Royal Caribbean Blog

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. 

Whether you cruise once a year or once a month, you might be tempted by the idea of working another cruise sooner than you planned.

Cruising is addictive because of the casual lifestyle and fun to be had onboard cruise ships. It's an escape from your daily life, and people that love to cruise always talk about how enjoyable it is to finally get back onboard.

So how could you squeeze in another cruise to your schedule?

When I first started going on cruises, I took a cruise around once per year, and then found a way to get two cruises in the same year and it felt like I won the lottery because how excited I felt to be able to go twice.

Then two cruises became three, and the rest is history.

In looking back on how my cruising career evolved, there were at least a few strategies for working in more cruises.

If you want to add one extra cruise into your schedule this year, here are some of the ways I've found to make the "vacation math" add up in your favor.

Short cruises are your friend

The easiest way to add another cruise this year is to hop on a short sailing.

Short cruises, especially weekend cruises, are the most convenient to sail on because most of the time onboard takes place over a weekend when you already have time off work or school.

Read more: Why taking a weekend cruise is a great escape

Even if you pick a cruise that goes over weekdays, a shorter cruise means less time away from your obligations at home. That usually is an easier path towards being able to get away.

Short cruises are also likely to cost you less in total compared to longer cruises.

Read more: Is it worth it to book a short 3-night cruise?

While the per-night rate may not be cheaper, usually 3- and 4-night cruises are going to cost less in total compared to a 7-night cruise.

Whether you are trying to afford another cruise financially or from your vacation schedule, a short cruise is likely going to work better for you.

Read more: Should I take a short or a long cruise?

Look for built in days off

When I started cruising more, I began by using the calendar to my advantage.

Regardless of the length of cruise you take, time off from work and school is tough to manage. Vacation days are hard to come by because they are limited, so you'll want to maximize any time you request away from home.

One easy strategy is to leverage built-in days off.

Holidays such as Christmas, Thanksgiving, or Independence Day are times when schools and companies provide time away automatically.

Of course, you're likely to find higher prices for these popular times of the year to cruise.

Another strategy is to look for an extra day off in the week from holidays such as:

• Martin Luther King Day
• Memorial Day
• Labor Day
• Teacher development days

A long weekend with one extra day off was the key for me maximizing my vacation schedule.  Taking 4 days of PTO for a 7-night cruise meant I had one extra vacation day to use to see family later in the year. Or it meant I could then afford to take a 3-night cruise in addition to that 7-night cruise.

Check last-minute deal offerings

Even if you have the time for another cruise this year, maybe the cost is holding you back.

While they are getting rarer than ever, a last-minute cruise deal could be the key to getting you back to sea again.

The good news is there are last-minute cruises you can book, but the bad news is you're going to have to work to find them. And if you do find them, book them quickly.

There are a few different strategies for how to find a last-minute cruise. Depending on your luck, one of these could work one time and another be the secret to success another time.

• Randomly checking the Royal Caribbean website
• Going, Going, Gone rates
• Cruise price aggregator websites
• Word of mouth

The first place I look is Royal Caribbean's Going, Going, Gone sheet. It's usually updated on Tuesday afternoons, but sometimes it gets updated on Monday.

Keep in mind the rates may be available before they publish so if someone stumbles across them as a deal they can be consumed before they publish the weekly document.  In some cases there may be only one or a few cabins at the advertised rate.  

It doesn't work every time, but I've had some success with it.

Consider sharing a cabin

If money is holding you back from going on another cruise this year, you might look to bring a friend or family member to shoulder the financial burden.

Trying to do another cruise with you footing the bill is tough, but if you can split the cost, it can really make a difference.

Certainly family members are the first place to look for a roommate, and then close friends.

If you can convince someone else to cruise with you, the out of pocket cost for you could come down a lot.

If that doesn't work, you could reach out to friends and acquaintances you know. Just keep in mind, everyone's friendly until it's 2am and someone starts snoring.  Or one person gets up at dawn and the other thinks noon is early.  Set ground rules early so it's clear what to expect.

Find a cruise from a less popular cruise port

Generally speaking, I've found lower prices on cruises that sail from ports that aren't the most popular cruise embarkation ports.

Examples include:

• Tampa, Florida
• Galveston, Texas
• San Juan, Puerto Rico
• Los Angeles, California
• New Orleans, Louisiana

The cost of a cruise from one of these ports will probably cost you less than other ports, and that usually has to do with the ships sailing from them.

Royal Caribbean's older and smaller ships usually frequent these ports (although Galveston is starting to get newer and bigger ships), and that can lead to a good price on a cruise.

Work remotely

You might consider combining work and pleasure by choosing to work from your cruise ship.

Royal Caribbean's onboard internet access is better than it has been, although admittedly I've had some sailings where it's been downright awful.  Nonetheless, the cruise ship wifi usually works well enough to do handle email, messaging, and basic uploads and downloads.

Video meetings are very hit or miss and depends on how well the satellite internet is working that day and time.

Read more: Can you work remotely from a cruise ship? I put it to the test

One way to safeguard yourself is to pick a port intensive itinerary where you can fall back to cellular coverage. A 7-night cruise with 4 or 5 port stops ensures you'll likely have a good back up.

Working remotely from a cruise ship sounds like a great idea because you can do you work from the ship during the day, and enjoy evenings aboard. Toss in a random day off in the middle, and you have a nice balance.

Besides the satellite internet being temperamental, I found the biggest stumbling block with working from a cruise ship is how to mentally handle it.

Oh, and never try to work remote on an Alaska cruise. The far north latitudes combined with mountainous surroundings wreaks havoc on the ship's wifi connection.

When you're sitting in your cabin working while everyone else on the ship is out enjoying a raucous good time, it feels like you're the only kid at school when everyone else is on break. That may be a tougher pill to swallow than you might think.

Still, if you can work from the ship and not burn vacation time, it could be a great compromise for squeezing in another cruise this year.

What's it like to take a Royal Caribbean Alaska cruise in 2023?

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.

After my recent Royal Caribbean cruise to Alaska on Quantum of the Seas, I gained a few important insights that I wanted to share with those visiting Alaska this summer.

Knowing what to expect when it comes to the check-in process, dining, ports, cabins, and activities will prepare you for everything you may encounter on your vacation.

Alaska cruises are becoming increasingly popular—it’s estimated nearly 1.6 million cruise passengers will visit the state in 2023.

Indeed, the 49th state is one of the most picturesque destinations in the world. From its towering mountains to magnificent glaciers and historic towns, it’s hard not to be in awe of the sights around you as your ship sails through the state’s chilly waters.

Here’s what a Royal Caribbean Alaska cruise is like in 2023.

Before your Alaska cruise, you will need to spend a night in Seattle or Vancouver.

One of the most important pieces of cruise advice we share is to arrive in your embarkation city, whether it’s Seattle or Vancouver, the day before your cruise begins. For my Alaska cruise, I flew to Seattle the day before my cruise, arriving in the city around 2PM.

While arriving a day early means you have to pay for a hotel and request an extra day off work, it’s well worth the peace of mind knowing you have enough time to make it to the cruise terminal. Flying to Seattle or Vancouver the same day as your Alaska cruise is risky, as any delays or cancellations could cause you to miss your flight altogether.

After taking the light rail from the airport to downtown, I checked into my hotel, and I had the rest of the evening to sightsee around the city.

I booked a stay at the Grand Hyatt Seattle, which was conveniently located in the heart of downtown. I paid only $220 for the 4-star hotel via Priceline’s Express Deals, a blind booking feature offering discount fares on hotel rooms.

Related: I’m a budget traveler, and here are 10 ways I saved money on my Alaska cruise

During the evening and the following morning, I explored downtown Seattle, visiting popular attractions like Pike Place Market and the Olympic Sculpture Park. I also ate dinner and breakfast in the city; my favorite restaurant in Seattle is Din Tai Fung, a Chinese dim sum restaurant serving freshly made dumplings and noodles.

If you’re cruising to Alaska this year, I recommend turning your pre-cruise stay in Seattle (or Vancouver) into a mini vacation, as it’s a nice way to kick off your cruise vacation a little earlier.

Embarkation day for my Alaska cruise was straightforward, and I was on the ship within 20 minutes of arrival at the cruise terminal.

I had a check-in time of 12PM for my Quantum of the Seas cruise, which timed out perfectly with check-out of my hotel in downtown Seattle.

Royal Caribbean ships depart from Pier 91, which is located around three miles from downtown Seattle. I recommend taking a Lyft or Uber to the cruise port as opposed to a hotel shuttle service, as it’s easier to leave on your schedule rather than wait for a shuttle to arrive.

Related: Guide to Seattle cruise port for Alaska cruises

If you’re cruising from Vancouver, however, it’s possible to walk to the cruise terminal from downtown hotels. If you have a lot of luggage, though, you can always take a Lyft or Uber there as well.

Upon reaching Pier 91 in Seattle, I quickly dropped off my luggage with the porters and entered the cruise terminal. I was pleased to see minimal lines at the terminal’s entrance, although I noticed check-in times were not being enforced, so we probably could have arrived earlier than our scheduled check-in time.

We breezed past check-in and security and were able to immediately board the ship.

Once onboard, most guests immediately headed to the Windjammer buffet for embarkation day lunch. We also decided to eat lunch at the Windjammer, but upon arriving we had to wait in a line for tables to open.

I had never experienced a line to enter the Windjammer before, but we were told the space was at capacity. Luckily the line only took a few minutes, but if you’re looking to avoid crowds, I’d recommend eating lunch at a quieter venue like Cafe @ Two 70 or a specialty restaurant instead.

Cruise cabins to Alaska offer everything you need for a comfortable stay during your week onboard.

Whether you book a small inside room or spacious suite for an Alaska cruise, it will quickly become your home away from home.

I booked an interior cabin for my Quantum of the Seas cruise, and I found the room to have much more walking and storage space than I thought it would.

Related: Take a look inside my interior cabin on Quantum of the Seas

If you’re cruising on Ovation of the Seas or Quantum of the Seas to Alaska, you will find modern cabins with ample storage space and plenty of outlets to charge electronics. In addition, all interior cabins on these ships have a virtual balcony, a floor-to-ceiling television screen depicting a live feed from a camera outside the ship.

If you’re cruising from Vancouver on Radiance of the Seas or Brilliance of the Seas, expect more outdated cabins. You may notice more wear and tear in your cabin on an older ship and there won’t be as much storage space or outlets available.

Nonetheless, cabins on older ships will still offer everything you need during your stay, including a king-sized bed, private bathroom, desk, television, and closet.

Cruise ports are busy, so you should disembark the ship early.

My Quantum of the Seas cruise called upon Ketchikan, Juneau, Sitka, and Victoria, and we also enjoyed a glacier viewing day at Endicott Arm & Dawes Glacier. If there’s one thing I learned during my time in port, it was to disembark the ship early to avoid crowds.

If your cruise visits Alaska in the peak season, there could be four or more ships in port at the same time. This means over 15,000 passengers could visit the port on the same day, leading to intense crowding in busy areas.

I noticed places like Mendenhall Glacier in Juneau were extra busy this year—at times it was too busy to be enjoyable. Mentally preparing for crowds at popular spots is important to ensure you are not too overwhelmed with the amount of people present.

In most scenarios, however, the earlier you disembark the ship, the more empty a cruise port will be. When our ship docked in Ketchikan, for example, we disembarked immediately and enjoyed pleasant, crowd-free walking around the quaint town.

As we were heading back to the ship a few hours later, more cruise ships had since docked, and the crowds increased exponentially. At that moment, I was grateful to have done the majority of my exploring before the crowds arrived.

Shore excursions are expensive in 2023, but there are more than enough low cost activities to enjoy.

If you were shocked upon seeing the prices for Alaska shore excursions, you’re not alone.

Shore excursions in Alaska are notoriously expensive. Expect to pay at least $150 for a whale watching tour, $500-700 for a glacier helicopter ride, and over $100 for a cycling tour to Mendenhall Glacier.

Alaska excursions can quickly break your budget, but the good news is that there is a plethora of free or low cost activities to do in port instead.

During my Quantum of the Seas cruise, I chose to explore ports on my own instead of booking shore excursions. Doing so allowed me to not only have more freedom in what I wanted to do, but save money, too.

Related: Tips for taking an Alaska cruise on a budget

In Ketchikan, I walked to the historic red-light district, Creek Street, hiked up the Married Man’s Trail, and visited two museums on Alaska’s history and Native culture.

In my second port of call, Sitka, I booked a shuttle bus for $20 that took me to Fortress of the Bear, a bear rehabilitation center outside of downtown. With a $15 entrance fee, I was able to watch brown and black bears up close, a fascinating experience with a relatively low cost.

While in Juneau, I spent $50 to rent a bicycle for the day, which enabled me to visit Mendenhall Glacier at a lower cost than cruise ship excursions.

Finally, my last port of call took me to Victoria, British Columbia. With only five hours in port, I decided against an excursion in favor of walking around the city, which proved to be a lovely experience. Victoria’s downtown is the most charming of any cruise ports I visited on the sailing, and admiring the views costs nothing extra.

If you have an Alaska cruise planned for 2023, I recommend reading the following guides to get an idea of what free or low cost activities are available in each port:

• Top 10 things to do in Ketchikan
• Top 10 things to do in Sitka
• Top 10 things to do in Juneau
• Top 10 things to do in Skagway

If your ship visits Skagway, be prepared for extra lines.

Landslides recently occurred right next to one of Skagway’s cruise docks, and it has disrupted scheduled visits to Skagway this summer. In fact, Royal Caribbean canceled Quantum of the Seas visits to Skagway in 2023, but Ovation of the Seas is still making her scheduled visits.

Due to the risk of additional landslides, passengers are not permitted to walk the length of the pier. Therefore, passengers must board shuttle buses outside the ship that will drive down the pier.

The ride only lasts a minute, but you might encounter long lines waiting to board a shuttle bus. Some cruise lines have been using tender boats instead of shuttle buses, but neither method is convenient.

To avoid waiting in line, I recommend disembarking the ship as early as possible. As soon as you hear an announcement that the gangway has opened, leave the ship immediately to be one of the first in line.

Radiance Class ships usually dock at a separate pier in Skagway, so you may not be affected by the landslide if sailing on one of these vessels.

Alaska cruises in 2023 feature Royal Caribbean’s new Main Dining Room menu and a range of other eateries.

One difference with Alaska cruises this year is that they feature Royal Caribbean’s new Main Dining Room menu, which was launched fleetwide in early 2023.

The dinner menu has a different theme each evening, such as Italian night and French night. I noticed a few theme differences compared to what I’ve seen on Caribbean cruises, as an Asian theme night was offered in lieu of Mexican night.

There are three options for dinner in the Main Dining Room: early, late, and My Time Dining. On my cruise, early dinner was at 5PM with late seating at 8PM. With My Time Dining, you can reserve a different dining time for each evening, but if you forget to make a reservation, you’ll have to wait in a line for an available table.

Related: Dinner on Royal Caribbean: Early Dinner vs. Late Dinner

On my Alaska cruise, I ate in the Main Dining Room just two out of seven nights. Unfortunately, our early dining time coincided with the sailaway time from most Alaska cruise ports. If I wanted to watch the breathtaking scenery outside, I had to forgo dinner in the dining room, as most tables were not by a window.

Instead, I dined most evenings in the Windjammer. The buffet’s large windows offered the perfect spot to watch Alaska’s scenery, and I preferred the quick service and wider range of cuisines at the restaurant.

Depending on which ship you book for an Alaska cruise, dining options can vary. All ships will feature the Main Dining Room along with the Windjammer buffet, Chops Grill steakhouse, and an Italian specialty restaurant.

Other venues vary from ship to ship, but you’ll find a mix of included and extra cost food on any cruise ship visiting Alaska.

Booking popular activities like RipCord by iFLY and The North Star can be confusing—here’s how to book a complimentary slot.

If you’re cruising to Alaska on a Quantum Class ship, then you’ll surely want to try the ships’ signature activities.

One of the most popular things to do on both Quantum of the Seas and Ovation of the Seas is RipCord by iFLY, an indoor skydiving simulator. For this activity, passengers enter a skydiving chamber that blows strong wind upwards, allowing them to “skydive” in the chamber.

Another sought-after activity is the North Star, an observational pod that rises from the ship’s pool deck to 300 feet above sea level. Views from the North Star are unparalleled—they offer a 360 degree view of Alaska’s scenery from a high vantage point.

The catch with these two activities is that there are both free and paid options. For RipCord by iFLY, 1-minute flights are complimentary, but 2-minute flights cost around $50. As for the North Star, you’ll find complimentary rides when your ship is in port, but the activity costs extra while your ship is at sea.

Related: 15 free things to try on your next cruise

As you might expect, most passengers hope to book a coveted complimentary spot for these activities. In the past, Royal Caribbean opened the full week’s worth of reservations on embarkation day, meaning the slots filled up quickly. Once they were gone, you were out of luck.

In 2023, I noticed a more staggered approach. Instead of opening all slots for the week on embarkation day, the app would open a few slots each day instead. By checking the daily list of activities regularly on the app, you could often find an open slot for the North Star or RipCord by iFLY.

Slots usually opened up the day before the activity, so a 5PM ride on the North Star on Thursday could be booked starting on Wednesday.

Some shows require reservations, so be sure to reserve these productions early.

In addition to reserving select onboard activities, you might also need to reserve entertainment on an Alaska cruise.

Luckily, most entertainment on Royal Caribbean ships does not require reserving a seat in advance. You can enjoy live music at lounges, participate in game shows, and attend the majority of production shows with no prior reservation.

Reservations are only required for the signature shows in Two70, one of the main entertainment spaces on Quantum Class ships. On Quantum of the Seas this show is titled Starwater, whereas the Two70 production on Ovation of the Seas is Pixel’s Cabaret.

In Two70 you will catch productions augmented with technology. The venue was designed to wow guests through its massive screen projections and moving television screens, and it's certainly an impressive entertainment space.

You can make reservations for shows on the Royal Caribbean app once you get onboard, or you can reserve a seat prior to your cruise on Royal Caribbean's Cruise Planner website. If there are no seats available, I still advise showing up to the entertainment venue. If there are empty seats in the theater ~10 minutes prior to the show, they will open the theater to those without a reservation.

When it came time to disembark the ship, I was glad I booked a flight after 12PM

No one likes the end of a cruise, but unfortunately all Alaska cruises must come to an end.

I booked my flight home from Seattle’s airport at 12:30PM, and I’m glad I booked a flight after noon. Seattle’s airport is around a half hour drive from the cruise terminal, but during morning rush hour the drive can take even longer.

On the last day of the cruise, I disembarked the ship around 8:30AM. By the time I got through the cruise terminal, walked to the rideshare pickup area, and got inside a Lyft, it was nearing 9 o’clock.

After driving to the airport and going through security, another hour had passed. I was happy I booked a flight a little later so I didn’t have to worry about making my flight on time. Flights before 11AM would be risky, as you never know what kind of delays (both in the cruise terminal and in traffic) you might encounter on the way.

If you’re planning an Alaska cruise, I always recommend booking a flight no earlier than ~11:30AM to ensure you have enough time to make your flight.

Planning an Alaska cruise? Check out more of our tips and tricks:

• 50 Best Alaska cruise tips
• Alaska cruise packing list: What to pack for your sailing
• Alaska cruise mistakes to avoid

Among the cruising community, Princess Cruises is supposedly the “best” cruise line for Alaska cruises, so I wanted to see how it compared to Royal Caribbean.

It’s no secret that I love cruising to Alaska—I’ve cruised to the Last Frontier five times in the past two years. After four cruises on Royal Caribbean, however, I figured it was time to try something new, so I booked a cruise on the Royal Princess, a Princess ship launched in 2013.

Prior to booking my cruise, I heard that Princess Cruises was a market leader for Alaska cruises. Not only do they have a permit to visit Glacier Bay National Park, but they offer special enrichment activities throughout the sailing, designed to immerse passengers in the state’s cultural and natural wonders.

Because I’ve enjoyed my Royal Caribbean cruises to Alaska so much, I was curious as to how Princess would compare to Royal Caribbean’s Alaska offerings.

During my 7-night cruise, I compared the food, cabins, entertainment, service, and ship design of each cruise line to see how they stood apart from each other. Would it be worth sailing on Princess, a line that puts a large focus on Alaska, or would I regret not cruising on Royal Caribbean?

Here’s what I found out.

I paid $2,494 for an interior cabin on the Royal Princess during the peak season. It was slightly more expensive than my Royal Caribbean Alaska cruises.

I always thought a cruise on Princess would be much more expensive than a Royal Caribbean cruise, but that was not the case.

My 7-night Alaska cruise on the Royal Princess came out to $2,494, or $1,247 per guest, as my sister joined me on this sailing. The cruise fare reflected the price of 2 adults in an interior cabin, and it included taxes, fees, and gratuities.

To put this price into perspective, here’s what I paid for an interior cabin on my previous Alaska cruises:

• Ovation of the Seas (October 2021): $727 total (end of season and solo guest)
• Radiance of the Seas (August 2022): $1,118 (2 guests and last-minute deal)
• Quantum of the Seas (May 2023): $1,856 (2 guests)
• Ovation of the Seas (June 2023): $2,182 (2 guests)

Related: What is the cheapest month for an Alaska cruise?

My cruise departed on June 17, so it was right at the start of Alaska’s peak summer season. So while it was the most expensive of all my Alaska cruises, the price may have been cheaper if I sailed in the shoulder season or found a last-minute deal.

I was shocked at how poorly my Princess cruise ship was designed for an Alaska itinerary compared to Royal Caribbean’s ships.

Because Princess is revered for their Alaska cruises, I was flabbergasted at the design and layout of the Royal Princess. It was, to be blunt, terribly designed for cold weather.

I’ve sailed on three Royal Caribbean ships to Alaska: Radiance of the Seas, Quantum of the Seas, and Ovation of the Seas. All three of these ships were designed for cold weather, with indoor pools, lounges with large windows, and indoor activities like a sports court and movie theater.

When I boarded the Royal Princess, I was shocked to find out there were no indoor pool spaces on the ship. Furthermore, there were hardly any indoor lounges with windows looking toward the outside—most windows in lounges looked toward the promenade deck with views blocked by lifeboats.

Thankfully we had excellent weather for most of the cruise, so it was possible to sit on the outdoor decks to watch Alaska’s scenery. If we hadn’t, though, it would have been challenging to enjoy the views without freezing or getting soaked in the rain.

Related: The best time to visit Alaska

On my Royal Caribbean cruises to Alaska, I spend most of my time lounging in the adults-only Solarium, a climate-controlled space with massive floor-to-ceiling windows in all directions.

Other venues, like the Two70 lounge with its 270 degree window views, are much better designed for Alaska compared to the Royal Princess’ dark, enclosed venues.

I couldn’t believe the Royal Princess was built just a year before Royal Caribbean’s Quantum of the Seas. Although the Royal Princess had some pretty spaces, it seemed years older than the innovative design and layout of Quantum of the Seas.

My cabin on the Royal Princess was better than the cabins I’ve had on other Alaska cruises.

Like most cruises, I booked an interior cabin on the Royal Princess, and it was the best cabin I’ve had on any Alaska cruise thus far. While I usually expect inside cabins to be extremely small, I was impressed with not only my cabin’s size, but its layout.

Most interior cabins on Royal Caribbean cruises are small and compact. On most of my Alaska cruises, my interior room has consisted of a bed, a small chair or couch, and a desk. All furniture was placed in the same area and there was little walking space around the room.

On my recent Quantum of the Seas cruise, I was lucky enough to stay in an interior room built for four guests. These interior rooms are bigger than a standard interior cabin, but it still appeared small compared to the room I had on the Royal Princess.

Related: I always stay in an inside cabin on a cruise ship. Here's why I actually like these rooms

My Royal Princess cabin had two separate spaces in the room: a sleeping area and a closet/bathroom space. The sleeping area had two twin beds, a big desk and vanity area, drawers, nightstands, and a full-length mirror. It also had a large TV, and I was pleased to find out that on-demand movies came at no extra charge.

Behind this part of the cabin was a “walk-in closet” space that connected to the bathroom. It was nice to have this separate closet space as it allowed for easy changing when sharing a room, and it helped to separate the cabin into two areas.

The only thing missing in the room was a plush chair or couch—we had to sit on either our beds or the small desk chair. Nonetheless, the room’s spacious layout made up for the lack of an additional seating area.

I loved spending time in my interior cabin, something I almost never feel about other inside rooms.

While food is subjective, I preferred most of the food on Royal Caribbean compared to Princess.

When reading online reviews about Princess before my sailing, I heard fantastic things about the cruise line’s food. I was expecting the food to wow me, but that was not the case.

Food is, of course, subjective, but I found that overall, I preferred the food on Royal Caribbean over Princess. I enjoy the themed cuisine menus each night on Royal Caribbean’s Main Dining Room menu, and their buffet is the best I’ve tried on any cruise line thus far.

The Main Dining Room on Princess tended to offer more upscale dishes—oxtail soup and five-spice duck breast, to name a few. Although the dishes we did try were tasty, my sister and I rarely found the menus appealing, so we ended up at the buffet more nights than not.

The buffet on Princess offered both standard American and international options, and while there was a lot of variety, I found the overall quality of food to be higher at Royal Caribbean’s Windjammer buffet. The desserts, in particular, were extremely subpar at the buffet, a disappointment for my sweet tooth!

That being said, the ramen noodle station at the buffet was on par with what I would expect from a specialty restaurant on Royal Caribbean. In fact, it was probably the best food I’ve ever had from a buffet on both land and sea.

It was easy to see where Princess allocated extra funds compared to Royal Caribbean.

Although I found the food to be overall better on Royal Caribbean, I noticed a few ways where Princess spent extra on dining compared to the latter.

The buffet had a far wider range of condiments and toppings, whether sriracha for Asian dishes or nutella for French toast.

The soft serve ice cream machine, as another example, had a new flavor each day in addition to vanilla. During the week we enjoyed banana, strawberry, pineapple, vanilla, and chocolate ice cream, and they even had a toppings bar with sprinkles and chocolate sauce.

Royal Caribbean, on the other hand, tends to only offer chocolate and vanilla, and the ice cream station is only open for a short portion of the day. On Princess, we could enjoy ice cream anytime from 11AM to 10PM.

Another plus was that Princess offered complimentary room service, which was a nice perk compared to Royal Caribbean’s $7.95 room service charge.

Related: Royal Caribbean room service guide & tips

Although we were disappointed with the cruise line’s supposed deliver-to-anywhere feature in the app (the food almost never came), we managed to have a few orders delivered throughout the cruise.

It was evident that Princess spent a little more on these small touches, and it definitely enhanced my dining experience.

My Princess cruise shined in its Alaska-themed activities, although Royal Caribbean still offers more to do overall.

Princess runs a program called North to Alaska during their Alaska itineraries, which is an enrichment program designed to immerse passengers in the Alaska experience. This is a huge selling point for their Alaska cruises, and I was interested to see how it compared to Royal Caribbean’s programming.

Unsurprisingly, Princess shined in its Alaska offerings. Although Royal Caribbean may occasionally host Alaska-themed events on its itineraries, it’s nothing like what is offered on Princess.

During our cruise, I attended a “Meet the Sled Dogs” program, during which an Iditarod trainer boarded the ship with sled dog puppies. After a brief presentation about these active pups, passengers were able to meet the puppies in the ship’s atrium.

Related: Best things to do on an Alaska cruise

In addition to the sled dog programming were lectures on Alaska’s glaciers and wildlife along with kid-friendly activities like storytime with the ship’s mascot, Stanley the Bear. As far as food goes, the buffet and Main Dining Room put a focus on Alaskan cuisine during the sailing, which was another nice touch.

I was impressed by the North to Alaska programming, but I still found the activity offerings onboard limited compared to what is offered on Royal Caribbean. It’s hard to beat the activities offered on a Royal Caribbean cruise, from surfing simulators to bumper cars, sushi classes, trivia, and game shows.

While the Royal Princess still offered daily activities, they were not as frequent or varied compared to what I’ve experienced on Royal Caribbean.

I found the service on Princess to be adequate, but it lacked the family feel of a Royal Caribbean cruise.

I was neither impressed nor unimpressed with the service on my Princess cruise. Don’t get me wrong, I met some incredibly friendly crew workers, but at times the service was definitely lacking.

Aside from our favorite ice cream attendants, who exclaimed “My ladies are back!” whenever my sister and I would get in line for a cone, and our welcoming stateroom attendant, I was disappointed with the level of service onboard.

Many crew members did not appear happy to help us with problems when they arose. And, after witnessing a few inpatient crew members in the buffet nearly yell at passengers, I was too intimidated to ask questions about a particular dish if I didn’t know what it was.

Additionally, I missed hearing “Welcome Back!” after getting onboard after a port day, and I found myself missing the service I’ve experienced on other cruises. Perhaps I’m just used to the over-the-top friendly service on Royal Caribbean, but I was genuinely surprised with the more stand-offish service on Princess.

Like food, service is subjective, and one passenger’s experience could be different from another. It’s entirely possible we just encountered some crew members at a stressful time, and my experience should not be a reflection of the hard-working crew as a whole.

Visiting Glacier Bay National Park was a highlight of my Princess cruise, and this experience is not possible on Royal Caribbean.

One major difference between cruising to Alaska on Princess vs Royal Caribbean is visiting Glacier Bay National Park.

The primary reason I booked a cruise on the Royal Princess was to visit Glacier Bay National Park. Royal Caribbean does not have the permit to enter the park, so unfortunately you cannot visit Glacier Bay on a Royal Caribbean cruise.

Although you can visit destinations like Hubbard Glacier and Dawes Glacier with Royal Caribbean, I heard great things about Glacier Bay and was determined to check it out.

Related: Hubbard Glacier vs Glacier Bay: which glacier is better to see on a cruise?

The national park certainly lived up to the hype. I was awestruck by the glaciers in the park, especially the 200 foot high Margerie Glacier, which spans nearly a mile wide. We spent the entire morning sailing around the park, visiting several glaciers right after each other.

Because it was a national park, park rangers came onboard during the day to provide information about the park and answer questions. I thought this was a special touch as it allowed visitors to learn more about the destination they were visiting.

Visiting Glacier Bay was the highlight of our time on the Royal Princess, although I wouldn’t necessarily suggest booking a Princess cruise over Royal Caribbean only to visit Glacier Bay. 

Royal Caribbean’s itineraries still visit impressive destinations, and the advantages of a Royal Caribbean Alaska cruise still outweighed a visit to Glacier Bay.

I found entertainment on Princess and Royal Caribbean to be comparable, and I wouldn’t choose one line over the other for entertainment.

I do not place much importance on entertainment when I cruise, and truthfully, I almost never attend production shows. Instead, I tend to favor live music and other programming like game shows.

For the purposes of this review, I dragged myself to a few entertainment shows, and boy am I glad I did!

I was pleasantly surprised with the quality of entertainment shows on the Royal Princess. I saw two production shows while there, each of which focused on singing and dancing instead of a traditional play.

The singers were so talented I couldn’t believe they weren’t a part of an opera on land. Even though I didn’t understand the storyline of the productions (if there even was one), I would have watched the shows multiple times just to hear the casts’ impressive voices.

Live music was abundant around the ship as well, and I thoroughly enjoyed listening to a live band play relaxing music during our ship’s sailaway from Skagway. I hadn’t seen this type of classy entertainment during sailaway on a Royal Caribbean cruise, and it created a truly magical atmosphere while sailing through breathtaking scenery.

Related: 50 best Alaska cruise tips

Royal Caribbean’s entertainment, on the other hand, is more technologically-focused than the traditional shows on the Royal Princess. On Royal Caribbean cruises you’ll find ice-skating shows, high diving performances, drone shows, and technology-focused productions.

Although not all of these performances are found on ships sailing Alaska cruises, I still find the entertainment on Royal Caribbean’s Alaska itineraries to be more forward-thinking than traditional.

Overall I enjoyed my cruise on the Royal Princess, but I don’t think I would book another Princess cruise over Royal Caribbean.

Despite the complaints listed above (this is a review, after all!), I enjoyed my time on the Royal Princess. While I did not love the ship’s design as a whole, I still liked certain aspects of the ship, including the Outrigger’s Bar in the ship’s aft and the elegant, multi-story atrium.

Other than the dozen ice cream cones I enjoyed throughout the week and the buffet’s delightfully spicy ramen station, I haven't been daydreaming about any of the food I had onboard. It’s not that anything was inherently bad, but nothing blew my mind, either.

The main reason I wouldn’t book a cruise on this ship again over Royal Caribbean, though, lies in the lack of indoor viewing spaces around the ship. Sure, I’m visiting Alaska, but that doesn’t mean I want to stand in the cold for a week!

I appreciate the varied amount of indoor spaces on Royal Caribbean’s ships to Alaska, whether the indoor pool or Viking Crown Lounge. There is a clear connection to Alaska’s scenery on a Royal Caribbean cruise, but you had to intentionally seek this out on my Princess cruise.

Related: The best spot for sailaway on every Royal Caribbean cruise ship

Perhaps I would have enjoyed cruising on the Majestic Princess more than the Royal Princess, as that ship has an indoor pool, but I still think it’s hard to beat the design of one of Royal Caribbean’s Quantum Class ships when it comes to Alaska.

I’m happy to have spent another fun-filled week in Alaska, and to have experienced the state’s majesty with my sister. Visiting Glacier Bay was nothing short of a wonderful experience and it's something that is unattainable on a Royal Caribbean cruise.

If there’s anything I learned last week on the Royal Princess, it’s that there is a cruise line for every type of traveler. While I wouldn’t consider myself a Princess cruiser, I’ll still admit they put out a great product with their Alaska itineraries, even if it didn’t entirely match my cruising style.

We're just about a year away from the launch of Royal Caribbean next, and perhaps final, Oasis Class cruise ship, Utopia of the Seas. With that much time left, there's still plenty of construction left.

Utopia of the Seas is under construction at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France, and Royal Caribbean shared with travel advisors a look at what construction of this ship entails and what makes this ship different.

Utopia will be the first new Royal Caribbean cruise ship to start off with short 3- and 4-night cruises. She will sail from Port Canaveral, Florida and will have a number of differences from her Oasis Class sister ships.

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

During the webinar, two members of Royal Caribbean's product development team shared a photo update of how the new cruise ship is progressing.

LNG Fan Room

Utopia will be the first Oasis class that uses a more environmentally friendly fuel type, Liquified Natural Gas, or LNG.

The photo shows the ship's "fan room", which is a structure that helps vent and ensure the integrity of that fuel source.

It's located at the top of the vessel, and Royal Caribbean integrated the space into the look of the Lime and Coconut Bar.

 There were also photos of the LNG being delivered to the shipyard in France.

Royal Caribbean Director of Product Development, Darren Budden, shared that getting the LNG tanks was an issue because they were being manufactured in an area in China at a time when the country was on lockdown due to a Covid-19 spike.

"If you don't have the base of the vessel completed, it increases exponentially the complexity of building around it. So we all rejoiced on the day that we physically saw that those tanks were delivered," he shared during the webinar.

Royal Promenade

The Royal Promenade is the focal point of any Oasis Class ship, and this area is taking shape.

One big change to the Royal Promenade is there will not be a Bionic Bar. Instead, a new tiki bar known as the Pesky Parrot, will take its place.

Royal Caribbean Senior Product Owner, Keri-Ann Chin-Sang, talked about this new venue, "It replaces the former Bionic Bar, but we're super excited for it to be a first impression as guests are walking on the ship right at embarkation, you're going to see all of the comfortable lounge furniture, a huge expansive bar that's going to be offering tropical cocktails, frozen drinks, entertainment, a few surprise and delight moments."

Central Park

Compared to other Oasis Class ships, Utopia of the Seas will have a few changes to Central Park.

Izumi has been moved up to Central Park, which is a first for the Oasis Class.

"It's actually going to be a huge Izumi with both Teppanyaki and Sushi. The relocation really allowed us to expand the number of teppanyaki tables. So we now have six tables versus three on previous Oasis class ships," said Ms. Chin-Sang.

Izumi will also have a new pickup window which allows quick grab and go offerings for guests.

Park Cafe will have a new evening terrace experience, which the cruise line hopes will invigorate evenings in this neighborhood, "We're really trying to activate Central Park in the evenings, give people that romantic twinkling vibe that they're looking for wine and jazz in the park and, you know, a space that really brings the outdoor to life right at the heart of the ship."

Izumi is in the former location of Giovanni's Italian Kitchen and Wine Bar combined.

Solarium

The adults-only pool area is at the front of the ship in the Solarium.

Mr. Budden noted that Royal Caribbean made a change to the design of the Solarium with Wonder of the Seas that resonated with guests having the roof enclosed.

"It allows us to have complete climate control. Our guests have really, really loved the Solarium experience there, so we're leveraging that again with Utopia and building on the lessons learned."

"This is going to be an incredibly relaxing experience where people can go and just spend the day really in a climate controlled environment, which we've never been able to deliver to this extent before."

Ultimate Abyss

Utopia of the Seas will have the dry slide experience, known as the Ultimate Abyss, albeit with a few tweaks.

Mr. Budden alluded to the fact MSC's World Europa now claims to have the longest dry slide at sea, so the team at Royal Caribbean felt compelled to make changes to the Ultimate Abyss.

Suffice to say, Utopia will take back the claim of the longest dry slide at sea when the ship launches.

"We've also added some more thrill. So in our usual experience, you go through several circular completions, but we've added some acrylic dead ends that make you think like you're going to slide out and go all the way down into the Boardwalk, but you're actually going to pivot at the last minute," Mr. Budden shared.

"We've also put some rollers in to to bump up your speed as you go along and a section where you're going to be able to see the other rider. So if you know that person and you're racing against them, you'll be able to see in real time if they're ahead of you or not."

The team also talked about the fact they considered many other changes to the Ultimate Abyss, but skipped them because guests would not necessarily notice them.

"We had an inventory of options and then we really went through all of them and chose the ones that we felt were the biggest impact."

"There were a bunch of other ones, but they were really quite expensive and not a lot from an experiential improvements."

One example of a change they passed on was a way for guests to activate lights in the slide on their way down.

"There were a number that if you were sliding quickly, you would actually miss and there was another amenity where there was going to be this little lit button that if you touched it, it would bring a whole bunch of lights. But as we actually started to talk through it, it was like nine out of ten or more of our guests would never know that that was a part of it."

"So we really focused on putting the investment where we were going to see a noteworthy improvement to the experience."

Lime & Coconut

Utopia will have a three-story Lime and Coconut Bar. 

The aforementioned pipe room is not present in this construction photo, but will help form a sort of overarching umbrella.

Royal Caribbean believes the Lime and Coconut's prime location on deck 15 will make it a focal point for fun on the pool deck.

Nearby you'll find the best soft serve ice cream in the fleet, with a revamped Sprinkles location. It will feature toppings as well as complimentary ice cream.

Giovanni's Italian Kitchen

Giovanni's Italian Kitchen and Wine Bar has been relocated into the deck 11 and 12 former Wonderland location.

Ms. Chin-Sang described the experience "Deck 12, where you enter, will be the wine bar. You'll walk down the spiral staircase that goes around a huge olive tree into the deck 11 Italian kitchen."

Another change will be the terrace seating.  Ms. Chin-Sang said the team wanted to deliver that outdoor dining experience.

"We just weren't sure how we were going to achieve that in this interior ship venue. And so we started thinking about this balcony and we went to the shipyard and we knew we wanted a balcony. And initially there was a lot of pushback on the engineering that would go into creating this cantilevered terrace. We worked at it for months and months and months."

"I think this is going to be one of the most incredible and amazing, stunning locations on the ship."

 The new exterior terrace will overlook the Boardwalk neighborhood.

Immersive dining experience

Something brand new to Utopia of the Seas is an immersive dining experience that combines visuals and dining to create something not seen before on Royal Caribbean.

As we first reported in April, the yet unnamed venue will feature a classic train motif that delivers a mixed reality experience.

"We're hoping to bring guests to more locations than they could have ever possibly visited on a short vacation in this amazing dinner experience," is what Ms. Chin-Sang said when touching on what guests can expect.

"The culinary is going to be great. The crew interaction will be amazing, and just the overall architectural feel of the space guests are really going to feel like they've been they've stepped off of a ship and onto a train."

It's located where Izumi was on previous ships on deck 4.

One car will have 24 seats, and since there are two cars, the whole venue will have around 48 seats.

After prototyping the train car experience at Royal Caribbean's Miami headquarters, the team feels confident it will deliver an incredible new option for passengers.

How long does it take to build a new cruise ship?

One question Ms. Chin-Sang and Mr. Budden were asked was how long it takes to build a ship like Utopia.

From the inception of the strategy to actually the first revenue sailing, it takes about five years, but could be done is as few as four years.

The actual construction of the ship takes closer to about two years.

The advent of block construction is what Mr. Budden said helps make construction go a lot faster, "the technology has shifted to building ships in blocks. And so those blocks can be built simultaneously in different areas."

In terms of how many people, Mr. Bidden said it takes "tens of thousands" of people employed in different areas.