Royal Caribbean Blog

Reaching Royal Caribbean's highest casino loyalty tier requires a level of play most cruisers will never experience, and it raises an obvious question: is it actually worth it?

Craig Hart is an avid cruiser and also enjoys playing in the ship's casino.  Up until this year, he had gambled enough to make it to the first two tiers of the casino loyalty program. However, he pushed to make it to Masters level to see what it was all about.

Many cruisers have leveraged the casino on a Royal Caribbean cruise not just for entertainment, but as a strategy to take advantage of its loyalty perks. You can earn free cruises, drinks, and even get money back. All of it comes at great financial risk, as you'll need to wager enough money to earn the points.

While we've heard from casino players who have made it to Prime or Signature, Masters is an entirely different level that requires a lot of play to reach. 

Gambling is is risky and addictive, and there's a good chance you'll lose a lot of money. Please gamble responsibly.

I asked Craig to share his insight on making it to Masters, what the perks are like, and if he thinks it was worth it.

$500,000 through the casino, is it worth it?

First off, gambling can be highly addictive and you can exclude yourself from Royal Caribbean’s Club Royale, with that being said, if you play your cards right, you can earn big rewards. But is it worth $500,000 through the casino for me?

Everyone who has a Crown and Anchor account that is 18 and over, which is created on their first sailing on Royal Caribbean, also has a reward account with the casino. It uses the same account number. 

There are four levels of Club Royale: 

• Choice
• Prime
• Signature
• Master

Each comes with perks that progressively get better as you level up. As a brand-new Master Level player for Club Royale, do I find the perks worth the play?

Choice is everyone who has accumulated at least 1 point, which is equivalent to $5 through a slot machine or $10 average bet on table games over the course of an hour. Prime is 2500 points, Signature is 25,000 points and Master is 100,000. Each level has their perks and they only get progressively better.

The most valuable perk on the ship that I use is the free internet. Starting at Signature, you get one device at Master you get two. This is great for working from the ship if you need a phone and computer or if you and a partner go on a sailing as you can share the internet. Since travel routers are banned on Royal Caribbean, this adds a value above Signature benefits. 

From the time I turned Master, on December 14, 2025 until the end of the current casino year benefits April 1, 2027, I currently have 70 nights booked. At an average of $20/day/device that is a savings of $2800 on internet! I will book many more sailing with all the instant certificates as well as random offers that appear in my account that only add to this savings!

The next major benefit that I use is the free drinks in the casino! Anyone Prime or higher gets free drinks in the casino, when it is open. Since I am also Diamond Plus, I get 5 free drinks onboard the ship or at their private islands. From this benefit, I do not purchase the drink package unless I am travelling with a group of friends like I do on the Royal Caribbean Blog Group Cruises!

A mixed use benefit is Coastal Kitchen access on Oasis, Quantum and Icon Class Ships! I have used this benefit several times on my sailing. This perk is also available if you book a full suite, if you are a Pinnacle Club member of Crown and Anchor Society or for dinner if you book a Junior Suite. 

If I am with a group of people who do not have access like this past guys trip, I tend to skip Coastal Kitchen and eat with the group. 

I did, however, use the 20% off credit in the spa to get a haircut on that sailing. When I went to book my appointment, they did not provide the discount, in fact they were not sure of the discount amount. When I checked out after the haircut, they also did not apply the discount, so they had to refund and reissued the transaction with the proper discount. This benefit is only for full retail price services. 

If you like to prebook, you may save more using the cruise planner. Often, they may even have specials onboard, so this perk really is only beneficial for last-minute services.

The one perk I use 100% of the time (and mostly in the casino) is the onboard credit. Typically, several hours after the casino is open a non-cashable credit is applied to your account. $50 on 3-4 night sailings, $75 on 5-6 night sailings, and $100 on 7+ night sailings. Although this credit does not have to be used in the casino, if you do, it is eligible to earn points unlike the free play that is offered on some certificates. 

Since I often get comped junior suites, I already have priority access to the terminal as a suite perk, but it can be a nice perk when you are not sailing in a suite. Although at Port Canaveral, which I would consider my home port based on how often I sail out of there, they are so efficient, it often does not make a difference on what line I am in.

The next several benefits are the same if not very similar as The Key:

• Priority Entertainment Access and Dining Reservations
• Carry-on bag onboard drop off with priority delivery to stateroom
• Welcome lunch in Main Dining Room featuring Chops Grille menu
• Flexible departure with à la carte breakfast

The two times I had The Key, I only used the carry-on bag drop once and skipped the rest of the benefits. Since I am on Utopia of the Seas so often, I prefer the Windjammer seafood buffet on embarkation day! If I am not there, I would rather go to Coastal Kitchen, which is open for lunch on embarkation day, so these benefits to me have no value.

One benefit I am going to try this year is the Hard Rock Partnership. I am going on Wonder of the Seas in February and what better way to take advantage of free nights and $600 of resort credit during the stay. This is saving me at least $200 on a hotel for the night as long as I don’t spend it in the casino!

One of the best perks, and this comes regardless of your status, you can receive random casino offers, which will show up in your online account, email and physical mail flyers. These can offer inside staterooms or even Junior Suites, slot tournaments, special events or even include perks! 

Casino Royal does not publish how they determine offers, but it is believed based upon your last several sailing play. Short sailings with lots of play each night may result in better offers, longer sailings with the same amount of play may lower the offers. We truly do not know.

The single biggest perk I use are the comped sailing offers. When you play on each sailing, there is a list of comped sailing at the host desk that is based on the number of points you accumulate during that sailing. 

The big benefit is you can also earn free play in the casino. Although free play does not earn points in the casino, you can use it on tables or slots to earn cash. If you want to have fun and use all your free play on my lucky number 13 in roulette, you are not out of any of your own cash! 

I will often book a refundable deposit on sailing I know I want to go on and as I get closer will cross reference the offers to see if the sailing is on the list. 

For instance, a new year’s 7-night sailing was on an instance certificate I earned on my January sailing of Utopia of the Seas. I was able to pick up the points needed for a balcony, which I was already booked. 

The cash price of the sailing was $2742 whereas I lost $1200 on Utopia and was able to get my room comped in addition to $750 in free play. Since I was already going on that sailing and I lost less than the cost of the sailing, it is a win, win for me!

Is Masters a level I will strive for every year? No, but while I am here, I will take advantage of the benefits I have and continue to enjoy the casino to prepay for my cruises and have additional fun on the ship!

Happy sailing and good luck!

Bad weather can change cruise ship plans anytime of year, negating the myth that you should avoid hurricane season because it's when the worst weather is.

A handful of Royal Caribbean cruise ships this winter have had to divert and skip scheduled port visits because of high winds and big waves. 

In just the past few weeks, many ships scheduled to go to Perfect Day at CocoCay or Nassau, Bahamas have ended up with sea days instead. Both Icon of the Seas and Explorer of the Seas were unable to dock at the private island. A week earlier, Utopia of the Seas and Liberty of the Seas skipped it too.

In fact, Wonder of the Seas and Celebrity Reflection had "cruises to nowhere" because of bad weather.

This year's winter weather has reinforced that there is no guaranteed time to cruise for perfect weather, so you need to be flexible.

Hurricane season isn't the only time when bad weather happens

Every year when there's a hurricane that changes cruise ship itineraries, I'll see comments on social media along the lines of, "this is why I don't cruise during hurricane season."

The problem with this line of thinking is two fold.

As we can see in January and February, bad weather can happen anytime. When the winds kick up, waves get bigger, and you don't need a tropical system for that to occur.

Plus, hurricane season technically encompasses half the year. It begins June 1st and runs through November 30th. That's a long time to sit out cruising.

In reality, the worst of hurricane season is between mid-August to mid-October, so the June, July, and November are usually tamer times of the year.

But the idea that you don't get itinerary changes or bad weather other times of the year is simply inaccurate.

Winter cold fronts can stir up trouble

This winter has seen cold fronts make their way well into Florida and The Bahamas, which has been the source of the diverted ships.

Most cruise ship piers are designed for optimal docking conditions.  While a pier will work better than attempting to tender, once the waves start to crest over the pier, it's generally unsafe to dock.

In some cases, the wind can be so troublesome that the ship cannot safely approach the pier. This is especially true at CocoCay, which has no natural barriers to protect the pier from larger waves.

In February 2024, winds got so bad that an announcement was made to evacuate the island and return to their ships.

Two ships were able to dock, but by 1pm conditions had deteriorated so badly that an early end to the day was necessary. A rapidly moving storm was approaching the island and that caused the cruise line to make the decision to cut their day short.

At 1pm, an announcement was made over the island's speaker system to return to the ship.

Even if the sea conditions aren't a problem, cruising in the winter isn't always hot.

When the high temperature is barely in the 70s or lower, it's not going to feel as tropical.

Don't try to guess the weather. Be flexible instead

The lesson with this year's winter weather is don't ever assume one season, month, or time is going to be automatically the best or worst weather.

In fact, don't book a cruise based on weather alone. Pick a sailing because of the ship, itinerary, and things you want to do, but you have to have a certain level of flexibility that those plans might change.

A Western Caribbean itinerary could be flipped to an Eastern Caribbean because of a hurricane just as quickly as a cold front in January prevents you from visiting The Bahamas.

There simply isn't a time of year when there's no chance or better chances of milder conditions.

If you're logic is cruising outside of hurricane season reduces the chances of altered itineraries, you're missing the bigger picture about how the opposite of tropical energy caused quite a few changed cruises. There's simply no guarantees or promises any one cruise will have better weather, smaller waves, or less wind.

Nature is notoriously unpredictable, so you have to go into any cruise with an expectation you'll probably go to the places you booked, but not necessarily. 

Royal Caribbean recently dove headfirst into the short cruise market, offering more weekend voyages on massive ships than ever before. While these short sailings give cruisers a taste of what the cruise line has to offer, they're often controversial topics since many believe it's impossible to get a full experience in just three or four days. 

Still, there's obviously a strong demand for short cruises, with Royal Caribbean deploying some of its newest and largest ships on these quick getaways. 

If you're planning your first cruise, you might be wondering whether a 3-night sailing is long enough. Generally speaking, no. It is impossible to fully experience everything the cruise line has to offer in just three nights, especially on mega Oasis Class ships that are filled from bow to stern with restaurants, entertainment options, and activities.

That said, you shouldn't immediately swear off a 3-night cruise. Depending on your expectations, a short sailing might be exactly what you're looking for. 

In this article, we’ll break down the key differences between short and longer Royal Caribbean cruises, including the pricing and onboard atmosphere, so you can decide whether a short cruise is worth it. 

The cruise price: How much a weekend cruise costs

Cost is typically one of the deciding factors when choosing between a short and long cruise. Short cruises, for the most part, are more affordable. 

That said, while the total cruise fare may be cheaper than a 7-night voyage, the price-per-day tends to be higher because they incur high fixed turnover costs over a shorter number of days. 

Plus, the demand tends to be higher because of the convenience. Instead of, for instance, using five vacation days for a 7-night cruise, you’d only need to take two days off work for a 3-night sailing that leaves on Friday and returns on Monday.

To give you an example, we'll compare the cost of short and long Royal Caribbean cruise sailings on similar ships and itineraries to highlight how the nightly rate can differ. Although these prices were accurate at the time of publication, they're subject to change based on demand and availability. 

Wonder of the Seas, October 1-4, 2027

• Interior: $647/person
• Outside View: $686/person
• Balcony: $754/person
• Suite: $1,294/person 

Oasis of the Seas, October 3-10, 2027

• Interior: $1,038/person
• Outside View: $1,168/person
• Balcony: $1,266/person
• Suite: $2,476/person 

Both sailings take place in October 2027, or the shoulder season for The Bahamas and Caribbean. Yet, the difference in pricing is still very noticeable. 

When you break down the nightly cost of an inside cabin, the 3-night cruise on Wonder of the Seas comes out to roughly $215 per night, while Oasis of the Seas averages at about $147 for the weeklong sailing. 

As such, this is an example of how longer cruises can offer a better per-night value. That said, the shorter cruise is cheaper overall. 

Read more: How much is a Royal Caribbean cruise?

Royal Caribbean Cruise Drink Package Price

Add-ons are another important cost consideration when deciding between a short and long cruise. Drink packages, for example, are a non-negotiable for many travelers. Unfortunately, they're also one of the most expensive add-ons. 

On a 7-night cruise, it's not uncommon for cruisers to spend over $500 per person for a drink package, breaking down to roughly $70 or more per night.

That said, even if the daily cost is more expensive on a short cruise, say $80 per day, you'll still spend less because you are only paying for three days instead of seven. 

Additionally, many feel that it's easier to get their money's worth on a shorter cruise, whereas trying to break even on a weeklong voyage requires more consistent use (i.e., more drinking). 

Read more: I spent $600 on Royal Caribbean’s beverage package. I had a total of 36 cocktails in one week, and I think it was worth the cost

Short Royal Caribbean Cruise Itinerary

Unfortunately, one of the biggest drawbacks of a short cruise is that the itineraries are far more limited. When sailing from Florida, you're going to visit the same two ports, likely Perfect Day at CocoCay or Nassau. 

Comparatively, longer cruises typically include at least three ports of call, which gives you more variety and the chance to cross more destinations off your bucket list during a single vacation. 

Longer sailings can also visit more unique ports of call, appealing to destination-focused travelers. More often than not, those embarking on shorter sailings care less about the ports and more about the ship itself. 

Read more: Weekend cruises: Tips for taking a 3-night Royal Caribbean getaway

Party Cruise vs. Laid-Back Cruise

That leads directly into what the onboard atmosphere is like. Generally speaking, shorter cruises have a rowdier clientele who are looking to let loose and party. While that isn't always the case, the shortened time frame tends to result in a high-energy vibe. 

On the flip side, I've found longer cruises to be more relaxed. Not only are the guests more low-key, but the added sea days essentially force everyone to slow down. 

Sure, there will be people drinking the whole cruise and hitting up the nightclub, but it feels more balanced than shorter cruises, where — more often than not — the primary focus is cultivating a non-stop party scene. 

Read more: I went to 5 different parties on my last Royal Caribbean cruise

Royal Caribbean Ship Sizes

These days, you can take a short cruise on one of Royal Caribbean's largest ships, minus Icon Class vessels. Utopia of the Seas, for example, can accommodate over 5,600 passengers at double occupancy and offers all the same amenities as other Oasis Class ships — plus a few exclusive ones. 

Other Oasis Class ships have joined the short cruise lineup, too, including Allure of the Seas, Harmony of the Seas, Oasis of the Seas, and Wonder of the Seas. As such, you don't have to sacrifice comfort and amenities just because you don't want to take a 7-night cruise. 

However, if you aren't a fan of the mega ships, don't worry; some smaller, older vessels are available. In 2026, for instance, Brilliance of the Seas, Freedom of the Seas, Explorer of the Seas, Jewel of the Seas, and Radiance of the Seas all offer sailings of 5 nights or less. 

On the flip side, if you want to cruise on the newest Icon Class ships, you’ll need to choose a longer voyage. While Legend of the Seas has four 3- and 4-night sailings on the schedule, Icon Class ships mostly offer 6- to 8-night itineraries through April 2028.

My first Royal Caribbean cruise was in 2006 on Explorer of the Seas, but fast forward 20 years I've been on over 100 cruises and learned a lot along the way.

At the time, I was trying a different cruise line and never guessed it would become my vacation of choice, nor could I have ever anticipated how much will have changed, improved, and grew since then.

In those twenty years, I've climbed the entire loyalty program, sailed on almost every ship in the fleet, and tried out so many offerings.  It's left me with important lessons about what anyone taking a cruise should consider going forward.

Here are the most important lessons and observations I've had over two decades of Royal Caribbean cruising.

The ships changed more than I ever expected

I was attracted to Royal Caribbean because of how innovative they felt compared to other lines, but I never dreamed how much they would evolve.

My first cruise took place before the launch of Oasis of the Seas, and Royal Caribbean would go on to introduce two other ship classes after that, each breaking ground on pushing boundaries.

In fact, the Icon Class has been a revelation in how a megaship can truly be redefined. I expected Icon of the Seas to be impressive, but I never imagined how much it would jump ahead of every other ship that came before it.

What I've seen is the ship evolution from "big ship" to "floating destination".  Sure, the places ships go are still quite important. But the restaurants, activities, features, and areas of the ship have become focal points.

Cruise ships getting bigger is nothing new, but the leapfrogging in design has been eye-opening. No ship has matched the Oasis Class and now the Icon Class has set an even higher bar.

I think the major reason for Royal Caribbean's success has been how much they listen to their customer.

You see in every new ship tweaks, additions, and changes that reflect feedback they've gathered. It's evident in how new concepts are introduced, refined, and then perfected.

Loyalty matters more than I thought it would

I don't think I paid much attention to the Crown and Anchor Society levels or benefits for my first few cruises, but very quickly it started to factor more into my cruising habit.

Like it's ships, Royal Caribbean's loyalty program has changed. Some perks have been added, others removed, and a few tweaked. 

The more I cruised, the more people I met, and it opened my eyes to how much you can get out of the loyalty program to enhance your cruising.

I don't advocate chasing loyalty status, but when you reach Diamond status, it's almost like your entire outlook on a cruise changes.

Getting extra perks saves a little bit of money, but it's also refreshing how much the line values our business. This is evident in the annual President's Cruise and attention given to its members at Top Tier events.

More recently, the company introduced status matching between its sister cruise lines that made it easy to jump between the lines. Plus, the Points Choice program has added so much more opportunity to expand our cruising without sacrificing climbing the loyalty ladder.

I look at both changes as indications from the line how much they value our business, especially considering the changes Carnival Cruise Line made to their program.

Food quickly became the centerpiece of cruising

When I went on Explorer of the Seas, there were two specialty restaurants and Johnny Rockets. Today, a cruise ship with "only" three extra cost restaurants would be considered shockingly awful.

You can argue the merits of specialty vs complimentary food, but the variety of choices has substantially improved.

I fell in love with the Main Dining Room on my first cruise because I liked having the same waiters, table assignment, and a changing menu every day. 

That's largely still the same today, although I think the speed of service changes made a few years ago really made a big difference because there's no more guessing if dinner will take one or two hours.

By far the biggest change in dining has been the proliferation of specialty dining. There are many more specialty dining venues than ever on ships, and Royal Caribbean hasn't been shy about trying new concepts: Japanese intimate dining, supper clubs, whatever Wonderland is, and an immersive train experience.

I think the innovations in specialty forced the line to also innovate its included options. You see that with the Oasis and Icon Class ships especially, because they've added new venues to not only meet demand but offer something extra. Aquadome Market is easily my favorite restaurant right now, and it's totally included.

On my first cruise, I probably focused on the Windjammer and Main Dining Room exclusively. Today, there are some sailings where I don't even go in either venue.

Mistakes are part of becoming a better cruiser

I still make mistakes when I cruise, but each one has taught me an important lesson and made my next cruise better.

I think it's inevitable that you'll make a mistake on a cruise. Hopefully you'll avoid the colossal blunders that could ruin your vacation, but even if you make some of the common cruise mistakes, it's part of the process.

• I forgot to pack pants for my first Star of the Seas cruise
• I booked too many beach days and it felt like we "hit the wall"
• I booked flights on my own instead of with the cruise line
• I avoided eating alone in the Main Dining Room

Each of these mistakes I made last year gave me better clarity on how to approach my future sailings.

The truth is while I've been cruising for two decades, making mistakes is inevitable. But you have to be flexible and learn from them.

Royal Caribbean's biggest strength is adaptation

I didn't start to blog about Royal Caribbean until 2010, and my daily coverage would take a few years more to develop. However, it became abundantly clear to me Royal Caribbean relies heavily on guest feedback.

They may not make every change guests complain about or ask for, but they are listening.

Their reliance in guest feedback has allowed them evolve without losing its identity. This comes in the form of evolving guest policies, new offerings, and innovation.

Perfect Day at CocoCay is perhaps one of the best examples.  They had a fun beach experience that had been working for many years at CocoCay, but they dreamt bigger. They invoked a lot of customer feedback to get a sense of what their customers wanted, and they built arguably the best private island experience that every other cruise line is still trying to copy.

The cruise industry shutdown of 2020 hit every cruise line bad, but look at where Royal Caribbean is today in both financial success and product leadership compared to the competition.

The Icon Class ships represent just about every good idea they've had or heard from guests and built a ship around that idea. Add onto that Royal Amplified ships that have transformed what it's like to go to on a 20+ year old ship.

With changing travel habits, industry competition, and guest feedback, I've seen Royal Caribbean willing to make things work with fixes, updates, and new ideas. It's refreshing they don't adhere to a "our way or the highway" and seem to want to push limits while not being afraid to try new things.

You've got to find your niche

In rounding out this reflection, I wanted to offer advice for someone beginning their journey with Royal Caribbean. I think the most important thing is find the cruises that speak to you.

Royal Caribbean offers a lot of sailings, ships, and options. But assuming "newer is always better" or spending more on a huge cabin is the ultimate goal is not the case at all.

I recommend leaning into what you want and going there.

I avoided going to Europe for years, only did weeklong cruises in the Caribbean, and booked balcony cabins. Those cruises made me happy and it's what got me hooked.

Later I opened up to other ideas, but that was when I felt ready for new adventures. Your cruising style will evolve over time.

Chasing the latest launch is fun, but I think you should book a cruise that speaks to you instead of where the hype is.  If the hype overlaps, perfect! But the best thing about cruising is how personalized it is and how you can find joy in any sailing.

Happy early Valentine's Day! Hope the holiday is filled with chocolate, flowers and a Royal Caribbean cruise! I'm spreading the Royal Caribbean love with our look at all the Royal Caribbean news from this week.

Nine passengers were arrested on drug charges as they were boarding a Royal Caribbean cruise ship in Miami.

According to the Miami Police, U.S. Customs and Border Protection assisted in a drug bust on Symphony of the Seas.

The passengers were boarding an Atlantis charter cruise, which is billed as "The World’s Biggest Gay Festival At Sea," according to the event website.

Royal Caribbean News

• Royal Caribbean ship diverted from CocoCay due to temporary pier issue
• New puppy born that will live on Royal Caribbean's next new cruise ship
• I chose a bad cruise room even though all the advice said not to
• Next time you stay on the ship in port, try this one quiet-ship trick
• Cruise ship rooms
• Is a balcony worth it on Alaska cruises?
• 9 things I wish I knew before setting foot on a Celebrity ship
• The best time to cruise to Alaska
• 7 Things I'd do differently on my next Silversea cruise
• How Royal Caribbean fixed The Bahamas' biggest cruise problem in just weeks
• How to plan a cruise with first timers without overwhelming them
• I've taken 33 cruises with Royal Caribbean. Here’s why I love cruising with them

Video: The Best Things To Eat On A Royal Caribbean 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 — The Best Things To Eat On A Royal Caribbean Cruise — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

A Royal Caribbean ship is back after propulsion issues, and CocoCay is back to normal

A double dose of good news to share this week, with Anthem of the Seas back in service and CocoCay fully operational once again.

Anthem of the Seas resumed sailings after having to cancel one sailing due to a propulsion problem.

Perfect Day at CocoCay had a temporary issue with its pier that has been resolved as well.

Royal Caribbean ship makes unscheduled stop at Labadee

Labadee, Haiti is closed, but Oasis of the Seas made an unscheduled stop there for a brief period.

The ship made a stop in order to drop off relief supplies.

Oasis is sailing a 6-night Western Caribbean sailing and made the visit as it was making its way.

One Medicare mistake leaves seniors uncovered on cruises

A recent study showed too many seniors mistakenly rely on Medicare in case of an emergency on a cruise ship.

The issue is they assume their Medicare coverage extends abroad, when it does not.

The study found too many seniors went on cruises without adequate medical and evacuation coverage.

6 things I wish I knew before staying in a cruise ship suite

Suites are an amazing kind of cruise ship room to book, but there are important things to know before you stay in one.

If someone is trying a cruise ship suite for the first time, they might not be aware of all the perks and amenities they can take advantage of during their stay.

While the suite benefits won't recoup the total cost of the room, it does make splurging far more worthwhile.

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 595th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available, breaking down what the Discovery Class announcement is missing.

The announcement left more questions than it answered, and Matt breaks down the possibilities.

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

It's very easy to get connected to Royal Caribbean's Wi-Fi on a cruise, and the speeds are faster than ever.

It's amazing how much better cruise ship Wi-Fi has gotten.  For years it was expensive and slow, but thanks to Starlink, you can get true high speed internet on a Royal Caribbean ship.

Today, Wi-Fi speeds on cruise ships are just as fast as hotel or coffee shop internet. It isn't quite as fast or reliable as what you have at home, but I think it's gotten so much better that it suits most passenger's needs.

Before you book, there are a few important things to know and tricks to save money on internet at sea.

How can I get internet access on my Royal Caribbean cruise?

You can buy a Wi-Fi package on the ship or before it begins. 

To buy it before the cruise, go to the Royal Caribbean app or Cruise Planner website and reserve a package.

Onboard the ship, all you need to do is connect to the ship's wifi network.

Connecting to Royal Caribbean's Wi-Fi is just like at anywhere on land:

1. Log on to the to the network "royal-wifi" using your device.
2. Open a web browser and attempt to visit any web site.
3. The Royal Caribbean WiFi login page will appear, with options to purchase an internet package or allow guests that already have a package to login.

What is Voom?

You might hear and read about something called, "Voom," which is what Royal Caribbean calls its onboard internet service. Unlike traditional internet options at sea, Voom utilizes a different kind of satellite technology to provide much faster connectivity.  

Voom offers guests the ability to stream music and movies, upload pictures, video chat with family and friends using FaceTime or Skype, check their email, lookup their stock prices, surf the web and stay connected with work via VPN.

In fact, on Oasis and Quantum class ships, you can easily stream video from services like Hulu or Netflix, or engage in Facetime and Skype video calls.

Some other ships, notably Royal Caribbean ships that spend time outside the United States, the speeds may not be quite as fast, but fleetwide, the Voom service is significantly better than onboard internet available through other cruise lines.

Is Royal Caribbean's Wi-Fi fast enough to work remotely for meetings?

While it's true cruise ship Wi-Fi has improved a lot, it's not quite as fast or snappy as it is on land. That's because of the nature of satellite based internet.

However, I've found the speeds and latency to be good enough for most remote work. Royal Caribbean's Wi-Fi is certainly fast enough for checking emails, uploading files, accessing websites, and most online work.

Video meetings usually work quite well.  Occasionally the signal may degrade because of clouds, bad weather, or just satellite transmission degradation, but I've conducted many video calls from the ship without an issue.  If you're trying to fool your boss you're at home, it might not be up to that task. But I've had good luck with the internet holding up well.

One issue is VPN access, as not all VPN protocols are supported by Royal Caribbean's Wi-Fi network. You may find issues connecting to certain VPN servers depending on which protocol you use. I recommend having a back up VPN connection or two to try.

How do I sign up for Wi-Fi?

Your access to the internet onboard your Royal Caribbean ship is tied to your stateroom and account you create.  

When you first logon to Royal Caribbean's Wi-Fi, you will see an option to create an account and there you can sign up for a plan or pay for the internet by the day.  In either case, the charge for internet usage will be applied to your stateroom account.

Alternatively, you can pre-purchase your wifi package and have it prepaid for your cruise.

If you buy it in advance via the Royal Caribbean Cruise Planner website, then log on to the wifi network onboard your ship and instead of being charged, you will see the prepaid plan ready to activate.

Can I use my Wi-Fi internet package at Perfect Day at CocoCay?

Yes, your Wi-Fi package works at Perfect Day at CocoCay for no additional charge.

What devices can access the internet? 

Any internet device that can access a 802.11b wireless connection can connect to the internet.  This include most smart phones, laptops and tablets.  

Royal Caribbean does provide workstations that are shared and available on a first-come, first served basis but we have found the workstations to be slow in terms of performance.

How fast is Royal Caribbean's Wi-Fi?

Let me be frank, internet access on a cruise ship will never be quite as snappy or responsive as it is on land.  However, Royal Caribbean's Voom packages are serviceable, and on the newer ships, pretty fast.

A number of factors can influence how fast the ship's internet is, including how many guests are using it, natural barriers and the ship's latitude.

Speeds don’t vary much between ships but newer ships have newer technology with lower latency so it seems faster. 

How much does internet access cost?

The cost of a Wi-Fi internet package varies depending on the number of devices and the service package purchased. 

Royal Caribbean offers unlimited plans that can be purchased onboard the ship or pre-purchased prior to the cruise. 

Without a doubt, you will save money by pre-purchasing your Voom internet package via Royal Caribbean's Cruise Planner site.

If you wait to book onboard, here is a copy of Voom prices in 2026, which should be about the same across the fleet.

Can I switch between devices while using a Voom package?

Yes, you may use as many devices as you like, but whichever plan you purchase will limit you to the number of devices that may be connected at the same time.  

To change devices, first log off the first device by typing logoff.com into your web browser.  This will log your first device out.  Afterwards, log back in with the other device.  You can do this as many times as necessary.

After I book a cruise, there's a sense of euphoria with all the excitement, but it's also when I start planning things out.

While you could probably book a cruise and do nothing else extra and still have a good vacation, I never leave things to chance. I always go through my checklist of important things to do before a cruise begins.

There are some very obvious things to do before any vacation starts, such as reserve a spot in the kennel, book a flight or hotel, or put in time off from work.  But I think there's more than that most people should be doing to avoid an easily avoidable issue later.

In all my years of cruising, I've found the most common problems tend to be ones that are avoidable with some early planning. You can't plan around every possible situation, but you can avoid the biggies.

With that in mind, I wanted to share the 15 things I always do before a cruise vacation so I can leave my house prepared for a great time.

Verify my passport is up to date

You can't go on any cruise without the proper travel documents, so the first thing I do is double check my passport is valid.

Not only does my passport need to valid today, but it needs to be valid when I go on the cruise. Be sure to double check the expiration date is well beyond the cruise you just booked.

I'm a major proponent of booking cruises very early, and sometimes I'll book a cruise up to two years in advance.  So it's critical my passport will be valid.

You don't need to have a passport for most sailings from the United States if you're a U.S. citizen, but I'd recommend everyone get one anyway. 

If your passport is going to expire, get the renewal process going immediately. Most of the time it's quick, but you don't want to discover your passport is invalid for travel the week before your cruise begins.

Find the perfect shore excursion for each port

Like many people, I love to go on a cruise for the places I'm going to visit.  The last thing I want to do is show up to a port and try to wing it, especially if it's somewhere I've never been.

I think a lot of people get excited for the places their ship will visit, and there's a myriad of choices of what you can do in each one.

I'll start researching shore excursion options right around 6 months before the cruise begins.  It doesn't make a lot of sense to do that any earlier because a lot of tour options may not even be available to book yet.

Sometimes the choice of what to do is obvious.  If my cruise stops in Antigua, I'm automatically going to look for a great beach to visit.

But if my cruise goes to Hamburg, Germany or Halifax, Nova Scotia, I'm going to need to learn about what there is to do before I book a tour.

If you have no idea where to start, I'll google "best things to do in ____" or I'll go to YouTube and do a similar search.  Sometimes I'll add "day trip ideas in ____" to ensure the results are ideal for a cruise ship visitor.

Royal Caribbean offers its own assortment of shore excursions, and that can also be a starting point for finding a tour.

No matter which tour I book or if I book through the cruise line, I always make sure I have a plan in place before my ship sets sail.

Buy any cruise add-ons and start tracking the price

One truth within Royal Caribbean is it will cost less to buy a drink package, WiFi, shore excursion, or spa treatment if you pre-book it before the cruise begins.

I'll log into the Cruise Planner website right after the cruise begins and book anything I know I want, such as a specialty dining package.

There's two reasons I pre-book immediately.

First, it will be cheaper than if I wait to buy it on the ship. Royal Caribbean runs sales quite often, and I can always re-price them if there's a lower price later.

If you spot a lower price, just cancel your purchase and then re-book at the lower price.  It's simple and quite effective.

Second, things sell out way quicker than they used to.  This is probably because Royal Caribbean has gotten much better at alerting its customers to what you can pre-purchase.

Things that always sell out include:

• Shore excursions
• Dining packages
• Royal Railway reservations
• Cabanas at Perfect Day at CocoCay or Labadee

It's a good idea to book what you know you need and think you need.  You can always cancel any of it up until a couple days before the cruise begins.

Make my dining arrangements

Before I step aboard my cruise ship, I want my dinner plans to be in place so I'm not scrambling for where to eat later.

If you booked My Time Dining, then you'll want to make reservations ahead of time in the app or website.

Thanks to the update in Royal Caribbean's dining packages, you can pre-book restaurants.

Buy a travel insurance plan

No matter if I go on a cruise or someone on my team does, we always sail with travel insurance.

You can buy a travel insurance plan immediately after you book a cruise, and it's a solid investment to protect you and your family for unforeseen situations.

In all reality, you probably won't need the insurance, but it's so helpful if you do need it.  And considering travel insurance for one trip is fairly inexpensive, I think it's well worth buying.

Join a roll call

For any cruise longer than a weekend, I'll join a roll call for that sailing.

There's almost always a Facebook group for each sailing, and it's a way to not only meet people on your cruise, but learn helpful information along the way.

The truth about any Facebook group for a sailing is you're going to encounter know-it-alls, complete newbies, wrong information, and fun stories.  But it's worth it simply for the opportunity to see what others are planning, be alerted to changes quickly, and otherwise get excited for the cruise.

In addition, you can join one of the Royal Caribbean Blog roll calls and virtually meet people on your sailing.

Check the dress codes

There will be suggestions of what to wear most evenings in the Main Dining Room, and you should check what they are before you sail.

Don't get too wrapped up in dress codes, because they're suggestions and rarely enforced.  But it can be a lot of fun to get dressed up on a cruise.

While I think the days of people wearing black tie clothing is passé, so many families love to get matching outfits to take photos onboard.

Or if you're sailing over a holiday, now is the time to get that embarrassing St. Patrick's Day beer belly shirt that my neighbor Kenny loves to wear.

Buy all those things on Amazon for my trip I said I'd get

If you're like me, you read a blog post or watch a video about how helpful a certain travel accessory or item is to have and think, "I should get one for my next cruise."

Well, now is that time!

I've left for too many cruises to realize at the airport or hotel I forgot to bring that one thing I wanted to try.

There are all sorts of essentials to bring on a cruise, so consider this your reminder to actually buy them.

Go to the bank to get cash

I'll go to the bank about a week before my cruise begins to have a certain amount of cash with me.

I never have cash in my everyday life because I rely on credit cards, but cash is useful on a cruise.

There are a few times it comes in handy:

• Tipping porters in the cruise terminal
• Gambling in the casino
• Taxis in port
• Tipping bartenders and waiters

How much cash you need really depends on your cruising style.  There is an ATM machine onboard if you truly underestimate your needs.

Complete online check-in

As soon as you can check-in for your cruise online, you should do it.

Royal Caribbean opens the check-in window opens 45 days before a sailing.

First and foremost, you can get a check-in time slot for the time to arrive at the cruise terminal. While check-in times are rarely enforced these days, it's still worth getting one.

Then, you should complete all the steps in the check-in process by using the Royal Caribbean app.  

Completing check-in online saves you time later in the terminal.  When I get to the terminal, I don't want to waste time standing around. I want to get on the ship!

Plus, it might get you a faster way onto the ship!

Add my SetSail pass to my wallet

After I complete online check-in, I add the SetSail pass to my Apple Wallet.

I learned this lesson the hard way a few times, where inexplicably the SetSail pass doesn't load on embarkation day within the Royal Caribbean app.

It's a weird bug, but it happens. But if I have the SetSail pass added to my digital wallet, it works every single time. Plus, it's faster to load when I need to show it.

Pre-book shows

Royal Caribbean allows passengers to book select shows on Icon, Oasis, or Quantum Class cruise ships before the sailing and it's totally free.

This allows you to get into a specific performance at a certain time and it makes planning your evenings a lot easier.

Plus, most shows will sell out and you'd have to wait in the standby line if you don't have a reservation.

You can usually book shows up to 30 days before the cruise begins from the Cruise Planner or Royal Caribbean app.

Watch a video ship tour

Whether I've been on the ship or not, I'll watch a cruise ship video tour on YouTube in the days before the cruise begins.

Part of the rationale is to learn about what the ship offers, and it's also to just get excited about the trip.

We have a lot of full ship tours on the Royal Caribbean Blog YouTube channel, each of which provides visuals of the ship and detailed commentary about everything to expect.

Print luggage tags

Last, but not least, I'll print out luggage tags and affix them to my luggage.

Luggage tags are necessary for getting your bags delivered to your cabin.  You give them to the porters and they take them onto the ship.

You can print the luggage tags by logging onto Royal Caribbean's site and accessing your online cruise documents.

Bring a bag I can use on shore excursions

There are lots of good things to pack on a cruise, but a bag you can take to the beach or around a city is super helpful.

I like this tote bag because it's useful for cruises and at home. I'm all for things I can use in my everyday life, plus a cruise vacation.

Having a small, yet practical bag to carry the essentials while going ashore (or to the pool deck) is really useful.

I recently stayed in a cruise ship cabin I knew was in a location that I recommend avoiding, but I was curious if it would be as bad as people say.

This cabin is located at the very front of the ship, offering a view you don't usually get. However, this room location is notorious for being bad with motion.

I sailed on Royal Caribbean's Utopia of the Seas, which is one of the newest ships in the fleet.  Some cruise advice is rooted in decades old lore, so I was curious if staying in a cabin all the way forward would be a mistake.

I didn't seek out this room, but it was what was left when I received an offer from the casino loyalty program for a "free cruise".

I decided to give it a try and see if the room's layout and view would make up for any potential issues with noise, movement, or something else.

I stayed in an oceanview cabin at the very front of the ship

My room was cabin 9500, which is at the very front of Utopia of the Seas.

Most cruise ship hallways go from the front to the back of the ship, but when you reach the front of the ship, the hallway turns sideways.

Unlike most oceanview cabins, this one faces forward instead of to the side, offering a view most other cabins don't get.  This is partially why I booked the room.

Plus, it's a large space.  The layout of the cabin adds more living space because the room is angled to the front.

Walking into the stateroom, the layout is typical of most standard rooms on Utopia.  A private bathroom is at one side, with the bed and closet space nearby.

In fact, there is a lot of storage space in these rooms. Frankly, I think the amount of storage space and closet configuration is superior on Oasis Class ships compared to the newer Icon Class ships.

There are two large closets on either side of the bed, with shelves and hangers inside.

Past the bed is a large couch and vanity.

The couch is plenty big, and it faces the large window. I thought it might be perfect for watching the world go by, but the window is angled enough so that you can't see the horizon if you're laying down on it.

The vanity has a mirror, electric outlets, and a chair.  When seated here, you can get a great view outside the window.

The window itself is massive and there's an electric curtain to open or close it.

A sign indicates the window should be closed at night to prevent ambient light from my cabin illuminating outwards and potentially causing trouble for the ship's bridge above.

There's not much to see at night, so that's not a problem.

The switch made it simple to open and close the shade, and the shade did a great job at blocking out the light to keep the room dark for sleeping. I was impressed how dark the room got when the shade was closed.

Since the window is angled, the head space quickly shrinks as you get closer to the window.  

Even though an adult cannot stand up straight right at the window, the room felt quite big and I'm certain a standard oceanview cabin would not have felt nearly as big.

Movement in the room made sleeping difficult

Conventional wisdom says cruise ship cabins at the very front of the ship should be avoided because they tend to have more of a sensation of movement. 

That advice was accurate for my sailing.

As Utopia moved through the ocean, any waves the ship encountered were broken by the front of the ship and the shudder seemed to be worse in my room than elsewhere.

One evening I was in the Mason Jar bar, and I had to go back to my room to get something. I instantly noticed the amount of movement was more noticeable in my room compared to the bar.

Personally, movement doesn't bother me as much because I think it helps me sleep.  A gentle rocking motion isn't so bad for how I like to cruise.

However, someone more sensitive to motion might find it nauseating.

The real problem with this room was when the ship would dock in the early morning hours.

On this 3-night cruise, we visited Nassau and Perfect Day at CocoCay.  On both stops, the ship used its bow thrusters to safely move it alongside the pier.

The problem is those bow thrusters are directly below my room and it felt like an earthquake each time they were used. 

Docking began around 6am or so, and it took about 20-30 minutes to complete the procedure.  This meant I was startled awake by the shuddering and it lasted long enough to make going back to sleep difficult.

I'm not someone to sleep until noon, but I'm also not an early riser. This would be the top reason I wouldn't book this room again.

A room at the front of the ship has a long walk

If I value sleep the most, convenience would be second.

The fact this room is all the way at the front of the ship and this is one of the biggest cruise ships in the world, the distance to walk was substantial.

It really meant that it wasn't quick if I needed to run back to the room for something.  Obviously this is a "first world problem" and I don't expect any sympathy for it.  But I guarantee anyone staying in this room might think twice if they truly need to go back to the cabin because of the distance.

When I've stayed in rooms much closer to elevator or stairs, I don't lament going back to my room as much.

The greater distance to walk is a minor gripe, but something else that added to my experience.

I was surprised how many people prefer this kind of a room

When I shared my experience staying in this cabin on YouTube, more people than I expected commented that they wouldn't mind booking this cabin.

The overarching theme among those that said they would book it seem to be they are early risers and don't sleep past 7am.

"Instead of turning me off of it you sold me on it. I would never close the window shade. I would lay under there at night to watch the stars. I wake up at 6am normally anyways."

"If I wanted to sleep in a hotel, I'd go to a hotel for cheaper and not go on a cruise ship."

"Ship movement doesn't bother me at all. In fact, I try and book as far forward and as high as possible. Love the rockin and rolling!"

Suffice to say, I don't agree with their assessment.  But it goes to show you why online cruise reviews are so subjective, and why you should never use them as a basis of booking a cruise or not.

I won't book this kind of room again

While I thought the view and window were great, I wouldn't book a room at the front of the ship again because of the poor sleep I got.

I can deal with the long walk and the extra movement, but the lack of sleep really bothered me.

It wouldn't be an issue on a sea day, but since Utopia of the Seas only does short 3- and 4-night cruises, it's almost all port days.

Someone posted on my YouTube video this would be a great room for toddlers because of the extra living space. Plus, they're short enough the lower ceiling wouldn't be a factor.

I thought the room itself was great, and I even got to see a SpaceX rocket launch from my window.  There's no denying it's something different and not your typical cruise ship room.

However, I think the advice to avoid cruise ship rooms at the front is still a mistake to avoid.

In the future, I'll stick to a room closer to midship for the convenience and less issues with movement.

Read more: How to choose a cabin

A Royal Caribbean cruise ship is back in service after engine problems, and a temporary issue with its private island pier has been fixed.

Between the itinerary changes due to the unprecedented winter weather, technical issues, and damaged piers, the past few weeks haven't been the smoothest for travelers. Thankfully, recent repairs and better forecasts seem to be helping things get back on track. 

For starters, Anthem of the Seas is back in service after being pulled for repairs to address a technical issue that arose last month. Passengers aboard the January 27, 2026, cruise were informed just a few days before embarkation that, as a result, their sailing had been unfortunately canceled. 

"Anthem of the Seas experienced a technical issue on its last sailing, and we're returning to begin required maintenance. Unfortunately, we will not be able to complete the needed repairs in time for our 27 January sailing," read the upsetting email. 

(Credit: Mattynice75/Reddit)

However, according to a Reddit post shared on Saturday, Feb. 5, Anthem of the Seas is ready to welcome passengers back on board. 

"Beautiful day to board Anthem of the Seas. After she spent 10 days alongside for emergency repairs it’s great to see Anthem here in Sydney for our cruise. Perfect day for it too," wrote Mattynice75. 

Cruise Mapper further confirms that Anthem of the Seas returned to Sydney and set sail on the scheduled 7-night round-trip Queensland cruise. She is expected to arrive in Airlie Beach on Feb. 9. 

(Credit: Cruise Mapper. Screenshot taken at 1:25 p.m. EST on Friday, Feb. 6)

Anthem of the Seas is a Quantum Class cruise ship that debuted in 2015. She'll remain Down Under through April 2026 before relocating to Seattle for a seasonal stint in Alaska. Anthem is scheduled to return to Sydney, Australia, in October. 

She measures 168,666 gross tons, 1,141 feet long, and can accommodate over 4,100 passengers at double occupancy. 

Read more: Royal Caribbean cancels Australia cruise because of propulsion problem

CocoCay pier is fully operational again

At least two cruise ships had to cancel their visits to Perfect Day at CocoCay this week after high winds caused the catwalks to fall into the sea on the eastern side of the pier. Freedom of the Seas was diverted to Cabo Rojo, Dominican Republic, while Celebrity Reflection went to Freeport, Bahamas. 

"As the Captain announced earlier, due to this past weekend's winter storm, which included strong winds and heavy seas at Perfect Day at CocoCay, Bahamas, catwalks fell into the sea on the eastern side of the pier," read the informational letter given to guests aboard Freedom of the Seas. 

"Unfortunately, divers have not been able to locate all of them, which prevents us from safely docking the ship at Perfect Day at CocoCay. After exploring and exhausting all other alternatives, we'll skip our visit. We'll now enjoy a sea day tomorrow and visit Cabo Rojo, Dominican Republic, on Wednesday from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM," it continued. 

(Credit: Lynette Trease/Facebook)

Future cruisers were initially wary that their visits to CocoCay might be canceled due to the recent pier damage. However, Royal Caribbean confirmed that the repairs were complete in a statement given to TravelPulse:

"Perfect Day at CocoCay experienced adverse weather over the weekend of January 30–February 1 and temporarily closed. Following assessments, the eastern side of the pier was unavailable for docking, and select itineraries were adjusted. Guests were informed directly, and operations have since resumed."

This was confirmed when both Adventure and Liberty of the Seas successfully docked on Thursday, Feb. 5. "HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME! The dock at Coco Cay is re-open! Liberty and Adventure are currently here!" Lynette Trease shared on Facebook. 

Read more: Royal Caribbean Ship Diverted from CocoCay Due to Temporary Pier Issue

Another winter storm caused two ships to skip visits to CocoCay today

(Credit: Cruise Mapper. Screenshot taken at 1:45 p.m. EST on Friday, Feb. 6)

Unfortunately, while the pier is fully repaired, strong winds on Friday, Feb. 6, prevented two ships from docking safely, forcing last-minute cancellations for guests sailing on Explorer and Icon of the Seas. 

Angela Marie Collins Frost shared the news on Facebook, with Cruise Mapper confirming that the scheduled port day was turned into an extra day at sea for the vessels. 

According to Wunderground, the reported winds in the Bahamian capital of Nassau were around 17-18 miles per hour (mph) this morning. While that might not seem extreme, the winds were strong enough to make docking unsafe for large vessels.

Icon of the Seas is currently on a 7-night Eastern Caribbean cruise that previously called at St. Maarten and St. Thomas. The Icon Class ship is due to return to Miami on Saturday, Feb. 7. 

Explorer of the Seas is finishing up a 5-night Bahamian cruise. The 137,308 gross-ton vessel departed Port Canaveral on Feb. 2 and visited Bimini two days later. She'll return to Florida on Saturday as well. 

What is the best room you can get on a cruise ship?

What makes the decision so difficult is there are so many personal preferences and sub-categories to consider. How many people are you sharing the room with? Are you prone to getting seasick? Will you spend more time at the pool or casino? How much of a budget do you have?

There are lots of considerations that go into picking the perfect room, and it goes well beyond cost.

A stateroom is similar in some respects to a hotel room, but cabins tend to be smaller. Plus, I think a cruise ship room selection is more important because you're likely to be on a ship longer than a hotel.

Before you choose a Royal Caribbean cruise ship room, I would recommend looking at 4 important things first.

Cruise room types, explained

Let's start with the basics, because every Royal Caribbean ship falls into one of four major categories.

• Interior rooms: Smallest and (usually) cheapest rooms on a cruise ship, inside rooms have no windows or access to the outside. It's four walls with no view.
• Oceanview rooms: If a cabin with a view is important, an oceanview room comes with a window. Usually a bit larger than inside rooms, oceanview cabins have either a porthole or window that has a view outside (although you cannot open the window).
• Balcony rooms: Balcony rooms are the "Goldilocks stateroom" because they have access to fresh air via a balcony that has at least two chairs and a table. The convenience is undeniable, and the cost to move up is affordable compared to the next category.
• Suites: The luxury option for vacationers that want opulence with their room choice. Suites have the most living space, ideal locations, and often have separate living and sleeping rooms. Plus, they come with extra perks and included amenities.

All cabins on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship come with basic amenities, such as a private bathroom, bed, sitting area, closet, and vanity. The difference is bigger rooms may have more space, and suites have extra perks.

What is the best room location on a cruise ship?

The best room location sounds like a simple question, but it depends on your needs and preferences. Some people care more about proximity to areas they frequent, others want quiet locations above all else.  

The generally accepted ideal location for any room is to be in the middle of the ship, on a mid to lower deck. That's because you'll feel the least movement and be centrally located on the ship.

Rooms at the very front or on higher decks can sometimes feel like there's more movement because the roll and rocking of the ship tends to be worst there.

Don't let that scare you, as cruise ships are quite stable most of the time.

Being closer to an area of the ship you'll spend more time is important too. If you're someone that will be up at the pool all the time, why not pick a room on a higher deck so you can easily pop in and out without much of a trek.

But if you prefer bar hopping, the casino, or the restaurants, picking a cabin on a lower deck might make more sense.

But before you book any room, there are cabins to avoid because of noise issues.

The rule of thumb is to avoid rooms above or below a pool deck, bar, or other public venue. You want to book a room that has another stateroom above and below your cabin.

When my kids were young, I told my travel agent to find us a room near the kids club so we could quickly bring them back and forth. But as they got older, I switched to rooms close to the Royal Promenade so I could conveniently get to the evening activities.

Should you let the cruise line pick your room?

Royal Caribbean offers guests the option to let the cruise line pick their room assignment in exchange for a discount, but this comes with a few important things to know.

A guaranteed room assignment means at some point between when you book the cruise and the sail date, Royal Caribbean will choose the specific room from the leftover cabins that haven't been sold yet. 

It could take days, weeks, or even months for your room to be assigned and it could take all the way until the day of your sailing.

The potential issue is you may get a less desirable room location, such as a cabin all the way forward, a connecting cabin, or a cabin under the pool deck.

Not everyone hates their assignment, and it may end up being a perfectly adequate room.  Given the amount of money saved, booking a GTY room might be perfect.  

I think you should choose this option if you're flexible with a room location, not a light sleeper, and not particular susceptible to getting seasick.

Pick a room by balancing cabin size, budget, and amenities

Start the selection process with the least expensive cabin and moving up to see which option matches your needs and budget.

An inside room will suffice, but if you can afford to move up to a balcony or suite, then see how much more that option will be. There are wonderful aspects to each room type, but if you can't afford it, then it's not worth considering.

Royal Caribbean ships offer various room categories, including balcony rooms that face inwards, inside cabins with an LED screen that have an outside view, and many family rooms designed for larger families.

An inside room will be the cheapest option and small. But it gets you on the ship and you can argue you'll be so busy enjoying all the activities onboard and ashore, so why spend more on a room you will use for sleeping, showering, and changing?

It's an economical choice, but since it has no windows, that may be a stumbling issue.

Moving up to an oceanview or balcony cabin adds a way to look outside during your cruise, but the price can vary wildly.

On average, an oceanview usually isn't much more than a balcony. Think of it like moving up from a small to a medium popcorn at the movie theater. They price it so you think you may as well go for it.

The cost of a balcony can vary greatly, especially if you're sailing to Alaska or the Norwegian fjords because balconies are in high demand for those itineraries.

A suite rarely disappoints, but the price tag can be substantial. Royal Caribbean suites can easily cost between $10,000 and $30,000 for a 7-night cruise.  In fact, the epic 1,772 square foot Ultimate Family Townhouse averages over $100,000 per sailing.

Picking a cruise room based on price is a mistake because you'll likely end up disappointed in what's missing or how much you feel you overpaid for it.

Once again, I recommend working with a good travel agent to narrow down your choices and make it easier to find the right room for your family.