chodnett

I wish I could recommend Chop’s, but we had two poor experiences on this sailing. Maybe it’ll be improved for you! I’d say Giovanni’s or Izumi.

Yes! We did the Champagne Brunch Catamaran sailing. Booked through ShoreExcursionsGroup.com and ran by Oyster Tours. I like SEG because they’re usually cheaper than Royal, have more variety, and have a Return to Ship Guarantee. It was fantastic. It was open bar, tons of small bites, and we stopped to snorkel over a shipwreck and then in again in shallow waters. My only issue was because we booked with SEG and not directly with Oyster, we weren’t on their initial attendance list, so we had to call their office and they found our information.

I’m not sure if you’re asking if the music in the hallways is too loud, or if the Boardwalk music was too loud. The hallway music was fine. The Boardwalk music was loud and leaked indoors during performances.

Hey everyone! We just got off an 8-night Southern Caribbean sailing on Oasis of the Seas (June 14–22), and I wanted to drop a quick recap before diving into post-cruise withdrawal. Itinerary: Ports: Aruba, Curaçao, Dominican Republic (Cabo Rojo), and Perfect Day at CocoCay Stateroom: Boardwalk Balcony Dining Package: Yes Cruise Purpose: Anniversary trip! Ship Vibes: I still love this ship. It’s massive, beautifully designed, and full of life. That said, I’ve noticed some slippage. There were a surprising number of maintenance and technical issues this time around — not trip-ruining, but definitely distracting from the “wow” factor Oasis is known for. Ports: Aruba & Curaçao: Absolutely stunning. Two of the best ports we’ve visited. In Curaçao, we explored Hato Cave, snorkeled, and cliff-jumped at Mambo Beach. Aruba was equally impressive. Would go back in a heartbeat — honestly considering an all-inclusive stay next time. Cabo Rojo (DR): Missed the mark. Too small to handle a ship this size. Overcrowded, limited excursions, and nothing memorable. CocoCay (Hideaway Beach): Relaxing day! Loved the adults-only vibe, temp-controlled pool, and abundance of loungers. Food was underwhelming except for the BBQ chicken pizza. It didn’t feel all that different from the rest of the island aside from being kid-free. Dining: Specialty Dining: Chop’s Grille: Used to be a favorite, but both visits were misses on this sailing. Over/undercooked steaks and pacing issues. Izumi Hibachi: Excellent food and fun experience! But why charge extra with a dining package? Johnny Rockets: $17 per person for a fast food burger? Yikes. The cost felt out of line with the quality and experience. Complimentary Dining: Main Dining Room & Windjammer: Unfortunately, the food here has noticeably declined since Royal rolled out the “new” menus. Feels like they’re pushing people toward specialty dining by making the included options feel like an afterthought. Park Café (Breakfast): Hidden gem! Low crowds, great options. Pro tip: Ask them to warm up the cinnamon roll. Trust me. Entertainment: Aqua 80s: Best show at sea when it runs — and thankfully they resolved the tech issues by the end of the week. Other Shows: Unfortunately, nearly every show early in the cruise had AV glitches — music and video would cut out, mics went dead during comedy shows, and it really disrupted the experience. Game Shows: The Crazy Quest and Love & Marriage never disappoint. Cruise Director Elvis: Fantastic energy and presence throughout the week! Maintenance & Cleanliness: Multiple small issues: broken escalator, elevator buttons not working, pool chair in disrepair (an armrest literally fell off), AquaTheater signage missing lights. Trash sat along the jogging track for days — shouldn’t be happening on a ship of this caliber. Pool towels consistently stained — they’re blue, so maybe tough to bleach, but still… not great. Bars & Beverage Service: Bar staff was some of the best we’ve had. Fast, friendly, and no long waits — even on sea days. A few cocktails lacked consistency, but nothing that ruined the experience. Cabin: Boardwalk Balcony: Cool view of the AquaTheater… but very loud and not private. Wouldn’t book again unless you’re specifically seeking that energy. Room was clean, well-stocked, and our attendant was fantastic. Three towel animals during the week — always fun! Crowds & Flow: Surprisingly manageable considering it’s summer break. Windjammer was the only truly chaotic spot during peak hours. Embarkation: From curb to ship in 15 minutes. Super smooth. Debarkation: Ship to curb in 8 minutes — our fastest ever. Pro Tips & Takeaways: Don’t book spa treatments ahead of time — way better deals onboard. Try Park Café for breakfast instead of Windjammer. Be cautious with specialty dining expectations — not always consistent. This itinerary rocks. But if Royal replaced Cabo Rojo with Bonaire, it’d be perfect. I’m still loyal to Royal, but these last couple of sailings and price increases have us considering alternate vacations. Happy to answer any questions! Whether you’re considering this itinerary, this ship, or cruising Royal for the first time — ask me anything!

Does anyone know when to expect Short Bahamas sailing schedule for Summer 2026?

This was my immediate first thought. I assume many Royal cruisers will opt for Perfect Day. Perhaps the saving grace is it sounds like they'll allow other cruise ships to continue docking there, which may boost Maya Chan's opportunity to market themselves as something to do since the port area will be restricted to Royal guests.

Everyone does it twice. At least, everyone in our group and the group in front of us did it twice. You also get the video (of your first time through) loaded into the Pictures section of the app, where you get a free download. Nice touch.

Great, great show. I loved the little modernizations of it, without losing the integrity of the original story.

NOTE: This was the sailing where the maintenance issue was discovered. Icon of the Seas (7-Night Eastern Caribbean Sailing) We just returned from an incredible 7-night Eastern Caribbean sailing aboard Icon of the Seas in Ocean View stateroom 4180. Our planned itinerary included St. Maarten, St. Thomas, and Perfect Day at CocoCay, but due to a maintenance issue onboard, we missed St. Thomas. Despite that hiccup, the overall experience was fantastic. Here’s a breakdown of the highlights and lowlights from our trip: The Ship Icon of the Seas is a stunning vessel, truly living up to its name. From the moment we stepped onboard, we were impressed by the spacious design. Despite the ship’s size, it never felt overwhelmingly big. The elevators are incredibly efficient, and there is ample seating throughout the ship, which was a pleasant surprise. However, considering the ship is still so new, we did notice more wear and tear than expected—stains on the carpet and some peeling art, which was surprising for a ship that isn’t even a year old. Neighborhoods: -Surfside Neighborhood: We spent a lot of time here, particularly at Surfside Eatery (great shrimp cocktail!) and Surfside Bites. However, on sea days, Surfside became overwhelming. The noise, overstimulation, and crowded conditions made it feel like you couldn’t escape, especially as parents. On other ships, you can switch off with your partner on the main pool deck, but here, you feel trapped. Also, the baby splash area was quite underwhelming, considering an entire neighborhood is dedicated to kids’ pool play. -Royal Promenade & Pearl Area: Loved the openness of the Royal Promenade with ocean views, but the Pearl area does get crowded. It's still a beautiful focal point of the ship. -Category 6 Water Park: We hit the water park on a port day in St. Maarten and had an absolute blast. No crowds, no lines—we rode everything multiple times. Highly recommend making use of this space when the ship is in port! Shows & Entertainment: -Starburst (Ice Skating Show): One of the best I’ve seen at sea! The Absolute Zero ice skating venue is fantastic, though it’s odd that you have to walk through a retail store and Playmakers to get there. -Aqua Action: This show in the Aquadome was nothing short of spectacular—easily one of the best shows onboard. -Crown’s Edge Zip Line: Totally worth the (pre-cruise) cost. I had so much fun that I got to do it twice, and the included video was a nice touch. Dining: -Main Dining Room: Our dining room staff, Yatin and Richard, were fantastic—especially with the kids. The food was typical cruise fare, but the service elevated the experience. -Izumi Hibachi: We were pleasantly surprised by how good this specialty dining experience was. The food was exceptional, and the show element was very entertaining. Highly recommend for anyone who loves hibachi. -Chop’s Grill: I’ll be honest - it was maybe my worst Chop’s experience in nearly 20 cruises. The food met expectations, but the service was off. -Windjammer: We ate here on our last night so we could maximize CocoCay, and the food was average. It's a reliable option, but nothing stood out. Worth noting - they served the leftover lobster tails in the Windjammer this night. Perfect Day at CocoCay: This was our 16th visit to CocoCay, and it was as good as ever. Royal Caribbean continues to deliver a top-notch experience on their private island—best in class, in my opinion. Other Notes: -Bars & Service: I never experienced a crowded bar onboard, and the service was always fast and friendly. -Casino: The ventilation in and around the casino was excellent—no smoke smell whatsoever, which was a huge plus. -Kidfinder Feature: A cool new feature Royal is piloting is "Kidfinder." You can put a wristband on your child and track their location in the Royal Caribbean app. It’s a great feature for families. Challenges: -Crowds on Sea Days: The pool deck was slammed on sea days, and finding a chair was nearly impossible. We even encountered some weird aggression from fellow guests, which was disappointing. There’s plenty of entertainment around the ship, but if you’re hoping for pool time on sea days, it’s tough. -Scheduling of Adult-Only Activities: I wasn’t thrilled that many adult-only activities were scheduled during times when you have to pay for childcare in Adventure Ocean. -A/C Issues: The heat onboard was intense at times, and some guests reported their A/C wasn’t functioning properly. -Back to the Future: While onboard, Mike the Cruise Director (fantastic, by the way) announced Back to the Future would be the broadway show on Star of the Seas. Now I have to book Star! Disembarkation: One of the smoothest disembarkation experiences we’ve ever had. From stateroom to sidewalk in 15 minutes—fantastic! Final Thoughts: Despite some minor issues, this was a fantastic cruise. Icon of the Seas truly lives up to its hype in terms of entertainment, dining, and overall experience. The ship’s design and features are impressive, and it’s clear Royal Caribbean is pushing the boundaries with what they can offer. I’d highly recommend this ship, but just be prepared for busy sea days and potential hiccups like the maintenance issue we encountered. All in all, a memorable and enjoyable trip! I’m happy to answer any questions you may have.

Hello! We’re sailing on Harmony, and I’m trying to find the best roundtrip transportation option from Houston-Hobby to Galveston Port. We will be flying in the night before and staying in a hotel. Recommendations welcome for that, too. There will be 9 of us - 6 adults, 3 kids (all under 7 years old).

There’s the experience I was looking for. THANK YOU!

Thanks for your reply. Not sure if you’ve done this before, but the process involves notarizing the document. Not quite as fast as turning to my fellow cruisers asking for input before I make the decision.

TLDR: Do we need to fill out the Royal Caribbean consent form for our child who is on their grandparents’ reservation, even though we’ll be onboard? Hey everyone! For our upcoming Icon sailing, our son is listed on my wife’s parent’s reservation. We also have a cabin for us and our two other children. Royal sent my MIL a consent form to bring to the port since their names do not match. But, since we’ll be traveling, do we need the consent form?

Hey all! We are just back from our Spring Break Oasis of the Seas sailing, which sailed away on Easter Sunday. Below are my key takeaways from the cruise, and I'm open to any questions you may have. Notes: This was an Easter sailing, which sailed away on Easter Sunday. There were over 2,000 kids on this particular cruise. Our original itinerary included Labadee, but it got switched out with CocoCay, giving us back-to-back days at Perfect Day. We were in an Oceanview stateroom on the 3rd deck. Highlights Aqua80 is just the best show at sea. I would sail Oasis just to watch this show. One of our Perfect Day stops was shared with Symphony of the Seas. I was worried about crowds, but the island handled it so well! This may have been one of the best bar staffs I've ever encountered. All of them were friendly, and the service was fast! There were several surprise and delights on this trip, including balloon animals every morning in the Windjammer. Low-lights The Supercell Waterslide was broken the entire week. There were some unexpected signs of wear and tear across the ship. Hot tubs were in dire need of resurfacing, there was more rust than I'm used to seeing on Royal, and we noticed several dining chairs with rips and tears. Our stateroom attendant was unusually rude. On debarkation day at 7:45 am, he knocked on our door and told us to hurry up and check out because he was coming in at 8 am to start cleaning whether we left or not. Yikes. I'm still concerned about the quality of the free food around the ships. Since COVID, I've noticed a pattern of decreased food quality.

Thanks everyone for the responses. Here are the screenshots I’ve got. Mobile and Web.