Royal Caribbean Blog

After taking my first cruise to Alaska, I realized there were a few things I wish I knew before I went. From packing proper footwear to picking the right dinner time, a few minor decisions could have made my Alaska cruise go more smoothly.

I’ve been on nearly 30 cruises, but my first cruise to Alaska remains one of my favorites. I was awestruck by the state’s majestic nature, whether marveling at an expansive glacier or picturesque fjord.

Despite the wonderful memories of my first trip to Alaska, the cruise was dotted with small mistakes that made a big difference in my overall cruise experience. I thought I researched everything there was to know about cruising Alaska, but I still found myself making mistakes along the way.

Since then, I’ve been on 4 more Alaska cruises. By now, I’m familiar with the ins and outs of visiting the state, but I always find myself learning additional ways to make the most of my Alaska cruise experiences.

These are the 7 things I wish I knew about cruising to Alaska before I went.

Don’t bring mesh tennis shoes—you’ll regret it

I traveled with my dad on my first cruise to Alaska, and he packed a trusty pair of soft mesh tennis shoes. Looking back, we didn’t know any better, but this was a huge mistake.

When packing for an Alaska cruise, it’s crucial to bring a comfortable pair of shoes. Many passengers spend their port days walking around historic towns and hiking near glaciers, so you’ll want to bring suitable footwear for the trip.

However, you want to ensure your footwear is water-resistant. Popular sneakers with a mesh exterior might be comfy, but they do not fare well with Alaska’s rainy weather.

As my dad and I explored port, his feet were cold and wet almost immediately after disembarking the ship. Rainwater quickly seeped through the mesh lining of his shoes, leaving his socks wet and frigid.

My water-resistant Adidas sneakers and pair of boots were far more adequate for visiting Alaska. Had I thought about this before my cruise, I would have told my dad to pack more appropriate footwear.

It might be surprisingly warm, so pack short-sleeved shirts

Before I cruised to Alaska, I assumed the weather would always be slightly cold. I packed nearly every sweatshirt and jacket I could find in my closet, but neglected to bring items like short-sleeved shirts and shorts.

My first Alaska cruise was in October, which is arguably the worst month to cruise to Alaska. It rained nearly every day, but I kept warm in my thermal layers and waterproof jacket.

Two years later, however, I cruised to Alaska in mid-June, often considered one of the best times to visit Alaska. The days were long, sunny, and much warmer than I expected.

Even though temperatures were hovering just over 70 degrees, it felt more like 90 degrees in my long-sleeved shirts and pants. While walking around Skagway, my sister and I couldn’t help but laugh at how unprepared we were for the sweltering heat.

Next time I cruise to Alaska, I’ll definitely pack a few short-sleeved shirts… and maybe even a pair of shorts!

Your much-anticipated glacier day might not happen

Most Alaska cruise itineraries include a glacier viewing day, during which your ship sails along one of the state’s scenic glaciers. This is a major highlight of visiting Alaska for many passengers, many of whom might be seeing a glacier for the very first time.

On my first Alaska cruise, I was looking forward to visiting Dawes Glacier, but rainy weather and patches of ice blocked our ship from a safe approach. Even though we still saw a faraway glimpse of the glacier, I was disappointed we couldn’t get closer.

Later, on my second cruise to Alaska, our visit to Hubbard Glacier was cancelled due to unfavorable weather conditions. Hubbard Glacier was supposed to be a highlight of my one-way itinerary, so I was bummed I couldn’t visit.

Of course, the weather is something cruise lines cannot control. Even though I felt disappointed, I knew it was for the best to call off a glacier visit in order to keep guests (and the ship) safe.

Fortunately, on subsequent visits to Alaska, my ships completed their scheduled glacier visits without any issues. Nonetheless, I wish I knew how unpredictable these glacier visits could be before my first Alaska cruise.

Excursions are expensive. You can still have fun without them, but they could be worth the splurge

Shore excursions on any cruise can be expensive, but especially in Alaska. Booking a whale watching tour might cost around $200 per person. Bucket-list excursions, like helicopter tours to glaciers, are priced even higher—sometimes over $600 per person.

I’m a budget cruiser, so I usually skip booking shore excursions. By doing just a little research ahead of time, I can almost always plan a fun day in port on my own. When I cruised to Juneau, for example, I visited Mendenhall Glacier on my own instead of booking a tour through Royal Caribbean, saving me nearly $50 in the process.

Yet when I think back to my first Alaska cruise, I wish I could have told myself that it’s okay to splurge on that extraordinary excursion even if the price tag seems shocking.

My dad and I considered booking a whale watching tour, but we ultimately decided against it to save money. Looking back now, I wish my dad and I would have booked the excursion to make more memories together.

For most cruisers, visiting Alaska is something they’ll only do once in their lifetime. Some excursions are totally worth the splurge in order to dive deeper into Alaska’s nature, history, and culture.

Luggage Valet makes disembarkation day less stressful

I distinctly remember carrying my jam-packed, nearly-broken suitcase through Seattle’s cruise terminal on disembarkation day of my first Alaska cruise.

There was nothing glamorous about lugging the heavy suitcase out of the cruise terminal, through the rain to grab an Uber, and to the check-in desk at the airport. I’m sure I looked ridiculous carrying so much luggage!

I wish I knew about Royal Caribbean’s Luggage Valet service before cruising to Alaska, as it would have made my disembarkation day far more relaxing.

If your Alaska cruise returns to Seattle, you can take advantage of Royal Caribbean’s Luggage Valet service, which works in partnership with Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

Passengers who book this service receive their airline boarding passes and luggage tags in their stateroom the day before disembarkation. Later that evening, the luggage is taken from their cabin, where it is delivered to the airport and onto their flight the next day.

The convenience of Luggage Valet cannot be understated, and I wish I knew about this helpful service on my first cruise to Alaska.

The Gulf of Alaska can be rocky, so be prepared with seasickness remedies

For my second cruise to Alaska, I booked a port-intensive itinerary that started in Vancouver, Canada and ended in Seward, Alaska. These itineraries allow passengers to visit more ports in Alaska compared to a roundtrip sailing. Plus, many choose to extend their vacation in Alaska’s interior, visiting places like Denali National Park & Preserve and Anchorage.

To reach Seward from southeast Alaska, where the majority of the cruise takes place, ships must traverse the Gulf of Alaska. I wish I knew how rocky this body of water could be before I sailed.

As my ship crossed the gulf, I felt nauseous and miserable. The ship rocked substantially throughout the day—my cabinmate even fell ill! 

Luckily, a few motion-sickness pills in the day made me feel much better.

If I knew about this before, I would have taken the seasickness remedies in the morning to avoid wasting half my day onboard.

Book a later dinner time so you don’t miss sailaway

Eating dinner in the Main Dining Room is a staple of any Royal Caribbean cruise experience, but I wish I knew to pick a later dinner time for my Alaska cruise.

As your ship sails away from any of Alaska’s ports of call, you’ll be rewarded with unbeatable views. Sailing away from Skagway, for instance, involves a multi-hour passage through the Lynn Canal, where astonishing mountains surround both sides of the ship.

Most ships leave port sometime between 5 and 7PM, although some port days may differ. Regardless, if you book an early seating time in the Main Dining Room, sailaway could occur at the same time as your dinner reservation.

I booked the earliest dinner time on my first few Alaska cruises, but I later regretted the decision. I found myself skipping dinner in the dining room in favor of the buffet so that I didn’t miss out on breathtaking views.

Next time, I’ll select a later dining time so I can eat after my ship sails away from port.

Royal Caribbean Group's CEO recently offered three predictions for trends that he's seeing for cruising this year.

During his company's fourth quarter earnings call a few weeks ago, Mr. Liberty pointed to a few trends he expects Royal Caribbean to encounter, and each one is likely to help its bottom line.

Consumers should pay attention to these trends as an indicator of what we can expect from a pricing standpoint.  Key indicators such as demand, demographics, and booking volume all contribute to the prices we pay later.

As the cruise industry moves into 2025, there's a lot of momentum from last year, and with record demand, Royal Caribbean appears well-positioned to lead the market. 

With the cruise industry experiencing some of the highest demand ever, the price and destinations your next cruise take could be determined by these market shifts.

Travelers want to make memories through experiences

Right at the onset of the call with Wall Street analysts, Mr. Liberty talked about the importance consumers are placing on travel experiences over material goods.

Liberty noted that American households are wealthier than ever, with continued wage growth and low unemployment driving strong consumer spending. This economic strength is leading to a shift in how people allocate their discretionary income.

That wealth growth is fueling this desire among consumers to spend more on a vacation that will deliver wow moments and make memories they can look back on fondly.

He believes a cruise vacation is particularly well-positioned to benefit from this trend, as it offers a blend of adventure, luxury, and relaxation in one package.

Liberty emphasized that consumers are planning to take more trips and increase their vacation budgets, "Consumers plan to spend more on vacations and take more trips in the coming year and our guests over index in their intent to spend more on leisure travel."

"We continue to see very positive sentiment from our customers bolstered by strong labor markets, high wages, surplus savings, and elevated wealth levels, at the same time; they continue to prioritize travel experiences."

He believes the combination of cruise ship diversity and private destinations positions the company well to meet this demand.

Millennials and younger travelers are more interested in a cruise than ever before

A big trend that you may have already noticed is that cruises are no longer for the "newly wed and nearly dead".

Mr. Liberty sees growing interest in cruising among young people, particularly Millennials and Gen Z travelers.

Earlier in 2024, he talked about how impactful younger people have been on a shifting demographic, "Millennials and younger generations have gained 11 percentage points share compared to 2019." 

"And today, almost 1 in 2 guests are millennials or younger...it's a very powerful statement."

This shift is driven by several factors, including the affordability of cruises compared to traditional land vacations and the increasing desire for unique, shareable experiences.

Plus, Royal Caribbean has invested a lot of money in tailoring its experiences to younger passengers through technology, onboard activities, and entertainment.

They're using more AI in their business to make it easier to book restaurants, excursions and more, "We launched over 300 new digital capabilities across channels in 2024, improving the overall experience and reducing friction points while increasing spend."

Piggybacking on the first trend, younger travelers see a cruise ship as an easy way to explore different places in one trip, "Consumers place significant value on visiting multiple destinations and this is even more important to Millennial and Gen Z consumers; something that cruising is uniquely positioned to deliver on."

Strong demand is not slowing down

If 2024 was a record year in terms of demand for a cruise, the future looks bright heading into 2025.

Mr. Liberty mentioned at the beginning of the earnings call that Royal Caribbean experienced its best five booking weeks in company history at the start of the year, with bookings outpacing previous years across all key products.

This surge in demand is fueled by a combination of factors, including high guest satisfaction rates, the appeal of Royal Caribbean’s exclusive private destinations, and the growing appeal of short getaways. 

This strong demand is helping the company keep their ships sailing completely full and at higher prices.

Royal Caribbean charges for room service, except for one breakfast option that you can easily enjoy in your room for free.

I think a lot of people instinctively start their morning with a stop at the cruise buffet, but there's actually a free room service option at breakfast.

There's no shortage of included food on a Royal Caribbean cruise, from three-course meals in the Main Dining Room to an all-you-can-eat buffet and fast-casual joints like El Loco Fresh and the Boardwalk Dog House. Yet, many passengers overlook room service, especially for breakfast. 

Outside of breakfast, ordering room service incurs a $7.95 service charge. Still, continental breakfast items, such as pastries, fruit, coffee, and juice are complimentary and can be delivered to your stateroom free of charge. 

Ordering room service for breakfast is one of my favorite ways to kickstart my day on a cruise ship. While the options are more limited than the Windjammer, it's nice not to have to budget time for breakfast while avoiding the crowds. 

It's even better when you're staying in a balcony stateroom! There's nothing like sipping on a cup of coffee as your ship pulls into port. It's just as nice on a sea day, too. 

The convenience of room service breakfast can't be beat. It's a relaxing way to ease into the day before heading out to explore the ship or going ashore for an all-day excursion. 

Each cabin has room service menus that can be filled out and hung on the door handle the night before you want room service delivered for breakfast

On a recent cruise aboard Wonder of the Seas, my partner and I decided to order room service before our excursion in Roatán, Honduras. 

The night before, we filled out the room service menu, selecting which items we wanted delivered and at what time. Everything on the continental breakfast side is included. 

However, items listed under "American Breakfast," such as scrambled eggs, buttermilk pancakes, hash browns, and bacon, incur a $7.95 service charge. That said, Royal Caribbean doesn't charge $7.95 per item, so you can order as many hot dishes as you want for a single price. 

Alcoholic drinks, including Mimosas and the Ultimate Bloody Mary, can also be delivered to the room. Note, though, that they are not included in any drink package. Even if you have the Deluxe Beverage Package, you must pay the current bar pricing, plus an 18% gratuity. Daily diamond vouchers can't be used for room service drinks, either. 

Sticking with the included options, we ordered coffee with lactose-free milk, plain bagels with cream cheese, croissants, assorted pastries, and a fruit plate. Other options include yogurt, cereal, muffins, toast, grits, granola, oatmeal, and donuts. 

Because we had a third-party excursion booked, we wanted our room service to come early, so we could be one of the first passengers off the ship. We were to meet our driver at the port's exit an hour after Wonder's arrival. 

As such, we selected the 7:00am to 7:30am timeslot. However, we received a phone call at 6:48am saying our food was on the way! It was delivered and placed in our cabin before 7:00am. The earliest timeslot begins at 6:00am, while the latest delivery is from 10:30am to 11:00am. 

Since it arrived so early, we enjoyed breakfast in bed, watching a little television while munching on our food and drinking coffee. 

Read more: I ate brunch at 3 Royal Caribbean restaurants, and the one you've heard of the least was the best

The bagels were overtoasted, but the fruit plate was fresh

Breakfast is actually my least favorite meal of the day, so I try to keep it light and simple. Royal Caribbean's continental breakfast isn't anything fancy. However, there are enough options for a satisfying start to your day. 

The most disappointing part of our room service breakfast was the overtoasted bagels. Though they arrived warm, they were genuinely too burnt to eat. Instead, my partner lathered up one of the croissants with cream cheese. I was grateful we added them to our order the night before! 

I appreciated the assorted pastries, particularly the raspberry danishes and chocolate croissant. 

We agreed the fresh fruit plate was the most enjoyable dish. Everything from the juicy pineapple to the kiwi was ripe and refreshing. In fact, I wish we had ordered two! I would have been perfectly fine with fruit and coffee, rather than the extra pastries. 

Speaking of coffee, I'm not going anywhere, especially off the ship, without caffeine coursing through my veins. If you're someone who needs a hot cup of coffee to start your morning, I'd highly recommend ordering a pot via room service! 

Because we indicated that we were ordering for two people, our delivery included two coffee mugs. However, my partner prefers iced coffee, so she didn't drink any. This worked to my benefit since I had the entire pot to myself! 

However, if you and your travel companion are coffee fanatics, you can request an extra pot, rather than sharing one between two cruisers. 

Unfortunately, if you have a Royal Caribbean drink package and want to kickstart your day with a latte from Cafe Latte-Tudes, Cafe Promenade, or the Pearl Cafe, you will have to get it yourself. You cannot order iced beverages to your stateroom via Royal Caribbean's room service breakfast menu. 

I found the regular coffee to be perfectly fine, especially since I could enjoy it at my own pace without leaving the cabin. It was better than venturing to the Royal Promenade or Windjammer and carrying a full cup back to my stateroom. 

Coffee isn't the only beverage included with the continental breakfast. You may also order apple juice, orange juice, regular or chocolate milk, fat-free or lactose-free milk, half & half, green tea, black tea, and herbal tea. Decaffeinated coffee is an option, too. 

Should you order Royal Caribbean's free room service breakfast?

Instead of waking up earlier and getting ready before grabbing a bite to eat at the Windjammer or Main Dining Room,  we enjoyed having the extra time to rest in bed before heading off the ship in Honduras. 

Again, the continental breakfast isn't anything fancy or over-the-top, but who doesn't want to feel like royalty waking up to breakfast in bed? It's nice that Royal Caribbean includes such a convenient option in its cruise fare. It will remain a must-do for any cruise I'm on!  

Plus, there's no limit as to how many times you can order continental room service breakfast. In other words, if you're on a 7-night Caribbean cruise, you can be awoken each morning by a crew member telling you that your food is on the way, all for no extra charge! If you run out of menu cards, you can either ask your cabin steward or go to Guest Services. 

Royal Caribbean's move to deploy more of its ships to sail shorter 3- and 4-night itineraries has sparked heated debate among its loyal cruisers. 

Royal Caribbean released new short Caribbean cruises this week, but some cruise fans don't love a notable shift in the cruise line's strategy.

Utopia of the Seas and Wonder of the Seas will have already made this switch in 2025, but Oasis and Harmony of the Seas will join the trend when they start sailing short cruises in the fall of 2026.

"It's so sad that Royal Caribbean is ruining most of the Oasis class ships with the short cruises," said Søren Hemmingsen on Facebook, and it echoes what hundreds of other die hard Royal Caribbean fans expressed about the new releases.

The big change is in winter 2026-2027, Royal Caribbean will have all but one of its Oasis Class ships sailing short cruises in the Caribbean and they're all less than 7 nights.

The reason so many cruisers are upset is the lack of itinerary variety and high cost for a short trip.

Some long-time cruisers feel a week is necessary to be able to fully enjoy these mega ship’s amenities, entertainment, and dining experiences. With more ships being allocated to short sailings, seasoned cruisers are feeling left out. 

"I can’t seem to find it worth my time to drive 8+ hours or cost beneficial to fly for a 3 or 4 night cruise. This hurts those of us who are just far enough away that have to come in the day before," said Barry Akins.

The only Oasis Class ship that will remain offering week long cruises is Symphony of the Seas out of Galveston, Texas. It's not clear what Allure of the Seas will be doing yet.

A shift toward attracting new cruisers

Why is Royal Caribbean moving more of its ships to sail short cruises? The answer is at the heart of its business.

"Short cruises is really the onramp for new to cruise," Vicki Freed, Senior Vice President of Sales, Trade Support and Service for Royal Caribbean, explained to travel agents during a webinar yesterday.

"It's kind of the test drive, people don't have to invest a lot of time, they don't have to invest a lot of money... to see if cruising is the right experience for them."

Traditionally, older cruise ships sailed these short cruises but Royal Caribbean wanted to flip the script and attract new cruisers with the best possible ships.

The idea is offer the very best new cruise ship in the short cruise market to give new cruisers an obvious choice of which ship is best for them to try. Shorter cruises allow passengers to get a taste of the best that Royal Caribbean has to offer without committing to a weeklong cruise. 

From a business standpoint, Royal Caribbean is doubling down on what works.

The cruise line is targeting a younger demographic and those who want a quick escape without taking a full week off work. Shorter cruises often sell out faster and at higher per-night rates, making them a profitable option.

One comment on the new deployment recognized the business reality, "A very short lesson in Cruising 101—Short cruises you can turn that ship twice and flip it and make more money—that only makes sense for the cruise lines! Fresh passengers buying more drinks and gambling more. This is nothing new."

Frustration over lack of variety

The shift away from longer cruises on Oasis Class ships means there aren't many options for a traditional 7-night Caribbean cruise on an Oasis Class ship.   There are sailings on Icon Class vessels, but right now Icon Class ships command the highest average cruise fares in the fleet.

One workaround is to book a back to back sailing, where you sail the same ship twice in a row to get a week on the ship.  However, there isn't a lot difference in where your ship visits.

"I hate this!," wrote Susan Cliatt. "We have to fly and it is not worth the 3,4 or 5 days!

Royal Caribbean executives have repeatedly said the top two reasons people book a cruise ship vacation are for the destinations and the food.  

Short cruises, especially 3-night sailings, usually only go to The Bahamas.

Cruise fans complained, "This caters to those that live close to the ports."

"They are only worth it if you live near the port."

Another frustration is many travelers feel that large, feature-packed ships like those in the Oasis Class are wasted on short itineraries, where there simply isn’t enough time to experience everything onboard. 

Matt Anderson wrote, "Just don’t understand why all the Oasis Class ships are moving to short cruises. You have to take just as many days off work to go on the 4-day cruise since it’s Mon-Fri as a 7-day Sunday-Sunday cruise. Also, there is just way too much happening on these ships to only be on for 3 or 4 days."

Another person echoed this concern:

"Hmmmm can’t say I like this move. We don’t like Icon because it’s crawling with out-of-control kids and was perfectly happy going back to Oasis Class for our 7-night Eastern Caribbean."

You might have a few ideas for what makes the best beach day food, but it would change after you try Royal Caribbean's mozzarella sticks.

Specifically, the mozzarella sticks at Perfect Day at CocoCay stand out as being the perfect batch.  

It's strange to think that this particular snack could be so darn good, but they really are.  And it's even more surprising because the mozzarella sticks served on Royal Caribbean ships aren't nearly as good.

When Royal Caribbean first revamped its private island with new amenities, it totally re-thought the private island beach lunch. Traditionally it had just been burgers and hot dogs, but the new offering includes so much more.

One thing that quickly stood out were the outstanding food choices at the Snack Shack.  There are now four locations around the island:

• Breezy Bay
• Thrill Waterpark
• Hideaway Beach
• South Beach

In terms of cruise ship private island food, I think CocoCay's mozzarella sticks are a prime example of how good Royal Caribbean's island food game has become. Best of all, it's totally free and you can order as many as you want!

If you haven't tried them yet, they're a must-eat on the island.

What makes Royal Caribbean's mozzarella sticks the best?

At first I thought perhaps I alone preferred the mozzarella sticks from the Snack Shack, but it turns out a lot of other people really love them too.

Adriana Scates wrote on Facebook her idea of a great day on the island is to, "get drinks, lay in the sun on South Beach and eat your weight in mozzarella sticks."

The secret ingredient has to be the breading they use for them.

I'm not sure exactly what's so different about the breading for the mozzarella sticks at Snack Shack versus the ones used on the ship, but they've figured it out.

Served with marinara sauce to dip them in, it's the perfect quick snack.  It also helps when you order them they usually come out piping hot.

You could also use the mozzarella sticks as the building blocks to customizing an even better sandwich.

Not listed on the menu, but you can order the "secret sandwich" from the Snack Shack.

Crew members learned this dark art from the launch of the restaurant, and it combines the mozzarella sticks, marinara sauce, and the chicken sandwich to create my go-to meal any time I visit.

It's essentially a chicken parmigiana sandwich, but instead of the cheese being melted on the chicken, you get the crunch of the mozzarella sticks.

On a recent visit to the Coco Beach Club, which has its own excellent food options, I walked out of the club and over the Breezy Bay to get a few mozzarella sticks because they're that good.

The next time you're at Perfect Day at CocoCay, order them with your meal. Not only are they included with your cruise fare, but it's a fantastic comfort snack.

More CocoCay food you won't regret trying

While mozzarella sticks are wonderful, there's a lot of other food you ought to try while visiting.

At either Chill Grill or Skipper's Grill, I'm a sucker for the taco bar because you can customize it just the way you want.

I prefer to grab a plate and do my best attempt at creating a Chipotle-style bowl with the meat, toppings, and plenty of guacamole.

If you happen to buy admission into the adults-only area, the Island Guava Barbeque Chicken Pizza is a must-order every time. 

I think the combination of sweet BBQ sauce with the salty cheese really blends well.

My kids would tell you to try the soft serve ice cream just because who doesn't like ice cream on a hot day?

They now always opt to make an ice cream sandwich instead of getting it in a cone.

Perhaps the top food at CocoCay is the entire menu at the Coco Beach Club restaurant, which has filet mignon and lobster on the menu.

I really think the filet here is just as good, if not better, than the filet served onboard the ship.

One of the targets of the Trump Administration has been cuts within the National Park Service, and that is going to likely impact the top tourist destination in Alaska's capital.

Juneau is a port of call that nearly every Royal Caribbean ship visits during the summer Alaska cruise season.  The top destination is Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center, home to a glacier thousands of tourists see each year.

About 700,000 visitors each year visit the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area, according to the Juneau Visitor Circulator Study report that came out in February 2024. The city of Juneau expect more than 1.6 million people will visit the city by cruise ship this summer.

Unfortunately, the cut backs mean there could be major staffing issues resulting in impossible waits or delays.

The Juneau Convention & Visitors Bureau warned, "We don’t know at this time whether the visitors center or the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area will be open to the public, or how traffic and other visitor services will be managed."

How bad are the cuts? Recent Federal cuts have "trimmed staff at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center (MGVC) to a single person."

Why were all but one person fired from the park? The Trump Administration included it as part of their sweeping effort to reduce the size of the federal government workforce.

An executive order issued Feb. 11 read, in part: “Agency Heads shall promptly undertake preparations to initiate large-scale reductions in force (RIFs), consistent with applicable law.”  

Impact a lack of staffing in the park could have

It's too early to know what impact these cuts will have for cruise ship passengers looking to visit the park.

The NPCA is an independent organization dedicated to protecting and enhancing the National Park System. According to Kristen Brengel, senior vice president of Government Affairs for the NPCA, these cuts could result in:

• Potentially shorter visitor center hours and fewer activities
• Longer lines at park entrances
• Less maintained trails
• Closed campgrounds
• Limited access to other park amenities to prevent damage
• Seeing more trash because it can’t be collected as frequently 

Juneau’s Visitor Industry Director Alix Pierce told KTOO the remaining park staff are trying to figure out exactly what will be different this year.

"Everybody has a lot of questions about what the next steps are," she said. 

"I think the Forest Service staff that remain from what I understand are kind of in triage mode trying to figure out how to best allocate resources."

There are 260 independent businesses that are permitted by the Forest Service to run tours at the glacier, but they're concerned the glacier could be off-limits for the season. 

What you can see and do in Mendenhall Glacier park

Viewing one of the most easily accessible glaciers is the main draw of the park, as glacier viewing is the top thing to do in Alaska.

Not only can you see the glacier by driving into the park, but you can take one of the many tours that bring you onto the glacier by helicopter.  

There's also kayak tours and other means to get very close to it.

The park serves as a way for visitors to learn about Alaska's natural beauty.

There's a thirteen-mile-long river of ice that culminates on Mendenhall Lake, where you can watch blue icebergs floating by.

My favorite spot is Nuggets Falls, which requires a very leisurely hike to reach. You then get to see a beautiful waterfall with the glacier next to it.

The park is also known for offering various hiking trails of varying skill levels.

What you can do

Travel Juneau and the Juneau Convention & Visitors Bureau is asking everyone that is concerned about their ability to access parks like Mendenhall to speak to your representatives in Congress.

"Travel Juneau urges you to contact your federal delegation (senators and representatives) as soon as possible about reinstating critical funding to the US Forest Service," they said in a statement and to specify that this park falls under USDA/US Forest Service management. 

A wedding is supposed to be a happy celebration, but the logistics of having one often makes it seem daunting to plan.

Royal Caribbean wants you to have your wedding on one of their cruise ships, and they just overhauled their wedding department by bringing it all in-house.

While Royal Caribbean has offered weddings on their ships for years, frustrations with outsourcing the actual wedding planning to a third-party vendor left the line with less-than-ideal outcomes.

Now, the entire process has been gutted and the operation is conducted within the company, and they think it's an opportunity for a much better experience overall.

Jackie Diaz, Senior Supervisor of Royal Weddings, shared insights into the new wedding packages and how couples can enjoy a stress-free wedding at sea.

A seamless experience from start to finish

With Royal Caribbean’s newly enhanced wedding program, couples have access to dedicated wedding specialists who guide them through the entire planning process, ensuring that every detail is taken care of before they set sail.

Ms. Diaz explained, "We have a dedicated team of specialists who take care of everything from start to finish. Couples don’t have to worry about the logistics—they just enjoy their special day."

"Our onboard venues provide breathtaking settings that are unmatched, and our packages are designed to offer couples incredible value with premium inclusions."

The appeal of a cruise ship wedding is everything is included in one spot, from lodging, to vendors, to the ceremony and reception. Even the honeymoon can be taken care of by Royal Caribbean.

Because you can plan everything in one place with a Royal Caribbean cruise wedding, couples can reduce the stress of working with various vendors while being able to say “I do” in paradise.

Royal Caribbean offers three main wedding packages to accommodate different preferences and guest counts:

Forever Yours Package

Designed for intimate weddings with up to 20 guests, this package includes a private ceremony venue, a wedding officiant, décor, music, a wedding cake, and a sparkling wine toast.

Additional perks for the couple include a romantic dinner, breakfast in bed, and a couple’s massage.

The Knot at Sea Package

Ideal for larger gatherings, this package accommodates up to 75 guests and includes a DJ, a three-tier wedding cake, and an enhanced reception experience with a charcuterie display. 

Couples also receive exclusive benefits like priority check-in and reserved show seating because The Key VIP package is included with the cost.

Love Sets Sail Package

This package allows non-sailing guests to attend the ceremony on embarkation day and enjoy a two-hour reception before disembarking. 

It includes priority boarding, a bouquet and boutonniere, and an exclusive experience such as a helipad or North Star viewing for the couple and their close family and friends.

Yes, the Captain can marry you

Who marries you depends on what you're looking for, but the ship's Captain is an option.

In order to have a legal wedding onboard, it must be officiated by the ship’s captain while at sea. That will get the couple a legally recognized Bahamian marriage certificate.

For those opting for a legal wedding on embarkation day, the marriage license is obtained from the state where the ship is docked before departure.

However, if you want to have your own officiant (or prefer not to be married by the Captain), you can opt for a symbolic ceremony. You get to choose your own officiant, but must obtain a marriage license on your own.

Same-sex weddings are welcome too

Royal Caribbean welcomes same-sex couples to celebrate their love with a Royal Wedding. 

For couples who wish to have a legally recognized ceremony, same-sex weddings can be performed on embarkation day in a U.S. port under the Love Set Sail Package. However, due to Bahamian law, legal same-sex weddings cannot be performed at sea. 

Instead, couples opting for an at-sea ceremony or a wedding at Royal Caribbean’s private destinations, Labadee or Perfect Day at CocoCay, can have a symbolic wedding ceremony. 

Ms. Diaz assures, “We strive to make every couple’s wedding dreams a reality, and our team is dedicated to ensuring all love stories are celebrated beautifully on board.”

Royal Caribbean added options to renew vows or help with a proposal

Vow Renewal Package 

The Still the One Package allows couples to renew their vows in an intimate ceremony with up to 10 guests. It includes a private venue, an officiant, music, and several romantic amenities such as a celebratory cake, a champagne toast, and a special dinner for two.

Marriage Proposal Package

For those planning to pop the question, Royal Caribbean offers a thoughtfully designed proposal package. The proposal is disguised as a professional photoshoot, where the big moment is captured by the onboard photographer. The package includes a private setting, a celebratory toast, and a keepsake photo to remember the occasion.

Jackie Diaz explains, "Our vow renewal and proposal packages allow couples to create unforgettable memories at sea, whether they’re celebrating a milestone or beginning a new chapter together."

Additional Wedding Enhancements

Ms. Diaz believes there is a great deal of choice in how you want to customize your special day, "We offer a level of customization that allows couples to make their wedding truly unique, from selecting their perfect venue to personalizing every little detail."

To personalize their special day, couples can add:

• Customized Wedding Cakes with various flavors and fillings.

• Reception Packages with a range of food and beverage options, including specialty dining tastings and open bar selections.

• Entertainment choices such as live musicians, DJs, or a sound technician for custom playlists.
• Photography Packages capturing every moment with professional onboard photographers who know the best spots for breathtaking wedding shots.

• Floral Arrangements, with fresh flowers available for sailings from U.S. ports or artificial arrangements for longer itineraries/foreign homeports.

You can even get married at CocoCay

Instead of being married on the ship, you could have your ceremony at one of Royal Caribbean's private destinations, Labadee and Perfect Day at CocoCay.

The only catch is the wedding will be a symbolic one, not a legally binding one.

How to book your cruise wedding

Royal Caribbean makes the process easy. Couples can contact the Royal Weddings team at 1-888-WED-RCCL to begin planning.

Once a wedding date is confirmed, a wedding specialist is assigned to coordinate the details leading up to the big day. Royal Caribbean even has its own wedding registry that guests can use and buy things for the couple.

Upon boarding, an onboard coordinator ensures everything runs smoothly.

According to Ms. Diaz, "Our team is with you every step of the way. From the moment you book until you walk down the aisle, we make sure everything is seamless and stress-free."

It's going to be even easier to hop on a short cruise, as Royal Caribbean is ready to expand its market reach with these types of cruises.

Royal Caribbean has posted its new 2026-2027 deployments for the Short Caribbean, and there are a lot of cruise ships sailing cruises less than a week.

Short cruises have the advantage of being easier to work into long weekends or simply use up less days off from work.

We spotted eight ships added to the calendar to offer cruises between November 2026 and April 2027, and each has short cruise options.

Here's a breakdown of what's been added and what you can expect with a short cruise.

More ships, less nights

Across five homeports in Florida and Texas, there's a few different options if you're looking to add a getaway cruise.

Beginning in Port Canaveral, you'll find three ships offering short cruises here.  

Utopia of the Seas broke ground when she became the first Royal Caribbean ship to ever enter service with just short sailings. 

Utopia will continue that by offering 3- and 4-night cruises to The Bahamas.

Fellow Oasis Class ship Harmony of the Seas moves back to Port Canaveral, and will sail 4- and 5-night cruises.

Harmony's 5-night cruises combine a visit to Perfect Day at CocoCay with Cozumel, Mexico. The 4-night cruises will visit Nassau, Bahamas and CocoCay.

That combination of going to either Cozumel or Nassau is no coincidence, as those are two ports where Royal Caribbean will have new beach clubs open to book.

Royal Beach Club Paradise Island is set to open December 2025, and Royal Beach Club Cozumel will open in "late 2026 on select Western Caribbean vacations."

There's also one 2-night sailing on Harmony.

Explorer of the Seas will also sail from Port Canaveral, and offer 4- and 5-night cruises.

Explorer's 4-night sailings will remain in The Bahamas, while its 5-night voyages offer different options that can go to the Dominican Republic, Labadee, or Cozumel.

Moving over to Fort Lauderdale, there are new entries to the short game market.

Oasis of the Seas is the latest mega ship to start offering shorter cruises.

Similar to Utopia, Oasis will offer 3- and 4-night cruises out of Port Everglades to The Bahamas, including Royal Caribbean's private island.

With Oasis of the Seas sailing short cruises, that sets Royal Caribbean up with an Oasis Class ship in each of the major 3 ports on Florida's east coast to have this option.

It's clearly a move to dominate the short cruise market by outflanking the competition with the very best ships. 

The best budget option for a short cruise might be with Vision of the Seas.

Vision will offer 3- and 4-night cruises from Fort Lauderdale. The difference is Vision will also visit Bimini, Bahamas or Grand Bahama Island.

Grandeur will spend the summer in Fort Lauderdale with 3- and 4-night vacations to destinations across The Bahamas, including Perfect Day at CocoCay, as well as Key West in Florida. 

In Miami, you'll find two ships with short cruises from this capital of cruising.

Wonder of the Seas remains in Miami to sail short cruises.

Later in 2025, Wonder will begin the shift from 7-night cruises to short sailings, and Wonder will remain doing that into at least early 2027.

Wonder's itineraries match Utopia and Oasis, with visits to CocoCay or Nassau.

In addition, Freedom of the Seas will depart Miami on 4- and 5-night cruises.

Freedom's destinations include Grand Cayman, Falmouth, Labadee, Cozumel, Dominican Republic, and The Bahamas.

In Galveston, there's a familiar face returning to this port.

Liberty of the Seas is going back to Texas, and will sail 4- and 5-night cruises.

Both itineraries visit Cozumel, while the extra night gets you a visit to Costa Maya.

Mariner of the Seas has 4- and 5-night Western Caribbean sailings to Costa Maya and Cozumel.

Tampa has one ship sailing short cruises, with Rhapsody of the Seas from that port with new 4- and 5-night adventures.

Why are more ships sailing short cruises?

With Harmony and Oasis of the Seas moving to the short cruise market, it's clear Royal Caribbean sees a market need.

Ever since they announced Utopia of the Seas would enter service with short cruises, it's flipped the industry script on its head.

By offering short cruises on really impressive ships with lots to do, Royal Caribbean is hoping to entice the vast pool of people that have never cruised to try a cruise.

The new to cruise market is single handedly the lowest hanging fruit of potential new customers, and it's who Royal Caribbean wants to target to grow their business.

Weekend cruises in particular are very attractive to new cruisers because it's just a few days on the ship, lower cost than a week (with less PTO time needed), and most importantly, is less daunting as a way to try a cruise vacation.

The coup de grâce for this plan is by late 2026, Royal Caribbean should have two beach clubs open in Nassau and Cozumel.

These beach clubs are a brand new endeavor, which are paid excursions available only to Royal Caribbean customers.

Each will be an all-inclusive private enclave, where Royal Caribbean guests can book a spot and enjoy a day splashing in the pool or beach at a place that adheres to the same standards of a Royal Caribbean ship. 

More deployments coming soon

There are still more cruises to be announced in 2026-2027.

Seasonal Caribbean cruises will come out sometime next week, which represent primarily ships that move back to North America after spending the summer somewhere else.

Then we'll get China cruises during the week of March 10, 2025, followed by Singapore the week after that.

The final deployment will be Australia during the week of June 2, 2025.

Massive Royal Caribbean ships have been unable to visit San Juan, Puerto Rico, for months due to ongoing improvements to the pier infrastructure. Most recently, more sailings aboard Icon of the Seas have replaced their visits to San Juan with other Caribbean ports. 

The new string of changes affects cruises through July 2025. Guests booked on the May 3, June 7, June 21, and July 19 sailings received an email indicating they're no longer scheduled to call at San Juan. 

"Before your vacation begins, we wanted to inform you about some changes to our itinerary. Due to ongoing improvements to the pier infrastructure in San Juan, the port operators have advised us that the port will not be ready in time for our visit," the email begins. 

Three out of four of the voyages will now call at Ponce, Puerto Rico, while the July 19 voyage is skipping Puerto Rico entirely and heading to Phillipsburg, St. Maarten. 

The email continues, "We'll now enjoy a visit to Philipsburg, St. Maarten on Day 4. We'll still visit Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, now on Day 5 instead of Day 4. Thank you for your understanding - it's exciting to share this new destination with you."

Instead of nixing Puerto Rico from the itinerary completely, the May 3, June 7, and June 21 voyages will visit Ponce instead of San Juan. 

"Ponce has a captivating history as Puerto Rico's second-largest city is full of laid-back vibes and nostalgic charm. Enjoy a stroll through Plaza de las Delicias or unwind like a true Ponceño along La Guancha boardwalk," reads the email sent to booked passengers. 

"Want to dine like a local? Set your sights on cocina criolla, a blend of Spanish, Taino, American and African flavors - be sure to try Puerto Rico's national dish, mofongo (fried [plantains] mashed with garlic and olive oil). Finish the day with a scoop of hand-churned, tropical-flavored, ice cream at King's Cream, open since 1964. Whatever you choose to do on your adventure, you're sure to have a memorable time."

Guests with pre-paid shore excursions in San Juan will receive an automatic refund to their original form of payment. No other compensation is being provided. 

Read more: Icon of the Seas Cruise Ship: Review, Photos

Symphony of the Seas changes

Passengers aboard Symphony of the Seas' April 6, 2025, cruise were also notified that they'll be skipping San Juan. 

"We’ll still visit Perfect Day at CocoCay, as originally planned. You’ll now get to explore the beautiful, Labadee, Haiti and Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. [And] We’re dialing up the fun by adding an extra port to your itinerary! We’ll now visit Nassau, Bahamas on Day 3 of our sailing," reads the email. 

The original 7-night Eastern Caribbean & Perfect Day cruise was scheduled to call at Perfect Day at CocoCay, San Juan, and St. Maarten, respectively. This means that other than CocoCay, the entire itinerary has been updated. 

Ongoing issues docking in San Juan

Oasis and Icon Class ships have not visited San Juan since November 2024 because of ongoing construction with Pier 3-West. 

The issue hasn't impacted all ships, as San Juan has more than one pier for cruises. For example, Adventure of the Seas, an older Royal Caribbean ship measuring 137,276 gross registered tons (GRT), successfully docked in San Juan on Tuesday, February 24, 2025. 

In comparison, Icon of the Seas comes in at 248,663 GRT. Because of her size, Icon—and other Oasis Class ships—can only dock at Pier 3-West. 

According to Cruise Mapper, Scarlet Lady, Sun Princess, Marella Discovery, and Viking Sea also arrived in San Juan on Tuesday, Feb. 25 without issue. 

Large cruise ships, such as Symphony of the Seas, have been diverted from San Juan to alternative ports, including Labadee, Haiti; Falmouth, Jamaica; and Nassau, leading to dismay from guests. 

"These are major downgrades of ports…both Falmouth and Nassau suck and I tried to avoid them when initially booking the cruise," wrote one disappointed passenger on Reddit.

In January, local media outlet El Vocero reported that the Coast Guard was making progress in its repair efforts and claimed the pier could be fixed by late January. This, however, did not come to fruition. 

The issue began in April 2024 when MSC Meraviglia collided with the pier and caused "catastrophic damage." San Juan Cruise Port recently filed a lawsuit against MSC, as well as its insurers, to recover some of the costs associated with the damages and repairs, as reported by The Street. 

MSC is being accused of negligence for operating MSC Meraviglia with excessive speed and failure to follow proper docking procedures, including not using the available tug assistance or successfully aligning the vessel with the mooring dolphin. 

A dolphin is a group of pilings that serve as a protective hardpoint along a dock and help secure a cruise ship to the pier. 

The ongoing repairs are out of Royal Caribbean's hands, and the work is managed by the Puerto Rican authorities and is subject to Coast Guard approval. 

While cruise ship casinos are a major draw for many passengers, the debate of allowing smoking in these venues has been a hot button topic.

While Royal Caribbean has not changed its policy at all, they have made an unexpected change on one of its cruise ships.

Freedom of the Seas went in for what was thought to be routine maintenance work at a dry dock in Spain, but returned with a brand new venue that could make a lot of would-be gamblers quite happy.

Confirming the news we were first to report, the Vintages wine bar on the Royal Promenade has been replaced by a non-smoking casino, providing a new alternative where non-smokers can gamble without any second-hand smoke issues.

Traditionally, cruise ship casinos are divided in half between smoking and non-smoking areas, but it's one large space where the smoke odor can easily travel between the two.

With Freedom of the Seas back in service, we've gotten our first look at this new venue.

The entrance to the casino is an open space, with tables inside and outside the venue.

Keeping tables nearby is likely an option for passengers to have when enjoying time on the Royal Promenade. Often these tables are used for a place to have a quick bite or drink, or sit and enjoy watching what's happening nearby.

When Vintages was still there, these tables were often used by guests that weren't ordering anything at Vintages.

The new casino is split into two sides, with a casino bar in the middle.

You'll find a variety of slot machines to play in this new non-smoking casino.  While the footprint is smaller than the main casino, there's a good variation of machines to play.

Having a bar in this non-smoking casino is a feature not found on the Oasis Class ships.

While the non-smoking venues on Oasis Class ships have waiter service to get drinks, being able to quickly get a drink at the bar is far more convenient.

Plus, adding a bar to this casino reduces the workload on the casino bar in the primary casino.

We also spotted numerous televisions throughout the casino, including at the bar.  

Since sport watching is so popular, there's now additional viewing opportunities when a game is on.

There's also a few table games in the casino, such as roulette.

The idea to replace a somewhat less popular venue with a casino was first introduced on Royal Caribbean's Oasis Class ships.

The genesis of the concept began on Wonder of the Seas, which was originally destined for the Chinese cruise market.  In Asia, there's a need for more gambling venues so the original plan was to have a casino in lieu of Jazz on 4.

When plans changed and Wonder was re-routed to North America, Royal Caribbean decided to keep the idea.

Soon thereafter, all the Jazz on 4 venues were replaced by non-smoking casinos as a way to offer more passengers an opportunity to gamble.

This appears to be the same idea with Freedom, but this is the first time a non-Oasis Class ship received such a change.

There's been no official statement by Royal Caribbean or any official as to why they decided to make the change, but it's likely it has much to do with maximizing onboard revenue as it does addressing a need passengers have been asking for.

While Vintages was the only wine bar on the ship, the supply of wine should be unaffected to any passenger that wants it, since the bulk of the wine was always stored behind-the-scenes.

Could more ships be getting a non-smoking casino?

With this change to Freedom of the Seas, the next question becomes will other ships receive a similar change.

Royal Caribbean hasn't released any sort of update to indicate if it would. They didn't make any announcement with the Oasis Class either, but then systematically went through and made the change on each ship.

It's entirely possible other Freedom or Voyager Class ships would see their Vintages replaced with a casino, as the venue is nearly identical to Freedom's. 

A few ships already had their Vintages replaced with something else.  

Mariner and Navigator of the Seas have the Bamboo Room instead of Vintages, which is a tiki bar.  Adventure of the Seas has Izumi Japanese Restaurant in its place.