Royal Caribbean Blog

Visiting Alaska is an aspiration for many travelers, and you’ll want to plan the Alaska vacation that suits your travel style best. Most visitors to Alaska travel via cruise ship or through a land-based vacation, but what is the best way to see the state?

Regardless of how you travel Alaska, you’re sure to be impressed by the state’s wildlife, history, food, and terrain. However, each travel style comes with its own set of advantages and disadvantages.

Although you can enjoy an all-inclusive vacation on a cruise to Alaska, you’ll miss out on some of the state’s most popular attractions. And while you can visit Alaska without a cruise on a land tour, you may find the logistics of navigating on your own too complicated.

Let’s dive in and discover why you should cruise to Alaska and why you might want to consider a land-based trip to the Last Frontier.

Why cruise to Alaska

Alaska cruises are popular for a reason: they travel through some of the most gorgeous landscapes in North America and allow passengers to experience several diverse areas of the state in one week.

Whether discovering Gold Rush history in Skagway, whale watching in Icy Strait Point, or glacier-hopping near Juneau, an Alaska cruise is certainly an experience you’ll never forget.

Royal Caribbean cruises to Alaska visit the Inside Passage, a 500 mile stretch of fjords, islands, and small towns in the southeast region of the state. Many towns along the Inside Passage are only accessible by sea or plane, making a cruise the perfect way to travel from place to place.

An Alaska cruise is a fantastic way for families to travel around the state. Cruises are designed to cater to a wide range of age demographics and interests. You’ll find both kid-friendly activities like surfing simulators and kids clubs and adult-focused programming like theater shows and live music on a Royal Caribbean cruise to Alaska.

Plus, a cruise offers a more all-inclusive experience compared to traveling independently to Alaska. While onboard, you won’t have to worry about the cost of food, entertainment, transportation, or hotels. Everything you need is included in your cruise fare, so you won’t be surprised with unexpected costs along the way.

Related: What’s included in your Royal Caribbean cruise fare

One con of traveling to Alaska on a cruise is the limited time you’ll have in each cruise port. However, since many ports are quite small, you may find that you have more than enough time to explore the destination’s main attractions. If you’re looking for the most in-depth way to explore Alaska, though, you may want to consider a land tour.

Why book a land tour to Alaska

If you look at a map of Alaska and find the Inside Passage, you’ll realize that you’ve barely scratched the surface of the state on a cruise itinerary. Alaska is a whopping 665,400 square miles, and the Inside Passage is only a tiny portion of the state.

Therefore, it’s understandable that many people are torn between cruising to Alaska versus visiting the state on a land-based vacation. And while we love cruising here at Royal Caribbean Blog, there’s no doubt that a land tour to Alaska comes with its own set of benefits.

Related: How to choose the right Alaska cruise itinerary

Visiting Alaska on a land tour brings you closer to the state’s nature, as you can travel further into Alaska’s interior. Denali National Park and Preserve, for example, is one of the most popular places to visit in the state.

The national park is the second largest in the United States and is one of the best places to see Alaska’s Big Five: bears, wolves, moose, caribou, Dall sheep, and wolves. You’ll also have the opportunity to spot the peak of Denali, the tallest mountain in North America.

Related: What is the best time of year to see wildlife in Alaska?

Traveling Alaska on a land-based vacation means you can travel at your own pace. You won’t have to worry about limited time in port or sticking to a rigid schedule. It also gives you more flexibility with how you’d like to travel, whether you prefer touring with an organized group or renting an RV to drive around the state yourself.

One con of traveling to Alaska on a land-based trip are the logistics required to travel through the Inside Passage. For those with limited time, being constrained to the Alaska Marine Highway's ferry schedules can be frustrating, and the onboard accommodations won’t be as comfortable as on a cruise ship.

The solution: do both!

Truthfully, there’s no “better” way to see Alaska. Both cruises and land-based vacations each come with their own pros and cons, and it can be difficult to choose the best option for your Alaska trip.

Luckily, you don’t necessarily have to choose one or the other. Why not do both?

You can combine a cruise with a land trip to Alaska by booking one of Royal Caribbean’s one-way cruise itineraries. A Royal Caribbean ship sails one-way Alaska cruise itineraries each summer season. These cruises begin in Vancouver, British Columbia and end in Seward, Alaska and vice versa.

Related: Comparing the Royal Caribbean ships sailing to Alaska

One-way Alaska cruises are 7-nights and visit 4-5 destinations in Alaska’s Inside Passage before (or following) a crossing through the Gulf of Alaska to Seward. A one-way cruise means you can visit Alaska’s top inland destinations and Inside Passage cruise ports.

There are a few ways to combine a cruise with a land tour of Alaska. Many passengers opt to book the land portion of their Alaska trip through Royal Caribbean as part of their overall cruise fare. 2-6 night tours are offered through Alaska’s interior, visiting destinations such as Talkeetna, Fairbanks, Denali, Anchorage, and Seward.

Alternatively, you can choose to sightsee on your own in Alaska before or after your cruise. Renting a car, campervan, or RV is common for many travelers, or you can travel via the Alaska Railroad. Several tours are offered to Denali National Park and Preserve from Anchorage as well if you’d prefer an organized option without booking through Royal Caribbean.

More Alaska tips & tricks:

• How far in advance to book an Alaska cruise
• When should I book my Alaska shore excursion?
• What is the cheapest month for an Alaska cruise?
• Best things to do on an Alaska cruise
• What is the best time of year to see wildlife in Alaska?

Royal Caribbean cruises from New York sail to a diverse array of destinations, from picturesque towns in Quebec to the lush, tropical landscapes of the Southern Caribbean.

Cruises from New York sail year round and are a convenient option for those living in the northeast. A variety of Royal Caribbean’s ships sail from the port each year, from smaller Vision and Radiance Class ships to modern Quantum and Oasis Class ships.

One important note is that Royal Caribbean’s “New York City” cruise port is not actually in New York. The Cape Liberty Cruise Port is located in Bayonne, New Jersey just minutes from Newark International Airport.

Related: Guide to cruises from New York

Let’s dive in to uncover where cruises go from New York to help you plan your next cruise from Cape Liberty.

Canada & New England

During the summer and fall, you’ll find cruises to Canada and New England departing from Cape Liberty. While not the tropical paradise you’ll find further south, cruising to Canada and New England brings charming towns, intriguing history, and mouthwatering cuisine to discover.

The shortest cruises you’ll find to Canada and New England from Cape Liberty are 4 and 5-night itineraries. 4-night cruises visit Halifax, Nova Scotia whereas the 5-night itineraries visit both Halifax and Saint John, New Brunswick.

Booking a 9-night itinerary to Canada and New England gives you the chance to visit additional ports in the northeast, including Boston, Portland (Maine), Bar Harbor, Halifax, and Saint John.

The northeast of the United States and Canada is famous for its fall foliage, and you shouldn’t miss the opportunity to sail on a fall foliage cruise departing from Cape Liberty.

These 10 and 11-night sailings visit a variety of ports in the US and Canada, which vary based on itinerary:

• Bar Harbor, Maine
• Portland, Maine
• Saint John, New Brunswick
• Sydney, Nova Scotia,
• Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
• Saguenay, Quebec
• Corner Brook, Newfoundland

Fall foliage cruises are one-way itineraries and sail from Cape Liberty to Quebec City (and vice versa).

Bermuda

Many people are surprised to find out that Bermuda is located over 900 miles north of the Caribbean. Despite the island’s abundance of white sand beaches and turquoise blue water, Bermuda is located closer to North Carolina than it is to the Bahamas.

Because of this, Bermuda is a common stop on cruise itineraries from the northeast in the summer months. You’ll find 4 and 5-night cruises from Cape Liberty to Bermuda. 4-night cruises visit the island for just one day whereas the 5-night itineraries include an overnight stay in Bermuda.

Related: Why you should take a cruise to Bermuda

Caribbean

Traveling to the Caribbean from New York isn’t as convenient as from Florida, but you’ll still find regularly scheduled Caribbean cruises departing from Cape Liberty.

Due to the distance between the northeast and Caribbean, you won’t find Caribbean cruises from Cape Liberty shorter than 6 nights, with most between 7 and 9 nights.

Bahamas

Bahamas cruises from Cape Liberty are typically 7-night itineraries and visit Port Canaveral, Perfect Day at CocoCay, and Nassau. Occasionally you will also find 8-night itineraries with either an extra sea day or a port day in Miami.

Eastern Caribbean & Bermuda

Although the Bahamas offers a relaxing tropical getaway, traveling further into the Caribbean can bring more exotic ports and even warmer temperatures.

9-night Eastern Caribbean itineraries are offered from Cape Liberty which have four ports and four sea days. Ports may include Bermuda, Labadee, La Romana, Puerto Plata, Nassau, Port Canaveral, and Perfect Day at CocoCay.

Southern Caribbean

While not offered as frequently as Bahamas cruises, you’ll occasionally find Southern Caribbean cruises from Cape Liberty. Travel time to the Southern Caribbean from the northeast can take some time, and you’ll find five sea days and five port days on these itineraries.

Depending on the itinerary, ports may include Puerto Plata, St. Thomas, St. Maarten, St. Lucia, St. Kitts, San Juan, and Antigua.

Related: Best shore excursion in every Caribbean cruise port

Repositioning cruises

If you’re looking for a longer cruise itinerary from New York, consider a repositioning cruise. Repositioning cruises occur when a cruise ship is moved from one port to another, such as when ships move to Europe for the summer season.

In late spring each year, you’ll find transatlantic cruises from New York. These cruises embark in Cape Liberty and stop in the Azores, Madeira, France, Spain, and/or Italy before reaching their new homeport in Europe.

Transatlantic cruises from Cape Liberty are between 11 and 15 nights and you should expect many sea days en route to Europe.

In addition to transatlantic itineraries, you can occasionally find repositioning cruises to other North American ports from New York as ships move their homeport from Cape Liberty to ports in Florida or San Juan.

Looking for more information on Royal Caribbean’s destinations? Start here:

• 15 countries you didn’t know you could cruise to on Royal Caribbean
• The best cruise itineraries for every type of traveler
• 10 Royal Caribbean cruise destinations not to be missed
• Ultimate Mexico Cruise Guide
• 30 best European cruise tips

Once you start cruising frequently, it’s easy to forget how it feels to go on a cruise for the very first time. From formal dinners in the Main Dining Room to the spectacular shows you see onboard, your first-ever Royal Caribbean cruise brings memories you’ll cherish for a long time.

One of my favorite parts of working for Royal Caribbean Blog is cruising with friends and family, most of whom are first-time cruisers. Hearing their thoughts about the cruise experience is always interesting, whether it’s the surprise at realizing they can order unlimited items off the menu or their reaction to the World’s Sexiest Man Competition on the pool deck.

I recently took my cousin Keli on a cruise on Liberty of the Seas, and I sat down with her to see what she thought—the good and the bad—about her first Royal Caribbean cruise.

Staff

First-time cruisers are often impressed with the level of service on a Royal Caribbean cruise, especially if they’ve never experienced an all-inclusive style of vacation before.

“As far as customer service goes," Keli mentioned, "it was far better than anything you get on land. Everyone was so happy. After learning they live on a ship for a long time, to keep up that energy and cheerfulness is amazing!”

Her favorite staff members, though, were the “Washy Washy” workers in the Windjammer Cafe. As you enter the buffet, these crew members encourage all guests to wash their hands through song, dance, and cheers.

“God, those ladies! They’re the best thing ever. Far better than any experience on land.”

Food

Food is synonymous with a Royal Caribbean cruise, and I was interested to see how Keli felt about the variety of food available onboard.

Right off the bat, she exclaimed that “I was literally never hungry.” This could not be more true, as we indulged in a variety of cuisines in the Main Dining Room, Windjammer, and Chops Grille during our sailing.

Breakfast was Keli’s favorite, and when asked about her favorite dish onboard, she immediately answered with “French toast, for sure!” I certainly agree with Keli, and you’ll never find me skipping breakfast on a Royal Caribbean cruise.

As far as options, Keli appreciated how a buffet provides a way to try foods you wouldn’t normally try, and that there were a lot more dinner options than she initially thought.

I think this is a huge benefit of the cruise experience, and I’ve definitely expanded my palette on a cruise far more than I ever would on land. Being able to try new dishes without worrying that I'll have to pay for something I don't like enhances the dining experience on any cruise.

Time in port

Our first surprise on our cruise was a last-minute itinerary change. As we entered the cruise terminal, we received a paper detailing a schedule change due to a storm. Instead of the Bahamas itinerary we originally planned for, we would be setting course to the Dominican Republic.

As a first-time cruiser, Keli had no idea an itinerary could change. “That was super surprising,” she mentioned. “I didn’t know that they could just send you somewhere different.”

Luckily we took our itinerary change in stride and we were beyond excited for our day in the Dominican Republic.

Puerto Plata’s cruise port is brand new, and the facilities within the port itself can keep visitors occupied for a full day. From a large pool to several bars and restaurants, I was impressed with the space, but was interested to hear what Keli had to say about this port.

“The port itself was gorgeous. If I couldn’t speak Spanish (which I can’t), leaving the port by myself would have been a little intimidating. Even if I didn’t feel comfortable doing that, staying at the port would have been gorgeous. The free pool was amazing and they had all those really cool bars. I would have been satisfied just staying at the port all day.”

Related: 7 things I did right (and 3 mistakes) on my recent cruise ship port day

This was Keli’s first time out of the United States. I’ve always thought cruises are a nice, stress-free vacation for those new to international travel, and Keli’s comments reinforced this opinion.

She mentioned how choosing a cruise for her first international trip was great due to the structure of the vacation.

“It’s a little less intimidating than going off by yourself. When you go to the port, you can be as involved or uninvolved as you want in the country. It’s not like they drop you off at the curb and say ‘See ya!’. You can go galavant by yourself or stay in the port.”

Do cruises spend enough time at each port?

A common concern of new cruisers is that they won’t have a lot of time to spend in port. To make the most of our few hours in the Dominican Republic, we hired a private taxi driver for the day. I asked Keli her thoughts on the time we had in Puerto Plata.

“I felt like we had a good amount of time. We went and saw a lot of the local stuff but then were still able to spend time at the port. Without the guide, I think we would have spent a lot more time finding our way around, so I think that was really helpful. Since we were able to get a local guide, we were able to come back and relax before we got back on the ship.”

Cabin

I decided to upgrade our cabin at the last minute from an interior to a spacious ocean view balcony room. Not only would this provide more room in our cabin, but it would be a nice way to kick off Keli’s first cruise.

Related: I spent $250 to upgrade my cruise ship cabin: Was it worth it?

“The cabin was bigger than I expected because we upgraded our stateroom. I was a little concerned about being in an interior room, so I’m glad we had the window. I think the window was really beneficial. In the future, I would definitely book one with a window or I would love to have one with a balcony. A balcony would be amazing!”

If there’s anything I’ve learned about cruising with first-timers, it’s that they’re often worried about feeling seasick. When I initially upgraded our stateroom, I realized our cabin was far aft and was nervous we would feel too much movement in the room.

Keli, too, was nervous, but she mentioned how “The dramamine worked well. I was surprised I enjoyed the ship rocking at night when I was going to sleep!”.

If you’re traveling with first-time cruisers, be sure to pack motion-sickness remedies in case anyone in your travel party is nervous about feeling too much movement.

Overall experience

I asked Keli if there’s anything she would change about her first cruise. Other than wishing she knew Spanish for our time in the Dominican Republic, she mentioned how she would have researched more had she not been cruising with me.

“Because I was going with you, I didn’t research anything! However if I was going to go by myself I would research the itinerary better.”

Researching your cruise ship, itinerary, and what’s offered onboard is definitely a helpful tip for any first-time cruisers. Knowing the ins and outs of what to expect both onboard and in port can ensure you don’t run into any surprises along the way.

Related: What to expect on your first cruise

Finally, I was curious about Keli’s favorite aspects of her cruise on Royal Caribbean. 

“My favorite thing was being on the tour with Ramon (our private taxi driver) in Puerto Plata. That was the best! My favorite thing on the ship was karaoke 100%. It was one big party. You had kids and elderly people and everyone in between having a good time. That I loved."

Cruising solo can be fun, but I always enjoy my cruise experience more when sailing with friends and family. Taking first-time cruisers onboard helps me to relive the “WOW” feeling I had when stepping onboard a Royal Caribbean cruise for the first time, and that was the case during my four nights onboard with Keli.

If you’re traveling with first-time cruisers (or are planning your first-ever cruise!) check our our helpful tips and tricks:

• 8 cruise tips for first-time Royal Caribbean cruisers
• The 20 worst mistakes that will ruin your cruise vacation
• 30 Do's and Don'ts for the first day of your cruise
• 8 things I learned on my first Royal Caribbean cruise

Merry Christmas! The holidays are here, and so is our weekly round up of the articles and news we shared about Royal Caribbean.

Royal Caribbean confirmed it will have a new main dining room menu beginning in January 2023.

This is the first new dining room menu in over five years for the cruise line.

Royal Caribbean cautioned that the exact menu selections may change, so test menus that have been used so far may not be the final product.

Royal Caribbean News

• Royal Caribbean changes Diamond drinks benefit to be easier for passengers that stay up late
• Royal Caribbean Group CEO talks ordering new ships, port projects & more
• Royal Caribbean announces plan to build first carbon-neutral cruise ship
• What's different about a Royal Caribbean cruise ship and the last ocean liner?
• Why January is the best time for last-minute cruises

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 479th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available featuring an inside look at why Royal Caribbean is changing the main dining room menus.

Royal Caribbean Vice President Food & Beverage, Linken D'Souza talks about the dynamics of changing a dining room menu and what we can expect when it rolls out.

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

New RCB Video: 8 Things I Won't Do Again on Royal Caribbean

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Have you subscribed to the Royal Caribbean Blog YouTube Channel? We share some great videos there regularly, all about taking a Royal Caribbean cruise! This week, we are sharing our latest video — 8 Things I Won't Do Again on Royal Caribbean — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

15 tips to cruising for cheap on less than $100 per day

Want to go on a cruise for cheap? We have some easy ways to enjoy a cruise for less than $100 per day.

Between planning in advance and avoiding certain onboard purchases, you can easily keep that cruise cost down.

Royal Caribbean releases 2024-2025 Caribbean sailings for sale

Ready to book a Caribbean cruise in winter 2024?

Royal Caribbean released its year-round and summer Caribbean sailings for the 2024-2025 cruise season.

The new itineraries are loaded into Royal Caribbean's website and available for immediate booking. 

Royal Caribbean removes Diamond Plus benefit from Crown and Anchor Society perks

There's been a change to one benefit for Diamond Plus members.

Royal Caribbean it has decided to rescind access to the Concierge Lounge due to overcrowding in the lounge.

Due to high counts of top-tier members on most sailings, Royal Caribbean had to limit access to the Concierge Lounge altogether.

Destination weddings took on a whole new meaning last week as two Royal Caribbean cruisers tied the knot at Perfect Day at CocoCay. But the newlyweds didn’t get married on the island… they got married above it!

Thomas and Nancy Budzyn were wed at the top of Royal Caribbean’s Up, Up, and Away helium balloon at Perfect Day at CocoCay. While weddings on a cruise are nothing new, this may be the most unique cruise wedding we’ve seen yet!

The Up, Up, and Away helium balloon at Royal Caribbean’s private island takes guests 450 feet in the air for 360 degree views of this Bahamian paradise. As the highest vantage point in the entire Bahamas, the helium balloon provides a view of the island like no other.

On December 9, 2022, two Royal Caribbean cruisers were married on the helium balloon. We wanted to learn more about their special day.

The newlyweds

Thomas and Nancy Budzyn live in Naples, Florida and are frequent Royal Caribbean cruisers, both of whom hold Diamond Plus status in the Crown & Anchor Society.

While the pair had met years ago, their relationship as a couple began after the cruising restart, and they took their first cruise together in July 2021. As the two both work remotely, they can cruise often and have been on thirteen cruises together since the restart.

I couldn’t help but ask how the idea of getting married on the Up, Up, and Away helium balloon came to be.

“We have been to CocoCay so many times together and always have a great time,” Thomas mentioned. “Plus, it’s so beautiful there. It just seemed like the perfect place to have our perfect day.”

Thomas and Nancy were the first couple to get married in the balloon, although another couple had previously gotten engaged there!

“Everyone always does the same thing. We wanted to do something different and hopefully be trendsetters.”

After a trial run in the balloon during a cruise over Thanksgiving, Thomas and Nancy were ready to return in a few weeks for their special day.

The ceremony

One of the main issues with the Up, Up, and Away helium balloon at Perfect Day at CocoCay is that rides are weather dependent. Weather conditions must be ideal–with very little wind and no rain–for the helium balloon to run.

Thomas explained how this was a potential issue for their special day.

“The only concern was the wind, as that could cause the balloon not to go up. We were mentally prepared for a last-minute venue change, either the wedding pavilion or somewhere on the beach.”

Luckily their wedding day brought sunny blue skies. They were notified 30 minutes before the ceremony that the balloon ride would take place.

The ceremony was small, with six attendees: the couple, the island’s Entertainment Manager, the balloon operator, the officiant (Nancy’s best friend), and another friend that took photos. The Up, Up, and Away helium balloon can accommodate thirty people in total.

“The balloon ride is short,” Thomas said. “The whole thing from boarding to unboarding was around 12 minutes. We had a short, simple ceremony to fit within the time constraint.”

After the wedding

After the ceremony, the wedding party headed over to Oasis Lagoon and each had the island’s signature drink, the Coco Loco. They took several photos on the bridge over the lagoon before heading back to the ship.

A private tram escorted the newlyweds back to Symphony of the Seas, where they took a few photos with the island’s dancers and band.

Once back onboard, Thomas and Nancy headed to the casino (a little post-wedding luck, perhaps?) before enjoying champagne and cake.

Thomas mentioned how the staff was excellent during the planning process and wedding ceremony.

“The staff were all just as excited as we were. The crew, both on the island and on the ship, made us feel like they were part of our wedding and our family.”

The only caveat with getting married at Perfect Day at CocoCay? The heat.

“One does not realize how hot it is,” Thomas joked, “until you walk from the ship to the balloon in a tuxedo!”

Thank you to Thomas and Nancy for sharing their story with us at Royal Caribbean Blog. Congratulations and we wish you many happy years together!

Sailing on a Royal Caribbean ship makes for a memorable vacation experience, but what is it like to sail on the world’s last ocean liner?

Built in 2004 by Cunard, the Queen Mary 2 is the last remaining ocean liner offering passenger service. Cunard has a long history of building ocean liners, with hundreds of ships having been constructed since Cunard was founded in the mid 1800s.

Because ocean liners have such historical significance in global migration and transportation, many people are intrigued by the Queen Mary 2. Let’s take a look at what it’s like to sail on the Queen Mary 2 and how the experience can differ greatly from cruising with Royal Caribbean.

What's the difference between an ocean liner and a cruise ship?

Ocean liners are used to provide transportation from one destination to another without stopping at various ports of call for leisurely travel days in between. They are designed and built to sail long distances, often between the US and Europe.

Here are some of the major differences between an ocean liner and a cruise ship:

Speed: Ocean liners are constructed to move quickly through the ocean. The Queen Mary 2 has a max speed of 30 knots (35mph). Wonder of the Seas, by comparison, has a maximum speed of 22 knots (25mph). The Queen Mary 2 is the fastest passenger ship in service today.

Draft: The draft (distance between the waterline and bottom of hull) is 34 feet on the Queen Mary 2. Royal Caribbean ships, on the other hand, have between a 25 and 31 foot draft depending on the vessel.

Steel Thickness: Ocean liners are designed with thicker steel on the ship’s hull. This helps the Queen Mary 2 endure the stress she takes on during frequent transatlantic voyages in the Atlantic. 

Longer bow: Ocean liners are built with a long bow designed to cut through rough waters in the open ocean.

Movement: You tend to feel much less movement on an ocean liner than a cruise ship due to the ship’s design, which is welcomed on long ocean crossings. Most public areas–including the buffet, which is usually found on higher decks–are located  midship and on lower decks, which decreases any movement felt in these spaces.

Size of the Queen Mary 2 versus Royal Caribbean ships

The Queen Mary 2 has capacity for 2,691 guests and 1,173 crew members. She has a length of 1,132 feet and a gross tonnage of 148,528.

Royal Caribbean ships vary by size according to ship class. The Queen Mary 2 is most similar in size to Freedom Class cruise ships. Freedom of the Seas, for example, has a length of 1,112 feet and a gross tonnage of 154,407.

Onboard experience: Royal Caribbean ships versus the Queen Mary 2

Royal Caribbean ships and the Queen Mary 2 may both be passenger ships, but the onboard experience can be quite different. Whereas you might spend your days moving from one thrilling activity to another on a Royal Caribbean cruise, sailing on the Queen Mary offers a more laid-back, traditional cruising experience.

Pool deck: As an ocean liner, the Queen Mary 2 does not have a traditional pool deck. You’ll find pools spread throughout the ship, with pools on decks 6, 7, 8, and 12. Instead of a pool, the top deck of the Queen Mary 2 features a large, open sun deck often used for shuffleboard.

Biggest library: Royal Caribbean ships have small libraries, but the Queen Mary 2 has a 700 square foot library with over 10,000 books!

Planetarium: The Queen Mary 2 has a planetarium onboard which provides daily shows.

Lectures: Royal Caribbean ships occasionally provide guest lectures, but they are not nearly as common as on the Queen Mary 2. When sailing on the Queen Mary 2, the Cunard Insights enrichment program offers seminars and talks by famous historians, explorers, politicians, and other experts.

Entertainment: Royal Caribbean is known for its unique entertainment offerings, such as dynamic AquaTheater performances and ice-skating shows. The Queen Mary 2 features more traditional entertainment, from pianists to jazz ensembles and theater shows.

Family-friendly activities: Royal Caribbean is known for being a family-friendly cruise line, and while the Queen Mary 2 accommodates children, it is not nearly as family-friendly as Royal Caribbean. You won’t find activities like waterslides, ziplining, ice-skating, and surfing simulators onboard the Queen Mary 2.

Dress codes

Sailing on the Queen Mary 2 is a more formal experience overall than sailing on Royal Caribbean, and dress codes are taken seriously while onboard. You can wear the same casual clothes you’d wear on Royal Caribbean during the day on the Queen Mary 2, but evening wear will differ.

What you might wear to formal night on a Royal Caribbean cruise is what you’d wear to a casual night on the Queen Mary 2. Collared shirts, cocktail dresses, and blouses are typical daily dinner outfits on the Queen Mary 2.

Related: What to wear on a cruise formal night

Formal nights onboard the Queen Mary 2 are called Gala Evenings, and they are a black tie event where you’ll find tuxedos and ball gowns. Unlike on a Royal Caribbean cruise where the dress code is not strictly enforced, you’ll find most guests adhering to dress codes on the Queen Mary 2.

You’re also expected to adhere to dress codes around the ship on Gala Evenings. It’s not recommended to attend theater shows and parties in casual wear on formal nights.

If the idea of dressing formally every night doesn’t sound appealing, you’re always able to dine at the buffet, just like on Royal Caribbean.

Food & drink

The Queen Mary 2, like Royal Caribbean cruise ships, comes with many different dining options. One aspect of dining that stands out is that there are four separate dining rooms on the Queen Mary 2, each of which serves a different clientele.

The Queens Grill, Princess Grill, and Britannia Club restaurants serve passengers staying in Queens Grill Suites, Princess Grill Suites, and Britannia Club Balcony staterooms respectively.

All other guests dine at the Britannia Restaurant, the Main Dining Room onboard the Queen Mary 2.

On Royal Caribbean ships, suite guests on Oasis and Quantum Class ships can dine at Coastal Kitchen, but the Queen Mary 2 takes this a step further with her four dining rooms.

Both Royal Caribbean ships and the Queen Mary 2 have a steakhouse which comes at an extra cost and there is also an informal buffet on all ships.

The Queen Mary 2 also has an English-style pub that serves fare like beer battered cod, burgers, and savory pies.

Afternoon tea

Something you’ll find on the Queen Mary 2 but not on Royal Caribbean ships is afternoon tea, which is included in the Cunard cruise fare.

From 3:30PM to 4:30PM daily, afternoon tea is offered on the Queen Mary 2. The menu changes daily, but passengers can expect to find a variety of scones, sandwiches, and patisserie. A harpist or pianist provides music during tea.

Pets travel in luxury

Have you ever wished you could travel with your four-legged friends onboard a cruise? Something that makes the Queen Mary 2 even more unique is the kennel found onboard.

Available on transatlantic crossings is the ability to board your dog or cat in the ship’s kennel, where pets are cared for 24 hours a day during the length of the sailing by the Kennel Master and assistant.

There are 24 kennels on the Queen Mary 2, an owner’s lounge, and outdoor deck space to play. British dogs will enjoy the ship’s lamppost from the Cunard building in Liverpool whereas American dogs will find familiarity with a New York City fire hydrant!

Only service dogs are permitted on Royal Caribbean ships.

Itineraries

One of the most obvious differences between a Royal Caribbean cruise ship and the Queen Mary 2 are the itineraries.

Most Queen Mary 2 itineraries include a transatlantic crossing between Southampton, England, and New York. However, she offers itineraries around the world, from Europe to Asia and beyond.

You may also find itineraries visiting the Caribbean. Departing from New York, these voyages visit ports including St. Maarten, Martinique, and Barbados.

You can also find cruises on the Queen Mary 2 to various ports of call in Europe. These sailings depart from Southampton and visit ports in the Netherlands, Belgium, Norway, Germany, and France.

In 2024, the Queen Mary 2 will sail a 108-night Full World Voyage sailing roundtrip from Southampton and visiting ports in South Africa, Asia, Australia, and the Middle East. Passengers can book the full voyage or individual segments of the cruise.

Enjoyed this article? Discover more about the history of ships:

• What happened to Royal Caribbean's first cruise ships?
• What happened to Royal Caribbean's first cruise ship?
• What it was like to go on a Royal Caribbean cruise in the 1970s

Royal Caribbean is tweaking one of its most popular Crown and Anchor Society benefits.

The line announced two changes on Thursday that will slightly affect how the Diamond level drink vouchers work.

Both changes are intended to make redemption and tracking of this benefit easier.

If you are Diamond, Diamond Plus, or Pinnacle, you can get a set amount of complimentary beverages every day of your cruise, which includes alcoholic beverages.

Both of these changes go into effect on all sailings departing on or after December 16th, 2022.

Changing the time vouchers rollover

The time of day when your Diamond drinks reset is the first change.

Royal Caribbean provides complimentary drinks each day to its Diamond, Diamond Plus and Pinnacle guests.

Prior to the change, your daily drink vouchers would get reset at midnight. This meant if you didn't use up all your drink vouchers before midnight, you'd lose them and any drinks consumed after midnight would count against the next day's vouchers.

Instead, Royal Caribbean is changing the daily schedule so that these vouchers are now redeemable from 5:00 AM to 4:59 AM the next day. 

This means that your daily complimentary vouchers will now reset at 5:00 AM every morning allowing you to get more out of this benefit during prime hours of each day, including your after-midnight drinks.

The logic here is to allow the late-night festivities to continue past midnight, since most people think about the entirety of a night out as still the same day.

Drink voucher count

The other change is a formal announcement of a policy we heard was changing.

To make it easier to track how many drink vouchers you have left, Royal Caribbean is adding a tracker to the printed receipt that is given upon receiving your complimentary drink. 

At the bottom of the receipt, there will now be a line of text which indicates how many vouchers you have used towards your daily balance, e.g., “C&A Beverage Voucher [# Used] of [# Total].” You’ll never lose track of your complimentary drink vouchers ever again!

This change was first announced in early November, when Royal Caribbean said it would start giving guests a paper receipt with the Diamond drink voucher redemption.

Prior to this change, there was no receipt to sign and the vouchers were all managed in the backend. 

Giving guests a receipt allows for easier billing discrepancy tracking.

For instance, you ordered a $3 coffee and they may have applied your voucher – and you don’t learn about it until you’re at dinner, wanting that nice $13 cocktail and you’re out of vouchers.

How the Diamond drink vouchers work

Royal Caribbean provides complimentary drinks each day to its Diamond, Diamond Plus and Pinnacle guests.

Guests who are at a lower tier of Crown and Anchor Society (Gold, Platinum, or Emerald) do not qualify for the drink vouchers.

• Diamond: 4 beverage vouchers valid all day at any bar (except Starbucks)
• Diamond Plus: 5 beverage vouchers valid all day at any bar (except Starbucks)
• Pinnacle: 6 beverage vouchers valid all day at any bar (except Starbucks)

Drink vouchers are loaded automatically every day on a guest's SeaPass account. 

This includes alcoholic and non-alcoholic options, and includes any beverage up to $14 per drink.

Royal Caribbean will replace Oasis of the Seas in Cape Liberty with the newer and slightly larger Symphony of the Seas.

The cruise line released on Thursday its Year-round and Summer Caribbean sailings for the 2024-2025 cruise season.

A very noticeable change for summer 2024 is Symphony of the Seas deployment to Cape Liberty in Bayonne, New Jersey. Many cruise fans were curious which ship would replace Oasis of the Seas since it was previously announced Oasis of the Seas was headed to Europe in 2024.

The new itineraries are loaded into Royal Caribbean's website and available for immediate booking. 

Read more: How to choose the right Caribbean cruise sailing

Here's a look at the new itineraries and what you can expect if you'd like to book a cruise now.

Adventure of the Seas will sail from Port Canaveral, Florida and offer 6- and 8-night cruises that visit the Eastern and Southern Caribbean.

Enchantment of the Seas will sail from Tampa in the summer and offer primarily 7-night cruises to the Bahamas and Perfect Day at CocoCay.

Freedom of the Seas will sail from Miami between May and July 2024 offering short 3- and 4-night cruises.

Then in late July, she will move to Port Everglades, Florida and move away from short cruises to offer 6- and 7-night cruises to the Eastern and Western Caribbean.

Harmony of the Seas will remain in Galveston to offer 6-, 7-, and 8-night Western Caribbean cruises.  Notably, the 8-night cruises will visit Perfect Day at CocoCay, which has not traditionally been offered from Galveston.

Icon of the Seas will sail from Miami. Her deployment was already announced when her sailings went on sale earlier this year.

Liberty of the Seas will offer longer cruises from Cape Liberty, with Bermuda and Eastern Caribbean cruises.

Liberty will also offer cruises to Bermuda and Canada/New England.

Vision of the Seas will continue to sail out of Baltimore, Maryland and offer 8-night Southeast Coast cruises along with 12-night cruises to the Southern Caribbean. 

There are also cruises to the Bahamas and Bermuda, along with Canada sailings.

Wonder of the Seas will continue sailing year-round out of Port Canaveral with alternating Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises.

View all the new 2024-2025 year-long and summer Caribbean itineraries:

• Adventure of the Seas
• Enchantment of the Seas
• Freedom of the Seas (Long)
• Freedom of the Seas (short)
• Harmony of the Seas
• Liberty of the Seas
• Symphony of the Seas
• Vision of the Seas
• Wonder of the Seas

When will the other 2024 itineraries be released?

Royal Caribbean has not announced when the rest of the 2024-2025 cruises will be released.

Historically, Royal Caribbean typically releases its new itineraries in two batches: first around November/December, and then again in the spring around March/April.

Suffice to say, it is not likely to get anymore deployments before the end of the year.  When Royal Caribbean does release a new deployment schedule, we will share that here on this site.

Why booking a 2024 cruise now is so important

Booking a cruise more than two years in advance might seem crazy, but the reality is it's one of the best times to book a cruise.

There are two compelling reasons to book a cruise super early, especially when new itineraries are released.

First, certain stateroom categories that usually in high-demand will be readily available when new cruises are released. Suites are especially limited, and typically are the kind of cabin that get booked up quickly.

Second, some of the best rates can be found when booking well in advance.

Since cruise fares are based on supply and demand, prices tend to be lowest when new itineraries are released because inventory is at its greatest. 

Combine the lower prices with bargain hunters looking for suites, and you'll find a lot of veteran cruise fans booking up highly sought after cabins on popular sailings, such as holidays.

Planning on booking a 2024 cruise? These stories will help:

• 5 things to look for before you book a cruise
• What is the cheapest month to go on a cruise?
• Should I take a short or a long cruise?
• Why you shouldn't book the cheapest cruise you can find
• The best time to go on a Caribbean cruise

Royal Caribbean took a major stride toward sustainable cruising with its latest announcement.

In conjunction with the Finnish government, Royal Caribbean Group signed a deal with the Meyer Turku shipyard on Wednesday that commits a plan for the production of climate-neutral ships in Finland. 

Both the cruise giant and Finland want to establish a roadmap for a maritime industry green transition as a way forward for innovative and sustainable shipbuilding in Finland. 

The declaration was signed with the Finnish government, represented by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment (MEAE) and Meyer Turku Oy.

Today's announcement also secures the partnership Royal Caribbean Group already has with the Finnish government.

There are six tenants to today's deal:

• Preparing a roadmap for the production of climate-neutral ships in Finland. The roadmap is part of the maritime industry's green transition.
• Strengthening the innovation of Meyer Turku, Royal Caribbean Group and the maritime industry.
• Supporting networking to curb economic challenges, develop new solutions and secure the long-term viability of the maritime industry.
• Assembling a digital demonstration of a climate-neutral ship as part of the sustainable maritime industry development program of the Ministry of Labor and Economy.
• Strengthening the innovation of Meyer Turku, Royal Caribbean Group and the maritime industry.
• Piloting and testing new innovations and technologies on Royal Caribbean Group ships.

"Our partners in Finland have helped us deliver some of the world's most impressive and sustainable ships of their time, including our newest ship debuting in January 2024, Icon of the Seas," said Jason Liberty, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group.

"This new partnership sets the stage for future innovations and allows us and the maritime industry to continue pursuing sustainability at the highest level."

This is yet another step by the Royal Caribbean Group to get to net zero emissions by 2050.

Known as its Destination Net Zero strategy, the company has plans to decarbonize its operations by 2050.

It also aims to reduce carbon intensity by double digits by 2025 compared to 2019 and the introduction of a net-zero cruise ship by 2035. 

What does carbon neutral mean?

Carbon neutral means having a net zero carbon footprint, meaning that the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere is balanced by the amount removed.

This can be achieved through various methods, such as offsetting emissions through carbon credits or investing in renewable energy sources.

Essentially, it means that an individual, organization, or event has no net impact on the environment in terms of carbon emissions.

As part of Destination Net Zero, Royal Caribbean Group's approach includes:

1. Modernization of the cruise company's global brands fleet through the introduction of 13 new energy-efficient and alternatively fueled vessels.
    
2. Continued investment in energy efficiency programs for its fleet, including energy saving technologies, enhanced data systems and digitalization.
    
3. Development of alternative fuel and alternative power solutions.
    
4. Optimized deployment and integration of strategic shore-based supply chains.

With the new year nearly upon us, Royal Caribbean is looking forward to a new year of growth and its top executive seems very optimistic for what the future holds.

Royal Caribbean Group CEO Jason Liberty took the helm of the company at the beginning of 2022 and has worked through guiding the company to rebound from the depths of the cruise industry shutdown.

There's no doubt things look better today on the company's balance sheet than a year ago, but beyond the numbers, what does he think of where things are going?

During the naming ceremony for Wonder of the Seas, Royal Caribbean Blog had an exclusive sit down interview with Mr. Liberty to get his sense of where things are today and what the future holds for the brand.

State of the Cruise Union

When asked about how he sees things at the moment, he feels confident in the sense things are returning back.

"All the assets that made us everything that made us so great pre-pandemic is all back," he started saying about the business today. "Our load factors are returning to normal, the experience is exactly what it was pre-COVID, if not even better. Our incredible crew are well trained and enthusiastic and ready to go."

In short, he sees the trajectory on the right course, "when we look at our business, whether it's corporately or by brand, everybody's accelerating."

When will Royal Caribbean order more ships?

When Mr. Liberty was the Chief Financial Officer in 2019, he told investors he regretted the company didn't spend more money on new ship orders during the financial crisis of 2008.

There is definitely regret that we have in terms of our pullback on our growth, we would all be talking about higher earnings numbers today, better return profile today, if we hadn't slowed down our growth or our investment efforts in expanding our global footprint, investing in different projects, that would have put us an even stronger position than we are today.

It seems to me given the financial slow down of today coupled with the fact Royal Caribbean Group hasn't placed any orders for new ships recently that history is repeating itself and if we can expect new ship orders soon.

One thing he mentioned was the time to build is different today.

"Back in the financial crisis, on average, it was taking about three or four years to get a ship when you ordered it, especially a ship that was not a new design. "

"The level of demand for new ships was so high that you had to order ships much further out in order to have access to those slots. So you were seeing people order ships six or seven years out."

"We have a little bit more runway here than what we had pre-pandemic or in the financial crisis."

"If you think about the Icon one's and the Icon two's, there's a little bit more breathing time for us to have to place in those orders because of that structural change pre-pandemic."

While he didn't commit to any kind of plan or reveal anything new, he did talk about the direction of growth, "we're going to grow our business over the next five years at about 6% a year."

"We have to get our footing here into 2023. But I think we want to continue to grow our fleet."

What's happening with Royal Caribbean's port projects announced before the shutdown?

Just before the cruise industry shut down in 2020, Royal Caribbean had announced plans for a number of new port projects that would provide cruise ship guests more to do while ashore.

These plans included new private islands, beach resorts, and revamping a current private island. The promise was exciting new places to spend your day while on a cruise.

Then the world had to deal with Covid-19 and those plans seemed to fall to the sidelines as Royal Caribbean struggled with an extended shutdown coupled with crippling loans to stay in business.

But what about those other projects? Are they cancelled? Still planned? And when can we expect to see them?

"Certainly we had to put a pause on some of these things... but our ambitions around Perfect Days around the world, Beach Club concepts, are still very much there."

Mr. Liberty also pointed out that construction on land can take significantly longer than you might thing.  Perfect Day at CocoCay took almost seven years, as an example.

I asked Mr. Liberty if it's fair to say all the projects announced pre-pandemic were in some status of pause or moving forward, as opposed to being cancelled.

"Yeah, there's nothing that has has been canceled."

Both Mr. Liberty and Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley both said the new adults-only beach expansion to Perfect Day at CocoCay is slated to open towards the end of 2023.

Cruise prices in 2023

It's no secret that prices for travel are up in general, so what is Mr. Liberty's outlook on the price of a cruise and how that affects the average cruise ship passenger.

"Our customers tend to have a pretty strong personal balance sheet. They're not overly levered. And that space just in the US alone, has trillions of dollars of savings sitting there on the sidelines."

Coupled with the fact consumers are interested in experiences more so than acquiring things, along with demographic trends, he feels good about demand for a cruise vacation.

He also still believes the value of a cruise is second to none in the leisure travel market.

"The value gap between a cruise and land based vacation during the pandemic expanded quite a bit."

"As we increase our pricing, we're still at a significant value to what it would cost for you to have anything close to a similar experience on land. That's also why our pricing, what our guests are willing to spend on our ships, continue to rise because of the demographic secular trends as well as just that value gap to land based vacations."

What can we expect with Terminal G?

Last month, Royal Caribbean Group signed a deal with PortMiami to build a new Terminal G cruise terminal.

Mr. Liberty said it won't quite be on the same scale as Terminal A in PortMiami, but it will help support the company's needs, "we have a lot of ships coming online. We need infrastructure. We need to make sure the experience from from when you arrive to getting on our ships is seamless and free and has no friction inside of it."

"That commitment to us is really just our commitment to our growth that we know is coming on."