It's no secret that we love cruising on Royal Caribbean, but there are a few things that other cruise lines have gotten right — and other cruisers have definitely taken notice of where competitors excel. 

Over the years, the cruise industry has tended to follow trends, and it’s not uncommon for one line to introduce a new concept or change that other lines then incorporate into their own lineup. 

For example, Royal Caribbean was the first cruise line to completely redefine the private island experience. Now, Carnival and Norwegian have followed suit with their own upgraded private destination portfolios. 

Along those lines, it's impossible to completely ignore what lines are doing. There are plenty of ideas and experiences that Royal Caribbean could take inspiration from to keep enhancing the experience for its loyal guests!

In fact, one cruiser was curious as to what travelers thought Royal Caribbean should borrow from other cruise lines and asked the question on the r/royalcaribbean Reddit thread.

The responses highlighted a variety of clever ideas — from new cabin designs to better fast-casual dining — that fans of other lines have enjoyed and wish Royal Caribbean would invest more in. 

Better poolside burgers

Although Royal Caribbean's fast-casual options have gotten better in recent years, they still fall short compared to the offerings aboard Carnival's fleet of "FUN" ships.

Guy's Burger Joint debuted in 2011 in collaboration with celebrity chef Guy Fieri. Today, the poolside burger bar is renowned for its gourmet smash burgers, seasoned fries, and generous toppings bar. 

"Basecamp burgers are a good start, but something as quality as Guy's Burgers would be huge," said one Redditor. Someone else chimed in, claiming that Guy's is the "best restaurant at sea." 

Additionally, I think BlueIguana Cantina wins hands down when it comes to fresh, made-to-order Mexican food. El Loco Fresh is fine, but nothing compares to Carnival's fresh salsa bar and breakfast burritos. 

Enhanced technology

Royal Caribbean has long worked to integrate cutting-edge technology across its ships, from robot vacuum cleaners to the best mobile app at sea. However, some cruisers argue that they could still have more advanced features on their fleet. 

One passenger suggested that Royal Caribbean should have a Medallion system like Princess Cruises. "Second this. Works great. And you can see where everybody in your party is at a glance," said another Reddit user. 

Essentially, Princess’ MedallionClass Experience replaces the standard cruise ship card with a small, quarter-sized device that serves as both a room key and a charge card. It tracks your location, meaning that your cabin door will automatically unlock as you approach. You can also track other passengers and order food and drinks to your location. 

Grab-and-go towels

On Royal Caribbean ships, you have to scan pool towels out and check them back in — or face a $25 fee. 

"[P]lease treat me like the responsible adult that I am and not like a petty thief. I promise not to rip off your cheap towels. I have better beach towels at home," commented one Redditor who wished that Royal Caribbean streamlined its towel policy.

Other cruisers agreed, with one adding that they should be able to grab a pool towel "without the third degree." 

Early access to cabins to drop off carry-on bags

Royal Caribbean cruise rooms are not ready on embarkation day until the early afternoon, typically around 1:00 p.m. or 2:00 p.m. 

Consequently, you have to haul your carry-on items around the ship until the stateroom hallways are opened. This is bothersome, especially when carrying fragile items like glass wine bottles or heavy 12-packs of soda. 

Many wish that Royal Caribbean would change its rules and allow passengers to drop off their carry-on bags as soon as they board. Although you couldn't start unpacking, you could at least get rid of any suitcases or bags before exploring the ship or hitting the buffet. 

Better late-night food options

Gone (long gone at this point...) are the days of the famous midnight cruise ship buffet. Although Royal Caribbean still has late-night options, they pale in comparison to the gluttonous displays of carving stations, desserts, fruit, and more. 

Today, the late-night choices on most ships are scaled back to greasy pizza, sandwiches, and a small selection of desserts. Although you don't need a full meal at 1:30 a.m., having a wider variety of options could easily appease the night owls looking for something more satisfying after a show or to celebrate their casino win. 

Many Redditors agree, with one saying that they wish Royal Caribbean would either keep the buffets open later or have other options before pizza. 

"I usually cruise on NCL and I did my first [Royal Caribbean cruise] in December of 2024 on wonder and I was stunned at the lack of food options after about 9-10pm," said another. 

Read more: I tried every late-night snack on a Royal Caribbean cruise. Here's the best one

Luggage mats

One small but surprisingly smart idea Royal Caribbean could borrow from other cruise lines is the use of luggage mats in staterooms on embarkation day.

On Carnival ships, for example, part of the embarkation turnaround process includes placing a protective luggage mat on the bed so guests can easily unpack without placing dirty suitcases directly on the linens. 

"I hate having no space to unpack and in most cases it’s easier to put the suitcases on the bed but suitcases are dirty from all of the travel so I love the luggage mats," explained one Reddit user. 

Balcony hammocks

Virgin Voyages differs from Royal Caribbean in more ways than you can count. For starters, it does not cater to children or families, which is pretty much Royal's primary target audience. 

Moreover, there aren't any specialty restaurants, as the cruise line axed the traditional cruise Main Dining Room in favor of included restaurants that all focus on different cuisines and cooking styles — from Italian to Korean BBQ, Indian, Mexican, and more. 

One smaller, but noticeable, difference is that, in addition to standard outdoor chairs and tables, the balcony cabins are outfitted with hammocks.

These bright red hammocks offer a relaxing and cozy alternative to basic seating, giving you a comfortable spot to stretch out and take in the passing scenery. 

"Virgin has hammocks for the rooms with [balconies]. That’s my dream.. to fall asleep in my swaying hammock & listening to the sounds of the waves crashing against the hull," one person remarked. 

More efficient My Time Dining setup

Today, the cruise main dining experience is much more relaxed than in the past. You don't, for example, have to eat at the same time each evening. Instead, you can opt for your cruise line's flexible dining option, which allows you to dine whenever you want during the dining room's operating hours. 

That said, while it's more convenient, some cruisers feel like the system could be better streamlined and user-friendly. For example, Carnival Cruise Line makes it easy to eat when you want. 

Rather than waiting in a long line outside the dining room, guests simply check in for dinner through the mobile app. Before checking in, you can even see the estimated wait time.

This approach is popular among cruisers, too. "We just got off the Jubilee and the 'my time' dining check in process is leaps ahead of RCL. I'm glad our next cruise is assigned time," one user said.

Adult-only sailings

Although Royal Caribbean is not an adult-only cruise line like Virgin Voyages, some guests would love to see Royal offer dedicated child-free voyages. 

Carnival, for example, has begun offering limited SEA (Sailings Exclusively for Adults) on select ships and itineraries. These special sailings give adults the chance to experience the "FUN" ships without worrying about crowded pools filled with kids or other nuisances that generally come with family travel. 

Royal Caribbean already caters to adults with its kid-free Solarium sun decks and lively nightlife; however, a fully adult-only cruise would extend those experiences across the entire vessel, from the buffet to the pool deck, mini-golf course, and more. 

Read more: After 16 Royal Caribbean cruises, I finally tried an adult-only line. Even sailing without kids, there are things Royal does a lot better

Non-smoking casinos

Royal Caribbean is adding more non-smoking casinos to its ships, but some wish that the cruise line would go ahead and ban indoor smoking in general. 

Celebrity Cruises, for example, does not permit any smoking in its casinos, regardless of whether you're actively gambling or not. 

For many travelers, that creates a noticeably cleaner and more comfortable environment since you don't have smoke lingering in the Royal Promenade or other nearby public spaces. 

"NO smoking in the casino! The entire casino - not a tiny non-smoking section... Easy choice to switch," stated one cruiser in the Reddit thread. 

Free drinks when gambling

On a similar note, some guests would love to see Royal Caribbean offer complimentary drinks to players in the casino. While you can gamble enough to earn free beverages through the Casino Royale rewards program, it isn't a perk guaranteed to all passengers. 

By comparison, even first-time cruisers can enjoy complimentary drinks in Celebrity's casino — so long as they're actively gambling. The included drinks are pretty basic, but they help set the premium cruise line apart from its family-friendly sister. 

One Redditor also added that Royal Caribbean should include soda in its base fare. This is not unheard of in the industry, as guests on Disney Cruise Line can indulge in unlimited fountain soda from the pool deck and dining rooms at no added cost. 

Inclusive packages

Royal Caribbean's base fare is more inclusive than a standard hotel room, but it is still far from an all-inclusive experience. Things like alcoholic beverages, Wi-Fi, and specialty restaurants all cost extra and can significantly increase the cost of your vacation. 

Some cruise lines, such as Princess, Holland America Line, and Celebrity, have introduced more inclusive packages to help passengers bundle popular add-ons and save money along the way. 

Currently, Princess Cruises has two different tiers of packages — Princess Plus and Princess Premier — with the latter costing just $65 per day when purchased in advance. It includes everything from up to 15 alcoholic drinks per day, four casual specialty meals, Wi-Fi for one device, gratuities, and more. 

"Having all your packages food drink wifi and photo in one is nice. By the time I add all that with [Royal Caribbean] I end up spending more than a princess cruise with [the Premier package]," said one cruiser. 

Read more: I tried Princess Cruises' inclusive package to see if it was worth the cost

Self-service laundry rooms

Royal Caribbean ships do not offer self-service laundry rooms. Instead, guests who wish to return home with clean clothing must pay the exorbitant dry cleaning fees. 

"We did our first Royal Caribbean after sailing Disney and Princess and had no idea how much we took the self serve laundry for granted!" one cruiser remarked. 

Royal Caribbean ships offer different types of dry cleaning services, including Wash & Press, Press Only, Steam Only, and Dry Clean & Press. Generally speaking, you can expect to pay around $3.49 per t-shirt, $5.49 per pair of shorts, and $8.99 per dress for the Wash & Press option, with prices increasing for the ship's Dry Clean & Press services. 

Not only that, but turnaround times can be slow — unless you're willing to pay a 50% same day service charge. 

Read more: Royal Caribbean laundry services on your cruise

Better solo cruiser cabins

If you haven't taken a solo cruise, I'd highly recommend it. It's a great way to push yourself outside your comfort zone in a safe environment while traveling the world and meeting new people! 

Unfortunately, Royal Caribbean isn't the best cruise line for solo travelers. Although some of their ships have cabins for single cruisers, availability is limited, making these rooms hard to book due to high demand.

Plus, the overall solo experience falls short compared to lines like Norwegian, which offer dedicated lounges for solo travelers, among other perks. 

"I have several friends who won't cruise with us because they don't want to share a room with someone. They usually just sail Virgin. Royal is seriously lacking here," said one Reddit user. 

Read more: Going on a cruise alone? Here are the 8 best solo cruise cabins

Carnival's Punchliner Comedy Club

Finally, if you've ever been on a Carnival cruise, you know that there's nothing else like the Punchliner Comedy Club at sea. Aside from Carnival's fast-casual dining, its comedy programming is one of the highlights of the entire experience. 

Carnival has built a reputation for bringing top-tier comedians on board — and they consistently deliver, whether it's on the line's oldest or newest vessels. 

During the voyage, the Punchliner Comedy Club features different comedians, with family-friendly and adults-only sets, ensuring there's a show for every crowd. 

In the Reddit thread, one cruiser complained about Royal's lack of comedy programming, claiming that even if comedy shows are offered, the comedians are boring. 

"On a 7 day cruise, there is only one comedy show to watch during the whole cruise on [Royal Caribbean], while on Carnival, I can go every night, and it would be a different comedian. Plus, [Carnival has better] comedians, the ones on [Royal Caribbean] are boring. Even Princess hires better comedians than [Royal Caribbean]," they said. 

My husband and I have been happily married for 8 years, but I cruise multiple times each year without him.

At first glance, that might sound unconventional. For many couples, travel is something you do together, especially after getting married. While I absolutely love traveling with my husband, and it’s something that we’ve bonded over since we met, he isn’t always available to cruise with me.

Instead of limiting how often I travel, our arrangement has allowed me to see more of the world than I ever thought possible.

Early in our marriage, I realized that if I wanted to travel as often as I do now, I couldn’t rely on our schedules always aligning. Cruise itineraries aren’t always flexible, and some of the most unique sailings only happen once or twice a year. As a destination-focused cruiser, I’m typically drawn to itineraries that visit less common ports of call.

Waiting for the perfect overlap in our availability would mean missing out on opportunities that may not come around again for years. So instead of waiting for him to have the opportunity to cruise with me, I started booking the cruises anyway.

For instance, I recently returned from a two-week cruise aboard Celebrity Equinox, where I traveled through Patagonia and South America with my parents and sister. 

This summer, we’re planning another family cruise to Norway aboard Celebrity Apex. I’ve also cruised with friends several times over the last few years, which has been a meaningful way to stay connected with those who live far away while exploring new places together.

Over the last two years, I’ve taken port-intensive itineraries across Australia, Europe, Indonesia, Africa, and Southeast Asia, many of them without my husband. It’s not the most traditional setup, but it’s one that currently works well for us.

I don’t believe marriage means putting your life on hold

One of the biggest mindset shifts for me was realizing that marriage does not have to mean doing everything together, especially when it comes to travel.

I love cruising with my husband, and some of my favorite memories are from the trips we have taken together. But I also value my own independence, and I think that has made our relationship stronger.

We took our first cruise together in college over spring break, quickly followed by a Southeast Asia cruise before graduation. Later that year, we were engaged while cruising in the Mediterranean and returned the following summer for our honeymoon cruise.

From early on, we’ve approached our marriage with the understanding that we are still individuals with our own goals, interests, and priorities. Travel has always been one of mine, and it’s something he’s understood since our very first date.

Just a few months after we met, I left for Semester at Sea, spending four months traveling around the world. It was a lifelong dream of mine, and he supported me from the beginning as I pursued that experience.

At the same time, his goal was to become a pilot. This ultimately led us into the active-duty military lifestyle shortly after we got married. As you might expect, our lives look very different now!

I learned quickly that if I wanted to travel as often as I do, I would have to be comfortable going without him sometimes. That decision has allowed me to continue building a life that feels fulfilling, rather than one that is limited by circumstances outside of my control.

His career comes with limits, while mine is very flexible

My husband’s role as an active-duty military member comes with strict limitations. He cannot take time off whenever he wants, and his leave has to be approved in advance. Some destinations are also off-limits for him to visit, which can further complicate where we are able to travel together. 

On the other hand, my work is remote and flexible. I work multiple part-time jobs remotely, which allows me to travel often. I can build my schedule around travel in a way that simply is not possible for him.

This difference became even more obvious once his military commitments increased. His schedule can be unpredictable with training, deployments, and required travel. This makes planning long or last-minute cruises difficult, as our lives can change at a moment’s notice.

Rather than letting that imbalance hold me back, I made the decision not to tie my travel frequency to his availability. Instead, I wanted to make the most of the flexibility I do have and not turn down opportunities.

We don’t always want the same kind of trips

Another reality is that we do not always want to go to the same places or travel the same way.

I tend to gravitate toward longer, port-intensive itineraries that involve a lot of cultural experiences and bucket-list destinations. These cruises are often more demanding in terms of time and energy, but they are also the ones I find most rewarding.

On the other hand, my husband prefers a different pace. He enjoys travel, but he is more selective about where he goes and how he spends his time off. His ideal vacation involves more downtime and relaxation, which I prioritize for our big yearly cruise together.

There are also destinations that I am passionate about that do not interest him. For example, I had always wanted to visit South Africa for a safari. It was something I felt strongly about, while he had no desire to take that kind of trip. Instead of letting that dream sit on a list indefinitely, I went with a friend during one of his deployments.

Not to mention, these itineraries can be anywhere from 12 to 15 nights long. This would drain most of his vacation time, which we also need to reserve for holidays back home, funerals, weddings, and any other time away.

If I had waited for us to agree on every destination, I would have seen far less of the world.

Traveling without him is cheaper and allows me to cruise more often

Cruising without my husband allows me to travel more frequently because it is more affordable and more flexible. When I travel with my sister or friends, we can split the cost of a cabin and share other expenses, which makes a noticeable difference, especially on longer itineraries.

I also travel differently when he is not with me. My husband has developed a preference for newer cruise ships, upgraded cabins, and specialty dining. He often jokes that he is not meant to live an uncomfortable life (referencing The White Lotus), and I cannot argue with that!

When we travel together, we tend to splurge on upgrades because we’re prioritizing quality time and shared experiences. When I travel without him, though, I’m much more flexible. I’m perfectly happy booking an interior cabin on an older ship if it means I can take more trips throughout the year. I also don’t mind flying economy on a long-haul flight, while his 6’4 frame makes an upgraded seat much more appealing.

This has allowed me to cruise more often than I otherwise could afford. Being able to split costs with my friends or family has likely saved us thousands of dollars over time!

I love spending quality time with friends and family

One of the most special parts of traveling without my husband is the time it gives me with other people in my life.

Without fail, when I cruise with my parents and sister, people will say something like, “That’s so nice your adult children still want to travel with you.” It is rare to see a 31-year-old married adult still traveling with their parents, but I don’t mind the unconventional nature.

Since I live across the country from my family, we do not see each other as often as we would like. I might only get to see my parents a few times each year if we didn’t plan our cruises together. Instead of always traveling home to South Dakota to spend time with them, we have started planning longer cruises.

Spending 10 to 14 days together creates a kind of quality time that’s hard to replicate elsewhere. Over the years, we’ve made lasting family memories on our cruises, whether we’re exploring a new country, playing cards after dinner, or just enjoying the scenery from our balcony.

Sharing a cabin with my sister makes those trips even more special. It reminds me of when we were younger and still living at home together. We end each night laughing over TikToks or watching movies in bed. These moments have become some of my favorite parts of the experience!

The same holds true when I travel with friends. Cruising gives us uninterrupted time to reconnect in a way that everyday life rarely allows.

For example, I met one of my closest friends in the teen club back in 2008, and we’ve continued traveling together ever since. In just a few weeks, I’ll be flying to Europe to cruise across the Mediterranean with her. Over the last five years, we’ve made it a tradition to take at least one trip together each year. It's become a fun way to stay connected, especially as we live across the country from each other.

Freelance writing opened the door for more travel opportunities

Another major reason I often cruise without my husband is because of my freelance writing work. It’s much easier to justify taking a cruise when I know I can turn the experience into content and story ideas.

What started as a side gig has grown into a significant part of my career, and cruising has become one of the ways I build that work. When I started writing for Royal Caribbean Blog in 2021, I had no idea how many opportunities it would open up for me. At the time, it felt like a fun way to share my personal experiences, but it quickly evolved into something much bigger.

Since then, I’ve taken more than 20 cruises that have doubled as “work” trips over the last five years. Whether it’s reviewing a new ship, covering a unique itinerary, or sharing practical cruise tips, each trip becomes an opportunity to create something valuable.

This mindset has also helped justify trips I might not have taken otherwise. A longer itinerary or a more niche destination becomes easier to commit to when I know I can pitch stories or build content around the experience. In many ways, it’s allowed me to travel more frequently while still being productive.

Over time, my freelance work has opened the door to writing for several major publications, including Business Insider and U.S. News & World Report. What started as a small freelance opportunity has turned into a platform where I can share my experiences with a much wider audience.

Because of that, cruising without my husband doesn’t really feel like I’m leaving him behind. Instead, it feels like I’m investing in something that truly matters to me, both personally and professionally. And since his career often requires him to travel as well, we’ve developed a mutual understanding that allows us to support each other in pursuing our own dreams.

This season of life gives me the freedom to say yes

I also recognize that this level of travel is tied to a specific season of life. Right now, we do not have children, and I have a flexible career that allows me to work remotely. This combination gives me a level of freedom that I know will not last forever, so I am taking advantage of it while I can.

I know life won’t always look this way, especially since we hope to start a family in the future. That will likely be the biggest shift in how often I’m able to cruise, although I hope travel will remain an important part of our lives, just in a different way.

Because of that, I feel a strong sense of urgency to embrace these opportunities now. I want to say yes to the trips that truly excite me, whether that’s a two-week sailing through Patagonia with my family or a bucket-list itinerary across the Mediterranean with my friend.

Our arrangement works for us, and that’s what matters

I understand why cruising without my husband might seem unusual from the outside. Choosing to travel without your spouse is not what most people expect when they think about marriage.

However, we’re focused on building a life where we can support each other in pursuing what matters most. My husband supports my love of travel and freelance writing, just as I support his career and commitments. 

If anything, spending time traveling independently has made the trips we take together even more meaningful. We always joke, “You can’t miss me if I’m not gone,” and there’s some truth to that. Time apart makes us appreciate the time we do have together even more.

Royal Caribbean is one of the most popular cruise lines in the world. And although the cruise giant has hundreds of thousands of loyal fans, some cruisers have surprisingly unpopular opinions about their favorite line. 

With its record-breaking ships, world-class amenities, and countless itineraries that span the globe, Royal Caribbean has built a reputation for doing things bigger than any other line at sea. 

Many cruisers can't imagine straying from the cruise line. However, despite the deep-seated loyalty, not everyone thinks the onboard experience is without its faults. 

A recent Reddit post on the r/royalcaribbean thread sparked a conversation about what cruisers dislike the most about the line, with some opinions bordering on controversial.

"Unpopular RCCL opinions. What are your hot takes about Royal Caribbean cruises?" asked Redditor thatCRUISEagent. 

In less than six hours, the post received over 250 comments from cruisers eager to share their unpopular Royal Caribbean opinions. 

Drink packages aren't worth the money

Royal Caribbean's drink packages are among the cruise line's most popular add-ons. While the base fare includes a limited selection of beverages, from tap water to iced tea, drip coffee, milk, and juice, many guests upgrade to a package for a wider selection of drinks for a set daily price. 

The prices vary. However, the Deluxe Beverage Package typically runs anywhere from $56 to $120 per person, per day — though you can typically save money by purchasing it in advance through the Cruise Planner.

While many can argue that the drink package is a worthwhile investment, some can't fathom drinking enough to break even daily. 

"I don’t drink often and found myself struggling to make the drink package worth it," commented NewToReddit4331. 

AbjectFray isn't a fan of the packages, either, saying that they're "overrated and a scam."

Boarding times don't matter

Post-COVID, Royal Caribbean implemented boarding times to streamline the embarkation process and manage crowds in the terminal building. 

Today, you're still asked to select an arrival time when checking in for your cruise. However, many guests have found that arriving outside their window often doesn’t make a difference.

"[You don't] need to wait up for online check-in at midnight, [and you] don't need an early boarding time to be first on the ship," commented tidder8.

A lot of other cruisers chimed in, sharing their personal embarkation experiences, agreeing that the boarding times were rarely enforced. 

joeconn4 added, "That's what we have found too...We usually show up about 60-90 minutes after the announced first boarding times...We're usually at least 1 or 2 blocks earlier than our reserved time. Sometimes we have to stand in a short line, I think the longest in that line has been maybe 10 minutes, usually we walk right in."

Read more: Royal Caribbean check-in process

The Promenade parties are annoying

Royal Caribbean's themed parties are a part of the onboard experience that many cruisers look forward to. However, some passengers aren't fans of them. 

"Promenade parties are annoying. I don’t mind one or two here and there, but when it’s every night and people are taking all the chairs from Café Promenade, Sorrento’s, and the surrounding bars just to line them up on the promenade, it gets frustrating," said User_Name_Tooken. 

"I agree. I prefer they do these type[s] of parties outside on the Lido Deck when the weather is nice. This is what other cruise lines do. Unfortunately, Royal hasn’t designed a good place on the Lido Deck to have parties," Free_Manufacturer657 wrote in agreement. 

They don't need to offer as much trivia as they do

Trivia is a popular cruise ship activity that lets passengers test their knowledge and compete with fellow guests. On Royal Caribbean ships, sessions range from general knowledge to Harry Potter and more. That said, despite the popularity of the trivia events, some cruisers feel the line overdoes it. 

"Trivia games are their crutch and used to pad out the activity schedule. And find another place for it instead of jamming up the schooner bar," Pinsided explained. 

Not only that, but many guests think that the trivia sessions aren't held in large enough venues, which can lead to overcrowding and frustration if passengers don't arrive early. 

"They should do trivia on the first floor of the theater or something, it’s always mega crowded. Or just do trivia at multiple locations to split the crowd?" said dukefett.

Speciality restaurants aren't worth the added cost

Specialty dining on cruise ships is a must-do for many travelers who value an upgraded culinary experience. However, a lot of cruisers don't think it is worth the extra money when there's an all-you-can-eat buffet and multi-course meals in the Main Dining Room (MDR). 

"Most specialty dining is overrated. It's not actually bad, but the quality increase is minimal for the price charged. [There are] a couple of exceptions, but mostly you're not getting that much of an improvement," shared TheAzureMage. 

longhorns7145 agreed, saying, "Yea we quit doing the dining. Izumi is alright but not a fan of the others. [There are] just too many free options that are great to justify the paid dining."

Read more: These 6 extra cost restaurants are worth booking, and the 2 you can skip

The casino should be smoke-free

Royal Caribbean has begun adding smaller non-smoking casinos on many of its ships. On Freedom of the Seas, for example, Vintages in the Royal Promenade was replaced with a smoke-free casino. However, the main casinos, with the most variety of games, still allow smoking. 

"The casino should be smoke free but still have a smaller enclosed area for smokers. NCL does this on their newer ships and it's lovely!" suggested untitled_folder. 

AllAreStarStuff agreed, saying, "I wanted to try the casino, but we had to walk through it to get to our muster check in. This was before the cruise even started. The whole place smelled so strongly of smoke that we didn’t go near it again."

Read more: Royal Caribbean opens its non-smoking casino on its newest ship

Royal Caribbean should start catering to younger crowds

Every cruise line has its target audience, and Royal Caribbean is no exception. While the cruise line is widely known for being family-friendly, with its newest Icon Class ships marketed as the best multigenerational vacations at sea, some argue that it should shift its focus to younger crowds. 

"I'd really say it’s time to start catering more to the younger crowd, especially anything to do with music," wrote Eco_guru. 

Another passenger chimed in, sharing their experience aboard Allure of the Seas in December. Traveling with friends in their late 20s and early 30s, TheGirlWithTheFace said that they went to the Red Party "to throw it down like [they] were 20 again." However, they ended up leaving about 30 minutes later because "the DJ was so lame."

The new elevator system isn't efficient

A common complaint with most cruise ship elevators is that they can get extremely crowded. As such, a few lines, including Royal Caribbean, have begun adding destination elevators to their fleet. 

These elevators are different from standard elevators in that they assign passengers to a specific car based on their selected deck, rather than having guests cram into the next available elevator. 

That said, not all cruisers are convinced the system improves efficiency, with many saying that the wait times are even longer than before. 

"The new elevator systems on ships like Utopia make the elevator experience much slower, vs older ships where elevators take 1-2 minutes max to arrive," wrote thatawkwardmoment8. 

Read more: Technology that changed cruises: 5 of the best uses of tech on Royal Caribbean today

Royal's older ships are better than the new ones

Royal Caribbean's fleet spans nearly three decades. The line's oldest vessel at sea is Grandeur of the Seas. The Vision Class ship entered service for Royal in 1996. Comparatively, Star of the Seas, the line's newest Icon Class ship, began sailing in August 2025. 

As such, the fleet offers a wide variety of experiences. You don't have to sail on a ship with massive water parks, zip lines, or AquaTheaters. In fact, some cruisers prefer the line's older vessels. 

While they may not be as modern, they offer an intimate atmosphere that mega-ships cannot replicate. Plus, they are typically cheaper and can visit more unique ports of call. 

"The older ships are way better than the newer ones. My first cruise was on Independence and it's still my favorite ship I've been on," shared AyAyAyBamba_462. 

"Bigger ships are not necessarily better. We've done impressively big. Now scale back and build new ships (or enhance existing ships) with more fun features and less intimidating size," HawaiianShirtsOR added. 

Read more: Royal Caribbean ships by age — Newest to Oldest

With the holiday season underway, the Royal Caribbean Blog staff is gearing up for another exciting year covering the cruise industry. We're also thinking ahead and sharing what experiences we'd love to see implemented on the Royal Caribbean fleet. 

Understandably, we're all huge fans of the Royal Caribbean brand here. However, after reflecting on our experiences this past year and what other cruise lines have done well, there are a few ideas that we'd love to see come to life. 

From enhancements to CocoCay to new specialty restaurants and better app features, here's what's topping our Royal Caribbean wish list this year. 

Over-the-water swings at Perfect Day at CocoCay

Royal Caribbean has mastered its private destination formula, between the award-winning Perfect Day at CocoCay island and the brand-new beach club in Nassau. Still, there are things the cruise line could borrow from competitors to make the experience even better. 

"I visited Carnival's new private destination of Celebration Key this summer, and I was impressed by the destination's massive lagoon. It makes Oasis Lagoon feel small!" said Jenna DeLaurentis. 

"One feature I really loved at the lagoon was the Sunshine Swings Bar. Instead of chairs, this bar has swings that hover over the lagoon. Although Perfect Day at CocoCay has a similar swing setup at Captain Jack's bar, the private island doesn't have any over-the-water swings. I thought this was a really cool feature, and I would love to see something similar at CocoCay!" she added. 

Nighttime events at Perfect Day at CocoCay

Something else our team would love to see is later port visits to CocoCay. Royal Caribbean introduced late-night visits in 2019. However, they were short-lived and haven't returned. 

"I wish there were nighttime events at CocoCay. Experiencing the island after dark with music, lights, and fun activities like bonfires would make a day at CocoCay feel even more special and memorable," said Ryan Hart. 

MSC Cruises offers a glimpse of what evening programming could look like at a private island, including beach parties hosted by a lively DJ, bonfires, and an illuminating lighthouse show at MSC Ocean Cay Marine Reserve. 

App enhancements 

Royal Caribbean Blog's head honcho would love to see some upgrades made to Royal Caribbean's mobile app. While it’s better than other cruise lines’ apps, there are still areas that could improve its functionality and user-friendliness.

"There should be a search function where I can search for a keyword in the activity title or description to make it simpler," remarked Matt Hochberg. 

"While on Star of the Seas, I spoke to a member of the activities staff who was going to be hosting a WWE wrestling theme song trivia event, but he didn't know when it was. I had to scroll through every single day, looking carefully to spot it," he explained. 

Information about the Discovery Class

Royal Caribbean has been hinting about the upcoming Discovery Class for a while, and Elizabeth is hopeful that 2026 will finally be the year when cruisers get some long-awaited details about the smaller ship class. Currently, all of Royal Caribbean's smallest ships are over 20 years old, including Vision of the Seas and Jewel of the Seas. 

"Lately, I’ve been exploring other cruise lines, like Celebrity Cruises, which offer smaller, better-maintained ships. Celebrity's Solstice Class ships come in at around 122,000 gross tons, making them a little bit smaller than Royal Caribbean's Freedom Class. The smaller size makes the ships feel more intimate, and the cruise line announced a major refresh to its Solstice Class vessels, which will enhance the onboard experience even more," said Elizabeth Wright. 

"Rather than focusing on mega Oasis and Icon Class ships, I wish Royal Caribbean would put a little more love into its older classes, whether that's through significant updates to the ships with refreshed staterooms, or finally introducing a new, smaller class to give cruisers something exciting to look forward to."

More diverse itineraries 

One criticism Royal Caribbean has recently received is that its itineraries are repetitive. While there's no denying the popularity of ports like Perfect Day at CocoCay; Phillipsburg, St. Maarten; Bermuda; Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy; and Santorini, Greece, many cruisers crave fresh destinations and unique experiences. 

"Brazil is one of my favorite countries in the world, and I've been waiting for Royal Caribbean to release new itineraries to the region," explained Jenna. 

"Royal Caribbean used to offer cruises throughout Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay over a decade ago, but these itineraries have not been offered post-COVID. Currently, MSC Cruises offers cruises around Brazil, but I'd love to see Royal Caribbean return to the region."

Different homeports for Icon Class ships

With the announcement of Icon of the Seas heading to Galveston, Texas, in 2027, Ryan is eager to see further homeport expansions for the mega-ship class. 

So far, Icon Class ships have been concentrated in Florida (i.e., Miami and Port Canaveral), which makes them less accessible for cruisers living elsewhere in the country.

"I’d love to see more sailings of Icon Class ships out of the Northeast. Having a new, modern ship closer to home makes planning a trip easier, and it feels exciting to have a fresh option that’s different from the usual departures," he said. 

Better fast-casual dining options

Although Royal Caribbean's newer ships offer plenty of dining options, from poolside tacos at El Loco Fresh to freshly made crêpes in the AquaDome Market and grab-and-go sandwiches at the Spare Tire, they still fall short compared to other cruise lines, namely Carnival. 

"I'd like to see more quick casual dining options on Royal Caribbean, similar to what you can find on Carnival with Guy’s Burger Joint and Big Chicken," explained Allie Hubers. 

"I’d especially like to see more options added to older ships in Royal Caribbean’s fleet during refurbishments to keep options fresh. I think this is one area where Royal Caribbean could really make some big improvements with some new signature eateries with excellent execution."

Thai specialty restaurant

On a similar note, Jenna thinks they could expand their specialty dining portfolio to include a wider array of cuisines beyond the standard steakhouse, Italian trattoria, and sushi options. 

"I would also love to see a sit-down Thai specialty restaurant on Royal Caribbean. Although the cruise line debuted Thai food in the AquaDome market on Star of the Seas, the menu is limited at the small food stand," she said. 

"Thai cuisine is one of my favorites, and I would love to have a restaurant with a wide range of noodle dishes, curries, and my favorite Thai dessert — mango sticky rice. Norwegian Cruise Line debuted a Thai specialty restaurant aboard NCL Aqua in 2025, so I hope Royal Caribbean will one day follow suit."

Cruises are packed with opportunities to spend more than your original cruise fare. With the constant temptation to upgrade your experience, it can be easy to blow your cruise budget with add-on expenses.

Recently, a new cruiser shared on Reddit a detailed cost breakdown for their family’s 7-night cruise on Royal Caribbean's Symphony of the Seas. According to the post on the r/Cruise subreddit, this family of four spent nearly $7,000 on their entire cruise vacation. 

Included in the post was a transparent list of seven different add-ons this family chose to splurge on throughout their cruise. The cruiser titled the post, “Family of 4 cruise pricing, what are you paying? Here’s my breakdown."

In total, the cruiser shared the family paid for seven different upgrades during their Royal Caribbean cruise. The seven cruise upgrades included:

1. Photo Package (10 pictures)

2. Deluxe Drink Package for two

3. Classic Soda Package for two

4. CocoCay Waterpark admission for four

5. Internet package for two

6. Spa treatment for one

7. RoyalUp stateroom upgrade

The overall cost for the vacation totaled $6,960.55 for a 7-night sailing in a balcony stateroom, which included taxes, fees and prepaid gratuities. This breaks down to $1,740.14 per person, or roughly $248.59 per night for the family's week-long cruise.

“Just curious how that compares to what others are spending. Feel free to share your costs or any tips you’ve picked up. Appreciate any insight!” shared the poster on Reddit. As expected, commenters weighed in with a wide range of opinions on the family's spending choices and add-ons for their cruise. 

And as someone who has cruised with Royal Caribbean more than 30 times, I wanted to break down each of these added expenses myself. I’m a self-proclaimed budget cruiser, but I also know when it's worth splurging to enhance your cruise experience. 

Here’s my take on the seven upgrades this family splurged on, including what I think was worth the money and what I’d personally skip.

Skip it: Photo Package

Within minutes of completing your cruise check-in at the terminal, you’ll be asked to have your picture professionally taken. This continues throughout the cruise. You will have photographers often snapping pictures in the dining room, on the pool deck, during formal nights, and even as you disembark for your ports of call.

Although the cruiser on Reddit doesn’t share how much they spent exactly on the photo package, my upcoming Royal Caribbean reservations show the photo package with an original price of $159.99. The sale price is showing between $95.99 to $119.99 for my specific reservations. Regardless, I’d skip the photo package for a few reasons. 

First, Royal Caribbean’s professional photos are absurdly expensive, in my opinion. Even if you purchase a photo package, the cruise line has some restrictions on what's included. For instance, any specialty dining photos are excluded from your package.

Additionally, you can take hundreds of photos on your phone for free! Pictures on your phone are extremely high quality these days, and many fellow cruisers are happy to take a family photo if you ask. You could even try using the self-timer on your phone.

Finally, there’s no guarantee that you will even like ten different photos from the professional photographers during your cruise. You could pay more than $100 for a photo package and not end up liking enough pictures to make the investment worthwhile. Instead, I'd suggest taking a few of the professional photos throughout your cruise. If you really like one of them, consider purchasing the photo. But, if you don't like any of the pictures, you have no obligation to purchase. 

Worth the splurge: Deluxe Drink Package

Royal Caribbean's drink packages can easily add hundreds of dollars to your cruise cost. But, when you decide to splurge on this extra, you are provided with unlimited access to cocktails, wine, beer, soft drinks, specialty coffee, bottled water and more.

If I had to guess, the cruiser likely spent hundreds of dollars purchasing the Deluxe Beverage Package for two people during their 7-night cruise. For instance, both of my upcoming Royal Caribbean cruises show a daily price of $62.99 per person for the Deluxe Drink Package. On a 7-night cruise, the total cost with an 18% gratuity would be $1,049. Based on this daily cost, you’d need to drink about 5 cocktails or more each day to break even.

For a first-time cruiser, I do think splurging on a Royal Caribbean Deluxe Drink Package can be worthwhile. If you’re someone who can drink enough to justify the cost, or you simply want peace of mind that you won’t rack up a huge bar bill, then the drink package can be a smart choice.

While Royal Caribbean only offers drink packages as an add-on cost, sister brand Celebrity Cruises offers All Included pricing. This provides a bundled deal with a drink and internet package included in your cruise cost. I’ve been able to take advantage of this pricing bundle through my MEI travel agent using group rates, and the added cost has been surprisingly minimal. Splurging on a drink package can make sense for many people, but it's important to remember this isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach.

Worth the splurge: Classic Soda Package

Royal Caribbean provides the option to purchase a Classic Soda Package for your cruise with unlimited cans of soda, fountain soft drinks and Coca-Cola beverages. You’ll also be provided with a Coca-Cola souvenir cup that you can use onboard and take home as a souvenir.

Additionally, Royal Caribbean features Coco-Cola Freestyle Machines on their cruise ships, including fountain soda, sugar free soda, lemonade, VitaminWater, ice tea, fruit punch, still water and sparkling water. The Soda Drink Package is quite popular for Royal Caribbean cruisers, as you are only provided with basic water, lemonade, coffee and tea for free with your cruise fare.

My cruise planner is showing the Soda Drink Package priced daily for $12.99 per person, or $181.86 for two people on a 7-night cruise. Presumably, the cruiser purchased the Classic Soda Package for their two children, aged 8 and 15, according to the Reddit post.

The Classic Soda Package can be a fun upgrade for kids, especially if they enjoy having easy access to drinks throughout the day. Since Royal Caribbean charges about $4 per soda, having just three or four sodas each day can make the package worthwhile. Even for adults who don’t drink alcohol, the Classic Soda Package can be a justifiable splurge thanks to the variety of options available at the Coca-Cola Freestyle machines.

Skip it: CocoCay Waterpark Admission

Royal Caribbean’s private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay, offers plenty of free activities and amenities to enjoy. That said, there are also many different ways to splurge and upgrade your private island experience. You can purchase everything from excursions and private cabanas to the upscale Coco Beach Club and the adults-only Hideaway Beach.

In addition, Royal Caribbean offers optional admission passes to their Thrill Waterpark for guests looking to add even more excitement to their day at CocoCay. The waterpark at CocoCay is packed with high-energy attractions, including the tallest waterslide in the Caribbean, Daredevil’s Peak, and the largest wave pool in the region. You can also race down multi-rider raft slides, try side-by-side racing slides, or explore the kid-friendly Adventure Pool with rope swings. 

Thrill Waterpark is a full day of fun designed for families and thrill-seekers. Unfortunately, entrance to Thrill Waterpark is not cheap. According to future Royal Caribbean reservations visiting CocoCay, the price per person ranges from $87.98 to $95.48. For a family of four, that adds up to anywhere from $351.92 to $382.72 for four people to visit the waterpark.

The cruiser shared, “My kids are 8 and 15. There’s no way they see those slides and aren’t going to want to go on those. I got 50% off on Black Friday.”

Even still, many commenters recommend skipping Thrill Waterpark because CocoCay already has so much included, meaning it's not necessary to splurge on the offered add-ons. For many families, the free beaches, pools, and splash areas offer more than enough entertainment without the added expense of a waterpark pass.

I’d have to agree with this sentiment, as the price to visit Thrill Waterpark can feel steep. If you’re able to snag a good deal on admission, it could be worth it for a fun day ashore. However, it’s important to consider that many Royal Caribbean ships already have waterslides and splash zones included in your cruise fare. For example, Icon of the Seas features the largest waterpark at sea, which might make spending extra at CocoCay feel unnecessary.

Worth the splurge: VOOM Internet Package

One Royal Caribbean add-on that I will absolutely always purchase is the VOOM Surf and Stream internet package. This cruiser shared they purchased the internet package for two people, mostly for their kids to use in the stateroom. 

For some, purchasing internet is not usually necessary. However, the speed and connectivity for onboard internet have improved vastly within the last few years. I also work remotely throughout the year. Unfortunately, I can’t always take vacation from some of my work obligations that need to be complete each week. Moreover, I prefer to stay connected while cruising instead of disconnecting entirely.

When asked why the kids needed internet, the cruiser explained, “I got divorced a couple years ago. Per my divorce agreement my kids need to have an open line of communication with their mom, as do I need with them. So yeah, they need the internet if she wants to call them for whatever reason.”

Royal Caribbean’s internet has a daily cost of $30.99 per day, but you can save money by bundling up to four devices when purchasing the internet package. This is typically cheaper than purchasing separate internet packages for everyone in your travel party. 

It’s best to purchase your internet before your cruise, as Royal Caribbean often features pre-cruise sales with discounts. Right now, my upcoming cruise is showing a daily cost of $22.99 for a 25% discount. Internet can be expensive, but it's always worth the splurge for me. 

Skip it: Spa Treatment

All of Royal Caribbean’s ships feature a Vitality Spa, where guests can indulge in a variety of luxurious treatments. You can splurge on various services like massages, facials, pedicures, manicures, hair treatments, and even acupuncture for a truly relaxing experience at sea.

This cruiser mentioned purchasing a single spa treatment during their sailing, although pricing can vary based on the service received. Regardless, Royal Caribbean’s Vitality Spa treatments typically start at $100 or more.

While it might be tempting to sign up for a spa treatment while you’re cruising, the prices are typically much higher than you’ll find on land. I’ve had a few cruise ship massages, but I’ve truthfully never been too impressed with the experience. In fact, I once had such a disappointing spa experience that I ended up speaking with the manager, and I was promptly given a refund due to the circumstances.

If you are determined to book a spa treatment, consider scheduling your treatment during a port day to save money. It’s often cheaper than sea days, and they typically run specials to bring down the cost. Even better, consider splurging on a thermal spa pass so you can indulge in relaxation throughout your entire vacation.

These passes typically grant access to exclusive areas like heated loungers, steam rooms, saunas, and hydrotherapy pools. This allows you to unwind as often as you’d like throughout your cruise with unlimited access. It can be a more cost-efficient way to enjoy the spa multiple times instead of paying for an individual treatment, which is one-and-done.

Worth the splurge: Royal Up

Finally, the cruiser shared how they were able to upgrade their stateroom to a balcony cabin through Royal Caribbean’s Royal Up program. This is a bid-based upgrade program that allows cruisers to score great deals on stateroom upgrades.

However, the cruiser shared their awarded balcony was facing the inside of the ship. This is likely either a Central Park balcony, which overlooks the ship’s open-aired Central Park, or a Boardwalk Balcony with aft-facing views of the ship’s Boardwalk.

Royal Up can be worth the splurge depending on the minimum bids and how much you initially paid for your cruise. You can get a great deal on a stateroom, but there are some risks to consider. Most importantly, you typically can’t choose your cabin’s specific stateroom. You’ll have to accept that your upgraded cabin might be in a worse location. You might also have to pay higher gratuities if you upgraded into a suite.

I’ve only used Royal Up once, but the deal was fantastic. I paid $300 to upgrade from an interior cabin to a junior suite while cruising the Mediterranean on Royal Caribbean's Odyssey of the Seas. Granted, this was back in 2022 when cruising was still rebounding from the pandemic. However, you can find some great deals if you are smart about your bidding.

In recent years, a particular trend has emerged within the cruising community: the practice of hiding ducks. Though a seemingly harmless game of hide-and-seek sea, the phenomenon has received its fair share of hate. 

According to Cruising Ducks, the tradition was supposedly started by an 11-year-old on a cruise sailing out of Galveston. Abby Davis asked her mother if they could purchase rubber ducks for their sailing. 

Throughout their 7-night cruise, they hid seven ducks per day for other passengers to find. Supposedly, they hid a duck on the BlueIguana sign onboard their Carnival ship, and it wasn't found for three days! 

Critics of the activity argue that they contribute to the spreading of germs, as well as detract from the refined experience many passengers expect onboard a cruise ship. Nobody wants to see a duck that was accidentally knocked over into food in the buffet. 

One comment on a Cruise Radio Facebook post went as far as stating that hiding ducks contributes to the "dumbing down of America," with others advocating for a "cruise duck assassin club." There's even a Facebook group dedicated to the ducks' demise, "Cruising Ducks-Death Squad," though it's not as popular as those in favor of hiding ducks. 

A separate post in a Virgin Voyages group asks for those sailing on the adult-only line to leave the ducks at home, as it's a "childish hobby." 

There are plenty of environmental concerns, too. Those against the hiding of ducks have circulated rumors that any found by crew members and guests are often thrown overboard into the sea. John Heald, Carnival Cruise Line's Brand Ambassador, took to Facebook to clear up the issue.

"This is completely untrue," he wrote, "Let me say this, if any crew member throws anything overboard, they would be in serious trouble and would for sure face disciplinary action....many of the crew love finding the ducks and have them in their cabins, as they bring them cheer." 

Other cruisers have reported seeing ducks in the trash, citing that participating is wasteful. 

Despite the controversy, duck-hiding lovers claim that it adds an element of fun and fosters a sense of community by connecting passengers from around the world

Even with all of the negativity surrounding hiding ducks on cruise ships, it remains a popular tradition. Today, the original Facebook group has over 258,000 members, and you'll find countless Reddit forums dedicated to discussing and sharing duck-related experiences. 

Guests can search for line-specific groups as well. "Carnival Cruising Ducks" has over 66,000 members, whereas "Royal Caribbean Cruising Ducks," has around 51,000. 

Oftentimes, those who want to participate will customize the ducks in some way. You may, for instance, find a duck with an informational sheet indicating the duck's origin, like New York City or Orlando. 

Imagine discovering a duck from England when you live in the United States! You can choose to re-hide it or keep it as a souvenir; however, make sure that you don't throw it in the trash. If you don't want it, leave it for someone else to find!

Should you decide to keep the duck, look to see if there are any instructions on the tag, if applicable, as to where the hider wants it to be shared. Guests often like to figure out where their duck is traveling to! It makes the experience more memorable for everyone. 

Those cruising around a holiday, such as Valentine's Day, Halloween, or Christmas, may find themed ducks during their voyage, too. 

If you plan on hiding decks on your next cruise, make sure that you're respectful of the ship's rules and regulations

Though you want to hide ducks in public areas, as nobody will find a duck stashed away in your stateroom, there are some guidelines to be mindful of. 

A general consensus amongst duck hiders is that the ducks shouldn't be hidden near food. Rather than leave one near food in the Windjammer, consider placing it in a commonplace location, such as a stairwell, where it won't be seen as an inconvenience to other passengers.

You'll also want to avoid placing ducks in the pools and hot tubs, as young children may endanger themselves by reaching for them and falling in. Shops with merchandise available for purchase are off-limits, too. You don't want anyone to get in trouble because it looked like they were shoplifting!

While indoor railings, such as those in the stairwell, are okay, don't place ducks somewhere they could fall overboard. Royal Caribbean forbids guests from throwing things over the side of the ship; you don't want to get caught breaking this rule. 

When hunting, you'll want to ensure you're acting respectfully, too. Avoid running and destroying cruise ship property. Those who are too rowdy may accidentally injure themselves or another passenger. 

If you're sailing on an Oasis or Icon Class ship, be cautious of placing ducks in Central Park, as children may see it as an opportunity to crawl through the greenery. The horticulturists work hard to maintain all the plants onboard, and hiding ducks in them can inadvertently damage them. 

Ducks can be purchased on Amazon for less than $15

Looking forward to your summer cruise? Instead of bringing standard yellow ducks, spice up your experience by purchasing pirate-themed ducks. You can even find some that are patriotic if you happen to be sailing over the Fourth of July. 

Families sailing together over the holidays can get Christmas or Hanukkah ducks to spread festive cheer, while those cruising in October can embrace the spirit of Halloween with some spooky-themed ducks. 

Please note that we have linked Amazon items above, which contain affiliate links. The affiliate link costs you nothing extra, but Royal Caribbean Blog will make a small commission if you purchase the item through the link.

Would you ever consider pulling your cruise ship cabin's mattress out to the balcony for some elevated relaxation?

A recent post on social media shows two Royal Caribbean guests lying on a mattress while enjoying their balcony. Supposedly, the guests were onboard Allure of the Seas while docked in Perfect Day at CocoCay when they decided to move their cabin’s mattresses out to their balcony for some light reading.

In the photo, two guests can be seen on their mattresses reading books with their balcony door open. The photo was apparently taken while Allure of the Seas and Anthem of the Seas were both docked at Royal Caribbean’s private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay, on March 13.

The original photo was shared by one cruiser to the Facebook group called Royal Caribbean Cruises. She captioned the post, “Omg really? Wondering if this guy got in trouble? Allure of the Seas looking from Anthem on 3/13 docked @ Coco Cay.”

As expected, the post garnered a massive response from Royal Caribbean fans and cruisers alike. However, many were torn about the concept of moving cabin furniture out to their balcony. While some considered this a genius idea, others were totally against the concept and found it dumb. 

Some users responded that they have also moved cabin furniture out to their balcony

Apparently, moving cruise cabin furniture out to your balcony is becoming more popular among cruisers. Multiple commenters responded to the controversial post by sharing experiences of doing this exact scenario. 

“I pulled the couch cushions out onto the balcony on Harmony of the Seas. It was great,” commented the cruiser. In the photo below, this Royal Caribbean guest can be seen lying on the couch cushions from their cabin with the ocean in the background. 

Along with this guest, another cruiser commented on their own personal experience of actually sleeping on their balcony by moving cabin furniture. “I did this on Symphony of the Seas. Best sleep I ever had. Fell asleep looking at the stars listening to the waves, woke up to the sun rising over CocoCay,” said the commenter.

It should be noted that Royal Caribbean does not have any implicit rules listed regarding this type of behavior. The cruise line does not provide rules regarding how to use cabin furniture, although this latest trend could possibly prompt Royal Caribbean to implement new rules.

"Pretty crappy thing to do, in my opinion"

Of course, the post was not well received by everyone and many were totally against the idea for a multitude of reasons. Most opponents felt as though moving the mattress out to the balcony was a hazard to cleanliness.

“Nah, this is weird. Other people now have to sleep on that mattress that was sitting on an exterior floor. I get those mattresses aren’t the cleanest to begin with, but this is unnecessary. So many people lack self awareness, it’s crazy. There are chairs out there for a reason,” stated one of the top comments.

One follower agreed by commenting, “This is why we can’t have nice things. Like comfortable mattresses.”

In agreement, one cruiser said, “Yeah, I don’t think I want to sleep on a mattress that was sitting on an exterior floor. No harm? To each their own, I guess.”

Along with cleanliness, others commented about the potential long-term impacts of having cabin furniture exposed to the elements by being placed on balconies. For example, some commenters fear that mattresses on balconies could grow black mold from being exposed to moisture.

In addition, others pointed out that balconies are often misty with moisture in the evenings from the sea, even when it doesn’t rain. “The next guests are going to love the humidity and sea air in their mattress," said one responder. 

Read more: 20 rules of cruise ship etiquette no one ever tells you (but should)

However, many social media users found this to be a genius idea

While the idea did not resonate with everyone, others were inspired by the concept of bringing their mattresses to their balconies, stating how comfortable and cozy it looked. Some responders even shared how they were inspired by the idea of moving cabin furniture to their balcony and will be considering the same idea during their next cruise.

“Nothing wrong with that, good idea if you ask me,” responded another user. Another social media user shared, "What a great idea! I will be doing this on my next cruise.”

One person in the comments said how the guests looked to just be relaxing and enjoying the beautiful day reading their books. Another commenter said in agreement, “Looks comfy cozy to me." 

Finally, one cruiser expanded, “Great idea! Maybe plan for a makeshift curtain or something if you have a balcony just in case.” There was also one comment that suggested bringing your own air mattress if you want to sleep on your balcony, so as to not use cabin furniture.

Read more: 9 ways to sleep better on a cruise ship

This isn’t the first time the idea has been shared on social media

(Photo of a guest sleeping on a twin bed, placed on a balcony. Shared from a Reddit under the r/Cruise thread.)

The idea of moving your cruise cabin mattress to your balcony is not a new concept, as TikTok users have been sharing their experiences on social media for a while now.

One user, Sarah Goodwin, shared footage of her moving her cruise cabin mattress to her balcony on TikTok for her followers. She captioned the TikTok, “Next time you go on a cruise, put your bed on the balcony, you won’t regret it. Trust me.”

In the TikTok, you can see her dragging her mattress from the cabin out to the balcony. The viral TikTok, which was posted last year, has nearly 2 million views with 600 comments.

In the video, she lays down the mattress and begins to read her book with the ocean in the background. For clarification, the user commented that she did not do this for sleeping in the evening and she only moved the bed to the balcony for an afternoon. 

One commenter asked, “How did you get it out the door? I struggle to keep it open long enough to avoid getting smacked in the face.” The original creator responded, “With great difficulties!”

Many of the commenters were actually in agreement with the concept, noting how utterly relaxing this could be for people on vacation. However, most agreed that this could only be done for an afternoon and guests shouldn’t be sleeping on their mattresses while out on the balcony.

From major announcements like the new Hideaway Beach at Perfect Day at CocoCay and the second Icon Class ship, Star of the Seas, to the delivery and completion of the world’s largest cruise ship, Icon of the Seas, 2023 was a big year for Royal Caribbean.

As we close out the year, it’s fun to look back and remember all the monumental things that happened in the Royal Caribbean cruising world.

Let’s recap the other big moments from 2023.

1. Symphony of the Seas record

One of Royal Caribbean’s largest ships, Symphony of the Seas, set a record in March 2023.

During a twelve-night transatlantic cruise from Miami, Florida to Barcelona, Spain, the largest number of paying cruisers and crew to sail across the Atlantic Ocean on a single ship was recorded. A total of 7,604 passengers were onboard the Symphony of the Seas sailing, including 5,350 guests and 2,224 crew members.

This particular sailing was not at full capacity, however. Symphony of the Seas can hold 6,680 guests.

It’s important to note that this is not an all-time record. Queen Mary carried 16,683 people across the Atlantic in July 1943 during World War II.

2. Icon of the Seas sea trials

In June and the end of October/early November 2023, Icon of the Seas completed her first and second rounds of sea trials at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Turku, Finland.

Before delivering a new cruise ship, there must be a series of sea trials where the ship sails hundreds of miles before making the transatlantic trip to America. Essentially, sea trials are tests of the ship’s navigational and technical systems. Icon of the Seas passed all tests with flying colors!

This is the final stage of a cruise ship’s construction before delivery to the cruise line.

3. President's Cruise on Allure of the Seas

Royal Caribbean regularly offers a President’s Cruise, hosted by Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley, for loyal fans of the cruise line to sail together. On these particular cruises, there are exclusive events and special guests as well.

2023’s President's Cruise took place in July on Allure of the Seas, sailing in and out of Galveston. This was the first President's Cruise that left from Texas. 

Grammy-winner Chaka Khan performed during the seven-night sailing!

In June 2024, the President’s Cruise will be on Oasis of the Seas, sailing to the Mediterranean for seven nights.

Read more: Royal Caribbean: Building a new smaller cruise ship is "deeply in our consideration"

4. Hideaway Beach announcement

Royal Caribbean released details of the new adults-only area at Perfect Day at CocoCay, called Hideaway Beach, on September 14, 2023.

Hideaway Beach will be located behind Thrill Waterpark. Only those 18 and older will be allowed to enter. The cost of admission will vary, similar to Coco Beach Club.

While Coco Beach Club is more serene and relaxing, Hideaway Beach will offer a “Vegas-style pool party vibe.” There will be poolside cabanas for rent, an infinity pool, and beach access, as well as numerous bars and restaurants.

Hideaway Beach will open in conjunction with Icon of the Seas’ inaugural sailing at the end of January 2024. 

5. Utopia of the Seas float out

Icon of the Seas has a lot of hype surrounding her, but don’t forget about the new Oasis Class ship, Utopia of the Seas!

In September 2023, Utopia of the Seas touched water for the first time at the Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard in St. Nazaire, France.

This is an important step in the cruise ship construction process. This is one of the first steps in the building journey; after the new ship is assembled in a dry dock, it is transferred to a “wet dock” to complete more work.

Utopia of the Seas will be launched in July 2024 and offer three and four-night Caribbean sailings out of Port Canaveral.

Read more: Utopia of the Seas: Itinerary, features, and more

6. Star of the Seas announcement

On October 5, 2023, Royal Caribbean announced the name of the next Icon Class cruise ship: Star of the Seas.

Star of the Seas will homeport in Port Canaveral and look very similar to Icon of the Seas. She will offer seven-night sailings to the Eastern and Western Caribbean.

Icon of the Seas is the first Icon Class ship, and when Star of the Seas launches in August 2025, she will be the second. There are also orders for a third unnamed Icon Class ship to be delivered in 2026.

Read more: Star of the Seas: Itinerary, features and more

7. Icon of the Seas completed and delivered

November 27, 2023, was a big day for Icon of the Seas! On this day, she was officially delivered, meaning ownership was transferred to Royal Caribbean.

There was a large ceremony onboard where executives from Royal Caribbean celebrated the milestone. Royal Caribbean Group President and CEO Jason Liberty, Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley, and Meyer Turku CEO Tim Meyer were all in attendance.

After 900 days of construction, Icon of the Seas was ready to make her transatlantic voyage to her home in Miami.

8. Icon of the Seas passes under the Great Belt Bridge

After Icon of the Seas was delivered, she had to go to Cadiz, Spain to receive some final touches.

Before arriving in Cadiz, Icon of the Seas passed under Denmark’s Great Belt Bridge, one of the largest bridges in the world, with just a few feet to spare. Icon’s funnels had to be retracted so she could fit under the bridge. For context, Icon of the Seas is 20 decks high.

This technology is not new, as other Oasis and Quantum Class ships have retractable funnels too.

Currently, Icon of the Seas is still en route to Miami. 

9. Start of the Ultimate World Cruise

Back in 2021, it was announced that Royal Caribbean would offer its first world cruise in 2023, visiting 150 destinations in 65 countries.

On December 10, 2023, it finally happened! Serenade of the Seas arrived in Miami to kick-start the 274-night Ultimate World Cruise that will take travelers to all seven continents. The cruise ends on September 10, 2024.

Bookings opened in early 2022. Passengers could book either the entire voyage or one of four 2-3 month segments. Because the Ultimate World Cruise did not sell out, Royal Caribbean released 17 segments in April 2023, ranging from nine to 29 nights.

Read more: Why the internet is obsessed with 9-month world cruise on Royal Caribbean cruise ship

10. Lionel Messi named an "Icon"

On December 13, 2023, Lionel Messi, a well-known soccer player, was named “The Icon of Icon.”

Similar to what a cruise ship Godmother would do, Messi will participate in the naming ceremony for Icon of the Seas on January 23, 2024. As “The Icon of Icon,” Messi will give Icon of the Seas a blessing for the safety of the crew members and passengers who will sail onboard.

This partnership comes as no surprise since Royal Caribbean announced a partnership with Inter Miami CF, which is the club Messi plays for, back in August 2023.

What was your favorite Royal Caribbean moment of 2023?

We want to hear from you!

In collaboration with Loyal to Royal, let us know your favorite moment by voting using this Google Form. Voting closes the night of December 30, 2023, so be sure to cast your vote before then.

Stay tuned for results on our Instagram page!

Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas is the world's biggest cruise ship, so how does it compare to the most well-known ship of all time?

The Titanic is arguably the most well-known ocean liner because of its famous accident in 1912. Her sinking has never been eclipsed in the public imagination, despite decades of larger and safe cruise ships.

Nonetheless, if you mention cruise ships to someone who is new to cruising, inevitably the Titanic references usually follow. So if your baseline for understanding what a cruise ship is is based on a vessel that sailed over 100 years ago, here is a look at how much different big ships are now.

Meet Icon of the Seas

At about five times the size of Titanic, the world's largest cruise ship is Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas.

Spanning 20 decks, Icon is the first in the Icon Class. A second ship, Star of the Seas, will launch in 2025 and be about the same size

Size is everything with Icon, as she is 1,198 feet long. If you were to stand her up, Icon's almost as tall as the Empire State Building (1,250 feet without any antennas).

There are 7 pools and 9 whirlpools on Icon of the Seas for guests to use, along with an entire water park. 

You will find 1,815 staterooms, including 179 suites.

How big was the Titanic?

Titanic was a large ship for its era, coming in at 882 feet 9 inches long and encompassing 9 decks.

• Beam: 92 feet 6 inches
• Height: 175 feet
• Weight: 46,328 gross tons

Titanic was the largest ship built up to that point in time.

Comparing Icon of the Seas to Titanic

Not only is Icon of the Seas larger than Titanic, but many of Royal Caribbean's other cruise large cruise ships are larger than the Titanic in gross tonnage, as well as size.

The Titanic measured in at 882 feet and 9 inches long, and weighed 46,328 gross tons.

Icon of the Seas measures 1,198 feet in length and has a gross tonnage of 250,800.

In terms of gross tonnage, Titanic doesn't even make the list the top 64 world's largest cruise ships by gross tonnage.

Ditto for length; Among the top 64 largest cruise ships in the world today, the "shortest" ship comes in at 984.1 ft with the AIDAprima and AIDAperla.

Titanic was built at an estimated cost of $7.5 million in 1912, which in today's dollars would cost approximately $400 million.

Icon of the Seas cost $2 billion to construct.

Titanic could handle 2,453 passengers, while Icon of the Seas has a capacity of 7,600 passengers at maximum occupancy.

In terms of things to do on each ship, Titanic offered a heated pool, gym, squash court, and Turkish bath.

Icon of the Seas has seven pools, an entire water park, new areas dedicated to families, revamped pool decks, diving shows, dining experiences, and many more attractions.

In the evening, Titanic would feature smoking rooms, billiards, music, and dancing.

On Icon of the Seas, you can enjoy full-scale shows across four distinct venues, and more live music and comedy than ever before. Fifty live musicians and comedians will entertain guests in venues across the ship.

How much is a ticket on Titanic vs. Icon of the Seas?

Any cruise fan knows that there is no standard price for a cruise.  Cruise fares vary from ship to ship and even sailing to sailing.

Prices start at over $1,500 per person for a 7-night cruise on Icon of the Seas, and can go as high as high as $80,000 for one week in the sprawling townhouse cabin that is 1,772 square feet in size and three decks high and sleeps up to eight people.

The prices of tickets on the Titanic in 1912 ranged from £30 (equivalent to £3,000 in 2019) and £870 (equivalent to  £100,027.45 in 2021) for a parlour suite and small private promenade deck in first class, to £8 for a third-class adult fares and £3 for children. That's roughly equal to between $100,000 to $345 in today's prices.

Unlike modern cruise ships, Titanic had different classes of fares. First, second, and third class, which were distinguished by social status and ticket cost.

First class was for the wealthiest and most prominent passengers.  These were upper class people, who had careers in business, politics, the military, or industry. These were the well-to-do and most well-known people sailing.

Second Class was essentially the middle class people, which might include tourists, members of the clergy, and educators.

Third class (sometimes known as steerage) was mostly made up of immigrants moving to North America. 

A ship like Icon of the Seas may not have classes of fares, but they do have different benefits for guests that book the higher tier suites.

The Royal Suite Class cabins aren't as exclusionary as the fare class system, but they do offer separate areas of the ship for those that book it.

Read more: Royal Caribbean suites guide

This includes restaurants, bars, and pool decks exclusively for the use of suite guests.

How do these ships compare?

In short, Icon of the Seas and Titanic don't have a ton in common besides being ocean going vessels. Today's cruise ships are very different than ocean liners, like Titanic.

Read more: What's different about a Royal Caribbean cruise ship and the last ocean liner?

What many people who are new to cruise ships fail to understand is the fundamental shift leisure cruising underwent in the second half of the 20th century. Ocean liners and ferries evolved into the cruise ships that we know today.

Ocean liners were primarily used to bring passengers across the ocean from one point to another, whereas cruise ships go on pleasure voyages, closer to the coast, sailing between ports.

Read more: How cruise ships got so big

Unfortunately, many cruise novices have Titanic as their only frame of reference when it comes to non-cargo ships, so it ends up being the defacto benchmark.

Not only are ships like Icon of the Seas immensely larger, the experience onboard is vastly different, with more to see, do, and eat than Titanic could have ever dreamed.

Have you ever witnessed a stranger doing something weird, even unexplainable?

People-watching is popular because it can be so rewarding: folks do the strangest things in public! Witnessing these moments reminds us of the unique unpredictability of human beings—and often leaves us feeling a little superior. 

Cruising is no different; cruisers often feel that a cruise brings out the most bizarre human behavior. And on a cruise, you’ll have the most downtime and proximity to observe all the activities around you.

We asked our readers on the Royal Caribbean Blog forum the weirdest thing they’ve seen another cruiser do. Based on the responses we received, they’ve witnessed it all— from family feuds to a ship captain turned biker.

Get ready for a good laugh as we introduce the top 10 weirdest things readers saw other cruisers do.

“Strangest thing I've seen on a Royal ship was a college-aged adult wearing a wild and elaborate Halloween costume walking around the ship normally but completely outside of the Halloween season. Must have lost a bet with his buddies. It was a double-take moment. Did I just see that?”

- Twangster

Royal Caribbean does not have a strict dress code, other than prohibiting bare feet in venues and tank tops from the main dining room or specialty dining venues. It’s always possible that you’ll see some strange costumes or attire!

If you do want to wear a costume without sticking out, Royal Caribbean holds various Halloween events on cruises that sail over the October 31st date, including Halloween decorations, photo opportunities, and a large costume parade. You can expect costumes to be worn everywhere on Halloween Day.

“There was a couple on board with us a few years ago that danced in the Centrum every night. She was always in sparkly/sequined boots, either bunny or cat ears, and hot pants/short shorts with fish nets. He was always in cargo shorts or Demin shorts with a Hawaiian shirt, sometimes the sleeves were missing. Didn't matter the song, they were dancing and had some signature moves."

"They were definitely the stars of the show, whether they knew it or not."

"As we were waiting for our departure group to be called, two ladies were sitting behind us talking about "Sparkly Boots" and wondering if they had participated in 70's night. I turned around and said yes, they did. The lady asked me how I knew who she was talking about and I said the whole ship knew…”

- Kadmgs

If you’re wondering where you can see dancing stars like this fun couple, the Centrum is the large, open area spanning several decks that replaces the Royal Promenade or Esplanade on both Vision Class and Radiance Class ships. 

In addition to being the center of special events, the Centrum includes a main elevator, with bars, dining venues, and lounges overlooking its edge.

“Another strange occurrence is seeing your cruise ship Captain riding a Harley around Labadee. Captain Johnny keeps his personal Harley on board the ship. I was on this sailing when he tweeted this. Saw him riding it around.”

- Twangster

Captain Johnny Faevelen is a well-known character to many Royal Caribbean cruisers, but did you know he brings his personal Harley-Davidson motorcycle on board? For those who witness him riding it, this is definitely an unusual sight. 

For more about Captain Johnny, check out his book, The Captain, which details how he went from a fisherman to captain of one of the world’s largest cruise ships.  

Read more: 5 Royal Caribbean inspirations to prepare for your cruise

“If you were on an Alaskan cruise back in May 2016, and saw a tall, skinny teenage boy eat three plates heaped full of donuts for breakfast in the Windjammer (27 by his count)....yes, we did teach him to eat a decent meal. And no, we weren't eating with him. He finally fessed up long after the cruise.”

- barbeyg

Was this young man acting greedy, or just making the most of his paid fare? The Windjammer Cafe is the all-you-can-eat buffet included with your base fare, the complimentary dining venue with the widest variety of options. 

Your base fare also includes access to the main dining room, a grab-and-go coffee shop, and several quick food venues by the pool.

You will also have access to complimentary food at various venues on Perfect Day at Coco Cay, Royal Caribbean’s private island in the Bahamas. 

“A guest busted for shoplifting.  Security searched the cabin, recovered the goods, and put them off at the next port to find their own way home.”  

- Twangster

Shoplifting is certainly included on the list of things that can get you kicked off a cruise ship immediately. And considering the ship is a confined space with security on board, it’s best to keep the law for at least the length of your vacation.  

“We were sitting in the hot tub around sundown and a gentleman proceeded to get in with a full plate of Windjammer food. Mostly I remember him trying to eat what I think was chicken wings and watching pieces of the food falling into the water around him. Needless to say, it was a clear sign that it was time for us to exit and go get ready for dinner. (I can promise you him eating in the hot tub did not trigger a hunger response!)”

- CruizIan

In addition to hot tubs onboard, Royal Caribbean ships also have a main pool and an adults-only, indoor Solarium pool. There are also several kid pools, splash pads, waterslides, and a 40-foot-long surf simulator, the FlowRider.

The pools are open most of the day, with many activities nearby, including live music!

“We had this one gentleman [who would] always wear different color pastel suits with a top hat EVERYDAY. We were doing a Med cruise and it was hot, yet I would see him in France with a baby pink suit and a matching top hat.”

- ClockingOut

You’re never required to dress up, especially in pastel-colored suits. Royal Caribbean’s dress code is mainly casual beach style, smart casual, and formal wear. You can wear beach or casual clothes for most of the day, and switch to a smarter casual in the evening. 

One formal (or dress your best) night will also be on the schedule during your vacation. On this night, you can expect for everyone to dress their best in elegant dresses and collared shirts and dress pants.

“An entire family had too many wines & decided to start fighting each other. Punches were thrown & security broke it up & sent them packing. The Chef felt so bad for the remaining few people that he sent servers to give us 3 free rounds of drinks. This was an epic chefs table experience.”

- Tonyfsu21

The Chef’s Table is an exclusive, private dining experience offered on Royal Caribbean ships to a limited number of guests, usually around 12. 

This experience includes a 5-course meal and wine tasting, with a personal waiter and chef decided to your table. Each serving of food also comes with a carefully selected wine pairing.

The Chef’s Table is an excellent and private experience, so remember not to start any fights if you try it out.

“It was a Christmas cruise and there was a couple in their late 30's to early 40's who wore Christmas pajama onesies all cruise long, day and night. They also had their own "custom" metal "Yeti" style cups and straws that they drank from. Rarely did we go to/through the Centrum and not see them there in their pajamas and drinking from their Yeti's. Needless to say, the Centrum was THE place to people-watch that cruise.”

- Kadmgs

We always recommend bringing a reusable water bottle for your time on board. In addition to a YETI cup, here are some other things worth bringing on a cruise: liquid soap, laundry hamper, luggage tag holders, shampoo and body wash, aspirin, chapstick, AirTags, noise-canceling headphones, air freshener, magnetic hooks, an e-reader, and a nightlight. 

It’s important to remember to bring the essentials because anything you purchase onboard will come at a much steeper price.

Read more: 100 item Ultimate Cruise Packing List

“We were on a Christmas and New Years cruise a few years ago out of Baltimore.....and on boarding day it was snowing.... This was the Grandeur of the Seas.”

- Rob&Ana

Yes, it does snow on cruise ships! While a strange sight, it wouldn’t be impossible to see snow onboard if you’re sailing through a cold, wintery area.

Royal Caribbean ships that sail from the Northeast of the United States, such as in Bayonne, New Jeresy and Baltimore, Maryland, may see snow as they board or disembark at these ports. But this sight is unlikely, and the snow will melt soon as the ship moves quickly south.