas started sailing in August, and is one of the world's largest cruise ship.

In addition to a very expensive chalice, it has an entire water park onboard, seven pools, an entire neighborhood for families with young children, 40 different restaurants, bars and lounges.

At 250,800 tons, Star of the Seas is sailing from Port Canaveral and offer cruises to the eastern and western Caribbean.

It's now easier to track and manage your Royal Caribbean casino rewards, thanks to a website overhaul.

The new Casino Royale website is available to guests, which features a better integrated login, sleeker design, and makes managing offers easier.

The casino loyalty program is more popular than ever, but its website had been an old design that wasn't mobile device optimized and required guests to enter their Crown and Anchor Society number instead of their usual Royal Caribbean login credentials.

The new site has an easier to follow navigation, and works well on all devices.

It's also a step forward in the prominence of the cruise line's casino offerings.

Better design

About two weeks ago, emails went out to alert guests a new casino site was coming, and now it's here.

The new site promises to make it easier to track your offers and view your personalized dashboard of tier credit earnings conveniently in one location.

After logging in with the same credentials you would use to access the main Royal Caribbean site, you can link your casino account to other partner casino programs.

Royal Caribbean has loyalty matching with a few other casino programs, including Hard Rock Casino and MGM Casino.

The new site makes it easier to quickly see how many points you've accumulated, your status, and offers you may have waiting.

The offers, in particular, are the most useful feature since they are a way to redeem free cruises.

Players that gamble enough on a Royal Caribbean ship can earn complimentary future cruises to go on, based on either how much they wagered on a sailing or simply an instant offer.

You can now easily pick an offer to use, and then actually book the cruise through the website instead of having to call in to redeem it.

There is a list of sailings to choose from, and then a way to pick an individual booking.

The site takes users through the options of redeeming or applying the offer, and selecting which complimentary sailing they'd like to sail on.

The new site replaces not only an old site, but PDF documents that used to be the only way to track the options players had available.

How to earn a free cruise from the casino

If you want to earn complimentary casino cruise offers, here's what you need to know.

A reminder that gambling is very addictive and is not for everyone. Know your limits, and you could easily spend much more in gambling losses than what you could get on a cruise. There is definitely a bigger picture to consider.

The concept is simple: you can earn one point for every few dollars you wager (not wins or losses, just how much you play).  By far, you'll want to play slots (instead of table games) to earn points faster.

At the casino host desk, there is a sheet that lists how many points during that sailing you need to reach certain reward thresholds.

Depending on your sailing, the lowest milestone could be a few hundred points or closer to 1,000. The lowest tiers offer an inside stateroom for free and just pay taxes and port fees.

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

Casino Royale may add instant offers to your account, which are incentives to come back to cruise (and hopefully gamble). There's no rhyme or reason I've determined as to how these are offered.

In addition, if you can reach the Prime status within Casino Royale, then you can qualify for free annual cruise too.

A deepening casino integration

The new Casino Royale website coincides with Royal Caribbean's push into attracting more casino players.

A trend over the last few years has been to pursue and cater to more of its gamblers onboard.

Royal Caribbean has steadily been expanding its casinos on select ships, which has involved replacing public venues with new casino space.

On some Oasis Class ships, the Crown Lounge and Attic areas were replaced in order to make expand the casino.

On Freedom of the Seas, the wine bar was replaced with a non-smoking casino.

Not only are there more gambling areas on these ships, but they're non-smoking venues.

Royal Caribbean hasn't officially announced a change in policy to cater more to non-smoking gamblers, but it's my guess it has to do with maximizing onboard revenue as it does addressing a need passengers have been asking for.

Royal Caribbean is actively fixing the water slide that broke on Icon of the Seas a few weeks ago, and if all goes well, it should be up and running before the end of the current voyage. 

An unidentified male passenger was injured on the Frightening Bolt drop slide aboard one of the world's largest cruise ships in early August. 

Moments after the trap door released him, he struck a section of the acrylic glass panel that broke off. Thankfully, he didn't fall through the gaping hole, but other guests reported seeing "skin laceration injuries from his legs to his hands."

Royal Caribbean immediately closed the slide, although other slides within the Category 6 Waterpark remained operational, including the Pressure Drop, Storm Chasers mat slides, Hurricane Hunter, and Storm Surge.

(Credit: thugsbunny808/Reddit)

Because the water was forcefully gushing through the opening and spraying the chairs overlooking the adults-only Hideaway pool, Deck 15 was also closed to prevent further injuries and allow crew members to assess the slide's damage. 

They closed the slide on the brand-new Star of the Seas, too, so that the crew could conduct a thorough inspection to ensure guest safety. One user on Reddit confirmed that it has remained closed through at least Aug. 27. 

Since the incident, news broke that the passenger plans to sue Royal Caribbean for compensation. They hired Alex Perez of Lipcon, Margulies & Winkleman, P.A., who confirmed that his client suffered injuries after the acrylic glass on the water slide broke on Aug. 7, 2025.

Read more: Royal Caribbean passenger plans to sue the company after being sliced during water slide accident

(Credit: thugsbunny808/Reddit)

The malfunctioning water slide didn't impact Icon of the Seas' operations. As such, guests on recent sailings have begun sharing images of the repairs, showing crew members working on the orange and yellow slide.

"I did see someone [post] a photo that the drop slide on the Icon was being fixed. We are also on the sailing this week and spoke with one of the officers overseeing the work," shared one cruiser on Reddit.

"They removed the clear sections while we were docked in St. Maarten and plan to install the new pieces tomorrow while docked in St Thomas. They are replacing the clear sections with two solid colored sections and said it should be up and running again this sailing."

(Credit: @aaron.dv02 [left] and @fireal7 [right])

At 46 feet tall, Frightening Bolt is famous for being the largest drop slide at sea, as well as its suspenseful trapdoor launch that sends riders plummeting straight down. 

Following in initial incident, a Royal Caribbean spokesperson provided the following statement:

"Our team provided medical care to an adult guest when acrylic glass broke off a water slide as the guest passed through the slide. The guest is being treated for his injuries. The water slide is closed for the remainder of the sailing pending an investigation."

The most recent photos of the slide shared on Reddit were taken during Icon of the Seas' current 7-night Eastern Caribbean cruise. Icon departed from Miami, Florida, on Aug. 23, 2025, and called at St. Maarten and St. Thomas on Aug. 26 and 27, respectively. The final port is a visit to Perfect Day at CocoCay. 

Water slides on cruise ships are safe. You shouldn't become overly worried because of this one isolated incident

The number of water slide-related accidents on cruise ships is low considering the hundreds of guests who use them every day. However, incidents do occur from time to time. 

Cruise lines heavily invest in regular maintenance and safety inspections to ensure that they're operating smoothly and efficiently. 

In fact, it's not uncommon to see slides closed for maintenance, even during full sailings. While annoying, it's better to experience a temporary closure than risk a malfunction that could result in serious injuries. 

That said, like with any thrill ride (on land or at sea), there are always inherent risks. As such, it's important to follow the posted safety instructions for any attraction, whether it's a zip line, rock climbing wall, FlowRider surf simulator, ice skating rink, or water slide. 

And if you don't feel comfortable, there’s no shame in skipping the activity altogether. Royal Caribbean ships definitely cater to adrenaline junkies, but there are so many other activities onboard to keep everyone happy. 

Read more: Icon of the Seas vs. Star of the Seas: Which ship should you choose?