Royal Caribbean Blog

One of the best changes for cruisers happened this week when Royal Caribbean Group announced it would make it easier to earn loyalty points, but there is a lot to digest in this big announcement.

The idea is simple enough: go on any of the three brands and earn points for your preferred loyalty program.

But questions remain and there are a lot of bullet points to cover with this new change.  

The good news is cruisers seem near unanimous in their admiration for Points Choice because it gives them something more than they had prior to this change. After all, who doesn't want another excuse to cruise more?

In digging through all of the Points Choice details, here are some takeaways you should know before the program begins on January 30th.

You have to act quickly to make the conversion

Probably the biggest surprise to me was you have to actively request the points to be converted for each sailing.

I assumed you'd select which loyalty program you prefer and then any subsequent cruises you took would have the points switch over. Just shows how bad I am at predicting anything.

Nonetheless, you'll need to make the request quickly after you get home.  Point conversions need to be made within 14 days of the conclusion of your cruise.

Concierge and Aqua class will transfer as 2 Crown and Anchor points

The first thing the Internet noticed was how lucrative it is to sail on Celebrity Cruises in Concierge or Aqua Class and convert those points over to Crown and Anchor Society.

Concierge and Aqua Class will transfer as two Crown and Anchor points per night, which is the same amount of points you'd get for being in a suite on Royal Caribbean.

While those two classes sound fancy, it's basically a balcony cabin with a few added perks.  And in practice, they're often priced lower than a standard veranda category room on Celebrity or a Junior Suite on Royal Caribbean.

If you're going to leverage Points Choice to chase a higher Crown & Anchor level, sailing Celebrity in one of these types of rooms might be a smart strategy.

You can choose to convert points (or not)

Depending on your points strategy, you don't have to convert your points over.

You'll need to request the points be converted after each sailing, instead of it being an automatic function.

This may be of use to someone who strategically wants to move points, but not for every sailing. Frankly, I don't know why, but it's possible!

You can't convert points from past cruises

Unfortunately, you won't be able to get any points from past cruises on other lines.

The new program takes effect on January 30 and applies to any cruises from that point forward.

I can't say I'm terribly surprised by this policy, but I suppose it makes sense that the company wants to encourage new bookings with Points Choice.

When they announced it last year, it was within the context of promoting customer loyalty and boosting cruise bookings from loyal guests.

Point exchange rates will be updated each year

Each cruise line has its own point conversion chart, and they'll be updated annually.

How much you earn from a particular cabin and then convert it could change down the line, which means a strategy you carve out today may need to be altered later.

It doesn't apply to casino programs

If you were curious if your Casino Royale status might get a boost too, the answer is no.

Points Choice only applies to the Royal Caribbean Crown & Anchor program, the Celebrity’s Captain’s Club program
and Silversea Venetian Society program.

There's no equivalent Points Choice option for casino players to go on a Celebrity Cruise and play in their lovely non-smoking casinos and then convert the points back to Casino Royale.

Move over Carnival, this is how you manage loyalty

Points Choice is not just a win for Royal Caribbean fans, it's also a boost at time when rival Carnival went in the opposite direction.

Carnival Cruise Line announced last year sweeping changes that stripped away loyalty benefits and made it more difficult to keep status.

Since then, Royal Caribbean Group leadership has repeatedly talked about how they value the business from their repeat cruise customers and avoid changes that remotely resemble what Carnival did.

Now that we see the full details behind Points Choice, it's a clear winner for loyalists that prefer Royal Caribbean Group brand ships.  It enables more cruising without losing your pace of progress towards a higher tier.

If this sounds like a fan boy response, it is, but it's also the reality of how one company is doing more for its customers when another is trying to reduce incentives.

One company is pushing to build a brand-new cruise terminal in Tampa, Florida, that could accommodate larger ships. 

SSA Marine, a marine terminal operator that's been around since 1949, said it's working with Tampa-based Slip Knott LLC on a multi-berth cruise port in Manatee County, according to the company's proposal. 

The terminal would be built on a roughly 328-acre coastal property known as the Knott‑Cowen tract at the mouth of Tampa Bay next to the Bob Graham Sunshine Skyway Bridge. If approved, construction would take three to five years. 

Currently, only smaller ships, like Grandeur of the Seas, Rhapsody of the Seas, Carnival Paradise, Norwegian Star, Celebrity Constellation, and Margaritaville at Sea's Islander, can sail from Tampa due to the height restrictions of the Skyway Bridge. As such, a new cruise port on the seaward side of the bridge would allow larger, more innovative ships to call Tampa home. 

"A new cruise port will complement existing cruise activities in the region by being able to accommodate the newer, larger, low-emissions cruise vessels that would otherwise be unable to visit due to the height restrictions of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge," reads the proposal's website. 

"As cruise ships continue to modernize, the region will be well positioned to align with and support the cruise industry’s future growth. Additionally, locating a new cruise port on the seaward side of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge could serve as a valuable community asset in the event of extreme weather or other emergency situations."

Read more: I cruised Royal Caribbean from Tampa for the first time

Tampa's new port project is in the early planning phase and has not been officially approved yet

Although the project is still in the early planning phase, meaning it is subject to zoning and other necessary approvals, initial work to identify and evaluate potential environmental, traffic, noise, and public access considerations has already begun. 

The website notes that "these topics will be addressed in greater detail as part of the approval process, and opportunities for public input will be provided before any final decisions are made."

Public input will also be an important part of the process, including hearings with the Manatee County Planning Commission and the Manatee County Board of County Commissioners. 

SSA Marine Division is committed to environmental stewardship as a central part of this cruise port project. The company recently acquired the adjacent 710-acre Rattlesnake Key property through its subsidiary, the Rattlesnake Key Preservation Company, for $18 million. 

They aim to prevent private commercialization and ensure long-term conservation. Rattlesnake Key is one of the most intact natural landscapes at the mouth of Tampa Bay and is known for its expansive mangrove forests, bird rookeries, shallow-water wetlands, and fish nursery habitat. 

Moving on, SSA Marine Division estimates that the project could have a significant economic impact, with the construction investment of the project estimated to generate more than 31,000 jobs in industries directly and indirectly related to the port in the state and region. 

Once operational, the new terminal is projected to support over 13,000 direct, indirect, and induced jobs and generate roughly $40 million per year in tax revenue for the county and school district, while contributing billions to the state and regional economy.

Port Tampa Bay had record-breaking numbers in 2025

The Western Florida cruise port welcomed over 1.6 million cruise passengers in 2025, along with over 262,000 shipping containers, Spectrum Bay News 9 reported. 

Port Tampa Bay is in the midst of working on its $1.2 billion "Master Plan 2030" vision, which includes building warehouses, expanding terminals, and even constructing a brand-new passenger terminal. 

"For us, it’s playing, maintaining the maritime industry, protecting it, allowing it to grow, prosper and integrating ourselves with our future plans and the growth of the region — the city of Tampa," Port Tampa Bay Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer Raul Alfonso told Spectrum News.

Listening to feedback, Royal Caribbean has made changes to its Royal Beach Club menu.

The Royal Beach Club Paradise Island opened in late December 2025, and the cruise line has canvased every guest since then to gather comments about what they like and didn't like about the experience.

This is a new shore excursion that Royal Caribbean built exclusively for its customers in the heart of Nassau, Bahamas.

Linken D'Souza, Royal Caribbean Senior Vice President Food & Beverage, talked to Royal Caribbean Blog exclusively about the new changes that have been implemented as of today.

His goal with the menu update is to provide a fresher and lighter array of choices. Just like any cruise ship, finding the right blend of food is critical.

More variety

All of the food is included with entry to the Royal Beach Club, which serves lunch for most of the day.

There are multiple Paradise Grill locations through the Royal Beach Club, but they all serve the same food so you don't have trek around the island to find one specific item.  All of the food is unlimited, you simply have to go to the counter and get something else.

One of the opportunities the cruise line saw to improve the experience was to add more choices to the menu and rework a few items.

In discussing the changes to the updated menu, Mr. D'Souza said they wanted to offer less fried food, while adding more variety and choice.

Gluten-free buns are available upon request.

The old menu

The new menu goes into effect today, and there's more variety and healthier choices too.

Compared to the old menu, it's gone from 18 to 33 items. The goal is to broaden up the choices, with simple fixed too. There's now a classic burger, as well as a kids menu.

The salads changed from fried chicken to grilled chicken breast, and there's now a Caesar salad option too.

Mr. D'Souza's team will begin collecting guest feedback again this weekend, which should get quite a test on Saturday when three Royal Caribbean ships are scheduled to visit Nassau.

In addition to the new menu, you'll also see new dessert options.

He thinks the desserts have been well-received so far (especially the pineapple ice cream), but they added new ice cream flavors and desserts to the desserts station.

There are gluten free options too

One early area of confusion surrounded gluten free choices.

Royal Caribbean has always offered a great array of gluten free food options on it ships. Handling allergies and special dietary needs has been something the line excels at.

Mr. D'Souza says there are gluten free options at the Royal Beach Club, thanks to a special bread they have for it.

My understanding is the gluten free bread can be substituted to replace anything on the menu that has bread in it.

Moreover, the QR code with allergies has also been updated to reflect all of the dietary information to share with guests.

A new kind of excursion experience

Having visited the Royal Beach Club, it's clear that Royal Caribbean built something that stands out from the rest with just about everything you'd want in a beach day.

Located a short 5 minute water taxi ride away from where the cruise ships dock, Royal Beach Club is split into three zones that offer a different ambiance.

Chill Beach is your traditional feet in the sand (or pool) tropical paradise. 

Access to blue turquoise ocean, a swim-up bar with views of the ocean, and powder white sand. It's practically a postcard backdrop.

Next to it is Party Cove, which has a giant structure meant to bring DJ music to everyone within earshot.  You can party in the pool, at your chairs, or opt to rent a party deck area for your VIP experience.

This is where you'll find the energy of the club, and it's for anyone that revels in music being a part of the pool party.

Lastly, there's family beach.  There's a large zero-entry pool with geysers to make it appealing to young children and their parents.  

Along with a giant swim-up bar, there's also a much larger beach that seemingly goes on forever. Plenty of space to spread out.

Admission is required to access the Royal Beach Club, which includes unlimited food, drinks, Wi-Fi, seating, and transportation back and forth to your ship.

The cost depends on your sail date, but prices range between $100 - $160 per person when purchased before the cruise begins. The onboard price if you wait is $250 per person.

I think a cruise is better when you go with friends, so the opportunity for a "guys cruise" sounded like the perfect trip.

As my kids have grown up, I've made friends with other dads from their friend group. Any parent knows you're thrown into meeting the parents of your children's friends, but their parents aren't necessarily going to be your friends.

In my case, I'm lucky a few of these parents became my own friends.  One of them, Kenny, thought it would be fun to go on a weekend cruise together.

We chose Royal Caribbean's Utopia of the Seas because it was convenient to where we live in Orlando. Plus, it was over a weekend and that limited time away from home. I also had another reason for wanting to visit: the new Royal Beach Club would be fully open and I wanted to check it out.

So Kenny, Jason, Chris, and Craig all packed our bags and went onboard for what turned out to be a great getaway weekend.

A party ship even if we aren't the target crowd

Ever since Utopia of the Seas launched, it has been set as the weekend party ship as a way to attract new cruisers. While it has plenty of parties, we took it all in stride.

No matter which ship you go on, all of the activities are there for you to try and there's no obligation you have to do any of it.  This is what I really like about a cruise vacation.  You can choose to do all of it or none of it.

In our case, we participated in select activities that were of interest to us.

We were at the Mason Jar bar every night for the music up there, and participated in the Crazy Quest show too.

But we skipped the sailaway party and Rezolutions DJ party because they were a bit too loud for our taste.

Instead, we found lounges and bars to head to and spend our time together that way.

In fact, we tended to gravitate towards the casino for entertainment.

Royal Caribbean expanded the casino space on Utopia by replacing the comedy club and loyalty lounge with a non-smoking casino.  This was a welcome change from the traditional cruise ship casino that still smelled like smoke because it shared the space.

We also tried out the Price is Right game show onboard, in which I won $50 for coming in the top 10 of scores!

I won't pretend any of us were the party crowd that perhaps Utopia of the Seas caters to, but we liked having so many choices of what to do onboard.

All of the food became one of the best reasons to cruise together

Very quickly into the cruise, the food choices became a major focal point.

Royal Caribbean offers so much wonderful food choices on its ships, and I think while we may have skipped over parties, we never skipped a chance to nosh.

As soon as we stepped aboard, the Windjammer buffet had an entire seafood buffet that my friends relished.

Newer Royal Caribbean ships offer a seafood bounty on embarkation day in the Windjammer. As of the posting of this article, I believe it's just on Utopia, Icon, and Star of the Seas.

We planned to go to the Main Dining Room for dinners each night, so we spoke to the head waiter on embarkation day to get us a table together.

Sure enough, we had a large table to ourselves and the wait staff were fantastic.

We were wiped out from fun ashore on the second day, so we ended up having dinner in the Windjammer.  However, I really wanted the French Onion Soup from the Main Dining Room. So I went alone just to get soup and the waiters were happy to oblige!

For our final dinner onboard, we decided to try Hooked and the amount of food ordered was a bit embarrassing.  Don't worry, between all of us we managed to eat almost all of it.

We booked the cruise for the fun we anticipated, but stayed for all of the food.  A bit gluttonous, but the food is part of why I love to cruise.

Our visit to the Royal Beach Club was the perfect "guys day"

One reason we leaned towards this particular Utopia of the Seas sailing was it aligned perfectly with the opening of the new Royal Beach Club.

Royal Caribbean built this new kind of shore excursion as a way to offer its guests an elevated day ashore.

So what started out as a "research trip" for me, ended up becoming the perfect backdrop for my friends.

As dads, when we do almost any excursion with our kids, there's inevitably a lot of taking care of the family needs.  But since it was just us, we got to ease into a day of taking it easy in the pool.

We basically spent our day in the heated pool at Chill Beach, which meant we hung out and talked while occasionally going to the swim-up bar, enjoying the view, or sneaking in a nap.

There's no question that Royal Beach Club is a great choice for families (I'm taking mine there in the spring), but I think our day here was the best group activity we did over the weekend.

The trip felt completely different from our other adventures

Family vacations will always be the primary trip we all take, but it was nice to change things up with a friends cruise.

The cruise showed me how much we limit ourselves by only considering cruise ships for family vacations. Not every guys' trip has to look like a scene from "The Hangover".

Unlike going to a bar at home, we had more choices in what we did and none of the risks associated with having to drive after. 

Being in our 40's, we were never interested in a wild spring break kind of trip. Rather, it was the perfect excuse to get away for a few days.

Since Alaska is part of the United States, many travelers wonder whether they need a passport for an Alaskan cruise.

The Alaska cruise season is short, with Royal Caribbean sailings beginning in early May and going through September. As such, planning ahead is important. 

Because voyages don't run year-round, it's not uncommon for Alaska cruises to sell out in advance. Before booking, travelers must have proper documentation to avoid last-minute surprises. 

Certain voyages require all passengers, regardless of nationality, to have a valid passport, while U.S. citizens can get away with bringing a valid birth certificate and government-issued photo ID on others. 

Here's everything you need to know about whether you need a passport to cruise to Alaska or not. 

Do you need a passport for a cruise to Alaska?

Not all Alaskan cruises require passengers to have a passport. However, before booking your dream voyage to The Last Frontier, it's important to understand the various caveats. 

For starters, if you're not a U.S. citizen, you will need a valid passport on embarkation day to board your Alaska cruise, regardless of where it starts or ends. 

Similarly, U.S. citizens need a valid passport for one-way cruises from Seward, Alaska, or Vancouver, Canada. These include "Northbound Alaska & Hubbard Glacier" and "Southbound Alaska & Hubbard Glacier" itineraries. 

Passports are also required on round-trip cruises from Canada. In 2026, for example, Royal Caribbean is offering round-trip sailings from Vancouver on Serenade of the Seas. 

However, you aren't out of luck if you don't have a valid passport; U.S. citizens on a round-trip (or closed-loop) sailing from Seattle, Washington, don't need a passport for Alaska cruises. 

You'll notice on every round-trip sailing from Seattle that Royal Caribbean's ships stop in Victoria, British Columbia. This is because closed-loop cruises from the U.S. must visit a foreign port of call so as not to violate the Passenger Vessel Services Act. Don't worry — you still don't need a passport for these itineraries. That said, having one is always, always recommended. 

Read more: You can take a cruise without a passport, but some require one

What's the best Alaska cruise itinerary?

One-way cruises tend to be more immersive since less time is spent in transit from the continental United States. For example, one-way cruises often include a glacier viewing day at Hubbard Glacier, which is rare to find on round-trip sailings from Washington or Vancouver. 

Another benefit to one-way cruises is that it's easier to explore inland Alaska before or after your sailing. Seward, Alaska, for example, is about 360 miles from the Denali National Park and Preserve. Royal Caribbean will even take care of the planning if you book one of their cruisetours.

Sometimes, they're cheaper than round-trip cruises, too. Since planning pre- and post-cruise travel from two different destinations is more costly, it's not uncommon for cruise lines, Royal Caribbean included, to price these itineraries competitively to encourage travelers to choose them.

Round-trip sailings from Seattle, on the other hand, are the only option for travelers without a passport. While you won't visit remote glaciers, these itineraries still call at must-visit Alaskan ports like Juneau, Ketchikan, and Skagway, with scenic cruising through the Inside Passage.

In 2026, Royal Caribbean is deploying two ships to Washington: Anthem of the Seas and Voyager of the Seas. Two ships — Ovation of the Seas and Serenade of the Seas — will also offer cruises from Seward and Vancouver. As such, you can experience The Last Frontier on a Quantum Class ship regardless of whether you choose a one-way or round-trip sailing.

Read more: How to choose the right Alaska cruise itinerary

Alaska cruise cost in 2026

The cost of an Alaska cruise varies greatly based on which month you sail, as well as your stateroom category. 

June, July, and August see the highest demand. As such, cruise fares can be more expensive during the summer months. On the flip side, the shoulder season months of May and September see less demand and, therefore, more competitive prices. 

Additionally, interior, ocean-view, balcony cabins, and suites all come with varying price points. Windowless inside staterooms are typically the cheapest, with balconies and suites offering more space and premium views — along with a higher price tag. 

At the time of publication, the cheapest Royal Caribbean Alaska cruise in 2026 is aboard Ovation of the Seas on August 21. Inside cabins start at $657 per person, while the price of a balcony shoots up to $1,055 per person. 

The one-way cruise departs from Vancouver, British Columbia, and has scheduled visits to Icy Strait Point, Sitka, Skagway, and Hubbard Glacier before ending in Seward. 

The cheapest round-trip cruise is aboard Voyager of the Seas from Seattle on the Sept. 11, 2026, sailing. Prices start at $714 per person for a standard interior stateroom, with the cost of a balcony increasing to $1,694 per person. 

In addition to the base cruise fare, you'll have to factor in the price of add-ons like drink packages, specialty meals, Wi-Fi, and shore excursions. Ship-sponsored tours in Alaska tend to be pricier in Alaska than in The Bahamas or Caribbean. 

For example, it is not uncommon to see excursions for once-in-a-lifetime experiences like visiting a sled dog musher's camp or a glacier helicopter ride cost $250 or more per person. 

Read more: I booked a 7-day cruise to Alaska for $1,500 per person, but spent nearly $2,400 with extras. Take a closer look at how much my cruise cost

Royal Caribbean is about to make it even easier to earn loyalty points while cruising on any of its brands of cruise ships.

Beginning January 30, the new Points Choice program will allow cruisers to earn loyalty points when cruising on any cruise line within the Royal Caribbean Group family.

This means you can take a Celebrity Cruise, but earn points in Crown and Anchor Society.

It's a major upgrade for cruisers because it makes it easier to expand your choices in where and how you cruise while still attaining status and climbing the loyalty ladder.

For the cruise company, the goal is to create a more flexible loyalty ecosystem across Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, and Silversea.

Here’s a full breakdown of what Points Choice is, how it works, and when it starts.

Points Choice provides more choice and more value

Beginning January 30, Points Choice will allow cruisers to sail on Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, or Silversea and earn points back to the preferred loyalty program of their choice.

It will be available on sailings departing on or after January 30, 2026.

The program was initially announced in October 2025 when Royal Caribbean Group CEO Jason Liberty revealed plans for the program.

"Points Choice is designed with our guests at the center," Mr. Liberty said in a statement today.

"Points Choice gives every guest the power to direct their loyalty points within our family of brands where they will have the biggest impact for them"

With Points Choice, you can now earn points from the Royal Caribbean Group cruise brand of your choice, with the amount of points you earn from a cruise depending on:

• Cruise line
• Number of nights sailed
• Stateroom category

After your sailing completes, you have up to 2 weeks to complete an online form to request the points be transferred.

Up until now, you could only earn loyalty points under the program of the cruise line you sailed on.  Going forward, you'll have the option to transfer those points to another loyalty program, including:

• Crown & Anchor Society (Royal Caribbean International)
• Captain’s Club (Celebrity Cruises)
• Venetian Society (Silversea)

If a guest is happy keeping their points with the brand they sailed, no action is required.

Points exchange rates

Points will be converted using brand-specific exchange rates.

Exchange rates will be reviewed and published annually on our branded websites. 

Royal Caribbean International

Celebrity Cruises

Silversea

How you earn points if you're a solo cruiser

When you cruise solo, how many bonus points you earn depends on which cruise line’s loyalty program you apply those points to.

• Celebrity Cruises awards double points to solo travelers.
• Royal Caribbean gives solo guests one additional point per night.
• Silversea does not offer bonus credit for solo cruising.

For example, a solo guest sailing with Royal Caribbean in a balcony stateroom on a 7-night cruise would earn 14 points total—one base point per night, plus one additional point per night for traveling alone.

If that guest chose to transfer those points to Celebrity Cruises, they would receive 42 Captain’s Club points. That total reflects three base points per night under the exchange rate, plus three bonus points per night for sailing solo.

If the same points were transferred to Silversea, the guest would earn 2 VS days, based on the exchange rate, with no added solo bonus.

The same principle works in reverse. A solo traveler sailing with Celebrity Cruises in a veranda stateroom on a 7-night cruise would earn 42 points—three base points per night, plus three bonus points per night for traveling alone.

If those points were transferred to Royal Caribbean, they would convert to 14 points total, based on one base point per night under the exchange rate, plus one extra point per night for sailing solo.

If transferred to Silversea, the guest would again receive 2 VS days, with no solo travel bonus applied.

How to convert points

Points Choice will apply to sailings that depart on or after January 30, 2026.

After each eligible sailing ends, guests will have 14 days to submit a Points Choice request if they want to move their earned points to a different program:

• Through the Royal Caribbean app
• Royal Caribbean website

If no request is submitted within that window, the points will automatically remain with the brand sailed, just as loyalty points do today. 

There is one important requirement: you must already be enrolled in the loyalty program you want to apply points to.

For example:

• If you sail Royal Caribbean but want the points applied to Celebrity’s Captain’s Club, you must already be a Captain’s Club member.
• If you sail Celebrity and want points applied to Crown & Anchor, you must already be enrolled in Crown & Anchor.

To enroll, log in to your app and navigate to the Loyalty Match section to complete your enrollment.

A separate request form must be submitted for every sailing when you wish to apply points to another program. 

Allow up to 30 days after your cruise is completed and you submit your request.  Once submitted, requests cannot be changed, and points can only be transferred once between brands.

The cruise line plans to introduce a preference center later this year that will enable you to make your selection once for all future sailings. 

Lastly, you cannot apply loyalty points to another member.

No change to how you earn Crown and Anchor points

The big difference with Points Choice is you can now earn Crown and Anchor Society points by taking other cruises within the Royal Caribbean brands.

Nothing is changing as it relates to how many points are earned by cruising on Royal Caribbean.

Guests will continue earning points based on:

• Stateroom category
• Length of the cruise

Points Choice is about enabling fans of one line to be able to sail on another line while still moving up the loyalty ladder.

In addition, there's no change to any of the loyalty rewards and benefits. 

Making it easier to cruise more

Points Choice is part of the evolution of taken to offer more to cruisers that began with status matching, which allowed members of Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, and Silversea's programs to enjoy reciprocal status regardless of which brand they sail with. 

This meant you could get a one-for-one status match across all three brands once you've accrued status with just one line.

If, for instance, you're a Diamond Crown & Anchor member, you'll automatically become an Elite Captain's Club member and Venetian Society member with 250 VS Days once all of the accounts have been connected. 

That change alone has afforded plenty of new perks when trying a new Royal Caribbean Group line.

One cruise passenger missed their ship's departure in Port Canaveral, Florida, after traveling to Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale. They then tried to meet up with the Oasis Class ship in Nassau. However, their request was denied, causing them to miss out on their entire cruise vacation. 

Nobody wants their long-awaited vacation ruined before it even begins. Unfortunately, that was the case for Redditor Crispy-Don, who shared how they accidentally missed Utopia of the Seas' departure from Port Canaveral on January 12, 2026, in the r/royalcaribbean thread. 

"[W]e pulled a major travel fail today and showed up at Port Everglades instead of Port Canaveral (which is 3 hours away from Fort Lauderdale). We’ve obviously missed the ship’s departure. We are currently at FLL trying to book a flight to Nassau to meet the ship tomorrow morning," they wrote. 

"We have already contacted Royal Caribbean’s emergency travel line to request approval for a "downline join" in Nassau. They told us they have to review it and will email us if approved." 

Initially, Crispy-Don planned to spend the night in Fort Lauderdale and catch an 8:00 a.m. flight to Nassau on Tuesday, Jan. 13, from Miami International Airport (MIA). 

However, their hopes of rejoining the ship were quickly thwarted by Royal Caribbean, which proved that meeting up with a cruise in the next port of call isn't always a guarantee. 

In a follow-up post, Crispy-Don explained that they received an email from the cruise line, denying their request to board Utopia of the Seas in Nassau. 

(Credit: Crispy-Don/Reddit)

"We regret to inform you that your request to embark in Nassau, Bahamas has been denied by port authorities. The reason provided does not meet the established criteria for authorization to embark at an alternate port of call. Please note that this decision is final and cannot be appealed," the email reads. 

According to their post, Crispy-Don said that they told the cruise line they had confused Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale for Port Canaveral and were over 3 hours away by the time they realized the mistake on embarkation day. 

Despite the disappointment, Crispy-Don took full responsibility for the mistake, saying, "Obviously we [are] crushed as we booked our Nassau flight tickets (refundable) hoping it would work, but this was my own mistake to learn from. Good to know that Royal won’t just green light you to join at a different port."

In the end, Crispy-Don lost about $1,000 on two cruise fares, though with Royal Caribbean refunding taxes and fees of roughly $200, the actual loss was closer to $800.

Other users flocked to the comments to share their own travel mishaps

Perhaps because it was the way that Crispy-Don handled the situation (i.e., taking responsibility and not taking their frustration out on the cruise line), but Redditors flooded the comments with support, sharing their own travel mistakes. 

"I once missed a flight because I went to the gate of my seat number instead of the correct gate which was in a different terminal. My seat number gate was completely empty and I sat there like an idiot until it was too late," one person wrote. 

Another added, "Was going through a divorce and needed to get away. Booked last minute trip. Price was really good. I arrived at my big city airport. Good news; my ticket was for that day; bad news; not for that year."

Read more: I spent 73 days on Royal Caribbean cruise ships this year. Here are 6 travel mistakes I won't be making in 2026

The cruiser's unfortunate incident serves as a cautionary tale to always check and double-check every aspect of your travel plans before departure

Cruising is essentially a form of time-sensitive travel. As such, flights, pre-cruise accommodations, and embarkation details require careful attention before and during your vacation. 

If you arrive at the port too late, whether because of an unexpected traffic jam or flight delay, you may miss your cruise ship entirely. So, it's important to plan ahead. For example, if you know you need to fly to your embarkation port, plan on arriving at least one day before embarkation. 

The same goes for during your sailing. If you venture off the ship alone, whether independently or with a third-party tour agency, give yourself a buffer to return before the all-aboard time. 

A few Redditors thanked Crispy-Don, as his experience was a reminder to double-check their own travel details ahead of time. 

"Whew made me double check that I am indeed flying into Orlando and not [Fort Lauderdale]," said one user. 

Another commented, "I’m sorry this happened. I leave on a cruise on Friday and I’m checking to make sure I have the right port."

Royal Caribbean built just one Ultimate Family Cabana that has more space than any other cabana it's ever built, and a price tag of $10,000.

Located within the Royal Beach Club Paradise Island, this one-of-a-kind two-story private retreat is aimed at those who want everything they could possibly need in a beach day.

The Royal Beach Club is a shore excursion developed and operated by Royal Caribbean. While admission to the beach club ranges between $100 - $250 per person (dynamic pricing means the exact price depends on your ship and date), there are cabanas you can rent that include admission.

While the UFC is not cheap, there's a market for it. 

"In the first hour when we opened for sale, we sold our ultimate family cabana for one day at $10,000, which was quite remarkable," said Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley during an earnings call last year.

"Subsequently, we've sold a lot of days in the Ultimate Family Cabana at $10,000."

What do you get for that price and what's it like inside? I took a tour of the new cabana to share photos of what you can expect.

The biggest cabana yet

Located in the Family Beach section of the Royal Beach Club, the Ultimate Family Cabana is in situated between the zero-entry pool and beach.

Among the other cabanas nearby, this stands out like a mansion among regular homes.

Landscaping and ropes ensure privacy as it's large footprint gives you plenty of space.

It's two stories tall, with a backyard beach and front patio.

If you purchase the cabana, it includes admission for up to 12 people plus all of these perks:

• Cabana attendant
• Private bathroom
• Private shower
• Private changing room
• Wet bar
• Reserved beach space
• Heated whirlpool
• Spiral slide
• Wooden swing
• Hammock
• Suspended net lounger
• Frozen drink machine
• TV
• Mini fridge

The goal of this cabana is to deliver a "premium, opulent, over-the-top cabana", as described by Royal Caribbean Senior Vice President and Chief Product Innovation Officer Jay Schneider. After all, the idea was inspired by the Ultimate Family Suite and Ultimate Family Townhouses on Royal Caribbean ships.

As you enter on the lower level, there's a large living room set on wood decking. There are chairs and couches that look like they could easily be at someone's lanai.

The living space extends to offer outdoor couch space too, so you can enjoy being in the shade or the sun.

I also spotted a few board games that you can play at one of the many full length tables within the cabana.

As advertised, there is a frozen drink machine that can dispense pina coladas or daiquiris with no wait.

Don't worry, you don't have to get drinks yourself. A cabana attendant will serve food and drink, is included.

There's even a small kitchen, where you have a fridge, sink, and place for your cabana attendant to manage everything you need. Opposite the kitchen is a private restroom to use.

Walking out to the back, there is the heated hot tub that's just for your use.

Not only is the hot tub private, but it offers unfettered views of the beach and ocean.

If you prefer, there's also reserved beach chairs and umbrellas near the ocean, along with easy access to the blue waters.

There's a hammock nearby to take naps in, read a book, or to take a moment to appreciate everything this cabana offers.

Moving to the back of the cabana, stairs lead to the upper level.

Coming back down is much easier since there's giant slide to bring you right into a sandy finish.

The slide has a button at the top to "prime" it with water. It's a combo "wet/dry slide" but the water ensures you'll go down it with ease.

Upstairs, you'll find a day bed that faces the ocean. It's the perfect nap spot!

There are also beach loungers with some sun to enjoy being outside. You'll also find a wet bar upstairs, to ensure you only need to go back downstairs if you want to try the slide.

The views from the second floor are incredible. You have the perfect vantage point to people watch around the Family Beach pool, or take in the scenery of the beautiful Bahamian waters.

One heck of a way to spend your day

I could only spend a few minutes exploring the Ultimate Family Cabana, but I'd imagine this would be an incredible cabana to enjoy for the day.

Royal Caribbean isn't kidding when they say it has everything you'd need. There's just about everything I've ever seen in any cabana experience to date, plus a few extras.

Suffice to say, kids will never want to leave the cabana. It would be a mesmerizing experience with so much to do and try. It's a good thing there are plenty of places for a nap to recharge later.

I think one thing it needs is a white picket fence to keep astounded guests from wandering in, especially on the front porch area. 

The list price is $10,000, but I've seen it on sale for my upcoming cruises with discounts of up to 30% off.

Even at $7,000, it's still a very expensive splurge.  But there's no doubt renting one of these cabanas would create more memories than any other beach day I can imagine.

Royal Caribbean has cancelled more of its scheduled visits to Labadee, its private destination in Haiti, through the end of 2026.

"Out of an abundance of caution, we have extended our pause to Labadee through December 2026," a Royal Caribbean spokesperson said in a statement confirming the news to Royal Caribbean Blog.

Prior to today's announcement, the cruise line had scrapped visits through April 2026.

This means no Royal Caribbean ship has visited Labadee as part of a scheduled port stop since April 2025. And that follows a stoppage of visits in 2024.

Extending the pause in visits to Labadee an additional 8 months is the result of putting safety first.

In previous announcements when Labadee was skipped for months, the cruise line explained the decision was made to ensure the wellbeing of guests and crew. 

Emails to guests sent out explain, "We have been monitoring the evolving situation in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and out of an abundance of caution, we're cancelling our visit to Labadee."

Labadee is a private beach owned and operated by Royal Caribbean offering cruise ship passengers an exclusive spot for a relaxing beach day. 

No other cruise lines sail to Haiti.

Where the ships will go instead

Travel agents were sent a list of replaced ports for ships that were scheduled to visit Labadee.

• Adventure of the Seas  
  • May 23 and June 20
    • Instead of visiting Labadee, we'll now enjoy a stop at Nassau, Bahamas. We'll arrive at 9:00 AM and depart at 6:00 PM.
  • July 18  
    • Instead of visiting Labadee, we'll now enjoy a stop at Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos, arriving at 8:00 AM and departing at 5:00 PM. Additionally, before our first Sea Day, we'll now visit Nassau, Bahamas in place of Falmouth, Jamaica. We'll arrive in Nassau at 8:00 AM and depart at 5:00 PM.
  • August 15
    • Instead of visiting Labadee, we'll now enjoy a stop at Nassau, Bahamas. We'll arrive at 7:00 AM and depart at 3:00 PM.
  • September 12 and October 10
    • Instead of visiting Labadee, we'll now enjoy a stop at Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos, arriving at 8:00 AM and departing at 5:00 PM. Additionally, we'll now visit Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic in place of Falmouth, Jamaica. We'll arrive in Puerto Plata at 8:00 AM and depart at 5:00 PM.
  • October 30
    • Instead of visiting Labadee, we'll now enjoy a stop at Cozumel, Mexico. We'll arrive at 7:00 AM and depart at 5:00 PM. Additionally, we've adjusted our departure time from Nassau, Bahamas. We'll now depart at 3:00 PM instead of 2:30 PM.
  • November 7
    • Instead of visiting Labadee, we'll now enjoy a stop at Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos. We'll arrive at 10:00 AM and depart at 6:00 PM.
  • December 5
    • Instead of visiting Labadee, we'll now enjoy a stop at Nassau, Bahamas. We'll arrive at 8:00 AM and depart at 5:00 PM.
• Allure of the Seas:
  • May 10, May 24, July 5, July 19, August 16, August 30, September 13, September 27, and October 11
    • Instead of visiting Labadee, we'll now enjoy a stop at Nassau, Bahamas. We'll arrive at 8:00 AM and depart at 5:00 PM.
  • June 7
    • Instead of visiting Labadee, we'll now enjoy a stop at Nassau, Bahamas. We'll arrive at 7:00 AM and depart at 5:00 PM. Additionally, we've adjusted the times we'll visit Falmouth, Jamaica. We'll now be arriving in Falmouth at 8:00 AM and departing at 4:00 PM.
  • June 21 and August 2
    • Instead of visiting Labadee, we'll now enjoy a stop at Nassau, Bahamas. We'll arrive at 8:00 AM and depart at 5:00 PM. Additionally, we've adjusted the time we'll visit Falmouth, Jamaica, and Perfect Day at CocoCay. We'll now be arriving in Falmouth at 8:00 AM and departing at 4:00 PM and we'll now arrive in Perfect Day at CocoCay at 7:00 AM and depart at 5:00 PM.
  • October 25
    • Instead of visiting Labadee, we'll now enjoy a stop at San Juan, Puerto Rico. We'll arrive at 10:30 AM and depart at 5:00 PM. Additionally, we're swapping our visit to Falmouth, Jamaica, for a visit to Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. We'll be arriving at 9:30 AM and departing at 5:00 PM.
  • November 15, November 29, and December 13
    • Instead of visiting Labadee, we'll now enjoy a relaxing Sea Day instead. Additionally, we'll now depart Falmouth, Jamaica, at 5:00 PM.
  • December 20
    • Instead of visiting Labadee, we'll now enjoy a stop at Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. We'll arrive at 8:00 AM and depart at 5:00 PM. Additionally, we've adjusted the times we'll visit San Juan, Puerto Rico. We'll now arrive at 9:30 AM and depart at 6:00 PM.
• Brilliance of the Seas:
  • December 21
    • Instead of visiting Labadee, we'll now enjoy a stop at Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos. We'll arrive at 8:00 AM and depart at 5:00 PM.
  • December 28
    • Instead of visiting Labadee, we'll now enjoy a stop at Nassau, Bahamas. We'll arrive at 8:00 AM and depart at 5:00 PM.
• Explorer of the Seas:
  • November 13 and December 11
    • Instead of visiting Labadee, we'll now enjoy a stop at Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos. We'll arrive at 8:00 AM and depart at 5:00 PM.
  • November 27
    • Instead of visiting Labadee, we'll now enjoy a stop at Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos. We'll arrive at 8:00 AM and depart at 5:00 PM. Additionally, we've adjusted our departure time from Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic the next day. We'll now depart at 4:00 PM instead of 5:00 PM.
  • December 21
    • Instead of visiting Labadee, we'll now enjoy a stop at Grand Bahama Island. We'll arrive at 8:00 AM and depart at 5:00 PM.
• Freedom of the Seas:
  • May 2
    • Instead of visiting Labadee, we'll now enjoy a stop at Nassau, Bahamas. We'll arrive at 8:00 AM and depart at 5:00 PM.
  • May 7, May 21, August 22, October 31, and December 17
    • Instead of visiting Labadee, we'll now enjoy a stop at Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos. We'll arrive at 8:00 AM and depart at 5:00 PM.
  • May 16, May 30, June 13, June 27, July 11, July 25, August 8, September 5, September 19, October 3, and October 17
    • Instead of visiting Labadee, we'll now enjoy a stop at Nassau, Bahamas. We'll arrive at 7:30 AM and depart at 5:30 PM.
  • November 14 and December 26
    • Instead of visiting Labadee, we'll now enjoy a stop at Falmouth, Jamaica. We'll arrive at 7:00 AM and depart at 4:00 PM.
  • November 28
    • Instead of visiting Labadee, we'll now enjoy a stop at George Town, Grand Cayman*. We'll arrive at 10:00 AM and depart at 6:00 PM. Additionally, we've adjusted the times we'll visit Nassau, Bahamas. We'll now be arriving at 7:00 AM and departing at 4:00 PM.
  • December 12
    • Instead of visiting Labadee, we'll now enjoy a stop at Costa Maya, Mexico. We'll arrive at 9:00 AM and depart at 6:00 PM. Additionally, we've adjusted the times we'll visit Nassau, Bahamas. We'll now arrive at 7:00 AM and depart at 4:00 PM.
• Icon of the Seas:
  • May 2
    • Instead of visiting Labadee, we'll now enjoy a stop at Cozumel, Mexico. We'll arrive at 7:00 AM and depart at 5:00 PM. Additionally, we're swapping out our visits to Philipsburg, St. Maarten and San Juan Puerto Rico. We're now excited to explore Costa Maya, Mexico and Roatan, Honduras. We'll arrive at 8:00 AM and depart at 5:00 PM for both of these destinations.
• Independence of the Seas:
  • May 7, June 4, July 2, and July 30
    • Instead of visiting Labadee, we'll now enjoy a stop at Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. We'll arrive at 8:00 AM and depart at 4:00 PM. Additionally, we've adjusted our departure time from San Juan, Puerto Rico. We'll now be departing at 3:30 PM instead of 2:30 PM.
  • October 29
    • Instead of visiting Labadee, we'll now enjoy a stop at Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. We'll arrive at 7:00 AM and depart at 4:00 PM. Additionally, we've adjusted the times we'll visit Kralendijk, Bonaire. We'll now arrive at 8:00 AM and depart at 5:00 PM.
  • December 6
    • Instead of visiting Labadee, we'll now enjoy a relaxing Sea Day. Additionally, we've adjusted the times we'll visit Falmouth, Jamaica. We'll now arrive at 8:00 AM and depart at 5:00 PM.
• Jewel of the Seas:
  • May 25 and June 15
    • Instead of visiting Labadee, we'll now enjoy a stop at Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos. We'll arrive at 8:00 AM and depart at 5:00 PM.
• Legend of the Seas:
  • November 22 and December 6
    • Instead of visiting Labadee, we'll now enjoy a relaxing Sea Day. Additionally, we've adjusted our departure time from Falmouth, Jamaica. We'll now depart at 5:00 PM instead of 4:00 PM.
  • December 20
    • Instead of visiting Labadee, we'll now enjoy a relaxing Sea Day. Additionally, we've adjusted the times we'll visit Falmouth, Jamaica. We'll now arrive at 8:00 AM and depart at 5:00 PM.
• Oasis of the Seas:
  • April 29
    • Instead of visiting Labadee, we'll now enjoy a relaxing Sea Day. Additionally, we've adjusted the day and times we'll visit Orlando (Port Canaveral), Florida, and Nassau, Bahamas. We'll now be arriving in Orlando on Saturday at 8:00 AM and departing at 6:00 PM and we'll now arrive in Nassau on Monday at 8:00 AM and depart at 5:00 PM.
  • October 25
    • Instead of visiting Labadee, we'll now enjoy a stop at San, Juan, Puerto Rico. We'll arrive at 10:00 AM and depart at 5:00 PM. Additionally, we've adjusted the times we'll visit Orlando (Port Canaveral), Florida, Perfect Day at CocoCay, and Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. We'll now be departing Orlando at 7:00 PM, we'll now arrive in Perfect Day at CocoCay at 8:00 AM and depart at 4:00 PM, and we'll now arrive in Puerto Plata at 9:00 AM.
  • December 21
    • Instead of visiting Labadee, we'll now enjoy a relaxing Sea Day. Additionally, we've adjusted the times we'll visit Falmouth, Jamaica. We'll now arrive at 7:00 AM and depart at 4:00 PM.
• Star of the Seas:
  • May 3
    • Instead of visiting Labadee, we'll now enjoy a relaxing Sea Day. Additionally, we've swapped our visit to San Juan, Puerto Rico, for a day in Philipsburg, St. Maarten instead. We'll arrive at 8:00 AM and depart at 5:00 PM. We've also adjusted the times for our visit to Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas and will now arrive at 8:00 AM and depart at 5:00 PM.
• Utopia of the Seas:
  • May 4
    • Instead of visiting Labadee, we'll now enjoy a stop at Nassau, Bahamas. We'll arrive at 7:30 AM and depart at 5:30 PM.

The challenge with replacing a port of call with less than a year before the sailing is port stops are planned years in advance, and that leaves few open slots in a port for a ship to call on.

Warning not to travel

Haiti has been in a state of emergency since March 2024 when gang violence surged and caused civil panic around its cities.

The U.S. State Department lists Haiti at its highest warning level possible, Level 4, with the warning "Do not travel".

The website then says, "Do not travel to Haiti for any reason."

"Crimes involving firearms are common in Haiti. They include robbery, carjackings, sexual assault, and kidnappings for ransom."

In addition, the U.S. Coast Guard has concerns about security in the ports of Haiti. Until those are addressed, the Coast Guard advises mariners and passengers traveling through the ports of Haiti to exercise caution.

Haiti's ongoing crisis

With armed gangs now controlling much of the country, it's created a major humanitarian crisis because of widespread violence, hunger and displacement.

Much of today's troubles began in 2021 when President Jovenel Moïse was assassinated. As a result of governmental instability and major economic strife, armed gangs exploited the resulting power vacuum.

Today, gangs control nearly all of Port-au-Prince, Haiti’s capital city, and are expanding their reach outward.

Armed groups compete violently for territory, showing little regard for civilian lives. As gang control spreads across northern and western Haiti, the humanitarian crisis has deepened.

The United Nations has engaged in multiple support missions to stabilize the country, but previous operations failed due to being underfunded and underequipped. 

A planned 2026 intervention is in the works.

Impact to Royal Caribbean's bottom line

Labadee isn't scheduled for many Royal Caribbean ships, but cancellations in previous months have impacted revenue.

During the Royal Caribbean Group earnings call in October 2025, CEO Jason Liberty called the closure a "headwind", "Our fourth quarter year outlook has been trivially impacted due to adverse weather and the unplanned extension of the temporary closure of Labadee, one of our exclusive destinations."

During that quarter, Chief Financial Officer Naftali Holtz broke down the impact further by saying earnings per share were negatively impacted by $0.05 as a result of adverse weather events and the unplanned extension of the closure of Labadee.

The Government of The Bahamas is planning on developing a new cruise port. However, unlike Nassau, Freeport, Bimini, and other cruise line private destinations, the island has remained largely undeveloped and sparsely populated.

On January 7, 2026, the Office of the Prime Minister announced its intention to develop a cruise port on the island of Mayaguana, The Bahamas' easternmost island, through a new public-private partnership.

"The Office of the Prime Minister advises that the Government of The Bahamas has entered into a Public Private Partnership (PPP) to advance the Port at Mayaguana, a major maritime and logistics project intended to strengthen economic activity in Mayaguana and across the South East Bahamas," the press release reads. 

Continuing on, "This PPP positions Mayaguana to play a stronger role in regional trade, cruise activity, and related services."

As such, the new port won't be designed to cater solely to cruise tourism; it will also serve as a cargo port for vessels heading to the Panama Canal and other major ports. 

The new port project is to be jointly owned by the Government of The Bahamas, the Mayaguana Island Development Fund, and Global Lead Consultant Group Limited. Development will be split into three phases:

1. Construction of a "Temporary Marine Offloading Facility (TMOF)" and a deep-water port
2. Cruise ship terminal construction
3. Deep-water port enhancements and a terminal for larger vessels, plus adjacent land development and handling components

Detailed planning will continue in 2026. At the time of publication, the timeline for when the new port would welcome cruise passengers was unknown. 

Based on preliminary estimates included in the press release, the project team anticipates the venture will create approximately 2,000 full-time jobs.

"The Government will continue to keep the public informed as the project advances through required approvals and consultation processes, with a focus on jobs for Bahamians, strong standards, and clear community benefits for Mayaguana," the press release concludes. 

Where is Mayaguana?

(Credit: Google Earth)

The 110-square-mile island is roughly 66 miles west of Turks and Caicos and approximately 334 miles southeast of Nassau, the capital of The Bahamas. Additionally, according to the Islands of The Bahamas Visitor Guide, Mayaguana has a population of just 277, based on the 2010 census. 

Its location makes it ideal for Eastern Caribbean itineraries, positioning the island as a strategic stop between developed cruise ports like Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos; San Juan, Puerto Rico; and Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. 

Mayaguana was once home to the Lucayans, the original inhabitants of The Bahamas, and a branch of the Arawak Indian tribe. In fact, Mayaguana is the only Bahamian island that has retained its original Arawak name over the years. 

In addition to its small population and laid-back villages, the island is renowned for its unspoiled beaches, including Horse Pond Beach, Pirate's Well, and Betsy Cay. 

It's also surrounded by largely untouched coral reefs, offering great snorkeling and diving opportunities. For divers, specifically, the offshore reefs reach depths of 45 to 60 feet.