Royal Caribbean Blog

A crew member died after going overboard from Icon of the Seas, Royal Caribbean confirmed. 

According to online reports, the secret man overboard code ("Oscar, Oscar, Oscar") sounded at around 7:18PM on Thursday, July 24. The world's largest cruise ship then slowed down and returned to the location where the crew member had gone overboard. 

One passenger shared that they saw the rescue unfold from their port-side balcony stateroom, where they witnessed crew members dropping life preservers into the ocean. Not long after, a rescue boat was deployed and returned with someone onboard. 

Additionally, security closed the blinds in the Royal Promenade and discouraged cruisers from hanging out near the sides of the vessel during the incident. 

Although they were able to quickly locate the individual, the crew member, who supposedly worked at the Schooner Bar, succumbed to their injuries and passed away. 

Icon of the Seas was sailing about 200 miles off the coast of Nassau, Bahamas, en route to Perfect Day at CocoCay when the crew member went overboard. The remainder of the voyage will continue uninterrupted. Icon is expected to return to PortMiami on Sunday, wrapping up the 7-night Eastern Caribbean cruise. 

"Our crew immediately initiated a search and rescue operation, but unfortunately, the crew member passed away. We extend our condolences to the crew member’s family and loved ones," said Royal Caribbean in a statement issued to 7News Miami. 

"To respect their privacy, we have no additional details to share."

The incident happened less than one month after a father jumped into the ocean after his child while sailing on a Disney cruise ship

Last month, a young child fell overboard from the Disney Dream en route to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, during a 4-night sailing to the Bahamas. Moments later, the kid's father leapt into the ocean. Both were successfully rescued by the crew, and the father was instantly called a hero. 

However, other rumors quickly started circulating on the internet, saying that her dad had held her on a railing when she fell into the water. Security footage dispelled the rumor, though, revealing that the young girl fell through a porthole after losing her balance. 

Detectives said the 37-year-old father was alerted about the harrowing situation by his wife. He then jumped into the water, found his daughter, and treaded water until they were rescued by Disney crew members. 

Read more: Child goes overboard from Disney cruise ship; father jumps in to save her, reports claim

The chances of falling overboard on a cruise ship are low

Deck railings on Royal Caribbean cruise ships are at least 42 inches high to comply with the Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act (CVSSA) of 2010. Additionally, thick metal panels, Plexiglass panels, or metal bars are positioned under the railings to prevent guests from accidentally slipping through. 

As such, going overboard on a cruise ship is rare. A report shared by the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) revealed that there were 212 confirmed overboard incidents from cruise ships between 2009 and 2019. 

Of those incidents, 48 individuals, or 28.2%, were successfully rescued. 

When you're trying to decide which cruise ship cabin to book, you might be better off in an inside cabin.

I go back and forth sometimes what type of stateroom is best because each room has its own advantages.  However, I've found there are signals that you should lean in one direction or another.

Picking an inside cabin can sometimes question if you're doing it for a good reason or simply to save money. Besides budget, certain considerations might be a reason to pick an inside stateroom.

Before you decide on a stateroom to reserve, here are four compelling reasons to go with an interior cabin.

You booked a ship because of all the things to do onboard

Royal Caribbean is known for having giant cruise ships packed with so many things to do.  So if you booked a ship like Icon of the Seas or Wonder of the Seas because it has so many fun activities, perhaps an inside stateroom is a good choice.

Considering how much there is to do on the ship, how much time will you really spend in your stateroom?

I've found that when I go on the big ships, I'm instantly drawn to the activities around.  In fact, I often have a lot of FOMO when I'm in my stateroom because it seems there's a lot happening around the ship.

One of the rationales for booking an inside stateroom is in reality, you use your cabin to sleep, shower, and change.  So why spend extra on a nicer room that you won't fully take advantage of?

If one of the reasons you chose a specific ship were all the activities available to try, you might find the stateroom to be an afterthought.  And that's a good reason to stick with an inside room/

You're a light sleeper

No matter how fun a cruise ship is, if you can't get a good night's sleep, it might be frustrating.

Say what you will about the benefits of being in an larger stateroom with a beautiful balcony, but I always sleep so darn well in an inside stateroom.

First, there's no outside light to wake you up in the morning.

When I was in Europe on Independence of the Seas this summer, the sun would rise at around 4am and it messed with my brain because the light would wake me up too early.

Another advantage of an inside cabin is noise from outside the ship, especially when docking.

When our ship docked in Southampton, there was an incessant beeping noise from a truck that was backing up constantly to move items off the ship, and it began at around 5am.  

Because we were in a balcony, that truck disrupted our sleep.  But if we had been in an inside room, it wouldn't have been an issue.

You'll often hear noise on the dock when a ship docks, and it can wake you up too early. 

Without daylight pouring in, there's no natural cue to get up. If you’re the kind who loves hitting the snooze button and skipping breakfast, an inside cabin is your best ally.

There is no such thing as a room being too cold

Do you immediately crank the air conditioning to its coldest setting as soon as you walk into a hotel room? An inside cabin might be for you.

Inside rooms are easily the coldest cabins because there's no natural light or heat emanating from outside to warm it up.

During summer cruises, I'll often keep the curtains drawn in my balcony room because the ambient heat from the sun on my balcony heats up the room.

To be clear, the air conditioning works fine in balcony rooms, but some people prefer their cabins feel like a meat locker.

If you love curling up in a chilly, dark space, this is your cruise cocoon.

You’re planning a port-heavy itinerary

If you're going to book a cruise that has a lot of port visits across 7 nights, such as in the Mediterranean or Alaska, you're going to be off the ship all day.

When you have full day activities, I come back to the ship and immediately shower, nap, and get ready for dinner.

I think having 4, 5, or 6 ports on a single sailing means you'll value the itinerary over what you can see from the ship.  In my experience, balcony rooms are best on sea days primarily.  The value of having it if you're going from start to finish each day in port is kind of lost.

Speaking of places like Alaska, if you choose an early or late season cruise, that might be another reason to go with an inside room because of the weather.

Typically the shoulder seasons in Alaska or Norway can be cold and rainy, thus reducing the usefulness of the balcony.

I knew my first luxury cruise would be different from Royal Caribbean, but a few aspects truly surprised me.

I've been on almost 100 Royal Caribbean sailings, but I was intrigued by the prospect of trying something completely different.

When loyalty status matching was updated, I jumped at the opportunity to try out Silversea.  It meant going on a luxury ship without truly abandoning what I'm familiar with, because Silversea is owned by Royal Caribbean.

After spending a week on Silver Dawn, I came home with 11 surprises from the experience that I wasn't expecting.

The butlers are very different from a Royal Genie

I was excited by the idea of having a butler for the first time on a cruise, but the experience was very different from the Royal Genie service.

Luxury cruise ships are known for offering each suite a butler, but in practice, it's not what I expected.

I suppose in retrospect it makes sense that your butler is only available to help you in your suite.  If I had a butler in my house, they would be there too.

I asked a few different cruisers I met how they maximize their butlers, and most told me the same thing: you basically have to live in your suite to get the most out of it.

That's a bit different from the Royal Genie in Star Class suites, where their services can be used around the ship.

Moreover, I liked I could message my Royal Genie through WhatsApp.  On Silver Dawn, I could only get a hold of the butler by calling them from my cabin phone.

That's not a big deal, but on a few occasions it would have been more practical to message the butler to prepare something as I make my way back to my room.

I expected a stuffy dress code, but most people wore collared shirt and no jacket

If I had a concern before my first Silversea cruise, it was the dress code requirements.

I came into the cruise worried about having to wear a suit every night, but the truth is it's not as formal as I expected.

Silversea relaxed their dress code standards fairly recently, and it was no where near as formal as others had warned me about.

There wasn't even a formal night on our sailing. Evidently I have to be on a longer cruise to have one.

The basic dress code was no jeans or shorts after 6pm, and you needed to have a collared shirt in the restaurants.  Jackets were optional.

And yes, the crew did enforce the rules. I spoke with various guests who told me about how they or someone else were informed they didn't meet the dress code standards.  In those situations, men were offered a jacket to borrow.

During the day, I had no issues wearing what I would wear on Royal Caribbean. Shorts, t-shirts, flip flops were all perfectly acceptable.

Far fewer men than I expected wore a jacket to dinner, so it wasn't nearly as strict as I once feared.

No lines anywhere

One thing I quickly noticed on Silver Dawn was that there were basically no lines or crowds.

You often hear about how cruises have long lines and crowds, but Silver Dawn didn't have them at all.  In fact, a few times I went to figure out where everyone was because so many areas were completely empty.

When I asked cruisers onboard why they picked a luxury ship, many said they did it to avoid crowds. They could appreciate what the big ships offer, but didn't want to deal with competing for lounge chairs or lines.

I certainly didn't think the ship would feel as crowded as an Oasis Class ship, but I never thought it would be as empty as it felt.

The incredible service by crew members

No matter which cruise line I've sailed on, crew members have always worked incredibly hard to stand out.  But on Silversea, it went to a different level.

Because the crew to passenger ratio is lower on a luxury ship, I think it was easier for the crew to learn passenger names and what they liked.

By the third day of the sailing, I could count on walking into a bar or lounge and at least one crew member greeting me by name  as soon as I walked in.

Food selections are incredible, even at buffet

I expected the food would better on Silversea than on Royal Caribbean, and I wasn't disappointed.

I think it's fair to assume a luxury cruise would have better food, and it was exemplified at the buffet when they had every day a large selection of sushi.

There were cooking stations at the buffet too, but the dishes came out looking like something I'd get from a specialty restaurant.

In the ship's Main Dining Room, every night there was filet mignon, lobster tail, shrimp, and other cuts of steak to choose from. 

When I ate at the ship's French specialty restaurant, La Dame, there were some really high-end food served, such as foie gras.

My favorite place for food was at the S.A.L.T. lab and restaurant, which sources food from the areas your ship visits.  

Not only is it a really smart idea to incorporate the ship experience into the region you are visiting, but there were fantastic food choices. 

Surprised the premium WiFi costs extra

Considering Silversea is all inclusive, I was surprised there were tiers of internet service.

The cruise fare comes with basic WiFi included, but it's fairly useless.  It's heavily throttled and works only for messaging.

I paid $365 to upgrade to a 2-device premium WiFi package. Not only was that a high cost, but I think a luxury cruise line that says it's all inclusive should include the high speed internet.

In case you're wondering, Silversea uses Starlink too, and the speeds were great.

The only furnishings that disappointed me were the balcony chairs

From the pool chairs, to the lounges, to the towels in my cabin, everything felt luxurious except for my balcony chairs.

It's a minor thing, but I spent time on my balcony on numerous occasions and noticed the chairs and table out there were almost identical to the ones you'd find on a new Royal Caribbean ship.

Moreover, Royal Caribbean suite balconies have more plush chairs with ottomans. 

I felt like it was an easy fix, and perhaps Silversea's newer ships already have them.

Beer selection is surprisingly bad

I think the only double take I did on my cruise was when I asked about the beers to order.

Royal Caribbean's beer selection has always been disappointing, but Silversea's beers are even worse.  You'll find just the generic beers, with little flavor discrepancy.

As you can see in the photo, there isn't much in the way of IPAs, craft beers, or some of the trendier malt beverages.

I'm guessing the average Silversea cruiser doesn't ask for them, but considering how much wider their liquor selection was than Royal Caribbean, I was surprised how limited the beer options were.

No app or check in

I thought I did something wrong when I couldn't find the Silversea app, but turns out there isn't one.

From what I understand they are working on developing an app, but in the meantime there isn't an app.

Truthfully, you don't need the app onboard because there's a mobile website you can access once connected to the WiFi and it had what I needed: activities, my bookings, a copy of the newsletter, and more.

I was equally surprised to find a lack of an online check-in option, but maybe that's just because I'm conditioned to have one on Royal Caribbean.

When I arrived at the ship for check-in in Copenhagen, there was no line at all and just one person ahead of me.  I suppose you don't need a fancy online check-in if there's not a crowd issue to contend with.

Reservations needed for the popular specialty restaurants

Another nuance of the luxury cruise experience is how specialty dining works.

There are essentially three tiers of restaurants on Silversea:

1. Included restaurants that don't require reservations (Main Dining Room)
2. Specialty restaurants that are included in your cruise fare (Silver Note, The Grill)
3. Specialty restaurants that cost money (Kaiseki, La Dame)

How all the reservations worked was more confusion than I anticipated pre-cruise.  

Some restaurants absolutely require reservations or you pretty much cannot dine there. Kaiseki and La Dame pretty much sold out almost immediately, whereas Silver Note and The Grill had more flexibility.

The takeaway here is just because restaurants are included, you can't go in anytime you want. I'd recommend making reservations as early as you can to ensure you can get in.

Status matching was easy, but it didn't get me much

I tried Silversea because of the status matching offered, but it really didn't get me much.

That's a bit misleading, because Silversea includes so much more in the cruise fare than Celebrity or Royal Caribbean.

If you think about all the best benefits you get from Crown & Anchor Society or Captain's Club, they're almost all perks that included with a luxury cruise.

I got free laundry, which was a godsend to not have to ration clean clothing. 

Speaking of status, there isn't as much recognition of status like you do on the other lines. Your Seapass card doesn't have your status level listed or different colors to your card. That's fine with me, just a different approach.

Cruises are meant to whisk you away from one idyllic port of call to the next. With so many cruise ports located around the world, some destinations are certainly more popular than others. On the other hand, a handful of cruise ports are infamous for offering a less-than-desirable experience.

A Reddit user recently asked the r/Cruise community, “Big time cruisers - what is one port that you will NEVER go to again?”

In the caption, the poster continued, “Hey cruisers! As a cruise lover (25+ cruises so far), I love introducing cruising to my friends and helping them with questions along the way. My question to you: if you are a big time cruiser, what port would you NEVER visit again and what happened to make you feel this way?”

The thread has garnered over 600 comments from fellow travelers, with many detailing their disappointing, and even scary, situations in different ports of call. With so many comments, a handful of ports were repeatedly mentioned by numerous cruisers.

Here’s a list of cruise ports that longtime travelers say they’d never want to visit again, based entirely on real cruiser experiences shared on Reddit.

Colon, Panama

Among the many responses on Reddit, one of the most common responses was Colon in Panama. For cruisers who have always wanted to visit the Panama Canal, they’ve likely experienced the disappointing and unsafe city of Colon.

Located on the Caribbean coast of Panama, Colon is located at the northern entrance to the world-famous Panama Canal. In this way, the city serves as a gateway port for ships that are transiting the Panama Canal between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

In addition, some Caribbean itineraries include a port stop in Colon, Panama, for a partial transit through the canal. Colon is often used as a starting point for excursions visiting the Gatun Lake or Panama Canal locks. For many, seeing the engineering marvel of the canal is a bucket-list experience.

Unfortunately, the city of Colon leaves a lot to be desired. Many cruisers stated the port itself felt extremely unsafe, and the port lacked development or infrastructure.

“Colon, Panama. High unemployment & resulting crime rates. They built a huge shopping mall adjacent to the port that is mostly empty. We did a tour of Gatun Lake to see waterfowl, sloths and howler monkeys. That was fine, but one and done for me,” reads the top comment.

One cruiser shared, “We had to wait at that sad little mall two hours for our ship to go through the locks to pick us up. The tour guide was from Colon and even she said not to leave that mall under any circumstance.”

“So dangerous!! Nothing there. Panama City wonderful! Colon not so much,” echoed another commenter.

One cruiser even questioned Royal Caribbean’s decision to use Colon as an embarkation port for future itineraries: “We are American expats who live in Panamá. Colon is really sketchy. Royal Caribbean is starting cruises from Colon in October. Almost $1000 base rate for an inside cabin for 7 days?!?!”

“Colon Panama. It was our debarkation port. Complete and utter chaos. People waited out in the blazing sun for hours. The military shouting at people. Never again,” explained another cruiser.

Jamaica

As one of the more popular ports in the Caribbean, Jamaica was repeatedly mentioned as a least favorite destination. The island nation is a staple destination for many Western Caribbean itineraries, with Ocho Rios, Falmouth, and Montego Bay as the three main ports.

Jamaica is often advertised with lush mountains, reggae music, beautiful beaches, and vibrant culture. The Dunn’s River Falls is one of the main attractions. Sadly, many cruisers on Reddit criticized the country for aggressive vendors and described safety concerns with visiting Jamaica.

“Anywhere in Jamaica. Every time I’ve been, I’ve been called a [slur] and have felt completely unsafe. It’s also generally been dirty and full of scammers. And one time we went, and the port was literally on fire lol. We had to turn around and go back out to sea,” states one of the top responses.

Read more: I visited 25 Caribbean destinations on a cruise ship. These are the 4 I'd return to and the 3 I'd skip

One cruiser even shared a scary experience attempting to walk outside of the port area. “Our cruise stopped at Falmouth a few years ago. It was me and my two sons, probably ages 9 and 12 at the time. Once we left the port area, things got sketchy quickly.”

The commenter continued, “There was a uniformed and heavily armed police officer at every corner. We were hounded by people selling stuff. After walking a couple of blocks, we turned around and got back on the ship. To put this experience in perspective, I've walked alone at 1AM in Chicago easily 100 times and felt unsafe only once. Falmouth was an order of magnitude beyond.”

“Ocho Rios, Jamaica. Been once, no desire to go back. Just a super busy shopping center with people yelling at you the entire time,” replied one cruiser. “Went to Falmouth. We did a bus tour. Passed through multiple armed checkpoints. Never again,” stated another responder.

Belize City, Belize

Although not as widely disliked as Jamaica and Colon, Panama, another common response in the Reddit thread was Belize City, Belize. Located on the eastern coast of the country, Belize City is the main port and largest urban area in the country.

For many cruisers, Belize City is a gateway to the country’s renowned Barrier Reef snorkeling, Mayan Ruins, and Cave Tubing. However, Belize City itself is an unpopular destination due to poor infrastructure and inconvenient tendering. Many responders also mention staying onboard in Belize City due to these concerns.

“Belize City. Loooong tender into a pretty lousy port area. Not much around either,” reads one of the top comments.

Additionally, one cruiser shared, “The tours you can do are great, but they're mostly all things where you leave Belize City immediately. It's not a port you'd want to get off in and just walk or drive around exploring the city on your own.”

“We just got back from a cruise with a stop in Belize, it was on Celebrity Equinox, we should have stayed on the ship - we paid a lot I think like $200 each to do the excursion to swim with mana rays and baby sharks and snorkel. It was two long boring boats to get there and then it felt slightly scary in the water with the rays swimming around your feet. There was an emergency nurse on board in case,” explained one cruiser.

“It's been a long time but that port scared me. We had an excursion that we really enjoyed but after that, we stayed on the ship while there.”

Nassau, Bahamas

Nassau, Bahamas, might be one of the most visited cruise ports in the world, but that doesn’t mean it’s a favorite among cruisers. Because of its close proximity to Florida, Nassau is often included on shorter Caribbean itineraries. 

Although the cruise port can be found on many different itineraries, Nassau is infamously unpopular. The main cruise terminal was recently renovated with a $300+ million investment to the pier. Nearby attractions include the Atlantis Paradise Island, Junkanoo Beach, and Queen’s Staircase.

However, multiple commenters in the Reddit thread expressed their disdain for the Bahamian capital, stating they would rather stay on the ship than visit Nassau again.

One responder shared, “Nassau. Not much to do without getting hassled. We’ve done all of the easy stuff: tours around the area, Junkanoo beach, Atlantis, Señor Frogs, Queens Staircase, etc. Ends up being a lovely day to stay on the ship!”

“Crime, annoying vendors, lack of charm, not much to do besides shop for imported crap and drink heavily,” shared one responder. Another cruiser stated, “I can live a fulfilled life without ever needing to go back to Nassau.”

In addition, one cruiser shared, “Nassau by far. High pressure, high price, aggressive street vendors. Felt unsafe.”

“Nassau. It used to be super fun, until the really big ships started docking there. It’s pretty dangerous if you leave the tourist area. Now it’s just dirty sleazy bars & expensive souvenirs,” replied one cruiser.

Costa Maya, Mexico

Considered one of the biggest tourist traps in the Caribbean, Costa Maya is one of the more common ports of call for Western Caribbean sailings. The cruise terminal itself is built entirely for tourists and filled with shops, restaurants, wildlife encounters, a swim-up bar, and live entertainment.

For those wanting to venture outside of the port, excursions are offered to Mayan ruins and the relaxing beach of Mahahual. Regardless, many cruisers expressed their disappointment with the Costa Maya port during their cruise, citing the inauthentic feel.

“Puerto Costa Maya is my least favorite. It's a giant trap to separate you from your money,” replied one cruiser.

Another cruiser echoed, “It’s a total maze to get out of the port area! I hated that.”

“I wouldn’t get off the ship at this port if I ended up there again. We did the Mayan Ruin tour when we were there last time and it was good, but there wasn’t much else to do. It was just a giant shopping mall in the middle of nowhere,” noted another cruiser.

One passenger mentioned, “Costa Maya. We will visit it and there were some good excursions, but you have to beware of credit card theft. There are instances of have you card cloned when you scan at some vendors then they start buying things with your card.”

Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

While some cruisers rave about their experience in Cabo San Lucas, not everyone was impressed by this port of call. Located on the southern tip of the Baja California Peninsula, Cabo San Lucas is known for its iconic landscapes, beautiful beaches, and beachside parties.

However, for some, the cruise experience in Cabo San Lucas was underwhelming, with pushy locals and aggressive salespeople. Others find the port to lack authentic Mexican culture with too many tourist shops. Additionally, lengthy and uncomfortable tendering operations worsen the experience for many.

“Cabo. For the hundredth time I don’t want to buy a bracelet or [terrible] jewelry,” commented one cruiser. One Redditor replied, “Cabo is Taco Bell with jewelry shops and fishing charters. Not Mexico, at all.”

Read more: I hadn’t cruised from the West Coast in 15 years. I had a great time, but I’m not sure I would do it again

“Also Cabo. Tendering in was [horrible] on extremely rough waters and there is absolutely nothing to do in the port area unless you book an excursion,” explained another cruiser.

“They are aggressive in Cabo. We stopped there on a cruise and the people selling stuff wouldn’t leave us alone.”

Cartagena, Colombia

For Southern Caribbean itineraries, most sailings include a visit to Cartagena, Colombia. This port city is known for its vibrant and authentic culture, along with its colonial architecture, historic walled city, local markets, and colorful streets.

In addition, the city’s Historic Old Town, Ciudad Amurallada, is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The walled city is perfectly preserved with cobblestones, plazas, churches, and colorful buildings. However, the vendors can be aggressive, which can leave some cruisers feeling overwhelmed and unsafe.

“Cartagena. Vendors swarmed our excursion bus when we stopped at the fort. They shook the bus and climbed up to the windows to show their wares,” detailed one responder. Another replied similarly, “Cartagena, Colombia. Horrible street vendors.”

“Cartagena. I’ve never felt unsafe on a cruise until we went there. Step a foot outside the port and it’s scary. Aggressiveness was off the charts.”

One cruiser replied, “We’ve had vendors walk behind us all the way to the bus trying to get us to buy whatever we said no to! Crazy!”

“One port we didn't enjoy at all was an excursion in Cartagena, Colombia. If you ever go there, do tours that take you away from the walled part of the city. We did a tour there and the venders swarmed us the whole time. Our guide did nothing to help so the only time we were away from them was when we were able to go inside somewhere,” described another cruiser.

“Cartagena Colombia. Street vendors are just way too over the top aggressive,” shared one responder.

Santorini, Greece

As one of the most picturesque ports in the Mediterranean, Santorini is an island in Greece. Known for its iconic blue-domed churches, stunning cliffside views, and quaint village of Oia, Santorini is often considered a bucket-list destination for many.

Because of its popularity, many itineraries around the Greek Isles include a port stop in Santorini. However, some cruisers found the small island to be overcrowded and difficult to navigate. Given the island’s rocky landscape, cruisers typically need to take a cable car ride, walk the steep steps, or ride a donkey while visiting the tender port.

“Probably an unpopular opinion - I’d say Santorini - too sad to see the donkeys taking passengers up and down the cliffs, and the queue to the cable car is too long. Ok views at the top but quite dirty in general,” replied one traveler.

In addition, one cruiser shared, "I agree with you… Santorini is our least favorite port… crowded! And the wait to go down to the dock on the cable car was long (40 minutes) and we were the only ship in port that day. People should definitely watch YouTube videos to acquaint themselves with this port.”

“Surprised most of these are Caribbean, would assume big time cruisers would have gotten bored with that. I'll throw out Santorini, beautiful (especially Oia) but way too many people and way too commercial,” stated another cruiser.

One cruiser shared, “It was my first cruise and we did the excursion with RCI, we got tender to the old port I believe then bus the whole way up till we got to Oia, on our way to Fira we did a wine tasting. I think we waited an hour to an hour and an half to get down with the cable car.”

Royal Caribbean's mid-tier suite offering is known as Sky Class, but what is it exactly? And what does it get you?

On the newer and bigger ships, you'll find the cruise line's upgraded suite program that is known as the Royal Suite Class. Royal Caribbean updated its suite offerings years ago, and it uses this moniker to differentiate suites on new ships versus old ships.

A majority of the suites you can book within the Royal Suite Class are Sky Class suites, and they offer the Goldilocks amenities and value: not too cheap, and not too expensive.

Before you spend extra to book a Sky Class suite, here's what you can expect from it.

What is Sky Class on Royal Caribbean?

On Royal Caribbean's newer ships, it has three tiers of suite offerings: Sea, Sky, and Star Class.

They're available on the Oasis, Icon, and Quantum Class ships only. This includes Star of the Seas, Wonder of the Seas, Utopia of the Seas, and Odyssey of the Seas.

Older and smaller Royal Caribbean ships do not offer Sky Class suites.

Sky Class is the middle tier, and it's where most of the suite rooms are included in, such as:

• Crown Loft Suite
• Owner’s Suite
• Family Suite
• Grand Suite
• 1 Bedroom AquaTheater Suite
• Sunset Junior Suites
• Sky Class Junior Suites
• Surfside Family Suites

Sky Class benefits at a glance

The key difference between any of the suite classes are the perks included with the room.  Sky Class benefits are:

• Concierge service
• All-day access to Coastal Kitchen and The Grove (The Grove is on Icon Class ships only)
• Specialty bottled water upon arrival
• Complimentary internet
• Priority boarding and departure
• Priority dining reservations
• Suite Lounge access
• Access to Suite Sun Deck
• Royal Caribbean plush bathrobes for use onboard
• Luxury pillow top mattress
• Luxury bathroom amenities
• Lavazza Espresso coffee maker

What you can expect from Sky Class

When you book a Sky Class suite, the basics of it are added benefits and service throughout your cruise.

Before you board

A few days prior to your cruise, the suite concierge will email you to introduce themself and to welcome you onboard.  

The email has a reminder of all of your benefits, and it also explains Sky Class passengers have flexible arrival times.

The flexible arrival time means you can arrive an hour earlier or later than your cruise check-in time that you chose in the app. I love this benefit because it means you can get onboard even earlier.

Once you arrive to the cruise terminal, look for a special line exclusive to suite guests.

This line offers priority check-in and an expedited boarding process.

Inside your suite

Most Sky Class suites feature a good mix of space, upgraded facilities, and large balconies.

The difference between suite types is primarily how large the suite is, with the more expensive Sky Class suites offering more square footage.

A 1-Bedroom Grand Suite on Oasis of the Seas will measure 371 square feet of living space and a 105 square foot balcony. A Crown Loft Suite will have 545 square feet of space, and a 114 square foot balcony.

The configuration of the suites can also vary, with larger ones having separate bedrooms and additional bathrooms.

Dining Perks

Arguably one of the best benefits of being in Sky Class is you get access to Coastal Kitchen, which is a suites only restaurant.

Coastal Kitchen is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day of your cruise and you have to be in a Sky or Star Class room to get in.  Sea Class suites only have access for dinner.

Speaking of eating, you can also enjoy complimentary room service in your suite. 

Sky Class guests can order off the standard room service menu without a surcharge. In addition, they can order food from the Main Dining Room to be delivered whenever the Main Dining Room is open.

Entertainment

Royal Caribbean reserves seats in the theaters onboard the ship for suite guests (the same seating is also available to loyalty members).

It does not guarantee admission into the show, but the advantage is once you get in, there's a row other guests cannot sit in before you have a chance.

While the reserved seating is nice, it's often in strange locations and may not be where you want to sit.  

Of course, you don't have to sit in the reserved section, but it's available if you prefer.

Concierge and Lounge Access

One of the top suite perks is access to the Suite Concierge and Lounge.

The Suite Concierge is there to help you with anything you may need assistance with.  Think of them like a suites-only Guest Services.

It's a good idea to meet the Concierge on the first day of your cruise to introduce yourself to them and get anything you need take care of.  In fact, you can email the concierge before the cruise begins with any special requests.

The Suite Lounge is an exclusive enclave for suite guests that offers seating, drinks, and snacks throughout the day.

Access to the suite lounge is only for those that booked a Grand Suite or higher cabin, as well as Pinnacle Club members on sailings where there are not too many Pinnacle members.

Each suite lounge has a self-service coffee and espresso maker that you can use 24 hours per day.

In addition, there are snacks offered during select hours.

Sky Class passengers can enjoy complimentary beer and wine from 11am to 11pm in the lounge, and then a full bar happy hour in the evening.  It's a fantastic benefit because you can enjoy many drinks in the lounge (or even take them out back to your cabin or elsewhere).

Disembarkation and Port Days

One other notable perk of being a Sky Class guest is being able to get on and of the ship easier.

If your ship tenders, you'll have priority with them.   The Icon and Oasis Class ships are too large to offer tenders, but the Quantum Class ships occasionally will offer it.

A personal favorite benefit of mine is the escort off the ship by the Suite Concierge.

Speak to the Concierge before the final morning, and they can walk you off the ship and bypass the line of passengers trying to do the same.

Usually you meet the Concierge in the Suite Lounge at a specific time, and they will escort you off the ship and beat the crowds.

How Sky Class compares to Sea and Star Class

Because Sky Class is the middle tier of suite benefits, it can be a nice step up from Sea Class, but nearly as encompassing as Star Class.

I look at Sea Class suites as being essentially "extra large balcony rooms".  They don't have many benefits at all, and don't have access to the Suite Lounge or the Concierge. Booking a Sky Class suite instead would provide far more perks.

Star Class has the best benefits of any suite, including the services of the Royal Genie, unlimited specialty dining, gratuities included and much more.

Price is usually the driving factor as to why to book one class over another.

Sea Class is great if you just want a larger room with the benefit of having additional Crown and Anchor Society points.

Star Class is truly for the passenger that wants to have everything included and one done for them.  It's the cruise "easy button", but will cost two or three times what a Sky Class suite is listed for.

I find the Sky Class suites are great for someone that wants a traditional suite experience onboard with more living space in their stateroom, added service from the Concierge, and access to certain suite-only amenities, such as the lounge and Coastal Kitchen.

Tips for maximizing your Sky Class perks

If you book a Sky Class suite, I'd recommend taking advantage of it in a few ways.

When the Suite Concierge emails you a few days before the cruise, don't be shy.  Respond with any requests you may have, such as dining requests, stateroom configurations, or alerting them to special events.

When in doubt, head to the Suite Sun Deck instead of the regular pool deck for seats.  

Not only are there seats reserved for you on the sun deck, but they're usually plusher and have waiters come by more often.

Speaking of exclusive areas, use the Suite Lounge as a quiet escape. 

During the day, the lounge is usually empty, and it's a great spot to read, play a card game, or chat with friends.

Be sure to take advantage of the priority disembarkation to save time.

Lines to get off the cruise ship on the final morning can be long, and no matter how much time it saves you, it all adds up.

Is Sky Class worth it?

Booking a Sky Class suite is a lot like booking a first class airplane ticket in that it's a nicer way to travel.

I think the people that will benefit the most from trying Sky Class would be folks that want added service and are more likely to spend time in their stateroom.

Having a plush cabin with lots of space is great for those that want to spend more time in their room than perhaps being out and about elsewhere.

While booking a suite will never save you money overall, those that take full advantage of the included benefits could see another reason to book it.

Having complimentary internet access for everyone booked in the suite, access to Coastal Kitchen, and no room service fees are added value.

Having stayed in many Sky Class suites, it's a lovely way to cruise. Having all the extra space in the stateroom, along with access to certain areas makes it all far more enjoyable.

However, it all comes at a cost.  Sky Class suites aren't inexpensive, and there's always a compelling argument whether you should book a suite or balcony room instead.

A Sky Class suite might be the perfect room for a special occasion or longer sailing because you can justify the included perks as being a good rationale for moving up to these types of rooms.

I just returned from an Alaska cruise, and there were five small things I did that made a huge impact on my vacation.

There’s a lot to consider when planning a cruise to Alaska. From booking flights to reserving shore excursions, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the process.

Yet even the smallest decisions can make a big difference. Before my recent Alaska cruise aboard Anthem of the Seas, I spent just a few hours researching ways to improve my experience.

I found unexpected flight deals, booked a cruise add-on for embarkation day, and packed appropriate attire for my summer itinerary.

In the end, these five seemingly small actions made my cruise so much better.

First, I booked my flights with Air2Sea to save money

One small, quick thing I did before my Alaska cruise was check flight prices on Air2Sea.

Air2Sea is Royal Caribbean’s flight booking system, which allows passengers to purchase flights alongside their cruise reservation. Not only is the program convenient, but it provides protection in the case of unforeseen issues, like delays and cancellations, that prevent passengers from getting to their ship on time.

I usually book my flights directly through the airlines, but decided to check prices on Air2Sea to see how they compared. Royal Caribbean frequently offers lucrative discounts on airfare through Air2Sea—usually for Alaska and European sailings.

To my surprise, I found a first class flight to Seattle for only $276 round trip. Oddly enough, the economy fare was more expensive!

The deal seemed too good to be true, but my travel agent confirmed the pricing, and we booked my first class flight directly through Air2Sea.

Because I spent just a few short minutes checking Air2Sea’s website for flights, I enjoyed a far more comfortable travel day to Seattle.

Of course, you’ll want to read the fine print before booking flights through Air2Sea. Cancellation and change policies are different from booking directly through the airline, so it may not be best for those who want extra flexibility.

Even still, it’s worth checking the website for flights before your cruise. The savings could be substantial.

Next, I booked a specialty restaurant on embarkation day to beat the crowds

One of my most utilized embarkation day “hacks” is to book a specialty restaurant for lunch.

As thousands of passengers board the ship within just a few hours, embarkation day is typically chaotic. Because cabins aren’t ready until later in the afternoon, crowds quickly grow in common areas like the Windjammer buffet, Royal Esplanade, and pool deck.

Related: 30 cruise ship embarkation day do's and don'ts

When I first started cruising, I would head to the Windjammer for a quick, casual lunch. Yet the crowds, loud atmosphere, and general chaos of the venue was far from relaxing. Sometimes, I couldn't even find a seat.

I didn’t want to start my Alaska cruise off on the wrong foot. So, instead of eating lunch at the Windjammer on embarkation day, I booked a meal at Jamie’s Italian instead.

Jamie’s Italian is one of my favorite specialty restaurants on Royal Caribbean. In between the cheesy, pull-apart garlic knots and spicy penne arrabbiata, it’s hard to go wrong with any item on the menu.

The restaurant costs extra, but you can usually snag great deals prior to your cruise on Royal Caribbean’s Cruise Planner. On my Anthem of the Seas cruise, I booked lunch for just $18 per person including gratuity.

The extra expense was totally worth it. The restaurant was quiet and calm—a stark contrast to the buffet a few decks above. My meal took around an hour and a half, and by the time I finished, my cabin was cleaned and ready to enter.

After a busy travel day to Seattle and a hectic morning getting ready to board the ship, I definitely made the right decision by booking a specialty restaurant on embarkation day.

I also packed clothing for warm weather, and just a few items for the cold

When most people picture an Alaska cruise, they imagine chilly weather, icy glaciers, and snow-capped mountains. Before packing your heavy parka, though, you’ll want to research the weather averages for the month you sail.

For my June departure, I avoided bringing my heavy coats, gloves, and hats. During the summer, temperatures average over 60 degrees in Juneau. On my visit to the port, it was a sweltering 75 degrees!

Related: The best month to cruise to Alaska on a Royal Caribbean cruise

I packed a few cold-weather items, like a light jacket and a few pairs of jeans. However, I also packed t-shirts, shorts, and lightweight long-sleeved shirts.

Alaska’s weather can be unpredictable, but our mid-summer cruise had excellent weather. Most of my sweaters went unworn, and I regretted wasting the packing space in my suitcase on these bulkier items.

Nonetheless, I’m glad I had the forethought to pack lightweight clothes so I didn’t feel uncomfortably warm in port.

I researched budget-friendly things to do in each port of call

Exploring Alaska’s ports of call can be expensive, but it doesn’t have to be.

My Alaska itinerary visited three ports: Juneau, Skagway, and Victoria. I was cruising to the Last Frontier with my brother, and we wanted to keep our costs down in each port of call. Both of us have busy travel schedules this summer, so spending hundreds of dollars on excursions was simply not in the cards.

We didn’t want to miss out on each port’s highlights, however. Instead of booking guided tours, I found ways to explore ports on our own.

In Juneau, we wanted to visit Mendenhall Glacier, but found the $79 shuttle bus extremely overpriced. I paid $45 for the same shuttle just a few years ago!

As an alternative, we took a local city bus to a stop near the glacier instead. At $2 each way, the price was hard to beat. And although the bus doesn’t stop directly at the glacier—it’s a 30-minute walk away—the walking path is scenic and safe.

There were also bikes to rent at the bus stop, too, for those who don’t want to walk the rest of the way.

In Skagway and Victoria, I researched self-guided walking tours of the cities. My brother and I spent our days wandering around each port to try local coffee shops and restaurants, and we also enjoyed peaceful walks through quiet parks.

Spending just a couple of hours researching the ports on my itinerary helped me plan exciting days that didn’t break the bank.

Lastly, I learned about Luggage Valet, and this helped me plan my disembarkation day

At the end of my cruise, I utilized Royal Caribbean’s Luggage Valet service to make my travel day so much smoother.

Seattle is one of my favorite cities to visit, and I wanted to explore the city with my brother at the end of our cruise. So, instead of booking flights home early in the day, we booked flights for the late evening.

Yet as the cruise approached, I began to wonder if I had made a mistake. I was traveling to Seattle with a large suitcase, and lugging the bag around the city (and to the airport) seemed cumbersome. I wondered if I should have booked an earlier flight so I could Uber directly from the port to the airport with my luggage.

Yet once I learned about Luggage Valet, I could plan my sightseeing day in Seattle without worry.

The Port of Seattle offers a complimentary luggage transfer from your ship to the airport at the end of your cruise. Through this service, I left my suitcase outside my cabin door the evening before disembarkation, and I didn’t pick it up until I arrived at my home airport the following night!

The process was extremely convenient and, aside from airline luggage fees, was complimentary.

Learning about this service before my cruise helped ease my stress of traveling through the city with luggage. You can register ahead of time on the Port of Seattle’s website here, or wait until you get onboard.

Cruise ship internet has never been cheap, but there's a new option that seeks to make it easier and simpler to have internet access at sea.

While Royal Caribbean sells its own internet service to passengers that's powered by Starlink, wireless carriers are getting in on the game too.

Earlier this year, AT&T expanded its International Day Pass plans to include over 400 cruise ships.

Available to AT&T subscribers, it offers a simple way to be get the internet on your cruise ship. Turn your phone on while on the ship and do something with it (call, text, use data) and your 24-hour International Day Pass begins and you will be charged a $20 per day, per device daily fee.

I was curious how well the service worked, so I accepted an invitation by AT&T to field test their service.  AT&T gifted me a Samsung S25 Ultra along with their service so I could see how well it worked.

I brought the device on three different ships across different regions to see how it worked in different facets:

• Ovation of the Seas in Ensenda, Mexico
• Independence of the Seas in Northern Europe
• Silver Dawn in Denmark & Norway

I wanted to see how well it performed compared to the Voom packages, and if it was truly as good as they claim.

It just works

As soon as I turned my phone on in any of the places I visited, the connection kicked on and I was ready to use the internet.

I think this is one of its top advantages, as you don't have to really do anything in advance.  

Plus, you can cherry pick which days you want to use it.  Turn it on on days you need it, and leave it off on days you don't.

Royal Caribbean only sells unlimited packages for the duration of your cruise.  It does sell a 24 hour pass online, but it's $29.99 per pass.

Royal Caribbean discounts its internet packages when purchased pre-cruise, and you can often get very good prices.

For an 8-night Independence of the Seas cruise, I paid $167.92 for a one device internet package, which came out to $20.99 per day.

Surprisingly fast speeds too

The biggest question I had was how fast would it be, as Voom has been incredibly reliable and fast enough on ships.

I ran speed tests on all the ships I sailed on using Fast.com.  Internet speed tests aren't everything, but it's the best standard I could come up with.

In every test case, the AT&T speeds worked just as fast as Voom.  I might see one out do the other, but truly it was always a negligible difference.

In both cases, there would be the occasional intermittent outage where the internet connection drops, but it would come back.

In my testing, I found the speeds to work quite well, and good enough for the needs I had.  

Something else nice about the AT&T package is I could activate my phone's hot spot and let my kids tether to the device, thus extending the value of the daily cost.

There is one caveat to AT&T, and that is it provides 500MB of high speed data, and then you're throttled for the rest of that day. Every day you get the 500MB of high speed to start with.

I think most people won't run into that cap, but it's worth noting if you plan to stream movies or do a lot of video work.

You can use it on land too

One advantage I saw with AT&T over Voom was that also worked on land and at sea.

According to AT&T, if you’re traveling at sea and on land on the same day, you’ll be charged a fee of $20 per day that includes both locations.

This means you get to use the service while on a shore excursion, whereas the cruise line option doesn't offer that.

It's a very seamless option and I think this is one of the most compelling reasons to try it. 

I was impressed how well the wireless package worked

I expected the Voom package to perform better, but was surprised when it was about the same.

AT&T's offering is perfect for someone that needs to use the internet from their cruise ship on certain days, but not every day.  I think that's a great selling point for someone who doesn't want/need to buy the ship internet for the duration of their cruise.

Plus, it's super easy because you just activate your phone's cellular connection and you're all set. I think Voom is easy to use, but I'm always surprised by the line of people on the Royal Promenade seeking assistance at the Voom desk.

As a frequent traveler, I often pride myself on packing strategically and efficiently. However, I made a few notable packing mistakes on my recent Mexican Riviera cruise that I definitely won’t make again for future travels.

Whenever possible, I try to cruise with just a carry-on suitcase to keep my luggage to a minimum. This also makes it easier navigating the airports and cruise terminals with fewer suitcases to haul around. I especially try to pack lightly when I’m flying to my embarkation port, as checking a bag with the airline can slow me down at the airport.

Of course, packing with just a carry-on is typically easier on shorter cruises to warmer destinations. With these itineraries, you don’t need to pack as much, and summer clothes usually take up less space in your suitcase. Longer itineraries with varied climate and unpredictable weather forecasts can make this much more difficult.

For instance, when I sailed to Norway last summer and to Iceland the year before, I ended up checking two suitcases with bulky winter clothes for my cruise! On the flip side, I never struggle to pack just a carry-on for cruises to the warm and sunny Caribbean, even for weeklong itineraries.

Read more: 40 essential things to bring on a cruise

And although I’ve cruised on many itineraries across North America, I had never visited Cabo San Lucas on a Baja Mexico cruise. With the highly-anticipated arrival of Ovation of the Seas in Los Angeles earlier this summer, my mom and I decided to fly across the country for an inaugural sailing. 

Ovation of the Seas is a Quantum class ship, and the biggest ship to ever sail from Los Angeles, California. As such, we were excited to be on the first sailing to Cabo San Lucas in Mexico aboard Ovation of the Seas! My mom and I had never visited this popular port of call in Baja, Mexico, and the cruise was surprisingly affordable at $700 each for the 5-night cruise.

This particular itinerary featured an overnight stay in Cabo San Lucas with two days at sea in between. Having an overnight port is one of my favorite features of an itinerary, as it allows more time to explore the destination without rushing to return to the ship.

We arrived in Los Angeles the night before embarkation and drove across town to the cruise terminal the next morning. For this sailing, I packed for the weeklong adventure with just a carry-on and personal item. I encouraged my mom to do the same, given some logistics of our travel days, so we were both prioritizing packing light for this cruise.

Throughout the cruise, I was disappointed in myself for making a few rookie packing mistakes. In fact, some of these forgotten items are ones that I never leave behind! Here are some of the amateur mistakes I made when packing for this Mexican Riviera cruise, including a few items I won’t forget again.

1. Forgetting a pair of long pants

When I picture cruising to Mexico in the summer, I think of the scorching heat and stifling humidity. However, most of my summer itineraries to Mexico have departed from Florida and visited ports of call like Cozumel and Costa Maya. Moreover, as a Florida resident, I typically cruise from the ports near me, and I haven’t spent much time on the West Coast while traveling.

Although I had looked at the weather before packing, I focused on packing summer clothes for the warm and sunny days in Cabo San Lucas. Unfortunately, I somehow forgot to pack a pair of pants for this cruise to Mexico. Instead, I prioritized shorts, dresses, and skirts for our time both onboard and ashore in Mexico. I completely disregarded the possibility that our embarkation port and sea days might be chilly.

To my surprise, Los Angeles was quite cool with cloudy weather and low humidity on the first morning. This is when I learned about California’s “June Gloom," which is a Southern California term I had never heard before.

June Gloom describes the weather patterns in the early summer with cloudy, overcast skies. This usually brings cooler temperatures, often accompanied by a foggy marine layer. Supposedly, May is called “May Gray” and July has been dubbed “No Sky July” because of this weather phenomenon. Naively, I had assumed June in California would be sunny and warm!

Because most cruisers onboard were local, the majority of people on our cruise were wearing pants for the first two days with the cloudy weather. While I was comfortable inside the ship, I definitely felt chilly when my mom and I walked around the top deck during the day or strolled along the promenade after dinner.

The chilly breeze was a big surprise for us, and not packing pants was a complete oversight on my part. In the future, I’ll definitely plan to pack at least one pair of leggings or pants for my cruises. 

Read more: My 64-year-old parents love to cruise. Here are 10 essentials they always pack

2. Choosing not to pack personal shower products

Although cruise cabins are well appointed, Royal Caribbean’s bathrooms only include one basic product for shampoo and body wash. The 2-in-1 combination product works fine as a body wash for me, but I prefer to pack my own shampoo and conditioner usually.

Because my suitcase was packed to the brim, I decided to minimize the amount of cosmetics packed to save space. In addition, I didn’t want to have too many travel-sized products and get flagged by TSA for airport security (which has happened before). I was also relying on the upgraded bathroom products provided by Royal Caribbean to Diamond Plus loyalty members.

Because of this, I chose to pack a small bottle of conditioner and planned to use the shampoo and body wash provided by Royal Caribbean. We requested the upgraded shower products from our cabin steward on embarkation day and received them on the first night. While we were given shampoo, body wash, and lotion, there was no conditioner included for some reason.

Read more: 5 Dollar Tree Items Cruisers Should Stock Up on Before Their Sailing

Sadly, forgetting to pack conditioner was a big mistake. At some point, I apparently decided to use my travel conditioner bottle for lotion instead. I wasn't able to tell the difference when packing, given the similar texture of lotion and conditioner.

Halfway through the cruise, I realized I was conditioning my hair with cocoa butter instead of actual conditioner. That certainly explained why my hair was so greasy! By the end of the trip, my hair was looking less than impressive. Thankfully, my mom had packed a small bottle of conditioner that I borrowed on the last night. But, the half-filled bottle was not enough for us to share for the entirety of the cruise.

I was relying on the cruise line to provide conditioner for this cruise, but that ended up being a mistake. Even if I’m tight on space in the future, I’ll prioritize packing my own shower products.

3. Not bringing enough casual outfits for the ship

Our 5-night itinerary on Ovation of the Seas included two sea days and two days in Cabo San Lucas. While packing for this cruise, I planned to bring three nicer outfits for our time in port, three evening dresses for dinner, and exactly three casual outfits for our time onboard.

For this vacation, my mom and I booked an excursion on the first day in Cabo San Lucas to make the most of our time in port. On the second day, we had planned to venture ashore for a little exploring before the ship's all aboard time. 

However, after a full-day excursion in Mexico, we were completely worn out by that evening. On top of that, Cabo San Lucas is a tender port, which requires extra planning and dealing with the tender boats to get ashore. Our tender boat on the first day was quite small while navigating the choppy waters, leaving me a little woozy before the excursion even started.

On the second day, all aboard was scheduled for early afternoon, so we decided to stay on the ship instead of going ashore in Cabo San Lucas as we originally planned. We didn’t want to deal with the tendering process again, especially since we had already seen and done so much during our excursion the day before.

Because I had packed only three casual outfits to wear on the ship, I ran out of casual clothes by the last day. While I wasn’t left without something to wear, I wished I had packed more comfortable lounging outfits for onboard the ship and worried less about packing specific outfits for Mexico.

Not to mention, this meant I was rewearing the same stinky, stale airport outfit from my first travel day to California. This was a good reminder to always pack a couple of extra versatile pieces that you can wear, no matter how your plans change.

Read more: Caribbean and Mexico cruise outfits for women

4. Leaving behind an evening purse for dinner

Whenever I cruise, I typically pack a different purse to use onboard the ship for the evenings. However, I had already packed my daily crossbody pouch and a small backpack to use ashore in Cabo San Lucas that could hold my larger camera. 

While trying to keep my suitcase from overflowing, I opted to ditch the evening purse, but I did end up regretting this. Instead, I was using my casual crossbody pouch for evenings onboard, and I felt underdressed and mismatched.

For instance, on formal night, I thought my crossbody pouch looked pretty tacky with my nicer black dress for the occasion. Although no one else probably noticed or cared, I would have preferred having a nicer accessory for our evenings onboard.

Next time, I’ll plan to pack a more versatile option for both daily use and evenings onboard the ship, like my leather crossbody purse from a Mediterranean cruise. When it comes to packing minimally, having clothes and accessories that can serve multiple purposes is key, and my bag choice on this trip was definitely a packing mistake.

On the other hand, my mom went the opposite route and ended up packing too many bags for this cruise! She is notorious for bringing multiple bags while traveling, even if they’re not practical. Like usual, she didn’t end up using every bag she packed. While they didn’t take up much space in her suitcase, she definitely could have narrowed down her selection and saved herself the extra clutter.

5. Forgetting to pack a few magnetic hooks

While magnetic hooks are a popular cruise staple for many, we opted to forgo packing these because of our shorter cruise itinerary. I always pack these for longer sailings to make the cabin more functional and organized. However, I convinced my mom that we didn’t need to bring any magnetic hooks this time because a full set can be heavy and take up unnecessary room in our suitcases.

In hindsight, magnetic hooks are useful no matter how lightly you decide to pack. While our cabin had plenty of storage for us, having a few magnetic hooks on the walls would have made it so much easier to grab things quickly, like a light sweater or our cabin lanyards. This also helps reduce clutter in your cruise cabin, especially when you have minimal counter space on the vanity or dresser.

Next time, I’ll plan to pack at least one or two magnetic hooks for my cruise, even if I’m convinced they won’t be necessary. A full set might be too bulky for a short cruise, but bringing just a couple can make the cabin feel more organized without adding much weight to my luggage.

Read more: 21 Cruise Cabin Essentials Everyone Should Pack

6. I should have left more room for souvenirs

I love shopping while cruising, but traveling with only a carry-on can make it challenging to leave extra space for souvenirs. In fact, sometimes I intentionally don’t leave room in my suitcase just to keep myself from shopping too much. If there’s no room for souvenirs, I shouldn’t be tempted to browse the local markets for trinkets and treasures.

Even still, I was excited when I found a small set of hot sauces for my husband during our excursion in Mexico. It was also Father’s Day weekend, so I purchased a T-shirt and baseball hat to send back with my mom for my dad's present. We did resist the temptation to purchase tequila during our tasting event, as there were only a few travel-sized bottles that would fit in our suitcase.

We also enjoyed some of the onboard shops, as we are both suckers for a good cruise T-shirt! I try to avoid looking in the shops because I usually find something I like, and I know they’re overpriced.

At the end of the trip, even a few souvenirs were difficult to pack in our already-full suitcases. My mom and I both struggled to find room for the small treasures, even though we made a conscious effort to minimize our shopping.

It’s always best to leave a little bit of wiggle room while traveling, as you never know what you’ll find! This also alleviates some stress when packing your suitcase at the end of the cruise, as my mom and I needed to spend a few hours strategically packing. Luckily, we were able to squeeze everything in and bring home our finds without too much trouble.

I've been cruising with Royal Caribbean for 20 years, but a recent change in the loyalty status matching opened my eyes to trying a luxury cruise.

Royal Caribbean Group owns three primary cruise lines: Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, and Silversea.  Thanks to an improvement with status matching across all the lines, I thought this was the perfect time to try Silversea.

The idea of going on a small ship that can get into places the bigger Royal Caribbean ships cannot, along with an elevated touch through with cuisine and service, sounded like something worth trying.

Thanks to an invitation from Silversea, I was able to sail on Silver Dawn on a 7-night cruise to the Norwegian Fjords. In the interest of full disclosure, Silversea paid for my cruise fare, dining, and shore excursions onboard.

I had just completed a Norwegian fjords cruise on Independence of the Seas, so I was excited to compare the experiences.

Silver Dawn: A new ship with enough to keep me busy

A luxury cruise is quite different from a Royal Caribbean cruise, yet it retains the basics of both.

It launched in 2021, which makes it the same as as Odyssey of the Seas.  That's effectively still a new ship, and I've always gravitated towards new ships because they offer the latest and greatest features onboard.

The ship boasts have only suites as its cabins, numerous restaurant choices (including the S.A.L.T. program), and the Otium spa and wellness concept. 

I chose this ship and itinerary for two reasons: I wanted to be on a newer ship so I could enjoy the best features, and I wanted an itinerary to take advantage of the ship's size.  

Silver Dawn has 11 decks (although decks 1 and 2 are not accessible to passengers), and it can accommodate 596 passengers. 

Like all Silversea ships, it's all-inclusive, which means much more of the cruise experience is included in your fare.  Drinks, most specialty restaurants, basic Wi-Fi, and even some shore excursions are included.

A different way to cruise

There are two aspects of a Silversea cruise that stood out to me from the get go that intrigued me.  They are all inclusive and everyone gets a butler.

While the core cruise experience is the same, nearly every nuance of it is different on Silversea and it was an interesting change.

Silversea includes far more in its cruise fare than Royal Caribbean does, although the cruise fare will likely cost more on Silversea.

In speaking with several passengers that had booked the same suite type as me, the cost of this cruise was between $8,000 and $10,000 for two people.

That includes:

• Alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks
• Food, including all but 2 specialty restaurants
• Butler service in your suite
• Gratuities
• Basic Wi-Fi access

There are no inside cabins here. The most basic of suites has a balcony, bathroom with shower and tub, sofa, dining area, and more.

In addition to the stateroom attendant, the butler will arrange almost anything you can imagine while in your suite.

Your butler can unpack your bags, draw a bath, set up any meal or snack you ask for, bring you drinks, and more.

You share the butler with 13 other suites, but I think I waited more than 35 seconds for my butler to appear after paging him just once.

The downside to the butler is their services work only in your suite. Unlike the Royal Genie service, they aren't available elsewhere.

I asked other cruisers who have sailed with Silversea a lot what's their secret to the butlers, and many said the same thing: to best utilize the butler, you have to basically live out of your suite.

That's fine for some people, but I like to be out and about.  Nonetheless, my butler was very helpful when I needed him and more.  One day I came back from a long shore excursion and he had drawn a bath for me without me asking. I didn't need it, but it did feel lovely to have it.  On another day, there was truffle butter popcorn waiting in my room for a movie night (I just ate the popcorn instead).

The all inclusive nature makes it difficult to compare to Royal Caribbean, especially the Crown and Anchor benefits.

I did a status match before my cruise began with my Pinnacle Club status to Silversea's Venetian Society.

When I did that for Celebrity Cruises, I was impressed how good their top level Captain's Club benefits were.  However, since so much is already included with Silversea, the best I had was free laundry.  To be clear, I used my free laundry benefit a lot, but don't expect much from your equivalent Venetian Society benefits.

The great thing about pretty much all of the food and drinks being included (and even some shore excursions), is you don't fret over what you want to do.

Just like the convenience of a Royal Caribbean drink package, you're able to take full advantage of what the ship has.

What's it like onboard

Speaking of the ship, the onboard experience was probably the second most asked question after the cost by our readers.

Silver Dawn is quite small compared to any Royal Caribbean ship, but it has a pool, hot tubs, bars, restaurants, jazz lounge, observation lounge, and spa.

What you won't find are kids clubs, water slides, adults-only areas, suite-only areas, and the Royal Caribbean level of live entertainment.

Many readers wanted to know if I was bored, and I can honestly say I wasn't.  

There was a production show every night, which is roughly the same quality as any Royal Caribbean production show on a pre-Oasis Class ship.

But I fell in love with the S.A.L.T. Bar onboard.

Silversea's S.A.L.T. (Sea and Land Taste) program is about integrating local food and drink with the cruise experience.  In the lab, you can learn to cook local food. In the restaurant, you can dine on local cuisines.  In the bar, you can enjoy liquors from the region.

The bar was my go-to spot because they had the best mixologists I've ever had on any cruise. It was a masterclass in cocktails, and they even offered a cocktail making class.

There was a schedule of events each day (printed in a paper newsletter or available on the TV or online), and there was just enough happening to keep you busy. You certainly could attend almost every event in any day.

In terms of dining, there's no question the quality of food offered is better than most restaurants on Royal Caribbean.

The buffet blew me away with always having sushi and sashimi every day at lunch. Atlantide (the Main Dining Room) had filet mignon, lobster, shrimp, and a litany of daily choices to consider.

I tried the S.A.L.T. cooking class, where we made venison and berry tarts.

At Silver Note, I enjoyed a jazz duet while having dinner. And The Grille had hot rocks you could cook on, with filet, lobster, mahi mahi, and more.

And then there's the service onboard.  Royal Caribbean has great crew members, but because the ratio of crew to guests is much lower on a luxury ship, the crew are going to know you very well, very quickly.

On a few occasions, they knew my name before I ever said introduced myself or gave them my card. I still don't know how they did it.

And of course, the ship is small and there are no crowds. I never waited for an elevator, always found seats at the pool and bar, and many times had to go out of my way to try to find where there were a group of people.

Fjords, trains, and berries

One of the best reasons to sail on a small luxury ship is where it can go, and I had a packed itinerary.

Our sailing departed Copenhagen, Denmark and visits 5 ports of call in Norway: Vik, Nordfjordeid, Ålesund, Trondheim, and Åndalsnes.

Because of our ship's size, we could fit into ports that big ships cannot, such as Vik.

I booked a variety of excursions, including boat tours and trains that take you all around.  

There were two tours that really stood out in Vik and Ålesund.

In Vik, we boarded a classic train on the Flåm Railway that took us through some of the most scenic areas of the trip.

The railway is 20 km long and takes you through spectacular valleys that offer great views of nature and the exceptional engineering skill to have built the railway itself.

Over in Ålesund, I wanted to experience more of the fjords, so I booked a boat tour of nearby Hjørundfjorden.

We hopped right onto a boat to take us on a journey where we saw steep mountains, deep fjords, and small villages around the way.

Our captain even pulled right up to a waterfall and gave us all a cup of water from it.

The beauty of Norway surrounds you on this cruise, and what I really liked being able to turn almost anywhere and find something to see.

Something else that would never happen on Royal Caribbean is the Captain announced after our visit to Vik, he purchased bushels of fresh strawberries from a farmer he knew and there would be fresh strawberries for us to enjoy.

Sure enough, every morning there were fresh strawberries and it was such a treat.

Who is Silversea for?

I spend most of my week thinking who is a Silversea cruise ideally for, and I came up with three groups of people:

• Someone regularly booking an Owners Suite or Grand Suite on Royal Caribbean
• Someone who cruised with their family, but the kids are older and moved out
• Someone who wants to visit places Royal Caribbean ships never/can't go

That's not the limit, but I think people fitting into one of those categories would find the transition the most opportunistic.

You're going to likely pay much more for Silversea than a mainstream line, but you'll get much more included, along with a lot less people to contend with.

I think the Silversea product is designed for people that value service, fine dining, and no crowds. Plus, the places Silversea ships can visit are incredible.  

You'll find Silversea ships sailing to Antarctica, Mediterranean, Southeast Asia, The Galapagos, and offering world cruises. The destinations alone might be the most attractive factor.

Kids are welcome onboard, but there aren't dedicated areas for them. I think my teenage girls would like the butler services and the fact they can order filet mignon every night. My oldest would miss the teen club, but I doubt she'd mind having the pool deck virtually to herself.

My first Silversea cruise spoiled me, and I wanted more

My takeaway from a week on Silver Dawn was the level of service and things you can only find on a luxury ship really stood out.

There's no question there's far less happening onboard than on Royal Caribbean, but I leaned into the luxury experience more and more as the sailing went on.

Because of the ratio of crew members to guests, after a couple of days, you're going to feel like Norm from "Cheers" when you walk into any bar, restaurant, or lounge.  Everyone knows your name, and probably your order.

I thought having a bath was silly, but I used it a few times as a way to unwind before dinner.  I asked once for raspberries from my butler, and then there was a bowl always stocked in my cabin.

When you look at the price of a luxury cruise, there's going to be sticker shock if you're used to booking rooms lower than a suite. But what you get is a different kind of experience that triples down on the service, food, and experiences you can't get on a megaship.

Celebrity Beyond will arrive in Miami, Florida, later than planned due to unforeseen technical issues impacting the vessel's sailing speed. 

Guests aboard the July 13th voyage to Perfect Day at CocoCay, Cozumel, Grand Cayman, and Falmouth were given the unfortunate news that their disembarkation in Miami would be delayed several hours because of a mechanical issue that's forcing the 3-year-old ship to sail at slower-than-normal speeds. 

The expected arrival time was pushed back to 2:00pm. This means that the following 7-night cruise has also been impacted. Instead of departing on Sunday, July 20, guests were informed that their embarkation would be delayed until Monday, July 21. 

"Beyond is currently experiencing a technical issue and we are working to address it. While this does not impact the safety or seaworthiness of the ship, we are sailing at a reduced speed which will delay our arrival into Miami," reads an email sent to confirmed passengers. 

"Once we arrive into Miami, our technical experts will assess the situation and make repairs as needed. As a result, the current plan is to have you board on Monday, July 21st in Terminal C at Port Miami."

However, the email also states that additional updates are expected by 8:00pm on Sunday, the 20th. As such, it's possible the next sailing could be further delayed, depending on the outcome of the inspection and repair timeline. 

Celebrity Cruises hasn't specified what's causing the technical issue. However, it is likely that, because the vessel is sailing at a slower speed, it's some kind of engine-related problem. 

Social media reports have hinted that one of the ship's propellers might be down. "To me it looks like the starboard propeller is down, with the dorsal thruster compensating for the port propeller working overtime," wrote one guest on Reddit. 

As of 9:40am EST on July 20, CruiseMapper shows Celebrity Beyond slowly making her way back to South Florida. She's cleared the western coast of Andros Island. 

Read more: I cruised on one of Celebrity's newest ships at sea. I enjoyed the food but missed Royal's entertainment

Celebrity Cruises is compensating guests on the affected sailings

Passengers will receive a one-day pro-rated refund of their cruise fare as an onboard credit, as well as a one-day refund of pre-purchased packages. 

Those who need a hotel for Sunday evening will be given up to $250 per stateroom in reimbursement for accommodation. 

Teams are also assisting those onboard, whose travel plans have been disrupted due to the delayed disembarkation. 

One guest shared on Reddit that they gave up hope of making their 4:15pm flight out of Miami International Airport (MIA) and switched to an 8:00pm departure instead. 

Additionally, Celebrity is offering passengers an "enhanced brunch" from 10:00am to 1:00pm. 

Celebrity Beyond's technical issues follow an unrelated incident involving one of the line’s older ships

Earlier this month, a reported electrical fire left Celebrity Infinity temporarily without power while docked in Kuşadası, Turkey.

Not only did the ship suffer a "total blackout," but the 24-year-old vessel was stuck in Turkey for about four days. Consequently, the remaining ports on the 7-night itinerary — Mykonos, Greece; Kavala, Greece; and Thessaloniki, Greece — were cancelled. 

Eventually, hundreds of guests decided to disembark while in Turkey, opting to make their own travel arrangements instead of banking on arriving in Athens as scheduled. 

Read more: Fire disables cruise ship in the Mediterranean, leaving thousands of passengers stranded in Turkey