Royal Caribbean Blog

I almost always skip formal night on a cruise, and it’s the best choice I make on every vacation.

Many cruise passengers look forward to formal night in the Main Dining Room. It’s a great opportunity to dress up and enjoy a multi-course, sit-down meal with friends and family.

In the past, formal night was true to its name. Passengers dressed in ball gowns and tuxedos, and the event was akin to an elegant gala.

Nowadays, formal night is far less formal. Dress codes are rarely enforced, and unlimited lobster is a thing of the past.

Even still, there are six reasons I opt out of formal night on a cruise, and doing so makes my experience a whole lot better.

I don’t need to pack as many clothes

As someone who doesn't live within driving distance of a cruise port, I fly to every cruise I take. While I don’t mind flying, I absolutely hate paying for checked bags.

These days, most airlines charge between $35 and $45 each way for a checked bag. Flights are expensive enough, so I try to avoid checking a bag whenever I can.

Instead, I pack lightly for my cruises. My carry-on suitcase provides adequate space for a week’s worth of clothes, especially when I utilize packing cubes to compress clothing items.

Related: Royal Caribbean formal night: What to wear

Packing a carry-on means I have to pack thoughtfully. Sometimes, it’s challenging to fit daytime outfits, evening outfits, bathing suits, shoes, toiletries, and formal night clothing into my carry-on.

I simply don’t have the packing space to bring a long, formal dress and nicer pair of shoes.

Even though formal night is far less formal than it used to be, I don’t see the need to pack extra outfits just to sit in the dining room.

Other venues onboard, such as the buffet or even some casual specialty restaurants like Playmakers, have a more relaxed dress code. These restaurants can be a great alternative.

Lobster isn’t unlimited anymore — plus, there is better lobster elsewhere onboard

One of the main reasons passengers love formal night is for the free lobster tails. However, I’d argue that this dish alone is not worth planning your entire dinner over.

First, Royal Caribbean has cut down on lobster tail service in the Main Dining Room. In the past, passengers could order unlimited lobster tails on formal night. For lobster-lovers, this was a huge benefit of attending.

In 2023, though, Royal Caribbean reversed their unlimited lobster policy. Now, passengers can only order one lobster tail at no cost. Any additional lobster tails incur a fee of $16.99 per dish.

Related: Royal Caribbean menus: Main Dining Room, specialty restaurants & more

Even if you’re attending formal night just for lobster, I’d say you’re better off ordering the dish at a specialty restaurant instead.

150 Central Park, a specialty restaurant on Royal Caribbean’s Oasis Class ships, has perhaps the most delicious lobster dish the cruise line offers—Lobster Thermidor.

This French dish involves cooking lobster meat in a creamy, cognac-based sauce seasoned with tarragon. It’s then stuffed into a lobster tail and topped with parmesan cheese.

This is one of my all-time favorite dishes on Royal Caribbean. It's perfectly tender, flavorful, and rich. Despite the restaurant’s cover charge, which hovers around $60, I find that this dish alone justifies the cost.

Related: How does specialty dining work on Royal Caribbean?

So, if you’re planning to attend formal night for one small lobster tail, I wouldn't say it’s totally worth it. Instead, consider dining at a specialty restaurant instead for a higher-quality dish.

Specialty restaurants offering lobster include Chops Grille, 150 Central Park, Hooked Seafood, and Izumi Sushi.

Meals in the dining room aren’t as private as I’d like

I don’t mind eating in the Main Dining Room on a cruise, but it’s never my first choice.

My problem with the dining room doesn’t have anything to do with the food itself, but the placement of dining tables.

With thousands of guests onboard a cruise ship, tables are typically close together, but sometimes they’re way too close together.

In particular, the tables of two and four can be just inches away from each other. This leads to a lack of privacy, as you can usually hear conversations from the tables next to your own.

I like mingling with other passengers here and there during a cruise, but prefer to enjoy a more private ambiance when dining. On formal nights, the dining room is even busier than normal, so my chances of snagging a private table location are slim to none.

Related: How do I get a table for two in the Main Dining Room?

Therefore, I prefer dining elsewhere on the ship to encounter fewer crowds. The buffet, for instance, has a ton of tables available at dinner, so there’s no need to sit inches away from another party.

Likewise, specialty restaurants have a more intimate atmosphere than the Main Dining Room. Tables are further apart from each other at specialty restaurants, and I greatly prefer this type of dining environment.

The buffet offers some of the same food

If a dish on the formal night menu catches your eye but you don’t want to dress up for a sit-down meal, consider eating at the buffet instead.

More often than not, you’ll find similar food items at the Windjammer buffet as in the Main Dining Room. While you won’t find lobster tails, you’re likely to see some of the same appetizers, main courses, and desserts at the buffet stations.

Sure, you won’t get that same sit-down service that you would have in the dining room, but there are benefits to the buffet, too.

First, there are a lot more choices available. Whether you’re craving made-to-order pasta, stir fry, Indian curry, or a classic hamburger, you’re likely to find what you’re looking for in the Windjammer.

Related: The overlooked buffet station you should visit on your Royal Caribbean cruise

Not only that, but you can try more dishes, too. Even though you can order multiple entrées in the Main Dining Room, you’ll have to wait for each dish to come to your table. At the buffet, you can try a variety of items with no additional wait time.

Finally, there are virtually no crowds in the buffet on formal night. Because so many passengers head to the dining room, you might just have the venue (almost) all to yourself.

Ironically, the atmosphere in the quiet buffet could be more suitable for a relaxing dinner than that in the busy dining room.

Service is slower due to higher demand

One of my favorite things about eating in the Main Dining Room is the wonderful service from Royal Caribbean’s dining team.

Without fail, my waiters have always been exceptional. Whether they suggest a dish I might enjoy or bring extra ice cream for my chocolate cake, I love the personalized service and attention I receive in the dining room.

That being said, meals can sometimes take longer on formal night. Due to higher demand, the kitchen and wait staff are working more diligently than ever.

A meal that might usually take around 75 minutes could take longer than 90 minutes on formal night.

Longer meals don't always bother me, but sometimes I just want to get in and out of the dining room, especially if I plan to attend a show later in the evening.

The rest of the ship has fewer crowds

Speaking of crowds, formal night can be the best time to enjoy the ship’s public amenities like pools, sports activities, and lounges.

On my recent cruise, I visited the ship’s Solarium on formal night instead of eating in the dining room. This venue was completely packed most days of the cruise, but was nearly empty on formal night.

I enjoyed the pools and hot tubs with no crowds—a rarity on a ship with 5,000 guests!

Related: Chill spots to get away from the crowd on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship

If you’re hoping to try out the ship’s waterslides, FlowRider surf simulator, rock climbing wall, or ice-skating rink, formal night could be the best time to do these activities with fewer lines.

Even if you’re just planning to chill with a drink on the pool deck, it might feel like you have the ship to yourself.

Everyone’s cruising style is different, and some passengers love attending formal night

I almost never attend formal night on a cruise, but that doesn’t mean you should skip it.

For some cruisers, formal night is a classic cruise activity they like to participate in on every vacation. It’s a chance to dress up, take formal photos, and enjoy an elegant meal.

These passengers may find it perplexing to skip free lobster tails in the dining room in favor of the buffet, but it’s what works for me.

Every cruiser has a different style. Some may love spending their days at the pool while others might prefer engaging in activities like trivia and sushi-making classes.

There’s no right or wrong way to cruise. Whether you want to attend formal night or skip it, you’re free to cater your cruise vacation to your personal style.

Another gastrointestinal outbreak sickened dozens of passengers on Navigator of the Seas in July, marking the second outbreak this year on a ship operated by Royal Caribbean, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

134 passengers and 7 crew members fell ill during the outbreak. There were 3,914 guests and 1,266 crew members on the 139,999 gross-ton vessel. The outbreak, which was reported on July 11, happened during a 7-night cruise from Los Angeles, California, to the Mexican Riviera. 

The causative agent hasn't been revealed by the CDC, though it's been hinted to be norovirus, a highly contagious virus that spreads easily through contaminated food, water, or surfaces. Symptoms of the illness include diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal cramps. 

In response to the outbreak, Royal Caribbean implemented enhanced cleaning protocols, collected stool specimens for testing, and isolated sick passengers and crew.

"The health and safety of our guests, crew, and the communities we visit are our top priority," a spokesperson for Royal Caribbean Group told USA TODAY. 

"To maintain an environment that supports the highest levels of health and safety onboard our ships, we implement rigorous cleaning procedures, many of which far exceed public health guidelines," they added.

Read more: Cruise ships suffer worst year for stomach bugs in over a decade. Here's what I'm doing to stay healthy

This year has seen an increase in gastrointestinal cases on cruise ships compared to 2024, which reported a total of 18 outbreaks across all cruise lines between January and December

The first outbreak of the year was aboard Sea Cloud Cruises. The causative agent, however, wasn't norovirus. Instead, it's listed as Ciguatera (presumed). 

According to the CDC's website, the first norovirus outbreak on a cruise ship in 2025 happened aboard Holland America Line's Volendam during a 21-night cruise in January. 

Only one other Royal Caribbean ship has suffered from a norovirus outbreak this year: Radiance of the Seas. The CDC revealed that the final case counts for the outbreak on Radiance were 160 passengers and 8 crew members. 

The affected voyage took place from February 1-8, 2025, with a total of 2,164 passengers and 910 crew onboard. Radiance was sailing from Tampa, Florida, to the Western Caribbean. Ports of call on the itinerary included Cozumel, Mexico; Roatán, Honduras; Belize City, Belize; and Costa Maya, Mexico. 

The February 8 voyage's embarkation was delayed to let the crew have adequate time to deep clean the ship before allowing new passengers onboard.

The CDC shares outbreaks when they meet the following criteria: 

• The ship is under VSP (Vessel Sanitation Program) jurisdiction on cruises including both U.S. and foreign ports
• Specific voyage has 3% or more of passengers or crew reporting gastrointestinal symptoms to the ship's medical staff

In Navigator of the Seas' case, 3.4% of guests reported being ill during the 7-night cruise. 0.6%  of the crew were also sick.

Star of the Seas is on her way to start cruises!

Royal Caribbean's newest ship departed the Meyer Turku shipyard on Thursday evening, headed towards its home port, Port Canaveral. 

Before that, she’ll make a stop in Cádiz, Spain.

It's a major accomplishment for the cruise line to have its next Icon Class ship join the fleet, and everything looks to be on time.

Royal Caribbean spent a full year gathering feedback from guests that sailed on Icon of the Seas, focus groups, and family travelers to understand what worked, and what could be improved. 

Here's what you can expect on Star of the Seas.

Largest water park at sea

One of the best features on Icon of the Seas was the inclusion of an entire water park with Category 6.

You'll find this also on Star of the Seas, complete with:

• Two high-speed family raft slides
• A drop box free-fall slide
• Two mat racers
• And twisting body slides for solo riders

The cruise line thinks it has the boldest waterpark at sea, but will continue to tweak and refine it based on guest preferences. 

More social Surfside

Icon of the Seas debuted the first area of the ship designed just for kids, but they learned something important in the process.

Surfside neighborhood is designed specifically for young families but it skewed toward kids around 10 years old. On Star of the Seas, the cruise line made several improvements:

• The Playscape now offers more physical challenges to keep kids engaged

• Splashaway Bay features new interactive water elements and toys

• Adventure Ocean has been reimagined to focus on natural, tech-free play, helping kids and teens connect more easily in person

• New spaces for more social, less tech-based play

The hope is these upgrades will match up better with how families actually travel and interact.

A New Supper Club Concept: Lincoln Park

Royal Caribbean's first supper club, Empire Supper Club, was a big hit. On Star of the Seas, Royal Caribbean is introducing an entirely new concept: the Lincoln Park Supper Club, themed after Chicago’s iconic jazz scene.

This version brings:

• A brand-new menu

• All-new live music programming

• The same intimate, elevated feel that made Empire a hit

Bolder and brighter Pearl

The Pearl welcomes passengers as they walk onboard, and it's a big part of the arrival moment.

On Star of the Seas, Royal Caribbean is doubling down on its visual impact by adding more color, lighting, and movement, making that “wow” moment when guests first board even more memorable.

They didn't mess with what works

You'll also find the other neighborhoods that worked well on Icon of the Seas.

• AquaDome, the massive glass-covered venue with live shows and ocean views
• Chill Island, a multi-pool retreat zone perfect for relaxing
• Thrill Island, the upper deck adventure zone packed with water slides and thrills
• The Hideaway, the suspended infinity pool retreat for adults

At its core, Royal Caribbean thinks it has the winning formula to take what was already a major success with Icon of the Seas and make it even better with Star.

"The Icon Class delivered the world’s best family vacation—but we want to do that tomorrow. We want to do that next week. We want to make sure that what people see on day one is nothing but an amazing home run," Jennifer Goswami, Director, Product Development for Royal Caribbean, said in a video interview.

Taking the feedback they've gotten from passengers, it seems Royal Caribbean is ready to deliver an even more impressive ship with Star of the Seas.

I had my best European cruise season ever this summer, and I'm hoping you can benefit from my experience too.

Seeing Europe by cruise ship was a highlight of my cruising career, and after going on back-to-back Independence of the Seas cruises, it taught me some truths about cruising in this region.

As someone that has cruised almost exclusively in the Caribbean, Europe has its own approach to planning and how to explore.

Here 15 Europe cruise tips that I think would benefit almost anyone taking a European cruise.

1. Buy an eSim

Every port visit was easier because I always knew where I was, where I was going, and how to get there.

I purchased an eSim to use while in Europe, and I think it's a must-buy add-on.

It cost me just $41.99 for 100GB that lasted 30 days, and it made navigating Europe's cities simple.

2. Plan for any weather

Weather forecasts seemed to be nearly useless this time, and I'd use them sparingly.

I found the expected precipitation and high temperatures could be vastly different from what was predicted.

You should walk off the ship prepared for cold weather and rain, but able to adapt quickly when it gets hot again.

Wearing layers is the solution.  Have a t-shirt as your base layer, and a fleece/sweater and rain jacket readily available.

3. Bus tours should be your last option

Of all the tours I took, bust tours were my least favorite.

I dislike bus tours because they move at a slow pace, and tend to make stops that are either too short or too long.

Plus, the seats on most European buses tend to be quite small and lacking legroom.

I'd recommend looking at a third party tour that offers a small group option as a good alternative.  Or even walking and exploring on your own, when possible.

I won't go as far as to say to avoid bus tours. Sometimes they are unavoidable necessities, but if you have the choice, I'd skip it.

4. Don't waste time converting currency

Converting to local currency makes no sense, and you're wasting your time and money if you do.

Every single store, kiosk, bathroom, and restaurant took credit cards.  I used my credit card with no foreign transaction fees to get me the best possible exchange rate at the time of purchase, and came home with no leftover currency.

Not to mention if you convert money to local currency and then back to your own currency after, you're losing money across two transactions.

Truly, you don't need cash at all in Europe.

5. Spend at least 2 or 3 days in Europe pre-cruise to acclimate to the time

You should fly in at least three days before the cruise begins so you don't start your cruise over tired.

I was able to overcome jetlag, but I was still tired for the first two days.

By day three, I was feeling back to normal again.  And that allowed me to board Independence of the Seas with the same amount of energy as I would one near my house.

6. Don't buy the Stay Later option

Royal Caribbean offers an extra cost option where guests can stay on the ship for many hours after the cruise ends.

It sounds like a good idea, but I think it's a waste.

"Stay Later" allows passengers to stay on the ship until the afternoon. It's not available in the United States.

The problem is you have to leave your room and cannot charge anything. So basically, it's a pass to hang out in public places and eat at the Windjammer when it opens.

Personally, I'd rather pay for a hotel day pass near the airport so I could have somewhere to sit, sleep, and shower while I wait for my flight home.

7. Use local transportation in the big cities

Don't be afraid to use the subway, bus, or street cars in the cities you visit.

Many use a simple tap to pay approach, where you tap your credit card when you enter and again when you leave. Some countries had an app, and it was even easier.

Not only are taxis expensive in Europe, but mass transportation is quite efficient and easy to use.

8. Embrace onboard laundry

Royal Caribbean's laundry options aren't cheap, but it's the easiest way to reuse clothing and limit how much you need to bring.

I used the laundry service a few times on each sailing, and it made it more manageable to have enough clothes without packing two weeks worth of items.

9. Take bottled water with you off the ship

I was surprised how much soft drinks and bottled water cost in Europe, so definitely bring your own.

Royal Caribbean's bottled water is cheaper, and it's worth the hassle of having to carry it around.

10. Watch YouTube videos to see which attractions look interesting

If you're like me, you don't know necessarily what you want to do in a particular city, but you'd know it if you saw it.

To prepare for each port, I watched videos about the best things to do in each city and then jotted down the attractions, restaurants, and places that looked good.

This is a really good strategy for outlining what to do in a port, and then leverage Google Maps to figure out how to easily walk between them.

11. Leave time in your port plans for wandering

Following up on the last time, don't overplan your days. Instead, purposefully leave time to wander.

On each port day, I only had 3 or 4 things to see or do in an port. That's definitely not going to fill up 5-6 hours, but it does mean I can stop and meander into an interesting neighborhood.

This ensures there's time for shopping, exploring, and taking your time so you don't feel like you're rushed.

12. Buy a sling bag

I was hesitant to buy a sling bag for Europe, but it's the perfect travel accessory.

Having a sling bag is great for defending against pickpockets, but it also gives you more space for your valuables, snacks, sunglasses, and even a light jacket.

I bought it for the crime prevention element, but it turned out to be really helpful too.

13. Learn to say "hello" and "thank you"

If you want to avoid getting the "rude American treatment", my advice is simple: learn a few basic phrases in the local language.

Always start off any conversation with a local by saying hello in their language, and then break into English.

I'd recommend being able to say:

• Hello
• Thank you
• Goodbye

It goes a long way when you make a very basic attempt to communicate in their language, and I have yet to run into a rude person.

14. Plan for more hours of sun

If you're visiting Northern Europe, plan on the sun being up more than at home.

In Norway, the sun wouldn't set until around 11pm and then would rise at about 4am. It messes with your sense of what time it really is.

Plus, Royal Caribbean's cabin curtains aren't blackout curtains.  So it will be light in your cabin.

15. Bike lanes are as dangerous as the road

In many cities, bikes are a way of life and you need to be extra cautious crossing the road.

This was especially true in Denmark and The Netherlands, where the bike lanes are adjacent to the roadways and the bikers expect you to yield to them.

This makes crossing the street if not in the walkway and with the crossing light a bit precarious.

The Crown Lounge on Royal Caribbean is an exclusive onboard venue for top-tier loyalty members within the Crown & Anchor Society. 

Formerly known as the Diamond Lounge, the Crown Lounge was rebranded to honor the legacy of Royal Caribbean's maritime heritage. 

The lounge is a quiet and comfortable spot where eligible guests can enjoy complimentary snacks throughout the day, as well as benefit from concierge services. They're found on every vessel within Royal Caribbean's fleet, from Grandeur of the Seas to Icon of the Seas. 

Here's everything you need to know about Royal Caribbean's Crown Lounge, including how to access the private space and tips for maximizing the experience. 

Access to the Crown Lounge is reserved for Diamond, Diamond Plus, and Pinnacle Club cruisers

There are six tiers within Royal Caribbean's Crown & Anchor Society: Gold, Platinum, Emerald, Diamond, Diamond Plus, and Pinnacle Club. The bottom three — Gold, Platinum, and Emerald — don't have access to the Crown Lounge. 

In fact, it's not until you reach Diamond status that you start to access worthwhile perks, such as complimentary drink vouchers, free internet, and entry into the exclusive Crown Lounge.  

Diamond cruisers must accumulate 80 cruise points in the loyalty program. You earn points on a per-night basis. However, there are a few opportunities to double your nightly earnings, such as when traveling in a suite or solo. 

That said, it takes the average cruiser 12 weeklong sailings to become a Diamond cruiser within the Crown & Anchor Society. 

If you're a Diamond member — rather than Diamond Plus or Pinnacle Club — be aware that Royal Caribbean has the right to temporarily restrict access during peak hours, such as 5:00pm - 8:00pm. 

This happens when there are a lot of top-tier Crown & Anchor Society members on board. They will let guests know of any restrictions on embarkation day in a letter delivered to the cabins.

Access to the Crown Lounge can't be shared with friends and family members, and minors must always be accompanied by a parent or guardian. 

Moreover, only guests who have earned a higher loyalty tier can enter the Crown Lounge, regardless of their cabin category. Gold, Platinum, and Emerald cruisers staying in qualifying suites can enjoy the Suite Lounge, though. 

Read more: The secrets to achieving Diamond status quickly on Royal Caribbean

Crown Lounge locations

Many Crown Lounges are located near the Viking Crown Lounge at the top of the ship, offering cruisers panoramic views of the ocean and ports of call. However, this isn't the case on every vessel. 

Here's where you can find the Crown Lounge on every ship in Royal Caribbean's fleet:

Icon Class

Icon of the Seas: Near the Royal Escape Room, Deck 6,

Star of the Seas: Near the Royal Escape Room, Deck 6

Oasis Class

Oasis of the Seas: Near Studio B, Deck 4

Allure of the Seas: Near the Mason Jar, Deck 15

Harmony of the Seas: Near Studio B, Deck 4

Symphony of the Seas: Near Studio B, Deck 4

Wonder of the Seas: Near Social 100, Deck 16

Utopia of the Seas: Near Social 100, Deck 16

Quantum Class

Quantum of the Seas: Near the Royal Theater, Deck 4

Anthem of the Seas: Near the Royal Theater, Deck 4

Ovation of the Seas: Near the Royal Theater, Deck 4

Odyssey of the Seas: Near the Royal Theater, Deck 4

**Spectrum of the Seas: Near the Solarium, Deck 14

**Spectrum of the Seas does have a lounge for loyalty members, but it's shared with suite cruisers. Called the "Silver Lounge," it's located in the front of the ship on Deck 14, near the Solarium and suite-only dining room. 

Freedom Class

Freedom of the Seas: Near the Viking Crown Lounge, Deck 14

Liberty of the Seas: Near the Viking Crown Lounge, Deck 14

Independence of the Seas: Near the Viking Crown Lounge, Deck 14

Voyager Class

Voyager of the Seas: Near the Star Lounge, Deck 5

Adventure of the Seas: Near the Viking Crown Lounge, Deck 14

Explorer of the Seas: Near the Viking Crown Lounge, Deck 14

Mariner of the Seas: Near the Viking Crown Lounge, Deck 14

Navigator of the Seas: Near the Star Lounge, Deck 5

Radiance Class

Radiance of the Seas: Near the Viking Crown Lounge, Deck 13

Jewel of the Seas: Near the Viking Crown Lounge, Deck 13

Brilliance of the Seas: Near the Viking Crown Lounge, Deck 13

Serenade of the Seas: Near the Viking Crown Lounge, Deck 13

Vision Class

Grandeur of the Seas: Near the South Pacific Lounge, Deck 6

Vision of the Seas: Near the Some Enchanted Evening Lounge, Deck 6

Enchantment of the Seas: Above the Viking Crown Lounge, Deck 12

Rhapsody of the Seas: Near the Shall We Dance Lounge, Deck 6

What to expect inside Royal Caribbean's Crown Lounge

There are many perks that come with gaining access to the Crown Lounge. 

First and foremost, the space is designed to be a peaceful retreat for Diamond, Diamond Plus, and Pinnacle Club members of the Crown & Anchor Society. As such, the laid-back ambiance is ideal for reading, relaxing, or socializing before dinner. 

Throughout the day, however, the Crown Lounge also serves as a place for complimentary snacks and beverages, starting with a continental breakfast in the mornings. 

The self-serve coffee machine is also a favorite, with higher-quality, espresso-based brews not available from the standard drip machines throughout the ship. 

Before dinner, the Crown Lounge becomes a gathering spot for elite Crown & Anchor Society cruisers. During the nightly happy hour, guests can enjoy complimentary hors d’oeuvres. If the lounge doesn't have a dedicated bar, such as on Vision of the Seas, bartenders are often roaming to take drink orders. 

Although these beverages aren't included, Diamond, Diamond Plus, and Pinnacle Club members can use their daily drink vouchers for complimentary cocktails, wine, beer, or soda. 

It's not uncommon for ship Officers to wander into the Crown Lounge during happy hour, too. This gives frequent cruisers a chance to mingle with some of the ship’s senior crew members. 

In addition to the snacks, the Crown Lounge features a dedicated concierge who is available to assist with various onboard needs, so you don't have to worry about going to Guest Services. They can help make dining and show reservations, check on billing disputes, and more. 

Read more: 4 lesser-known perks of Royal Caribbean's Crown & Anchor Program

Tips for enjoying the Crown Lounge

Whether you’re a first-time Diamond cruiser or a few cruises away from reaching the coveted Pinnacle Club tier, here are a few tips to help you make the most of your access to Royal Caribbean's Crown Lounge. 

First, skip the Windjammer Marketplace in the morning. Although the buffet has more offerings, the Crown Lounge is ideal for cruisers who don't care about piling their plates high with eggs, pancakes, and bacon. 

Instead, those who go to the Crown Lounge for breakfast can enjoy basic continental options, like pastries, fruit, and muffins, with a quality cup of coffee in a quieter atmosphere. 

After breakfast, try to visit the lounge during the off-peak hours to enjoy peace and quiet. Mid-morning and mid-afternoon are usually less crowded, as the Crown Lounge can see an influx of guests during the nightly happy hour. 

Don't be afraid to strike up a conversation with other cruisers, either. Making new friends is one of the best parts about taking a cruise, and the Crown Lounge attracts Royal Caribbean’s most seasoned travelers. You never know what advice others will have. You may enjoy just swapping travel stories over a beverage, too! 

Finally, don't underestimate the concierge. They can be a huge asset throughout your cruise vacation, whether you need help booking specialty restaurants, reserving shows, or making plans for a family photoshoot. 

One of the best travel credit cards is getting overhauled, and it’s no longer the best option for cruisers.

As a credit card enthusiast, I always strategize to find the best cards to align with my spending. Each purchase is meticulously charged to the best credit card, which we pay off in full each month to avoid interest charges and fees. It’s essentially a part-time job, but the rewards are substantial.

Last year, my husband and I saved over $23,000 thanks to our portfolio of credit cards. The bulk of this savings comes from redeeming our points for travel with airlines, hotels, and rental cars. And yes, I track our credit card savings each month - I am a data analyst, after all!

For many years, the Chase Sapphire Reserve used to be one of the best credit cards for earning points on cruise purchases. This was my top recommendation for cruisers for many reasons, including the card’s generous 3x point multiplier on travel. With this, you could easily rack up thousands of points with your cruise purchases.

Because of this, the broad “travel” category earned 3x points on all cruise purchases. This included everything from your cruise fares to shore excursions, internet packages, specialty dining packages, spa treatments, and drink packages.

Unfortunately, the Chase Sapphire Reserve is receiving a drastic makeover, although most cardholders consider it a huge downgrade. Among many changes and restrictive redemptions, the broad 3x travel category is being eliminated.

If you’re wondering which credit card is now the best for cruise purchases, you’re not alone. I'm also personally impacted by these changes, and I am definitely not thrilled about it. Here are the travel credit cards I plan to use for cruising, including a few other options worth considering.

Here’s exactly what is changing with the Chase Sapphire Reserve

Chase recently announced a complete overhaul of the point-earning structure and provided benefits. Not only is the annual fee getting hiked from $550 to $795, but the 3x point earning on travel is being replaced with 4x points on airfare and hotels, but only when booked directly with the airline or hotel.

Removing the generic 3x points on all travel is a frustrating change for a top-tier travel card. For cruisers in particular, the removal of the 3x point benefit is a huge loss. Travel is easily my top spending category, so this downgrade was an unwelcome change for many. 

Additionally, the travel category also included all transport, including taxis, ride shares, tolls, parking fees, and public transportation. Even better, the Chase Sapphire Reserve is a Visa with no foreign transaction fee. While traveling abroad and taking public transport, the Chase Sapphire Reserve was my most-used credit card to maximize the earning potential.

Instead, Chase is adding a bunch of lifestyle coupons, such as credits for DoorDash, Peloton, AppleTV, and StubHub. These credits are divided into monthly, quarterly, or bi-annual usage, making them more difficult to actually use.

How the change would directly impact your point-earning potential

For this example, let’s say you spent $2,000 on your cruise fare, along with $2,000 for shore excursions, internet access, and a drink package. With the old structure, you’d earn 3x points on $4,000 worth of cruise purchases.

With the 3x points offer, this would equate to 12,000 points of Ultimate Reward points with Chase. You could then redeem those points through the Chase Travel Portal for 1.5 cents per point.

For 12,000 points, this would be worth approximately $180 towards travel redeemed through the Chase Travel Portal. Additionally, you could transfer the points to various travel partners, such as many hotel chains and airlines. For me, 12,000 points could be redeemed with Delta Air Lines for a flight worth about $200.

Now, you’ll only receive 1x points on that purchase, which would equate to only 4,000 points on that same vacation. Redemptions are changing too, so you could only redeem those 4,000 points for $40 worth for most travel purchases.

There is an opportunity for “Points Boost” offers worth up to 2x points with “top picked hotels and flights with select airlines through Chase Travel,” and all other redemptions will be reduced to a 1:1 rate.

Rather than having the option to redeem your points on any travel, you are now limited to the select offers provided by Chase for hotels and airlines. This limits how your points can be redeemed, although most strategic cardholders will likely transfer points to travel partners.

What are the best credit cards now for cruisers?

With all the overhaul, you might not be wanting to pay $795 for the Chase Sapphire Reserve anymore; and honestly, I wouldn’t blame you. There are many travel credit cards on the market, and there might be one that fits your travel spending better.

Following the disappointing change to the Chase Sapphire Reserve, I’ve been researching the best credit cards for cruising purchases. I’ll also be adjusting my spending strategy, as I always charged my cruises to my Chase Sapphire Reserve.

Of course, one of the top competitors to the Chase Sapphire Reserve is the American Express Platinum Card. Unfortunately, American Express isn’t as widely accepted as Visa credit cards when traveling internationally. This is one of the reasons the Chase Sapphire Reserve was always my go-to card when traveling.

However, there are other options from both American Express and other credit card companies. Here are my top recommendations for cruising purchases moving forward, along with a few caveats to know.

American Express Green Card

If you still want to earn 3x points on cruise purchases, you should consider signing up for the American Express Green Card. This is considered one of the best replacements for the Chase Sapphire Reserve because of its 3x points on all travel and transit purchases. 

Currently, the Amex Green has an annual fee of $150, making it more affordable than the Chase Sapphire Reserve. However, you will receive fewer luxury perks, such as the Priority Pass lounge access or the same level of travel insurance. 

Another perk of the American Express Green Card is how well it pairs with other American Express credit cards. If you already have another Amex, all of your Membership Reward Points will be automatically pooled together.

For instance, I have the Amex Gold (for 4x points on groceries and dining), the Amex Green (for 3x points on travel and transit), and the Amex Platinum (for 5x points on airfare). All of these points are combined in my Amex account, which I can easily transfer to a partner airline for redemption. 

The top spending categories for the Amex Green Card include:

• 3x points on travel: Cruises, airfare, hotel, campgrounds, car rentals, and vacation rentals
• 3x points on transit: Trains, taxicabs, rideshare services, ferries, tolls, parking, buses, and subways
• 3x points on dining: Worldwide dining, takeout, and delivery

Other benefits include the following:

• $199 CLEAR Plus credit
• Travel Delay Insurance
• Baggage Insurance
• Rental Car Loss Insurance
• No foreign transaction fees

For cruisers, the Amex Green is one of the best choices on the market now. You’ll still earn 3x points on all travel and transit charges, which rivals what you would have been receiving with the Chase Sapphire Reserve.

Wells Fargo Autograph and Autograph Journey

If you’re looking for another credit card with 3x points on all travel, Wells Fargo has two solid options to consider: the Autograph and Autograph Journey credit cards. Just like the Chase Sapphire Reserve, you can still earn 3x points on all travel and transit purchases, in addition to other categories like restaurants and gas.

The Wells Fargo Autograph credit card has no annual fee, while the Autograph Journey carries a $95 annual fee. With the Autograph Journey card, you’ll earn even more points on hotel and airline purchases. These accrued points can be redeemed for travel, gift cards, and statement credits.

This makes both credit cards excellent options to rack up points with cruise purchases, along with other cruise-related and travel expenses. The low annual fee means you have high earning potential with your travel purchases, and you aren’t tied to a travel portal for redeeming your points.

Additionally, you’ll receive some included travel protection with the Autograph Journey card for your cruising. This includes travel accident insurance, lost bag reimbursement, trip cancellation and interruption protection, and an auto rental collision damage waiver.

The Wells Fargo Autograph credit card includes 3x points on the following categories:

• Restaurants: Including dining in, takeout, catering, and delivery
• Travel: Airfare, hotels, car rentals, cruise lines
• Transit: Subways, ride shares, parking, tolls
• Gas: Gas stations and electric charging stations
• Streaming services and phone plans

The Wells Fargo Autograph Journey credit card includes the top spending categories and benefits:

• 5x points on hotels
• 4x points with airlines
• 3x points on travel and restaurants
• $50 annual statement credit: with a $50 minimum airline purchase

U.S. Bank Altitude Connect

Another travel credit to consider is the U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature credit card. The credit card has no annual fee and includes a generous 4x points on all travel, although point redemption options are more limited. For casual cruisers not wanting to pay an annual fee for a credit card, this could be one of the best options.

You won’t be able to transfer your points to travel partners, but you can earn an eligible deposit into a U.S Bank account, along with some merchandise, travel, charity, and gift card options. Instead, you’ll want to think of this card as earning cash back for your travel purchases (around 2% to 4% essentially), which is a better option for casual cruisers who travel once or twice each year.

The top spending categories for the U.S Bank Altitude Connect include:

• 4x points on travel
• 5x points on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked with the Altitude Reward Center
• 4x points on gas stations and EV charging stations, up to $1,000 each quarter
• 2x points on dining, groceries, and streaming services

Other benefits include:

• 4 Priority Pass lounge visits each year
• $100 statement credit for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry every 4 years
• Basic travel interruption, delay, and cancellation insurance

Capital One Venture X

Another popular choice among travelers is the Capital One Venture X credit card, known for its premium travel benefits and strong earning potential. With an annual fee of $395, the Venture X is considered a more accessible option compared to other high-end travel credit cards.

Although the Venture X credit card doesn’t offer cruise-specific perks or bonus categories for cruises, this premium credit card shines when it comes to covering general travel expenses.

The Venture X credit card earns the most miles when booking travel directly through the Capital One Travel portal, including hotels, airfare, rental cars, and vacation rentals. But, you’ll still earn 2x miles on everyday spending, including cruising. However, if you prefer booking with airlines and hotels directly, you might not maximize your point-earning potential with this card.

Other noteworthy travel benefits include a $300 annual travel credit when booking through Capital One Travel, along with lounge access and a statement credit for either TSA PreCheck or Global Entry.

More importantly, your Capital One Venture X credit card offers strong travel protection that can provide peace of mind for your cruises. This includes trip cancellation, delay, and interruption coverage for unexpected circumstances. In addition, the Venture X has common carrier travel accident coverage, baggage insurance, and rental car collision coverage.

The top spending categories for the Venture X credit card include:

• 10x miles: When booking hotels and rental cars booked through the Capital One Travel portal
• 5x miles: When booking flights and vacation rentals booked through the Capital One Travel portal
• 2x miles: All other purchases

Some of the travel-related benefits and perks include:

• $300 annual credit towards Capital One Travel portal
• 10,000 annual bonus miles each anniversary
• $120 credit for PreCheck or Global Entry
• Priority Pass Lounge access
• Capital One Lounge and Landing Access

Bank of America Premium Rewards Credit Card

If you don’t want to spend hundreds of dollars on annual credit card fees, the Bank of America Premium Rewards Credit Card could be a great choice. With an annual fee of only $95, you’ll still receive some excellent travel perks and earn extra points on all travel purchases.

With the Bank of America Premium Rewards Credit Card, all travel and dining purchases earn 2x points while all other expenses earn 1.5x points. This means all cruise purchases would qualify for 2x points for all of your purchases. If you’re a member of the Bank of America Preferred Rewards loyalty program, you can earn even more points on travel purchases. This includes 25% to 75% boost in points, making the 2x points on travel increase to 2.5x to 3.5x points on travel.

Even better, the Bank of America Premium Rewards Card is a Visa credit card with no foreign transaction fees. That makes this credit card better suited for international travel, as Visa is widely accepted everywhere.

You will also receive flexibility for how you want to redeem your points. For instance, points can be redeemed for cash back in your Bank of America account or an eligible Merrill account (including 529 accounts). In addition, you could redeem points for a statement credit or gift cards through the Bank of America Travel Center.

Finally, you’ll receive travel insurance protections for delays, cancellations, interruptions, misplaced luggage, auto rental collision coverage, and baggage delays. The credit card also includes coverage for emergency evacuation and transportation for qualified events. 

Other benefits for the Bank of America Premium Credit Card include:

• $100 statement credit for airline incidentals
• $100 statement credit for TSA PreCheck
• 10,000 annual bonus miles each anniversary

American Express Platinum Card

If you’re wanting to swap your Chase Sapphire Reserve for another top-tier, luxury travel credit card, then you might want to consider the American Express Platinum Card.

Regarded by many as the best travel credit card, the Amex Platinum is heavy on the benefits, but not necessarily as strong with earning potential. Currently, the Amex Platinum has an annual fee of $695, but many speculate this will be increased to align with the Chase Sapphire Reserve.

The top spending categories on the Amex Platinum include 5x points on all airfare purchases and prepaid hotels, but only 1x points for all other travel. While that’s not necessarily impressive, there are other lucrative cruise and travel perks that could be worthwhile, including access to many different airport lounges.

With the Amex Platinum, you are eligible to receive perks through the Cruise Privileges Program (CPP). When you book a cruise five nights or longer through the Platinum Travel Service, you can receive onboard credit between $100 to $300 per stateroom. The Cruise Privileges Program also provides unique amenities for each cruise line, along with 2x points on each dollar you spend per booking with American Express Travel.

Another enticing perk with the Amex Platinum is the comprehensive travel insurance for trip delay, cancellation, and interruption. Some of the most important coverage with the American Express Platinum Card includes medical assistance, which provides emergency medical coverage up to $250,000, evacuation up to $100,000, and accident insurance up to $500,000 in the event of injury. Luggage protection is also provided, and cruise ships are specifically mentioned in the coverage.

Additionally, you’ll receive many travel-related benefits with the Amex Platinum as well, including:

• $200 Airline Fee Credit: Baggage fees and other incidental credits
• $200 Hotel Credit: Select hotels prepaid through the Amex Travel portal, includes Fine Hotels & Resorts and Hotel Collection
• $200 Uber Credit: Available monthly in your Uber account
• Global Lounge Access: Access to the Delta SkyClub, Amex Centurion Lounges, and Priority Pass lounges
• TSA Precheck, Global Entry, and CLEAR Plus Membership

Should you take your passport with you off your cruise ship while on a shore excursion?

This is one of the most hotly debated questions among cruisers, as there seems to be quite a divide of what you should or shouldn't do.

I recently ran across a new thread debating the virtues of taking your passport off the ship on Reddit, and I think it's a simple decision to always take my passport with me off the ship.

If you're on the fence about what to do or haven't thought about it, I wanted to share my outlook on the debate.

While there's risk in losing it, the benefits of having it in case of an emergency outweigh any concerns.

Travelers should always be prepared

My mantra when traveling is the same as the Boy Scouts when I was a kid, "Be prepared".

You never know what might happen, and emergencies or accidents while in port are never something you see coming until it's too late.

I opt to bring my passport with me off the ship while I go on shore excursions so I have it with me, just in case.

Passports are essential, as you cannot fly home without it. So if we got stuck somewhere and missed the ship, having my passport would be critical.

Without a passport, you'd have to travel to the nearest embassy of your home country to get one.  Depending on the port, the nearest embassy might be many hours away drive by car.

On any tour, I'm often far enough away from the ship that running back to it is not practical.

The counterargument to my opinion is to leave the passport in your safe on the ship, as the cruise line claims if you're a no-show to returning to the ship, they'll clear out your belongings from your stateroom (including your safe) and leave it with the port.

That's a major leap of faith that I'm not willing to take because of the multiple chain of custodies involved.

I have less concern of theft as I do it not making it to me in the end, either due to negligence or someone not knowing where the items are when they were taken.

Photocopies of a passport are as useful as photocopies of cash

Some people will say they take a photocopy of their passport and then leave the real thing in the ship safe.

A photo of your passport is useless, as you cannot travel with it.  You still need the physical documents.

There's no benefit at all of having a photo of it in terms of actually being able to use it.

Three exceptions to my rule

I'll leave my passport in my stateroom safe if I'm in one of three ports of call.

First would be Perfect Day at CocoCay, which is Royal Caribbean's private island.

Because it's a cruise line operated place, it's basically impossible to be left behind. You'd have to hide in a bush to truly not make it back to the ship.

Over the years, I've encountered medical issues while on CocoCay with my family, and the first place they'll take you if it's anything remotely serious is back to the ship.

Ditto for Labadee, which is also a Royal Caribbean destination.

It just seems nearly impossible to be left behind or stuck in these spots.

The other place I'll be okay with leaving my passport behind is if I'm in a U.S. state or territory.

When my ship visits Puerto Rico, St. Thomas, or St. Croix, I'm fine with leaving my passport in the safe because I can travel home with just my driver's license.

As an American citizen, not having to rely on a passport for travel home while in a part of my country seems sufficiently safe to go off the ship with my driver's license.

It's a decision of risks

Ultimately, you have to judge which risk of taking or leaving your passport is higher and what the consequences of each risk would be.

Taking it with you means you can easily get home should you miss your cruise ship's return time for any reason, but the risk is having it lost or stolen.

But if you leave your passport on the ship, what happens if you miss the boarding time? And are you willing to risk that the ship would leave your passport and room contents at the port?

Personally, I won't go into a foreign country without my passport just to have myself covered. I think the risks of being stuck in the country without one is worse than the likelihood of losing it.

When I took my first cruise to Alaska four years ago, I never expected the trip to be my first of six to the state. Yet every summer, I find myself cruising back to Alaska to experience more of the region’s stunning natural beauty.

Alaska is wild, rugged, and magical, and a cruise is arguably the best way to visit the Last Frontier.

In between spotting whales, visiting glaciers, and tasting local cuisine, I fell in love with Alaska almost immediately on my first cruise to the region.

For me, the beauty of Alaska is simply unmatched amongst other cruise itineraries. I’ve been fortunate enough to visit some truly spectacular destinations, such as Antarctica and Patagonia, but I still find Alaska’s beauty among the most beautiful on Earth.

Here’s why I love visiting Alaska again and again, and why I’m already looking forward to planning another cruise to the state.

You can view Alaska’s scenery not only in port, but also from onboard the ship

After taking over thirty cruises, my favorite itineraries have been those that offer beautiful views as you sail from port to port.

When cruising to places like Alaska or Norway, you’ll have views of land for the majority of your itinerary. Whether passing through fjords or islands, cruising from place to place is impressively scenic.

Related: Alaska cruises on Royal Caribbean: Everything You Need To Know

Although I enjoy disembarking in Alaska’s cruise ports, my favorite moments of any Alaska cruise are when I’m watching the scenery from onboard my ship. There’s nothing more relaxing than lounging in the Solarium as the ship sails through remote, untouched landscapes.

Most Alaska itineraries even include a viewing day of a glacier, such as Hubbard Glacier, the twin Sawyer Glaciers, or Dawes Glacier.

After cruising to somewhere as gorgeous as Alaska, I find myself missing the mountain scenery when I’m on other cruise itineraries.

I also love the variety of outdoor activities available in Alaska

I love exploring the great outdoors, and Alaska cruises provide the perfect opportunity to get my adrenaline pumping. If you’re outdoorsy, it’s hard to go wrong with an Alaska cruise.

Without bear protection, I typically steer clear of secluded hikes, but fortunately, there are a lot of other ways to stay active.

Related: Royal Caribbean Alaska excursions: Recommended tours for each port

Ports like Sitka and Skagway offer easy (and relatively flat) hiking trails accessible right from downtown. A 1-mile loop at the Sitka National Historic Park, for instance, provides a peaceful escape from the crowds amongst thousands of spruce trees and eighteen Native totem poles.

Whenever I visit Juneau, I’ll never miss a hike to Nugget Falls. Located near Mendenhall Glacier, the 0.7-mile trail is busy, but I find the magnificent waterfall views totally worth it.

If hiking isn’t your thing, Alaska also offers opportunities to cycle, kayak, and canoe, among other outdoor pursuits.

One cruise, I even brought my own bicycle onboard to enjoy rides in every port of call. I cycled around Juneau’s nearby Auke Bay, rode to the ghost town of Dyea near Skagway, and explored off-the-beaten-path gravel roads in Sitka.

Even though you can find active excursions on other cruises around the world, Alaska offers adventure at an even grander scale.

The food is unbeatable, whether fresh salmon tacos or cinnamon-sugar fried dough

Let’s be real—a huge part of why I travel is to taste local cuisine. From spicy curries in Thailand to cheesy empanadas in Argentina, trying local food is a major highlight on any trip.

As such, one of the things I look forward to most when visiting Alaska is the state’s cuisine. The freshly-caught seafood is incredible, and it’s completely ruined me for eating fish—like salmon and halibut—anywhere else.

Whenever my ship docks in Juneau, I make my way to Deckhand Dave’s, a fish taco truck at a trendy food truck park right downtown. On my recent cruise, I enjoyed a plate of panko-crusted salmon tacos, and they were delightful.

Likewise, in Skagway, I never miss a stop to Klondike Doughboy, home to the famously-fattening Alaska fry bread.

The dough is fried to order and topped with a generous coating of cinnamon and sugar.

Other ports offer delicious cuisine, too, including the eclectic Sea Daddy fish shack in Sitka and Ketchikan’s scrumptious Jellyfish Donuts.

If nature isn’t enough, Alaska’s food scene is something that will have me booking cruises to the state again and again.

Wildlife is abundant, from sea otters to bears and whales

You’re almost guaranteed to spot at least some wildlife on an Alaska cruise, even if you don’t book a wildlife-viewing excursion.

Aside from exploring the outdoors, another reason I love Alaska cruises are for the wildlife encounters. Although I (fortunately) have not had any close encounters with bears, I’ve spotted a variety of other animals around the state.

Related: What is the best time of year to see wildlife in Alaska?

On my recent cruise, I watched dozens of adorable sea otters swimming along a channel, a group of seals resting on an iceberg, and pods of humpback whales near the ship. In Juneau, I even caught a glimpse of a mama bear and her cubs crossing the street near Mendenhall Glacier!

There’s something so beautiful about watching these animals in their natural habitat. During my cruises, I try to spend as much time on the outer decks of my ship to spot wildlife. It’s almost addictive.

Finally, I love the opportunity to sail both one-way and roundtrip itineraries

Even after six Alaska cruises, there’s still so much of the region I haven’t seen.

Most Alaska cruise itineraries are round trip sailings, meaning they start and end in the same cruise port—either Seattle or Vancouver. Yet some are one-way itineraries. These sailings start in Vancouver, Canada and end in Seward, Alaska (or vice versa).

I love having the flexibility to choose either a round trip or one-way sailing. The round trip itineraries are convenient for flight logistics, but one-way cruises allow you to experience even more of Alaska.

Out of my six sailings, I tried a one-way itinerary just once, but it was, by far, my most immersive visit to the state.

The one-way cruise brought me to four ports in Alaska, including to Icy Strait Point, which isn’t always visited on round trip itineraries. Additionally, one-way cruises often include a glacier viewing day at Hubbard Glacier. You won’t always find this glacier visit on round trip sailings.

Related: 10 Alaska cruise essentials to not forget

However, the best benefit to booking a one-way Alaska cruise is the chance to explore Alaska’s interior before or after the sailings. Regardless of whether you start or end your cruise in Seward, you should take the opportunity to visit nearby Denali National Park and Preserve.

Here, you can spot wildlife like eagles and moose, and you'll also see the tallest mountain in all of North America.

The beauty on an Alaska cruise is unmatched, and you should definitely give it a try

I’ve tried Royal Caribbean’s cruise itineraries all over the world. I’ve loved the crystal clear beaches in the Caribbean, enjoyed life-changing pizza in Italy, and sailed on a catamaran in the South Pacific.

Even after experiencing so many amazing trips, no cruises have been quite like those to Alaska.

Unless you see Alaska’s grandeur for yourself, it’s hard to put into words just how awe-inspiring the state’s landscapes truly are.

Some cruisers may gawk at the idea of trading swimsuits for jackets and the beach for a chilly mountain town, but don’t knock it until you try it.

I thought I would grow tired of Alaska after so many cruises to the region, but the pristine beauty just keeps calling me back.

With its rich history and culture, visiting Europe by cruise ship for two weeks is an incredible experience.

That's why I planned to take full advantage of our time by doing a back-to-back cruise on Royal Caribbean's Independence of the Seas. If I'm going to spend the time and money to fly across the Atlantic, I wanted to get the most out of it.

Our cruises took us to the cities of Northern Europe, followed by a Norwegian fjord cruise.  Each had its own appeal: metropolitan offerings and natural beauty.

Here are the four best things I did during my trip and the two I'd skip next time.

Hands down, one of the best things I did was booked an independent tour on the Skylift

Olden was my favorite port of the Norwegian fjords cruise because of how picturesque the landscape was surrounding us.

Prior to my cruise, a friend strongly recommended we try the Loen Skylift up to Mount Hoven. At the time, the Royal Caribbean excursion was sold out, so I booked an independent tour to get me there.

Not only was the recommendation fantastic, but I did myself a great favor by booking it on my own instead of the cruise line.

The company we booked it through had continuously running shuttle service every 10 minutes, which meant very little time wasted waiting for transportation.  

Plus, being on our own schedule meant we beat the crowds that descended later in the day when the cruise line excursions arrived.

And then, of course, are the views.

The Skylift takes you over 3,000 feet up and is an incredible vantage point. The photos you see here do not do the spectacle justice.

If I had a heavier jacket and an Adirondack chair, I'd have been content to sit there all day.

When it comes to exploring cities in Europe, don't overlook independent tours as a great choice.

I drank with friends at a German beer garden

In every port we did a lot of walking and sightseeing, except in Hamburg, Germany, where I wanted to do one thing: experience a German beer garden.

I'd never been to a real one before (only the facsimile that is found in Walt Disney World) and I wanted to do it right.  A group of 30 friends joined me, and we went to a beer garden that's well-known around Germany.

Thanks to friends that lived in Bremen, Germany, we had the perfect introduction for what to expect.

We drank, sang, ate, and it proves the old saying that everything is better with friends.

Our time in Hamburg was rather short because of the port schedule, but the few hours we were there were well worth it, and I'd it's the perfect activity for a group to enjoy together.

I'm glad I included time in our schedule to wander

It's so easy to over plan for a cruise, but in my experience, including time to wander is one of the best things you can do for yourself.

Every port day, I purposefully left open time in the schedule to simply walk around and see what was around the next street.

This strategy not only helped reduce fatigue, pressure, and stress, but it's often led to unique discoveries.

In Molde, Norway, we stumbled upon a cart selling fresh strawberries.  In Copenhagen, we had beers and lunch at an open-air food hall.

Including time to wander and explore gave us a chance to truly soak in the atmosphere and feel more connected to each port and its people.

I'd add it's important to have a cellular connection while wandering.  

I purchased an eSim to use in port, and it was so helpful being able to search Google Maps where we were, what was around us, and how to easily get to and from anywhere.

My favorite one to use is Orange sim (this is an affiliate link, that costs you nothing extra but I make a small commission). 

Buying a dining package was the perfect add-on

I really like Royal Caribbean's food, but buying a dining package to mix things up was a great idea.

I like variety anywhere I eat, so two weeks between the Main Dining Room and the Windjammer buffet wasn't going to be ideal.

I purchased the 3-night dining package before my cruise began, and having a few nights out on each sailing to enjoy specialty dining ended up being a great idea.

I loved getting new cuisines, and breaking up the usual food options I saw.

Plus, I bought it pre-cruise, and got in on a good sale.  I paid just $228.88 for both me and my wife for the 3-night package.

I instantly regretted the bus tour

The only excursion I booked through Royal Caribbean was a bus tour of the fjords in Olden, and from the start it disappointed me.

The scenic spots we visited were lovely, but it embodied everything I dislike about cruise line excursions: lots of waiting, a slow pace, and wasted opportunity.

The tour said to arrive at 12:10pm, but we didn't actually board the bus and depart until 1pm.  That's almost an hour of time completely wasted.

In retrospect, I should have booked a small group or private tour to take us around the fjords.  I think it would have moved at a pace more conducive to our needs so we could have seen more in less time.  

I think cruise line excursions have a role to play, especially if you have mobility issues, but next time I'll search for a third party option to take me around.

I also need to double check how strenuous a hike will be

A friend and I spent hours looking up what to do in Molde, Norway, and we thought we found the perfect outdoor activity: a leisurely hike to enjoy a great view.

It sounded great, but we didn't take the extra step to cross reference the hike with a hiking website, such as AllTrails.

Had we done that, we would have seen it was rated as "moderately challenging" with steep sections.

It became clear very quickly this was not a trail for people that never go hiking.  

Never trust just photos, and do your due diligence so you can avoid your quads feeling like they're going to explode. 

A local court ruled that cruise ships can still visit Nice, France, despite the mayor's determination to ban them. 

On July 1, Nice and Villefranche enacted new rules banning cruise ships carrying more than 2,500 passengers from disembarking in the area. However, Voyager of the Seas still called at Villefranche-sur-Mer on July 3, arriving around 6:30am local time. 

The Voyager Class ship had 3,114 passengers and roughly 1,200 crew on board. Although port officials said it was a pre-approved stop, Christian Estrosi, the Mayor of Nice and President of the Nice Côte d'Azur metropolitan area, considered the ship's arrival a breach of the recently implemented ban. 

Estrosi boarded a police boat with a television crew, approached Voyager of the Seas, and requested to board with an official letter instructing the captain not to let guests ashore. 

"In accordance with these publicly announced commitments, I formally request that you refrain from disembarking any passengers from your vessel at the Villefranche maritime station or at any other metropolitan facility," the letter read.

"Given your clear non-compliance with our environmental and territorial regulations, I am bringing this matter to the attention of the Minister for Ecological Transition and Territorial Cohesion, as well as the Maritime Prefect of the Mediterranean. I am asking them to take, without delay, all necessary measures to order the immediate departure of your ship from the waters off Villefranche."

Voyager's crew didn't let Estrosi on and motioned for him to turn around. Frustrated, he was caught on camera shouting, "Where is the captain?" and ordering the crew to "get out of here." Estrosi later accused Royal Caribbean of ignoring local regulations and described the ship's crew as "arrogant." 

In a statement to local reporters, he doubled down on his stance: "I will not give up. I call on all relevant authorities to take the utmost firmness on this issue. I intend to strictly enforce the decision."

Days later, he issued an order to further restrict cruise ship access in the area. The ban would have limited cruise ships to just 450 passengers in Nice and 2,500 in Villefranche-sur-Mer. However, it was suspended on July 13 by the local Administrative Court in Nice, which sided with Laurent Hottiaux, the Prefect of the Alpes-Maritimes department.

Read more: Angry French Mayor yells at cruise ship

Estrosi wanted to cut down on cruise ship visits to help fight climate change and protect marine life

According to the ruling, only the Prefect of the Alpes-Maritimes department can regulate ship traffic. In other words, Estrosi doesn't have the legal right to impose maritime restrictions, despite his dual role as the Mayor of Nice and President of the Nice Côte d'Azur metropolitan area. 

Estrosi is "not competent to issue such measures," the court emphasized. Only the Prefect of the Alpes-Maritimes can, as it's "within the framework of his powers to police the waterway, [and] organize the entries, exits, and movements of vessels."

The court also stated that "these limitations go against the freedom of movement for cruise ship passengers and the freedom of trade and industry for cruise operators."

Still, Estrosi, who thinks that cruise ships are "three times worse than airplanes," isn't giving up. He has threatened to sue the State if they don't take action against large cruise ships. 

Had the ban gone into effect on July 11 as Estrosi intended, at least 12 cruise ships would have been forced to cancel their planned 2025 visits.