Royal Caribbean Blog

Passengers aboard Royal Caribbean's Enchantment of the Seas nearly missed out on their port day in Costa Maya, Mexico, due to rough seas and high winds. 

The 28-year-old vessel approached the inner pier, but the captain suspended the disembarkation process because of the inclement weather conditions, with winds at about 15-18 knots.

However, as Wonder of the Seas, a newer Oasis Class vessel, sailed into port, the 235,600-gross-ton mega-ship shielded Enchantment from the wind and ocean swells. 

"The hope and now reality/success [is] that Wonder of the Seas arrived and is now miraculously blocking the swells and wind from the other side of the pier (our portside) and allow[ing] a safe disembarkation process to the pier," said Come Cruise With Me's Dennis Post. 

It's not uncommon for captains to cancel ports due to unfavorable weather. Although disappointing, these decisions always prioritize guest and crew safety — a principle upheld by Enchantment of the Seas' crew during the initial disembarkation delay.

Coming in at 18 decks tall compared to Enchantment's 12, Wonder towered over her like a natural protector. Wonder's sheer size and position calmed the conditions along the pier enough to allow guests to safely disembark and enjoy their day in Costa Maya.

Read more: "It’s time Enchantment of the Seas was taken out back and shot" I went on the cruise ship that gets lots of hate

Everything wasn't picture-perfect, though

According to passengers on Enchantment, the Costa Maya port area was at capacity. 

Along with Wonder and Enchantment of the Seas, Carnival Jubilee, the newest ship in Carnival's fleet of fun ships, docked at Costa Maya on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. 

This brought over 10,000 guests to the port — more than it can comfortably handle with its current infrastructure. 

Read more: I spent $4,700 for a 7-night cruise on Wonder of the Seas

Brandon Green of Lakeland, Florida, was traveling aboard Enchantment of the Seas and went ashore once guests were given the all-clear, as reported by Come Cruise With Me. 

"It was a nightmare getting into the port, and once we got in, the shops were overrun," he said.

Wonder of the Seas' capacity at double occupancy is 5,734, while Enchantment's is just 2,252. Carnival Jubilee, though smaller than Wonder, still holds an impressive number of people — up to 5,362 at double occupancy. However, at full capacity, these ships can hold more people. 

Cruise ships can use this maneuver

As soon as our team read about this story, it reminded me of a similar need for wind blocking last year.

In February 2024, a sudden storm caused Royal Caribbean to evacuate Perfect Day at CocoCay. A cold front moved in quickly, and the two ships needed to get out of the port immediately.

To help, Oasis of the Seas blocked the wind so Freedom of the Seas could depart safely. The winds were so bad that normal departure procedures wouldn't be safe.

Oasis was able to block the winds for Freedom to leave. Oasis remained docked until it was safe to depart on its own.

Royal Caribbean is transforming Costa Maya into the next best destination in the Caribbean

Royal Caribbean has big plans for Costa Maya: they're going to transform the port into the next sought-after destination in their Perfect Day series. 

Perfect Day Mexico is poised to elevate the private destination experience with the same blend of chill and thrill that has made Perfect Day at CocoCay a fan favorite. 

With the world's longest lazy river, the tallest waterslides in North and South America, the biggest bottle of tequila, and so much more, Perfect Day Mexico is set to redefine what it means to have a “perfect day."

Royal Caribbean doesn't plan to close off Costa Maya exclusively to its guests, but it is aiming to transform part of the port into a destination that rivals Perfect Day at CocoCay. 

The port will remain open during the construction of Perfect Day Mexico. Once complete, there will be a new welcome center — built by Royal Caribbean — to acquaint guests of visiting cruise lines, including Carnival, with popular attractions in the Mahahual area and provide transportation throughout the region.

Read more: I’ve been to Perfect Day at CocoCay 9 times — 6 reasons I’m even more excited for Royal Caribbean's new private destination in Mexico

Splurging on a spacious suite for your Royal Caribbean cruise is a great idea for an over-the-top and lavish vacation, but I'd hate for you to squander it.

I've booked suites over the years on different ships, but I've seen cruisers occasionally missing out on the best things about these rooms.

The value of a suite goes well beyond the actual cabin itself, and if you're in a suite, I'd recommend doing six things so you can fully enjoy what it offers.

Considering how pricey suites are, every advantage you can get from the cruise fare is going to make it all worth it.

Not taking advantage of early entry

When you book a suite, Royal Caribbean offers flexible arrival times on embarkation day.

As part of the check-in process, you pick a check-in time for the cruise terminal.  This is a 30 minute window of when you plan to arrive to start the check-in.

Suite guests have a special function that goes beyond that.

In the email the concierge will send you about a week before the cruise begins, there's a provision for flexible arrival time.  This gives you an additional hour before or after whatever time you selected in the check-in process.

In my opinion, the earlier you can get in and checked-in, the better. I'm so excited to start my vacation that I want to get on the ship as fast as possible.

When you arrive at the cruise terminal, be sure to look for the suites entrance.  Sometimes it's a dedicated door at the cruise terminal, and other times it's a different line.  

In either case, let the staff know you're in a suite and take advantage of the earlier time and dedicated entrance.

Not meeting Concierge on first day

The suite concierge is one of the best perks of staying in a suite.

Think of the concierge as your helper in any issues you run into, and there's far less people vying for them than at Guest Services.

You'll find the suite concierge in the suite lounge, and it's a good idea to head up there on the first day of the cruise to meet them.

On Oasis and Icon Class ships, there are two suite concierge members.

In addition to problem solving, the suite concierge is also a friendly face. They will regularly strike up conversations with suite guests in the lounge, and love getting to know their guests.

During the evening cocktail hours, the concierge acts as a kind of emcee, helping people find seats, directing waiters to get drink orders, and ensure the hors d'oeuvres are replenished regularly.

While they can sometimes be busy with their clerical duties, they make an effort to get to know their guests.

Skipping Coastal Kitchen

I admit I made this mistake for years before realizing I was making a mistake of not dining at Coastal Kitchen.

On Royal Caribbean's biggest ships, there's an included restaurant just for suite guests and it's really good.

Coastal Kitchen is like a Main Dining Room exclusively available for suite guests, and it's really darn good.

I think it's best for breakfast and dinner, although they serve lunch here too.

Early on I skipped Coastal Kitchen because I was enamored with specialty dining.  Even when I booked a suite, I'd still book specialty restaurants. 

Later, I realized the food quality and service is excellent in Coastal Kitchen, and I could save money on specialty dining by opting to eat in Coastal Kitchen instead.

If you happen to be in a smaller ship that doesn't have Coastal Kitchen, I'll extend this tip to remind you about the free breakfast in Chops.

Since those ships don't have Coastal Kitchen, a private breakfast is offered each morning at Chops Grille on smaller ships.

Each morning of our cruise, complimentary breakfast was offered in Chops Grille exclusively for suite guests. This menu featured an enhanced menu compared to breakfast in the Main Dining Room or Windjammer buffet, with both sweet and savory dishes.

Not taking advantage of room service

One of the lesser known perks of staying in a Royal Caribbean suite is you get room service included.

Ordinarily room service has a $7.95 service fee, but that's waived in a suite.

Moreover, you can order food from the Main Dining Room when it's open and have it delivered to your cabin.  I love that perk, and it's great for kids if they want to eat in while parents go to dinner.

Or you might simply want to have breakfast on your balcony, which is usually quite large.  Nearly all suites have massive balconies and there could even be a dining table out there.

At the very least, have breakfast brought to your balcony each morning so you can enjoy coffee, eggs, and fruit with a view each day.

And if you have a late port day or are just feeling like hanging out in your suite, order dinner to be delivered.

Forgetting to send clothes out for pressing

Did you know Royal Caribbean includes complimentary pressing for the first formal night?

Buried in the many suite perks is a provision that you can get "Complimentary Pressing on First Formal Night".

No matter how good of a packer you are, your clothes are probably going to be a little wrinkly, folded, or have creases in them. 

The key is to ask your stateroom attendant for this service on embarkation day so it can be ready for the first "Dress your best"/formal night, which is usually the next day.

It's so easy to overlook this perk, but it's a cost you'd otherwise incur.

Not asking their Genie for more

If you happen to be staying in a Star Class suite, I think those new to it often don't leverage their Genie enough.

I think the best benefit of Star Class is the Royal Genie, and they're there to make your cruise amazing.  But you've got to ask the right questions too.

What I mean is the Genie is very personalized, and they don't always volunteer ideas for what they can offer you.

I think those new to Star Class are both timid to "bother" the Genie while also unaware of what others have gotten.

As an example, the Genie can arrange to have Starbucks drinks delivered each morning, or they can have an ice cream social set up in your suite.  They can arrange for you to meet Rover the dog, or even the ship's Captain.

It can feel strange and almost awkward to make requests of the Genie, but they've seen it all and the worst they'll tell you is it's not possible.

I'd recommend asking your Genie for what sort of things other guests have asked, or ideas for fun things only Star Class guests can get.  They're very creative and it's the key to unlocking the best value of these expensive suites.

Sea days are busy for crew members. Although they're ideal for passengers to kick back and relax, the behind-the-scenes reality for crew members is vastly different. Still, there are opportunities for the crew to take time away from demanding passengers, collect themselves, and possibly win a special prize. 

Bryan James, an entertainer for Royal Caribbean who has worked on numerous ships in the fleet, shared incentives offered to crew members on busy sea days, when many are working 10 to 13-hour shifts. 

"There is one part of the day, though, that gets kind of relaxed around here," he says in a reel shared to TikTok, "It's called Tea Time."

On this specific day, Tea Time took place in the crew mess and came with a fun twist: crew-only bingo. 

Passenger bingo is a popular activity, as the prizes often include onboard credit, free cruises, and more. However, playing isn't free. Royal Caribbean offers different packages, with the cheapest costing around $40 for 3 paper cards. 

Cruisers line up in advance to secure their playing cards and seats ahead of the highly anticipated game. Comparatively, the attendance for the free-to-play Tea Time session in James' video was scarce, with the crew presumably catching up on rest, tackling other duties, or spending their break eating lunch in the mess. 

Crew bingo offers rewards and doesn't cost the crew money to play

"They just announced the prices," James continues, "First place is some headphones, Skull Candy; second place is a bottle of wine; and third place is a case of water." His voice sounded disappointed, as he initially thought crew members were playing for a cash prize. 

Cash prizes for passenger bingo depend on how many guests are playing and how many cards have been sold. It's not uncommon to hear of jackpots as high as $5,000 or $6,000 being won by lucky passengers. 

As mentioned, the cheapest package to buy into bingo costs $40, but some cruisers are willing to pay for the top-tier options that cost upwards of $70 and include over 35 ways to win on a special tablet. 

"There's typically only one or two sea days per cruise"

According to James, port days are more balanced. While the days are still long, there's a different rhythm compared to sea days, when thousands of guests need to be constantly entertained and fed.

However, there are sailings, including Transatlantic and Transpacific voyages, where passengers might be at sea for 7, 8, or 9 days in a row. "They make you wonder, 'Why do I do this job?'" James jokes. 

"But then you realize at the end of that 7-day sailing, you wind up in Tokyo or you're in Australia," highlighting one of the perks of working on a cruise ship, despite the grueling hours and sometimes unpleasant guests. 

James is currently working aboard Allure of the Seas

Allure of the Seas is in Europe for the first time since 2015. She just underwent a major revitalization, bringing new concepts to the 14-year-old vessel, including Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade, the Mason Jar, the Pesky Parrot, a resort-style pool deck, the Ultimate Abyss dry slide, and so much more. 

James has been sharing glimpses of his life as a crew member on cruise ships across various social media channels, including TikTok (831k followers) and Instagram (305k followers), for three years. However, James claims that his contract on Allure of the Seas, which lasts until August 21, is his last. 

"For me, this is actually my last contract ever," he said in a TikTok posted on April 10, "If working on ships has taught me anything, it's that I don't have to hunker down and have that typical 9 to 5 job. I want to be able to continue to travel and work on my own terms." 

Before you cruise, I want to share the best Royal Caribbean secrets that you can take advantage of on your sailing!

These are the things the cruise line doesn't tell you, but they're a thing you can still do. These are the sort of things only people that cruise a lot would know about.

Because a cruise is a very personalized experience, certain elements of the vacation can be enhanced based on your preferences. Meaning, there are secrets here that might be more valuable to you than someone else.

I came up with a list of things Royal Caribbean doesn't necessarily advertise, but you should know about before you sail.

You'll earn more loyalty points booking solo cruises

Every cruise point represents a night on a ship, although there are some ways to get more points quicker.

Royal Caribbean will give you an extra cruise point per night if you book any suite.

You can also earn an extra cruise point per night if you happen to cruise alone in a cabin. 

When you stay in a suite by yourself, you'll earn 3 points per night. This is the most points you can earn per night on any cruise.

Some people actually book two cabins just to earn points faster.

How to get a table for two in the Main Dining Room

Want a table for just you and your family without sharing it with strangers?

Seating in the Main Dining Room can sometimes involve being seated with other cruisers.  It's a cruising tradition going back decades, and some people really like it as a way to meet new people and make dinner more interesting.

If you booked Traditional Dining and prefer to sit alone, send an email to [email protected] about 2-3 weeks before your cruise and ask for a smaller table for just your party.

Visit the helipad

If you're on a Radiance, Voyager, or Freedom Class ship, the best spot for sailaway is the helipad at the front of the ship.

Located on the bow, guests can walk to the helicopter pad and enjoy the unobstructed views that you can only get from the helicopter pad. The perspective from this spot is hard to beat and many guests do not know it is possible to go here.

To access the helicopter pad, go outside on the outdoor promenade deck and then walk forward, climb up a set of stairs, and continue walking forward until you reach the helicopter pad.

Balcony dividers can be removed

On most Royal Caribbean ships, the balcony dividers are removable.

This is useful if you book two balcony cabins next to each other. By removing the divider, you get an extra large balcony space that feels significantly more spacious.

You can ask your stateroom attendant to do this.  As long as you booked cabins next to each other, they can do this.  

Pack socks and pants for ice skating

On ships that have a ice skating rink onboard, there's open skate sessions offered.

It's free to participate, but you need to wear socks and pants.  On Caribbean cruises, you might not have these items packed with you. 

Use your TV as a nightlight

If you booked an inside cabin, there's no natural light, so a workaround is to use your television.

Tune the TV to the bridge view channel, mute the sound, and you've got a nightlight when the sun comes up.

You can order as much as you want at most restaurants

A lot of new cruisers are unaware there's no limit to the amount of food you can order at the Main Dining Room.

You can order multiple entrees, appetizers, or desserts, and there's no extra charge.  

If it sounds gluttonous, it's really not for two good reasons: first, you might want try a new food or are unsure which dish you might prefer.

Second, serving sizes tend to be on the small side compared to restaurants on land.  I find ordering two entrees is a must-do because I might not feel full with just one.

Moreover, you can order multiples of the same dish.  If you love the French Onion Soup, ask for a second or third!

Your cabin walls are magnetic

Cruise cabin doors and walls are made of metal, which means you can affix magnets to them quite easily.

Heavy duty magnets are helpful to bring on a cruise because you can use them to hang things up, which helps tremendously with clutter around your cabin.

I bring a pack of magnetic hooks with me so I can hang swimsuits, hats, or jackets.  It not only keeps things off the floor or couch, but also frees up space in drawers.

There's a free breakfast room service option

Royal Caribbean charges for room service, except for one breakfast option.

It's easily overlooked, but there's a continental breakfast room service choice that is immune to the normal fee.

This includes pastries, fruit, coffee, and juice and can be delivered to your stateroom free of charge. 

Secret sandwich

On Perfect Day at CocoCay, there's a menu item you have to ask for by name because it's not on the menu.

The Snack Shack has a secret, off-the-menu dish you can ask for by simply requesting "the secret sandwich."

You can top the crispy chicken sandwich with mozzarella sticks and marinara dipping sauce, and you'll end up with a tasty chicken parmesan sandwich.

Try the cooking stations

My favorite thing about the Windjammer are the cooking stations.

The food is here is made the way you want it, and it's cooked on the spot fresh.

At breakfast there is an omelet station. For lunch and dinner, there's usually a rotating option of stir fry, pasta, and more.

Fresh food will always be a step ahead of prepared food, and the cooking stations are my first stop in the Windjammer on every visit.

Johnny Rockets is free for breakfast

Johnny Rockets is a specialty restaurant with a cover charge for lunch and dinner, but it's actually free for breakfast.

On Oasis Class ships only, Johnny Rockets is open for breakfast and it's complimentary.

For breakfast, Johnny Rockets serves up fried or scrambled eggs, breakfast sandwiches, pancakes, French toast, omelets and more.

Juice, milk, coffee, tea and hot chocolate are included in the meal as well.

The tap water on a cruise ship is drinkable

Believe it or not, the tap water is not only safe to drink, but probably the cleanest water you'll ever drink.

Every Royal Caribbean ship has a meticulously maintained water treatment/storage system that supplies all of the ships potable water.

Relying on the tap water (or water provided at various drink stations or fountains) is a great money saving strategy.  

One issue with the tap water is it may not be very cold, so ask your room attendant to bring ice to keep in your cabin.

The best time to hit the water slides is embarkation day

Pools, whirlpools, and water slides are available to use on embarkation day, and you’ll often find that they are much less crowded than other days onboard. 

I recommend bringing your bathing suit with you on embarkation day to hit the water slides as soon as you get onboard. The lines will be non-existent because a lot of people packed their bathing suits.

You can change in one of the public restrooms on the pool deck.  Or simply wear your bathing suit onboard as you embark!

How to go faster down the water slides

Royal Caribbean's water slides are fun, but you can make them more thrilling by doing two things.

Cross your arms and legs while going down the slide and arch your back. The less resistance in the water (and slide) that you have, the faster you will go.

You also want to have the least amount of clothing as you go down the slide. Rash guards, t-shirts, and more elaborate swimsuits will result in you slowing down. 

Get cash from the slot machine to avoid a fee

Royal Caribbean charges a fee for cash withdrawals in the casino, unless you're a Prime member or higher in the casino loyalty program.

However, anyone can avoid the fee by going to a slot machine and pulling cash from there.

For some reason, there's no fee when you use the banker feature on a slot machine to get cash. You can then immediately cash out, go to the cashier and exchange it for cash. 

At that point, you can go to the Blackjack table and try your luck, and you'll be up 5%!

I’m a longtime fan of Royal Caribbean, but most of my sailings have been to the Caribbean, Europe, or Alaska. Although I had cruised to Asia before, our itinerary was filled with entirely new ports of call. In addition, it had been nearly six years since my last visit to Asia.

Sailing through Asia was a completely different experience than visiting familiar ports in the Caribbean or Europe. From the planning to extensive preparation and even onboard experiences, this cruise in Asia was unlike any other I had taken before.

For this cruise, I traveled with my sister and parents, as we had always wanted to visit these ports of call. During our 12-night repositioning cruise from Singapore to Tokyo, we visited far-flung destinations like Vietnam, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and South Korea.

In fact, Royal Caribbean is continuing to expand its presence in Asia, offering a wider range of itineraries to meet growing demand. The cruise line is especially focused on offering longer, more port-intensive itineraries through the region, like this repositioning cruise. 

But if you’ve never cruised in this part of the world before, you’ll likely encounter some unique challenges and surprises along the way, both onboard and while ashore. While this itinerary was absolutely incredible, I learned some very interesting lessons along the way. 

This kind of cruise involves more planning and logistics than your typical Caribbean cruise. Like any vacation, not everything went as we had planned. From cultural differences to onboard challenges, here are five things that I wish I knew before my Royal Caribbean cruise in Asia. If you’re taking your first cruise to Asia, these tips can make you feel more prepared for your culturally-immersive vacation.

1. I wish I had taken more time to learn about Vietnam’s history

History was never my strongest subject in school, so I’ve never been especially well-versed in it. Because of this, I enjoy learning about a country's history as I explore it, as I believe seeing history firsthand makes it much more engaging.

Our first port of call was Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, and the city was preparing for its 50th anniversary of reunification. Preparations were underway for a major national celebration, and locals were already gathering around the Reunification Palace, proudly taking photos in front of the historic building. I was trying to learn about Vietnam’s history on my phone throughout the day, and I wish I had researched before arriving.

My dad, a U.S. veteran, never served in Vietnam but has many close friends who did. Visiting the city with him and walking through sites that once played pivotal roles in the war was deeply emotional for him. I could see how much it meant to him to witness these historic places. At the same time, I realized how little I truly knew about the Vietnam War beyond surface-level facts.

I wish I had spent some time learning about the history of the countries we were visiting, especially Vietnam. Having some historical context would have made my experience even more meaningful, especially seeing how emotional the experience was for my dad. This visit served as a powerful reminder that history is more than what you learn in a textbook.

2. Bring plenty of cash, including local currency

It’s a good rule of thumb to bring cash onboard your cruise. Whether you’re shopping at local markets in port or tipping crew members onboard for excellent service, having cash on hand is essential.

For this cruise, I only brought U.S. dollars and chose not to exchange for any local currency. Throughout most of the cruise, this wasn’t a problem—nearly everywhere we went, including markets in Vietnam and Hong Kong, accepted credit cards or U.S. dollars.

That all changed when we reached Japan. We took public transportation from the Yokohama port into Tokyo, and credit cards seemed to be widely accepted, until our return trip.

Read more: I spent $6,773 to cruise on Anthem of the Seas. Here's what everything cost, from $251 internet to $2,302 flights

We thought we had successfully made it back to Yokohama, until we went to exit the train station. Apparently, our tickets needed a fare adjustment because we didn’t purchase the right route.

Unfortunately, the ticket machine and customer service desk wouldn’t accept credit cards or U.S. dollars. We could only pay the fare adjustment with Japanese Yen, which we didn’t have.

Mind you, the fare difference was only $0.70 total, and the language barrier only made the situation worse. Thankfully, some fellow cruisers saw us struggling and offered their leftover Japanese Yen for us to use, but not having local currency caused unnecessary stress. If I travel in Japan again, I’ll be sure to have some Japanese Yen on hand.

3. Prioritize getting an early immigration ticket

During a cruise, you might need to complete face-to-face immigration. Depending on your itinerary, some countries mandate that all passengers go through immigration procedures, similar to arriving at an airport.

After arriving in Japan, Royal Caribbean stated that all guests would be required to go through face-to-face immigration. In fact, the cruise line stated the process could take several hours. Everyone was required to have an immigration ticket, as no excursions would be offered. Even if you weren’t going ashore, you would be required to disembark and immigrate into Japan.

The morning of our arrival, immigration tickets were distributed at 9 a.m. Starting at 7 a.m., people started to queue in hopes of receiving an earlier immigration ticket. Luckily, my sister was determined to get an early slot to maximize our short day in port, so she arrived bright and early.

She snagged us ticket #3, and we were able to disembark almost immediately after arriving. The immigration process took hours, with numbers all the way up to #40. We were able to visit Tokyo and return hours later, while others were still waiting to complete immigration!

I had no idea that immigration would be such a time-consuming process, and I am thankful my sister arrived early to get in line. Some people were unable to actually explore Tokyo because immigration took upwards of five hours, and some didn’t realize they needed an immigration ticket.

Booking a Royal Caribbean excursion can alleviate some of this stress. Unfortunately, all Royal Caribbean excursions were cancelled, meaning no one had priority immigration. If you’re needing face-to-face immigration, make sure to arrive early for the immigration ticket, or prepare for a lengthy wait.

4. Book as much as you can in advance

When I plan vacations, I like to strike a balance between scheduled activities and free time. That way, I’m not locking myself into a rigid, minute-by-minute itinerary. Unfortunately, this plan ended up causing some issues during our cruise in Asia.

Although we had booked excursions for every port, we didn’t arrange all of our necessary transfers. To start, we hadn’t pre-arranged transportation from the hotel to the cruise terminal in Singapore ahead of time.

This proved to be more difficult than expected with four people and nine suitcases. We tried to book a private transfer through multiple vendors after arriving, but didn’t have any luck. In the end, we ended up having two cars take us to the port with our luggage in a second car.

Read more: I paid $5,776 for a balcony room on a 12-night Royal Caribbean cruise. Having a balcony was a highlight

We also had a hard time planning our time in Japan at the end of the cruise, not realizing our visit coincided with Golden Week, which is a major stretch of national holidays that brings large crowds and limited availability.

Because our flight was in the evening, we hoped to find a private tour in the morning with an airport drop-off. We were also warned there would be few taxis available at the port. Unfortunately, we didn’t have any luck finding our own transportation and ended up booking a shuttle option through Royal Caribbean.

In the end, I wish we had booked some of these logistics further in advance instead of waiting until the last minute. Had I known we would be visiting Japan during this very busy tourism week, I would’ve arranged a debarkation tour further in advance. Lack of research created some stressful last-minute planning during my cruise that we could have avoided.

5. Obtaining visas was a huge pain

Before embarkation, Royal Caribbean sent an email warning that guests would not be allowed to board without the necessary visas or documentation for every country on the itinerary.

For this sailing, all U.S. residents were required to obtain an electronic Vietnam visa in advance. So many fellow passengers posted online about struggles with the visa process or Vietnam’s website. In particular, people seemed to have issues with the payment portal and receiving failures.

Sure enough, I ended up paying for two different Vietnam visas because I thought my first application had failed. Both of the payments ended up being processed, so my visa was double the cost that I needed to pay.

I warned my parents of the potential issues, so they paid extra to go through a visa service and avoid the headache. This ended up costing them $200 each for the visa service. On the other hand, my sister applied for her visa and received it without issue two days later.

If you need to apply for a visa, even if it’s an e-visa, you should give yourself plenty of time to account for potential delays or issues. Using a visa service could be a viable solution if you run into issues, and you don’t want to stress about potentially being denied boarding for your long-awaited vacation.

One cruiser received a major scare when they were notified that their upcoming cruise was cancelled after forgetting to make their final payment. 

Full payment isn't required when cruises are booked in advance. Instead, travelers can place a deposit to secure their reservation, with the final payment due by a specific deadline — often 60 to 90 days before departure, depending on the cruise line and itinerary. 

Norie08 shared their harrowing experience on a Reddit message board, serving as a warning for fellow travelers not to make the same mistake in the future. 

"I [forgot] to pay my final balance on my Royal Caribbean [cruise]. [Then, finally], remember[ed] it while I'm at work. I'm planning to pay for it after work. But now I have received notice of [the] cancelation of my cruise," they explain.

"Can I still beg them [that] I'm going to pay? I keep calling them, but nobody answers. I'm so sad!" 

Norie08 booked a 4-night sailing for July 2025 directly through Royal Caribbean's website to celebrate their 6th anniversary. This also would have been Norie08's first cruise, making the situation more heartbreaking. 

Luckily, they got in touch with Royal Caribbean's customer service team, who were able to reinstate their booking. 

"I got it. I contacted them, and I paid my final balance and restored my reservation. I just lost my freebies for the anniversary!" they said. 

Although Norie08 was relieved to have their cruise back, the situation served as an important lesson in travel planning. 

Here are 4 tips to ensure you don't forget to make the final payment for your upcoming cruise vacation.

Read more: 25 Do's and Don'ts for your Royal Caribbean cruise in 2025

Set calendar reminders

"In the future, always put a calendar reminder in your phone!" commented one Reddit user. 

The final payment due date will be clearly listed on your booking confirmation, whether it's 6 months or two years away, as well as on your online account. 

As soon as you've placed your deposit, set multiple calendar alerts so you're frequently reminded about the upcoming payment date. 

For example, you might not want the first reminder to pop up two days before you have to drop thousands of dollars on a cruise payment. 

Instead, consider setting a reminder for two months, three weeks, and two days before the final payment is due. That way, you have time to come up with the funds, rather than scrambling at the last minute. 

Read more: Should I make final payment for my cruise?

Work with a travel agent

Booking cruises through a travel agent is a game-changer. Not only can they help you find deals and decide on cabin categories, itineraries, and even shore excursions, but good agents will remind you when final payments are due. 

For example, my amazing travel agent through MEI Travel, Christina, will always email me days ahead of when the final payment is due, asking if it's okay to go ahead and charge the card on file. 

It's nice because I never have to worry about missing the final payment on my cruise vacations — one of the many perks of using a travel agent! 

Similar-Routine7337 agrees, writing, "This is a big reason why I use a travel agent. I don’t have to worry about missing this deadline."

Read more: 10 things I'd recommend if someone is new to cruise ship travel

Frequently check your email

Cruise lines will send important notices to your email. Some may be related to your sailing's final payment, while others might be about itinerary changes. 

For example, Carnival Cruise Line recently emailed me about ongoing maintenance on the main pool during my weeklong Alaska cruise. Though minor, I was glad I knew that the only indoor pool would be closed before I stepped foot on Carnival Luminosa. 

Regularly checking your inbox will help you stay on top of important updates about your cruise. You may also receive a special upgrade offer!

Arrange automatic payments

"I always take the balance I owe after the initial deposit and divide by the number of months I have to pay it prior to the final payment due date and schedule equal monthly payments to be automatically taken from my credit card. This way I won’t have to pay a lump sum at the time I make the booking or at the final payment due date," explains Altruistic-Couple989.

"It’s sort of like putting your cruise on layaway, no finance fees and it makes it easier (at least for me) since I usually have 4-6 future cruises booked and all being paid in monthly automatic installment payments."

This is great advice for cruisers who fear they'll forget the final payment date or want to consistently pay off their vacation. 

I think Royal Caribbean has the best cruise line loyalty program, and the crown jewel is what you get at the Diamond tier.

One of the best changes Royal Caribbean made since restarting cruises in 2021 was to overhaul its free drink coupons from a happy hour and limited selections to vouchers that can be redeemed at any bar.

Diamond members in Crown and Anchor Society get 4 free drinks per day, every day of the cruise. They can be used at any bar, restaurant or lounge, and it's good for any drink up to $14 in value.

It gets even better as you move up the loyalty ladder, because Diamond Plus members get 5 drinks per day and Pinnacle Club members get 6.

When I tell people why I think Royal Caribbean's loyalty program is the best, I'll start off with the drink benefit because no other cruise line has anything remotely close to this offering.

Just this perk alone has saved me thousands of dollars over the years, and it's a key reason why I continue to cruise with Royal Caribbean.

A built-in drink package

While some loyalty perks are difficult to place a dollar value on, the complimentary drink vouchers at Diamond are as straight forward as it comes.

Everyone in the family gets four drinks at Diamond, and it's kind of like having a rudimentary drink package on every cruise that costs you nothing extra.

I'll still sometimes buy a Royal Caribbean drink package when the price is below $60 per person, per day, but quite often I'm content relying on my loyalty drinks.

Since I'm Pinnacle, I get 6 per day and that's a lot to start off with.  The way I look at it, even if I use every single free drink voucher, I could probably pay for another 3-4 drinks out of pocket and still come out ahead compared to buying a drink package.

On my port intensive itineraries, such as when I've cruised to Alaska or Europe, I've skipped buying a drink package. Instead, I rely on the Crown and Anchor drink benefit.

It saves me money and it's practical too.

It works for kids too

One lesser known side benefit of reaching Diamond is many of the perks you get extend to your children.

If your kids are under the age of 18, they share your Crown and Anchor status level.  That means they get 4 drinks per day as well.

The only restriction is they can only order non-alcoholic drinks with their benefit, even if you order them with their card.

The fact they get free drinks every day means more money saved on the premium coffees, sodas, or mocktails that they'd otherwise be bugging me to get during the cruise.

I'll usually use one of their drinks for a coffee for me.  I tell them as a dad, consider this a professional courtesy.

The casino hack that maximizes this perk

If you combine the Diamond drinks with the casino program, you could end up with one of the best values out there.

Royal Caribbean's casino has its own loyalty program, which also includes free drinks at the Prime tier.

The benefit offers unlimited drinks at the casino bar. The caveat is it's only at the casino bar, and the casino bar isn't open all the time.  Nonetheless, it's a pretty good benefit.

To reach Prime status, you need to collect 2,500 points during the casino calendar year, which is April 1 - March 31. Points are cumulative, so you can add them all up across various cruises.

Once you hit 2,500 points, you can stop gambling and enjoy the free drink benefit immediately and Prime status is yours to keep for the following year.

Combining the free Diamond drinks with the Prime benefits is really good deal since you have an unlimited source of drinks in the casino, along with the convenience of the loyalty vouchers to use elsewhere.

On Royal Caribbean ships that have an easy to access casino, like the Voyager or Freedom Class, it's a very nice strategy for saving money on drinks.

Diamond status is where the best benefits begin

There are many lucrative perks when you reach Diamond status with Royal Caribbean, but I think the free drinks are probably the most notable amenity out there.

Getting a free day of internet and various discounts is nice, but the free drinks are a game changer for a lot of people.

The more you cruise, the more times you can enjoy this benefit. I know it's saved me a lot, especially for my kids.

Considering you need 80 points to reach Diamond level, it's an attainable status for most people that are willing to cruise once or twice a year. At that pace, you'll hit Diamond at the same time you're clearly invested in cruising as a preferred type of vacation.

If you’ve ever wondered whether can you go on a cruise pregnant, the answer is: it depends. While you might be dreaming of the perfect babymoon to celebrate your bundle of joy, you’ll want to make sure you meet Royal Caribbean’s boarding requirements before heading to the pier.

Cruising can be a wonderful and relaxing way to celebrate your pregnancy. However, you must meet the health requirements to cruise safely. In fact, all major cruise lines have the same policy when it comes to cruising while pregnant, including Royal Caribbean. 

Pregnant women are not banned from cruising. Like every major cruise line, Royal Caribbean allows pregnant women to cruise as long as they are not more than 23 weeks pregnant. This means that pregnant women must be 23 weeks or less for the entire duration of their cruise. If you enter the 24th week of pregnancy at any point during your cruise, you will not be eligible to sail with Royal Caribbean.

But, just how strict is Royal Caribbean with this policy?

One concerned traveler recently posted in a Mariner of the Seas Facebook group asking, “How strict is Royal Caribbean about pregnancies? Heard you can’t be past 23 weeks pregnant and my daughter will be 25 weeks pregnant when we cruise.”

The post garnered nearly 200 responses, with many sharing their first-hand experiences of cruising while pregnant. Surprisingly, some admitted to sailing past the 23-week limit, though the majority strongly advised against it, especially for those nearing the gestation cutoff.

Let’s take a closer look at Royal Caribbean’s pregnancy policy, including how it’s enforced and what real cruisers have experienced firsthand.

Guests must attest to their pregnancy status before boarding.

All guests are required to answer a public health questionnaire prior to boarding their cruise, and must attest that they are not more than 23 weeks pregnant. When answering your pre-cruise health questionnaire, Royal Caribbean specifically asks: Will you be more than 23 weeks pregnant at any time during the cruise? 

If you do not meet the criteria, you will be denied boarding your cruise. In this way, you may be wondering why cruise lines set the 24th week of pregnancy as the cutoff for sailing. This guideline is actually established due to the baby’s viability based on gestational age. In the United States, a fetus is considered viable between 23 weeks and 24 weeks.

For this reason, if the mother went into preterm labor during her cruise, the baby could reasonably survive with proper and timely medical intervention, which isn't available on a cruise ship. Before the 24-week mark, preterm labor is usually due to miscarriage rather than delivering a premature, viable newborn.

If you are planning to cruise while pregnant and meet the gestation criteria, it’s best for expecting mothers to consult with their doctor and receive prior approval to cruise. If you have a healthy pregnancy and receive the green light from your doctor, most pregnant women can successfully cruise.

Read more: How to protect yourself from getting sick on a cruise

Royal Caribbean’s medical facilities are well-equipped, but not to safely care for a premature baby.

All cruise ships have a robust medical facility with trained staff onboard to care for a wide range of medical issues and emergencies. 

Cruise ships have at least one licensed doctor, along with a few nurses onboard, who are available 24 hours each day for medical assistance. This can vary depending on the size of the ship, as newer vessels with more passengers likely require more medical staff onboard. Some larger ships might have two doctors and up to four nurses.

Although medical professionals on a cruise ship are trained to perform life-saving measures to the best of their abilities, the medical facility is not a hospital. Any specialized care that is needed will require medical disembarkation or evacuation to the nearest hospital.

In particular, cruise ship medical facilities are not properly equipped to handle a premature baby being born. Without a NICU to care for an extremely premature baby, this would put the newborn's life at risk without proper medical intervention.

In this way, pregnancy policies are in place to protect the health and safety of both the pregnant mother and her baby. By requiring women to cruise only during the first 23 weeks of pregnancy, this minimizes the risk of pregnancy complications and premature labor. Without complex medical care, these situations can become dangerous for both the pregnant mother and the baby.

It’s important to understand the risks involved with cruising while pregnant.

While traveling is never without risk, there are added risks you take when choosing to cruise while pregnant. During a cruise, you will be sailing away from land to the open sea most evenings while traveling between ports of call. 

While at sea, pregnant women would only have access to the medical care provided onboard. In the case of an emergency, a medical evacuation could be necessary. You should also consider the healthcare of the destinations you’d be visiting, as this is where you would receive medical care in an emergency.

Royal Caribbean states on its website, “There is no Obstetrician/Gynecologist available on the ship, and that pregnancies, when unstable and poorly controlled, are potentially life-threatening, especially without back up. A Guest may be at sea for several days without any immediate hospital and/or specialist back up, and that since the proposed itinerary is not within the U.S., and the availability of specialized shore side facilities can be problematic.”

For this reason, women should consider all of the risks of cruising while pregnant and discuss any concerns with their doctor before embarking. If you have a high-risk pregnancy or you’re at risk for preterm labor, cruising might not be the best choice for you.

Many cruisers said Royal Caribbean was very strict about enforcing its pregnancy policy.

In the comment section of the Facebook post, many mothers shared their personal stories about cruising while pregnant. Overall, most of the first-hand experiences stated that Royal Caribbean was very strict about its pregnancy policy and the rules were enforced.

One commenter answered, “Very strict and even if they weren’t, why would you want to put your daughter and future grandchild at risk like that?”

Another person replied similarly, “Pretty strict. We couldn’t go on a family cruise because my sister-in-law would have been just over their boundary. I think they make you prove it with a doctor’s note.”

“Extremely strict… why would someone risk a mom’s life and an unborn child…” questioned one commenter.

Read more: 8 things I wish I knew about taking a baby on a cruise ship

Although Royal Caribbean does not explicitly require a doctor’s note, some commenters shared that they did provide documentation to prove their pregnancy gestation.

“Very strict. I had to plan a whole new cruise and bring a note from my doctor,” stated another cruiser. Another comment echoed this sentiment: “Very strict. We had to have a Dr note when my daughter was pregnant.”

Likewise, one woman said, “They are really strict. I had to provide a note from my doctor stating my due date and how far along I was. They wanted this ahead of the cruise and looked at it during check in.”

Other commenters questioned the choice to cruise after the 23-week cutoff, especially given the risks.

Many commenters stressed the importance of following Royal Caribbean’s pregnancy policy to protect the health of both the mother and baby. Misrepresenting how far along you are isn’t just against cruise line rules, it also increases the risk of serious pregnancy complications.

“Why risk the life of your daughter and her unborn child? The ship is nowhere near equipped to deal with an emergency. No one ever thinks anything will happen to them—until it does,” responded one person.

Another replied, “Ok, so here’s the thing. Especially if you are traveling the Caribbean, Mexico, Central America or South America, think about healthcare. If you or the baby become endangered, who will take care of you or the baby’s healthcare? The ship has a hospital but it’s limited.”

“They have a policy. Would you gamble your daughter-in-law’s health and the baby’s health on trying to skirt around it? If something goes wrong, Royal [Caribbean] nor third-party insurance would cover the cost of care,” questioned one cruiser.

One nurse chimed in, “As a neonatal ICU nurse, I wouldn’t risk traveling in the middle of the ocean while pregnant. For the health and safety of your daughter, your grandchild, and the crew onboard the ship that would have to intervene in that emergency situation, she shouldn’t go.

Another pregnant woman shared that they cruised at 18 weeks and wouldn’t do it again. “I honestly had quite a bit of anxiety and I wouldn’t have gone any later. If something happens, there’s very limited medical care onboard.”

However, some commenters shared that they were able to cruise beyond the 23-week mark.

Despite Royal Caribbean’s clear pregnancy policy, some women shared that they cruised beyond 23 weeks without issue. While not recommended, a few offered first-hand accounts of sailing later in pregnancy.

“We went in Feb & I was going on 25 weeks, nobody ever asked me,” commented one pregnant cruiser. Another explained, “Was 26 weeks and they never asked anything.”

In addition, one commenter shared, “I know someone that went well into her third trimester. I imagine she didn’t tell them she was pregnant though, because she hid it fairly well. I personally wouldn’t risk it."

Another cruiser said, “I went at 24-25 weeks pregnant. Nobody asked for a note and I was very visibly pregnant as pictured. Definitely cruise at your own risk, but my baby is now a happy, heathy 8 month old.”

While a handful of cruisers shared they didn’t have an issue cruising beyond 23 weeks, these should be viewed as exceptions and not endorsements. Royal Caribbean’s pregnancy policy is in place to protect the health of its passengers, including pregnant moms.

One of the centerpieces of Royal Caribbean's Perfect Day Mexico plans is an enormous water park that is all about one type of slides: rafts.

This will be the second water park that Royal Caribbean will operate, but this one is shifting its plans because the cruise line acknowledges that, "raft slides are by far the best slides that we offer our guests and what they're looking for."

Royal Caribbean revealed its plans last week for a new private destination in what is now Costa Maya, Mexico. By far the most visible feature is the addition of Loco Waterpark.

There will be more than 30 waterslides spread across three towers, and there will be many more raft slides compared to Thrill Waterpark at Perfect Day at CocoCay.

The decision to have more raft slides instead of body slides is something the cruise line decided after reviewing feedback from its customers.

"What we've learned is there's significant amount of guest demand for raft slides and a lesser demand on body slides. And so we are dialing back the number of body slides and dialing up the number of raft slides," said Royal Caribbean's Senior Vice President and Chief Product Innovation Officer Jay Schneider during a review of the park plans.

Why do passengers like rafts better? Because they can share the experience.

"What we've learned in this journey is people love family raft slides," he shared and said this includes any slide you can go on with someone else.

Moreover, this trend is going to be something Royal Caribbean is going to lean into even more with future projects outside of Costa Maya.

"That doesn't mean we walk away from drop slides or body slides, but you will see us go much heavier in raft slides here and likely in the future expansion of [CocoCay], go heavier in raft slides as you look at future Icons," alluding to work on new Icon Class cruise ships as well as adding more slides to CocoCay.

Royal Caribbean hired a water slide influencer to help design it all

Loco Waterpark will encompass 15 acres, and have the world's tallest dueling waterslides.  And it was designed with the help of a waterslide expert.

Alex Ojeda is an influencer with over 8.4 million followers on TikTok, and he's been collaborating with Royal Caribbean for years.  

This time, Royal Caribbean hired him to help out.

"I was hired to help design this waterpark. Shaping slides, guest experience and how the thrill flows from tower to tower," he shared in an Instagram reel.

During the reveal event in New York City, Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley pointed out Mr. Ojeda and credited him with helping shape the vision for the waterpark.

Clearly, Mr. Ojeda's vision was to add big, thrilling, and fast slides.  

Perfect Day Mexico will be home to the tallest water slide tower in the Americas. Standing over 170ft tall, you can ride the longest water slide coaster and two of the tallest family raft slides on Earth.

The park also features the world's first Sombrero waterslide, as well as a hydro launch slide that launches riders 40ft into the air.

Mr. Schneider said they want to hear people screaming on these slides, "we want the want the Jaguar to basically be just the sounding board of screaming."

Other slides you can expect include:

• Sombrero toilet bowl slide
• Boomerang slide
• Body drop slide
• Trap door body slide
• Freefall corkscrew slide
• High speed body slide
• 3 tube slides that dial back a little bit of the intensity
• Mat racer slides
• Helix twist slide

If that wasn't enough, there will be also a wave pool, along with an adventure pool for kids.

There's an admission cost to Loco Waterpark, but prices aren't available yet.

Royal Caribbean employs dynamic pricing based on demand, so there will be a range of prices that will be revealed closer to the opening of Perfect Day Mexico.

Saving time and avoiding lines is everything to me in the world of travel, and that's why I usually carry my luggage off the ship at its end.

While I usually opt for convenience in many aspects of travel, the disembarkation process is one notable exception.

When a cruise concludes, Royal Caribbean gives its guests options in how to get their belongings off the ship. There's a simple way to have your luggage taken off the ship for you and delivered to the cruise terminal.

I used to always leave my bags out the night before the cruise ends and then have them brought to the terminal.  It was simple and it did make it easier to get off the ship the next morning.

But since I started carrying my luggage off the ship, it changed my outlook for the speed factor.

Carrying bags is the fastest way to get going

The top reason I'll carry my own bags off the ship is because it's the fastest way to get off the ship, out of the terminal, and on my way.

Those carrying their own bags off the ship can disembark the ship an hour or more before the first bags are delivered.

When you leave your luggage out, Royal Caribbean gives you an estimated time they'll be ready.  That's the earliest time you can disembark the ship and have the bags waiting for you.  You could go later, if you're taking your time eating breakfast or enjoying a few more minutes on the ship.

In many cases, I want to get going and expedite traveling home.  I might be trying to make a specific high speed train home, or a flight booking.  

When I cruise close to home and I'm driving my own car, I simply want to get home.  Getting off the ship is like ripping the band-aid off in that I don't want to belabor the end of vacation and would rather get it over with.

Another benefit of being early off the ship is it minimizes the potential for traffic.  I find traffic tends to build later in the morning, and lines at the cruise terminal pickup area are worse later in the morning.

One more compelling reason I like self-assist is I don't have to pack everything up the night before.  

Since I don't have to leave my bags out in the hallway, I have more time to pack and less issues packing up what I need for the next day versus what can be in the checked luggage.

What to know before you try it

Carrying your own bags off the ship sounds great when you're sitting at home, but there are a few caveats you should be aware of before you try it.

To start, you'll need to be comfortable taking your own luggage with you without any assistance.

Royal Caribbean offers the option to take your own luggage off the ship, but you need to be able to easily carry all of it on your own.  Plus anything and everyone else you're traveling with.

If you have mobility issues, lack the strength to carry heavy suitcases down stairs, or are also trying to juggle kids, this might not be the option for you.

In fact, I only discovered the virtues of taking my luggage off myself once my kids got older and it didn't feel like we were trying to move the Army of the Potomac.

The other potential issue is actually getting off the ship in the morning.  Elevators will be busy, and it can be a challenge to get an elevator.

Ideally, you'll carry the bags down the stairs but that's not always possible.  

Conventional wisdom says if you can't get an elevator going down, take one going up and then wait for it to head back down later.

"No long lines, no big crowds"

Other cruisers have found embracing self-assist carry is the way to go too.

OhiobornCAraised posted on Reddit why they prefer it too, "Getting through immigration and the cruise terminal was soooo smooth! No long lines, no big crowds to work through. It was marvelous. 10/10 experience and hope to be able to do it more in the future."

Substantial-Face-363 added, "Totally agree! We disembarked from the Encore a couple weeks ago at 6:30 am. We took all our bags and walked right off. No wait, no lines. It was amazing!"

"Just got off a ship a week ago . We did just this for our first time. Worked out great due to a tight flight schedule," wrote OldAdministration735.

I'll aspire to carry my own luggage off the ship whenever possible, even if I'm not in a rush to disembark necessarily.

I simply like being in control of when I can leave, and usually the time guests carrying their own luggage off the ship starts quite early.

I can't say I'm able to do this on every cruise, but I've definitely shifted towards embracing carrying my own bags off more and more.