Royal Caribbean Blog

Looking to earn a free cruise by gambling? Royal Caribbean just made an important policy change.

Royal Caribbean passengers can earn free cruises with enough plays in the casino, but there's been a change to ensure the free cruises given out are actually taken.

Those that gamble a lot on Royal Caribbean cruise ships can qualify for free cruises and other incentives within the Club Royale rewards program.

You earn points every time you play and eventually gain rewards based on your status in the program. 

One of the best benefits offered is a free annual 7-night cruise for members of the program who have received at least 2,500 points. 

Their stateroom category depends on their level in the loyalty program: Prime members earn an interior room, Signature members can stay in a balcony cabin, and Masters get access to a suite.

Read more: I Scored a Free $1200 Room on a Royal Caribbean Cruise by Gambling in the Casino

Although this is a great benefit for passengers, Royal Caribbean wants to prevent people from not showing up for their free cruise.

"No-shows" happen too late for the cruise line to place a paying customer in the cabin, wasting the price of the cruise.

Cruisers booking their complimentary sailing will now pay a deposit

To prevent this loss of income, Royal Caribbean is implementing a new policy for Club Royale members.

In the future, each passenger booking their free annual cruise must pay a $200 deposit.

Casino winners who've been no-shows on past free cruises received an email on August 22nd, 2024, informing them of this change. 

The email reads: “We’re reaching out to let you know that in the past 12 months, you have canceled within two days of sailing or not shown up at the pier for your Casino Reservation(s)."

The email goes on to explain that the policy will become effective on September 5th, 2024.

“Under our new Casino Royale Cruise No-Show & Cancellation Policy, effective September 5, 2024, you will be assessed a $200 USD deposit on all active Casino Reservations, sailing on or after September 5, 2024."

If a Club Royale member does show up to their cruise, the deposit will be converted into a $200 onboard credit.

And if plans change, and they do need to cancel the cruise, the deposit will be refunded as long as they cancel with at least seven day's notice.

If the cruise cancels within seven days before the sailing or does not show up at the pier, they forfeit the deposit. 

What benefits are included in the Club Royale program?

The exact number of points earned from each play varies depending on how much you've gambled, the game, and wins and losses.

As soon as you enter the Club Royale program, you'll be placed in the Choice tier. Rewards for this status include:

• Point Redemption towards onboard expense account credit or as FreePlay in the Casino
• Instant Cruise Rewards Certificates
• $200 credit at Regalia Fine Jewelry and Effy Boutique
• Exclusive Casino Offers
• Access to Club Royale VIP Events

Members who've earned 2,500 points climb to the Prime tier, earning:

• Point Redemption towards onboard expense account credit or as FreePlay in the Casino
• Instant Cruise Rewards Certificates
• $250 credit at Regalia Fine Jewelry and Effy Boutique
• 10% Vitality Spa Discount
• Waived Convenience Fee for Cashless Wagering on SeaPass card
• Complimentary Drinks in Casino Royale
• Discount on VOOM Surf & Stream Internet Wi-Fi Packages
• Exclusive Casino Offers
• Access to Club Royale VIP Events
• Tier Priority Contact Number
• Exclusive Rates for Family and Friends for Additional Staterooms
• Special Offers with Partnership Casinos
• Interior stateroom on the Annual Complimentary Cruise

Read more: I gambled enough in Royal Caribbean's casino to get free drinks and a cruise

After earning 25,00 points, you'll climb to the Signature level of the reward program, earning additional benefits. These include:

• Point Redemption towards onboard expense account credit or as FreePlay in the Casino
• Instant Cruise Rewards Certificates
• $350 credit at Regalia Fine Jewelry and Effy Boutique
• 15% Vitality Spa Discount
• Waived Convenience Fee for Cashless Wagering on SeaPass card
• Complimentary Drinks in Casino Royale
• Free VOOM Surf & Stream Internet Wi-Fi Package for 1 device
• Exclusive Casino Offers
• Access to Club Royale VIP Events
• Tier Priority Contact Number
• Exclusive Rates for Family and Friends for Additional Staterooms
• Special Offers with Partnership Casinos
• Balcony stateroom on the Annual Complimentary Cruise

Finally, guests who have 100,000+ points in the program reach the Masters tier. They receive the highest amount of perks from the program, such as:

• Point Redemption towards onboard expense account credit or as FreePlay in the Casino
• Instant Cruise Rewards Certificates
• $550 credit at Regalia Fine Jewelry and Effy Boutique
• 20% Vitality Spa Discount
• Waived Convenience Fee for Cashless Wagering on SeaPass card
• Complimentary Drinks in Casino Royale
• Free VOOM Surf & Stream Internet Wi-Fi Package for 2 devices
• Priority Entertainment Access and Dining Reservations
• Onboard Credit
• Priority access at the terminal
• Carry-on bag onboard drop off with priority delivery to stateroom
• Welcome lunch in Main Dining Room featuring Chops Grille menu
• Coastal Kitchen Access
• Flexible departure with à la carte breakfast
• Exclusive Casino Offers
• Access to Club Royale VIP Events
• Tier Priority Contact Number
• Exclusive Rates for Family and Friends for Additional Staterooms
• Special Offers with Partnership Casinos
• Grand Suite stateroom on the Annual Complimentary Cruise

Royal Caribbean will build more of the world's largest cruise ships.

The company confirmed on Tuesday that it has signed an agreement to build a fourth Icon Class ship, with options to build a fifth and sixth Icon Class ship.

The options essentially mean that while Royal Caribbean has not committed to ordering them, the space is allocated within the shipyard if they decide later on to place an order.

The fourth Icon Class cruise ship is expected to be delivered sometime in 2027.

Royal Caribbean did not announce the ship's name or any new features we can expect on the fourth ship yet.

Just like the first three Icon Class ships, the order has been placed with Finnish shipbuilder Meyer Turku. The first Icon Class ship, Icon of the Seas, was delivered in January 2024 and Star of the Seas is expected to enter service in August 2025.

A third unnamed Icon Class ship will be delivered in 2026.

Royal Caribbean Group President and CEO Jason Liberty issued a statement celebrating the order, “Building on the incredible momentum and market response to the launch of Icon of the Seas and the excitement for its sister ship, Star of the Seas, coming in 2025, we’re thrilled to join with Meyer Turku once again to expand our roster of Icon Class ships and continue our future growth plans.

“Since its debut, Icon has changed the game in vacation experiences and exceeded our expectations in both guest satisfaction and financial performance.”

The new standard in the cruise industry

Ever since Icon of the Seas launched in January 2024, Icon of the Seas has set a new standard that all other cruise ships are judged against.

While new cruise ships generate hype, Icon of the Seas delivered on it with a number of innovations and accolades beyond her size.

The Icon Class ships have the largest waterpark and ice rink at sea, eight neighborhoods to explore, a food hall, and so much more. 

Icon of the Seas measures an astonishing 250,800 gross registered tons and can carry a maximum of 7,600 passengers. There are 28 different stateroom categories.

Matching other cruise line new ship orders

One trend within the cruise industry is placing new ship orders.

Royal Caribbean joins a number of other lines that placed new cruise ship orders this year, and this has been a big year for orders.

The cruise industry refrained from placing new orders over the last 4 years due to the sizeable debt they accrued related to the cruise industry shutdown of 2020-2021.

Carnival Cruise Line placed an order in July for 3 new ships, which was placed a few months after Carnival ordered two more ships for its Excel Class series of vessels. 

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings ordered a whopping 8 new ships in April 2024.

No orders yet for its rumored plans

While Royal Caribbean placed an order for more Icon Class ships, it did not order the other ships many have expected.

The Discovery Class of ships is expected to be a new smaller class of cruise ship by Royal Caribbean, with the word "smaller" being a relative term.

Executives have hinted at the project's existence, but nothing has been officially announced or confirmed.

In August 2024, Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley talked about the plans in an interview he did, "We’re working now on another class of ship called Discovery Class. So, that’s going to be super exciting. That’ll come in about another 3 to 4 years from now."

Rumors have been circling for years about Royal Caribbean’s upcoming plans to build new ships of smaller size. However, the cruise line has not confirmed many details about Project Discovery.

I've spent hundreds of nights on cruise ships, and boarding a Royal Caribbean ship in a seasonal market like Southampton, England is easier than a lot of full time cruise ports in the United States.

Getting on any cruise ship isn't difficult, but some homeports are more difficult than others.

As someone that cruises every month, I've seen just about every embarkation day experience imaginable, and I was pleasantly surprised how easy the process was in Southampton.

I flew to London from my home in Orlando, Florida for a 7-night cruise on Royal Caribbean's Anthem of the Seas that will take me to ports in Northern France and Spain.

I spent two days in London before taking the train down to Southampton.  The train is easy and affordable.  It was about €50 for a first class ticket if purchased in advance, and it's just a one hour and 20 minute ride from London's Waterloo station to Southampton Central.

The train is very efficient and fast. England's roads are notorious for traffic delays, and the train is a great alternative. 

One downside to taking the train is the lack of space for luggage. Regular size luggage that you would check on an airplane do not fit in the overhead bins, and the only recourse was for everyone to shove their luggage in the boarding area between the doors. If I was taking my family, I'd probably have to opt for a car service because of how much luggage we typically have.

Once I arrived at Southampton, it was a short 5 minute taxi ride to where Anthem of the Seas was docked.

While boarding was delayed, the process went very smoothly once it got started.

At first, I was surprised there was no special line for suite guests and Pinnacle Club members.  But it really did not matter, as they efficiently moved guests through security and check-in. The claim that Brits love to queue definitely seems to be true!

What made the process smooth was there were multiple points for the staff to check guests in, both before and after security. Even though no one was verifying anyone's check-in time, the crowd wasn't large enough to overwhelm the staff.

It took me probably 10 minutes at the most to get from curb to ship, and most of that was because I seem to always pick the longest security line, every time.

To Royal Caribbean's credit, once onboard the ship, the embarkation day experience was quite consistent.  Muster stations were open to quickly take care of the emuster check-in, and then it was off to lunch.

I opted to lunch at the Windjammer buffet, primarily because I wanted to enjoy my food outdoors. On most Quantum Class ships, there is outdoor seating at the rear of the Windjammer, and I loved the pleasant temperatures and cool breeze.  The high temperature was in the upper 60s and it was partly sunny. That's like summer weather in England.

While the check-in process was super smooth, the one area that baffled me was when staterooms would be ready. Unfortunately, cabins were not ready until 2:30pm.  Usually cabins are ready by 1pm, or 2pm at the very latest.

I'm guessing Anthem was delayed in getting into port and that backed everything up. Luckily, it did not impact the check-in process too much, but cabin attendants needed more time.

I actually went down to check if the rooms were ready at 1:30, 2, and then finally 2:30.  It took to exactly 2:30 for the cabins to be open to guests.

For this cruise, I booked a standard balcony cabin on deck 7. It's pretty much like any balcony cabin I've stayed in on other ships, and I especially like how much storage space and extra outlets Quantum Class cabins have. Back in 2015 when Anthem launched, this was a really big deal.  Now, we all expect it.

One difference you'll notice in this cabin is the electric kettle.  On cruises from the United Kingdom, all cabins have an electric kettle in the cabin by default so passengers can make their own tea.

A quick power nap later and we were off to begin out journey.

On this itinerary, we'll visit four ports of call: La Rochelle, France; Bilbao, Spain; La Coruna, Spain; Le Havre (Paris), France.

I wasn't sure where I wanted to eat dinner tonight, and decided to take the easy option and go to the Windjammer. If I'm being honest, I looked at the Main Dining Room menu and saw no French Onion Soup, so I skipped it.

The Asian stir fry station in the Windjammer alone made it the right choice.

After dinner, it was time to head to the casino for some luck. 

Since I've already attained Prime status in the Casino Royale program, I'm not chasing points on this cruise and decided to play craps.

Table games, such as craps, are fun, but don't pay out points as well as slot machines do.

I ended up playing with the same money I started with for about two hours, and ended up doubling my money. Not a bad start to my cruise!

Tomorrow is a sea day as we head south.

It's about to become easier to book restaurant reservations on a Royal Caribbean cruise.

Royal Caribbean passengers with the Ultimate Dining Package (UDP) may soon be able to book specialty dining reservations in advance. 

Historically, being unable to make specialty dining reservations until embarkation day was the biggest draw of the UDP. Now, Royal Caribbean is rolling out a feature allowing passengers to make all their reservations before paying for the package through the Cruise Planner. 

Nicole Pantalena first shared the update in the Royal Caribbean Dining Facebook group, saying, "The website now allows you to make all reservations for the UDP at [the] time of purchase!!"

Pantalena clarified that she's on the December 2 sailing on Allure of the Seas, as other users didn't see any changes to their Cruise Planner. She also stated that she couldn't make reservations for the UDP in advance for her Anthem of the Seas cruise next year. 

Adam Balaban commented he was able to access the new reservation portal; however, he is also sailing onboard Allure of the Seas in December, indicating this feature may just be a test on Allure. 

There's no official word on this new feature, nor when other ships may have the option.

Before adding the package to the cart, the new booking portal would allow passengers to make reservations for each day of the cruise, eliminating the need for a courtesy reservation on the first night. 

Read more: How does specialty dining work on Royal Caribbean?

This new feature makes it significantly easier to get reservations instead of running around on embarkation day to make them.

Change announced last year

While brainstorming potential ways to make the embarkation day experience easier, Jay Schneider, Royal Caribbean's Senior Vice President and Chief Product Innovation, explained that they'd be making all of Royal Caribbean's dining packages reservable through the website, so passengers wouldn't have to worry about making reservations on day one. 

Rather than rushing onboard and heading to a specialty restaurant to confirm their dining plans, guests can make their reservations from the comfort of their homes, allowing them to have the same experience as passengers who book individual reservations. 

Not only does this make embarkation day more relaxing, but it gives cruisers with the UDP more options for dining times, as they're typically stuck choosing leftover reservations. 

In addition to reducing guests' "angst," the change will help improve the flow of traffic in public areas onboard. Schneider's team discovered there's "a lot of heavy lifting" in the Royal Promenade, and by letting passengers make UDP reservations online, that's one less booth they'll have to visit. 

Read more: Royal Caribbean will make specialty restaurants reservable pre-cruise if you have a dining package

What is the Ultimate Dining Package?

Royal Caribbean's Ultimate Dining Package lets guests eat at specialty restaurants for brunch, lunch, and dinner each day of their cruise. Instead of booking each reservation separately, it's typically more economical to purchase the UDP, especially if you plan on dining at multiple specialty restaurants throughout your cruise. 

With the UDP, you won't have to worry about paying for restaurants with cover charges, as nearly every eatery is included in the cost. Note that certain restaurants have an upcharge, such as Izumi Hibachi ($15), Chef's Table ($49.99), and Empire Supper Club ($130).  

Some specialty restaurants have á la carte menus, meaning you only pay for what you order, rather than a set charge for a multi-course meal. 

Depending on the restaurant, you'll receive a pre-determined food credit. At Izumi Sushi, for example, you're given $39.99, $20 at Playmaker's, and $10 at Izumi in the Park. 

The UDP doesn't include premium items in the Main Dining Room, the Taste of Royal experience, Celebration Table, or Chops Grille premium cuts. 

Moreover, the price varies based on factors like the length of your cruise, itinerary, and ship. For example, the UDP costs $174.99 per person on my upcoming Vision of the Seas sailing and $302.99 on my Icon cruise in March 2025. 

There's no penalty for canceling and rebooking the package if you notice the price drops before your cruise, similar to the Deluxe Beverage Package.  

When I booked a European cruise, I purposefully planned to arrive a few days early so that I could have a better cruise experience.

Cruise experts will always advocate flying in at least one day before a cruise begins, but that tip is primarily about ensuring a travel delay does not prevent you from missing your cruise.  While this is sage advice, there's one other really good reason to arrive early.

When your cruise goes out of an area with significant cultural and historical significance (sorry Port Canaveral), you'll likely want to explore on land as much as ensuring you don't miss the ship.

My 7-night France and Spain cruise on Royal Caribbean's Anthem of the Seas was scheduled to depart on a Sunday, but I flew in Thursday night so I could have a few days in London prior to the cruise beginning.

My primary impetus for coming in two days early was so that I would make the cruise, but the opportunity to see London was just as important. In retrospect, I made a few mistakes along the way that I won't repeat on my next visit.

Not starting with jetlag

Probably the single largest concern I had prior to my trip was being jetlagged and it ruining my cruise.

No matter what strategy you have to fight jetlag, the more time you have to acclimate to local time, the better your chances of jetlag not messing up your ship tour plans.

Unfortunately, sleeping on an airplane wasn't in the cards for me on this trip. I read, listened to music, and watched movies. I attempted — and failed — to fall asleep.

Because I booked this cruise as the primary reason for travel, I was more concerned with being optimized for the cruise, than my time in London.  While I would have been disappointed to miss out on time in London, that was always a bonus for my overall trip.

Because I didn't sleep at all on my flight over, I stayed up all day while in England and then finally went to bed after 36 hours being awake.  It wasn't easy, but I felt like I avoided the worst of the jetlag and the morning of my cruise, I was ready to go.

Even if you break every jetlag advice out there, if you have a few days to sleep it off and get yourself set, you'll have a better cruise.

Mistake: Taking the train from the airport

I did a fair amount of research prior to my trip on how to tackle London, and a lot of the YouTube videos I watched implored to use the train between London Heathrow airport and the city.

I found this to be mistake in the sense going on a train with full-size (and heavy) luggage is cumbersome, difficult, and a giant pain.

Not only are there long distances to pull the luggage around, but there are stairs and platforms to traverse that are not easy with a lot of luggage.

The advice is spot on with how to save money, but it's really meant for someone backpacking or traveling with carry-on luggage.

The only saving grace was I was traveling solo, because if I tried to do this with my family, it would have resulted in a lot of tears of frustration.

If you have big pieces of luggage, my advice is spend extra on an Uber ride, car service, or taxi.

Balancing tourist traps & the real deal

If you read enough articles and videos about what to do in London, there's lots of conjecture about what's worth your time or not, and inevitably I found myself weighing the pros and cons of any activity.

Part of my strategy to avoid not falling asleep on my first day in London was to get out and explore.  I knew sitting in my Airbnb rental would just lead to sleep, so I deliberately got out and walked around.

The biggest issue I found is picking things you want to do and how to see the most without succumbing to heavy tourist traps.

Certainly everyone wants to see Big Ben, Parliament, Westminster Abbey, and the like. The problem is the insane crowds that are there most of the day.

I found it best to take a leisurely walking tour of the area so I could see them, take photos, but not commit to going in for a tour. My rationale is the most notable thing about them is being able to say you saw it and take a photo. What the hallways, portraits, and artifacts found inside are all about is less memorable.

That probably sounds like a cold approach to it, but I wanted to maximize my time and see more. 

I ran across a great tip for an alternative to the hop on, hop off buses.  Those bus tours cost around 40 pounds per person, but instead you can hop on the route number 11 bus for just 1.65 per person and the loop goes by many of the major attractions in Central London.

I also took time to walk along the Thames River on the south bank of the Thames, which gives you great views of the major sights. 

There are inexpensive boat tours you can take, or enjoy a leisurely stroll. The walk between Westminster Bridge and Tower Bridge allows you to see:

• London Eye
• The Shard
• London Bridge, Southwark Bridge, Blackfriars Bridge, Waterloo Bridge, Hungerford Bridge & Golden Jubilee Bridges
• Southwark Cathedral
• London County Hall
• Shakespeare’s Globe
• Royal Festival Hall
• Houses of Parliament
• Westminster Abbey
• Tower of London

There's so much to see around London, which is why I found it advantageous to take in sights as I passed by.

Mistake: Not prioritizing outdoor activities when weather is good

The stereotype that it's always cloudy and raining in England is not that far off from the truth, so take advantage of good weather when you can.

I had near perfect weather on the first day I was in London. It was mostly sunny, comfortable temperatures, and a nice breeze.  It was very pleasant to be outside and walk around.

While I did do a lot of walking around the Thames river, I wish I had spent more time prioritizing outdoor activities I thought I could do the next day.

The second day was mostly a rain out, and I don't care how motivated you are to see outdoor sights rain or shine, it's miserable being outside in the rain.

I would recommend having a list of what you want to see and do, and double down on anything outdoors when it's nice out.  Save the museums and shows for rainy days whenever possible.

Mistake: Taking the stairs at Covent Garden station

196 stairs or the elevator, and I thought taking the stairs up wouldn't be so bad.

What was I thinking taking the stairs instead of waiting for the elevator?!

Despite the stairs mistake, Covent Garden is a fun area to go I liked all the different vendors selling all sorts of souvenirs. 

Welcome to this week's edition of the Royal Caribbean post round-up, where we summarize all of the Royal Caribbean news and information from this week into one handy-dandy post! There is plenty of great content to enjoy, so sit back, relax, and enjoy this week's round-up!

Royal Caribbean revealed details about its second Icon Class ship, Star of the Seas.

The follow-up to the wildly successful Icon of the Seas, Star will sail from Port Canaveral in August 2025.

Star of the Seas will have new technological advances and dining upgrades that aim to improve a ship that has resonated with guests on Icon.

Royal Caribbean News

• Protesters in European Port Prevent Royal Caribbean Cruise Ships from Docking
• I spent $856 extra for an obstructed balcony cabin on my cruise. A lifeboat ruined the view, but I would book it again
• How to get free drinks on a cruise
• Our readers shared their RoyalUp winning bids
• The worst part of flying to Europe could easily ruin half your cruise
• 10 things that surprised me after cruising for one year

New RCB Video: 4 splurges to skip lines on a cruise

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 — 4 splurges to skip lines on a cruise — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 543rd episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available! Matt previews his upcoming cruise on Anthem of the Seas, sharing how he's prepared for the European itinerary. 

We update our podcast weekly, so subscribe for more updates via iTunes, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or RSS.

You can also leave us a rating or review on iTunes, so go ahead and check it out! We appreciate your feedback.

Royal Caribbean will soon have something no other cruise line can match

Royal Caribbean's long-term plans involve a strategy to compete with other cruise lines and on-land vacations.

By 2026, the cruise line will have two on-land beach clubs, one in Nassau, Bahamas, and one in Cozumel, Mexico. 

Royal Caribbean intends to provide the best vacation experience by combining great destinations with new ships.

Is Royal Caribbean good? 10 surprising reasons I think Royal Caribbean is worth it

After cruising with Royal Caribbean on 8 sailings over one year, Calista believes the cruise line deserves its reputation for excellence.

Business is booming for Royal Caribbean, and cruisers get great value for their money.

From quality customer service to stunning mega-ships, here are the top 10 reasons she likes Royal Caribbean.

Mistakes when cruising with babies, toddlers, and kids

Traveling with kids changes the dynamics of your cruise, so how can you best adjust?

Matt's been taking his two daughters on cruises since they were small, enough that his 13-year-old daughter now has 400 points in the Crown and Anchor Society loyalty program.

After taking more than 400 nights of cruises with kids, Matt has learned important lessons about the process.

I took my first cruise one year ago because of a new opportunity, and it was so much more different than I expected.

I felt anxious before my first sailing, unsure of what to expect, despite doing careful research beforehand.

Beginning to cruise came with a lot of surprises, and some hard-learned lessons, whether through personal expenses or wasted time.

Now I've sailed on eight cruises, experiencing unique itineraries and ship classes with the cruise line.

Read more: 15 things that surprised me after my first cruise

After sailing Royal Caribbean's Icon Class, Oasis Class, Quantum Class, Freedom Class, Radiance Class, and Vision Class, I've grown comfortable on Royal Caribbean ships.

Each sailing is its own adventure that holds something unexpected—but here are the 10 things I found most surprising about cruising.

It's not hard to find quality food onboard

To bring food onboard for a cruise, cruise lines have to order, load, and cook dishes all onboard a ship, preparing thousands of meals throughout a sailing.

It sounds like a huge endeavor, so I didn't have high expectations regarding the cuisine onboard.

However, I was surprised to see that you can find excellent food while on a cruise ship—dining is one of the most popular aspects of a Royal Caribbean cruise!

While not all of the complimentary venues are high-quality, I usually enjoy a meal in the Main Dining Room, and you can always splurge on a specialty restaurant for something more elegant.

I get more comfortable with every cruise

On my first cruise, I was surprised to feel claustrophobic while onboard.

The thought that I was stuck on a ship in the middle of the ocean started to overwhelm me since we could only leave on port days or at the end of a cruise.

But as I began to cruise more and more, and I stuck with Royal Caribbean, this feeling of claustrophobia turned into one of comfort.

Each ship felt more and more homelike, as I recognized the familiar Royal Caribbean designs and layouts.

Instead of feeling trapped on the ship, I saw each vessel as a home away from home, a little world I could explore.

Although I was anxious on my first cruise, I quickly realized how safe and comfortable cruise ships can feel.

The cruising community is beyond welcoming

On my cruising journey, I've been pleasantly surprised by how many friendly faces I met along the way.

From conversations made in elevators to shared tables in the Windjammer Buffet, I realized that part of the joy of a cruise is getting to chat with and recognize others onboard.

And when I started joining Hyperlink events or making conversation in the hot tubs, I quickly discovered that it's easy to make friends on a cruise.

Read more: Plan ahead but embrace the unexpected: what first-time cruisers need to know

For someone like myself, who loves meeting new people and learning about other cultures, it's been an unexpected joy on each sailing.

Crew members are committed to quality service

I'm always caught off guard by just how kind, patient, and thoughtful Royal Caribbean's crew members are.

On my first cruise, I was almost uncomfortably surprised by the level of service onboard. 

I have two waiters at my table? The stateroom attendant cleans the room every day?

I've also been able to make unexpected connections with crew members onboard, and I enjoy seeing them go above and beyond to make sure passengers have an amazing time.

I've witnessed waiters folding animals out of napkins for children at their tables and had bartenders make me incredible custom drinks.

It can't be an easy job, but I'm always grateful for interactions with crew members.

Staterooms vary greatly and have a huge influence on your experience

Cruises are very adjustable to a passenger's preferences and budget, and staterooms are a big part of that.

You can opt for the cheapest possible cabin: a small, interior guarantee, or splurge on a huge two-bedroom suite.

However, your stateroom selection has a huge influence on the entire cruise. Since it's your home for the length of the sailing, sometimes it's worth paying more for a better cabin.

For example, the cabin on my Wonder of the Seas cruise was a small, windowless interior room located at the very front of the ship.

Not only did we hear the noise of the anchor banging at night, but I also suffered increased seasickness due to the cabin's position.

Each ship class is distinct, but vessels are remarkably similar within the same class

Royal Caribbean groups its ships into eight separate classes.

Each class varies greatly in terms of size, design, activities, and amenities.

However, ships within the same class feel surprisingly familiar to me.

After sailing on Wonder and Allure of the Seas, getting on Oasis (another Oasis-Class ship) felt like returning home rather than experiencing a new vessel.

I walked around the ship thinking that it felt like a classic Oasis Class experience.

Read more: I'm new to Royal Caribbean and tried 4 different kinds of cruise ships, here's what I like about each

The bigger ships have an overwhelming amount of activities onboard

It still surprises me just how much you can do while on a cruise ship.

Cruise lines seem to compete to see how much they can cram onto one floating vessel.

On Royal Caribbean's Icon, Quantum, and Oasis Classes, in particular, you can find activities for any interest.

These include ice skating, laser tag, zip lining, trivia, chess, waterslides, escape rooms, bumper cars, surfing simulators, sky diving simulators, rock climbing walls, and more.

If you're trying to pack for all of these events, it gets overwhelming quickly!

But the beauty of sailing on a mega-ship is that you can choose to do exactly what interests you.

A lot is included in your fare, but onboard expenses can add up

When I first started cruising, I felt surprised at how much was included in the base cruise fare; dining, stateroom, room service, entertainment, activities, and visits to Perfect Day at CocoCay.

However, you shouldn't let all of your budget go to the base fare. Onboard expenses like drinks, WiFi, and shopping can quickly add up.

For example, if you're sailing on a 7-day cruise and want to purchase an Internet package for the full week, you're looking at a $140 minimum, for just one device.

Solo cruises are worth it—they're one of my favorite ways to travel

Although I felt frightened to take a cruise alone, I quickly discovered that solo cruises are one of my favorite ways to travel.

As a young woman, cruises feel like a safe way to get around, with security guards and cameras everywhere.

Plus, you get a room to yourself, and the chance to go at your own pace.

And cruising solo doesn't necessarily mean you'll be lonely, it's actually a great way to encourage yourself to meet new people!

Days on shore are short, but you can still have amazing experiences

At first, cruising was a shock to my traveler spirit. 

The ship's itinerary only allows for 8 hours or less at most ports—hardly enough time to fully explore an area!

But with careful research and some amazing tours, I've been able to see once-in-a-lifetime places.

I've visited Mayan ruins, seen classical art in Florence, and touched tropical fish while snorkeling in Mexico. 

And each visit has planted a seed, just in case I ever want to go back for a longer visit.

Read more: 7 surprising things I learned when booking a cruise for the first time

Going on a European cruise sounds like the perfect way to see the world, but if you're flying across the Atlantic, it's critical you start the trip on the right foot.

I flew from my home in Florida to London in order to board an Anthem of the Seas cruise departing from Southampton. It's a new itinerary with lots of firsts for me.

The problem is fighting jetlag before it hits so that you're not sleeping away half the cruise while getting acclimated to local time.

Prior to my trip, I read the same piece of advice over and over again: don't sleep until it's bed time so you can adjust to local time.

It's a solid strategy, but you have to consider what time you'll arrive in Europe and how feasible it is to stay awake.

Flight times matter

I thought I hit the jackpot by having a direct flight between Orlando and London, because flying internationally and catching connecting flights seems like a recipe for a disaster.

What I did not take into account was what time I'd arrive in London and how difficult it would be to follow everyone's advice.

My flight departed Florida at 5:30pm (actually it was 6:30pm due to weather and traffic delays), which got me into London at a few minutes before 7am.

This meant I would have to stay awake for about 36 hours in order to follow the strategy.

Oh but Matt, you can sleep on the airplane!

While there might be unconfirmed cases of human beings able to sleep on an airplane, I am not that person. Moreover, the departure time meant my brain thought it was still too early to go to sleep, and I only really started to get drowsy in the final two hours of the flight.

I'm sure some would point out different drug and alcohol cocktails to make me sleepy, but I really hate feeling out of control on a plane. 

Ultimately, the flight time is what mattes the most.  Ideally, you'll get a flight that gets you into Europe in the afternoon or evening, so there are just a few hours to remain awake.

Ignoring jetlag could lead to missing too much of the cruise

The longer you put off adjusting to local time, the harder it is to break the cycle of waking up too early and going to sleep too early.

For an itinerary that's brand new to me visiting the northern coast of Spain and France, I did not want to squander the opportunity by sleeping.

On other trips when I've been jetlagged, I recall how frustrating it would be to wake up around 3 or 4am, and then want to go to sleep for the night in the afternoon. You feel helpless and it spirals quickly.

Plan multiple days before your cruise

While I may have picked the wrong flight, I did make a good decision in how early I arrived before my cruise departed.

Instead of the usual flying in one day before a cruise rule, I arrived in London a full two days before my cruise began.

The idea is to give myself more time to acclimate. Sure, seeing the sights around London is good too, but the cruise is what I'm most concerned about.

Heck, if you have plenty of vacation days, you could fly in earlier than two days and let jetlag happen, but work through it.

Fighting jetlag takes discipline

The experts are right. No matter how hard it is, you really want to force yourself to stay awake on the day you arrive until it's bed time in that country.

Unless you're someone who can really get solid sleep in while on an airplane, you should be prepared to acclimate to local time as quickly as possible.

If you're flying many hours for a cruise, that last thing you want to do is sleep it all away. And you definitely don't want to feel tired and groggy when you're awake.

Pick a flight that gets you in closer to bed time, and give your body plenty of time to adjust.

Cruise lines are constantly in a chess match to outdo each other, and Royal Caribbean is betting it has a super move up its sleeve.

Just like how an auto manufacturer might implement a feature not available on other brands vehicles, Royal Caribbean is poised to outdo other cruise lines with an offering they think will get a lot of attention.

Ironically, their next big investment is in the very thing they have traditionally competed against: fun on land.

Two different beach clubs are going to be built, with one opening in 2025 and 2026. These aren't traditional cruise line private islands that are open to all passengers onboard and included with the cruise fare. This will be something above and beyond that.

Royal Caribbean will open its first Royal Beach Club in Nassau, Bahamas in summer 2025, followed by its second beach club to open in Cozumel, Mexico in 2026.

Differences between the mega cruise ship lines can be subtle, but these beach clubs are about standing out from the pack and drawing in new customers with something no one else can offer.

Solving customer needs

Before you step foot in any of these clubs, the rationale for offering a beach club is about targeting two key markets for Royal Caribbean.

The first beach club opens in one of the most highly visited and poorly rated cruise ports in the world, Nassau. 

Nassau consistently ranks in the bottom 10% of customer satisfaction among Royal Caribbean customers, even though it's located close to the United States and many cruise ships visit it.

Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley said the issue Nassau faces is it lacks special things to do that are also original.

Because it's so frequently visited, passengers find the choices of what to do in port limiting and uninspiring.

Royal Caribbean wanted to solve this problem because not going to Nassau really isn't an option.  The line brought more than 1.6 million visitors to the Nassau cruise port in 2023.

In April 2023, Mr. Bayley talked about this need to improve shore excursion choices for their customers, "We want to improve the experience of our guests. We can’t keep selling experiences to people who say we love going to Perfect Day, it’s fantastic, we want to go back, but the Nassau thing, can you guys stop going there? We can’t do that, so yeah, we want to be a part of the solution."

Royal Beach Club Paradise Island

Construction is underway to build and open Royal Caribbean's answer to its customer's issues with Nassau.

Royal Beach Club Paradise Island will open in summer 2025 on a 17-acre site that is right across from where all the cruise ships dock. Not only is it prime real estate, it's a a shining beacon to every other cruise line what they're missing out on.

Royal Caribbean wants to offer an unparalleled beach experience in a prime spot, exclusively to its customers.

Royal Beach Clubs are limited access and have an extra cost to them. This means only a few thousands Royal Caribbean guests will be able to visit it each day, and it will not be included in the base cruise fare.

About 2,000 people will be able to purchase a pass each day. No word yet on how much admission will cost.

Once inside, guests can enjoy three pools with swim-up bars, live music, two beaches, four restaurants serving local food.

The club is also going to incorporate Bahamian culture in an industry first cooperative effort to give back to the people of The Bahamas with a revenue sharing agreement that gives up to 49% equity.

It's expected the beach club will generate hundreds of jobs between the construction and long-term operation.  Plus, there will be a new tourism levy that will fund reinvesting in the local community. 

Once open, the beach club will offer something fresh and different, not only in Nassau, but among the entire industry too.

Royal Beach Club Cozumel

The second part of Royal Caribbean's plan is to open another beach club in 2026 on the other side of the Caribbean in Cozumel, Mexico.

Cozumel is another traditionally popular cruise port, but unlike Nassau, doesn't have the low rating problem.  However, the club addresses a different need.

Royal Caribbean is investing in many places, including Galveston, Texas.  While Florida may be the capital of cruising, Galveston is quickly becoming a rival hot spot, with newer and bigger ships sailing from Texas.  In fact, Royal Caribbean built a massive new cruise terminal that can handle the largest cruise ships in the world.

The issue with cruises from Galveston has been a lack of port variety. In order to meet the typical week-long vacation window most Americans abide by, cruise ships sailing from Galveston are relegated to the same Western Caribbean cruise ports, including Cozumel.

A Royal Beach Club in Cozumel gives Royal Caribbean passengers something different, and a familiar face in a crowded room of things to do.

Just like Nassau, the beach club in Cozumel will combine great views, with great access to water.

Royal Caribbean's Senior Vice President and Chief Product Innovation Officer Jay Schneider described the club as having, "great beach, great pool, great food, great service."

The Cozumel club will offer swim-up bars, pools cabanas to rent, snorkeling, kayaking, restaurants, and street markets.

Full details haven't been released yet, but there have been hints both beach clubs are going to truly stand out as more than "just another beach" to visit.

Combining new destinations and new ships

The new beach clubs dove tail right into the launch of three new cruise ships that Royal Caribbean thinks will offer the very best vacation choice in the market.

Icon of the Seas launched earlier this year to become the world's largest cruise ship, and has earned incredible accolades for setting a new standard for cruise ships.

Utopia of the Seas also launched this year, and while not as innovative as Icon, she is arguably the top choice for a short weekend cruise.

Next year, Star of the Seas will join the fleet and sail from Port Canaveral, Florida. The sister to Icon of the Seas, Star will will be a follow-up that seeks to capitalize on Icon's success while introducing a few improvements.

Royal Caribbean seems to think combing the very best cruise ships with the very best destinations is how they'll win over thousands of people who have never taken a cruise before. To borrow a term from the military, it looks like a lot of "shock and awe" to stand out from any other choice.

Royal Caribbean has gained a well-deserved reputation for offering some of the best cruises worldwide.

Over the last year, I've sailed eight Royal Caribbean cruises, and seen firsthand how the cruise line excels.

The Travel Weekly Readers' Choice Awards named Royal Caribbean the Best Cruise Line Overall, Best Cruise Line in the Caribbean, and Best Cruise Line Entertainment.

With 28 ships in the fleet and more on the way, business is booming.

According to Royal Caribbean's CEO, it's selling more staterooms than ever.

Cruisers are buying their Royal Caribbean cruises at higher prices, and further in advance.

Its prices may be higher than other cruise lines (especially depending on the sailing) but I think you get great value for your money and the cruise is worth it in the long run.

Over the past year, I've learned and come to love the reasons why the cruise line is so popular.

1. Quality service from hard working crew members

Royal Caribbean's crew members go above and beyond.

The level of service onboard a Royal Caribbean ship can shock a newcomer to the cruise line.

You'll receive a personal stateroom attendant who cleans the cabin at least once a day (twice for suites).

If you choose to dine in the Main Dining Room, you'll be served by a waiter and an assistant waiter.

Bartenders come around to the pools for personal drink service, handing them directly to you so you don't even have to lift a finger.

Crew members onboard Royal Caribbean ships ensure excellent service that ensures a pleasant and memorable cruise.

Read more: This Royal Caribbean crew member reminds cruise ship passengers to wash their hands and has a cult-like following of fans

2. Diverse dining & cuisine

Although food is completely subjective, many cruisers enjoy Royal Caribbean's dining options.

The Main Dining Room offers complimentary, hot meals served in a formal setting.

Read more: 21 Tips for the Best Cruise Ship Main Dining Room Experience

The Windjammer Buffet has separate stations (usually at least 5) that offer various dishes for every meal.

Complimentary venues like El Loco Fresh and Cafe Promenade also offer a variety of dishes.

No matter your preference, you'll be able to find a quality cuisine onboard.

Splurging on a specialty restaurant also earns even tastier food, from the classic Chops Grill to delicious Izumi Hibachi and Sushi.

Read more: I spent a week on the world's largest cruise ship, the free food was the best of any Royal Caribbean ship

3. World class entertainment

Royal Caribbean has won countless awards for its ship entertainment, and I'm always stunned by the shows onboard.

The cruise line is one of the few that offers full-length Broadway productions. These include fan favorites like CATS, Mamma Mia!, and Grease.

Oasis Class and Icon Class ships with AquaTheaters have amazing water shows that combine synchronized swimming, high-diving, acrobatics, and other talented performers, alongside a marvelous soundtrack.

Royal Caribbean ships also have ice-skating shows, live music, magic shows, comedians, and original productions, all available for free during your cruise.

4. Great loyalty program benefits

The Crown and Anchor Society, Royal Caribbean's loyalty program, is one of the best among cruise lines.

It rewards guests even for sailing just a few nights onboard.

After signing up for the program, guests receive one point for every night they sail on a Royal Caribbean ship (two points for solo and suite guests).

At just three points, they'll become a gold member, and receive benefits such as:

• 10% off a glass of wine, soda, or beer
• 25% off any coffee beverage (excluding Starbucks)
• 50% off a Johnny Rockets milkshake
• 50% off any glass of wine, beer or soda
• Access to a private departure lounge
• 10% off any Internet package purchased onboard
• $2 Casino Royale FreePlay
• 10% off any spa service (excluding Medi-Spa services)

Not only that, but Royal Caribbean International also offers status matching across all its brands.

If you earn points on a Royal Caribbean ship, you'll receive equivalent benefits while sailing with Celebrity or SilverSea Cruises.

5. Pools and amenities

Your Royal Caribbean cruise fare will include access to the ship's pool deck, including lounge chairs, hot tubs, water slides, and aqua parks.

Royal Caribbean ships have a stunning pool area, complete with hot tubs, comfortable chairs, plentiful bars, and usually some fun activities, such as live music, dance classes, or belly flop competitions.

The Solarium pool area, an indoor section with additional pools and hot tubs, has no extra cost but it is limited to guests 18 and over.

Some ships also have a suites-only pool area, which can only be accessed by guests staying in suites.

Included amenities also include the fitness center, jogging track, and sports court onboard.

6. Complimentary childcare at Adventure Ocean

Active, educational kids programming is also included in your cruise fare.

From its opening in the morning until 10 P.M., Adventure Ocean is free for children between the ages of 3 and 17 years old.

From 10 P.M. to 2 A.M., there is an hourly cost for kid's care.

The programming is tailored to each age group, with kids taking part in fun, social activities led by the staff.

Some ships offer more social programming, such as games and scavenger hunts. Others have science labs and craft workshops.

Teens (ages 12 to 17) have access to a teen club and hangout area, where they can spend time and meet one another.

For babies between 6 and 36 months old, there is a Royal Babies and Tots program. Most Royal Caribbean ships also have a nursery that comes at an hourly charge.

7. Perfect Day at CocoCay, a private island in the Bahamas

Any Royal Caribbean cruise that includes a stop at Perfect Day at Cococay on its itinerary offers free access to this stunning tropical island.

Located in the Bahamas, Royal Caribbean's private island spans 120 acres and offers free beaches, activities, and amenities.

This ideal private island experience includes multiple beaches, a waterpark, a large freshwater pool, a beach club, a zip line, free tram services, and much more.

Guests on the island can pick their favorite activities to enjoy, from snorkeling to beach volleyball.

8. Limitless onboard activities

If you're looking for fun, unique activities to try for free, Royal Caribbean is the best cruise line for you.

Its ships include signature activities that are included in your cruise fare, such as:

• The FlowRider surf simulator
• Rock climbing wall
• Mini golf
• Waterslides
• Ziplining
• Bumper cars
• Ice skating
• Laser tag
• The Ultimate Abyss dry slide
• Aqua parks

Games and parties also abound onboard, including dance parties, movie nights, trivia, scavenger hunts, pool games, and nightclub events.

A look at any Cruise Compass reveals so many free activities all over the ship.

9. Stunning mega-ships

Another draw to Royal Caribbean's fleet is its stunning mega-ships and technological feats.

Every year, the cruise line breaks a new record with the largest cruise ships in the world, the largest dry slides at sea, and so on.

Read more: How cruise ships got so big

Icon of the Seas, Royal Caribbean's latest feet, is currently the biggest cruise ship in the world at 250,800 gross tons.

The vessel features 20 decks, with a capacity for nearly 10,000 people onboard (including passengers and crew members).

The floating theme park has a water park, spa, casino, shopping mall, arcade, gym, three theaters, seven pools, 20 dining venues, and 15 bars.

Sailing on these ships grants you bragging rights as well as the opportunity to enjoy a new, high-tech vacation.

10. Quality staterooms, from two-story to small

Your cruise experience is completely adjustable, varying based on your preferences, priorities, and budget.

To help meet every cruiser's needs, Royal Caribbean offers a large range of cabin categories.

Icon of the Seas, for instance, has 28 distinct stateroom categories.

From cheaper, windowless interior cabins to huge, two-story suites with multiple bedrooms, there's something for everyone.

No matter your choice, each Royal Caribbean stateroom comes with a set of basic amenities: a bed that can split into two, a private bathroom and shower, a vanity, a safe, a mini-fridge, a closet, and a small TV.