Hope you had a great week and are staying safe out there. Hopefully you had a chance to keep up with what's new with Royal Caribbean this week. But if not, here's a roundup of this week's news.

Royal Caribbean has cancelled all of its Labadee visits for 2026.

Visits had been suspended through April, but the cruise line made the decision this week to cancel the rest of the scheduled visits through the end of December.

Gang violence has not gotten any better, and concern for safety prompted the change.

Royal Caribbean News

• Royal Beach Club Paradise Island review
• A new proposal could solve the Tampa cruise problems limiting ship size
• 7 takeaways from Royal Caribbean's Points Choice reveal to expand loyalty
• Inside the $10,000 Ultimate Family Cabana
• I took 4 friends on a Royal Caribbean cruise. It was actually a great guys' trip for men our age.
• Do you need a passport for an Alaskan cruise?
• What a Junior Suite on the newest cruise ship is like
• The Bahamas wants to build a new cruise port on a tiny, hidden island
• The "super flu" ruined one family's cruise vacation after everyone got sick
• 9 things new cruisers wish they knew before their first Royal Caribbean cruise

New RCB Video: Royal Beach Club Review: Best excursion ever?

Have you subscribed to the Royal Caribbean Blog YouTube Channel? We share some great videos there regularly, all about taking a Royal Caribbean cruise! This week, we are sharing our latest video — Royal Beach Club Review: Best excursion ever? — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

Royal Caribbean Group launches Points Choice

It's about to become easier to cruise across any of the Royal Caribbean Group brand with the launch of Points Choice.

Beginning at the end of this month, you can earn loyalty points when cruising on any cruise line within the Royal Caribbean Group family.

Points can be moved up to 14 days after a sailing, with changes managed online.

Royal Beach Club updated the menu to offer more food and healthier choices

Less than a month after opening, Royal Caribbean revamped its food menu at the Royal Beach Club so that it can offer more options.

Citing guest feedback, the menu received an update this weekend to add fresher and lighter array of choices.

Plus, other menu items were reworked to rely less on fried food.

Royal Caribbean reversed an unpopular change to its specialty restaurant

Grilled vegetables are back on the menu at Izumi hibachi once again, following controversy that it was removed.

The menu was updated recently to remove grilled vegetables from the included food choices. Instead, it would cost $5 to add it.

Royal Caribbean has now rolled it back to include them as part of the hibachi meal.

Passenger misses ship after going to the wrong port

A cruise ship passenger got confused and went to the wrong Florida homeport and missed their cruise completely.

The confusion stemmed from where "Port Everglades" is versus "Port Canaveral".

Furthermore, their appeal to join the ship in The Bahamas was denied.

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 592nd episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available, breaking down potentially big cruise ship news.

If the rumor mill is right, Royal Caribbean could be on the brink of revealing they're working on two different new ship classes at the same time.

Please feel free to subscribe via YouTube, iTunes or RSS, and head over to rate and review the podcast on iTunes if you can! We’d appreciate it.

Happy weekend! We hope you are enjoying a wonderful and relaxing weekend and managing to stay warm. Now it is time to sit back with a cuppa tea or java, and check out the latest in Royal Caribbean cruise news.

A woman was charged for defrauding her clients over $50,000, including making fake Royal Caribbean cruise bookings.

Tavia Thomas is alleged to have defrauded families by taking payments for vacations and failing to actually book them.

Thomas faces three counts of third-degree grand larceny, three counts of first-degree scheme to defraud, and two counts of fourth-degree grand larceny.

Royal Caribbean News

• Royal Caribbean breaks ground on new Miami cruise terminal
• Quantum of the Seas embarkation delayed by over four hours because of medical emergency
• The Royal Up bid trick (it's all luck and availability)
• 16 Do's and Don'ts of taking a Royal Caribbean cruise in 2026
• Can you cruise with a felony?
• 8 ways to celebrate a birthday on your Royal Caribbean cruise
• Rare look inside a cruise ship captain's living quarters
• The trick to finding cheap cruises is picking the right time
• 10 stylish and casual outfits that are perfect for a cruise and the office

New RCB Video: Boarding day cruise ship tips for 2026

Have you subscribed to the Royal Caribbean Blog YouTube Channel? We share some great videos there regularly, all about taking a Royal Caribbean cruise! This week, we are sharing our latest video — Boarding day cruise ship tips for 2026 — and don’t forget to subscribe to our channel.

Royal Caribbean rumored to announce new ship class soon

A new report claims a French shipyard is poised to announce plans to build a new Royal Caribbean ship class.

According to the report, it's for a "a class of medium to large tonnage ships for Royal Caribbean."

It's speculated this could refer to the Discovery Class ships.

Royal Caribbean banned new tech gear

There's now a new list of things Royal Caribbean won't let you bring on a cruise ship.

The cruise line's list of banned items that you aren't allowed to bring on a ship now includes more cybersecurity gear.

The changes include things like satellite dishes, routers, and more.

Royal Caribbean recategorizes some cabins on Legend of the Seas

Passengers booked on Royal Caribbean's next new cruise ship got emails about a change in room assignments.

Guests booked in certain cabins on Legend of the Seas got a notification that cabins have been recategorized and it's necessitated a change in rooms.

That's lead to some people to be upgraded or moved to a different cabin that can accommodate their party size.

16 best foods on Royal Caribbean

There's lots of great food to try, but Matt has his list of 16 best food that he'll eat every time.

While he admits he's no food critic, these are routinely the kind of food that never disappoints.

French onion soup, crepes, Tomahawk steak, and more made his list. 

Welcome to the first week of 2026, and here is your look at all of the Royal Caribbean news you might have missed in the past week.

At just 5 years old, Aydin is the youngest person ever to reach Royal Caribbean's highest loyalty program tier.

While sailing on Star of the Seas, he was recognized by the ship's crew for making it to Pinnacle Club status at a special ceremony.

He's been on enough cruises in his short life to earn 700 points in Crown and Anchor Society.

Royal Caribbean News

• Royal Caribbean passengers impacted by airspace closures after U.S. strike on Venezuela
• New way to buy cruise line merchandise without being on a ship
• You might be able to save up to $400 on a Royal Caribbean cruise with new discount codes
• Our readers say these are their favorite Royal Caribbean cruise ship snacks
• Non-refundable deposits: What are the restrictions and is it worth it?
• 10 New Year's cruise resolutions to make in 2026
• After 14 cruises in 2025, these are the best things I did on Royal Caribbean cruise ships this year
• Inside vs balcony cabin on Wonder of the Seas
• Can you bring alcohol on a Royal Caribbean cruise?

Video: Royal Caribbean Drink Package Guide for 2026 cruises

Have you subscribed to the Royal Caribbean Blog YouTube Channel? We share some great videos there regularly, all about taking a Royal Caribbean cruise! This week, we are sharing our latest video: Royal Caribbean Drink Package Guide for 2026 cruises.

Royal Caribbean made a change to the menu at its most popular specialty restaurant

Cruisers have noticed Royal Caribbean recently dropped what's included at Izumi hibachi.

Vegetables are seemingly now not included anymore with the meal, and it's just the proteins and fried rice.

Grilled vegetables are offered either as one of the proteins or for a $5 surcharge.

3 Royal Caribbean rumors that might be confirmed in 2026

With a new year, maybe this is when we'll get confirmation details about three major rumors.

The cruise line always has a number of projects and initiatives in development, but there can be information leaks occasionally.

I hope this is the year we'll get further details on a few key rumors that have been swirling for a long time.

What this strange looking thing on a cruise ship is really for

No, it's not a harpoon. But a lot of cruisers think this is something much more nefarious than it really is.

On Oasis Class ships, the pool deck has a retracted piece of equipment that is often the source of intrigue.

While there are plenty of funny ideas, it's a pretty mundane piece of equipment.

Why are cruises so popular right now?

Cruises have never been more popular, and it's largely because of how attractive they are for a vacation.

By 2028, 42 million people worldwide will go on a cruise and that's up from 34.6 million in 2024.

This rapid growth is fueled by a growing segment of the population that is intrigued to try it out.

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 590th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available, with Matt reminiscing about things he wishes Royal Caribbean would bring back.

Some concepts and features were so good, and yet, they were removed.  He'd love for a few of them to be brought back because they were so darn good.

Please feel free to subscribe via YouTube, iTunes or RSS, and head over to rate and review the podcast on iTunes if you can! We’d appreciate it.

Happy New Year! Before we pop champagne and toast to a better year next year, we have a look back at all the Royal Caribbean news from this week to share.

Royal Caribbean quietly added one more cruise deployment for new cruises to book in 2027-2028.

The "Remaining Caribbean" deployment was added to the schedule and will be released in a few weeks.

What it entails remains to be seen, but there could be some answers to missing ship questions.

Royal Caribbean News

• Royal Caribbean started its Christmas and New Years sale
• The top Royal Caribbean news stories of 2025
• When could Royal Caribbean's new Points Choice start?
• 6 mistakes I wont be making on Royal Caribbean cruises in 2026
• How I'd rank 4 different inside cabins
• The 5 most underrated cruise ship activities people skip too often
• Royal Caribbean Blog staff holiday wish list
• 13 things to know before going on Wonder of the Seas

Video: The BEST and WORST Cruises I Took in 2025

Have you subscribed to the Royal Caribbean Blog YouTube Channel? We share some great videos there regularly, all about taking a Royal Caribbean cruise! This week, we are sharing our latest video: The BEST and WORST Cruises I Took in 2025.

Royal Caribbean is launching 3 extraordinary projects in 2026

As we look forward to 2026, Royal Caribbean is ready to launch three big new projects.

Cruise fans have good reason to be excited, as we're going to get more than just a new ship.  It's going to be a year of incredible expansion.

By the end of the year, we'll have not only a new ship to sail on, but new places to explore.

The unwritten rules of the cruise buffet

Thou shall know the buffet rules before going up for seconds!

Before you hit the Windjammer or El Loco Fresh, you should be aware of unwritten cruise ship buffet rules that you're expected to know.

Buffets are about as ubiquitous on cruise ships as horns on cars, but it's not a free-for-all in there.

Royal Caribbean's new beach club have readers rethinking trips

Now that the Royal Beach Club is open, people are starting to reconsider their plans in Nassau.

Traditionally, Nassau has been a "let's stay on the ship" port because it lacked quality excursions. 

That's changed with the opening of the beach club, and cruise fans are taking note.

Big vs Small ship: What it's like to try the smallest ones

Many cruisers start off with big ships, but then start to wonder what it's like to go on a small ship.

Royal Caribbean's fleet has ships of many sizes, including a few that have much less than 4,000 passengers.

Elizabeth went on Vision of the Seas and was pleasantly surprised by how un-disappointed she was.

Merry Christmas! The holidays are here, and so is our weekly round up of this week's Royal Caribbean news.

We have a sneak peek at Royal Caribbean's first beach club that will open in a few days in The Bahamas.

After taking a 10 minute ferry ride, Matt got to try out what this special kind of shore excursion has to offer.

From heated pools, to powder white sand, to a DJ party, we have a first look to share of what you can expect.

Royal Caribbean News

• 7 things that surprised me on my first visit to the Royal Beach Club
• Royal Caribbean surveying guests about what they want at new Greek Isles beach club
• Star of the Seas cabins to avoid
• 9 first time cruise questions that a group of 100 influencers asked
• 13 gifts that are perfect for a cruise too
• How I decorated my cruise ship cabin for Christmas for just $40
• I broke my own cardinal cruising rule and while it worked out, I had more anxiety than was worth it

Video: Royal Beach Club - First Look!

Have you subscribed to the Royal Caribbean Blog YouTube Channel? We share some great videos there regularly, all about taking a Royal Caribbean cruise! This week, we are sharing our latest video: Royal Beach Club - First Look! 

Multiple Royal Caribbean sailings cancelled after one ship is redeployed

At least 18 sailings on Freedom of the Seas have been cancelled so far as a result of a change in Royal Caribbean's schedule.

Affected guests were emailed a notification that their plans have been changed and the ship has been forced to be redeployed.

"We apologize for the inconvenience," the email said with an explanation of what options guests have to rebook or cancel.

Bigger cruise ships could finally be coming to Baltimore

Newly approved plans by the Maryland Transportation Authority Board could finally allow bigger ships to sail to Baltimore.

A vote was held to approve new bridges over Chesapeake Bay that would give enough clearance for bigger cruise ships.

Up until now, the bridges were too low for anything but Royal Caribbean's oldest and smallest ships.

Royal Caribbean doesn't have free Wi-Fi, but here are the internet options on a cruise ship

Royal Caribbean will likely never offer free Wi-Fi, but there are different options to stay connected.

Passengers can buy internet access packages, or rely purely on the Royal Caribbean app for free. Plus, there are other options to.

We recommend understanding your options before you sail to save money and be ready to go on the first day.

Royal Caribbean to help redevelop St. Thomas cruise port

Royal Caribbean is partnering with another Caribbean port to help redevelop what it offers.

The project's goal is to transform Crown Bay District into a vibrant, mixed-use destination for residents and visitors, with better commercial, recreational, and cultural spaces. 

Details are slim right now, but plans are in place to move forward.

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 588th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available, with Matt's thoughts on recent awards.

Cruise Critic announced its 2025 award winners, and Matt thought a few categories had the wrong winner chosen.

Please feel free to subscribe via YouTube, iTunes or RSS, and head over to rate and review the podcast on iTunes if you can! We’d appreciate it.

Good news, we are all one week closer to our next Royal Caribbean cruise!  In case you missed any of the Royal Caribbean fun from this week, here is our weekly round up!

A grandmother was caught with a loaded gun while on a Royal Caribbean Cruise and was jailed in a prison in The Bahamas.

She claims she "accidentally" forgot to leave the gun in her car before the cruise.

She was arrested when trying to reboard Liberty of the Seas while docked in Nassau, Bahamas. The Royal Bahamas Police Force boarded the ship and arrested her for possession of a firearm and ammunition.

Royal Caribbean News

• Family sues Royal Caribbean after cruise passenger died, was allegedly served 33 drinks
• Royal Caribbean "crowns" new beach club with 43 foot tall logo.
• "Challenging" winds forces Royal Caribbean to delay cruise ship return
• Royal Caribbean changes over a dozen itineraries on Spectrum of the Seas to avoid Japan
• Burrowing owls set to return to the U.S. after stowing away aboard cruise ship
• Royal Caribbean submits plans to Mexico for its new beach club
• Virgin Voyages offers status matching to Royal Caribbean and Celebrity guests
• I always do 6 things before I book a cruise if I have to fly there
• I tried 8 new things on cruise ships this year and one is my new favorite
• Royal Loft Suite on Royal Caribbean's Star of the Seas photo tour
• I always check my cruise bill for 5 things before the sailing ends to avoid fixing it later
• 8 real-world tips you need for cruising this holiday season

New RCB Video: Changes Royal Caribbean Made In 2025 That I DON’T Like

Have you subscribed to the Royal Caribbean Blog YouTube Channel? We share some great videos there regularly, all about taking a Royal Caribbean cruise! This week, we are sharing our latest video — Changes Royal Caribbean Made In 2025 That I DON’T Like — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

Unruly passenger punches cruise ship crew member: video

A guest punched a crew member in the face after some kind of a disagreement, and it was captured on video.

The incident took place on Icon of the Seas at its waterpark.

The man yelled and argued with a crew member before he punched him and then quickly left.

How honest should you be with Royal Caribbean's post-cruise survey?

One question on Royal Caribbean's post-cruise survey has a lot of passengers confused as to how they should really answer it.

The survey is an important tool for evaluating how well each ship, department, and service is onboard.  The cruise line takes it very seriously because feedback can alter policies and promotions.

Some cruisers are worried about how their responses impact the careers of crew on the ship they just sailed on.

When is Perfect Day Mexico going to open?

With 2027-2028 cruises available to book, the big question is when will the first passengers be able to visit Perfect Day Mexico?

It's slated to open sometime in 2027, but there's been no official date and no sailings advertise they will visit it yet.

Executives have hinted when we might see the gates open.

New seasonal 2027-2028 cruises have been released

The last batch of new cruises for the 2027-2028 season in North America were released this week.

13 ships based out of Florida, Louisiana, Puerto Rico, Colombia, and Panama are part of this week's release, including Allure of the Seas, Legend of the Seas, Mariner of the Seas, and Enchantment of the Seas. 

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 587th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available at all our links.

Some things Royal Caribbean offered instantly became Matt's favorites, only to be removed later. It seems like Matt might be the "kiss of death" for them.

Please feel free to subscribe via YouTube, iTunes or RSS, and head over to rate and review the podcast on iTunes if you can! We’d appreciate it.

Good news, we are all one week closer to our next Royal Caribbean cruise!  In case you missed any of the Royal Caribbean fun from this week, here is our weekly round up!

Watch out, repricing a Royal Caribbean cruise might be more difficult than last time you tried it.

Someone claiming to to "work in the pre-cruise department" of Royal Caribbean, shared why the repricing rules have changed.

New terms and conditions may alter if you're able to take advantage a price drop.

Royal Caribbean News

• Cruisers without REAL ID could soon pay extra $45
• Dense winter fog delays three Royal Caribbean cruise ships
• PortMiami, Port Canaveral set yearly records for cruise passengers
• I tried a free food hack on my Royal Caribbean cruise that I couldn't believe was so good
• I sailed on Star of the Seas for 7-nights and saw passengers making 6 mistakes
• What is the best time to eat dinner on a cruise ship for better schedule of shows, pool time, and kids
• 7 things I wish I knew before my first cruise on Star of the Seas
• 5 things that surprised me about Carnival's Amber Cove
• Hiding ducks on a cruise got an upgrade, and all the kids on my ship were using a new app to make it better
• How to pick a cruise you'll love

New RCB Video: 6 Things People Worry Too Much About On A Cruise

Have you subscribed to the Royal Caribbean Blog YouTube Channel? We share some great videos there regularly, all about taking a Royal Caribbean cruise! This week, we are sharing our latest video — 6 Things People Worry Too Much About On A Cruise — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

Trademark reveals plans for a new restaurant

A new trademark application made with the United States Patent and Trademark Office points to a possible new restaurant coming to Royal Caribbean ships.

While trademark applications are vague and don't always lead to a tangible product, it's a sign of what the cruise line may be strongly considering.

"Saved my Honeymoon": Royal Caribbean CEO saves couple from losing their cruise

Reaching out to Royal Caribbean's CEO actually got one couple the one-time exemption they desperately needed.

When a couple realized they were expecting a baby and it would now interfere with their cruise, they thought they would lose their vacation money.

Thanks to a tip from the internet, they were able to change dates even though the official rules prohibit it.

First cruise ships will return to Jamaica after Hurricane Melissa

Cruise ships will be able to return to Jamaica again.

Hurricane Melissa devastated the island, and ships had to go elsewhere while clean-up efforts commenced.

However, Falmouth is officially open to cruise traffic once again. 

16 years ago, the biggest cruise ship ever debuted (and it changed cruises forever)

The arrival of Oasis of the Seas literally changed the cruise industry and continues to impact it to this day.

Exactly 16 years ago, the maiden voyage of the first Oasis Class cruise ship took place.

This ship fundamentally altered the economics and perception of what a cruise vacation is all about, and ships built today are still judged against Oasis.

Happy Sunday and Happy Thanksgiving weekend! I hope you enjoyed a wonderful holiday with family and friends! There is a lot of Royal Caribbean news to share this week.

In less than a month, Royal Beach Club Paradise Island opens and it's almost ready!

New photos from the cruise line show off the tremendous progress that's been made, including the new pools, cabanas, and more.

While not totally complete yet, these new on-the-ground photos show off what looks to be a beautiful spot to enjoy the day.

Royal Caribbean News

• Royal Caribbean is getting rid of the paper bill at the end of the cruise
• How far in advance can you book a Royal Caribbean cruise?
• We celebrated Thanksgiving on Star of the Seas. It was the perfect family trip
• These are the 6 things I see travelers worry too much about
• I sailed on Freedom of the Seas cruise ship and saw why it's so popular for budget vacations\

New Video: My cruise ship went to Carnival's private port

Have you subscribed to the Royal Caribbean Blog YouTube Channel? We share some great videos there regularly, all about taking a Royal Caribbean cruise! This week, we are sharing our latest video—My cruise ship went to Carnival's private port—and don’t forget to subscribe here.

The best Royal Caribbean Black Friday deals are live

Black Friday sales continue through this weekend, and it might the best time for a new discount.

While the preview sales began weeks ago, some of the offers have gotten better with the arrival of the actual Black Friday holiday.

There's more instant savings on a new cruise, as well as potentially lower prices on cruise add-ons too.

Fly in same day? Why it's a mistake to fly the same day as your cruise

If you have to fly for your cruise, never make the cardinal mistake of flying the same day as your cruise begins.

Putting your entire vacation at risk is not worth the hotel room and ancillary costs you might be able to skip by travelling the same day.

There are simply too many variables to contend with, and little wiggle room if things go sideways.

7 reasons to would avoid downsizing your cruise cabin

Real talk: saving money by moving to a cheaper cabin might be full of regret later.

Saving money by getting a downgrade is an option, but often the ramifications of that choice become apparent too late, and that could lead to problems.

Not only is a cheaper stateroom going to cost less, but it might compromise in other areas you didn't consider.

I believed these 5 misconceptions about cruising in Europe. Years later, I know I was wrong

After taking a few cruises in Europe, I realized I avoided going for silly reasons.

I believed some rather common assumptions about cruising in Europe, but I wish I had come to my senses earlier.

I think a lot of people put off a European cruise out of unsubstantiated concerns and regret it later.

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 585th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available at all our links.

Matt interviewed architects from Wilson Butler Architects, who have helped design Royal Caribbean ships for decades.

Please feel free to subscribe via YouTube, iTunes or RSS, and head over to rate and review the podcast on iTunes if you can! We’d appreciate it.

It's Sunday and it's almost Thanksgiving, but before you sit down with the family to give thanks for all the great cruises you took this year, I wanted to share this week's Royal Caribbean news with you.

A number of Royal Caribbean cruise ships closed their waterslides at the same time.

It's not unusual for any ship to conduct maintenance, but having a few ships with closed slides at the same time is interesting timing.

Moreover, the work being done is the same on each: replacing see-through parts of the slide with new sections.

Royal Caribbean News

• Royal Caribbean surprisingly bringing back beer we thought was long gone
• How Royal Caribbean climbed in the 2026 best cruise line rankings vs last year
• I always do these 6 things to avoid mishaps onboard
• Do cruise prices drop at the last minute?
• I paid just $272 for a room on Royal Caribbean's Freedom of the Seas. It was tiny, but the deal was too good to pass up
• Black Friday sale has Royal Caribbean drink packages as low as $46.99 per day
• Royal Caribbean cruise ship Wi-Fi drops price up to 55% off in Black Friday deal
• All about Icon Class ships
• I tried an aft balcony on Celebrity's newest ship — it's my new favorite

New Video: Things to NEVER Do in Your Cabin on a Cruise

Have you subscribed to the Royal Caribbean Blog YouTube Channel? We share some great videos there regularly, all about taking a Royal Caribbean cruise! This week, we are sharing our latest video—Things to NEVER Do in Your Cabin on a Cruise—and don’t forget to subscribe here.

Family of man booted from Royal Caribbean cruise for alleged assault continue vacation without him

A passenger was kicked off a cruise ship, but his family decided to continue the cruise without him.

Reports claim Royal Caribbean kicked off a man in Australia after he allegedly beat up another man just four days into the sailing.

Despite this, the man's family decided to stay onboard and continue the 10-night voyage without him.

After 100 cruises, there are 5 ships that I'll always revisit

Matt just took his 100th cruise with Royal Caribbean, and he has five ships he'll gladly go on every time.

While there isn't a bad Royal Caribbean ship, there are a few that stand out as top favorites.

Whether you're going on your first cruise or looking to get on every ship too, these are the five Royal Caribbean ships Matt highly recommends.

Biggest packing regrets from cruisers

We asked cruisers what's one thing they brought on a cruise but regretted packing it.

Over 200 comments were shared with things that seemed like a good idea to bring, but ended up being either useless, redundant, or unnecessary.

Consider this your warning of what not to waste your energy bringing along when you sail.

Diamond tips and etiquette to avoid becoming a problem and enjoy the loyalty perks

Making it to Diamond level is a big deal, but there are lots of unwritten rules you should know about it.

A surge in cruise demand has seemingly pushed a lot more people to make to this upper Crown and Anchor Society tier, and it adds a lot of great benefits.

However, you'll want to be aware of how to best utilize your Diamond status to avoid problems later.

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 584th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available at all our links.

Of all the cruise topics Matt is asked about, a few are hot button issues he can't help but not rant about every single time.

Please feel free to subscribe via YouTube, iTunes or RSS, and head over to rate and review the podcast on iTunes if you can! We’d appreciate it.

Happy Sunday! Temperatures may be dropping, but there is plenty of Royal Caribbean news to share. This is your weekly summary of all the Royal Caribbean news from this past week, perfectly fitted for your consumption.

The world's largest cruise ship will begin sailing from Galveston in 2027.

Royal Caribbean confirmed Icon of the Seas will be based in Galveston starting August 2027.

The cruise ship will be running six-day, seven-day and eight-day sailings into the Caribbean. 

Royal Caribbean News

• Rare tropical cold front forces Royal Caribbean ships to divert away from The Bahamas
• Royal Caribbean kicks off Black Friday 2025 with new bundles
• The best early Black Friday deals I could find on drink packages, beach clubs and more
• Photos show what it's like aboard the brand-new Celebrity Xcel cruise ship
• Royal Caribbean brings famous game show to its cruise ships
• What it's like to eat alone in the Main Dining Room
• Pros and cons of solo cruising
• 'Karma is a Cruise': Fan-led Taylor Swift cruise setting sail in 2026
• I tried doing every activity on one of Royal Caribbean's giant ships. I was exhausted, but would do it again

New Video: Why an inside cruise cabin is better

Have you subscribed to the Royal Caribbean Blog YouTube Channel? We share some great videos there regularly, all about taking a Royal Caribbean cruise! This week, we are sharing our latest video—Why an inside cruise cabin is better—and don’t forget to subscribe here.

Royal Caribbean is bringing back a ship to Baltimore in the summer

There will be a cruise ship sailing from Baltimore in 2027, but only during the summer.

The new deployment revealed that Royal Caribbean will return to Baltimore as a homeport in 2027 after being absent in winter 2026.

The plan is to keep a ship there seasonally for the peak summer cruise season.

A Royal Caribbean ship visited Carnival's private cruise port

In a strange occurrence, one Royal Caribbean ship visited Carnival's private cruise port.

Freedom of the Seas made a stop at Amber Cove in the Dominican Republic instead of a planned visit to Perfect Day at CocoCay because of bad weather.

The optics of a Royal Caribbean ship in a port exclusive to Carnival ships was certainly a surprise to many.

Man convicted of molesting boy on cruise ship

A 67-year-old Malaysian national was convicted this week on a child sexual abuse charge for something he did on a Royal Caribbean ship.

The incident occurred on Icon of the Seas and he was caught while onboard after molesting a young boy.

Two boys, age 7 and 9, were part of the heinous act.

Royal Caribbean sees strong demand for vacations, despite shift in consumer behavior

Consumers might be cutting back spending in some areas, but not for their vacations.

Royal Caribbean Group executives recently talked about how most people are unwilling to compromise on taking time off.

It's an interesting glimpse into how negative economic factors cause consumers to spend less, but vacation is still where splurging is king.

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 583rd episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available at all our links.

There have been a few surprises in this year's new deployments coming for 2027-2028.

Please feel free to subscribe via YouTube, iTunes or RSS, and head over to rate and review the podcast on iTunes if you can! We’d appreciate it.