Royal Caribbean Blog

Cruising is one of the best ways to travel with a multigenerational group. Growing up, I cruised frequently with my parents, grandparents, and extended family, creating many cherished family memories. 

Now, as an adult, I continue to cruise with my parents as a way to spend quality time together. Living across the country with my husband means we don’t get to see each other often - and cruising together allows us to travel, relax, and reconnect with one another.

In October, I traveled to Australia for a 15-night cruise with my sister and parents onboard Celebrity Solstice. The repositioning itinerary sailed from Sydney to Singapore with stops along the Australian coast. We also spent two unforgettable days in Bali, Indonesia during the sailing. After a canceled trip to Australia in March 2020, we were eager to plan a trip to the Land Down Under again.

As you might imagine, traveling in your 20s is a completely different experience than cruising as a baby boomer. My parents are in their early 60s, so their style of travel is a little different than mine. Their boomer travel priorities, vacation budget, and cruising habits sometimes clashed with my budget-friendly, millennial approach to travel.

Although cruising simplifies many aspects of the logistics, we still encountered some bumps in the road. Here are 7 ways we traveled differently on our Celebrity cruise to Australia.

1. Paying extra for a balcony cabin instead of saving money with a cheap interior stateroom

One of the biggest cruising differences between my boomer parents was our cabin preference. My parents opted to spend an extra $1,000 on their cruise fare for a balcony stateroom on Celebrity Solstice. This is always a top priority for them, as my dad prefers to have a balcony, especially on longer itineraries. Their balcony was technically an obstructed balcony; however, the obstruction was minimal.

On the other hand, my sister and I don’t mind booking an inside cabin when it saves us money. We were happy to save $1,000 between the two of us to have an interior stateroom. Our cabin was located at the very aft of the ship, surrounded by a linen closet and ice machine for the room service staff.

Luckily, our cabin location was mostly quiet and the configuration was quite spacious. Because our stateroom was nestled among storage closets, the cabin felt larger than other interior staterooms I’ve stayed in. 

In addition, we found our stateroom had better climate control as we sailed to warmer climates. My parents’ balcony cabin struggled to keep the cabin cool with the heavy humidity in Singapore and Indonesia; however, our inside cabin was an ice box! Although we initially regretted not booking a balcony stateroom, we were pleased with our selection given the large space and temperature control.

2. Booking excursions through the cruise line rather than independent exploration

Whenever I cruise with my parents, we typically book excursions through the cruise line rather than independent tours. These excursions offer added peace of mind, ensuring you’ll return to the ship on time without the risk of being left behind.

For example, we snorkeled in the Great Barrier Reef, which required sailing more than one hour away from the anchored ship. To reach the reef, we would be venturing far from the ship. We opted to book the $300 per person excursion through Celebrity Cruises because this was the most convenient option, even if it was more expensive.

The only port where we didn’t book an excursion was in Bali, Indonesia. The Celebrity Cruise excursions were expensive and limited, so we decided not to book any of these. Instead, we booked through Shore Excursions Group, per the recommendation of our travel agent, and saved hundreds of dollars.

Because we had an overnight stay, we didn’t worry about returning to the ship on time the first day and felt comfortable exploring all over the island. On the other hand, my sister and I rarely book excursions through the cruise line. Instead, we opt to explore independently when visiting ports of call because excursions are expensive. We enjoy wandering around the ports of call on our own, opting to walk whenever possible.

3. Splurging on specialty dining multiple times in leu of the main dining room

When my sister and I cruise together, we might book specialty dining for one evening. In general, we stick to complimentary restaurants, like the main dining room, unless we can get a really good deal on a specialty dining restaurant. Most of the time, we find the main dining room has plenty of options and delicious cuisine already included in our cruise fare.

During our cruise with our parents, we ended up spending three nights at the specialty restaurants on Celebrity Solstice. My dad really enjoyed the experience at Tuscan Grille, prompting a second return to the restaurant later in the sailing.

While my sister and I might not have splurged on the dining fee for these restaurants, we were happy to accompany our parents. Perhaps this is a difference in budget, but I prefer spending my travel budget in other ways, such as shopping in port or trying local cuisine.

4. Reserving transportation beforehand instead of ride-sharing

When it comes to transportation while traveling, my boomer parents prefer to prebook arrangements. Navigating the rideshare apps can be confusing and nerve-wracking for my parents, as they are usually unsure about Uber and Lyft.

During the travel planning process, my parents arrange for transportation from the airport to their hotel. These transfers are usually booked through Viator and reasonably priced, especially when our family travels with a lot of luggage.

In addition, they schedule a private transfer from the hotel to the cruise port for embarkation day. Similarly, my parents want to relax on the morning of their cruise instead of navigating public transport, squeezing into a taxi, or fumbling on their phones for an Uber.

Comparatively, I would rely solely on local transport and ride-sharing for logistics when cruising. As a millennial, I am very comfortable using Lyft or Uber in foreign countries. I also wouldn’t have an issue asking the hotel front desk to schedule a taxi or transfer, if needed. By not prepaying for transport, this allows for more flexibility with my schedule depending on my agenda for that day.

In fact, we were grateful for Uber when our prearranged transport failed to show up at the Sydney Airport after our arrival. The Uber XL showed up immediately and we ended up saving $100 total in the end. I'm not confident my parents would have known how to arrange an Uber on the spot like this, so I was thankful my sister and I were there to help. 

5. Wanting to get on the ship right away rather than exploring the city

When embarkation day arrived, I quickly realized that my parents had different priorities for boarding the cruise ship. My parents prioritize boarding as early as possible to maximize their day, while I prefer a more flexible approach. For me, embarkation day is usually an opportunity to explore the city before heading to the ship.

With our cruise departing from Sydney, we were very excited to explore all the city had to offer. We flew in two days before our sailing departed, giving us one full day to tour and two half-days to explore.

After two days of sightseeing in Sydney, I still had a few more places I wanted to check out before embarking on our cruise. Because our sailing was a repositioning cruise, we wouldn’t be returning to Sydney at the end of the voyage.

Read more: Australia & South Pacific cruise guide: Best itineraries, planning tips and things to do

Unfortunately, my parents and I clashed on when we wanted to arrive at the cruise terminal for embarkation day. All-aboard time was 3:00pm, but my parents scheduled our transfer at 11:00am. With so much to see in Sydney still, my sister and I would have preferred arriving to the port later in the day.

However, arranging separate transportation didn’t seem practical, either. We considered the possibility of checking in, dropping off our luggage, and getting back off the ship to explore more. Due to customs and immigration with our repositioning sailing, this would not be allowed for security purposes.

Ultimately, we found a compromise. My dad waited at the cruise terminal cafe with our luggage while my mom, sister, and I walked to the nearby street market to shop for trinkets. We walked around and shopped for about 90 minutes before it started to rain, which was the perfect time to board our ship.

6. Moving at different paces with varying priorities

It’s no surprise that my parents and I travel at different paces. While my parents are healthy and in great shape for their age, I was surprised by the difference in our travel preferences.   

Each evening, my parents would be waiting in line outside of the main dining room for our early dinner slot. Meanwhile, my sister and I would often arrive a little later, instead stopping to watch the sunset on the promenade deck or grabbing a drink at happy hour.

Similarly, my parents were always early to the excursion meeting spot, often fretting about whether my sister and I would arrive on time (for the record, we were never late). While I would be eager to get the best spot on the bus or tender boat, my parents were very nonchalant about it.

This difference was especially noticeable during our excursion to the Great Barrier Reef. I couldn’t wait to get my wetsuit on and start snorkeling in the reef. To my slight frustration, my parents were in no rush to disembark from the catamaran. This felt like wasting time in my opinion, although they were content to take their time.

In the end, we found a balance between our varying travel styles. In some ways, I appreciated my parents getting to certain places early, such as busy theatre shows. Similarly, I tried to maximize our port time by keeping the family on a steady travel pace.

7. Flying in premium economy seats over cheaper options

Traveling from the United States to Australia and back from Singapore involves very long travel itineraries. We spent upwards of 30 hours flying to and from our cruise with multiple layovers involved.

With such long travel days, my parents splurged on Delta’s premium economy seats for the long-haul legs of our trip. Considering the flight from Los Angeles to Sydney is 15 hours, they wanted to have more comfortable seats. This upgrade ended up costing about $1,500 more per person.

In contrast, my sister and I booked main economy of our travels. While we dreaded the flight to Australia in economy, I kept reminding her that we saved thousands of dollars! This price difference literally almost paid for our cruise between the two of us.

Although the flight was uncomfortable with a stranger sitting in our middle seat, my sister and I survived to tell the tale! After taking some sleeping medication and getting comfortable in my window seat, the flight passed quickly and we landed in Sydney before I knew it.

In the end, my parents said the premium economy seats were worth every penny for the international flights. They had bigger seats, more legroom, higher quality food, and more amenities. At their age, they said they probably will never take an international flight in main cabin again. They’ve already booked these same seats again on an upcoming long-haul flight.

Cruise ships today feel like floating cities, and their design is an incredible feat of creativity, engineering, and problem solving.

Royal Caribbean employs an army of people to bring a ship to life, and you might be surprised to know one of of their best partners in this process is an architectural firm based in Boston, Massachusetts.

Wilson Butler Architects (WBA) has worked for almost three decades to help Royal Caribbean push the boundaries of what is possible aboard a ship.

With the launch of the second Icon Class ship on the horizon, it's a good reminder how much work goes into these ships.

The scale and complexity of building ships like Icon of the Seas or Oasis of the Seas is incredible. New ships can take almost a decade to go from concept to launch and involve the coordination of thousands of professionals across continents. WBA's involvement begins often with a blank page and a single question: What could this ship become?

"We don’t come in after the design is underway," said A. Scott Butler, co-founder of the firm. "We’re at the table at the start, working with Royal Caribbean's Newbuilding & Innovation, along with their product development team, asking what this ship needs to be five years from now."

Helping design over 50 ships

WBA has designed fifteen prototype ships and contributed to 54 vessels across multiple Royal Caribbean Group brands, with seven more in progress. 

Their reach spans Voyager Class through Quantum and Icon Class, and the team of Wilson Butler Architects has been involved in many firsts. Among them:

• The first full-scale theater with orchestra pit and fly tower at sea (Voyager of the Seas, 1999)
• The first real-ice skating rink on a cruise ship (Voyager of the Seas, 1999)
• The first live plant park aboard a ship (Central Park, Oasis of the Seas, 2009)
• The tallest slide at sea (The Ultimate Abyss, Harmony of the Seas, 2016)
• The largest glass dome at sea (AquaDome, Icon of the Seas, 2024)
• The largest kinetic sculpture at sea (The Pearl, Icon of the Seas, 2024) 

Designing ships is a lot like urban planning, "You’re designing for density, for movement, for delight," said Principal Ben Marcionek. "We think in terms of districts, transit, intersections, light, and rhythm."

One of their most influential breakthroughs came in 2009 with Oasis of the Seas, which redefined ship architecture by splitting the central structure to allow open-air courtyards and “neighborhoods.” This innovation resulted in now-iconic spaces like Central Park and the Boardwalk.

"That split-hull design gave us the ability to bring daylight deep into the ship," said Butler. "It wasn’t just a stylistic choice—it changed how people interact with the space. Suddenly you could have a real park on Deck 8."

From steel to storytelling

The process of building the world's largest ships begins years before any physical construction begins. Working in concert with engineers, naval architects, acousticians, and outfitters, WBA helps define the experience, not just the structure.

Ship design includes physical models, virtual simulations, and, increasingly, immersive design tools. "Sometimes we’ll build scale models out of basswood to illustrate structural proposals, or we’ll create foam core tray models to show the vertical relationship of venues," said Butler.

Each space is developed with a dual mandate: create something novel, and ensure it functions under extreme conditions—movement, salt air, vibration, and code compliance.

"We’ve had to ask, how do you create an ice rink at sea? How do you build a three-story theater with aerial flying on a moving platform? There’s no textbook for this," Butler explained.

Building ships offers unique opportunities that set it apart from land-based architecture

Unlike land-based construction, cruise ship building is modular and sequence-dependent. Hull blocks are prefabricated offsite and welded together like a block puzzle. Every component of each block must be coordinated before the module is craned into position.

This is a challenging approach given how little room there in the building schedule to make changes later, "There’s no field adjustment,” Butler noted. "You can’t just move a beam or a sprinkler without impacting an entire assembly process of every small part."

"Our drawings are not just conceptual. They guide fabrication," said Marcionek. "We often produce 1:1 mockups of seating, lighting, or entry transitions to see how they work in real life."

WBA can be followed on both Instagram and Facebook.

Royal Caribbean's Serenade of the Seas was stuck in Vancouver, Canada, after encountering technical issues with the engine. 

The 90,090 gross-ton vessel was supposed to depart Vancouver on Sunday, July 6, on a 7-night voyage to Alaska. However, the ship was forced to return hours after setting sail and remained docked overnight. 

"Currently on Serenade …. Just left port and we are now returning back to Vancouver...'Technical issues with the engine,'" Heather Albert shared in the Serenade of the Seas Facebook group. 

Albert later updated the post around 12:40pm EST, saying that the Captain announced they were running tests on the technical issues, but had no real answers yet. 

Royal Caribbean has not confirmed exactly what is wrong with the engine or what has caused the issue. However, Serenade of the Seas had technical issues last week, which impacted the previous voyage to Alaska. 

According to other reports online, Serenade canceled at least one port of call during the sailing. The ship also missed a scenic day of cruising in the Tracy Arm Fjord. 

"I just got off Serenade and I was so glad to get off it half the ports were canceled due to ship issues, we couldn’t go into icy point because ship issues had to cut one port short too," wrote one cruiser on the r/RoyalCaribbean Reddit thread. 

Instead of calling at Icy Strait Point, guests aboard the June 29 cruise had an extra day at sea while they proceeded directly to Ketchikan. 

Everyone was given onboard credit equal to one day of their cruise fare. It was automatically credited to guests' onboard accounts. Whatever wasn't spent will be refunded to the card on file. 

Serenade of the Seas finally set sail around 9:30pm EST 

Serenade of the Seas was slated to arrive in Sitka, Alaska, on July 8. However, the delay is causing the vessel to miss its first port of call to make up for the lost time. 

According to Albert's Facebook post, the tests have been showing good propulsion results, and they received confirmation that they'd set sail around 6:00pm PST. The Vancouver Harbour webcam confirmed this and showed Serenade pushing back from the pier thirty minutes later, closer to 6:30pm PST. 

Other ports on the itinerary include Tracy Arm Fjord (scenic cruising); Juneau, Alaska; Ketchikan, Alaska; and Prince Rupert, British Columbia. Updates on the new itinerary and compensation are forthcoming. 

Future guests are anxiously awaiting updates on their itinerary

If Royal Caribbean can't fix the ongoing issue, they might be forced to cancel future sailings to give them more time to repair the engine.

Last year, passengers ready for a fun-filled cruise to Alaska were left disappointed when the propulsion system faced a technical issue that impacted the ship's speed, forcing the cruise line to cancel the sailing after everyone had already boarded.

Royal Caribbean let passengers use the ship as a floating hotel for two nights while they adjusted their travel plans. Still, it wasn't the vacation anyone had envisioned. The sailing the week after was canceled, too. 

Read more: I was on the Royal Caribbean cruise canceled after we boarded. I was disappointed, but I’m grateful for the memories

There's no word whether future sailings on Serenade of the Seas will be canceled. However, many are preparing for the worst. 

"I’m sailing August 10th I hope if they cancel they do it soon so I can figure another trip out before school starts," one concerned guest shared on a Serenade of the Seas Facebook page. 

Another added, "Honestly with all the issues I’ve been reading about that the people on board have had the past few weeks I’m hoping they just cancel our July 13th sailing. At least then we all get a full refund and can rebook."

The wildest events on a cruise ship are off-limits to guests — no suite or loyalty status will get you in. 

Bryan James, an entertainer for Royal Caribbean, revealed that these secret crew-only parties are sometimes so large that they need to close down one of the public spaces to accommodate the crowd. 

"Crew parties can get so big that there's no place that you can throw them below deck," James says in a recent TikTok, which has amassed over 130k views. 

"So, to solve this, the cruise ship will shut down a place like the ice skating rink or the Solarium, and they'll lock the doors and say it's a private event." 

According to James, the parties are typically thrown about once per month, and they’re massive. They sometimes draw more than 1,000 crew members on mega-ships like Utopia of the Seas.

On smaller ships without ice skating rinks, they will throw a "provisions party," where the crew parties "deep, deep below deck in one of the large storage areas." 

Some vessels are even notoriously known as party ships, and James says that he knows plenty of crew members who don't care about the ports of call: 

"If the crew bar is good, then they're good to go."

Special events for Seafarers' Day

Seafarers' Day is an annual holiday dedicated to those who work on ships. It takes place on June 25 and isn't just for cruise ship crew; it's for seafarers of all stripes who work on ships and play an important role in the global maritime industry. 

To celebrate, cruise lines often go all out with special events for the crew. After all, there wouldn't be cruise vacations without the hardworking crew members!

"[It] kinda feels like Christmas, the Fourth of July, and Thanksgiving all wrapped up in one," James says. 

James celebrated Seafarers' Day while working on Allure of the Seas in Europe (he will be onboard Allure until August 21, 2025). 

One of the highlights included a huge raffle for prizes like PlayStation game consoles, iPads, and GoPros. The crew mess was also transformed into a festive banquet hall with a chocolate fountain, freshly carved turkey, plenty of desserts, decorative ice sculptures, and more.  

However, the star of Seafarers' Day was the massive party thrown for the crew — with unlimited free drinks like beer and soda. 

Speaking of food, did you know that crew members sometimes get leftovers from the guest buffet?

In a previous video, James revealed that uneaten food doesn't necessarily get thrown away at the end of the night. 

"If there's something really good leftover, it winds up downstairs at something that we call 'midnight mess,'" he explains, "And the sooner you get there, the better the food is. I'd say after an hour, it ends up just being normal crew mess food." 

In this particular TikTok video, James shows that the special dishes available for the crew included grilled pork chops, sautéed spinach, and shrimp curry. Although it's small, the midnight mess is a well-deserved treat for those who help keep the cruise ship running.

Read more: Crew member reveals that uneaten food on cruise ships isn't always thrown away

The opportunity to take my family on a Norwegian fjords cruise was too good to pass up, even if it's not the cheapest cruise fare.

I booked a 7-night Royal Caribbean cruise through Norway that cost $2,103.22 per person.

We were already coming to Europe for a Royal Caribbean Blog group cruise, but that sailing was going to cities in northern Europe.  Norway seemed like the perfect way to top the trip.

Not only would we get to see marvelous cities, but we could check off another must-see list item by going to the fjords too.

The seven-day cruise departed from Southampton, England.  It was particularly easy because I was doing a back-to-back cruise and was already on the ship.

It cost $4,206.44 for two people in connecting oceanview balcony rooms, including taxes, fees, and gratuities.

Here's what my cruise experience was like, and why I would do it again in a heartbeat.

My 199-square-foot balcony cabin had more than enough space for two people

My wife and I stayed in a balcony cabin on deck 8, and it served as our home base throughout this cruise and the one before it.

Cruise ship rooms get knocked for being tiny, but our 199-square-foot cabin with a 65-square-foot balcony felt spacious and suitable for two people.

It had a king size bed, plenty of storage space for everything we packed, a small safe, a seating area with a sofa, a hairdryer, a small refrigerator, and complimentary toiletries. 

It helped we booked connecting cabins so my kids had their own space, and we had ours.  It's a must-do family booking strategy, in my opinion.

There were 4 ports of call built into our nine-day itinerary, but one was cancelled

Before our cruise began, the plans had to change.

Due to an issue with one of the ship's generators, Independence of the Seas had to sail at a reduced speed and our itinerary was altered to drop a visit to Alesund.

We were disappointed with the change, but Royal Caribbean gave us $200 per cabin for the last-minute change.  Plus, we were scheduled to be there from 4pm-11pm, so it was a difficult day to plan around anyway.

I've cruised long enough to know that any itinerary is subject to change, and you have to roll with the punches. Being flexible when cruising is so important, and I wasn't going to let a port cancellation ruin my trip.

All of the ports — Hagesund, Molde, and Olden — were very different and offered one-of-a-kind experiences

Our cruise would take us to three very different Norwegian ports.

Our first port of call was Molde, a town near the Fannefjord and Moldefjord. Its picturesque harbor, public art, colorful streets, and surrounding hills made it a postcard-perfect introduction to the country. 

We attempted to hike up to Varden Molde Panorama, a picturesque vantage point overlooking the city.  The grade of the hike was too difficult for us, but we shared in a good laugh after how difficult it was.

Stop two brought us to Olden, a village so beautiful that it ended up being my favorite of all the stops.

I actually booked two different shore excursions, because I wanted to maximize our time.

We got off the ship early and took the LOEN Skylift up to the top of Mount Hoven, where we enjoyed amazing views 1,011 meters above the Nordfjord.

After lunch, we booked a panoramic bus tour of Nordfjord.  It wasn't exciting, but it did stop at a number of beautiful spots to enjoy the natural beauty of the area.

And Haugesund rounded out our visit. This is a proper city, and it was far more bustling than any of the other stops. We shopped, had lunch in the city, and even took a short walk to a Viking memorial.

It's worth noting we also visited the capital of the country, Oslo, on the previous sailing. The biggest city in Norway, it offered more history and culture than we could fit into our visit.

Because we cruised in summer, I didn't see the Northern Lights. But, I did experience Norway's midnight sun

A few people on my cruise ship asked if we'd be able to see the Northern Lights, but it's practically impossible in June or July (November through March are the months travelers are most likely to see them in Norway).

I did get to experience midnight sun, though. This is when the sun barely sets during the summer months, and it's still very much light out at midnight.

This is because of the earth's tilt, and how far north Norway is located.

During our cruise, the sun would start to set around 11pm, but it wouldn't get truly dark until closer to 1am.  And then the sun would rise again around 4am.

It made sleeping a challenge, as I'm used to relying on any natural light seeping into my room as a sign it's close to the time to wake up.

But it was very strange to have dinner or see a show on Independence and walk out of the venue to see sunshine at 10pm.

The weather was unpredictable, but we got very lucky overall

It seemed like everyday was a guessing game as to whether it would be sunny, cloudy, rainy, or windy.

In general, the weather forecasts were pretty useless.  When comparing forecasts across different sites, each had its own view, and there was never any consistency.

Luckily, we encountered very little rain and comfortable conditions overall.

It rained a little in Olden and Oslo, but in both cases it was short lived. Most of the time we were dry, and the sun was present much more than I expected.

Just like an Alaska cruise, you have to be flexible in your planning and employ the layering strategy for packing.

Most importantly, don't take the weather forecasts as the gospel truth.

Independence had lots of onboard activities to keep us entertained during days at sea

When we weren't in port, I kept myself busy on sea days with the various things to do onboard.

Royal Caribbean is well-known for offering lots of fun things to do on any of its ships.

My daughters loved going to the free skate sessions in the ice skating rink, where Royal Caribbean provided all the equipment to try ice skating.

I gravitated towards the live entertainment onboard, particularly the Pub and band in Star Lounge.  "Rock-aroke" was a really fun take on karaoke, where the guests singing had a band performing instead of a recorded track.

Many of our friends were competitive in the different trivia events onboard too.

The ship's dining options were impressive as well

We mostly ate at the Main Dining Room on Independence of the Seas, but sprinkled in specialty dining too.

There are four specialty restaurants I ate at during my sailing:

• Chops Grille
• Izumi
• Giovanni's Italian
• Playmakers Sports Bar

I took advantage of a a 3-night dining package that I purchased before the cruise began to help augment our dining plans.

This allowed us to enjoy the fantastic service in the Main Dining Room, but change things up with specialty restaurants later without paying full price.

The Nordic voyage was the perfect trip for a family group seeking adventure

We ended our cruise in Southampton, making it convenient to get back to London and catch a flight home.

In retrospect, I'm grateful I had the opportunity to bring my wife and kids to Norway and explore it together. As my girls grow up, family vacations seemingly become more and more important.  Plus, I think even the jaded teenager found it a fun trip.

My kids were able to have time for themselves onboard and meet other teens their age, while my wife and I enjoyed the casino, entertainment, and chatting with friends.

Giving each person the freedom to fill their days as they desired — and spending quality time together at night — was essential to the trip's success.

Happy Sunday! I hope you are having a wonderful weekend and are ready to catch up on all the Royal Caribbean news from this week!

You can now book a pass to the Royal Beach Club Paradise Island when it opens later this year.

The new club will begin operations for all Nassau stops on or after Saturday, December 27, 2025.

Prices for an all-inclusive day pass begin at $169.99 per person.

Royal Caribbean News

• 5 most surprising things revealed about new beach club in The Bahamas
• Restaurants on Star of the Seas now open to book, including the nostalgic Chicago supper club
• The biggest piece of Royal Caribbean's Legend of the Seas was just installed
• Angry French Mayor yells at cruise ship
• Harmony of the Seas has power outage and propulsion problem on same day
• I cruised in a virtual balcony for the first time. What it's like and why I think it's worth the money
• Royal Caribbean's July 4th cruise deals are worth celebrating with new discounts
• I hadn’t cruised from the West Coast in 15 years. I had a great time, but I’m not sure I would do it again
• I took my family on their first European cruise, and I'm so glad I didn't make a common mistake

New RCB Video: 8 Days Cruising Europe: Not what I expected

Have you subscribed to the Royal Caribbean Blog YouTube Channel? We share some great videos there regularly, all about taking a Royal Caribbean cruise! This week, we are sharing our latest video — 8 Days Cruising Europe: Not what I expected — and don’t forget to subscribe to our channel.

I spent almost $10,000 for first class perks on a Royal Caribbean ship

Royal Caribbean recently began offering its very best perks on some of its older ships, and Matt wanted to see how it worked.

The Royal Genie Package is an optional, but pricey option to get VIP service during your cruise.

Over 8 nights, it cost my family $9,600 to try it and it was really impressive!

4 small things I did before my cruise to Europe that made a huge difference

Jenna took a cruise to Europe, and found a few tweaks to her plan made a big difference.

From the right bag to bring, to planning extra days, she found minor things can help a lot.

By adopting these in your approach, you might get a much better cruise experience as well!

Cruising with family, I created a rule that keeps everyone happy

It's not easy traveling with family, but Matt made a rule for his a while ago that's been helpful ever since.

As children get older, needs evolve, and "maintaining the peace" among everyone is a challenge.

To help get through the teenage years, Matt now always books his cruise with a simple rule in mind.

I took my 64-year-old mom on a cruise. I learned 5 important lessons

Allie went on a mother-daughter cruise, and it taught her a few important rules about cruising.

There's a different dynamic to a cruise when you're going with a parent and the child is an adult too.

Her cruise to the Mexican Riviera was a good reminder of how to balance both their needs.

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 569th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available, analyzing what Carnival's loyalty program changes mean for everyone.

Carnival announced major changes on how it will overhaul its loyalty program, and it could have major consequences for Royal Caribbean too.

Please feel free to subscribe via YouTube, iTunes or RSS, and head over to rate and review the podcast on iTunes if you can! We’d appreciate it.

An engineering marvel has just been completed on Royal Caribbean's next new mega ship.

At a shipyard in Finland, workers celebrated the successful addition of the Aquadome to Legend of the Seas.

The Aquadome is a single-piece glass and steel structure located at the bow of the ship, offering wide panoramic views for guests onboard.

The dome was first built alongside Legend of the Seas, a process that allowed it to be constructed in tandem with ship construction.

This strategy is commonly used in cruise ship building to complete multiple facets of the process at the same time.

It was installed on Saturday, July 5th and it's quite an achievement given that it is the largest steel and glass structure ever lifted onto a ship in one piece.  

According to a statement by Meyer Turku shipyard, lifting and installing a structure of this size and complexity required extensive planning, seamless collaboration, and precise execution

"A big thank you to everyone involved in making it happen!" is what they added in a post on social media.

The AquaDome is 82 feet (25 meters) tall, 164 feet (50 meters) wide, and weighs 367 tons (332 tonnes). 

The dome has 12 modules that were assembled over 8 months, composed of 673 glass panels and 712 aluminum panels.

With the structure in place, work can now proceed to build out the interior of the venue.

Work will commence to add all the interior pieces, such as lighting, bars, lounges, restaurants, sculptures, seating, the central waterfall, and the AquaTheater.

Once the AquaDome is complete, guests will experience 220-degree ocean views, restaurants, bars, nightlife, stunning entertainment, and a 55-foot-tall waterfall.

Aqaudome fun facts

1. It's the Largest Glass and Steel Structure Ever Built on a Cruise Ship

The AquaDome is an architectural marvel made of nearly 700 glass panels and a steel frame that spans the entire front of the ship, offering 270-degree panoramic ocean views.

2. It Replaces the outdoor AquaTheater

Unlike the open-air AquaTheater found on Oasis Class ships, the AquaDome is fully enclosed, allowing Royal Caribbean to run Aqua Shows regardless of weather.

3. It Has a Shape Inspired by the Pantheon

The dome’s circular, skylight-topped design draws inspiration from Rome’s Pantheon, combining modern engineering with timeless symmetry.

4. It Features the Tallest Waterfall at Sea

At the center of the AquaDome is a 55-foot-tall waterfall called the AquaCascade, which serves as a backdrop for acrobatic stunts and synchronized dives.

5. It Doubles as a Tranquil Lounge During the Day

When no shows are running, the AquaDome transforms into a serene space with lounge seating, a full bar, and unbeatable views—perfect for relaxing with a cocktail.

6. It Houses the AquaTheater’s Evolution: Absolute Zero

The AquaDome is home to “Aqua Action!” and other water-based performances that use diving platforms, trapeze rigs, aerial cables, and high-tech lighting in an immersive new venue.

7. It Includes a Full Bar and a Restaurant

Guests can grab drinks and small bites without leaving the space, making it easy to enjoy a full evening of entertainment without missing a moment.

8. It Transforms from Day to Night

With intelligent lighting, moving water elements, and dynamic seating, the AquaDome offers different vibes depending on the time of day—chill lounge by day, spectacle arena by night.

9. It’s One of the Quietest Spaces on the Ship

Despite being near the action, the AquaDome is designed to dampen outside noise, creating a surprisingly peaceful atmosphere for relaxing or socializing.

10. It’s Exclusive to Icon Class Ships

You’ll only find the AquaDome on Icon of the Seas, Star of the Seas, Legend of the Seas, and future Icon Class ships.

An incredible space only on the Icon Class

The AquaDome was first introduced on Icon of the Seas as a completely new neighborhood concept that was built on the AquaTheater in Oasis-Class ships.

Located atop decks 15 and 16, the neighborhood includes innovative features like the brand-new AquaTheater and the cruise line's first AquaDome Market.

The Icon Class has been specifically marketed to draw in the family vacation market, especially appealing to families with younger children.

Royal Caribbean isn't done building these ships.  There's a fourth unnamed Icon Class ship, with options to build a fifth and sixth Icon Class ship.

Icon 4 is due to be delivered in 2027. No further details have been revealed about Icon 4

Sailing in 2026

Construction on Legend of the Seas began in January of 2024 when steel was first cut in the shipyard.

Once construction is complete, Legend of the Seas will sail to Barcelona, Spain. The ship will begin service with a summer season in the Mediterranean.

The inaugural sailing will now take place on August 2, 2026, which is a 7-night Western Mediterranean cruise departing Barcelona.

That fall, Legend transitions to Fort Lauderdale, Florida to offer cruises in the winter around the Caribbean.

The Mayor of a city in France really doesn't want Royal Caribbean's ship to visit.

A dramatic scene unfolded in the French Riviera this week as the Mayor of Nice, Christian Estrosi, grandstanded abord a police boat to personally confront Royal Caribbean's Voyager of the Seas.

He claims a new ban on large cruise ships means Voyager cannot visit.

The incident was captured on video as Estrosi shouted at the ship’s crew after they refused to accept a letter demanding the ship's immediate departure.

Showdown in France

Voyager of the Seas arrived off the shore of Villefranche-sur-Mer around 6:30 am on July 3.

The Royal Caribbean ship had 3,114 guests and approximately 1,200 crew members on board. According to port officials, the visit was a pre-approved stop.

However, on July 1st, the cities of Nice and Villefranche had enacted new rules banning cruise ships carrying more than 2,500 passengers from disembarking in the area. 

Estrosi, who is both the mayor of Nice and president of the regional government, viewed the ship's arrival as a direct violation of that ban.

Estrosi boarded a police boat with a television crew and approached Voyager of the Seas at anchor. He requested to board the ship to deliver an official letter instructing the captain not to let passengers ashore and to leave the area. 

Here's a copy of the letter:

Dear Captain,

It has been brought to my attention that your ship, owned by Royal Caribbean Group and currently anchored off Villefranche-sur-Mer, is carrying a number of passengers on board that exceeds the limit of 2,500 people. This threshold was set as part of the policy framework of the Métropole Nice Côte d’Azur, the port authority for the Nice-Villefranche Santé maritime station, aimed at strictly regulating cruise ship traffic.

In accordance with these publicly announced commitments, I formally request that you refrain from disembarking any passengers from your vessel at the Villefranche maritime station or at any other metropolitan facility.

Given your clear non-compliance with our environmental and territorial regulations, I am bringing this matter to the attention of the Minister for Ecological Transition and Territorial Cohesion, as well as the Maritime Prefect of the Mediterranean. I am asking them to take, without delay, all necessary measures to order the immediate departure of your ship from the waters off Villefranche.

I therefore urge you to arrange, without delay, for your anchor to be lifted and to leave territorial waters within the day.

The Métropole Nice Côte d’Azur intends to strictly enforce decisions aimed at combating maritime pollution, preserving air quality, and protecting the living environment of residents and visitors.

Thank you for your understanding, and please accept, Captain, the assurances of my highest consideration.

Christian Estrosi
President of the Métropole Nice Côte d’Azur

The crew refused to grant him access or accept the letter, and the officer on the landing platform motioned for him to leave.

Visibly frustrated, Estrosi was caught on video shouting, "Where is the captain?" and telling the crew to "get out of here" and "you are nobody." He later accused Royal Caribbean of ignoring local regulations and described the crew’s behavior as "arrogant."

Mayor Estrosi introduced the cruise ship restrictions earlier in 2025 as part of an effort to "combat air pollution, reduce maritime emissions, and preserve quality of life for coastal residents". 

The original proposal sought to limit ships to fewer than 900 passengers and under 690 feet in length. He later compromised by setting the cap at 2,500 passengers.

Villefranche has also capped total cruise visits to one ship per day and no more than 65 calls per year. Meanwhile, neighboring Cannes plans to enforce its own cap of 1,000 passengers per ship starting in January 2026.

Estrosi argued that large vessels like Voyager of the Seas should instead dock in cities better equipped to handle them, such as Marseille.

Estrosi isn't done yet.  In a statement to local reporters, he said, "I will not give up. I intend to strictly enforce the decision." He has since contacted national officials and France’s Minister for Ecological Transition, asking for firm support in upholding the regional cruise limits.

Despite the confrontation, Voyager of the Seas left Villefranche as scheduled on the evening of July 3 and continued its cruise to Ajaccio, Corsica. It will then visit Cannes and Marseille later in the voyage.

Cruise industry response

In response to the incident, the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) criticized Estrosi’s approach, calling it "apparently illegal" and inconsistent with the industry’s Sustainable Cruise Charter for the Mediterranean, which Royal Caribbean and other lines signed in June.

The organization is urging French national authorities to intervene and provide guidance, citing the importance of legal clarity and consistency for international cruise operations.

One Royal Caribbean ship had a combination of power and propulsion issues yesterday, a rare occurrence on the same day.

Royal Caribbean's Harmony of the Seas ran into a series of electrical issues during its July 4, 2025 sailing, prompting late-night power outages and propulsion problems as the ship made its way from Cozumel, Mexico, to Galveston, Texas.

Despite the issues, the ship has remained safely operating as she moves back to her homeport.

Power issues followed engine trouble

Earlier in the voyage, the 226,963-gross-ton ship had experienced a minor electrical issue involving one of its firewall systems. Just days later, passengers began reporting power failures in multiple parts of the vessel. The problems began shortly after midnight and prompted an emergency response from the ship’s officers.

By 1:00 a.m., the ship’s captain began broadcasting updates over the public address system. Guests onboard described power flickering in cabins and common areas. One key system affected was propulsion, which forced the ship to reduce speed while technicians worked to restore full functionality.

"It was a quick flicker like a thunderstorm at your house," wrote Chris Matthews. 

"It took a while for them to reset everything. We lost our lights for about 15 secs, AC for about 10 mins, and the onboard TV took an hour to come back on. You could tell they were resetting the breakers in a specific order."

"I'm on Harmony now. We lost power last night for a short time. It was restored quickly. Captain told us we'll be 1.5 hours late getting into Galveston. Its a beautiful day at sea," wrote Staci Taylor.

Captain's update provided clarity on the situation

In a ship wide message recorded by cruiser Liz Addington, the captain directly addressed the situation:

We are in a safe situation. Weather is great. We are speeding with about ten knots currently with the reduced propulsion towards Galveston, and we are currently working on restoring all electrical systems for the propulsion. I will come back to you later on with further information. 

And in case you're sleeping, I'm sorry to wake you up with this announcement, but as we have 6,500 guests on the ship and 2,200 crew members, there are lots of crew members and guests who would like to know what's going on. 

And we are now in a totally safe position. Our technical teams are working on restoring all the systems currently. 

So in case you are sleeping, I'm truly sorry to wake you up with this announcement, but I would like to keep you all updated on what is going on.

Power was restored overnight

Overnight, ship technicians gradually restored power throughout the vessel. By the following morning, all systems were reported to be fully operational.

The issues occurred during the final sea day of a 6-night cruise that included stops in Roatán, Honduras; Costa Maya, Mexico; and Cozumel. 

Due to the earlier propulsion issues, the ship’s next sailing was delayed by one hour.

"Harmony emailed me regarding our cruise tomorrow out of Galveston. We were supposed to board at 12:30, now moved to 1:30. Due to propulsion issues," wrote Andrea Bolding on Facebook.

I grew up cruising with my parents, and I still love to travel with them today. Even as an adult, I make it a priority to share meaningful experiences with them doing something we all enjoy. For our family, cruising continues to be the perfect way for all of us to travel together, especially as my parents get older.

A few weeks ago, my mom and I flew to Los Angeles to board Royal Caribbean’s Ovation of the Seas for one of the ship’s first cruises out of California. We spent two days at sea and two days exploring Cabo San Lucas in Mexico. Our itinerary even featured an overnight port stay in Cabo San Lucas, which we were very excited about!

My mom would consider herself “not old” at only 64 years old, but I still adjust how I travel when we cruise together. She is healthy and fairly active for her age, so I don’t need to worry about mobility concerns.

Surprisingly, this was the first time just the two of us had cruised together. We typically cruise as a family, but my sister was unavailable to join because she just started a new job. Regardless, we had a wonderful cruise together! But after our 5-night cruise to Baja, Mexico, I learned some important lessons about cruising with your parents.

1. Splurge on high-quality luggage

Last fall, my sister and I cruised with our parents across Australia and Bali. I couldn’t believe the rickety and janky suitcases that my parents packed! They could barely roll their luggage through the airport or cruise terminal without the suitcase flopping over! When they brought the same worn-down suitcases again this spring on our family cruise across Asia, I said, “I never want to see that janky luggage again!”

So, my sister and I decided to buy our mom a brand-new set of Away Luggage for Mother’s Day. It was pricey, but we split the cost and used a credit card offer to save a couple hundred dollars. 

My mom brought her new carry-on for the first time on our Ovation of the Seas cruise, and she was amazed at how much easier it made traveling. She had no trouble getting through the airport and cruise terminal on her own. Investing in quality luggage made it much simpler for her to manage her bags, and the upgrade was well worth the price for a smoother travel experience.

2. Be proactive and ask for help

During our vacation, there were a few instances where I realized how important it was for me to be proactive and ask for help when my mom needed it. 

First, we had a less-than-positive taxi experience leaving the airport, which made her uneasy. The next morning, we met a really lovely driver who took us to the cruise port. During the ride, we asked if we could prearrange our return trip from the port to the airport after the cruise was done. 

This gave my mom peace of mind that we already had transportation lined up with a reliable, safe, and friendly driver. He even gave us his phone number to text with updates or questions, which was handy when we had questions about navigating the city during recent events.

Additionally, I encouraged my mom to ask for help at the airport when she needed. Although she is able-bodied, she was worried about lifting her suitcase into the overhead bin on her own. 

Because we were flying separately, I suggested she ask the flight attendant or someone on the flight to help with her suitcase. It’s better to ask for help than have her potentially hurt herself. Luckily, she didn’t have any issue finding someone to help on her flights, which was a relief for me.

3. Book a shore excursion for everyone to relax

Although I might have explored Cabo San Lucas on my own, I know my mom wouldn’t have been comfortable with this. Because we had never visited before, we both agreed that booking a shore excursion with Royal Caribbean was the best option.

We only spent about $70 each for a full-day tour, and it was totally worth it. To start, Cabo San Lucas is a tender port. This means you either have priority tendering with an excursion, or you have to obtain a tender ticket to disembark independently. Having an excursion gave my mom a sense of relief knowing we didn’t have to worry about the tender ticket situation.

Additionally, neither of us had to stress about logistics for planning the day. Everything was taken care of, so we could just enjoy the excursion while experiencing Cabo for the first time. I’d absolutely book another excursion with my mom again, and I think it’s one of the best options when traveling with multiple generations.

You'll just want to make sure you check your excursion’s guidelines and requirements. Some tours are not wheelchair-friendly and require more strenuous activity. Although this wasn’t a problem for my mom, we did see other older travelers struggling to board the tender. Some almost fell into the speedboat while boarding to visit the famous Cabo Arch formation! Ensure you book an excursion that everyone can comfortably and safely enjoy. 

4. Prepare to become the chief IT officer

While cruising with my mom, I think I earned the distinguished honor of being her personal IT officer. As her daughter, I’m happy to help her with any phone, internet, or technology issues. 

For those who aren’t as tech-savvy, the use of technology can be overwhelming, and even frustrating, while traveling. This is especially true on cruises where cruise lines are increasingly relying on digital tools like virtual muster drills and mobile apps to manage the onboard experience.

For example, while I breezed through setting up my Internet access, my mom struggled to figure out the correct steps. I ended up taking the lead and signing her up for the Internet package because she was having a hard time getting this purchased.

At one point, she also managed to lock herself out of the safe in our cabin. We had to request assistance for the safe to stop its non-stop beeping and reset the passcode. We couldn't help but laugh at the classic "senior moment"!

Finally, at the end of the cruise, I helped her check in for her flight and save the boarding passes to her Apple Wallet. I wanted to make sure she had everything she needed before heading to the airport, as we were on separate return flights. Additionally, I coordinated with the gate agent to get her on standby for an earlier flight. This worked out for her, as she landed hours ahead of her originally scheduled midnight arrival.

5. Taking charge to ease stress

My mom is very well traveled, but she usually has my dad as their planner to take care of everything. We always joke that “Mom is just along for the ride and happy to be cruising!”

I found myself taking charge throughout the cruise to alleviate some of my mom’s stress. When she landed a few hours before me at LAX, we planned for her to relax in the airport lounge while waiting for me. I didn’t want her to figure out the hotel taxi or ride-share without me. I knew the massive size of LAX would be stressful for her. 

Finally, I was happy to order the Uber rides and handle our logistics. I checked us both in for the cruise and downloaded both boarding passes before heading to the terminal. To make sure my mom is relaxed and at ease, taking charge is something I will naturally do.