Royal Caribbean Blog

Royal Caribbean has canceled at least two itineraries on Rhapsody of the Seas due to Saturday’s surprise attacks by Gaza militants.

On Friday evening, Royal Caribbean announced that the October 9, 2023 and October 13, 2023 sailings on Rhapsody of the Seas were both canceled. Both of these itineraries were scheduled to set sail on round-trip itineraries from Haifa, Israel in the coming days.  

The cruise line stated, “We’ve been closely monitoring the geopolitical situation in Israel. With your safety and well-being in mind, and in conjunction with our Global Security Department, we've decided that we must cancel our October 9, 2023 and October 13, 2023 Rhapsody of the Seas sailings.”

Rhapsody of the Seas was originally scheduled to sail on a 4-night and 5-night itinerary to Cyprus and Greece from Haifa, which is located in the northern region of the country. Both of these itineraries are now canceled and guests will receive full refunds. 

Currently, Rhapsody of the Seas is sailing off the coast of Santorini, Greece and was scheduled to return to Haifa on October 9, 2023. It is unclear at this time where Rhapsody of the Seas will sail given the unrest in Israel. 

Royal Caribbean stated that guests affected by the canceled sailings on Rhapsody of the Seas will receive a 100% refund, including taxes and fees. In addition, all refunds will be processed for pre-paid packages, gratuities, amenities and shore excursions. 

Those who purchased airfare through Air2Sea will receive an automatic refund, along with those who purchased Royal Caribbean’s Travel Protection. Guests who used Future Cruise Credit will receive a refund for new funds paid above the certificate amount and Royal Caribbean will also reinstate the original certificate.  

There has been a new wave of violence in the region due to the surprise attacks on Israel by Hamas terrorists. However, this isn’t the first time cruise lines have changed course due to unrest in the region. Historically, these incidents have turned cruise ships away.

Because of the attacks by Palestinian militants, the Israel government has now declared war. Rockets were fired indiscriminately into Israel and gunmen were also sent into Israel's territory. There has been a longstanding history of unrest between the two sides, one that has spanned decades. As such, traveling to the region has always come with some level of risk, although cruise lines are quick to make decisions for safety purposes. 

Celebrity Apex and Odyssey of the Seas impacted too

Rhapsody of the Seas is not the only ship that has been impacted by the unexpected attacks in Israel. Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises also announced on Saturday that itinerary changes would be made to the current sailings on Celebrity Apex and Odyssey of the Seas. 

Celebrity Apex was sailing to Haifa, Israel as its next port stop before the itinerary change was announced. One guest on Celebrity Apex posted on a message board that the ship’s scheduled stops in Israel are now canceled. 

Instead, Celebrity Apex will apparently have an overnight in Cyprus and an extra overnight in Egypt, as the ship was already scheduled for one overnight in Egypt on its current itinerary. 

In addition, Celebrity Apex’s next sailing on October 16, 2023 will replace Israel ports with stops in Greece, including Mykonos, Santorini and Rhodes.

“I personally am feeling not so bad...... We will of course be extremely disappointed to miss Israel, truly a once in a lifetime chance for us - but to not have 3 sea days as a replacement is welcome, considering the tragic circumstances under which this had to be done” said one passenger scheduled to sail on the next Celebrity Apex itinerary.

Odyssey of the Seas, which is also sailing in the Mediterranean on a Holy Land itinerary, has made adjustments due to the sudden unrest in the region.  Another passenger currently sailing on Odyssey of the Seas posted on a Royal Caribbean Blog message forum that the ship would no longer visit the Israeli ports. 

The passenger shares how captain made a ship-wide announcement, “That we will not visit Israel due to the geopolitical situation, decision taken together with security experts and in view of the safety of passengers, staff and ship.” 

Odyssey of the Seas is now scheduled to visit Bodrum, Turkey and Limassol, Cyprus instead of its scheduled stops in Haifa and Ashdod in Israel. Guests received letters in their stateroom regarding the updated itinerary.

Other cruise lines are making arrangements for sailings scheduled to visit Israel as well. In fact, passengers on Holland American’s Nieuw Statendam from HAL were already docked in Haifa when the attacks took place. Passengers were quickly recalled back to the ship. Passengers only had about three hours in the country before being recalled to the ship for safety.

At least one sailing to Israel has been changed due to attacks by Gaza militants on Saturday.

A surprise attack on Israel by Hamas terrorists has brought a new wave of violence in the region, and these sort of incidents have historically meant cruise ships turning away.

UPDATE: A passenger on Odyssey of the Seas posted on the Royal Caribbean Blog message boards that Odyssey will skip Israel as well.

"The captain just announced (paraphrasing here) about half a hour ago, that we will not visit Israel due to the geopolitical situation, decision taken together with security experts and in view of the safety of passengers, staff and ship."

The passenger said while disappointing to have an itinerary change, he thinks it was the right choice, "I at least would not have felt safe there right now."

Instead, Odyssey is going to Bodrum in Turkey and Limassol in Cyprus.

Royal Caribbean offers Greek isles cruises on Rhapsody of the Seas from Haifa, Israel, which located in the northern part of the country.

The cruise line has yet to make a change to Rhapsody's upcoming itineraries.

Rhapsody of the Seas is currently in Santorini.

Royal Caribbean had to cancel cruises in 2021 from Israel due to unrest in the country.

Odyssey of the Seas was scheduled to sail from there, but sailings were cancelled once the attacks began there.

In fact, in countries where civil unrest occurs, Royal Caribbean typically cancels cruises to err on the side of caution.

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday that his country was “at war” because of the attacks by Palestinian militants. A barrage of rockets was fired indiscriminately into Israel,  and gunmen were sent into Israeli territory. It's the latest chapter in a bloody saga between the two sides that has lasted decades.

Celebrity Cruises cancels too

The Celebrity Apex is one such ship, which was scheduled to visit Israel this week.

A passenger onboard Apex posted on a message board that their itinerary has changed because of the attacks, "The captain recently announced that all stops in Israel were cancelled. "

"We are now heading to Cyprus and will overnight there.  Then we will have a sea day and arrive in Alexandria, Egypt a day early and have an extra day (now a total of 3 days) in Egypt."

Celebrity is not the only line that has changed plans.

Passengers on Holland America Line's Nieuw Standendam were already in Israel, but were quickly recalled back onboard.  A passenger posted, "three days in Holy Land has become three hours."

Royal Caribbean is known for having the biggest, most technologically advanced cruise ships at sea. The cruise line's advertisements are filled with families having adventure-packed vacations on Royal Caribbean’s most exciting ships. Everything in Royal Caribbean’s marketing is colorful and upbeat, with the promise of offering a fun-filled cruise vacation for your whole family. 

In fact, the cruise line’s newest ship, Icon of the Seas, will be making her highly anticipated debut in January 2024. The massive ship will take the coveted title of being the biggest ship in the world, clocking in at an astonishing 250,000 gross tons and holding close to 8,000 passengers. 

With all the hype around the newest and biggest ships, you might forget that Royal Caribbean offers cruises on substantially older and smaller vessels. The fleet’s oldest ships can be found in the Vision Class of cruise ships, which offer an entirely different Royal Caribbean experience than you might imagine. 

Currently, the oldest ship in Royal Caribbean’s fleet is Grandeur of the Seas, which was built nearly 26 years ago in 1996. Although Royal Caribbean announced in 2019 that the ship would be sold, the pandemic altered the course of these plans. Now, Grandeur of the Seas will continue to sail for Royal Caribbean for the foreseeable future.  

Given her age and size, many are quick to scoff at the thought of cruising onboard Grandeur of the Seas. Who would want to spend their time and money sailing on a ‘rust bucket’ or ‘worn down’ cruise ship?

Well, I took one for the team and decided to book a short sailing onboard Grandeur of the Seas. I was hesitant to spend my time and money on a cruise ship that many wouldn’t even consider sailing on. But, I’ve sailed on Grandeur’s sister ships, Vision of the Seas, Enchantment of the Seas and Rhapsody of the Seas, so I had some realistic expectations about the experience.

After sailing on Grandeur of the Seas, I found this old and small ship to be quite charming, nicely refurbished and well maintained. Others on the cruise shared how the ship holds a special place in their hearts, fondly referring to Grandeur of the Seas as, “Lady G”. 

Here’s how our experience onboard Royal Caribbean’s oldest and smaller ship was better than we envisioned.

While Royal Caribbean has been known for its ship design and advancement, it’s hard to believe Grandeur of the Seas was innovative at one point in history.

Royal Caribbean has been pushing the boundaries when it comes to cruise ship size for decades. In fact, the cruise line has held the title of biggest cruise ship in the world since 2006. 

Most agree that Royal Caribbean’s push towards innovation is one of the biggest contributors to the cruise line’s success. This has undoubtedly helped establish the company as one of the world’s leading cruise lines. 

But, back in the 1990s, innovation looked a lot different than it does today. Nearly three decades ago, Royal Caribbean was building ships for its new Vision Class. These vessels would debut as some of the biggest cruise ships in the world, measuring a modest 73,000 gross tons. While still not tiny for today’s standards, these ships offer an entirely different cruise experience.

When Grandeur of the Seas was first built, the ship was known for its sleek ship design, which featured a thoughtfully-designed layout. Other features included advanced technology onboard and widespread, panoramic views of the ocean. 

We read many negative reviews about sailing on Grandeur of the Seas in 2023, which had us questioning whether we wanted to book our cruise or not.

Looking online, it seemed as though people either loved sailing on Grandeur of the Seas or they absolutely hated it. Many websites cite Grandeur of the Seas as the worst ship in Royal Caribbean’s fleet, such as US News & World Travel.

Many felt the ship was boring and outdated. One person described the ship as, “old and raggedy” on Cruise Critic. Another felt like the ship only catered to an older crowd onboard without much to do. 

“The Grandeur of the Seas is the worse ship I’ve ever been on by FAR. It was rumored that this ship was going to be retired a few years ago and it should have,” said one upset reviewer.

I’ve also heard rumbles from other cruisers that Grandeur of the Seas was the worst cruise they had been on. Even our very own Matt from Royal Caribbean Blog said he considers Grandeur of the Seas to be Royal Caribbean’s worst ship!

Needless to say, my sister and I were a little hesitant to book this cruise. No one wants to spend their time or money just to experience a disappointing vacation. It had also been more than five years since my last time sailing on a Vision Class ship, so I was also eager to see what the current experience was like.

My sister and I booked a 4-night sailing from Tampa to visit Cozumel; our itinerary also featured two sea days. This was plenty of time for us to experience everything Grandeur had to offer, including dining, entertainment, activities and more. 

From the minute we stepped onboard, we were welcomed into the warm and inviting Centrum. 

The Centrum is a glass-covered atrium at the heart of Grandeur of the Seas and features multiple places to sit, most of which offer beautiful views of the sea. My sister and I found the Centrum to be one of our favorite places onboard during the cruise. We never had an issue finding a place to sit, even during boarding day. 

The first morning, we sipped on our coffee while watching the ocean pass by. I had forgotten this design feature on Vision Class ships - and it's one of the best aspects of Grandeur of the Seas. The glass panels allow so much natural light. You won’t forget that you’re on a cruise ship, unlike Royal Caribbean’s biggest ships. I find that on Oasis-class ships, it’s very easy to forget that you’re sailing on a cruise ship because it’s so massive and the indoor spaces lack natural light. 

In the evenings and during sea days, the atrium transformed into an entertainment venue for shows and live music. I remember my cruise on Vision of the Seas featured an aerial, acrobatic show in the Centrum, which was stunning! During our sailing, there was no atrium show offered and it appears these shows are no longer running on Vision-class ships. This is a shame, as it was a unique entertainment option and utilized the expansive space. 

Our sailing seemed to host a rowdier crowd, perhaps because Grandeur of the Seas offers cheap sailings.

One of the biggest surprises for this sailing was how rowdy our cruise was. Everyone was there to party! Honestly, you could have fooled me that this was a Carnival cruise with how many people were on the cruise to let loose and have a good time. I’ve never seen so many tables filled with empty beer and booze glasses!

This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but I was surprised to find a party crowd onboard. While many people worry about cruising during spring break, I had never thought about bachelorette and bachelor parties looking to cruise before the fall wedding season begins. My sister had just returned from a cruise the week prior, and she also found many wedding parties onboard celebrating the bride and groom. 

As such, the bars were constantly packed and I felt like the bartenders could not keep up. Everyone seemed to have the drink package, which kept the bartenders scrambling. Since Grandeur of the Seas only has a few bars overall, this meant they were always packed! 

But, the ambiance onboard was also very energetic with a younger demographic onboard. All of the interactive events - like the Love and Marriage Game Show and karaoke - were very fun and entertaining with this crowd. 

I envisioned that Grandeur of the Seas might attract an older crowd, but this wasn’t the case at all. Perhaps this is because our sailing was very cheap, around $466 each. For locals, this is a cheap getaway and the dates would be perfect over the weekend. 

I was particularly concerned about our stateroom’s condition, which we envisioned would be very outdated.

Last summer, I sailed onboard Carnival Ecstasy, which was the oldest ship in Carnival’s fleet at the time. The ship was built in 1991 and our cabin was very outdated. The worst part was the bathroom, which featured blue, squishy flooring and a toilet that was so close to the wall, we had to sit sideways. 

We had booked an inside cabin guarantee for this sailing and ended up in cabin 3505. Our stateroom was located at the very front of the ship on Deck 3. Inside cabins are typically barebones, although you have everything you need for a comfortable stay.

My sister and I were pleasantly surprised by the cabin’s good condition. The stateroom was 142 square feet, which is relatively small. The beds were very comfortable and we appreciated having a loveseat for additional seating. There was plenty of storage between the vanity’s drawers and the closet; we had more than enough space for our 4-night sailing.

The bathroom was the biggest surprise - in a good way! I was surprised to see the bathroom with light woodwork and white flooring. Most of the older ships that I’ve sailed on from the 1990s have colorful, yet outdated, bathrooms for their staterooms. For example, I sailed on Norwegian Sun this spring, which is one of Norwegian’s oldest cruise ships, and our bathroom was lime green!

The shower was the worst part of the bathroom, as it was oddly shaped like a trapezoid. The clingy curtain made the shower feel even more cramped.

Of course, it was also relatively small and we noticed there was little counter space to share near the sink. Because our bathroom also lacked any shelving, the counter became cluttered quickly. Honestly, the bathroom in our stateroom was in great condition and exceeded my expectations. 

The food onboard Grandeur of the Seas did not leave us disappointed, much to the contrary of others. 

One of the biggest complains we saw online was about the food onboard, with many complaining about the Windjammer’s quality and selection. “The food tasted like it was prepackaged. Horrible food selection,” stated one review.

During this sailing, we dined one evening at Giovanni’s Italian and then the other three evenings in the main dining room. Our specialty dining experience was excellent - my sister and I both loved our meals. We heard from many others onboard that the main dining room had a rough evening on the first night, with many people complaining about the food.

When we tried the main dining room for the first time, we were hesitant to see what others were talking about. However, we had delicious food and great service. Our neighbors, who did not like their meals on the first night, said the second night was much better. We also liked our meals on the other evenings in the dining room. 

The Windjammer buffet was more hit or miss. The first day, my sister had some pasta and pork that tasted very bland. I enjoyed my hot dog, but it’s hard to mess up a hot dog! We went back a few other times throughout and agreed the quality was hit or miss. I found there to be ample selection, but some items tasted better than others.

We also tried the other complimentary dining spot onboard, Park Cafe. This was located in the Solarium and served up pizza, salad and sandwiches. We grabbed lunch and snacks here during the cruise, and we thought the food and selection was decent. 

Overall, the highlight for us was specialty dining - as it should be when you pay extra for an elevated dining experience! However, we enjoyed our dinners in the main dining room even though this seemed to be a point on contention for others. The Windjammer was not our favorite - and the design of the space also lead to a hot and stuffy atmosphere. We did not spend much time in the Windjammer because of this. 

You won’t find dazzling entertainment onboard, but there were still plenty of activities and things to do.

You might be used to Royal Caribbean’s ships being filled with waterslides, zip lines, surf simulators and endless onboard thrills. However, Grandeur of the Seas is nothing like this. The top deck features one main pool and a few hot tubs. Nearby is the adults-only Solarium, which has another pool and hot tub. There is also a rock climbing wall on the aft of the ship.

But, I still think you can find plenty of things to do onboard. The entertainment staff is running activities and hosting events shows all day. You can find trivia, movies and game shows throughout the day, The sea days also feature the Men’s Belly Flop Competition and Sexiest Man competition, which are a hoot on the pool deck. 

In the evenings, entertainment is more limited when it comes to production shows. Some evenings only had one showtime for a certain production. We were able to see a comedian one night followed by a singing and dancing production by Royal Caribbean’s singers and dancers. Another night featured an impersonator as the headlining act. 

We enjoyed all of the shows onboard Grandeur of the Seas and never felt like we were bored. Were these shows absolutely jaw-dropping and life-changing? Not exactly. But, we still felt engaged and entertained.

I can see how a longer itinerary could feel more limited in this sense. A smaller ship is more limited in general for entertainment - and Royal Caribbean is known for having some of the most unique shows at sea (ice skating spectacles and high-diving shows, for example). If you’re looking to see the best of what Royal Caribbean offers for entertainment, you’ll want to sail on a newer and bigger ship.  

You might not find much pizzazz onboard, but Grandeur of the Seas shines with her simplicity.

I wanted to keep an open mind about our Grandeur of the Seas cruise. In all honesty, I’ve never disliked any of the 38 cruises that I’ve been on. My parents used to always say, “If you can’t find something you like on a cruise, there’s something wrong with you and not the cruise!”

In general, I’ve found this to be true. I prefer to focus on the positive aspects of a cruise experience, even if the ship is old and small like Grandeur of the Seas. 

Even still, I had low expectations for what the ship’s condition would be, along with what kind of cruise experience this ship would offer. Reading so many bad reviews had me and my sister a little hesitant about whether we would feel that our time and money spent was worthwhile. 

My sister and I were mostly looking to relax and enjoy being pampered for a few days. We wanted to have fun and sip a cocktail by the pool. In fact, this was one of the most relaxing cruises I’ve had in a while. I took a nap every single day - and I actually came back feeling refreshed. I’ve sailed on some cruises where I feel like I did so much that I needed a vacation from my vacation, but this was not the case.

Having a more simple cruise was just what I needed. There was no pressure to do everything and see everything because Grandeur of the Seas is more about just enjoying the sea life. Sometimes it is nice to disconnect from reality on a cruise and take advantage of the many quiet spaces onboard.

This was another lesson to take reviews with a gain of salt. I was impressed with Grandeur’s overall condition - honestly.

I anticipated that Grandeur of the Seas would be in similar condition to my recent experience on Carnival Ecstasy (with broken mirrors, rust everywhere and duct tape on the windows), but this was not the case. I would even argue that Grandeur of the Seas was in better condition than my last Royal Caribbean cruise on Jewel of the Seas over the summer.

We could tell the ship had been maintained very well - and we could even hear the constant maintenance throughout our cruise. There were not obvious signs of rust or wear and tear unless you were purposely looking for them. In general, the ship did not look its age. 

Would I want to do a transatlantic cruise on Grandeur of the Seas? Probably not. For a longer sailing with more sea days, I would want to be one a bigger ship with more modern amenities available.

For a short getaway, I thought Grandeur of the Seas was perfect. I would definitely book another cruise onboard without hesitation, although I would probably look for a port-intensive or destination-focused sailing. If you are looking to make Grandeur of the Seas your moving hotel while spending most of your days in port exploring, I think the ship’s size and age is perfectly suitable.

After returning from my first cruise ever, there are some things I would do differently to save money and make the most of my trip.

I booked a 7-day sailing on Wonder of the Seas, traveling from Port Canaveral, Florida, to Perfect Day at CocoCay, St. Thomas, and St. Maarten.

I had a lovely time, enjoying the ship's dining, amenities, entertainment, and shore explorations.

However, hindsight is always our best teacher. 

Looking back, I can see many missed opportunities, overlooked details, and chances for improvement.

From packing to avoiding seasickness to eating at different venues, a little introspection reveals valuable tips for future cruises. 

I’ll introduce the 13 things I wish I’d done differently.

You can learn from them too, by avoiding the mistakes I made! 

Explored more on Perfect Day at CocoCay

I had a just-alright experience on Perfect Day at CocoCay. My sister and I woke up in the middle of the morning and went out to a couple beaches. We grabbed free snacks and listened to music while lounging by the water.

By the middle of the day, it started to get more cloudy, so we packed up and returned to the ship.

Weather does make an impact on your experience there. But knowing what I know now, I think we could have maximized time on the island.

I would recommend arriving earlier and visiting the Oasis Lagoon. The pool and floating bar there looked fun, but we arrived too late to find free spaces.

I also later saw cool shore excursions offered, like snorkeling, swimming with pigs, and a glass-bottom boat tour.  Those come with an extra cost, but it could be worth it for the experience!

As far as complimentary options, I later learned that sports and fitness classes are free on Perfect Day at CocoCay. 

Although we grabbed snacks, I didn’t realize that a full lunch is complimentary, offered at Splashaway Bay, Captain Jill's Galleon, Skipper's Grill, Chill Grill, and the Snack Shack.

Gone to game shows, even if just to watch

When I scrolled through event options on the Royal Caribbean app, I saw many game shows, trivia nights, and activities listed.

While I didn’t go to all of them, I did try out a few, and they were a lot of fun!

For example, my sister and I saw the Love and Marriage game show, where the audience selected couples, and an announcer asked them funny questions.

For the most part, I avoided game shows that didn’t seem like my style. But looking back, I think I could have tried them out. 

I also chose to go to a showing of inTENse and missed the Crazy Quest game show, one of my biggest regrets. I wish that I had stayed behind and participated in the fun!

The shows and games were hilarious and a fun way to see our fellow cruisers.

Read more: 50 things everyone should do on a Royal Caribbean cruise at least once

Booked a better cabin

We decided to book a guarantee stateroom for the cruise, ensuring a cheaper rate but giving up the privilege of choosing our room.

While this saved money, we ended up being assigned a small interior cabin at the front of the ship.

This location left me feeling seasick, and the room was dark and windowless. 

Although we didn’t mind having the cabin to sleep in, I would have enjoyed a nicer view and a more spacious stateroom.

For a first cruise, I think upgrading to a better cabin and getting the most out of our experience would have been worth it. 

Tried out the casino

I know this tip isn’t for everyone, and I was initially nervous about gambling. 

However, I walked through the casino a few times and noticed how crowded and active it was.

Even if they weren’t playing or betting anything, people stood and watched around poker tables or chatted at slot machines.

It seemed like a fun and sociable way to pass the time, as long as you’re gambling responsibly.

I wish I had just tried it out—and used the opportunity to chat with other cruisers. 

Gone to movie nights instead of watching TV

Prior to cruising, I knew I would want to watch TV to relax and have a quiet moment on my cruise.

When we arrived, I saw that our stateroom on the ship had a Smart TV. This allowed me to log into streaming services using my phone and use Chromecast to stream shows directly to the TV.

However, I wish I had taken advantage of the movie nights on the ship, usually playing on the pool deck or at the AquaTheater. 

Although it meant I couldn’t choose which media to watch, those movies featured a bigger screen, better sound, and the opportunity to grab food and drinks or talk to people around me. 

Visited more complimentary food venues

I had heard whispers of praise about the food on Royal Caribbean ships, so I boarded the ship ready to try all the different dishes I could.

Ultimately, all the options on the cruise exceeded my expectations. Throughout my seven-day cruise, I was blown away by the variety and flavor of the meals I tried.

I visited specialty venues, including Izumi Hibachi, Wonderland, and the Mason Jar, and found that the venues provided a more private and formal experience.

However, they didn’t necessarily have the highest quality food. Some of my favorite meals were included in the fare, like the Windjammer's beef stew and cheesecake in the main dining room.

With that in mind, I wish I had enjoyed more complimentary food options.

On Wonder of the Seas, your fare includes meals in the Windjammer, the main dining room, room service like continental breakfast, and additional grab-and-go spots. 

I enjoyed the food at Windjammer, the main dining room, and Sorrento’s pizza, but I had no idea that complimentary food was also offered at the Boardwalk Dog House, Café Promenade, El Loco Fresh, Park Café, Solarium Bistro, and Vitality Café. 

If I had known about all the complimentary food options beforehand, exploring and seeing how much was included in the fare would have been fun. 

Done less planning ahead of time

Before my first cruise, I did extensive planning and made every kind of list possible: packing, to-do, and checklists.

I even created a full itinerary, planning every event down to the hour. 

However, once we arrived onboard, I quickly realized that the trip would be much easier than expected. Most of my planning turned out to be completely unnecessary.

The intense itinerary I made turned out to be unnecessary, as the Royal Caribbean app has a full schedule and allows you to simply select an event and add it to your schedule.

Not only that, but the app also includes information on when and where each event is, any price included, what you may need to bring, and if there is any age limit.

It also automatically connects your schedule with cruises on the same reservation, so I could create and access the same calendar with my travel companion. 

Most of my planning turned out to be unnecessary, and I wish I’d spent more time relaxing! 

Read more: Cruise Planner Trick: Add custom events to calendar

Not packed a laptop 

Since I purchased the Voom Internet plan, I decided to bring multiple devices to use on my cruise. 

When I’m at home, I often use my iPhone and laptop in tandem. I thought bringing my laptop along on the cruise would make sense. However, I ended up only using my phone and regretted wasting packing space on my laptop. 

Being on a ship can be unpredictable when it comes to your valuables. By bringing my laptop, I ran the risk of falling into water, getting wet at the pool, or being dropped on a deck.

Traveling with a laptop is already a risk: I had to keep it safe in a bag and make sure it was secured in our hotel room. Considering I barely used my laptop, keeping it safe was more effort than it was worth.

It also turned out that the provided safe in our cabin was too small to fit my laptop, so I had to leave it in the cabin and hope for the best.

Purchased WiFi for fewer days

I ended up regretting the amount of access I had to the Internet.

A cruise should be an ocean vacation, with time spent at various onboard activities, the beach, or exploring ports. 

But the constant WiFi connection made the cruise feel less relaxing. 

Social media can be consuming—a beach vacation isn’t the same if you can instantly pull up your email. 

My sister, who traveled with me, only purchased WiFi for one sea day. This allowed her to check any important notifications for that day and continue to disconnect and unwind for the rest of the cruise.

In the future, I would want to follow a similar plan and bring fewer devices. Being connected to every aspect of the Internet made it hard to relax. 

Packed all essentials, including medicine, in my carry-on

I had read this tip before the cruise, but not following it entirely is one of my biggest regrets.

Before my cruise, I packed a smaller carry-on bag and bigger luggage, much like on an airplane.

Since you’ll leave a bigger piece of luggage with the porters, the line recommends that you pack all of your essentials and valuables in your carry-on.

I assumed this tip was just in case your luggage got lost, so I did pack my valuables in my carry-on but left my medicine and other essentials in my larger bag.

On embarkation day, we entered the ship around 12:30 P.M. and could access our cabin around 2:00 P.M. But we did not receive our larger bags until after 4:00 P.M. 

During that gap, I wished I had packed more toiletries and maybe even a change of clothes in my carry-on. You never want to be stuck waiting around for your bag to arrive. 

Remembered that I pre-paid tips

I never want to be tight-fisted, but budgeting your money is important on a cruise, especially a longer one.

Passengers can pay a daily gratuity to cover the services of hard-working crew members. They will see a daily charge on their SeaPass card for these tips.

These gratuities are shared among the dining, bar, and culinary teams, stateroom attendants, and the hotel service team.

On the other hand, passengers can also choose to prepay gratuities, including them in the total cost of the fare.

When I arrived onboard, I forgot that we had pre-paid gratuities before boarding. 

I paid for a drink at the bar and then added a tip, cringing at how high the price became.

Later, I remembered that we had already paid tips, so tipping again was optional but not necessary.

Taken a Dramamine immediately before boarding 

I haven’t struggled with motion sickness much before, so I did not expect to feel seasick on my cruise. 

More experienced cruisers advised me to take Dramamine before boarding to offset the chances of feeling sick when we set sail.

However, I didn’t expect any motion sickness, so I opted to just wait and see.

As soon as the ship set sail, I felt nauseous and unsteady. This was aggravated by the fact that we were assigned a forward cabin through the guarantee stateroom process. 

I found that my seasickness was worse when I was at the front of the ship or looking at the water. 

Thankfully, I felt better after taking a Dramamine pill, but I could have prevented a miserable first night by taking it beforehand.

Brought a wide variety of clothes, including gym clothes

Although I tried my best to plan ahead when packing, I didn’t foresee the sheer amount of different activities we would have access to.

If I could do it over, I would pack outfits for activities like laser tag, biking, water parks, and more. I wish I had packed more pants and shorts, and fewer beachy dresses. 

Sneakers are also required for any sports activities onboard, such as visiting the basketball court or ice skating.

I probably could not have packed for every event, but my best advice would be to bring as many different outfits as possible.
 

When you book a Royal Caribbean cruise, you have the option to book your flight directly through the cruise line, but should you?

Air2Sea is the name of Royal Caribbean’s flight booking system, and through Air2Sea you can purchase airfare that links with your cruise reservation.

Booking airfare through the cruise line comes with added perks, such as special promotions and 24/7 support in case of travel emergencies. It can come with cons too, including fewer airline options and added difficulty when making changes.

Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of booking your flight through Air2Sea versus booking on your own to help you determine which is the better option for your cruise vacation.

Pro: Booking your flight through the cruise line can result in cheaper fares

One perk of booking airfare through Air2Sea is that you may come across special fares and promotions.

Cruise lines will sometimes work with airlines to reserve seats on a flight in advance. By doing so, you can often find cheaper flights compared to booking the same itinerary on your own.

This past summer, for example, Air2Sea offered special deals for select flights to Seattle, resulting in cheaper flights than you could have found directly on the airlines’ websites.

Finding cheaper flights when booking through Air2Sea is not always guaranteed, though. More often than not, in fact, booking flights directly through the cruise line results in the same flight prices. If you can snag a special promotional deal, however, it can lead to nice savings.

Another money-saving perk of booking through Air2Sea is the program’s price guarantee. If you notice a lower airfare price on a major US travel website within 24 hours of booking a flight on Air2Sea, you will be credited the difference plus another 10% as onboard credit during your cruise.

Pro: You don’t have to pay for the flight until final payment date

Another benefit of booking with Air2Sea is that, in most scenarios, you do not have to pay for the flight right away. Instead, the cost of the flight is incorporated into your overall cruise reservation and is due at the time of final payment on your cruise.

With Air2Sea, you can book flights anytime between 330 and 4 days prior to your cruise.

Depending on the length of your cruise, final payment is between 75-90 days before your cruise begins, and this is when all fees are due on the cruise fare, taxes, and airfare.

Up until final payment, you do not need to pay even a penny for your Air2Sea flights, and you will not incur any cancellation or change fees either. This is hugely beneficial for travelers who may need to change plans, or for those who aren’t quite ready to shell out hundreds (or thousands) of dollars for their flights months in advance.

Of course, if you book your flights just a few weeks before your cruise, you will be required to pay for the flights at the time of booking.

Con: There is a small fee

Currently, Air2Sea charges a small fee when booking flights for your Royal Caribbean cruise. For travel within the United States and Canada, each passenger incurs a $15 fee, and for travel outside North America this fee raises to $25 per person.

While minimal, this fee will add to your overall vacation cost, especially when traveling with a larger group. That being said, the benefits of booking through Air2Sea may justify the small fee for many travelers.

Pro: You get help during unexpected travel delays

Almost nothing about air travel is predictable, and if things go haywire, you may be at risk of missing your cruise altogether.

When flying to your cruise port, we always recommend flying to your departure port at least one day before the cruise begins. By doing so, you have enough wiggle room in the case of any unexpected travel delays or cancellations.

If things really go wrong while traveling, or if your flight itinerary did not allocate enough time for delays, you may miss the ship’s departure from port. In this scenario, you’ll be happy you booked a flight directly from the cruise line.

Related: Flight attendant shares 20 tips to minimize air travel fiascos

Booking a flight through Air2Sea offers what is called “assured arrival,” which means Air2Sea will work to get you to the next port of call should you miss the ship’s departure on embarkation day.

Air2Sea has 24/7 support available to help travelers as they fly to their departure port. If your flight gets delayed and will cause you to miss your ship, Air2Sea will work to find alternative options, such as flying you to the next port of call instead.

Con: Assured arrival does not always mean guaranteed arrival

While beneficial, Air2Sea’s assured arrival practice is not perfect.

First, Air2Sea can only bring you to the next port of call where you can legally join the cruise ship. This becomes problematic on Alaska cruises, as passengers are not legally allowed to join the ship at a secondary port of call without being in violation of the Passenger Vessels Services Act.

Plus, there’s no guarantee there will be flight itineraries available within the necessary timeframe to get you to the next port of call, and it means your vacation will be delayed by at least one to several days.

Pro: Booking flights that arrive the day before your cruise should negate any of these issues

Missing your cruise ship’s departure is not, by any means, a good way to start a vacation. Although Air2Sea can usually help navigate this problem by getting you to the cruise ship one way or another, the best solution is to simply book a flight that arrives with ample time to spare.

Regardless of whether you book your flights directly through the cruise line, booking flights that leave a day or two before your cruise should negate the effects of any potential delays.

Even if, as an example, your flight to Miami gets delayed five hours the day before your cruise, you’ll still get there well within your ship's departure time. If that same delay were to occur on embarkation day, you might miss the ship altogether.

If you book your flights correctly, you don’t necessarily have to book them directly through the cruise line. While Air2Sea’s assured arrival is beneficial, it’s unlikely that you’ll need this service if you have enough wiggle room for delays and cancellations.

Con: It can make changing your flights more complicated

If you book a flight directly through an airline, making changes to your reservation is easy. You simply need your confirmation number and can make most changes—or cancel the flight altogether—via the airline’s website.

When booking flights directly through the cruise line with Air2Sea, most changes must be made through Air2Sea. If you want to change your flight time, for instance, you’ll have to call your travel agent or Air2Sea to make the change.

Related: Top 5 things to look for in a good travel agent for your cruise vacation

Air2Sea acts as a “middle man” between yourself and your airline, and this might make changing your flight cumbersome.

Con: Not all airlines and itineraries are offered with Air2Sea

Unfortunately, not all airlines are offered with Air2Sea, meaning your itinerary options may be more limited compared to booking flights on your own.

Southwest Airlines, most notably, is not available to book on Air2Sea’s website. This major airline serves all major cruise departure cities in the United States. By booking airfare with Air2Sea, you could be missing out on low prices and a wider range of flight itineraries.

Related: What is the earliest flight I should book after the cruise?

Budget carriers such as Frontier and Spirit are not available on Air2Sea, either. While we don’t usually recommend booking flights on a low-cost carrier, these cheap flights can occasionally be the best option, especially if they offer a direct flight.

Additionally, some cruisers find that there are not as many flight options on Air2Sea compared to searching for flights on a website like Google Flights. If you aren’t seeing your preferred itinerary on Air2Sea, you might have to contact your travel agent or Air2Sea directly to ask if you can book a different flight.

Con: Air2Sea does not consider nearby airports

Another con of booking flights directly through the cruise line is that Air2Sea does not consider nearby airports.

When browsing for flights to the inaugural Icon of the Seas sailing in January, Air2Sea populates flights only to Miami International Airport. Although this is the closest airport to the cruise port, it neglects to search for flights to Fort Lauderdale, located just a short ride away.

Even though flying into Fort Lauderdale would not be as convenient, it could result in lower fares and/or more direct flights for some cruisers. Air2Sea does not search for these flights. Theoretically you could probably book a flight to Fort Lauderdale by contacting your travel agent or Air2Sea directly, but this adds an extra step to the process.

Con: You can’t pay with miles

If you’re racking up thousands of frequent flier miles and plan to use them for your vacation, you’ll be out of luck when booking through Air2Sea.

When booking flights through the cruise line, you must pay with a credit or debit card. Using miles to pay for a flight is not allowed, so if you have a stockpile of miles, it may be best to book directly with the airline instead.

The good news is that you will still receive airline benefits by booking through Air2Sea, provided you connect your reservation with your airline loyalty number.

The bottom line: should you book your flight directly through the cruise line?

As you can see, there are several pros and cons to booking your flight directly through Royal Caribbean.

If you’re someone who values convenience and having all travel information in one place, booking through Air2Sea may be beneficial. You won’t have to worry about making multiple payments, navigating several different websites, and searching for the perfect flight yourself: Air2Sea and your travel agent can help you with everything instead.

And, if things go wrong while traveling, having the support of Air2Sea is undoubtedly helpful, especially if you’re flying to your cruise on embarkation day.

That being said, if you’re flying a day or two early to your cruise port, the assistance of Air2Sea may not come in handy anyway. Plus, you might become frustrated if you need to make any changes to your flight schedule, as in most cases you won’t be able to make changes directly with the airline.

When searching for flights for a cruise, it’s helpful to look at the options through Air2Sea and compare the flights with those you can find on Google Flights or on an airline’s website. While sometimes you can find a fantastic deal, other times it may be more efficient to book directly through the airline, especially if it’s an airline not offered by Air2Sea.

Royal Caribbean has a name for its second Icon Class cruise ship.

The cruise line announced on Thursday that the name of its next Icon Class ship to launch will be called Star of the Seas.

While the first Icon Class ship is about 100 days from entering service, Royal Caribbean is already eagerly looking towards the future with the second ship.

Royal Caribbean has orders in place for three Icon Class ships: Icon of the Seas, Star of the Seas, and an unnamed third Icon Class ship.

Why Star of the Seas? Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley thinks it's the perfect name for a ship that embodies the level of anticipation this new class has, "The idea of combining the best of every type of vacation into one ultimate adventure has created more excitement than ever anticipated, and Star of the Seas will be the next bold answer to the record-breaking consumer demand we’ve seen for nearly a year and counting with Icon of the Seas."

Star of the Seas was one of four ship names the cruise line put up for a vote on social media back in January of 2023. Other names included Idol of the Seas, Love of the Seas, and Queen of the Seas.

Star of the Seas did indeed win the poll on Twitter, garnering 44% of the vote.

Star of the Seas will debut in summer 2025, although there's no other details yet as to what will make this ship different or where she will sail from.

One detail we do know about Star of the Seas is she will be the third ship in Royal Caribbean's fleet to be powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), combining the use of the cleanest-burning marine fuel available to date with a proven lineup of industry-leading environmental programs on board. With applications ranging from waste heat recovery systems to shore power connection, Royal Caribbean’s most sustainable ship will advance parent company Royal Caribbean Group’s journey to introducing a net-zero cruise ship by 2035.

How Royal Caribbean picks a ship name

The decision of picking a ship name is not a simple one, as Royal Caribbean often considers dozens of names before settling on one.

Royal Caribbean will commonly register many trademarks for new cruise ship names with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. 

As an example, in December 2021, the company registered 24 new cruise ship names.

Why so many?

Part of the process is not only reserving names they intend to use, but also names they know they will not use. Because trademarks are a matter of public record, from a competitive advantage standpoint, they'll include other names to prevent tipping their hand in which direction they'll go.

In November 2022,  Royal Caribbean's Senior Vice President and Chief Product Innovation Officer Jay Schneider talked about naming the next two Icon Class ships, "I'm still taking ideas on Icon two and Icon three. I feel really confident in the name we have for Icon three, it's actually two that we're still working on."

Star of the Seas is already under construction

We now know the name of the second Icon Class ship, but construction has been underway for a while now.

In February 2023, a steel cutting ceremony was held, which when the first piece of steel is cut, it marks a pivotal point in the ship building process.

Other milestones include keel laying, floating out, and delivery.

Sky-high demand for Icon

The hype surrounding Icon of the Seas is unparalleled so far, with sales for the new ship through the roof and equally high intrigue surrounding the new features and ship design.

Royal Caribbean actually opened bookings up three months early for more Icon of the Seas cruises through 2026 due to how well-booked the ship is at the moment.

The cruise line saw the single largest booking day and highest volume booking week in its history when Icon was first revealed in October 2022. 

In May 2023, Royal Caribbean Group CEO Jason Liberty talked about the incredible demand the ship has experienced so far, "Despite being on sale for only five months, Icon is significantly more booked for her inaugural season at materially higher rates than any other Royal Caribbean ship launch."

Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley talked about this fact, "Icon is literally the best performing new product launch we've ever had in the history of our business, and we're delighted with volume and rate and that really is a full 24 product."

"Since Icon of the Seas was revealed almost a year ago, the response has been unprecedented by every measure."

Icon of the Seas will be 250,800 tons and hold up to 7,600 passengers, both of which are stats that eclipse the current largest cruise ship, Wonder of the Seas. Icon will also be about 10 feet longer than Wonder of the Seas, coming in at 1,198 feet long.

Icon of the Seas will remain in Miami, Florida and offer 7-night Eastern and Western Caribbean voyages, with all of them visiting Perfect Day at CocoCay. 

Currently under construction at the giant Meyer Turku shipyard in Turku, Finland, Icon of the Seas will have her first sailing begin in January 2024.

The more you cruise with Royal Caribbean the more enticing benefits you receive.

Royal Caribbean's Crown & Anchor Society has a lot of perks as a way of rewarding their most loyal guests. Just like a hotel or airline loyalty program, the more you travel, the higher you move up in the ranks and more lucrative benefits that await you.

Read more: 11 of our favorite under-the-radar Crown & Anchor perks

Each night spent on a Royal Caribbean cruise will earn you one point towards your loyalty status. If you stay in a suite or cruise solo, you can earn an additional point towards your status. 

Guests are automatically enrolled into the Crown and Anchor Society after you complete your first sailing and off the bat you'll get a few discounts to use. Arguably, the best benefits wait for you once you reach Diamond status.

One highly sought after benefit are crystal blocks, because they are a sort of "mile marker" you can get as you move through the higher tiers of the program.

Not only are they a great keepsake, but they are collectable as well and many cruisers want to diversify their collection with various ships (especially their favorites).

Here's a look at how to get these blocks, as well as some of the other top tier gifts you could receive.

How do you get crystal blocks?

To be eligible to receive a crystal block, you have to reach 140 cruise points.

Once you reach 140 cruise points, you will receive your first crystal block delivery during your sailing. One crystal block is awarded per relationship. It will be delivered to your cabin, often on the exact night you reach the 140 points. 

How often do you get a crystal block?

You will receive another free crystal block every time you earn another 70 points on top of the initial 140 points needed. To save you the trouble of doing the math, that means you will get a block at 210, 280, 350, 420, and so on points.

There is no limit as to how many blocks you are able to collect. The more you cruise, the more blocks you will have!

If for some reason you do not receive your crystal block award and you already have 140 cruise points then you can contact Crown & Anchor’s customer service line at 800-526-9723​​. Royal Caribbean states in their terms and conditions they will only honor requests for Crystal blocks that have been verified as missing for a maximum of 12 months from the date of claim submission.

Any requests for missing blocks after the 12-month period cannot be accommodated.

Upgraded bathroom amenities

Higher tier cruisers will get better in-cabin toiletries waiting for them.

While other guests in a non-suite cabin receive the standard bar of soap and 2-in-1 shampoo dispenser in the shower, guests with more than 340 points will receive upgraded bathroom amenities in their stateroom upon arrival.

This can include bottled lotion, shampoo, and conditioner and it should be delivered to your cabin on embarkation day and waiting for you to use when you get into the room.

Personalized gift

Diamond Plus and Pinnacle Club members are able to choose from a list of complimentary gifts to receive while you are sailing.

You can update or choose your gift preference by calling the Crown & Anchor line prior to your cruise. Alternatively, you can speak to the Loyalty Ambassador onboard who can change your selection for the next sailing.

The list has options of wines, cheeses, chocolates, fruits, bags, and other drinks.  For three to six night sailings you will be able to choose one per household.

If you have 340-524 cruise points on 7+ night sailings you will be able to select 2 gifts and if you have 525+ cruise points you will be able to select 3 gifts on 7+ night sailings.

The toiletry bag and the tote bag are currently the only gifts you can choose that are not edible. 

Welcome water

Emerald and Diamond members will receive two water bottles per person delivered on the first day of their cruise.

Diamond Plus and Pinnacle members receive three water bottles per person delivered to their cabin on the first day of their cruise. This is a nice perk to have water bottles right in your cabin when you are parched.

Free photo

For this freebie, you do have to go to the Photo Gallery onboard but it is worth getting a free printed photo.

Make sure to stop and have a photo taken because Diamond, Diamond Plus, and Pinnacle members receive one free any size photo.

I have seen photos at $20 or more, so this perk is a great value.

Lapel pin

Love it or hate it Royal Caribbean gives out lapel pins to their Emerald, Diamond, and Diamond Plus members.

These pins are delivered on the following cruise after reaching new status. Pinnacle Club members get a personalized lapel pin with their name on it, these personalized pins seem to be appreciated a bit more. 

Free laundry service

Whether you run out of clothes on your trip or you simply would like to return home with clean clothing, Diamond Plus and Pinnacle Club members receive one free $34.99 bag of laundry on the day of the ship's Wash and Fold laundry promotion.

This offer only applies on sailings 5+ nights.

Add-on spa treatment

Spa treatments onboard are something nice to splurge on from time to time. Diamond Plus and Pinnacle members can receive a complimentary add-on spa treatment.  

You must book a signature spa service and then you will be able to receive a free add-on. Treatment options are a hand, foot, or scalp massage. 

Free internet access

Diamond members receive 1 free day of onboard internet for one device and Diamond Plus members receive 2 free days of onboard internet for one device.

If you reach the highest status as a Pinnacle Club member, you will then get free unlimited internet access for 1 device for the length of each sailing.

Free cruise

Last but definitely not least, Pinnacle Club members receive a milestone cruise certificate valued at the rate of a 7-night balcony stateroom for 700 and 1050 cruise points.

Once you reach 1400 cruise points, you receive a milestone cruise certificate valued at the rate of a Junior Suite stateroom and also every 350 cruise points after. '

In simple words, you get a free cruise for two people. The first two free cruises are in a balcony cabin then after that, you will be able to receive a free junior suite moving forward.

Final words

These rewards for staying loyal are enticing, and a nice bonus for enjoying a cruise vacation over and over again.

I think most people like to feel valued for their business and Royal Caribbean does a spectacular job at rewarding their loyal guests. Beyond the material benefits we covered, the crew always goes the extra mile to make it known you are a valued member of Royal Caribbean’s loyalty program. 

Planning a cruise? Start here:

• 8 cruise tips for first-time Royal Caribbean cruisers
• What’s included in your Royal Caribbean cruise fare
• 5 quick and easy tips for finding a great shore excursion on your own
• Food on a Royal Caribbean cruise
• Which is the best Royal Caribbean cruise ship?
• What is the best time to go on a Caribbean cruise?

Which cruise ships are people booking the most right now?

Among Royal Caribbean's fleet of ships, there's quite a few choices to consider, and plenty of attention given to Royal Caribbean's newest ships.

With 2024 on the horizon, I was curious which ships people are gravitating towards and booking the most.  So I reached out to Jenn Greene, who is a Travel Planner affiliated with MEI Travel.

I've known Jenn for years, and wanted to get a sense of among her clients, which Royal Caribbean cruise ships are the most popular in terms of bookings for the coming year.

Here are which Royal Caribbean cruise ships her clients are going to sail on in 2024.

Big demand

It’s no secret that cruising has made a huge comeback. Gone are the days of last-minute bookings, and rock bottom pricing. Cruisers are planning their vacations up to a year or more in advance. By doing so this secures the best rates and stateroom locations for them. 

As a travel agent with MEI Travel, 80% of my business is with Royal Caribbean. I have been booking into 2024, and noticed that cruisers are gravitating toward the same ships and sometimes booking them multiples times.

I have also noticed that the top five ships are geared towards family fun and adventure, as opposed to the smaller ships that offer a more laid-back cruise. Which makes total sense as Royal Caribbean markets itself as a family brand.

Read more: 12 differences between the big and small Royal Caribbean cruise ships
 
Here are the top six Royal Caribbean ships being booked for 2024 travel by my clients.

Wonder of the Seas

It comes as no surprise that the newest ship in the Oasis Class is number one.

Wonder of the Seas has all the bells and whistles that cruisers love along with some favorites specific to this ship. The Mason Jar is a popular onboard restaurant, while not included in your cruise fare, I think it is worth the extra cost to dine here. 

Read more: What a room on Wonder of the Seas looks like

Icon of the Seas

Coming in early 2024, Icon of the Seas will take cruising to a brand-new level.

Touted as the ship that will bring the World’s Best Family Vacation, Icon will be taking cruisers on 7 night Eastern and Western itineraries, with each including a stop at Perfect Day at CoCoCay.

Read more: Icon of the Seas sneak peek: Inside Royal Caribbean's next new ship

The demand for this ship from it’s initial launch has not slowed down. 

Harmony of the Seas

While not the newest ship in the fleet, Harmony of the Seas is a favorite among families and couples.

Many cruisers say “Harmony feels like home”, yet they can’t explain why. From ziplining across the Boardwalk, to catching Grease in the main theater, Harmony continues to be a fleetwide favorite. 

Read more: Trying out the free activities on Harmony of the Seas

Allure of the Seas

Allure of the Seas will be cruising 3- and 4-night Bahamas itineraries from Port Canaveral. This will be the first time an Oasis class ship will be visiting Perfect Day at CoCoCay on short cruises, which has driven the demand for it even higher.

The fact that this ship has yet to be amplified also keeps pricing a little lower than other in it’s class. 

Freedom of the Seas

Next on the list is Freedom of the Seas. This amplified Freedom class ship continues to be in high demand sailing 3- and 4- night itineraries from Miami. Waterslides, mini golf, a Flowrider and ice shows make this ship perfect for a weekend family getaway. 

Read more: Guide to weekend cruises

Ovation of the Seas

For the bucket list Alaska cruise, Ovation of the Seas is the ship of choice for cruisers. This ship offers the Northstar, which gives epic views of glaciers and beyond during your cruise. On sea days you can enjoy iFly skydiving, or enjoy bumper cars in the Sea Plex. 

Read more: 50 First Time Alaska cruise tips

No matter what ship you sail on, Royal Caribbean has something for everyone. From the more laid back Radiance Class ships that can sail to smaller and more unique ports of call, to the mega Oasis and Quantum class ships offering non stop thrills and fun you are sure to have an epic family vacation. 

Planning a cruise? Start here:

• 8 cruise tips for first-time Royal Caribbean cruisers
• What’s included in your Royal Caribbean cruise fare
• 5 quick and easy tips for finding a great shore excursion on your own
• Food on a Royal Caribbean cruise
• Which is the best Royal Caribbean cruise ship?
• What is the best time to go on a Caribbean cruise?

Two different Royal Caribbean cruise ships have reported having an issue with their propulsion systems.

Over the past few days, cruise fans have reported being notified of a propulsion issue on Oasis of the Seas and Anthem of the Seas.

Here's what we know about each ship's situation.

Anthem of the Seas

Customers with upcoming cruises on Anthem of the Seas have gotten emails from Royal Caribbean to inform them of itinerary changes because the ship must travel slower.

In the email, Royal Caribbean informed guests Anthem must sail at a reduced speed because of an issue with one of the ship's engines, "one of the ship's four engines requires maintenance which impacts our speed."

"While this impacts our ability to deliver on the original itinerary, we're confident that it will still be an exceptional cruise vacation."

Depending on the itinerary, scheduled stops in Port Canaveral, Florida or Nassau, Bahamas have been dropped from the itinerary. 

The October 30 and November 5 sailings are confirmed to have had changes to their itineraries.

Royal Caribbean apologized for the change in itinerary, "We're very sorry about this change to your itinerary. We look forward to seeing you onboard."

For at least one sailing, guests received a one-day cruise fare refund in the form of an onboard credit. 

Anthem of the Seas is currently sailing from Southampton, wrapping up her 2023 European cruise season.

Oasis of the Seas

Guests on the current sailing of Oasis of the Seas received a letter in their cabin to inform them of an issue with one of the ship's propulsion pods.

The ship's captain made an announcement and a letter was sent to reconfirm the details, "As our Captain announced, an electrical component in one of our three propulsion pods needs replacing. Our crew is currently working through the repairs as we speak."

"While everything else is functioning at 100%, as a precaution we've lowered our speed, which means we'll arrive in Orlando (Port Canaveral) Florida a little later than planned."

The reduced speed has had a minimal impact on the ship's itinerary, with a delay coming into Port Canaveral by about an hour.

The letter went on to apologize for the change, "We're terribly sorry for the impact to your cruise. Please know, your safety and comfort, along with that of our crew, remain our top priorities."

Oasis of the Seas is currently homeported in Cape Liberty, New Jersey.

In a Facebook group for Oasis of the Seas, a number of cruisers confirmed the issue, but also reported everything seems fine for them.

Tanya Stark-Beakes is on Oasis of the Seas on the current sailing and said the issue doesn't seem to have much of an impact, "It’s very minor. We’ll just be a little late to Port Canaveral (it initially started with having to deliver a patient to Virginia and having to go full speed after that). We’re still moving at a good pace."

Margaret Tricarico also confirmed nothing has changed much for them, "Yes, the Captain made an announcement around 8:30 last night. It’s fine. We’re motoring along and we can see the sun starting to rise on the horizon"

Cruise ships have redundant engines for this situation

Cruise ships encountering a propulsion issue is not unheard of by any means.

Cruise ships have multiple engines, and often not all engines are running even when there are no issues. This allows the ship to give engines a break, and have backups when a situation like this arises.

In most cases, the ship is able to continue operating safely, albeit at a reduced speed.

Last month, Radiance of the Seas had a propulsion issue that required Royal Caribbean to cancel two sailings so that repairs could take place. Cancelling cruises for a propulsion issue is quite rare and indicative of an acute problem that necessitated a more prompt response.

Historically, ships with propulsion problems have been able to sail and either make repairs along the way, or hold off until a scheduled upcoming dry dock.

It’s no secret that Royal Caribbean is at the forefront of the family cruise experience, but how does MSC Cruises compare?

Twelve members of my family and I planned a vacation together this summer. We were disappointed in Royal Caribbean’s prices. Instead, we bit the bullet and booked a cheap sailing on MSC Cruises.

Despite the fact that my family usually cruises with Royal Caribbean, we couldn’t fathom spending double the price for what would likely be a similar experience.

MSC Cruises, a European cruise line based in Switzerland, has recently begun gaining traction in North America, yet reviews remain questionable at best. Some cruisers rave about the elegant ships and low prices, but others complain incessantly about the dining options and service.

My family and I remained cautiously optimistic, however, and I felt better having already had a positive experience on another MSC cruise a few months earlier.

After spending a week onboard an MSC cruise, here’s how we would compare the experience to Royal Caribbean.

My family’s initial vacation planning involved comparing prices between cruise lines, and we were surprised by high prices

When planning a vacation with a large group, it’s important to be cognizant of each person’s individual budget. While one member of the family might prefer a luxury vacation on Silversea, another is looking to get the best bang for their buck.

When planning our family vacation, naturally, we started by browsing Royal Caribbean’s website for July cruises. Seeing as though many members of my family had already sailed with Royal Caribbean, it made sense to book with the cruise line we were most accustomed to.

Yet when we started browsing cruises, we were disappointed with the high prices we found. Most 7-night cruises were around $1200 per person for interior cabins on older, smaller ships. If we wanted to book a newer ship in an ocean view or a balcony cabin, we would almost certainly be shelling out around $3000 per cabin.

Related: How much does a cruise cost?

Keeping our options open, we decided to check other cruise lines' websites and compare prices, but we were equally surprised by high prices on Norwegian Cruise Line and Carnival Cruise Line.

While we certainly could have booked a $1500 per person cruise, my family was hoping to keep the base cruise fare low in order to allocate our budget toward add-ons like specialty dining and shore excursions.

Browsing MSC’s website, I found deals too good to pass up

After striking out with Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, and Carnival, I decided to check MSC Cruises’ website to compare the fares.

As MSC grows within the North American market, the cruise line hopes to reel in new passengers with unbeatable prices, and that was exactly what they did for my family.

I found a cruise on MSC Seaside for just $593 per person for the week in an interior cabin. The cost of the cruise was half of what I found on Royal Caribbean and other mass market cruise lines—it seemed too good to be true, but it wasn’t!

Related: 45 easy ways to save money on a cruise

Plus, for just $130 per person we could add an alcoholic drink package and a two-device wifi package for each guest. That is completely unheard of on Royal Caribbean, as the equivalent drink package can be priced at over $70 per day.

Although I felt like I was “ditching” my beloved Royal Caribbean behind for something new, I couldn’t fathom spending double on the Royal Caribbean cruise. Excited to expand our cruising horizons, my family and I booked our cruise on MSC Seaside.

Almost immediately, we missed certain aspects of Royal Caribbean’s cruise planning process

“Jenna, this app is terrible,” my brother texted me shortly after we booked our MSC cruise. “I can’t research anything!”

Something I love about cruising with Royal Caribbean is the stellar quality of the cruise line’s cruise planning process. In the days and months leading up to a Royal Caribbean cruise, I enjoy browsing the app and the Cruise Planner website to plan my cruise as much as possible.

From a seamless online check-in process to browsing restaurant menus months in advance, I find Royal Caribbean’s app to be of tremendous help when preparing for my cruises.

Related: Royal Caribbean app walkthrough and tips

MSC’s app, on the other hand, is disappointing during the cruise planning process, although it gets better once you board the ship. When planning my MSC cruise, I encountered technical problems on the app and was limited in the amount of information I could research prior to the cruise.

Even once onboard, I was not overly impressed by the app. My family and I wanted to make a specialty dining reservation one evening, for example, and usually we like to browse the main dining room menus in advance. If a menu does not look appealing one evening, we will book a specialty restaurant that evening instead.

On MSC, however, you cannot browse menus in advance—they appear on the app just a few hours before dinner. While a small inconvenience in the long run, it was certain details like these where we found Royal Caribbean shined over MSC.

On embarkation day I entered my MSC cabin for the first time, and it was basic yet comfortable

Like most cruises I take, I booked the cheapest interior cabin for my MSC Seaside cruise. Upon entering my cabin for the first time, I found it to be adequate and, when overlooking the bright pink color scheme, modern.

My cabin was a comfortable place to call home during my week onboard, and it had everything you needed in a stateroom: a king bed, closet, desk, vanity, and private bathroom. I could see where MSC cut costs in cabin design, such as placing a simple chair into the room instead of a plush couch, but it was not bothersome to me.

The cabin did not have as much storage space as you would find on Royal Caribbean’s newest ships, but I still found the amount sufficient. I was cruising solo in my cabin, but even if there had been another guest with me, there would have been ample space left.

Something I appreciated in the cabin were the light switches to signal whether or not you wanted your cabin serviced. If I was leaving my cabin, I would press a button to let my stateroom attendant know they could enter my room, and vice versa when I wanted some privacy. This felt much more modern than Royal Caribbean’s double-sided magnets.

Overall, I found my MSC Seaside cabin just as nice as Royal Caribbean’s small inside cabins.

My family and I found the food on MSC to be relatively comparable to Royal Caribbean

Every cruise line has stereotypes, from the party atmosphere of Carnival to the sophistication of Celebrity. MSC Cruises has several stereotypes, the most common of which is definitely the “bad” food.

Chances are, if you search for MSC reviews online, you’ll read many complaints about the cruise line’s food. However, in my experience on the two MSC cruises I’ve sailed on thus far, these negative reviews couldn’t be further from the truth.

My family and I were satisfied with the quality and selection of food on MSC Seaside. We found the Italian dishes—MSC’s specialty—spectacular, and enjoyed excellent meals in both the buffet, main dining room, and Kaito Teppanyaki specialty restaurant during the sailing.

Members of my family were split on whether they liked the food better on MSC or Royal Caribbean. While most thought they were comparable, some, like my brother, preferred dishes on MSC whereas others, such as my dad, thought Royal Caribbean’s food selections were better, especially those in the buffet.

Related: The best things I ate on my Royal Caribbean cruise

I find myself somewhere in the middle. Whereas I love the Italian pastas, breads, and pizza on MSC, I prefer Royal Caribbean when it comes to other international flavors, such as Indian and Mexican cuisine.

Comparing Royal Caribbean’s cardboard-tasting Sorrento’s pizza to MSC’s delectable Naples-style pies, it's no brainer which cruise line’s slice is better. Yet while comparing the amount of choice in food options and dining venues on Royal Caribbean to MSC, Royal Caribbean takes the cake.

While MSC’s service wasn’t bad, it wasn’t as spectacular as Royal Caribbean’s

Perhaps my favorite aspect of cruising on Royal Caribbean is the outstanding customer service.

I have never encountered service as helpful and friendly as on Royal Caribbean. While onboard a Royal Caribbean ship, I quickly lose count of the amount of warm greetings I receive from crew members. From a quick hello in the hallway to long conversations with bartenders, Royal Caribbean’s service makes every passenger feel welcomed and special.

On MSC Seaside, my family and I were not disappointed in the customer service onboard, but we weren’t blown away, either. Whereas on Royal Caribbean a table will be cleared in record speed at the buffet, this process seemed to take much longer on MSC Seaside. Ordering a drink took much longer than expected as well—the bars seemed to be understaffed.

Not everything was slow, though. When eating breakfast in the main dining room, for example, I was pleased with some of the quickest, most attentive service I’ve experienced at sea yet.

Outside of food and beverage service, my family ran into several issues with their onboard credit during our MSC cruise. The onboard credit they received when booking did not appear in their accounts, and, for some of my relatives, it took three trips to Guest Services before the issue was resolved. Later, we found out we had been charged for gratuities twice, necessitating another trip to Guest Services.

Although my family is not picky, and we recognize how diligently cruise ship crew members work, we couldn’t help but notice these slight differences in service.

I enjoyed the ocean-facing views on MSC Seaside, something I find lacking on Royal Caribbean’s ships

I love the activity-filled, innovative designs of Royal Caribbean’s newest ships, but one thing I don’t like about the fleet’s biggest vessels is the lack of ocean views. Most venues onboard ships like Wonder of the Seas and Odyssey of the Seas face inward; on these cruise ships, it’s easy to forget you’re on a ship altogether.

And while I didn’t love everything about the design of MSC Seaside—namely, the atrium-design over a thoroughfare like a promenade—I did love the amount of ocean views.

Most bars onboard had floor-to-ceiling windows of the ocean, and restaurants such as Kaito Teppanyaki had a gorgeous layout with a full view of the ocean. I found myself spending most of my time onboard sitting by a window with a view, and these bars quickly became my family’s meeting point for a pre-dinner drink and get together.

Only adults joined my family cruise, but MSC offers kid-friendly activities like Royal Caribbean

My family’s vacation on MSC Seaside was free of screaming children… from our family, at least.

Like Royal Caribbean, MSC is a family-friendly cruise line that caters to passengers of all ages. You’ll find kid-focused programming onboard both MSC and Royal Caribbean, including complimentary kids clubs, zip lines, aqua parks, and waterslides.

The buffet even has a kids zone, which is a shorter buffet stand that allows kids to serve themselves. Unsurprisingly, this is where you’ll find the ship’s soft serve ice cream machine, hot dogs, and chicken fingers.

Related: 7 best Royal Caribbean cruise ships for kids

When comparing Royal Caribbean's new ships with MSC Seaside, I would say they seemed similar for kid-friendly fun. The only downside with MSC Seaside was that some activities, such as the zip line and bowling, come with an extra cost. Most activities, however, such as the waterslides, ropes course, and LEGO club, are included in the cruise fare.

Royal Caribbean’s Perfect Day at CocoCay offers a far greater variety of activities compared to MSC’s Ocean Cay

One of the ports on my family’s Western Caribbean cruise itinerary was Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, MSC’s private island in The Bahamas.

Like Royal Caribbean, MSC operates a private destination in The Bahamas, providing a picture-perfect beach day to guests. And, as is with Perfect Day at CocoCay, the island provides complimentary food and beach access, and drink packages work on the island.

When comparing Ocean Cay to Perfect Day at CocoCay, it was clear Royal Caribbean’s private island offered a wider range of activities. From Thrill Waterpark to the Coco Beach Club and Oasis Lagoon pool, there is more to choose from at CocoCay.

Ocean Cay, on the other hand, focuses almost exclusively on beaches. You won’t find a pool, waterpark, or adults-only retreat on the island. While there are a few shops and a suites-only area, the overall atmosphere is far more chill than that of Perfect Day at CocoCay.

Nonetheless, having fewer choices isn’t necessarily a bad thing. My family and I appreciated the low-key vibe of the island, and it was much quieter than the party atmosphere we’ve encountered at CocoCay.

As a plus, our stay at Ocean Cay included a sunset DJ party on the island, and staying on the island into the night was a unique experience you cannot have at Perfect Day at CocoCay.

I wouldn’t say one island is better than the other, but Royal Caribbean’s private destination offers much more than just the beach.

My family and I aren’t opposed to cruising with MSC again, but we’ll still check Royal Caribbean’s options first

“If the prices are the same,” my dad explained on the last evening of our cruise, “I would book a Royal Caribbean cruise, but I wouldn’t pay double for Royal Caribbean.”

My dad’s quote just about sums up my family’s overall consensus about our cheap MSC cruise. For the price we paid, the value we got from our vacation was outstanding, especially considering we also had a drink package and wifi package.

Despite the fact that we preferred certain aspects of the Royal Caribbean experience, I don’t think it justified paying double for, all things considered, a similar experience.

If the price of a Royal Caribbean and MSC cruise were roughly the same, I would probably book with Royal Caribbean.

Even though MSC does status matching with Royal Caribbean’s loyalty program, it still doesn’t beat the Diamond Plus benefits I receive through the Crown & Anchor Society, like free drinks and access to a private lounge.

The elevated entertainment, service, and greater variety of dining venues also gives a slight edge to Royal Caribbean. That being said, MSC offers more varied and intriguing itineraries than the latter, as they sail to destinations like Brazil, Dubai, and Namibia.

Whether sailing on Royal Caribbean or MSC, there’s no doubt a cruise vacation makes for an excellent family trip, and I’m grateful for the memories I made with my siblings, parents, aunts, uncles, and cousins on MSC Seaside. Personally, I feel MSC’s negative stereotype is unwarranted.

When we plan our next family cruise, we’ll likely check cruise prices on Royal Caribbean’s website first, but we will remain open to trying new cruise lines as well.