Royal Caribbean Blog

The best way to experience The Last Frontier is on an Alaska Inside Passage cruise. Not only do you benefit from the conveniences of a cruise vacation, but you also get front-row views of some of the most stunning scenery and wildlife on the planet.

The term “Inside Passage” refers to the coastal route of protected waterways that runs from southeastern Alaska through British Columbia. It stretches roughly 1,000 miles in total and offers some of the most scenic landscapes and abundant wildlife viewing opportunities from a cruise ship. 

An Inside Passage cruise also stops in some of Alaska’s most iconic destinations, such as Juneau, Ketchikan, and Skagway. These ports give cruisers the chance to visit historic gold rush towns, learn about Native Alaskan culture, enjoy scenic hikes, try local seafood, and more. 

However, the towering landscapes are what set an Alaska Inside Passage sailing apart from voyages to The Bahamas, Caribbean, and Europe. From snow-capped mountains to massive glaciers and cascading waterfalls, the scenery is what draws many travelers to Alaska. 

Of course, I'd be remiss not to mention the wildlife, which is another highlight of taking an Alaska Inside Passage cruise. You might be lucky enough to spot humpback whales breaching in the distance, bald eagles soaring overhead, or a brown bear hunting for its next meal. 

Alaskan cruises typically run from May through September, though some cruise lines may begin and end their seasons earlier or later. Early planning is recommended to give yourself time to select the best itinerary, ship, cruise room, and shore excursions to match your interests before they sell out. 

Here's everything you need to know about taking a cruise through the famous Alaska Inside Passage. 

Glaciers in Alaska's Inside Passage

A cruise is a great way to see some of Alaska's beautiful glaciers. Most Inside Passage cruises include a scenic day sailing through fjords, where you can view calving glaciers from the comfort of your vessel. 

Popular spots include Tracy Arm Fjord (for the twin Sawyer Glaciers), Endicott Arm (for Dawes Glacier), and Glacier Bay National Park, which is home to over 1,000 glaciers. 

That said, most cruise itineraries only visit six glaciers: Margerie Glacier, Grand Pacific Glacier, Red Glacier, Lamplugh Glacier, Johns Hopkins Glacier, and Gilman Glacier.

Mendenhall Glacier is a popular tourist attraction in Juneau. However, it is not accessible by cruise ship. It can be easily viewed through short hikes or once-in-a-lifetime helicopter tours for aerial views. 

Hubbard Glacier is another renowned glacier located in eastern Alaska near the border with Canada. While it is not in Alaska's Inside Passage, it’s still one of the state’s most impressive glaciers and the largest tidewater glacier in North America.

Alaska's Tongass National Forest

Inside Passage cruises also give you the chance to visit the vast Tongass National Forest, the largest national forest in the United States. 

Spanning nearly 17 million acres, the Tongass National Forest blankets the southeast Alaska portion of the Inside Passage and is filled with Sitka spruce, western hemlock, and red cedar trees.

It's home to a lot of wildlife, too, ranging from bears to bald eagles and salmon during the summer months, populating its rivers and streams. 

Inside Passage Alaska Cruise Ports

Alaska's Inside Passage isn't just known for its breathtaking scenery. The ports of call offer a solid mix of native culture, history, and local adventure. 

In Skagway, for example, you can learn more about the state's Gold Rush history on a scenic ride on the iconic White Pass & Yukon Route Railway, while Juneau is known for the famous Mendenhall Glacier and whale-watching opportunities. 

Here's a breakdown of all the Inside Passage cruise ports:

• Sitka —The former capital of Russian Alaska, Sitka was originally founded by the Tlingit people over 10,000 years ago. The port offers a unique blend of history, nature, and culture. Downtown, visitors can explore the famous St. Michael Orthodox Cathedral, browse local shops, or enjoy a leisurely lunch at one of the restaurants. The 113-acre Sitka National Historic Park is a must for nature-lovers.
• Juneau — Juneau is the capital of Alaska, with the surrounding mountains, glaciers, and wildlife viewing opportunities making it one of the most popular tourist spots in the state. Here, you'll find everything from whale-watching tours to stunning hikes and fresh seafood. The 13-mile Mendenhall Glacier is a highlight, too.
• Ketchikan — Ketchikan, a small town at the southern end of Alaska’s Inside Passage, is best known for its idyllic scenery and Native culture. It's also called the "Salmon Capital of the World," which is fitting since it's a fishing hub. Creek Street should be on every visitor's list. The boardwalk, built on wooden pilings, is lined with shops, homes, and galleries.

• Icy Strait Point — This private port was opened to cruise passengers by the Huna Tlingit Native Alaskans in 2004. While many prefer to enjoy the port area's attractions, ranging from the ZipRider to convenient restaurants and shopping, it's close to Hoonah, the largest Tlingit village in Alaska. Icy Strait Point is also one of the best cruise ports for whale-watching thanks to its proximity to Point Adolphus.
• Skagway — Skagway is a small town that's famous for its role in the Klondike Gold Rush. Today, much of the historic downtown area feels like a step back in time. One of the port's most popular attractions is the White Pass & Yukon Route Railway, a scenic railway climbing 2,885 feet to the summit of the White Pass. Active travelers will love the easy access to hiking trails, too.
• Haines — Finally, Haines is one of the most quaint ports found on any Alaska cruise itinerary. Activities include sea kayaking, rafting, cycling, and ATV tours. However, don't overlook the local restaurants and shops, where you might find a hidden gem. 

If you are going on a round-trip Inside Passage cruise from Seattle, your ship will likely stop at Victoria, British Columbia. This is to satisfy the Passenger Vessel Services Act's requirement that all foreign-flagged ships must visit at least one foreign country. 

Still, the downtown area is well worth exploring, with stunning Victorian buildings, local pubs, and boutiques lining the harbor. 

Getting seasick is possible

Motion sickness is a possibility, but it's also easily avoidable with the right medication.

Many cruisers believe there's less of a chance of getting seasick if your cruise sails from Vancouver instead of Seattle, because the ship can enter the Inside Passage quicker without sailing into the open ocean.  

I think the chances of getting seasick depend on many factors, including your own body. Everyone handles the motion differently, and there's no guarantee you will or will not get seasick.

Regardless, I would recommend packing the right seasickness remedies, just in case you need it.

You could ask your doctor to write you a prescription for a Scopolamine patch. You wear it behind your ear every day, and it helps.

I usually travel with Bonine, because you can get it over-the-counter and take it as needed. (This link contains an affiliate link that costs you nothing extra to use)

What Royal Caribbean ships visit the Alaska Inside Passage?

During the Alaska cruise 2026 season, four Royal Caribbean ships will visit The Last Frontier: Anthem of the Seas, Ovation of the Seas, Serenade of the Seas, and Voyager of the Seas. 

Two vessels — Ovation and Serenade — will offer one-way voyages from Seward, Alaska, to Vancouver, Canada, and vice versa. 

In addition to a scenic day of cruising in the Hubbard Glacier area, these sailings will also call at ports within the Inside Passage, like Juneau, Skagway, and Sitka. 

The round-trip cruises on Anthem and Voyager of the Seas are ideal for cruisers who want an easier time planning travel logistics, as they begin and end in Seattle, Washington. 

I ate so much good food on my Royal Caribbean cruise aboard Star of the Seas. In fact, a few were really fantastic.

Every cruise has a wide variety of food, and I'll admit I often go on cruises purely for the food.  The destinations it visits are great, the shows are wonderful, but all the food brings me back each and every time.  

If there's one area you'll notice an improvement with a new vs old cruise ship, it's the food. Royal Caribbean has steadily upped its food game over the years, and each new ship represents a step forward with new options.

After 7 nights on Star of the Seas for a spring break cruise, here are the seven dishes I ordered that I couldn't get enough of during my voyage.

I ordered the chicken parmigiana at Giovanni's Italian twice, because it was so good

My staple for any Italian restaurant is chicken parmigiana, because it's reliably good and can be used as a barometer for the restaurant as a whole.

We ate at Giovanni's Italian Kitchen twice during our cruise (because we had a dining package), and I ordered this dish twice.

The chicken parm here was huge, had a good mix of sauce and cheese, and the chicken wasn't rubbery, too flat, or tough. 

I ordered a side of spaghetti to go with it, but it came with spaghetti and it was just the right amount to compliment the chicken.

All the food at Giovanni's is freshly prepared, and this is one of many dishes I love with the new menu offered.  Shout out to the margherita pizza, giant meatball, and house salad as being really good too.

I always order the sushi platter at Izumi as one of my dishes

I'm no stranger to Izumi sushi on any ship, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't love the sushi on Star of the Seas too.

When you eat at Izumi, you have the choice of a few different small dishes, entrees, and dessert. Regardless of how many times I eat here, I think I always order at least one sushi platter.

There are two choices: Chef's Sushi Selection and Assorted Sashimi. The difference is nigiri vs sashimi rolls, and depending on my mood, I might pick one over the other.

On this occasion, I went with the Chef's Sushi Selection because the rice seemed like a good idea.

Not only is this a tasty option, but it's also an excellent value for how many rolls you get for the price.

I started ordering a chocolate croissant at Pearl Cafe with my morning coffee

I'm not a breakfast guy. I need have an iced coffee everyday and that's usually it until lunch.

But if we have shore plans, I'll grab something to eat so I'm not hangry at 10:30.  The chocolate croissant from Pearl Cafe looked nice, so I ordered it.  And then I ordered it again every single day the offered it.

Pearl Cafe seems to alternate between two breakfast menus each day, so I could only have the chocolate croissant every other day.

I love the combination of a buttery croissant with the richness of chocolate. 

I've had similar pastries on other European cruises, and Royal Caribbean's version is pretty darn good. Tasty, quick, and the perfect compliment to my coffee.

The internet said the smash burger at Basecamp is the best, but I didn't believe them. They were so right

Last year we asked our readers for the best snacks on Royal Caribbean, and so many people said the smash burger was it.

I was skeptical that it was that good, or that it could be better than the burger at the Windjammer.  

I was so wrong.

Basecamp has quickly become one of the best restaurant ideas to come out of the Icon Class, and I think the smash burger is a great example.

Smash burgers are regular burgers, but pressed into a super hot griddle until it gets a deeply caramelized crispy crust. Add onions, lettuce, pickles, and a tomato, and you get a winner.

I grabbed one for a late-afternoon snack and I was really impressed how good it tasted.  Not only was it better than the Windjammer burgers, but after wolfing one down, I wanted another.

The best steak on Star of the Seas is the filet mignon at Hooked

I recently came around to liking Hooked Seafood again after years of hating on it, and the filet mignon is a top reason why.

You can make arguments for the filet mignon from Chops, Coastal Kitchen, or Giovanni's being the best steak on the ship. But I really think Hooked was the best I had.

It's simple, but it's a generous sized cut of meat and cooked well.

I think I like the seasoning they use primarily as the difference maker. I'm not a "sauce on my steak" guy.

Ultimately, I think this steak doesn't try to do too much, and because it's a decent sized cut, is something I'd order any day.

Shout out for the blackened salmon, which is also quite good!

The Playmakers chicken tenders became my ultimate comfort food

Our cruise went over the NCAA Basketball March Madness tournament, so I found myself spending a lot of time in Playmakers Sports Bar.

The chicken tenders are giant hunks of breaded chicken, and I think it pairs so well with the BBQ sauce you can get to go with them.

Every time I went to Playmakers, I'd order them. Even when I was just there for a drink. It's a solid meal in and of itself, as well as being the kind of snack you can pick at.

Plus, it's served with french fries that are equally addictive to snack on while watching a game and drinking a beer.

While the nachos, burger, and crunch rolls at Playmakers are all quite tasty, I found it was the tenders I wanted to have first, every time.

I had at least 3 or 4 falafel bowls from Aquadome Market, because it was both good and didn't make me feel guilty

It's easier to snack if you can tell yourself it's "healthy", and that's exactly what I did at Aquadome Market.

Royal Caribbean's food hall is my favorite included restaurant, and I think I must have gone up there at least 3 or 4 times during my cruise. It might have been more.

The Feta hall has the option of falafel, chicken, or pork to be used in a pita or bowl.

I used to order the pita bread, but it's nearly impossible to eat without making a giant mess all over yourself.  I switched to the bowl to make it more manageable and then justified having more because there were less carbs.

I'm all for dishes made fresh and customized the way I want it. All veggies, no feta, extra hummus.

I wish they'd make the falafel fresh rather than in batches, but it's still so darn satisfying.

A passenger aboard a Royal Caribbean cruise ship sailing in the South Pacific has died.

As first reported by People and confirmed by the police, a passenger was found dead aboard Anthem of the Seas as the ship was on its way to Waitangi, Bay of Islands, New Zealand.

A police statement confirmed basic details surrounding the death.

"At around 1:45 a.m., Police were notified of a death on board the Anthem of the Seas cruise ship which was arriving from Sydney, Australia."

Police are “making enquiries into the person's death on behalf of the coroner."

The police are now investigating the "sudden death", and no cause of death has yet been disclosed.

Royal Caribbean confirmed the incident as well, issuing a statement to members of the media.

"We are saddened by the passing of one of our guests. We are supporting authorities in their investigation"

No other details have been shared regarding the person's identity, what may have happened, or any other details surrounding the nature of the death.

Anthem of the Seas is on a 12-night roundtrip New Zealand cruise. The ship's itinerary includes visits to the Bay of Islands, Tauranga, Napier, Wellington, Lyttelton (Christchurch), and Dunedin, featuring scenic cruising in Dusky and Milford Sound before returning on April 3, 2026.

Anthem of the Seas is a 168,666 a gross ton vessel, and one of the Quantum Class ships in Royal Caribbean's fleet. It can accommodate up to 4,180 guests and 1,500 crew members.

It debuted in 2015, and is a relatively newer ship.

A passenger injured while sailing on Royal Caribbean's Harmony of the Seas filed a maritime personal injury lawsuit seeking damages of more than $75,000. 

Jaimie Lewis, of California, was a fare-paying guest vacationing aboard Harmony of the Seas when she slipped on a walkway in Central Park and fell backward onto the hard deck in November 2024, as reported by Holzberg Legal.

The outdoor neighborhood was wet due to the rain, with Lewis asserting that passengers could not reasonably perceive how slippery it was. The lawsuit, which was filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, further alleges that Royal Caribbean breached its duty of reasonable care by failing to maintain the Central Park deck in a safe condition for guests. 

According to the complaint, there were no visible wet-floor warning signs or anti-slip applications on the floor, despite the ship's crew being aware of the hazard. As such, the lack of signage, warning cones, or verbal warnings left Lewis unaware of the danger, which directly led to her accident. 

Lewis's legal team, Gerson & Schwartz, P.A, claims that she sustained severe physical and emotional damage, including a concussion, neck injuries, and a puncture wound. 

Her lawsuit seeks compensation for past and future medical expenses, physical impairment, disability, and the aggravation of pre-existing conditions, along with damages for pain and suffering, mental anguish (i.e., shame and humiliation), and the loss of capacity to enjoy life — all of which exceed $75,000. 

Lewis asserts that her injuries are permanent and continuing in nature. Moreover, she was not the first guest to allegedly slip and fall on a wet Central Park walkway to file a lawsuit.

(Credit: Jeanne Grubbs / Facebook)

Between 2020 and 2024, there were over ten specific cases involving guests who suffered similar accidents. For example, on November 8, 2024, another passenger fell on a slippery Central Park walkway on Allure of the Seas (Hill v. Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., Case No. 1:25-cv25669). 

Similarly, on May 23, 2023, a guest on Oasis of the Seas slipped and fell on a wet Central Park walkway (Shipe v. Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., Case No. 1:24-cv-20645).

Earlier, on January 2, 2020, a passenger identified only by the initials A.S. experienced a similar fall on a wet and slippery walkway aboard Symphony of the Seas (Selwood v. Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., Case No. 1:20-cv-24513).

Lewis's legal team argues that these prior incidents demonstrate a pattern of hazardous conditions that have not been adequately addressed by Royal Caribbean on its Oasis Class vessels.

Most recently, the court issued an update stating that Lewis must file proof of service on the defendant by April 22, 2026. The order further states that failure to do so will result in dismissal of the case without notice. The directive was signed by Judge David S. Leibowitz on March 23, 2026.

Lewis hopes to hold Royal Caribbean accountable for the alleged negligence that disrupted her vacation on the Harmony of the Seas cruise ship and impacted her long-term health.

Which Royal Caribbean Ships Have Central Park?

The Central Park neighborhood debuted on Oasis of the Seas. Since then, the outdoor neighborhood has become a defining feature of Oasis and Icon Class ships. 

Following its debut on Oasis of the Seas, the Central Park concept has been incorporated into all Oasis Class ships, including Allure of the Seas, Harmony of the Seas, Symphony of the Seas, Wonder of the Seas, and Utopia of the Seas. 

Icon Class ships — Icon of the Seas, Star of the Seas, and the upcoming Legend of the Seas — feature an evolved Central Park design. For example, the open-air neighborhood is home to the Izumi specialty restaurant, along with innovative infinite verandahs that seamlessly blend indoor and outdoor living spaces.

Read more: Icon of the Seas Central Park: What to expect

Aboard Oasis Class ships, the Central Park area is located on Deck 8 and offers passengers an array of retail and dining options, ranging from Chops Grille to Park Café, Hublot, the beloved Trellis Bar, 150 Central Park, and more. 

Because Central Park is not fully enclosed, its walkways are exposed to the elements, including rain, humidity, and condensation, which can occasionally make surfaces slick under certain weather conditions.

However, Royal Caribbean generally takes precautions to mitigate risks, including placing visible wet-floor warning signs throughout the outdoor neighborhood.

Harmony of the Seas Royal Caribbean Facts

Harmony of the Seas is an Oasis Class ship that set sail in May 2016. She measures 226,963 gross tons and is 1,188 feet long, according to the cruise line. 

At double occupancy, the Harmony of the Seas cruise ship can accommodate 5,479 guests, in addition to the 2,200 international crew members who help the vessel run smoothly. 

Highlights include the AquaTheater, zip line, FlowRider surf simulators, mini-golf course, Perfect Storm water slides, ice skating rink, Rising Tide Bar, escape room, adult-only Solarium, and more. 

Harmony of the Seas is set to undergo a major refurbishment in April and May 2026. As part of the ship's Royal Amplification, she will receive brand-new cabins, an expanded casino, Pesky Parrot Bar, Playmaker's Sports Bar & Arcade, Samba Grill Brazilian Steakhouse, Caribbean-inspired pool deck, an upgraded Crown Lounge, and more. 

Following the dry dock, Harmony of the Seas will spend the summer of 2026 in Europe, offering bucket-list cruises to destinations like Palma de Mallorca, Spain; Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy; Barcelona, Spain; Seville (Cádiz), Spain; and more. 

She will return to Florida in August 2026. Port Canaveral (Orlando), Florida, will be Harmony's homeport through at least April 2028. 

Royal Caribbean's new cabin design solves the noise problem in connecting rooms.

In March, I went on Star of the Seas for a 7-night cruise to Mexico and Honduras and I paid $2597.34 for each category CB stateroom.

I booked two connecting balcony rooms so that we had separation from my kids and we had two bathrooms, which has become a must-have when cruising with teenagers.

We stayed in cabins 12696 and 12698, which is on deck 12 and a short walk from the aft elevators.

After a few days, I regretted not booking our rooms on a lower deck.  I like to rely on the stairs to quickly get down to the Royal Promenade, but I wish I had a cabin on deck 8 or 9 instead because the walk would have been shorter.

Regardless of deck, I prefer to pick a cabin near the elevators to reduce the walking distance and increase convenience.

I've stayed in connecting rooms before, but there's a major difference with them on Star of the Seas. Instead of a connecting door inside the room, there's now a new feature that I think is pure genius.

Royal Caribbean added a pair of outside doors to solve a problem connecting cabins traditionally had of the interior common door being flimsy and not very soundproof.

The idea with these rooms is you can close off the outside doors and then keep your primary cabin door open or unlocked so you can easily go between each.

The advantage of this approach is if you don't know someone in the other connecting cabin, you don't have an interior door to contend with.  It's a wonderful little fix.

This seemingly solves the reason why connecting rooms were on our list of cabins to avoid on a cruise ship.

Access to the outside door still requires a tap of the RFID Seapass card (or Wow Band), and you can open or close the outer doors anytime you want.

The flexibility to deploy the outside doors or not meant we could keep it simple during the day, but close them at night in case us or the kids needed to pass through the rooms quickly.

Walking into the cabin, it's far from a giant cabin.  This is a standard balcony room with enough room for two passengers to comfortably enjoy it.

The king size bed is found immediately as we pass into the room. Like most Royal Caribbean beds, it can be split apart upon request.

On both sides of the bed is a reading light switch, along with a USB-A outlet.

There is a large closet near the bed, which is where most of the storage space is located.

Royal Caribbean provides hangers for your use, so you don't need to bring any extras with you.

The most controversial thing about this cabin are the wire baskets at the bottom.

Instead of drawers there are these heavy black baskets that screech every time you pull or push them in because they rub against the wood below it.

Frankly, I hate this and don't understand why the baskets were ever approved given how loud they are to slide in and out. Plus, I don't love the idea of my garments being visible from within the basket.

Some of our readers suggested removing the baskets and hiding them under the bed, which is a pretty good idea.

Next to the closet is a full-length mirror, which if you pull it open, reveals the safe.

Kind of a neat idea to hide the safe behind the mirror.

There is a large television across from the bed, which has a few channels to watch.  My favorite is the non-stop Back to the Future movies channel loop. 

Next to the TV are a set of shelves, with an extra USB outlet here. I'm not certain why there's a USB outlet, but it's there.

There is a vanity as you move deeper into the cabin, which also has additional drawers.

The vanity has a mirror and many power outlets. There is a universal AC outlet, along with one USB-A and one USB-C outlet.

Opposite the vanity is a sofa, which ends up being the "place all our junk gets put on".  But theoretically, you could sit or lay on it.

The balcony is accessible via a sliding door, where you'll find two chairs and a table.

Having a balcony room is such a nice plus. It's a wonderful space to enjoy and just large enough for two people to comfortably be out there. 

Back inside the room, the bathroom is small, but the space is used effectively.

The best thing about a bathroom on Star of the Seas is the shower. 

Instead of a tubular shape, Royal Caribbean has a much wider option with sliding door and even a bench. 

Overall, connecting balcony rooms are my favorite option for families that want to cruise together, but not share the same room.

Suites are so much more expensive than connecting rooms. Plus, this new connecting outside door idea is a really smart upgrade for families, or a lovely workaround if you happen to end up in a connecting balcony room and don't know the people in the other room.

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

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

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

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

Celebrity Cruises Drink Package Overview

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

How much is the drink package on Celebrity Cruises?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What is All Included on Celebrity Cruises?

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

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

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

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

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

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

How much are drinks on Celebrity Cruises?

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

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

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

Pros and cons of getting the Celebrity drink package

Value

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

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

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

Convenience

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

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

Helps establish your cruise budget

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

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

Drink fatigue

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

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

Celebrity Elite Happy Hour

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

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

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

Itinerary

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

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

Can you use your drink package at Cococay?

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

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

Is the drink package worth it on a cruise?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Some are concerned, but not canceling

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

Flights are probably the top concern among respondents.

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

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

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

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

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

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

People aren't canceling, but they are watching

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Can you bring soda on a Royal Caribbean cruise?

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

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

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

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

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

Why I decided to try this cruise hack

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

How I used the soda during the cruise

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

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

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

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

The only downside was getting I had to wait for ice

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

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

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

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

How much money this actually saved me

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

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

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

Would I do this again?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Not the first time Royal Caribbean has had a technological glitch

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Cruise ships don't have blood banks on board

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Should you buy travel insurance for cruise vacations?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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