Royal Caribbean Blog

Adventure of the Seas and Voyager of the Seas are both a part of Royal Caribbean’s Voyager Class of ships, which debuted in 1999.

Voyager of the Seas is the first ship in the Voyager Class. This ship was the first of its kind in the cruise industry because she included many never-before-seen features, like the Royal Promenade, ice skating rink, and rock climbing wall.

There are five ships in the Voyager Class. Adventure of the Seas is the third ship, after Explorer of the Seas. The other two ships are Navigator of the Seas and Mariner of the Seas.

Both Adventure of the Seas and Voyager of the Seas are considered older vessels compared to the entire Royal Caribbean fleet (Voyager of the Seas is the fifth ship built and Adventure of the Seas is the eighth ship built out of 26 total ships, soon to be 28 when Icon of the Seas and Utopia of the Seas launch). However, these ships offer an incredible value because they are not too big in size, yet they still offer an impressive array of venues and activities for cruisers to enjoy. There really is something for everyone!

Overview of Voyager of the Seas and Adventure of the Seas

Voyager of the Seas’ maiden voyage was November 21, 1999. In 2019, Voyager of the Seas completed its $97 million Royal Amplification, which included the addition of waterslides, an updated Vitality Spa and Fitness Center, new staterooms, and redesigned kids/teens areas.

Read more: Voyager of the Seas review: What it’s like to cruise on Royal Caribbean’s oldest Voyager Class ship

Here are some other fast facts about Voyager of the Seas:

• Guest capacity: 4,269
• Gross tonnage: 137,276
• 1,020 feet long
• 15 total decks

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On the other hand, Adventure of the Seas’ maiden voyage was November 18, 2001. While Adventure of the Seas has not yet been Royal Amplified (it was postponed due to the pandemic), she did undergo two revitalizations in 2016 and 2018, which cost $61 million. During this time, waterslides, the Flowrider, Splashaway Bay, Izumi, new staterooms, and more were added.

Read more: Royal Caribbean’s Adventure of the Seas review: What it’s like to cruise on this ship today

More fast facts about Adventure of the Seas:

• Guest capacity: 3,807
• Gross tonnage: 138,193
• 1,020 feet long
• 15 total decks

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While these two ships are similar in length and volume, Voyager of the Seas can carry more passengers. Perhaps the biggest difference between these two cruise ships is the fact that Voyager of the Seas has received a Royal Amplification while Adventure of the Seas has not yet.

Dining and Bars

Voyager of the Seas and Adventure of the Seas offer many of the same places to eat. 

Both ships have three complimentary venues: the Main Dining Room (called The Sapphire Dining Room on Adventure of the Seas), Windjammer Marketplace (buffet open for all three meals of the day), and Cafe Promenade, which includes free pizza, coffee from Starbucks, and Ben & Jerry’s (the two latter are not included in your cruise fare). Both ships also have an area for soft-serve ice cream.

All of these venues are located in the same place on both ships: the Main Dining Room is on decks three, four, and five in the back of the ship, the Windjammer is on deck 11 in the back of the ship, and Cafe Promenade is located on deck five in the Royal Promenade. 

As far as specialty dining, both of these ships have:

• Chops Grille (American steakhouse)
• Giovanni’s Table (Italian)
• Izumi (Japanese)
• Chef’s Table (gourmet food and wine experience)

On Voyager of the Seas, Giovanni’s is located on the fourth deck by the Schooner Bar while Chops is located next to the Windjammer. On Adventure of the Seas, these locations are swapped where Chops is on the fourth deck and Giovanni’s is next to the Windjammer.

Adventure of the Seas is the only ship with Izumi located in the Royal Promenade. On Voyager of the Seas, Izumi is on the 14th deck near the Viking Crown Lounge.

There is one venue that is unique to both ships. Voyager of the Seas has a Cupcake Cupboard on deck 11 near the Windjammer; not many ships still offer this cupcake shop onboard. Something Adventure of the Seas has that Voyager of the Seas does not is Johnny Rockets. This is located on deck 12 in the back of the ship. Voyager of the Seas used to have a Johnny Rockets, but it was removed during the Royal Amplification.

Read more: I went on Royal Caribbean’s upgraded and regular Voyager Class cruise ships. Here’s what I liked about each.

Many bars found on Adventure of the Seas are also on Voyager of the Seas. Some of these bars are essentially the same but have different names. These include:

• Schooner Bar
• Casino Bar
• The Tavern on Voyager or Boleros on Adventure
• Star Lounge bar on Voyager or Imperial Lounge bar on Adventure 
• R Bar on Voyager or Champagne Bar on Adventure 
• Pig & Whistle on Voyager or Duck & Dog on Adventure 
• Solarium Bar
• Pool Bar
• Plaza Bar on Voyager or Windjammer Bar on Adventure
• Sky Bar/Lounge
• High Notes on Voyager or Blue Moon on Adventure

Entertainment and Activities

Voyager-Class ships offer lots of onboard thrills and activities for cruisers of all ages. Both Adventure of the Seas and Voyager of the Seas have:

• Ice skating in Studio B
• Flowrider surf simulator
• The Perfect Storm waterslides
• Rock climbing wall
• Sports court for basketball, pickleball, soccer, and other outdoor sports
• Mini golf (Voyager Dunes is on deck 13 while Adventure Dunes is split between decks 12 and 13)
• Pool deck with two large pools and four hot tubs
• Adults-only solarium (not enclosed) with a pool and two hot tubs
• Adventure Ocean for kids and teens, along with an arcade

There are a few differences between these two ships when it comes to activities. Voyager of the Seas offers laser tag in Studio B, called Battle for Planet Z. On the other hand, Adventure of the Seas has a Splashaway Bay on the pool deck. This area includes a Baby Splash Zone for kids who are not potty-trained so they can enjoy the pool as well.

Each ship has its own unique lineup of entertainment. In addition to the various headliners, there are two production shows in the Royal Theatre (dubbed the Lyric Theatre on Adventure of the Seas). Adventure of the Seas has shows Invitation to Dance and Can’t Stop The Rock while Voyager of the Seas has Broadway Rhythm & Rhyme and Music in Pictures. There is an ice skating show on each ship as well, called Cool Art, Hot Ice on Adventure of the Seas and Ice Odyseey on Voyager of the Seas.

Lounges and Public Spaces

Similar to the dining and entertainment venues onboard, Voyager of the Seas and Adventure of the Seas offer many of the same public spaces. These include:

• Suite Lounge
• Diamond Lounge (soon to be named the Crown Lounge) on deck five for Voyager and deck 14 for Adventure
• Conference center and loyalty desk
• Photo and art gallery 
• Casino Royale
• Various stores for shopping in the Royal Promenade
• Vitality Spa and Fitness Center
• Library and RC Online
• Next Cruise 
• Skylight chapel

The location of some of these venues is different on both ships. For example, the Vitality Spa and Fitness Center is at the front of the ship on Adventure of the Seas, but it is in the back on Voyager of the Seas. This is because during the Royal Amplification on Voyager, new staterooms were added where the spa and fitness center used to be.

Another interesting thing to point out is how on Adventure of the Seas, guests can visit the peek-a-boo bridge. Accessible from the Solarium, guests can venture to the front of the ship to take a peek inside the bridge of the ship and see the crew in action. Unfortunately, this is not available on Voyager of the Seas.

Lastly, Adventure of the Seas and Voyager of the Seas both have numerous stateroom options, including interiors, ocean view, balconies, and suites.

Itineraries

Adventure of the Seas and Voyager of the Seas offer a variety of short and long itineraries, typically in the Caribbean. What’s nice about these Voyager-Class ships is that they are small enough to visit ports that larger ships, like Oasis of the Seas or Wonder of the Seas, cannot.

In 2024, Adventure of the Seas will sail the Eastern and Southern Caribbean out of Port Canaveral. Most sailings are six or eight nights, and some go to Bermuda or Perfect Day at CocoCay. It appears she will have maintenance done in early November 2024.

As for Voyager of the Seas in 2024, she will continue with four and five-night Western Caribbean sailings out of Galveston until May. Then she will cruise around Europe, departing from Rome, Barcelona, Athens, and Venice. These itineraries visit the Greek Isles and the Mediterranean. For the rest of the year starting in November 2024, Voyager will be in Port Canaveral sailing the Caribbean.

Which ship should I choose?

I believe because Voyager of the Seas and Adventure of the Seas are so similar, the decision of which ship to cruise on would ultimately come down to the itinerary and price.

Adventure of the Seas may be a much better choice for those with small children who are not yet potty trained because it has a Splashaway Bay. During hot weather vacations, this would be a huge benefit and a factor to consider in your ship selection.

Royal Caribbean’s Voyager-Class ships are big enough to offer amazing entertainment options, like the spectacular ice shows and Flowrider, but also small enough to provide an intimate atmosphere. Cruisers will not feel overwhelmed navigating the ship. Whichever ship you choose for your voyage, you’re in for an unforgettable adventure!

Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas will be the world's biggest cruise ship in the world when she launches, so how does it compare to the most well-known ship of all time?

The Titanic is arguably the most well-known ocean liner because of its famous accident in 1912. Her sinking has never been eclipsed in the public imagination, despite decades of larger and safe cruise ships.

Nonetheless, if you mention cruise ships to someone who is new to cruising, inevitably the Titanic references usually follow. So if your baseline for understanding what a cruise ship is is based on a vessel that sailed over 100 years ago, here is a look at how much different big ships are now.

Meet Icon of the Seas

At about five times the size of Titanic, the world's largest cruise ship is Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas.

Spanning 20 decks, Icon is the first in the Icon Class to be launched. A second ship, Star of the Seas, will launch in 2025 and likely take the title of biggest in the world.

Size is everything with Icon, as she is 1,198 feet long. If you were to stand her up, Icon's almost as tall as the Empire State Building (1,250 feet without any antennas).

There are 7 pools and 9 whirlpools on Icon of the Seas for guests to use, along with an entire water park. 

You will find 1,815 staterooms, including 179 suites.

Read more: Icon of the Seas sneak peek

How big was the Titanic?

Titanic was a large ship for its era, coming in at 882 feet 9 inches long and encompassing 9 decks.

• Beam: 92 feet 6 inches
• Height: 175 feet
• Weight: 46,328 gross tons

Titanic was the largest ship built up to that point in time.

Comparing Icon of the Seas to Titanic

Not only is Icon of the Seas larger than Titanic, but many of Royal Caribbean's other cruise large cruise ships are larger than the Titanic in gross tonnage, as well as size.

The Titanic measured in at 882 feet and 9 inches long, and weighed 46,328 gross tons.

Icon of the Seas measures 1,198 feet in length and has a gross tonnage of 250,800.

In terms of gross tonnage, Titanic doesn't even make the list the top 64 world's largest cruise ships by gross tonnage.

Ditto for length; Among the top 64 largest cruise ships in the world today, the "shortest" ship comes in at 984.1 ft with the AIDAprima and AIDAperla.

Titanic was built at an estimated cost of $7.5 million in 1912, which in today's dollars would cost approximately $400 million.

Icon of the Seas cost $2 billion to construct.

Titanic could handle 2,453 passengers, while Icon of the Seas has a capacity of 7,600 passengers at maximum occupancy.

In terms of things to do on each ship, Titanic offered a heated pool, gym, squash court, and Turkish bath.

Icon of the Seas has seven pools, an entire water park, new areas dedicated to families, revamped pool decks, diving shows, dining experiences, and many more attractions.

In the evening, Titanic would feature smoking rooms, billiards, music, and dancing.

On Icon of the Seas, you can enjoy full-scale shows across four distinct venues, and more live music and comedy than ever before. Fifty live musicians and comedians will entertain guests in venues across the ship.

How much is a ticket on Titanic vs. Icon of the Seas?

Any cruise fan knows that there is no standard price for a cruise.  Cruise fares vary from ship to ship and even sailing to sailing.

Prices start at over $1,500 per person for a 7-night cruise on Icon of the Seas, and can go as high as high as $80,000 for one week in the sprawling townhouse cabin that is 1,772 square feet in size and three decks high and sleeps up to eight people.

The prices of tickets on the Titanic in 1912 ranged from £30 (equivalent to £3,000 in 2019) and £870 (equivalent to  £100,027.45 in 2021) for a parlour suite and small private promenade deck in first class, to £8 for a third-class adult fares and £3 for children. That's roughly equal to between $100,000 to $345 in today's prices.

Unlike modern cruise ships, Titanic had different classes of fares. First, second, and third class, which were distinguished by social status and ticket cost.

First class was for the wealthiest and most prominent passengers.  These were upper class people, who had careers in business, politics, the military, or industry. These were the well-to-do and most well-known people sailing.

Second Class was essentially the middle class people, which might include tourists, members of the clergy, and educators.

Third class (sometimes known as steerage) was mostly made up of immigrants moving to North America. 

A ship like Icon of the Seas may not have classes of fares, but they do have different benefits for guests that book the higher tier suites.

The Royal Suite Class cabins aren't as exclusionary as the fare class system, but they do offer separate areas of the ship for those that book it.

Read more: Royal Caribbean suites guide

This includes restaurants, bars, and pool decks exclusively for the use of suite guests.

How do these ships compare?

In short, Icon of the Seas and Titanic don't have a ton in common besides being ocean going vessels. Today's cruise ships are very different than ocean liners, like Titanic.

Read more: What's different about a Royal Caribbean cruise ship and the last ocean liner?

What many people who are new to cruise ships fail to understand is the fundamental shift leisure cruising underwent in the second half of the 20th century. Ocean liners and ferries evolved into the cruise ships that we know today.

Ocean liners were primarily used to bring passengers across the ocean from one point to another, whereas cruise ships go on pleasure voyages, closer to the coast, sailing between ports.

Read more: How cruise ships got so big

Unfortunately, many cruise novices have Titanic as their only frame of reference when it comes to non-cargo ships, so it ends up being the defacto benchmark.

Not only are ships like Icon of the Seas immensely larger, the experience onboard is vastly different, with more to see, do, and eat than Titanic could have ever dreamed.

Did you know some Royal Caribbean cruise ships have drinks served by a robot?

The innovative feature involved in Royal Caribbean's Bionic Bar means you can order a drink served by a robot.

You'll find these special bars on several of the cruise line’s ships and offers both custom and classic drinks.

The technological wonder is a fascinating feature many cruisers want to take advantage of—here’s how it works.

What is the Bionic Bar?

Royal Caribbean’s Bionic Bar is a unique bar that combines technology, entertainment, and alcohol to provide a popular, interactive experience for cruisers on select Royal Caribbean ships.

This bar is a robotic system that uses a pair of bionic arms to mix and serve drinks onboard. The two robots were first introduced on Quantum of the Seas in 2014, one of the first of its time. They were engineered in Italy to be able to shake, measure, stir, and strain all types of drinks.

Since its first introduction, the bar has become a popular, innovative attraction onboard Royal Caribbean ships that offer a unique and fun way to order both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.

Royal Caribbean ships are known for their innovation in this bar is just one example of the main features you can try. 

Whether you are spicing up a drink package, trying your first beverage of the day, or ordering a Mocktail just to give it a try, this bar is worth the experience.

The robots can produce 2 drinks every 60 seconds and up to 1,000 drinks per day. At certain peak hours, the bar can get extremely full.

However, many guests find that they would rather try this experience once, experience the novelty, and then move on to other bars located on the ship.  

The price of drinks at the Bionic Bar is the same as cocktails at any other bars on the ship.

Guests’ drinks are charged to their SeaPass account through the SeaPass card. For guests who have a Royal Caribbean drink package, they can order at the bar, and the drink will be included in their package benefits.

Drinks ordered at the Bionic Bar still come with an automatic 18% gratuity, which is distributed to the human bar staff later on.

Attendants at the bar serve to clean the bar area, restock bottles as needed, and take care of any minor technical issues with the Bionic robot.

Read more: Ten Best Royal Caribbean Bars

How do you order a drink?

Customers can approach the bar and place drink orders on a tablet—usually an iPad or smartphone—near the counter. 

First, swipe your SeaPass card to begin the order. Then, select what drink you’d like. 

Read more: Royal Caribbean wants your Bionic Bar drink recipe

After you select your drink order, the robot bartender will start to create your beverage.

Various bottles of mixers and liqueurs surround the bar, and you can observe as the robot arm begins to select, carefully measure, and mix each ingredient. 

An interactive wall above the bar will display fun statistics about your order, the list of passengers in the queue, as well as the play-by-play progress of your drink being served.

When the drink is ready, you can scan your SeaPass card at the counter, and the robot will slide your glass over to you.

Although the bartender will try its best, the arm’s technology is not perfect: sometimes items can slip and spill! 

In these moments, human crew members are present to clean up any messes, and the robot is always able to start over.

After you receive your drink, you can have a seat at the bar and continue observing or walk away to enjoy your drink in another area of the ship. 

There is no time or drink number limit on your order, so you can feel free to stay and keep placing orders.

Read more: Top 10 cocktails to try on your next Royal Caribbean cruise

Bionic Bar menu

The menu options at this bar are much the same as other drinks on Royal Caribbean’s bar menus, with a few specials thrown in. 

Preprogrammed options are listed on the menu, divided between Bionic Classics and Bionic Signatures. 

There is also an option to create, select, and save your own drink combination. A multitude of custom combinations are available, with 30 spirits and 21 mixers to choose from. 

You can also choose how strong the drink should be, if you want it shaken or stirred, and if you’d like ice with it—there are endless possibilities when it comes to drink orders at the Bionic Bar.

How much is a drink at the Bionic Bar?

The cost of a drink at the Bionic Bar depends on what drink you order, but you can expect it to be up to $14 in value.

Mocktails and other non-alcoholic drinks should come in at around $8 or so.

The good news is an unlimited Royal Caribbean drink package will cover drinks up to $14 in value, so any drink you order from the Bionic Bar should be included with that.

Which ships have a Bionic Bar?

The Bionic Bar is located on the following Royal Caribbean ships: 

• Anthem of the Seas
• Quantum of the Seas
• Ovation of the Seas
• Harmony of the Seas
• Oasis of the Seas
• Odyssey of The Seas
• Spectrum of the Seas
• Symphony of the Seas
• Wonder Of The Seas

The Bionic Bar is usually located in a prominent area of the ship, inviting passengers to slow down and wonder at the technological marvel.

Usually, the Bionic Bar has at least a few patrons at most times of the day, with many others pausing to take pictures and videos.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can kids use the bar?

Although children are free to watch, alcoholic drinks are only served to guests 21 and over on sailing from North America and guests 18 and over on sailings from Europe, South America, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. 

Are there non-alcoholic drinks?

Yes, non-alcoholic drinks are also served at the bionic bar and can be ordered in the same way as an alcoholic beverage. If you have a non-alcoholic drink package, it can also be utilized at the Bionic Bar.

Does it work with a drink package?

Yes, guests with a Royal Caribbean drink package may order drinks at the Bionic Bar, and it will be included with their package benefits.

Happy Sunday! Temperatures may be dropping, but there is plenty of Royal Caribbean news to share. This is your weekly summary of all the Royal Caribbean news from this past week, perfectly fitted for your consumption.

Royal Caribbean has opened reservations for its high-end supper club, the Empire Supper Club, on its upcoming Icon of the Seas launch in 2024.

This formal supper club will be the first of its kind, an elegant and glitzy experience like never before. 

It is priced at $200 per person, or just an additional $130 for guests with the Unlimited Dining Packing.

Royal Caribbean News

• Royal Caribbean cancels excursions to Blue Lagoon Island following deadly incident
• How much is a Royal Caribbean drink package?
• Royal Caribbean is starting its own streaming service
• Behind Icon of the Seas and the AquaDome lift
• The former Song of America cruise ship is going to be scrapped
• You can now book 2025-2026 7-night or longer Caribbean cruises on Royal Caribbean
• Royal Caribbean Captain talks about new smaller cruise ship plans

Video: Inside the Mega Suite on the World's Biggest Cruise Ships

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Have you subscribed to the Royal Caribbean Blog YouTube Channel? We share some great videos there regularly, all about taking a Royal Caribbean cruise!

Check out the link to view our latest video: Inside the Mega Suite on the World's Biggest Cruise Ships

I stayed in the cheapest cabin on Radiance of the Seas

Paying just $151 a night, Calista decided to sail in the cheapest cabin on Radiance of the Seas.

Located midship, with no windows, this small cabin became her home for the 5-night sailing.

Her cabin tour shows the room’s features and explains whether the inexpensive price was worth staying in the small stateroom. 

Sorrento's pizza on Royal Caribbean cruise ships

Royal Caribbean’s food venues are well-known for their quality and service, and Sorrento’s Pizza is one such complimentary venue.

Deanna reviews Sorrento’s Pizza, the grab-and-go restaurant available on many cruise ships, either as its own restaurant or as part of the Cafe Promenade or Park Cafe.

What are the menu, hours, and cost at Sorrento’s Pizza? Read more here. 

Comparing the cheapest cabin on Carnival Celebration vs Royal Caribbean's Symphony of the Seas

Elizabeth recently stayed in windowless interior cabins onboard Royal Caribbean's Symphony of the Seas and Carnival Cruise Line's Carnival Celebration—the cheapest options available on both cruise lines.

From the bathroom to seating to storage, Elizabeth compares the two cabins, sharing which aspects she likes more from each cabin.

I chose to cruise on a smaller Royal Caribbean cruise ship. It saved me money and brought me to ports I prefer

Matt shares why he preferred to sail on a smaller Royal Caribbean ship, such as on his cruise on Radiance of the Seas. 

Radiance is Royal Caribbean’s oldest cruise ship, but that’s no reason to avoid sailing on this ship.

Sailing from the small Tampa port, this sailing was an inexpensive way for Matt to travel to multiple ports in Mexico. 

A piece of Royal Caribbean's early history is headed to the trash heap.

Celestyal Cruises confirmed it is going to scrap Celestyal Olympia, which started her cruising life as Song of America.

Song of America was Royal Caribbean's fourth ever cruise ship.

Evidently the old ship will be replaced by a ship that Celestyal just bought that was built in 2003. The 42,000 ton ship from AIDA Cruises will take over offering short three- and four-night cruises around Greece.

Up until now she was the last of Royal Caribbean's original fleet to still be in service somewhere.

Read more: What happened to Royal Caribbean's first cruise ships?

Ordered in 1979 and built in 1982, Royal Caribbean’s Song of America cruise ship was over twice the size of Sun Viking at 37,584 GT. Song of America had a capacity of almost1,500 people, and was one of the Royal Caribbean’s largest ships at the time.

At the time of her launch, she was the third largest passenger vessel afloat.

She was built at the Wartsila shipyard in Helsinki, Finland.

She was the first ship to be built with the Viking Crown Lounge providing 360 degree views around the ship.

Read more: 8 ways Royal Caribbean changed the cruise industry

Song of America's expanded sun bowl, featured for the first time on any Royal Caribbean ship, two swimming pools.

Another first for Song of America was the first ship to introduce the concept of putting staterooms towards the front of the ship and public spaces towards the aft so that cabins were furthest from the ship's engines.

Song of America initially sailed Caribbean cruises from Miami to Nassau, San Juan, and St. Thomas, but she later ran cruises from New York to Bermuda.

She spent 17 years with Royal Caribbean until 1998 when Song of America was sold to Sun Cruises, although the ship was chartered back to Royal Caribbean until 1999.

Renamed the MS Sunbird, the former Song of America was based in the Mediterranean. She was sold to Louis Cruise Lines in 2004 and operated under the name MS Thomson Destiny.

In 2012, she began operating under the name Louis Olympia, homeporting from Piraeus, Greece.

In 2014, Louis Cruise Lines re-branded to become Celestyal Cruises and the ship was renamed Celestyal Olympia.

A launchpad for the future

In many ways, Song of America was the catapult Royal Caribbean would use to reach the modern era of cruising.

While the 1970s had been a boon for Royal Caribbean, the 1980s were a slower time for the company. Royal Caribbean wanted to recapture the leadership edge it had achieved in the early 1970s.

In 1984, Royal Caribbean had 11% of the cruise market share, whereas NCL had 14% and Carnival had 15%.

The success of Song of America led the cruise line to ponder what would be next. Economies of scale, already realized onboard Song of America, were clearly the wave of the future.

Miami management felt that if anything, they should proceed cautiously, producing a slightly larger Song of America with a 1,600-passenger load. But the committee overseeing the construction of a new ship argued for even greater expansion, constructing a larger ship altogether. 

That larger ship would end up being Sovereign of the Seas, and Song of America was used as a base for where to start planning such a ship.

The passenger count, which started at about 1,800, would be 2,673 total occupancy, more than double of Song of America's capacity.

Sovereign would also inherit the Viking Crown Lounge concept that was first introduced on Song of America.

Royal Caribbean will launch its own streaming service for a subset of its cruise passengers going on the world cruise.

The Ultimate World Cruise will take 274 nights on Serenade of the Seas that will visit more than 150 destinations in 65 countries and 11 great wonders of the world.

Passengers could book either the entire 274-night cruise or one of four 2-3 month segments.

It will be Royal Caribbean's first cruise that goes around the world, and a voyage that long is bound to have some down time.

The service, called Royal Flix, will stream movies for guests to watch that are sailing on the world cruise.

There's no cost to use the streaming service as long as you've purchased a Royal Caribbean WiFi package.

Read more: Royal Caribbean WiFi: Guide to Internet at sea

One guest on the cruise posted a screenshot of the service that has a bare bones interface serving up films.

The service is not available off the ship. Guests simply connect to Serenade of the Seas' internet and access the service.

There's no indication if Royal Flix will make it to other Royal Caribbean cruise ships, or even if it will remain available once the world cruise is complete.

Offering a movie streaming service is one of many pluses Royal Caribbean has added for this length of a cruise.

All guests participating in the Ultimate World Cruise, or one of the segments, will receive the an unlimited drink package for each guest, wash and fold laundry service for up to three bags per state room per week, Gratuities and Voom surf and stream for two devices per stateroom.

The cruise begins in Miami on December 10, 2023 and through September 10, 2024.

Royal Caribbean's first world cruise ever

Up until now, Royal Caribbean never offered a world cruise. In fact, it rarely offered long voyages. Most of its cruises tend to be less than two weeks.

Royal Caribbean is best known for weekend and week-long cruises in the Caribbean, Europe and Alaska.

Even among the cruise lines that offer world cruises regularly, Royal Caribbean's is longer than most.

Most world cruises visits 20 or 30 countries and takes three or four months.

Royal Caribbean's will visit more than 150 destinations in 65 countries and 11 great wonders of the world.

"How many more times would I have this opportunity?"

Pat Bell lives in Anchorage, Alaska and jumped at the opportunity to book this world cruise for the entire duration.

He'll be sailing with his wife Carmela, and they've been married for 25 years.

Up until this cruise, the longest cruise they had taken was a 10-night cruise for their honeymoon.

"I can always find a thousand reasons why I can't do a cruise this long, but I will always kick myself in the pants for not grabbing the opportunity," he said when I asked him why he booked this cruise.

"Plus, how many more times would I have this opportunity to do something like this?"

When I asked him what he is most excited for on this cruise, he replied, "the stories, meeting new friends, and the adventure of seeing the world."

There are certainly challenges with being away for this long.

He is a small business owner, who also has up to 36 apartments to manage, "We are blessed to have our oldest son take care of our house, the apartments, and do the accounting work for our business."

I asked what sort of concerns does he have with such a cruise this long, and he mentioned things like cell phone coverage, medical emergencies, rough seas, not packing enough, and having access to money.

"I'm sure there will be more changes as we travel on this adventure. Just need to go with the flow and enjoy the stories that will come from this adventure. Good and bad."

I also asked about medications and managing his health on the cruise, "We are lucky we don't have to take any medications, but Royal Caribbean says to make sure to bring medications and prescriptions, which can be filled in other countries.

"We did buy a small medical kit to take with us and a blister kit for all the walking we will be doing. We also purchased Geo-Blue medical insurance in addition to our travel insurance."

He mentioned there will be a dentist onboard the ship.

"What attracted me to cruising the world with Royal Caribbean was all the places they plan to go, where I don't have to unpack and repack each time we move to another city.

"Plus, Royal Caribbean is packing a lot of port stops in this 274-day cruise. I believe our longest days at sea is only 5 days in between ports. Also, I get to try the local food while still having the cruise ship meals as my comfort food."

I asked what his plans are for the cruise on shore, and he said there are seven complimentary world wonders tour: Chichen Itza Ruins (Cozumel, Mexico), Seal Bay (Falkland Islands), Machu Picchu (Peru), The Great Wall of China, Taj Majal (India), Petra (Jordan), and The Roman Colosseum (Italy).

He said they were recently informed that Crown & Anchor Society is giving them four additional free excursions to Montevideo (Uruguay), Taiwan (China), Ephesus (Turkey), and Cork (Ireland).

Royal Caribbean has suspended all excursions to Nassau’s Blue Lagoon Island following a deadly boating incident in the Bahamas. The cruise line announced that it has suspended all excursions to Blue Lagoon Island through November 23, 2023. 

The cruise line offers a variety of excursions to Blue Lagoon Island, including snorkeling, beach breaks and encounters with dolphins. 

On November 14, 2023, a ferry boat filled with Royal Caribbean cruise passengers heading to the popular shore excursion in Nassau experienced rough seas and began to take on water. The double-decker boat slowly capsized, sending distressed passengers into the turquoise sea.

Unfortunately, the incident at Blue Lagoon Island turned fatal with one passenger, a 75-year-old American woman, passing away.

Royal Caribbean confirmed that the incident occurred during a shore excursion. Independence of the Seas was the only Royal Caribbean ship docked in Nassau on the day of the incident. 

In a notification from Royal Caribbean to guests who pre-booked excursions to Blue Lagoon Island, the cruise line said, “ We are currently working with local authorities to evaluate the boating incident that took place during a shore excursion. In light of the incident, we have decided to cancel all Blue Lagoon tours through November 23, 2023”

Guests booked on Blue Lagoon Island excursions through Royal Caribbean will receive a full refund for canceled excursions. There are no other excursions in Nassau currently impacted by the incident. In the communication to guests, Royal Caribbean reassures customers that safety is the top priority for the cruise line and apologized for any inconveniences caused. 

It’s unclear at this time whether further excursions to Blue Island Lagoon will be suspended. Presumably, the investigation could result in more Royal Caribbean excursions In Nassau to be canceled pending the results of the investigation. 

Many cruise ship passengers choose to travel to Blue Lagoon Island during visits to the port. The beautiful island is located about three miles northeast of Nassau, which is the capital of the Bahamas.

Details surrounding the terrifying incident

According to Nassau police, the ferry departed  for Blue Lagoon Island from Paradise Island around 9:30am. There were approximately 100 passengers onboard the ferry during the incident. As the ferry was approaching Blue lagoon Island, the boat reportedly hit a large wave and water started to flood the ferry. 

Police chief superintendent Chrislyn Skippings told Nassau Guardian ”The vessel experienced rough seas in the area, which resulted in the boat taking on water and becoming submerged in waters just outside of Blue Lagoon.”

The local authorities also shared that emergency teams from the island arrived quickly to the scene to assist the distressed ferry. Luckily, the boat was near shallow waters and did not submerge completely.  

Following the incident, local authorities reported a 74-year-old woman from Colorado sadly died in the incident. One report cites a police statement sharing that authorities attempted to rescue the woman from the water while the ferry was sinking, but she was unresponsive. CPR was reportedly performed after the passenger was taken to a dock, but she was pronounced deceased at the scene. All other passengers were safely rescued but two people needed additional medical attention. 

Videos on social media show the chaos

All over social media, videos began to surface of the ferry incident from passengers onboard the vessel. One TikToker, Kelly Schissel, chronicled the chaos onboard the Blue Lagoon Island ferry. 

“Our boat is sinking. So that’s fun. Everybody’s freaking out” says Kelly Schissel while showing the ferry capsizing.

In the background of the TikTok, you can hear screams from fellow passengers onboard the doomed ferry. Passengers can also be seen wearing life jackets and huddling to one side of the ferry. 

Kelly shares that she’s on the top floor of the ferry while simultaneously filming the ferry slowly submerging into the Blue Island Lagoon. “[We are] literally sinking,” she says in the TikTok.

In a second response video, the TikToker continues to share that guests on the bottom level allegedly heard the captain laughing about trying to do a donut-like maneuver by whipping the aft around quickly in a circular motion. While approaching the shore of Blue Island Lagoon, Kelly shares that she also thought the captain was maybe trying to show off with a quick maneuver. 

“I just don’t think it worked out the way he wanted it to” theorizes Kelly.

While the ferry continues to take on water, Kelly’s original TikTok shows many passengers panicking while still onboard the vessel. One passenger can be heard screaming amid the chaos. At one point, a male passenger jumps into the sea and encourages others to do the same. In Kelly’s TikTok video, passengers can be seen in orange life jackets jumping into the choppy waters of the Caribbean Sea from the listing ferry. 

In the comments section of her TikTok, Kelly shared that she safely made it off the ferry. She continued to share that the Blue Lagoon Island ferry appeared closer to the shore than it actually was, contrary to many peoples’ perception. 

The TikToker recounts how passengers were left without instructions during the incident.

In a second video, Kelly recounts the incident, sharing that the ferry captain made a sharp turn that sent everyone towards the front of the ship. When it was clear that there was an issue, Kelly said people started to panic and freak out.

Since Kelly was on the top deck of the Blue Lagoon Ferry, she said it was difficult to understand the severity of the situation initially. 

“Then one of the crew members that was downstairs ran upstairs. She is crying. Freaking out. Absolutely bawling while grabbing a life jacket.”

Throughout the incident, Kelly shares in her TikTok that the crew members were hysterically crying and did not provide any guidance or instructions. Eventually, guests started to jump into the ocean when it was clear that instructions would not be provided.

“It was actually pretty rough waves, so a lot of people were just trying to stay above water, even with their life vests on,” says Kelly in her second TikTok video. Although the water was warm and the weather was good, she shares that the seas were very choppy, which made the situation worse. 

The doomed vessel settled on the shore with the top half of the vessel above the waterline. After guests were brought ashore by other vessels, Kelly states that the survivors received hot dogs, chips and water. 

For many cruisers, Blue Lagoon Island is a popular destination while docked in Nassau, Bahamas. 

Royal Caribbean previously offered many excursions to Blue Lagoon Island. When Matt from Royal Caribbean Blog visited the island on a shore excursion a few years ago, he found at least nine different excursions that included a visit to the Blue Lagoon Island. 

Excursions to Blue Lagoon Island include a variety of options with shore excursions through Royal Caribbean. These include beach day passes, dolphin swim encounters, stingray experiences, Segway tours and more. 

Blue Lagoon Island is surrounded by pristine blue seas and white sandy beaches. There are multiple beaches across the island and many activities for guests to enjoy. Given the close proximity to Nassau, Blue Lagoon Island has been a popular destination for cruisers on shore excursions.

Experienced cruisers know that the port you choose to sail out of has a big impact on your embarkation day experience. 

After experiencing the thrill of setting sail from the bustling large ports of Port Canaveral and Miami on my first two cruising adventures, I decided it was time to explore a new Florida port. 

For my third cruise, I embarked on a 5-night Radiance of the Seas sailing, departing from the smaller, more intimate port in downtown Tampa.

If you’re considering sailing from a smaller cruise port like I did, here’s what you can expect from embarkation day out of Tampa, Florida. 

I didn’t prepare as carefully as I usually do for embarkation day

While picking an earlier check-in time saves you from waiting in line, I didn’t make it a priority for this cruise.

My friend and I checked in on the app only about a week before the cruise, so we had to select a later check-in time in between 12:00 P.M. and 12:30 P.M. 

On previous cruises, I have arrived a little earlier, but I was glad I got the chance to experience the later time block on embarkation day. 

Additionally, my friend decided to fly into Tampa to meet me the very morning of the cruise: arriving at about 8:00 A.M.

Usually, we recommend flying in the night before your cruise, to ensure that nothing goes wrong and you can still make it onto the cruise ship in time.

However, my friend had no issues, and we still had several hours to spare before our cruise.

My friend and I ordered an Uber to arrive at the port around 12:00 P.M. 

Despite our looser planning, all went well, and we arrived right on time! 

When we arrived at the port, finding the terminal was complicated

Located in downtown Tampa, right next to the aquarium, this port was filled with cargo ships and other cruise ships. 

Whereas my cruises out of Port Canaveral and Miami had a much more international presence, it seemed like the Tampa port attracted a lot of native Floridians. 

Once I was onboard, almost everyone I talked to seemed to come from somewhere in Florida.

When I first arrived, I thought it looked crowded for such a small port. Little did I know that would become the theme of the day.

Our Uber driver had to circle around a couple terminals to find the correct one. While we waited in the car, we completed the mandatory safety briefing on the app so we wouldn't have to do it once we got onboard. 

At the Tampa port, Royal Caribbean uses both terminals 1 and 3, depending on which ships are in port. Since Grandeur of the Seas was embarking on the same day, Radiance of the Seas was located further down at Terminal 3.

It was hard to navigate through—we had to go around aquarium parking and other terminal entrances—but thankfully, security guards stood at several locations to give us directions.

Finally, our Uber driver was able to pull into the port and drop us off at the entrance. 

Immediately, a porter stopped us and took our bags. This was one benefit of being at a smaller terminal: we were able to find a porter and hand off our bags right out of the car’s trunk!

However, the experience became a lot harder from there.

We had to wait in line for an hour before we could even enter the terminal

We got in line to go up the stairs or escalator to enter the terminal. However, as soon as we got in line, we saw that the stairs and escalator were closed off, and staff were preventing people from walking up. They said that it was so crowded inside the terminal that we had to wait down the stairs to prevent it from getting congested.

After about 10 minutes, staff opened up the escalator and allowed us to walk up. However, the lines only grew longer from there.

The lines stretched out past the entrance onto the outdoor level of the terminal.

We had to walk around the building to even get in line, and the lines only grew longer from there.

We stood in the heat for quite some time, waiting for the line to even move forward into the shade.

I found myself regretting not packing my sunglasses in my carry-on. As time went on, it became more of an issue of survival, and I wished I had packed more water and snacks.

As Florida tends to be in the middle of the day, it became very hot and sunny.

I started to worry that some people would start to pass out. If I was feeling overheated, how much worse would the elderly and children feel?

I could hear babies crying behind me in line, as the line started to stretch on even longer and wrap around the outside of the terminal.

However, one positive aspect of sailing out of this port is that we had a beautiful view of downtown Tampa, the water, and the palm trees as we waited. 

Since Radiance of the Seas is the smallest ship I've sailed on so far—only carrying 2,300 passengers—I was surprised that such a small ship would have longer lines than I’m used to. 

As we surveyed what looked like hundreds of people in line with us, I heard someone behind me say: “We’re gonna need a bigger boat.”

It was an hour before we even made it inside the terminal and into the blessed relief of shade and A.C. 

Once we made it inside the terminal, the process went much faster 

After that, however, things went smoothly: staff checked our passports and SetSail Passes before we got into a fast-moving line through security. 

The security there told us that it was a very hectic day, but I still found myself wondering why such a small ship would have so many people in line. 

That seems to be the disadvantage of sailing out of a smaller port: there is not a lot of space for people to wait, especially indoors. 

After that, a crew member checked our passports and SetSail Passes again, and we entered one last checkpoint where a crew member examined our SetSail Passes.

It was easy sailing after that last checkpoint: we just had to exit the terminal, walk up the gangway onto the boat, and find our muster station.

This part held most of the ease I was expecting from embarking on a smaller boat. It was quick and easy to enter the ship and find our muster station. We received a short safety briefing from the crew member at our station, made sure that we had already completed the safety lessons on the app, and we were free to go.

After arriving at the terminal at 12:00 P.M., we finally finished checking in at 1:30 P.M. It was the longest embarkation process I’ve experienced so far. 

But now that the process was completed, my friend and I could explore the ship and head up for lunch at the Windjammer.

We were ready for the adventure to begin! 

Everyone wants to save money on a Royal Caribbean cruise, including getting a deal on their drinks.

A Royal Caribbean drink package is expensive, so it's natural to want to limit how much you spend. While drink packages offer the convenience of unlimited beverages during your entire cruise, the upfront cost gives some people pause.

Unfortunately, some people think they can "beat the system" and devise ways to cheat Royal Caribbean's drink package. It's one of those they want their cake and eat it too situations, where the prices and rules regulating the drink packages compel some to look for ways around it.

Trying to cheat the package can get you in serious trouble with the cruise line, and you risk various penalties. 

We've heard all the excuses why circumventing the rules is okay to do: it's expensive, requirements for all adults to buy it if one does, a need to buy it for the entire sailing, and more. The reality is it's Royal Caribbean's decision on what the rules are, and it's not negotiable.

I don't recommend trying any means of cheating Royal Caribbean, and I'm only sharing these methods as a warning of what not to do because you can get in serious trouble.  Consider yourself warned.

Share drink benefits

The oldest and most common way people cheat the drink package is to buy the drink package and then order drinks for others who don't have the package.

Royal Caribbean is quite clear that the drink package benefits are only for the person that buys them, but some people still do this.

If you're caught sharing drinks with someone who doesn't have the same drink package as you, you risk having your entire drink package purchase cancelled without a refund.

Remember, bartenders have seen it all and you're far from the first person to sneak drinks to someone else. Moreover, there are cameras all around the ship.  So the chances of being caught is quite high.

Sneak booze onboard

There are so many videos on TikTok showing how to sneak alcohol onboard your ship as a way to save money and avoid buying a drink package completely.

Royal Caribbean prohibits you from bringing beer or liquor onboard at all. It's one of the prohibited items not allowed.

TikTok is full of cruise hacks to show anyone how to smuggle booze onboard.

The most common strategy is to fill bottles of mouthwash or shampoo to conceal it. Another way is to put the booze in a flask and hide it on your body as you embark the ship.

Other crazy ideas include liquid-holding bras, fake beer bellies, umbrella or binocular flasks.

Many of these ideas are tedious to set up, cumbersome to execute, and could you get in serious trouble with the cruise line.

Easy hacks to save money on a drink package

Trying to get around Royal Caribbean's rules is a recipe for ruining your vacation.

However, there are some legal ways to "cheat" the Royal Caribbean drink package using a few creative strategies.

Bring your own wine

You're allowed to bring one bottle of wine (or champagne) per adult on embarkation day, and this can save you a lot of money.

Bringing your own wine means you can pay retail price for your wine, instead of the prices the cruise line sells them for onboard. Plus, you can bring your favorite brand of wine, rather than being limited to what is on your ship.

Royal Caribbean supposedly charges a corkage fee to open a bottle of wine ($15 corkage fee per bottle), but in my experience it is rarely enforced.

Nonetheless, bringing your own bottles of wine can save a lot of money if all you're interested in is wine.

Book your drink package early and reprice

Did you know when you buy a drink package before the cruise, you can always take advantage of a lower price later?

The tried-and-true strategy for getting the lowest price for a Royal Caribbean drink package is to keep checking for lower prices up until embarkation day.

Royal Caribbean runs drink package sales all the time, and there's always some kind of a discount applied.  The key is to know when to buy the drink package before your cruise and periodically check for a lower price.

My advice is ignore the advertised percentage off that you see, and look at the total cost when you add it back to your cart as if you were buying it again.

If the price is lower, you can easily cancel your original purchase and then immediately re-buy it at the lower price.

Using this strategy, you can easily save hundreds of dollars.

Call Royal Caribbean to ask for a different drink package

One reason people want to cheat the Royal Caribbean drink package is because they think it's unfair that another adult in their cabin has to get the alcohol package if they get it, but there's a workaround to it.

If you try to buy the Deluxe Beverage Package on the website, you'll notice Royal Caribbean forces you to buy it for all the other adults in the same cabin.

You can call Royal Caribbean and let them know the other adult(s) in your cabin do not want the drink package, and instead, they'll allow them to buy the Royal Refreshment package, which includes just non-alcoholic beverages.

This will save a lot of money for someone who cannot or does not want the full unlimited package.

Book adults in separate rooms

If you're taking advantage of one of my favorite cruise cabin hacks and booking two or more cabins instead of putting everyone in a single cabin, be sure to assign adults in different cabins.

As an example, let's assume you have two adults and two kids and you're going to book connecting cabins because it gets you more room, separation from your kids, and an extra bathroom at a lower price than a suite.

Instead of booking the kids in one cabin and the parents in the other cabin, book one child with each parent in the room.  That way, when you go to buy the Deluxe Beverage Package, it won't force the second person to buy it because minors don't have to get a drink package!

Don't worry who's technically booked in which cabin. Royal Caribbean doesn't care which cabin you actually stay in, just that you're booked.

Look for free drinks around the ship

Another strategy is to rely on some of the free drinks you can get around your cruise ship.

Throughout your cruise, there will be different events held where you could get free alcoholic beverages.

Every cruise is different, but there are a few events common to almost every Royal Caribbean sailing:

• Art auctions have free champagne
• Top Tier events for Crown and Anchor Society members have complimentary beverages
• Liquor tasting events
• Extra cost brunch events that include champagne

This hack works best for someone that wants to be more opportunistic in how they save money and get free drinks.

Tip the bartenders

I think you should always tip waiters and bartenders for good service, but there's an added possible benefit to this gesture.

Some bartenders might give you a free drink after you tip them. Never expect a free drink as a result of offering them gratuity, but it has been known to happen.

It works best when you get to know a particular bartender or waiter and order drinks from them throughout your cruise. 

I would not expect to get many free drinks this way, and giving them a tip is about rewarding their service.  Make sure you're clear on that this isn't a quid pro quo situation.

Drink in ports of call

Odds are cocktails and beers are going to be cheaper on land in the ports of call you visit than on the ship.

If you limit your onboard consumption and spend more on drinks on land, your money will go further.

There's usually a myriad of bars near the port where your cruise ship docks, and plenty more in the surrounding area. There are beach bars, restaurants, and even carts selling drinks that could be significantly cheaper than what you'll find on the ship.

Moreover, you'll have a wider selection of drinks. This is especially important to beer drinkers who covet having access to different brands or beer types.

Order a bottle of liquor to your cabin

Royal Caribbean sells a limited selection of liquor that you can have delivered to your cabin.

There's only a few brands, and it comes in a small quantity meant to use for mixing with a soft drink, but this could be just what you want in lieu of a drink package.

If you go to the Royal Caribbean Gifts and Gear website, you'll find a few liquors to buy (as well as wine and beer brands):

• Bombay Sapphire
• Bacardi Gold
• Absolut Vodka

You'll get a 375 ml. bottle delivered to your stateroom, along with some cans of soda to mix with it.

Gamble enough to get free drinks in the casino

An interesting strategy to get free drinks on your cruise instead of buying a drink package is to spend that money in the casino.

Royal Caribbean has a customer loyalty program specifically for the casino, where if you accrue 2,500 points or more in the casino, you'll move to the Prime level and be able to get unlimited free drinks in Casino Royale for an entire year.

Read more: I gambled enough in Royal Caribbean's casino to get free drinks and a cruise

You get points depending on how much you wager gambling. There isn't an exact calculation, but the more you wager, the more points you earn.  Moreover, you'll earn points faster playing slot machines than table games because slots can be more easily tracked.

Gambling responsibly is more important than free drinks, but if you were going to spend time in the casino anyway, this could be a way to double down on your casino habit and get free drinks as well.

If you're ready to dine in elegance and style, Royal Caribbean has the perfect new restaurant for you.

Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas is set to debut in early 2024, and among the many new concepts is a high-end supper club.

The Empire Supper Club was announced months ago, but reservations were not available.  Today, Royal Caribbean opened up reservations to the general public.

Prices across multiple Icon of the Seas sailings list it at $200 per person. Bookings are available immediately from the Cruise Planner website.

If you have the Unlimited Dining Package, you can pay an additional charge of $130 to eat at the restaurant.

Deluxe Beverage Packages, Crown and Anchor coupons or Star Class guests, can enjoy this experience at the standard cover price.

It's arguably Royal Caribbean's most elegant restaurant to date, and will serve multiple courses while music is played. The cruise line says you can expect an evening of, "evening of glitz and glamour" with your meal.

Step into the sophisticated style of this intimate space and embark on an eight-course journey. Traditional American fare like oysters Rockefeller and modern renditions like Wagyu New York strip topped with shaved fresh truffle transcend eras and expectations. Each musical number and every libation is carefully curated and perfectly paired to complement each course, from upbeat "Beyond the Sea" to a bittersweet Campari spritz. 

The combination of live music with the jazz band, along with the premium menu is what's going to distinguish this restaurant from other specialty restaurants.

Tony Abou-Ganim has worked with James Beard Award-winning chefs, Bellagio and more to come up with the meals and cocktails.

It's an intimate dinner experience, where table sizes are limited to parties of 2 to 4. If your party is larger than 4 people, you'll be seated at separate tables.

What's included with Empire Supper Club

For the price, you might be curious what you get.

Each meal is an eight-course experience, where you'll enjoy a cocktail paired with the music being played by the jazz band. Non-alcoholic options are available upon request.

There will be a three-piece band playing to provide entertainment.

There will be appetizers such as oysters Rockefeller deliciously dressed with chorizo béarnaise, sundried Roma tomatoes and micro basil.

Royal Caribbean's lists an entree as Wagyu New York strip, topped with fresh truffle and coupled with fondant potatoes, sautéed morels and green peppercorn sauce.

When you get to dessert, you can look forward to the Chocolate Beehive, comprised of a trio of ganache layers, salted caramel toffee and mango sauce.

Gluten-free, lactose-free, and vegetarian options available.

Special rules for the Empire Supper Club

There's also a set of expectations if you choose to dine at the Empire Supper Club, which are important to consider before booking.

Timing

Doors open 10 minutes prior to the start of the meal, and the cruise line implores guests to be on time to ensure the programming is set correctly.

Royal Caribbean says the meal will last 2-3 hours, and to plan your evening accordingly.  In my opinion, that means don't ask for a quick meal to make a show.

Dress Code

Formal wear is required to dine at Empire Supper Club.

Suggested attire include suit jackets, slacks, cocktail dresses, formal pantsuits, and formal jumpsuits.

An array of suit jacket sizes will be available for guests who may need to borrow one.

Age restrictions

There is no age limit or restriction to dine at Empire Supper Club, but Royal Caribbean says the experience is designed for adults.

Pricing remains the same for guests opting for non-alcoholic beverages.

A different dining experience, and a different price

If you're quick to compare the price of the Empire Supper Club to other Royal Caribbean specialty restaurants, the cruise line would tell you that this is unlike anything else offered.

The price of $200 per person is more than double many other specialty dining venues on Icon of the Seas, but those restaurants are not in the same league as Empire Supper Club.

The combination of premium food, paired cocktails, and live music, put Empire Supper Club in a different category of dining. It's intimate nature, dress code requirements, and inflexibility with changes to the menu are indications that this is not just another dining experience.

Royal Caribbean Vice President Food & Beverage, Linken D'Souza, said this restaurant is something completely different from what we may have seen in the past, "Empire Supper Club is what I would say is the most elevated dining experience we've created at Royal Caribbean."

He referred to it as a, "full immersive dining experience".

"It really is an elevated food experience that's tied together with a really elevated beverage experience."