Royal Caribbean Blog

Royal Caribbean revealed plans for four new beach projects, and they all have a common bond: they're taking inspiration by and improving ideas from one private island.

Perfect Day at CocoCay has been the pride and joy of Royal Caribbean ever since it opened in 2019.  It's been a commercial and critical success, offering more ways for cruise ship passengers to enjoy a beach day while fundamentally changing what a private beach is all about.

The key to success with CocoCay is at the heart of the new projects Royal Caribbean is developing around the world: thrill, beaches, cabanas, and guest satisfaction.

Each of the new enclaves exclusively available to Royal Caribbean passengers has its own feel, but you'll easily draw parallels between all of them back to CocoCay.

What made CocoCay a hit in the first place

When Royal Caribbean decided to overhaul its private island in The Bahamas, they did so with a guest-first design based on feedback.

The cruise line surveyed their customers extensively to determine what they're looking for in a "perfect" beach day. That lead them to come up with ideas that would serve the various wants.

When you look at a map of Perfect Day at CocoCay, you'll see different areas that clearly speak to people who want to relax, engage in activities, get away from it all, have some thrills, and more.

On top of that, Royal Caribbean baked in seamless logistics.  They built a pier so it would be easy to get on and off the ship.  They extended WiFi to the island along with drink package benefits.  CocoCay is meant to be an extension of the ship experience.

Plus, Royal Caribbean placed high attention to detail and upscale options.  They wanted to offer something for everyone, so that it could be perfect.  New expansions offered an upscale day at the Coco Beach Club while Hideaway Beach provided a highly-requested adults-only area.

The incredibly high guest satisfaction scores CocoCay produces was the impetus for taking that approach and spreading it to other destinations.

Bringing over the best ideas from CocoCay

After reading through the plans Royal Caribbean has for its new destinations, it's clear they are not reinventing the wheel.

Perfect Day Mexico is the most obvious place where the best of CocoCay gets brought over and expanded.

You'll find areas for chill, thrill, and family throughout the new destination that will be double the size of CocoCay.

Every single copy is more than a facsimile of what came before it.  Royal Caribbean saw what was working on CocoCay, and then doubled down on it in Mexico.

El Hideaway and Costa Beach Club are both zones that get a much larger footprint to offer more space and amenities than ever before.

Perfect Day Mexico will even have a lazy river, which was the top request of cruisers to be added at CocoCay.  Unfortunately, CocoCay is too small for a lazy river, so that idea will become reality in Mexico.

In looking at the beach clubs, we see the same core DNA of CocoCay here. No matter how you spend your day in these places, Royal Caribbean has placed a strong emphasis on cleanliness, comfort, and crowd flow.

Royal Beach Club Paradise Island in Nassau, Bahamas, has three zones: chill, party, and family.  Those three areas are based on Chill Beach, Hideaway, and Harbor Beach from CocoCay.

You'll find a fair amount included with your cruise fare, but also opportunities to upgrade and splurge on extras like a cabana.

Cabanas at CocoCay went from a basic offering to expansive and impressive VIP spots.

These premium upgrades dot every one of the new expansions, and some of the new ideas are going well beyond what CocoCay ever had.

The Ultimate Family Cabana at Paradise Island is going have a major wow factor to it.

It has two levels and includes a slide, dedicated whirlpool, frozen drink machine and more.

For those that want a celebration, try the party wings you can rent at Paradise Island in the party zone. 

In Perfect Day Mexico, there will be a Party Cabana to rent, which can handle up to 20 people. It has its own dedicated bathroom, its own bar, and it'll have its own bartender.

New and better ideas too

While each of these destinations takes inspiration from Perfect Day at CocoCay, there's much more to love that goes beyond it.

There's a level of cultural integration into each project, where cruisers will feel a level of authenticity with their visit.

The goal is infuse local culture through food, art, and music.  The cruise line isn't trying to fool you into thinking you're in some historic area.  Rather, they want you to be able to enjoy the best the host country has to offer as well.

There will be local flavors, colors, art, and architecture — especially at Perfect Day Mexico and Lelepa.

You'll also find new attractions and ideas that are brand new to the cruise line.

In Perfect Day Mexico, there are trajinera rides down the river, a massive sombrero and margarita bars, along with a whole new area of Celebration Cove.

Royal Caribbean will introduce new ideas at Paradise Island with multi-zone arrival points, the world’s largest swim-up bar, and all-inclusive pricing.

There's also a deeper environmental commitment with these projects.

As an example, 50% of the land at Perfect Day Mexico will be preserved to ensure the mangroves are available for future generations to enjoy.

You'll also find zero waste to landfill goals in these new projects that combine with local partnerships in operations and long-term stewardship.

Why this matters to you

If all of this sounds nice, but you're not sure why you should care, the answer is it all funnels back to a core goal: offering cruisers the ultimate beach day.

The new projects open up the Western Caribbean and South Pacific to Royal Caribbean's signature experience that its customers already love.

There are more options to match guest preferences in each port: family-friendly, adults-only, group celebrations.

It also gives returning cruisers new reasons to sail again, especially on western Caribbean itineraries that have long had complaints about being too repetitive.

Royal Caribbean isn’t just expanding, it’s refining what's great about what it offers. These new destinations are an evolution, not a repeat.

When we get to 2027 and all four of these new destinations are operational, there's bound to be a private destination that could easily be the highlight of every sailing.

I've learned a few tricks over my many years of cruising to make it a better experience, including the cruise ship bathroom.

Every Royal Caribbean stateroom has its own bathroom, and it's likely going to be very small.  Unless you book a sprawling suite, standard bathrooms are compact, utilitarian, and offer just what you need during your cruise.

There isn't much air circulation in there, and you can joke about washing your hands and using the toilet at the same time because of how small the space is.

No matter which ship or stateroom type I book, I always bring two things with me that truly improve your cruise ship cabin's bathroom.

I bring air freshener

The small bathroom space is not only tiny, but an area you have to share with others in your cabin.

No one wants foul odors to permeate, and given that everyone is doing their business at least once per day, it's easy for a smell to build up.

For a while, we'd let the bathroom "air out" before using it. Or even relegate someone to the public bathrooms around the ship to avoid it all together.

Then I discovered certain air fresheners really do work well in masking and eliminating the odors completely.

My preferred option is poo-pourri spray because of how effective it is.  I never thought it would work as well as it does, but a few sprays and you're good.

It says to pre-spray before you use the bathroom, but I've found it works well enough after too.

I keep one in my toiletries I bring on the cruise, and then stash one on the sink so anyone can quickly utilize it as needed.

Liquid hand soap

Another case of "I didn't know there was a better option until I tried it" is related to soap.

Royal Caribbean provides a bar of hand soap to use in each cabin, but it annoys me when I use it.  

It leaves my skin feeling dried out and it gets gummy and takes time work up a lather.  Not a big deal, but I usually sigh or roll my eyes before using it.

I've since committed to bringing liquid hand soap with me to keep in the bathroom.

Not only is application easier, but it lessens the hassle of using the bar.

Washing your hands is so important on a cruise ship to reduce the chances of spreading germs, especially related to using the bathroom.

Norovirus is a well-known affliction that can occur on cruise ships. Norovirus is transmitted when someone ingests particles of vomit or feces from an infected person, such as through consuming food touched by an infected individual, touching contaminated surfaces and then their mouth, or placing contaminated objects on clean surfaces.

Because of this, proper handwashing with soap and water is the best way to prevent getting it.

Maximizing your cabin bathroom

While on the topic of a cruise ship bathroom, I think there's a few other tricks for making your bathroom a better space overall.

Unless you're in a suite, expect storage space to be a limited. In fact, there's very limited counter space.

Some cruisers recommend buying an over-the-door shoe organizer to add more storage, but I prefer a hanging toiletry bag as a better and more useful option.

Our own writers really like this option better because it not only leaves the counter less cluttered, but there's less unpacking and re-packing later.

Be sure to also request extra towels from your stateroom attendant on the first day of the cruise.

By default, you'll get a few towels in there, but they will be used up quickly.

Not only will you use towels to dry yourself, but I find the shower leaks a lot when the door or curtain gets opened. No matter how careful you are, water seems to get everywhere and the shower towel provided is miniscule.

Your bathroom can also act as a wash and dry space for your clothes.

Royal Caribbean offers laundry, but it's expensive and some clothes can't be washed in the very hot water they use.

Instead, you could do some basic laundry in your stateroom (no, there is no self-service laundry machines on Royal Caribbean ships).

You'll want to bring single-packet detergent with you, and then fill your sink up with water to wash small loads of laundry.

Wash the clothing in your sink and then hang the clothes to dry in your shower on the laundry line that's in your shower.

While doing laundry on a cruise may not be exactly what you had in mind for a relaxing vacation, getting more use out of clothes is a necessary evil so you can pack less or re-use clothes that are otherwise soiled.

The hottest ticket in cruising right now is Royal Caribbean's first fully immersive restaurant that makes you feel like you're on a classic train.

Royal Railway Utopia Station looks, feels, and sounds like you're on a train, complete with full meal, cocktails, and a fun story too.

Ever since it first debuted on Utopia of the Seas, it has been the most difficult reservation to get because of how much hype and demand there has been. I thought perhaps demand would wane in the first few months, but it's only gotten more competitive as more cruisers discover this option.

It's one of those "you gotta see it to believe it" type things, but before you step aboard, I think there are a few things you should know and do before you mosey on down to Utopia Station.

Reservations are critical

You need to be realistic about your chances to actually get a reservation for Royal Railway, because I've never seen a restaurant this hard to get into.

You'll need to make a reservation before the cruise begins.  There's a near zero percent chance any reservations are available when you board Utopia of the Seas.

The problem is there's no telling when reservations become available. I have yet to discern any kind of pattern as to when Royal Caribbean opens up reservations.

It's usually close to the sail date, and well past the final payment date.  Somewhere around 45-30 days prior to sailing seems to be the usual start, but it really could go at any time.

So in order to get a reservation, you're going to need to be eagle eyed and spot it quickly.  I'd recommend checking for when reservations open up regularly.

If you can join a Facebook group or roll call for your cruise, that might help in being alerted to when reservations open up.

The bottom line is don't wait to make a reservation. Book a spot as early as you can because they will sell out quickly.

There's a story element

Unlike other restaurants on a Royal Caribbean ship, there's a story element to the experience.

In order for it to be a truly immersive dining experience, Royal Caribbean came up with a story that's being told around you.

The performers interject a few times during the meal, and there's limited guest interaction.  A passenger might be asked a question or given something to hold, but that's the extent of it.  

It's a cute show that's very family friendly.  In fact, it definitely leans into the family angle much more.  That isn't to say adults without kids won't enjoy it, but you should know what you're getting a head of time.

There's a few segments, and they're short.  It will interrupt your conversation, but it's not terribly distracting. Cute vignettes that add a element of levity to the meal.

The kids menu has the best dessert

Speaking of family, there's a kids menu that anyone can order off of and it has one of the best desserts I've had.

There are two choices for dessert on the regular menu, and each has its own qualities, but the kids dessert is amazing if you're an ice cream fan.

It's essentially a chocolate covered block of vanilla ice cream that looks like a train.  Think Klondike bar.

Ever since I tried it out "in the name of research", I've been hooked. It might be something to ask your waiter for instead of the standard desserts. Or order all three!

Don't forget your tickets

The night before your meal, there will be paper tickets delivered to your stateroom.

These tickets are neat souvenirs you can take home that look like train tickets, but they're more than a souvenir.

You really do need to bring them to the meal in order to board the train.

When you arrive at Utopia Station on deck 4 for your meal, the crew member will ask to see your tickets.  And then onboard the train, they'll do the same again.

While it's all schtick, you probably don't want to be called out for not having tickets.  So be sure to bring them with you to dinner.

There's a new whiskey tasting option

Royal Caribbean has added a new whiskey tasting event too that you can book.

The "Royal Railway — Utopia Station Whiskey Tasting" was added recently, and it's a celebration of American whiskey

I have it booked for September to try it out, but it's a whiskey tasting event that doesn't have a show element. You still get the train experience of it moving and the sights and sounds that go with it.

From what I've heard from other cruisers that have tried it, it's an opportunity to try various whiskeys in a fun setting. There are 3 varieties of whiskey to sample.

More shows are forthcoming

Royal Caribbean has promised there will be more shows than just the Wild West on Royal Railway.

They see it as a story telling platform where there's so many ways to give guests a train ride that without it being the same thing each time.

Executives have hinted at a Orient Express theme, along with a brunch offering. I've been told the Silk Route option will be less kid focused.

Regardless, we can expect more shows to come online in the future that add a completely different atmosphere, and likely making this restaurant even more in-demand than it already is.

Royal Railway is worth it

Royal Caribbean did a wonderful job in creating something completely different with Royal Railway, and I think it's worth trying.

It's not another restaurant, because it integrates show, meal, and sights into one. 

If your idea of a great vacation is enjoying new experiences and crafting memories, Royal Railway is sure to deliver on that.  It's one of those things you'll do where you're bound to tell friends and family about it when you get home.

Happy Sunday and unofficial start to summer! Temperatures are rising, and so is the pace of cruise news to share with you this week.

Royal Caribbean's Star of the Seas has begun sea trials.

The newest ship in the Royal Caribbean fleet headed out for the first time into the open ocean to ensure all of its systems work the way they should, such as the propulsion, navigation and safety systems.

Sea trials are the final step of a ship's construction prior to being delivered to the cruise line.

Royal Caribbean News

• Royal Caribbean has raised prices on drinks to $15 each
• Royal Caribbean is leaning into a popular water slide trend
• I've stayed in over a dozen Royal Caribbean suites. Here are the 6 mistakes I see first-timers make
• A cruiser forgot to pay off their cruise and it's an important reminder how to avoid it happening to you
• Royal Caribbean cruise ship worker reveals fun rewards crew members get during their off hours
• Royal Caribbean is now sending an email that makes packing for a cruise much easier
• Why I love using my Royal Caribbean loyalty drink benefits on every cruise — and you might, too
• 15 Photos of Summer Cruises in the ’70s
• Can you go on a cruise pregnant? Royal Caribbean has an important safety rule cruisers should always follow
• Royal Caribbean is betting big on this exotic destination. After 4 cruises here, I can see why
• 5 things I wish I knew before trying a Royal Caribbean cruise in Asia

Video: New Rules Of A Cruise This Summer To Follow

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 — New Rules Of A Cruise This Summer To Follow — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

I always try to carry my luggage off my ship at the end of the cruise because it's faster

Whenever possible, I'll take my own bags off the ship rather than wait for them to be delivered to the terminal.

I prefer to "rip the band-aid off" when my vacation comes to an end, and often I'm looking to get going and get home sooner than later.

Carrying my own luggage off the ship allows more flexibility in when I want to disembark, especially if I want to be off early.

16 secrets every Royal Caribbean cruiser should know

There are certain secrets the cruise line won't tell you, and I came up with a list of the best ones.

These are secrets that people that cruise a lot pick up on, and now you can take advantage of them too.

I hope some of these will make it easier for you to have a better cruise in the future.

Royal Caribbean ship helps protect another cruise ship

Strong winds necessitated one Royal Caribbean ship to step in and help another with getting out of port.

When Enchantment of the Seas was attempting to leave Costa Maya, it was so windy that it wasn't possible on its own.

Instead, Wonder of the Seas positioned itself to block the winds and make it easier for Enchantment to get out.

Royal Caribbean emails guests about possible Legionnaires' disease on a cruise ship

People that sailed on a recent Symphony of the Seas cruise were notified another passenger later was diagnosed with Legionnaires' disease.

An email explained the person had sailed on Symphony of the Seas was later diagnosed with Legionella. As a precaution, the cruise line is notifying passengers.

It's unknown where the person contracted it, and it may not have been on the ship.

I always overpack for my cruise, even though experts say not to do it

So many travel experts recommend not overpacking, but I do it anyway.

I understand the logic behind not overpacking, but I find there's more benefit in it because of all the different themes, events, and needs you may have during a cruise.

Ultimately, I'd rather regret the heft in my luggage than not having clothes I need later.

Summer in the ‘70s was different than today, and that included what it was like to go on a cruise vacation.

Cruises have changed a lot over the years, and the first full decade of Royal Caribbean's beginnings had a different look to it all.

Today's megaships dwarf everything from 50 years ago, but those ships were trailblazers in their own right. Royal Caribbean had made history by having purpose built ships for Caribbean voyages, instead of converted ferries or ocean liners.

With the unofficial start of summer right around the corner, we dug through the photo archives to share photos and promotional images that conveyed what it was like to take a summer cruise in the '70s.

1. Pouring wine at the dinner table

2.Cruise ship docked in port

3.Activities around the ship

4. St. Thomas beach

5. Midnight buffet

6. Meeting the Captain

7. What a stateroom looked like

8. Dinner on a cruise

9. Costume contest

10. Passenger talent night

11. Activities onboard for guests

12. Lounge on cruise ship in 1970s

13. Welcome party on first night

14. Eating in the Main Dining Room

15. Pool band

The price of a cocktail on a Royal Caribbean cruise might be headed up just a bit.

Up until now, cocktails across Royal Caribbean ships maxed out at $14 per drink in almost all cases. Beers and some basic drinks are cheaper, but the signature cocktails would reach $14.

It now appears that limit may have increased to $15 per drink.

Royal Caribbean Blog reader Craig Hart is on Utopia of the Seas and spotted the change in pricing for select drinks in the Schooner Bar.

"I was just told from the bartender that $15 drinks are now covered with the drink package," he posted on Facebook.

He is referring to the fact up until now, that $14 drink price was also the maximum a Royal Caribbean drink package would be included as well.

When speaking to the bartender, he was told the Diamond drink vouchers that are included with the cruise line's top tier loyalty statuses also covers the $15 drinks.

"I was just told diamond cover up to $15 as well," Mr. Hart said in reference to a question about those.

The $14 cocktail price has been in place for many years now. I attempted to determine when drink prices rose from $13 to $14, but it's not quite clear.  At the very least, it's been in place since at least 2022, and suffice to say, few things have remained the same price since 2022.

Signature drink prices

If Royal Caribbean is indeed increasing the price of its signature cocktails by one dollar, it's arguably more important to those that are budgeting their vacation at scale.

A one dollar change isn't much, but it does change the basis for deciding if a drink package is worth the cost.

For many cruisers, the decision to buy a drink package or not is based on how many drinks they think they'll order each day, multiplied by the price of the drinks.

In general, you have to drink five to six cocktails per day to "break even" on a drink package cost, although there are other ways to make the math work if you're willing to drink other non-alcoholic beverages.

Drink packages include bottled water, lattes, sodas, and beers, and those all cost much less than $14/$15 per drink.  So for the sake of easier math, picking the most expensive drinks to base the decision on is simpler.

Aggressive drink package prices

If there's been a theme so far this year with drink packages, it's been we've seen the lowest prices on drink packages in a long time.

Royal Caribbean has gotten creative with its pre-cruise promotions to target certain cruisers with significant discounts.

While the onboard price a drink package remains well over $100 per person, I've regularly seen discounts up to 40% off if you pre-book at the right time.

Just this week, some of our readers spotted prices as low as $35.99 per day, per person for the Deluxe Beverage Package.  That's the lowest price I've seen since last decade.

To be fair, that price is an outlier, but I've consistently seen great prices on drink packages around $50 per person, per day.

The key to getting a great price is to book your cruise early and watch the sales closely.

Royal Caribbean has sales before the cruise begins with some regularity, often targeting major and minor holidays.

Memorial Day sale on drink packages and more

In fact, this weekend Royal Caribbean kicked off its Memorial Day Sale on pre-cruise purchases.

It's valid for sailings departing between May 25, 2025 – December 31, 2026, and runs if you book between May 23, 2025 – May 28, 2025.

It promises up to 45% off beverage packages:

• Evian Water Package: 40% off onboard prices
• Classic Soda Package: Discount varies by ship.
• Refreshment Package: Discount varies by ship.
• Deluxe Beverage Package: Discount varies by ship.

There's also discounts on select shore excursions, wifi packages, spa treatments and more.

You can check the exact discount offered on your cruise by going to Royal Caribbean's website on the Cruise Planner or in the Royal Caribbean app.

True to its name, Royal Caribbean is best known for delivering unforgettable vacations throughout the Caribbean. Even with a heavy presence in North America, Royal Caribbean offers cruises around the world to Europe, Australia, and Asia.

In the last two years, Royal Caribbean has noticeably expanded its footprint in Asia, adding more ships to the region to keep up with growing demand from Asian travelers. In particular, Royal Caribbean will expand its presence in Hong Kong next year with new itineraries, ranging from short “cruises to nowhere” to port-immersive itineraries to Vietnam, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan.

According to the cruise line, much of this surge is being driven by Gen-Z and Millennial cruisers who are seeking adventurous, experience-focused vacations. 

Notably, Royal Caribbean has seen a growing interest in longer, port-intensive itineraries across Asia. This is a stark contrast from the cruise line’s prior strategy in the region, which mainly focused on short getaway cruises and a few weeklong itineraries.

In all, three vessels in Royal Caribbean's fleet will be sailing across Asia through 2027. These include Spectrum of the Seas (Quantum-Ultra Class), Navigator of the Seas (Voyager Class), and Ovation of the Seas (Quantum Class).

Originally built to serve the Asian market, Spectrum of the Seas sails year-round from Shanghai, China, and Hong Kong. However, both Navigator of the Seas and Ovation of the Seas operate seasonal itineraries in Asia.

This trend isn't unique to Royal Caribbean. Asia has been experiencing a "global tourism boom" over the last three years according to the Economist, with particular interest in countries like Japan, Vietnam, India, and Thailand.

To meet this increased tourism demand, Royal Caribbean is offering more diverse itineraries aboard more cruise ships in the coming years. This includes longer itineraries throughout Asia aboard some of its most innovative cruise ships, featuring culturally-rich and immersive ports of call. 

After taking four immersive cruises in Asia over the last eight years, I can see why Royal Caribbean is betting big on this region.

To start, cruising is a convenient way to explore the continent.

Back in 2017, my husband and I visited Asia for the first time after booking a Southeast Asia cruise on Mariner of the Seas. We were broke college students, but the 7-night cruise to Thailand and Malaysia was only $500 each!

While airfare to Singapore was more expensive, we spent less than $2,000 each for a 12-night trip to Asia. Some excursions through the cruise line were only $30 for a full-day tour! We worked all summer to save up for this whirlwind adventure. 

Most people thought we were crazy to embark on such an exotic itinerary for two 21-year-olds, but a cruise was the perfect choice for us. Since we had never been to the continent before, the convenience of cruising, combined with the affordable price, made it an easy choice for the two of us. 

We were able to visit multiple countries, including an overnight stay in Thailand, while still enjoying all the familiar comforts of the ship. My husband and I spent our long days ashore experiencing the local culture before returning to our air-conditioned, comfortable, and safe cabin each night.

It was the perfect balance of vacation and cultural immersion for us without being too overwhelming or stressful. We loved being able to relax on the ship each night instead of worrying about transportation or logistics between each country. 

Since then, I’ve returned to Asia three more times - all by cruise ship.

After my memorable experience visiting Singapore, Thailand, and Malaysia with Royal Caribbean, I couldn't wait to book another Asian cruise with my family. 

Seeing the Great Wall of China was on our family’s bucket list, and we were eager to book one of the few longer itineraries to Japan offered by Royal Caribbean. My parents love to travel, but they also value and appreciate the luxuries of a cruise ship. This is especially true while visiting more far-flung ports of call. 

For this reason, cruising was the best choice for our family vacation, as we could return to the familiarity and comfort of our cruise ship while still exploring Japan and China each day. 

We climbed the Great Wall of China in Beijing before taking the famous bullet train to Shanghai and boarding Spectrum of the Seas. After five days independently exploring in China, we were excited to board the ship and settle into our cabin for the upcoming adventure to Japan. 

Within the last year, I’ve returned to Asia twice on unique repositioning itineraries with Royal Caribbean Group. Last fall, we cruised with sister-brand Celebrity Cruises from Sydney to Singapore with stops along the Australian coast and two days in Bali, Indonesia.

Although our adventure-packed days in Bali were unforgettable, we were always relieved to return safely to our cruise ship, Celebrity Solstice. Having downtime aboard the cruise ship allowed us to comfortably decompress from the jam-packed days exploring Indonesia. 

And finally, last month, I returned to Asia once again so I could sail with my family on Anthem of the Seas. This repositioning itinerary departed from Singapore and concluded in Tokyo, with port stops in Vietnam, Taiwan, Hong Kong, South Korea, and Japan. Our itinerary alternated between full days exploring the ports of call and sea days to recoup and recharge.

For this cruise, we opted to book excursions exclusively through Royal Caribbean. One of the perks of cruising is having the option to book excursions with reputable companies, especially while exploring unfamiliar destinations. Because we had never visited these ports in Asia before, we decided cruise-sponsored excursions made the most sense.

We trusted the excursions offered by the cruise line would be safe, and we weren’t disappointed. We also appreciated the added assurance that we wouldn’t miss the ship’s departure. This alleviated stress during the excursions, allowing us to enjoy our time together ashore as a family. 

Read more: I spent $6,773 to cruise on Anthem of the Seas. Here's what everything cost, from $251 internet to $2,302 flights

Every country in Asia has its own distinct culture, and a cruise lets you experience that diversity all in one trip.

After taking four cruises through Asia, I’ve been able to experience the distinct cultures, traditions, and customs across many different countries. It’s hard to compare Singapore's modernity and opulence with the luscious rice fields in Indonesia or floating villages on the outskirts of Phuket in Thailand. The quaintness of Jeju Island in South Korea was vastly different from the scooter-packed streets in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

By cruising to Asia, I’ve had so many diverse, culturally-rich experiences across the entire continent. Each destination was vastly different from anything I had experienced before, and I loved being able to have even just a glimpse of their local culture during my cruises.

Of course, some will say one day isn’t enough time to truly visit a country. This might be true for some, and some countries do deserve more extended visits. But, I’ve found that even a short stay can give you a meaningful first impression and help you decide if it’s a place you’d like to explore more in the future.

There are some countries that I can’t wait to return to, like Thailand and Singapore. For other destinations, like Hong Kong, a short visit felt sufficient for seeing the city's main sights. I want to see as much of the world as I can, and cruising allows me to embrace that variety, one destination at a time!

Passengers that sailed on a recent Royal Caribbean cruise received an email this week to alert them of a possible case of Legionnaires' disease.

The email was sent by the cruise line to people that went on Symphony of the Seas May 9th sailing from Cape Liberty, New Jersey.

In the email, it says Royal Caribbean was alerted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) of someone that went on Symphony and later was diagnosed with Legionella.

"Your health and safety are always our top priority, and we are reaching out for your awareness," the email said.

"The CDC has advised that while they are unsure where exposed, a guest who recently sailed on Symphony of the Seas, was later diagnosed with Legionella. As a precautionary measure, we implemented heightened sanitation protocols and followed all CDC guidance."

Royal Caribbean went on to advise that Legionella cannot be spread from person to person.

"It's important to know that Legionella is not contagious from person to person. It is contracted by inhaling water droplets from a source containing the bacteria, which can be found throughout the world in any environment containing water - ponds, lakes, rivers, and streams, as well as municipal water systems, fountains, and whirlpools. Most healthy people exposed to Legionella do not get sick."

Symptoms of the infection include cough, shortness of breath, fever, muscle aches and headaches. 

Similar emails were sent earlier this year

Royal Caribbean has sent emails about a passenger that sailed on Symphony of the Seas and later had Legionnaires' disease.

The first such email went out in January when two unrelated passengers on the ship were sickened after their cruise.

One of the passengers had sailed on the ship in October 2024, while the other sailed in December 2024, according to the CDC.

Then in April 2025, more emails were sent to passengers that sailed on Symphony between March and April.

In all the emails sent, the CDC never said the cases originated on the ship.

There's no record of any confirmed disease aboard Symphony of the Seas that has been reported to the CDC.

It's possible the people had Legionella before they ever boarded a cruise ship, or they contracted it after the cruise somewhere else.

How Legionnaires' disease spreads

Legionnaires' disease is a type of pneumonia caused by a bacteria called Legionella, but the truth is that it's actually pretty tough to catch.

The only way to get Legionnaires’ is by breathing in tiny water droplets  that contain the bacteria. You can't get it by touching something someone who has is touched or breathing near them.

These droplets usually come from man-made water systems, such as large air conditioning units in commercial buildings, hot tubs that aren’t properly cleaned, decorative fountains, or even plumbing systems in big buildings like hospitals or hotels. But just being around those places doesn’t mean you’re going to get sick. The conditions have to be just right for the bacteria to grow and for someone to inhale enough of it to cause an infection.

And even then, most people don’t get sick.

In fact, Legionella is commonly found in freshwater lakes or rivers, and don't usually cause a problem. For the bacteria to make someone sick, it has to multiply in a man-made system where the water is warm (between 77 and 113 degrees Fahrenheit), and then that water has to be turned into mist that someone breathes in.

Even if you do breathe it in, you will most likely not get sick. Most healthy people exposed to Legionella do not get sick. The people most at risk are older adults, smokers, people with chronic lung problems, and folks with weakened immune systems.

Every travel expert seems to have advice on how to travel with just a carry-on bag, but I'll overpack every time for my cruises.

I understand why many recommend packing light as a general tip for how to travel smartly, but I really think that advice is rooted in air travel and saving money on checked luggage.

Like many aspects, cruise ships are very different from air travel or staying at a hotel.  

While packing light has its advantages, I still think you're better off overpacking for a cruise.

You can't as easily buy something you need

If you forget something you need on a cruise, it's more difficult to get it compared to on land.

When packing light for land travel, you can always stop at a store to pick up clothes, toiletries, or almost anything else you might need.  Heck, I'll just order it on Uber Eats and have it delivered to my hotel.

That's not really an option on a cruise.

Sure, you could go to a store in a port you're visiting, but that might conflict with your shore excursion plans. And it might be a day or two before your first port stop.

The shops onboard a Royal Caribbean ship stock some basics, but it's limited and you're going to pay full retail price for a lot of things.

Plus, what's available to buy on the ship might not be the brand or style you prefer.

When I was on Enchantment of the Seas for a January cruise, I regretted not bringing shorts so I relented and bought a pair onboard. There was only one option, and it wasn't the style or look I wanted. So I bought it and then promptly threw it away when I got home.

I'd rather bring too many things as to feel confident I (probably) won't need to go out of my way to buy something.

There are themed nights, port days, and evening wear to consider

Another key difference on a cruise are all the occasions that necessitate different outfits.

Royal Caribbean offers themed nights to add a fun element to how you dress up.  So if you want to get a cute family photo of everyone in their matching tropical attire, that's a separate outfit that only gets worn once on that trip.

Another nuance of cruises is your day is often split between time in port and time on the ship in the evening.  Not only are there different clothes for each, but if you're cruising in the warm months, you might end up sweating through clothes.

While you don't have to have three outfits a day, I do think you'll need more clothes overall for a cruise compared to a trip to a city or resort.

There are no luggage fees on a cruise

One major reason why so many travel experts advocate packing light are to avoid airline baggage fees.

To be fair, you might need to fly to your cruise and then their advice holds up.  But once again, I think my other points earlier in this article necessitate paying for checked luggage.

The good news is Royal Caribbean doesn't have any baggage fees. This is even better if you can drive to your ship.

Plus, if you end up paying for airline baggage fees, you won't get hit again with the same fees on a cruise.

I'd rather regret having too much

In my mind, I weigh the emotion of fear of too much or too little.

If I overpack, I ended up bringing things I didn't need, but there's no financial or logistical impact. It's more of an annoyance that I thought I'd need that gym outfit but ended up at the bar instead.

On the other hand, I will get frustrated with myself when I forget something at home that I needed. 

When I don't have something I need, I get angry at myself, and then start an internal debate of do I really need to go out of my way to buy it.

If I'm lucky, I'll catch the mistake the night before the cruise and buy it in my departure city (because you should always fly in the day before the cruise begins).  But it seems I always discover the missing thing once I'm on the ship and unpacking.

Passengers aboard Royal Caribbean's Enchantment of the Seas nearly missed out on their port day in Costa Maya, Mexico, due to rough seas and high winds. 

The 28-year-old vessel approached the inner pier, but the captain suspended the disembarkation process because of the inclement weather conditions, with winds at about 15-18 knots.

However, as Wonder of the Seas, a newer Oasis Class vessel, sailed into port, the 235,600-gross-ton mega-ship shielded Enchantment from the wind and ocean swells. 

"The hope and now reality/success [is] that Wonder of the Seas arrived and is now miraculously blocking the swells and wind from the other side of the pier (our portside) and allow[ing] a safe disembarkation process to the pier," said Come Cruise With Me's Dennis Post. 

It's not uncommon for captains to cancel ports due to unfavorable weather. Although disappointing, these decisions always prioritize guest and crew safety — a principle upheld by Enchantment of the Seas' crew during the initial disembarkation delay.

Coming in at 18 decks tall compared to Enchantment's 12, Wonder towered over her like a natural protector. Wonder's sheer size and position calmed the conditions along the pier enough to allow guests to safely disembark and enjoy their day in Costa Maya.

Read more: "It’s time Enchantment of the Seas was taken out back and shot" I went on the cruise ship that gets lots of hate

Everything wasn't picture-perfect, though

According to passengers on Enchantment, the Costa Maya port area was at capacity. 

Along with Wonder and Enchantment of the Seas, Carnival Jubilee, the newest ship in Carnival's fleet of fun ships, docked at Costa Maya on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. 

This brought over 10,000 guests to the port — more than it can comfortably handle with its current infrastructure. 

Read more: I spent $4,700 for a 7-night cruise on Wonder of the Seas

Brandon Green of Lakeland, Florida, was traveling aboard Enchantment of the Seas and went ashore once guests were given the all-clear, as reported by Come Cruise With Me. 

"It was a nightmare getting into the port, and once we got in, the shops were overrun," he said.

Wonder of the Seas' capacity at double occupancy is 5,734, while Enchantment's is just 2,252. Carnival Jubilee, though smaller than Wonder, still holds an impressive number of people — up to 5,362 at double occupancy. However, at full capacity, these ships can hold more people. 

Cruise ships can use this maneuver

As soon as our team read about this story, it reminded me of a similar need for wind blocking last year.

In February 2024, a sudden storm caused Royal Caribbean to evacuate Perfect Day at CocoCay. A cold front moved in quickly, and the two ships needed to get out of the port immediately.

To help, Oasis of the Seas blocked the wind so Freedom of the Seas could depart safely. The winds were so bad that normal departure procedures wouldn't be safe.

Oasis was able to block the winds for Freedom to leave. Oasis remained docked until it was safe to depart on its own.

Royal Caribbean is transforming Costa Maya into the next best destination in the Caribbean

Royal Caribbean has big plans for Costa Maya: they're going to transform the port into the next sought-after destination in their Perfect Day series. 

Perfect Day Mexico is poised to elevate the private destination experience with the same blend of chill and thrill that has made Perfect Day at CocoCay a fan favorite. 

With the world's longest lazy river, the tallest waterslides in North and South America, the biggest bottle of tequila, and so much more, Perfect Day Mexico is set to redefine what it means to have a “perfect day."

Royal Caribbean doesn't plan to close off Costa Maya exclusively to its guests, but it is aiming to transform part of the port into a destination that rivals Perfect Day at CocoCay. 

The port will remain open during the construction of Perfect Day Mexico. Once complete, there will be a new welcome center — built by Royal Caribbean — to acquaint guests of visiting cruise lines, including Carnival, with popular attractions in the Mahahual area and provide transportation throughout the region.

Read more: I’ve been to Perfect Day at CocoCay 9 times — 6 reasons I’m even more excited for Royal Caribbean's new private destination in Mexico