Royal Caribbean Blog

Happy weekend! In case you missed any Royal Caribbean news, here is a look at everything that happened this week!

A lazy-crazy river and water slide towers are just the start of Royal Caribbean's plans for Perfect Day Mexico.

Opening in fall 2027, Royal Caribbean revealed this week all of its plans for Perfect Day Mexico.

Also announced are the plans for its two beach clubs, as well as a new private destination in Vanuatu.

Royal Caribbean News

• Crazy lazy river, water launch slides, beach clubs: How you’re going to change how to pick a cruise
• Millennials are now the average cruise passenger age, says Royal Caribbean CEO
• My first cruise to Alaska caught me off guard. Looking back, I wish I'd avoided these 3 mistakes
• How much I spent on everything for my Anthem of the Seas cruise
• I paid $220 to try Royal Caribbean's new VIP excursion. It was pricey but made our beach day much better
• Royal Caribbean planning timeline
• Anthem of the Seas balcony cabin tour

Cruise tips that sound strange but really work

Trust, these travel tips really work, even if they sound bizarre.

New cruisers might be surprised by a few cruise tips that get shared because they either sound unintuitive or something completely different than they're used to.

I can vouch from experience these cruise tips really do work, even if they sound very odd.

Royal Caribbean makes casino change for non-smokers

The newest non-smoking casino is open.

Royal Caribbean opened another non-smoking casino on Utopia of the Seas, this one replacing the comedy club onboard.

Construction took a month, but a second non-smoking venue is now open on the ship.

These 13 travel essentials made my flight to Europe fly by

Jenna just got back from a trip to Europe, a few essentials made a big difference during the flight.

Flying to Barcelona to check out Allure of the Seas meant taking an economy class flight across the Atlantic.  By no means is that an enjoyable experience on its own.

After careful testing, certain travel accessories really do help improve the flight when traveling that long a time.

The underrated Florida cruise port with the best value

Among all the ports you can sail from in Florida, Tampa is clearly the best if you're on a budget.

Cruises from Tampa are easy to access, and probably the cheapest fares you'll find right now.

With cruise prices only seemingly going up, the best deals are on Florida's west coast.

New RCB Video: Royal Caribbean just shared Perfect Day Mexico, Beach Club Info & More

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 — Royal Caribbean just shared Perfect Day Mexico, Beach Club Info & More — and don’t forget to subscribe to our channel.

Ever wonder how much it costs to cruise, including all the extra costs and related purchases you have to make?

Last month, I embarked on an epic adventure to Asia with my parents and sister. Because of the pandemic, we still had unused cruise credits that we wanted to apply for a sailing. We eventually settled on an incredible 12-night repositioning cruise from Singapore to Japan with stops in Vietnam, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea, and Japan.

We were ecstatic to find this unique itinerary aboard Royal Caribbean’s Anthem of the Seas. This repositioning cruise is part of the ship’s transition between Australia and Alaska, so this particular itinerary is only offered once in the fall and spring.

My family booked the itinerary right after it was available, and we secured two balcony cabins next to one another. Anthem of the Seas had just completed her dry dock in Singapore, so we had fresh beds and carpet in our cabins! Although this Quantum class ship isn’t the newest vessel in Royal Caribbean’s fleet, the 10-year-old ship has aged gracefully and still feels quite modern and fresh.

Because I was traveling with my sister, we were able to split the costs of our stateroom, hotels, and transfers. For my portion of the trip, I paid $6,773 for the entire vacation. With 14 total nights of vacation, the cost was $483 per person for each night of the trip.

Here’s a full breakdown of what I spent for my 12-night Asia cruise on Anthem of the Seas, which includes travel-related expenses, onboard purchases, souvenirs, and transportation costs.

My sister and I split the cost of the cabin, costing me $2,888 for a standard balcony stateroom.

Typically, I prefer booking interior cabins to save money while cruising. Because of this, my sister and I normally book the cheapest inside cabin we can find, although we prefer spending a little extra to avoid booking guarantee cabins.

When we booked this cruise, we were pleasantly surprised to find a reasonably priced standard balcony stateroom. Since my parents always book a balcony cabin, and the only option near them was another balcony cabin, it made sense for us to do the same. We were even able to select a connecting stateroom right next to theirs, so we knew we wouldn’t end up with noisy neighbors.

We reserved cabins 11268 and 11266, located on Deck 11. This was a great spot to stay, and we appreciated the convenient location onboard Anthem of the Seas. 

Read more: Anthem of the Seas Cruise Ship Balcony Cabin: Review, Photos

For instance, we were only a few decks below the Windjammer buffet. Before meeting for our excursions, we could quickly grab breakfast on Deck 14 and scurry back to our cabin to finish getting ready. Nothing ever felt too far from our stateroom, so I would definitely book this cabin again.

Most importantly, the cabin was very comfortable for our 12-night stay and featured a functional, modern design. The bathroom was especially spacious, and the shower was one of the largest I’ve had on a cruise ship.

We had more than enough space to unpack and settle in without feeling cramped. The cabin offered two wardrobe closets, plus ample shelving and drawer space. The connecting cabins were an added bonus—we loved the convenience of moving between the two rooms and sharing the balconies.

The cruise fare was $5,776 for the two of us, which included port fees and taxes. Splitting this with my sister, my portion was $2,888, or $240 per night. This cruise fare is a little higher than I typically like to pay; however, the unique sailing was in high demand, and cabins booked up quickly. A few months later, only suites were available to book for $10,000 each! 

We forgot to prepay our gratuities, which we normally do before embarkation. This resulted in a daily charge of $18.50 to our shipboard account, or $222 total for my gratuities. 

For this trip, the cruise fare and gratuities comprised about 45.91% of the total expenses for this trip. This was the priciest expense of the entire trip, as expected!

I spent $2,302 on flights, which arrived in Singapore and departed from Tokyo.

In addition to the cruise fare, I was shocked by the cost of airfare for this cruise! Because our cruise was departing from Singapore and concluding in Tokyo, I booked a multi-city itinerary. Since it takes more than 30 hours to reach Singapore from Florida, I wanted to have a few buffer days for any potential travel delays or cancellations. This would also give us a few days to adjust to the new timezone before boarding our cruise.

I booked economy seats with Delta Air Lines, which included connections in Atlanta and Seoul, South Korea. The flights were grueling, but I was thankful to receive free upgrades to Comfort Plus on my long-haul segments. Although the extra legroom was welcomed, nothing really makes a 14-hour flight very enjoyable.

I spent $2,302 for the entire flight, or about 34% of the trip’s overall cost. Luckily, this included two free checked bags, which I took advantage of.

Unfortunately, my trip home from Tokyo was more disruptive. My sister and I were stranded in Japan for 24 hours when our flight to Atlanta was cancelled due to maintenance issues. The flight was rescheduled for the following day so they could fix the plane, but we had to spend an additional night in Japan.

Thankfully, we both purchased travel insurance, and these expenses (upwards of $500 for hotel, food, and transportation) were covered.

We booked excursions through Royal Caribbean for about $340 each.

Originally, we had booked excursions for all five port stops of our itinerary, costing around $500 each. Most of these were full-day tours, although we had half-day stops in Tokyo and Jeju Island, South Korea. 

We had never visited these countries before, so we felt Royal Caribbean’s excursions were the best choices for convenience and safety. Additionally, some of the ports were far away from the actual city. For example, Ho Chi Minh was nearly two hours from where the ship docked.

After boarding in Singapore, we received notice that our excursion in Japan was cancelled. Supposedly, the ship couldn’t sail at full speed due to the recent dry dock, so we had to leave South Korea earlier than expected.

With the revised itinerary, we wouldn’t reach Tokyo until an hour or two after our originally scheduled afternoon arrival. Since face-to-face immigration is required in Japan, the delayed arrival and expected slow processing led to the cancellation of all ship-sponsored excursions. In the end, that saved us about $150.

In addition, we received a 50% refund for our excursion in Jeju Island, South Korea. This was already a half-day tour because we had a short stay; however, it was down pouring when we arrived. The cruise line offered guests a full refund if they wanted to cancel their excursion that morning, which I thought was generous.

We decided to take the excursion anyway, and it ended up only costing us about $50. In the end, we agreed the money was well spent on these cruise-sponsored excursions, especially in Vietnam. In fact, we ended up departing late from Vietnam due to a huge traffic jam that delayed other excursions from returning to the ship on time. I bet those passengers were thankful they booked an excursion through the cruise line!

We only spent about $340 on excursions, or 5% of our trip’s total cost — this was one of our cheapest expenses for the entire vacation!

Onboard expenses, including internet and specialty dining, totaled $402.

Overall, I didn’t spend much money onboard our ship. Most of our time was spent exploring ashore, and I took advantage of the complimentary activities and amenities onboard. Prior to boarding, I booked VOOM Surf + Stream internet for $250 - this would provide Wi-Fi access for the entire cruise.

The internet was reliably fast, and I never had issues with connecting onboard. We did experience some blackouts while cruising from Hong Kong to Taiwan, but Royal Caribbean reimbursed us for a few days. 

In addition, our family also decided to treat ourselves to two specialty dining experiences during the cruise. Anthem of the Seas offers a variety of specialty restaurants to choose from, including Chops Grille, Jamie’s Italian, Izumi Sushi, and Wonderland.

We used our Diamond Plus loyalty benefit to take advantage of the BOGO specialty dining offer, choosing to dine at Chops Grille and Jamie’s Italian. On a longer itinerary, I do appreciate the change-of-pace for a more upscale, intimate dining experience.

Both meals were excellent, though service at Jamie’s Italian was noticeably slow. One crew member mentioned the staff was still finding their rhythm again after the ship’s break from regular operations during dry dock, which may have contributed to the isolated experience.

Surprisingly, the main dining room impressed us night after night. We had consistently great food, attentive service, and a smooth dining experience each night. Although this hasn’t always been the case on my recent Royal Caribbean cruises, I was impressed with the main dining room experience on Anthem of the Seas.

I didn’t purchase any drinks during this cruise, as our five daily Diamond Plus drink vouchers were more than sufficient. I enjoyed specialty coffee each morning, followed by a few drinks in the evenings or by the pool on a sea day.

In the end, these onboard expenses were minimal compared to the total cost of the trip. I only spent $402 for internet and specialty dining, or about 5.95% of the entire vacation budget.

For this trip, we spent about $239 each on hotels and transfers.

It’s always best practice to arrive to your cruise port at least one day before embarkation. If your flights get delayed or cancelled, you don’t want to risk missing your entire vacation! When flying internationally or long distances for a cruise, I prefer to arrive two days prior to embarkation.

For this cruise, we arrived two nights before our cruise started, giving us one full day in Singapore and two nights in a hotel. At first, we booked our hotels directly through Marriott. But, I worked with my travel agent, Hayley with Fora Travel, and she ended up saving us $200 on the hotels!

My sister and I split the hotel cost, so my portion was only $164 for two nights at the Four Points Sheraton in Singapore. We had to spend $405 for our unexpected night in Tokyo after our flight was cancelled, as it was last minute and during Japan’s very busy Golden Week. Thankfully, these expenses were covered by the airline and travel insurance. 

In addition, we booked private transfers from the Singapore airport to our hotel, followed by another transfer to the port. We had so much luggage that our transfer had to bring a second car just to transport the suitcases - whoops! Thankfully, we split the cost of the transfers between the four of us. 

In addition, we booked a transfer through Royal Caribbean to the Tokyo airport when we struggled to find any other options. My sister and I spent an additional $90 on transfers after our flight was cancelled, but this was also covered by travel insurance.

I spent about $239 for the hotels and transfers - or about 3.5% of the total trip cost. However, this total would have been much higher if I hadn’t purchased travel insurance for the unexpected costs with the cancelled flight. Take this as a reminder to always have travel insurance!

I budgeted $100 for cash tips, which I provided to crew members on the last night of the cruise.

In addition to the onboard daily gratuities, I also brought cash for tips at the end of the cruise. This is always an expense that I budget for, as I want to ensure the crew members are rewarded for their hard-working service.

We decided to provide additional tips to our waiters in the main dining room, along with the head waiter. All of them provided excellent service for the entirety of the cruise, and we felt it was deserved. Finally, we also tipped our stateroom attendant on the last day for dealing with our messy room for 12 nights!

My sister and I provided cash tips totaling $100 each, which is only about 1.5% of the total trip cost.

Finally, I spent around $280 for in-port purchases and souvenirs.

I’ll admit, I love to shop for souvenirs and treasures during my cruises. Each of these destinations had incredible shops to purchase trinkets and goodies. We first started at the famous Ben Thanh Market in Ho Chi Minh City, where I found a myriad of souvenirs to bring home.

Our next ports offered even more chances to shop, especially in Hong Kong, where I couldn’t resist splurging. I picked up a stylish leather backpack for just $40 and a knock-off designer purse for $20. I also stocked up on Nespresso pods at a local grocery store for a fraction of the price I usually pay back home.

I also collect Starbucks mugs from each destination that I visit, so I came home with four new mugs to add to my collection. These are each about $20, and I was thrilled to find unique designs from each country.

Surprisingly, we purchased very little food or drinks during our time ashore. Most of our excursions included lunches with massive buffets, so we never felt the need to purchase our own food. We prioritized eating most of our meals on the ship, as Anthem of the Seas has plenty of included dining options to enjoy.

Overall, I spent around $280 on in-port purchases for this trip, or about 4.13% of the trip cost. Most of these purchases were souvenirs, trinkets, Starbucks mugs, and unique treasures. I was thankful for packing a second suitcase to bring home all of my new travel goodies!

In the end, I paid $6,773 for my 12-night Asia cruise on Anthem of the Seas.

Cruise expenses can add up quickly, and even with minimal onboard purchases and add-ons, I still spent close to $7,000 for this vacation with my parents and sister. The biggest expenses for this trip included the cruise fare itself for $2,888 and airfare for $2,302. Both of these categories accounted for 76% of the total vacation cost, followed by onboard expenses and excursions.

I cherish time with my family, especially because my husband and I live across the country from them. This was money well spent, and I loved being able to visit such diverse, culturally-rich ports of call. I’d rather spend this amount of money seeing new places in the world than visiting the same Caribbean destinations over and over again.

Instead of picking a ship, you might be picking the private destination as the top reason to choose a cruise.

Royal Caribbean revealed the full details of four different beach destination projects it's working on, and collectively it's evolving its product offering forward beyond any other cruise line or resort.

"Now, guests are choosing to sail with us so that they can go to CocoCay," said Royal Caribbean's Senior Vice President and Chief Product Innovation Officer Jay Schneider. "Sometimes it's actually more important CocoCay than it is the ship that they're on."

The success Royal Caribbean has had with its Perfect Day at CocoCay project lead them on the path to spawn an even bigger project in Mexico, along with two beach clubs and a new private destination.

According to Schneider, visiting destinations is the top reason their customers choose a Royal Caribbean cruise.  But new Royal Caribbean exclusives could change how people think of picking a vacation.

"The difference is, in addition to saying, I want to go to Aruba, they're going to continue to say... I want to go to Perfect Day at CocoCay."

That change in approach to picking private destinations as a primary factor could be  a real difference maker for Royal Caribbean.

Caribbean cruises with an oasis at each stop

By the time we get to the end of 2027, Royal Caribbean will have two Perfect Day operations open, along with two beach clubs, across the Caribbean.

It's not difficult to imagine itineraries where each stop has a top rated spot at each port that Royal Caribbean customers can enjoy.

Your cruise could sail away from Miami, stop at the Royal Beach Club Cozumel, then hit Perfect Day Mexico the next day, and conclude with a visit to Perfect Day at CocoCay before returning home.

Royal Caribbean isn't moving away from bringing its customers to everywhere else in the Caribbean, but they're also looking to offer its customers what they want: highly rated experiences that passengers love.

At the official announcement event in New York on Wednesday, Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley restated that Perfect Day at CocoCay is the number one rated place by customers their ships visit.

Like any business, Royal Caribbean wants to take that winning formula that makes its customers so satisfied and spread it around.

In the case of Nassau, the line wants to address a much-needed problem where passengers frankly hate visiting there.

In terms of guest satisfaction, Nassau ranks in the bottom 10% of ports, and that's a big reason why Royal Caribbean wants to build a club there.

But with Cozumel and Costa Maya, there are opportunities to add more and spread what worked at CocoCay so its passengers can have a great experience elsewhere.

In all cases, the goal is simple: elevate the experience by making things easier and better for passengers.  Take that formula and apply it liberally.

Dreaming of perfect cruises

Almost as soon as Royal Caribbean announced its plans for Perfect Day Mexico and its beach clubs, cruise fans began asking for sailings that visit them all.

"Would love to go to Coco Cay and Perfect Day Mexico on the same cruise," posted RCIfan1912 on the Royal Caribbean message boards.

aherrera04 posted on Reddit, "With all the new Perfect Day projects released I just need a cruise that stops in all of them maybe with a sea day in between."

"5 night from Orlando, stops at CoCoCay and Mexico… where do I sign up" added NathanJax.

When does each of these new places open?

It's going to be a busy few years as Royal Caribbean gets all of these new spots ready to go.

Perfect Day Mexico is slated to open September 2027, and Royal Caribbean will likely offer itineraries that visit both Perfect Day locales when they go on sale.

Expect the first batch of new cruises to be on sale in the fall, around November of this year.

Royal Beach Club Cozumel is expected to open in December 2026, and it sounds like it will be at the very end of December.

Royal Beach Club Paradise Island will be the first beach club to open, and that will start up operations in December 2025.  Once again, expect a late opening in the month.

Finally, Lelepa will open sometime in early 2027.

Keep in mind you cannot book admission or tickets to any of the beach clubs yet.  Royal Caribbean says more information and pricing will be released soon.

If you have the means and control, one of the best deals in cruising right now is through Royal Caribbean's casino program.

Ever since I discovered how lucrative the offers can be to essentially earn free cruises by doing the thing I'd already be doing in the ship's casino, I've been taking advantage of offers coming through Casino Royale.

My luck in the casino is up and down over the course of the year, and your results may differ from mine. Please gamble responsibly.

Just like a land casino, Royal Caribbean's casino operation is big business.  They offer complimentary cruises if you gamble enough to reach certain point thresholds.

You really don't need to be a big gambler in order to benefit, and a recent change the casino program made just saved me more than any jackpot I've ever won from a slot machine.

The basics of a casino comp

There are a few ways to get a "free cruise" by gambling in Royal Caribbean's casino, but I'm going to focus on the annual free cruise you get from reaching the Prime level within the casino loyalty program.

Just like Crown and Anchor Society, Royal Caribbean's casino has its own loyalty program. However, it differs in that your status is based on how many points you earn over the course of one year.  

You'll earn 1 point for every $5 wagered on a slot machine, and if you get to 2,500 points in a gaming year, you'll get the choice of a free interior room on a cruise up to seven nights in length.

The beauty of this free cruise offer is you can earn it over the course of a year. You might earn 500 points on one sailing, 1000 on another, and so on.  You can earn it in one sailing or over multiple, and then stop and enjoy that perk later.

Plus, as a Prime member you get free drinks in the casino.

The catch with this annual cruise offer is it's only available to book the following year, and you must use and sail it within that year. Plus, there's an exclusion list.

Each year certain dates and ships are excluded, because they're too in demand.  This means no holiday cruises and no sailings on brand new ships.

Star of the Seas, Royal Caribbean's next new ship was, as expected, on the exclusion list.

A change in the exclusion list

As I contemplated which cruise to use my free sailing offer, Royal Caribbean made a change.

Royal Caribbean message board users shared suddenly there were Star of the Seas and Icon of the Seas sailings showing up as available after previously being excluded.

"In case anyone has not booked their annual, Star is no longer excluded and there are open dates in January-March!" wrote Chart.

A brand new ship like Star of the Seas would command a premium price, and I looked into if I could take advantage of it.

Almost $9,000 in savings

I was already booked for a 7-night spring break cruise on Star of the Seas with my family in connecting ocean balcony cabins.

I booked it when the ship opened up bookings, and got two rooms for my family.  Splitting up and getting two rooms instead of one is one of my favorite cruise hacks.

The price for each room was $7095.08, including taxes, fees, port expenses, and gratuities. That's a total of $14,190.16 for both cabins.

I alerted my MEI-Travel agent to what I had seen online and asked her if we could cancel what I had booked and re-book it with my casino certificate.

She found the reports were true, and I would be able to use my certificate for one room and my wife's certificate for the other room.

We'd get the interior cabin for "free", and the cost to upgrade to connecting ocean view balcony would be $2338.34 + gratuities per room. With fees and gratuities, it came out to $2597.34 per cabin.

After some work with the cruise line, my travel agent was able to get me rebooked with the casino offer, plus the difference in upgrading the cabin back up to an ocean balcony.

I went from a $14,190.16 bill to a $5,194.68 bill, saving me $8,995.48.

Big savings, but it's still gambling

I wanted to share my experience as an example of how lucrative Royal Caribbean's casino program can be, provided you're willing to play responsibly.

To be fair, I don't have an accurate accounting of my losses in the 2024-2025 casino year to properly evaluate how much money I lost to get my 2,500 points and reach Prime status.

Of course, I also enjoyed other benefits of being a Prime member, such as complimentary drinks in the casino throughout that time and even this year too.

Gambling is addictive and inherently risky, but if you can play smart, you could net some big savings well beyond the casino floor.

Young people are taking over cruise ships.

Demand for a Royal Caribbean cruise vacation has never been hotter, and there's a shift in who's booking them.

Speaking at an event in New York City revealing their private destination plans, Royal Caribbean International CEO Michael Bayley told the audience the average age of its customers is no longer Baby Boomers or Gen-X.

"The average age is a Millennial now," said Mr. Bayley in talking about the shifting demographics of who's going on a cruise.

According to Bayley, on short getaway cruises, 2 out of 3 guests are vacationing with Royal Caribbean for the first time.

More than 40% of Royal Caribbean cruises are 5 nights or less.

Given the direction Royal Caribbean is headed with opening new beach clubs around the world over the next few years, catering to Millennials and their families makes sense for the company.

The Pew Research Center defines millennials as those born between 1981 and 1996, which means they're people that are between 29 and 44 years old today.

They're bringing their kids onboard Royal Caribbean ships, and are the dominate age group onboard.

Why are Millennials embracing cruising so much? Two factors are the affordability of cruises compared to traditional land vacations and the increasing desire for unique, shareable experiences.

That second part is at the heart of Royal Caribbean's big destination push.

New places you can spend time together

If you look at Perfect Day Mexico, Lelepa, or any of the beach clubs, you're going to quickly notice these are all built on the foundation of creating memories for families.

Whether you're at the Giant Flamingo DJ bar in Royal Beach Club Paradise Island, going down the nearly hour-long lazy river in Perfect Day Mexico, or at the swim-up bar in Cozumel, the overarching goal is to offer Royal Caribbean cruisers things they can do for everyone in the family.

"Our guests are looking for memories. They're trying to find first experiences. It's why people go on vacation, frankly," said Royal Caribbean's Senior Vice President and Chief Product Innovation Officer Jay Schneider.

To that point, Royal Caribbean made water the core pillar of all the areas they showed off.

Why? Because that's what Royal Caribbean's customers are telling them they want. 

"We hear this all the time from our guests. It's view water; in water; toes in sand water; drink water; Water comes throughout everything that we do."

A great example of this combination of water and family memories is in which water slides are being added to Perfect Day Mexico.

There are more raft slides than body slides because customers love them.  It's more fun to go down a water slide with someone you know, and it's a shared experience.

There will be more than 30 slides in Perfect Day Mexico, and  the tallest family raft slide is designed for four to six riders at once so you can experience it together.

Royal Caribbean also developed party cabanas that can handle up to 20 people in Perfect Day Mexico. That's in addition to the Ultimate Family Cabana in Nassau.

Both types of cabanas are for big groups that want to share in making memories. It has its own dedicated bathroom, its own bar. It'll have its own bartender.

Of course, the world's biggest lazy river is going to be a hit with just about everyone in the family.

Adding a lazy river was the most requested feature Royal Caribbean heard from its customers, so they're adding it to Perfect Day Mexico.

Estimates are it could take 45-60 minutes to make one loop around the lazy river.

Royal Caribbean is pushing the boundaries forward with its vision for its next beach private beach getaway.

The cruise line just revealed everything we wanted to know about what there is to do inside Perfect Day Mexico, and it's a leap ahead of anything they've come up with yet.

Royal Caribbean thinks it already built the best cruise line beach day experience with Perfect Day at CocoCay, and now it wants to go well beyond that with Perfect Day Mexico.

"It is meant to be just an amazing over the top experience," Royal Caribbean's Senior Vice President and Chief Product Innovation Officer Jay Schneider explained as he gave Royal Caribbean Blog an exclusive first look ahead of the line's big reveal.

Perfect Day Mexico is a means to not just bring over what worked at CocoCay, but expand and dream bigger.

One of the most anticipated new features is going to be the longest lazy river in the world, which is a feature customers have been clamoring for.

"The two top things that guests have been looking for at Perfect Day at CocoCay: number one, a lazy river. And number two adult space."

While there wasn't enough land to do a lazy river at CocoCay, Mexico will be where this must-have is going to land.

"Being able to build, kind of a call it a white paper Perfect Day in Mexico, gave us the affordance to build the world's longest lazy river with a crazy branch, if you want to choose to go that path."

Access to the lazy river is included in your cruise fare. But Royal Caribbean's lazy river is not going to be like the one's you've probably been on before.

There will be a few different "Tubes and Tequila Bar" locations you can stop at, where you latch your tube to a bar and take a break for a cocktail.

Mr. Schneider hinted at a cooler of beer idea they're working on, "We're kicking around this idea where maybe you take a cooler...because being in the longest lazy river in the world, you're in that body of water, if you choose for up to or more than an hour to get around it."

As you meander around the river, the lazy river approaches the entrance to Loco Waterpark, the water conditions would get rougher as you enter the "crazy" section of it.  

He says the crazy section is still in development, "we're trying to find a way to make it crazy and still approachable by everybody who wants to go down that path."

The idea right now is there's a fork in the river, with a calm and peaceful path on one side, and a foreboding crazy path on the other.

"We'll probably have fun with theming and we'll probably have some fun with drama and figure out how to really differentiate the two."

More raft slides than ever before

Next door to the lazy river is Loco Waterpark, an extra cost venue that is once again offering what its customers want the most: raft slides.

You'll find both raft slides and body slides, but many more raft slides compared to CocoCay.

"What we've learned is there's significant amount of guest demand for raft slides and a lesser demand on body slides. And so we are dialing back the number of body slides and dialing up the number of raft slides."

As an example, the tallest family raft slide is designed for four to six riders at once so you can experience it together.

Royal Caribbean says there will be more than 30 waterslides across five towers, and they're even looking to outdo everyone else again.

The Jaguar's Peak slide will be more than 170 feet tall, which makes it the tallest slide tower in either North or South America.

Then there are the hydrolaunch slides that shoot riders into the air and the world’s first sombrero slide, modeled after Mexico’s iconic sombrero. 

Opening in 2027

When Perfect Day Mexico opens fall 2027, it's going to be big and full of new things to try.

You'll walk into the Fiesta Plaza to see the world’s largest sombrero bar — a towering 20-meter-high structure. 

Walk in, or hop on a trajinera (Mexican-style gondolas). It's a signature new feature to offer a different way to go get from point A to point B.

You could stop right at Chill Beach, which has nearly 2 miles of white sand beaches.

There are two exclusive areas with admission cost you could buy a pass to: the adults-only El Hideaway or Costa Beach Club. 

The inland El Hideaway is just for guests 18 or older, and it has a 50,000 sq. ft. party pool. There are multiple swim-up bars, DJ entertainment, and live music.

Costa Beach Club is the elevated beach spot, where crowds are limited and you'll find secluded beaches and pools with luxurious loungers and private service.

"There are things that we've never done before. There are things that are evolutions that are working. And then there are traditions," Mr. Schneider said of the planning for this new 200 acre site.

Royal Caribbean will put the new itineraries visiting Perfect Day Mexico on sale this fall, with ships visiting from Florida, Texas, and New Orleans.

Royal Caribbean revealed what it has planned for its private destination push that is going to go well beyond what any cruise line has ever dreamed.

Royal Caribbean is poised to open four different projects over the next few years, each with its own way to give vacationers exactly what they want: an idyllic day in the sun, surf, and shore.

The developments crisscross the Caribbean, and even extend to the Pacific.  It's all part of Royal Caribbean's master plan to offer the very best destinations that are second to none.

At an event in New York, the cruise line showcased what it has planned at each of its private beaches, along with opening dates and what we can expect.

Royal Beach Club at Paradise Island

• Opens: December 2025
• Capacity: 4,000 guests
• Paid, All-Inclusive

The first of these new beaches to open will be the Royal Beach Club at Paradise Island, located in Nassau, Bahamas.

Scheduled to open in December 2025, the Royal Beach Club at Paradise Island is an all-inclusive, beach club you'll need to pay to access.

It's like a super shore excursion that Royal Caribbean curates to cater to exactly what its passengers want: a high-end beach day experience with a focus on local authenticity and upscale amenities.

Royal Caribbean relied on extensive guest research and feedback to come up with the experience.

Guests will be transported via custom-built water taxis that depart from the port area, with two arrival points to make getting where you want to go easy.

Royal Caribbean says "bookings become available in just a few short weeks."

There are going to be three zones, each with a different approach to enjoy your time.

Chill Beach

You'll find both a pool and a beach here, and it's meant to be the most relaxing area of the club. 

There is a long pool with a swim-up bar (in fact, every pool has a swim up bar within the club), and plenty of space to enjoy quiet, ambient Caribbean music.

Party Cove

Party Cove is going to be the spot to go to if you want a pool party vibe.

You'll find the world's largest swim-up bar, known as "the Floating Flamingo". It features a dedicated DJ area, and VIP “party wings.”

It's two stories with the DJ at the center of it at the top level. There's going to be integrated compressed air to elevate the party atmosphere.

The party wings allow guests to actually rent the entire wing for your group, similar to how you might rent a cabana elsewhere.

The pool is actually broken up into three areas, with the largest swim up bar having over 100 seats.

Family Beach

Catering to guests with kids, Family Beach will have a zero-entry pool and this is really the focus of this zone. 

It's a long and shallow pool for families to enjoy together, but there's a swim-up bar here too.

This is also where you'll find the debut of the first-ever land-based Ultimate Family Cabana, which promises an over-the-top experience for families.

It has equal access to beach and pool, and the cabana is going to have just about everything you'd want for a splurged up kind of day.

Your own slide, dining area, lounge space, and more.

Partnership with The Bahamas

The operation will be run in partnership with Bahamian stakeholders (under a 51/49 joint venture), ensuring that the service and food authentically reflect local culture.

You'll find Bahamian art, architecture, and locally-sourced food seamlessly blending into the guest experience.

A strong emphasis is placed on sustainability through initiatives such as zero waste to landfill practices and advanced wastewater recycling systems.

Perfect Day Mexico

• Opens September 2027
• Included, with multiple premium upgrades available

Royal Caribbean's biggest land project ever will open with Perfect Day Mexico.

It's located in what's now Costa Maya, Mexico. When Royal Caribbean is done, the old Costa Maya and region will be uplifted and redeveloped with significant investment in the community and the amenities throughout.

The cruise line bought the port and surrounding land, and it's going to be an epic exclusive for Royal Caribbean passengers  that builds upon the success they've had with Perfect Day at CocoCay in The Bahamas.

Admission is included in your cruise fare, but there are opportunities to spend on extras like cabanas, waterpark and excursions.

When passengers get off the ship, they have the choice of entering Perfect Day Mexico or walking to the nearby Transportation and Tourist Center to pick up a shore excursion or other form of travel out.

The first itineraries you can book that will feature a visit to Perfect Day Mexico will become available this fall.

There will be five key zones to explore:

Fiesta Plaza

This is where you'll enter Perfect Day Mexico, and it's decked out in bold, colorful Mexican décor, and acts as the social hub and introduction to the destination.

You'll notice quickly the world’s largest sombrero bar and vibrant street-style signage.

It's an engineering marvel, and started out as an idea to build the world's largest sombrero, but Royal Caribbean decided to turn it into a bar.

You can walk into Perfect Day Mexico on foot, or opt to take one of the trajineras, which are colorful, flat-bottomed boats that you'd find in the canals of Mexico City. 

The river that runs through the entrance helps set the scene, and Royal Caribbean thought offering boat rides would be a really fun way to move people.

Chill Beach

This is the primary and quite large beach area guests that spans the shoreline. The entire area is almost 2 miles in length.

This is where you'll go for a beautiful and relaxing beach day, complete with lounge-friendly areas with palm-lined shorelines.

Guests can enjoy complimentary loungers, umbrellas and towels at all beaches and pools at Perfect Day Mexico.

Royal Caribbean will also offer cabanas to rent, including ones that have little plunge pools attached to them. There will be land cabanas, water cabanas, and plunge cabanas.

Costa Beach Club (extra cost)

Based on the Coco Beach Club, this will be the upscale beach club experience with elevated dining, exclusive pools, and luxury cabanas.

You'll find white sand beaches, a heated infinity pool, and dedicated restaurant.

There are cabanas to rent here as well, which come with a dedicated pool.

El Hideaway (extra cost)

The adults-only area is an inland pool zone with massive party pools, swim-up bars, and DJ entertainment.

Encompassing eight acres, it has a pool that is going to be 50,000ft², whereas the Hideaway Beach pool today is only 17,000ft².

Either side will have the "chill" zones, while the center will be all about the party atmosphere.

Fun fact: it will be home to the world's largest bottle of tequila!

You'll find here the Party Cabana, which can handle up to 20 people. It has its own dedicated bathroom, its own bar, and it'll have its own bartender.

Splash Cove

A new concept, Splash Cove is 30 acres in size. It has a pool that is a little over three times bigger than the Oasis Lagoon.

This entire neighborhood will be included in your cruise fare.

Surrounding the pool will be the world's longest lazy and crazy river.

The lazy river will be between a 45 and 60 minute journey, but it has multiple stops along the way where you can tie up your raft at a bar to take a "break".

There will be three of these bars, known as "Tubes and Tequila", and you'll clip your tube to the bar for a stop.

There will also be the largest Splashaway Bay for kids, along with more seating than you'd find at the CocoCay version.

Speaking of young kids, there will be a bubble up activity, which is describe as an experience that inflates with water jets coming off of it, and then it deflates and kids climb up it and fall down. It's a super fun young kid thing

Loco Waterpark (extra cost)

Spanning 15 acres, it's three times the size of Thrill Waterpark, and will have 31 slides across five towers.

One big theme is you'll find a lot of raft slides, as they resonate the most with Royal Caribbean's guests. There will still be drop slides or body slides, but many more raft slides.

You'll find the tallest water park in the Americas, eclipsing the one in Brazil that's at 160ft.

There's a Jaguar head tower (170ft tall), along with Sombrero Tower (100ft tall), and the launch tower

The launch tower has hydro launches and drop slides. These are the ones that fly you through the air and then drop you down. 

Royal Caribbean has an idea to put a bar near the launch tower so guests can have a drink and watch people flying through the air and give them ratings, like an Olympic competition.

There's a wave pool that will be about twice the size of the one on CocoCay.

Dining in Perfect Day Mexico

Royal Caribbean will have 12 regionally inspired dining options throughout the resort.  There will be sit-down restaurants, quick service entries, and almost all the food will be included in your cruise fare.

There are also 24 bars spread across Perfect Day Mexico, including six swim-up bars.

Royal Beach Club Cozumel

• Opens: December 2026
• Paid, All-Inclusive

The second beach club will be in Cozumel, and its focus is offering guests a day filled with fun centered around the pool, beach, sun, food and culture.

It'll be located where Playa Mia beach resort is currently, as Royal Caribbean will take it over. They've also acquired the properties on both sides of Playa Mia.  

The last day of Playa Mia's operations is May 20th, and then construction will begin. Just like Costa Maya, Royal Caribbean will demolish everything that existed there before to introduce their own vision.

It's about a ten minute drive south from where Royal Caribbean docks its ships.

There are 5 main areas: Main pool, North Beach, The Mercato, South Village, and South Beach.

Just like the beach club in Nassau, Royal Caribbean wants it to offer three vibes: chill, family and party. It's a work in progress as to how they're going to achieve it here, but they have a few ideas.

As you arrive, you'll be surrounded by lush landscaping. As you walk in, you'll start to see the vibrancy of Mexico with art and amazing views ahead of you.

There will be a pool with a swim-up bar, along with a side that's toes in the sand that stretches over to the beach.

There'll be in water music experience, but it remains to be seen if it's a DJ or not.

At the Mercato, you'll find the central food experience. Royal Caribbean wants to offer a 50/50 blend of local inspired classics, as well as American food.

So you'll find tacos, fresh guacamole, fresh salsa, fresh tortillas, margaritas, quesadilla, tortas and churros. But you'll also have a chicken sandwich, burger, fries, etc.

Lelepa

• Opens: Early 2027
• Included

Located in Vanuatu, Royal Caribbean has its first private destination outside of North America with the Lelepa. This isn't a beach club, but not a Perfect Day either.  It's a different kind of product that doesn't fit into the other destinations mold.

It's not very far from Port Vila, and Royal Caribbean has essentially leased the entire northern part of the island

Ships will tender here, as there will be no pier.

One key difference is Lelepa will have no thrill factor.  Instead, they've doubled down on the chill, which is described as "gorgeous."

The team is taking the essence of the beach club product, but making it inclusive in the cruise fare.

There will be a number of villages to break up the layout of Lelepa:

• Welcome Village
• Beach villages

When you arrive, you'll see a local retail village and a welcome bar.

The private beach flanks both sides of the island, with a walkway in-between. Each side has beaches, restaurants, sports activities, and playgrounds.

They're also working on an adults-only area that doesn't cost extra. It's essentially a quieter, unmanaged area away from everything else for adults.

Something else being added are walking trails throughout the property, as part of a curated nature trail.

There are so many cruise tips for Royal Caribbean, and I bet a few make new cruisers wonder if they really work or not.

I'm so used to relying on many tricks and better approaches to things on a Royal Caribbean cruise that I take it for granted that they simply work.

When I was getting back on Utopia of the Seas after a fun day with friends, I told them to walk past the first set of elevators to the next set. It seemed like we were walking more than we needed, but we waited no time to get one because the other elevator bank was empty.

Tips like this seem almost crazy, but when you try them out, they work a lot better than imagined.

I went through a number of tried-and-true cruise tips and advice to come up with the ones that might sound weird, but they really do make sense once you're on the ship.

Ordering multiple entrees

In almost every restaurant on Royal Caribbean, you're welcome to order more than one entree.  It sounds like the most gluttonous piece of advice, but it works!

Generally speaking, entree sizes are smaller on a cruise ship than you might find on land.  I find this to be true in the Main Dining Room primarily.

Ordering more than one entree is a really good idea to ensure you're not hungry.

Better yet, it's nice to sample different dishes.  Odds are there's going to be more than one thing on the menu that sounds good.

Your waiters will encourage this practice too.  If you even hint at trying to decide between dishes, they'll usually insist on bringing you both.  Or three. 

This is part of why I love to cruise. You get to try new foods and indulge in ones you love.

As a new cruiser, ordering more than one entree feels so unnatural. I rarely, if ever, do that at a land restaurant.

Once you realize it's commonplace on cruises, it becomes a great way to enjoy the very best food Royal Caribbean serves.

Splitting beds makes a small room feel bigger

When someone that cruised much more than me told me they split their beds when they cruise solo, I thought they were crazy.  Turns out, they're right.

Most Royal Caribbean staterooms come with a Royal King bed that can be separated into two twin beds upon request.

When you're in an inside cabin, splitting the beds instead of keeping them together is a cruise hack meant to make it the room feel bigger.

I think the rationale is with the beds split, you get a walkway in the middle of the room between them, which is more useful than a sliver of space around the edges of the cabin.

I've experienced inside cabins with the beds split and together, and I do think it works better with the beds apart.

On newer Royal Caribbean ships, there are cabinets above the bed mounted to the wall, and it's easier to access them with the beds split.

You can ask your Stateroom Attendant to split or combine the beds at any time.

Of course, separate beds may not be your idea of conducive sleeping conditions.  But it will probably help open up the room a bit more.

Staying on the ship while in port

The number one reason people book a Royal Caribbean cruise is the destination, so it might feel wrong to want to not visit the places you're cruising to.

A lot of veteran cruisers will advocate skipping a port and taking advantage of a less crowded ship.

I went on Icon of the Seas with my family for spring break and later regretted we didn't have more time to enjoy what this amazing ship has to offer because we were busy in every port of call.

Some people might struggle with what to do in one particular port, because there isn't an activity or tour that jumps out as a must-do for their taste.

Staying onboard during a port day allows you to take advantage of significantly less crowds, especially at the pool or for the top deck attractions. Water slides, the zip line, rock wall, and more are all far less busy on port days.

When you try it, it feels like being home from school in a way because everyone else is off doing something else. But the advantages are lovely for having the pools (virtually) to yourself.

Magnets add more storage capability

I resisted the advice of so many people to buy magnets for their cruise cabin because I couldn't believe it would help, but I was wrong.

Many people recommend bringing magnets to use in your cabin as a way to improve the storage options, and it's something you'd never consider at any land hotel.

Part of the reason why magnets and not something else is because the walls in your cabin are metal, and you can't use adhesives or anything else that would damage the walls.

A pack of heavy duty magnetic hooks will last forever and you can re-use them on future cruises. (Link is an affiliate link that costs you nothing extra, but I make a small commission if you buy)

It allows you to hang up dresses, hats, bathing suits, shirts, and pretty much a lot of other stuff that would otherwise take up space in drawers or on furniture.

I was skeptical how effective it would work, but it really does the trick.

Take photos of crew member name tags

Royal Caribbean truly values customer feedback, and it's not just a corporate cliché.

In fact, a lot of cruisers often want to give the cruise line their thoughts, and the post-cruise survey is the best way to do that.  

That survey is also the best way to recognize outstanding crew members, but if you're like me, you forget how to spell their name or in some cases their name all together.  

I saw cruisers taking photos of crew member name tags and thought that's silly.  But in reality, getting home and not remembering that amazing bartender or cabana host's name is silly on my part.

Ask them to take a photo of their name tag so it's easier to remember later for the survey.  They'll be more than happy to let you do that.

I recently tried one of Royal Caribbean's new Royal Signature Excursions, aimed at immersing guests in the local culture with reputable third-party operators. 

According to the cruise line, these curated tours were hand-picked for their elevated benefits, such as amazing itineraries, food, and small group sizes.

When I discovered they were only available in 11 ports — and my weeklong Caribbean cruise aboard Icon of the Seas was visiting two of them — I knew I needed to test them out for myself. 

Though I never imagined spending over $110 per person on a snorkeling excursion in the Caribbean, it was one of the most affordable Royal Signature Excursions that wasn't sold out yet. 

My other option was the "Taste of St. Kitts: Wine Sampling, Local Treats & Beach" tour that cost over $300 per person! That was a hard pass from us. 

In the end, the "St. John by Sea: Catamaran, Champagne & Snorkel" excursion was one of the highlights of our cruise and worth every penny. 

Read more: I went on the world's most family-friendly cruise ship without kids. It was worth the $7,000 price tag for 5 reasons

The tour started out like any other Royal Caribbean-sponsored excursion

Because we pre-booked the tour through the Cruise Planner, we received our excursion tickets on embarkation day in our stateroom. 

Since it was relatively last minute (about one month before our departure date), the pre-cruise sale wasn't as great as if the tour had been reserved around Black Friday. 

As such, my partner and I paid $221.98 altogether, or $110.99 each. Still, knowing prices are usually more expensive in the Eastern Caribbean, I wasn't too upset. 

Our tickets told us to meet our group in the Royal Theater at 7:00am, so we started our day with one of my favorite ways to ease into an early morning on a cruise: room service breakfast on our infinite verandah.

We were fully checked in and seated by 6:55am, though we weren't guided off the ship until closer to 7:20am. Once on the pier, we stood in line while tour operators passed around a medical questionnaire that everyone had to verbally answer. 

In short, it said if you had conditions like asthma, heart disease, or epilepsy, you'd be disqualified from the excursion. It also informed guests that the use of full-face snorkel masks was prohibited in St. John. 

Those who confirmed they weren't affected by the conditions on the list were given a small green boarding pass to hang onto until we reached the marina. 

By 7:40am, we were loaded onto an open-air safari bus and began the trek through St. Thomas' steep, twisting roads during the morning rush hour.

We safely made it to the Compass Point Marina about 40 minutes later, and at this point, everyone was ready to get on the catamaran and take in the Caribbean's tropical sun. 

We were split into two groups

My partner and I boarded the Dancing Dolphin catamaran, while others were sent to the Adventuress. Both were U.S. Coast Guard-inspected vessels, which was reassuring to hear. 

There was ice water waiting on the bar when we embarked for guests to grab as they made their way to the outer deck. Though it wasn't too warm yet, it was refreshing to sip on after the bus ride while we listened to the safety announcements. 

Our crew consisted of Ian, Cameron, and Deena, the captain. The trio had an amazing sense of humor that set everyone at ease. 

Before we knew it, we were pulling away from the dock and sailing on the surprisingly calm waters toward Honeymoon Beach in St. John. 

The ride to Honeymoon Beach didn't feel too long

Snorkeling gear, including masks, life jackets, and flippers, was passed out during the ride, so by the time we anchored offshore, everyone was eager to jump in. 

They gave another short safety briefing, establishing boundaries as to where we could and couldn't swim and hand signals in case of distress, before allowing everyone in the water. 

While most guests wanted to snorkel, there was an option to ride the dinghy to the soft white sands. This was appreciated, as it let everyone, regardless of their physical ability or comfort level, enjoy their time in St. John. 

However, I couldn't resist jumping into the crystal-clear water. It was a little cooler than I thought, but I quickly got used to it. 

We spent about an hour snorkeling. Overall, it was a quiet day for marine life, but we did spot a few stingrays and tons of fish. 

As we made our way toward the catamaran, we heard Deena shouting to look underneath us. To my surprise, a sea turtle was grazing the ocean floor! 

Back onboard, the crew was busy preparing fun libations and light snacks

I opted for the rum punch mimosa, while my partner went with a regular glass of champagne. However, they also had non-alcoholic drinks. 

The crew kept the drinks flowing (literally, by carrying around pitchers of punch and champagne bottles around the deck!) for the entire 40-minute ride back to St. Thomas.

Light snacks, including cheese, fruit, crackers, and meat, were also served, but I was disappointed with how greedy some guests were, as the food quickly ran out.

Despite that hiccup, the ride back to the marina was calm and scenic, with views of the Virgin Islands' lush hillsides. 

We spent time conversing with the guests around us. Surprisingly, both couples beside us either currently lived or had previously resided in North Carolina! 

Read more: My favorite stop on my first cruise was St. Thomas

We definitely got our money's worth on our Royal Signature Excursion

Excursions — especially in the Bahamas and Caribbean, where I've been over 20 times — are often one place I decide to save, rather than splurge. 

However, the Royal Signature Excursion reminded me that there's always something new to experience. 

The small group aboard the catamaran made for a relaxing morning without feeling overwhelmingly crammed on a boat, which is how we felt in Mykonos last summer. The unlimited alcohol and snacks to fuel up after snorkeling were a nice touch, too. 

Plus, the crew's friendly energy made the experience feel like we were connecting with old friends. They definitely struck the perfect balance between professionalism, safety, and fun. 

That said, I'd be more interested in trying one of Royal Signature Excursions in a more culturally rich port, such as La Spezia, Italy, where you can go truffle hunting and enjoy a traditional Tuscan farmhouse lunch. 

Planning a great Royal Caribbean cruise is all about being prepared to do, and knowing when to do it.

You might be overwhelmed about where to start or wondering what exactly needs to get done before you set sail. A little research and preparation can go a long way when planning a Royal Caribbean cruise.

Lucky for you, we’ve created the optimal timeline for planning your Royal Caribbean cruise vacation. This article was inspired by an extensive checklist that was shared on the Royal Caribbean First Time Cruisers Facebook page by Perlyshell RN. 

Please note, this timeline is simply a suggestion for steps to take during your planning process. We recommend working with a travel agent who specializes in cruising to assist with your cruise planning and preparation. 

Personally, we work with MEI Travel for all of our cruise planning needs at Royal Caribbean Blog and highly recommend their knowledgeable and helpful agents.

24 months to 12 months before vacation

Cruise itineraries are released years in advance, so you can start planning your vacation anywhere from 12 months to 24 months in advance. However, some destinations are available for booking earlier than others, it just depends.

During this time, you should also be researching the destination and itineraries that interest you. Start taking notes, reading reviews, watching YouTube videos, and choosing an appropriate budget for your vacation. When choosing your cruise, it's important to select the right itinerary, cruise ship, and cabin for your travel style and budget. Our site offers plenty of helpful guides to choosing the right cruise, especially for first-time cruisers.

Checklist ( > 1 year before vacation):

• Choose your preferred cruise itinerary and book with a travel agent. Ask about group rates and refundable deposits if your cruise is far in advance.
  • You'll need to place a deposit to secure your cabin.
  • Decide if you want early, late or My Time Dining.
  • Pick your cabin category and a specific location.
  • Try for a midship cabin that is away from public areas and surrounded by cabins above and below. Use deck plans to find the perfect location.
• Link reservations with others traveling in your party if you book more than one cabin.
• Monitor pricing and check for repricing opportunities.
  • If the price decreases, you can ask your travel agent to reprice your reservation at the lower rate.
• Research travel insurance options. This is always a smart move, especially if you’re cruising during hurricane season or have potential health concerns.
• Confirm you have the correct travel documents and verify expiration dates, including passport and driver's license. Renew if needed!

6 months to 12 months before vacation

Once you’re within 6 to 12 months of your cruise vacation, you can start making more reservations. This includes airline tickets and hotel reservations, which are usually only available to book about one year before your actual travel dates.

You’ll also want to start solidifying your plans for each port of call during this timeframe, including shore excursions or independent tours. Reach out to any local tour companies to inquire about tours offered if you want to book through a third-party company (which is often cheaper).

Depending on the itinerary, you might be able to book excursions further in advance through Royal Caribbean. It’s best to lock these in as soon as they become available, as you can always cancel for a full refund or reprice for a lower fare if the price decreases.

Checklist (6 months - 12 months before vacation):

• Book airline tickets for pre-cruise arrival.
  • Arrive at least one day before embarkation for domestic flights and two to three days for international flights.
  • Set price tracker on Google Flights to monitor if price decreases.
• Start planning your port visits.
• Book excursions if they are available through Royal Caribbean.
• Reserve hotel rooms if you are arriving before embarkation day.
• Book rental car or local transportation, if needed.
  • Uber and Lyft are typically available in most port cities.
• Check and purchase any pre-cruise add-ons within the Royal Caribbean cruise planner.
  • This includes drink packages, internet packages, spa treatments, specialty dining packages and onboard experiences.
• Make sure your travel documents are in order and passport has at least 6 months of validity.
• Research if you need any visas or e-arrival forms for completion (especially for Asia itineraries)
• Set reminder or mark your calendar for final payment date.
• Find pet sitter or make boarding reservation for pets.
• Confirm if you need any vaccinations or medications for your cruise, meet or schedule doctor’s appointment if necessary.
• Join a Facebook group for your specific sailing.

75 days to 120 days before vacation

Royal Caribbean’s final payment date varies based on the duration of your cruise. We recommend making the final payment before the deadline, especially if you are trying to make any sort of payment around a banking holiday. 

You can also choose to make incremental payments toward your reservation rather than paying the full balance all at once. This is a helpful budgeting strategy that allows you to spread out the cost and pay off your vacation before the final payment is due.

Final payment of the balance must be received at the Royal Caribbean office before these deadlines:

75 Days: 1 night to 4 night cruises

90 Days: 5 night to 14 night cruises

120 Days: 15 nights or longer

Checklist (75 days to 120 days before vacation):

• Make final payment for cruise reservation
  • If you booked with a travel agent, you’ll make your final payment through your agent. Direct bookings can pay on Royal Caribbean’s website.

45 days to 60 days before vacation

Your cruise vacation is getting closer! During these final months after you’ve made the final payment for your reservation, you’ll want to start making final arrangements for your cruise. This includes finalizing reservations, excursions, dining reservations and more.

If you’re cruising aboard one of Royal Caribbean’s bigger vessels, such as Icon Class, Oasis Class, or Quantum Class, you should start making reservations for specific shows online or using the app. These are popular, and you are required to have a free reservation to attend.

You’ll also check-in for your cruise during this timeframe. This requires you to provide proof of citizenship, emergency contact information, flight details (if applicable), and a credit card for your onboard expense account.

Checklist (45 days to 60 days before vacation):

• Download the Royal Caribbean app and make sure your login works.
• Reserve onboard shows (for free) when they become available in the cruise planner or app.
  • Expect to see reservation openings between 45 days - 60 days before sail date.
  • This is only for Oasis Class, Icon Class, and Quantum Class. Other ship classes do not require reservations.
• Check-in for your cruise opens 45 days before sail date at 12pm local time. You can do this online or in the app.
• Choose the earliest arrival time if you want to be onboard as soon as possible.
  • You can select this without entering travel document information by proceeding to the “Arrival” Section
• Solidify your dining reservations, such as Solarium Bistro.
• Arrange and confirm any Main Dining Room requests
  • Email [email protected] to arrange seating for multiple reservations with booking number and names.

1 month before vacation

The month before your cruise vacation is exciting, as embarkation day is right around the corner! Most of the planning for your trip should be done at this point, unless you need to tie up any loose strings or finalize last-minute preparations.

Checklist (1 month before vacation):

• Purchase any cruise necessities or must-have items online
• Shop for any new clothes or toiletries for your vacation
• Buy new suitcases or travel bags, if needed.
• Ensure you have enough prescription medication
• Confirm pet sitter or house sitter arrangements
• Finalize check-in with Royal Caribbean online or in the app
• Make sure your PTO is approved at work

2 weeks to 3 weeks before vacation

Within the final weeks before your cruise, you’ll have a few important items to check off your list. You’ll be continuing to make final preparations and probably starting to pack your bags (or think about packing). This is usually when I do any last-minute errands or shopping before my vacation, as I don’t want to be scrambling at the last minute.

Checklist (2 weeks to 3 weeks before vacation):

• If you prefer, print your reservations and confirmation for airline, hotel and rental car.
• Download Set Sail pass to your phone for embarkation day.
• Print luggage tags for suitcases.
• Download e-documents for reservation. This is available 30 days before sail date.
• Make copies of passports and travel documents, or take a picture on your phone.
• Create packing list with everything you plan to bring

1 week before vacation

It’s the final countdown before your long awaited cruise vacation! After months and years of planning, it can be hard to believe that your cruise is already happening so soon. Enjoy the excitement leading up to your embarkation and get ready for an amazing cruise vacation - all of your planning will pay off!

Checklist (1 week before vacation):

• Start packing your suitcase. Lay out clothes you want to pack and try on outfits.
  • Check themed nights in the Royal Caribbean app, such as white night or 80s night.
• Confirm check-in was complete for cruise and download Set Sail pass to your phone (if haven’t already)
• If needed, call your bank and credit card company for travel alerts
• Get cash from the bank (small bills for cash tips onboard)
• Arrange for someone to pick up your mail or stop mail during your vacation
• Watch a ship tour video on Royal Caribbean Blog’s YouTube channel

1 day to 2 days before flight

Within a few days of your flight, your bags should be packed and nearly ready for vacation! Don’t wait until the last minute to pack or prepare for your travel day, as this will only lead to last-minute stress. I prefer packing the weekend before my travel plans to minimize stress the night or day before my vacation begins.

Checklist (1 day to 2 days before vacation):

• Check-in for your flight within 24 hours. Download boarding pass to your phone.
• Remind everyone to have their documents, IDs, money, and credit cards ready for the vacation
• Confirm you’ve packed everything on your packing list.
• Make sure luggage is ready to go and compliant with airline regulation.
• Check the weather for your itinerary and pack anything deemed necessary (ponchos, umbrellas, rain coats).
• Download entertainment for offline use (Netflix downloads, podcasts, books).
• Set an out-of-office reply at work and personal email.
• Download port maps or guides to use offline.
• Print travel insurance card and know your policy number.

< 24 hours before cruise or cruise day

The day has arrived, finally! All of your planning and preparation will come to fruition, and hopefully your vacation goes off without a hitch. Remember, sometimes things don't go the way we meticulously planned, and that’s okay. Control what you can, and go with the flow if something unexpected happens. Traveling is a great time to practice adaptability.

Most of all, enjoy your hard-earned cruise vacation! You’ve earned it.

Checklist (< 24 hours before cruise and cruise day):

• Charge all electronics, including phone, watch, tablet, headphones, portable charger, and camera.
• Complete health questionnaire on Royal Caribbean app.
• Watch the muster drill video and listen to the emergency horn on the app
  • You’ll need to physically check into your muster station onboard.
• Make sure all luggage and bags are accounted for.
• Secure bag tags before heading to the port.
• Keep all travel documents and IDs with you during embarkation.