Royal Caribbean incentives its guests to book another cruise while onboard, but many don't take advantage of the extra savings offered.
If you're like me, after a day or two on the cruise ship, I become so enamored with the experience I want to do it again. That leads my brain to start thinking of ways to book another cruise.
When you're ready to double down on another cruise, Royal Caribbean offers a bonus for booking on the ship. Yet, a lot of cruisers miss out on it.
Beci Mahnken is the owner of MEI Travel, and one missed opportunity she sees from clients is when they don't book a cruise on the ship for the wrong reason.
Missing out on the best combination of perks
NextCruise is available on every Royal Caribbean ship, and it offers additional incentives when booking a cruise there.
By booking onboard, Royal Caribbean will add extra onboard credit and even reduce the deposit amount.
According to Ms. Mahnken, a lot of cruisers assume booking a cruise at the NextCruise desk means they can't use their travel agent.
"Too many people think booking at NextCruise means losing their travel advisor," she explained.
"But it’s not true. You get extra incentives, and your advisor still takes care of everything because the booking is transferred to them automatically."
I recently saw this first-hand when my neighbor returned home after a cruise and I asked them if they booked a cruise we discussed, but they didn't book onboard because they didn't think it worked that way.
Ms. Mahken has seen the same scenario play out many times, "It’s always frustrating when clients come to me after their cruise saying, 'I wish I’d known!' NextCruise can offer some valuable perks."
If you're working with a travel agent, you can still leverage their services while getting the extra money Royal Caribbean is offering with onboard credit. And yes, it's all combinable.
Make a reservation at NextCruise to avoid waiting
I'd recommend going to the NextCruise desk after making a reservation.
Depending on the ship, you can either sign up for a time slot on a piece of paper at the desk, or do it within the Royal Caribbean app.
It's easy to do this, and it ensures you minimize waiting.
By far the busiest day at NextCruise is the last day of the cruise because everyone seems to have the same thought: Let's book a new cruise because this one is ending!
Verify your travel agent is on the booking
When I make any booking at NextCruise, I'll always reconfirm my travel agent is on the reservation they are making.
Most of the time, the NextCruise agent asks me about it before I can remind them, but it's a good idea to double check it.
What to look for when booking a cruise at NextCruise
Besides your travel agent being on the reservation, there are a few things to verify.
There's nothing wrong with a non-refundable cruise deposit. In fact, the price is usually a bit lower than a refundable deposit. But there are penalties for changing the ship or sail date with a non-refundable deposit.
The next thing to look for is the amount of onboard credit you'll be getting, in addition to whatever promotion Royal Caribbean is running at the time.
The onboard credit varies depending on the length of the sailing and the type of stateroom you choose.
The final printout should list exactly how much onboard credit you're getting, so it's important to understand how much there is on the booking. I can get confused when comparing different cruises and how much I'm actually getting in the end.
Finally, if you have an internet package on your cruise, you could message your travel agent to give them a heads up that you're booking onboard.
There have been times when my travel agent tells me to pick one option over another because there's a better deal on it.
As an example, there could be a group rate that's cheaper than Royal Caribbean offers. So if I book that sailing at NextCruise, I get the bonus onboard credit but then my agent can roll it into the group and I get a lower price. It's win-win!
A balcony cabin is the most popular stateroom choice for a cruise, but one person regretted it immediately.
Among the various rooms on a cruise ship, balcony rooms tend to be the ones people book. In fact, any ship built in the last 30 years or so probably has more balcony rooms than any other room type.
It serves as a good reminder of one our favorite cruise tips to verify before you book.
"I can't sleep this is beyond annoying"
CokeCanCowBoi posted on the Royal Caribbean Reddit complaining about the "paper thin walls" that prevented them from sleeping while cruising on Allure of the Seas.
Next to their room is a family with young children who are up crying throughout the night, which can be heard in neighboring cabins.
"I have a balcony room with a connected room to some family of 3 kids and its just constant crying and screaming at all hours of the night," CokeCanCowBoi posted.
They asked Guest Services to be moved to another room, but were told there are no open rooms.
They booked the wrong cabin
The title of the post asked if the walls were not soundproof at all, but the reality is they shouldn't have booked a connecting cabin.
Connecting cabins are wonderful choices for families, but a terrible choice if you didn't book both.
Many people that responded in the thread pointed out the fallacy in room choice.
"Never book a room with a connecting door unless you're also booking the other room too," wrote Living4nowornever. This is sage advice.
The connecting doors are not nearly as well insulated for noise as the walls are. Moreover, there are small gaps at the top and bottom of the door that can let sound in more easily.
How do you know if you picked a connecting room
The outpouring of advice not to book a connecting cabin prompted some to admit they had no idea this was a choice.
"In fairness, I would have no idea how to check that," posted Extra_Shirt5843.
Before you pick any cabin, look at the ship's deck plans on Royal Caribbean's website to determine if it's connecting or not.
Connecting rooms usually have a double headed arrow on connecting cabins.
Because of nuances like this, choosing the right cabin for you can be an exercise that new cruisers may not be aware of.
It's critical to know about noise, obstructed views, cabin size and room configuration (i.e. location of the bed to the balcony or extra bedding) before choosing a room.
It's quite easy and simple to pick up on, but you need to know what to look for in the first place.
We certainly advocate the right type of stateroom advice you may need, but a good travel agent can also greatly assist.
Travel agents have heard of stories like this one hundreds of times, and the good ones would immediately warn you about picking a connecting balcony room if you don't book both sides of the door. Heck, they probably wouldn't have quoted that kind of a room in the first place.
Soundproofing hacks for connecting rooms
Since knowing which cabin to book is too late for someone already in the cabin, Reddit shared a few tips for how to mitigate sound coming from the neighboring cabin.
Royal Caribbean just reported it's had the best start to the year in its company's history, and cruise fans are a big reason why.
While some areas of travel are reporting troubling numbers related to an economic downturn, Royal Caribbean Group sees its loyalty program as being an economic moat protecting them.
The company's fiercely loyal cruisers are proving to be quite the powerhouse. Consumer habits shift a lot across the economy, but Royal Caribbean’s loyalty program is helping it outperform expectations.
"Our unified loyalty programs connect all our brands under one ecosystem, encouraging repeat travel and unlocking more opportunities to engage across ocean and river cruising along with our exclusive destinations," said Royal Caribbean Group CEO Jason Liberty.
The numbers shared during the company's first quarter earnings call on Tuesday exemplify how well customer loyalty factors into the cruise giant's bottom line.
Loyalty is driving revenue
Usually cruise lines tout how many new cruisers they attract, but this time Royal Caribbean Group executives focused on repeat business and how it's making a difference.
Nearly 40% of bookings in 2024 came from loyalty program members during the quarter. More importantly, loyalty members spend 25% more per trip than non-members.
In fact, Mr. Liberty shared repeat cruisers are now twice as likely to book through the Royal Caribbean app compared to non-members.
That's a big factor to have its customer loyalty leading the company's economic charge ahead, and a sign they're doing things right.
Deepening loyalty through status matching
Royal Caribbean Group also believes one change they made is having an impact on keeping customers in their ecosystem.
They're seeing cross-brand bookings increasing, and that means more guests are trying different styles of vacations without ever leaving Royal Caribbean Group’s portfolio.
"The ecosystem is working. Cross-brand bookings are increasing, loyalty members are more likely to book in the app, and spend significantly more per trip," said Mr. Liberty during the call.
They call it "a commercial flywheel" because it turns as the customer becomes more invested in the RCG brands.
With each cruise someone takes across the brands, it fuels a fuels deeper loyalty and more engagement.
When you add in new ships and private destinations opening over the next few years, it gives loyal cruisers more reasons to stay inside Royal Caribbean’s world.
Loyal cruisers are so valuable with economic uncertainty
Repeat business is always good to have, but much more so when the economic situation is not so clear.
Generally speaking, when there are economic concerns, consumers may cut back. However, the public is reluctant to give up their vacations, especially among committed cruise guests.
Surveys show 9 out of 10 consumers prioritize value for money when planning vacations — an area where cruising beats land vacations.
Royal Caribbean sees no signs of loyalty members trading down or cutting spend.
"Cruisers are more financially secure and more likely to protect their travel budgets during times of uncertainty," Liberty said.
"When financial concerns impact lifestyle or spending, travel is not the first place consumers indicate they will pull back."
It's probably going to cost you more than ever if you wait to book your cruise vacation.
Historically, last-minute cruises were a great way to score a cheap family vacation. While there was always a risk involved, the reward was often worth it. However, Royal Caribbean is changing that narrative.
Instead of slashing fares to fill empty cabins, Royal Caribbean is focusing its combating high last-minute demand while trying to prioritize early bookings and build a stronger fan base. This represents a significant change for travelers who have scored big at the last minute.
"We see...an uplift in demand as we get very close in. Not only do we see an uplift in demand, we're also about to raise our pricing during that period of time," said Jason Liberty, Royal Caribbean Group's C.E.O., during Royal Caribbean Group's first quarter earnings call on Tuesday, April 29.
He continued to talk about last-minute bookings driving revenue gains in the first quarter, and that trend is continuing into the second quarter, particularly among loyal cruisers who are big spenders.
While Royal Caribbean's last-minute fares might be higher than you remember, Liberty wants to maintain a high level of price integrity, which helps protect the brand's reputation and long-term revenue goals.
"We are very religious about price integrity," he said, "We've been through different cycles before, and ensuring that we have a high level of price integrity is very important."
Though they also have different promotional tools that help stimulate demand, Liberty wants to focus on making sure that whatever they're putting into the marketplace won't impact the integrity of the brands.
In other words, discounting is done carefully and strategically to avoid frequent price fluctuations that could undermine customer trust or devalue the brand.
Loyal cruisers are spending more
Members of Royal Caribbean Group's loyalty programs accounted for roughly 40% of the company's bookings in 2024. This is good news to the brand, as if you have been on a Royal Caribbean cruise, you're likely to spend more on your next sailing.
According to Liberty, loyal cruisers are likely to book direct and spend 25% more per trip than non-loyalty members.
Plus, cross-brand bookings between Royal Caribbean Group's three brands — Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, and Silversea — are increasing.
86% of the 2025 cruise inventory is booked
Demand for this year is strong. If you haven't booked your summer vacation, your options are narrowing, and prices are likely climbing.
With limited staterooms left and a high demand for the remaining cabins, waiting could mean settling for less desirable itineraries or higher costs. Worst case scenario? The sailing you've been eyeing sells out.
Looking ahead to 2026, Liberty said the booking window is about one week shorter, which is being driven by close-in demand.
"Our booked position for 2026, at this point, is in line with the same time last year on a volume standpoint...So we obviously have more capacity next year and at higher prices," he said.
Royal Caribbean is continuing to pause its visits to one of its private destinations.
Increasing concerns in Haiti as forced the cruise line to halt visits to Labadee in the north part of the country. Haiti has had the highest level of travel advisory for well over a year, which is “Level 4: Do Not Travel." issued by the U.S. State Department.
Labadee is a private beach stop exclusive to Royal Caribbean ships, and it's not in a city. The beach is located in a remote area of the country that is inaccessible except by cruise ship. There is a large wall with private security.
Nonetheless, Royal Caribbean has cancelled another visit to the area.
Icon of the Seas to skip Labadee
Guests booked on the May 3rd sailing of Icon of the Seas received an update their ship will not visit Labadee.
"We have been monitoring the evolving situation in Port-au-Prince, Haiti and out of an abundance of caution, we’re swapping out our visit to Labadee for a Sea Day," is what the email read.
Any booked shore excursions in Labadee will be refunded.
It appears a replacement port of call for Labadee could not be found, and it will have a sea day instead. Other ships that skipped Labadee have been re-routed to places like Falmouth, Jamaica or Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic.
Nonetheless, Royal Caribbean is offering onboard credit as a gesture of goodwill since this sailing will have just two port stops.
"While we know it’s not the original itinerary we planned, we’re excited for our journey together! As a token of our appreciation for your understanding, you’ll receive credit to spend onboard per stateroom"
$75 USD for Interior and Ocean View
$100 USD for Balcony
$150 USD for Suites
Plus, an additional $25 USD for each third or more guest to spend onboard
Other ships that skipped Labadee in the last week or so did not get onboard credit offered, but they did get to visit a replacement port of call.
Royal Caribbean also padded the ship's time in Ponce, Puerto Rico to add more time for guests to enjoy time in that port.
Royal Caribbean had previously stopped visits to Labadee between March and October 2024 when the situation in the country initially deteriorated. But they later resumed visits when it was clear there was no impact to the security of Labadee.
Unlike last year, Royal Caribbean is not sharing any kind of timeline of when they might consider resuming visits.
A Royal Caribbean spokesperson has gone on record last week to say simply, "Out of an abundance of caution, we have temporarily paused our upcoming visits to Labadee. We have already communicated with guests directly."
What's happening in Haiti to cause the change?
Haiti's government is actively fighting back a surge in well-coordinated gang violence that's threatening the country's capital.
Haiti’s transitional government recently declared a nationwide state of emergency in response to the violence.
On April 16, the U.S. Embassy in Haiti issued a security alert for Port-au-Prince over "widespread protests with potential for violence between police, protestors, and criminal gangs."
Upset cruisers
The cancelled visit by Icon of the Seas exemplifies how some cruisers are upset at the change in plans.
Totally disappointed Royal Caribbean International for adding a sea day in replacement to Labadee instead of another port," wrote Jamie Nguyen on Facebook.
"I book this reservation based on the destination and now I’m quite disappointed for the amount I paid and the lack of destination I will be visiting," the person added in their comment complaining about the cancellation.
"I feel this is total rip off!"
On the Royal Caribbean message boards, TZsavonH described the change as "disgusting" and cancelled the cruise booking despite being well past the final payment date.
"I think it's disgusting... especially when you've spent thousands on excursions and cabanas. "
While the fact Icon is only visiting two ports, the ship is also a floating destination in and of itself, which other cruise fans pointed to as a positive point with the situation.
"The Icon is a destination. Stay on the ship and enjoy," is what one person wrote on Facebook.
Jolene Palmore added, "Would much rather be at sea. The ship is the destination!"
While the US economy might have a few question marks, Royal Caribbean doesn't see any slowdown on its end.
Royal Caribbean Group released its first quarter results and blew past expectations and raised its full-year guidance.
The results indicate the company is seeing strong demand for its products, reinforcing the trope of experiences over products.
"Our strong first quarter results are a testament to the enduring appeal and attractive value proposition of our leading brands and the incredible vacations they deliver," said Jason Liberty, Royal Caribbean Group President and CEO.
Royal Caribbean Group’s first quarter results point to a company thriving, fueled by record bookings, improved margins, strategic investments, and newly regained investment-grade financial strength.
First quarter by the numbers
Royal Caribbean Group saw good indicators all around for its products and showed a healthy return in the quarter.
Report Q1 earnings: $2.70 EPS vs guidance, $2.71 Adjusted EPS.
Total revenues of $4.0 billion, Net Income of $0.7 billion.
Adjusted EBITDA $1.4 billion — margin strength is key.
About 2.2 million guests took a cruise with Royal Caribbean Group in the quarter, which is a 9% increase year over year.
Record breaking demand
The first few months of any year is known as "WAVE season" because it acts like an ocean wave carrying bookings throughout the rest of the year.
This was a very good WAVE season for Royal Caribbean, and that continued into April. Bookings in April still stronger than last year, showing momentum is sustained.
The company reported "record bookings during WAVE season."
"Bookings for 2025 have remained on track, cancellation levels are normal, and we continue to see excellent close-in demand," said Liberty.
Even in April this held true, "during April, the company's bookings were greater than the same period last year, including continued strength in close-in bookings"
Executives continue to believe that consumers are spending on experiences (vacations) over material goods.
How Royal Caribbean is pulling this off
Royal Caribbean Group's formula is a mix of cruise fares rising and people willing to pay them.
That pricing power is evident in onboard revenue and pre-cruise purchases, "Guest spending onboard and pre-cruise purchases continue to exceed prior years driven by greater participation at higher prices."
Strong close-in demand at higher prices is what they've reported in this quarter. Plus, continuous investment in adding new ships and private destinations generate higher interest among consumers.
There is quite a line-up of big projects coming soon:
7 new cruise ships by 2028
Increasing from 2 to 7 exclusive destinations by 2027
Another factor helping the company this quarter is its strict adherence to cost controls.
"Our strong balance sheet allows us the flexibility to continue to expand capital return to shareholders, invest in growth and innovation, and maintain investment grade balance sheet metrics in a range of macroeconomic environments," said Naftali Holtz, CFO.
During the quarter, the company was upgraded to investment grade by S&P Global Ratings. Plus, they exercised significant debt reduction and share buybacks.
On top of that, they have a good amount of cash on hand, with $4.5 billion in cash and available credit.
"This quarter, we continued to opportunistically reduce debt, while lowering cost of capital and recapturing a portion of our Covid-era share dilution," Holtz added.
Hinting at a strong year to come
Royal Caribbean Group isn't making any bold predictions for the year, but they are seeing good signs to come.
The company increased its full year 2025 Adjusted EPS guidance from$14.55 to $15.55. The increase in earnings expectations is driven by the better than expected revenue performance in the first quarter and the benefit of currency exchange rates and lower fuel costs for the remainder of the year.
"With our industry-leading brands, state-of-the-art ships, exclusive destinations, and a fortified balance sheet, we will continue dreaming and innovating to win a greater share of the growing $2 trillion global vacation market," Liberty said.
While there are economic doubts for many companies, Royal Caribbean's results show cruising is one luxury people are willing to prioritize.
Of all the restaurants on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship, the buffet is still one of my favorite places to eat.
I love the mix of food variety, how easy it is to get in and out, and the fact there's something for everyone. I love that I can enjoy Indian curry, customized salads, or an overloaded burger while my kids can get chicken fingers or pizza. It's win-win for everyone.
While I'll primarily eat at the Main Dining Room or specialty restaurants, I like going to the Windjammer on embarkation day for welcome aboard lunch or hit it up for dinner after a long day in port.
When I pick the Windjammer to go eat, I always do four important things at every meal. I think these really make the meal more enjoyable from start to finish.
Wash my hands, even if i just did
It may sound clichéd to talk about how important it is wash your hands, but I'll do it every single time I walk in or out of the restaurant.
Quite frankly, I'm astounded how many people don't do this. Stand near the Windjammer entrance for 30 seconds and you'll witness it yourself.
Cruise ship or not, washing your hands before you eat is a smart idea to mitigate the chances of getting sick while eating. It's not foolproof, but I'll do whatever I can to stay healthy on a cruise.
Most ships have handwashing stations at the entrance now, but on older ships there is a crew member that offers hand sanitizer.
Anytime I walk in, I'll take the time to wash my hands because it's too easy to become complacent.
Get a seat first, then go to the buffet
It's so tempting to grab a plate and hit the first buffet station you see, but that's a mistake.
It's usually very busy at the Windjammer, especially for breakfast. You really ought to find a seat and then get food.
Early on when I cruised, I'd get my food and then do the awkward walk trying to find a table with two hands full of food. Not only is it cumbersome, but the chances of accidentally spilling the food while looking for a table is quite high.
This strategy is not only a good idea to ensure you have somewhere to sit, but works well with families too. Kids needs to know where you're going to be, and if they're young, you probably need to take shifts going up with the kids and then go back for yourself.
Usually the further you're willing to sit from the actual buffet stations, the higher the likelihood of finding an open table.
Be sure to prioritize outdoor seating if your ship has an outdoor area of the Windjammer. It's so nice to dine al fresco when possible on a cruise!
Check out all the stations before taking any food
The next thing I'll do is survey the food options because this is a lesson I learned the hard way.
It's so tempting to grab a plate and fill it up with the first options you see, but inevitably I see there's something else I would have rather have gotten.
Of course I can discord my plate of food and get a new plate with what I wanted instead, but I feel bad being quite that wasteful. There's no penalty or anything like that, but I try not to waste food when possible.
Instead, I'll do a quick walk around the buffet stations to quickly see what's around.
Keep in mind in most Windjammers, one side is usually a mirror of the other, so you don't have to necessarily check out both sides of the buffet.
This strategy is especially helpful with the next thing I always do in the Windjammer.
Prioritize the cooking stations
My favorite thing about the Windjammer are the cooking stations, and I'll look to these first.
These cooking stations custom cook a specific type of cuisine the way you want it, and it really hits the spot for me every time.
The Asian stir fry is my absolute favorite, followed by the pasta station. I think we all prefer our food prepared with one ingredient over another, and there might be something we'd rather have left out of it.
Plus, because it's cooked on the spot, it just tastes better.
There's no cost to the cooking stations, so take advantage of them whenever you can.
If you've never taken a cruise, Royal Caribbean is the perfect choice for most people because of its wide appeal.
I've been cruising with Royal Caribbean for over 20 years, and I've taken my family on dozens of cruises to places around the world. It's an incredible vacation, and I think it offers something for just about everyone.
The new to cruise market is the single biggest untapped market of customers, and all cruise lines want to attract new customers to give it a try.
When considering the best cruise line for first timers, I think Royal Caribbean has fantastic choices that you won't regret.
A weekend getaway for first timers
Based on Royal Caribbean's marketing, it's clear a lot of people who have never cruised want to try a short weekend cruise as their first.
In this case, the marketing isn't wrong. Royal Caribbean's Utopia of the Seas and Wonder of the Seas offer 3 and 4 night cruises to The Bahamas and they're billed as not only a short sailing, but two amazing ships to try.
The reason why these ships stand out is they're very new cruise ships that offer some of the best things you can do onboard, and because they're among the biggest ships in the world, there's also so much to do onboard.
You'll find lots for kids and adults to do on these ships, along with stops in The Bahamas every day. You'll visit Nassau, Bahamas and the cruise line's private island of Perfect Day at CocoCay.
A day at the private island is about enjoying time in the sun and surf, and it's a kind of "walled garden" that offers just about everything you'd want in a beach or pool day. Most of what you can do here costs nothing extra, but there are some extra costs, like a waterpark or adults-only area.
Nassau is the capital of The Bahamas, and what you need to know about going here is Royal Caribbean is on the verge of opening a brand new option that no other cruise line can match.
It will open in December 2025 and is like a Royal Caribbean owned and operated shore excursion available exclusively for its customers.
The beach club will have beaches and pools, three swim-up bars, seven beach bars, and more than 40 cabanas to rent. Plus, it's all-inclusive!
What you get with a cruise like this is a packed few days to try out not just a cruise, but sail on one of the best ships in the world and indulge in incredible days on shore and onboard.
Your time onboard will fly by, but as a new cruiser, this is perfect for someone that wants to dip their toe into the proverbial pool and try things out without compromising on what they get with the ship experience.
First time cruisers who want to see Europe
Maybe you're looking to combine seeing Europe for the first time with a cruise vacation.
Royal Caribbean not only offers cruises to just about every corner of Europe, but it's a convenient way to see a lot of places without the hassle of packing, unpacking, re-packing and getting around.
One advantage of a European cruise is it's far more port intensive than a Caribbean cruise because of all the time you'll want to spend ashore seeing these cities. This is a boon for a new cruiser, since they'll be less ship dependent.
A Mediterranean cruise is among the top choices for first time cruisers in Europe, because it takes you to the places most people dream about.
The newly updated Allure of the Seas sails 7-night cruises from Barcelona, Spain that visits France and Italy. It'll not only cover the quintessential spots in the Med, but also get you on an impressive ship that will fit the needs of families too.
An underrated ship is Odyssey of the Seas, and it is sailing from Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy.
Odyssey is a new ship, and visits Italy, Greece, and Turkey.
I love sailing on Odyssey because of how much there is to do. It's a bit smaller than Allure, but still offers plenty for families to do onboard.
If you're taking a European cruise, the ship is arguably less important given how much time you'll be in port. However, the evening is when you'll want a ship that has lots happening.
When picking a European cruise in the Med, I'd recommend going during the months of May, June or September because the weather is better (less hot) and the popular tourist attractions in the cities you visit will be far less crowded.
Empty nesters looking to try a cruise
The kids are off to college and now is the perfect time to try a cruise! If that's where you're at, there are a few kinds of cruises to try for the first time.
An Alaska cruise should be at the top of your must-see list, and you should go in the shoulder season when other families still have their kids in school and cannot travel.
Ever since I tried my first Alaska cruise, it blew me away with how impressive and majestic this part of the world is.
The towns you'll visit are quaint with so much to see. You're going to want to return almost immediately to experience more.
Even when you're not in port, there's so much to see around you. Cruise ships sail the Inside Passage in Alaska, and that takes you on a scenic route with wildlife viewing opportunities and simply stunning landscapes.
Royal Caribbean offers cruises to Alaska from Seattle and Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. There are advantages to taking an Alaska cruise from either port, but I generally recommend first timers start with a Seattle-based ship simply because it's easier to get to and (probably) cheaper too.
Once again, I think the ship choice matters, and you'll get bigger ships in Seattle. Ship size isn't everything, but someone that has never cruised is likely expecting more of what they imagine and see commercials cruise ships can offer.
The family reunion trip
In many cases, the idea of taking an extended family vacation comes up and without a doubt, a cruise is the way to go.
When you have cousins, uncles, grandparents, and nieces involved, there are lots of competing needs. With a cruise, it allows you all to be together, but not feel like you're joined at the hip. You're vacationing together without "being on top of each other."
A short cruise might make a lot of sense for the same reasons I outlined earlier for the weekend getaway. You get to sail on a big ship that has something for everyone, it will cost less overall than a longer cruise, and you can squeeze it into everyone's schedule.
Weekend cruises on Utopia of the Seas are so popular with family gatherings because taking a long weekend is palatable for just about everyone.
I'd also point a family reunion style trip to 5-7 night cruises because you can get to spend time with each other and not feel like it's over just after it started.
If you've seen a television commercial for Royal Caribbean, it's probably for Icon of the Seas and Star of the Seas and these ships are incredible.
Experiencing the very best Royal Caribbean has to offer is even better with loved ones, and it's the kind of family cruise that you'll talk about for years to come.
Icon Class ships are not only the biggest in the world, but they are a leap in cruise ship development. It's the latest and greatest, and that means you're not compromising on what there is to see, eat, or do onboard. Plus, it caters to kids just as much as adults.
The one thing you don't want to do for your first cruise
Chasing the lowest price is rarely going to deliver the best vacation for your needs, but some people will simply try to find the cheapest cruise available. Later they realize that low price compromises in too many places.
I'm all for finding a good deal, but you need to weigh what kind of vacation you're looking for, and then focus on cruises that highlight that while also balancing price.
By simply sorting the cruises by lowest price first, you could end up on a ship that lacks the activities, restaurants, or shows that matter to your family. Or it could visit places you have far less interest in going to.
If you're looking to get a great deal, I'd advise following our advice outlined in this article, but try to take a cruise during shoulder season. That will get you to the places you want, on the ship you'll love, without spending the most for it.
New RCB Video: Star of the Seas Deck-by-Deck Ship Preview
Have you subscribed to the Royal Caribbean Blog YouTube Channel? We share some great videos there regularly, all about taking a Royal Caribbean cruise!
The strategy is to attract new customers, but established cruisers feel slighted because they don't like going on short cruises and it's cannibalizing what they see as some of the best ships in the fleet.
They dislike the idea of short cruises for their lack of port diversity, higher per-night pricing, and unattractiveness to travel to sail to these cruises.
Royal Caribbean is now selling Star Class VIP perks on its smaller cruise ships
Icon of the Seas is known for being the largest cruise ship in the world. Not only is her size record-breaking, but she's also the first cruise ship to have a dog living onboard full-time.
Rover is an adorable golden retriever who has been sailing the high seas since she was a puppy. Known as the "Chief Dog Officer," Rover's duties include meeting passengers, strolling through Central Park, and making visits to the Bridge.
On a recent cruise aboard Icon of the Seas, two families bid for a private session with Rover during the Make-A-Wish auction.
"We got to have the private session [with Rover] by winning the Make a Wish Auction on the second day of the cruise. In case you aren't aware, Royal Caribbean has a partnership with Make a Wish and does special auctions on each cruise for a variety of experiences / perks," Chalker explained on a Royal Caribbean Blog discussion forum.
"On Icon of the Seas, a private session with Rover is usually one of the items. We got into a small bidding war with another family, but stopped bidding at $300. The cruise director then offered both our families sessions with Rover if we both made a $300 donation. We quickly agreed."
On Day 6, the family met Rover's handler outside of Spotlight Karaoke, where they were escorted to a private room for 25 minutes.
"Rover had a ton of energy and was sniffing all over the place and loved rolling around and being petted. We got to spend about 25 minutes total with them, asking lots of questions and getting pictures and videos taken with Rover," they continued.
Afterward, Chalker decided to share what they learned about Rover. Here are 19 facts about the cutest dog at sea!
1. Rover is almost two years old
Icon of the Seas' crew went all out for Rover's first birthday party. According to an Instagram reel shared to Rover's official account, she was groomed before her celebration, sporting a party hat and a colorful bandana.
The crew-only area was decorated with balloons and plenty of sweet treats. Rover even got her own dog-friendly cake! Of course, she also received tons of pets and brand-new toys.
Her second birthday is quickly approaching! It's an exciting one because she'll finally be allowed to have plush toys.
2. She joined the ship when she was 6 months old
Rover has been living on Icon of the Seas for most of her life. While she wasn't part of the overseas action in Finland or Spain, she joined the crew in Puerto Rico ahead of the official christening ceremonies in January 2024.
Before boarding Icon, Rover spent time aboard Freedom of the Seas. She needed some experience at sea before joining the world's largest cruise ship!
Thankfully, she has great sea legs and has hardly had any issues during rough weather.
3. Rover's handler has the best job in the world
"Rover's Chief of Staff" is responsible for taking care of her. When Chalker met Rover, her handler had been onboard since Sept. 2024 and was preparing for vacation. Rover's first Chief of Staff was Alison Hubble, who had been with Royal Caribbean for six years before joining Rover's team.
"Another crew member was ‘in-training’ to take over and would be moving into the cabin in the near future," Chalker explains, "This position is highly competitive due to the perks that come with it (i.e. the cabin, the duties, and schedule). It only goes to staff [who] have spent a significant amount of time on Icon and already know and interact with Rover a lot."
4. Royal Caribbean has a partnership with the American Humane Society
Rover's role as Chief Dog Officer was created in consultation with animal welfare experts at the American Humane Society.
Today, the American Humane Society conducts regular visits and inspections to ensure Rover's health and well-being.
5. As such, Rover can only "work" for a set number of hours daily
(Credit: JohnK6404/Royal Caribbean Blog Discussion Board)
The guidelines mandate that she can only work a maximum of two to three hours per day in 20-minute shifts.
These measures ensure Rover has time to relax, enjoy playtime, and receive proper care at sea. "The rest of her day is doing normal 'dog' stuff," Chalker says.
6. She doesn't like big crowds
Measuring over 248,000 gross registered tons with a passenger capacity of 7,600, one might assume that Rover is a social puppy who doesn't mind large crowds.
However, according to Chalker, Rover is quite the opposite. As such, she typically makes unscheduled appearances in quieter areas, like Central Park and the Overlook.
7. Rover is a 3 Stripe Officer
Because of her rank, she gets to live in a special suite with enough space to play and sleep — in one of three different beds! Rover also has plenty of toys and activities available to keep her entertained.
The cabin itself has windows, a spacious living area, a large desk for her handler, a separate bedroom, and a specially designed crate.
8. She spends a lot of time in the crew areas
While one of her primary duties is to bring joy to guests, the crew loves her just as much!
"She regularly visits the bridge and the captain loves her. The crew in general love[s] interacting with her through the day, such as in the crew café area," says Chalker.
"There are certain areas she can also run around, such as the helipad, where she regularly plays fetch."
9. Rover gets off the ship in Miami
Icon of the Seas sails 7-night itineraries to the Eastern and Western Caribbean, returning to Miami every Saturday.
When Icon is docked in Florida, Rover disembarks for regular vet visits and to see her groomer. Not only that, but she loves going to the beach, outdoor parks, and even the mall!
"She’s sometimes recognized as Rover by people walking around Miami," Chalker adds.
10. She has a few costumes
While Rover doesn't dress up often, she has a Captain's hat, pirate costume, reindeer costume, and various bandanas.
Additionally, when Chalker met Rover, she was wearing a cute skirt that was designed to look like a mermaid tail.
11. Rover loves fetch and tug-of-war
In fact, she loves playing so much that crew members can't say "ball" or "tug" in front of her! Whenever the crew is talking about fetch or tug-of-war, they have the spell the words out.
She gets so excited that she thinks it's time to play and will wait by certain doors since the games are only allowed in specific areas, such as the helipad.
12. She has a special life vest
Cruise ships have enough life vests for all passengers (and dogs)!
Similarly, like all guests, Rover has a muster station to report to in case there's an emergency. According to Chalker, "Her muster station is by the giant dog statue on the Royal Promenade."
13. There's a dedicated pet relief area onboard Icon of the Seas
The area is on Deck 5 along the walking track near the front of the ship and is a comfortable space for Rover to take care of her needs at sea.
Chalker explains that, "It’s got what looks like a raised bed garden planter in it with what looks like wood chips or similar that is a dirt simulant."
14. She loves treats and is typically hand-fed
Rover's Chief of Staff always has a fanny pack on them filled with Rover's food, which is why you might see her nibbling throughout the day. However, she does get other treats, including carrots and bananas.
In fact, she's quite the fan of carrots. One day, her Chief of Staff asked the Galley crew if Rover could have a spare carrot on the floor. They said no and disappeared into the cooler, returning with a clean, full-sized carrot for the pup!
"Rover thought this was the most amazing thing and was strutting around with the carrot in her mouth like a stick or bone for a while (they clearly didn’t want Rover to have to settle for a ‘scrap of carrot’)," explains Chalker.
15. She's smart and responds to hand signals
Before Rover joined Icon of the Seas, she underwent extensive training. For example, not only does she know how to sit on command, but she loves posing and waving for the camera!
During their private session, Chalker got a short video of their family and Rover waving to the camera at the same time.
16. Royal Caribbean allows service animals onboard
Whenever there's a service dog onboard, the Chief of Staff is notified because Rover isn't a fan of smaller dogs, as they're usually aggressive around her.
She's been introduced to the Toto puppet for the onboard production of The Wizard of Oz and was confused because, though it looks like a small dog, it didn't smell, sound, or move like one.
17. Rover has a traditional dog collar
Crew members have special ID tags that are different from standard guest SeaPass cards. Rover, however, wears a traditional dog collar with a tag revealing her name and phone number.
Her Chief of Staff said they want Rover to have a unique crew ID but haven't been able to get one yet.
19. Star of the Seas will also have a Chief Dog Officer
Sailor was born in February and is growing up fast! She's opened her eyes, taken her first steps, learned to play with her friends, and had her teeth start growing in!
While Sailor still must undergo training before she can assume her role as Chief Dog Officer aboard Star of the Seas, she's proving to be just as adorable as Rover!
19. Rover won't stay on Icon forever
While Rover enjoys living her life aboard Icon of the Seas, she's only expected to remain onboard until she's 5 or 6 years old.
Then, she'll be adopted by a loving family to live out the rest of her life in a "normal home environment," rather than at sea visiting ports in the Caribbean.
According to Chalker, there's already a long list of interested adoptees eager to welcome Rover into their homes when she retires.
Royal Caribbean Blog is an unofficial fan blog written for other fans of Royal Caribbean International. The Royal Caribbean Blog is not affiliated with Royal Caribbean International
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