Royal Caribbean Blog

I think going on a Royal Caribbean cruise is better with friends, so I'll invite as many as I can to sail each time we have something booked.

Although I know these people well in my everyday life, group travel is a different dynamic and I've learned there need to be certain expectations ahead of time.

We're all on vacation together, but there are challenges to navigate when you're sailing with people you know. You definitely don't want to let something silly not only ruin the cruise, but put your entire friendship in jeopardy.

Over the years, I've added techniques based on life lessons that make a cruise with friends so much better and less likely to break up our relationships.

I make it clear we aren't spending every minute together

The great thing about a cruise vacation is how much there is to see and do, and I think it's easier to do your own thing than if I traveled to a city or theme park with friends.

When I extend an invitation to book the same cruise as us, I try to convey that we want to sail together but understand that they will want alone time and we do too.

I remember the "Full House" episode when the Tanners went to Disney World and Danny overplanned the entire trip in a vain effort to stimulate bonding.  All it did was annoy everyone, and that has stuck with me.

I'll tell my friends there will be times where we want to chill, or do an excursion with just us. And I'm okay if they want to do the same thing.

I love traveling with friends because there are times when we can socialize together by the pool, on the beach, or at dinner.  But it doesn't have to be a 24/7 activity.

Not every friend is right for a cruise together

Real talk: some friends are wonderful people to hang out with for a beer at home, but traveling together might not be a great idea.

I've learned there are different family dynamics, special needs, and personalities that might work well for dinner out but not necessarily on the same ship for a week.

The issue isn't everyone needs to be a clone of my personality, rather, I don't want frustrations to boil over.

Some of my friends compliment my travel's family style better than others, so it's okay to be picky with which friends I'll invite. Being friends only at home isn't a bad thing either.

Book the cruise with the same travel agent

A lesson of making your cruise easier is to use the same travel agency for the booking.

Not only could you potentially get group benefits from Royal Caribbean if you book enough cabins, but being booked under the same travel agent really makes coordinating onboard plans a lot simpler.

I don't want to be nagging my friends to make final payment or try to answer billing questions. I'll let the travel agent do that, so we can focus on the fun things together.

Plus, a travel agent can easily link everyone's reservations together so that dining together is simple.

I make planning a group conversation

There are two elements to a cruise where I think you really want a group effort: dining and excursions.

I rarely plan out anything onboard the ship during the day, but I'll definitely want to get a consensus about where and when we plan to eat because dinner on cruises is the most pivotal time.

Are we going to eat in the Main Dining Room? Buy a dining package? Windjammer it up?

The reason dinner is so important is it's clearly the meal every day where most passengers are doing the same thing, and it's a good opportunity to talk about our day, make evening plans, and essentially come together.  

The other group think activity is to plan out our tours on shore.

Finding an awesome shore excursion to share in together is probably the best thing about cruising with friends.  Hanging at a beautiful beach, exploring a city, or trying something together really adds to the memories.

It's fairly informal, but we usually text each other excursion ideas and then agree on one.  Going back to my second tip in this article, I've found the people that I like to invite to a cruise have the same ideas of what a fun excursion are going to be, and that helps ensure we're on the same page.

Usually it's easy enough to toss them a link to book a dinner or excursion, so there's no mess of money to be discussed.  But if we're going to share a cabana or private tour and I'm going to book it, then I'll be very clear on how much they owe before we agree to book it. 

I've learned you should never assume how much the other people think they'll owe. 

Establish a way to text onboard

It's so much easier to stay in contact with friends on Royal Caribbean ships now, thanks to better internet and even a free chat feature in the app. You can even make a group chat with the app.

Before getting onboard, have a plan how you'll communicate with each other.  Text, WhatsApp, or the Royal Caribbean app all work, but get that sorted out before the ship departs.

The key is to ensure you all agree on something before you get onboard so no one is left in the dark.

Sharing a cabin? Split your bill (and bed)

If you've invited a friend to share a cabin with you, be sure to get them on a different billing option than you.

Nothing ruins a friendship faster than money, so go to Guest Services after you board the ship and have them add their credit card to their account.  That way, there's no confusion who owes what or why someone bought something.

While on the topic of money, you should agree on how you're splitting the onboard credit for the cabin. It's quite common to get OBC, so agree who gets it or how you'll split it.  Never assume!

Speaking of splitting, you can split your bed by asking your stateroom to do it.

You can specify this on your cruise reservation ahead of time, but if it doesn't get done, just ask your cabin attendant.

Ask, don't expect

Another lesson from cruising with friends is it's safer to ask them about a plan or idea rather than waiting for them to come to you.

It can be dicey trying to balance your friendship in a way that doesn't seem like you're too needy or distant.

I feel I'm a point in my life where we don't need to act like it's high school and there are social rules for when and when not to do something, especially when it comes to inviting yourself.

Ultimately, I'll opt to shoot a quick message over to ask if our friends want to join us or if we can join them for something. But there's the understanding the answer can be "no" and it won't hurt our feelings.

Examples include:

• Getting chairs at the pool deck
• Going to a show
• Sitting at the bar for drinks

These are situations where the words, "Mind if I join you" are said. 

Too many times I've deferred not to be a bother only to realize later they would have loved to have us join them, but didn't want to bug us.

A new tropical disturbance in the Pacific Ocean is causing at least one cruise ship to be rerouted away from its path.

Royal Caribbean’s Ovation of the Seas has adjusted its current itinerary to reroute away from Cabo San Lucas and avoid the impact of Tropical Storm Mario.

One cruiser posted to a Royal Caribbean Facebook page about the last-minute itinerary change. The guest, who is currently sailing on Ovation of the Seas, reported that the captain announced the reroute to avoid Tropical Storm Mario.

The passenger wrote, “On Ovation preparing to leave Los Angeles…The captain just came on and due to Tropical Storm Mario forming near Cabo San Lucas, our ship’s itinerary has changed. We have 2 days at sea now and 2 days in Ensenada, Mexico (overnight). Really wanted to go to Cabo, but oh well. As long as we’re on a ship, who cares!!!”

Another guest onboard posted to Reddit about the itinerary change. The poster shared, "Our overnight cruise to Cabo on Ovation just was bumped to Ensenada because there was no chance for tenders with the tropical storm. Entirely understandable but still a massive bummer. Especially since we now head back to a port we didn’t want to visit again, much less for two days."

Tropical Storm Mario officially developed on Friday off the Pacific coast of Mexico. The storm is forecast to bring heavy rain with strong winds and potential flooding to the Baja California peninsula. Because Cabo San Lucas doesn’t have a dock for cruise ships, guests must take small tender boats to go ashore. 

Ovation of the Seas is currently sailing a 5-night Cabo Overnight itinerary from Los Angeles, California. The Quantum class ship departed from Los Angeles today, September 12, 2025, for the Baja California cruise.

The cruise ship was scheduled to arrive in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico on September 14, 2025 for an overnight stay. Ovation of the Seas was meant to depart Cabo San Lucas on September 15, 2025 and spend one day at sea before returning to California. Instead, the cruise ship will spend two days at sea before docking in Ensenada, Mexico for an overnight visit.

The revised itinerary allows Ovation of the Seas to steer clear of the storm’s path while still providing passengers with a port experience in Mexico.

The National Hurricane Center described Tropical Storm Mario as a “tiny” storm, but the system is expected to intensify over the next few days. The storm has reported sustained winds of 40 mph, which could extend upwards of 25 miles north of the storm's center.

In addition, tropical storm conditions could be possible as a result of the system along portions of the coast of Michoacan as the system moves parallel to the southwestern coast of Mexico.

Forecasts show that heavy rainfall will impact Jalisco and nearby regions through Saturday morning, and the National Hurricane Center warns this could result in flash flooding for high terrain areas. Tropical Storm Mario is predicted to bring two to four inches of rain. 

The National Hurricane Center states that gusty winds are possible along the coasts of western Guerrero, Michoacan, and Colima. Tropical Storm Mario is currently moving toward the west-northwest at 14 mph and forecasters predict this will continue throughout the weekend.

By Sunday, the system is forecast to shift farther out to sea, gradually moving away from land. As it tracks west into the open Pacific early next week, Tropical Storm Mario should begin to weaken. However, coastal areas may still feel lingering effects like high surf and scattered showers.

Ovation of the Seas is still scheduled to return to Los Angeles, California on September 17, 2025 despite the revised itinerary. It’s not uncommon for cruise lines to reroute ships to avoid storms to maintain the safety of the vessel, crew members, and passengers. In addition, rerouting ensures guests can still enjoy their vacation comfortably without stormy weather and rocky seas.

There are three swim-up bars planned for Royal Caribbean's first-ever private beach club, including The Floating Flamingo, which is billed as "the world’s largest swim-up bar."

Royal Caribbean is making significant construction progress on its exclusive beach club in Nassau, Bahamas that it hopes will alleviate a major guest complain about the popular cruise port.

With multiple beaches, swimming pools, restaurants, and bars, the Royal Beach Club Paradise Island will offer plenty of space for guests to relax, cool off, and avoid the crowds at other beaches in Nassau, which can see upwards of 20,000 to 30,000 cruise passengers per day. 

Once completed, Royal Caribbean guests can enjoy the exclusive amenities and breathtaking ocean views — for an extra charge. 

Royal Beach Club Paradise Island will open in December 2025

Ralph Salsman shared photos of the beach club's construction process on Facebook. Salsman captured the images on September 10, 2025. 

The photos reveal that the lounge over the swim-up bar is taking shape. Floating Flamingo, the world’s biggest swim-up bar, will be the go-to spot for partiers with refreshing drinks, live tunes, and unbeatable ocean views. 

The upstairs portion will be home to the 720-square-foot Party Deck, an exclusive poolside area overlooking the Floating Flamingo swim-up bar with an exclusive beverage menu, charging station, mini-fridge, and more. 

Other photos show various buildings around the 17-acre property coming along, including the private cabanas. The cabanas at Royal Beach Club Paradise Island are an extra-cost add-on that can be purchased to elevate your island beach day. 

The beach and poolside cabanas feature comfortable lounge seating, shade, and personalized service. Those with more money to burn can splurge on the $10,000 two-story Ultimate Family Cabana. 

The price includes admission for up to 12 guests, a cabana attendant, private bathroom, heated whirlpool, reserved beach space, a hammock, frozen drink machine, and more. 

It's in high demand, too. According to Michael Bayley, President & C.E.O. of Royal Caribbean International, the first Ultimate Family Cabana was sold within the first hour of opening beach club sales. 

Basic admission to the beach club is more reasonable, with the cheapest pass starting at $129.99. The price includes unlimited food and non-alcoholic drinks. 

A pass with unlimited alcoholic drinks is available starting at $169.99 per person. Additionally, it includes transportation on the water taxi, Wi-Fi, beach chairs, umbrellas, and access to basic facilities like showers and restrooms. 

Depending on your itinerary, there may also be a few bundled options, such as the Royal Beach Club Paradise Island Refreshment Package + Thrill & Chill Combo. 

For a set daily price, you can enjoy admission to the Royal Beach Club Paradise Island, Perfect Day at CocoCay's Thrill Waterpark, and a Royal Refreshment Package. 

Regardless of which pass cruisegoers buy, all dining at the Royal Beach Club Paradise Island is included. Many dishes have a Bahamian flair, including the fire engine fritters, pinwheel shrimp skewers with guava glaze, Bahama-style baked mac & cheese, and vanilla bundt cake with guava sauce. 

The secret to getting a deal on a Royal Caribbean cruise is knowing when and how to book to net the biggest discount.

When you're ready to book a cruise, people want to get the lowest price possible through discounts, offers, or special pricing. 

Having sailed with Royal Caribbean for over 20 years, I've found the key is to be smart about when and where you book your cruise.  Cruises aren't like retail items that have promo codes or across the board price drops. Instead, cruise prices tend to be more like airfare in that there's an ebb and a flow to how much the cruise line charges for it based on demand.

Here's my best advice on how to get a discount on your Royal Caribbean cruise vacation!

Book early and reprice often

When someone asks when they should book a cruise, my answer is always "now".

As more people book up cabins on a sailing, that drives prices up. And with cruise lines seeing record demand, last-minute sales are far from a good deal in many cases.

The best strategy that people that cruise a lot employ is to book the cruise months and years in advance and then watch for price drops.

Residents of certain countries (United States, Canada, Australia) can re-price their cruise up until the final payment date if they spot a lower price.

Without a doubt, this strategy has been my best method for getting the best price.

The danger with waiting to the last minute to book is there may not actually be a lower price.  In fact, I'd be more concerned the sailing will sell out.

Use travel agents for group rates

Before I book any sailing, I'll check with a good travel agent for special rates or targeted offers that may exist.

You might be surprised to hear how effective and useful travel agents are for booking a cruise, and they've saved me so much money over the years.

Travel agents have access to special pricing through group rates in their own agency and consortia's they belong to.

It's not unusual for their to be dozens of group rates available, but you have to know which ships and sailings are available.

Sometimes I've gotten lucky by asking my travel agent to book a voyage and being informed there's better pricing than I saw online.  In other cases, I'll ask what group rates are out there and cherry pick a sailing.

You should always use a good travel agent to book your cruise because you only stand to benefit from a potentially lower price (and of course, great service).

Gambling in the casino is risky, but could get you "free" cruises

Royal Caribbean's casino rewards its players with targeted offers, but there are a few things to know before you hit the slot machines.

If you play in the ship's casino and use your SeaPass card to track your wagers, you'll be automatically entered in the Casino Royale program.

Sometimes you might get an email or postcard in the mail with specific sailings you could book and only pay the taxes and fees. 

Or, you could earn enough points while on a ship gambling to reach a point tier and earn a certificate towards a free cruise.

I think casino offers are great, but they're best for those with a fair amount of flexibility when they can sail and a high tolerance for gambling losses. I would never advocate planning your family vacation around the casino offers.

You're probably wondering "how much do I need to gamble to get an offer?" and no one really knows precisely.

Casino offers are sporadic and inconsistent. I've seen people that have barely gambled get free cruises while those with thousands of points not have anything.

Consider cruising in the off season

Let's assume there are no special group rates, how do you save money on that ship and itinerary you want to try? Pick a sailing that isn't during peak season.

Every region of the world Royal Caribbean sails to has higher and lower demand depending on the month.

You could save hundreds of dollars if you pick a cruise in one month over another.

As an example, an Alaska cruise in May will cost you much less than the same cruise in July.  Or a Western Caribbean cruise in September is going to be cheaper than April.

Knowing about the shoulder seasons is important, so ask you travel agent which months tend to see lower prices. If you have the flexibility to not be tied to a specific week, you might be able to take advantage of much lower cruise fares.

Check Royal Caribbean's last-minute deal offer sheet

Did you know there's a special cruise offer sheet that comes out once a week with last-minute deals?

It's called the Going, Going, Gone sheet, and it usually gets updated weekly on Monday afternoon or Tuesday morning. Sailings are usually for the next 60 days or so.

Sometimes there are lots of offers, and sometimes very few.  It's also debatable how good the rates are, but it's one of the best ways to see the cheapest sailings you can sail on in the immediate future.

You'll have to act fast to book them, as there may only be a few cabins listed at the advertised rate.  The sheet isn't updated when a rate becomes unavailable. By week's end, many of the offers are sold out.

Credit card offers

Sometimes credit cards have special savings if you use that card to book a cruise.

American Express is usually the most consistent in offering these, where if you spend a certain amount of money, AmEx will give you back membership points or money off.

Periodically check your card offers to see if there's something available for a cruise booking, but it may only be offered once or twice a year and there's usually no advanced notice.

New ships are always going to cost more

An inconvenient truth about cruising is you're always going to pay more for a new ship.

Star of the Seas, Icon o the Seas, or Utopia of the Seas are the newest ships in the world and their novelty as being very new commands premium pricing that goes with it.

You could book an older ship to save money, but if you're committed to trying a cruise ship that launched in the last five years, prepare to spend more.

The cruise ships that don't compromise on the family fun experience without the premium price tag include:

• Mariner of the Seas
• Navigator of the Seas
• Oasis of the Seas
• Harmony of the Seas
• Independence of the Seas
• Freedom of the Seas

I find consistently good prices on these ships, and thanks to some recent upgrades, they offer lots to do onboard.

Earlier this summer, I flew across the country to set sail on Royal Caribbean’s Ovation of the Seas to Baja California. I was lucky enough to sail on the Quantum class ship’s inaugural cruise to Cabo San Lucas. In fact, my itinerary was one of the ship’s first cruises from California.

Ovation of the Seas arrived in Los Angeles in May 2025 as the largest cruise ship to ever dock in Port of Los Angeles’ World Cruise Center. To meet the growing demand for West Coast cruising, Royal Caribbean made the strategic decision to deploy Ovation of the Seas to California.

Although Navigator of the Seas had already been sailing from Los Angeles for a few years, the Voyager class ship is smaller and older. This isn’t uncommon, as most cruise lines homeport their older and smaller ships on the West Coast. If you wanted to experience Royal Caribbean’s newest and biggest ships, you’d need to trek across the country to Florida.

As such, Royal Caribbean’s announcement of bringing Ovation of the Seas to Los Angeles was a welcome change for West Coast cruisers. Although Ovation of the Seas was first built in 2016, the Quantum class vessel showcases some of Royal Caribbean’s newest technology and innovation.

From the North Star observation pod to the iFly skydiving simulator and the massive SeaPlex indoor activity space, Ovation of the Seas is about 20% bigger than Navigator of the Seas.

When the opportunity presented itself to cruise from Los Angeles, California, on Ovation of the Seas, I couldn’t resist! Our 5-night cruise was reasonably priced at $700 per person for a Virtual Balcony stateroom. My mom was excited to accompany me on this cruise, as she had never visited Cabo San Lucas before. She would be flying from South Dakota while I was traveling from Florida.

We had a great time on our short cruise, and I regret that I didn’t book a longer itinerary to make the most of my time on the West Coast. Here’s why one short cruise on Ovation of the Seas wasn’t enough.

Travel time was longer and more expensive than I anticipated.

Although I should have known better, I was still surprised by how long it took to reach the West Coast for this cruise. My entire travel day was nearly ten hours from the time I left my house until I arrived at the hotel in Los Angeles.

To my surprise, the travel day was more expensive and grueling than I had prepared for. My round-trip flight was nearly $500, and although that’s becoming more typical for domestic flights, I spent the same amount on an international flight to Denmark this summer!

I fly internationally frequently, so I typically consider any domestic flight to be a walk in the park. After a 36-hour travel day to Singapore just two months before, I wasn’t concerned about this travel day from Florida to California.

In other words, it didn’t really register with me that the flight from Atlanta to Los Angeles would take five hours. Add in a four-hour layover and the chaos of navigating LAX, and by the time I finally made it to bed, I was completely exhausted.

After such a long travel day, I immediately regretted only booking a 5-night cruise. Whenever I travel longer distances, such as flying overseas, I always try to make the most of my time and money with a longer vacation. I’ll spend a few days before and after the cruise to optimize my time even more.

Before boarding Ovation of the Seas, I was already wishing I had booked a longer itinerary. Throughout her summer season, Ovation of the Seas offered a range of itineraries, from shorter 3-night cruises to Ensenada and longer 7-night itineraries to multiple ports of call in Baja California.

Looking back, I wish I had booked a longer itinerary on Ovation of the Seas to see more destinations in Baja California and maximize my time.

I was pleasantly surprised by Baja California.

Because I live in Florida, I haven’t visited Baja California very much. My family had taken a cruise to Ensenada more than 15 years ago, and it wasn’t our favorite port of call. Actually, Mexico isn’t one of my top destinations at all for cruising.

On this cruise, my mom and I were excited to visit Cabo San Lucas for the first time. The overnight port would allow us to have more time ashore than typical itineraries. We decided to book an excursion to ease logistics, especially considering we had never visited this port of call before.

We ended up having a fantastic time on our excursion! Our tour brought us to the famous arch formation on an expedition-style speed boat. We had incredible views of the harbor from the sea, including a great view of our ship!   

The rest of our tour included tequila tasting, homemade quesadillas, touring a glass factory, and shopping in town. Both my mom and I were impressed with Cabo San Lucas, and we felt very safe throughout the tour.

Considering our cruise was only five nights, and we ended up enjoying Cabo San Lucas far more than we expected, I wish we had booked a longer itinerary. From the dramatic rock formations at Land’s End to lively beach clubs and the marina’s bustling atmosphere, there was so much to see and do!

Luckily, Ovation of the Seas isn’t limited to shorter sailings. The ship is scheduled to sail a variety of itineraries from Los Angeles, including 7-night and 8-night voyages that give travelers more time to explore ports.

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

Other itineraries this summer to Baja California included stops in Mazatlán and Puerto Vallarta. Overnight ports are more common for cruises to Baja California, which are my favorite! Those longer cruises not only provide extra days ashore but also allow for more time onboard to enjoy the ship’s amenities. 

I love cruising on Royal Caribbean’s Quantum class ships.

Royal Caribbean’s Quantum class is my favorite ship class in the entire fleet. These ships aren’t quite as big as Oasis or Icon class ships, but you can still find some of the most modern amenities.

Most importantly, I tend to prefer the port-intensive sailings with Royal Caribbean to experience new destinations whenever possible. In general, the cruise line’s biggest ships are more about the onboard experience and less about the destinations.

However, I’ve found that Quantum class ships have the perfect balance between state-of-the-art amenities and port-heavy itineraries. For instance, I’ve cruised to Southeast Asia, China, the Middle East, and the Canary Islands aboard Quantum class ships — and these are some of my top cruise experiences ever!

Ovation of the Seas is almost 10 years old, but you wouldn’t guess her age based on the ship’s design, cutting-edge amenities, and modern features. You can also find Royal Caribbean’s signature onboard thrills, such as the FlowRider, North Star observation pod, and iFly skydiving simulator.

In addition, I love all of the dining options available on Quantum class ships. There are more complimentary restaurants available, such as the Solarium Bistro, Two70 Cafe, and Fish & Ships. Not to mention, Ovation of the Seas also features a variety of specialty dining restaurants, such as Chops Grille, Izumi Sushi, Wonderland, and Jamie’s Italian.

My mom and I tried two specialty dining restaurants during our cruise: Chops Grille and Jamie’s Italian. Both meals were excellent, and we always appreciate the elevated ambiance and service. However, we still had a great experience in the main dining room on the other nights.

Entertainment is another highlight on Ovation of the Seas. My mom and I love seeing all of the production shows onboard, and we hardly had time to see everything available. One of the production shows, Live Love Legs, was one of the best production shows we’ve ever seen on a cruise ship. My mom loved it so much, she watched the show multiple times!

We enjoyed our virtual balcony stateroom, although it was noisy.

For this cruise, we booked a virtual balcony interior stateroom. I had never experienced this type of cabin before, which featured a massive LED screen with live footage of the ship. I thought it might be gimmicky, so I didn’t have high expectations for the experience. To our surprise, we enjoyed the virtual balcony more than we anticipated.

At first, the picture wasn’t necessarily impressive — and we were surprised we actually had to close the curtains at night. I figured the screen could be turned off, but we couldn’t seem to find a switch. Luckily, we did pack a clothespin to secure the curtains each night and keep the room dark.

Once we arrived in Cabo San Lucas, we enjoyed being able to see the views from the ship. It was a nice feature in the cabin, although I wouldn’t necessarily want to spend extra for the virtual balcony.

Read more: 6 packing mistakes I made on my Mexican Riviera cruise, and 5 things I’d bring next time

The worst part of our stateroom was its location. We were located right under Adventure Ocean, meaning we could hear kids running and screaming throughout the day. Luckily, this wasn’t an issue at night when Adventure Ocean was closed, but it certainly interrupted my sea day naps!

I’d book another cruise on Ovation of the Seas, but I’d prefer a longer itinerary next time.

Royal Caribbean is clearly making a bigger commitment to the West Coast with its expanded presence in Los Angeles. Ovation of the Seas is the largest ship ever to sail from the port of Los Angeles, and it’s clear Royal Caribbean is beginning a new era of cruising in the region.

As a Florida resident, I am accustomed to quick and easy access to weekend cruises. But Royal Caribbean’s Quantum class is my favorite in the fleet, and I will never turn down an opportunity to sail on one of these ships.

However, this trip was a good reminder that when you travel a long distance to cruise, it is worth booking at least a 7-night itinerary. After a 10-hour travel day across the country, spending only five nights onboard Ovation of the Seas felt too short.

Even still, my mom and I had a wonderful time together on Ovation of the Seas, with Baja California being a highlight of the voyage. While the travel time to get there was lengthy, I would not hesitate to sail on the ship again. Next time, I would choose a longer West Coast itinerary that visits more ports of call to make the most of my time.

After sailing on Royal Caribbean's newest cruise ship, it's clear some passengers had the wrong approach.

I spent over a week on Star of the Seas, which is the next Icon Class ship and newest cruise ship in the fleet.

While everyone has their own cruising style, I think there are definite mistakes to avoid.  These are things that could improve your cruise, make your life easier, or simply avoid being "that guy" on the ship.

I came up with 7 things I think everyone should do if they sail on Star of the Seas so they can have a great first time aboard.

Make reservations before the cruise

Arguably the best thing about Star of the Seas are the amazing shows, so missing out on them because you don't have a reservation would be a mistake.

Royal Caribbean opens reservations before the cruise begins on its Cruise Planner website and app.  

There isn't yet an exact cadence to how many days before the cruise opens reservations are bookable.  It seems when a new ship launches, everything takes a bit longer to get going on the backend.

The official policy seems to be 30 days ahead of your cruise, but it may be closer to your actual sail date.

Nonetheless, you should check often to see when it becomes available and then book reservations for all the primary shows: Back to the Future: The Musical; Torque; Sol.

If by some chance you miss out on pre-cruise reservations, there are two backup options.

First, as soon as you get on the ship, head to Spotlight Karaoke on the Royal Promenade where the box office will be located. There, you can get extra reservations the ship holds back from online bookings.

If all else fails and you have no reservations, there's still one more recourse: the standby line.

In my experience, if you get in the standby line at least 30 minutes before the show starts, there's a good chance you'll make it into the show.

Guests with a reservation are admitted first, but a lot of people don't show up because they're busy with the fun elsewhere onboard. 

If you can line up early, you ought to still be able to make it into the show.

Get to Dueling Pianos early

Another thing you don't want to miss is Dueling Pianos.

Only available on the Icon Class ships, this is the hot ticket nightly entertainment on Star of the Seas.  

Basically, there are two pianists who play crowd requests and there's a lot of audience interaction.  It's not a piano recital. Rather, it's a riff on each other to see who can out-do the other and how to make each song really fun.

The only problem is a lot of people onboard love Dueling Pianos, and the bar fills up quickly.

With other bars that have live entertainment, you can usually roll in and grab a spot.  But not Dueling Pianos.

If you want to see Dueling Pianos (and you should), I'd recommend getting a table at least 30-45 minutes before show time. 

While it's a fairly large venue, it fills up very quickly. As people discover it, it seems like every night all the tables are occupied well before the show starts.

Don't let the crowds deter you, because it's worth seeing!

Go to Surfside, even if they have no kids

I get it: Surfside neighborhood is meant for families with young children, so if you don't have kids, why would you go there?

The reason is the food.

While you're right the aquatic activities may not be worth a visit, there are three different restaurants here and I think adults would enjoy it too.

Pier 7 is a very affordable specialty restaurant serving some seriously underrated food.

I booked a pre-cruise reservation for brunch for $9, and it was the perfect upgraded meal. The brunch and dinner menu differ somewhat, but I like the food served at both.

Surfside Eatery is the buffet and while it's mostly kid-friendly food, I'm not above stopping in for nuggets, burger, or shrimp cocktail.

The selection of food is surprisingly not as juvenile as you might think, and it's way less crowded than the Windjammer most times.

Lastly, Surfside Bites is worth it when you're nearby for the pizza toastie!

Gotten off the ship early at CocoCay

One day not to sleep in is the day Star of the Seas visits Perfect Day at CocoCay.

There's a huge difference in crowds in the morning hours versus lunch and later. Getting off the ship before 10am is the smart play to ensure you get a good spot and take advantage of a quieter ambiance.

Whether you're going to Oasis Lagoon, Coco Beach Club, or Hideaway Beach, maximizing your day here is all about getting off the ship early.

Not only can you get a chairs and an umbrella in a convenient area, but it's also going to be less oppressively hot in the morning.

If you paid extra for the Beach Club or adults-only area, then getting there early is extra important to squeeze more value out of your day.

Personally, I like to get to the island around 9am, enjoy the morning, have lunch, and then head back in the early afternoon.

This strategy takes advantage of the cooler morning temps, avoids the hottest part of the day, and allows you to head straight to the pool deck and enjoy a less crowded pool and Thrill Waterpark slides.

Elevator etiquette

I try not to preach in these posts because not everyone needs to do things exact as I do, but I feel there are a lot of people who need to know about proper elevator etiquette.

It's simple: when you're waiting for an elevator and the doors open, stand aside to let anyone who's in the elevator out first.  Then, you can shove yourself inside.

With Star of the Seas, there's less shoving into elevators since they have destination elevators.

Nonetheless, let folks out first. Otherwise it just jams everything up and it takes longer because someone has to move back out to let the people depart the elevator.

Take advantage of all the fun new drinks onboard

Did you know a number of bars around Star have their own drink menu that you can't find on other ships?

Royal Caribbean is really proud of the fact they developed a lot of special menus for various bars, so if you have a beverage package, I'd recommend seeking these out to try them all!

These bars all have menus that differ from the standard fleetwide menu:

• Dueling Pianos
• Pub
• Schooner Bar
• Dueling Pianos
• Lou's Jazz N' Blues
• 1400
• Lime & Coconut
• Boleros
• Rye & Bean

My favorite drinks to try on Star of the Seas that are unique to the ship include:

• Jazzy Saz (Lou's Jazz)
• 1400 (1400 Bar)
• Frozen Irish Coffee (Rye & Bean)
• Snap, Crackle, Pop (Dueling Pianos)
• Toasted Marshmallow Old Fashioned (Schooner Bar)

There are plenty more, but consider these your starting points.

If you prefer mocktails, the new fleetwide menu has so many new mocktails to try!

Pre-book to save money

Maybe it's just me, but if I spot someone buying the Deluxe Beverage Package onboard the ship, it makes me cringe because of how much money they could have saved buying it before the cruise.

On embarkation day, I like to head up to a bar and hang out to enjoy a "I'm on a cruise" drink.  Inevitably, someone comes up to the bartender to ask about buying a drink package.

Royal Caribbean was charging $124 per person, per day for the Deluxe Beverage Package on Star of the Seas, but anyone could have saved around 40% off the drink package by simply booking it beforehand.

This is true also of dining packages, internet packages, and shore excursions.

These savings can be truly substantial, so if there's a small chance you might want one of these popular add-ons, I'd recommend buying before the cruise and not paying top dollar once onboard.

Royal Caribbean has canceled over 35 stops to its private destination in Haiti due to ongoing unrest in Port-au-Prince. 

In an email sent to travel agents on Wednesday, September 10, Royal Caribbean revealed all the changes to ships scheduled to visit Haiti through April 2026. 

The U.S. State Department has Haiti under a Level 4 "Do Not Travel" advisory due to escalating gang violence and widespread security concerns.

Although the Labadee resort area is guarded by a private security force, the cruise line said it's canceling stops to Haiti "out of an abundance of caution." Royal Caribbean is the only cruise line that calls in Haiti. 

The impacted ships include Adventure of the Seas, Allure of the Seas, Explorer of the Seas, Freedom of the Seas, Liberty of the Seas, Independence of the Seas, Jewel of the Seas, Oasis of the Seas, and Symphony of the Seas. 

According to the email, the most common replacement ports are Nassau, Bahamas; Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic; and George Town, Grand Cayman. However, a handful of other ports like Grand Turk, Perfect Day at CocoCay, Bimini, Cozumel, and San Juan have also been added to itineraries in place of Labadee. 

And while most itineraries are substituting Labadee with an alternate port of call, some sailings will feature an additional day at sea instead. 

It's not surprising that Royal Caribbean wants more ships in Nassau, especially with the opening of the Royal Beach Club Paradise Island scheduled for December 2025. The exclusive beachfront destination is a short ferry ride from the cruise port and will offer a shallow entry pool, swim-up bars, private beaches, and more. 

However, unlike Labadee's beaches, access to the Royal Beach Club is not included in the cost of the cruise fare and must be purchased separately. Prices start at $169.99 for admission with unlimited food and drinks. 

Here's a look at the upcoming itinerary changes:

Adventure of the Seas

• November 22 and December 6, 2025: Replacing Labadee with an extra sea day. Also arriving in Falmouth, Jamaica, at 8:00 a.m. instead of 7:00 a.m. The departure time was pushed to 5:00 p.m. instead of 4:00 p.m.
• December 20, 2025 + January 31 and March 28, 2026: Replacing Labadee with a full day in Nassau, Bahamas. Also arriving in Falmouth, Jamaica, at 8:00 a.m. instead of 9:30 a.m. The departure time was changed to 5:00 p.m. instead of 5:30 p.m.
• January 3, February 14, March 14, and April 11, 2026: Replacing Labadee with a visit to George Town, Grand Cayman. Also arriving in Falmouth, Jamaica, at 8:00 a.m. instead of 9:30 a.m. The departure time was changed to 5:00 p.m. instead of 5:30 p.m.
• January 17, 2026: Replacing Labadee with a visit to George Town, Grand Cayman. Also arriving in Falmouth, Jamaica, at 7:00 a.m. instead of 9:30 a.m. The departure time was changed to 4:00 p.m. instead of 5:30 p.m.
• April 25, 2026: Replacing Labadee with a full day in Nassau, Bahamas. Also arriving in Falmouth, Jamaica, at 8:00 a.m. instead of 9:30 a.m.

Allure of the Seas

• March 8, 2026: Replacing Labadee with a visit to San Juan, Puerto Rico, from 10:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Also swapped the scheduled port of call in Falmouth, Jamaica, for Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, and adjusted the time spent in Nassau, Bahamas, from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Explorer of the Seas

• November 10, 2025: Replacing Labadee with a visit to Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos. Also adjusted the arrival time in Perfect Day at CocoCay to 7:00 a.m. instead of 8:30 a.m.
• December 22, 2025: Replacing Labadee with a visit to Nassau, Bahamas. Also shifted the sea day from Day 5 to Day 4.
• January 19, February 16, March 16, and April 13, 2026: Replacing Labadee with a visit to Nassau, Bahamas. Also adjusted the arrival time in Perfect Day at CocoCay to 7:00 a.m. instead of 8:30 a.m.
• February 2, 2026: Replacing Labadee with a visit to Bimini, Bahamas. Also adjusted the arrival time in Perfect Day at CocoCay to 7:00 a.m. instead of 8:30 a.m. 

Freedom of the Seas

• November 1, November 6, November 20, and December 4, 2025: Replacing Labadee with a visit to Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos.
• November 15 and 19, 2025: Replacing Labadee with a visit to Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic.
• November 29, 2025: Replacing Labadee with a visit to George Town, Grand Cayman. Also arriving in Nassau, Bahamas, at 7:00 a.m. instead of 8:00 a.m. The departure time was changed to 3:00 p.m. instead of 4:00 p.m.
• December 13 and 22, 2025: Replacing Labadee with a visit to Falmouth, Jamaica.
• January 10, March 7, March 21, and April 18, 2026: Replacing Labadee with a visit to Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos.
• January 15, February 26, March 12, March 26, April 9, and April 23, 2026: Replacing Labadee with a visit to Nassau, Bahamas.
• January 24, 2026: Replacing Labadee with a visit to George Town, Grand Cayman. Also arriving in Nassau, Bahamas, at 7:00 a.m. instead of 8:00 a.m. The departure time was changed to 4:00 p.m. instead of 5:00 p.m.
• February 7 and February 21, 2026: Replacing Labadee with a visit to Falmouth, Jamaica. Also arriving in Nassau, Bahamas, at 7:00 a.m. instead of 8:00 a.m. The departure time was changed to 4:00 p.m. instead of 5:00 p.m.
• April 4, 2026: Replacing Labadee with a visit to Perfect Day at CocoCay from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Independence of the Seas

• December 7, 2025: Replacing Labadee with an extra sea day. Also arriving in Falmouth, Jamaica, at 8:00 a.m. instead of 7:00 a.m. The departure time was pushed to 5:00 p.m. instead of 4:00 p.m.

Liberty of the Seas

• February 9 and March 30, 2026: Replacing Labadee with a visit to Nassau, Bahamas, on Day 2 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Jewel of the Seas

• October 31, 2025: Replacing Labadee with a visit to Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos.

Oasis of the Seas

• November 9, November 23, and December 7, 2025: Replacing Labadee with an extra sea day. Also adjusted the time in Falmouth, Jamaica.
• December 21, 2025: Replacing Labadee with a visit to Cozumel, Mexico.
• January 4, February 1, and April 12, 2026: Replacing Labadee with an extra sea day. Also adjusted the port times in Falmouth, Jamaica, and Nassau, Bahamas.
• January 18, February 15, March 1, March 15, and March 29, 2026: Replacing Labadee with a visit to Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. Also swapped the scheduled port of call in Falmouth, Jamaica, with San Juan, Puerto Rico. 

Symphony of the Seas

• November 16, November 30, December 14, and December 28, 2025: Replacing Labadee with an extra sea day. Also adjusted the port times in Falmouth, Jamaica, and Nassau, Bahamas.
• January 11, January 25, February 8, February 22, and March 8, 2026: Replacing Labadee with a visit to Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. Also swapped the scheduled port of call in Falmouth, Jamaica, with San Juan, Puerto Rico, and adjusted the time spent in Nassau, Bahamas, from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
• March 22, April 5, and April 19, 2026: Replacing Labadee with a visit to Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. Also swapped the scheduled port of call in Falmouth, Jamaica, with San Juan, Puerto Rico on Day 5 from 10:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

The email also states that Royal Caribbean's Shore Excursions team will automatically refund all prepaid tours for canceled ports of call and reschedule other excursions whenever possible. 

Any tours that cannot be reaccommodated will be canceled and refunded to guests' original form of payment within 14 business days. 

"We're sorry for any inconvenience this may cause," Royal Caribbean said, "While we know it's not the original itinerary we planned, we appreciate your understanding and can't wait to explore these new destinations with your clients!"

One man decided to jump off his cruise ship in a vain effort to avoid his high casino bill.

Not only did he not evade his bill, now he's in trouble with the authorities.

While sailing on Royal Caribbean's Rhapsody of the Seas near the Port of San Juan last weekend, a man jumped off the side of the ship.  Reports say he did so to avoid his $16,000 gambling debt.

Jey Gonzalez-Diaz boarded Rhapsody for the August 31st sailing for a 7 Night Southern Caribbean that began and ended in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

According to the criminal complaint obtained by CBS News, and file in the U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico, the ship returned back to San Juan when the U.S. Customs and Border Protection inspection claims he jumped into the water as the ship disembarked around 9:15 a.m. local time.

According to investigators, he was rescued by a person that happened to be passing by on a jet ski. The rescue was recorded on surveillance video.

Authorities charged him with a federal crime.

Mr. Gonzalez-Diaz was tracked down later near the Puerto Rico Capitol Building by CBP agents, who found him carrying $14,600 in cash, two phones and five IDs.

According to the criminal complaint, Mr. Gonzalez-Diaz is accused of attempting to avoid monetary reporting requirements when traveling into the United States.

As stated in the complaint, Gonzalez-Diaz told officers in Spanish that he jumped off the cruise ship because "he did not want to report the currency on his possession because he thought he was going to be taxed duties for bring in the currency."

During the course of the investigation, Royal Caribbean said Gonzalez-Diaz had booked the cruise under the name "Jeremy Diaz". Plus, he racked up a $16,710.24 bill while on the ship that was "almost exclusively associated to Casino and Gaming expenses," the complaint said.

Other record checks of Gonzalez-Diaz's multiple identifications also revealed that a Jeremy Omar Gonzalez-Diaz has been in federal custody at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, since January, according to the complaint. Jey Gonzalez-Diaz told investigators that it was his brother.

When they asked him for his full name, he told investigators, "If you guys were good at your job, you would know that," the complaint said.

If convicted, Mr. Gonzalez-Diaz could face a fine up to $250,000 or a maximum five-year prison sentence, or both.

He has been released on bail.

There's nothing like a new cruise ship, so I wanted to see compare one of Royal Caribbean's new ships to MSC Cruises' newest ship.

After sailing aboard Icon of the Seas in April, I was convinced that no other mega-ship would wow me the same way. However, moments after I stepped on MSC World America, I realized that the World Class ship stands out in her own way. 

Both vessels are massive, measuring over 210,000 gross registered tons and carrying over 6,800 guests at maximum capacity — but that's where the similarities stop. 

I discovered things that I liked and disliked about both ships after sailing aboard MSC World America and Icon of the Seas. For example, I loved the price point of MSC World America's suite-only enclave, while Icon's entertainment blew me away. 

In the end, if you're a dedicated Royal Caribbean cruiser, embarking on a sailing aboard MSC World America will feel different, but that doesn't mean it's a step down. 

Here's how Icon of the Seas and MSC World America compare, and why I wouldn't hesitate to sail aboard the latter again — despite having been on over 15 Royal Caribbean cruises. 

MSC World America is a lot more affordable than Icon of the Seas

Icon of the Seas isn't the least expensive cruise ship on the market. In fact, I'd argue she is one of the most expensive mainstream ships. 

For some, cruising on one of the world's largest ships is worth the hefty price tag. However, Icon remains out of reach for a lot of families. Enter MSC World America. 

Thanks to MSC's budget-friendly pricing, it's easy to cruise on one of the newest and largest ships at sea for a fraction of what Icon of the Seas costs.

Plus, if you're interested in premium experiences, MSC's Yacht Club is an affordable way to experience luxury at sea without shelling out money for Royal Caribbean's Royal Suite Class. 

Earlier this year, my partner and I spent around $7,000 on our vacation aboard Icon of the Seas, including the cruise fare and add-ons like shore excursions, specialty dining packages, and the Deluxe Beverage Package. The kicker? We didn't even have an ocean-view balcony. 

Comparatively, we spent $7,010.32 on our Yacht Club Deluxe Suite. Although the prices were similar, the experiences couldn’t have been more different. 

Read more: I paid $3,800 for a controversial balcony on the world's largest cruise ship

For example, MSC's Yacht Club fare includes everything from a premium drink package to Wi-Fi, priority embarkation, thermal spa access, butler service, three private restaurants, a lounge and pool deck, exclusive cocktail hours, and more. 

We were treated like royalty from the moment we arrived at MSC's new terminal in Miami, Florida, which set the tone for a one-of-a-kind voyage. 

To be blunt, I've never stayed within Royal Caribbean's Royal Suite Class because of the higher price tag, so being able to stay within MSC's Yacht Club at a more accessible rate was a real treat. 

Of course, not everyone wants to spend $7,000 on a cruise vacation. Still, MSC World America's base fares are lower than comparable sailings on Icon of the Seas. Here are a few examples: 

June 20, 2026 — Interior cabin for two adults, with taxes and fees:

• Icon of the Seas: $4,516
• MSC World America: $2,450

September 19, 2026 — Ocean-view balcony cabin for two adults, with taxes and fees: 

• Icon of the Seas: $3,852
• MSC World America: $2,361

The food on MSC World America left little to be desired

Maybe it's because I cruise too frequently, but Royal Caribbean's food hasn't been as impressive as it used to be. Although I wouldn't go as far as saying it's bad, the quality is pretty inconsistent, especially in the complimentary restaurants. 

That said, MSC doesn't have the best dining reputation, either. However, in my opinion, the food was better on MSC World America than on Icon of the Seas. There were definitely still a few misses, but overall, the meals were flavorful, well-presented, and diverse.

To be fair, I'm neither a food critic nor classically trained in anything cuisine-related (I did take one food reporting class while obtaining my master's in journalism, but I digress). Others may come to their own conclusions, as everyone has different taste buds and preferences.

Read more: I spent 7 days eating on MSC's newest ship

On MSC World America, I loved grabbing fresh chicken tenders from Pizza & Burger in the World Galleria. Were they the best I've ever had? Not by a long shot, but they were consistently hot and crispy.

Speaking of pizza, MSC's fresh slices beat Sorrento's by a long shot. Whether grabbing pizza as an afternoon pick-me-up or a late-night snack, I was never disappointed. As a European cruise line, it's evident that MSC takes great pride in its pizza. 

I also really enjoyed my meals in the Yacht Club Restaurant, more so than some of my specialty meals aboard Icon of the Seas. 

For example, the cabernet-braised short ribs were some of the best I've ever had on a cruise ship. Not only was the meat perfectly tender, but the creamy gorgonzola polenta was unique and bold without overpowering the dish. 

I'd be remiss if I didn't mention MSC's fresh pasta, too. There's a wide variety of freshly made pasta options available throughout the ship, from the main dining rooms to the Yacht Club Restaurant and the buffet. 

I was also impressed with the food temperature. Although it may seem like a small detail, I've sailed on cruise ships where I've been lucky to be served one or two lukewarm meals — that was never the case on MSC World America. 

Icon of the Seas has better entertainment

If you want to be wowed by the onboard entertainment lineup, I wouldn't get your hopes up for MSC World America. 

Royal Caribbean has dominated the mainstream cruise industry for years when it comes to Broadway-style shows and cutting-edge entertainment technology. 

From The Wizard of Oz to the high-diving AquaTheater spectacular, Royal Caribbean consistently delivers productions that you won't believe are on a cruise ship (and better yet, are included in your fare!). 

Comparatively, MSC's entertainment is far more modest. Although I enjoyed Dirty Dancing Live in Concert, the other performances weren't great. 

In fact, my partner and I straight-up walked out of the Hall of Fame show in the main theater. The singers were pitchy, and the choreography wasn't anything special. 

The poor entertainment quality wasn't a dealbreaker, but if you're used to Royal Caribbean-quality shows, you will be disappointed. 

Icon has more activities, but you won't be bored on MSC World America

Between the record-breaking Category 6 Waterpark, FlowRider surf simulator, mini-golf course, rock climbing wall, Crown's Edge ropes course/zipline, and the Royal Escape Room, Icon of the Seas offers guests more to do than nearly any other ship at sea, making it nearly impossible to run out of activities during your cruise.

Still, MSC World America holds its own with a wide variety of attractions. The Cliffhanger, for example, is an over-the-water swing that lets thrill-seekers soar above the ocean (just don't look down if you're afraid of heights like me!). 

There's also a virtual reality water slide, kids' aqua park, F1 racing simulator, bumper cars, a ropes course, Lego family zone, two arcades, and an 11-deck dry slide.

That said, some of the more interesting attractions on MSC World America aren't included. For example, bumper cars run at $7 per car, while the Formula 1 racing simulator is $12 per person. The Cliffhanger also costs $9 per person, per ride. 

The ships have similar itineraries

Sailing from Miami, Florida, you can visit the Eastern or Western Caribbean aboard MSC World America or Icon of the Seas. 

As such, the biggest difference between the ships' itineraries is which private island they visit. On Icon, you'll call at Royal Caribbean's Perfect Day at CocoCay, while MSC World America visits Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve. 

Perfect Day at CocoCay has more to offer, from the massive Thrill Waterpark to the adults-only Hideaway Beach, large Oasis Lagoon pool, and the upscale Coco Beach Club. 

In comparison, Ocean Cay is more laid back. MSC redeveloped the former industrial site into a serene paradise for its cruise passengers. Rather than focusing on amenities like CocoCay, the island has a greater emphasis on conservation and sustainability. 

That said, some similarities are important to think about when planning your day ashore. There are complimentary island buffets for lunch, and both cruise lines' drink packages work on the island. Moreover, Royal Caribbean and MSC offer free trams to make navigating the islands easier. 

Is MSC World America or Icon of the Seas better?

I don't think you can go wrong with either ship; however, I'm not here to tell you how to spend your hard-earned money. 

If you're a die-hard Royal Caribbean fan, sailing on MSC World America might be a hard sell because it's a completely different experience. There are definitely things that Icon does better, too. For example, the Category 6 Waterpark is a lot of fun, and the entertainment lineup is hard to beat. 

Still, as someone who grew up sailing with Royal Caribbean and didn't think they could come to appreciate other lines, MSC World America really surprised me — and left a lasting impression on me. 

Royal Caribbean shares loyalty matching with its two sister cruise line brands, and it means different perks if you sail on one or the other.

When you go from Royal Caribbean to Celebrity, you don't get your Crown and Anchor benefits. Instead, you get the equivalent status benefits in Captain's Club.

Royal Caribbean Group revamped its status matching to make it significantly better, and that's enabled me to try more cruises on both Silversea and Celebrity.

I wanted to share with you the best perks at each tier, biggest differences, and who benefits most from each program.

Loyalty program overview

Before we dive into each program, here's a quick look at what each cruise line offers its most loyal guests.

Tier breakdown

When you look at each cruise line's program, the best benefits are always at the top.

One other difference is Royal Caribbean typically includes more benefits in their program than the other cruise lines because the other cruise lines include more benefits in their base fare.

Royal Caribbean Crown & Anchor Society

• Gold to Diamond
  • Benefits like priority check-in, onboard discounts, welcome events, free drinks in the Diamond Lounge.
• Diamond Plus & Pinnacle
  • Upgraded perks larger loyalty discounts, more drink vouchers, priority tendering, and suite lounge access (if eligible).
• Best Perk: Daily free drinks and access to exclusive lounges from Diamond level onward.

Celebrity Cruises Captain's Club

• Classic to Select
  • Discounts, onboard events, and priority check-in.
• Elite & Above
  • Complimentary laundry, private breakfast lounges, and cocktail hours.
• Zenith
  • Unlimited specialty dining, premium drinks, complimentary cruises for two.
• Best Perk: Unlimited specialty dining & premium drinks at Zenith level.

Silversea Cruises Venetian Society

There aren't exactly tiers with Venetian Society. There's one tier, but you earn Venetian Society days for the more you sail with them.

You get one Venetian Society day for each day you sail, regardless of the type of suite you're booked in.

• Member (after 1 voyage)
  • Invitations to member events, special offers.
• 100+ Days
  • 5% savings on future voyages.
• 250, 350, 500+ Days
  • Free voyage rewards, milestone recognition, enhanced onboard experiences.
• Best Perk: Free voyages at 350 and 500 days sailed.

How status matching works

Within Royal Caribbean Group, it's the easiest it's ever been to get equivalent status across each line.

Once you've earned status with one line, you can apply to have a status match with the others.

The key differences are the benefits between the programs are not identical and points earned on each cruise line are separate.

You can link your accounts through either the mobile app or the respective websites. Silversea doesn't have an app, so it's an online form to fill out.

Once it's processed, you'll instantly get the equivalent status. For example, a Diamond member in Crown & Anchor is automatically Elite in Captain’s Club.

It's a great advantage to be able to hop between cruise lines and have some level of recognition and benefits on your first sailing.

Key differences between the cruise loyalty programs

While each loyalty program is now potentially linked between each other, they aren't the same.

In my experience trying all three, it's clear each has its own approach to how loyalty benefits work and how it's best used. I was surprised how Silversea doesn't mention loyalty status at all on its Seapass card, but that's because it's not a focal point for their customers.

One major difference is how each line counts your points.

Royal Caribbean is one point per night, but you can earn more points per night if you're in a suite or cruising solo. Celebrity is similar, but points are earned based on cabin type and cruise length. Silversea is completely different and simply counts nights onboard and there are no tiers.

Another important difference is how each cruise line rewards their cruisers with perks.

Among these lines, Royal Caribbean includes the least with its cruise fare, so its loyalty program focuses on onboard perks, such as drinks, lounge access, and discounts. 

Celebrity Cruises is similar, but includes more emphasis on discounts for things that cost extra, such as photo packages or internet.

Silversea has all-inclusive fares, so their approach with the Venetian Society is to offer incentives to sail again. 

The top tier at each line is where you'll see some very impressive benefits.

You'll earn a free cruise after reaching any of them, and that's a substantial value before you dig into any of the additional perks.

The Zenith level in Celebrity has a free drink package, which was truly impressive to me when I tried them.

Crown and Anchor offers a blend of perks for suite guests and Pinnacle-only benefits that I always take advantage of when I sail.

A powerful way to enjoy freebies on any line

Ever since Royal Caribbean Group introduced their revamped status matching, I think it's enabled more cruisers to try the various lines.

While you don't earn points by sailing the lines interchangeably, it does allow you to take advantage of status with one line and extend it to the others.

I found it so much more approachable to try Celebrity and Silversea if I knew I'd be starting off already with some level of recognition to it. Cross-brand matching makes it easier to experiment with new cruise lines without starting from scratch.

As each line launches new ships, I think the status matching enables cruisers to try them out and get a sense of what's different and better.