Royal Caribbean Blog

There's a new casino to enjoy on Royal Caribbean's Utopia of the Seas without any smoking concerns.

The construction walls are down and a new casino space is open for guests, expanding the gambling space available.

Last month plans were revealed that it would replace two venues with non-smoking casino space: The Attic and The Crown Lounge.

The Attic was the first to be replaced, and it opened to guests today.

Photos have begin to emerge taken by guests of the space, which features slot machines and table games in an open and inviting space. Thanks to Steve Notarnicola and Ron Bacon for sharing photos.

The biggest difference is there's no smoking allowed here.  

It's located opposite the original non-smoking casino space across the hall.

The Attic used to be the ship's combination comedy club and late night dance party.  Comedy shows have been moved to the Royal Theater and presumably the club scene is elsewhere as well.

There's still a bar in this new gambling area, carrying over from The Attic.

Next up, Royal Caribbean will do similar work and change out the Crown Lounge for a casino space.

The Crown Lounge is a dedicated area for Crown and Anchor Society members that are at least Diamond level or above.

The Crown lounge will be relocated on May 16, so that a third non-smoking casino space can start construction.  No word on exactly how long that will take, but it will be in-service work, which means the ship is still sailing. The expectation is the Crown Lounge & existing casino to open May 30-June 2.

The Crown Lounge will move to Deck 16 to replace the Teen Club.  The Teen Club will be renovated and become smaller.

The goal is to attract more gamblers who don't want to deal with smoke

The change in venues is about generating more revenue while addressing a need among non-smokers.

Royal Caribbean has shifted its views on smoking in the casino, seeing there's a desire among those to gamble without the smoking odor wafting around them.

Traditionally, cruise casinos have a smoking and non-smoking side, but the smoke odor doesn't respect boundaries.  In reality, there's a smell and it's been a turn off for non-smokers.

"So glad there is a non smoking casino I don’t care if I’m the only one there," wrote one person on Facebook after seeing the photos.

Christina Anderson added, "Oh I love this! Looks so nice. Glad they expanded it. They needed more slots there."

Royal Caribbean experimented with a non-smoking casino with the debut of Wonder of the Seas and since then it's been a hot trend for them.

Shortly thereafter, all the Jazz on 4 clubs were converted to non-smoking casinos and the jazz entertainment was relocated to Central Park.

Most recently, the Vintages bar on Freedom of the Seas was converted over to a non-smoking casino.

Now, more space is on the Oasis ships are shifting to non-smoking.

Wonder of the Seas will get these changes too

Expect these same changes on Wonder of the Seas soon.

Royal Caribbean will hold off on these changes on Wonder until the ship begins offering short weekend cruises later this year. Then, they'll make the same changes to the Crown Lounge and Attic.

Wonder of the Seas will move to Miami and begin offering short cruises on September 1, 2025.

We're not aware yet of plans for other ships to get this change, but it's likely other Oasis Class ships may get it too in time.

I purposefully didn't take my first Alaska cruise for a few years and friends that cruised more than me always found that strange.

They told me that I had to go see it, and after enough people kept saying the same thing, I thought I'd give in an try it. 

Not only were they right, but I loved Alaska, and we've been back again with more trips planned for the future.

Our first Alaska cruise was on Explorer of the Seas in 2018 and we had a good time. However, looking back, I made a few mistakes that could've been easily avoided.

Here are three missteps from my trip that could happen to anyone — and what I'd do differently next time.

Feeling I'd regret not having a balcony

If you do five minutes of research into an Alaska cruise, you're going to see at least five recommendations to book a balcony cabin.

To be clear, this is really good advice. There's so much to see around you as your ship sails, and having a balcony is very convenient to be able to hop out and check things out.

But I really don't think you need a balcony as much as it may seem because ship designs have changed a lot.

Royal Caribbean does such a good job designing its ships with public space on open decks that you can easily get outside and see what's happening.  Plus, since you're on a Royal Caribbean ship and not a cruise line with ho-hum things to do, there's far more impetus to be out and about and away from your room to begin with.

I found that the balcony in my Junior Suite was indeed convenient, but it wasn't as critical as I was lead to believe.

I think this recommendation is rooted in older and smaller ships that lacked as much public space as Royal Caribbean's bigger ships, and those decks got crowded.

Not to mention your balcony only faces one direction. There are usually things to see all around you, and the pool decks or helipad are far better suited to taking it all in.

On the day we visited Dawes Glacier, there was a person answering questions and talking about what we were seeing on the helipad.  You don't get that insight on your balcony.

To be clear, booking a balcony cabin isn't a mistake. I think it's a great idea, if you can afford it.

Rather, the mistake is assuming you're making a mistake by not booking a balcony cabin.  Saving money and taking an inside room is arguably a better spend if you can re-invest those savings on an amazing Alaska shore excursion.

Not trying the White Pass Railway

I have an aversion to any super popular shore excursion because I feel they sometimes are overrated and a tourist trap, but the White Pass Railway isn't one of them.

Arguably the top thing to do in Skagway is take a ride on the White Pass Railway.  I saw it, looked at it, and didn't book it.  I then regretted it, even though my Hummer tour was incredible.

It’s a beautiful, relaxed way to take in the dramatic scenery of the historic Klondike Highway and White Pass. You’ll ride the famous train one way and enjoy a scenic coach tour the other, with several stops for photos along the way. It’s a wonderful mix of history, views, and comfort.

It picks up from near the cruise ships, and the windows offer a tremendous view every mile of the trip into the Yukon.

There are a lot of combinations you can book, but I've heard from a few readers this tour because they all said it was a highlight of their trip. (Contains an affiliate link that costs you nothing extra to buy)

I still haven't tried it yet, but when I go in 2026, I'll book that tour I linked to above immediately.

Not researching where to eat lunch

I knew enough before my cruise to plan out my tours and excursions, but one thing I neglected to do was pick out where to eat.

Many tours or activities in Alaska aren't all day affairs, so you'll have time for meal before or after.  

The food in Alaska is incredible, but some spots are definite tourist traps. Plus, some restaurants get really busy, really quickly.

As you might imagine, seafood is the food Alaska is best known for and it's part of the appeal of visiting. You'll rarely get food so fresh and bountiful.

The key is to seek out the recommended local spots and have a few options in mind so depending on where you end up, you can head over.  Or if one is too busy, skip to the next.

More realizations about taking an Alaska cruise

Since trying Alaska, I've come to learn a few important lessons that have greatly improved my cruise experience.

These aren't mistakes I made, but better approaches to my Alaska planning process.

Don't worry about the weather: I used to get so wound up about if it will be cold, rain, cloudy, or hot and the reality is I have no control over it.

Instead, you just have to be prepared for all of it, because Alaska weather changes throughout the day.

Yes, it will rain. But probably not all day. And you'll be cold at some point, then want a t-shirt.

Packing layers is the key, and it's a great tip for avoiding disappointment and remaining comfortable.  That way, you can still enjoy the best Alaska has to offer.

Booking excursions early is more important than ever: Cruisers are much better informed today than in the past, and it's clear the recommendation to book tours has gotten out there.

I've noticed shore excursions selling out much faster in Alaska than in the Caribbean, and it's a good reminder to book your tours as early as you can to avoid the frustration of it selling out.

If you see a cruise line excursion that sounds amazing but it's sold out, odds are there's a very similar tour offered by a third party you can book.

I have a running list of great tours you can book on your own in Alaska that have been suggested by our community, so give them a try!

Leave time in your day to explore: It's so easy to want to book every tour, but also leave time do explore on your own.

Sitka, Haines, Juneau and more offer great opportunities to meander and see what's around the next corner. 

I love stumbling across a coffee shop, finding a historical monument, or sitting down on a bench and taking in the view.

Cruising in a balcony stateroom is a luxury that I don't always want to pay for. However, I splurged for an upgraded room on my 12-night cruise instead of settling for a tiny, windowless cabin - and it made all the difference!

I just returned from a culturally-immersive, whirlwind cruise in Asia aboard Royal Caribbean’s Anthem of the Seas. This 12-night repositioning cruise departed from Singapore to far-flung destinations in Vietnam, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea and Japan. 

This wasn’t my first time sailing on Anthem of the Seas. My husband and I cruised on the same ship back in June 2022 when we visited the Canary Islands, Spain and Portugal. 

I was thrilled to be back on Anthem of the Seas, one of my favorite ships in the Royal Caribbean fleet. I’ve always been a fan of the Quantum Class overall - it offers unique itineraries and contemporary features while maintaining a manageable, not-too-overwhelming size.

For this bucket-list itinerary, I traveled with my sister, Angie, and our parents. We had rolled-over cruise credit from multiple cancelled and rescheduled sailings, dating all the way back to 2020. The four of us have been wanting to visit these ports of call, and this cruise on Anthem of the Seas fit our schedules perfectly.

Because of the longer itinerary, my sister and I decided to splurge on a balcony cabin. Having a bit of extra space, both inside the stateroom and on a private veranda, seemed worth the upgrade. 

Typically, my sister and I prefer to save money by booking interior cabins. However, I’ve found that newer ships often have more affordable balconies because there are simply more cabins available to book. Fortunately, when we booked the cruise about 18 months ago, the price for a balcony was surprisingly reasonable.

We ended up in cabin 11268 on Deck 11, while our parents booked the adjoining stateroom next door in 11266. It was our first time trying connecting cabins, and we were curious to see how that setup might enhance the experience.

We paid a nightly rate of $240 per person for the 12-night cruise, which is a little pricey.

Roayl Caribbean only offers this unique itinerary in the fall and spring when the cruise line repositions ships between Asia and Alaska. For this reason, the demand seems to be higher due to the limited number of sailings offered.

For the two of us, we paid $5,776.16 for our balcony cabin, or $2,888 each. This includes port fees and taxes, but we forgot to prepay gratuities. This resulted in an unfortunately unexpected cost of $222 by the end of our cruise! I won’t forget again about prepaying gratuities.

We paid around $240 per person, per night for this sailing, which is definitely higher than what we typically spend on a cruise. In fact, it was nearly double the daily rate we paid for a repositioning cruise just last fall with Celebrity Cruises!

Even so, this felt like a once-in-a-lifetime trip, and we decided the splurge was worth it. This proved to be a smart move, as just a few months later, prices skyrocketed to nearly $10,000 per person with only suites remaining.

Our ship had just completed dry dock, so our cabin was recently refreshed.

Cruise ships receive routine maintenance during dry dock, which occurs every five years or so. When we booked this cruise, we hadn’t realized that Anthem of the Seas would be coming out of a 30-day dry dock in Singapore just before our sailing.

Although I’ve been on many cruises, I’ve never sailed on a ship immediately after dry dock. As such, we were eager to see what was updated or added during this maintenance. According to crew members, all cabins received brand-new beds and carpeting. 

When we boarded in Singapore and made our way to the cabin, we were very impressed with the cabin’s condition. After traveling more than 24 hours to Asia, we couldn’t wait to get settled, unpack our bags, and make this stateroom our home for the next 12 nights.

The balcony stateroom was spacious, modern and well-appointed.

Royal Caribbean debuted Anthem of the Seas in 2015, and we happened to be onboard for her 10th birthday! Despite being a decade old, the ship still feels incredibly fresh, especially in our stateroom.

Our cabin had the feel of something you’d find on one of Royal Caribbean’s latest ships, with its sleek design and contemporary touches. The stateroom was spacious with a thoughtful layout and very little wasted space. For this particular stateroom, our beds were located near the balcony door while the couch and bathroom were closer to the entrance.

The balcony stateroom featured a palette of blue and grey tones, including a blue couch and navy blue accent wall. The geometric light fixtures and textured carpeting added personality to the stateroom without being too distracting. The warm lighting felt inviting and cozy, so it was easy to make ourselves at home.

The layout is better suited for keeping your beds together instead of separate.

Like any cruise cabin, we had the option to keep our beds together in the king configuration or two twin beds. My sister insists on having the beds separated, so we each had our own twin bed. These tiny beds always reminds me of my college dorm room, although the brand-new beds were very comfortable.

Each bed had its own nightstand, but ours were squished together to create one big nightstand. A small bedside lamp was on each side, and my side of the bed had an outlet. I prefer to keep my phone charging during the night, but my phone plug was protruding into my pillow. I know what you’re thinking, first world problems!

This functionality would definitely work better with the beds together, as the nightstand would be directly under the lamp with no spacing issues. Even still, I loved being able to peak out of the balcony each morning when we pulled into new ports of call. I was giddy like Christmas morning when we arrived to Vietnam, and I could watch it all from my bed.

We had plenty of storage to unpack our five suitcases.

We had quite a bit to unpack between our carry-on bags and checked luggage. Thankfully, the cabin had plenty of storage. There were two wardrobe closets in this stateroom: one with hanging space and the other with shelves and drawers. I used one closet with hanging space while my sister unpacked her belongings into the shelving of the other closet. 

Since I brought more clothes, I also took advantage of the drawers built into the vanity. Between the closet space and drawers, everything fit comfortably. We were also able to slide our suitcases under the beds, which helped keep the room clutter-free.

I was impressed with all of the storage available in this cabin. For instance, under the TV, there was a small shelf where we could store smaller belongings. We ended up using this for all of the documents that we received regarding immigration, excursion tickets and daily compasses.

There were multiple outlets and USB ports to keep our devices charged.

For such a big adventure, we had a plethora of devices that needed to be charged daily between the two of us. Cameras, phones, tablets, watches, headphones and more all needed to be charged every night before the following day's adventure. 

I was relieved to find a full charging station built into the cabin vanity, complete with two U.S. outlets and two USB ports. There was also a European outlet, which came in handy with our travel adapter. My sister and I were able to keep all of our devices charged without any issue.

Considering some older ships only have one or two outlets for charging, we appreciated having so many outlets. It’s a small touch, but it’s an important functionality of any cruise cabin.

Having connecting staterooms ended up being a lifesaver.

With my parents in the cabin next to us, we asked our room steward to unlock the connecting doors. He also opened the balcony between the two cabins, so we had one big balcony between our two staterooms.

The connecting rooms were extremely convenient for the four of us traveling together. In particular, my mom ended up sleeping on our couch for a few nights when my dad came down with a nasty cold. She didn’t want to be up all night with him coughing, so she asked our cabin steward to make the couch into a makeshift bed. She was surprised how comfortable the couch was!

Having the connecting rooms allowed for easy access between the two cabins, and my mom ended up sleeping on the couch for nearly half of the cruise. We will definitely look at booking connecting staterooms again in the future.

Our cabin location was convenient and quiet.

Our balcony cabin was located near midship, but closer to the ship’s aft. Located on Deck 11, we found this stateroom to have a central, accessible location. We were near the aft elevators, so we were never too far from our stateroom.

In addition, were only a few decks below the Windjammer buffet. During early mornings before excursions, we were able to quickly grab breakfast and head back to our cabin to get ready.

Most importantly, our cabin was wonderfully quiet - we never heard any noise from the hallway, and our neighbors were completely silent the entire trip. Because our deck was above and below other cabins, we never had to worry about noise from the public venues. There’s nothing worse than being kept awake by a nearby lounge or pool part!

Of course, the balcony was one of the highlights.

Because we normally book inside cabins, it was a luxury to have our own private balcony! The balcony install included two chairs with footrests and a small table to use. During this cruise, we had so much beautiful scenery - from the luscious jungle in the outskirts of Vietnam to the iconic skyline of Hong Kong.

I loved being able to use our balcony throughout this cruise. One morning, I ordered complimentary room service as we arrived into Hong Kong while enjoying my morning breakfast. Later that night, we watched the nightly light show across the bay from our balcony as the ship departed. It was a memory I will never forget.

One of the best surprises about our cabin was being able to share the balcony with the connecting rooms. We hadn’t realized the divider could be removed when you book adjoining cabins, and it made it so much easier - and more fun - to enjoy the space together.

The bathroom was functionally designed, too.

There’s nothing worse than feeling squeezed into a tiny capsule shower on a cruise. Thankfully, that wasn’t the case here. Cruise ship bathrooms have come a long way, and the showers in particular are now much more spacious and comfortable to use.

Like most Royal Caribbean ships, our shower was stocked with the standard 2-in-1 shampoo and body wash combo. For this reason, I always bring my own shower toiletries when cruising. We did receive upgraded amenities because of our loyalty status, but I still preferred using the products I packed from home.

We had no issues with water temperature or pressure in our cabin, but we did hear some complaints from other guests. Some reported having minimal hot water at times, while others experienced very low water pressure in the shower. It may have been tied to the ship’s recent dry dock, but issues like that can definitely impact the overall cabin experience.

Overall, I wouldn’t hesitate to book this cabin again.

For our 12-night cruise, this balcony cabin truly became our home away from home. After long, hot, and humid days exploring culturally-diverse ports across Asia, there was nothing better than coming back to this comfortable and quiet cabin. Whether we were cooling off in the air conditioning, unpacking our souvenirs, or simply relaxing on the couch after a full day of exploring, this stateroom was perfect for us.

I wouldn’t hesitate to book this same cabin again, whether on Anthem of the Seas or any other Quantum Class ship. The layout was thoughtfully designed, the decor was modern, and the location was incredibly convenient for getting around the ship. We also had plenty of storage and connectivity in the stateroom, which is important for longer, port-intensive itineraries.

Having our own balcony was definitely a highlight for this cruise, especially with all of the bucket-list destinations we visited. I don’t think it’s always necessary to splurge on a balcony, but this was certainly worthwhile on this itinerary with unforgettable sights to see.

Happy Mothers Day! All the moms out there deserve a big hug, thank you, and hopefully a new cruise booking too.

Cruisers on one Royal Caribbean ship were offered a pretty incredible deal if they were willing to be flexible with their vacation plans.

A sailing on Allure of the Seas may have been oversold, so guests were asked if they'd consider changing their ship or sail date.

The offer was to look for volunteers, and you could essentially get a free cruise and refund to change sailings.

Royal Caribbean News

• Royal Caribbean is making its restaurant guests love even better
• Royal Caribbean birthday sale is new and unlike any other I've seen
• I always do 4 things when I buy a drink package on every cruise and it adds so much value
• Is the internet package worth it on Royal Caribbean? I say yes
• Royal Caribbean added a new kind of suite to its ships that has no balcony. I liked it much more than I expected
• I went on the world's most family-friendly cruise ship without kids. It was worth it for 5 reasons
• 5 Royal Caribbean cruises where your dollar will go further right now
• 12 Cruise tips you disagree with
• I've worked at a cruise terminal for four years. Here are 10 things you should know before you arrive
• Utopia of the Seas suites
• New cruiser credits a prep step they took for making it an amazing vacation
• The $1.25 Dollar Tree Find So Good I Went Back for More
• Royal Caribbean Chairman lists his enormous tropical-themed home for $42 Million
• Can you just add someone else to a cruise cabin?

Mexico compromises on controversial cruise tax

A proposed $42 per passenger cruise tax has been greatly reduced, thanks to negotiations by the cruise industry.

Instead of charging $42 for each passenger, Mexico will introduce the cruise tax at a rate of $5 per passenger to start.

The new tax goes into effect July 1, 2025.

Royal Caribbean is re-routing ships away from Haiti into August

More cruise ship visits to Royal Caribbean's private beach in Haiti are being cancelled.

Ship sail dates as far out as August are now being re-routed from Labadee, which is a significant departure from making short-term changes to itineraries.  

The updated schedules reflect the dire situation in Haiti and the cruise line's caution in resuming visits anytime soon.

Royal Caribbean shuts down its private island this week for maintenance work

Something you don't see every day (or week) is Perfect Day at CocoCay without any Royal Caribbean ships.

Royal Caribbean actually shut down its private island for a week to conduct annual maintenance work.

Between May 4 and May 10, no ships visited the island.  It's work that was on the calendar for a while, and helps ensure everything is good to go for another year.

Why you should book a 2026 cruise after last week's Royal Caribbean meeting

If you read between the lines of Royal Caribbean's earnings call last week, it's clear prices are only going up.

In fact, executives disclosed they actually raise prices on cruises as they get close to the sail date in an effort to capitalize on last minute bookings.

As a result, last-minute cruise reservations are going to be more expensive than in the past. 

New RCB Video: 4 Things I ALWAYS Ask My Cabin Attendant For On Every Cruise!

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 — 4 Things I ALWAYS Ask My Cabin Attendant For On Every Cruise! — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 564th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available, discussing Royal Caribbean's strategy to target Walt Disney World visitors.

Influencers have a tremendous impact on information shared about cruises today. Griff joins Matt to break down this form of advertising and what it means to cruisers.

Please feel free to subscribe via iTunes, Spotify, or YouTube, and head over to rate and review the podcast on iTunes if you can! We’d appreciate it.

Royal Caribbean's Utopia of the Seas has impressively large and lavish suites you can book.

The best thing about staying in a suite is all the extra living space you get. Considering that cruise ship cabins usually feel smaller than a hotel room on land, it's nice to have more room to spread out.

Plus, the perks you get by staying a suite add to the value. Royal Caribbean gives some of its top onboard benefits to its suite guests as further incentive to try them out.

Here's a look at every type of suite you can book on Utopia of the Seas, as well as what it gets you.

Suite categories

Royal Loft Suite

The Royal Loft Suite is an expansive two-level suite with the master bedroom on the top level, and living room and second bathroom on the lower level. It features panoramic views with floor to ceiling windows that lead to a private balcony, which has a whirlpool, TV, and minibar. There's also a dining area on the lower level of the suite.  The master bathroom has a rainfall shower and tub.

Average price: $10,400 - $23,100 per person (first two passengers)

• Suite Class: Star Class
• Room Size: 1,524 sq ft
• Balcony Size: 843 sq ft
• Maximum Occupancy: 6 guests
• Bedrooms: 2
• Bathrooms: 2

Ultimate Family Suite

Prepare to be blown away by how much there is in this suite.  Royal Caribbean created the Ultimate Family Suite to be an amazing experience for families.  It has two levels, including three bedrooms, a slide, in-suite cinema, and large living room. The wraparound balcony features a climbing tower for kids and a private whirlpool. 

Average price: $10,100 - $27,300 per person (first two passengers)

• Suite Class: Star Class
• Room Size: 2,476 sq ft
• Balcony Size: 538 sq ft
• Maximum Occupancy: 10 guests
• Bedrooms: 3
• Bathrooms: 3

Solarium Suite

The Solarium Suite offers doesn't have a balcony, but it does have 280-degree panoramic views from its position high on the ship. There's glass everywhere as you're able to take in views from your large living room or master bedroom.

Average price: $3,100 - $11,200 per person (first two passengers)

• Suite Class: Star Class
• Room Size: 839 sq ft
• Balcony Size: N/A
• Maximum Occupancy: 2 guests
• Bedrooms: 1
• Bathrooms: 1.5

Two Bedroom Aquatheater Suite

Average price: $4,400 - $11,350 per person (first two passengers)

Situated at the back of the ship, the Two Bedroom Aquatheater suite offers the best views of the AquaTheater shows from its expansive wraparound balcony. It includes two bedrooms, a living room, and a dining area. This is probably the best suite on the ship for entertaining friends or family. 

• Suite Class: Star Class
• Room Size: 827 sq ft
• Balcony Size: 648 sq ft
• Maximum Occupancy: 8 guests
• Bedrooms: 2
• Bathrooms: 2

One bedroom Aquatheater Suite

Average price: $2,700 - $6,500 per person (first two passengers)

Positioned to offer direct views of the AquaTheater, this suite features a spacious living area, a bedroom with a Royal King bed, and a large private balcony. Besides not having a second bedroom, the other key difference between this and the Two Bedroom Aquatheater Suite is it has Sky Class benefits, instead of Star Class.

• Suite Class: Sky Class
• Room Size: 560 sq ft
• Balcony Size: 450 sq ft
• Maximum Occupancy: 4 guests
• Bedrooms: 1
• Bathrooms: 1

Crown Loft Suite with Balcony

Average price: $2,700 - $6,500 per person (first two passengers)

The Crown Loft Suite spans two levels, featuring a master bedroom on the upper level and a living area below. There's also a second full bathroom on the lower level, making it good for sharing with kids. The private balcony has a lot of space for taking in views of the ocean and what's happening around the ship.

• Suite Class: Sky Class
• Room Size: 670 sq ft
• Balcony Size: 105 sq ft
• Maximum Occupancy: 4 guests
• Bedrooms: 1
• Bathrooms: 2

Owner's Suite - 1 Bedroom

Average price: $2,360 - $4,000 per person (first two passengers)

The Owner's Suite offers a much larger living room compared to the Grand Suite. It has a separate bedroom and a private balcony. The bathroom has a shower and tub, along with dual sinks.

• Suite Class: Sky Class
• Room Size: 861 sq ft
• Balcony Size: 226 square feet
• Maximum Occupancy: 4 guests
• Bedrooms: 1
• Bathrooms: 1

Grand Suite - 1 Bedroom

Average price: $2,250 - $3,850 per person (first two passengers)

The Grand Suite is the entry level full suite. There's a large living room with sofa and chairs, as well as a bedroom that is separated from the living room by a curtain. The bathroom boasts a large soaking tub/shower combo. The balcony is quite large as well.

• Suite Class: Sky Class
• Room Size: 531 sq ft
• Balcony Size: 111 sq ft
• Maximum Occupancy: 4 guests
• Bedrooms: 1
• Bathrooms: 1

Sky Junior Suite

Average price: $2,100 - $5,421.61 per person (first two passengers)

The Sky Junior Suite provides a spacious area with a bedroom featuring a Royal King bed, a sitting area, and a private balcony. Moving up to a Sky Junior gets you the Sky Class benefits, which arguably adds more value to your cruise.

• Suite Class: Sky Class
• Room Size: 301 sq ft
• Balcony Size: 122 sq ft
• Maximum Occupancy: 4 guests
• Bedrooms: 1
• Bathrooms: 1

Junior Suite

Average price: $1,200 - $4,250 per person (first two passengers)

A Junior Suite has plenty of space to spread out, and offers a king size bed, vanity/desk, a small sitting area, plenty of storage, and a bathroom with a shower/tub combo.  You also have an extra-large balcony.

• Suite Class: Sea Class
• Room Size: 301 sq ft
• Balcony Size: 80 sq ft
• Maximum Occupancy: 4 guests
• Bedrooms: 1
• Bathrooms: 1

Suite neighborhood benefits

By booking a suite, you'll get certain benefits based on the class your room qualifies for.

Royal Caribbean has three categories of suites: Star, Sky, and Sea Class. This makes it simpler to understand which tier of benefits are included with your room.

Star Class Benefits

• Complimentary gratuities
• Complimentary internet
• Expedited boarding and departure
• Reserved premium seats in select entertainment venues
• Priority entrance to many onboard activities
• Suite Lounge access
• Access to Suite Sun Deck
• Exclusive access to Royal Genie Service
• All-day access to Coastal Kitchen
• Complimentary specialty restaurants
• Complimentary Deluxe Beverage Package
• Complimentary Refreshment Package
• Still and sparkling water replenished Daily
• Complimentary minibar stocked with Coca-Cola, beverages, and water
• Complimentary laundry and pressing services
• Luxury mattresses and pillows
• Frette linens
• Luxury bathroom amenities
• Royal Caribbean plush bathrobes for use onboard
• Lavazza Espresso coffee maker

Sky Class Benefits

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

Sea Class Benefits

• Dinner at Coastal Kitchen only
• Royal Caribbean bathrobes for use onboard
• Luxury pillow top mattress
• Luxury bathroom amenities
• Lavazza Espresso coffee maker

Best reasons to book a suite

Suites offer some incredible perks, especially if you move up to Star or Sky Class.

The level of service, more things included, and enormous cabins are the top reasons to book any suite. You're paying much for these rooms, but you're also getting a lot more in return.

The dedicated areas on Utopia of the Seas for suite guests is impressive, especially the Suite Sun Deck and Coastal Kitchen restaurant.

The Suite Sun Deck is a beautiful area, with lots of shade, loungers, plunge pool, and bar.  It's quiet, secluded, and offers both sun and shade access.

Coastal Kitchen is a restaurant most suites guests love because it has an upgraded feel compared to the Main Dining Room. Plus, it's included in your cruise fare and adds tremendous value to have another included full service restaurant.

Equally important is the services included. Starting with Sky Class, you have access to the Suite Concierge.  There are two suite concierge members working on Utopia of the Seas, and they're like your own Guest Services to address any needs you have and make your cruise more welcoming.

Plus, you'll have access to the Suite Lounge, where there's complimentary beer and wine from 11am to 11pm.  In the evening, there's cocktails included from 5pm to 8pm each day of the cruise.

Suites are not inexpensive, but they are the biggest staterooms you'll find on Utopia of the Seas. Plus, the benefits are impressive too.

More Royal Caribbean ships are being re-routed away from its private destination in Haiti, with cancellations extending into August.

The cruise line sent emails out to passengers on a variety of ships with scheduled visits to Labadee that they'll be unable to make the scheduled stop.

Labadee is a private beach stop exclusive to Royal Caribbean ships.

The cruise line hit the pause button on visits there beginning in April when gang violence escalated to a new level and concern about visiting the remote beach necessitated a change in plans.

The difference now is stops are being cancelled up to two months in advance.

Cancelling visits in July and August

Ships scheduled to visit Labadee in July and August 2025 have had their visits changed and shifted away from Haiti.

"We have been monitoring the evolving situation in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and out of an abundance of caution, we're swapping our visit to Labadee for a Sea Day," an email to guests booked on the July 20th sailing of Oasis of the Seas read.

Guests booked on the July 5th sailing of Adventure of the Seas received a similar email.

In both cases, an additional port stop was added in Nassau, Bahamas at the end of the cruise.

Even cruises as far away as August are getting re-routed. The August 3 sailing of Oasis of the Seas added a visit to Perfect Day at CocoCay at the end of the sailing.

In addition, the August 2nd sailing of Adventure of the Seas has replaced a visit to Labadee with Grand Cayman.

Up until now, it seemed the cruise line was conducting a "wait and see" approach to visits to its private destination. 

With cancellations extending into August, that will mean at least a three month pause so far, and a shift in how far out they're changing itineraries.

The email apologized for the change, "We're sorry for any inconvenience this may cause - your safety is our top priority."  

"While we know it's not the original itinerary we planned, we appreciate your understanding and can't wait to explore this new destination together."

Why Royal Caribbean is skipping Labadee

Haiti is experiencing gang violence that is targeting the country's government.

Ever since the 2021 assassination of Haiti's last president, an alliance of gangs have employed brutal tactics to grow its power.

An estimated 85% of Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, is controlled by gangs. 

The United States recently designated Haiti's major gangs as terrorist groups, which is intended to isolate the groups, denying them access to financing from U.S. people or companies.

More than 1,600 people were killed in violent clashes in the first three months of this year while over 1 million are internally displaced, according to U.N. estimates.

The U.S. State Department has a the highest level of travel advisory against visiting Haiti for well over a year, which is “Level 4: Do Not Travel." 

What to do in Nassau instead

If you're on one of these cruises that's getting re-routed away from Labadee to Nassau, here are some ideas for how to spend your time.

Nassau gets a lot of criticism for being far from the best Caribbean port, but I think if you plan things out, there's fun opportunities.

My top recommendation is to get a day pass to one of the resorts that you can either walk to or take a short taxi ride. (These are affiliate links, which cost you nothing extra to use!)

• Margaritaville
• Baha Mar waterpark
• British Colonial

There choices to include lunch, and you'll have access to full amenities while visiting.  Plus, the resorts are beautiful and there's plenty for kids to do.

If you're looking for a tour, these are the top rated excursions to book, according to Viator (affiliate links, that cost you nothing extra to use):

• Bites of Nassau Food and Walking Tour
• Pirate Jeep Sightseeing Adventure
• Rum Tasting and Food Walking Tour

Generally, I don't recommend walking around Nassau on foot without a plan as I tend to see the most negative reviews from folks who find the area surrounding the port isn't terrific.

Royal Caribbean is going to open their own private beach club in Nassau, but that doesn't open until late December 2025.

In the meantime, having a good plan for what to do is the right approach for a fun day there.

There are so many cruise tips shared across the internet, but not all of them are ones that make sense.

Some of these tips are based on personal preferences, and no matter how effective they are, if they don't jive with your style, it's not very useful.

Someone on Reddit asked cruise fans which cruise tips do they disagree with and why.

It sparked hundreds of comments touching on many aspects of a cruise vacation.

Here are the top ones and the rationale behind each, so you can decide if it's good for you or not.

You never spend time in the room except to sleep

The advice of picking a small, inside room instead of a balcony because you won't get as much use out of it was the top tip people disagreed with in the thread.

The argument is because there's so much to see, do, eat, and explore on Royal Caribbean's cruise ships, you simply won't be in your room much to take advantage of the perks.

"My favorite thing on a cruise is to sit on the balcony and read. We do stuff yes, but not sunrise to sunset and spend time in the room just relaxing." Sea_Voice_404 posted.

I can understand why some people would say that, especially vacationers that have cruised a lot. 

I think it may also depend on the ship. There's a big difference between things to do on Icon of the Seas vs Wonder of the Seas vs Enchantment of the Seas.

One major reason to get a balcony cabin was for the opportunity to have breakfast there, as there's a complimentary continental breakfast from room service.

The idea is you have the food delivered to your room and enjoy it on your balcony with the sun rising and open sea around you.

I can see both sides of the arguments, and I agree with this tip, but it's based on which ship you're sailing on and how much more it is to upgrade to a balcony or suite.

Book a later check-in time because it's less busy

What time should you book a check-in time for? Some people recommend a later time to avoid longer check-in lines at the cruise terminal.

"I'm getting on at 10AM and starting my drinking and relaxing at 10:05," said avamore, and I couldn't agree more.

The cost of your vacation is the same whether you board at 10am or 1pm, so I'll always pick the earlier time to get on and start enjoying the ship.

Plus, what are you going to do in the intermediate time? Hotels kick you out by 11am in most cases, and lunch is included in your cruise fare whereas you'd have to pay for lunch somewhere else.

The way to get an early check-in time is to do your check-in exactly at 45 days before the cruise sets sail. The earliest check-in times go first.

I also disagree with the premise of the tip that the terminal is really busy. Yes, there will be people there, but I find Royal Caribbean has the easiest and fastest check-in across the industry. Their use of the mobile app along with procedures in the terminal keeps people moving, provided you take the steps to check-in before the cruise begins.

Book a room away from the elevators

The rationale for this tip is to avoid noise from the elevator lobby where people will be walking, talking, and generally making noise. Instead, book a room at the end of the hall where you won't have nearly as much noise bleed issues.

I think the notion a room near the elevator is noisy is a false narrative to begin with.  My travel agent always books my cabin near the elevator and I love it for the convenience, whether I'm taking the elevator or the stairs.

"It’s just nice not having to walk from the direct middle or end of the ship to be anywhere quickly," said tyranski332.

The impact of a short walk is more apparent on Icon, Oasis, and Quantum Class ships where cabins at the very end of the hall can seem like the walk never ends.

Skip the Main Dining Room and buy the unlimited specialty dining package

The logic behind this tip is to indulge in specialty dining because food in the Main Dining Room isn't good, isn't as good as it used to be, or specialty dining food is just better.

JH12214 wrote, "In reality, I thought that every dinner I had was great. I was well-taken care of, and perhaps because I was lead to believe it was microwave-quality, I was pleasantly surprised."

I really like the Main Dining Room overall, and I'll eat there on some nights and work in specialty on other nights.

But I would never go as far as to tell anyone, especially new cruisers, that they should avoid the Main Dining Room.

I love the service you get in the Main Dining Room. Waiters getting to know you and your family are one of the reasons I fell in love with cruising in the first place.

And while not every dish in the Main Dining Room is going to be the best you've ever had, there are definitely some that I'll order every single time.

My advice for a new cruiser is to try one or two specialty restaurants, but rely on the Main Dining Room otherwise. Then after trying both, make a decision for yourself.

You need to buy a package to have a good cruise

Piggybacking on the previous tip, goinhungryyeah wrote buying various packages is necessary for a good cruise.

This goes back to how you like to cruise. I agree you don't need to buy any extra cost package to have a good time.  There's enough included you won't go hungry and still have a fun vacation.

The value of the packages are for those that prefer to vacation in a certain way.  If you want to have five to six drinks a day, a drink package is going to save you money.  If you love teppanyaki dining, steak, and lobster, a dining package might be a good fit.

However, don't automatically assume you need one.

I'd advise to read through what each package offers, and what Royal Caribbean includes.

In some cases, you can decide on the ship if you really need it. You can buy an internet package or drink package onboard, but you'll pay more per day than if you prepaid.

Over the door shoe organizers

One of the top cabin hacks out there is to bring an over the door hanging shoe organizer to add more storage space to your cabin.

I tried this hack out myself and found it really didn't work for me. In fact, I was more annoyed by it jostling around a lot.

I think this tip is rooted in the old days of cruise ships (ships built before 2010) that truly lacked storage space.  If you sail on any ship built more recently, I'm always amazed how much storage space there is.

Some readers point out the value here is for toiletries, which unless you're in a suite, always lacks places for everyone's bathroom accessories.  This is especially true the more people you have in the room.

Avoid the Windjammer on embarkation day

Embarkation day is busy, and it seems everyone goes to the Windjammer buffet for lunch. So the advice is to skip it to avoid lines.

lemon-actually explained, "I find it way more crowded at peak breakfast time on any other day. If you want Windjammer when you get on the ship, go to Windjammer. It’s busy but truly not as horrific as people say (in my experience anyway)."

This is one of those tips where I can see both sides of the logic. 

Yes, the Windjammer around 1pm is going to be very busy on embarkation day. However, it's not impossible to get food or a table. 

The other reason I'll still go is for the variety of food.

I have picky eaters in my family, so the widest selection is always welcome to simplify things.

I also find if you get an early check-in time and board early, it's less chaotic than going later on in the day.

Don't bring kids because it’s not fun/you’re just parenting on a ship

I cannot disagree with a tip more than this one that bringing kids is a mistake.

With apologies to ashmcdonald88 who wrote a good post explaining why it's a bad tip, I'd like to get on my own soap box.

Taking your kids, even babies, on vacation is one of the best things you can do as a parent.  One of your jobs is to surround them in positive experiences and share in life journeys.  Vacation is a huge one of those.

Plus, Royal Caribbean is a family cruise line. They specialize and cater to families: always have and always will.

I hate to paint with a wide brush, but this tip usually comes from people who don't want to hear, see, or be near children. I'll never understand this logic when they choose to cruise on a family cruise line.  

Not to mention Royal Caribbean offers adult-only areas, as well as areas that tend to lean into adult spaces.

Only use ship excursions, you might be left behind

There's truth to the fact Royal Caribbean promises if you book a shore excursion with them, they'll guarantee to get you back on the ship if the tour is late.

I think this is one of the top concerns cruisers have, especially new ones.  I remember the first time we did a non-Royal Caribbean tour and left our kids in Adventure Ocean. The level of paranoia was insane.

However, I think you're doing yourself a disservice if you rule out all third party tours.

I'd recommend considering both kinds of shore excursions, and then making a choice for you.

In Cozumel, I'll always book a tour on my own, unless I ever did an excursion on the mainland that requires a ferry boat.  Then, I'll only go through Royal Caribbean because of how notorious that ferry is being delayed.

A mix of both kinds of tours is probably where you should be.

Don't get Wi-Fi.  Turn off from the world.

This is another tip I totally disagree with because there's more downtime on a cruise than you might think.

I'll always buy a Wi-Fi package because it's just as relaxing to me to have the internet. I want to play Wordle, check out new YouTube videos, message friends and family, or follow my social feeds.

I think this tip comes from folks who associate internet with work.  Meaning, their phone being connected will inevitably draw in work emails or messages.

That may be true, but before I went full time with this blog, I would purposefully not check my work email. 

Stay on the ship in Nassau

Royal Caribbean actually agrees with this tip, in the sense they're trying to do something about it.

Nassau consistently ranks as one of the worst ports in terms of guest satisfaction. It's why they're building a brand new beach club to address the issue.

Royal Beach Club Paradise Island opens in December 2025, and will be an extra-cost option where the cruise line is promising "the ultimate beach day."

I'm eagerly looking forward to seeing what the final product looks like, but plans I've seen so far indicate they're taking the best lessons they've learned from Perfect Day at CocoCay and their ships, and applying it to an all-inclusive experience that will jump out as exciting.

Use a travel agent

Reddit user mritty disagreed about the value of a travel agent, "Most of the time they do nothing for you and serve as nothing but a middle man, a roadblock to you making any changes to your reservation."

I disagree that using a travel agent is a bad idea.  I love using them, and always recommend them to friends and family.

When I see arguments like this, I'm reminded of restaurants.  

If you go to a bad restaurant, do you swear off every going to another restaurant? Do you swear off Italian restaurants? No, of course not.

Not all travel agents are equal, but the good ones make managing your cruises and issues you run into so much easier.

I saw a comment from Billy from CruiseHabit.com that I thought really put the roadblock comment into perspective, "I've never seen it as a road block. Instead of calling a call center and waiting on hold, I text or email my agent, or call, whatever I prefer, and they make it happen."

"No holding, no escalating to a supervisor, etc. Plus they're worth their weight in gold if you run into an issue and need an advocate or someone to scramble changes for you."

One of my best finds for my recent cruise was just $1.25 — and I’m already heading back to the Dollar Tree to stock up on more.

Before every cruise, I like to swing by the store for any last-minute items before I start packing my suitcase. Recently, the dollar store has become my top choice for cruise must-haves before any trip — and it never disappoints! 

For this trip, I’d be embarking on a major getaway to Asia with my parents and sister. Our 12-night cruise on Royal Caribbean’s Anthem of the Seas included exotic ports of call throughout Asia, such as Singapore, Vietnam, Taiwan, Hong Kong, South Korea and Japan.

My flight schedule included 30 hours of travel across three different airports before even setting foot on our cruise ship. Once aboard, we had full-day excursions planned for each port of call to make the most of our time in these far-flung destinations. Needless to say, this was going to be an epic adventure for our family!

As a self-proclaimed germaphobe, I am always paranoid about getting run-down and sick while traveling. Although I travel often, I try my best to stay rested, hydrated, and healthy during my trips. There’s nothing worse than getting sick on your long-awaited trip, and potentially ruining your vacation. 

In this way, I am constantly reaching for hand sanitizer or disinfectant wipes to keep my hands clean while traveling. If I can’t wash my hands, I typically reach for a pack of disinfectant wipes as the next best thing. 

As you can imagine, I was thrilled to find a pack of 40 disinfectant wipes to pack for my cruise at the dollar store for only $1.25! It ended up being the smartest item I purchased for trip for many reasons. 

Here’s why you should head to the dollar store before your next cruise to stock up on this must-have item.

Don’t overlook the dollar store.

As cruise prices continue to climb, so do the costs of all your must-have travel essentials. In this way, I am always looking for ways to save money when I can. Even still, I usually enjoy making a quick shopping run or placing a few online orders before a cruise to make sure I’m fully prepared for my trip. The last thing I want is to overpay onboard the ship for something I could have picked up at home for just $1.25.

Last fall, I decided to visit the dollar store for the first time in many years. My small town has a Dollar Tree that I’ve heard friends rave about, so I decided to check it out. I was seriously impressed by the quality and quantity of items available for only $1.25!

While I pictured the store having mostly junk that I didn’t need, I couldn’t believe the selection of travel necessities and cruise staples. Everything from door decorations and magnetic hooks to travel-sized toiletries and on-the-go cleaning supplies was available for just $1.25.

I had an entire shopping spree and spent less than $20 — you can hardly get a fast food meal for less than $20 these days! Now, I always stop at the dollar store before my cruises to stock up, especially on these hand sanitizing wipes!

Sanitizing wipes were a lifesaver during my trip.

Before flying to Singapore for my cruise, I quickly stopped by the dollar store to pick up a few go-to cruise items, such as a pop-up hamper, liquid hand soap, and travel-sized toothpaste. 

While walking through the store, I found a pack of BioPure Hand Wipes with 40 wipes in a resealable package. The product had 5-star reviews online, so it seemed promising. In addition, I found a 2-pack of the same product at Walmart online selling for $14, so this seemed like a great deal. 

I snagged one package before checking out and packed the wipes in my carry-on suitcase. According to the packaging, these wipes contain aloe and vitamin E with a refreshing honey wildflower scent. Supposedly, the product claims to kill 99.9% of germs with an advanced anti-bacterial formula.

I’ll be honest, I was expecting these wipes to be poor quality. For $1.25, my standards were quite low and I didn’t expect much. Truthfully, I wouldn’t have been surprised if these wipes were cheap, thin, and flimsy.

However, I was proven wrong! The resealable pack felt high-quality and the wipes didn’t flake or fall apart when pulling from the package. They were easy to remove, and didn’t leave any sticky feeling on my hands. The lasting scent was a nice touch, too!

 During my long-haul flight through Seoul, I was already reaching for the wipes to clean off the tray table and entertainment screen. Considering how dirty airplanes can be, I think having disinfectants wipes is a must. The tray seemed to have some sticky residue, which is always off-putting on a plane. Luckily, these handy wipes took care of the stain quickly, and I was relieved to have these instead of relying only on hand sanitizer.

Once we boarded the cruise, I kept grabbing for these wipes.

As promised on the packaging, the compact, resealable pack was perfect for traveling. I could easily toss the wipes into my purse or backpack each day without taking up much space. Though slightly larger than typical travel-sized wipes, this pack was still slim and light enough to carry around the ship or on shore excursions. I never left our cruise cabin without throwing the pack into my pool bag.

Even though Anthem of the Seas offered handwashing stations at the entrance to the buffet, I noticed not everyone was using them. Plenty of passengers skipped right past the sinks and headed straight for the serving tongs. 

This made me extra glad I had my wipes handy before every meal. Germs can spread quickly on cruise ships, and I wasn’t about to let poor hygiene practices ruin my vacation.

Some studies even suggest that the physical motion of wiping with disinfecting wipes can be more effective at reducing bacteria on hands than hand sanitizer. Of course, handwashing is always the gold standard, but when it wasn’t available, these wipes were the next best thing. I used them regularly before eating, after touching railings or menus, and any time I needed to refresh my hands.

I packed the wipes in my purse for long days ashore.

While it was helpful to have these wipes onboard the ship, sinks for handwashing are never too far away on a cruise ship. However, this isn’t the case when you’re ashore — and certainly not the case when traveling to off-the-beaten-path destinations in Asia.

I kept my pack of wipes in my daily bag during our long days ashore. While I’m not usually overly concerned about sanitation when traveling, this trip was different. It was my first time visiting countries like Vietnam, Taiwan, and South Korea, and I wasn’t sure what to expect in terms of restroom facilities or cleanliness. 

I wanted to be prepared for the worst case scenario, and packing these wipes gave me peace of mind.

As expected, there were several times when I walked into a bathroom and realized there was no soap or even running water. In those moments, I was so thankful to have my handy wipes in my bag!

I felt confident my hands were clean enough after using them, and I was more than happy to share them with others when needed. Being able to wipe my hands after browsing handmade goods in Vietnam or handling souvenirs at the street markets in Hong Kong made a big difference for me. I felt more comfortable exploring without worrying about germs.

By the end of the cruise, my trusty $1.25 pack was nearly empty — the sign of a worthwhile purchase!

I already plan to grab a few more before my next adventure.

If you haven’t checked out the dollar store for travel or cruise essentials, I definitely recommend swinging by before your next trip. It wasn’t always on my radar, but I’ve been consistently surprised by the quality and variety of items I’ve found there, especially for the price.

Beyond the sanitizing wipes, I also picked up some fun self-care items for me and my sister to use during our cruise. I packed a cherry blossom body scrub (perfectly fitting for our stop in Japan) and a couple of hydrating face masks to enjoy some affordable, in-cabin spa time. For only $1.25 each, I didn’t feel bad leaving the remaining product with new friends we made onboard.

Of course, I won’t swing by the dollar store without picking up more packs of these sanitizing wipes before my next cruise! 

What's the secret to a great first cruise? Knowing what to do, where to go, and what not to do seems to be the answer.

Royal Caribbean is experiencing a renaissance right now with unparalleled demand for its ships. In just the first quarter of 2025, 2.2 million people went on a cruise vacation with a Royal Caribbean Group brand ship. That's up 9% over the same time last year.

In fact, over 60% of people that cruise are new to it, and all of this means a lot of people are giving cruising a try.

Understandably, many new cruisers want to know what to do to have a great time.  Most travelers have this concern, and it leads them to sites like this to find answers.

Reddit user NinjaPenny wrote a glowing review of their first cruise, which was on Royal Caribbean's Utopia of the Seas, and they credit looking up information as the difference maker.

Utopia of the Seas is the newest Royal Caribbean cruise ship, and it's also the second biggest ship in the world. Utopia will slide to the #3 spot later this summer when Star of the Seas debuts.

"I'm glad I did my research"

The overarching theme from NinjaPenny's post is researching what to do made a difference.

They traveled with 15 people, and says they all had a great time.

"It was my first time cruising and let me tell you, I would do it again!" was posted at the start of the review.

I've read plenty of posts like this across Reddit and the internet, but I think the fact they highlighted the research they did was important.

"I'm glad I did my research. I felt prepared but even then I didn't know what to expect. The ship far exceeded my expectations."

Considering how much a cruise costs, it's critical to doing even a basic level of research to have the right approach and expectations.

Cruises are a very personalized experience. You could sit in your room and eat just cruise ship pizza for a week, whereas someone else might be in a suite, eat at specialty restaurants, or never visit the pool. 

Many of the choices you make in booking the ship and then onboard are rooted in personal preferences, which is why people can have vastly different experiences.

What they looked up ahead of time

I was curious what sort of things NinjaPenny researched exactly that benefitted them on the cruise.

The first thing was learning about the ship itself, "I researched the ship, what was included, etc."

"I also researched what was included at Coco Cay as well! Had I not researched that, I would've ended up spending money on food/drinks when it was included."

The example of CocoCay is important given it has a material impact on one's vacation budget, as well as expectations.

NinaPenny had a goal of taking advantage of what's included, "Since this was our first time cruising, I was trying to do everything that was included and tried not to spend any extra money."

The exception was spending extra to reserve the Royal Railway. This is the new immersive dining experience that makes you feel like you're on a train in the Old West.

The only bit of research that backfired was looking up water slide heights, which is different from what the actual requirement that is on the ship. 

"When I checked, it showed that my daughter was tall enough to ride all the water slides but when we went, she was an inch short."

The best things about Utopia of the Seas

Besides doing research, here are the important takeaways from trying Utopia.

• The food was delicious but the service was impeccable. All the staff members were so nice!
• The embarking and disembarking was the easiest thing ever! Way better than the airport. It was such a breeze!
• All the shows were top notch!
  • The comedy show was also our least favorite. They two comics were okay. If I could have a do over, I would rather go see All In instead!
  • All the other shows were amazing! I loved it!
• Royal Railway is a must do experience! The food, the presentation, everything.... was soooo good!!!

What to research when you plan your cruise

It can feel overwhelming where to start in your cruise planning process, but just looking up basis will help considerably.

I think the obvious place to start is with the ship itself.  Figuring out what it has and doesn't have is important so you can start making plans (or pick a different ship).

Each Royal Caribbean ship has its own set of amenities and things to do, so I'd start off looking up the restaurants, activities, events, and more you can do on the ship.

You could read a past Cruise Compass to see what's offered on the ship, watch a ship tour on YouTube, or simply start googling away to see what you can find.

Equally important is understanding the basics of cruises and what is included and costs extra.  Here are some easy articles to get you started:

• Cruise ship cabin guide
• How dining works on Royal Caribbean
• 30 Do's and Don'ts for the first day of your cruise
• Perfect Day at CocoCay guide

All of these are jumping off points. Your own curiosity should lead you to cover the basics beyond that.

Royal Caribbean has made a small, but important change to one of its drink packages.

The Royal Refreshment package is the mid-tier beverage package that includes pretty much all non-alcoholic drinks.  

However, it omitted one type of drink that baffled some cruisers.

Revised terms of service show the cruise line now includes non-alcoholic beers in it.

Here's what's different about the Refreshment Package

In looking through all the inclusions Royal Caribbean has for the Royal Refreshment package, there's been a new addition.

What's included:

• Coca-Cola Freestyle Machine beverages including sodas, sugar free sodas, Minute Maid lemonades, Powerade, vitaminwater®, iced tea, fruit punch and more
• Can and fountain soda
• Bottled still water, sparkling water, and CocoLove coconut water
• Fresh-squeezed juices
• Smoothies and protein shakes
• Specialty coffees and teas
• Johnny Rockets® Shakes and Desserted Soda Floats
• Non-alcoholic spirits, wines and beers (only available to guests of legal drinking age)
• Frozen drinks (Non-alcoholic pina colada, etc.)
• Coca-Cola souvenir cup

Up until now, non-alcoholic beer wasn't included because it was technically still a beer. If you wanted to order any with a drink package, you had to buy the Deluxe Beverage Package.

The only caveat is you must be legal drinking age to still order one as to avoid minors ordering beer, even if it's non-alcoholic.

The Royal Caribbean drinking age is based on where your ship sails from initially, so cruises from the United States have a minimum drinking age of 21 whereas ships sailing from Europe are only 18.

The cruise line hasn't made any announcement why they made the change. Cruise fans simply noticed the addition.

"Finally!"

Cruisers seemed quite happy to have this change to the drink package.

On the Royal Caribbean reddit, kittycathleen wrote, "I'm so happy. I don't drink a ton of NA beer, but it'll be great to have it included. Now I just need them to improve their selection."

The trend of not drinking alcohol (or low alcohol content drinks) is a big trend currently among millennials.

A recent study showed in April 2023, 45% of no-alcohol beer consumers in the US were Millennials; by April 2024, that figure had risen to 61%.

Today, almost 1 in 2 Royal Caribbean guests are millennials or younger.

To that point, reddit user goinhungryyeah added, "Especially with a gradual change by younger passengers to limit alcohol intake (but still enjoy beverages). The NA beer market has exploded in both quantity and quality as a result."

cocomangas posted, "Nice! Finally have more options than just mocktails. Great for former drinkers like me who miss the taste of wine and beer."

Why this change matters

The difference in price among the drink package tiers can be quite substantial, so those that don't want any alcohol now have more choice in what they can order.

The average price of a Royal Caribbean drink package in 2025 is around 28 to $42 per person per day for the Refreshment package, but $55 to $115 per person per day for the Deluxe Beverage Package.

The cruise line relies on dynamic pricing, which is why we can't give specific numbers. 

As an example, the onboard price for the Deluxe Drink Package is $105 per person per day, whereas the Refreshment Package is $42.

Adding more drink options to any drink package offers more ways to "break even" on the package cost compared to ordering the same amount of drinks individually. Plus, drink packages are much more convenient and a top reason why people buy them in the first place.