I just tried one of Royal Caribbean’s most exclusive and expensive suites. Despite the amazing perks, I might book an interior cabin next time.

On my most recent cruise—a 3-night getaway on the brand-new Utopia of the Seas—I booked a Star Class suite for the first time. Star Class is the highest tier of Royal Caribbean’s Royal Suite Class, which encompasses the largest, most lavish suites in the cruise line’s fleet.

These cabins can cost upwards of $30,000 for a 7-night cruise, with the biggest suites often priced over $50,000.

As someone who typically books cheaper cabins on cruise ships, like interior rooms, I never considered booking a Star Class suite. Sure, there's nothing fancy about cruising in a dark, windowless cabin, but with so much to do on Royal Caribbean’s cruise ships, I rarely spend much time in my cabin anyway.

Related: We stayed in every type of cabin on Royal Caribbean—here's how they compared

Due to the price, I had a hard time justifying cruising in a Star Class suite. Yet when a friend’s change of plans left them with an empty bedroom in one of these suites, I jumped at the last-minute invitation to join the cruise.

After a weekend trying Star Class, though, I think I would have had just as much fun in my usual interior cabin.

I cruised in a 2-bedroom AquaTheater suite, which cost over $11,000 for the weekend cruise

For the weekend, I stayed in a 2-bedroom AquaTheater suite on Utopia of the Seas. The total cost was $11,388, or nearly $3,800 per passenger including gratuities. While usually among the cheapest Star Class cabins to book, the suite still came with a hefty price tag.

Related: Take a look inside my $11,000 suite on Utopia of the Seas

It was, however, unlike any cabin I’ve booked before. Inside were two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a spacious living room, and a wraparound balcony with panoramic ocean views.

The cabin came stocked with complimentary beverages, from seltzers to sodas, and a selection of finger foods were delivered to the room each day.

If the suite’s amenities were any indication of what my overall Star Class experience would be like, I now had high expectations.

My suite came with a personal concierge, my own “magic maker” onboard the ship

All Star Class suites on Royal Caribbean come with a Royal Genie, the cruise line’s “magic maker” for suite guests. While there are no strict guidelines as to what the Royal Genie can and cannot do for Star Class guests, their goal, in a nutshell, is to make the cruise experience as seamless as possible.

I first met my Royal Genie, Carlos, at the cruise terminal, after which he promptly escorted me onboard Utopia of the Seas and to my opulent suite. Once there, we confirmed my weekend schedule. He had already organized entertainment and dining reservations.

Related: My advice for someone using a Royal Genie on a Royal Caribbean cruise

After just minutes with my Royal Genie, I was impressed by his friendliness and attention to detail.

Throughout the weekend cruise, Carlos was truly a magic maker. He took my Starbucks and breakfast order for the following day each evening, and he also escorted me around the ship, whether to my front-row, reserved seats at the ice-skating show or to enter a specialty restaurant for dinner.

Whenever I had a question or made a special request, Carlos was available and ready to assist almost immediately.

I wasn’t used to this type of luxury, so I felt out of my element

As someone who cruises in budget cabins, I was not accustomed to the luxury of a Royal Genie. Truthfully, I don’t find it that difficult to do things myself, whether making a reservation at a specialty restaurant or reserving a theater show ahead of time on Royal Caribbean’s app.

Nonetheless, I was still curious to test the benefits of my Royal Genie further. A few hours after boarding, I messaged Carlos to request a quesadilla and glass of wine to be delivered to the suite. I felt somewhat ridiculous requesting this; I could have easily obtained the items myself with just a short walk. Regardless, my request was promptly fulfilled.

I made a few similar requests throughout the weekend, but despite the convenience, I always felt slightly uncomfortable asking too much of my Royal Genie. Knowing how diligently Royal Caribbean’s crew members work, I felt guilty asking for silly requests that I could do myself, even if this is part of the genie’s job description.

I loved having access to the ship’s exclusive, suites-only spaces

Outside of my cabin, one of my favorite aspects of cruising in a suite was having access to Utopia of the Seas’ Suite Neighborhood.

Royal Caribbean’s newest ships feature an entire neighborhood dedicated to suite guests. On Utopia of the Seas, the Suite Neighborhood encompasses the Suite Lounge, Coastal Kitchen restaurant, and an exclusive outdoor sun deck.

During my three days onboard, I took full advantage of these spaces. On a ship with over 6,000 passengers, the suites-only spaces felt like a haven away from the hustle and bustle found elsewhere.

I particularly enjoyed the ambiance of Coastal Kitchen.

This suites-only restaurant offers a more enhanced dining experience than the larger, more chaotic Main Dining Room for non-suite passengers. The menu offered upscale options like lobster risotto, and tables were far apart from each other, which provided more privacy to guests.

My Star Class suite included perks like a drink package and dining package

Aside from access to the Suite Neighborhood and a Royal Genie, another benefit of Star Class are all of the included perks.

Star Class guests receive a Deluxe Beverage Package, Unlimited Dining Package, included WiFi on one device, and complimentary laundry services, among other benefits.

Related: The Ultimate Guide to Royal Caribbean's Unlimited Dining Package

Although I always purchase a WiFi package when I cruise, I rarely spend money on extras like a dining package, drink package, or laundry. I was skeptical of whether or not I would make use of these benefits. Of course, they were already included in my cruise fare, so I tried to find value in the perks.

I started off my cruise with an embarkation day brunch at The Mason Jar, the first of five specialty dining meals during the sailing. I appreciated the wide variety of cuisine at specialty restaurants, from sushi to steak, and found the food quality higher than that in the ship’s complimentary dining venues. Of all the perks, this was probably my most utilized.

The laundry perk proved useful, too. I sent my travel outfit to dry cleaning after boarding the ship, and I later had a full bag of laundry washed so I could return home with clean clothes.

I didn’t get value from the Deluxe Beverage Package, and wished there was an option to remove it

Despite making use of the Unlimited Dining Package and laundry services, I wish I could have opted out of the Deluxe Beverage Package to save money on my cruise fare.

I never book drink packages when I cruise. As a Diamond Plus member in Royal Caribbean’s Crown & Anchor Society, I already receive five free drinks each day. Spending over $70 per day on a drink package just doesn’t make sense. I would need to drink over 10 drinks per day to maybe break even!

Related: Royal Caribbean Drink Package Info, Tips, Pros & Cons

Because of this, the drink package was one of my least favorite benefits of Star Class. It is included in the cruise fare, but I would rather save money on the overall cost of the suite and remove the package.

I understand Royal Caribbean wants the Star Class suites to be as all-inclusive as possible, but I would rather book a cheaper cabin and purchase the add-ons I actually want individually.

My Star Class benefits were unbelievable, but cheaper cabins can offer just as much fun

Despite the mind-blowing benefits that came with my Star Class cabin, I probably won’t book this type of cabin again.

Don’t get me wrong—I loved feeling like royalty onboard. However, at over $11,000 for the weekend, Star Class is simply out of my budget for regular vacations. Personally, I might rather use that money to visit a new-to-me destination, or perhaps try a luxury, all-inclusive cruise on Silversea, Royal Caribbean’s sister brand.

As someone who travels on a budget, I recognize that I am not part of the cruise line’s target demographic for Star Class. Many passengers booking these high-end suites may not find the price tag to be a concern, and they are unlikely to worry about the benefits justifying the expensive cruise fare.

Aside from just the price, though, I still wouldn't say my experience in a Star Class cabin was any more enjoyable than cruises where I’ve booked interior, oceanview, and balcony rooms.

I’ve had just as much fun watching movies with my sister in an interior room, viewing Alaska’s glaciers from the pool deck instead of a balcony cabin, and reading under the sunlight from an oceanview cabin’s cozy porthole.

At the end of the day, the main reason I cruise is to make memories around the world with those I care about. Whether I’m staying in the best or worst cabin onboard is an afterthought.

Royal Caribbean's most luxurious and expensive suites now come with a few extra costs.

Star Class is the upper most echelon of Royal Caribbean's suite program, where you get the biggest suites at sea, the services of a Royal Genie, and as much included in your cruise fare as you'll find on the cruise line.

However, the cruise line has changed what's included with the Star Class experience by adding surcharges to six restaurants.

While never a true all-inclusive experience, Star Class includes the most amenities. Guests receive complimentary specialty restaurant dining, a Deluxe beverage package (for all guests 21 and older) or Refreshment package (for anyone not legal to drink), minibar stocked with soda and water, laundry and pressing, and gratuities.

Regarding the complimentary specialty restaurant dining, there's now more added fees that come with it.

While sailing on Utopia of the Seas, our Royal Genie alerted us to extra costs at specialty restaurants to be aware of for cruises booked after November 1:

• Royal Railway: $49.99+18% adults/ $24.99+18% kids surcharge
• Izumi in the Park: $10 credit a day per person (instead of unlimited)
• Playmakers: $20 food credit per day per person (instead of unlimited)
• Chef's Table: $50.00+18% cover charge
• Izumi Omakase: $60.00+18% per person
• Izumi Hibachi: $15.00+18% surcharge

The language on what's included with Star Class on Royal Caribbean's website has also been revised.

Original information

Updated information

To be fair, Star Class has never been truly all-inclusive, and there have been certain experiences that cost extra. These new surcharges add costs on top of a very pricey cruise experience.

Because Star Class cabins are the largest you'll find and include the most options, they're the most expensive.  You can expect the cheapest Star Class cabin on a 3-night cruise to begin at $10,000.

For a 7-night cruise, many Star Class suites cost between $25,000 and $50,000. 

The three-story "Ultimate Family Townhouse" on Icon of the Seas has sold for as much as $80,000.

Should it be included?

Charging extra for some food while paying for the Star Class experience is a hot debated topic among cruise fans.

In the Star Class Cruisers Facebook group, there's a level of frustration when having to pay more for these restaurants.

"So disappointing!," is what Lance Shalit posted. "Just charge me a little extra for the room and make everything included, even downloadable photos."

"That’s absolutely ridiculous. My last Star class sailing, I spent almost $30,000 on 3-night cruise. To get nickel and dimed like that for specialty dining is a dealbreaker," wrote Amanda Mann.

Erin wrote, "one of the best benefits is not being my families vacation genie and not worrying about anything. The cost has increased and with the decrease in benefits, it is no longer justified."

Anna Janke posted, "I just simply don't understand the dining upcharged. When the room is costing tens of thousands of dollars if Royal truly believes they need the extra pennies to cover specialty dining just increase the room price by $500 or so and nobody would probably even notice."

What's appealing about Star Class?

If you've never experienced Star Class, it's essentially the "easy button" for a Royal Caribbean cruise.

Available only on the cruise line's newest biggest cruise ships, it's a suite program that blends all-inclusive, butler service, and giant suites.

First and foremost, you'll find the biggest suites in Star Class. These suites can span two or three decks, and have multiple bedrooms, private hot tub, and other impressive amenities not found in other cruise ship cabins.

The Ultimate Family Suite is a great example of the sort of experience found within Star Class, as it includes just about everything a family would want during their cruise.

Movie room, PlayStation 5, hot tub, cozy couch, in-room slide, and stocked mini-bar make this cabin extremely fun.

If opulence is more your style, perhaps the Royal Loft Suite will suit your needs.

You'll find hardwood floors, a baby grand piano, marble furnishings, wet bar on the balcony, and the biggest cruise ship shower I've ever seen.

Regardless of which Star Class cabin you pick, they all come with the services of the Royal Genie.

The Genie is best described as your wish maker. They're not quite a traditional cruise ship suite butler, but they do a lot of the things a butler can do and more.

Genies can arrange just about everything you need on the ship. In many cases, they'll allow you to bypass the line and enjoy everything with no wait.

They can get you in for a FlowRider, laser tag, or Ultimate Abyss session without having to wait in line.  They can book specialty restaurants, have food from specialty restaurants delivered to your suite, and even set up a cocktail party on your balcony.

What makes Star Class so appealing is how easy the cruise becomes to manage and enjoy. Anyone can have a great cruise without staying in Star Class, but this is the way to make it as easy as possible.

Even cruisers who are low maintenance have told me how special being in Star Class can be, and having those extras included made their cruise feel extra special.

There may not be a position on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship more mysterious than the Royal Genie.

What adds to the intrigue is that you may not even realize you see them around the ship. A Genie doesn’t wear a nametag so they easily blend in to their surroundings. They are one of the few crew members that has access to the entire ship. Their impact on a Star Class passenger though is nothing short of magical.

I recently had the honor of interviewing a current Royal Genie. He preferred to keep his name anonymous as to not draw attention to himself personally and to keep the focus on the Genies as a whole.

However, he wanted to share some things you may not know. How does one become a Genie? What training do they go through? What would they like first time Star Class cruisers to know?

Let’s find out.

Who is chosen to be a Royal Genie?

To be able to apply for the position, one must have two years of hospitality service experience and possess a degree in the industry. Genies are typically former Suite or Diamond Concierges.

Being hired from outside the company is rare but does happen. They would be expected to have similar qualifications which you would normally find as a concierge of a five star hotel.

Genies go through an extensive interview process with multiple Human Resource and Guest Service managers. They are required to make a short 2 minute video, simulating picking up a guest from the terminal and escorting them onto the ship, for example.

They must demonstrate how they would handle a variety of guest situations. The final interview is with the Genie Fleet Coordinator. The entire process can take two or more months to complete.

Read more: What is the difference between suite concierge and a Royal Genie?

Training to become a Royal Genie

Being chosen as a Royal Genie is only the beginning.

Pre-pandemic, new Genies were flown to London to take classes at the British Butler Institute. There, they learned proper service techniques from a former butler to the Queen.

They visited wineries, learned about varieties of cheeses and correct caviar presentation. Did you know you have to use plastic spoons to serve caviar as a metal one will change the flavor? I didn’t, but maybe that’s just me.

A Genie's schedule

What time a Genie starts their day will likely depend on if the ship is in port or at sea.

Port days are generally earlier as most guests request to get off of the ship first, especially if they’re calling on one of the private islands. The Genie will escort them to the beach or pool with the loungers of their choice before the general public has disembarked.

A typical end to their day would be around 11 p.m. At that point, most of the activities have ended and the specialty restaurants are closed.

At the end of their five month contract, it is common for the ships management to ask if they’d like to return to the same ship.

Additionally, when Genies receive appraisals from guests and crew members, they are able to get more opportunities; like moving to a new ship, for instance.

What can a Genie do?

The Genie’s goal is provide their guests with a unique, unforgettable and magical experience. Communication is key. They carefully listen to their guests needs and tailor their trip with experiences they may not have even suggested.

Common guest requests are parties in their suite. Everything from birthdays, anniversaries and retirements to vow renewals and celebrations of life for family members that have passed on.

Your experience may differ depending on if you’re on an Oasis or Quantum class ship.

Oasis class tends to be more “show oriented” where the Genie will make sure you have the best seat in the house.

Quantum class is more “activity oriented” where your Genie will escort you to the iFly, North Star, bumper cars and acrobat school.

The only limits on a Genie’s power are things that go against company policies and local government laws. For example, guests would not be allowed in any backstage areas and bridge tours are currently suspended due to Covid restrictions. Additionally, your Genie cannot bypass the line at customs for you on debarkation morning.

Read more: My advice for someone using a Royal Genie on a Royal Caribbean cruise

Requesting a Genie

All Genies are amazing and more than capable of handling guests requests but can you request a specific Genie?

The answer is, maybe.

It depends on the ship if the Genies are able to trade guests. It is generally not a problem, especially if you already have a prior relationship with a Genie.

Regardless, it is not unusual for the Genies to help each other out. There are at least three Genies per ship to take care of anywhere between eight and eleven suites.

How much to tip a Genie?

As a Star Class guest, daily gratuities are included in the cruise fare however, Genies are not included in that. When asked if he could provide some type of monetary guideline for genie gratuities, he instead referred to tipping as an “appreciation of service.” He reminded me that even beyond money, gratitude and kindness are always appreciated.

If you check message boards online you will find many discussions regarding tipping the Genie and the amounts vary greatly. However, $100 per cabin/per day seems to be a pretty consistent opinion among Star Class cruisers.

I would say that the amount you give should be based on how they made your vacation special, how many people they are arranging experiences for and your overall connection to them personally.

Will Star Class expand?

I was surprised to learn that a lot of the requests he receives from guests is to have the Star Class program implemented on other Royal Caribbean ships.

He recommends that guests fill out their comment cards to let Royal know their wishes.

Final thoughts

When asked what a first time Star Class cruiser should know, the response was, trust your Genie to accomplish your dreams. Put yourself in vacation mode. Relax and know that they will take care of planning and organizing everything for you.

To him, being a Genie is like being on stage. If your performance is seamless, you should never see what’s going on behind the scenes. While the Genie gets a lot of the credit, he reiterated it is a team effort with many different departments to make sure you have the most unique vacation experience possible.

If you're staying in Royal Caribbean's top tier suites, you're going to want to know how to maximize the experience, including what your Royal Genie offers.

Royal Caribbean's top suite experience is known as Star Class, and it includes a crew member who is a blend of personal concierge and magic maker.  Known as a Genie, this crew member works with just three cabins or so to manage every need onboard.

Having tried two different Royal Genies so far, my takeaway has been there is a learning curve to being able to fully utilize what Royal Caribbean packs into the experience. In fact, what's listed on paper as your benefits is really just a starting point. Depending on your genie and how vocal you are, the experience can vary significantly from person to person.

The cost of booking one of the cruise cabins that includes a Royal Genie is not cheap, with prices usually starting in the five figures. So with that kind of investment, getting your money's worth is something you probably want to investigate.

Here's my best advice for someone trying a Star Class suite for the first time, and get everything out of it you can.

It makes even basic activities easier

It's easy to start planning all the big ticket things your Star Class suite includes, but don't overlook the basics either.

Having a Royal Genie is all about making your life onboard easier, especially when it comes to lines.

Genies have the ability to cut the line for almost everything, including onboard activities.

Your genie can get you to the front of the line for laser tag, water slides, and pretty much any other onboard activity. This is especially helpful with kids, who often want to do all the fun things onboard.

Every Genie is different

If you read the description of the Royal Genie service from Royal Caribbean, it sounds like the Genie experience is going to be the same for anyone you get, but it's far from that.

Each Genie has their own style and approach to offering their services, and that means your experience can vary between different Genie's.

Star Class, by its very definition, is designed to be a personalized experience.  While the overall "rules" are fairly consistent, the specific amenities do tend to vary by ship and even among Genies on the same ship.  

I hesitate to ever say one Genie is better or worse than another. Instead, they are simply different, so if you've had a Genie in the past, your next Genie will likely do things slightly differently.

What this means is some Genie's are better about pre-cruise communication than others, while other Genies prefer to spend more time socializing with their guests than others. 

Each Genie will help you with planning your days and nights with things like specialty dining reservations, entertainment seating, booking onshore excursions, and personal escorts onto and off of the ship, as needed. They're basically a walking and talking Guest Services that you can message anytime.

When you meet your Genie onboard, it's always a good idea to share what you're looking for during the sailing.  Just keep in mind how each Genie goes about their duties will vary.

Read more: What is the difference between suite concierge and a Royal Genie?

Ask for everything

One of the early mantras I learned from others that book Star Class often is to rely heavily on the Genie to provide everything.

As someone that is used to planning a lot before the cruise and not wanting to be a bother, this was a bit of an adjustment, but the real value of having a Genie is having them take care of your every need.

What this means is any food or drink you want should go through the Genie, rather than you getting it yourself. If you want to see a show, or reserve a seat somewhere, ask the Genie.

I even asked my Genie to reserve seats at the Mason Jar bar because it was busy.  He investigated and got us reserved seats.  

Of course I can do many of these things on my own, but paying for the Star Class experience gets you this service.  So to best take advantage of what you're paying for is to not feel like a bother to the Genie by making requests.

Specialty dining galore

Another major benefit of booking Star Class is all the specialty dining is included with your cruise fare.

Just like the unlimited dining package, you can dine at any specialty restaurant and pay nothing extra for the experience.  

Unlike the dining packages, your Genie can reserve tables for you before the cruise.  He or she can also deliver any food from a specialty restaurant to your stateroom as long as the restaurant is open.

We usually feed our kids dinner before we drop them off at Adventure Ocean, so when we are in Star Class, my kids order steak from Chops Grille and pizza from Giovanni's Kitchen because it's included.

While Coastal Kitchen (the complimentary restaurant for suite guests) is included in your cruise fare as well, it seems to me the included specialty dining is far more lucrative to take advantage of for your dining plans.

Check-in is super easy

An underrated benefit of being Star Class is you'll never have such an easy check-in procedure at the cruise terminal.

Regardless of your check-in time with the Royal Caribbean app, your Genie will ask you what time you want to arrive.

When you get to the terminal, a designated porter just for Suite Guests will take your luggage and bring it directly onboard the ship immediately.

You then get to enter the cruise terminal and complete the check in process ahead of others. Your Genie meets you in the cruise terminal and takes you immediately up to your suite.

They say patience is a virtue, but it's not necessary with the Star Class.

Gratuities are crazy (depending who you ask)

How much to tip your Genie at the end of the cruise is a gray area, to say the least.

There's all sorts of ideas on what is appropriate and the amounts are all over the place.

In my experience, there is no right or wrong answer, as you have to consider all sorts of people book Star Class and there's no specific gratuity recommendation by Royal Caribbean.

The Genie will appreciate whatever gratuity you deem is appropriate at the conclusion of the sailing, but for anyone trying Star Class for the first time, you will quickly discover tipping is the wild west for Genies.

Depending on my experience onboard, I pick an amount and multiply it by the amount of people I'm travelling with and go from there.

Your cabin is your castle

Another mantra of the Star Class experience is to spend more time than ever in your cabin.

Because your Genie can deliver all the food and drinks you want to the cabin, plan on spending more time enjoying the lavish accommodations you have booked.

Star Class cabins are large, and offer a ton of living space coupled with beautiful views, so enjoy them as much as you can.

You can have not only food delivered, but cocktails too.  Heck, some Genies have arrange in-suite parties with bar cart, ice cream socials, and more.

Going back to one of the lessons I talked about earlier, ask for everything and whenever possible, have it delivered to your cabin.

Free laundry

Another underrated perk is you can enjoy all the laundry you want for no cost.

Instead of coming home with a suitcase full of dirty laundry, send it out to be laundered.

My advice is send it out daily, rather than a huge bag at the end of the cruise. It's easier to manage because you have to fill out the laundry form each time.

Is Star Class worth the cost?

I bet even if you read every part of this article, the one question you still have is if Star Class is worth paying significantly more to get.

The Star Class experience is a splurge of epic proportions, so this is not a question of can you do enough to "break even". Just like first class on an airplane, or buying a Corvette, you're doing these things because you can and it's nice to reward yourself sometimes.

Each time I've stayed in Star Class I come to the same conclusion: it was a wonderful way to spend my cruise, and it spoiled us. I think that's exactly what Royal Caribbean wants guests to feel like after they try Star Class.

Obviously not everyone will be able to afford Star Class, and that's okay. You can have an amazing cruise experience without a Royal Genie and filet mignon delivered to your cabin. 

If you do elect to try Star Class, do as much as you can to maximize your cost by utilizing all the services and perks of Star Class. 

For those who want the ultimate in luxury, Royal Caribbean offers Star Class. 

When booking a cruise, one of the first decisions to make is what kind of room to sail in. There are so many options within Star Class you may not know where to begin.

Hopefully, these tips will help you make the planning go more smoothly.  

What is Star Class?

Star Class is available on Oasis and Quantum Class ships, as well as the new Icon of the Seas.

• Allure of the Seas
• Anthem of the Seas
• Harmony of the Seas
• Oasis of the Seas
• Odyssey of the Seas
• Ovation of the Seas
• Quantum of the Seas
• Spectrum of the Seas
• Symphony of the Seas
• Wonder of the Seas
• Utopia of the Seas

Star Class suites are the largest of the suites. Some of the perks of staying in a Star Class cabin include:

• Priority boarding
• Complimentary VOOM wifi
• Complimentary specialty restaurants
• Complimentary Deluxe Beverage Package
• Access to the Suite Lounge and Coastal Kitchen for all meals
• Complimentary laundry services
• Standard gratuities (additional gratuities, for the Genie for example, are at your discretion)

The full list of benefits can be found here.

And the best part: You get the services of the Royal Genie!

Choosing your room

My husband and I are frequent cruisers but had never stayed in Star Class. We decided it would be perfect for us to try out for our 15th anniversary. 

Choosing a room was probably the hardest part for us. Upon starting our research, we quickly realized most of the suites were designed for larger parties. For example, the two-bedroom Aqua Theater Suite is a Star Class option, as well as the Ultimate Family Suites. 

We ended up picking the Owner's Panoramic Suite that is only available on Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas. It has one bedroom which was perfect for two people. 

As a bonus, it also had a hot tub on the balcony, which is something I’ve always wanted to try.

Pre-cruise communication

Approximately six weeks prior to sailing, you will receive your Star Class pre-cruise questionnaire. The questions are a way to help your Royal Genie get to know you better. 

It asks a lot about your cruising preferences and also has some fun questions. 

One that stuck out to me was, “If you could have dinner with any person living, or in history, which three would you choose?”  Our answers were Princess Diana, Walt Disney, and Agatha Christie.  

Again, it’s a way for them to gauge your personality and personal interests. 

A month before sailing, we received our first e-mail from our Royal Genie. He introduced himself to us and asked more specific questions regarding our cruise, such as whether we were traveling with anyone in a different cabin, what our preferred restaurants and dining times were, and what shows we were interested in. 

As we sent messages back and forth, we were able to come up with a tentative schedule for our sailing.

Embarkation day

When you arrive at the terminal, you will see an area specifically for Star Class check in. Make sure you keep all of your luggage with you, and not drop it off with the porters as you normally would. 

Once the agent checks you in, you will receive a ship porter that will whisk away your luggage and deliver it to your room shortly after you board.

After checking in at the terminal, your Royal Genie will meet you to escort you onto the ship. They will take you straight to your suite and give you a printout of the plan you made together. Remember, it’s not written in stone so you can change your mind at any time.

We had pre-arranged for lunch from Sabor to be set up in our suite. Beef empanadas, chicken and steak quesadillas, chips with guacamole, and even our favorite specialty margaritas were waiting for us.

We also met up with our loft attendant, which is a fancy name for cabin steward, who showed us how to use all of the controls in the room and asked if we had any special requests. 

One special request we had was to have the hot tub set up every evening after dinner. We also advised her of our normal routine so she would know when the best time was to service the room.

The Royal Genie

During our research, the biggest mystery for us was the Royal Genie. We did many searches online asking “What do they do?” 

We never truly felt we received a good answer to that and now I know why. The Genie’s services are specific to you and your wishes. 

Of course, you can expect them to make all of your dining reservations and get you the best seats in the house to every show, but they also surprise you in ways that make you feel special.

I’m not sure how every Genie does it, but for us, we were kept in constant communication with ours via WhatsApp. 

We downloaded it on our phone and could message him at any time. We hardly needed it though, he always seemed to know where we were and would check in with us at breakfast, dinner and even hanging out in the suite lounge, just to see if we were ok and needed anything.

We loved coming into our room on our anniversary and finding it decorated with cards, balloons, banners, fresh flowers, a cake with our names on it, and a beautiful Willow Tree figurine. 

A few days later, Halloween decorations were added to the room. I have no idea how he knew that was my favorite holiday, I guess it’s just part of the Genie magic.

On debarkation day, you will arrange a time to be escorted, with all of your luggage, off of the ship. 

Is Star Class worth it?

As with everything, that is based on each individual. 

We were lucky enough to get an amazing deal on our room since we booked it during the pandemic. In fact, looking at pricing for next year, our room is selling for three times what we paid. 

For a lot of people who cruise in Star Class regularly, it’s more about the personal experience than the cost, especially if you’re sailing in a group. It’s nice to have someone there to make all of your arrangements. 

We loved the experience and hope to do it again in the future.

At the top of the Royal Suite program is Star Class, which offers guests sailing in Royal Caribbean's most spacious and well-appointed rooms the top tier of benefits.

The Royal Suite Class are suites offered on the Icon, Oasis and Quantum Class ships. These ships include:

• Oasis of the Seas
• Allure of the Seas
• Harmony of the Seas
• Symphony of the Seas
• Quantum of the Seas
• Anthem of the Seas
• Ovation of the Seas
• Wonder of the Seas
• Utopia of the Seas
• Icon of the Seas
• Star of the Seas

What is a Star Class suite on Royal Caribbean?

The top tier of the Royal Suite Class is Star Class, and guests staying in this room receive a wide array of amenities, perks and services while onboard.

The benefits of Star Class include:

• Dedicated check-in line
• Priority boarding
• Access to Coastal Kitchen restaurant for breakfast, lunch, and dinner
• Bathrobes
• L'Occitane 50 ml Bathroom Amenities
• Duxiana Mattress
• Frette Linens
• In Room Mr. Coffee/Tea Service
• Complimentary Voom high-speed WiFi
  • Each guest booked in Star Tier suites will receive complimentary VOOM on one individual device of their choice.
• Concierge service
• Access to Sun Suite Deck
• Exclusive signature activities
• Complimentary Minibar stocked with Coca-Cola Beverages and Water
• Laundry and Ironing Services
• Priority Departure
• Royal Genie
• Complimentary Gratuities
• Complimentary Specialty Dining
• Complimentary Deluxe Beverage Package

What rooms are Star Class?

The Star Class cabins are hotel-style stays, with the most spacious to enjoy at sea. 

• Royal Loft Suite
• 4 Bedroom Villa Suite
• Owner’s Loft Suite
• Grand Loft Suite
• 1 Bedroom Owner’s Panoramic Suite
• 2 Bedroom Grand Panoramic Suite
• Star Loft Suite
• 2 Bedroom Spacious AquaTheater Suite with Large Balcony
• 2 Bedroom AquaTheater Suite with Large Balcony
• Ultimate Family Suite
• Ultimate Family Townhouse
• Royal Loft
• Icon Loft

What is Royal Genie service?

Arguably the best perk of staying in a Star Class room is your own Royal Genie.  All suites within the Star tier will receive the Royal Genie experience.

The Royal Genie's job is to craft experiences, and curate your entire vacation around what you wand your family want.  They offer their guests VIP experiences all around the ship.

There are many services offered by the Royal Genie, here are the top services offered:

• Exclusive access to private Shore Excursions, VIP Seating, signature activities and more, before they open to anyone else.
• Helps coordinate in-suite parties, such as surprise parties, cocktail hours and more.
• Keeps suite stocked with favorite snacks and drinks.
• Expedited Boarding and Departure
• Personal shopper to help guests shop for gifts, keepsakes and all the best brands onboard.
• Provide a personal photographer to remember the cruise.

Due to the exclusive nature of these services, they cannot be extended to friends and family members sailing on the same voyage who are not booked as Star guests.

In the weeks before the sailing, Royal Genies will learn guests' specific preferences.

• 2 weeks before: The Royal Genie will contact a guest to confirm arrival information via e-mail.
• 10 days before: The Royal Genie will invite guests to download the Loop app – an exclusive Star Tier messaging tool that allows fast, easy and convenient communication between them and their Royal Genie. Loop will be available from point of download until four days after their cruise.

How much do I tip a Royal Genie?

The short answer is, there is no pre-determined or advised amount.  It is completely up to you.

Many cruisers have thoughts on how much to tip their Royal Genie, so you may find their input helpful.

Have you ever considered upgrading to a suite? Royal Caribbean's Royal Suite Class offers guests a wealth of benefits, across three tiers of suite benefits. The bulk of the suites in the Royal Suite Class fall into the Sky Class of offerings.

If you are considering booking a Sky Class suite, or perhaps have already booked one, here are the ten things you should know about what you can take advantage of on your Royal Caribbean cruise (ascots optional).

Embarkation day is so easy

Royal Caribbean has made embarkation day pretty simple for all guests, but when you stay in a suite, embarkation becomes a real pleasure.

When you arrive to the terminal, there is a dedicated entrance and line just for suite guests. This means you have a shorter line and will get to check-in quicker.  Likewise, there is a special line at the check-in desk for suite guests.

Once checked in, there is a suite lounge that you can wait in.  Often there are light refreshments available while you wait.  And your wait will be short, since suite guests will be the first to board the ship.

All of this means you spend less time waiting, and get your cruise vacation started earlier.  Families with children can appreciate the benefit of minimizing wait times.

There is a concierge lounge

Sky Class guests have access to a dedicated Concierge lounge, which is a private area to relax, enjoy drinks or food, and meet other suite guests. Bar service is available from 11:00 am to 11:00 pm in the Suite Lounge, serving a wide array of beverages for purchase. Hors d'oeuvres, petit fours and complimentary bar setup with a selection of wine, spirits, beer and soft drinks every evening from 5:00 pm to 8:30 pm.

Of course, the concierge lounge is where you can find the concierge officer.  This person is a wonderful resource, because they can often do everything Guest Services can do without the usual Guest Services line. The concierge can schedule shows and dining, and often has many resources at their disposal to get problems solved. Even if you think something is not possible, ask the concierge, because they are quite helpful.

Your concierge will email you before the cruise

Speaking of the concierge, they will email you one to two weeks before your embarkation date to introduce themselves.

The email contains some basic information about the concierge.  This will include the name(s) of the onboard concierge, brief summary of services available, and information about special options at a Royal Caribbean private destination.

If you are interested in reserving a cabana at Labadee and CocoCay, be sure to email the concierge to get access to it.

You will get complimentary internet for every guest

Sky Class guests receive one free high-speed Voom Surf and Stream internet package for the duration of the cruise, per guest. 

This means each person booked in the suite will receive an unlimited internet plan to use during the cruise.  This includes children.

Access to the suite sun deck

Sky Class guests have access to a private sun deck that is reserved just for suite guests.

The sun deck includes loungers, a bar, and even cabanas for use.  It is a private oasis that is free of the chair competition that can be an issue later in the day.

Special events for suite guests

During the cruise, the concierge will invite suite guests to special events.  Often there is at least one reception for suite guests with Senior Officers.

Invitations will be sent to your stateroom, but this is a fun opportunity to enjoy a few drinks and chat with high ranking officers on your cruise. 

Oasis class ships in Labadee will often have a private sailaway event on the helipad for suite guests.

Meals at Coastal Kitchen

Royal Suite Class guests can take advantage of a restaurant just for them, Coastal Kitchen. Coastal Kitchen is a relatively new restaurant concept for Royal Caribbean, centered around the the idea of combining Mediterranean influences with California fresh food. Royal Caribbean designed the restaurant to be all about fresh food. From Pacific Coast favorites like sea bass ceviche, to the Central Valley’s sliced avocado and homemade blueberry pie, to Med-inspired tastes like Serrano ham, whipped goat cheese and roasted grapes.

Sky Class guests can eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner in Coastal Kitchen.

Reserved seating for shows

One nice to have perk of being a Sky Class guest is reserved seating in the theater.

Reservations for shows are not necessary for Sky Class guests. Instead, show your SeaPass card at the entrance 20 minutes prior to show time. This is a great option for someone that books a cruise at the last minute, or just likes to figure out their daily plans as they go.

To be fair, the reserved seating for Sky Class guests may not be your preferred spot, so making show reservations in advance via the Cruise Planner or Royal iQ app is still a good idea.  

Escorted disembarkation

One of my favorite benefits of being a Royal Suite Class guest is the escorted disembarkation.  Instead of waiting for your luggage number to be called and then wait in line in the terminal, the concierge will offer you times to be escorted off the ship and bypass the line.

At the time you select, the concierge will prioritize an elevator for suite guest use and literally walk them off the ship and essentially take them all the way to where the porters are waiting.  It makes the disembarkation process as seamless as possible.

The amazing rooms

The top reason to book any suite is for the suite stateroom itself. 

Sky Class rooms include

• Aqua Theater Suite
• Crown Loft Suite
• Owner’s Suite
• Family Suite
• Superior Grand Suite
• Grand Suite

These rooms include an incredible amount of living space, along with extra large balconies and sometimes more than one bathroom. The rooms are immaculately decorated and incorporate the latest in modern design.

While the benefits of being in Sky Class mentioned earlier in this post are lovely, the stateroom is what the Royal Suite Class experience is all about. Staying in one of the best staterooms on your ship is a great feeling.

Your thoughts

Have you stayed in a Sky Class suite previously? Do you have questions about Sky Class? Share your questions and experiences in the comments below!

Guests indulging in Royal Caribbean’s luxurious Star Class have the chance to enjoy the ultimate perk – a Royal Genie dedicated to building the ultimate personalized cruising experience. From planning once-in-a-lifetime destination adventures to a perfect dinner to celebrate a milestone, Royal Genies cater to their guests’ every whim – and create experiences that can’t even be imagined.

As part of Royal Caribbean's revamp of its suite offerings, a new service called, "Royal Genie", will debut in May and offer guests in Star Class (Loft Suites or higher categories) the opportunity to have their own personal Royal Genie to cater to their every whim.

Royal Caribbean promises the Royal Genie will serve as the ultimate insider helping craft one-of-a kind experiences based on a guest’s personal style and preferences.

The Royal Genie will help plan date nights or unique family celebrations, all in an effort to create memorable experiences. The Royal Genie will curate personalized experiences catered to each guest.

After a day in port enjoying customized shore excursions, guests can return to their suite to savor handcrafted cocktails made in-suite. The Royal Genies also will assist with making restaurant and show reservations, in-room dining requests, and any other needs – from laundry, pressing and shoe-shining, to luggage handling and unpacking.

Royal Caribbean is also ensuring their Royal Genies embody contemporary fashion and lifestyle with her/his own distinct look and feel, "From day time casual looks that feature pants and linen shirts for balmy Caribbean days to a more formal evening look with bold pops of purple and cranberry, the Royal Genie will impress in more ways than one."

The Royal Suite Class will be available for sailings beginning May 2016 aboard Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas, Oasis of the Seas, Anthem of the Seas as well as Harmony of the Seas and Ovation of the Seas (Sydney departures only) when they debut in spring 2016.