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While you might feel inclined to book a Celebrity drink package to “save money,” the reality is that not every cruiser drinks enough to make the cost worth it.

Upfront, Celebrity Cruises’ drink package might seem like a good value, giving you access to unlimited beverages for one set daily price.

And for many, the package is worth the pricey investment. However, the true answer depends on your personal drinking habits and what you’re willing to pay for convenience. While drink packages help you budget your beverage costs in advance, saving money is not always a guarantee.

In this article, we’ll break down everything you need to know about Celebrity Cruises’ drink packages — from what they include to the cost, tips, tricks, and expert reviews.

Celebrity Cruises Drink Package Overview

Before deciding which unlimited package is right for your cruise, it helps to understand how each option works. This Celebrity drink package comparison breaks down the main packages offered by Celebrity Cruises, so you can determine which meets your budget and drinking preferences.

The Celebrity Classic beverage package is the lowest-tier alcoholic package. Celebrity's drink packages are dynamically priced based on the ship, itinerary, and sail date. That said, you can expect the Classic package to start at around $65 per person, per day. 

This basic beverage package allows you to choose from select beers, spirits, cocktails, liqueurs, frozen drinks, and wines by the glass up to $12 per serving. You will also get 15% off all wines by the bottle. If you order a beverage that is over $12, you will be charged the difference. If, for instance, you were to order a $19 martini, you would see a $9 + 20% gratuity charge reflected on your onboard account.

To at least "break even," you would need to drink about eight $12 beverages per day. One important thing to note is that this package does include the same non-alcoholic beverage options as the Non-Alcoholic Package. We’ll get more into that later.

The Celebrity Premium Drink Package is more inclusive than the Classic Package. With that, however, comes a higher price. You can expect the Premium Package to start at around $80 per person, per day.

Each guest who purchases this package will get specialty coffees and teas, craft and artisanal beers, spirits, cocktails, frozen drinks, Coca-Cola products, premium bottled water, and wines by the glass up to $19 per serving. Instead of a 15% discount on all wines by the bottle, the package includes a higher 20% discount.

Just like the Classic Package, if you would like to order a drink over $19, you will be charged the difference plus gratuity. You would have to consume at least six $19 drinks per day to break even, compared to eight $12 drinks with the Classic Package.

Moving on, Celebrity only offers one non-alcoholic package — the Zero Proof Drink Package — which costs around $45 per person, per day and includes premium bottled water, specialty coffees and organic teas, Vitamin Water, Red Bull, bottled iced teas, frozen smoothies, zero-proof cocktails, and Coca-Cola products, as well as offerings from The Spa Cafe.

Regardless of which package you choose, it’s important to understand the restrictions. For example, all packages are sold on a per-cruise basis and do not include beverages sold in gift shops, mini-bars, or room service.

Here's a full list of what Celebrity's drink packages include in a convenient chart: 

How much is the drink package on Celebrity Cruises?

Unlike other cruise lines (i.e., Carnival, Princess, etc.), Celebrity's unlimited drink packages don't have a set price. Rather, the cost of the drink package on Celebrity Cruises is determined by the ship, itinerary, and sail date, among other factors. 

Generally speaking, you can save money on your Celebrity drink package by purchasing it in advance through the Cruise Planner. Like Royal Caribbean, Celebrity offers lucrative pre-cruise sales that can save you hundreds of dollars off the onboard pricing of popular add-ons — ranging from drink packages to shore excursions and specialty meals. 

Below is the pricing, along with the current pre-cruise sale discount, of Celebrity's drink packages on the April 12, 2026, cruise aboard Celebrity Beyond:

• Premium Drinks Package: $125 onboard, $92.99 pre-cruise
• Classic Drinks Package: $100 onboard, $84.99 pre-cruise
• Non-Alcoholic Drink Package: $45 onboard, $39.99 pre-cruise 

Comparatively, the cost of Celebrity's drink packages on the April 20, 2026, cruise on Celebrity Ascent in Europe is pretty different:

• Premium Drinks Package: $80 onboard, $59.99 pre-cruise
• Classic Drinks Package: $65 onboard, $54.99 pre-cruise
• Non-Alcoholic Drink Package: $45 onboard, $39.99 pre-cruise 

These prices do not include Celebrity's mandatory 20% service charge, which is automatically applied to all beverages and beverage packages, specialty dining and specialty dining packages, room service, and mini-bar purchases. 

What is All Included on Celebrity Cruises?

Pre-purchasing your drink package is an easy way to save money on a Celebrity cruise. However, there's another option. When you go to book your cruise, you can elect to bundle your cruise fare with a Classic Drinks Package and Basic Wi-Fi. This effectively eliminates the need to purchase add-ons separately and keep a watchful eye on the Cruise Planner. 

The All Included rate applies to nearly all of Celebrity's cruises, minus those in the Galapagos, in interior, ocean-view, veranda, Concierge Class, or AquaClass cabins. Suites within The Retreat come with a Premium beverage package and Wi-Fi. 

When pricing out an upcoming 7-night Caribbean cruise on Celebrity Apex in Nov. 2026, the standard cruise fare started at around $713 per person for an interior room and increased to $1,308 for the All Included rate. This breaks down to $85 per night. 

You can pay to upgrade from the Classic to the Premium Drinks Package, as well as from the Basic to the Premium Wi-Fi Package. You will save money if you do this pre-cruise through the online planning portal. However, you may also upgrade on the ship. 

Unfortunately, Celebrity's All Included rate no longer includes gratuities. Below are the current gratuity rates as of February 2026: 

• $18.00 USD per person, per day for Inside, Ocean View, and Veranda staterooms
• $19.00 USD per person, per day for Concierge Class and AquaClass staterooms
• $23.00 USD per person, per day for guests of The Retreat.

How much are drinks on Celebrity Cruises?

Whether you’re planning to purchase a drink package or still deciding if it’s worth the cost, some prospective cruisers may be wondering about the à la carte drink prices on Celebrity Cruises. 

Generally speaking, on the low end, wines by the glass come in at around $12 but can cost as much as $40 for premium selections, depending on the label. There are some cheaper cocktails, too. However, most fall between $14 and $19. 

When it comes to beer, you'll find most cost around $10 to $14. A Corona Extra, for example, is $10, while a Terrapin Luau IPA is $14. 

Pros and cons of getting the Celebrity drink package

Value

If you are looking to splurge while on your vacation, you might save a lot of money by purchasing a drink package, rather than paying for each drink individually. The catch is that you have to be someone who enjoys indulging in a lot of drinks (i.e., at least a half-dozen per day). 

On the flip side, if you are a more casual drinker who enjoys two or three beverages per day, you might save money by buying each drink individually. There is no point in buying a drink package if you know that you will not be drinking enough to at least break even.

Additionally, depending on your preferred drinks, you might get more value out of the Premium Drinks Package than the Classic. It is not worth it to pay for the cheaper package if you will not be able to get your favorite drinks or be constantly charged the difference for higher-priced beverages.

Convenience

One of the biggest advantages of a cruise drink package is the convenience. You don't have to worry about racking up any large sums while on the ship, or think about whether you actually want to spend the money on a drink at that specific moment.

You also have the freedom to order an unfamiliar drink. If you don't walk away with a new favorite libation, you can order something else without feeling as though you wasted $12+.

Helps establish your cruise budget

Pre-purchasing a drink package via the Cruise Planner, or once you get on board, means you know exactly how much you'll spend on beverages during your vacation. 

This can help you appropriately budget for your vacation, rather than leaving you guessing about how much your final bill will end up being.

Drink fatigue

"Drink fatigue" happens when guests consume more than they normally do just for the sake of making the most of the drink package. If you have a package, it is important to ask yourself if you really want a drink or if you are getting one because you can. 

If you're on a shorter cruise, a drink package might make more sense than on a longer cruise, as having six or more beverages for three or four days is easier than maintaining that pace for an entire week when also waking up early for shore excursions, spending all day in the heat, etc. 

Celebrity Elite Happy Hour

Whereas Royal Caribbean rewards top-tier loyalty members with complimentary daily drinks, Celebrity Cruises offers Elite members and higher a daily happy hour with beverages from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. (excluding embarkation day). 

However, it's important to note that the available drinks are limited compared to Celebrity's overall bar menus. For example, you can't order a Lychee Martini or an Old Fashioned. Still, you may find that a drink package is not as valuable with these loyalty benefits. 

You may be able to take advantage of the free happy hour even if you have never sailed on a Celebrity ship — thanks to Royal Caribbean's status matching program, which allows Crown & Anchor Society members to receive equivalent tier recognition in Celebrity’s Captain’s Club and Silversea’s Venetian Society. 

Itinerary

If you have more port days than sea days, a drink package may not make sense for your chosen itinerary. In many places, it is more cost-effective to enjoy beverages in port, where local establishments often offer lower prices than the cruise ship bars. 

Moreover, certain destinations — like Europe — tend to be more physically exhausting, with long days spent ashore touring culturally rich cities. As such, you may discover that you are less likely to take full advantage of a pricey beverage package than you would on Caribbean or Bahamian voyages. 

Can you use your drink package at Cococay?

Yes! Celebrity's drink packages allow guests to get unlimited drinks at just about every restaurant or bar on the cruise ship or private destination, including Perfect Day at CocoCay and Labadee, Haiti.

Note that the beverage packages do not work at the Royal Beach Club Paradise Island. Instead, guests purchase the bundle that most meets their needs, whether an all-you-can-drink option that includes unlimited alcoholic beverages or the more affordable non-alcoholic pass. 

Is the drink package worth it on a cruise?

Over the past few years, I've tried both of Celebrity Cruises' alcoholic drink packages to determine which offers the best value for cruisers. Although it's more expensive, I discovered that I prefer the Premium Package, which offers a more extensive selection of beverages — both non-alcoholic and alcoholic.

For example, Celebrity's Classic Package felt restrictive. I was stuck ordering basic well beverages that I'd get at a local bar back home, rather than enjoying craft cocktails made with top-shelf spirits and higher-end wines by the glass. 

When I had the opportunity to splurge on the Premium Package, the difference in offerings was extremely noticeable, and I didn't feel nickel-and-dimed for better beverages. 

For example, I sampled exclusive cocktails only available on Celebrity ships, including the World Class Bar's Celebrity No. 10, the Magic Carpet's Magic Spritz, and Café al Bacio's Salted Caramel Martini — all of which would have cost extra with the Classic Package. 

That said, the Classic Package is still a solid choice for cruisers who only want an occasional drink and don't care about the premium cocktails and wine, especially if they plan on kickstarting their day with a specialty latte at Café al Bacio. 

Read more: Is Celebrity's drink package worth it? I tried both to see which was better

Despite higher oil prices, airport delays, and travel disruption, travelers with a cruise booked are largely still planning to take their vacation.

So I asked cruise fans a simple question: Would any of this change your plans?

The answer was almost unanimous. They’re still going.

"Keeping all 9 of my bookings from now through November," posted Simone Amadee on Facebook when questioned if they were reconsidering travel because of recent global events.

Hundreds of others weighed in to say mostly the same thing: they're keeping their travel plans in place.

Long TSA lines, the Iran conflict, and increased airfares have been at the forefront of news in recent weeks, but going on a cruise doesn't seem to be changing in anyone's view yet.

Joline Tate posted, "Royal Caribbean will not take you where there's danger. If a port is dangerous, they will cancel; you won't have to."

Her sentiment was shared by many that life goes on, despite the travel anxiety some may be feeling.

"Unless the cruise line cancels it, I’m going"

The overwhelming response wasn’t hesitation. It was defiance. Despite scary headlines, most travelers are not canceling cruises.

We asked our readers on Facebook if they're feeling any concern about going on a cruise due to recent issues around the United States and abroad.

Over 200 comments were left, and the vast majority were positive and said they were definitely going on their cruise. In our unscientific poll, there were very limited outright cancellations.

The majority of the comments fell into the "I'm still going" category.

"I cruise at the end of July to the Caribbean. I'm making the final payment next week and hoping for the best," added Kelly D'Alessandro.

Many people shared they feel cruises feel insulated from global events. Moreover, Caribbean cruises are seen as low risk.

"I would absolutely go on a cruise if I had one booked and paid for. Probably the safest way to travel today," wrote Kat PS.

It also helps that cruises are booked months in advance, and most itineraries are far from conflict zones. Royal Caribbean doesn't offer any cruises in the Middle East, and their European cruise season is just about to begin.

Plus, there's a strong sense that cruises feel removed from the chaos on land. Once you're onboard, the outside world fades pretty quickly.

Some are concerned, but not canceling

Even though many aren't canceling their cruise, they are monitoring the situation to see if a change is needed.

Flights are probably the top concern among respondents.

• "Keeping all 9 of my bookings… a bit nervous about all of the flights"
• "A bit nervous about all of the flights I have to take but keeping the faith all will go well!"
• "My problem was the air fare was more than the cruise I was about to book"

People aren't canceling cruises, but they are worried about getting there. To that point, some people are pivoting to cruises they can drive to instead of relying on air travel.

A partial government shutdown has strained the Transportation Security Administration, contributing to longer security lines at airports across the country. This has lead to long lines at airports in some cases.

The concern of missing a flight over these delays is at the heart of why some are questioning going overseas for a trip. Both Americans traveling to Europe and Europeans coming to the States are where the comments started to vary.

"Staying in Europe this year, but we've booked most of our holidays at home in UK for the rest of the year," Sandra Harris wrote.

"Europe? Moved mine to next summer," added Ashley H.

People aren't canceling, but they are watching

The bottom line is most people with a cruise booked plan to go on it, but they aren't ignoring the world events either.

People are watching flight prices and airport situations, and they're thinking more carefully about future trips.

The cruise is still happening, it's just everything around it that feels a little uncertain.

I wanted to avoid paying cruise ship drink prices, but I didn’t want to buy a drink package either. So I tried a simple workaround: I brought a 12-pack of soda with me on my Royal Caribbean cruise.

If you're wondering, "Can I bring a 12-pack of soda on a Royal Caribbean cruise?", the answer is a resounding, "Yes!".

I buy beverage packages when it makes sense based on who I'm cruising with, but for my family's spring break cruise, I wanted to rely just on my loyalty drink vouchers.  However, I didn't want to use a voucher on a can of soda.

It was pain lugging the 12-pack around on embarkation day, but by the end of the cruise I realized it was an underrated hack.

It ended up saving me more than I expected, and it’s a trick more cruisers should be using.

Can you bring soda on a Royal Caribbean cruise?

One of the best secrets you may not know is Royal Caribbean allows guests to bring non-alcoholic drinks on a cruise.

You're allowed to bring up to 12 cans or bottles of soda, water, juice, or any other non-alcoholic beverage on embarkation day. The limit is per stateroom, not per person.

The only "catch" is you cannot check it. It must be in your carry-on luggage, so that means you need to take it onboard.

It's officially allowed, and not a "sneaky" hack, but many people are unaware of it.  I certainly knew about it, but never actually took advantage of it before.

I like having a soft drink with dinner, so I thought my 7-night Star of the Seas cruise would be the perfect opportunity to bring it onboard to reduce costs without sacrificing the enjoyment of my meals.

Why I decided to try this cruise hack

Once I decided not to buy a drink package, I started thinking about ways to maximize my included benefits.

I have 6 drink vouchers to use per day because I'm a Pinnacle Club member in the Crown and Anchor Society, which is Royal Caribbean's customer loyalty program.

Each voucher covers a drink up to $14, so it seemed to me like using one for a soda would be a waste. Of course, a single can of soda would cost $3.50 each, so that would add up quickly.

Moreover, I only want a soda or two per day.  Therefore, buying a soda package wasn't worth it either.

Given that all I had to do was buy a 12 pack at home and lug it around for a couple hours on day one, it seemed like the perfect low-effort experiment.

Carrying the soda around on the first day was the worst part

As I expected, having to walk around with the 12 pack wasn't ideal, but it was only for a few hours.

Going through security in Port Canaveral was very easy, and there was no issue with the soda. This is why you need to carry it on and not put it in your bags.  Otherwise, the scanner will see a can and not be able to determine if it's beer or soda, and then everything gets delayed.

We boarded the ship around 10:30am, but our cabin wasn't open until 1pm.  The 12 pack comes in a cardboard box that is bulky and a little heavy, so it's more of an inconvenience to carry it than anything else.

I found the best strategy is to go to bar, pool chair, or somewhere to use as a "home base" and set it down until your cabin is ready.

It was more of a pain getting it from the car to the terminal to the ship, and then around to complete muster drill, get a coffee, and then finally set it down at a bar.

In reality, it wasn't that bad to lug around for just a few hours.

How I used the soda during the cruise

If I had any doubts about the usefulness of carrying on soda, it was immediately dissuaded at dinner on the first night.

Not only did I bring my own soda onboard to save money, but I brought Dr. Pepper because it's my favorite and it's a brand Royal Caribbean doesn't carry (other than with the Freestyle machines).

It was so nice going into Coastal Kitchen for dinner and having a glass of soda to enjoy with my dinner.

Plus, I had cans ready to go in my cabin.  On one afternoon when I wanted a quick pick-me-up, I grabbed a can from the cooler and it hit the spot.

The only downside was getting I had to wait for ice

I would bring a can or two with me to dinner, and it became quickly apparent I had to wait to get a cup of ice.

Waiters in any restaurant I went to were busy, and it would be some time before they arrived with a glass and ice in it.  It's not a big deal, but a few times I had to wait more than 15 minutes before the glass of ice was delivered to my table.

Generally speaking, drink service is slow at any Royal Caribbean restaurant. I wasn't surprised by it, but it became a "necessary evil" of this little hack.

I'm sure you're wondering why I didn't keep the cans cool in my fridge.  The issue was I wasn't always going immediately from my cabin to dinner. I might stop off at the casino, suite lounge, or another venue before going to dinner.  So the soda wouldn't be quite ice cold by the time our meal started.

How much money this actually saved me

Not only is this cruise hack simple, it's easy to track the savings.

Royal Caribbean charges $3.50 per can of soda on its ships.  So by bringing a 12-pack, I saved $42 (plus gratuity), and I got the brand of soda I like that wouldn't have otherwise been able to enjoy.

This is the perfect hack for someone that doesn't drink enough to warrant a drink package. For a soda package to make financial sense, you'd need to drink at least 4 sodas per day to justify the cost.

Would I do this again?

I would absolutely bring soda again on my cruise, provided I could easily pre-purchase it before the sailing.

The key is to purchase it once you get to the embarkation city (meaning don't fly with a 12-pack), purchase it there and bring it onboard.

I think bringing your own sodas is great for casual soda drinkers, budget-conscious cruisers, and families.  I shared my sodas with my kids after realizing one soda a day would result in leftovers by the end of the cruise.

As I mentioned before, carrying it onboard was mildly annoying. And waiting for a glass of ice to go with it became an expectation.  But I don't think either issue was a major problem.

As an alternative to a drink package, I think bringing your own sodas on Royal Caribbean was the perfect money-saving tip. It's one of the easiest cruise tips I’ve actually used, and it worked.

If you've recently been annoyed by seemingly constant Royal Caribbean emails about your upcoming vacation, you’re not alone.

Cruisers have reported receiving numerous emails from the cruise line containing the same basic information about their reservation — myself included. 

Ever since paying off my upcoming 3-night voyage on Harmony of the Seas, my inbox has been flooded with a "Welcome Aboard" email nearly every day. 

The message always begins with, "Wohoo! You're officially booked, and we're thrilled you'll be joining us on your boldest vacation yet" before providing the booking number for "easy reference." 

Then, the email gives a brief reminder to make sure all of my travel party's details are completed and up to date in the reservation dashboard. 

"Once your information is complete, download the Royal Caribbean app to make the most of every vacation moment. Book shore excursions, make dining reservations, create a personal calendar for your onboard activities and more — all from your phone," it continues. 

"The countdown is on, and now it's time to start setting up your ultimate vacation! Start exploring all the ways to upgrade your adventure and score the best deals right now before you board Harmony of the Seas."

Beneath that, the email features a series of links that direct to the online Cruise Planner. This is where booked passengers can browse add-ons, like beverage packages, shore excursions, dining packages, and internet packages. In addition to the spammy emails, the Cruise Planner is also accessible through Royal Caribbean's website. 

Every "Welcome Aboard" email that I've received since Feb. 20 — there have been 20 — has been the exact same. As such, they've promptly ended up in my email's trash. In fact, after the first two or three, I stopped reading them entirely and automatically deleted them. 

According to a recent Reddit thread, I’m far from the only one dealing with the repetitive messages. 

"I booked my June 2026 cruise back in December, and finished paying it off in February. When I booked it, and everytime i made a payment, I got one of those welcome aboard emails, which i thought was weird but whatever. Now I seem to be getting them almost every day??" shared MissDeeBee.

"Just curious if this has happened to anyone else. I've double checked my reservation and nothing seems to have changed so it's just odd. I feel very welcome now, Royal Caribbean, you can stop now!"

Over two dozen users shared similar experiences, with some speculating that it could be a glitch. Others argue that it may be an aggressive sales tactic to increase pre-cruise bookings through the Cruise Planner. 

"I have an upcoming sailing in late April and I've received 'Welcome Aboard' emails since near the end of February. I had assumed it could be a glitch with their emailing software but I also could see they're trying to encourage us to book dining packages or shore excursions through those emails," Must-Be-Gneiss said. 

Meow217 added, "I have a cruise next month, and I’m getting the welcome aboard email daily as well, which hasn’t happened before. I thought it was because it was coming up so soon but I feel for [y'all] who still have a ways to go and are getting an email taunting you!"

"I’m getting the sense that their add on bookings aren’t quite what they were anticipating, so they’re pushing out as much marketing as possible to people to book drink packages, dining, and all of the other upcharge stuff that people are foregoing (in contrast to their projections for onboard spending). We cruise late next week and I’ve gotten fewer desperate, repetitive bits of communication from an ex," nmunyat joked. 

"OMG I just googled this about my own situation and found your post! I don't understand why they're doing this, but it makes me want to unsubscribe from all of their emails, but I see we're in good, but unfortunate company," Suspicious-Orchid-40 wrote. 

While Royal Caribbean hasn’t addressed the duplicate "Welcome Aboard" messages, it's clear that if it's a marketing strategy, it's backfiring. The emails are more annoying than helpful and are easy to ignore and delete. Plus, they're sent in addition to regular promotional emails that advertise ongoing sales. 

Read more: How far in advance can you book a Royal Caribbean cruise?

Not the first time Royal Caribbean has had a technological glitch

Last spring, Royal Caribbean cruisers reported receiving numerous pop-ups on their devices from the mobile app. The test notifications were filled with placeholder text and ascended sequentially from "test segment 1" to "test segment 19." 

The cruise line confirmed they were aware of the situation and let their IT team know about the annoying pop-ups:

"We're sorry you received pop-ups. Our IT team is doing updates on the app. We've let them know guests are receiving notifications. Sorry about that."

The notifications finally stopped at around 12:30 p.m. EST. Some found the pop-ups to be annoying, while others turned the situation into an inside joke of sorts and created funny memes that they shared on social media.

For example, on Reddit, amishengineer shared a meme that suggested everyone should mark themselves "safe from testing in production," referring to the Facebook feature people use after a natural disaster or major news event.

Another meme mimicked the famous SpongeBob SquarePants scene where Mr. Krabs looks frazzled while keeping the Krusty Krab open 24 hours for days in a row. 

Read more: Royal Caribbean app sends out erroneous pop-up messages

If someone needs a blood transfusion, the situation is treated as a medical emergency. What, however, happens when you're stuck in the middle of the ocean and can't reach a hospital?

Unfortunately, life doesn't slow down when we're on vacation. Medical emergencies can happen anywhere — even hundreds of miles from shore on a cruise. 

Recently, one Redditor posted a thread about an early-morning announcement on Oasis of the Seas. According to ClearContribution286, the Oasis Class vessel requested blood donors around 4:00 a.m. aboard the 8-night Southern Caribbean cruise. 

"At about 4am a shipwide call went out for blood donors... We were near Cuba, and it was too far to evacuate by helicopter," they explained. 

Thankfully, the Captain provided an update around breakfast time. However, the original poster was still stunned that cruise ships could perform blood transfusions at sea. 

"I figured it was more like an urgent care. Not the way I wanted to learn that they do so much more, but really glad that I was so wrong," they added. 

Although cruise ships have medical centers on board and can handle minor injuries and illnesses, they are not fully equipped like standard hospitals. As such, it's not uncommon for crew members to ask eligible passengers to donate blood. 

"I [had this happen] this earlier this year - a call out went for my blood type and someone who hadn't drunk alcohol for 24 hours and [was] younger than 50 - out of the 3 thousand people on board only about 10 met the criteria and came forward," MeridianNZ commented on the post. 

"I had a photo of my donor card on my phone, they accepted that - but said they would have also done a test if I was pretty sure. They then took some of my blood and the other 10 and then ranked us on some sort of quality scale and 2 of us ended up giving."

On a different thread, another passenger shared their experience aboard their cruise, with passengers jumping at the opportunity to help the guest in need. 

"This happened on the cruise I was just on back in September. It took all of 5 minutes, if that, after the cruise director made the announcement for him to come back on to announce there were plenty of volunteers and more were appreciated but not needed," said ArtichokeDistinct762. 

"I had literally just made it to the elevator, so I figured I’d take a look just in case. There had to have been like 20 people already, they definitely didn’t need me. It was pretty cool to see people show up for a complete stranger like that, restored my faith in humanity a little bit."

Cruise ships don't have blood banks on board

No government agency officially regulates medical practice aboard cruise ships. However, most ships follow the guidelines set by the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP). 

These guidelines state that cruise ship medical facilities should be able to provide quality medical care for passengers and crew; initiate appropriate stabilization, diagnostic, and therapeutic maneuvers for critically ill or medically unstable patients; and assist in the medical evacuation of patients in a timely fashion, when appropriate.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), while roughly 3% of cruise medical center visits are for cardiovascular reasons, 80% of onboard deaths are caused by cardiovascular events. During these instances, rapid interventions — such as blood transfusions — are critical. 

Because cruise ship medical facilities are so small, they don't have the space to store a full-scale blood bank. As such, when a passenger or crew member needs a blood transfusion, they have to ask for donors. 

In many cases, those who are willing to donate may need to show the medical team a valid donor card. In other cases, they may perform a quick test to confirm blood type and screen for basic safety criteria.

"Our ships do not carry blood or blood products and do not routinely perform blood transfusions. However, in emergent situations, a blood transfusion may be possible if a donor can be identified on board," Carnival's FAQ reads. 

Sometimes, they may request a specific donor, such as someone with a certain blood type (i.e., O- or A-) or sex. Males, for example, are often preferred as blood donors because women who have been pregnant may carry antibodies in their blood that could trigger a serious reaction in recipients called Transfusion-Related Acute Lung Injury (TRALI).

TRALI is a serious complication of blood transfusions that occurs when antibodies in the donor’s plasma react with the recipient’s white blood cells. This causes fluid to leak into the lungs, leading to respiratory distress. TRALI typically develops rapidly, often within hours of a transfusion, and can be life-threatening, which is why careful donor selection is so important. 

"I’ve been on several TransAtlantic cruises and on three of them they had medical emergencies. They asked for males with O Negative blood 🩸 No tattoos and No piercings," commented one Redditor. 

Someone else said, "[Cruise ships] don't have the resources/time to test for everything like the antibodies they usually test for to prevent Transfusion-Related Acute Lung Injury. If they're asking for blood on a ship, the person will die without it, so it's life or death...they're doing all they can."

In emergencies, it's often easier to simply specify criteria to quickly narrow down eligible donors and ensure the medical team can collect blood and perform the transfusion. 

If a donor isn't available, the medical team may focus on stabilizing the patient while other crew members try to coordinate a safe medical evacuation. That could mean calling in the United States Coast Guard (USCG) to assist with a helicopter medevac or diverting to the nearest port of call. 

Read more: US Coast Guard rescues sick passenger from floating cruise ship at sea

Should you buy travel insurance for cruise vacations?

Trips to cruise medical facilities are costly because ships don't accept traditional health insurance policies. While you may have heard of medical evacuation stories costing thousands of dollars, it's just as easy to rack up a hefty bill below deck. 

For example, a few years ago, Vincent Wasney and his fiancée, Sarah Eberlein, were traveling aboard Royal Caribbean's Independence of the Seas when Wasney began suffering from a series of seizures.

He was eventually evacuated by a rescue boat; however, the couple was shocked by a $2,500.22 medical bill that covered his general and enhanced observation, a blood test, and anticonvulsant medicine, as well as a fee for services performed outside the medical facility.

According to Royal Caribbean's Cruise Ticket Contract, all passengers agree "to pay in full...all charges for entertainment, goods, and services incurred by [the] Guest, or incurred by [the] Carrier on Guest's behalf." 

The Contract further states that the "Guest shall pay for all medical care or other personal services requested or required, whether onboard or ashore...If [the] Guest is unable to pay and the Carrier pays for such expenses, then [the] Guest shall reimburse [the] Carrier for those expenses."

Because many health insurance policies do not cover international treatment, those without travel insurance could be stuck paying for all the onboard medical expenses out-of-pocket.

Not only that, but travel insurance can also provide some compensation for unforeseen travel-related mishaps like lost luggage, delayed flights, and trip cancellations or interruptions. 

Spring break is one of the most popular times of year to take a cruise. The weather is mild, and many kids across the country are off school, making it extra convenient.

I've been taking my kids on a spring break cruise ever for the past 9 years, and it's a wonderful experience because as they get old, it becomes more challenging to find times when we all can travel together.

The catch with any spring break cruise is how many other kids are doing the same thing.  While Royal Caribbean ships always sail full, there many more families on a spring break cruise and that means more people onboard because those third and fourth beds are filled up.

On Star of the Seas, we had over 10,000 people onboard the ship our 7-night Western Caribbean cruise when you combine passengers with crew members. Needless to say, the cruise ship was busy.

Here are some of the tips we used to navigate the unavoidable crowds.

Go to the pool early

Perhaps no other place on your cruise ship will be as crowded as the pool deck on a sea day.

My best advice is to go up to the pool early before everyone else does.  Star of the Seas has seven pools and ten whirlpools onboard, so it's probably the best cruise ship at distributing crowds.

Our strategy was to go to the pool before 10am and get our time in early.  Most people roll up to the pool deck in the late morning, with the peak crowds extending through early afternoon.

But if you go up before 10am, you'll have no problem finding open chairs.  Chair hogs are a notorious problem on any cruise ship, so getting a chair in the morning is critical.

Not only does this strategy get you a chair, but you can also enjoy a much less crowded pool.  

My theory is to enjoy the pool in the morning, then leave at lunch and enjoy an afternoon nap back in my cabin.

Pre-book shows in the app

Royal Caribbean allows you to pre-book shows, and it's an absolute must-do on a spring break cruise.

According to the cruise line, show reservations open up on the first day of the month before the sailing. That's not totally accurate, but it's a good ballpark of when to start looking for them.

We pre-booked all of our shows, so we didn't have to wait in line to see it. There's no cost to pre-book shows, but that also means a lot of people will book show reservations just to have them and they go quickly.

I'd prioritize show tickets for Torque and the comedy shows, because they have the smallest theaters.  Back to the Future: The Musical is also a must-see.

Speaking of Torque, I always recommend booking the aqua shows for the first sailing because too much movement can cancel a show.  By picking an early show, you ensure you can either see it while conditions are ripe, or have more chances to see it later if your viewing is cancelled.

Take advantage of a port day for the water park

Star of the Seas has an entire water park, so the best time to ride all the slides with as little wait as possible is on a port day.

Pick a port that you'll stay on the ship and hit the water slides. Just like my pool deck strategy, go in the morning when the slides first open and enjoy virtually no lines.

Once you get to lunch time, people start returning to the ship and lines for the water slides can build quickly.

Another smart strategy is to bring your bathing suit on embarkation day and go on the slides as soon as you board. 

Few other people will have their bathing suit because they packed it away in their checked luggage, so lines tend to be lower on the first day until about mid-afternoon.

Prepare to splurge for a suite if having a less crowded pool deck is important to you

Paying extra for a suite on top of the premium pricing a new ship like Star of the Seas enjoys can sting, but if you're looking for the "easy button", the extra expense may be worth it.

Suite guests get access to the Suite Neighborhood onboard, which includes its own private pool deck, lounge, and restaurant.

The Grove is the name of the suite sun deck area on Icon Class ships, which has its own pool, hot tub, and lots of loungers.

I was able to access this area because I'm a Pinnacle Club member, and having an enclave from the main pool area provided a wonderful relief from crowds.  There were still lots of people taking advantage of this area, but it's far more manageable.

I would never advocate booking a suite because it's a good value. But there are some people that would prefer to pay extra to avoid crowds, and this is the option for them.

You'll need to book a Grand Suite or any other Sky or Star Class suite to get the full benefits. Traditional Junior Suites (and Surfside Family Suites later this year) only have partial suite benefits, and the pool area isn't one of them.

Make dining reservations early

Just as important as your show reservations are ensuring you have a place to eat each night.

I witnessed numerous times someone asking for a table without a reservation, only to be told there's nothing left for that day.

Royal Caribbean has made it very easy to prebook specialty restaurants, even with the dining package, thanks to the Royal Caribbean app. I made all my reservations before the cruise began and was grateful I didn't have to worry about finding a place to eat onboard.

If you're eating at the Main Dining Room, you can pre-book your My Time Dining spots too.  Personally, I'd recommend Traditional Dining to make it even easier.

If you decide to book something onboard, make that decision early. Book reservations on the first day because all the restaurants were overbooked by the time we got to day three or four of the cruise.

Hit the gym on port days

I found the gym gets overcrowded on sea days, so it's better to go on any port day.

Hit the gym before your excursion early and you'll find the fitness center is so much less crowded.  I went on the morning we were in Perfect Day at CocoCay, and there were maybe 10 people total to contend with.

Staying connected on a cruise can get expensive quickly. Royal Caribbean’s VOOM internet packages can often cost hundreds of dollars for a weeklong cruise, especially if everyone in your cabin purchases their own plan. But there’s a trick you should know that can save you money when buying internet access.

Although Royal Caribbean’s cruise ships are some of the most technologically advanced in the world, you still won’t find free internet onboard. As such, you’ll need to purchase Wi-Fi access if you want to stay connected throughout your cruise vacation. These days, one of the most popular cruise add-ons is an internet package. 

But, unlike drink packages, Royal Caribbean’s internet packages can actually be shared. While the cruise line strictly prohibits guests from sharing drink packages, Royal Caribbean actually encourages guests to bundle internet devices under a single plan and share the connection to save money.

Essentially, this means you can purchase one internet package for multiple devices and split the connection with others in your travel party. If you're traveling with family or friends, this strategy can significantly reduce the cost of purchasing internet.

Because Royal Caribbean offers discounted pricing when multiple devices are bundled under a single plan, buying one package with several devices is often much cheaper than having each guest purchase their own internet package.

Here’s how sharing an internet package works on a Royal Caribbean cruise, including how much money you can save with this strategy.

How you can share your Royal Caribbean internet package

Royal Caribbean allows guests to purchase internet packages for one, two, three, or four devices. While these plans appear under a single guest’s name on the reservation, the connected devices do not need to belong to the same person.

Instead, the package simply allows a set number of devices to be connected at the same time. Anyone with the login credentials can connect their phone, tablet, or laptop to the internet using that plan, regardless of who originally purchased the package. In fact, you don’t even need to be in the same cabin for this to work, as you can share the internet login with anyone onboard!

For example, two people cruising together could each purchase their own single-device internet package. Another option is for one person to purchase a 2-device plan and share it with the other person. In that case, both guests can be online at the same time, since the plan allows two devices to connect simultaneously.

The same approach works for larger groups. Three friends could share a 3-device package to save money, while a family of four could split a 4-device internet plan.

Because Royal Caribbean discounts internet packages when additional devices are bundled together, sharing a multi-device plan is often noticeably cheaper than having each guest purchase their own internet package.

As always, it’s best to purchase your internet package before your cruise begins. Royal Caribbean typically offers lower pricing in the Cruise Planner than what is available once you’re onboard. Like many onboard extras, internet packages are often discounted in advance, and prices can increase closer to the sailing date or once the ship departs.

Buying ahead of time also allows you to compare different device packages and take advantage of sales that Royal Caribbean frequently runs in the Cruise Planner. If the price drops later, guests can usually cancel their existing purchase and rebook at the lower rate before the cruise, making it easier to snag the best deal.

Comparing the cost of individual plans vs. shared internet packages

To better understand the potential savings, let’s take a closer look at the pricing behind Royal Caribbean’s internet packages. For this comparison, we’ll use the Wi-Fi cost for a 7-night sailing.

For my upcoming 2027 reservation, Royal Caribbean is offering VOOM Surf + Stream for $20.99 per day. This reflects a discount from the original price of $28.99 per day; interestingly, Royal Caribbean marks this as a 25% off discount, although it’s actually slightly more than that.

Either way, for a 7-night cruise, this would be a total cost of $146.93 for one person to have the internet package for one device. Similarly, if two people each purchase their own single-device internet package, the total cost comes to $293.86.

But, if one guest purchases a two-device package with the intent of sharing the login, the total cost comes down to $223.93.

For a 7-night cruise, sharing the internet login would save around $70 compared to each guest purchasing their own package. The difference becomes even more noticeable with larger groups.

If three guests each purchase their own internet package, the total cost reaches $440.79 for the sailing. If we compare the cost to one person purchasing access for three devices, the total cost is only $314.93.

In this case, purchasing three devices for one person saves about $125 compared to each guest purchasing their own package.

For four guests, the price difference is even more substantial!

Based on my 7-night cruise, the total cost for four individuals each purchasing their own package would be $587.72 for the entire cruise. Comparatively, having one guest purchase access for four devices brings the price down to only $405.93.

This means a group of four could save more than $180 simply by purchasing one multi-device package instead of four individual plans. For families or groups traveling together, this difference can be significant, especially if you cruise often!

There are some drawbacks to sharing internet access

Sharing your internet package to save money is pretty straightforward. However, there are a few limitations that you should understand before splitting an internet package with others.

First, you will be sharing the same login credentials with everyone in your group. The internet package is technically tied to one guest’s account, so anyone using the connection will need to log in using that same information. Because of this, you will only want to share the internet package with people that you trust.

Another limitation involves a device limit. If a package allows two devices, only two devices can be actively connected at the same time.

If you log in on a new device without first logging out of another one, the system will automatically disconnect one of the devices that’s already connected.

Essentially, this means someone could unintentionally “bump” another user offline by logging in from another device. This isn’t usually a major problem, but it’s something groups should be aware of when sharing a package.

Other than these limitations, there aren’t many other drawbacks to sharing your internet access during your cruise.

Why Royal Caribbean’s internet is worth purchasing

When it comes to staying connected onboard, VOOM is Royal Caribbean’s only Wi-Fi offering. VOOM is designed to support your everyday activities online, such as browsing the web, sending emails, FaceTime, streaming music or shows, and using social media.

In fact, Royal Caribbean claims that VOOM is the fastest internet at sea, stating, “With six times faster onboard WiFi speed than you’ll find on any other cruise ships in the world, the internet connectivity is unlike anything you’ve ever experienced on a cruise ship.”

For many years, Royal Caribbean’s onboard Wi-Fi was unreliable and laggy, making the added cost not always appealing. When I first started cruising, the only way to get online was by paying to use the ship’s internet cafe - what a throwback! Thankfully, those days are long gone.

Now, the cruise line’s internet service has improved significantly, thanks to the addition of SpaceX’s Starlink satellite network across the fleet. The cruise line began installing Starlink technology in 2022, and it has since been rolled out across Royal Caribbean ships worldwide.

Starlink uses a network of low-Earth-orbit satellites that operate much closer to Earth than traditional geostationary satellites. Because the satellites orbit at a lower altitude, data travels a shorter distance. This helps reduce latency and improve speeds. Even better, every single Royal Caribbean ship now offers fast Wi-Fi with Starlink!

Because of this, Royal Caribbean’s internet is now faster than ever and more reliable than the satellite connections cruise ships used in the past.

How to connect once onboard

Guests who purchase internet before their cruise can activate the package once they are onboard the ship. In addition, internet is available to purchase once you’re connected to the ship’s Wi-Fi network.

Connection instructions are available in the Royal Caribbean app. After boarding, guests simply open the app and tap “Join” or select the internet icon. The prepaid package will activate automatically once you create an account. 

From there, guests can log in on their selected devices and begin using the internet immediately. Internet access is unlimited with your package and available 24 hours a day throughout the ship. You can stay connected everywhere, from your stateroom to public areas like the pool deck, buffet, and even the spa.

Because Royal Caribbean uses satellite-powered internet, service is available almost anywhere in the world. This also includes access at Royal Caribbean’s private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay. While connectivity is generally reliable, brief interruptions can occur due to weather or in very remote regions.

This was a busy week with Royal Caribbean news, and we have a summary of all of the news from this week to make certain you did not miss any of it.

Royal Caribbean has cancelled more than 20 scheduled sailings aboard its Freedom of the Seas ship for the summer 2027 season.

The ship has been redeployed for sailings between May and September 2027, which resulted in the former sailings being cancelled.

Freedom of the Seas will be redeployed to Southampton, England.

Royal Caribbean News

• Why every hardcore Royal Caribbean fan will be on Icon of the Seas in October
• US Coast Guard rescues sick passenger from floating cruise ship at sea
• New Tampa cruise port plans are dead
• Can you move to another stateroom if you have a noisy neighbor?
• Inside Royal Caribbean's all-new Ultimate Family Cabana with a slide, hot tub, and more
• Why your Caribbean cruise forecast says rain every day
• Things I would never do on a cruise ship
• Canceling and rebooking Royal Caribbean pre-cruise purchases can save you money
• Mr. Sanchos Beach Resort day pass review
• What St. Patrick's Day is like on the world's biggest cruise ship

New RCB Video: 20 Minutes of Royal Caribbean Secrets You Were Never Supposed to Know

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 — 20 Minutes of Royal Caribbean Secrets You Were Never Supposed to Know — and don’t forget to subscribe to our channel.

Man overboard emergency on ship determined to be false alarm, teenage prank gone wrong

Teens on a Royal Caribbean ship reported a man overboard when there wasn't one.

The prank lead to the "Oscar, Oscar, Oscar" code over the public address system and the US Coast Guard being called in for assistance.

The ship's Captain later announced it was a prank and everyone was accounted for onboard.

Royal Caribbean is bringing its beach club concept to a surprising new destination

Royal Caribbean announced plans for its new Royal Beach Club, and it will be different from the others.

Located on Vanuatu, Royal Beach Club Lelepa will open in October 2027 and be included in your cruise fare.

It won't have pools, but will have a phenomenal beach experience.

Royal Caribbean testing bookings for unannounced Icon ship

It looks like Royal Caribbean might be close to finally revealing its next new cruise ship.

A test load for "HE" was spotted on the cruise line website from Miami in 2027, which is consistent with when we expect to see the fourth Icon Class ship to debut.

While Royal Caribbean has not said anything, test loads of sailings on the website have usually coincided with a formal launch shortly thereafter.

Mariner of the Seas returns with new upgrades

Mariner of the Seas is back in service after a short refurbishment, and there are a few changes.

This wasn't an amplification or major upgrade. Rather, most of the work was maintenance in nature.

However, guests spotted a handful of small enhancements. 

Are there any options if your cruise ship cabin neighbor is loud and noisy?

In my 20 years of cruising, I've been lucky enough to avoid neighbors that are too loud, but there was one cruise that a friend had this problem.

She was booked in an inside cabin and her neighbor thought it was okay to blast their music every day as they were getting ready for their evening festivities. It was an ongoing issue that not only was annoying to hear through the walls, but prevented her from going to sleep.

While you could certainly try to ask them to quiet down, there are a few things to try if a noisy neighbor is a problem on your cruise.

You can call security, but you need to catch them in the act

One of the first lessons is Royal Caribbean won't get involved in a "he said, she said" situation.

This means you can call security about someone being too loud, but they need to be present to witness it themselves. So if you spend all night unable to sleep and complain in the morning, it's too late.

What you want to do is call security the moment your neighbor starts up acting inconsiderately and hope security can get there fast enough to see or hear the disturbance.

Your stateroom attendant is another option, so if they're nearby, point out the issue to them and ask them to get their supervisor involved.

You could certainly video it as evidence, but it's my experience that security needs to be present to witness it so they can document it. To be fair, I wouldn't want to get in trouble just because someone else claims I did something wrong.

Usually, they'll give the person a warning and ask them to turn it down and be more considerate. Subsequent incidents could lead to more stern discipline. Your cruise contract leaves a lot of discretion to the ship as to how to deal with obnoxious passengers, so there isn't a firm list of steps or rules related to punishing this.

You could ask for a different cabin, but it's unlikely to be granted

Because Royal Caribbean cruise ships sail full almost every sailing, the chances of being moved to a different room is an option but I wouldn't bet on it.

It's rare to have any spare cabins on a cruise, especially in the same room category as you are booked.  There are sometimes no-shows and rarely unsold rooms, but they're few and far between.

You could ask Guest Services to simply be moved so you're not bothered by this person, but there's only so much the Hotel Director can do if there aren't any free cabins.

My advice is don't get involved trying to police the situation

A friendly, "hey, would you mind turning down the volume?" when seeing your neighbor in the hall is fine, but you really don't want to get involved beyond that.

If your neighbors are fighting or yelling at each other, you should call security and let them deal with it. 

There's no telling how quickly a heated argument will escalate, and ultimately it's not your role or job either.

Avoid booking connecting rooms if you don't know the person in the other cabin

Whenever possible, I don't recommend booking a connecting cabin unless you book both rooms.

The connecting door between the two rooms is quite flimsy, and noise will more easily travel between the rooms than it would with a standard cabin wall between them.

Before you book a cruise, check the deck plans to make sure you aren't picking that sort of a room. Truthfully, most people end up in a connecting room because they opt for a guarantee cabin.

Guarantee rooms are staterooms that cost less because you let the cruise line pick the room. The cabin assigned is an unsold cabin, and often these are leftover connecting rooms.

It's far from a lock that any guarantee room will be a connecting room, but it seems to be fairly common.

A Royal Caribbean cruise ship passenger was reported overboard, but it turned out to be a false alarm.

What could have been a scary, life-threatening situation turned out to be nothing more than a teenage prank on one of the world's largest cruise ships.

Jason Peterson of Orlando, Florida, is currently on the Oasis of the Seas with his immediate family. In exclusive email correspondence with Royal Caribbean Blog, Peterson initially reported that an alert was issued on the starboard side of Deck 11. 

Someone else in the cruise ship's Facebook group claimed that they heard "Oscar, Oscar, Oscar" (Royal Caribbean's secret man overboard code word) over the public address system around 1:00 p.m.

(Credit: Jason Peterson)

Peterson stated that the ship was going to turn around and attempt a rescue operation, with numerous crew members on the open decks. At the time, the vessel was sailing past the northern coast of Cuba, near Cayo Guajaba in the province of Camagüey.

However, he shortly followed up by saying that the man overboard signal was a false alarm. 

"Some teens apparently thought it was a good prank. The individual in question has been found onboard. Everyone is safe," he said.

(Credit: Jason Peterson)

On X, another passenger added that following the Oscar announcement, the Captain reported that the Coast Guard had been notified for assistance, and they would be turning back toward the GPS location where the overboard alert was issued.

After they arrived, the crew searched for around 30 minutes, even asking passengers to help by using the zoom feature on their cell phones. At 1:45 p.m., the Captain came back over the public address system and said the passenger had been found and that it was a joke made by some children. 

Continuing on, Peterson said, "It definitely had a somber mood for a little while and impacted people from being able to use the pools and some of the entertainment due to the sharp turn around the ship made as part of the rescue efforts."

(Credit: Screenshot taken from Cruise Mapper)

Multiple other guests have taken to social media to express their frustration and disapproval of the prank.

"Those kids should be confined to their cabin and their parents should have to pay for the rescue boats coming out. They should all be banned. The kids should have to stand on board when we get off and let everyone know that they are responsible," one passenger wrote on Facebook. 

Someone else added, "Turns out it was a prank. A little girl had her friends tell her grandma she fell overboard. Coast guard and rescue boats called in to help. Ship turned around. Captain and cruise director just announced he’s calling off coast guard and rescues. Turning the boat back around to continue to port as normal."

"Man if you’re here as the parent of these kids. DO. BETTER. Jesus. Absolutely unbelievable how some of you deal with your kids," chimed in another disgusted passenger. 

Although the situation turned out to be a false alarm, Royal Caribbean's skilled crew members sprang into action to activate search and rescue protocols. Had the situation been real, their quick response would have been critical in the potential rescue or recovery of the overboard passenger. 

Oasis of the Seas is currently on the last day of a 6-night Caribbean cruise. The 226,838 gross-ton vessel departed Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on March 15. The itinerary included stops at Nassau, Bahamas; San Juan, Puerto Rico; and Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. 

(Credit: Jason Peterson)

Despite the incident, Oasis of the Seas is continuing its voyage as scheduled. She's expected to return to Fort Lauderdale on Saturday, March 21. 

Read more: What happens when someone goes overboard on a cruise ship?