Royal Caribbean Blog

Harmony of the Seas just underwent a multi-million dollar transformation, becoming the largest cruise ship in the fleet to be royally amplified. 

The upgrades were completed in May 2026 ahead of Harmony’s long-awaited European season. Although she wasn’t the most outdated vessel, some areas were noticeably lacking compared to its counterparts.

For example, several dining venues, including Sabor Modern Mexican and Mini Bites, have been largely retired from the Royal Caribbean fleet. As such, the highly anticipated Royal Amplification ensured there were new ways to drink and dine aboard the 226,963 gross-ton Oasis Class ship. 

Moreover, the cruise line has become focused on adding more non-smoking casinos to its fleet. Consequently, two venues on Deck 4 were removed to help expand Casino Royale and create the largest casino in Royal Caribbean history. 

Here’s an in-depth look at all the changes to Harmony of the Seas!

The pool deck was brightened up. 

One of the most noticeable transformations to Harmony of the Seas was the brand-new Caribbean-style pool deck, which turned the ordinary outdoor space into a resort-like escape. 

The vessel already had the Perfect Storm waterslide trio and kid-friendly Splashaway Bay. However, the space was brightened up with Caribbean-themed decor and not one, not two, but three Lime & Coconut bars!

The Lime & Coconut quickly became a fan-favorite for its solid selection of fruity, tropical drinks — hence why it has been added to ships ranging from Navigator of the Seas to Freedom of the Seas and Harmony of the Seas! 

And yes, drink packages and Diamond vouchers work at these poolside bars! 

The adult-only Solarium also got a major facelift. 

Unfortunately, Harmony of the Seas’ Solarium still doesn’t have a pool. Additionally, the lower level of the Solarium on Deck 14 was removed to make way for additional staterooms, including the Ultimate Panoramic Suites. These come with prime ocean views through floor-to-ceiling windows and exclusive Star Class perks.

However, there’s a nice new outdoor sun deck for those serious about soaking up all the rays they can get since it isn’t shaded. This was a popular spot for sailaway on our itinerary since it offered an unobstructed view of Barcelona’s shoreline as we departed the port. 

Another major change made to the Solarium area was that Samba Grill, the cruise line's Brazilian steakhouse, was added to the Solarium Grill as a new specialty dinner option. Now, guests can pay extra for an all-you-can-eat feast with meats, appetizers, and desserts. 

Multiple other venues were removed to make way for new cabins.

Over 30 new cabins were added to the Oasis Class ship, including a multi-story Ultimate Family Suite that overlooks the Pool and Sports Zone. However, some public venues needed to be removed from the vessel to make room for the expanded passenger accommodations. 

For starters, there isn't a dedicated Vitality Café space in the spa anymore. Instead, you can find fresh-pressed juices and smoothies in a pop-up cafe in the On Air Club. 

Additionally, Wonderland, the specialty restaurant themed after “Alice in Wonderland," was replaced to add more staterooms on Deck 14. 

Similarly, the Conference Center is no longer on Deck 3. New cabins have taken over the previous space. On Deck 15, there's a new conference center area called Canvas. According to the cruise line, it's a "flexible, well-designed space suitable for corporate meetings, social events, and celebrations." 

Royal Caribbean's all-new tiki bar, Pesky Parrot, replaced the Bionic Bar. 

When Royal Caribbean's newest Oasis Class ship, Utopia of the Seas, launched in 2024, the cruise line debuted the first-of-its-kind Pesky Parrot bar in the Royal Promenade. 

This fun tiki bar transports you directly to a lively Caribbean resort, regardless of whether you're sailing to culturally rich destinations in Europe or island hopping in The Bahamas. 

Here, you will find an impressive lineup of unique, tropical cocktails, including the I-Land Negroni, Peanut Butter Piña Colada, and Tiki 'Mosa.

The Focus Photo Gallery and Shore Excursions area were combined.

The photo gallery and shore excursion planning area are now fully digital. The multi-purpose tablets on Deck 6 make it easy to view and purchase your professional photographs, along with fun tours for your port days. 

Harmony of the Seas became home to the largest Casino Royale at sea.

The Attic and Crown Lounge were removed from Deck 4 to make way for an expanded Casino Royale. The new non-smoking area is directly outside of the Studio B ice rink. 

This move reflects a broader trend across the cruise line’s fleet, replacing less popular venues with more casino space to drive higher revenue. 

Although there’s no dedicated comedy venue aboard Harmony, you can still find an impressive lineup of variety acts in the Royal Theater. For instance, during my short three-night sailing, Paul Zerdin, a comedian and ventriloquist, performed multiple times.

Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade replaced Sabor Modern Mexican in the Boardwalk Neighborhood. 

At long last, Playmakers has made its way aboard Harmony of the Seas. Of course, this means that the specialty Mexican restaurant is no more. 

Playmakers offers casual bar food (available à la carte) in a casual environment. Passengers can splurge on dishes like the Pile On Nachos, Campfire Cookie, Crispy Onion Ring Tower, Buffalo Chicken Crunch Roll, and Truffle Burger. 

El Loco Fresh serves up Mexican favorites on the pool deck.

Although Sabor Modern Mexican was removed from the Boardwalk neighborhood, cruisers can still find simple Mexican fare at El Loco Fresh, Royal Caribbean’s complimentary, grab-and-go Mexican restaurant.

It's on Deck 15 near the aft of the ship in the Pool and Sports Zone. Pro tip: it's also open for breakfast and offers a convenient (and less busy) alternative to the Windjammer and Solarium Bistro. 

The Crown Lounge for loyal Crown & Anchor cruisers is now on Deck 15.

Before her amplification, Harmony of the Seas' Crown Lounge was located on Deck 4 in Entertainment Place. 

Now, the Crown Lounge is located on Deck 15 and replaced part of the former teen-friendly Living Room. The lounge has ample natural light, comfortable seating, and the ever-popular espresso machine! 

The teen club has been revamped with upgraded indoor and outdoor spaces.

Teens have access to an enhanced hangout space, Social100, which offers activities like video games on brand-new consoles, movies, and more for guests aged 13-17.

A new escape room was added to the vessel, too.

Harmony of the Seas' old escape room was previously closed, much to the dismay of many guests. 

However, passengers can once again test their wits at "Escape V: Science Lab" to figure out a series of puzzles and clues to "escape" before time runs out. The entrance is found within Adventure Ocean on Deck 14.

Some passengers aboard a Royal Caribbean cruise ship were very upset after a last-minute itinerary change was announced for their Alaska cruise.

While sailing aboard Royal Caribbean’s Ovation of the Seas, a group gathered at Guest Services to complain about the fact their scheduled visit to Hubbard Glacier would be cancelled. The massive tidewater glacier is considered one of the biggest highlights on many Alaska cruise itineraries.

Videos and photos shared on social media show guests gathering outside of Guest Services while chanting, “We want Hubbard!” Some passengers were also seen holding handmade signs expressing frustration over the last-minute itinerary change. According to the post, it resembled a protest.

Ovation of the Seas was sailing a 7-night, one-way Alaska cruise from Vancouver to Seward on the affected itinerary. The itinerary departed Vancouver on May 15, 2026, with stops in Ketchikan, Sitka, and Skagway before the scheduled scenic cruising visit to Hubbard Glacier on May 21, 2026. The voyage was originally expected to end in Seward on May 22, 2026, but the itinerary was rerouted last-minute to disembark in Whittier, Alaska instead.

According to a post shared in a Royal Caribbean Facebook group, the captain announced the cancellation of Hubbard Glacier on the second-to-last day of the cruise.

The guest shared, “JUST REPORTING: Protests currently on Ovation of the Seas at guest services Alaska bound. Chants saying ‘We Want Hubbard’ after the highlight of the trip (Hubbard Glacier) was cancelled at last minute.”

Passengers said the cancellation was tied to Ovation of the Seas finishing the cruise in Whittier instead of Seward following ongoing delays with Seward’s new cruise terminal project.

The post continued, “The captain announced on the second to last day that the glacier had to be cancelled on the itinerary. Originally the ship was suppose to end in Seward, Alaska but on the night before the ship left, it was switched to Whittier, Alaska due to port repairs.”

The same post said guests were told operational constraints and timing requirements into Whittier played a role in the decision.

“The captain now announced there is too much traffic in Whittier because the passage is so narrow and the ship would now have to arrive there at 1am. Some passengers claim crew members told them that they knew in advance that Hubbard Glacier [would be canceled]…adding to frustration. That claim was not confirmed by the captain or any [Royal Caribbean] spokesperson however.”

Hubbard Glacier is a major highlight for many Alaska cruisers

The backlash from passengers onboard Ovation of the Seas undoubtedly reflects how significant Hubbard Glacier is for many Alaska travelers. In fact, Hubbard Glacier is one of Alaska’s most iconic cruise destinations, and for many guests, glacier viewing days are among the biggest highlights of taking an Alaska cruise.

Located within Disenchantment Bay near Yakutat, the massive tidewater glacier stretches roughly 76 miles from its source. Hubbard Glacier is known for having dramatic ice calving events, where large chunks of ice break away and crash into the water below.

Unlike a traditional port stop, Hubbard Glacier is a scenic cruising destination where ships slowly sail into Disenchantment Bay. Most cruise ships will typically spend several hours scenic cruising near the glacier, which gives passengers time to watch wildlife, photograph the glacier, and enjoy close-up views from open decks and balconies.

Passengers onboard Ovation of the Seas echoed this disappointment online, with several people describing the missed glacier visit as one of the most frustrating aspects of the sailing.

Additionally, most of Royal Caribbean's Alaska itineraries that include Hubbard Glacier operate as one-way sailings between Vancouver and Seward. This means travelers often pay more for multi-city airfare and land tours compared to traditional round-trip sailings from Vancouver.

“Incredibly frustrating. Myself and thousands of other passengers paid significant premiums to fly home from Anchorage vs a round-trip to Vancouver. The compensation doesn’t come even close to addressing this and the crew seems powerless to make things right. A future cruise discount would go a long way to making this a win-win for both passengers and RCL who would get significant future business,” shared one passenger on Reddit.

Others noted the sailing had already experienced disruptions earlier in the voyage, including delays related to immigration processing and operational requirements after the ship repositioned from Asia.

“Onboard now as well, a bit of a bummer, but fortunately on the B2B which doesn’t seem to be impacted yet. This sailing has had a few hiccups - the ship came from Tokyo to Vancouver, and the crew did not clear immigration until they reached Ketchikan + had a coast guard drill - which is why we were delayed leaving by almost 2.5hrs.”

Passengers speculate mechanical issues may have played a role

In addition to frustration surrounding the cancellation of Hubbard Glacier, some passengers mentioned that Ovation of the Seas seems to be sailing at a reduced speed, which could have contributed to the itinerary change.

It's important to note that Royal Caribbean has not confirmed any propulsion issues, and the cruise line has not linked mechanical concerns to the itinerary change. However, one passenger onboard claimed the captain previously mentioned speed restrictions earlier in the sailing.

“The other issue - and the main reason we’re missing the Hubbard Glacier - is because the ship is down 1 or 2 engines (I know the captain mentioned at least 1 on the first day). As such, the ship is still safe and functional, but (from my understanding) can’t reach its full speed - making it difficult to reach the glacier in time,” shared the guest.

“Because of logistics, they want to dock in Whittier around 1am, to ensure luggage and supplies are offloaded/loaded for the turnaround, which gives them even less time. This also subsequently caused the delay into Sitka combined with leaving Ketchikan late,” the post continued.

Other passengers aboard Ovation of the Seas referenced other maintenance issues onboard, including elevators being reportedly out of service during the voyage. However, at this point, any engine-related explanation remains passenger speculation.

Guest Services reportedly remained packed after announcement

As news spread across the ship about Hubbard Glacier being canceled, passengers reported large crowds of angry guests outside of Guest Services. One passenger wrote, “I briefly heard a ‘WE WANT HUBBARD’ chant after dinner, line at guest services was packed.”

Others described long lines continuing throughout the evening as guests sought clarification and asked whether additional compensation would be offered. One guest shared on Reddit, “I heard [the chant] as well! Seems like the line at guest services has been packed non-stop. I’m curious to see if they go beyond the onboard credit they automatically issued to everyone today."

Cruisers said that Royal Caribbean automatically issued onboard credit compensation following the cancellation. According to detailed shared online, compensation reportedly included:

• Inside and ocean view staterooms: $150 onboard credit

• Balcony cabins: $200 onboard credit

• Suites: $400 onboard credit

• Third and fourth guests: $25 each

Guests indicated the credits appeared automatically without requiring visits to Guest Services. Despite the automatic credit, many guests still reportedly visited Guest Services to voice their frustrations and ask for additional compensation.

Seward construction delays continue impacting Alaska sailings

The Hubbard Glacier cancellation comes as multiple Alaska sailings adjust to disruptions caused by delays at Seward’s new cruise terminal project.

Seward’s highly anticipated “Port of Tomorrow” redevelopment was originally expected to welcome cruise passengers beginning May 14, 2026. However, officials later delayed the opening until May 22, 2026 after inspections identified remaining pile clusters that needed to be removed before larger ships could safely use the facilities.

As a result of the delay, affected ships temporarily shifted operations from Seward to nearby Whittier. Although the two ports are less than 90 miles apart by road, the change still created transportation challenges for passengers with independent plans.

Because many Alaska cruise passengers extend their vacations with land tours before or after sailing, the last-minute swap created a logistical headache for thousands of passengers. For instance, many travelers had already arranged Alaska Railroad tickets departing and post-cruise hotel stays.

Royal Caribbean previously stated guests booked on cruise tours would continue seamlessly, with train service and transfers automatically adjusted where applicable. Shore excursions and cruise-line transportation were also updated to reflect the temporary move to Whittier.

However, travelers who booked independently faced a more complicated situation.

For example, one passenger previously shared that they had already reserved Alaska Railroad tickets from Seward to Anchorage, booked hotels in Seward, and arranged private excursions before learning their cruise would now end in Whittier instead.

Ovation of the Seas was not the only ship impacted

Ovation of the Seas was one of several ships impacted by the temporary Seward closure and subsequent move to Whittier, alongside Silver Moon, Celebrity Summit, and Viking Venus. The Quantum Class vessel is scheduled to operate one-way Alaska itineraries between Vancouver and Seward throughout the summer.

The disruption stems from Seward’s massive $137 million redevelopment project, which aims to modernize the city’s aging cruise infrastructure and prepare for larger vessels in future Alaska seasons.

The project includes a new floating double-berth pier, upgraded transportation areas, expanded bus operations, and a new 41,500-square-foot cruise terminal designed to handle increasing passenger volume.

Royal Caribbean Group has been one of the project’s key partners and is expected to receive preferential berthing access once the facility opens, although the terminal will continue serving multiple cruise lines.

The U.S. Supreme Court delivered bad news for Royal Caribbean and other cruise lines on Thursday when it overturned a lower court decision regarding ship visits to Cuba.

Four cruise lines are part of an ongoing litigation stemming from when the U.S. briefly allowed travel to Cuba again. This includes Carnival, Norwegian Cruise Line ‌Holdings, Royal Caribbean Cruises and MSC Cruises.

The U.S. company that built the docks prior to the Cuban revolution in 1959 sued the cruise lines because they used confiscated property, which is against the law under the Helms-Burton Act. This law allows U.S. nationals who owned property in Cuba to sue anyone who "traffics in property which was confiscated by the Cuban Government on or after January 1, 1959."

A lower court sided with the cruise lines, but the Supreme Court has set aside that decision.

Now, there are hundreds of millions of dollars at stake with the lawsuit re-opened.

Why the cruise lines are being sued

Cruise lines, like Royal Caribbean, briefly resumed cruises to Cuba when the U.S. government opened up travel to the Communist country.

Those ships all docked and used the terminal at the Havana Docks, which was built in 1905.

When Fidel Castro came to power, he nationalized and expropriated property held by U.S. companies including Havana Docks. They had previous had a 99-year concession for the construction and operation ‌of piers at the port of Havana, granted in ⁠1934 by Cuba's government.

The company was never paid anything by Cuba for the docks. As a result, the Helms-Burton Act gives companies an option to seek restitution.

The act allows companies to sue both the Cuban government and private companies that do business in Cuba.

The four cruise lines visited Cuba between 2016 to 2019 before travel to the island was once again restricted.

The law had been suspended for years by Presidents on both sides of the aisle as a way to avoid disputes with allies and businesses operating inside the Caribbean island. President Donald Trump re-activated the law during his first term.

Court rules against cruise lines

In 2022, a federal judge imposed judgements against each of the four cruise lines of more than $100 million because they had engaged in trafficking by having their ships dock at the terminal.

The Atlanta-based 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals threw out those judgments last year because the concession given to Havana Docks would have technically expired in 2004, more than a decade before the cruise ships made a visit there.

The 11th Circuit wrote at the time, "When that concession expired in 2004, any property interest that Havana ​Docks had by virtue of that concession ended."

The Supreme Court heard arguments ​in the case in February. On Thursday, the Supreme Court set aside that decision in a 8-1 ruling.

Justice Clarence Thomas wrote the majority opinion. Justice Elena Kagan was the only justice to dissent.

"Havana Docks has shown that the cruise lines used confiscated property in which Havana Docks had a property interest and to which it owns a claim,” Justice Clarence Thomas wrote.

To be clear, the Supreme Court's decision doesn't decide the case. Rather, it allows the lawsuit to go forward once again.

In a joint court filing, the companies said it defies common sense that they "should pay hundreds of millions of dollars for following the executive branch's lead in reopening travel to Cuba."

Perhaps no Royal Caribbean cruise add-on is more popular than a drink package, and it seems there might be better day to buy it for a lower price.

The cruise line has employed "dynamic pricing" for years, which means the cost of a drink package can vary from ship to ship, and sailing. And since we know Royal Caribbean uses AI to manage prices, the exact cost could fluctuate from passenger to passenger on a daily basis.

According to new tracking data compiled by All Aboard Deals across 30 Royal Caribbean ships, there has been a notable pattern to how beverage prices ebb and flow.

The Deluxe Beverage Package offers unlimited alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks for the entire sailing while onboard the ship or at one of the cruise line's private destinations.

I think everyone wants to pay the least for a drink package, so I was curious to learn there is a possible methodology to finding the cheapest cost.

What the data found

Their data shows the weekly pricing spike that had consistently landed on Tuesdays suddenly shifted to Wednesdays in late April 2026.

The report tracked 89 days of pricing data between February 13 and May 13, 2026, and found that for nine consecutive weeks, Royal Caribbean routinely increased Deluxe Beverage Package prices every Tuesday before lowering them again by Wednesday morning. Then beginning April 28, the entire cycle moved forward by one day.

Tuesday now appears to be the cheapest day to buy a Royal Caribbean drink package, while Wednesday has become the most expensive.

That may sound like a tiny detail, but the difference can easily add up to more than $100 on a weeklong cruise for two people.

The report identified nine weeks where Tuesday was clearly the expensive day:

• Feb. 24
• Mar. 3
• Mar. 17
• Mar. 24
• Mar. 31
• Apr. 7
• Apr. 14
• Apr. 21

Only one Tuesday during that stretch, March 10, failed to show a meaningful spike.

Then everything changed after April 21.

Instead of Tuesday prices jumping, Wednesdays suddenly became the expensive day across the fleet. The report found three consecutive Wednesday spikes on April 29, May 6, and May 13.

According to the data:

• April 29 Wednesday pricing averaged $82.87 per day versus Tuesday’s $71.54
• May 6 Wednesday pricing averaged $80.71 versus Tuesday’s $70.21
• May 13 Wednesday pricing averaged $80.57 versus Tuesday’s $70.21

You could pay more than $100 more if you bought a drink package on the wrong day

The average Wednesday premium during the new cycle measured roughly $10 to $12 more per person, per day than Tuesday pricing.

That means a couple on a 7-night cruise could potentially pay around $140 to $170 more simply by purchasing on Wednesday instead of Tuesday.

More importantly, this data suggests there may also be an internal weekly pricing rhythm that cruisers can use to their advantage.

If the Wednesday pattern continues, cruisers looking for the lowest possible drink package price may want to avoid buying midweek and instead check prices on Tuesdays.

Equally important, the data reinforces how important it is to never assume the current Cruise Planner price is the best price you will see.

Royal Caribbean allows guests to cancel and rebook most Cruise Planner purchases before the sailing, which means many cruisers regularly monitor pricing and re-purchase packages when prices drop.

Instead of randomly checking prices every day, guests may want to focus their attention around Tuesday and Wednesday price movements.

Some ships saw much bigger spikes than others

Something else I found interesting was the discrepancy in which drink package prices would change depending on the ship.

Some ships experienced bigger Wednesday spikes than others. Here's the largest average Wednesday price increases compared to Tuesday:

• Grandeur of the Seas: +$23.20
• Jewel of the Seas: +$22.20
• Navigator of the Seas: +$20.16
• Mariner of the Seas: +$19.92
• Vision of the Seas: +$17.85

Once again, buying the drink package on one day could mean a significantly higher bill than if you bought it a different day.

For a couple sailing seven nights on Grandeur of the Seas, the difference between Tuesday and Wednesday pricing could exceed $320 total.

The report also found several ships that barely participated in the original Tuesday cycle but became major Wednesday movers after the shift.

Navigator of the Seas, Oasis of the Seas, Symphony of the Seas, and Star of the Seas all showed much stronger Wednesday spikes than they ever did during the Tuesday era.

So what day should you buy a Royal Caribbean drink package?

If this trend holds up, Tuesday now appears to be the best day to buy a Royal Caribbean Deluxe Beverage Package, while skipping buying it on Wednesday.

Of course, that doesn't mean prices can't change at other times.

Royal Caribbean still runs flash sales, holiday promotions, and sailing-specific discounts throughout the year. Major holidays tend to introduce deep savings and make it one of the best times to check for a drink package sale.

My takeaway is Royal Caribbean's AI pricing can follow a pattern, so it's important to never buy it and then forget about it. It may actually be more predictable than I previously considered.

The exact days may change over time, but this dataset suggests Royal Caribbean may be operating on recurring pricing schedules rather than purely random fluctuations.

Nonetheless, you should track prices periodically, and look if there's a better price later. 

A new survey sent to select Royal Caribbean passengers asks them a question about gratuities that we haven't seen asked before.

Royal Caribbean doesn't include gratuities with its cruise fare, as it does with port fees and taxes. It's an extra cost that gets added later on after booking.

Passengers have the choice of how they are charged for it, and if they choose to use the automatic payment method or opt to pay on their own.

A copy of the survey sent to select passengers asks them which tipping methodology they prefer. Like all survey questions, it's not a confirmation of anything, but does show the line is looking to get more feedback on a policy.

How gratuities work on a Royal Caribbean cruise

Every passenger is expected to pay gratuities on their cruise vacation as a thank you to the hard working crew members that take care of them during their voyage.

This has been a tradition for decades, and Royal Caribbean has two options.  You can either pre-pay them before the cruise and they will distributed to the select crew members, or you can be charged daily for them once onboard.

Gratuities cover:

• Stateroom attendant
• Main Dining Room waiter
• Main Dining Room assistant waiter
• Main Dining Room head waiter

Since November 1, 2024, the rate is $18.50 per person for standard cabins, and $21.00 per person for person in suites.

Passengers are allowed to modify the amount once onboard the ship by going to Guest Services onboard at any time prior to the morning of disembarkation.

Of course, passengers can tip anything they wish in addition to the automatic gratuity.

This automatic gratuity does not cover pre-cruise and onboard purchases of beverages and beverage packages, spa and salon, specialty dining and specialty dining packages, room service and mini bar purchases.

Which way do you pay your gratuities?

I've never seen this particular question asked in a post-cruise survey, and it certainly got the attention of a lot of other cruisers too. A Royal Caribbean Blog reader sent me a screenshot of it to include here.

The survey asks passengers, "when it comes to gratuities on this cruise, which of the following best describes what you did?"

• I pre-paid gratuities before my cruise
• Gratuities were automatically charged to my stateroom during my cruise
• I opted out of the automatic gratuities to handle it my preferred way
• I don't recall/prefer not to say

The question is trying to asses which option passengers use, but I'm curious why they're asking it.

Gratuities have been a traditionally polarizing topic among cruise passengers, because they've effectively become an extra fee, rather than an optional consideration.

All the mainstream cruise lines don't include gratuities with their fare, presumably to advertise a lower price.

Virgin Voyages attempted to bundle gratuities with its fare, but in 2025 the line removed them from the fare (for all accommodation categories, including suites) and bringing all fares down by $20 per person, per day.

Virgin said their decision was two fold. First, so guests could see how much crew are actually getting. Second, to compare Virgin Voyages pricing with other premium cruise lines that don’t include gratuities.

A representative from the line said the "feedback was loud and clear".

How you can prepay gratuities

Every guest has the option of prepaying gratuities up to 48 hours prior to the start of the cruise and having it added to their reservation.

The choice is first given to you at the time of booking, but you can change your mind later if you prefer.

If you booked directly with the cruise line, you can call Royal Caribbean to have the change made. If you booked with a travel agent or other third party, contact them to have it added.

If you select My Time Dining for dinner, you'll be forced into prepaying gratuities before the cruise begins. This is because you could have different waiters each night, so for logistical reasons, it's easier to go with automatic gratuity.

Royal Caribbean's plans to build a new private destination on the east coast of Mexico won't happen after Mexican authorities denied plans for it.

Mexican Environment Minister Alicia Barcena confirmed plans for Perfect Day Mexico won't be approved, following a massive backlash from environmental groups concerning the impact the project would have on the area.

"It is not going to be approved," Barcena said at a press conference on Tuesday. She added Royal Caribbean was moving on withdrawing plans for the project.

Royal Caribbean issued a statement on Wednesday to respect the Mexican government's decision, but says it will continue working on a solution that respects the environment and local community.

"We are disappointed by SEMARNAT’s decision and respect the role of Mexico’s environmental authorities. Mahahual is a special place that deserves care and protection. We continue to believe in Mexico, and are optimistic in the potential to advance our investment responsibly."

"Over the coming weeks, we will re-engage stakeholders to move forward in a way that delivers shared prosperity through the development of essential environmental infrastructure, the creation of thousands of local jobs, and community programs that support the people of Mexico."

The prepared statement by the cruise line appears to indicate they still have an intention to move forward with the project in one form of another. It's simply too early to know exactly what that will look like, but a new proposal will need to be sent to the Mexican government for approval.

What happened to Perfect Day Mexico

In May 2025, Royal Caribbean revealed it had purchased the port of Costa Maya, near the small village of Mahaual, Mexico.

The project would be a new exclusive offering to Royal Caribbean cruise line guests that had beaches, pools, a lazy river, and adults-only area, and water park.

There would have been more than 30 waterslides across five towers, including Jaguar's Peak, a 170-foot-tall slide tower with multiple record breakers like the tallest slides in the Americas and the longest coaster-style waterslide.

Their intention was to redevelop the port and transform it into a new private destination for cruise ship guests. Their plan was to also significantly overhaul and improve the local infrastructure to support such plans.

Moreover, they planned to follow regulatory requirements and minimize environmental impact as the project moved forward. 

In an interview in 2025, Jay Schneider, Royal Caribbean's Senior Vice President and Chief Product Innovation Officer, said, "We are not going to touch anything at all in the mangrove conservation area," adding that the mangroves are already dying due to pollution from the municipal water treatment plant.

A petition was launched in 2025 online to stop the project. 

The petition claims the private destination would have been built on protected mangroves. 

At the announcement for the project, Royal Caribbean was adamant they were going to protect the mangroves, "There are mangroves and we're committed to protecting the mangroves that are there."

In fact, Royal Caribbean emphasized the cruise line's plan to restore the mangroves' health by building a new water treatment plant for the Mexican community.

Currently, an incomplete water treatment plant that was built years ago leaks raw sewage into Mahahual’s coastal mangrove forest and the nearby reef.

The company has also recognized the presence of endangered species like the ocelot, margay and white turtle. According to the Environmental Impact Statement it submitted, mitigation measures will be undertaken to “reduce stress and ensure the physical integrity of the individuals.”

Nonetheless, last week environmental group Greenpeace got wind of the project and became suddenly interested in stopping it.

They warned that the region was at a "crucial juncture," noting that the project and its link to expanded cruise tourism could cause ​significant environmental consequences.

Spam bots subsequently took to social media to flood repeated comments on Royal Caribbean and this site's social media channels.

On Monday, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum was asked about the project and directed that question to Ms. Barcena to oversee it.

"SEMARNAT is conducting a very detailed analysis, but I can already tell you that we are not going to do anything that puts the ecological balance of that area at risk."

"But I want to tell everyone who is concerned about this situation that the government is not going to do anything that would put the ecosystem in that area at risk." 

The next day, Mexico's Environment Minister announced Perfect Day "is not going to be approved." Her comment was shared in a video on social media.

According to local media, Barcena said the decision was based on the area's ecological importance and the need to protect marine and coastal ecosystems associated with the reef.

Greenpeace warns it will "remain vigilant"

Greenpeace celebrated the Mexican government's decision, vowing to track if this idea moves elsewhere within Mexico.

In a statement, the Mexican wing of the organization posted, "Greenpeace Mexico will remain vigilant regarding the possibility of moving the project to another location."

After cruising for 20 years, I experienced my cruise ship losing power temporarily for the first time. While concerning, it wasn't nearly as scary as you might expect.

While I've sailed around hurricanes and been to the ship's medical center, I had never lost power at sea. 

No one expects something like this to happen to them, and I never would have predicted it either. A ship losing power while sailing is quite rare. So when it happened to me while sailing on Royal Caribbean's Radiance of the Seas last week, I was more than a bit surprised.

Like any unexpected event, you go through a range of emotions quickly.  But the truth is the constant communication from crew members made the experience far less scary than you'd expect. 

I wanted to share my experience as an example of how dedicated crew members are to keeping passengers safe, and the realities of how much redundancy modern ships are.

The cruise ship lost power right after leaving Mexico

I was sailing on Radiance of the Seas for a 4-night Western Caribbean cruise from Tampa, with a visit to Cozumel, Mexico. This is one of Royal Caribbean's older ships, with an age of 25 years.

We had just departed Cozumel when there was a medical emergency and our Captain told us we'd have to return to Cozumel to disembark the passenger safely and get them additional medical care.

That process went smoothly, but as our ship departed Cozumel, the lights went out.

I was in the casino watching a hockey game and on the phone with my wife when it happened. 

At first, I assumed something had shorted out the power to the casino.  When the lights didn't come back on after a few seconds, it became apparent this wasn't a localized issue.

One thing to note is how much emergency backup lights there are on a ship. You'll notice that in the photos I took, the ship is remarkably bright even on backup power. It's really the decorative and flood lights that are what rely on primary power.

I walked back to the ship's Centrum to discover the power loss was not just in the casino, but across the ship.

There was a sense of disbelief and even some humor.  I didn't detect any panic, as there was enough light around the public areas where you could easily see where you're going.

The Captain made an announcement very quickly to explain the situation

As soon as we lost power, the crew members around us all remained calm and pretty much kept operating as normally as they could. It helped provide a sense this isn't a major problem.

In fact, bartenders were happy to dispense drinks that didn't require power.

I'd estimate in less than 10 minutes the Radiance's Captain came on the public address system to give us an update. He apologized for the problem, and confirmed the ship was experiencing a power loss.

He was quick to note that the Chief Engineer and his staff were already hard at work getting the ship's secondary generator online to restore power.

He assured us it wouldn't take very long, and he would make another announcement once power was back to give us an update.

Just like hearing from your airplane pilot in bad turbulence, it was very reassuring to hear they had a grasp on the situation.

We had enough light, and even the Wi-Fi still worked

I was pleasantly surprised to discover we never lost the ship's Wi-Fi signal during the entire blackout. 

I found it interesting that the satellite internet and all the access points work off emergency power, and it helped I think keep everyone somewhat more relaxed so they didn't feel "alone".

My top worry was how long it would take to restore power, as well as air conditioning. 

Because the Captain gave us a quick update, I was not anxious. Like most other passengers, I just wanted the power back on so we could go about the fun again.

I wandered the ship some more, and the one area where the power loss was most apparent was in the cabins. I had an inside room with no windows and there was no emergency lights in the cabin.

As you might imagine, the ship's elevators didn't operate either.  

I headed up to the pool deck to see what it was like up there, and make a pit stop at Park Cafe to get a slice of pizza before they ran out.

As I ate my slice of pizza, the power came back online and we had power for the rest of the sailing.

The Captain made one more announcement to confirm main power was back online and things would be back to normal. Furthermore, there would be no impact to our timeline of returning to Tampa on time.

It's unlikely I'll ever experience power loss on a cruise ship again, but I was grateful for how quickly things were repaired

In reflecting on my roughly 30-45 minutes without electricity on a cruise, I think the biggest takeaway is how quickly and efficiently the crew worked to get it everything fixed.

Most importantly, the communication by our Captain and the crew members keeping things calm helped considerably.

Even if there was a bit of dark humor shared among passengers during the incident, things never remotely approached any kind of level of concern that I would have become nervous about.

Cruise ships, like Radiance of the Seas, have heavy redundancies in place, such as dual engine rooms and independent power grids.

According to Royal Caribbean's website, "we have plans for a contingency and we move to using the emergency generators.  These are typically located on the upper decks and they have their own fuel supply and are completely independent. 

"The generators can provide emergency lighting, fire detection systems, operate elevators and even provide power to re-start the engines, if necessary." 

"They can also power communication channels - radio, telefax, email, so the ship can continue to communicate with shoreside."

You don't need to worry about losing power on a cruise ship, because it's so rare for it to occur. But if it did, take solace in the fact there are systems in place to get it back quickly.

In the real world, things like landing a job, graduating from college, or having a baby are wildly celebrated. But somehow, earning 80 cruise points with Royal Caribbean feels just as monumental in the cruise industry. 

The significant milestone comes with some impressive benefits, including access to the Diamond Lounge, complimentary internet, and free drink vouchers every day of the cruise.

I didn't reach Diamond status until I was in my 20s, but it's already changed how I cruise. For example, drink packages have become a thing of the past thanks to the four daily Diamond drinks. 

In turn, this has freed my mind from the seemingly constant "is a drink package worth it" debate, since I can begin my mornings with a specialty latte, sip on a crisp Diet Coke by the pool, and sample the ship's extensive cocktail selection — all at no extra charge. 

Here's why I love my Diamond Crown and Anchor status — and why I think every diehard cruise fan should strive for it. 

How do you become a Diamond member on Royal Caribbean?

Royal Caribbean's Crown and Anchor Society has six different loyalty tiers, starting with Gold. The more you cruise, the faster you will move up the ranks. However, the real benefits don't kick in until you reach Diamond status at 80 cruise points.

Through Royal Caribbean's loyalty program, every cruiser gets one point for every night of the cruise. You can earn two points per night if you stay in a Junior Suite or higher, as well as if you're traveling solo. 

Crown and Anchor points never expire, which means you can continue to accrue points even if your last Royal Caribbean cruise was over a decade ago. Plus, once you reach Diamond status, you'll never be bumped back to Gold, Platinum, or Emerald. 

It takes the average cruiser about 12 seven-night sailings to finally reach the Diamond tier. Guests who primarily sail on shorter itineraries may take longer to hit the milestone. For example, you'd have to take 20 four-night cruises to earn 80 points in the Crown and Anchor Society. 

As mentioned, cruisers booking suites or traveling by themselves can reach Diamond status faster. Regardless of how long it takes, hitting Diamond is a rewarding achievement for all Royal Caribbean fans. 

What are the best Royal Caribbean Diamond benefits?

The best benefits of Royal Caribbean's Crown and Anchor Society are reserved for the top-tier members (AKA Diamond and above). Although all cruisers will receive some level of recognition through the loyalty program, the perks become noticeably more valuable once you hit 80 cruise points. 

Royal Caribbean Diamond drinks

By far, one of the most popular Diamond benefits is the four free drink vouchers. Diamond, Diamond Plus, and Pinnacle Club members receive four, five, and six complimentary drink vouchers per day, respectively, leading to significant savings throughout any cruise. 

These can be used on both non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages, each of which would cost up to $14 without the voucher. This means you can save upwards of $56 each day of your cruise, totaling around $392 on a seven-night voyage!

There are a few exclusions to be aware of. For starters, drink vouchers can't be used at the onboard Starbucks or the Bionic Bar. Additionally, there’s a $14 price limit per beverage. For the most part, however, you can order just about whatever you want, whether soda, a cocktail, a glass of wine, or beer.

There are other drink perks, too. For example, Diamond cruisers also get two coupons for 50% off any glass of wine, beer, or soda, along with 50% off Johnny Rockets milkshakes. 

Royal Caribbean Crown Lounge

The Crown Lounge (formerly the Diamond Lounge) is another perk I enjoy about being a Diamond member. 

This exclusive space is a private, relaxing environment on a Royal Caribbean cruise, complete with a dedicated concierge who will help with dining reservations, tender tickets, and more. Complimentary food is available in the mornings and evenings, and there's a self-serve coffee/latte maker in the lounge, too. 

The biggest downsides of the Crown Lounge are that non-Diamond members aren't allowed in, so if you're cruising with other people who have lower status, you likely won't use the lounge all that much. 

Moreover, due to the high number of top-tier loyalty members, access for Diamond cruisers can occasionally be restricted during peak hours on crowded sailings. 

Wash & Fold laundry bag discount

Although the $10 discount likely is not enough on its own to send you straight down to Next Cruise to put down a deposit on your next sailing, it still adds up as a small but appreciated perk.

Returning home from a cruise with clean clothes is convenient, especially after longer voyages or if you simply don't want to deal with multiple loads of laundry before returning to work. 

Once you reach the higher Diamond Plus tier, you’ll even receive a complimentary Wash & Fold laundry bag on all cruises of five nights or more.

Complimentary professional photograph

Many travelers don't want to haul around a professional camera on vacation, especially when it could get exposed to elements like sand, saltwater, or rain. 

Well, good news! As a Diamond cruiser, you can get one professional photograph per sailing. This makes it a little easier to capture your family's memories without having to awkwardly ask a stranger if they'll snap a picture with your phone. Diamond members also get a 30% discount on another single picture, photo package, or photo book. 

The best part is that it does not cost anything to have the pictures taken. As such, if you end up not liking any of the options, you aren't required to take any home. There's not really a downside to stopping for a few photos, especially on formal night or when debarking the ship in port, throughout your cruise.

Casino FreePlay

Unfortunately, gambling on a cruise ship is one of my favorite vices, especially since I cut out drinking. Even more unfortunate is that I rarely seem to walk away ahead.

Although it is very unlikely to change my life, I love using the Diamond FreePlay benefit. The $6 means I can sit down at a slot machine and play a few rounds without immediately drawing from my wallet — and you never know when that $6 will be doubled, tripled, or even quadrupled! 

Moreover, Crown and Anchor Society members get free jackpot cards when they purchase a multi-game bingo package. It is not a life-changing perk, but the six cards could boost your chances at walking away with a little extra cash. 

Royal Caribbean status match

As I've gotten older, I've noticed that my travel preferences do not always align with the Royal Caribbean brand. Enter the company's lucrative status match program, which rewards brand loyalty across the Royal Caribbean Group portfolio.

My Diamond status with Royal Caribbean automatically grants me Elite status with Celebrity Cruises, allowing me to enjoy a range of benefits even though I have few cruise points with the premium line. My favorites are the Elite Happy Hour, complimentary laundry bag, and the free access to the Persian Garden thermal spa when in port (once per sailing). 

Plus, as of this year, you no longer have to earn points with the brand you sail. In other words, you can choose which line's loyalty program you want your points to be added to. This means that you can sail with Celebrity and continue to work your way toward Diamond, Diamond Plus, and Pinnacle Club status. 

Are the Royal Caribbean Diamond perks worth it?

Overall, being Diamond greatly enhances my cruise experience with Royal Caribbean. Of course, it took a lot of time and money to reach this coveted tier. Still, the perks, recognition, and added convenience make every sailing feel rewarding. 

The daily drinks, especially, are a huge benefit of reaching Diamond status. Having complimentary beverages each day of the voyage saves money, whether I was going to get a drink package or not. 

I also love the free professional photograph. Normally, I would never spend $20 or more on a single picture, so getting one for free is much appreciated.

Plus, being able to match my status to Celebrity Cruises has been beneficial on numerous occasions, from sailing the Greek Isles on Celebrity Ascent to exploring Norway on Celebrity Eclipse. 

All in all, Diamond status is genuinely worth it for frequent cruisers. The combination of everyday benefits, savings, and reciprocal status across sister brands makes the time and money put into climbing the Crown and Anchor Society worthwhile. 

Royal Caribbean recently launched a new brunch option that I wanted to try because this has historically been an underserved meal option.

The cruise line has offered brunch occasionally in the Main Dining Room, and it does have it at the Mason Jar specialty restaurant. But Chops Grille rolling out a brunch option means the opportunity to try it on every ship in the fleet.

After booking a 4-night cruise on Radiance of the Seas, I reserved brunch on one of our sea days to give it a try.

Lunch is still offered on some days, but Royal Caribbean has now added a brunch option with its own menu.

Booking it pre-cruise, I was able to get a reservation for $48 per person.

Chops Grille brunch menu

At first glance, the brunch menu is quite large.

You start off with the choice of a specialty beverage.  The first round is included, but any additional drinks will cost you extra (unless you have a drink package).

Starters and desserts are served family style, but you can request as many as you like.

The rest of the menu is all a la carte, similar to other meals at Chops Grille.

I was impressed by how much food you could have, especially when you mix and match

I usually over order when I'm on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship because serving sizes are usually smaller than on land. I quickly found myself surrounded by food.

As you're seated, a selection of bakery items are brought to you.  Many of the items are the same ones you could get at Cafe Promenade or the Windjammer, such as the very popular cinnamon roll.

I chose a cappuccino for my beverage, which may seem like a faux pas to brunch aficionados who always opt for a mimosa or Aperol spritz. I needed caffeine, so I stand by my decision.

Next was the avocado toast, which I was disappointed by because the avocado is that prepared stuff that comes out of a bag. 

I then made the always difficult choice of waffles or pancakes, and went with pancakes.

I was pleased to see two freshly made pancakes that even had searing on the edges. Certainly not something off the buffet here.

They were fluffy and very satisfying.  I tried to go healthier and skip the syrup, but that was a mistake and I quickly dunked each piece in it with great enjoyment.

The bowls is the heart of this menu, and I struggled what to order. There were so many good options to consider, but I ultimately went with the Steak & Eggs. How can you go wrong with filet mignon?

The menu says you get filet and fried egg, but my server informed me they didn't have fried egg that day and scrambled egg was the option. Personally, I don't like runny eggs, so this substitution didn't bother me one bit!

As I'd expect from Chops Grille, the steak was fantastic. Having eggs along with it is a nice touch. 

I was very tempted to order a second item from the Hearty Bowls section, but there was already so much food.  There's no way I could have finished it all.

For the sides, I went with the mashed potatoes and arugula and parmigiano salad. Both sounded good because I wanted the potatoes with the steak, and a salad seemed like a good lighter option to delve into.

The salad reminded me of the Giovanni's Italian Kitchen house salad, and I thought it was quite tasty.

Brownie from Chops Grille

"Chocolate Bar" from Park Cafe

To finish my meal, I had the chocolate brownie. I was surprised to see this was straight out of the Park Cafe menu, because I had it earlier in the cruise.

I wanted to love brunch, but the high price and some items disappointed me

I love that Royal Caribbean is trying to offer a quality brunch option, because it's a meal that's largely been underserved despite how popular it is on land.  Nonetheless, I think the price is too high for what's being served.

The main courses look like the real winner here.  You can argue the filet mignon alone is worth $20, given that's how much it costs to order one from the Main Dining Room at dinner.

The steak was top quality, and I really enjoyed it.

But I think there are ways to improve brunch going forward.

First and foremost, I don't think a specialty restaurant should serve food you can get at other complimentary venues. At least two of the main menu items were things I've had elsewhere, and I'm guessing the entire bakery option is also.

To be fair, I doubt anyone but someone like me notices that. 

Regardless, I think they just priced brunch too high.

Brunch cost $47.99, but lunch at Chops Grille was just $21.99. Moreover, the cruise line's dining packages include lunch but brunch has a $30 surcharge applied once on board.

I suspect Royal Caribbean will listen to the feedback from guests and adjust the price moving forward, but in the meantime, it's a pricey meal.

If I could offer one more piece of advice, I think brunch should have a bottomless mimosa or champagne option to go with it. That seems to be a fairly standard practice among brunch options, including Royal Caribbean's Sip. Tour. Brunch. experience.

I'd return to brunch if it was fully included with a dining package. I'm hopeful we'll see tweaks soon.

At a May 18 press conference in Mexico City, Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum responded to ecological concerns about Royal Caribbean’s upcoming private destination, Perfect Day Mexico.

Set to launch in 2027, Perfect Day Mexico is currently under construction in the small town of Mahahual, located in the country’s state of Quintana Roo. Mahahual is more commonly known as the Costa Maya cruise port, which accommodates over 550 cruise ships per year.

Royal Caribbean purchased the port in July 2025 with big plans. The cruise line promptly submitted an environmental impact assessment of the site last year in line with Mexico’s federal guidelines.

Yet while Perfect Day Mexico has been met with excitement in the cruise industry, some activists have expressed concern about the ecological impact of the destination.

Mexico's President referenced its government approval process for Perfect Day Mexico

Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum responded to these concerns today, reinforcing that the country would not approve a project that would damage the local ecosystem.

“There have been many protests and many people who are against it,” said Sheinbaum at the May 18 press conference.

"I asked Alicia Bárcena to take a close look at the project." She is Mexico’s Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT).

She went on to say her request to Ms. Bárcena is to "review it very carefully."

More important, Mexico's President reiterated its government is focused on ensuring any project is going to analyze the proposal.

"SEMARNAT is conducting a very detailed analysis, but I can already tell you that we are not going to do anything that puts the ecological balance of that area at risk."

"But I want to tell everyone who is concerned about this situation that the government is not going to do anything that would put the ecosystem in that area at risk." 

Perfect Day Mexico has already been assessed for environmental impacts

Despite concerns from online activists, both Royal Caribbean International and the Mexican government are following the necessary procedures to ensure Perfect Day Mexico does not cause lasting damage to the local ecosystem.

We contacted Royal Caribbean today for additional information about the environmental concerns.

Royal Caribbean submitted an environment impact assessment last year, which followed the appropriate federal process that Mexico's President alluded to.

A summary of Royal Caribbean’s environmental impact assessment can be found here.

Environmental measures include conserving 100% of the site’s existing mangrove areas, preserving 64.09% of the site as natural areas, and guaranteeing the rescue, transfer, and relocation of low-mobility wildlife species in the area.

An online petition calls for the cancellation of Perfect Day Mexico

Perfect Day Mexico has been met with opposition due to concerns about the destination’s ecological impact on the town of Mahahual, despite the fact that Royal Caribbean and the Mexican government have already conducted environmental research on the site.

The quaint fishing village of Mahahual is home to fewer than 3,000 permanent residents. It sits in a remote area on Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula and is surrounded by jungle, mangroves, and coral reefs. Environmental activists worry that construction of Perfect Day Mexico could permanently damage the local ecosystem.

A petition on Change.org currently has over 2.5 million signatures. The petition, "@Claudiashein: Let’s save Mahahual — Let’s stop Royal Caribbean’s destructive project," calls for the immediate cancellation of the Perfect Day Mexico project.

Perfect Day Mexico’s grand opening is still more than a year away

Perfect Day Mexico is still in the early stages of construction. Although the private destination was originally set to open in September 2027, the opening has now been delayed.

On April 30, 2026, Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley provided an update on Perfect Day Mexico. He confirmed that the project is progressing, but that it will now open in two stages.

The soft opening of Perfect Day Mexico will take place in Q4 2027, but additional features and areas of the destination will open throughout 2028.

“As we move into ‘28,” Bayley explained, “we’ll be fully opening the whole experience, which is, you know, in many ways very similar to often how we open up big attractions or big events of new ships, for example.”

According to these recent statements from both Michael Bayley and Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum, it appears that plans are still proceeding as planned with Perfect Day Mexico.