A Royal Caribbean cruise vacation includes a lot of activities, dining, ports to visit, and things to do, but it is not an all-inclusive vacation.

Cruises offer a great deal of value, but there are extra costs to be aware of, so that you can budget around them.

In order to avoid sticker shock later, here are the top extra things on a cruise that will cost you extra, and how to reduce your out-of-pocket price.

Onboard photos

Cruise vacations are all about the memories you make onboard, and Royal Caribbean has plenty of photographers each evening to capture them.

These photo opportunities cost nothing to stop and take, but if you want a print or digital download, it will cost you extra.

A single 8x10 print will cost $19.99, although there are photo packages that will cost you less per print.

The best way to avoid this cost is to skip the photographers and take your own photos around the ship, or on shore. While you will not have access to their backdrops, there are lots of good alternatives. Staircases, balconies, the pool deck, and various spots around the Royal Promenade/Centrum make fantastic ad-hoc backgrounds for any photo.

Shore Excursions

Cruises are at their heart a means of which to visit different places around the world. Each day your ship whisks you away to a new port of call, where you have access to a slew of activities there.

The easiest and most straight-forward way to find something to do on shore is to book a shore excursion through Royal Caribbean. While the cruise line shore excursions are extremely convenient, they do come at a price.

You can save a few dollars if you book a shore excursion on your own through a third party service.  You could also bypass a tour or activity all together, and simply walk around the port on your own, or hop in a taxi and go to a pre-determined destination.

The best way to lower this cost is to research shore excursion options in advance, and figure out the most cost effective strategy for your day in port.

If you do explore on your own, ensure you are working with a trusted tour operator (meaning they have a good reputation online), and manage your time to ensure you get back to the ship well before you are required to return.

Alcohol

While Royal Caribbean does include some drinks with your cruise fare, alcohol is not one of them.

Enjoying a cocktail, beer or glass of wine on a cruise is a very popular option, that can add up quickly.  Royal Caribbean's drink prices for booze will often be in the $10-13 range before you add gratuity.

For anyone that wants more than just an occasional drink here or there, you have a few options to keep that bar tab lower.

The easiest strategy is to buy a Royal Caribbean drink package. These drink packages offer a one-time flat fee for unlimited drinks on your cruise. They are not cheap, but do offer a fixed budget option that can save you money, if you drink enough.

Perhaps the best money-saving tip for keeping your bar bill down is to drink off the ship. Quite often, the cost of alcoholic beverages in the ports you visit is substantially cheaper, especially in the Caribbean.

While not as convenient as drinking on the ship, you can often get far more value from drinking on land than onboard.

Back onboard the ship, keep an eye out for drink specials and even free drinks. The drink of the day offers a different discounted cocktail, while happy hour specials, complimentary champagne or alcohol tasting events can be found during the cruise.

If you’re considering purchasing a Deluxe Beverage package on Royal Caribbean, our video on the pros and cons of a drink package may help you decide if it’s the best choice:

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Soda and nonalcoholic drinks

Like alcohol, soda and nonalcoholic drinks are not included in your cruise fare. Nonalcoholic drinks on a Royal Caribbean cruise include fresh-squeezed juices, smoothies, mocktails, soda, specialty coffees and teas, bottled water, and milkshakes.

Nonalcoholic drinks can be purchased individually throughout the cruise or guests can purchase the Refreshment Package from the Cruise Planner website. The refreshment package includes unlimited nonalcoholic drinks throughout the cruise, usually at a cost of around $23 per night.

If you only plan to drink soda, you can purchase a soda package instead of a refreshment package. Soda packages run around $10 per night if purchased in advance on the Cruise Planner website. Each soda package, like other drink packages, comes with a souvenir cup that guests can refill throughout the cruise at Coca-Cola Freestyle machines or other venues onboard.

Specialty coffee and tea

If you like to start your morning with a latte, espresso, or frappe, you should know that these are not included in your cruise fare.

Specialty coffees and teas can be found at select venues around the ship, such as Cafe Promenade, the Windjammer, and Cafe @ Two70. Prices of specialty coffees and teas are similar to what you find on land.

All drink packages cover specialty coffees and teas, or guests can opt to purchase the Cafe Select Coffee Card, which usually costs around $31.

The Cafe Select Coffee Card is a physical punch card that guests can use for up to 15 espresso based beverages throughout the cruise. The exact rules of the card can vary by ship and barista. Sometimes a barista will punch two holes in the card for a large beverage that uses multiple espresso shots, whereas others will only punch one. This card also seems to work for specialty tea beverages as well, such as chai lattes.

Starbucks

Starbucks is not included in your cruise fare or with any dining or beverage package, including the Cafe Select Coffee Card. Starbucks purchases will be charged to your SeaPass account or you can opt to pay through the Starbucks app.

Passengers can earn rewards in the Starbucks app through onboard purchases but are unable to redeem rewards on a Royal Caribbean ship.

One new change Royal Caribbean is implementing, though, is the use of Starbucks coffee at its other coffee locations onboard. Therefore, guests using a drink package or coffee card somewhere like Cafe Promenade can enjoy specialty coffee drinks made with Starbucks coffee.

Specialty Restaurants

One of the biggest trends in cruising today is specialty restaurants, which offer additional dining options at an extra cost.

Sushi, seafood, steaks, hibachi and more have become popular dining alternatives on Royal Caribbean ships, and most have a cover charge that will carry a per-person cost to dine there.

The easiest way to save money on these is not go at all. Royal Caribbean offers plenty of complimentary food on its ships in the main dining room, and other venues. Free food is available all day, every day and it is not bad at all.

If you really want to try a specialty restaurant, buy a dining package to cut down on the cost.

If you’re considering purchasing a dining package, check out our YouTube video where we go over the pros and cons of a Royal Caribbean dining package:

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Room service

The majority of room service is not included in your cruise fare, with the exception of continental breakfast, which is complimentary for guests.

The continental breakfast menu includes items like bagels, toast, coffee, tea, juices, fruit, and oatmeal. There is also an American-style breakfast available with foods like pancakes and eggs, but this comes with an extra charge.

All room service aside from continental breakfast comes with a charge of $7.95 per room, plus an 18% gratuity. Note that the charge is per room and not per item, so you are able to order as much as you like for one charge.

Gratuity

Royal Caribbean charges a daily gratuity to cover the wait staff and stateroom attendants and recognize great service aboard their cruise.

As of January 2, 2018, the daily gratuity amount is $14.50 per guest, per day for those guests in standard accommodations.  Guests in suites will pay $17.50 per person, per day in gratuities.  The daily gratuity amount is the same for all passengers, regardless of age.

While this gratuity is unavoidable, you should be aware of tipping that comes in other venues.

An automatic 18% gratuity gets added to most onboard purchases, including the spa, drink purchases and more.

There is not a way to avoid tipping, and it is well-deserved for the hard working crew members. What you ought to do is budget accordingly and be aware it is part of the overall cruise cost.

Souvenirs

No matter what type of vacation you go on, bringing home a souvenir to remind you of the trip is a near-constant.

Whether you elect to buy souvenirs on the ship or in the ports you visit, these gifts will cost you extra.

One good way to save on onboard purchases is to wait until the end of the cruise. Usually there are last-day sales at the shops onboard, including discounts on t-shirts.

You can also save money buying goods in the ports you visit, where local products and vendors may offer similar options at discounted prices.

Spa Treatments

Treatments in the Vitality Spa on Royal Caribbean ships are not included in your cruise fare. Treatments can be reserved ahead of time via the Cruise Planner app or purchased once onboard.

Discounts can usually be found at the spa on port days, so be on the lookout for discounted treatments listed on the Cruise Compass once onboard.

If you are unsure of whether you should book a spa treatment or not, consider taking a tour of the spa. Spa tours are free of charge and take place during the first day of your cruise, where you can see the spa’s facilities and learn more about the different types of treatments available.

Thermal spa

Oasis and Quantum Class ships have a thermal spa onboard, where guests can enjoy hot stone loungers, saunas, steam rooms, and a rainforest shower throughout the duration of their cruise. Thermal spa passes average around $100-120 for a 7-night cruise and guests can access the facilities at any time.

On Vision, Radiance, Voyager, and Freedom class ships, sauna and steam rooms are complimentary to guests and located within the locker rooms in the fitness center.

Salon

Like the spa, treatments in the salon at the Vitality Spa are not included in your cruise fare. Haircuts, shampoos, style dries, updos, manicures, and pedicures all cost extra.

Salon treatments can be purchased on the Cruise Planner before your cruise or once onboard. If you’re hoping to have your hair styled for a special occasion or formal night, it might be a good idea to reserve your appointment in advance.

Fitness classes

The Vitality Fitness Center is found on every Royal Caribbean ship. Unlike a tiny gym you might find in a hotel, the Vitality Fitness Center is a full-sized gym with a wide range cardio and weight equipment, free weights, and stretching areas.

The fitness center is complimentary for guests, but fitness classes like yoga, pilates, and spinning come at an extra cost.

Each fitness class can be purchased individually once onboard, but the most cost effective way to take advantage of fitness classes is through a Class Pass.

Class Passes range from $39.99 for any 3 fitness classes or $69.99 for unlimited classes on a 5-7 night cruise.

There may be some complimentary fitness activities listed on the Cruise Compass or in the Royal Caribbean app as well, including morning stretch and Zumba.

WiFi

While the cost for onboard internet has come down quite a bit over the last few years, it is not free.

Royal Caribbean's wifi (known as Voom), offers reasonably fast internet access for a flat daily cost. There is a 24-hour option, but the unlimited internet for the duration of the cruise is a more popular choice.

To save on the cost of WiFi, pre-purchase a package before your cruise. There are discounts for WiFi packages almost all the time, and they really are much cheaper than on the ship.

Speaking of extra costs, do not use your phone's cellular connection for data, as you will be roaming and come home to a monster bill.

Chat feature

The Royal Caribbean app has a chat feature available to guests for a cost of $1.99 per person, per day. The chat feature allows guests to message other passengers onboard through the Royal Caribbean app regardless of whether the passengers have a VOOM internet package or not.

This can be a nice option for families or friends who need to message each other while onboard but aren’t interested in purchasing an internet package for everyone in their group.

Ship-to-shore telephone calls

It’s possible to make phone calls from your stateroom’s telephone to shore, but it will come at an extra cost. The current charge for ship-to-shore telephone calls is $7.95 per minute, which will be automatically billed to your SeaPass account.

A more cost effective way to make calls ashore is by purchasing an internet package and placing calls through wifi calling or a service like Whatsapp and Facebook Messenger.

Adventure Ocean select times and offerings

Royal Caribbean is a fantastic cruise line for families due to the extensive amount of kids activities and programming available onboard. Adventure Ocean is Royal Caribbean’s children’s programming, which provides supervised childcare and activities for guests aged 6 months to 17 years.

Adventure Ocean is included in your cruise fare with two exceptions: childcare after 10PM and the nursery. Childcare for ages 3-11 incurs an hourly fee of $7 between the hours of 10PM and 2AM.

AO Babies/Royal Babies & Tots is the nursery onboard, providing childcare for babies and toddlers 6-36 months old.

The nursery comes at a cost of $6-8 per hour depending on the time of day. There is also an open play area of the nursery with toys and play mats. Parents can bring their toddlers to the open play area throughout the day for free provided they are supervising their child.

Puzzle Break Center

Select Royal Caribbean ships have the Puzzle Break Center, an escape room in which passengers must complete a series of puzzles to “break out” of the room in an allotted amount of time.

Each ship has a different escape room, so if you’ve tried the Puzzle Break Center on one ship it won’t be the same challenge as another. The Puzzle Break Center is $20/person and the game lasts approximately one hour.

Zone Zero

Zone Zero is a fully-immersive virtual reality experience found only on Odyssey of the Seas. Guests at Zone Zero wear a full virtual reality suit that includes sensors on their hands, legs, and feet, as well as goggles and a backpack that contains most of the virtual reality hardware.

Guests then walk through a virtual world, fighting pirates as a group. Every move you make is simultaneously made via your avatar in the virtual reality world, making for a truly impressive cruise activity.

The cost of Zone Zero is $18/person. Spots are limited and fill up quickly, so it’s recommended to reserve this activity through the Royal Caribbean app as soon as you get onboard.

North Star (sea days)

The North Star is an observation pod found on Quantum Class ships that takes guests up to 300 feet above sea level for dramatic 360 degree views of the ship.

The North Star has both complimentary and extra cost options. The North Star is free of charge while ships are docked in port, with time slots open throughout most of the day.

At sea, each ride up The North Star comes with a cost of $29.99 per person.

Some sailings may have “Premium” North Star experiences offered, with a cost of $49.99 per person, per ride. This is most commonly found on Alaska cruises during visits to places like Hubbard Glacier and the Endicott Arm & Dawes Glacier.

While there are many complimentary rides available, reservations can fill up quickly. Be sure to open the Royal Caribbean app as soon as you get onboard to reserve The North Star, whether you are looking to book the complimentary or extra cost ride.

Note: prices are subject to change by sailing, ship, and departure port

RipCord by iFLY (longer flight)

Royal Caribbean’s indoor skydiving simulator is similar to The North Star in that there are both complimentary and extra cost options.

Complimentary rides at RipCord by iFLY involve watching a short skydiving instructional video, changing into skydiving apparel, and putting your flying skills to the test with a one minute ride.

Two minute rides are available at The North Star for a cost of $49.99 per person. Advanced flying classes may also be offered onboard which also come with an additional cost.

Note: prices are subject to change by sailing, ship, and departure port

Arcade

All Royal Caribbean ships have an arcade onboard for both kids and adults to enjoy. The size and offerings of the arcade vary by ship, but it always comes at an extra cost.

Most arcade games cost between $1-3 per game. Arcade credits can also be purchased in advance on the Cruise Planner, but we recommend buying as you go to avoid any leftover credits at the end of the cruise.

Casino

Of course, Casino Royale on Royal Caribbean ships comes at an extra cost. And while there is the possibility of winning big, there’s also the (more likely) possibility of losing money, too.

Keep an eye out for the “Learn To Play: Casino Table Games” activity listed in the Cruise Planner. This is a lesson in how to play either Blackjack, Roulette, Three Card Poker, or Ultimate Texas Hold’em.

During this activity, guests will receive step-by-step instructions in these table games. The lesson costs $25 per person, but it includes $25 in FreePlay for casino games and two complimentary drinks.

Members of Royal Caribbean’s Crown & Anchor Society receive between $2-6 in free play to be used in the casino throughout the cruise.

The Key

The Key is an upgrade you can purchase before your cruise which is meant to bring exclusive experiences to your cruise vacation. Benefits of The Key include priority check-in at the cruise terminal, a Chops Grille embarkation day lunch, private time at onboard activities, a 1 device VOOM Surf & Stream internet package, priority departure from ship-to-shore at tender ports, and early access to entertainment venues.

The Key is priced per day on a sailing, with daily prices ranging from $25 to $42.

If you are considering purchasing The Key for an upcoming cruise, several members of the Royal Caribbean Blog team have recently reviewed their experience with The Key:

• Royal Caribbean's The Key Review
• Counterpoint: Why we love The Key
• I tried The Key on an Oasis Class ship to see if it's worth it

We also have a video sharing our thoughts on The Key on the Royal Caribbean Blog YouTube channel:

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All Access Ship Tour

Royal Caribbean offers the All Access Ship Tour, which takes guests “backstage” on a cruise ship to see what happens behind the scenes. Passengers visit the galley to learn about how cruise ships prepare food for thousands of guests, the bridge, the laundry room, engine control room, and more.

The All Access Ship Tour can be reserved on the Cruise Planner website. The cost can vary, but is usually in the ballpark of around $120 per guest.

Gifts and gear

If you’re cruising for a special occasion, want to send a gift to someone’s stateroom, or are simply looking to enhance your experience in a fun way, you can purchase gifts to be delivered to a cabin onboard.

Gifts include chocolate covered strawberries, Royal Caribbean themed beach towels, and a beach toy set for kids.

There are also plenty of ways to celebrate a special occasion through gifts onboard, from room decor for a birthday or anniversary to a birthday cake and champagne.

Purchasing an item from the Gifts and Gear section of the Cruise Planner will ensure the item or room decor is in your stateroom on the first day of the cruise.

Medical services

Going to the onboard Medical Center is something no passenger wants to do, but also something you should be prepared for in case of an emergency or unexpected illness.

Treatment at the Medical Center is not included in your cruise fare and all medical expenses incurred will be billed to your SeaPass account. There is no way to avoid the upfront cost at the Medical Center, with or without insurance.

It’s possible to get reimbursed for medical expenses through your insurance at home, but it is not guaranteed as Royal Caribbean’s Medical Center may be considered out of network. Therefore, purchasing travel/cruise insurance prior to your cruise is recommended to ensure any medical expenses are reimbursed.

Laundry and dry cleaning services

Royal Caribbean offers laundry and dry cleaning services onboard which come at an extra cost. Pricing is dependent on the type of laundry service and item washed. A full list of prices can be found here.

Another popular laundry option is the wash and fold service. For a fixed amount of $34.99 per bag, guests can have their dirty clothes washed, folded, and returned to their stateroom.

Airport or hotel transfers

Getting to and from the cruise terminal from the airport or your hotel is not included in your cruise fare. The most common ways of getting to the cruise terminal are rideshare services like Lyft or Uber, an airport shuttle bus service, taxi, or hotel shuttle.

Rideshare services and taxis tend to be the most straightforward option as guests can call a ride at the time that is most convenient for them. Shuttles, however, can be a cost effective option if guests are traveling solo or with just one other person to a cruise terminal further away from the airport (such as from Orlando to Port Canaveral).

The exception to this is for passengers who have purchased an airport-to-pier transfer through Royal Caribbean’s Air2Sea program. If this option was purchased when booking a flight, transfer to and from the airport will be provided to guests.

If you have questions about getting to the airport on disembarkation day, contact guest services onboard to learn about your options. They may also have shuttle bus space available which you can purchase for an extra cost.

Your thoughts

Which extra cruise costs do you typically buy? Which do you always skip? Is there a money saving tip you want to share? Post your questions and suggestions in the comments!

Welcome to March, and the unofficial start of spring! This month sees lots of families heading for a cruise vacation to get a break from the chilly temperatures up north.

If you have a cruise in the month of March, this article aims to provide you helpful information & tips for what to expect on a cruise.

March is the beginning of the spring break cruises, which means families and college kids take cruise vacations in greater numbers because of time off from school.

Every school has a different week for spring break, so spring breakers can be on various sailings in March or April.

If you're looking to get a deal on a cruise, the first week is usually safe from spring break, which means lower demand. Likewise for the very end of the month, when anyone who didn't take a spring break cruise earlier will wait for April.

Ships sailing in March 2022

• Freedom of the Seas from Miami, Florida
• Anthem of the Seas from Cape Liberty, New Jersey
• Odyssey of the Seas from Fort Lauderdale, Florida
• Allure of the Seas from Fort Lauderdale, Florida
• Symphony of the Seas from Miami, Florida
• Independence of the Seas from Port Canaveral, Florida
• Harmony of the Seas from Port Canaveral, Florida
• Mariner of the Seas from Port Canaveral, Florida
• Oasis of the Seas from Miami, Florida
• Liberty of the Seas from Galveston, Texas
• Adventure of the Seas from Galveston, Texas
• Explorer of the Seas from San Juan, Puerto Rico
• Navigator of the Seas from Los Angeles, California
• Quantum of the Seas from Singapore
• Grandeur of the Seas from Bridgetown, Barbados
• Brilliance of the Seas from Tampa, Florida
• Enchantment of the Seas from Baltimore, Maryland
• Jewel of the Seas from Miami, Florida
• Wonder of the Seas from Fort Lauderdale, Florida beginning March 4.
• Vision of the Seas from from Fort Lauderdale, Florida beginning March 7

The big news this month is Royal Caribbean's newest cruise ship starts sailing on March 4th.

Wonder of the Seas will sail from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and offer 7-night cruises for just March and April before heading to Europe.

Wonder of the Seas is the biggest cruise ship in the world and has a lot of new features and enhancements.

In addition, Vision of the Seas should return to service on March 7 from Port Everglades.

Vision was one of four ships to have cancelled cruises due to the Omicron variant.

Serenade of the Seas remains out of service until April, and Spectrum of the Seas is also out of action until she can restart in Singapore in April.

Health protocols for March 2022

There is a big change for Covid-19 protocols for cruises in March.

With the Omicron variant fading and Covid-19 numbers falling on land, Royal Caribbean has been able to relax a great many protocols.

As of February 25, 2022, Royal Caribbean will require a 95% vaccination rate among crew and passengers.

• All Royal Caribbean guests age 12 and older must present proof of full COVID-19 vaccination with the final dose of their vaccine administered at least 14 days before sailing. 
• Royal Caribbean does not require kids younger than 12 to be vaccinated

The biggest change is cruises in March will not require passengers that are fully vaccinated to wear masks while indoors.

Children will likely have to wear masks indoors and in crowded settings, and masks are required for all children while at the Adventure Ocean youth program. 

Guests under 2 do not have to wear a mask at any time.

Vaccinated guests must show a negative COVID-19 test result for a PCR or antigen test taken no more than 2 days before boarding day. 

Unvaccinated kids age 2 to 11 must show a negative test result for a PCR test (not antigen) taken no more than 3 days before boarding day. This test cannot be taken on boarding day for unvaccinated kids.

Guests under 2 years of age do not need to complete a pre-cruise test. 

Keep in mind there are different health protocols for Grandeur of the Seas sailings from Barbados, so you should review those if sailing from there.

March weather on a cruise

If you like warm, but not hot temperatures with clear skies, then March is the month for you.

The Caribbean sees some of the best weather in the month of March, thanks to comfortably warm temperatures.

You will find warmer temperatures in places like The Bahamas, and if you take a Southern Caribbean cruise, expect average high temps to reach the low 90s.

March is still the dry season in the Caribbean, so you should not have to worry too much about getting soaked from a rainy day.

If you happen to take a Mexican Riviera cruise from Los Angeles, you can expect a very dry month of sailings.

Historical data indicates the average rainfall in March for most of the major destinations in Western Mexico approaches zero.

Catalina Island averages about two inches of rain in March, and Ensenada averages about one inch of rain in the month of March.

While the rain is consistently absent in March, the temperatures can vary greatly. 

Northern destinations will feel the effects of cooler spring weather while southern destinations will be warmer because they are closest to the equator.

Ensenada and Catalina Island have an average high temperature of 70 degrees Fahrenheit, but you'll find an average high temperature in Mazatlán in the upper 70s and low 80s in Cabos San Lucas.

Spring Break

As mentioned, March is when the first spring break cruises begin, but don't assume your ship will be turned into a wild party.

Spring break runs from first week in March to last week in April. Since every school has different calendars, you will find spring breakers spread out over the course of these two months.

Spring break is not just for college kids. You will find plenty of families with kids of all ages on spring break and looking to get away for a few days.

If your goal is to avoid spring breakers, longer sailings tend to have less college-aged cruisers.  They tend to favor the less expensive 4-night cruises.

A cruise vacation can be a very social experience, with some people making friends or just good conversation along the way.

Cruises are the vacation that has something for everybody. You’ll find everything from large family reunions to solo cruisers and everyone in between.

There are times I have been on the same ship with people I know and have not run into them once. I then see the photos they publish on social media and it was like we took a completely different vacation.

So, what do you do when you’re a solo cruiser or just want to meet people onboard? Where do you go? How do you strike up a conversation? Well, it’s easier than you think. Hopefully these tips will make it seem less overwhelming.

Before your cruise

You can get a head start on making connections before you even sail. Facebook groups that are created for your specific ship and sail date are extremely popular.

The groups are a great source of information for the ship and destinations but they also organize activities.

There’s usually a meet up on the first day for sail away. I have also been in groups that organize slot pulls in the casino and cabin crawls that allow members to see different room categories.

Bear in mind, some moderators keep their group more active than others but members always welcome to post questions or comments.

Ask for a large table at dinner

On embarkation day you will find a crew member outside of the main dining room handling special requests, including seating. Feel free to ask to be included at a large table. You’ll get to know your table mates and will be able to share your experiences together each night at dinner.

This option may not be available at the moment due to the Covid restrictions. It will definitely return and remains one of the best way to meet people onboard.

Communal seating at specialty restaurants

Two specialty restaurants on Royal Caribbean have seating for people at the same table that may not be part of your family.

Izumi hibachi and Chef's Table are both group experiences, where you will be seated at a large table. Assuming your group is not large enough to take up all the seats, the restaurant will usually fill in the other spots with other guests.

Since you're all seated together for a little while, a conversation might spark a friendship.

Adventure Ocean

It's not just adults that can make friends on a cruise ship. Just like at school, kids will be together with other children when at the Adventure Ocean program and friendships are commonly made.

The key for facilitating friendships is for kids to go to Adventure Ocean on the first night of the cruise.  Just like the first day of school, if everyone is new, it's easier to say hello and break the ice.

The same strategy is true of the teen club, where going the first day makes a difference in getting to know everyone.

Excursions

Many people make connections with their fellow cruisers on excursions. Your group will be together for several hours so it’s only natural to strike up a conversation with the person next to you on the bus in between stops.

Some city tours also offer a lunch. That’s a great time to get to know others.

Trivia

Trivia is offered on every ship several times throughout your cruise. Categories can include general knowledge, music, movies, geography and logos, just to name a few. Some ships feature a progressive trivia that has events throughout the cruise and the winner is determined on the last day.

I have met several people at trivia. Teams are usually up to 6 people. If you see a couple or group of four, feel free to introduce yourself and ask to join the team. Even if you’re not comfortable with the category, it will at least break the ice and get you talking.

The Quest

The very popular adult scavenger hunt is a great place to meet people. It’s a team environment that requires audience participation. Everyone is there to laugh, make fools out of themselves and have fun. Just the nature of the competition is enough to have you bonding with your fellow teammates.

After the game, learn more about your new friends by celebrating your team’s victory at your favorite bar.

Bars

Whether it’s karaoke or listening to live music in the pub or Schooner, bars are by far the easiest places to meet people on a ship, just as they are on land.

The conversation can start by seeing someone with an interesting looking drink and asking what it is. Before you know it, you’ll be performing a duet in Studio B or the Star Lounge.

Diamond or Suite lounge

This is my personal favorite and definitely where I have met the most people. Tables in the lounges are typically designed for four or more people. My husband and I have frequently had others ask to sit at our table when it’s just the two of us travelling.

Conversation flows easily in the Diamond Lounge since everyone has the same interest, cruising. A lot! We’ll talk about trips we’ve been on, favorite ships and ports, and places on our bucket list we haven’t been to yet.

You’ll typically see the same people in the lounges night after night, before or after dinner times.

It’s not just the evening happy hour either! The lounges are always open. Some mornings we’ll go for a coffee or a bagel when we’re not in the mood for a huge breakfast.

We’ll also frequent the lounge during the day for some quiet time. There’s always people in there reading, chatting or planning their next cruise. It’s a very social venue.

Final thoughts

The most important thing to keep in mind when looking to meet people is to be friendly and approachable. Be aware of the conversations going on around you. Feel free to add your thoughts. You’ll find most of your fellow cruisers are very friendly and will welcome your company.

If possible, try to be helpful. For example, just last weekend there was a new cruiser in the elevator that had no idea where to go for free coffee. She had already missed the floor for the Windjammer so I suggested she go to Café Promenade. She was under the impression they only sold specialty coffees. Since that’s where we were headed anyway, I walked with her there and pointed out where the crew member was serving the complimentary coffee. Little things like that are easy ice breakers and will get you remembered.

Whether you make friends for a lifetime or just the duration of your cruise, there are plenty of places to meet and get to know others. Then there’s always social media to help you stay in touch.

Deciding between Harmony of the Seas and Anthem of the Seas means choosing between two cruise ships with lots of of fun things to do.

Whether you’re planning your first cruise or fiftieth, Royal Caribbean’s newest and biggest ships are likely to be of interest to you. The Quantum and Oasis Class ships are among the biggest in the world and come with seemingly endless dining venues, entertainment choices, and activities.

How do the two classes of ships compare, though? Let’s take a look at Anthem of the Seas and Harmony of the Seas to see how the ships compare and contrast in layout, itineraries, and offerings for guests.

Overview

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Harmony of the Seas is the 3rd ship in Royal Caribbean’s Oasis Class, the largest class of cruise ships. She has a capacity of 6,687 guests, length of 1,188 feet, and measures 226,963 in gross tonnage. Her maiden voyage was in May of 2016.

Anthem of the Seas is the 2nd ship in Royal Caribbean’s Quantum Class. She has a capacity of 4,905 guests, length of 1,141 feet, and measures 168,666 in gross tonnage. Her maiden voyage was in November of 2014.

Ship Layouts

As an Oasis Class ship, Harmony of the Seas is split into seven main neighborhoods. These are designed to help break up crowds by spreading guests around the ship, and all are quite distinct from each other:

• The Boardwalk neighborhood is located on Deck 6 in the aft of the ship. This neighborhood is designed like a nostalgic boardwalk near the sea, with an arcade, carousel, souvenir shops, and dining options. The Aquatheater entertainment venue is also located here, where guests can enjoy aqua shows involving diving, synchronized swimming, and slack lining.
• Central Park is a neighborhood unlike any other on a Royal Caribbean ship. With over 10,000 plants and flowers, guests might feel as if they are walking through a park on land as opposed to being onboard a cruise ship. Dining and shopping venues are in Central Park as well.
• The Pool and Sports Zone is where guests will find pools, jacuzzis, water slides, and several signature activities.
• The Royal Esplanade is the main thoroughfare on Oasis Class ships, with dining, shopping, bars, guest service areas, and more.
• Entertainment Place is where guests go to watch signature entertainment and live music onboard.
• The Vitality Spa and Fitness neighborhood is where guests can work on wellness, whether at a massage, hair appointment, or fitness class.
• The Youth Zone is the hub of Royal Caribbean’s Adventure Ocean programming, offering activities for guests aged 6 months to 17 years.

Anthem of the Seas does not have the same neighborhood concept as an Oasis Class ship. However, the ship can still be broken into a few distinct areas:

• The Via is on Deck 5 as you walk toward the aft of the ship. Here guests will find artwork, dining, shopping, Next Cruise, and the Two70 entertainment venue.
• The Royal Esplanade is similar to the Royal Promenade on Harmony of the Seas. This is a two-story hub of dining venues, bars and lounges, shopping, and guest services areas.
• The Pool Deck area is where you will find all of the pools on Anthem of the Seas as well as the Solarium
• The Sports/Seaplex area is where many of the main signature activities are offered on Anthem of the Seas

Food & Dining

Both Harmony of the Seas and Anthem of the Seas share many of the same dining venues:

• Main Dining Room
• Windjammer Cafe
• Solarium Bistro
• Coastal Kitchen
• Cafe Promenade
• Sorrento’s
• Chef’s Table
• Wonderland
• Jamie’s Italian
• Chops Grille
• Izumi (sushi)
• Johnny Rockets
• Dog House

As an Oasis Class ship, Harmony of the Seas has several more dining options than Anthem of the Seas.

• Park Cafe is a complimentary dining option in the Central Park neighborhood on Harmony of the Seas. Open for breakfast and lunch, Park Cafe offers an assortment of breakfast sandwiches, pastries, a bagel station, sandwiches, a salad bar, soups, and more.
• 150 Central Park is a specialty venue located in the Central Park neighborhood focused on sourcing local ingredients. Menu highlights include lamb wellington, roasted tenderloin, and fried cheesecake.
• Mini Bites is located near the Sports area onboard and offers quick, complimentary grab-and-go options such as quesadillas and hamburgers. Breakfast is also available with made-to-order omelets, bacon, and more.
• Sabor is a Mexican specialty restaurant offering small plates, build-your-own tacos, quesadillas, and more. Menu highlights include spicy beef empanadas, red snapper ceviche, grilled cobia tacos, steak quesadillas, and cinnamon churros. Sabor also features a tequila bar and margarita menu.
• Izumi on Harmony of the Seas also has a hibachi option, whereas the venue is only for sushi on Anthem of the Seas.
• Vitality Cafe is a casual venue featuring grab-and-go sandwiches and pastries. Freshly made smoothies are also available here as well as protein shakes. The food options are complimentary at Vitality Cafe while drinks come at an extra cost.
• Harmony of the Seas also has a Starbucks location on the Boardwalk.

One venue that is offered on Anthem of the Seas but not on Harmony is Cafe @ Two70. Located inside the Two70 entertainment venue found only on Quantum Class ships, Cafe @ Two70 has a similar selection of food to Park Cafe on Oasis Class ships.

There is also a coffee bar located in Cafe @ Two70 where guests can order specialty alcoholic and non-alcoholic coffee drinks. Cafe @ Two70 is a complimentary venue aside from specialty beverages.

The second venue found on Anthem of the Seas but not Harmony is La Patisserie. Guests can order specialty coffee and tea beverages here as well as French delicacies including macarons, cheesecake, and eclairs. La Patisserie is an extra-cost venue.

Outdoor dining on Anthem of the Seas includes a section of the Windjammer which offers views of the aft and an outdoor area of Jamie’s Italian on the Promenade Deck.

Outdoor dining on Harmony of the Seas can be found at dining venues located at the Boardwalk and Central Park neighborhoods, including Jamie’s Italian, Chops Grille, 150 Central Park, Park Cafe, Sabor, and Johnny Rockets.

Bars & Lounges

Both Harmony of the Seas and Anthem of the Seas share many of the same bars and lounges:

• Vintages 
• Pool Bars
• English-style pub
• Schooner Bar
• Bionic Bar
• Boleros
• Solarium Bar

Several bars and lounges feature excellent views of the pool deck and ocean, such as the North Star Bar on Anthem of the Seas and Mast Bar on Harmony of the Seas.

Harmony of the Seas has several smaller bar areas located throughout the ship as well, including Wipe Out Bar on the Sports Deck and Trellis Bar in the heart of Central Park.

Perhaps the most unique bar on Harmony of the Seas is the Rising Tide Bar. This is a bar that moves up and down three stories between the Royal Promenade and Central Park neighborhoods. The bar is adults-only and free to ride.

There are a few more lounges to note on Harmony of the Seas:

• On Air, a karaoke bar where guests can put their vocal skills to the test as they sing their favorite songs.
• Jazz on 4, an intimate jazz club which offers live music each evening
• The Attic, a comedy club where guests can listen to a selection of comedians each cruise

Guests looking for a nightclub lounge experience onboard have options on both Anthem and Harmony of the Seas. On Anthem of the Seas guests can go to the Music Hall, a two-story venue with a stage, dance floor, two bars, comfy seating, and pool tables.

On Harmony of the Seas, guests will enjoy Dazzles. This is another two-story music and dance venue which overlooks the Boardwalk neighborhood.

Entertainment

Both Anthem and Harmony of the Seas offer top-notch entertainment options. Both ships have a Royal Theater with a full-length Broadway musical performance, but each ship has a selection of other shows in the diverse entertainment venues found onboard.

Anthem of the Seas is home to Two70, a signature venue found only on Quantum Class ships. This is a venue in the very aft of the ship with floor-to-ceiling windows offering 270 degree views of the ship’s aft. The venue incorporates technology through moveable television screens and light effects into its performances. Both live and “virtual” concerts are available here.

Anthem of the Seas offers the following signature shows:

• Broadway musical: We Will Rock You
• Two70 show: Spectra’s Cabaret
• Other: The Gift (Royal Theater)

In addition to the Royal Theater, Harmony of the Seas has an Aquatheater and Studio B ice skating rink. The Aquatheater is unique to Oasis Class ships and is where Royal Caribbean’s signature aquatic shows are performed.

Harmony of the Seas offers the following signature shows:

• Broadway musical: Grease: The Musical
• Studio B: iSkate and 1887: A Journey in Time
• Aquatheater: The Fine Line and Hideaway Heist
• Other: Columbus: The Musical (Royal Theater)

Pool Deck

Harmony of the Seas features three main pools: the Main Pool, the Beach Pool, and the Sports Pool. The pools are all very similar to each other, with pool games being offered in the Sports Pool and a beach-style design at the Beach Pool.

Anthem of the Seas has two main pools: one indoor pool and one outdoor pool. As Quantum Class ships were designed to function in both cold and warm weather, Anthem of the Seas has plenty of indoor pool deck space, with indoor jacuzzis and an indoor pool bar as well.

The Solarium on Harmony of the Seas does not have a pool, but instead has four jacuzzis throughout the space. The Solarium is not an enclosed space, but offers plenty of shade. The Solarium on Anthem of the Seas is fully enclosed, and features a series of cascading pools as well as jacuzzis.

Both ships offer plenty of activities for kids on the pool deck, too. Harmony of the Seas has a large Splashaway Bay area with kid-sized water slides, splash pad areas, water dump buckets, and water sprayers.

Anthem of the Seas has the H20 Zone, which features shallow pool areas for young children. There is also a small kids pool here as well that is not as shallow as the splash pad areas.

Harmony of the Seas has three water slides: the Cyclone and Typhoon slides, where guests can race each other, and the Supercell slide, where guests spin around a “champagne bowl” to make their way to the bottom.

Being a Quantum Class ship, Anthem of the Seas does not have water slides.

Onboard Activities

With Anthem of the Seas being a Quantum Class ship and Harmony of the Seas being an Oasis Class ship, many of their signature activities onboard differ from each other.

Harmony of the Seas offers several signature activities that are included in your cruise fare. The majority of these activities take place on the sports deck or Boardwalk:

• The zipline, where guests can fly nine decks over the Boardwalk neighborhood
• A carousel
• The Ultimate Abyss, a dry slide where guests slide 9 stories down from the Sports Deck to the Boardwalk neighborhood
• Ice skating in Studio B
• Mini golf
• Sports court (outdoors)
• Water slides
• Escape room

Likewise, Anthem of the Seas offers several activities only found on Quantum Class ships:

• The North Star, an observation pod that rises from the pool deck to offer 360 degree views from 300 feet above sea level
• RipCord by iFLY, an indoor skydiving simulator
• Bumper Cars
• Roller skating
• Circus school
• Xbox gaming area

The hub of activity on Anthem of the Seas is in the SeaPlex. The SeaPlex is the only indoor sports center in Royal Caribbean’s fleet, where guests can enjoy indoor soccer, volleyball, pickleball, dance classes, and more. This is where signature activities such as bumper cars, roller skating, and circus school are located.

Most signature activities on both ships are complementary. On Anthem of the Seas, though, there may be both a complementary and extra fee option for the North Star and RipCord by iFLY. Guests should make reservations for these activities via the Royal Caribbean app as soon as they get onboard, as complementary reservations can fill up quickly.

Both ships offer the Flowrider and rock climbing wall. Because Harmony of the Seas has a higher capacity, there are two Floriders and two rock climbing walls available. There are also two arcades on Harmony, whereas Anthem of the Seas has one arcade.

Itineraries

Harmony of the Seas and Anthem of the Seas offer itineraries that differ from each other in length, departure port, and region of the world.

Anthem of the Seas itineraries

Anthem of the Seas splits her time sailing from Southampton, England, and Cape Liberty, New Jersey. She sails from Southampton from May to October, offering a variety of European cruises. Highlights include:

• 7-night Norwegian Fjords Cruises visiting destinations such as Bergen, Alesund Olden, Haugesund, Kristiansand, and Geiranger
• 7-night Spain & France cruise visiting La Rochelle, La Coruna, Bilbao, and Paris (Le Havre)
• 12-night Discovery The Canaries Cruise visiting ports including Madeira, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Tenerife, Lisbon, La Coruna, and Vigo
• 9-night Spain & Portugal Cruise visiting Bilbao, La Coruna, Vigo, Lisbon, and Seville
• 14-night Mediterranean Cruises with cruise options including destinations such as Lisbon, Barcelona, Nice, Rome, Naples, Gibraltar, Malaga, Valencia, Palma de Mallorca, and Ibiza

For the rest of the year, Anthem of the Seas sails from Cape Liberty, New Jersey offering cruises to the Caribbean. Cruise selections include:

• 7-night Bahamas & Perfect Day Cruise visiting Port Canaveral, Nassau, and Perfect Day at CocoCay
• 8-night Bahamas & Perfect Day Cruise visiting Port Canaveral, Miami, Nassau, and Perfect Day at CocoCay
• 11-night Southern Caribbean Cruise visiting San Juan, St. Maarten, Antigua, St. Lucia, and St. Kitts

Transatlantic cruises are also offered on Anthem of the Seas when she sails to and from Europe.

Harmony of the Seas itineraries

Harmony of the Seas sails from Cape Canaveral until October 2022, when she will begin offering cruises from both Ft. Lauderdale and Miami, Florida. Regardless of the embarkation port, Harmony of the Seas offers Eastern, Western, and Southern Caribbean cruises. Highlights include:

• 7-night Eastern Caribbean cruises visiting destinations such as St. Maarten, St. Thomas, Nassau, St. Kitts, Labadee, Puerto Plata, and Perfect Day at CocoCay
• 7-night Western Caribbean cruises visiting destinations including Roatan, Costa Maya, Cozumel, Grand Cayman, Falmouth, Nassau, and Perfect Day at CocoCay
• 8-night Southern Caribbean cruises visiting Perfect Day at CocoCay, Aruba, and Curacao

Staterooms

As Quantum and Oasis Class ships, both Anthem of the Seas and Harmony of the Seas offer everything from the most basic interior rooms to exquisite loft suites. Both ships offer the Virtual Balcony for interior rooms as well.

In addition, Anthem and Harmony of the Seas offer the Royal Suite Class. Depending on the suite, guests will be in either Sea Class, Sky Class, or Star Class, all of which bring exclusive benefits, including access to the Coastal Kitchen restaurant.

Star Class is the most exclusive suite class and includes a Royal Genie, who is a personalized concierge during your time onboard.

A difference between the two ships are the neighborhood rooms available on Harmony of the Seas. Oasis Class ships offer both Central Park and Boardwalk balcony rooms, which look down into their respective neighborhoods.

Central Park rooms do not have an ocean view, but Boardwalk balcony rooms will have a partial ocean view to the side. There are a few interior “Central Park view” staterooms available as well, which have a porthole looking into Central Park.

Harmony of the Seas also has Aquatheater suites which overlook the ship’s aft and Aquatheater area. 

Which ship should I choose?

Harmony of the Seas and Anthem of the Seas will both provide an excellent, modern cruising experience. There is no shortage of things to do and places to eat on either ship, but there are a few key things to consider before choosing one over the other.

First, the itineraries on the ships are totally different. For those living in the northeast, Anthem of the Seas can be a nice option for a Caribbean cruise that does not require flying to Florida. Anthem of the Seas is also a good option for those based in Europe, due to her wide range of European itineraries.

Harmony of the Seas offers more traditional Caribbean cruises. Because she departs from Florida, there are fewer sea days required to reach Caribbean destinations. Therefore, guests can see a wider range of Caribbean islands on Harmony of the Seas than they can on Anthem of the Seas.

Second, Anthem of the Seas has more of a traditionally-built cruise ship layout whereas Harmony of the Seas, being an Oasis Class ship, has a completely different layout to other Royal Caribbean ships.

Both ships offer plenty to do for families. Harmony of the Seas may have a slight edge toward toddlers and young children with a full sized Splashaway Bay on the pool deck, whereas Anthem of the Seas has many activities for older children like bumper cars and RipCord by iFLY.

Ultimately, whichever ship you choose will lead to a fantastic Royal Caribbean cruise, and you will definitely not run out of things to do and see on either ship.

Both Mariner of the Seas and Independence of the Seas sail out of Port Canaveral, so choosing which ship to sail is a decision many cruisers face.

Both ships have been recently amplified through Royal Caribbean’s Royal Amplified program. Because of this, both Mariner and Independence of the Seas feature many of Royal Caribbean’s newest and most popular activities, restaurants, and entertainment.

The two ships have more similarities than differences, although there are a few key things to make note of before you decide which ship works best for you.

Overview

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Mariner of the Seas is a Voyager Class ship and, with her maiden voyage in November of 2003, is the older of the two ships. She has a length of 1,020 feet and measures 139,863 tons. The capacity of Mariner of the Seas is 4,000 passengers at double capacity.

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Independence of the Seas is a Freedom Class ship whose inaugural sailing was in May of 2008. She is larger than Mariner of the Seas, with a length of 1,112 feet and measures 154,407 tons. The capacity of Independence of the Seas is 4,515 at double capacity.

Voyager and Freedom Class cruise ships have a nearly identical layout. Many of the venues are in the exact same place on Mariner of the Seas as they are on Independence of the Seas. Since Independence of the Seas is longer, though, there is more room for additional venues, pool space, and retail. 

Food & Dining

Mariner of the Seas and Independence of the Seas share many of the same dining venues, with a few key differences. Of course, both ships offer complimentary venues including the Main Dining Room and Windjammer Marketplace.

As far as specialty dining, both ships have Izumi Sushi & Hibachi, Chops Grille, and Johnny Rockets.

Mariner and Independence both have Playmakers, Sorrento’s, and Ben & Jerry’s as well, but the layouts of the venues are different on each ship.

The Playmakers on Independence of the Seas is on Deck 4 and is a significantly larger space compared to the Royal Promenade location on Mariner of the Seas.

Likewise, Sorrento’s and Ben & Jerry’s have their own standalone shops on Independence, whereas they are part of Cafe Promenade on Mariner of the Seas.

The Italian specialty restaurant onboard is different on each ship. On Mariner of the Seas you will find Jamie’s Italian whereas Independence of the Seas has Giovanni’s Table. While the restaurants each serve popular Italian dishes, Giovanni’s Table tends to have more traditional Italian dishes while Jamie’s provides a modern take at Italian cuisine.

Mariner of the Seas has a Starbucks while Independence of the Seas does not. On the other hand, Independence of the Seas has a Sugar Beach, where kids and adults of all ages can stock up on their favorite candy and sweets.

Bars & Lounges

Independence of the Seas and Mariner of the Seas share many of the same bars and lounges, including the Pool Bar, Solarium Bar, Star Lounge, and English-style pub. 

Mariner of the Seas is one of two Royal Caribbean ships to offer The Bamboo Room, a Polynesian-themed bar in the Royal Promenade serving tropical-themed drinks including the Banana Colada and the Island Old Fashioned.

The venue transports guests to an island-setting with its tiki decor, bossa nova music, and colorful uniforms worn by the crew members.

Independence of the Seas does not have The Bamboo Room in the Royal Promenade. Instead the ship has Vintages. Vintages is Royal Caribbean’s specialty wine bar which offers an elaborate selection of wine from around the world.

This venue has a more tranquil atmosphere compared to the party-themed atmosphere found at The Bamboo Room. Wine tastings and other events are common throughout the day, although they come at an extra cost.

Independence of the Seas also has a Champagne Bar on the Royal Promenade. This is a relaxed, no-frills bar with comfy seating. While called a champagne bar, other drinks are available here.

Both ships have Boleros, the Latin-themed bar on Deck 4, although the Boleros on Independence of the Seas has more seating space than the venue on Mariner of the Seas.

In addition, both ships have a Viking Crown Lounge on Deck 14, which offers stellar views of the pool deck and ocean. While they are named differently (Olive or Twist on Independence and Ellington’s on Mariner), the venue is the same.

Entertainment

Mariner of the Seas and Independence of the Seas have the same selection of entertainment venues: the Royal Theater and Studio B. The shows performed on each ship are different, though.

The ice show in Studio B on Mariner of the Seas is the circus-themed Ice Under the Big Top. While not the best show for those afraid of clowns, Ice Under the Big Top transforms the ice skating rink into a colorful, dynamic carnival.

In the Royal Theater guests can enjoy the original production of Gallery of Dreams, which tells a story of a young artist whose sketches become reality. Gallery of Dreams takes guests on an adventure in both time and space to bring history to life.

Unlike Mariner of the Seas, Independence of the Seas has a Broadway show onboard. Guests can enjoy the full-length Broadway production of Grease: The Musical in the Royal Theater.

The ice show on Independence of the Seas is Freeze Frame. In this show, figure skaters take guests on a journey through memorable world events. Through set design with historic newspaper clippings, art, cars, fashion, and music, guests will feel as if they are time traveling while in Studio B.

Both ships have alternative entertainment as well, including comedians, vocalists, and live bands.

Pool Deck & Sports Area

As a Freedom Class ship, the pool deck on Independence of the Seas is longer than that on Mariner of the Seas. The main pool area is similar on both ships, with two main pools and several jacuzzis.

Of the two ships, Independence of the Seas features more pool deck activities for children. Independence’s pool deck has Splashaway Bay, an aqua park with waterslides, water sprayers, and water dump buckets. In addition, there is a baby splash zone as well as a full-sized pool connected to Splashaway Bay.

Mariner of the Seas does not have a baby splash zone or Splashaway Bay, but still has a variety of kid-friendly activities around the ship.

Lunch options on the pool deck vary by ship, too. On Independence of the Seas you will find Fish & Ships, which serves fish and chips, fried shrimp, fried calamari, lobster rolls, battered sausage, and more. Fish & Ships has an upcharge, with items costing between $3 and $10.  

On Mariner of the Seas is the Boardwalk Doghouse. This is a complimentary venue where you can choose from a selection of hot dogs and sausages with toppings including sautéed mixed peppers, onions, and sauerkraut. 

The adults-only Solarium on both ships are similar to each other. However, the hot tubs within the Solarium on Independence of the Seas are cantilevered, so they stick out 12 feet over the ship’s side with nothing but the ocean below!

The Sports Court on the two ships are nearly identical as well. Both feature The Perfect Storm Waterslides, a Skypad, colorful step climbers, a Flowrider, basketball court, and rock climbing wall.

Onboard Activities

Onboard activities are similar on Independence of the Seas and Mariner of the Seas. Both ships feature the following:

• Escape Room
• Perfect Storm Waterslides
• Skypad
• Colorful step climbers
• Flowrider
• Basketball court
• Rock climbing wall
• Ice skating
• Laser Tag

Itineraries

Independence of the Seas offers 3 and 4-night cruises to the Bahamas from Port Canaveral. The cruises visit Nassau and Perfect Day at CocoCay, and the 4-night cruise will have a sea day.

Mariner of the Seas has a wider range of itineraries. Here are a few itineraries you may see on the ship leaving from Port Canaveral:

• 5-night Eastern Caribbean and Perfect Day cruise visiting Labadee and Perfect Day at CocoCay
• 4-night Bahamas Getaway cruise visiting Grand Bahama Island and Nassau
• 4-night Bahamas and Perfect Day cruise visiting Nassau and Perfect Day at CocoCay
• 5-night Western Caribbean cruise visiting Cozumel and Costa Maya
• 5-night Caribbean and Bahamas cruise visiting Nassau and Labadee
• 4-night Western Caribbean cruise visiting Nassau, Grand Bahama Island, and Perfect Day at CocoCay

Mariner of the Seas also offers longer, 8-night sailings with itineraries visiting destinations including Bermuda, Aruba, Curacao, Bonaire, Nassau, Perfect Day at CocoCay, Puerto Rico, St. Croix, St. Kitts, and La Romana.

Which ship should I choose?

Deciding whether to pick Independence of the Seas or Mariner of the Seas comes down to a few considerations.

If you’re looking for a quick weekend getaway, Independence of the Seas has more options. With 3 and 4-night cruises on a consistent weekly schedule, there is more flexibility in when you can cruise. In addition, every cruise on Independence of the Seas visits Perfect Day at CocoCay.

If you are hoping to visit destinations other than just Nassau and Perfect Day at CocoCay, booking a cruise on Mariner of the Seas will be the better option. With a wider range of itinerary lengths and destinations, you won’t be constrained to just the same ports.

As far as the ships’ layouts are concerned, the two ships are extremely similar to each other. Many guests may not even notice that Independence is in a different class of ship compared to Mariner! The places where you may notice this, though, are at the pool with the large Splashaway Bay area or on the Royal Promenade which features a few more retail stores and venues.

Guests who love watching sports may enjoy the extra-large Playmakers venue on Independence, whereas guests who plan to sip tropical drinks all day will love The Bamboo Room on Mariner of the Seas.

Ultimately, since both Mariner of the Seas and Independence of the Seas were recently amplified, they will offer the chance to try out Royal Caribbean’s newest features and amenities. And again, the ships are more similar than different, so whichever you choose will lead to a fantastic cruise experience.

Whether you are in college or taking your school-aged kids, spring break is a popular time to take a cruise vacation every year.

Spring break is the first major opportunity since the New Year holiday to go on vacation for more than just a weekend, and spring break is a popular time for many families and young people to take a cruise.

After all, cruises are usually a good time, so a spring break getaway might just be the ticket for you.

What should you know about planning a spring break cruise, and what's different about a cruise this time of year compared to other times? We've got helpful information you should know before you sail.

How busy is a spring break cruise?

Probably the number one question about spring break on a cruise ship is how busy it is onboard.

Certainly more people look to go on a spring break cruise than in the weeks prior or after, but it doesn't mean the onboard experience is a zoo either.

Spring break tends to see increased families with kids.  School is on vacation break so there will be more kids will be vacationing and that includes cruises. After all, Royal Caribbean International is a family cruise line, and there will always be plenty of children onboard, whether it is spring break or not.

When you have more children, you also tend to get more passengers. Ships run higher volume than the double occupancy capacity numbers that are often used to measure ship guest counts.  

So it may seem seem "full" onboard since there are more people than usual on a cruise.

Are there a lot of college kids?

A Royal Caribbean cruise is not the prototypical spring break vacation of choice for the younger crowd, but there are some sailings that see their fair share of them.

Generally speaking, shorter cruises, such as 3 & 4 night sailings, can often see a younger college crowd looking for a party spring break cruise. The 4-night cruises especially tend to attract college groups because they are usually priced lower since they depart on a Monday and return on a Friday.

A short cruise might seem like the obvious choice for college student spring breakers, but a family vacation can also go on longer sailings.

Longer sailings tend to come with a higher price tag, and that can put it beyond a college friendly budget.

How much is a spring break cruise?

Like any cruise throughout the year, the price of spring break cruises will depend on the ship, length, cabin, and itinerary you choose.

The travel industry largely follows supply and demand principals the "in demand" aspect of spring break can lead to higher prices.

Here are some cruise basics if you're new to cruising and trying to wrap your head around a spring break cruise:

• Inside cabins will cost less than balcony staterooms, and balcony rooms will cost less than suites
• Short cruises tend to cost less in total, but longer cruises can be cheaper per night
• Most food and entertainment is included. 
• Alcohol costs extra, but unlimited drinks packages can save money.

Just like pricing out airfare, you need to compare cruise fare prices to get a sense of which sailing will be the best deal for you.  The best strategy is to book your spring break cruise as early as you can. Cruise prices tend to go up over time, so booking earlier will likely net you a better price.

Can I get a free cruise if I bring a group with me?

Yes, Royal Caribbean does offer benefits to the tour conductor (that's you) if you form a group with Royal Caribbean.

You can't just have a bunch of friends book a cruise and then ask Royal Caribbean for credit.  You must instead work with the groups department to create a group, and then be named the leader. Don't worry, this is pretty easy and even easier if you work with a travel agent.

A travel agency can set up a group with Royal Caribbean that can possibly save money, or get you special perks back.  Moreover, the travel agent can handle the logistical issues of payments, price adjustments and answering common questions.

When you organize a group, you're going to need to get 8 rooms booked in your group and then you can qualify for a free berth (passenger).

Bottom line, work with a travel agent to organize a group if you think you might be able to get at least 8 rooms.

Where do spring break cruises go?

Many college spring break cruises will visit destinations in the Bahamas and Caribbean.

Spring break occurs mostly in the month of March, as well as April.

The short 3- and 4-night cruises will visit Royal Caribbean's private island of Perfect Day at CocoCay and Nassau.

These cruise ships sail out of Port Everglades (Ft. Lauderdale), Port Canaveral (east of Orlando), or Miami.

Another popular destination is Cozumel. No matter where you go in the Caribbean, expect to find beautiful beaches and plenty of activities.

How to get a deal on a spring break cruise

The best way to get the best value on any cruise is to book it as early as you can while there are lower prices.

As you get closer to spring break, more and more people book cruises and that leaves less capacity, which in turn drives prices up.

If you're on a tight budget, booking a cruise more than a year in advance might get you a spring break for less money than if you wait to just a few weeks before the ship is scheduled to sail.

Another benefit of booking a cruise early is you can reprice it if the price drops before final payment date. Booking early is usually your best option.

Four-day cruises tend to be priced lower than three-day cruises. Longer cruises might cost more overall, but be cheaper per night.

Read more: 45 ways to save money on a Royal Caribbean cruise

Do I need a passport for a spring break cruise?

U.S. citizens may travel with only a birth certificate together with a government issued photo ID on cruises that begin and end in the United States.

It's a good idea to invest in a passport book, but not necessary.

Regardless, I highly recommend getting a passport to streamline the U.S. Customs process and protect yourself in case of an emergency.

Read more: Do you need a passport for a cruise?

Is there a way to know if I'm booked on a college party cruise?

Royal Caribbean will not tell you which groups are booked on a cruise you are sailing on.  There are usually various groups on any sailing, but some people would rather avoid a cruise if there are a lot of college-age kids.

The best strategy is just google your ship name, sail date, and the words "spring break" to see what comes back.

As an example, "Freedom of the Seas March 7, 2024 spring break" would return a result for a group on that week.

Even if you are booked on a cruise with spring breakers, it does not mean your cruise is going to be awful or ruined.  Having sailed on spring breakers an entire week on Mariner of the Seas in 2018, it ended up being a lot of fun. They did their special events, and we did what we liked. One nice thing about Royal Caribbean is that it rarely skews heavily towards one demographic entirely.

The weekend is the perfect time to take a short break, so why not go on a cruise too?

When people think of cruises, they tend to imagine a sailing that’s seven days or longer. After all, if you’re going to fly to a port for a vacation, you want to maximize your experience.

However, you can find plenty of weekend cruises available, and  the majority of which sail from Florida ports. What makes them so appealing?

Itinerary

Weekend cruises out of Florida are Bahamian itineraries. You will find either Nassau or Grand Bahama island as a port stop.

Nearly every cruise will include a visit to Perfect Day at CocoCay. What you most likely won’t find on a three day cruise is a day at sea.

The ships are more intimate

One thing to be aware of is that weekend cruises tend to be on smaller ships. While it’s not unheard of for an Oasis class ship to have a shorter, specialty sailing, it’s much more common to find Vision, Radiance, Voyager and Freedom classes doing the weekend sailings. That’s actually a good thing.

You could spend seven days on an Oasis or Quantum class ship and still never see and do everything. Think of how hard that would be with only three days!

There is still plenty to see and do onboard. Most activities that you will find on the seven day sailings are also available on the weekend cruises. From trivia and scavenger hunts to rock climbing and miniature golf.

Some ships even have a Flowrider, water slides and a sky pad. Nightly entertainment includes headliner acts such as singers or comedians, dancing in the lounges and singers in the pub and the Schooner Bar.

If your ship happens to have an ice rink, you will be treated to an amazing ice show. You can also try skating yourself during select hours in the afternoon.

If you’d rather stay indoors, you can always go to the casino. While it will be closed during the day when docked in Nassau or Grand Bahama island, it is open all day when you’re docked in CocoCay. Typical opening hours that day are 8:00 a.m. for slots and noon for table games.

Dining

While these “smaller” ships won’t have every specialty dining restaurant of their larger cousins, you will still have more choices than you could eat in three days.

Of course there is the complimentary options such as the Windjammer buffet, main dining room, pizza and ice cream at the pool. However, you can enjoy specialty dining too. Just about every ship has a Chops Grille and an Italian option, either Giovanni’s or Jaime’s.

Other ships also offer Izumi (some with Hibachi) along with a Playmakers and/or Johnny Rockets. You will still have a “dress your best” night on a weekend sailing so it’s nice to have specialty dining options.

A perfect trip for locals

Those who live in Florida have the luxury of being able to drive to your nearest port. Taking a weekend cruise means being able to go for a quick getaway without having to burn a lot of vacation time, if any.

Weekend cruises are perfect for that special celebration. You’ll always see a birthday or anniversary being acknowledged in the restaurants. These sailings have also become very popular with bachelor/bachelorette parties.

It’s a great way to have a mini vacation to celebrate with your friends.

You can add it on to longer vacation

Quick getaways and minimal time off of work is great for the locals, but why would someone want to travel a great distance for just a weekend cruise?

You could add it on to a land trip you may already have planned. Let’s say, for example, you’re coming to Orlando to visit the theme parks. You can easily add on a short sailing before or after your trip to relax or recharge after all that running around and waiting in lines.

It’s a better value than staying at a hotel on the beach

You really can’t beat the prices. Three day sailings on the Freedom of the Seas out of Miami are currently starting at $151 per person. Even if you could find a resort on the beach for that price, there is no way it’s going to include food, entertainment and transportation.

We do weekend cruises quite often, even referring to the ship as our “weekend condo.” We tend to see the same people regularly, not just the crew but fellow passengers as well! It’s like one big extended family of cruisers.

Seven day or more cruises are the perfect vacation but don’t overlook the weekend sailings when you want a quick get away to the beaches of CocoCay and to enjoy those amazing sunsets at sea.

Planning a short cruise? Check out these helpful articles:

• Is it worth it to book a short 3-night cruise?
• Which is the best Royal Caribbean cruise ship?
• Top 9 bad mistakes to make on a Royal Caribbean cruise
• Why you shouldn't book the cheapest cruise you can find
• How do I pick the perfect first cruise?

It's the first day of your cruise and you just got onboard for a full week fun exploring, enjoying, and relaxing.  So what should you do first?

Embarkation day is a busy day because there's a lot happening and it's your opportunity to set yourself up for a great sailing to come. 

What should you do once you get onboard to ensure everything goes smoothly?

Here's a to-do list for once you get onboard your cruise ship for a fun and productive first few hours.

Do the muster drill first

Royal Caribbean requires all passengers to complete its safety drill, and since you board the ship on the same deck (or close) your muster station is located, it's a good idea to take care of it quickly.

There's two steps to the safety drill: first, watch the safety video and listen to the emergency alarm in Royal Caribbean's app.

Read more: Royal Caribbean app walkthrough and tips

The next step is to visit your muster station so you know where it is. Here, your kids can get their muster bracelet that they wear for the entire cruise in the event they become separated from their party (or are in Adventure Ocean) during an emergency.

Eat lunch

If you arrive before 1pm, go to the Windjammer and grab lunch. If it's after 1pm, skip down to "Check if your stateroom is ready".

You will find less of a crowd in the back of the Windjammer.

Another good tip is while you're sitting down to eat, take your phone back out and go through the Royal Caribbean app to book entertainment for your cruise. Just connect to the WiFi and the ability to book shows should become available.

Read more: Where can I eat on the first day of my Royal Caribbean cruise?

Book specialty dining

If you have a dining package, now is a good time to make reservations at specialty restaurants.

You can go to any specialty restaurant and they can book you a time at any other specialty restaurant for you.

If you don't have a dining package, you can easily book reservations via the app or by stopping at the restaurant.

Keep an eye out on embarkation day for roaming waiters that are looking to book passengers for specialty dining. They can make individual reservations whether you have a dining package or not, and can be more convenient option to reserve a time rather than walking to a restaurant.

Check if your stateroom is ready

After 1pm, check to see if your cabin is ready.

You will find your SeaPass cards wedged in the stateroom number sign. If it's ready, collect your SeaPass cards, explore your stateroom, drop off your bags.

The Entertainment Schedule will be in your room as well. Work with your family to know which shows you want to see together. Also use this time to quickly scroll through the Daily Planner on the Royal app on Days 2 and 3 to identify activities you want to do together as a family. Both of these will impact which times you reserve for Adventure Ocean.

Register your kids for Adventure Ocean

After 2pm, Adventure Ocean will open up for an open house and registration.

Registering your kids now saves time later.

Proceed up to Adventure Ocean, which is usually located on Deck 12 on most ships. 

There will be three sessions per day (unless your ship is in port):

• 9am - 12pm
• 2pm - 5pm
• 7pm - 10pm

Depending on your sailing, the staff will either give you a certain amount of hours/sessions you can pre-book, or instruct you on what reservations they are offering.

If you child is less than 36 months old, she/he can be registered for the Nursery. The Nursery will also allow parents to reserve some time in advance, so be sure to review what to expect when booking nursery time.

Get a drink!

Take a break from running around, and enjoy a welcome aboard cocktail.

Getting a drink on the pool deck is a great spot, so head up to the pool bar and order one to kick off your vacation.

If you want to get a drink earlier than this but don't have your SeaPass card yet, you can just let the waiter/bartender know your cabin number. They can look you up, and verify if you have a drink package or not.

Try a top deck activity

The first day of the cruise is the best time to check out the most popular activities on a cruise ship, such as water slides, hot tubs, the pool, or bumper cars.

Ideally, keep a bathing suit with you in your carry-on luggage and change back in your cabin or in one of the public restrooms on the pool deck.

The reason why lines are shorter for these activities on the first day is most people are just getting the bearings, and they likely packed their bathing suit in the luggage that will be delivered to their cabin onboard.

Take advantage of these less-crowded times to enjoy high-demand activities.

Check your dining room table assignment

The afternoon is also a good time to verify your dinner assignment, especially if you have traditional dining.

Take a look at your SeaPass card and find your Main Dining Room and table number. You can walk into the dining room and check exactly where your table is to verify its location and that it has enough seats for everyone in your party.

If there is an issue, look for the head waiter (likely at the entrance of the main dining room) to speak to about a change.

Collect your luggage and unpack

Crew members will begin delivering luggage to staterooms in the early afternoon, so it might be worthwhile to see if your luggage has arrived yet.

Bags will be left outside your room door. If your bag is not there yet, don't sweat it. It will be delivered later on, although you could walk down the hall to see if it's in a staging area ready to be delivered. If so, you can feel free to grab it and bring it to your cabin instead.

Once you get luggage, now is a good time to unpack.

More information

Want to learn more about your Royal Caribbean cruise? Check out these articles:

• 25 things you need to know for your first day on a cruise ship
• 2022 Royal Caribbean Cruise Planning Guide
• Things I've done that I'll never do again on a Royal Caribbean cruise
• 7 things worth checking again on a Royal Caribbean cruise
• 6 things you may not have tried on a Royal Caribbean cruise

Cruising is an excellent vacation choice for many reasons, but one of the most important reasons for me is how affordable it is. I like to think I am a savvy travel planner - always looking for the best deals whenever I can. Cruising is my favorite way to vacation, so I need to save money where I can to ensure the next cruise isn't too long after the last.

With a little flexibility and research, you can find super affordable cruises for less than $60 a day. In fact, I just booked a cruise for January 2022 that will cost me only $57 each day on the Brilliance of the Seas. If I took myself out to a fancy restaurant, I would easily spend more than that on a single meal!

Using the search function on Royal Caribbean’s website, I started to research different sailing options. Since my schedule was wide-open for January, I selected that month with a few options for departure port in Florida. 

Sorting prices from 'low to high' is my favorite way to find cheap cruises. It might be a no-brainer, but this really allows me to quickly compare a few different options between departure dates, ships, number of nights, and initial cruise cost per person.

Although 3 and 4 night cruises might be the cheapest options, these can be more expensive per day than sailings that are 5 to 7 nights. Weekend cruises have their own demand from short vacationers, while longer cruises can really offer the potential for huge savings.

There are a few other key factors to keep in mind while looking for the cheapest cruise option. When looking at January cruise options, it didn’t shock me that the most expensive cruises were the ones that sailed over New Years.

I also figured that I wouldn’t be sailing on a huge, new ship. As expected, I found the cheapest option per day was on Brilliance of the Seas, which is a smaller and older ship in Royal Caribbean’s fleet. The sailing was just 31 days away when I booked it! 

Based on my experience booking cheap Royal Caribbean cruises, here are the key tips that I would share to find the best deal on a cruise.

Two kinds of cheap

When someone wants to book a cheap cruise, do they mean the cheapest out the door price for a cruise or the cheapest nightly rate?

While the total price for your cruise is usually what most people consider when booking a cheap cruise, sometimes there is better value in a cruise that gets you more time onboard for less.

Short sailings (under 5 nights) will almost always be the cheapest bottom line price for a cruise because their duration is limited enough it comes in at a low price.

However, short sailings usually have a higher per-night cost than some longer sailings.

When choosing between sailings to find the best deal, often a longer sailing can be a better deal even if the total price is higher because you're paying less per night of the cruise. Moreover, you're getting more vacation time with a longer sailing.

Read more: How to have the best experience for cheap on Royal Caribbean

When to book

In my experience, there are two approaches to finding the cheapest cruise fares. I’ve found that booking cruises 1-2 months in advance is a good timeframe to snag the best deal. Last minute cruising is very lucrative, especially if you live close to a cruise port!

On the other hand, booking a year or two in advance, especially for more unique sailings or highly sought after itineraries, can help you lock in the cheapest fare. This is because the cheapest rooms usually book first on popular sailings, like my 2022 Holy Land cruise. My family and I booked this sailing shortly after it was announced to make sure we could get two interior cabins.

My husband and I looked at booking an Iceland and Ireland cruise for May 2022 just recently. The only available rooms were balconies and suites, which isn’t great for our travel budget. We ended up booking a different sailing where we could have an interior guarantee cabin, which saved us $1,500. 

Read more: Should I book a guarantee stateroom on a cruise?

For my next cruise on January 8, I booked the cruise with only  one month to go before the sail date. If cabins aren’t filling for a cruise with a closer departure, the cruise line is more likely to drop the price in an attempt to make the sailing more profitable. When demand is low, they have lots of cabins to fill! I was able to snag an inside guarantee cabin for $570 for 5 nights!

Flexibility

If you’re trying to book an itinerary with a specific date that aligns with a holiday or spring break, you can expect to pay extra. When kids are in school, you’ll find that fares are the cheapest. The same is true for sailing in the travel offseason.

I cruised the Southern Caribbean in 2018 over New Years Eve and found the itinerary to be nearly 3x the price as the same itinerary that sailed a few weeks later. Since we didn’t have flexibility with our schedule, we were stuck with paying the inflated price.

Mid-January is right after the holidays; families cruising with kids will be looking to take advantage of the week between Christmas and New Years. By having flexibility in my schedule, I was able to find this cheap cruise for $57 a day.

For example, a 7 day cruise on the Serenade of the Seas that sails on December 24 is $2,370 for 2 people. The same itinerary on January 22 is less than half with the cost coming out to be $970.

Smaller Ships

Royal Caribbean loves to hype and advertise that they have the biggest ships in the world. The biggest ships typically come with the highest price tags. Ships that have more amenities and attractions are expensive for the company to operate. For them to be profitable, the cruise fares simply need to be more expensive.

If you are willing to sail on smaller ships, you can typically find great prices! Smaller ships don’t have all the bells and whistles, but they certainly can still provide a great cruise experience. You are also able to visit more secluded ports that can’t accommodate the bigger ships. I find that smaller ships are more relaxing because they don’t attract as many kids either. 

Read more: What’s the difference between a large and small cruise ship?

Older Ships

If you’re looking to sail on a brand new ship, you likely won’t be snagging a stellar deal. When it comes to older ships, pricing comes down to supply and demand. The newer ships are likely to have higher demand, meaning Royal Caribbean can charge more than they typically would. They know travelers are eager to sail on the latest and greatest, which means you’ll be paying a pretty penny to be among the first to sail.

On the other hand, older ships are much cheaper to operate. More often than not, older ships are more affordable. You can still have a great cruising experience while sailing on an older boat - without breaking the bank!

Read more: What was added to each Royal Caribbean ship during its Royal Amplified refurbishment

Itinerary Choice

Back to flexibility! If you’re like me and just love to cruise, I will go to Cozumel 100 times over if it means I am on a cruise ship and I snagged a good deal! By having some flexibility in our destination choices, we are able to have more options available.

Read more: What is the cheapest month to go on a cruise?

If we want to book a unique itinerary, we know we will be paying more. My last cruise before the pandemic was a 7-day Best of Japan sailing on Spectrum of the Seas. Although one of my favorites ever, it was the most expensive cruise of my life. No surprise though, as it was a unique itinerary on a brand new ship.

During its deployment to Asia, Spectrum of the Seas was a brand new ship and typically only offered 4 and 5 night sailings. There were only a handful of itineraries that offered 7 nights. For those of us traveling to China for the cruise, we were more interested in a longer sailing so we could see as much of Japan as possible!

With only a few longer itineraries available to Japan, Royal Caribbean was able to charge us more. We knew it was costly, but it was a big trip for our family and we wanted to sail for 7 days to make the trip feel worthwhile. We were told that sailing had more non-resident cruisers than any other sailing that season - so many other cruisers had the same mindset!

I might be sailing to Cozumel for the 7th time next month, but I am happy to be cruising regardless of the itinerary given how affordable it is. For me, any cruise is a great cruise!

Read more: 45 ways to save money on a Royal Caribbean cruise