Summer in the ‘70s was different than today, and that included what it was like to go on a cruise vacation.

Cruises have changed a lot over the years, and the first full decade of Royal Caribbean's beginnings had a different look to it all.

Today's megaships dwarf everything from 50 years ago, but those ships were trailblazers in their own right. Royal Caribbean had made history by having purpose built ships for Caribbean voyages, instead of converted ferries or ocean liners.

With the unofficial start of summer right around the corner, we dug through the photo archives to share photos and promotional images that conveyed what it was like to take a summer cruise in the '70s.

1. Pouring wine at the dinner table

2.Cruise ship docked in port

3.Activities around the ship

4. St. Thomas beach

5. Midnight buffet

6. Meeting the Captain

7. What a stateroom looked like

8. Dinner on a cruise

9. Costume contest

10. Passenger talent night

11. Activities onboard for guests

12. Lounge on cruise ship in 1970s

13. Welcome party on first night

14. Eating in the Main Dining Room

15. Pool band

Cruising has changed a lot each decade, and some aspects of what it was like to go on a cruise are now reserved to stories from those that experienced it over 40 years ago.

Royal Caribbean has been making history for decades. While many, myself included, weren't alive when Royal Caribbean first set sail, the company has consistently been a pioneer in the cruise industry. 

From the launch of Song of Norway in 1970 to the introduction of the world's largest and most innovative cruise ships at sea today, Royal Caribbean has continued to redefine what a cruise vacation should be. 

Along with creating bigger and bolder ships, the cruise line has adapted to societal changes and responded to cultural shifts and passenger expectations. As such, many traditions that were once prevalent on their fleet have disappeared to meet the demands of a new generation of cruisers. 

Here are some traditions that you will no longer find aboard Royal Caribbean ships. 

Casino Night

While Royal Caribbean hasn't gotten rid of casinos, the tradition of Casino Night on two-week cruises, where guests would take on the role of dealers, is no longer offered. 

Passengers could see what it was like to be a blackjack dealer or croupier with lowered bet amounts (10 cents per bet) for other guests who wished to try their luck. However, the special event wasn't held in the regular casino. Instead, crew members would set up blackjack tables and wheels of fortune in the Main Lounge. 

Today, Royal Caribbean continues to evolve the overall casino experience by introducing non-smoking areas and more electronic gaming options than ever before. 

Read more: What it was like to go on a Royal Caribbean cruise in the 1970s

Souvenir Passenger List

All guests sailing on a Royal Caribbean cruise would be given a list with the names and hometowns of all fellow passengers onboard. The booklet would also detail specific information about the crew, including the Captain's and Cruise Director's names, the itinerary, and more. 

The souvenir passenger lists would be printed during the sailing and delivered to everyone's cabins. Of course, this would not fly today with heightened privacy and safety concerns. 

Believe it or not, I've seen passenger lists from former voyages for sale on eBay! 

Masquerade Events

Theme nights are still popular aboard Royal Caribbean ships. However, the old-fashioned masquerade events have disappeared. At the costume gala, guests with the Most Humorous, Most Original, and Most Artistic costumes were awarded prizes.

While, like today, passengers were encouraged to bring costumes from home, crew members could provide materials to have guests create their own on board. Unfortunately, you won't find a slew of 80s-themed clothing available at the last minute for the party in the Royal Promenade. 

It also wasn't uncommon for cruise companions, such as dinner tablemates, to decide to participate together. 

Ladies Night

Like Casino Night, Ladies Night was offered on two-week cruises. While you might see a "Ladies Pamper Party" advertised in today's Cruise Compass, the two couldn't be more different. 

The special event had four rules:

• Ladies must ask the gentlemen to dance, and they must not refuse
• Ladies must escort the gentlemen to the dance floor and return them to their seats
• Ladies must buy the gentlemen drinks
• Ladies must light the gentlemen's cigarettes 

Read more: Vintage photos show what life was like on a Royal Caribbean cruise before the megaships

White Elephant Auction Sale 

It's easy to get caught up in the fun of buying souvenirs ashore or onboard. Sometimes, however, cruisers may regret their $15 t-shirt or random necklace. 

Royal Caribbean used to host a White Elephant Auction Sale at the end of every cruise. Passengers could bring unwanted goodies to the Main Lounge, and an auctioneer would try to sell them to another guest. 

If your item went unsold or didn't beat the price you listed, it would be returned to you. 

Skeet Shooting

It's almost unbelievable that guns were once kept on cruise ships for recreational activities. 

Still, skeet shooting was offered on Royal Caribbean cruises on sea days. Passengers could shoot clay pigeons off the back of the ship for an extra charge. 

Unfortunately, it's now a thing of the past, as the activity was removed from ships due to safety and liability concerns. Not only that, but it's prohibited to throw objects into the ocean today. 

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

Passenger Talent Night

Passenger Talent Night was almost like an evening in the Spotlight Karaoke lounge with a broader range of performances. 

Guests could sing, dance, perform magic tricks, play a musical instrument, or anything else they were brave enough to confidently do in front of other passengers and crew. 

Today, while karaoke remains a favorite activity, Royal Caribbean has shifted towards more structured entertainment, including Broadway-style performances, ice skating shows, game shows hosted by the activities team, and more. 

Afternoon Tea

Unless sailing on a premium or upscale line (including Princess and Cunard), you likely won't find afternoon tea on the daily schedule. 

However, Royal Caribbean used to offer tea and pastries every afternoon. It was a beloved tradition where guests could relax with a cup of tea and chat with fellow passengers. 

While there may not be a dedicated tea service, tea is still included in your cruise fare. You will find tea bags and hot water in venues like the Windjammer and Cafe Promenade.  

What was it like to have been on a cruise ship before they became giant?

Cruise ships have changed a lot over the decades, but the era of the megaship truly did not begin until the late 1980s.

Prior to the launch of Sovereign of the Seas in 1987, cruise ships were plenty big, but not anywhere near the size they are today.

Sovereign of the Seas entered service in 1988 and not only became the world's biggest cruise ship, but revolutionized the industry because of how large she was and all that she offered. It set off a new generation of cruise ship design and extends to today.

Prior to the arrival of Sovereign, Royal Caribbean ships definitely looked different. Granted, everything looked different in the 1970s and 1980s compared to today.

In scouring photos of what it was like on a cruise ship pre-1988, you can see the experience focused primarily on relaxing onboard and the places you could visit.  Aside from fashion choices, I think you'll see more in common with today's cruises than different.

A fun escape to warm climates

The way Royal Caribbean marketed its cruise ships in the first half of its life focused on attracting people to a vacation that was all about warm weather and good times.

The marketing material in the early '80s was all about the places you could see and the different ways you could enjoy your day on ship and on shore.

Cruise ships weren't yet the destination in a sense, so Royal Caribbean played up the adventure you could have on a cruise vacation.

"Long, lazy days of sun, sea, music and entertainment, and just plain R and R," is what one advertisement read.

"Days of cruising from island to island, from Mexican temples to Jamaican gardens, without ever re-packing your toothbrush."

Royal Caribbean had a small fleet of cruise ships prior to the introduction of the Sovereign Class.

Their fleet consisted of:

• Song of Norway
• Song of America
• Nordic Prince
• Sun Viking

You could book a Royal Caribbean cruise for seven, eight, ten, or fourteen nights in length, year-round from Miami.

Cruises back then visited Jamaica, Cozumel, Barbados, and Caracas. Ships departed on Saturday or Sunday, and each ship was designed specifically for the Caribbean market.

Ship life

When you look at vintage photos of cruise ships, I think you can see the roots of many things we take for granted today.

With every new Royal Caribbean ship they built, the line learned important lessons of what its customers were looking for, and one major focus was the pool deck.

Ships featured wide expanses on pool decks, as well as spacious and colorful lounges and dining rooms.

One of the major selling points of a cruise was doing nothing at all and enjoying a break from work.

Of course, there was plenty to do on the ship too.

There was plenty of activities and evening entertainment too. Just like modern cruise ships, there were places to shop, shows onboard, and plenty of food.

In fact, these ships still had a kids club onboard.  

Royal Caribbean has always been a family cruise line, and that's been an attractive option for adults that they can bring their kids and everyone has something to do.

Kids camp included ice cream socials, pizza parties, games, masquerades, and movies.

It was available for kids between the age of 5 to 18 on Song of America.

Cabins were small, but functional

Another consistency between ships of today versus the past are the cabin.

While decor and aesthetics have changed, cruise cabins were small back then, just like today.

New cruisers might be surprised how much smaller a standard cabin is compared to a hotel room. That's largely so that there's more space on the ship for public areas and activities.

You'd find the basics in an inside room on a cruise ship back then, and if you can look past the 1980s styling, it's not that much different from today's rooms.

A fun focus on dining

My favorite thing to look back on is what it was like to go to dinner on a Royal Caribbean cruise pre-1990.

I'm not someone who complains everything was better "back in the day", but I can appreciate the differences to today.

There were two seatings for all three meals in the Main Dining Room:

• Breakfast
  • 7:30am
  • 8:45am
• Lunch
  • 12:00pm
  • 1:30pm
• Dinner
  • 6:30pm
  • 8:30pm

Dinner themes included Italian, French, Caribbean, and "America The Beautiful".

A description of dress codes in a 1981 pamphlet for Song of Norway recommends, "For ladies, cocktail dresses and pantsuits are appropriate for evenings aboard ship and gentlemen are requested to wear jackets and ties in the dining room and lounges after 6:00pm on most evenings."

The Captain's Gala Cocktail Party is when they wanted guests to make a "grand entrance dressed in your most devastating gown or best dinner jacket."

There was also pirate's night as well as a Madcap Masquerade, where guests could dress up as Groucho Marx or Dolly Parton.

And yes, there was a midnight buffet offered in these days. Cruise ships didn't have nearly as many dining choices as they do today, so one evening of the cruise, there would be "a pageant of delicious dishes."

Royal Caribbean actually offered a viewing before the buffet opened, so passengers could take photos.

A piece of Royal Caribbean's early history is headed to the scrapyard. 

Royal Caribbean's former Song of America, which was once one of the largest cruise ships in the world, was retired in 2023 by Celestyal Cruises.

Song of America entered service for Royal Caribbean in 1982 as the cruise line's fourth ship. She was preceded by Sun Viking, Nordic Prince, and Song of Norway. 

The cruise ship initially offered Caribbean itineraries from Miami to Nassau, San Juan, and St. Thomas; however, she later added sailings from New York to Bermuda to expand the ship's appeal to a broader audience.

Read more: What happened to Royal Caribbean's first cruise ships?

Celestyal Cruises acquired the cruise ship in 2014, though she departed Royal Caribbean's fleet in 1999 after being sold to Sun Cruises. After a five-year stint as the MS Sunbird, she was once again sold in 2004 to Louis Cruises, operating under the name MS Thomson for eight years. 

In 2012, she was renamed Louis Olympia and began offering cruises out of Piraeus (Athens), Greece, before Louis Cruise Lines re-branded to become Celestyal Cruises in 2014.

Celestyal Olympia sailed for Celestyal Cruises for about a decade before Celestyal sold her to a flag of convenience company which renamed her Bella Fortuna. Celestyal replaced the 40+-year-old ship with the former AIDAaura.

Bella Fortuna's name was eventually shortened to Fortu. On January 22, she departed the United Arab Emirates with her status listed as "to be broken up," according to The Maritime Executive. 

She's en route to Alang, India, home to the world's largest shipbreaking yard.

Read more: Photos show dismantled cruises in a cruise ship graveyard

When Song of America launched, she was the third-largest passenger vessel at sea

She also featured many firsts for the cruise line, including Royal Caribbean's iconic Viking Crown Lounge which provided 360-degree views around the ship. 

It was also the first time Royal Caribbean had put staterooms toward the front of the ship and public spaces near the aft so that the cabins were further from the ship's noisy engines. 

Plus, Song of America had two swimming pools, which had never been done before on any Royal Caribbean ship! That seems unheard of today with vessels like Icon of the Seas that feature upward of seven pools for guests to enjoy. 

Song of America catapulted Royal Caribbean into a modern era of cruising

“Every innovative maritime feature, every one of ‘tomorrow’s’ cruise concepts, will be part of Song of America today" is what the first preview brochure for Song of America said. 

Following Song of America, Royal Caribbean's committee overseeing the construction of a new ship argued for building a vessel that would push the boundaries even further in terms of size. 

Thus, Sovereign of the Seas was born. With a passenger capacity of over 2,600 guests, she could handle more than double what Song of America could accommodate. 

And as we all know, Royal Caribbean ships have continued to become larger and more innovative. I suppose we should expect nothing less from an industry leader who had big dreams in the 1980s, starting with Song of America. 

Read more: 8 ways Royal Caribbean changed the cruise industry

What was it like to cruise in the 1980s?

A series of vintage ads and photos show what Royal Caribbean cruises were like before the turn of the century.

Royal Caribbean was founded in 1968 by Norwegian shipping companies.

Song of Norway was the cruise line's first ship, a 550-foot vessel that's tiny in comparison to modern mega-ships.

Royal Caribbean used to have a much stronger focus on its Norwegian background.

In a brochure from July 1986, the cruise line gives cruisers tips on what to expect and how to pack for their vacation.

"Velkommen ombord!" The brochure begins.

Let's take a blast to the past as we outline what a Royal Caribbean cruiser could expect in 1986.

Cruisers dressed casually for the times, wearing breezy tropical outfits. Shorts and dresses were the norm.

However, the evenings were much more formal than modern day.

Read more: Photos show what it was like to cruise on Royal Caribbean in the 1980s

"Ladies will wear dresses, and the gentlemen, coats and ties half the time, casual wear the rest of the time," reads the Velkommen brochure.

You could expect to see a lot more formal wear onboard.

Instead of using a SeaPass card, staterooms were unlocked with a physical key.

A paper Cruise Compass was available for guests to discover information about the schedule and ports of call.

News about the outside world was also delivered to staterooms daily, featuring world weather, news flashes, and stock quotations.

Cruisers could use their stateroom telephone to call other guests and ship services.

Tipping was recommended but not required.

The rates in USD were as follows: 

• For your dining room waiter: $2.50 a day, per person
• For your cabin steward: $2.50 a day, per person
• For your busboy: $1.25 a day, per person

The brochure recommends handing bar waiters, bellboys, and bartenders their tips as you are served.

The Casino Royale was available on three Royal Caribbean ships: Song of Norway, Song of America, and the Nordic Prince.

The casino had American roulette, blackjack, and electronic slot machines. Guests could bring their own group to play with or ask a hostess to arrange a game.

The Sun Viking did not have a casino, just slot machines and a card room for games.

As for dining, Royal Caribbean cruises in the 80s focused on the Main Dining Room, the outdoor cafe, and room service.

Dinner time had two seatings: 6:30 P.M. and 8:30 P.M.

Similar to now, each night had a different theme for dinner: Italian, French, Caribbean, or American.

In contrast to today, however, the ship's galleys were not able to prepare meals for special diets, such as kosher or salt-free. 

Early birds who woke up early could go up to the outdoor cafe on the lido and enjoy a cup of coffee.

Continental breakfast could also be delivered to guests' staterooms.

For breakfast in the Main Dining Room, cruisers could eat at 7:30 A.M. or 8:45 A.M.

Those who woke up later could enjoy a breakfast buffet at the outdoor cafe, similar to today's Windjammer buffet.

On sea days, a sit-down lunch was served in the Main Dining Room.

A typical lunch in the Main Dining Room included everything from grilled cheese sandwiches to a fisherman's platter to beef Stroganoff.

On port days, lunch became a light buffet with open seating.

The outdoor cafe would serve open-air meals throughout the day: hamburgers, hot dogs, afternoon tea, sandwiches, cookies, and pastries.

At midnight, the dining room would serve a "Midnight Buffet," a gorgeous feast for the eyes and an opportunity for nighttime snacks.

The Captain of the ship would hold a Welcome Aboard Cocktail party on the second night of the sailing.

Each seating in the Main Dining Room was greeted by a speech from the Captain, hor d'oeuvres, and cocktails.

Passengers were encouraged to get really dressed up and socialize!

Entertainment was smaller than it is today, but far from non-existent.

Read more: 11 Old-School photos of Royal Caribbean

On the Song of Norway, the Song of America, and the Nordic Prince, guests could enjoy The RCCL Revue, a Vegas-style, glitter-filled performance with singers and dancers.

On the Sun Viking, professional entertainers and glamorous acts amused that changed from show to show.

On modern-day Royal Caribbean cruises, sailings host a 70 or 80's night onboard.

But back in the 80's, past decades were the theme!

The brochure recommends that guests bring blue jeans for 50's and 60's nights, as well as Country and Western nights.

On one night of each sailing, the nightclub transformed into the Rock 'n' Roll era, complete with bobby socks, poodle skirts, and Angora sweaters.

The Country and Western night was for passengers to wear cowboy boots, suspenders, blue jeans, and bandannas.

Dances included the Cotton Eyed Joe, the Texas Two Step, and the country waltz.

Plus, there was a night to relive the 90s—the 1890s, that is.

"Pack your garters, suspenders, bustles, and spats," the brochure says. 

The evening was called the "gay nineties night," and featured ragtime piano, straw hats, striped blazers, and vaudeville. 

Plus, guests could dress up in masks for a masquerade night, or pirate costumes for pirate's night.

According to the 1986 brochure: "Ladies win their prizes simply by being fetching. Gentlemen win by being fierce."

"Be with us when we hoist the Jolly Roger, and take over the ship."

Passengers could also show off their skills during a passenger talent show!

A ladies' night reversed the genders: women asked men to dance, bought the drinks, and lit the cigarettes.

At specific times, guests were invited to visit the Bridge for free and witness the captain and crew navigate the ship.

Other events included wine and cheese tasting, a white elephant auction, poolside bingo, feature films, and live music.

The ShipShape exercise program encouraged guests to get active onboard.

Every time they joined a ShipShape event, they'd earn "dollars" which could then be spent on merchandise like T-shirts and visors.

Activities included walking the sports deck, dance classes, exercise classes, skeet shooting, and deck games like shuffleboard, ping pong, basketball, and golf.

Cruise ship travel has changed significantly over the last century. 

Main Dining Room. Royal Caribbean

From the ocean liners that preceded it, to the dawn of the cruise ship, and then onto the mega ship, leisure travel by sea has come a long way.

The cruise industry has made rapid improvements and innovated through each era, with a boom of activity beginning in the 1990s as ships transformed into floating cities.

Here's a look at what cruise ship travel looked like over the decades.

Pre-1914 B&N steamers. Norwegian Maritime Museum

By the end of the 19th century, Norway's scenic wonders attracted hundreds of tourists. British and German vessels began calling on the Norwegian coast during the summer.

B&N Line (Bergen Line and Nordenfjeldski Steamship Company) welcomed tourists to Norway and the Mediterranean. They called their vessels, "tourist yachts".

Oslofjord, Norwegian America Line's short-lived flagship in 1939 in Havana. Bard Kolltveit & John Maxtone-Graham

Ocean liners were the precursor to modern day cruise ships, but they were quite different in their design and approach to sailing.

Ocean liners were built to offer comfortable accommodations across oceans at the highest speed possible. They weren't leisure craft, as they were more suited for getting their passengers across vast distances as fast as possible.

Commodore Cruise Line Boheme ship in Miami in 1982. Bard Kolltveit & John Maxtone-Graham

The first cruise lines emerged in the 1960s, with Commodore Cruise Line and Norwegian Cruise Line founded in 1966.

Cruise lines in these days primarily relied on ferries or old ocean liners. Commodore took over building a half-complete ferry under construction that had been cancelled.

Commodore Cruise Line became the first company to operate week-long cruises out of Florida year-round.

Arne Wilhelmsen and family. Arne Wilhelmsen

Royal Caribbean was founded in 1968, with Song of Norway as her first ship. She was one of the first large ships to be built specifically for Caribbean cruising instead of a converted ferry or ocean liner.

The Song of Norway originally weighed 18,000 gross tons and had a capacity for only 724 passengers. 

Song of Norway's embarkation lobby in 1970. Bard Kolltveit & John Maxtone-Graham

Cruising in the 1970s was quite different from cruising today. Song of Norway had its own radio station, guests received a passenger list of everyone onboard, there was a midnight buffet, and skeet shooting was available on sea days.

Main Dining Room. Royal Caribbean

Cruise ships had evolved to offer more creature comforts than ocean liners ever did. Ships in the '70s were small, and the industry was starting to grow.

Meeting the Captain. Royal Caribbean

On a cruise ship in the 1970s, you could dance..

Man shooting skeet. Royal Caribbean

... shoot skeet off the back of the ship...

Marketing photos in brochure. Royal Caribbean

... and  many other activities.

Viking Crown Lounge. Royal Caribbean

In the 1980s, the cruise industry had to deal with the growing pains of a recession and strong competition from many lines.

Nordic Prince. Royal Caribbean

Cuise ships in the 1980s were smaller than today. As an example, Nordic Prince was 18,346 GT and 552 feet long, whereas Icon of the Seas is 250,800 GT and 1,198 feet long.

Party crowd. Royal Caribbean

Just like the decade was known for, a cruise in the 1980s was about a way to celebrate and relax.

Once your ship made it to port, it was time for a shore excursion. There were 7-night cruises from Miami that went to Jamaica, Grand Cayman, Playa del Carmen, Mexico, and Cozumel, Mexico.

Workout class. Royal Caribbean

The core cruise experience is largely the same then as it is today. The primary difference is what's offered onboard ships now, as well as the immense size difference.

The mandatory boat drill is completed. Royal Caribbean

Sovereign of the Seas in Miami passing Song of America. Royal Caribbean

The cruise industry evolved once again in the late 1980s into the 1990s with the introduction of the mega ship.

Windjammer on Sovereign of the Seas. Royal Caribbean

Sovereign of the Seas, the world's largest purpose-built cruise ship at the time, was designed as a way to offer certain onboard amenities that Royal Caribbean executives dreamed up.

The launch of Sovereign of the Seas in 1988 introduced the era of the mega ship, and vessels became larger and larger. 

Royal Caribbean promotional video

While the ships got bigger, the core experience remained the same, as guests were told they would be "wined and dined virtually around the clock," with the Main Dining Room featuring a different international flavor each night. 

Centrum on Legend of the Seas. Royal Caribbean

In the 1990s, ships got bigger and they could experience more than ever thought possible on cruise ships. Rock climbing walls, mini-golf courses, and the first specialty restaurants were added.

Pool on ship top deck. m. van hintum

Voyager of the Seas ushered in a new era of cruising with another leap in ship size.

The addition of an indoor promenade was revolutionary with the Voyager Class. There were onboard activities that was previously not available on a cruise ship.  

More importantly, it introduced the concept of guests being able to do physically activities onboard that were never considered previously.

Oasis of the Seas Youth Zone. Royal Caribbean

In the 2000s, cruising had reached new heights of popularity and Royal Caribbean capitalized on that with the biggest ships yet.

Oasis of the Seas became the world's largest cruise ship by a factor previously unseen.

Oasis was more than 40 percent larger than the previous largest ships in the world (Freedom Class), coming in at 225,282-tons and accommodating 5,400 passengers.

Icon of the Seas leaving shipyard in Turku. Royal Caribbean

Cruise ships have continued their trend to grow and add more for passengers to do.

Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas will set the new bar for biggest cruise ship in the world with 20 decks and a length of 1,198 feet.

A piece of Royal Caribbean's early history is headed to the trash heap.

Celestyal Cruises confirmed it is going to scrap Celestyal Olympia, which started her cruising life as Song of America.

Song of America was Royal Caribbean's fourth ever cruise ship.

Evidently the old ship will be replaced by a ship that Celestyal just bought that was built in 2003. The 42,000 ton ship from AIDA Cruises will take over offering short three- and four-night cruises around Greece.

Up until now she was the last of Royal Caribbean's original fleet to still be in service somewhere.

Read more: What happened to Royal Caribbean's first cruise ships?

Ordered in 1979 and built in 1982, Royal Caribbean’s Song of America cruise ship was over twice the size of Sun Viking at 37,584 GT. Song of America had a capacity of almost1,500 people, and was one of the Royal Caribbean’s largest ships at the time.

At the time of her launch, she was the third largest passenger vessel afloat.

She was built at the Wartsila shipyard in Helsinki, Finland.

She was the first ship to be built with the Viking Crown Lounge providing 360 degree views around the ship.

Read more: 8 ways Royal Caribbean changed the cruise industry

Song of America's expanded sun bowl, featured for the first time on any Royal Caribbean ship, two swimming pools.

Another first for Song of America was the first ship to introduce the concept of putting staterooms towards the front of the ship and public spaces towards the aft so that cabins were furthest from the ship's engines.

Song of America initially sailed Caribbean cruises from Miami to Nassau, San Juan, and St. Thomas, but she later ran cruises from New York to Bermuda.

She spent 17 years with Royal Caribbean until 1998 when Song of America was sold to Sun Cruises, although the ship was chartered back to Royal Caribbean until 1999.

Renamed the MS Sunbird, the former Song of America was based in the Mediterranean. She was sold to Louis Cruise Lines in 2004 and operated under the name MS Thomson Destiny.

In 2012, she began operating under the name Louis Olympia, homeporting from Piraeus, Greece.

In 2014, Louis Cruise Lines re-branded to become Celestyal Cruises and the ship was renamed Celestyal Olympia.

A launchpad for the future

In many ways, Song of America was the catapult Royal Caribbean would use to reach the modern era of cruising.

While the 1970s had been a boon for Royal Caribbean, the 1980s were a slower time for the company. Royal Caribbean wanted to recapture the leadership edge it had achieved in the early 1970s.

In 1984, Royal Caribbean had 11% of the cruise market share, whereas NCL had 14% and Carnival had 15%.

The success of Song of America led the cruise line to ponder what would be next. Economies of scale, already realized onboard Song of America, were clearly the wave of the future.

Miami management felt that if anything, they should proceed cautiously, producing a slightly larger Song of America with a 1,600-passenger load. But the committee overseeing the construction of a new ship argued for even greater expansion, constructing a larger ship altogether. 

That larger ship would end up being Sovereign of the Seas, and Song of America was used as a base for where to start planning such a ship.

The passenger count, which started at about 1,800, would be 2,673 total occupancy, more than double of Song of America's capacity.

Sovereign would also inherit the Viking Crown Lounge concept that was first introduced on Song of America.

The 1990s was the decade when cruising reached the masses, and it's the decade that would see Royal Caribbean launch so many cruise ships that would come to distinguish it to this day.

Royal Caribbean International, which was founded as Royal Caribbean Cruise Line in 1968, has some of the world's largest cruise ships at sea today. When they started, however, their first ship only measured around 23,000 gross registered tons!

By 1991, the company had considerably grown and touted a fleet of seven ships, including Monarch of the Seas, who made her grand debut that year. 

To think about the growth of cruise ships throughout the 90s, Monarch of the Seas measured around 73,900 gross registered tons, while Voyager of the Seas, the first-ever Voyager Class ship that launched in 1999, measured over 130,000!

Have you ever wondered what it was like to sail onboard a Royal Caribbean ship in the 90s? TikTok user @tikittytalk posted a promotional video from 1991 that gives a glimpse into what cruising then would have been like. 

Read more: Photos show what it was like to cruise on Royal Caribbean in the 1980s

The original video is small and grainy, but you get the idea of what it looked  like to cruise in the early 1990s on Royal Caribbean.

The video starts with passengers boarding in San Juan, Puerto Rico

Guests embarking on this specific voyage departed from San Juan on a Sunday evening.

As soon as they stepped foot onboard, they were waited on hand and foot. Crew members wearing white gloves are shown assisting passengers with their carry-on luggage. 

Some onboard amenities weren't that different

On the ship, guests could visit the salon to be pampered. Plus, the narrator states that everyone was "wined and dined virtually around the clock," with the Main Dining Room featuring a different international flavor each night. 

This is pretty similar to today, as Royal Caribbean launched new menus in January 2023 that highlight a different cuisine and cooking style each night, from Caribbean flavors to upscale French cuisine and even Mexican and Asian dishes! 

Aside from that, it's easy to find food (and drinks) around the clock while onboard Royal Caribbean ships. While newer ships have the most complimentary options, you'll always find a Windjammer Marketplace (aka the main buffet) and 24/7 cafe onboard even the oldest vessels, such as Grandeur of the Seas. 

The video then cuts to a cabin attendant preparing a cabin for guests 

Do you remember when Royal Caribbean cabin attendants used to leave nightly chocolates in your stateroom? 

Unfortunately, this, along with twice daily service, is no longer offered. Today, you are asked by your attendant when you'd like your cabin to be attended to. You may tell them in the morning or evening; however, they will not service your stateroom twice anymore.  

Moreover, the video shows this specific cabin attendant dressed as though they're headed to formal night. While cabin stewards are still required to wear a specific uniform, they are much more casual today. 

It is also interesting to think about how most cabins only had a window! Promotional videos today tend to show a balcony or multi-level suite. Back then, however, this was not the case. Suites were not as large, and there were very few, if any, standard balconies onboard. 

Monarch of the Seas, Royal Caribbean's ship that launched in 1991, only about 5% had private balconies onboard. 

In comparison, Wonder of the Seas, who currently holds the title for largest cruise ship in the world, has over 2,000 staterooms, including suites, with balconies onboard, which amounts to roughly 70%. 

Read more: What happened to Royal Caribbean's first cruise ships?

On sea days, you could expect a lot of fitness-related activities to be offered

On the top deck of the ship, Shipshape Aerobics were offered in the morning. According to the narrator, "They [were] a great way to get warmed up for all the activities ahead."

Plus, attending these classes would help you earn Royal Caribbean shipshape dollars, which were good for t-shirts and other prizes! Additionally, they'd have morning walkathons. 

While the fitness center onboard Royal Caribbean ships is known as the Vitality Fitness Center, it was called the Shipshape fitness center in the 90s. Inside, guests could find free weights and access the most popular machines, much like you can do today!

Alternatively, you could start your day with breakfast in the Windjammer Cafe

Whether you wanted to work up an appetite or sleep in, the narrator claims that you could "enjoy a nice leisurely breakfast with friends at the casual but captivating Windjammer Cafe,...which presents a decor that's as refreshing as the meals it serves you."

Today, you will not find indoor waterfalls inside the Windjammer, but that does not mean it still is not a great place to go to enjoy a quick breakfast before heading ashore. 

There weren't any shops or bars lining a single main thoroughfare 

Instead, you could browse through the shops of the Centrum. The popular Royal Promenade wasn't introduced until Voyager of the Seas launched in 1999. Before then, the main hub of the ships was the Centrum, which can still be found onboard some older Royal Caribbean ships today, such as Vision of the Seas and Jewel of the Seas. 

The Centrum onboard Royal Caribbean ships is an open air area that spans several decks of the ship. In the middle, you'll find a set of elevators, and various bars, lounges, shops, and dining venues are spread out on the higher decks overlooking the Centrum. 

The narrator says that you can find anything from designer fashions to elegant fragrances, fine arts, and souvenirs. 

The TikTok ends by talking about developing film

That's right! At one point, you could have film developed while onboard a Royal Caribbean cruise. You could even buy cameras and film if you forgot either at home!

Today, you can still buy cameras like Go Pros to use during your trip. However, they're pretty costly. 

Moreover, professional photography services were offered in the 90s, too.

Royal Caribbean started as a company in 1968, and by the 1980s, had made a name for itself with a small fleet of impressive cruise ships and had become an increasingly popular cruise line.

Song of Norway, Nordic Prince, and Sun Viking had lead the way for the company, and Song of America & Viking Serenade joined the fleet in 1982. By the end of the 80s, the new Sovereign Class would redefine what a cruise ship consisted of as it ushered in the first megaships.

Though the 1970s had concluded optimistically, the 1980s were ushered in by a recession in the United States. The cruising public became more cautious about their disposable vacation income, and the cruise lines began advertising strenuously, anticipating and countering rival company offers. Discounting, free airfare and the necessity to increase onboard revenues emerged as urgent cruising realities of the harsher 1980s.

Despite these challenges, the cruise industry managed to grow in the 1980s and Royal Caribbean found itself right in the middle of a struggle with competitor lines for building ever-increasingly larger ships. Song of America had proven the economies of scale was the future of cruise ships, and it would send Royal Caribbean down the path of building a ship as massive as Sovereign of the Seas.

Read more: What happened to Royal Caribbean's first cruise ships?

As the decade came to a close, Royal Caribbean had positioned itself perfectly for the immense growth the 1990s would bring.

Here's what it was like to cruise on Royal Caribbean in the 1980s.

Before even looking at the onboard experience, cruise ships in the 1980s were smaller than today.

Nordic Prince was 18,346 GT and 552 feet long, whereas Wonder of the Seas is 236,857 GT and 1,188 feet long.

A lot of the marketing material for a cruise in the 1980s was centered around the good times you could have onboard a cruise ship. They were selling what we would call today "a vibe" of being away from it all and enjoying time on a floating oasis.

Similar to today, the pool deck was the epicenter of activity on a cruise ship. A holiday spent tanning and enjoying the warm Caribbean sun was a major selling point.

Of course, dining was an important aspect of a cruise in the 1980s as well. In the marketing material, Royal Caribbean said La Chaine de Rotisseurs (a French international gastronomic society), "thinks our food is consistently superb."

"Our cuisine, in fact, could be one good reason the readers of Travel/Holiday magazine voted our ships among the world's best."

Just like today, ships had their own bakeries onboard. And a cruise in the 1980s still had a midnight buffet in the dining room, which was slowly phased out by the 2000s.

The main dining room was a focal point of dining, as specialty restaurants wouldn't become an option for another decade.

Royal Caribbean wanted to offer the kind of vacation where everything was made available and not as much thinking as a land trip.

They also marketed a cruise as a great way to celebrate, "As tensions disappear at sea, relationships flourish. Which means those starry-eyed couples aren't all newlyweds. Some may be celebrating silver and golden wedding anniversaries. Or even second honeymoons. You'll also find that about a third of our passengers are single."

What was a cruise ship cabin like in the 1980s? Decor style aside, they had a lot in common with a cabin today.

Royal Caribbean staterooms vary in size, in price, and in location. Some are even available with connecting staterooms to accommodate four or five people. Others offer third and fourth Pullman beds.

All cabins had:

• Individual room temperature control
• Private shower and bathroom facilities
• 110-volt/60 cycle U.S. current for hair dryers and shavers
• Three-channel radio
• Reading lights
• A dressing table and full-length mirror
• Plenty of drawer space
• A full-length wardrobe closet
• Wall-to-wall carpeting

 An interesting selling point was the entertaining aspect of having your own room, "Since most accommodations have beds that convert to sofas, you can use your stateroom for more than sleeping. You can use it for entertaining. Passengers very often invite friends to their staterooms to enjoy champagne or drinks before dinner. Or for a bon voyage party before sailing."

In terms of service in a cabin, a lot has changed since the 1980s. Room stewards do the same basic services you can expect today, but the marketing material advertised  more offerings, "Every stateroom has a steward, who performs a little shipboard magic every evening. When you go out for dinner or dancing, you'll leave a pleasant sitting room."

"But when you come back, you'll find a cozy bedroom. With fluffed-up pillows. Turned-down covers. And fresh fruit in the basket on your dressing table. This is the kind of attentive service you'll get every single night.

"And every single day, we'll make your stateroom neater than you left it. We'll also leave clean towels and a bucket of ice. Pick up and return your laundry. Deliver a schedule of activities and coming events, along with ship news and weather forecasts. And provide beverage and snack service, 24 hours a day. "

While the Viking Crown concept is retained in many of Royal Caribbean's ships today, the feature was designed initially for Song of Norway. Royal Caribbean made a name for itself with its signature space, the Viking Crown Lounge.

Entertainment on a cruise in the 1980s included a variety show that had a ventriloquist, comedian, cabaret singer, or big-band era music.

There was also passenger talent night and masquerade night on cruises of this era. On passenger talent night, guests would sing, dance, make magic, or just about anything else they were brave enough to demonstrate for their fellow guests and crew.

Masquerade night is just what it sounds like: it is an old-fashioned costume gala.  Prizes are given for Most Humorous, Most Original and Most Artistic costume.  Guests were encouraged to bring a costume, but the staff could provide necessary materials to build their own onboard.

Once your ship made it to port, it was time for a shore excursion. There were 7-night cruises from Miami that went to Jamaica, Grand Cayman, Playa del Carmen, Mexico, and Cozumel, Mexico.

An Eastern Caribbean itinerary sailed from Miami to the Bahamas, Puerto Rico, and St. Thomas.

Bermuda runs in 1985 included four days in Bermuda before returning to New York.

If you preferred a longer cruise, Nordic Prince and Sun Viking sailed 10-night cruises from Miami down to the Southern Caribbean, going as far as Barbados.

Longer cruises offered a more traditional cruise experience to get to more exotic ports, and they were still a staple of the industry. Today, 7-night cruises are the norm, and longer sailings tend to be outliers, especially in the Caribbean.

Being the 1980s, ships had certain features that no longer are a thing.  Royal Caribbean advertised access to cable, Telex, and regular news bulletins. There was also a "Chinese laundry".

Skeet shooting off the back of the ship was still offered, where guests were given shotguns to shoot clay pigeons into the ocean.

The core cruise experience is largely the same then as it is today. The primary difference is what's offered onboard ships now, as well as the immense size difference.

Cruising as evolved since its early days, and some fads come and go, while other aspects of cruising remain the same today.

Read more: 10 Ways Cruising Has Changed in the Last 30 Years

Royal Caribbean currently has 26 cruise ships–soon to be 27–but did you know that the cruise line once owned an additional 11 ships?

When Royal Caribbean was founded in 1968, the cruise line ordered three ships: Song of Norway, Nordic Prince, and Sun Viking. These cruise ships, while small by today’s standards, were record-breaking vessels that led the way for today’s mega ships like Wonder of the Seas and Icon of the Seas.

But as more and more cruise ships came to be over the next few decades, older ships retired, were sold to other companies, and later met their fate at the scrapyard.

So what happened to Royal Caribbean’s first ships?

Song of Norway

Ship's fate: Scrapped

Royal Caribbean’s first cruise ship, the Song of Norway, was launched in 1970, as one of the first large ships to be built specifically for Caribbean cruising instead of a converted ferry or ocean liner.

Related: What happened to Royal Caribbean’s first cruise ship?

The ship is an important piece of the cruise line’s history, as she set the way for Royal Caribbean’s major success throughout the next five decades.

The Song of Norway originally weighed 18,000 gross tons and had a capacity for only 724 passengers. She was lengthened in the late 1970s to increase capacity to 1,024 passengers. Following the ship’s lengthening, she sailed 7 and 14-night cruises from Miami.

Related: The story of how Royal Caribbean cut a cruise ship in half and lengthened it

Cruising in the 1970s was quite different from cruising today. Song of Norway had its own radio station, guests received a passenger list of everyone onboard, there was a midnight buffet, and skeet shooting was available on sea days.

Related: What it was like to go on a Royal Caribbean cruise in the 1970s

After 26 years of service for Royal Caribbean, the former Song of Norway was sold to Sun Cruises in 1996. She operated as the Sundream until 2004, when she was sold to Caspi Cruises as the MS Dream Princess. She was sold several times again and operated under the names Dream, Clipper Pearl, Clipper Pacific, Festival, and Ocean Pearl.

The Song of Norway’s last operations were under the name Formosa Queen as a floating casino in China operated by Hong Kong’s Star Cruises.

In 2014, the former Song of Norway (Formosa Queen) was scrapped in China.

Nordic Prince

Image credit: Raether

Ship's fate: Scrapped

The Nordic Prince was the second ship built for Royal Caribbean. She launched in the summer of 1971, offering cruises from Miami. After being lengthened in 1980, however, Nordic Prince offered cruises around the world.

She operated for Royal Caribbean until 1995, at which point she was sold to Sun Cruises with the new name Carousel. In 2004, she was sold once again to Louis Cruise Lines (now Celestyal Cruises) and was renamed Aquamarine.

After being chartered to Transocean Tours for five years under the name Arielle, she was returned to Louis Cruise Lines in 2008 and operated as the Aquamarine until being sold to Ocean Star Cruises in 2010.

The former Nordic Prince operated as the Ocean Star Pacific under Ocean Star Cruises until May 2012. She was then acquired by PV Enterprises International, who changed her name to Pacific (and later the Pacific Victory).

She encountered many technical and engine difficulties during her later years of service, from a gash on the hull above the water line in 2008 to a fire in the engine room in 2011. In 2014, she ran aground in the Philippines en route to India for ship breaking.

The Pacific was decommissioned and scrapped in 2015.

Sun Viking

Ship's fate: Scrapped

The Sun Viking is the last of three original ships ordered by Royal Caribbean. At 18,000 tons, she would be dwarfed in comparison to today’s largest cruise ships (with Wonder of the Seas at 236,857 tons).

Sun Viking sailed in the Caribbean and Mexican Riviera, and she operated under Royal Caribbean until being sold to Star Cruises in 1998. She was renamed the SuperStar Sagittarius and later sailed for the Hyundai Merchant Marine as the Hyundai Pongnae and Asia Cruises as the Omar III.

Once again renamed to the Long Jie and later the Oriental Dragon, the former Sun Viking operated as a gambling ship in Asia in her later years.

She was retired in 2021 and the former Sun Viking was beached in Pakistan in January 2022.

Song of America

Image credit: CeeGee

Ship's fate: Sailing under another brand

Launched in 1982, Royal Caribbean’s Song of America cruise ship was double the size of its previous ships at 37,584 GT. She was the first ship to be built with the Viking Crown Lounge providing 360 degree views around the ship.

Song of America initially sailed Caribbean cruises from Miami to Nassau, San Juan, and St. Thomas, but she later ran cruises from New York to Bermuda.

She sailed under Royal Caribbean until 1998 when Song of America was sold to Sun Cruises, although the ship was chartered back to Royal Caribbean until 1999.

Renamed the MS Sunbird, the former Song of America was based in the Mediterranean. She was sold to Louis Cruise Lines in 2004 and operated under the name MS Thomson Destiny. In 2012, she began operating under the name Louis Olympia, homeporting from Piraeus, Greece.

Today the former Song of America is operating under Celestyal Cruises as the Celestyal Olympia in the Greek Isles. She is the oldest former Royal Caribbean ship still in operation.

Viking Serenade

Image credit: Mark Goebel

Ship's fate: Scrapped

The Viking Serenade is the only former Royal Caribbean ship that was not originally built for the cruise line.

She launched in 1982 as the largest cruiseferry in the world, the MS Scandinavia, for Scandinavian World Cruises. After several years of service as the MS Scandinavia and MS Stardancer, she was sold to Royal Caribbean in 1990.

The Viking Serenade was converted into a cruise ship from a cruiseferry in 1991, when she began sailing for Royal Caribbean. Just 11 years later, however, Viking Serenade was transferred to Island Cruises, a former subsidiary of Royal Caribbean, and was renamed the Island Escape.

She sailed for Island Cruises until 2009, when she joined Thomson Cruises. In 2015, she was sold to Floating Accommodations, a US-based company that provides housing needs for short and long term projects. The ship was renamed the Ocean Gala.

The Ocean Gala was contracted by the Swedish Migration Agency in 2016 to be used as a floating hotel for asylum seekers, but plans did not materialize. 

The ship spent 2017 in limbo, first near Suez and later in Abu Dhabi before being scrapped in India in 2018.

Bonus: The retirement of modern ships

Royal Caribbean’s first five cruise ships were a starting point for the cruise line, but the ships that came later were game changers in the cruise industry.

And just as it’s hard to imagine mega ships like Oasis of the Seas or Odyssey of the Seas being scrapped, it was once just as difficult to picture Royal Caribbean’s Sovereign and Vision Class vessels at the scrapyard.

Six of Royal Caribbean’s more modern ships have been retired from the fleet, each of which has encountered a different fate.

Sovereign of the Seas

Ship's fate: Scrapped

Sovereign of the Seas, despite being considered a small ship by today’s standards, was once the largest cruise ship in the world. At 73,529 gross tons and with a capacity of 2,850 passengers, she was much larger than Royal Caribbean’s previous cruise ships.

As the first Sovereign Class cruise ship, her maiden voyage was in April of 1988, and she was the first Royal Caribbean ship to feature the cruise line’s signature suffix “of the Seas.”

Related: Take a look back to a Sovereign of the Seas cruise in 1998

Sovereign of the Seas sailed for Royal Caribbean from 1988 to 2008, when she was transferred to Pullmantur Cruises, a subsidiary of Royal Caribbean. She was renamed the MS Sovereign and sailed for Pullmantur Cruises until they filed for reorganization in 2020.

The vessel was scrapped in Turkey from August 2020 through February 2021.

Monarch of the Seas

Ship's fate: Scrapped

Monarch of the Seas was a Sovereign Class cruise ship that launched in 1991. Like sister ship Sovereign of the Seas, she was one of the largest cruise ships in the world.

She sailed for Royal Caribbean for twenty two years, and was the first ship in the world to be captained by a woman, Karin Stahre-Janson from Sweden.

In 2012, it was announced that Monarch of the Seas would be transferred to Pullamantur Cruises, and she officially transferred to the subsidiary in April 2013 as the MS Monarch.

Monarch was scrapped in 2020 alongside Sovereign of the Seas.

Splendour of the Seas

Ship's fate: Sailing under another brand

Spendour of the Seas, a Vision Class cruise ship, was launched by Royal Caribbean in 1996. She sailed for the cruise line until 2016, offering some of the most unique itineraries by the cruise line to destinations including Brazil, Oman, and Abu Dhabi.

In 2015, she was sold to Thompson Cruises/TUI cruises and she sailed her last Royal Caribbean itinerary in April 2016. She then began sailing under the name TUI Discovery for TUI Cruises.

Just one year later, though, Thomson Cruises announced it would be renamed Marella Cruises, and the ship was renamed once again to the Marella Discovery. She currently operates as the Marella Discovery and offers cruises to the Caribbean, Greek Isles, Israel, Cyprus, and Turkey.

Legend of the Seas

Ship's fate: Sailing under another brand

The second Vision Class ship to be sold by Royal Caribbean was Legend of the Seas. Legend of the Seas was the most traveled ship in Royal Caribbean’s fleet, having been based in Asia, Australia and New Zealand, the South Pacific, Alaska, Central America, Caribbean, the Baltic, Mediterranean, and the Middle East.

She sailed over 600 cruise itineraries during her 18 years in service for Royal Caribbean.

It was announced in June 2016 that Legend of the Seas, like sister ship Splendour of the Seas, would be sold to Thomson cruises. The last sailing of Legend of the Seas departed on March 13, 2017.

Legend of the Seas is currently operating under Marella Cruises as the Marella Discovery 2. She offers itineraries to the Caribbean, Panama Canal, Mediterranean, Greek Isles, Holy Land, and Egypt.

Empress of the Seas

Ship's fate: Sailing under another brand

Empress of the Seas (originally the Nordic Empress) was launched in 1990 as the sole ship in the fleet’s Empress Class.

After her launch in 1990, Empress of the Seas sailed for Royal Caribbean until 2008, when she was transferred to Pullmantur Cruises. In 2016, however, she was transferred back to Royal Caribbean.

She sailed for Royal Caribbean until the coronavirus pandemic in March 2020, and it was announced she would be sold to Cordelia Cruises in December 2020.

Related: A last look at Royal Caribbean's Empress of the Seas

Cordelia Cruises is a new Indian cruise line offering cruises to Mumbai, Kochi, Goa, Lahkshadweep, Chennai, and Visakhapatnam in India. Empress of the Seas (now named Empress) currently operates as the cruise line’s only ship.

Majesty of the Seas

Ship's fate: Sailing under another brand

Majesty of the Seas was launched in 1992. As a Sovereign Class ship, she had a capacity of nearly 2,800 passengers and weight of 73,941 gross tons.

She sailed for Royal Caribbean for 28 years, but in December 2020 it was announced that Majesty of the Seas had been purchased by Seajets, a Greek and Cypriot ferry company.

Related: A last look at Royal Caribbean's Majesty of the Seas

She was renamed Majesty of the Oceans, but it’s not clear if she is currently operating voyages, as there is no information about the vessel on the Seajets website. It appears she is in Greece, but plans for the ship are unclear.

Interested in more Royal Caribbean history? Check out these articles:

• 10 ways cruising has changed in the last 30 years
• Richard Fain leaves Royal Caribbean with legacy of innovation and growth
• The time a U.S. President helped launch a cruise ship
• How Royal Caribbean was able to add a giant park to its cruise ships