Royal Caribbean Blog

Not every cruise can go exactly as planned. I’ve learned that while it’s important to plan ahead, it’s just as important to stay flexible when the unexpected happens. As a matter of fact, traveling has made me more adaptable when plans go awry.

Being able to pivot during my recent cruise proved helpful when things didn’t go as planned. This spring, I embarked on a bucket-list sailing aboard Anthem of the Seas from Singapore to Tokyo, Japan. Traveling with my parents and sister, we couldn’t wait to explore new destinations like Vietnam, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea, and Japan.

As one of Royal Caribbean’s most unique itineraries, I had a hard time finding other reviews while preparing for this trip. While you can find plenty of resources about cruising to the Caribbean, Alaska, and even Europe, this itinerary is far less popular.

Actually, the cruise line only operates this itinerary once or twice each year, particularly when ships are repositioning between Alaska and Australia. Anthem of the Seas was repositioning for her season in Alaska after cruising from Singapore.

I tried my best to plan accordingly for this port-intensive sailing across multiple countries in Asia. Even so, I made a few big mistakes during my recent cruise on Anthem of the Seas, and I learned valuable lessons along the way.

Mistake: I should have planned tours further in advance.

One of the biggest mistakes I made when planning this trip was not arranging all of our planned tours in advance. And when I say in advance, I mean several months before embarkation.

Although we had the majority of our excursions planned, there were a few days during our cruise that we left without plans. Sometimes, it can be nice to have flexibility in your schedule. However, we unfortunately waited too long to plan a tour for our disembarkation day in Tokyo, Japan.

I typically like to take advantage of disembarkation tours offered by the cruise line, especially when I have an evening flight. They’re a great way to spend the morning and early afternoon exploring before heading to the airport. These tours offer several benefits, including priority disembarkation, luggage storage, and convenient airport drop-off.

We kept waiting to see if Royal Caribbean would offer a disembarkation tour in Tokyo, but this was never offered. When we finally started to look for alternative options a few weeks before the cruise, we realized quickly that we should have planned months in advance. Little did we know our cruise would arrive in Japan during Golden Week, one of the country’s busiest tourist periods.

Instead of arranging tours with experienced guides for our time in Tokyo, we struggled to navigate the train stations on our own. When it came time to disembark, we couldn’t find a local company to provide the tour we were hoping for. Instead, we settled for Royal Caribbean’s transfer and spent most of our day waiting at the airport.

Read more: 5 things I wish I knew before trying a Royal Caribbean cruise in Asia

Lesson: I learned the importance of booking cruise-sponsored excursions.

Booking excursions through the cruise line can be expensive, and multiple tours on a longer itinerary can add up fast. Because we hadn’t visited many of these ports before, we opted to book Royal Caribbean excursions exclusively. In particular, some of the ports were located almost two hours from the actual city, such as Vietnam.

I was thankful we booked excursions with Royal Caribbean for these ports. First, we were able to enjoy our tours without stressing about returning for all aboard time. Some of the tours were hours late because of congested traffic in Vietnam, and I would have been stressed navigating heavy traffic on an independent excursion.

In addition, Royal Caribbean provided a refund on our excursion in Jeju Island, South Korea, when we arrived at the port an hour later than planned. When it was pouring rain, we even had the option to get a full refund due to the weather.

Mistake: I struggled to apply for the correct visa.

For this itinerary, Royal Caribbean provided guidance for visa applications. Like always, guests need to meet all entry requirements for countries on their cruise. As a United States citizen, we were told all Americans needed a Vietnam visa for this cruise. We were told to apply online for an electronic visa and to bring a printed copy for boarding in Singapore.

I followed the instructions for the visa, but my payment kept failing on the Vietnam government website. I panicked that my visa wouldn’t be approved in time. After charging a different credit card, I realized that my previous application had actually been approved when my credit card was charged twice. I ended up with two separate visas for Vietnam and paid more than necessary.

After warning my parents of the tedious and slightly confusing application process, they decided to use a consulate visa service. This was pricey at $200 each, but they received their visas without issue. Comparatively, my sister applied without issue and received her visa quickly.

Nonetheless, I wish I had applied earlier for the visa to allow more time for issues. I probably wouldn't have been in such a rush to submit a second application and avoided being double-charged.

Lesson: Make sure you always triple-check boarding requirements.

I’m a frequent cruiser, but I almost forgot to confirm all of my boarding requirements before heading to the airport. In an email, Royal Caribbean specifically provided guidance to bring multiple copies of your passport to board in Singapore. For some reason, I missed this email entirely.

Luckily, my dad sent a reminder in our family group chat for everyone to make copies of their passport before heading to Singapore. I was thankful for this reminder, as I would have completely missed this boarding requirement. During embarkation, it appeared Royal Caribbean would assist passengers who didn’t have the correct documentation. This would have slowed down the boarding process significantly, and it was a good reminder to always confirm the necessary documentation for a cruise.

Read more: I spent $6,773 to cruise on Anthem of the Seas. Here's what everything cost

Mistake: I should have pre-arranged transportation in Singapore.

My family isn’t exactly known for packing light, and with a two-week trip ahead of us, we ended up with even more luggage than you might expect! Because of this, we normally pre-arrange transportation from the airport and to the cruise port through a tour company, like Viator.

Although we had arranged transportation to the hotel, we hadn’t made plans for embarkation day transport. I tried to book numerous shuttles online, but every company was either booked or couldn’t transport all of our luggage.

It turned out to be more stressful than we expected, and we ultimately had to arrange two separate vehicles — one for us and another just for our luggage! It would have been better to prearrange our transportation to the cruise port so we didn’t need to worry about logistics on the morning of embarkation day.

Lesson: Get an early immigration ticket or waste your day waiting around.

For most cruises, you won’t need to worry about immigration requirements. However, some countries do require face-to-face immigration to disembark the ship, such as Japan. Royal Caribbean announced that immigration tickets would be handed out early in the morning before our arrival in the afternoon.

Luckily, my sister was ambitious and woke up early to wait in line for the immigration ticket. The line weaved across the entire Royal Esplanade! She was able to get us tickets for Immigration Group #3, allowing us to disembark quickly after our ship had arrived.

This proved to be crucial, as others in the later boarding group waited for hours for their immigration number to be called! We were able to visit Tokyo from Yokohama for a few hours and return to the ship before some passengers were able to immigrate. If you don’t want to waste time ashore, you should plan to wait in line for an early immigration ticket.

Mistake: I wasn’t prepared for the bad air quality.

Although I’ve visited countries across Asia before, I had never visited places like Vietnam or Hong Kong. As an asthmatic, I always travel with multiple inhalers, although my asthma rarely flares up.

I was surprised by the air quality’s impact on my asthma during this trip, especially in Vietnam and Hong Kong. Even sailing between these countries seemed to irritate my breathing. I used my inhaler more during this cruise than I have all year! My chest was tight, and I found myself wheezing in the mornings.

I should have prepared better for the air quality, and even considered bringing my additional inhaler for daily use. While I might not need to use this at home, I don’t want to find myself abroad without this. I should have planned better for this, but it wasn’t something that crossed my mind.

Lesson: Having travel insurance is crucial.

I learned just how valuable travel insurance can be during this cruise! I have an annual policy with Allianz, which provides coverage for all of my trips throughout the year. My return flight from Tokyo to Atlanta was delayed for 24 hours, leaving me and my sister stranded for the night.

Because of the busy tourist week in Japan, hotel rooms for the night were more than $400. To my surprise, Delta Air Lines only covered up to $250 for accommodations. Luckily, my travel insurance policy covered everything that the airline didn’t pay for. I was grateful knowing I was covered in these unexpected situations.

Moreover, my dad ended up visiting the medical facility onboard. Because he also has the same annual insurance policy, he didn’t hesitate to visit the shipboard doctor for a round of antibiotics when he needed.

If you travel more than once or twice each year, I highly recommend investing in an annual travel insurance policy so you are always covered while away from home.

Mistake: Booking a cruise right after dry dock.

Anthem of the Seas was scheduled to receive routine maintenance in Singapore during her spring dry dock. When we booked this cruise, we didn’t realize our sailing would be the first itinerary immediately after her dry dock.

I wasn’t worried about this until fellow Royal Caribbean Blog writer, Jenna, mentioned her Allure of the Seas sailing was delayed. She was also cruising on the first itinerary after Allure of the Seas’ major refurbishment dry dock. For this reason, Jenna said she typically avoids cruises right after dry dock because delays with maintenance can happen.

Thankfully, our itinerary wasn’t delayed. However, our ship did need to operate at a slower speed, which caused us to lose time in Jeju Island and Japan. We heard this was because of maintenance from the ship’s dry dock, although this wasn’t confirmed.

Even still, I hadn’t considered the risks of booking a cruise immediately after dry dock. Now, I will definitely keep this in mind when booking future itineraries.

Lesson: Having connecting rooms made all the difference on our cruise.

For this cruise, my sister and I chose to book a connecting balcony cabin with our parents. We had never purposely booked a connecting cabin before, so we were eager to see if we would like this stateroom arrangement.

To our surprise, this was one of the best decisions we made! When my dad was run down with a cold and coughing throughout the night, my mom ended up sleeping on our couch. Having the connecting stateroom allowed her to easily move from one room to the next. She ended up spending a few nights on our couch!

Overall, it was incredibly convenient to be able to pop in and out of each other’s cabins. We were even able to share our balconies together, which made the stateroom experience even better. We are already planning to book connecting balconies again in the future. 

When artificial intelligence first became mainstream with ChatGPT, I would have warned you against using it for planning your cruise.

Since the early adopters embraced artificial intelligence in 2023, it's leaped a considerable amount in terms of capabilities, and I think it can play a helpful role in planning a vacation.

The problem with planning a cruise is it's very nuanced and cruise line (and even ship) specific. I've found AI tends to lump policies and lines together and jump to certain conclusions that aren't reflective of the reality.

However, it's much better at land travel because there's so much more information available.

For my Royal Caribbean cruise to Europe, I determined booking traditional shore excursions was going to be a mistake because it's so easy to get around the cities of Europe on foot and via public transportation.

Instead, I started coming up with a list of places I wanted to visit in each city.  That's easy, but how to manage it all so I can see everything in the best order?

I looked to artificial intelligence for the easy answer

I created a spreadsheet of the restaurants, historical sights, and interesting places I wanted to visit in each city.  I compiled this list by watching a lot of YouTube videos to get a sense of what there was to do.

My goal was to determine the best order to see everything, minimize backtracking, and incorporate lunch and snack breaks.  

I could have spent time popping each area into Google Maps, but I'd have to cross reference hours of operation and then figure out the transportation system in each city.

Almost immediately, I was ready to give ChatGPT a try.

Using ChatGPT is easy, but the secret is to be as descriptive and specific as you can in your prompts to get the answer you want.  What I'm effectively asking it to do is read my mind with what I want.  

I started out with Oslo, Norway, and wrote out exactly what I wanted. Here's the prompt I used:

I want to visit Oslo, Norway and visit these 4 places:

- Opera house
- Royal Palace 
- Vigeland Sculpture Garden 
- Karl Johans Gate

Create a walking tour that begins where Royal Caribbean cruise ships dock, and ensure the walking tour takes a logical path to minimize backtracking, while taking us through the most scenic and beautiful areas tourists might be interested to see.

Prioritize walking, but if utilizing public transportation (such as the metro system) makes sense, than include that.

Our hours in port are 10am to 6pm, but plan to have us back at the ship by 4pm at the latest.

We have teenagers and tweens with us, so keep the walking pace leisurely.

Suggest spots for lunch or a snack where appropriate, but the 4 places identified are the top priorities to see.

It generated a time based list of each place to visit, how to get there, and what to look for at each spot.

There's a certain amount of trust that its plan will work out, but I was willing to try.

I then asked it to export the tour to a custom Google Map, after reading an unrelated article about how easy it's become to create custom maps.

It initially gave me directions how to add each pinpoint on my own, but at the end it offered to provide a downloadable KML file that I could import into My Maps to save time.

"Heck yea I want to save time!"

It gave me the code to use, I saved it as a file, and then imported the data into Google Maps.  Instantly, I had a map planned out with all our stops and in which order to use it.

I repeated this process for each port.  After trying it once, it becomes very quick.

Embrace, but use with caution

I loved how easy it all was to create these custom tours, but I was sure to verify it wouldn't lead me astray.

In our first port of Oslo, ChatGPT guessed incorrectly which port we'd dock at.  It thought we would be at the Akershus Cruise Terminal, but Independence of the Seas docked near Akker Brygge. 

That meant our walking plan was off kilter because our starting point was at a different area of town.

That's not a big deal, because my custom Google Map allowed me to pick the closest spot, and get walking directions and go from there.

In fact, leveraging Google Maps was the best idea. ChatGPT had the plan, but Google Maps gave me real-time advice on if I should walk, taxi, or use public transportation.

I'd advise anyone to export the data into Google Maps to easily reference where you're going.

In Copenhagen, it was correct where we docked and just about everything. 

Sometimes the coordinates it used for the custom Map would be off by a block, but it got me so close that I could easily look around and figure it out.

The lesson is you still need to double check your plan as you go, and not simply blindly follow it.

It lacks the benefits of a good tour guide

I think I absolutely did the right thing by planning out my city tour in each port on my own with the assistance of AI, but it couldn't do everything.

I wish I had more information along the way, like I would with a tour. Or at least more information at the places I visited.

On the one hand, I don't love traditional tours where the host points out everything around you at all times and shares an endless stream of historical facts. But on the other hand, I wish there was a little more information about the things we saw.

An audio guide is what I probably want, but audio guides have a lot of extra fluff in them.  I'd love to be able to ask questions on the fly, like who is that statue and why are they important? Or what else is nearby that might be cool to see?

Or I could have ChatGPT provide more detail on each stop and I could somehow reference that information in Google Maps or bookmark it somehow.

AI can be a great tool, but it's not foolproof

Without a doubt, using AI to plan my city touring in Europe was a really smart decision that made it so much easier.

I loved how it organized and analyzed what I wanted to do. 

However, it was critical that I put in the effort to find interesting things to do rather than rely on it to provide them. 

Plus, you can't blindly let it lead you. Consider it your first suggestion, but always double check it as you progress.  

Lastly, I'd highly recommend having Google Maps and a cellular data connection so you can make the right transportation decision easily. My favorite eSim to use is Orange sim (this is an affiliate link, that costs you nothing extra but I make a small commission). 

The newest and biggest ships get the most attention, but there are lots of good reasons to sail the older ships too.

New cruisers might be tepid about going on an older ship because they're not sure if it's better to cruise on a small ship.  

When I started cruising, I thought small ships were going to disappointing and lack the aspects of a cruise that I thought I needed.  But the more I cruised, the more I discovered what smaller ships can offer.

Royal Caribbean's older ships might be the best choice for value and what they offer onboard.

What’s the difference between older and newer Royal Caribbean ships

The age of a cruise ship is a detail, but it doesn't tell the whole story of what a cruise ship is all about.

In general, an older ship usually correlates to being smaller too.  As ships have been built over the years, they've gotten bigger and added more activities, restaurants, and special areas.

The first thing you'll notice about an older Royal Caribbean ship is the size, and the second thing is what it may not have onboard.

If you've cruised on new ships, you may quickly notice if there's an area or feature not onboard.  But if you've never cruised before, the differences may not be as obvious.

Older ships may not have as many dining choices, or they may not have the updated menus with them. 

You may also find there's less of the top deck signature attractions that families clamor for. A ship built 10-15 years ago would have more than a ship built 20 years ago.  It's almost like a sliding scale in that regard.

Something else different about an older ship is the aesthetic of the vessel, such as the cabin decor and look of the halls and public venues.

It's not a problem, but going from a brand new ship to an older ship would have a different look and feel.

Pros and cons of older Royal Caribbean ships

There are many good reasons to try an older ship, so don't let it stop you.

I think the top reason I pick an older ship is the value.  Older ships don't command the higher prices that new ones do, and that opens up more possibilities.

Spending less on a cruise means money saved, or you could move up to a bigger stateroom.

The other best thing about an older ship is where it sails to, as you're more likely to find more exotic destinations on them compared to new ships.

While new ships are relegated primarily to the same traditional ports, older ships get to visit more far flung places.

Something else I like about older ships is they have received upgrades that keep the ship interesting.

Depending on the exact ship, there could be new restaurants, water slides, or even shows onboard. Many of these concepts come from new ships, so you can experience the better options without paying for a new ship.

However, there's no question a new ship has the latest and greatest Royal Caribbean has come up with.

New ships are fun because of how much there is to do, eat, and experience. It's overwhelming in a good way, and I love it.

Families especially love new ships because there's more specialized for them. You'll find many more areas dedicated for kids programming on new ships, especially younger cruisers.

New ships have an undeniable cool factor to them. There's a humble brag that comes with being able to say you tried a new ship.

Older ships I recommend trying

If you're sold on the idea of trying an older ship, here are the best small Royal Caribbean ships to consider.

Brilliance of the Seas: The Radiance Class is my favorite small ship in the fleet because they're beautiful ships with good variety of dining choices.

I'd pick Brilliance for where it sails to, as well as the fun onboard. I've sailed the most on Brilliance, and it's never disappointed.

Mariner of the Seas: One of early my favorite cruise ships, Mariner of the Seas has some of the best upgrades of any older ship.

Because it has a Royal Promenade, it has a big ship feel without the new ship price.  I consistently find great deals on Mariner, which also contributed to why I've sailed as often as I have on it.

Freedom of the Seas: Another ship that got fun upgrades as part of a refurbishment, Freedom of the Seas is even bigger than Mariner and it's probably the best "step down" from a new ship to try first.

Are older Royal Caribbean ships worth it?

I think there are really good reasons to cruise on a small and old ship, so don't limit yourself just to the new ones.

While I think a new ship is ideal for a new cruiser because they offer the greatest variety of how to cruise, older ships are a good idea to graduate to as you want to sail more often.

Families that want non-stop activities and the best options for kids of varying ages will still find new ships to be ideal.

If you're worried about being bored on a small ship, pick a port intensive itinerary so you're less dependent on the ship.

Writing off a ship based on age or size alone is a mistake because of how much more of the cruising experience you can take advantage of. From different places to visit, venues to try, and money to save, I think older ships are a great idea for just about anyone.

Cruises are packed with opportunities to spend more than your original cruise fare. With the constant temptation to upgrade your experience, it can be easy to blow your cruise budget with add-on expenses.

Recently, a new cruiser shared on Reddit a detailed cost breakdown for their family’s 7-night cruise on Royal Caribbean's Symphony of the Seas. According to the post on the r/Cruise subreddit, this family of four spent nearly $7,000 on their entire cruise vacation. 

Included in the post was a transparent list of seven different add-ons this family chose to splurge on throughout their cruise. The cruiser titled the post, “Family of 4 cruise pricing, what are you paying? Here’s my breakdown."

In total, the cruiser shared the family paid for seven different upgrades during their Royal Caribbean cruise. The seven cruise upgrades included:

1. Photo Package (10 pictures)

2. Deluxe Drink Package for two

3. Classic Soda Package for two

4. CocoCay Waterpark admission for four

5. Internet package for two

6. Spa treatment for one

7. RoyalUp stateroom upgrade

The overall cost for the vacation totaled $6,960.55 for a 7-night sailing in a balcony stateroom, which included taxes, fees and prepaid gratuities. This breaks down to $1,740.14 per person, or roughly $248.59 per night for the family's week-long cruise.

“Just curious how that compares to what others are spending. Feel free to share your costs or any tips you’ve picked up. Appreciate any insight!” shared the poster on Reddit. As expected, commenters weighed in with a wide range of opinions on the family's spending choices and add-ons for their cruise. 

And as someone who has cruised with Royal Caribbean more than 30 times, I wanted to break down each of these added expenses myself. I’m a self-proclaimed budget cruiser, but I also know when it's worth splurging to enhance your cruise experience. 

Here’s my take on the seven upgrades this family splurged on, including what I think was worth the money and what I’d personally skip.

Skip it: Photo Package

Within minutes of completing your cruise check-in at the terminal, you’ll be asked to have your picture professionally taken. This continues throughout the cruise. You will have photographers often snapping pictures in the dining room, on the pool deck, during formal nights, and even as you disembark for your ports of call.

Although the cruiser on Reddit doesn’t share how much they spent exactly on the photo package, my upcoming Royal Caribbean reservations show the photo package with an original price of $159.99. The sale price is showing between $95.99 to $119.99 for my specific reservations. Regardless, I’d skip the photo package for a few reasons. 

First, Royal Caribbean’s professional photos are absurdly expensive, in my opinion. Even if you purchase a photo package, the cruise line has some restrictions on what's included. For instance, any specialty dining photos are excluded from your package.

Additionally, you can take hundreds of photos on your phone for free! Pictures on your phone are extremely high quality these days, and many fellow cruisers are happy to take a family photo if you ask. You could even try using the self-timer on your phone.

Finally, there’s no guarantee that you will even like ten different photos from the professional photographers during your cruise. You could pay more than $100 for a photo package and not end up liking enough pictures to make the investment worthwhile. Instead, I'd suggest taking a few of the professional photos throughout your cruise. If you really like one of them, consider purchasing the photo. But, if you don't like any of the pictures, you have no obligation to purchase. 

Worth the splurge: Deluxe Drink Package

Royal Caribbean's drink packages can easily add hundreds of dollars to your cruise cost. But, when you decide to splurge on this extra, you are provided with unlimited access to cocktails, wine, beer, soft drinks, specialty coffee, bottled water and more.

If I had to guess, the cruiser likely spent hundreds of dollars purchasing the Deluxe Beverage Package for two people during their 7-night cruise. For instance, both of my upcoming Royal Caribbean cruises show a daily price of $62.99 per person for the Deluxe Drink Package. On a 7-night cruise, the total cost with an 18% gratuity would be $1,049. Based on this daily cost, you’d need to drink about 5 cocktails or more each day to break even.

For a first-time cruiser, I do think splurging on a Royal Caribbean Deluxe Drink Package can be worthwhile. If you’re someone who can drink enough to justify the cost, or you simply want peace of mind that you won’t rack up a huge bar bill, then the drink package can be a smart choice.

While Royal Caribbean only offers drink packages as an add-on cost, sister brand Celebrity Cruises offers All Included pricing. This provides a bundled deal with a drink and internet package included in your cruise cost. I’ve been able to take advantage of this pricing bundle through my MEI travel agent using group rates, and the added cost has been surprisingly minimal. Splurging on a drink package can make sense for many people, but it's important to remember this isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach.

Worth the splurge: Classic Soda Package

Royal Caribbean provides the option to purchase a Classic Soda Package for your cruise with unlimited cans of soda, fountain soft drinks and Coca-Cola beverages. You’ll also be provided with a Coca-Cola souvenir cup that you can use onboard and take home as a souvenir.

Additionally, Royal Caribbean features Coco-Cola Freestyle Machines on their cruise ships, including fountain soda, sugar free soda, lemonade, VitaminWater, ice tea, fruit punch, still water and sparkling water. The Soda Drink Package is quite popular for Royal Caribbean cruisers, as you are only provided with basic water, lemonade, coffee and tea for free with your cruise fare.

My cruise planner is showing the Soda Drink Package priced daily for $12.99 per person, or $181.86 for two people on a 7-night cruise. Presumably, the cruiser purchased the Classic Soda Package for their two children, aged 8 and 15, according to the Reddit post.

The Classic Soda Package can be a fun upgrade for kids, especially if they enjoy having easy access to drinks throughout the day. Since Royal Caribbean charges about $4 per soda, having just three or four sodas each day can make the package worthwhile. Even for adults who don’t drink alcohol, the Classic Soda Package can be a justifiable splurge thanks to the variety of options available at the Coca-Cola Freestyle machines.

Skip it: CocoCay Waterpark Admission

Royal Caribbean’s private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay, offers plenty of free activities and amenities to enjoy. That said, there are also many different ways to splurge and upgrade your private island experience. You can purchase everything from excursions and private cabanas to the upscale Coco Beach Club and the adults-only Hideaway Beach.

In addition, Royal Caribbean offers optional admission passes to their Thrill Waterpark for guests looking to add even more excitement to their day at CocoCay. The waterpark at CocoCay is packed with high-energy attractions, including the tallest waterslide in the Caribbean, Daredevil’s Peak, and the largest wave pool in the region. You can also race down multi-rider raft slides, try side-by-side racing slides, or explore the kid-friendly Adventure Pool with rope swings. 

Thrill Waterpark is a full day of fun designed for families and thrill-seekers. Unfortunately, entrance to Thrill Waterpark is not cheap. According to future Royal Caribbean reservations visiting CocoCay, the price per person ranges from $87.98 to $95.48. For a family of four, that adds up to anywhere from $351.92 to $382.72 for four people to visit the waterpark.

The cruiser shared, “My kids are 8 and 15. There’s no way they see those slides and aren’t going to want to go on those. I got 50% off on Black Friday.”

Even still, many commenters recommend skipping Thrill Waterpark because CocoCay already has so much included, meaning it's not necessary to splurge on the offered add-ons. For many families, the free beaches, pools, and splash areas offer more than enough entertainment without the added expense of a waterpark pass.

I’d have to agree with this sentiment, as the price to visit Thrill Waterpark can feel steep. If you’re able to snag a good deal on admission, it could be worth it for a fun day ashore. However, it’s important to consider that many Royal Caribbean ships already have waterslides and splash zones included in your cruise fare. For example, Icon of the Seas features the largest waterpark at sea, which might make spending extra at CocoCay feel unnecessary.

Worth the splurge: VOOM Internet Package

One Royal Caribbean add-on that I will absolutely always purchase is the VOOM Surf and Stream internet package. This cruiser shared they purchased the internet package for two people, mostly for their kids to use in the stateroom. 

For some, purchasing internet is not usually necessary. However, the speed and connectivity for onboard internet have improved vastly within the last few years. I also work remotely throughout the year. Unfortunately, I can’t always take vacation from some of my work obligations that need to be complete each week. Moreover, I prefer to stay connected while cruising instead of disconnecting entirely.

When asked why the kids needed internet, the cruiser explained, “I got divorced a couple years ago. Per my divorce agreement my kids need to have an open line of communication with their mom, as do I need with them. So yeah, they need the internet if she wants to call them for whatever reason.”

Royal Caribbean’s internet has a daily cost of $30.99 per day, but you can save money by bundling up to four devices when purchasing the internet package. This is typically cheaper than purchasing separate internet packages for everyone in your travel party. 

It’s best to purchase your internet before your cruise, as Royal Caribbean often features pre-cruise sales with discounts. Right now, my upcoming cruise is showing a daily cost of $22.99 for a 25% discount. Internet can be expensive, but it's always worth the splurge for me. 

Skip it: Spa Treatment

All of Royal Caribbean’s ships feature a Vitality Spa, where guests can indulge in a variety of luxurious treatments. You can splurge on various services like massages, facials, pedicures, manicures, hair treatments, and even acupuncture for a truly relaxing experience at sea.

This cruiser mentioned purchasing a single spa treatment during their sailing, although pricing can vary based on the service received. Regardless, Royal Caribbean’s Vitality Spa treatments typically start at $100 or more.

While it might be tempting to sign up for a spa treatment while you’re cruising, the prices are typically much higher than you’ll find on land. I’ve had a few cruise ship massages, but I’ve truthfully never been too impressed with the experience. In fact, I once had such a disappointing spa experience that I ended up speaking with the manager, and I was promptly given a refund due to the circumstances.

If you are determined to book a spa treatment, consider scheduling your treatment during a port day to save money. It’s often cheaper than sea days, and they typically run specials to bring down the cost. Even better, consider splurging on a thermal spa pass so you can indulge in relaxation throughout your entire vacation.

These passes typically grant access to exclusive areas like heated loungers, steam rooms, saunas, and hydrotherapy pools. This allows you to unwind as often as you’d like throughout your cruise with unlimited access. It can be a more cost-efficient way to enjoy the spa multiple times instead of paying for an individual treatment, which is one-and-done.

Worth the splurge: Royal Up

Finally, the cruiser shared how they were able to upgrade their stateroom to a balcony cabin through Royal Caribbean’s Royal Up program. This is a bid-based upgrade program that allows cruisers to score great deals on stateroom upgrades.

However, the cruiser shared their awarded balcony was facing the inside of the ship. This is likely either a Central Park balcony, which overlooks the ship’s open-aired Central Park, or a Boardwalk Balcony with aft-facing views of the ship’s Boardwalk.

Royal Up can be worth the splurge depending on the minimum bids and how much you initially paid for your cruise. You can get a great deal on a stateroom, but there are some risks to consider. Most importantly, you typically can’t choose your cabin’s specific stateroom. You’ll have to accept that your upgraded cabin might be in a worse location. You might also have to pay higher gratuities if you upgraded into a suite.

I’ve only used Royal Up once, but the deal was fantastic. I paid $300 to upgrade from an interior cabin to a junior suite while cruising the Mediterranean on Royal Caribbean's Odyssey of the Seas. Granted, this was back in 2022 when cruising was still rebounding from the pandemic. However, you can find some great deals if you are smart about your bidding.

Is it worth sharing a tiny cruise cabin with three people to save money? I did just that on a recent cruise and it wasn’t as bad as I expected.

Cabins on cruise ships are notorious for their compact size. Fitting thousands of guests on a ship is no small feat, so cabins pack all of the essentials into a small space.

It’s standard for two guests to share a cabin on Royal Caribbean, but many rooms accommodate a third and fourth passenger. These rooms are geared toward families with kids, but adults can share cabins with multiple guests, too.

Last month, my parents and I shared a 150-square-foot interior cabin while cruising to Greece and Croatia. By sharing a cabin instead of booking two separate rooms, we saved over $1,000.

Everyone thought we were crazy to share a room, but it was hard to pass up the savings—here's what it was like.

I booked a cruise to Europe to celebrate my mom’s retirement, and we couldn’t wait for our upcoming trip

Following my mom’s retirement last fall, I began searching for ways to celebrate her newfound freedom. Considering how much fun we had on our mother-daughter cruise to Alaska two years ago, I thought another Royal Caribbean cruise would be the perfect way to celebrate.

To make the occasion even more special, I set my sights on European itineraries. Cruising Europe with my mom? Sign me up!

I found a deal on Explorer of the Seas—a 7-night Greek Isles itinerary for $2,149 total, or $1,074 per person. Considering the price included two adults in an interior room, taxes, gratuities, and port fees, it seemed like a great value on such a dreamy vacation.

We booked the cruise in December for a May departure, and I couldn’t wait to set sail with my mom on such a celebratory trip.

The only downside? My dad now wanted to join, but we didn’t know if it was possible

Come February, our cruise planning process was in full swing. My mom and I booked flights, planned hotel stays before and after the cruise, and began researching shore excursions in our ports of call.

Yet when my dad's schedule opened up and he asked to join, we ran into a major issue.

To book a second cabin for my dad, he would be subject to not only his own cruise fare, but a single supplement fee, too. My mom and I paid just over $1,000 each for the cruise, but he would have to pay over $2,000 for just himself in the room.

Related: How far in advance should I book a cruise?

We didn’t know if paying over $2,000 for a second cabin was worth it, especially when considering additional costs like airfare and hotels in Europe.

Instead, I checked the price to add a third guest to my already-reserved cabin. This was far less expensive—just $681 to add my dad to our room.

The savings were substantial, so we decided to bite the bullet and book the cheaper option.

Initially, I wasn’t entirely concerned about sharing a tiny cruise ship cabin with my parents. Growing up in a family of six, I was accustomed to sharing hotel rooms with my parents and siblings.

How much different would sharing a cruise cabin really be?

When we entered our cabin on embarkation day, I was concerned the room would be too small to share

Embarkation day had finally arrived, and I was already grateful we added my dad to the trip. After two days exploring our departure port of Ravenna, Italy together, we had already made wonderful memories.

I couldn’t wait to explore more of Europe with my parents throughout the week, even if it meant sharing a cabin.

Once onboard, we checked out our room for the first time. Our cabin was #6667, an interior stateroom that can accommodate four guests.

Related: The 5 best cabin locations on any cruise ship

The first thing I noticed was the cabin’s bed configuration. Although we didn’t request it, the cabin’s main bed had already been split into two twin-sized beds.

We initially considered asking our stateroom attendant to put the beds back together, but ultimately decided that having the beds separated greatly increased the amount of walking space in the room—a plus when sharing a cabin with three people.

As the “kid” in the room, I took one for the team and agreed to sleep in the twin-sized pullman bed that drops from the ceiling.

I had low expectations for this dropdown bed, but definitely didn’t want my parents climbing the rickety ladder to go to sleep.

Aside from the beds, the cabin had a small couch, private bathroom, desk and vanity area, and closet.

All in all, our interior cabin was a standard inside room like on any other Royal Caribbean cruise ship. It had all the basics for a comfortable stay, but even still, I was somewhat concerned how we would fit ourselves (and all of our belongings) in the space.

Luckily, there was a surprising amount of storage

One of the first things I always do when I get to my cruise cabin is unpack. I hate living out of my suitcase during a cruise, but I was worried there wouldn’t be enough storage space for three people in our small cabin.

Related: 15 things you should do as soon as you get in your cruise cabin to make it better

Fortunately, once my parents and I began unpacking, we found there to be more than enough storage.

A spacious closet provided ample room for hanging clothes, and there was also a set of shelves on one side of the closet.

The desk and vanity were also full of storage. In addition to nine drawers, there were shelves behind the mirror and above the TV.

Near the beds were two nightstands with additional storage, too, and the bathroom had shelving behind the mirror.

I was surprised how easily the three of us fit our belongings in the compact room. We stored our suitcases under the bed, and once we had all of our clothes, electronics, and toiletries put away, the room felt more like home.

Throughout the week, we didn’t spend much time in our stateroom

Once we set sail from Italy, the next week was full of adventure.

We toured the ancient Acropolis in Athens, sipped cocktails in Santorini, and strolled the waterfront promenade in Split. Onboard, most of our time was spent watching the ocean from the Promenade Deck or listening to live music from the ship’s various bars and lounges.

As it turned out, we spent almost no time in our stateroom during the day. This helped ease the feeling of being “crammed” into the small room, as we were typically only there to sleep, shower, and change.

Even when we were in the room, the limited space didn't actually feel limited. Most of the time, my parents would relax on their respective beds and I would sit on the couch. With the beds separated, there was more than enough room to walk around the cabin without running into each other.

Sharing a bathroom was annoying, however, and there weren’t enough electrical outlets

One of the biggest downsides to sharing a cabin with three people is sharing one bathroom.

Mornings on cruise ships can be hectic, especially on port days. From showering to grabbing a quick breakfast and making sure you have everything you need to disembark, it’s easy to feel rushed.

Sharing one bathroom with three people made getting ready much slower. This is where having two cabins would have been beneficial.

Related: 7 bathroom hacks to use in your cruise ship cabin

Some cruisers combat this issue by utilizing the showers in the gym’s locker room, but we didn’t find it worth the hassle of lugging our toiletries and clothes across the ship.

Aside from sharing a bathroom, the lack of electrical outlets was another challenge.

Explorer of the Seas launched in 1999, so I knew outlet availability would be limited, but I still found the lack of outlets inconvenient. Between our cellphones, headphones, camera, and laptop, there never seemed to be enough outlet space for the three of us.

I was glad my mom packed a portable charger. This allowed her to charge her phone by the bed each night while my dad and I charged our belongings at the desk.

If I ever shared a cabin with three people again, I’d pack even more portable chargers and USB hubs to maximize charging capacity.

I didn’t love my pullman bed, and it was the worst part of sharing the room

Surprisingly, the worst part of sharing a cabin with my parents had nothing to do with feeling crowded. Instead, it was my pullman bed.

My dropdown bunk bed offered minimal comfort. The mattress was thin, and I found myself sleeping on top of the bed's plush bedding for added comfort.

I'm sure the bed is satisfactory for kids, but it wasn’t ideal for an adult traveler.

Additionally, getting to and from the bed on the ladder was cumbersome. I wished the cabin had a sofa bed instead of the bunk bed, as this would have made getting out of bed easier, especially in the middle of the night.

Despite the downsides, I’m not opposed to sharing a cabin again

When I first planned my mom’s epic retirement cruise, I never expected to be sharing a 150-square-foot cabin with both of my parents, but it really wasn’t that bad.

Next time, though, I’d do a few things differently.

First, I’d book our cruise further in advance. We added my dad to the sailing just three months before departure, which greatly limited our options. Cruise fares were high, and there were limited empty cabins available.

I would also look at booking connecting rooms instead of sharing one cabin. Connecting cabins have a common door between them, which provides double the living space, normal beds, and an additional bathroom for families traveling together.

Sometimes, booking two connecting cabins is priced similarly to putting all guests in one room.

All that being said, my parents and I still had a wonderful week exploring Greece and Croatia on our cruise. Whether indulging in Greek gyros or shopping our way through the markets of Split, the best moments of our vacation took place outside our cabin.

Ultimately, if my dad had to book an entirely separate room, the cost may have prohibited him from joining our trip. At the end of the day, I’ll remember making fun memories with my parents far more than the downsides of sharing one tiny room.

Cruise prices are dynamic, and they can sometimes drop if demand for a particular sailing.

Similar to hotel or airfare, prices fluctuate and we can see prices go down in some situations, even after you've booked a cruise.

Cruise fares going down aren't that common, but it sometimes happens.

When there is a price drop, there could be the opportunity to save money, but it depends on a few factors.

When do Royal Caribbean cruise prices drop

Because Royal Caribbean uses dynamic pricing for its fares, a specific fare could go down in price if the factors warrant it.

The cruise line doesn't inform guests that are booked there has been a change in price, so it's up to the consumer to track it.

There are all sorts of reasons for a price drop, but it's usually tied to unsold cabins.

If there are too many unsold cabins, cancelled reservations, or the pace of new bookings isn't where the cruise line wants them to be, a price drop could be employed to spur sales.

In fact, price drops can be hyper focused on a specific cruise room category for a given sailing.  It's rarely, if ever, across the board.  You should never expect a price drop in the same way retail products are discounted where prices are slashed for everything.

Some cruisers will point out there are price drops around the final payment date, which is 90 days before the scheduled departure. That's because of last minute cancellations made before the penalties kick in to cancel.

I find the most consistent types of cruises that get a price drop are long sailings, such as repositioning's or transatlantic crossings.

In short, there's no specific time a price drop will or won't occur, but it could happen at any point.

If you're past final payment date, there's nothing you can do to get that better price.

You might be able to re-price a cruise if there's a price drop

You might be able to take advantage of a price drop, but it depends when it occurs and your residency.

Residents of select countries can price match the lower price with no penalty at the lower rate if:

• The price drop is for the exact same stateroom category code on the same ship and sail date
• It's before final payment date
• You're a resident of certain countries, such as the United States or Canada (there are other countries too)

It's up to you to spot the price drop and then request it.

There's no means for consumers to reprice the cruise, it must be requested. If you booked with a travel agent, the agent can do it. Otherwise, you have to call in and request it with the cruise line.

A word of warning, I've heard from many readers who have called Royal Caribbean to ask for a reprice and told it's not possible.  Assuming you've adhered to all of the requirements mentioned earlier, it could be someone unfamiliar with the repricing option. Trust me, it's exists.

How to check if Royal Caribbean has a price drop

The way I look to see if there's been a price drop is to do a mock booking for the cruise I'm booked on.

Basically, going to the Royal Caribbean website and going through the steps for booking a cruise to verify the price.

It's important to be checking you've got the same exact cabin category down to the stateroom code.  That means not just looking up the price of a balcony, but the category code that's a number and letter combination (i.e. 4D).

Mock bookings are simple, but it's also manual. You have to take the initiative to check, and prices could change at any time.

Some travel agencies will check for you, but I've found it's rare.

As an example, MEI Travel has an automated tool that periodically checks for a lower price and then alerts the agent so they can make the change even without their client requesting it. (Disclosure: MEI Travel is a sponsor of this site)

It's important to also remember when repricing to consider any onboard credit or freebies you have, as those would potentially be lost.

Repricing is effectively booking a new reservation, and you cannot carry over any promotions Royal Caribbean may have offered from the initial booking to the updated one. NextCruise offers, however, would still apply.

Booking early is a good strategy

I always try to book my cruise early and then keep an eye out for price drops later.

Usually the lowest cruise prices are when new sailings go on sale many months or years before the cruise depart. It's not uncommon that I never see a price drop because I already booked the best price.

The strategy of booking early and then taking advantage of price drops ensures you always have the lowest price, as opposed to trying to time a price drop later (which may or may not happen).

I would never purposefully wait to book a cruise so that I could time a better price. Once I know I want to sail, I'll book immediately and then message my travel agent if there's been a price change.

Because cruise fares seem to only be going up due to ever increasing demand, I don't see that many price drops. More often, it feels like prices simply rise as the sail date approaches.

With tensions in the Middle East as high as ever over the last week due to escalating air strikes between the U.S., Israel and Iran, travelers are understandably worried.

The question on some people's mind has been how will all of this possibly alter cruise ship plans.

A user on Reddit posted, "I have a cruise coming up in a few weeks that goes through Greece, Turkey, and Cyprus. This is my first cruise and I’m feeling uncertain about the current state of things given recent events. What are the odds that my trip gets canceled?"

Geopolitical turmoil is not new to the cruise industry, but this conflict has the world's attention. While this blog has no official standing with the cruise line and we do not speak for them, I wanted to share what to think about as your trip approaches.

Anything is possible, but no changes at this time

In the case of the person that asked the question, a Mediterranean cruise that visits Turkey and Greece is likely sufficiently far away from the conflict that a cruise cancellation shouldn't be a concern.

Short of the conflict expanding into a larger conflict that involves more of Europe, it's my opinion that cruise ships aren't near enough for there to be a change in itinerary.

Royal Caribbean operates no cruises that visit Israel, Iran, or destinations in the Persian Gulf.

It's far more likely that a ship would be re-routed rather than cancelled, and even that is a low chance.

The regions cruise ships visit in the Mediterranean have not been targets of military strikes, and as others have pointed out, it's not a worry at the moment.

"Odds are about zero. Don't sweat it."

"As others have said, odds are zero, unless war breaks out and it affects your cruise regions. If that does happens, they will just reroute to different ports to avoid the conflict."

"Highly unlikely. Relax and enjoy your trip!"

These are all the sort of comments that people had for the original question posed, and I agree with their assessments. 

If the nature of the conflict were to change, that would be a different story. But for now, a cruise being cancelled seems unlikely.

Important to remain vigilant

While your cruise may not be cancelled, that isn't to say travelers shouldn't let their guard down.

The State Department has issued new warnings for Americans traveling around the world as the result of the U.S. airstrikes on Iran.

American involvement in the Israel-Iran conflict compelled the U.S. State Department to advise all U.S. citizens overseas to exercise increased caution.

"The conflict between Israel and Iran has resulted in disruptions to travel and periodic closure of airspace across the Middle East," the new alert posted on Sunday read. 

"There is the potential for demonstrations against U.S. citizens and interests abroad."

The State Department advised Americans to exercise increased caution globally and to check its specific country advisories, as well as "any recent security alerts when planning travel."

You can consult all of the travel advisories and security alerts on the State Department website.

What's happened with other conflicts

While not apples-to-apples, what we've consistently seen when conflicts erupt around the world is cruise ships simply sail elsewhere.

Last year, Voyager of the Seas was re-routed away from the Red Sea because of concerns there.

At the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Royal Caribbean shifted its ships away from planned visits to Russia.

Royal Caribbean took a two year break from visiting Turkey due to instability in the region, but it still offered cruises that visited nearby Greece.

Every situation is different, but perhaps these examples offer some context.

If you’ve sailed with Carnival Cruise Line, chances are you’ve indulged in a burger from the beloved and iconic Guy’s Burger Joint. While Royal Caribbean doesn’t offer a comparable venue, there is one surprising place onboard where you can find a burger that holds its own - the main dining room.

One of the most popular dining venues on Carnival Cruise Line is Guy’s Burger Joint, and it’s become a staple for many loyal Carnival cruisers. You can find this burger joint across Carnival's fleet, even on their older vessels. The venue quickly became a fan favorite after launching in 2011 through a partnership with celebrity chef Guy Fieri.

Most cruisers would argue this poolside eatery serves up some of the best burgers at sea. As a burger lover myself, I’d have to agree! After sailing with Carnival Cruise Line multiple times, I’d consider myself a bit of a Guy’s Burger Joint aficionado. 

The crafted burgers at Guy's Burger Joint are far from basic. They're served with bold flavor and indulgent toppings, such as bacon patties, onion rings, melty cheese and more. Even better, it’s fully included in your cruise fare, so you can enjoy as many juicy, freshly made burgers as you want throughout your sailing. All burgers are served with well-seasoned and hand-cut, crispy French fries.

Although Royal Caribbean serves basic build-your-own burgers daily in the Windjammer buffet, the cruise line lacks a dedicated burger stand like Carnival. 

If your ship has a Johnny Rockets or Playmaker’s Sports Bar, you could pay extra to have a top-notch burger during your cruise. In addition, you could treat yourself to lunch at Chops Grille, one of Royal Caribbean’s specialty restaurants, where they serve an elevated and higher quality burger for an extra charge.

However, there is one underrated venue that serves one of the best burgers for free on Royal Caribbean. During lunch or brunch in the main dining room, keep an eye out for a hidden gem on the menu: the Royal Burger.

Even though I’ve cruised with Royal Caribbean more than 30 times, I’ve rarely visited the main dining room for lunch. However, while cruising on Anthem of the Seas earlier this spring, I decided to have lunch in the main dining room before our afternoon arrival in Tokyo, Japan.

One of the entrees caught my attention immediately, the Royal Burger. While I’d seen other Royal Caribbean cruisers praise the Royal Burger, I had yet to actually try it myself. My mom and I decided to order this crowd favorite for our lunch, and we were honestly blown away!

On the menu, Royal Caribbean describes the Royal Burger as, “A 1/4-pound patty served on a brioche bun with lettuce, tomato, pickles, fried onions, cheddar cheese, special sauce and a side of fries.”

To start, the Royal Burger features an impressively large 1/4-pound beef patty, and it’s cooked to your preference. I prefer ordering mine medium well, with just a little bit of pink in the middle. The toppings are stacked high with flavorful fried onions and sharp cheddar cheese, along with fresh lettuce, tomato, and pickles. There’s even a special burger sauce drizzled on top!

I ordered my Royal Burger with a side of ranch for both the burger and the crispy fries. In addition, I skipped the lettuce, tomatoes, and pickles, instead opting for a side of bacon. My mom ordered her Royal Burger as advertised. After taking one bite, we both said, “Wow! This is wonderful!”

The Royal Burger was super flavorful and juicy, and the special sauce gave it a small kick that pulled everything together. The fries were served hot and crispy, just as I would have hoped! I also added a little ranch to my burger, and it was a delicious touch that paired perfectly with the other flavors. 

My mom and I absolutely loved the Royal Burger, and couldn’t stop raving about it throughout the day. Sadly, this was our final day onboard so we couldn’t return for another Royal Burger on this cruise. Because of this, we couldn't wait to try the Royal Burger during our recent cruise on Ovation of the Seas. 

Overall, the Royal Burger was everything you could want in a good burger during a cruise. The patty was well-seasoned and cooked perfectly, with a nice sear on the outside that added great flavor and texture. I loved how the bun was lightly toasted, and I prefer the hint of sweetness with brioche buns. 

The Royal Burger is definitely a step up from the build-your-own burgers in the Windjammer. The patty feels much heartier, and I’d guess it’s about twice the size of the burgers served at the buffet.  The overall quality is also noticeably better in the main dining room. 

In my opinion, the Royal Burger easily rivals the burgers served at Guy’s Burger Joint on Carnival Cruise Line. In fact, I actually prefer this more elevated option compared to Carnival's burgers. While this certainly comes down to personal preference, I appreciated how the Royal Burger wasn’t quite as greasy as the burgers served at Guy’s Burger Joint.

With the Royal Burger, I was able to enjoy the rest of my day without any gastrointestinal repercussions. I enjoyed my afternoon exploring Tokyo on foot without feeling weighed down from a greasy lunch. Now that I’ve experienced the hyped Royal Burger myself, I will definitely look for this crowd favorite on every future Royal Caribbean cruise. After all, one of the biggest highlights of cruising is indulging in all of the delicious cuisine onboard.

One cruise ship truly changed the industry when it debuted, and it remains one of Royal Caribbean's best ships.

When Royal Caribbean first launched Oasis of the Seas in 2009, every cruise ship that came before it suddenly felt obsolete. The Oasis Class did not merely enlarge the scale of cruising, it redefined what a cruise ship could be. 

More than a decade later, Royal Caribbean’s leadership remains confident that the Oasis Class wasn’t just a milestone in naval engineering, but a turning point in modern leisure.

According to Jason Liberty, CEO of Royal Caribbean Group, the enduring success of the class stems from a culture of sustained reinvention. “Continuous improvement is really one of our key mantras in the company," Liberty stated. “How do we make it better tomorrow? How do we make it better ten years from now? And that’s where all the dreaming comes in."

This spirit of ambition was at the heart of the Oasis Class from the beginning. Harri Kulovaara, Executive Vice President of Maritime & Newbuilding, recalls the magnitude of the project with characteristic understatement. “When we started to dream of a ship of this size, that time was probably for us the largest leap in the design process, in the technical process, in managing something as complex as it is.”

From a technical and conceptual standpoint, Oasis was a radical departure. Rather than following the industry’s established formula, Royal Caribbean set out to design something that reoriented the very idea of vacation at sea. “When the Oasis class first debuted in the cruise industry,” said Darren Budden, Director of Product Development, “it for the first time truly made the ship the destination on a cruise vacation. The Oasis class has been copied but never replicated.”

The list of innovations introduced with Oasis is extensive: Central Park, an open-air green space inspired by Manhattan; the AquaTheater, a vast amphitheater built into the ship’s stern; the Ultimate Abyss, the tallest dry slide at sea. These were not gimmicks, but carefully calculated design choices meant to segment the ship into “neighborhoods,” each offering a distinct experience.

Kelly Gonzalez, Senior Vice President of Architectural Design, traced the origin of Central Park back to analytical design work. “We had realized that Central Park in Manhattan was proportionate to the atrium that we had on Oasis class to the size of the ship.” What could have remained a novelty was instead transformed into a peaceful, living environment in the middle of the ocean. “It’s a beautiful setting,” said Michael Bayley, President & CEO of Royal Caribbean International. “Tens of thousands of plants and trees. It’s very special.”

Equally daring was the AquaTheater. “We said there needs to be an amphitheater which is looking into the ship,” Kulovaara noted. “It wasn’t easy to put 500 tons of water into that area.” But the ambition paid off. The AquaTheater became a defining feature of the class, enabling diving performances and acrobatics that were once unthinkable on a moving vessel.

This willingness to challenge conventions remained a hallmark of the class’s evolution. Jay Schneider, Senior Vice President and Chief Product Innovation Officer, emphasized how *Oasis of the Seas* became its own benchmark. “In 2009, Oasis of the Seas was a game changer for the industry,” he said. “And the beauty of that class is it’s only continued to evolve and compete essentially with itself.”

Indeed, each new Oasis-class ship has become an exercise in refinement. “Every Oasis class is an evolution of the previous one,” Bayley explained. “Everything we learn from the first to the second to the third, to the fourth, to the fifth, to the sixth, Utopia is built in and refined.”

*Utopia of the Seas*, launching as the sixth ship in the class, represents the current apex of this approach. Schneider describes it as “tradition, evolution, revolution.” The ship not only carries forward signature features like the Ultimate Abyss and AquaTheater, but also rethinks elements such as the open deck and dining venues. “It’s a food and beverage revolution and evolution, all packaged in one,” he said.

Julie Ansorge, Senior Product Owner, highlighted the revitalized Ultimate Abyss slide. “We added another section to it with rollers so that you get a little boost… It also is going to have a false exit, which is a clear acrylic section. So when you come around that bend, it looks like you’re going to shoot out into the boardwalk.”

Other enhancements address more subtle aspects of guest behavior. “One of the main guest focuses that we wanted to address was the need for more nighttime activations,” Ansorge explained. “This is going to be the world’s biggest party.”

Royal Caribbean has also been deliberate in creating ships that can evolve in service. “We build the ships from the beginning in such a way that we have capability of adding weight,” said Kulovaara. “We always try to think that there’s always room for some revolutionary thoughts.”

This built-in flexibility supports the line’s “Royal Amplified” modernization program. Daniella Hoffmann, Associate Vice President of Product Development, described the effort as an ongoing response to guest expectations. “We start the process by asking questions and really honing in on what are the things that differentiate this experience from any other.”

For all its scale and complexity, the Oasis Class has never lost sight of its central purpose. As Bayley put it: “We’ve always been focused on making sure that we’re highly relevant with our guests. And as guests change and families evolve, so does Royal Caribbean.”

The enduring relevance of Oasis Class is perhaps best summarized by Kulovaara himself. “I think Oasis was enormously successful from day one and has fulfilled all the expectations,” he reflected. 

“It broke in many ways the paradigms which are in cruising. It has not only changed Royal Caribbean—I think it has changed the entire industry.”

In an era where many cruise lines follow trends, Royal Caribbean’s Oasis Class continues to chart its own course—anchored not in spectacle for its own sake, but in a disciplined, evolving vision of what the cruise experience can offer.

Happy Sunday! Hope you are having a relaxing weekend and enjoying summer! It is time to sit back, relax, and catch up on all the recent Royal Caribbean news!

Royal Caribbean announced it will upgrade three cruise ships with new features and enhancements.

The upgrades are part of the fleet's Royal Amplified program.

Each ship will get specific additions, such as new restaurants, bars, and revamped pools.

Royal Caribbean News

• I flew to Europe for a cruise and was paranoid about jetlag. I did 3 things to beat it
• I paid $660 to eat just specialty dining on Icon of the Seas. It was better than advertised, but I missed free food
• I packed the wrong clothes for the last day of my cruise, and it's a reminder of the worst cruise ship packing mistakes
• Why I love my cruise lanyard — and why i’ll always keep it in my carry-on
• 10 Alaska cruise essentials to not forget
• I spent two days in Disneyland Paris and it reminded me how much better a value cruises are

New RCB Video: My cruise excursion plans backfired

Have you subscribed to the Royal Caribbean Blog YouTube Channel? We share some great videos there regularly, all about taking a Royal Caribbean cruise! This week, we are sharing our latest video — My cruise excursion plans backfired — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

Carnival overhauls its loyalty program with major changes

Royal Caribbean's major competitor made significant changes to its customer loyalty program that has caught the attention of just about everyone.

Carnival is switching to a program that's more akin to airline frequent flyer programs, where how much you spend factors into your status.  Plus, you have to cruise to keep your status.

Because it's such a departure from how cruise lines have approached their programs, it's raised the question if other lines will make similar changes.

Photos show progress being made to Royal Caribbean's private beach club

Royal Beach Club at Paradise Island will open at the end of this year and work is progressing on its construction.

Photos taken this week show foundations for the major structures are already in place, with a buzz of activity.

Once opened, it will be a paid entry opportunity exclusive to Royal Caribbean passengers in Nassau, Bahamas.

Celebrity cruise ship drifts from pier after wind squall

The Celebrity Edge ship had an incident involving strong winds this week.

While in Alaska, the forward lines snapped when the ship was docked in Juneau.

Because of the strong winds, Celebrity Edge drifted into the harbor near other ships.

5 simple (and cheap) things to make your cruise excursion be more enjoyable

I've found it's easy to enhance your shore excursion without spending a lot.

I think bringing a few small things on almost any cruise tour will make it more enjoyable.

In fact, you might already own some of these items.

Royal Caribbean expands partnership with land-based casino

MGM Casino is making it easier to benefit from your cruising loyalty.

Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises have strengthened their casino loyalty partnership with MGM and announced changes to its offerings.

Players who gamble in the onboard casinos can now earn MGM Rewards Points, tier credits, and slot dollars.