Royal Caribbean Blog

Richard Fain, Royal Caribbean’s Chairman and former CEO, is sharing some of the most dramatic, nail-biting moments throughout the cruise line’s history in his new book.

His new book is titled Delivering the WOW: Culture as Catalyst for Lasting Success and will be released on October 21, 2025. I was lucky enough to receive an advance copy of Fain’s book, which is packed with juicy secrets from Royal Caribbean’s history.

Fain served as Royal Caribbean's CEO for more than three decades. While the cruise line started as a small Norwegian company with three vessels, Fain propelled Royal Caribbean into becoming one of the most valuable and profitable cruise lines in the world. 

Before taking on the role of CEO for Royal Caribbean, Fain worked for Gotaas-Larsen Shipping Corporation. This was a Norwegian shipping company and one of the three companies that co-founded Royal Caribbean. Fain served as treasurer, Chief Financial Officer, and Joint Managing Director during his 13 years at Gotaas-Larsen Shipping Company.

In 2022, Fain stepped down from his position as Royal Caribbean Group's CEO and still serves as a Chairman and Director of the Board. However, Royal Caribbean announced in June 2025 that Fain will step down from his position as Chairman. Instead, Jason Liberty, current Royal Caribbean Group President and CEO, will succeed as Chairman beginning in Q4 2025.

Throughout the book, Fain outlines Royal Caribbean’s massive transformation during his time as CEO. The story highlights many lessons learned, including insights on business leadership and the importance of Royal Caribbean's WOW-focused culture. 

While the book leans heavily into the actionable business insights from Royal Caribbean’s history, Fain sprinkles in dramatic moments throughout Royal Caribbean’s long history. For instance, he shares how the original design of Icon of the Seas’ Aquadome was originally sketched on a napkin in the break room!

As a longtime fan of Royal Caribbean and business analyst, I was eager to read Fain’s stories and business perspective. While I’m not a huge reader, Fain’s book was fun and easy to read. I loved hearing his personal and professional thoughts on many key moments in Royal Caribbean’s history.

Here are some of Fain’s biggest Royal Caribbean secrets and behind-the-scenes moments from his 30 years as Royal Caribbean Group’s CEO.

If you want to purchase Richard Fain’s new book, Delivering the WOW, you can pre-order it here on Amazon. By using our link, Royal Caribbean Blog receives a small commission at no extra cost to you.

1. Sovereign of the Seas' construction was almost cancelled during the 1987 recession

At the end of 1987, Fain was asked to be the Chairman and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group, and he accepted. The role would begin in the first quarter of 1988, aligning with the launch of Royal Caribbean’s first megaship, Sovereign of the Seas.

Then the unexpected happened. While Fain was looking forward to his new CEO position, the New York Stock Exchange dropped 23 percent on October 19, 1987, which is now known as “Black Monday." At the time, this was the largest single-day market drop in American history. 

With so much uncertainty, Fain says the future of traveling and cruising was up in the air. The former CEO shares how he received a panicked phone call from one of the company's shareholders, urging him to cancel the order for Sovereign of the Seas.

That call came from George Soros, one of the largest shareholders in Gotaas-Larsen. Although Fain had worked with Soros before, this conversation was different. And while Sovereign of the Seas was almost completely built, Soros insisted that Fain cancel the ship’s order.

Fain explains the tense conversation in his book: “George opened up without any of our usual preliminaries: ‘Richard, you need to cancel the order for the Sovereign of the Seas.’ I said, ‘George, we can’t cancel the order. The ship’s finished. It’s almost built.’

He said, ‘I know it’s almost done, but you’ve got to cancel, because nobody’s ever going to want to cruise again. Everybody should just act now, and if they feel poor, they won’t buy a cruise. You should act before the shipyard realizes how bad the future will be.’

I said, ‘George, even if that’s true, the ship is built. We can’t cancel. They’re already vacuuming the carpets!’ He said, ‘You may have to pay them a penalty, but you’ve got to cancel.’”

Fain details that he was confident in the cruise industry’s resiliency from previous recessions, and he didn’t share the stock market’s widespread pessimism.

He writes, “I reminded [George] that Gotaas-Larsen owned only one-third of Royal Caribbean. We couldn’t unilaterally demand the cancellation of a contract. Fortunately…the 1987 crash was short lived. Within six months, the stock market was back to where it had been.”

Just a few months later, on January 15, 1988, Sovereign of the Sea debuted and was blessed by her godmother, Rosalynn Carter. She became one of the most important cruise ships in Royal Caribbean's history.

2. Carnival tried to buy Royal Caribbean in 1988

After her debut, Sovereign of the Seas was a massive success for Royal Caribbean. Fain explains how the megaship was “profitable from her maiden voyage on and her guest satisfaction scores were the highest in the company’s history.”

He continues that the future of Royal Caribbean was looking bright with such strong performance from Sovereign of the Seas. By May 1988, the company was looking at building on the success of Sovereign of the Seas, but competitor Carnival Cruise Line had other plans.

Fain explains, “One morning, Jack Seabrook, the chairman of Gotaas-Larsen, called with shocking news. Carnival, the largest and most powerful cruise line in the world, wanted to buy Royal Caribbean. With that news, our future, our vision, everything we had been working toward was in play. I had only been Royal’s CEO for a few weeks, and suddenly, this call sounded like it might change everything.”

The clock started ticking on a high-stakes, fast-paced deal. Over the course of 40 days, Fain scrambled to find an alternative option. He details late-night negotiations and unexpected network connections, determined to keep Royal Caribbean’s independence.

At one point, a massive wire transfer was needed to secure Royal Caribbean’s future. However, Fain explains that the transfer, worth $300 million, was somehow lost in the London banking system with only a few hours left on the clock. This was the capital needed to finalize a new partnership that would block Carnival's takeover. Without this, Carnival's offer would become the default, and Royal Caribbean's independence would be lost.

When the money finally arrived at the last possible moment, Royal Caribbean entered into a new partnership that allowed the company to maintain its independence. As Fain reflects in the book, this was a make-or-break moment that defined the company and later proved the importance of lasting partnerships.

3. Royal Caribbean’s signature rock climbing wall almost didn’t happen

Royal Caribbean is known for its one-of-a-kind, innovative thrills that you can’t find on any other cruise ship. One of the cruise line’s first notable and unique additions to its ships was a rock climbing wall. While it doesn’t seem as significant compared to today’s attractions, including full-scale waterparks, surf simulators, and zip-lines, the addition was revolutionary at the time.

Fain details how some of the company’s youngest team members actually pitched the idea of a rock climbing wall - and he resisted at first. 

In his book, the former CEO explains during the final design stages for Voyager of the Seas in 1999, there was a large, empty space behind the ship’s funnel. Fain asked a small team of younger team members to imagine something interesting to put there, hoping for a fresh perspective.

After studying the ship’s design for several weeks, the team came back with a proposal for the rock-climbing wall. The team explained how the vertical space was perfect for a rock wall, and there would be plenty of space for equipment. The team also pointed out that rock climbing was becoming one of the fastest-growing sports in America, and could be popular with Royal Caribbean’s younger guests.

Fain states, “I resisted. I could not imagine anyone wanting to change into special gear on vacation and climb a wall. I didn’t tell them, but I privately went to a climbing studio and tried it myself. I came away with several bruises and a conviction that no reasonable person would find this fun.”

The team was pressed to find more reasonable alternatives, but they came back even more convinced that the rock wall would be the winner. “I hated all four ideas, but I thought the rock wall was the least terrible, so I agreed to it.”

However, Fain explains how the rock wall quickly became one of the most talked about features of the new ship.

He writes, “The cruise director commented, ‘Only a fraction of guests actually climb the wall, but it’s one of the most photographed features on board. It tells everyone this ship is different.’ It was so popular that we retrofitted it on our existing ships and have since included it on every new ship.”

Fain explains how this taught Royal Caribbean three valuable lessons. 

First, not everything needs to appeal to everyone. Even though only 10% of guests use the rock-climbing wall, its presence speaks volumes about the Royal Caribbean cruise experience. Second, it became symbolic of the shift Royal Caribbean was trying to make and emphasized that vacations don’t need to be sedentary. Finally, inspiration is everywhere, especially when you give people the opportunity to be creative.

4. Oasis of the Seas’ test blimp was almost shot down by the Swedish Air Force

(Photo shared by Loyal to Royal)

While Royal Caribbean has invented some of the most incredible shipboard technology, not all ideas were a success. Fain explains how the cruise line pursued the idea of putting a blimp on Oasis of the Seas, which ended up being a “spectacular failure”.

The blimp was meant to be towed 500 feet in the air above the vessel to give guests a view of the ship and its surroundings. Royal Caribbean hoped it would be a unique guest experience and a distinctive feature visible to people in the distance.

As you can imagine, Fain says the concept was technically challenging. He details, “It had to be able to withstand hurricane force winds and still be comfortable for 12 guests at a time. And it had to be tested under the most difficult of conditions—first in computer simulations, then in a wind tunnel, then on a special racing track, and finally onboard the ship during sea trials.”

(Photo shared by Loyal to Royal)

In the book, Fain explains how he tried the blimp himself, finding the ride stunning with breathtaking, sweeping views of the Swedish coast. “Once back on solid ground (i.e., the ship’s deck), the safety officer—who had been quiet during the ride—couldn’t stop talking about the view, how awe-inspiring it had been, and how blown away our guests would be.”

Because the blimp’s proper cradle wasn’t ready, the crew members tied the blimp to temporary moorings before bed that day. Unfortunately, there was a storm that night and the blimp actually broke free from the ship and flew away.

“Before we could find it, the captain received a call from the Swedish Air Force. Apparently, our blimp had floated into commercial air space, and the Air Force wanted to shoot it down. Luckily, before they opened fire, the blimp started descending and fell into the ocean. A fishing boat eventually picked it up.”

Fain says the blimp wasn’t meant to be, but it does showcase Royal Caribbean’s continued commitment to innovation at exceptional lengths. Even more importantly, the cruise line isn’t afraid to let go of an idea that isn't the right fit.

5. Royal Caribbean almost failed at building its ice skating rinks

Fain says Royal Caribbean is always determined to expand their entertainment options, especially with each new ship class. While ideating the next innovative space, Studio B came to life. However, the former CEO explains how the Studio B ice skating rink was one of the cruise line’s more interesting technical challenges.

“Our ships already had several entertainment spaces, but we wanted to add one additional space that would be different from anything else on the high seas. Peter Compton, who led our entertainment team, proposed adding a flexible space that would be patterned after the second stage in a TV studio,” writes Fain.

“He proposed calling it Studio B. Like a TV studio, there would be seating for the TV audience, and the space itself would be flexible enough to accommodate many kinds of activities.”

The team imagined what the space could be, but knew they wanted an ice skating rink. While testing artificial ice with a professional figure skater, the cruise line decided that the rink needed real ice. But, Fain never anticipated how challenging this could be.

Fain explains, “We learned instead that normal ice-skating rinks are made by pouring concrete over refrigerant pipes. That works fine on land, but ships flex as they move through the water. Ice can bend (who knew?), but concrete doesn’t.”

Royal Caribbean decided to design a viscous layer that resembled mud. This would stay soft near the bottom but firm towards the top. Because it could bend, the real ice rink could work on Royal Caribbean's Voyager of the Seas.

Fain details how he visited the Finnish shipyard and watched the workers flood Studio B with water to create a smooth sheet of ice, just as he had hoped. 

“It looked incredible. We high-fived as the Zamboni started smoothing the surface. I had been nervous, but now I could see for myself that it worked. Success,” says Fain.

Even though the ice looked good, the professional skater said it was too warm and soft to skate on. Fain says his heart sank as he imagined the new magnificent cruise ship debuting with an empty Studio B at its core. Luckily, the engineers found a simple fix that included a new refrigerant with a lower freezing point.

“It made the ice harder and colder and the skaters much happier. The ice-skating rink was so successful that we have put it on 16 ships and became the largest employer of figure skaters in America. My heart leaps every time I watch a performance in Studio B and see those extraordinary skaters effortlessly glide across the ice, as if the laws of friction didn’t exist," states the former CEO.

Fain says this displays Royal Caribbean’s unwavering commitment to its innovation with such a difficult and expensive proposition.

If you're ready to book a summer 2027 cruise or a cruise into early 2028, we now know when you'll be able to do that.

Royal Caribbean has shared the dates it will put new sailings on sale that go beyond the current set of sailings.

Typically, Royal Caribbean puts out new sailings to book at two periods of the year, and it appears they'll stick to the same schedule.

The first batch of new sailings will open up in October, meaning we are just weeks away.

Week of October 20, 2025

• Region: Alaska
• Sailing Time Frame: May 2027 – September 2027

Week of October 27, 2025

• Region: Europe
• Sailing Time Frame: April 2027 – October 2027

Week of November 3, 2025

• Region: 7-Night & Short Caribbean Year-Round
• Sailing Time Frame: March 2027 – April 2028 

Week of November 10, 2025

• Region: Northeast, California & Texas
• Sailing Time Frame: April 2027 – April 2028

Week of November 17, 2025

• Region: Seasonal Caribbean
• Sailing Time Frame: April 2027 – April 2028

TBD

• Region: Australia
• Sailing Time Frame: October 2027 – April 2028

TBD

• Region: China
• Sailing Time Frame: October 2027 – April 2028

TBD

• Region: Singapore
• Sailing Time Frame: October 2027 – April 2028

To better explain some of the terminology, here's what you need to know:

• 7-Night & Short Caribbean Year-Round: Cruise ships that are deployed all year to the Caribbean.
  • Does not include ships that visit the Caribbean part of the year
• Seasonal Caribbean: Ships that split their time in the Caribbean. Usually they're in the Caribbean for winter, then Europe in summer.
• Northeast: Cruises that begin from New York, Baltimore, or Boston

It's also important to know Icon 4 will not be part of this deployment release. New cruise ships will open their sailings for booking on a different schedule.

What to know about the deployment schedule

Today's announcement is Royal Caribbean's best estimate when new sailings will be available to book.

It's important to note the new bookings are available to book at some point in that week, but not necessarily on that Monday.

Guests will commonly misconstrue the new cruises to come out on the exact day, rather than at some point during the week.

When the new sailings are available, it is common for the new itineraries to be entered into the booking system first, and the website second. This means in some cases cruises are bookable earlier if booked over the phone or with a travel agent, even if they do not appear on the website.

Recommendations for how to prepare for new deployments

The deployment schedule is a good warning to start thinking about new cruises you might be interested in booking.

One of the best ways to get the lowest price on a cruise is to book as soon as the new sailings first go on sale.  So it's a good idea to have a plan of which itineraries you'd be interested in potentially booking.

Moreover, if you're interested in a stateroom category that usually sells out, booking early has another advantage.

Once you have an idea of which sailings you're interested in, I'd reach out to a travel agent to coordinate plans.

It's common for the new sailings to be loaded into Royal Caribbean's system slowly, and sometimes it may become available to book in the backend system before the public website.  This is one of the many ways a good travel agent can make your life easier.

Royal Caribbean is just months away from opening its first beach club, and it's expected to be an incredible beach option for cruise guests.

Opening in December 2025, Royal Caribbean is trying something totally new with a private beach day experience available exclusively to Royal Caribbean passengers (and local Bahamians). It's not a private island day, but instead offers an optional purchase for the day.

Royal Beach Club Paradise Island is described by cruise line executives as "the ultimate beach day" and progress is moving swiftly now with construction taking a rapid pace.

While the official opening with paying guests should begin around December 21st, a ribbon cutting event will take place on December 13, 2025.

I was invited by Royal Caribbean to tour the active construction site and get a sense of the scale of the plans they have, along with an early glimpse of what a day here is all about.

Jay Schneider, Royal Caribbean's Chief Product Innovation Officer, walked with me through the area to describe what we'll eventually see.

Tender ride to get to the beach club

The new beach club is a short tender ride away from where cruise ships dock. 

Guests that purchased a pass will walk halfway down the pier to a meeting location. Currently, it's a generic white building where tours meet, but in the future, it will be the embarkation point for these tenders.

Royal Caribbean built a fleet of colorful tenders to take guests to the beach club and back. The tender rides are included in the admission, and they run continuously all day.

Tenders will drop off at one of two spots. Given the 17 acre size, it's not very wide but is quite long and choosing the right stop may save a lot of steps later.

When complete, there will be a a 43-foot Crown & Anchor logo, even taller than the one on the side of Star of the Seas.

Three neighborhoods, three experiences

The beach club will blend modern amenities with a sense of history.

"The design idea is super fun. It’s kind of a lost Bahamian beach club, as if it’s been around for 50 years. You’ll notice it, the colors are gorgeous. The experience is going to be really tremendous."

The new beach club has three primary zones.

Chill Beach

The idea here is to provide a serene area for enjoying a day in the water.

Compared to Party Cove, this lacks the energy of that neighborhood, but that doesn't mean this is a quiet area either.

"The beach is just stunning," Mr. Schneider explained. "The cabanas will be stunning. The pools will be stunning. This is the chill beach pool. Every pool has a swim-up bar."

Party Cove

If you want music and dancing with your beach day, head to Party Cove.

It will be home to the world's largest swim-up bar, and has a two level party building.  At the top is the DJ, with rentable party zones on either side.

"This thing is an engineering marvel. There’s really only one manufacturer in the world who can bend steel in this arc," Mr. Schneider pointed out.

Family Beach

Envisioned as an area for kids and parents to enjoy together, Family Beach still has great beach and water, but steps down the party atmosphere.

"Stunning beach, great cabanas, gorgeous views. Great zero entry swimming pool on both sides. 

This is also where you'll eventually find the Ultimate Family Cabana.

The foundation for it is all we see today, but Mr. Schneider thinks it's going to be jaw-dropping for anyone willing to pay for it, "kind of that really premium, opulent, over-the-top cabana experience with some dedicated slide and dedicated plunge pool."

Lots to eat and enjoy

Beyond the pools and beach, there's still a lot to enjoy around the beach club.

Admission into the beach club gets you food and drink included, as it's an all-inclusive experience.

There are three Paradise Grill locations, where you can order from, "a great mix of Bahamian-inspired food as well as American classics."

I was particularly happy to hear all the pools will be heated, which is important on those winter cruises.

Moving forward with construction

Construction hasn’t been without setbacks. Schneider noted how Hurricane Erin forced rework on certain parts of the site.

"The storm surge brought the ocean up onto the island. And so we’ve had to make some adjustments. Some of the things you build, you have to rebuild before it’s even open."

According to Schneider, about 500 people are working on the island and progress is starting to take a rapid pace.

Come for the beach, stay for the views

In walking from end to end of the club while in various stages of construction, one thing is clear: Royal Beach Club Paradise Island will be a stunning location for a beach day.

Throughout my visit, I saw crystal clear blue water around me, and the foundation for what I think will be an amazing pool day too.

The scale of this beach club is much bigger than I expected based on renderings and aerial photos.

This isn't being built to be a Royal Caribbean beach, rather, they have set their sights on it being the flagship example of its new "ultimate beach day" concept.

With heated pools, iconic structures, diverse neighborhoods, and Royal Caribbean’s trademark flair, Schneider made clear this will be far more than just another stop in Nassau.

I think the difference maker for this beach club over any other excursion choice around is this club will incorporate all the lessons learned from Perfect Day at CocoCay. Given how wildly popular CocoCay has been, there's a good chance lifting and using that experience in Nassau should be a win for passengers.

The goal is simple: deliver an incredible experience that offers cruisers something heads-and-shoulders above what's available in Nassau today.

Day passes begin at $139 per person

The cost to get in will start at $139 per person, per day for a day pass, but expect prices to go up from there based on demand.

As an example, my January 2026 visit is priced at $250 per person, per day.

You could spend more and rent a cabana or a party deck to include more people with your day, along with reserved amenities.

When the club is fully operational and ready to admit guests, they expect it to host  about 1 in 3 Royal Caribbean guests in Nassau.

In the first weeks, expect capacity to be lower as they ramp up the operation.

Royal Caribbean has placed an order for a new megaship, and laid the groundwork for its next generation of cruise ships.

In a press release today, Royal Caribbean Group said it placed an order for a fifth Icon Class ship, and added an option for a 7th ship.

The Icon Class ships are the biggest in the world, measuring an 250,800 gross registered tons and can carry a maximum of 7,600 passengers. There are 28 different stateroom categories.

The deal was signed with Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland, where all the other Icon Class ships have been built.

Icon 5 will be delivered sometime in 2028.

Prior to today's announcement, there were options for a fifth and sixth ship in the Icon Class.  Going forward, they have options for a 6th and 7th ship.

Shop options are essentially reserved slots at the shipyard, that buy the cruise line time to decide if they want to actually build it while not losing their place in line, so to speak.

New class?

Included in today's announcement was a mention of a new class of ship.

"This multi-year agreement strengthens Royal Caribbean Group's relationship with Meyer Turku, one of the world's largest and most modern shipyards specializing in cruise ships, and readies Royal Caribbean Group for a new, game-changing class of ship beyond Icon."

We don't know what that means, as the company didn't share any other details beyond the prepared statement.

One possibility is it refers to the long rumored Discovery Class ships. Or it could be another project for one of the Royal Caribbean Group brands. Cruisers will have to wait a bit longer to get clarification.

To date, Royal Caribbean International hasn't announced any new ship classes beyond the Icon Class. However, it's strongly hinted at a new ship class to come.

Known as the Discovery Class, it's group of new ships that is in the design phase where the company is dreaming up possibilities.

Earlier this summer, Royal Caribbean's Senior Vice President of Sales and Trade Support & Service, Vicki Freed, talked about the plans.

"The Discovery Project is our next new class of ships, following the Icon of the Seas, and the Star of the Seas, and the Legend the Seas. And we're in the design process now."

"We meet on a regular basis with the architects, with the designers...the ops team and the hotel operations, food and beverage. And so it is a top secret design at this point."

She then went on to say, "It's an exciting project. It'll be a new class of ship.

"In true Royal Caribbean style, it will be special, it will be innovative. And I think it'll be something that'll be a home run from the beginning."

A long-term agreement for more ships

Royal Caribbean's announcement is significant because it secures a deal to build ships at Meyer Turku into the 2030s.

The new timeline for ship deliveries looks like this:

• Legend of the Seas: 2026
• Icon 4: 2027
• Icon 5: 2028
• Oasis 7: 2028

In a statement, Royal Caribbean Group CEO Jason Liberty said, "As we continue to reimagine the future of vacations, we are excited to continue collaborating with Meyer Turku to grow the Icon Class - a first-of-its-kind series that delivers exceptional vacation experiences - and position us to usher in a new era of innovation that will disrupt the vacation sector through 2036."

It's an interesting quote since officially the orderbook goes through 2028, but he mentions 2036.  That very well could be the timeline for delivering the first batch of Discovery Class ships.

Royal Caribbean is in the midst of a building blitz that combines new ships and destinations.

Not only do they have orders for new ships, but they're also expanding their land presence with new private beach clubs and experiences.

There are plans in place to open a beach club in Nassau, Bahamas later this year, followed by a beach club in Cozumel, Mexico next year.

Then there's the massive Perfect Day Mexico opening that will add a second Perfect Day experience to the Caribbean portfolio.

After that, they'll shift to the Pacific and open a new experience in Vanuatu to offer more for Australian and New Zealand itineraries.

Of course, there are possible other projects on the horizon too to match their rumored ship ambitions.

Oasis of the Seas was the first of Royal Caribbean's Oasis Class, but Wonder of the Seas introduced so many improvements to these ships.

Both ships are among the largest in the world and are in the process of shifting to shorter Caribbean cruises in a move meant to attract more new cruisers.

While Oasis and Wonder are separated by over 10 years in their debuts, they're still more similar than different.

However, there are notable differences between the two worth considering before you choose one.

Ship overview

Oasis of the Seas was a gamechanger when she debuted in 2009, and it's difficult to properly convey how this one ship completely changed the cruise industry overnight.

Not only was this ship the biggest in the world, but Oasis was revolutionary for its design and how much there was to do onboard.

Oasis measures 226,838 gross tons and can carry 5,602 passengers at double occupancy. 

While that's really big, Wonder is even bigger. Wonder of the Seas was also the biggest cruise ship in the world at the time of her launch. This ship weighs 235,600 gross tons and can carry 5,734 passengers at double occupancy. 

Today, Wonder is the fourth largest ship behind and Oasis is eighth.

Wonder of the Seas currently sails 3 and 4-night cruises out of Miami, visiting the Bahamas and Perfect Day at CocoCay.

Oasis of the Seas is offering 6- to 9-night Caribbean cruises from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. In 2026, Oasis moves up to Cape Liberty, New Jersey to offer cruises from the New York City area.

Here's a look at the two ship's statistics, compared:

*at double occupancy

Neighborhoods

Oasis of the Seas introduced the concept of neighborhoods as a way to make it easy for passengers to find their way around massive ships..

The idea is simple: distinguish areas with a common theme so that you'll instantly recognize where you are without memorizing the ship deck plans.

One key difference between Oasis and Wonder is there's an extra neighborhood on Wonder of the Seas.

1. Royal Promenade: Main thoroughfare filled with bars, shops, and entertainment
2. Central Park: Outdoor park with real plants and trees. You'll also find specialty dining, and shopping
3. Boardwalk: Open air section on back of the ship with the Aquatheater, along with classic carousel and restaurants
4. Pool and Sports Zone: Resort themed pool deck, featuring pools, waterslides (The Perfect Storm), the FlowRider surf simulator, and rock-climbing walls
5. Vitality Spa and Fitness Center: A wellness-focused neighborhood offering spa treatments & fitness facilities
6. Youth Zone: Adventure Ocean and teen clubs where supervised age-specific programming is offered
7. Entertainment Place: A district dedicated to evening entertainment, including the ship's main theater, casino,  & ice rink
8. Suite Neighborhood: Only on Wonder of the Seas (and Utopia), reserved area.

Oasis has a suite sun deck, but the expanded Suite Sun Deck on Wonder is truly more impressive and feels more like a resort than simply a reserved area of the pool deck.

I think the Suite Sun Deck is so impressive on Wonder, that if you're considering booking a suite and trying to decide between ships, I'd pick Wonder for that reason.

Dining

You'll find lots of dining choices on both ships, but there are a few key differences.

Each ship has plenty of included restaurants as well as specialty dining. There's sushi, steak, a sports bar, and tropical themed pool bars.

There is room service on both ships, although it has a service fee with it (continental breakfast is free).

In comparing the ships, certain restaurants aren't available on both. You'll find Wonder has a few extra venues not available on Oasis.

It's primarily in the specialty dining where there differences. Oasis of the Seas has Portside BBQ, which is a barbecue restaurant offering turkey legs, brisket, mac 'n' cheese, pulled port and more. It's priced a la carte, although there are combo offerings.

Both ships have a Giovanni's Italian restaurant, but the version on Wonder is updated. This version has a newer menu that offers an expanded menu and updated recipes.

Another difference on Wonder is it has the Mason Jar, a restaurant serving Southern American comfort food, with live music at the popular bar area.

*suite guests only

Staterooms

The choice in staterooms on Wonder of the Seas and Oasis of the Seas are fairly similar, with one notable suite exception.

Wonder of the Seas has 2,867 cabins, while Oasis has just 2,801 cabins. It's a small difference, made up primarily of inside rooms added in places that are public areas on Oasis.

The biggest difference is that Wonder of the Seas has the Ultimate Family Suite, and Oasis does not.

This is a two story epic suite that is designed to wow and amaze just about everyone. It includes an in-suite slide, private jacuzzi, movie room, bunk beds, giant TV, and a LEGO wall.

As you might imagine, the Ultimate Family Suite is quite expensive and often costs as much about $14,000 per night!

If you'd prefer something less expensive, you'll find plenty of other cabin choices.

Both Wonder and Oasis have balcony cabins that overlook the ocean, Central Park, or Boardwalk.

Both ships also have virtual balcony cabins, which include a floor-to-ceiling screen that projects a live view from outside the ship.

Entertainment and activities

Royal Caribbean designed both cruise ships to offer as much as possible onboard, and they won't leave you disappointed with there not being enough to do.

There are shows in three different theaters, live music, pools, casino gambling, surfing, laser tag, and rock climbing abound on both vessels.

One key difference is Oasis of the Seas has a full Broadway show onboard, whereas Wonder relies on shows produced by the cruise line.

"Cats" is performed on each sailing of Oasis of the Seas, and it's included in your cruise fare.  

Both ships have amazing performances in the Aquadome, where there are high dive acrobat shows.

I prefer the Aqua80s show on Oasis of the Seas because of the tribute to the music of the 80s!

It's also worth noting Wonder of the Seas has the Vue Bar, whereas Oasis does not.

As its name implies, the Vue Bar offers sweeping ocean views from the pool deck.

Each night you'll find bars and lounges that feature live music. The two ships, however, do vary in entertainment venues. 

Another change between the ships is at the back of the ship, where Oasis has two FlowRider surf simulators, but Wonder has one.

Instead of two FlowRiders, Wonder has a Playscape.  This is an outdoor kids play park.

One difference (for now) is that Oasis of the Seas is sailing weeklong voyages, whereas Wonder of the Seas has transitioned to weekend cruises.

Royal Caribbean wants Wonder to have more of a party vibe to it, making it appealing to new cruisers who want to try it out.

Wonder is nicknamed, "Miami’s New Weekend Wonder" and has 10 next-level parties.

This includes:

• Bring the Beat Back: A Party Through the Decades
• Sailaway Party
• Plunge Day Pool Party
• Royal Kappa Chi (college party)
• Silent Toga Party

Oasis of the Seas isn't a floating library by any means. You'll find lots of parties and events happening. Both ships have themed nights and dance, DJ, and street parties.

Would you spend $150,000 to sail on a 7-night cruise aboard Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas with your family? 

One TikTok creator, @boredfarmfamily, recently sailed on Icon of the Seas in the magnificent Ultimate Family Townhouse suite. The family documented their cruise experience in the massive three-level suite and shared the video on TikTok, stating they spent $150,000 on their vacation. 

The family’s TikTok was titled, “Was it worth $150,000 for a family of 6 on Icon of the Seas?” In the video’s caption, she wrote, “Come see the most epic room on a cruise ship… the $150,000 Ultimate Family Townhouse on Icon of the Seas for a family of 6! Royal Caribbean really outdid themselves with this one.”

With such an outrageously high price tag, the video is going viral with over 1 million views, 100k hearts, and more than 7,000 comments. The jaw-dropping tour showcases the suite’s expansive layout, colorful design, and incredible kid-friendly amenities.

With a total price tag of $150,000 for six guests, this breaks down to about $21,428 per night. For six people, that comes out to roughly $3,571 per person, per night of the cruise. In comparison, I just spent four nights on Wonder of the Seas and only spent $292 per person for each night in our interior cabin!

Was the cost worthwhile for this over-the-top Royal Caribbean suite? According to the family, it absolutely was - and after seeing the suite, it’s easy to understand why. Here’s a full breakdown of the TikTok video, along with details about Royal Caribbean’s next-level and ultra-luxurious suite.

The Ultimate Family Townhouse is truly unlike any other cruise cabin at sea.

This isn’t your average cruise suite. In fact, it’s the most expensive and spacious suite that Royal Caribbean has ever created. With 1,772 square feet of space, this over-the-top cabin is one of the most exclusive suites in the cruise industry. The suite is three levels and features two bedrooms that can sleep up to eight passengers. The size of this suite is larger than most apartments!

It’s been designed from top to bottom with families in mind, from the multi-story slide to the piano-key stairs that play music notes when you step on them. As you might expect, Royal Caribbean has incorporated imaginative, playful, and memorable components to bring the ultimate family vacation to Icon of the Seas.

The entire suite feels like a playground for the whole family to enjoy. Inside, guests can take advantage of activities like ping pong and other amenities that include a movie room, karaoke machine, video games, two large balconies, and a private hot tub. 

The Ultimate Family Townhouse even has its own mailbox and private patio with an exclusive entrance to the kid-friendly Surfside neighborhood. Of course, the townhouse suite also comes with top-notch perks and Royal Star Class luxuries. For example, all guests receive the following amenities and perks:

• Royal Genie
• Exclusive complimentary dining
• Complimentary drink package
• Suite lounge access
• Suite sun deck access
• Exclusive activities onboard
• Complimentary gratuities
• Expedited boarding & departure
• Priority entrance to onboard activities
• Complimentary minibar
• Still and sparkling water
• Unlimited VOOM high-speed WiFi
• All-day access to Coastal Kitchen
• Best seats in select entertainment

The TikTok video shows the family boarding Icon of the Seas with their Royal Genie — and a big surprise for the kids.

The TikTok begins on embarkation day with the family walking across the gangway onto Icon of the Seas. Because they booked the Ultimate Family Townhouse, the family received priority embarkation. They were met with their own Royal Genie, which acts as a concierge and personal assistant for the entire cruise.

A Royal Genie is meant to anticipate the needs of their suite guests, such as arranging one-of-a-kind experiences and planning reservations for entertainment and specialty dining. They can make just about anything happen, from snagging the best seats at the nightly shows to creating private surprises in the cabin itself.

According to the TikTok video, the parents were surprising their kids with the Ultimate Family Townhouse. The video states, “At this point, the kids still had no idea what their surprise was.”

The video shows the Royal Genie escorting the family on Deck 8 to their cabin entrance, although the suite spans across Decks 7, 8, and 9. At this point, the kids still don’t know they will be cruising in one of the most elaborate suites in the cruise industry!

The kids were instantly blown away by the suite surprise!

As you might expect, the big reveal comes as a surprise to the family’s kids. As the door opens, the family's in awe by the imaginative, whimsical suite. Royal Caribbean has even decorated the suite with balloons and a giant “Happy Birthday” sign in the living room for the family. 

The kids start making comments like, “Woah!” while the youngest daughter states, “I love it!” The parents respond that they’ve been planning the surprise for a while.

The most eye-catching feature is the suite’s very own in-room slide. The large red slide is a quick favorite for the family, as the kids begin sliding down with big smiles on their faces. The tunnel slide starts on the upper level and slides down into the living room - certainly way more fun than the stairs!

The main level includes an oversized living area with quirky and colorful furniture rather than a standard couch or chair. In another corner, we can see the in-suite cinema room with a large flatscreen TV, massive daybed, and popcorn machine for the ultimate family movie night. Video game consoles are available to use, along with a karaoke machine for family singing competitions.

The suite’s design is over-the-top with kid-friendly amenities and thoughtful touches.

The Ultimate Family Townhouse has plenty of space to comfortably accommodate up to eight guests. With two full bedrooms and three bathrooms, the family of six can be seen exploring the massive suite and all of its kid-friendly amenities. Floor-to-ceiling windows also provide unmatched views of the ocean and the ship’s wake.

While the master bedroom includes a king-sized bed and bathroom with twin vanities and a double shower, the kids' room is expertly designed. The TikTok video shows the family's kids exploring their own room with bunk beds and Disney-themed bedding. The kids' cabin has its own colorful bathroom, along with a TV and headset for each of the kids to enjoy in the cabin.

Across the cabin, Royal Caribbean has decorated the walls with playful graphics, like a giraffe wearing sunglasses. One of the upper levels also features a mesh play space with views of the lower level.

Even the dining area is decked out for kids!

The Ultimate Family Townhouse features a dining area that adds another layer of fun. Rather than a standard dining room table, this one comes to life with interactive, digital animations that kids can play with. The dining room’s gaming table is a highlight for the family, as the TikToker can be seen trying out the table’s many different features.

Of course, Royal Caribbean prepared the dining room with plenty of treats and goodies for the family on embarkation day. The TikTok video shows a beautiful display of desserts across the table, including colorful pastries, cupcakes, and miniature desserts. The family couldn’t help themselves from sampling the many different treats!

The massive suite features more outdoor space, a private patio, and an exclusive entrance to Surfside neighborhood.

If the suite’s interior features have left you impressed, just wait until you see the outdoor area. The suite’s total indoor space measures 1,772 square feet, but when you add in the multiple balconies and backyard, the outdoor space totals more than 700 additional square feet.

One of the most unique features of the Ultimate Family Townhouse is the private patio with a fenced-in backyard. This isn’t something you typically find in a cruise ship suite. A full-size Connect Four and ping pong table can be found in the backyard, along with outdoor seating.

The TikTok video starts touring the outdoor patio and wrap-around balconies. With its very own white picket fence and even its own mailbox, the outdoor space is unlike anything at sea.

In addition, the backyard has its own private entrance into the family-focused Surfside neighborhood. The private entrance allows the kids to go straight from their suite into the infinity pool, splash pads, and kid-friendly restaurants, such as the Surfside Eatery and Pier 7. Parents also have access to the Lemon Post Bar for cocktails and drinks, including kid-approved mocktails.

The Ultimate Family Townhouse also features two massive, wraparound balconies. The main balcony spans more than 400 square feet with additional space for lounging or dining outside. A private hot tub is another spectacular feature of the Ultimate Family Townhouse, which is sure to bring incredible sunset views!

In addition, the suite features a second balcony from the master bedroom for parents to use. This balcony is slightly smaller, measuring only 90 square feet.  In total, the Ultimate Family Townhouse covers nearly 2,500 square feet, making it larger than many actual townhouses on land.

Was it worth the $150,000 cost? The TikTok family says yes, but many of the comments aren’t sure.

At the end of the TikTok video, Bored Family Farm concludes their tour with footage of the family enjoying their private hot tub. The family states the suite was “definitely worth the $150,000 for our family of six,” and says the cruise vacation leaves them with memories of a lifetime.

For most cruisers, that price tag is jaw-dropping and likely out of reach. Considering the average salary for an American is around $66,000 and the median household income per year is $83,730, the Ultimate Family Townhouse is not realistic for the average cruiser.

With the TikTok video going viral online, some of the comments disagree that $150,000 is worth a 7-night cruise aboard Icon of the Seas.

“$150,000 to be an a cruise ship. I would never waste my money like that,” states one TikTok user in the comment section. Another cruiser responded, “We were on the same ship and I paid about $142k less.”

“With that kind of money why go on a cruise, they could’ve rented a yacht,” responded another commenter.

On the other hand, some people felt the family had every right to spend their money however they wanted. One TikTok user fired back at critics, “‘I would never spend that kind of money on a cruise.’ Well, great—probably because you don’t have that kind of money. Let their parents do what THEY want with THEIR money. No one asked for your opinion. Thanks.”

“If you have $150k to drop on a cruise, you don't owe any of us an explanation! Enjoy!!” reads one of the top comments. Another comment states, “If I had the money, I would do it too for my kids. When you have MONEY, 150K is nothing.”

Another TikTok user states, “The kids are going to have these memories forever, money comes and goes! Sooo happy for them and you too mom and dad for making it happen!!”

While the Ultimate Family Townhouse is far beyond the budget of most cruisers, Royal Caribbean has discovered it’s a massive hit with top-tier spenders. According to Royal Caribbean, the Ultimate Family Townhouse was sold out during Icon of the Seas' inaugural cruise season. At the time, Royal Caribbean said the price tag was upwards of $80,000, which is about half the cost that Bored Family Farm paid.

Happy Sunday, and welcome back to an edition of our Royal Caribbean news round-up. We'll summarize all the latest news from the cruise line, so just sit back, relax, and read on.

Legend of the Seas will be ready much earlier than originally expected.

Royal Caribbean added 3 new sailings before the inaugural sailing that was previously announced.

That means the third Icon Class ship will enter service almost a month earlier.

Royal Caribbean News

• Royal Caribbean is attracting more young Americans to cruising and building their loyalty
• The biggest cruise ship in the world also has the fastest satellite internet ever
• One easy thing they do to make your cruise better, according to our readers
• 4 Cruise excursions that looked better online
• The 1970s Royal Caribbean cruise meal we wish would return
• Royal Caribbean Amplification schedule: Which ships have been upgraded
• 9 ways to store more in your cruise cabin

New RCB Video: My 10 FAVORITE Royal Caribbean ships in 2025, Ranked

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—My 10 FAVORITE Royal Caribbean ships in 2025, Ranked—and don’t forget to subscribe here.

Fight forces cruise ship to turn around and go back to port

A fight among passengers on Wonder of the Seas was so disrupting that it went back to Miami to kick them off the ship.

There's been no official confirmation by the cruise line, but it appears a brawl onboard lead to the forced disembarkation of a group of passengers.  Police officers were seen on the pier waiting as the ship arrived.

There was also an unrelated injury to a different passenger that required medical attention too.

Deck-by-deck changes coming to Harmony of the Seas

We have a list of every single change coming to Harmony of the Seas in 2026.

Updated deck plans reveal all the changes, upgrades, and additions coming to the ship.

Harmony is one of three ships set to get upgraded next year.

Royal Caribbean quietly added a bar guests said was missing

There's a new bar on Utopia of the Seas to address a need that passengers say was missing.

When the ship launched last year, there was no Vitality Cafe. That omission lead to complaints because it offered healthy drink options not found elsewhere.

Now, there's a make-shift fix for the issue.

The secret cruise deal sheet most people don't know about

Did you know about the Going, Going, Gone deals that get released every week?

It's not well-advertised, but there's a list of last-minute cruise deals Royal Caribbean puts out, but you have to know where to look to find it.

Bargain hunters could land a really good deal with some of the offers.

It seems like a lot of shore excursions look incredible from the comfort of your couch as you're scrolling through ideas.

I think a lot of people hunt for that amazing tour when they look through Instagram or TikTok, and it's easy for photos of these places to look incredible.

I've been fortunate enough to take Royal Caribbean cruises all over the world, including Europe and the Caribbean.

I usually have good luck with finding tours that match up to my expectations, thanks to a lot of research and reading others experiences.

Unfortunately, a few of shore excursions turned out to be duds, because they didn't deliver on the beauty and splendor I expected.

Norwegian glaciers were tiny

On my first cruise to the Norwegian fjords, I was determined to see as much natural beauty as possible, and this took me on a tour to visit a glacier.

I had seen glaciers on my Alaska cruises, so I couldn't wait to see even more here.

Briksdal Glacier (Briksdalsbreen) was the top glacier recommended to see while in Olden, Norway.

I took an hour-long hike and felt disappointed when I reached the viewing point. The reality is this glacier is difficult to see because it's retreated so much.

Unlike Mendenhall Glacier, I found this one to be quite small and I was let down after the hike required to get there.

The lesson in Norway is focus on the fjords, which are fantastic, and save the glaciers for Alaska.

Private island had no shade and no facilities

A private island with no residents and no crowds seems like it should be the perfect kind of Caribbean beach day, but I was happy to go back to the ship when it was time.

When we visited Belize for the first time, I read reviews about this great little island to visit called Goff's Caye. 

It's only 1.2 acres of sand, and you need to take a boat to access it.

When we arrived, it was very much a tiny, secluded island. While a tropical oasis like this might seem lovely, I quickly realized having some level of amenities matters more than I thought.

The beach had very little shade, provided only by the few trees on the island. A BBQ lunch was available to purchase, but it was a limited and rather uninspired meal.

The truth is this excursion is meant as a backdrop for snorkeling, which I didn't care for.  I prefer going to a beach for the above water experience.

Oversold beach excursion in Jamaica

Perhaps the worst excursion I've ever taken was to Blue Waters Beach Escape in Falmouth, Jamaica.

The problem with this excursion is it's your typical oversold, under delivering beach day.

Booked through Royal Caribbean, there was a short bus ride to the beach where we arrived and saw many other buses of tourists beat us there first.

The staff assigned guests chairs, and we managed to get one of the last ones. People behind us had to settle for beach chair mats until chairs were freed up by departing guests.

The food was described as, "unlimited food (jerk chicken, pasta) served up by 5-star chefs".  While I'm not a food critic by any means, it certainly was not five-star level food.

Another excursion pet peeve of mine is "free wifi" that is only available in one area and in this case, it was so overused by guests that it became useless.

This might have been a great excursion had it not been oversold to the point that it became frustratingly crowded.

Bermuda beach

A lesson in not taking the easy route is my experience in Bermuda.

We had hit a homerun with going on a sunset yacht tour the night before, so we decided to take it easy and walk to the Snorkel Park Beach Club that is a few minutes away from where Royal Caribbean ships dock in Bermuda.

While it was convenient, that's where the accolades end.

Two chairs and umbrella cost $75, and that doesn't include any food or drink.

Then there's the sand, which is about as coarse and hard as you'll ever find. This is a man-made beach purpose built for cruise tourists. I've heard it was built on a former garbage dump, but I'm not sure if that's actually true.

Admittedly, we went there out of laziness, but we should have put in a bit more effort for a substantially better beach.

Royal Caribbean wants to win over the younger generation of cruisers with more than adrenaline-pumping thrills and Broadway-style entertainment. 

By leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) and other innovations, Royal Caribbean has turned its app into what Millennials are calling the cruise line's "biggest flex."  

Royal Caribbean's mobile app was first introduced in 2018 and quickly became a favorite feature amongst guests. 

The app made it easier than ever to browse the daily schedule, make dining reservations, and book shore excursions, and over the years, it's continued to evolve into a powerful digital companion. 

Today, it is praised for its personalization, ease, and seamlessness, particularly among Gen Z and Millennial cruisers.  

By meeting younger travelers where they are (i.e., on their cell phones), Royal Caribbean is not only modernizing the cruise experience but also building lifelong loyalty. 

"Technology isn’t just an add-on for us — it’s central to how we design vacations," said Rafeh Masood, Chief Digital and Growth Officer of Royal Caribbean Group. 

"By developing these tools in-house, we can anticipate what younger travelers want and deliver it in a way that feels seamless. That approach is winning over first-time cruisers and turning them into loyal guests who return again and again."

Gamified Loyalty & Digital Badges

In March, Royal Caribbean rolled out new mobile badges that awarded guests for each ship they've sailed on.

Later on, they added a feature that lets cruisers earn badges for the destinations they’ve visited — from Perfect Day at CocoCay to Europe, Mexico, Bermuda, and beyond. 

Millennials and Gen Z love sharing experiences, and tracking which ships they have sailed on to different destinations creates a sense of achievement and pride, almost like collecting new stamps in a passport. 

Read more: Royal Caribbean updated its virtual badges, and it's become a "Gotta Catch 'Em All!" craze

Smart Suggestions

Royal Caribbean's app gives guests "Netflix-style recommendations" for dining, nightlife, and excursions based on personal preferences. 

This makes it easier to discover what is trending onboard the ship without feeling overwhelmed by everything going on. 

The app will also send notifications for pre-cruise planner sales, so guests can save on their favorite add-ons like shore excursions, drink packages, Wi-Fi, and more.

Calendar-Friendly Notifications

Speaking of everything going on, it can be easy to forget what you've signed up for or were interested in. 

Thankfully, Royal Caribbean's mobile app sends smart, calendar-friendly notifications to remind passengers of their upcoming reservations, comedy shows, and sunset yoga classes that they signed up for.  

Real-Time Peace of Mind

Available exclusively on Star of the Seas (for now), parents can use the Royal Caribbean app to track their kids’ location onboard in real time.

The "Find My Kid" feature keeps tabs on children in public spaces across the ship, as well as in their stateroom. Children must be registered at Adventure Ocean and have a special WOW Band to utilize this service. 

Although it isn't a replacement for good parenting, it lets parents have a little peace of mind when letting their children go off on their own on the cruise ship. 

Read more: Royal Caribbean adds a way to track your kids on its newest cruise ship

Royal Caribbean uses AI for more than its mobile app

Artificial intelligence helps Royal Caribbean manage millions of daily price points and even reduce waste onboard its fleet of ships. 

"We manage about 15 million price points a day. That used to be done more or less with a couple 100 revenue managers, and today, those 15 million price points, 90-plus percent of them are all AI-driven," said Jacon Liberty, President and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group, at the Skift Global Forum in New York City on Wednesday.

Liberty continued, adding that they've reduced waste on 69 of its ships (comprised of vessels operating under the Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, and Silversea umbrellas) by 50%. 

One way they've done so is by leveraging AI to help adjust food production in real-time. For example, AI can help predict how many hamburgers and other food items the chefs should prepare.

It also helps crew members better estimate how much food should be thawed and prepped throughout the sailing.

"We’re using well over 50,000 eggs per day…We have 180,000 passengers, as we speak right now on our ships. Just being able to manage it at a deeper level and a more predictable level has huge savings for us on a waste standpoint," Liberty said. 

Read more: What does Royal Caribbean do with all its uneaten food?

When people think about Royal Caribbean's early days, the now departed ships usually get all the attention (and understandably so).

But one tradition you'd find on any of those ships in the 1970s or 1980s was the midnight buffet.

Unlike the restaurants that you'll find all over a cruise ship today, none seem to capture the mystique of the late night gorging and excitement that the midnight buffet offered.

The midnight buffet was a culinary institution on every Royal Caribbean cruise ship until sometime in the 1990s when it was slowly phased away from the lineup. For longtime cruisers, we appreciated the new dining choices, but missed the variety and experience that came with the midnight buffet.

What was the midnight buffet?

Unlike the cruise buffet during the day, the midnight buffet was an event and a meal.

Royal Caribbean referred to it as the "Gala Buffet".

Cruise ships before the mega ship era had a different approach to cruising, and one of the big differences was there was a lot less activities and things to do compared to today.

The midnight buffet served two purposes: feed passengers and give them something to do.

Back then, ships didn't have as many casual grab-and-go restaurants. Specialty restaurants really didn't exist, and it was just the Windjammer and Main Dining Room.

Royal Caribbean called it "a pageant of delicious dishes" and encouraged passengers to bring their camera, because half the fun was seeing how beautiful and excessive the displays were.

Food and more food

Typically there would be more than just a lot of food.  You'd also find ice carvings, fruit sculptures, and chocolate fountains.

Held in the Main Dining Room, guests could actually first tour the area before eating it all. It was an opportunity to take photos and see the carvings of ice, bread, fruit, carved into exotic animals, scenes, ships. No touching or eating allowed.

There would be a period where the dining room was closed, and then at midnight it would re-open for guests to come back in and actually eat.  

It was a combination of dining and performance art.

The midnight buffet lasted an hour until 1am, and you could expect caviar, shrimp, and more.

The best part? It was included in your cruise fare.

Why it disappeared

It's likely two main factors contributed to the demise of the midnight buffet.

First, even the most ardent cruise fans that loved the Gala Buffet recall it being quite wasteful.

There was so much food available, including the various carvings and food displays.  They were fabulous, but also a fabulous waste of food in many cases.

Given it was held at midnight, only a portion of cruisers actually stayed up for it and that meant less demand.

The other reason why the Gala Buffet disappeared is because cruise ships got bigger and added more casual dining options.

Other late-night venues were added, such as Cafe Promenade and Sorrento's Pizza.

Big ships brought with them a different vibe, with a focus on late-night parties, gambling, and events that went well beyond the dining room.

It can be argued that the megaships also placed a greater emphasis on the economy of scale that came with them, and the costs of putting on a midnight buffet didn't make a lot of business sense.

By the late 90s and into the early 2000s, the Gala Buffet was extinct.

Why I wish it would come back

I think there's a real need on Royal Caribbean ships for late-night food that goes beyond pizza, and we know Royal Caribbean emphasizes experience over everything else.

In comparing Royal Caribbean to other lines, I think the variety of food served after 10pm is lacking. So I think bringing back this buffet would address that need.

Plus, the Gala Buffet was an event. Guests love those "wow moments" on a cruise, and that's evident when they walk into the Windjammer and there's a large food display, such as a cake or ice sculpture. 

Royal Caribbean is fond of saying their approach to cruise ships is a combination of tradition, evolution, and revolution. So why not tackle a fond cruising tradition that could be evolved to meet the needs of today's cruisers with a fun twist?

Could Royal Caribbean bring it back?

While I doubt we'd ever see the same culinary extravaganza that were present on ships in the 1970s, I do think they could do something more practical.

I'd love for them to have a smaller-scale themed buffet, and offer it once per cruise so it can be a must-see event.

Making memories is at the heart of so many offerings on the ships today, and it's clear the midnight buffet is still one of the most fondly recalled cruising memory from the past.  If it was that remarkable then, maybe it's time to bring it back in an updated form?

Cruisers today love to experience and share it all with friends and family. I think a midnight buffet would be the perfect photo op that translates to Instagram moments. The sort of posts that would get people's attention because they are surprised what you can do on a cruise.

I think this idea is rooted in nostalgia, but considering how often car makers, retailers, and even Taco Bell dips into retro passions, maybe it's time for Royal Caribbean to do the same!