Royal Caribbean Blog

Carnival Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean are two of the biggest names in the cruising industry and both vie for the general public to try their ships.

In comparison, both mainstream cruise lines take a family-friendly approach to cruising, with a little bit of something for everyone to enjoy onboard from dining to entertainment, accommodations and amenities. 

It’s no surprise that millions of passengers choose to set sail with both Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Line each year. Both offer affordable cruise fares and various itineraries around the world - all with a big emphasis on fun. 

Carnival Cruise Line's current fleet of cruise ships includes 24 vessels, which is similar in size to Royal Caribbean’s fleet with 26 ships. The newest ships from both cruise lines feature dazzling entertainment, one-of-a-kind onboard thrills, unique amenities and endless dining options. 

However, there is an obvious competition between these two cruise lines. It’s a tale as old as time: which cruise line is better between Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Line? 

As with anything, the best cruise line for you and your family mostly depends on travel style, cruise preferences and vacation budget. 

In my experience, people either love to cruise with Carnival or they love to hate on Carnival. In all honesty, I used to be someone who scoffed at the idea of setting sail on a Carnival ship now that I am far removed from my college spring break days. These days, I much prefer to cruise with Royal Caribbean or Celebrity Cruises. 

But, I’ve sailed on three Carnival cruises in the last year, two of which were on the cruise line’s newest Excel-class, Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration. Prior to this, I had previously only cruised with Carnival on short spring break itineraries during college and high school. My recent, positive experiences onboard Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration really gave me a new perspective about the cruise line.

As a loyal Royal Caribbean cruiser, I can now see why Carnival cruisers choose to return to the cruise line over and over again. In fact, it’s obvious that Carnival’s newest ships in the Excel-class represent a new era for the cruise line. These two modern cruise ships have transformed the cruise line with up-to-date ship design, technology and amenities. 

If you’re considering a cruise with Carnival, here’s everything you need to know about how the cruise line’s “fun ships” compare to Royal Caribbean’s fleet of innovative ships. 

Overview of Fleet

While Royal Caribbean’s fleet is slightly larger than Carnival’s with two more vessels, the two cruise lines are very similar in size. Today, both cruise lines are focusing on building modern and massive cruise ships that can hold more than 5,000 passengers.

Both lines have relatively smaller ships as well, with passenger counts ranging between 2,000 and 4,000 passengers. And the ships ages range between brand new and going as far back as approaching 30 years old.

For many years, Carnival’s approach to ship design was implementing “tried-and-true” deck plans that had already proven successful for the cruise line. Each ship class was built similarly (some nearly identical) to the last with only minor changes to accommodate larger vessels. 

This approach was used until 2021 when Carnival Mardi Gras set sail. The building of this ship started a new era for the cruise line with the Excel-class of ships. Mardi Gras paved the way for the equally modern and advanced Carnival Celebration to set sail in late 2022, in which my sister and I were onboard one of the inaugural sailings.

On the other hand, Royal Caribbean has always been pushing the envelope when it comes to innovation across its fleet. The cruise line is constantly creating ship classes that are bigger and better than ever before. 

The Oasis Class ships hold the title as the largest in the world, and Royal Caribbean has held the title as world's biggest ships for many years now.

With the upcoming release of Icon of the Seas, the first of a new astonishing class of ships, this approach still stands. Royal Caribbean continues to be a pioneer in the cruising industry and sets the bar for other cruise lines, like Carnival, to follow.

Regardless of which line you pick, you'll find big ships that have plenty to do.  Neither line truly offers a small ship experience, but they have sister brands that fill that gap.

Dining Options 

Food is arguably one of the most important aspects of a cruise, right after the places in the world the ship visit.

Comparatively speaking, I think Royal Caribbean comes out on top with its traditional and specialty dining, while Carnival’s plethora of complimentary, quick dining options onboard are second to none.  

Where Carnival truly shines is its approach to casual dining onboard its ships - and the food is pretty darn good too. Carnival crushes the competition when it comes to its complimentary dining. Cruisers have a wide range of eateries to choose from on their ships.

To start, Carnival has partnered with Food Network celebrity chef, Guy Fieri, to create the popular Guy’s Burger Joint and new Pig & Anchor Smokehouse and Brewery.

In addition, the cruise line debuted a new partnership with Shaq’s Big Chicken, which is nearly as good as Chick-fil-a in my opinion.

This is just the start of the complimentary dining options and doesn’t even include the pizza shoppe for Napoli-style pizza, fresh made sandwiches from the panini grill and authentic tacos from BlueIguana cantina. 

Another favorite onboard Carnival is the SeaDay Brunch, hosted into the early afternoon for those who stayed up past their bedtime. Some signature dishes include (possibly the best) 12-hour French toast topped with roasted peaches and skillet pancakes with freshly whipped ricotta. 

Finally, Carnival’s newest ships have debuted complimentary, speciality-style restaurants called ChiBang and Cucina del Capitano. While ChiBang serves up Mexican and Asian dishes on two separate menus, Cucina del Capitano is the Italian speciality restaurant onboard. While other cruise lines would certainly charge for this experience, it’s free for guests on Excel-class ships.

This isn’t to say that Carnival’s main dining experience is lackluster (that award goes to the cruise line’s buffet, which has always left me disappointed); rather, the cruise line truly shines with its quick service options. 

And don’t even get me started about Carnival’s Chocolate Melting Cake. It’s the best dessert at sea for chocolate lovers and the cruise line has perfected this molten, warm decadence. Best of all? It’s on the menu every day. 

Where Carnival falls short is where Royal Caribbean sparkles. Specialty dining on Royal Caribbean is top-notch food and service, from Chop’s Grille steakhouse, Izumi Sushi and Teppanyaki and Jamie’s Italian - to name a few. 

Royal Caribbean’s main dining room service is also more sophisticated with a diverse menu compared to Carnival. You won’t find the servers dancing each night on tables like you will in Carnival’s dining room where you get a small ‘show’ each evening you dine. Royal Caribbean focuses on offering a varied menu with quality food for cruisers. 

The onboard buffet is the main spot for meals on the majority of the cruise line’s fleet. The food is similar quality to what you’d find at a hotel; while it might not be the most impressive thing you eat onboard, it will hit the spot. 

Entertainment

Both Royal Caribbean and Carnival offer an excellent range of daily entertainment for cruisers. You might even run out of time to see everything during your cruise; however, the cruise line take a different approach to entertainment. 

Royal Caribbean offers large-scale production shows on most of its Oasis and Quantum-class ships. You can find 90-minute, Broadway-style shows like “Hairspray” and “Mamma Mia”. The cruise line also offers one-of-a-kind aquatics shows on Oasis-class ships, along with jaw-dropping, ice skating spectacles on some of the larger vessels.

Older Royal Caribbean ships will still offer a variety of entertainment, but on a smaller scale. You can still find production shows, comedians, magicians, acrobatics and more on a Royal Caribbean cruise. 

On the other hand, Carnival’s entertainment leans into a variety of comedy shows with singing and dancing productions. Something unique to Carnival is the cruise line’s Punchliner Comedy Club with daily comedy shows and rotating comedians. Each show lasts just 30 minutes, so you have plenty of time to try the other entertainment available. 

Carnival also features Playlist Production shows where the singers and dancer’s showcase familiar tunes with dazzling choreography. If that’s not your cup of tea, you might enjoy live gameshows of Deal or No Deal or Family Feud, which can only be found on Carnival’s cruise ships. 

With Carnival’s newest Excel-class of cruise ships, the entertainment has been kicked up a notch. The cruise line has developed some really incredible shows for its transformative Center Stage, like the Most Magnificent Circus on Carnival Celebration. This acrobatic-style headliner show was quite possibly one of the best shows I’ve seen at sea. 

Kids and families

Royal Caribbean's Adventure Ocean program offers programmed activities for kids and teens to mingle with peers their own age. It's supervised, which means parents can drop their kids off and then enjoy time with their children.

Adventure Ocean caters to kids and teens between the ages of 3 and 17, dividing them into five different groups:

1. Aquanauts (3-5)
2. Explorers (6-8)
3. Voyagers (9-11)
4. Pre-teens (12-14)
5. Teens (15-17)

Now, depending on which category your child falls into, they'll likely be able to take part in karaoke showdowns, pajama parties, carnival games, epic games of crazy tag, sports tournaments, and dance parties that will have them busting moves all night long.

Related: Best Royal Caribbean cruise ships for Kids

If you have younger kids, there is also Royal Babies and Royal Tots, which costs extra and is for toddlers between the age of 6 and 36 months years old.

Camp Ocean is Carnival's complimentary youth club and is also split by ages:

1. Penguins (2 - 5)
2. Stingrays (6 - 8)
3. Sharks (9 - 11)

Tweens and teens have their own spaces, too, in the form of Circle C and Club O2. They can keep themselves busy with stuff like video and board games, sports and karaoke.

Attractions and Thrills

When it comes to onboard thrills, no one in the cruise industry does this better than Royal Caribbean. This has been Royal Caribbean’s bread and butter for decades. 

In fact, the cruise line pioneered many firsts for the cruise industry, like the first zip line at sea, the first FlowRider surf simulator, and the first ice skating on a cruise ship. This doesn’t even encompass all of it, like the waterslides, rock climbing walls, bumper cars, bungee jumping and skydiving you can try!

For the most part, these onboard thrills are all complimentary for Royal Caribbean cruisers (other than the iFly sky diving simulator). 

Read more: 15 free things to try on your next cruise

Comparatively, Carnival’s showcase plenty of pools, hot tubs and waterslides. The biggest ships, Carnival Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration, feature The Ultimate Playground where guests can find the cruise line’s onboard thrills. Here, you can take your turn on the ropes course or dare to try the thrilling waterslides for free. 

This is also where you’ll find the first rollercoaster at sea, called Bolt. Costing $15 each for two laps, cruisers can twist and turn around the aft of Carnival Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration!

Although pricey, my sister and I would recommend this unique experience at least once for all Carnival guests.

Experience Onboard

Undoubtedly, Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Line offer incredible cruise experiences. Both cruise lines aim to provide affordable, family-friendly cruises with something onboard for everyone. 

Carnival’s entire brand revolves around having “the most fun ships at sea”. You can’t get off a Carnival cruise without seeing the word “fun” multiple times each day.

As such, the environment onboard is very casual with a major focus on fun. No one takes themselves too seriously and this creates a very carefree style of cruising. 

Carnival attracts a younger crowd, including young adults and families. It’s a popular cruise line for spring breakers because of its notoriously cheap cruise fares. Carnival cruises have a lively nightlife scene with plenty of parties, although this doesn’t mean it’s necessarily out of control. Imagine everyone - even your mom and grandma - simply letting loose together on a cruise!

I will say, nobody does a sailaway party like Carnival Cruise Line. Everyone onboard shows up with their drinks in hand, ready to celebrate the start of vacation. In fact, I would verge to say it’s a right of passage to attend a Carnival sailaway party if you consider yourself a seasoned cruiser! 

With Royal Caribbean’s cruises, you’ll find a more varied crowd thanks to the cruise line’s international presence. Comparatively, Royal Caribbean offers more international cruises to places like Europe, Asia and Australia.

Along with young adults and families, you’ll also find solo travelers, couples and grandparents onboard a Royal Caribbean cruise. Because of Royal Caribbean’s slightly higher cruise fares thanks to high-end suites, the parties onboard tend to be more subdued and upscale. 

For those traveling without kids, Royal Caribbean’s adult-only areas are superior for relaxing during your cruise. Each ship in Royal Caribbean’s fleet offers a serene space for adults called The Solarium - it’s my favorite place to relax.

Comparatively, Carnival also offers an adults-only area called Serenity, although it’s not as large or secluded. I also prefer the motif of the Solarium over Serenity. 

If you’re sailing around spring break or on a short getaway itinerary, your Royal Caribbean cruise will likely entice a more energetic crowd.

Read more: Everything you should book before the cruise to avoid it being sold out

Itineraries and where they sail

Both Royal Caribbean and Carnival focus primarily on North American cruises, with lots of cruises to the Caribbean and Mexico.  Both have seasonal sailings to Alaska, Bermuda and Canada.

Royal Caribbean has a larger presence in Europe and Australia compared to Carnival.

Both have private destinations in the Caribbean, although Carnival has one more than Royal Caribbean: Amber Cove, Half Moon Cay, and Princess Cays vs Perfect Day at CocoCay and Labadee.

Read more: The best cruise itineraries for every type of traveler

Final Thoughts

When it comes to comparing Royal Caribbean and Carnival, the two cruise lines are more similar than they are different. Each aims to provide an amazing and affordable cruise vacations for families. You can’t really go wrong between the two, as long as you have the right expectations. 

If you’re a major foodie or someone who loves to really let loose and party the night away on a cruise, you might find that Carnival is the best cruise line for you. The upbeat and carefree atmosphere is perfect for cruisers who want a casual getaway without any of the fuss. 

Those who might want a slightly more upscale experience with better specialty dining options and innovative onboard thrills would probably prefer Royal Caribbean. This is also the best cruise line for an adults-only cruise vacation or those looking to truly relax. 

Personally, I wouldn’t hesitate to book another cruise on Carnival’s Excel-class ship, as it truly changed my opinion of the cruise line and amplified the fleet. I’m excited about the future of the cruise line as it starts to put innovation and technological advancement at the forefront.

However, I still prefer Royal Caribbean overall as a cruise line as it fits my budget and travel style; of course, the lucrative loyalty benefits don’t hurt either! 

What to pack for an Alaska cruise is not as difficult as it may seem. While packing for a cold weather cruise may require more preparation than a cruise to the Caribbean, a few key layers should suffice in nearly all weather conditions.

Packing for an Alaska cruise is not necessarily problematic, but it does require some careful planning and consideration. The weather in Alaska can be unpredictable given the range of temperatures.

When looking at a map, you may be surprised to see just how far south Alaska cruise ports are located.  While Alaska cruise marketing tends to show images of snow and glaciers, it’s not necessary to pack for Arctic-level temperatures. In fact, you probably already have most clothing items you’ll need for an Alaska cruise at home!

While packing for an Alaska cruise may require a bit more thought than packing for a trip to a warmer destination, with some careful planning and consideration, you can ensure that you have everything you need for a comfortable and enjoyable voyage.

Alaska cruise: the basics

Before starting to pack, it’s important to understand the basics of an Alaska cruise so you know what to expect both onboard and in port.

Royal Caribbean’s Alaska cruises are generally 7-night sailings, offering 3 or 4 days in port with 2 or 3 days at sea. Cruises visit towns along Southeast Alaska, the panhandle of the state, which borders British Columbia, Canada.

Southeast Alaska is quite a ways away from the Arctic Circle and polar bears, so you may be surprised to encounter nice weather while visiting the state. Alaska cruises are offered during the warmest months of the year, from April to September, so it’s not uncommon to experience warm, sunny days.

Related: What is the best time to cruise to Alaska?

The month you sail can have a huge impact on what you need to pack as well. For cruises in June, July, and August, you may want to pack more short sleeve shirts than in May or September. And while wool socks and warm hats are recommended at any time of the year, it’s especially important to pack warm layers in the very beginning or end of the Alaska cruise season.

Related: What it’s like to go on an Alaska cruise at the end of the season

The main thing to remember when packing for an Alaska cruise is to plan for any and all types of weather conditions.

What to pack for an Alaska cruise

Layers

Packing layers is necessary on an Alaska cruise. Morning and evening can be much colder than what you may experience in mid-afternoon, so having the flexibility to put on or take off clothing will be well appreciated.

Your base layer will be a short or long sleeved t-shirt and a pair of jeans, leggings, or other lightweight pants. On the warmest of days, shorts may be preferred whereas the coldest days may have you layering both leggings and jeans.

Over your base layer you’ll want to pack a warm layer. Sweaters, sweatshirts, and fleece or down jackets will help keep you warm no matter the weather, and they’re easy to take off if it gets too hot.

In addition, don’t forget to pack a waterproof layer. Due to strong winds and ease of use in crowded areas, we don’t recommend packing an umbrella. Therefore, it’s important to pack a waterproof jacket with a hood. This should keep you dry in the wettest of conditions.

Footwear

An Alaska cruise calls for a wide range of footwear, as you’ll need a sturdy pair of shoes to wear in port and shoes to wear onboard. A pair of water-resistant sneakers or lightweight hiking shoes is recommended, as they tend to keep your feet comfortable and warm while providing enough support for a range of outdoor activities. Active sandals, such as Chacos, can be nice in the summer months as well.

Packing a pair of comfortable lounge shoes for the ship is a good idea, too. Slippers, flip flops, or comfy sneakers can be nice to have when walking around the ship and your stateroom.

Whichever type of shoes you decide to bring, make sure the soles of your shoes have plenty of grip. You may encounter slippery or rocky surfaces on shore excursions or while exploring on your own, so you want to make sure your shoes have enough friction.

Accessories

Outside of your main clothes and footwear, don’t forget to pack accessories for an Alaska cruise. From hats to wool socks, scarves, gloves, sunscreen, and sunglasses, there are many accessories that you’ll want to bring with you to Alaska.

Related: What to bring on a cruise to Alaska?

A water-resistant daypack is one of our top Alaska cruise packing tips. You’ll need somewhere to put your valuables during the day, so making sure the pack is water-resistant or waterproof is crucial. A backpack will be the most comfortable option and can fit everything you’ll need for a busy day in port.

Binoculars may be of interest to you as well, especially if you plan to do any wildlife viewing excursions. Being able to see the state’s wildlife and nature up close is well worth the cost of an entry-level pair of binoculars.

I'd also recommend bringing a camera with a zoom lens or a cellphone that takes high quality photos. You should also bring enough chargers and enough memory cards for the hundreds of photos that you will likely take.

A portable charger is useful for full-day trips where you might burn through your cellphone battery. This portable charger is the one I recommend using (link contains affiliate link that costs you nothing extra).

Cruise clothes

Outside of what you’ll wear in port, remember to pack for your time onboard the ship! Don’t forget to pack clothes for formal night, your swimsuit to wear in the pool, and comfy clothes for lounging in your stateroom.

While it’s not necessary to pack an entirely new outfit for dinner each night, rotating 2-4 outfits can be a nice way to ensure you have dressier clothes to wear while still keeping your packing relatively light.

Related: What to wear on a cruise formal night

Alaska cruise packing list

Clothes

• Waterproof jacket with a hood
• Fleece or down jacket
• Sweaters and sweatshirts (to wear onboard and in port)
• T-shirts and long sleeve shirts
• 2-3 pairs long pants (jeans and slacks for dinner)
• 1-2 pairs leggings
• 1-2 pairs shorts
• Formal wear for dinner (2-4 dresses, collared shirts, etc.)
• Swimsuit
• Pajamas
• Casual loungewear for onboard
• Underwear and socks
• Clothes for the onboard fitness center

Footwear and accessories

• Water-resistant shoes with a sturdy, non-slippery sole (hiking boots, sneakers)
• Dress shoes for dinner
• Comfy shoes for walking around your stateroom/ship (sandals or sneakers)
• Water-resistant daypack
• Hat (baseball cap, beanie, etc.)
• Gloves
• Binoculars
• Sunglasses
• Scarf
• Camera
• Waterproof case for cellphone
• Portable cellphone charger
• Things to do onboard (books, card games, etc.)
• Sunscreen
• Bug spray

How to avoid overpacking on an Alaskan cruise?

It's really easy to find yourself overpacking for an Alaska cruise because of the wide temperature swings involved in a typical sailing.

One area of the cruise you can probably ease up on in terms of packing is what to wear for dinner.

In general, the dress code tends to be more casual at dinner.  While there are still formal nights on Alaska cruises, you'll see far more guests opting for just jeans and a collared shirt rather than a suit or tuxedo.

I've also noticed most women not wearing dresses to dinner on an Alaska cruise and instead nice jeans, pants, and sweaters.

You can also reduce the amount of clothes you bring to Alaska by relying on laundry services.

Royal Caribbean offers laundry on its ships that you pay for, but if that means packing half the clothes you might otherwise pack, that could save a lot of space (and perhaps baggage fees from the airlines).

More Alaska cruise tips:

• 50 tips for planning your Alaska cruise
• How to choose the right Alaska cruise itinerary
• Best time to cruise to Alaska
• Best things to do on an Alaska cruise

Royal Caribbean will launch two new cruise ships in 2024, and that might tempt you to book one of the first sailings.

Icon of the Seas will launch in January 2024 and offer 7-night Caribbean cruises. Icon is the first in the Icon Class of ships, and she's being set up as a game changer within the cruise industry.

At 250,800 tons, Icon will be the biggest cruise ship ever built, and will offer more activities on its pool deck than any other ship in history. A water park, sun decks, adults-only pool, sunset view pools and more are coming to Icon.

Not to be overshadowed, Utopia of the Seas will start sailing in July 2024 and while she is the sixth in the Oasis Class, she has a few innovations and new additions coming as well.

Utopia will be the first new Royal Caribbean cruise ship to start off with short 3- and 4-night cruises. 

Utopia will have a new tiki bar experience, new dining experiences, immersive dining, and an open deck filled with plenty of activities.

If these new ships sound incredible, you're not alone.  Lots of people are taking notice of what Royal Caribbean has in store and there is a sense of FOMO ("fear of missing out") circulating to experience these ships.

Should you book a cruise on a brand new Royal Caribbean ship, such as Icon or Utopia?

Depending on your flexibility and preferences, being on a new ship when it first starts sailing could be a really good or bad idea.

Why you should book a brand-new cruise ship

Being first is important to you

Among the cruise fan community, there's definitely a badge of honor to be first.

After years of hype and teases, cruise fans not only want to sail on new cruise ships, but want to beat their friends to seeing it first.

There's definite bragging rights to saying you were on a maiden voyage of a particular ship.  In the same way someone might wax poetically about having been to a concert of famous band, cruisers love to point out they were there when a new ship launched.

Certainly the first public sailing is more enticing for anyone that feels strongly about getting on a ship first.  Similar to how someone might want to see a movie on opening night, getting on a ship first means you can see everything before anyone else.  Less spoilers to contend with later, and a way to feel like "you were there".

After all, how great is it to be able to say, "I was on the maiden voyage"?

You love latest and greatest

Every new Royal Caribbean cruise ship introduces something new or different, and if you love innovation, a new ship might be for you.

Even though Utopia of the Seas is the last in the Oasis Class, she will still have new entertainment, and even a brand new innovative and immersive dining experience never before seen.

New ships are a look at what Royal Caribbean has been working on for years, and many of these offerings were secretive for months or years leading up to the ship's launch.

It's impressive to see new concepts that Royal Caribbean has, and in many cases, they re-define our expectations.  Some cruisers will go on a new ship and then look at older ships with contempt because they don't stack up to the new level of cruising set forth by a new ship.

You like a party

Without a doubt, a new cruise ship is a reason to celebrate and the first sailing of a new ship is a giant party.

When Royal Caribbean launches a new cruise ship, it's sort of like an iPhone launch or opening day of a baseball game.  There's a lot of excitement and pomp and circumstance surrounding the ship's launch.

You'll find nearly all of Royal Caribbean's top executives onboard to oversee and celebrate the launch.

Likewise, cruise fans that cruise the most flock to new ship launches because it's an opportunity to see friends.  Think high school reunion meets birthday party.

Royal Caribbean usually includes extra events on the first sailing of a new ship, along with swag.

The best crew members

When Royal Caribbean launches a new cruise ship, they look to bring in the top rated crew members to help get the ship going.

Any new cruise ship is a challenge to get up and running, because routines need to be set up and systems will need tweaking.

Some crew members relish this challenge, and it gets competitive among crew to get a transfer to a new ship.

Just like how guests like to point out they were there first, many crew members wear it as a badge of honor to help launch a ship.

Because these crew members are the best the cruise line has to offer, you get superior service onboard.

Port stops are a local event

When a brand new cruise ship pulls into a port of call, it's a celebration in and of itself.

Each port is a new stop for a ship on an inaugural cruise so often its arrival becomes a local event.  Sometimes it's a small ceremony, and other times there is a big party on the pier and guests are invited too.

It's kind of neat to see the party atmosphere surrounding a new ship spill over to the places you visit. 

There's no wear and tear

One of the most common concerns I hear from readers is if a particular ship feels old or dated, and there's no such concern with a new ship.

A new cruise ship has no wear and tear. Every aspect of the ship is still in never-been-used, pristine condition. 

Beds are new, decorations are contemporary, and menus reflect trends we are still seeing today.

Why you shouldn't book a brand-new cruise ship

You want everything ready and working for your cruise

New cruise ships aren't always totally complete when they launch.

The ship is functional and perfectly safe to sail on, but not every feature or offering may be ready for the first sailing.

There's a lot of pressure to get a new ship out and sailing on time, and sometimes there could be a venue or show not quite ready for the first sailing.  This is especially true today, as supply chain issues are still difficult to manage.

Most commonly, the full lineup of shows may not be ready for the first sailing.  In some cases, the shows may be performed, but only partially while the cast learns the full lineup.

As an example, Effectors wasn't ready for many months after Wonder of the Seas launched.

Oh, and the price for early sailings is the same whether or not everything is 100% or not.

If you'd be disappointed not to be able to experience every single feature promoted with a new ship because it's not ready yet, a new ship might be worth skipping.

You don't want to pay top dollar

Without a doubt, a cruise on a brand new ship will cost more than other ships.

You'll pay a premium for sailing on a new ship compared to older ships, and sometimes the price gap can be substantial.

Even prices for add-ons, like a drink package or cabana at Perfect Day at CocoCay, will cost more on a new ship.

In speaking with Wall Street analysts, Royal Caribbean has talked about how well Icon of the Seas is selling and at higher prices.

In short, you'll pay more for a cruise if you want to get on a new ship. Especially, if it's the first sailing.

You don't like big ships

New or not, if you are not a fan of big cruise ships, then you can probably skip Icon or Utopia too.

Royal Caribbean has steadily been building bigger ships, and some people prefer smaller ships.

There could be a delay

Something else to keep in mind with any new cruise ship is plans can change.

Cruise ship construction is well-thought out, but there's plenty of examples of new ship launches being pushed back.

While there's no reason to believe Icon or Utopia of the Seas will be delayed, we've seen ship launches delayed over the years. 

If you are someone who cruises frequently with the same cruise line, you have most likely set sail on the same cruise ship more than once. Depending on where you sail and who you cruise with, being on the same ship can feel like a totally different experience. 

Not to mention, if a cruise ship has been recently refurbished with new additions and amplifications, this can totally transform the onboard experience. Just because you’re sailing on the same ship, it’s unlikely that you will have the same experience twice. 

I just returned from a 12-night sailing onboard Royal Caribbean’s Jewel of the Seas to visit Iceland with my husband. This wasn’t the first time that we had sailed onboard Jewel of the Seas. Back in December 2018, we cruised on Jewel of the Seas with family for a 7-night Caribbean sailing from San Juan. 

A five year difference had a big impact on our perception of Jewel of the Seas and the onboard experience. While I thought I knew what to expect from our prior experience onboard, I was wrong. Our Iceland sailing on Jewel of the Seas was totally different than sailing on the same ship in the Caribbean five years earlier - and not just because of the drastically different climate and itinerary!

Here is how our experiences differed while sailing on the same Royal Caribbean ship. 

Jewel of the Seas is a Radiance Class ship that first debuted in 2004, making her nearly 20 years old. 

The Radiance Class ships are Royal Caribbean’s second oldest in the cruise line’s fleet. Jewel of the Seas, along with her sister ships, is a stark contrast from Royal Caribbean’s newest ships, which are massive floating resorts that hold triple the amount of passengers.

These ships are considered small to midsize and hold right around 2,700 passengers, making them perfect for port-intensive itineraries to off-the-beaten-path cities. I’ve also sailed on all of Jewel’s sister ships, some even multiple times, so I consider myself a Radiance Class cruise guru at this point (kidding!!). This is likely because I am destination-driven when booking cruises and Radiance Class ships tend to sail more interesting itineraries. 

When I first sailed on Jewel of the Seas in 2018, the ship had just received a $30 million investment for refurbishment.

With refreshed staterooms and a bow-to-stern makeover, we had no gripes about the ship’s appearance, amenities or overall condition back then. In fact, everything felt pretty fresh and up-to-date, although Jewel of the Seas has never had the same bells and whistles that you'll find on newer and bigger ships.

During this dry dock in 2016, Jewel of the Seas received the addition of Giovani’s Table and Izumi Sushi while disappointingly removing one of the few complimentary dining options onboard, Seaview Cafe.

When we booked this cruise, my husband and I were 23 and newly married. We were living on a much tighter budget back then too. We booked the cheapest cabin onboard to make our budget stretch as far as possible. In fact, we booked through a website called iCruise to save an additional $500 (something I would never do today). We booked that cruise because of the dates and the exciting itinerary, with unique stops like Granada and Dominica.

The total cost of our cruise on Jewel of the Seas in December 2018 was $2,063 for an outside cabin, which was oddly cheaper than an inside stateroom. I remember thinking this was astronomical compared to other cruises we had taken for half the cost in college, but this was mostly due to the fact this sailing was over New Years Eve. 

At the time, we were both Diamond Plus members because my husband inherited my Crown and Anchor Status once we were married. 

Onboard Jewel of the Seas in 2018, we had a wonderful Caribbean holiday with family, even ringing in the New Year onboard! 

Each evening, we would sit outside in the Concierge Lounge and sip on our unlimited cocktails during happy hour. This was back when Diamond Plus members could visit the Concierge Lounge onboard and drinks did not require vouchers during happy hour. 

We sailed with first time cruisers who raved about the cruise experience, particularly the food in the dining room. My husband indulged each evening with his favorite escargot and everyone loved lobster night. We ate each night in the main dining room since we did not feel like splurging on specialty dining, nor did anyone in the family. 

Although we had paid what felt like a premium, the onboard experience felt pretty luxurious as we sailed in the warm Caribbean sun. We loved seeing the sweeping views of the ocean with Jewel of the Seas’ floor-to-ceiling windows and outward facing glass elevators.

Fast forward to 2023 and we found ourselves booking a cruise on Jewel of the Seas again, this time heading to Iceland. 

Five years down the road, we booked Jewel of the Seas again for a 12-night adventure to Iceland This was entirely destination-driven, as Iceland has been at the top of our bucket list and we wanted to visit this summer. 

We looked at both Celebrity Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line, but Royal Caribbean’s pricing could not be beat for nearly half the cost. Of course, our daily drink vouchers are an amazing perk as well. We paid $3,000 for a balcony guarantee, as we wanted to have our own private veranda to take in all the sites of Iceland. 

I wasn’t surprised to see that Jewel of the Seas was sailing to Iceland this summer, as the ship’s size is perfect to visit the ports of call on our itinerary. The nearly 3-acres' worth of glass throughout the ship make it perfect for scenic cruises. After our prior sailing in 2018, we had pretty fair expectations about what the cruise would be like - or so we thought.

Almost immediately, we noticed that Jewel of the Seas needed another refurbishment to modernize the cruise ship.

Although Jewel of the Seas is almost 20 years old, we were surprised to see the ship’s overall condition had gone down hill quite a bit. It was apparent to us that Jewel of the Seas needed another refurbishment. 

To start, there was a broken window near the Cafe Latitude coffee shop! I was shocked to see this window completely shattered, although I assume it (hopefully) did not pose a safety threat since it was left unfixed. This was almost as surprising as the time we saw duck tape on a window when cruising on Carnival’s oldest ship, Ecstasy, last summer. 

In addition, other areas of the ship had a seemingly strange smell when we would walk through, which was something that we had not noticed before.

Our stateroom also had a lot of wear and tear. The drawers and table were all heavily worn, along with the balcony. Our carpet had some stains as well, which were slightly off-putting. Luckily, we had an excellent stateroom attendant and felt that service on the ship was just as great as we had remembered.

Had this been my first experience with Royal Caribbean, I honestly would not have been super impressed by these damaged areas. This did not negatively impact our cruise by any means, but it was certainly noteworthy compared to our previous time onboard. 

We missed having access to the Concierge Lounge and other loyalty benefits that have since changed. 

Royal Caribbean’s post-pandemic comeback has led to some changes to the Crown and Anchor loyalty program, both good and bad. One of the biggest changes has been the addition of daily drink vouchers, along with the removal of Concierge Lounge access for Diamond Plus members. 

Back in 2018, we loved going to the Concierge Lounge on Jewel of the Seas. Each night before dinner with family, we sipped on our unlimited cocktails as the ship sailed into the sunset. 

(Left: Concierge Lounge in 2018. Right: Diamond Lounge in 2023). 

These days, Diamond Plus members are no longer able to access the Concierge Lounge with recent changes made to the loyalty program. 

As we crammed into the Diamond Lounge on our recent Iceland cruise, we were a bit bummed thinking about how this benefit had been taken away. Having more space with less people made it feel more lucrative and special. My husband also misses the unlimited drinks during happy hour, although our 23-year-old alcohol tolerances are a bit different than today!

With more Diamond members than ever before, the lounge was packed to the brim almost each night. We struggled to find seats most evenings unless we came much later. Luckily, having the vouchers eliminates the need to go to the lounge altogether, but we do enjoy the views, service and overall company. 

Another small, but notable, difference was the loyalty gifts received in our cabin. 

Looking back at pictures from 2018, I was shocked to see a massive loyalty basket with cheese and fruit, which had been gifted to us for being Diamond Plus members. We also received chocolate covered strawberries and other petite snacks during that cruise.

During our recent Iceland sailing, we received a small plate with a bruised banana, orange and apple with a note that said “Compliments of the Chef”. This was... an interesting choice, to say the least!

Now, I am not expecting anything over the top here, as I do appreciate any recognition of loyalty from Royal Caribbean; but, comparatively speaking, the shift from truly warm and welcoming gifts to this obligatory, somewhat sad-looking token of appreciation was a bit disappointing. Others onboard also found this gift a bit questionable, as it was a hot topic on our Facebook sailing page!

One of the biggest, and most disappointing, differences we noticed was the change in the main dining room’s food quality.

The most controversial change within Royal Caribbean has the rollout of new menus in the main dining room earlier this year. While we enjoyed our food on earlier cruises this year, we felt there was a noticeable decline in the quality of main dining room food onboard Jewel of the Seas.

Since this was a longer cruise being 12 nights, we opted to book the Chops + 1 dining package so we had a little variety in our dining choices. We also planned to utilize our BOGO dining benefit as Diamond Plus members, along with booking an evening at Chef’s Table. As such, we had five nights in the specialty restaurants during our cruise. 

The other nights we ate in the dining room, and while the service was fabulous, the food was very hit or miss. While we really liked some entrees, others were pretty bland and low quality. This was a big disappointment for us, as we loved the main dining experience when we sailed on Jewel of the Seas in 2018.

The menu changes are more subjective, although my husband missed his nightly escargot. The lack of complimentary lobster was also a bummer, as this is a highlight normally during his cruises. 

With the main dining room being hit or miss, we started debating if we should splurge more on specialty dining. 

Surely, back in 2018, we would have never justified spending extra on a more upscale dining experience. We were newly married and budget-busting already to sail on a holiday itinerary. 

However, and most importantly, we also did not feel the need to pursue specialty dining because we had great experiences in the main dining room. 

This was a big difference for us in 2023. We are not picky eaters, but we do love the culinary experience when we cruise. There were a few evenings that we debated going back to the specialty dining restaurants simply because certain menus really did not appeal to us. 

But, perhaps that is part of Royal Caribbean’s business strategy to drive more guests to specialty dining and away from the complimentary options, especially those willing to splurge.

We also found the ship’s complimentary dining schedule did not align well with our European itinerary. 

Because we were sailing around Europe, our days were much longer than a normal Caribbean sailing. Returning to the ship around 4pm or later, we struggled to find much for complimentary dining. 

The Windjammer closed each day from 3pm to 6:30pm, leaving just the tiny Solarium Cafe as an option with the same sandwiches each day until dinner. This was a bummer for us and others who had late dining or My Time Dining. 

Since most people were also spending long days in port, it was disappointing not to have more complimentary dining options. I would have loved options like Cafe Promenade, El Loco Fresh or Sorrento’s Pizza onboard with more availability and selection. 

This was also the case late at night. Everyone crammed into the corner of the Solarium for late-night pizza and snacks, but the tiny Solarium Cafe couldn’t keep up with everyone’s hunger. 

This was not an issue that we noticed on Jewel of the Seas back in 2018. Either the Windjammer is closed more or the ship’s dining schedule does not align well with the general pace of a European cruise. Either way, it seemed like this was an unusual problem to have on a cruise. 

Dining gripes aside, Jewel of the Seas’ outward-facing design really shined during our scenic itinerary in Iceland. 

Jewel of the Seas was a great ship to sail around Iceland, especially as our ship weaved in and out of the gorgeous fjords. We could see sweeping views from not only our balcony, but also from the glass elevators and floor-to-ceiling windows. 

Taking a cruise to the Caribbean is not usually very scenic, at least not for the majority of your sailing. Most of the time, once you leave port, you’ll being seeing ocean for miles upon miles. This is not the case for destinations like Iceland, where you can see mountains, waterfalls and fjords even hours after leaving port. 

Jewel of the Seas was the perfect size for this itinerary. We docked in remote ports near the Arctic Circle that had as little as 2,000 people living there; therefore, a mega-ship holding 6,000 passengers wouldn’t have gotten the job done. 

At the end of the day, five years seemingly made a big difference in our perception of Jewel of the Seas. 

Boarding a cruise ship that you’ve sailed on before inherently brings up nostalgic memories. I have been sailing on Royal Caribbean ships since I was 10 years old, so I have a lifetime of special memories tied to these cruise ships. I’ve seen the company evolve and change with some great changes and other not-so-great changes. 

Being back on Jewel of the Seas had us reminiscing on that precious time in our lives back in 2018. Perhaps those rose-colored glasses played into our current perception of the ship too. Between changes in the dining, loyalty perks and the ship’s overall condition, the experiences onboard were very different. 

Between 2018 and 2023, Jewel of the Seas has undoubtedly aged - just like my husband and I have too. But, our perception has also changed. Being a bit more established, we no longer have to pinch pennies to stretch our cruise budget. Perhaps we have a higher cruising standard now after being able to afford higher-end ships and cruise lines in the last five years. 

Boarding Jewel of the Seas again and writing this article was like taking a trip down memory lane. Back in 2018, we were newly married with a brand-new puppy waiting for us back home. We also had a highly anticipated move away from the Midwest to begin my husband’s military service. We called that Caribbean cruise our ‘last hurrah’ before we knew life would change drastically. 

Now, life looks a lot different, just as Jewel of the Seas does too. Cruise ships can really transport us back to certain eras of life. While this article was a bit more sentimental than I intended, I think that is what cruising is all about - making lifelong memories with the people we love most.

Stepping back onto Jewel of the Seas half a decade later resurfaced a lot of memories for us. We loved both of these cruises, even if our perception of the ship and onboard experience has changed overtime.  It is crazy to think how five more years will change the Radiance Class - and I am eager to see how (or if) Royal Caribbean modernizes these cruise ships.

Your cruise vacation is likely a major event for your family, so making it special is important.

Maybe you're celebrating a special event, milestone, or gathering.  Cruises tend to be a popular choice for family and friend gatherings.

If you're looking to upgrade your cruise on a small budget, you're in luck.

Among our team of of professional travel writers, we combed through the best budget ideas to enhance your cruise ship sailing to make the trip just a little more special.

1. An awesome shore excursion

My top choice for a way to make a cruise better is spending extra on a better shore excursion.

Your cruise will take you to various ports of call, and you'll find a variety of tours to consider.

One of my favorite shore excursions are day passes to a resort because you get beach and pool access, along with food and drink quite often.

I always check a website like ResortForADay.com to book a day pass. (This link contains an affiliate link that costs you nothing extra to use).

Royal Caribbean may also offer tours worth considering, including lower capacity tours.  Smaller groups are another great way to explore with a better experience.

2. Buy a dining package

Specialty dining is a popular way to splurge on a cruise, and a specialty dining package can make it much more affordable.

With just a 3-night dining package, you can enjoy a few extra cost meals without a huge extra cost.

Dining packages will cost you much less than trying to dine at the same amount of restaurants individually.

3. Thermal Spa pass

On select ships, you can purchase a thermal suite pass that gives you unlimited access to saunas, thermal seats, rainforest rooms and more.

Only Royal Caribbean's Oasis, Quantum and Radiance Class ships offer a thermal spa.

The exact options will depend on your ship, but usually it includes:

• hot stone chairs
• rainforest shower room
• infrared sauna
• steam room

You can buy a pass onboard the ship at the Vitality Spa, and then enjoy as many visits as you like.

Access to the thermal spa is limited, so you'll need to buy your passes as soon as you get onboard.

4. Photo package

One big reason to take a family cruise is for all the memories you'll want to make, and photos are still a big way to remember them.

You'll find ship photographers around your ship, primarily in the evenings to take photos of everyone dressed up for dinner.

You could buy individual printed photos, or invest in a photo package.

Each photo package covers any photo that has at least one person in the cabin, regardless of who else is in the photo.

If your group is going to take the time to take photos onboard, a photo package can be a great idea.

5. Sushi class

A vastly underrated experience are the cooking classes, such as the sushi making class.

The sushi class teaches you how to make a couple different hand rolls, that you get to eat after. I was never one to think cooking classes would be fun, but then I tried it and really enjoyed it.

Read more: Izumi sushi making class on Royal Caribbean

It's a very low pressure class, where you can pretty easily make a few kinds of sushi rolls.

There's also a cupcake decorating class or guacamole fiesta class. The exact classes depend on which ship you choose.

Skip: RoyalUp

It may be tempting to upgrade your cabin through Royal Caribbean's RoyalUp program, but I think it's a mistake in the sense I think there's a low chance of you winning your bid.

Read more: How can you win that Royal Up stateroom upgrade bid? It's pure luck

While a RoyalUp bid could fall within the $250 limit and certainly enhance your cruise by moving up a nicer room, the reality is the chances of you winning the bid are pretty low.

Essentially, there aren't that many open cabins to upgrade to because Royal Caribbean usually sells its cruise ships out.  So you're mostly banking on a last-minute cancellation, especially if it's a suite.

If you're in an inside room and trying to bid to a cabin category that has a lot of availability and less demand, such as an oceanview or balcony, your chances are probably a bit higher at winning a bid since there's more inventory of those types of cabins.

Regardless, I think you should spend that $250 on a sure fire bet, rather than a gamble like RoyalUp.

I sailed onboard Royal Caribbean's Freedom of the Seas and booked the cheapest stateroom possible. 

Making her launch in 2006, Freedom of the Seas is the namesake ship of the Freedom Class ship. When she debuted, she became the largest cruise ship in the world, a title that Royal Caribbean ships have held ever since.  

In early 2020, she received $116 million in upgrades through Royal Caribbean's Royal Amplification program, during which she got the Perfect Storm water slide duo, upgraded resort-style Caribbean pool deck, Splashway Bay, and new dining venues, such as an enormous Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade, Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen, Izumi Hibachi & Sushi, and El Loco Fresh. 

During a recent 4-night cruise to Nassau and Perfect Day at CocoCay, I paid a little over $1,500, including port fees and gratuities, for a guaranteed inside stateroom, meaning that I was not immediately assigned my exact cabin.  

If you're wondering why so much for an inside room, there's two reasons.

First, this was a holiday sailing over the very popular July 4th holiday. Cruises over a holiday will always cost more due to higher demand.

Second, I booked this cruise just a month before the sailing.  I booked it on June 2, 2023 for an embarkation date of July 3, 2023. Booking a last-minute sailing doesn't necessarily mean a deal.

Earlier this year, I sailed onboard Liberty of the Seas and was disappointed in the overall shape that my interior cabin was in-- it definitely needed some tending to! 

I was interested to see how my experience onboard an older Freedom Class vessel would be and was pleased to find that this cabin was in much better condition. 

As soon as I walked in, I noticed that the layout was extremely similar to that on Liberty, with the small loveseat pushed against the right wall. 

My cabin measured close to 150 square feet, which is the average size of most interior cabins across their fleet. 

Since I was sailing alone, I decided to keep the two beds pushed together. If you are traveling with friends and family, you might want to separate them into two twin-sized beds to help maximize the limited floor space.  

Beside the bed there were two nightstands. Even though the stateroom's phone was sitting on top of one, there was enough space for my glasses and a glass of water at night. 

Above each nightstand was a lamp attached to the wall and reading light. 

The desk area felt spacious with more than enough storage, especially considering that there were hidden shelves behind the mirrors on the left and right. 

One thing I have learned to be prepared for on older ships is the lack of available outlets, so that did not come as a surprise to me on Freedom of the Seas. 

There were no outlets or USB plugs beside of the bed. There were two American outlets, as well as one European plug, located at the desk. 

The cabin also came equipped with a mini-fridge. There was a single adjustable shelf inside that could be moved according to your preferences, and while I only used it once, it kept my beverage cool. 

Immediately after entering the cabin, you will find a closet on the right. Inside, there were plenty of shelves and hangers. Even if I was sailing with another guest, I do not think we would have struggled unpacking, especially since this was only a 4-night cruise. 

The safe was also located inside of the closet. On a recent cruise onboard Navigator of the Seas, it was in a shelf above the television. 

The bathroom inside of my stateroom was as I expected: a small, standard cruise ship bathroom. There were a few signs of wear and tear, especially along the top border of the mirror; however, it was minor. 

Compared to newer ships, such as Symphony of the Seas, the sink is located in the middle of the vanity, rather than to one side. This means that there is available storage space on both sides of the sink. Plus, the vanity tends to be wider, too. 

There was more storage underneath the sink, and this is where I kept my cosmetics bag and hair straightener. On the back of the door were two hooks to hang items like towels and wet swimsuits. 

One thing that pleasantly surprised me was the water pressure, both in the shower and the sink! It was so strong that I had to be careful turning the sink on. 

In terms of location, my cabin (#8677) was situated at the aft of the ship on Deck 8. While I enjoyed being able to walk three decks to reach either the pool deck or Royal Promenade, I wish it had been more centrally located. 

Overall, I was happy with my stateroom onboard Freedom of the Seas.It was cozy and a comfortable place to return to each evening. I had a fantastic stateroom attendant, which always makes the experience better, too.  

Royal Caribbean is poised to launch its newest cruise ship that is going to stir up the cruise industry yet again.

Today, cruise lines are building ships that are bigger, better, and more technologically advanced than anything else at sea. Royal Caribbean could be deemed the leader in this regard, as they have held the record for largest cruise ship in the world since 2006. 

With each record-breaking ship, you want record-breaking amenities that cannot be found anywhere else; it is not enough to build the largest ship in the world. 

Despite initially being announced in 2016, details about Icon of the Seas were kept under lock and key until 2022. 

Here are 11 reasons Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas will change the industry when she launches in early 2024. 

Icon of the Seas will be the world's largest cruise ship

Royal Caribbean is no stranger for breaking their own record when it comes to the largest cruise ship at sea. When Icon of the Seas debuts in January 2024, she will steal this title from Wonder of the Seas, the current record holder. 

Icon will measure 20 decks high, 1,198 feet long, and 250,800 gross tons, making her 6% larger than Wonder. 

Plus, she will set a maximum capacity record. At double occupancy, Icon can accommodate 5,610 passengers. When the ship is fully booked, she will be able to hold 7,600 guests. In comparison, Wonder of the Seas' maximum capacity is 6,988. 

Royal Caribbean's first LNG-powered ship

Every Royal Caribbean ship prior to Icon of the Seas has been built to be powered by diesel. LNG, or liquefied natural gas, is more energy efficient and will reduce both fuel consumption and emissions. 

Additionally, Icon of the Seas will be shore-power ready, meaning that if the destination has the required set up, she will be able to plug into local power grid. This replaces the need to use fuel every time ship is docked. 

Related: Royal Caribbean's next-gen cruise ship will advance goal of creating sustainable cruising

You will find the best neighborhood for adrenaline junkies

Thrill Island, one of eight neighborhoods onboard Icon of the Seas, will be home to Crown's Edge. This adventure course, which combines a ropes course, skywalk, and thrill ride into one, is about 49 feet tall and 44 feet wide. 

After stepping out onto a ledge that is 154 feet above the ocean, the walkway will stop. Eventually, a trap door will release, and you will be sent on a short glide over the sea. 

Thrill Island is also where you will find some fan-favorites, such as the FlowRider, redesigned five lane rock wall, and mini-golf. 

Record breaking water park at sea

Category 6, the largest water park at sea, will also be located inside of Thrill Island. The 17,010 square foot space will feature six recording breaking slides:

• Storm Surge and Hurricane Hunter, the first family raft slides at sea that allow groups of four to ride together. 
• Pressure Drop, the first open free fall slide at sea. 

• Frightening Bolt, the tallest waterslide at sea with a 46 foot drop.

• Storm Chasers, the first duo mat-racing slides at sea.

Related: Royal Caribbean's next-gen cruise ship will have the largest water park to thrill all ages

Enhanced crew member areas 

In order to provide the best guest experience possible, Royal Caribbean has hired over 2,300 crew members from 80 countries to staff Icon. 

The company sent our surveys to crew members asking them what they wanted to see onboard the ship. As a result, the crew neighborhood will span four decks and will feature redesigned accommodations that maximize privacy and space with the unique L-shaped design. 

New cabins are not the only thing that crew members get to look forward to, as they have enhanced crew-only amenities, such as The Clubhouse, a lounge that features ping pong, foosball, and pool tables, as well as a bar to order anything from coffees to cocktails. 

There will also be a gym, salon, store, gaming room, indoor and outdoor bars, a multipurpose venue, and  Windjammer that will be the first in the fleet to feature live cooking stations in the crew buffet. 

Related: Royal Caribbean is adding the best crew member cabins and areas on its next new cruise ship

28 stateroom categories means that there is the perfect cabin for all travelers 

When booking a cruise onboard Icon of the Seas, you will be able to choose from 28 different stateroom categories, 14 of which are brand-new and cannot be found on any other ship in the fleet.

In total, there are 2,805 cabins that can accommodate a maximum capacity of 7,600 guests per sailing, meaning that around 80% of all staterooms have been designed for larger families.

Even if you are staying in a standard interior, ocean view, or balcony cabin, you can expect a refreshed design.

One of the first new cabins are the infinite balconies. With the touch of a button, the window at the end of the living space is lowered.

These rooms will offer a flexible 50 square feet of convertible indoor and outdoor space, meaning that these cabins will be longer than other balcony cabins and offer guests more usable space. 

Icon of the Seas will also have a family infinite balconies that will have in-room games, a split bathroom, and a bunk area for children that can be closed off with a curtain for privacy. 

Those looking for suites can find anything from the brand-new Surfside and AquaDome Suites to the 1,772-square-foot Ultimate Family Townhouse. 

Plus, Icon of the Seas has enhanced suite-only amenities in the Suite Neighborhood, ranging from the the two-story Grove Suite Sun Deck, private pool and hot tub, and two dedicated restaurants: The Grove and Coastal Kitchen. 

Related: Royal Caribbean designed first-of-its-kind cabins for its new cruise ship

Demand for the most exclusive suite onboard 

Despite being roughly six months away from her first sailing in January 2024, Icon of the Seas has already seen record-breaking demand from customers, including for the $80,000 Ultimate Family Townhouse. 

"I think we mentioned that the Ultimate Townhouse," said Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley, "I think is pretty much sold out completely for 2024 at an average rate of about $78, $80,000 a week."

There is only one of these suites available onboard, and it is located at the aft of the ship within the Surfside Neighborhood. 

Inside the 1,772-square-foot, three-story stateroom is an in-suite slide, movie theater, karaoke machine and private deck with a ping pong table, outdoor seating, and a fence that connects directly to Surfside. It can accommodate up to eight guests. 

As part of the Star tier of the Royal Suite Class, staying in the Ultimate Family Townhouse comes with some incredible perks, including a complimentary Deluxe Beverage Package and gratuities, concierge service, private sun deck, and access to your own Royal Genie. 

40 ways to indulge, from Royal Caribbean's first food hall to the posh supper club

Icon of the Seas will have 10 brand-new dining concepts, with a total of 20 different venues to choose from. When you add the bars and lounges, there are 40 ways to indulge while onboard the ship. 

Whether you want to splurge on the eight-course meal at Empire Supper Club, try something new at the food hall, get sushi to-go at the walk up window in Central Park, or dine at other familiar favorites (think Chops Grill, Sorrento's, El Loco Fresh, and Giovanni's Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar), there is something that will appeal to everyone's tastes and preferences. 

Related: Royal Caribbean will offer swanky supper club and food hall on new Icon of the Seas when it launches

One-of-a-kind entertainment

When Oasis of the Seas debuted in 2009, she was the first ship to feature the AquaTheater. Here, guests can watch captivating high diving and acrobatic shows that are unique to each ship. Since, however, it is located outdoors, shows are subject to the weather conditions. 

On Icon, water shows will take place inside of the 363-ton AquaDome that will incorporate a 55 foot tall waterfall. There will be two shows that passengers can see: "Aqua Nation!" and "Pirates vs Mermaids." 

Other entertainment venues include Absolute Zero, the largest ice skating rink at sea, and Royal Theater. 

Like the AquaDome, Absolute Zero will host two different shows: "Starburst" and "Once Upon A Time."

"Wizard of Oz" will be the featured musical on Icon of the Seas. Nick Weir, Royal Caribbean's Senior Vice President of Entertainment, said that the targeted run-time for this show is 90 minutes. There will be an original production in the Royal Theater, too. 

Desire to create the ultimate family-friendly vacation

One major difference between Oasis and Icon ships is that Icon of the Seas will not feature the Boardwalk as one of her neighborhoods. Instead, guests will find Surfside, a purpose-built neighborhood for families that is home to Splashaway Bay and Baby Bay. 

You will also find an arcade, playscape, carousel, and multiple dining venues, including a complimentary buffet to keep the fun going all day long without having to venture to the Windjammer. 

You will also find different stateroom options tailored to accommodate larger families, such as the Surfside Suite, which includes a separate nook for children that can be closed off at any point in time. 

Related: Royal Caribbean is building the best cruise ship for young families on Icon of the Seas with a new purpose-built area

Pools located on five different decks

Traditionally, the pool deck encompassed a single deck of the ship. On Icon, you will find pools scattered across five different decks, with the first being Water's Edge on Deck 7 in Surfside. 

If you make your way up to Deck 15, you will find three additional pools here: the adults-only Cove Pool, the suspended infinity Hideaway Pool at the aft of the ship, and Royal Bay Pool, the largest pool at sea. They are dispersed throughout the deck to help keep crowds at bay. 

Deck 16 is home to the the largest swim-up bar at sea: Swim & Tonic. The connected pool has in-water loungers. Adjacent to the pool you will find more loungers and a hot tub. 

Onboard Icon, you will not find the adults-only Solarium. Instead, the area has been dubbed "Cloud 17." As you can imagine, it is located on Deck 17 and features both a secluded pool and cantilevered hot tub that overlooks the water. Cloud 17 also has private access to the tropical-inspired Lime and Coconut Bar.

Finally, those staying in suites that have access to The Grove will be able to utilize the private pool. 

Any cruise line marketing department would probably tell you that a cruise vacation is unlike anything else, and that statement is true of many aspects of the vacation, including some onboard experiences.

In fact, I think taking a cruise vacation drew me back time and time again because it's different from land vacations. I enjoy taking a cruise more because it differs so much.

When it comes time to take a cruise with someone who has never cruised before, I then realize there are a few things I do on a cruise that seem perfectly normal there, but would be out of place on a land trip.

These are activities or choices we make as cruise ship passengers that I would not think twice about on a cruise ship, but would scoff at if available on a land trip.

Eat with strangers

If you eat in the Main Dining Room on a cruise ship, there's a chance you'll be seated with other cruise ship passengers that you've never met before.

It's not a guarantee, but it does still happen that you could be seated with other guests and that has been a norm of cruising as far back as I can recall.

If I was lead to my dining room table to eat with strangers on a cruise ship, I wouldn't think twice of it.  But if the same thing happened at a land restaurant, I probably would leave the restaurant.

Outside of teppanyaki or biergarten restaurants on land where sharing a table is common, it's pretty rare on land for that to occur. But on a cruise ship, it's just another day.

Decorate my hotel room door

Something else I've only ever seen happen on cruise ships is to decorate your cabin door.

A cruise vacation is big deal because it's a trip that will take you to various ports of call, and it's a big trip for many people.  To celebrate this, it's become a tradition among many cruisers to decorate their cabin doors.

Guests will bring printed materials, whiteboards, signs, and anything else they can attach to their cabin door via magnets to let anyone walking by their room they are truly excited for this trip.

Some cabin decorations are just a few items to celebrate being on vacation, while other guests will wrap their entire door and cover it with all sorts of knick-knacks.

I really cannot recall ever seeing anyone decorating their Holiday Inn Express hotel room door.  Nor would I ever consider that to be something to do in a hotel.

Participate in pool events

Cruise ships are filled with activities. Every day you'll find a list of things to do in the Royal Caribbean app, including a lot of pool deck activities.

Hotel pools are usually relaxing spaces to enjoy time in and around the water. Cruise ship pools offer that too, but they also mix in bellyflop, best looking men, volleyball, and aerobics competitions.

To be fair, I've seen land resorts offer pool events from time to time, but participation is usually low and it always seems like an afterthought in terms of execution.

On a cruise ship, these pool-based events are major draws and lots of people want to participate. 

I'm always amazed the huge crowds a bellyflop competition will draw, along with how many people actively want to try to win.

Book a suite

I know you're thinking, "plenty of people book suites at a land hotel", and you're right, but I think there's a lot more good reason to book a cruise ship suite over any land suite.

On land, a suite is going to be simply a larger room. Maybe it has more living space, extra bedrooms, or even access to a concierge lounge.  

Cruise ship suites are also larger than other cruise cabin categories, but they include a heck of a lot more amenities than a hotel suite.

A suite on a cruise ship could include access to a special restaurant, lounge access, priority seating, and special boarding privileges.

To be fair, there's a lot more blurred lines between what you get with a suite on land or sea, but on land, I've always seen a hotel suite as simply something to book because you can afford it. On a cruise, a suite comes with a lot more benefits that enhance the vacation experience. 

Book a trip more than a year in advance

One of the most difficult concepts new cruisers have to grasp is booking cruises years in advance.

If you want to get the best possible price, secure a rare cruise ship cabin, or lock in a spot on a new ship, you're going to have to book many months in advance.  Booking more than a year before the cruise sets sail is commonplace, but booking a land trip that far out is very rare.

You can't even book airfare more than a year in advance, but I can book a cruise for up to two years from now.

The best prices for a Royal Caribbean cruise tend to be found right after Royal Caribbean releases new itineraries, which are usually for cruises departing two years from the release date.

Booking a cruise early brings far more stateroom options than booking a cruise close to the sail date. The further in advance you book, the more flexibility you have to book the exact stateroom you want.

That isn't to say no one books a cruise at the last-minute, but it's far more commonplace to book a cruise more than a year out compared to land vacations.

Read more: Pros and Cons of booking a cruise early vs last-minute

Happy Sunday! We hope you are having a great weekend! Now it’s time to sit back, relax, and catch up on all the Royal Caribbean news from the week!

Royal Caribbean shared an inside look at Utopia of the Seas construction progress.

Members of the Product Development team shared photos and insight of what the new ship looks like, and what it takes to build a brand new cruise ship.

Utopia will be the sixth Oasis Class cruise ship and will begin cruising in July 2024.

Royal Caribbean News

• Royal Caribbean's newest cruise ships will convert waste to energy
• Spotted: Royal Caribbean adds ability to place temporary hold for new cruise booking
• Court allows toddler dropped through cruise ship window lawsuit to resume
• 6 ways to squeeze in another cruise this year
• Dramamine vs Bonine: Which motion sickness medicine is best?
• The best Amazon Prime Day deals for all your cruising essentials
• Can you become addicted to cruising?

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 505th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available, which provides an overview of how to save money on a cruise.

This week's episode goes over the basic questions people have about saving money on a Royal Caribbean cruise.

Please feel free to subscribe via iTunes or RSS, and head over to rate and review the podcast on iTunes if you can! 

New RCB Video: Reasons to eat at specialty restaurants instead of the Main Dining Room on your cruise

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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 — Reasons to eat at specialty restaurants instead of the Main Dining Room — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

6 tips to help keep a cruise line from losing your luggage

No one wants to lose their luggage, especially on a cruise.

The chances of the cruise line losing your luggage is pretty low, but there are a few important things to do to ensure the risk is the lowest possible.

From getting luggage tag holders to using AirTags, we have 6 things you can do to keep your luggage as safe as possible from being lost.

What a Royal Caribbean Alaska cruise is like in 2023

The 2023 Alaska cruise season is in full swing, and we have a first-hand look at what it's like this year.

Whether you’re planning an Alaska cruise this season or are hoping to visit Alaska in the coming years, it’s helpful to know what to expect.

Jenna sailed on Quantum of the Seas to Alaska recently and shared what you can expect every step of the way.

Royal Caribbean vs Princess to Alaska: which cruise line is better?

Is Princess Cruises really the best choice for an Alaska cruise?

We were curious how Royal Caribbean stacks up compared to Princess, because there is a general consensus that Princess has the best Alaska cruise experience.

We compared the total experience on both lines to see which our team preferred. 

Rare cruise ship cabins that get booked very quickly

There are a handful of cruise ship cabins that will almost always get booked up super quickly because of how valued they are among people that cruise a lot.

Due to either their location or unusual layout, these staterooms are in-demand because they offer something special you don't usually get, which adds to their value.

Whether you want to book these rooms for yourself, or are simply curious about what they offer, here's a look at a few rare cruise ship cabins that are not only different from the rest, they will be booked quickly.

Guide to Royal Caribbean Suites

Think it's time you tried a suite?

Suites cost more than other cabin categories, but they also provide significantly more living space, along with some fabulous benefits.

If you think you'd like to move up to a Royal Caribbean suite, here's everything you need to know about these kind of accommodations.

Whether you want to book these rooms for yourself, or are simply curious about what they offer, here's a look at a few rare cruise ship cabins that are not only different from the rest, they will be booked quickly.

Do you return from a cruise and immediately start planning your next one? Perhaps you even book your next cruise before your current one is even over. 

While some cruise casually as a one-off vacation, others share a deeper passion for cruising. You have undoubtedly met a chronic cruiser who has spent more time at sea than they have on land! 

During the height of the pandemic, Royal Caribbean Blog reader Joe01 posed the question in our forum, “Why are people addicted to cruising?” - and I thought this was an excellent, thought-provoking question.

He received countless responses from cruisers alike who shared why they prefer - and love - to cruise over and over again. The top comment, from user Kwong, made me laugh: “Look man, it's not an addiction. I can quit whenever I want to!”

Of course, the cruise shutdown throughout 2020 had many of us cruise-lovers missing the ability to be whisked away from reality on a cruise ship. We dreamed of waking up to new places each day, watching sunsets at sea and being carefree onboard with little to no responsibilities.

But, can you actually be addicted to cruising?

Research shows that experiencing new places through travel and wanderlust has been linked to increased happiness and creativity. Those who prioritize vacationing are happier in general than those who do not vacation. In fact, an extremely relaxing vacation can have lasting effects on our happiness even after we return home. 

So, it’s not surprising that cruisers take to the high seas over and over again. Here’s what research says about the cruising and travel addiction, including some supporting insight from RCB readers. 

I’ll be the first to admit that I am obsessed with cruising - and I have been for as long as I can remember.

But, I am not alone in this, as nearly 60% of cruisers are repeat customers and take at least one cruise each year. 

Growing up, we cruised every year as a family - and I loved everything about it. I’d beg my parents to take me and my sister on the newest and biggest Royal Caribbean ships. My dad would give me a destination, timeframe and budget and I would spend hours looking for the perfect Royal Caribbean cruise.

Cruising was something we enjoyed as a family, whether it be a short spring break trip or a big summer expedition to see Europe for the first time. The quality time together and memories made were unmatched. 

RCB User PhillyLady echoes my sentiments: “My first cruise was in the Mediterranean when I was a teenager, and I was mesmerized by the calm blue waters, clear sky and exotic destinations.  Cruising became a type of vacation experience that was simply a part of all our lives--more than just an addiction.”

The more I cruised, the more I found myself wanting to plan as many as possible. I dreamed of seeing exotic places like Thailand, China, Japan, Norway, etc - and cruising made it not only possible, but extremely accessible to visit these bucket-list itineraries. I even studied abroad on Semester at Sea, living on a ship for 100 days, and traveled the world. 

Then, the pandemic struck and left an unexpected void in my travel-loving soul. I wanted nothing more than to cruise and experience new places, but yet we were stuck at home. I told my husband, “I think I am actually addicted to traveling, because I feel depressed that I literally cannot right now!” 

But, what exactly is it that keeps us coming back to cruise ships time and time again? 

There are many different ways to travel and vacation, yet people (including myself) come back to cruising repeatedly. If a destination can be reached by cruise ship, this is always my preferred method of traveling. 

“Well, once you realize that the experience of travel is extremely rewarding and unlike anything else, the more you want to keep doing it,” explains Dr. Brein, a social psychologist who specializes in travel and intercultural communication. 

Cruising is not only affordable, but it’s super convenient. I can see multiple countries and destinations without unpacking my suitcase. Transportation and logistics are taken care of. In my mind, cruising is the perfect balance between relaxing onboard and being pampered while still having daily exploration, cultural immersion and adventure in port. 

Humans are naturally drawn to safety and comfort. For many travelers, cruise travel feels inherently safer than alternatives with easy access to medical care and onboard security. 

On a cruise ship, I feel safe and very comfortable, making it easy to relax. Once I started cruising to more far-flung destinations in Europe, Africa and Asia, this became even more true. I had a safe place to return each night with clean water, a freshly made bed and gourmet food. 

RCB user Dawnelda feels similarly, stating that she feels very safe on a cruise ship compared to land-based solo trips she took in her early twenties. Other women agreed that cruising, even solo, feels much safer on a cruise ship compared to land-based alternatives. 

Research shows that traveling acts as a form of escapism. 

We all deal with stress in our lives. To cope, it’s a natural instinct for humans to create a daily routine that feels predictable and easy to minimize this stress. Over time though, our daily routines become monotonous and even detrimental to our personal growth and potential for new opportunities. 

In this way, traveling acts as a form of escapism. Many agree with this sentiment for why they love cruising so much. 

RCB member Krhardy shares, “For me, it's a total escape from reality. I am blessed with a wonderful life...a husband I adore, 3 successful and independent adult children and 3 grandchildren, and amazing friends. That said, life has stress. The second I walk onto a ship, all of my worries seem to just disappear for a short time.”

Traveling can also be used as a way to shift and reorganize our identities and provides an opportunity to reevaluate our priorities in life. 

Karen Stein, a socialist who’s studies travel and culture, explains that traveling allows us to devote our time and attention to identities and commitments that we have, unwillingly, put on the back burner thanks to the stress of daily lives. 

Those who travel also find a feeling of increased self-esteem and confidence, Dr. Brein states. We also tend to be more present while traveling thanks to less distractions, which is especially true while cruising due to the nature of being disconnected at sea. 

RCB moderator Lovetocruise2002 shares, "For me, as a parent, it is truly the only time that I can get away and 100% relax and not do anything!  That is what cruising represents to me. It is not just a vacation. It is more than that”.

For many of us, cruising is more than a vacation. It can be a lifestyle, an escape from reality and a time to shift our perspectives and priorities. Similar to an addiction, we can crave these unique feelings that cruising provides. 

Traveling, even on a cruise, offers us a kaleidoscope of new experiences with diverse sights, sounds and cultures.

For humans, research shows that the physical and psychological escape from our daily life is a special experience that can actually alter our brain chemistry. When we escape from our environment and challenge ourselves, it’s exhilarating. 

In fact, cruising provides an opportunity to visit places that would otherwise be difficult to reach. You might even visit a destination that you had never considered simply because it was on your itinerary. I tell prospective cruisers that you can choose an itinerary to see certain places of the world, and if you love what you see, you can always return. 

RCB user JLMoran feels similarly, saying, “I can visit cities I couldn’t otherwise see with changes in scenery and culture. It’s only one day in each place, but that’s enough for me to decide if it’s a place I want to experience again - and I have transportation to each of those places.” 

Experiencing cultures different than our own can help us grow tremendously. With cruising, you can meet new people, learn different languages, try new foods, visit new places, experience different ways of living. We can even grow to appreciate our own lift in a new light after experiencing a culture vastly different than our own. 

Ray, another RCB user, feels like, “Each new place we visit is a new experience and as our time on this planet is limited. We need to make the most of it and venture out to experience new things! No point looking back in 20 years with regrets”

Cruising can create cross-cultural experiences, which increases our sense of connectivity with others.

Once you step onboard a cruise ship, you’re encountering hundreds of new faces between fellow passengers and crew members. In port, this interaction continues when you meet and connect with locals. 

Adam Galinsky, a professor at Columbia Business School who studies the psychological impact of travel, explains how these cross-cultural experiences bring us out of our own cultural bubble by connecting with people who have a different background than our own.

By engaging with other cultures, this type of unique connection leads to a general faith in humanity where most realize that even people in different cultures treat you in a similar way, producing an increase in trust. It’s a humbling experience. 

RCB member FManke beautifully shared, “For somebody who has never cruised, they would not understand the feeling of standing on deck, in the middle of the vast ocean with no land for hundreds of miles, looking up at more stars than you can ever remember seeing before and both feeling so alive and so insignificant at the same time. In those moments, I find cruising to be very humbling. A small fish in a very large pond. Albeit a very happy fish.”

Of course, too much of anything can lose its zest over time - even cruising.

Traveling as an escape from your stresses of daily life is not only acceptable, but encouraged for all of the reasons above. But, just like anything, moderation is key. Cruising is special because it’s a physiological and physical break from our day to day realities and stress. But, once cruising becomes part of your routine, it can lose its zest because it’s no longer unique. 

I learned this last year after 10 cruises, some for work and some for leisure. By the end of the year, I wanted to plan my cruises to be more spread out so I looked forward to them in the same way.

Ask most people who travel for work and they agree. After so much travel, you start to miss your bed, home, routine and schedule. The uniqueness fades when it becomes routine. Earlier this year, RCB writer, Jenna, shared some of the downsides of cruising too much. Similarly, Matt even shared in a YouTube video that his goal for the new year was to take less cruises to ensure cruising keeps its charm and excitement for him.  

In short, traveling makes us happy for many reasons, but humans cannot be technically ‘addicted’ to cruising. 

From the time you book your cruise to packing your bags in anticipation or ordering that first cocktail at the pool, you experience small hits of dopamine. 

As humans, we are wired to pursue that hit of dopamine, aka doing what makes us happy. If cruising gives you that joy, it can fuel your desire to continue cruising. 

But you can breathe a sigh of relief, because you cannot be clinically addicted to cruising. But, you could very well have an obsession with cruising simply because it makes you happy. This joy comes from escaping reality for even just a short while, including the benefits of experiencing new cultures and connecting with new people along the way.