Royal Caribbean Blog

While you might be thrilled to receive a “free cruise” through Royal Caribbean’s Casino Royale program, it's not always good news for travel agents.

During a recent Q&A session aboard Royal Caribbean’s newest ship, Star of the Seas, multiple travel agents expressed their concern and frustration with the cruise line’s casino offers. While many gamblers are happy to accept a free (or "comped") cruise, travel agents are finding that Royal Caribbean’s current system is cutting into their business.

Essentially, some travel agents find that clients will first reserve their cruise at retail pricing, earning the agent a standard commission, but later receive a complimentary offer for the same sailing through Royal Caribbean's Casino Royale.

When this happens, most guests will cancel their original reservation with the travel agent and rebook under the casino offer to take advantage of the savings. For example, an agent might have a $5,000 booking lined up at full commission, but if the client switches to a comp casino offer, that income drops significantly - sometimes to just a small percentage of the original amount.

Travel agents are still able to book casino-comped sailings for clients, but their commission is virtually nonexistent. These reservations also don’t count toward an agency’s travel revenue or group booking totals, which can further impact benefits and perks. For many travel agents in the industry, this is especially frustrating because it directly cuts into their income and undermines the value of relationships they’ve built with loyal clients.

Several agents also noted that Royal Caribbean appears to be sending out more casino offers than before, meaning the issue is cropping up more frequently. As such, it became one of the most talked-about topics during the Q&A session aboard Star of the Seas.

Travel agents were quick to bring up the casino issue on Star of the Seas.

Royal Caribbean is currently hosting travel agents aboard its newly-built Star of the Seas. In a Q&A session with some of the cruise line’s top travel partners, Royal Caribbean’s top leaders were present to answer questions from travel advisors in the audience. This included Royal Caribbean International President and CEO, Michael Bayley; Senior Vice President of Sales, Trade Support, and Service, Vicki Freed; and Jason Liberty, President and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group.

At the beginning of the Q&A, Freed first praised the travel agents for their hard work and business collaboration with Royal Caribbean. 

She stated, “I just wanted to say a heartfelt thank you to all of you. Your success is truly our success. You are the people that really guide the consumer into making the right buying decision. And we really depend on you to help us, bring us the best clients, the best guests. And we thank you for from the bottom of our hearts.”

Following these opening statements, the first question asked by travel agents involved the ongoing dilemma with casino comps.

The travel agent stated, “I've been a travel advisor specializing actually, in Royal Caribbean, 75% to 80% of my sales are with Royal Caribbean because I love it very much. My husband and I escort group [cruises] a couple times a year. A lot of our passengers are now casino comps, a lot of them, and they don't bother to come through me.”

The agent continued, “Their reason is, well, we don't want to bother you. We know you don't get much commission on it. We don't want to bother you. But, since we have group [cruises], I'm still doing the work. I have a pre-cruise party at my house, I pre-arranged excursions, I pre-arranged dining, I do all that stuff and now I feel like I've lost them.”

“And as travel advisors, I think we would really love to partner with you on this and so that everybody's happy. I don't want to continue to lose my passengers. I have passengers that [have] sailed with us for 30 years and now they're not. So again, we love everything that you do, but if you could help us partner with you on that, we would really appreciate it. Thank you,” concluded the travel agent.

The topic continued to surface throughout the discussion with multiple travel agents bringing their concerns to Royal Caribbean’s leadership team. While the cruise line was receptive to feedback provided by the travel agents, it’s an issue that’s clearly becoming more prevalent for advisors.

Royal Caribbean’s casino program is still an important revenue stream for onboard spending.

It’s no surprise that Royal Caribbean’s casino program is an important component of the company's income, as gambling is a massive source of revenue for the cruise line. During the Q&A, Freed noted, “Casino [spending] is an important revenue source for us. So, it's something that we do need.”

Royal Caribbean’s casino operates its own loyalty program that is separate from its Crown and Anchor Society. Unlike the traditional loyalty program, your Casino Royale tier is determined by the number of points you accrue within a single gaming year.

Gamblers who meet a certain spending threshold can earn annual cruise certificates, along with other perks and discounts. While onboard, higher-tier members may also enjoy perks such as free drinks in the casino, discounts on internet access, and complimentary casino play money. In addition, some players may receive targeted offers or promotional mailers for complimentary cruises.

For many cruisers, Royal Caribbean’s casino rewards can offer excellent value, allowing them to take advantage of enticing perks. However, gambling carries inherent risks and can be addictive, so it’s important to gamble responsibly. It’s also worth noting that there’s no guarantee your gambling will result in a complimentary cruise.

Why travel agents find casino comps frustrating.

Travel agents primarily earn their income through commissions, as most do not charge clients any fees for booking their cruise. For many travel agents, the commission compensates their hours spent working with clients, managing payments, answering questions, comparing itineraries, and troubleshooting when plans change.

Losing existing reservations to Royal Caribbean's Casino Royale is a direct hit to a travel agent's income. For instance, many cruisers sail multiple times throughout the year with numerous bookings under the same travel agent. Clients benefit from the services and perks that come with booking through a travel agency, while the agent earns commission as compensation for their time, expertise, and industry knowledge.

Unfortunately, if a loyal client starts receiving ongoing promotions for comped cruises through Casino Royale, it can have a long-term negative impact on a travel agent’s business. Each time the client books through one of these offers, the agent loses another commission opportunity.

Moreover, if the guest was originally part of a group booking, rebooking under a casino offer can also remove that cabin from the group’s total count. This not only creates logistical challenges for the agent when managing group arrangements, but it can also affect their ability to offer extra perks or amenities tied to group size. The casino reservation would also likely deduct from the agency’s revenue, as casino offers do not have an associated cruise fare.

Not to mention, that travel agent might be the reason the client was introduced to Royal Caribbean in the first place. Advisors that work with Royal Caribbean are often the ones who introduce new clients to the brand. They may have spent years building trust with their client and recommending Royal Caribbean as their preferred cruise line.

As mentioned, travel agents earn only a minimal commission for booking comped cruises through Casino Royale, and many find the process frustrating. For example, agents must call Casino Royale directly to make the booking, and several have reported that Royal Caribbean makes this process cumbersome.

As a result, some travel agents choose not to handle casino-comped bookings at all, feeling the effort isn’t worth the low payout. However, other travel agents continue to book these offers as a way to maintain long-term relationships with their clients.

Multiple travel agents voiced their frustration with casino comps during the Q&A.

After the first travel agent raised the issue of comped casino bookings, others quickly spoke up. 

Another travel agent stated, “On a recent Allure of the Seas Mediterranean cruise, I had 300 people in my group, and about 30% of them, including my husband, received a casino certificate during the sailing. While I was promoting my next group cruise, I realized many of those same people might rebook through Casino Royale.”

“If there’s any way to flag guests who are part of a group or booked by a travel agent, that would help. And if that’s not possible, can you at least give us credit for those casino bookings? Right now, we can’t move them into the group, so they’re not recognized, and it would make a big difference if we could get that credit," the travel agent requested.

In other words, this travel agent is asking Royal Caribbean to either link casino-booked passengers back to their original group or at least give the travel agent credit for those cabins. Without this credit, the agent loses the group booking recognition, which can reduce perks for everyone in the group.

Another travel agent echoed this sentiment, commenting, “I won't belabor the point, but the casino comp issue, it's really, really important to us. We need your help with this, guys. And we're counting on you. You've been good to us since day one. Don't let us down with this. We need your help.”

Finally, another agent shared to the leadership team, "Now real quick, that casino thing is why I'm here. The team in the Casino Royale is horrible. They don't like agents. They put other people's names on your reservations and it takes forever to fix it. And I'm really sorry, but that's the truth."

“You have our commitment”

Despite multiple travel agents expressing their frustration with casino comps, Royal Caribbean's leadership team was very receptive to their feedback. First, Freed assured travel agents that the casino program isn’t meant to pull business away from them.

She explained, “We are in no way trying to take your clients and bring them to us via the casino. If you run into a problem, please let me know, I’m always available to help you. I hear what you’re saying, and we’re looking at programs right now where we can partner with travel advisors to bring both of us clients, including casino players. We're not trying to take these clients away from you.”

She also noted that Royal Caribbean has acted on agent feedback in other areas, citing the recent change to make the Swim & Tonic bar an adults-only space.

“It was because of the feedback we received last year that we made the decision not to allow children in that pool. You asked if this policy would be in effect on Star of the Seas. Yes, it’s now 18 and older in our swim-up bars. You have our commitment.”

Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley also addressed the concern, noting that adjustments to the casino program will take time but stressing that travel agents’ feedback is being taken seriously.

“As Vicki mentioned, it’s a journey and a learning process. We value your feedback, and we’ll work to refine this so we can find win-win solutions. It will take a little time, but we’ll work to find the right balance. We value you, and we don’t want to harm your business, so we’ll keep working on it and provide updates along the way," stated Bayley. 

As the Q&A session wrapped up, Freed reiterated Royal Caribbean’s commitment to addressing and improving the casino comp program. She stated, “You have our commitment. We are really going to take a hard look at the casino. We are going to start from scratch, I promise you. Your comments are very important to us. We will figure it out. And we promise you, you have our commitment."

Royal Caribbean has tapped an explorer and scientist to be the godmother to Star of the Seas.

Space advocate and commercial astronaut Kellie Gerardi has been named the godmother of Royal Caribbean’s newest cruise ship.

"Research astronaut and payload specialist Kellie Gerardi will officially bless this incredible ship as Godmother, bringing the spirit of adventure, exploration, and groundbreaking innovation to the world's best family vacation," Royal Caribbean said in an announcement email.

She is well known for bioastronautics and STEM advocacy.

Ms. Gerardi's selection follows the unexpected cancellation by Diana Ross to be the ship's godmother, who withdrew due to unforeseen circumstances.

With Ms. Gerardi in place, she'll sail on the showcase cruise out of Port Canaveral on August 20 on a 3-night cruise to Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean’s private island in the Bahamas.

Who is Kellie Gerardi?

Kellie Gerardi is one of the first 100 women to go into space, and she has been involved in space travel for many years.

She's an American science communicator, former payload specialist, and grew up close to where Star of the Seas is based out from.

She grew up in Jupiter, Florida, and started off her career at Palantir Technologies in mission operations and became the director of human spaceflight operations for the International Institute for Astronautical Sciences (IIAS).

On November 2, 2023, Gerardi made her suborbital spaceflight aboard Virgin Galactic’s Galactic 05 mission as a payload specialist. She was responsible for conducting key experiments in microgravity, such as fluid dynamics and glucose monitoring.

She's also well known on social media. She has over a million followers on Instagram and hundreds of thousands on TikTok, authored Not Necessarily Rocket Science, and created children’s books like Luna Muna to spark curiosity and representation in science. She was also selected to TIME100 Creators list.

Her selection as godmother is likely because of her commitment to exploration, science, and pushing boundaries.

Her social media feed has a great deal of STEM advocacy, and public outreach empower kids to dream big.

What happened to Diana Ross?

Royal Caribbean had selected Diana Ross to be the godmother, but the famous singer and movie star pulled out at the last minute.

She was named Godmother to the second Icon Class ship in June 2025.

Ross, who has five kids and eight grandchildren, also revealed that her whole family was invited on the cruise.

"That’s really what this ship is all about, joy and family fun," she stated.

Then this week, news broke Ms. Ross was out.

"Due to unforeseen circumstances, Diana Ross will be unable to appear," a rep for Ross announced earlier this week.

She said later in an interview that her current priorities in life are "health and well-being."

"We are disappointed that Diana Ross is unable to join us to be godmother of Star of the Seas," a Royal Caribbean spokesperson said in a statement.

Choosing a Godmother

A Godmother is a ceremonial position that all ships have, and different women are chosen for various reasons. The role is often held by renowned athletes, celebrities and royalty.

The godmother's job is to give the ship a blessing for the safety of the crew members and passengers who will sail onboard it.

The godfather for Icon of the Seas was soccer megastar Lionel Messi, whereas the godmother for Wonder of the Seas was the result of a contest on TikTok to find the right person.

The world's second Icon Class ship is ready to make her grand debut in Florida.

Following in the footsteps of Icon of the Seas, Star of the Seas joins Royal Caribbean's fleet as one of the largest cruise ships in the world. 

Onboard, guests will find everything from a record-breaking water park to one-of-a-kind entertainment options, unique dining options, and well-appointed staterooms. 

Whether you're counting down the days until your Caribbean cruise on Star of the Seas or are in awe at how cruise ships continue to push the boundaries of innovation at sea, there's no denying that Star's debut is a major milestone. 

Star of the Seas size

Star of the Seas is a massive cruise ship, measuring 1,196 feet long and 219 feet wide. At 248,663 gross registered tons with a maximum passenger capacity of 7,600, she's about 5% larger than Utopia of the Seas. 

It will be a long time until the Icon Class sisters are dethroned as the world's largest cruise ships. To put that into perspective, Royal Caribbean's Oasis Class debuted in 2008, and Oasis vessels held the record for over 15 years until 2024. 

Royal Caribbean loved making each Oasis Class ship slightly larger than the last. However, they've stepped back from that practice with Icon and Star of the Seas. 

Read more: Royal Caribbean ships by age — Newest to Oldest

Now, they're more focused on creating the best family vacations. "[The size has] never been a focus for us. The world's best family vacation was never about size for us. It still isn't," said Jay Schneider, Royal Caribbean's Senior Vice President and Chief Product Innovation Officer, in 2024. 

As such, there are some noticeable differences between Icon of the Seas and Star of the Seas. After Icon's launch, Royal Caribbean took guest feedback and made a few tweaks to Star. 

What's new and different onboard Star of the Seas

Generally speaking, the structural bones of Star of the Seas are nearly identical to Icon. The layout and separate neighborhoods remain, but there are new dining and entertainment options, as well as refreshed public spaces to better appeal to the line's target audience. 

Starting with entertainment, you can expect at least 3 new shows, including the highly anticipated Back to the Future: The Musical. There will also be a new high-diving spectacle in the Aquatheater (Torque) and an ice skating show in Absolute Zero (Sol). 

Like with all theater shows aboard Royal Caribbean ships, Back to the Future: The Musical, Torque, and Sol are included in the cost of the cruise fare for all guests.

Read more: What's new and different on Royal Caribbean's Star of the Seas

Moving on to one of the most important aspects of a great cruise vacation (the food), Royal Caribbean has redesigned the specialty supper club, as well as changed a few of the food stalls in the AquaDome Market. 

Instead of the Empire Supper Club (themed after none other than The Big Apple!), the Lincoln Park Supper Club will feature a Chicago-inspired theme. As such, the cocktails, menu, and music at the $200-per-person specialty restaurant reflect the spirit of Chicago. 

There are new complimentary options in the AquaDome food hall, too. Three stalls were swapped to bring new flavors and dishes to the high seas — Pig Out BBQ, Mai Thai, and La Cocinita replaced GNGR, Mac's, and Toast & Garden.

Throughout the ship, guests may also notice new bar menus. Aside from the fleetwide menu going to all vessels, the pub has a new menu, along with new non-alcoholic frozen drink machines at The Lime and Coconut and a new Painchiller dispenser. 

Outside, not much has changed. Unless, that is, you venture down to Surfside, the play-all-day neighborhood designed for families. 

Compared to Icon, the Splashaway Bay aqua park and Playscape received new features and more interactive play elements. The Water's Edge pool is more kid-friendly, too. 

There's also one extra hot tub near the entrance to the AquaDome Market. The hot tub was initally supposed to be on Icon of the Seas, but it was removed over weight concerns. 

When Royal Caribbean reevaluated the design, they discovered it wasn't necessary to remove it. As such, it was added to Star of the Seas' design plans early on. 

Finally, while there are no new innovations (such as an extra water slide), Star of the Seas is the only ship in the fleet to feature robotic vacuum cleaners. 

28 different stateroom categories 

Royal Caribbean built Star of the Seas to cater to families. As such, over 80% of the cabins onboard can accommodate three or more guests. Not only that, but 70% of all rooms will feature a private balcony. 

Cabins exclusive to Icon Class ships include:

• Family Infinite Ocean View Balcony
• Infinite Ocean View Balcony
• Infinite Central Park View Balcony
• Surfside Family View Balcony
• Surfside Family View Interior
• Interior Plus
• Sunset Junior Suite
• Surfside Family Suite
• Infinite Grand Suite
• Sunset Suite
• Sunset Corner Suite
• Icon Loft
• Ultimate Family Townhouse

Countless dining options

It's impossible to go hungry on Star of the Seas. Between the complimentary and specialty venues, there's something to satisfy all cravings. 

That said, you must be aware of which restaurants will cost you extra while on the ship. You can go the entire week without splurging on a specialty meal, but it's easy to be tempted by the restaurants' unique menus and atmosphere. 

Complimentary restaurants

You'll find 14 complimentary dining venues on Star of the Seas, including Sprinkles and the two suite-only restaurants: 

• Surfside Bites
• Surfside Eatery
• AquaDome Market
• Main Dining Room
• Coastal Kitchen (for those staying in suites)
• The Grove (for those staying in suites)
• Basecamp
• Sorrento's
• El Loco Fresh
• Vitality Cafe (with a few exceptions)
• Sprinkles
• Pearl Café (with a few exceptions)
• Park Cafe
• Windjammer Marketplace

Specialty restaurants

14 venues onboard Star of the Seas come with an additional charge:

• Hooked Seafood
• Lincoln Park Supper Club
• Celebration Table
• Chops Grille
• Chef's Table
• Izumi Hibachi & Sushi
• Izumi in the Park
• Sugar Beach
• Desserted
• Playmaker's
• Pier 7
• Starbucks
• Giovanni's Italian Kitchen and Wine Bar
• Trellis Bar (bar bites)

Star of the Seas will sail from Port Canaveral (Orlando), Florida, through at least April 2027

Star of the Seas will offer 7-night cruises to the Eastern and Western Caribbean from Port Canaveral, Florida. 

Nearly every sailing will visit Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean's private island in The Bahamas. The one (current) exception is the May 3, 2026, cruise, which lists St. Thomas, Puerto Rico, and Haiti as its three ports of call. 

Before arriving in Port Canaveral on Aug. 9, Royal Caribbean invited media and influencers on board for a quick 3-night preview sailing from Ponce, Puerto Rico. 

Star of the Seas' official inaugural cruise will depart on Aug. 31 and sail to CocoCay, Roatán, Costa Maya, and Cozumel. 

However, the ship will embark on a series of short preview cruises beforehand, as the vessel's construction finished ahead of schedule. The first will depart on Aug. 16, 2025. 

The newest Icon Class ship was delivered to Royal Caribbean in July 2025

Construction of the brand-new vessel took over 730 days. The delivery was met with a celebration attended by cruise line executives, crew members, and shipyard employees in Finland.

Even though Meyer Turku's time with Star has come to an end, they're hard at work building Legend of the Seas. Legend of the Seas will sail out of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, following her inaugural debut in Europe in 2026. 

For most people, a cruise is a week or so vacation and then it's back to reality.  For Greg Brockman, a cruise is more like his second house.

He spends roughly six months onboard Royal Caribbean ships, booking a series of cruises in a row in a sort of "binge" to stay onboard for weeks at a time before a brief return home.

Naturally, people have questions about how he can manage to do this. Greg isn't retired and still works. 

Here’s what Greg says about the reality of living at sea for months at a time, including the perks, the drawbacks, and the strategies that make it possible.

Do you get tired of visiting the same places?

Royal Caribbean ships tend to repeat the same itineraries often. While the cruise line welcomes repeat cruisers, the sailings aren't designed for someone to effectively live onboard.

"When it comes to traveling onboard ship, after several weeks, it feels more like home than living in a floating hotel room," Greg says.

He picks a ship based on what it offers to maximize his time onboard, "You look for entertainment options, dining options, and local activities that are appealing and align with your interests."

Even if the ports repeat, the experience changes. "Although the ports might be the same, consecutive cruisers can attest, there can be a dramatic difference in the experience based on your fellow passengers. Some crowds are more active and outgoing than others."

How Greg pays for all those cruises

You might be wondering how he can afford to pay to cruise for half the year, and the casino is his secret weapon.

You can earn complimentary cruises by gambling enough in Royal Caribbean's casino, and he maximizes that perk.

"The casino plays a huge role in my ability to travel as much as I do on the budget I set for myself," he explains.

"I took 100% of my cruise fare as my budget for the casino and I played just enough to earn a complimentary interior cabin. Then I stop playing." 

From there, he uses "Pay Now, Book Later" to lock in future freeplay, then books consecutive cruises.

"It’s cheaper to pay to upgrade to a balcony than play the points, unless I am on a big winning streak," Greg says. 

According to Greg, the casino loyalty program has let him cruise "30+ sailings a year for usually far less than 50% of the cruise fare."

The casino does require 200 points on comp cruises to keep the offers coming, but Greg has even “earned the cruise certificate completely on their money and spent none of mine."

Working from a cruise ship

Since Greg isn't retired, he still needs to put in work and he does it from onboard.

For the last three years, Greg has worked as a real estate trainer and coach. Since most of his job can be performed remotely, he's able to take Zoom meetings and phone calls from the ship. 

He gets free internet packages from both his Pinnacle status and casino perks, which not only keeps him connected but reduces the out of pocket costs.

Sometimes, he even works from unconventional spots: "Occasionally, I was able to use vacant rooms in the conference center in a pinch, with guest services approval."

Greg believes cruise lines could take this further: “With more and more careers offering remote work options, Royal could get a jump on ‘Remote at Sea’ to accommodate a growing number of remote workers."

Do you get sick of the food?

"The food can be tricky, but there are so many options," Greg explains. He cycles between specialty dining, the Main Dining Room, Windjammer, and other restaurants like Cafe Promenade, or Park Cafe.

"With more cruises come more Crown and Anchor points. I’m fortunate to have Coastal Kitchen access on Oasis, Quantum, and Icon Class ships," he says. 

He claims the chefs sometimes even go off-menu for back-to-back guests: "They have offered some custom dishes and meals they do not often make."

Over time, his eating habits shift, "After 7–10 days onboard, I’m less interested in breads and the pizzas, but find I am eating more often but far smaller portions."

"It’s been a few days since anyone has starved on a cruise ship, and I find I am skipping the cookies for a banana, kiwi, pineapple, or other fresh fruit option."

The drawbacks of cruising so much

It's not all rainbows, unicorns, and Sorrento's pizza when you cruise for an extended period of time.

One downside is trying to balance his social life at home versus onboard, "I have land friends that never cruise, and then I have fellow travelers who I see onboard. This can strain relationships with both over time if you don’t work to try to maintain both."

Cruise friendships, he says, are "the most forgiving for not staying in touch directly."

Being apart from his dog is also a negative to how much he travels, "I have a dog at home — Sasha, named after a Royal Caribbean ice skater I met on Liberty — a 6-year-old Samoyed that I leave with friends while I’m gone. That is also why I break up my trips into 3–6 week blocks so I can spend time with her."

And just like his friends at home, cruising means being apart from family, "My sister and husband have visited me on various ships, including the recent 8-night Northern European Cities sailing on Independence on June 19, 2025. My mom stayed on with me for the next two. My brother and his family joined me on Ovation for an Alaska sailing.”

Crew members matter even more when you're onboard so often

Being on a cruise ship for such a long period of time has afforded him the opportunity to get to know a lot of crew members, and he values those friendships.

"The bonus on top of the amazing travel adventures are the friendships I have with crew," Greg says. "Some even play a role on which ships I book because I know the Hotel Director or the Cruise Director onboard."

He’s also a self-professed Royal Entertainment junkie, "In November/December 2024, I spent 6 weeks on Allure and watched almost every showing of Mamma Mia."

When he boarded Independence of the Seas this summer, "I was recognized by 3 crew members I have sailed with in the past. There is a complete feeling of relaxation when you see a familiar face."

Royal Caribbean is doubling down on its biggest ships and private destinations because that's what cruisers love the most.

Speaking aboard the brand-new Star of the Seas, Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley answered travel agent questions and was asked about what makes going on an Icon Class ship or an itinerary to a new private destination worth the cost.

Royal Caribbean is in the midst of a spending spree, with at least two more Icon Class ships on order and new beach clubs and a second Perfect Day opening over the next few years.

Mr. Bayley believes those products are setting the standard for guest satisfaction across the industry.

He illustrated his point by talking about the overwhelming popularity of short cruises that include a stop at Perfect Day at CocoCay and the debut of Icon of the Seas and Star of the Seas as examples of products delivering exceptional value and memorable vacations.

"When you look at the Net Promoter score, the satisfaction that comes back from our customers on these products, the top-rated products are typically ships like Icon and Star," Bayley said. 

"People are paying good, good price, but I can tell you that they perceive the value as exceptionally high."

Very high guest satisfaction

When Royal Caribbean talks about a ship or island being highly rated, they're referring to their guest feedback system.

The cruise line does an incredible amount of guest research. Every passenger is asked for a post-cruise survey, and Royal Caribbean regularly conducts focus groups and sends out surveys to better understand what its customers want and like.

One means of measuring guest satisfaction is using Net Promoter Score (NPS), a standard metric that tracks how likely customers are to recommend a product to friends and family.

"The Net Promoter Score on Star and Icon is about 85, and if you’re familiar with an NPS, 85 is phenomenal," Bayley explained. 

For context, in most industries, an NPS above 50 is considered excellent. Scores in the 80s are considered "world class", and much more typical for luxury brands.

"That means that people are paying the price and they are deeply satisfied with the experience, and they are going to recommend that experience to their friends and family."

According to Bayley, he thinks those high scores are the result of, "great quality, great value and wonderful satisfaction."

"We feel like we’re really kind of leading the way with delivering that kind of experience," he said.

Why they're focusing on short cruises

Mr. Bayley spoke about the high demand Royal Caribbean has for three- and four-night cruises that sail from Florida and include a stop at Perfect Day at CocoCay. 

These itineraries are part of a shift with Royal Caribbean's Oasis Class ships, and it's generated a lot of debate among cruisers.

The reason more big ships are switching to short sailings is to attract new customers who might have never considered a cruise before.

"Certainly there is a huge popularity for the three- and four-day product," Bayley explained. "And that’s why we have a certain percentage of our products doing those runs to Perfect Day and the beach clubs."

The idea is offer the very best new cruise ships sailing short cruises to top-rated private destinations to give new cruisers an obvious choice of which ship is best for them to try. 

CocoCay is the most in-demand cruise destination in the world

Part of why Royal Caribbean is building Perfect Day Mexico is because of how well Perfect Day at CocoCay has been received by its guests.

Mr. Bayley said that Perfect Day at CocoCay has become Royal Caribbean’s most sought-after stop worldwide.

"It’s our number one demand destination on the planet," Bayley told the audience. "I think this year we took maybe 3.5 million guests to Perfect Day."

Once again, guest feedback played a role in crafting CocoCay's makeover. During the dreaming process for Perfect Day, Royal Caribbean surveyed guests on what would make a day in the Caribbean truly perfect. The answer: "the thrill, the chill, keep the kids happy."

"That’s what we built," Bayley said.

With Perfect Day Mexico coming next, he thinks it will be another game changer.

"This is going to be an absolutely epically stunning, unbelievable Perfect Day," he said, highlighting its accessibility to the Texas Gulf Coast drive market. "There’s a huge opportunity coming in all of the Gulf states and, for example, North Florida."

Currently, cruise penetration in Texas is around 3%, compared to 6% in Florida. Royal Caribbean sees that gap as untapped potential.

When asked about an Icon Class ship being based in Galveston, Texas, he didn't answer the question, but hinted something could be in the works.

Expanding the shore experience

Mr. Bayley also talked about Royal Caribbean’s efforts to improve the onshore experience in destinations beyond its private islands. 

One such idea is a new category of VIP shore excursions, that offer more exclusive, small-group experiences. They're available in select markets, including Alaska and Europe.

"We’ve just started to roll those out," he said. 

"It’s a different level of experience. It’s slightly more exclusive. It’s more elevated. It costs more because it does cost more. And we think from the early results of the testing that we’ve done that it’s very popular."

The idea is to not only offer great tours, but add a premium level to them for those that value paying more to enjoy a first class experience.

There's a new king of specialty restaurants at Royal Caribbean, as Chops Grille, a long-time favorite, has been dethroned.

While speaking during a webinar for travel agents, Royal Caribbean Vice President Food & Beverage, Linken D'Souza, shared an anecdote that Chops Grille is no longer Royal Caribbean’s top specialty dining venue by sheer number of guests served.

"Izumi is actually the most popular restaurant by volume in the fleet," Mr. D'Souza said while speaking to travel agents in the conference call.

"Especially teppanyaki," he explained. "It's a really wonderful experience. I think it's a perfect experience while you're on vacation."

The change shouldn't be that much of a surprise given how wide and far Izumi has spread across the fleet.

Chops Grille's reign

Chops Grille had been synonymous with specialty dining on Royal Caribbean ships, as it's been a concept that goes back decades.

Before specialty dining became as popular as it is today, Royal Caribbean cruise ships might have only had one or two specialty restaurants, and Chops Grille was one of them.

It's dominance at the top is no secret. It's available on every single ship in the fleet, serves a type of food that's quite familiar and appealing to all passengers, and it's had a consistent experience.

In my experience, Chops is often the first specialty restaurant people try when sailing with Royal Caribbean. I believe that's because it has a warm ambiance that evokes "date night" or a special evening out.

Izumi's rise to the top

Izumi is no "new kid on the block", but it's made steady progress to reach this point.

The first Izumi location opened on Oasis of the Seas in 2009, with demand for sushi on a ship increasing ever since then.

Royal Caribbean expanded Izumi's size, gave it better locations, and added new dining options that went beyond sushi.

The first Izumi location was on deck 16 near the Windjammer on Oasis of the Seas.  Since then, Royal Caribbean has put Izumi front and center on its ships.

The addition of hibachi teppanyaki shows has been an incredibly popular change.

Izumi hibachi is a teppanyaki-style restaurant, which is sometimes referred to as a "Japanese steakhouse."  The experience combines cooking and service into one fun performance.

Today, there are to-go sushi counters, and even a chef-driven experience too.

Izumi's rise in popularity isn't just luck.  Izumi Master Chef Travis Kamiyama has over 30 years experience working in Japanese cuisine.

He attributes the popularity of Izumi to creating a really good dining experience for guests, "I think the consistency and becoming iconic."

"And it was all by guests raving about it and all the numbers showing it. And that's what it was all about. It was all purely proven."

The experiential dining trend has helped too

Without a doubt, the hibachi experience came about at the same time the cruising public has started to embrace experiences that simply go beyond cuisine.

Mr. D'Souza calls it "eatertainment", and it's something Izumi started with its hibachi, "This concept of entertainment is something that we try to fit into all of our experiences."

Royal Caribbean has leaned into eatertainment more and more on its ships, with restaurants that offer more than food.  The idea is to combine dining with a show element that fosters memory making experiences.

Royal Caribbean sees themselves competing against major tourist destinations on land, such as Las Vegas or New York.  

"I don't want you to get bored when you're having dinner," Mr. D'Souza said in an earlier interview about Royal Caribbean's dining strategy.

"We’ve been leaning into this notion of eatertainment where we’re really trying to blend entertainment and great dining together."

Examples of the restaurants include:

• Mason Jar: Southern American cooking meets fun country music bar
• Empire Supper Club: Swanky jazz club pairs food, cocktails and music
• Royal Railway: Immersive digital experience that feels like you're dining on a classic train

The results speak for themselves, as these restaurants are often the hottest ticket to book on any ship that has it.

The Lincoln Park supper club has a $200 per person price tag, and is "sold out every night" on Star of the Seas.

This trend has had the side effect of elevating the popularity of Izumi, because guests can dine as a family and have a fun meal with a high chance it creates positive memories.

"If you think about Lincoln Park Supper Club, when you think about Izumi, it's about the fun and enjoyment and happiness that those experiences create while you're on board our ship," Mr. D'Souza explained.

"It's all about the happiness, whether that's ice cream running down your face or the chef that's tossing a piece of chicken for you to catch."

A Grand Suite is one of Royal Caribbean's most popular suites because it's the entry point to having a full suite experience, complete with access to special areas of the ship and extra perks.

Junior Suites are technically the entry-level suite category, while Grand Suites are the first tier in the “full” suite program with elevated benefits.

However, despite the many extra benefits and larger room size, a Junior Suite is likely going to cost a lot less money and deliver enough added value to make it a more compelling option.

Both types of suites have much more living space than a standard balcony, and you'll earn the same amount of loyalty points too.

Read more: Royal Caribbean cabin guide

If you're debating between booking a Grand Suite or a Junior Suite, there are compelling reasons why you should stick with a Junior Suite. Let's dive into them.

Comparing Royal Caribbean's Junior Suite and Grand Suite

Here's an overview of the key differences between the two suites:

Suite layout and size differences

Think of the Junior Suite has being big, and a Grand Suite being bigger.

Both suites have much more living space than a balcony category. The Grand Suite feels much more spacious, as it often has separate seating areas

Using Icon of the Seas as an example, the balcony size between the two can be substantial.  Both offer larger balconies than a standard balcony, but a Grand Suite is giant.

• Standard ocean balcony: 50 square feet
• Junior Suite balcony: 80 square feet
• Grand Suite balcony: 108 square feet

Another key difference in terms of the room is the layout. 

Grand Suites have much more storage space, including closets and drawers. The room feels more like a suite, whereas a Junior Suite still resembles a balcony room.

Plus, there's extra furniture in a Grand Suite, such as a dining table and chairs.

A Junior Suite bathroom is going to be a single bathroom with tub, whereas a Grand Suite has a larger bathroom, with possibly double sinks.

Perks offered by both suites

These are the main benefits of each suite type. Keep in mind the benefits are greater on an Oasis, Quantum, or Icon Class ship because of the extra perks that come with the Royal Suite Class.

Junior Suite:

• Crown & Anchor Society points: 2 per night instead of 1
• Dinner access only for Coastal Kitchen
• No access to Suite Lounge
• No concierge service
• Priority boarding and disembarkation

Grand Suite:

• Full Suite Class benefits (Sky Class on Icon, Oasis and Quantum Class ships)
• Concierge service
• Coastal Kitchen access for all meals
• Priority boarding and tendering
• Reserved seating for shows
• Reserved seating on the pool deck
• Complimentary Wi-Fi (on Icon, Oasis and Quantum Class ships)

Price difference

Another key differentiator is the price for each suite.

Depending on the ship, itinerary, and time of year, the prices can vary considerably.

Here are some example prices of a Junior Suite vs a Grand Suite for Oasis of the Seas in May 2026 for two passengers:

May 8, 2026

• Junior Suite: $2,713.82
• Grand Suite: $3,515.32
• Suite Guarantee: $2,414.32

May 15, 2026

• Junior Suite: $2,893.82
• Grand Suite: $3,960.82
• Suite Guarantee: $2,494.32

May 22, 2026

• Junior Suite: $3,004.32
• Grand Suite: $3,903.82
• Suite Guarantee: $2,433.82

May 29, 2026

• Junior Suite: $3,014.32
• Grand Suite: $4,234.82
• Suite Guarantee: $2,433.82

Keep in mind pricing fluctuates based on how many cabins are sold for that specific sailing, ship class, and sail date.

Reasons to choose a Junior Suite over a Grand Suite

Now that their similarities are out of the way, let's focus on their differences and how those might sway you to choose the Junior Suite instead of a Grand Suite.

You just want the extra space, but not the price

I find many cruisers that love a Junior Suite prefer it because it's a bigger room, and that's really all they need.

Suites come with lots of lovely benefits, but it may be overkill if you won't take advantage of them.

By not splurging for a full suite, you still get a few important amenities: full size tub, priority embarkation, bigger room, an extra loyalty point per night, and a closet.

Essentially, if you're considering a Junior Suite or a Grand Suite and feel a Junior Suite is "good enough", that's the rationale for going with it.

If you mainly want space, a Junior Suite is the better value.

You'll spend more time exploring the ship than in your room

If you're going on one of Royal Caribbean's new and impressive ships, how much time will you really spend in your cabin?

By picking a Junior Suite, you get to enjoy a plush home base without paying for benefits you may simply never use.

This rationale could be applied to justify almost any lower room category, but some cruisers want to have enough room in their cabin for the time they're there.  Or they prefer having a bathtub, extra point, or access to dinner in Coastal Kitchen.

Crown & Anchor members looking to move up the loyalty ladder quicker

If you're chasing Crown and Anchor Society points, booking a Junior Suite is a strategy I've seen others use effectively.

Because you get an extra point per night, booking a Junior Suite will catapult you up the tiers faster than regular cabins. Heck, book yourself solo in one and you'll get three points per night.

Anyone that's chasing the highest tiers, such as Diamond Plus or Pinnacle, will find a Junior Suite more cost effective over the long haul than a Grand Suite.

Cabin location

In many cases, you may find a Junior Suite in a desirable location.

Royal Caribbean has Junior Suites on the aft of its ships, offering peaceful views of the ship's wake.  The cruise line reclassified these as "Sunset Junior Suites", but they're effectively the same room with a better view.

On the Icon Class suites, the Sunset Junior Suite has panoramic views and a corner balcony. At over seven feet tall, the ceiling is the tallest of all the Junior Suites. Plus, it's balcony is larger too, with 115-130 square feet of size compared to 80 in a regular JS.

You want to take advantage of a suite guarantee offer

When booking a cruise, there could be a suite guarantee option that would save a lot of money compared to picking a specific cabin.

The reality is with a suite guarantee, it's almost always going to be a Junior Suite.  That's because there are more Junior Suites than any other suite type, and they're more likely to remain unsold than the full suites.

The cost savings are worthwhile, so if you're trying to save money, a suite guarantee will likely be a Junior Suite.

With just days before her scheduled appearance, Diana Ross announced she will cancel her appearance on Star of the Seas as its godmother.

According People, the legendary singer and movie star said she has changed her plans.

"Due to unforeseen circumstances, Diana Ross will be unable to appear," a representative for the singer said in a statement.

Royal Caribbean had previously announced Ms. Ross as Godmother to Star of the Seas in June. This is an honorary position meant to bestow good fortune on the ship.

A cruise line representative confirmed the change, "We are disappointed that Diana Ross is unable to join us to be godmother of Star of the Seas.

"We look forward to announcing our new godmother soon." 

Ms. Ross was scheduled to appear on August 20 to perform her duties in the ceremonial role for Star of the Seas.

At the time, she shared her adulation for being picked, "I am truly honored to join the Royal Caribbean family."

"Having spent years of creating beautiful music and memories and bringing people together from all over the world, this feels like a perfect continuation of my journey as godmother of Star of the Seas."

Star of the Seas is one of the largest cruise ships in the world, measuring over 248,000 gross registered tons. 

Star comes in at 1,196 feet long and 219 feet wide and can accommodate 5,610 guests at double occupancy across 2,805 staterooms. At maximum capacity, she can carry over 7,000 passengers. She also has 2,350 crew members onboard.

Star's maiden voyage is scheduled for August 31, 2025, but construction moved quicker than expected. As such, Star will embark on a series of short preview cruises ahead of the official maiden voyage. The first of these will take place from August 16-20, 2025. 

Why did she cancel

The question of why the Diana Ross is pulling out of the deal is a mystery.

She had just completed a U.K. arena tour in July, and is set to start her Beautiful Love tour in the U.S. on August 16 in California.

People quoted Ms. Ross talking about taking care of herself as a top priority, "Health and well-being. And my family is everything to me. I like staying busy. Because I love what I do, it keeps me grounded. I’m swimming a lot lately to stay flexible. I must get my sleep which is important to me. I do my best to eat well, but I do like Häagen-Dazs ice cream."

No further information from the cruise line or Diana Ross has been shared as to why the change is occurring.

A new tropical disturbance is brewing, and Royal Caribbean is already moving one of its cruise ships away.

Meteorologists at the National Hurricane Center are monitoring the track of Tropical Storm Erin as it continues to track westward through the eastern Atlantic Ocean.

While the storm is still quite distant from land, it's expected track has caused Royal Caribbean to re-route one of its ships to avoid being anywhere near it.

Guests booked on the August 14 sailing of Vision of the Seas were originally scheduled to visit Bermuda, but the ship will now head south instead.

An email sent to passengers informed them that a change was made because of Erin's expected path, "Before we set sail, we have an important itinerary update to share with you. Along with our Chief Meteorologist, Craig Setzer, our Captain has been monitoring Tropical Storm Erin and its expected track that will take it near Bermuda during our sailing."

"In the interest of safety, we have decided to avoid the storm and head south."

The forecast models aren't certain where Erin will go, but a more northerly track is expected to occur as steering currents may lift Erin closer to the U.S. coast or there could be a direct impact to Bermuda.

Vision of the Seas will instead visit Port Canaveral, Florida and Nassau, Bahamas.

"While we will miss our overnight visit to Royal Naval Dockyard, Bermuda, we will now enjoy a full day in Orlando (Port Canaveral), Florida, on Sunday, August 17, instead. "

"Additionally, our new itinerary allows us to update our arrival in Nassau, Bahamas, to 7:00 AM instead of 1:00 PM, giving you even more time to enjoy everything this beautiful destination has to offer!"

Royal Caribbean apologized for the change in plans due to the weather, "We’re terribly sorry for the last-minute change caused by the weather – your safety is our top priority."

Any pre-paid shore excursions booked in Royal Naval Dockyard through Royal Caribbean will automatically be refunded to the original payment on file within 14 business days. 

A possible category 3 hurricane

If all goes as expected, Tropical Storm Erin will become the first major hurricane of the 2025 Atlantic Hurricane Season.

Erin's growth is being limited currently by a combination of dry air and dust from the seasonal Saharan dust plume. However, that won't last for long.

There is a lot of uncertainty regarding what, if any, impacts Erin will have to land.

Most of the models are consistent with a westerly track that may bring Erin just north of the Caribbean Islands. The storm may intensify over warmer Atlantic water as it moves west and north of the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico this weekend.

A quicker intensification would make it more likely to curve north sooner, while a slower strengthening could allow it to push farther west before turning.

Guest reactions

Whenever a tropical storm impacts cruise ship plans, there's quick reaction on social media.

Marjil Gosnell posted, "I'd be mad. I’d be mad in general if I paid for Bermuda and docking at Cape Canaveral instead. Big difference.

Diane Rivera posted, "Every time a cruise line reroutes or cancels ports for whatever reason, some people get so upset at them. A lot of us understand why and go with the flow. This is a safety issue, not to mention, ports will close because of storms and they couldn't go in anyway."

Gwendolyn Salzman added, "They change to keep the ship and passengers safe."

When Royal Caribbean upgrades Ovation of the Seas, it's going to have a few big changes to it.

Earlier this year, the cruise line announced plans to upgrade three of its cruise ships with new updates as part of its next phase of ship updates.

Ovation of the Seas is getting a Royal Amplification, and we have a look at what those changes entail, thanks to the updated deck plans.

Here's what you can expect to be different on Ovation of the Seas when the work is complete.

Deck-by-deck changes coming to Ovation of the Seas

The Royal Amplification will take place in April 2026.

Starting on deck 3, the casino will be significantly expanded.

The updated deck plans reveal Casino Royale will take over Music Hall entirely and replace the venue.

Royal Caribbean has been expanding its casino footprint on a few of its ships. Freedom of the Seas had its wine bar replaced with a casino, and both Utopia of the Seas and Wonder of the Seas expanded the casino to include more non-smoking areas.

More casino space means more revenue, and it's the most likely reason for Music Hall being eliminated on Ovation.

Moving up to deck 4, the upper level of Music Hall will become "Sound Cellar". 

Here's the description of Sound Cellar from Royal Caribbean's website:

Turn up the volume on late night music in the all-new, first-of-its-kind Sound Cellar. This is a venue tuned for all kinds of shows — a Hollywood-style scene bringing nonstop whoas. Like electric sessions with the house band, covering your favorite jams. And DJ fueled beats that will keep you on your feet all night long. Rev up any adventure — or wind down with an epic nightcap — in this groovy wonderland, only on the newly Amplified Ovation of the Seas®.

Starbucks will replace La Patisserie.

La Patisserie was the de facto Starbucks location on Ovation, but will now be transformed into a full Starbucks standalone kiosk.

New cabins are being added to deck 5, replacing the photo gallery.

Ten new cabins are being added to this space, which is near the Schooner Bar.

Pesky Parrot will replace the Bionic Bar.

Pesky Parrot first debuted on Utopia of the Seas, and it's a tiki bar concept that will replace the aging robot bartenders.

Royal Caribbean will replace Wonderland specialty restaurant with Izumi Teppanyaki.

Arguably one of the most popular restaurants on Royal Caribbean, the hibachi tables will offer guests a cooking style not previously available onboard.

If you prefer sushi, Izumi sushi is still located just around the corner on deck 5.

Another change on deck 5 is the shore excursion desk is being replaced with "Royal HQ."

There are no details what that will be, exactly.

We can also expect to find Giovanni's Italian Kitchen replacing Jamie's Italian towards the aft of deck 5.

Giovanni's Italian Kitchen is the cruise line's home grown Italian specialty restaurant concept.

The Concierge Club (otherwise known as the Suite Lounge) has been replaced by a number of new suites.

Likewise, the Conference Center on deck 13 has also been replaced with new suites.

I believe this is where you'll find the Ultimate Family Suite, a two-story space with a slide and other family-focused amenities.

Up on deck 14, we see a number of changes to the pool deck.

Splashaway Bay remains, but the footprint will be reworked a bit.  It appears it might be slightly expanded.

Splashaway Bay is the kids aquapark that has splash areas, geysers, and more.

The Living Room (teen club) is being replaced by a Suite Lounge, since the old one is being removed on deck 12.

More cabins are being added to deck 16, in front of the fitness center.

A total of 7 cabins are being added, and they appear as though they could be panoramic view rooms, similar to the ones that were added on the Freedom Class ships.

Changes coming to two other ships

Ovation of the Seas is one of three ships getting major upgrades as part of Royal Caribbean's renewed Royal Amplification process.

Harmony of the Seas will also get an overhaul in April 2026.

Updates include a new Caribbean-style pool area with The Lime & Coconut, a redesigned Solarium, the addition of Samba Grill Brazilian Steakhouse, and the largest Casino Royale in the fleet.

They will also add the Ultimate Family Suite onboard.

Liberty of the Seas is also due for changes in 2026.

We can expect a reimagined pool deck, a new Royal Escape Room concept, and additional food and beverage options including El Loco Fresh, Izumi Teppanyaki, and Starbucks. 

Royal Caribbean is undertaking these updates as a means of keeping its aging vessels relevant and compelling to book.

While new ships introduce new concepts, existing ships need to keep up with amenities.  By adding back new amenities, it increases interest in trying these ships for passengers.