Cruises are meant to whisk you away from one idyllic port of call to the next. With so many cruise ports located around the world, some destinations are certainly more popular than others. On the other hand, a handful of cruise ports are infamous for offering a less-than-desirable experience.

A Reddit user recently asked the r/Cruise community, “Big time cruisers - what is one port that you will NEVER go to again?”

In the caption, the poster continued, “Hey cruisers! As a cruise lover (25+ cruises so far), I love introducing cruising to my friends and helping them with questions along the way. My question to you: if you are a big time cruiser, what port would you NEVER visit again and what happened to make you feel this way?”

The thread has garnered over 600 comments from fellow travelers, with many detailing their disappointing, and even scary, situations in different ports of call. With so many comments, a handful of ports were repeatedly mentioned by numerous cruisers.

Here’s a list of cruise ports that longtime travelers say they’d never want to visit again, based entirely on real cruiser experiences shared on Reddit.

Colon, Panama

Among the many responses on Reddit, one of the most common responses was Colon in Panama. For cruisers who have always wanted to visit the Panama Canal, they’ve likely experienced the disappointing and unsafe city of Colon.

Located on the Caribbean coast of Panama, Colon is located at the northern entrance to the world-famous Panama Canal. In this way, the city serves as a gateway port for ships that are transiting the Panama Canal between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

In addition, some Caribbean itineraries include a port stop in Colon, Panama, for a partial transit through the canal. Colon is often used as a starting point for excursions visiting the Gatun Lake or Panama Canal locks. For many, seeing the engineering marvel of the canal is a bucket-list experience.

Unfortunately, the city of Colon leaves a lot to be desired. Many cruisers stated the port itself felt extremely unsafe, and the port lacked development or infrastructure.

“Colon, Panama. High unemployment & resulting crime rates. They built a huge shopping mall adjacent to the port that is mostly empty. We did a tour of Gatun Lake to see waterfowl, sloths and howler monkeys. That was fine, but one and done for me,” reads the top comment.

One cruiser shared, “We had to wait at that sad little mall two hours for our ship to go through the locks to pick us up. The tour guide was from Colon and even she said not to leave that mall under any circumstance.”

“So dangerous!! Nothing there. Panama City wonderful! Colon not so much,” echoed another commenter.

One cruiser even questioned Royal Caribbean’s decision to use Colon as an embarkation port for future itineraries: “We are American expats who live in Panamá. Colon is really sketchy. Royal Caribbean is starting cruises from Colon in October. Almost $1000 base rate for an inside cabin for 7 days?!?!”

“Colon Panama. It was our debarkation port. Complete and utter chaos. People waited out in the blazing sun for hours. The military shouting at people. Never again,” explained another cruiser.

Jamaica

As one of the more popular ports in the Caribbean, Jamaica was repeatedly mentioned as a least favorite destination. The island nation is a staple destination for many Western Caribbean itineraries, with Ocho Rios, Falmouth, and Montego Bay as the three main ports.

Jamaica is often advertised with lush mountains, reggae music, beautiful beaches, and vibrant culture. The Dunn’s River Falls is one of the main attractions. Sadly, many cruisers on Reddit criticized the country for aggressive vendors and described safety concerns with visiting Jamaica.

“Anywhere in Jamaica. Every time I’ve been, I’ve been called a [slur] and have felt completely unsafe. It’s also generally been dirty and full of scammers. And one time we went, and the port was literally on fire lol. We had to turn around and go back out to sea,” states one of the top responses.

Read more: I visited 25 Caribbean destinations on a cruise ship. These are the 4 I'd return to and the 3 I'd skip

One cruiser even shared a scary experience attempting to walk outside of the port area. “Our cruise stopped at Falmouth a few years ago. It was me and my two sons, probably ages 9 and 12 at the time. Once we left the port area, things got sketchy quickly.”

The commenter continued, “There was a uniformed and heavily armed police officer at every corner. We were hounded by people selling stuff. After walking a couple of blocks, we turned around and got back on the ship. To put this experience in perspective, I've walked alone at 1AM in Chicago easily 100 times and felt unsafe only once. Falmouth was an order of magnitude beyond.”

“Ocho Rios, Jamaica. Been once, no desire to go back. Just a super busy shopping center with people yelling at you the entire time,” replied one cruiser. “Went to Falmouth. We did a bus tour. Passed through multiple armed checkpoints. Never again,” stated another responder.

Belize City, Belize

Although not as widely disliked as Jamaica and Colon, Panama, another common response in the Reddit thread was Belize City, Belize. Located on the eastern coast of the country, Belize City is the main port and largest urban area in the country.

For many cruisers, Belize City is a gateway to the country’s renowned Barrier Reef snorkeling, Mayan Ruins, and Cave Tubing. However, Belize City itself is an unpopular destination due to poor infrastructure and inconvenient tendering. Many responders also mention staying onboard in Belize City due to these concerns.

“Belize City. Loooong tender into a pretty lousy port area. Not much around either,” reads one of the top comments.

Additionally, one cruiser shared, “The tours you can do are great, but they're mostly all things where you leave Belize City immediately. It's not a port you'd want to get off in and just walk or drive around exploring the city on your own.”

“We just got back from a cruise with a stop in Belize, it was on Celebrity Equinox, we should have stayed on the ship - we paid a lot I think like $200 each to do the excursion to swim with mana rays and baby sharks and snorkel. It was two long boring boats to get there and then it felt slightly scary in the water with the rays swimming around your feet. There was an emergency nurse on board in case,” explained one cruiser.

“It's been a long time but that port scared me. We had an excursion that we really enjoyed but after that, we stayed on the ship while there.”

Nassau, Bahamas

Nassau, Bahamas, might be one of the most visited cruise ports in the world, but that doesn’t mean it’s a favorite among cruisers. Because of its close proximity to Florida, Nassau is often included on shorter Caribbean itineraries. 

Although the cruise port can be found on many different itineraries, Nassau is infamously unpopular. The main cruise terminal was recently renovated with a $300+ million investment to the pier. Nearby attractions include the Atlantis Paradise Island, Junkanoo Beach, and Queen’s Staircase.

However, multiple commenters in the Reddit thread expressed their disdain for the Bahamian capital, stating they would rather stay on the ship than visit Nassau again.

One responder shared, “Nassau. Not much to do without getting hassled. We’ve done all of the easy stuff: tours around the area, Junkanoo beach, Atlantis, Señor Frogs, Queens Staircase, etc. Ends up being a lovely day to stay on the ship!”

“Crime, annoying vendors, lack of charm, not much to do besides shop for imported crap and drink heavily,” shared one responder. Another cruiser stated, “I can live a fulfilled life without ever needing to go back to Nassau.”

In addition, one cruiser shared, “Nassau by far. High pressure, high price, aggressive street vendors. Felt unsafe.”

“Nassau. It used to be super fun, until the really big ships started docking there. It’s pretty dangerous if you leave the tourist area. Now it’s just dirty sleazy bars & expensive souvenirs,” replied one cruiser.

Costa Maya, Mexico

Considered one of the biggest tourist traps in the Caribbean, Costa Maya is one of the more common ports of call for Western Caribbean sailings. The cruise terminal itself is built entirely for tourists and filled with shops, restaurants, wildlife encounters, a swim-up bar, and live entertainment.

For those wanting to venture outside of the port, excursions are offered to Mayan ruins and the relaxing beach of Mahahual. Regardless, many cruisers expressed their disappointment with the Costa Maya port during their cruise, citing the inauthentic feel.

“Puerto Costa Maya is my least favorite. It's a giant trap to separate you from your money,” replied one cruiser.

Another cruiser echoed, “It’s a total maze to get out of the port area! I hated that.”

“I wouldn’t get off the ship at this port if I ended up there again. We did the Mayan Ruin tour when we were there last time and it was good, but there wasn’t much else to do. It was just a giant shopping mall in the middle of nowhere,” noted another cruiser.

One passenger mentioned, “Costa Maya. We will visit it and there were some good excursions, but you have to beware of credit card theft. There are instances of have you card cloned when you scan at some vendors then they start buying things with your card.”

Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

While some cruisers rave about their experience in Cabo San Lucas, not everyone was impressed by this port of call. Located on the southern tip of the Baja California Peninsula, Cabo San Lucas is known for its iconic landscapes, beautiful beaches, and beachside parties.

However, for some, the cruise experience in Cabo San Lucas was underwhelming, with pushy locals and aggressive salespeople. Others find the port to lack authentic Mexican culture with too many tourist shops. Additionally, lengthy and uncomfortable tendering operations worsen the experience for many.

“Cabo. For the hundredth time I don’t want to buy a bracelet or [terrible] jewelry,” commented one cruiser. One Redditor replied, “Cabo is Taco Bell with jewelry shops and fishing charters. Not Mexico, at all.”

Read more: I hadn’t cruised from the West Coast in 15 years. I had a great time, but I’m not sure I would do it again

“Also Cabo. Tendering in was [horrible] on extremely rough waters and there is absolutely nothing to do in the port area unless you book an excursion,” explained another cruiser.

“They are aggressive in Cabo. We stopped there on a cruise and the people selling stuff wouldn’t leave us alone.”

Cartagena, Colombia

For Southern Caribbean itineraries, most sailings include a visit to Cartagena, Colombia. This port city is known for its vibrant and authentic culture, along with its colonial architecture, historic walled city, local markets, and colorful streets.

In addition, the city’s Historic Old Town, Ciudad Amurallada, is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The walled city is perfectly preserved with cobblestones, plazas, churches, and colorful buildings. However, the vendors can be aggressive, which can leave some cruisers feeling overwhelmed and unsafe.

“Cartagena. Vendors swarmed our excursion bus when we stopped at the fort. They shook the bus and climbed up to the windows to show their wares,” detailed one responder. Another replied similarly, “Cartagena, Colombia. Horrible street vendors.”

“Cartagena. I’ve never felt unsafe on a cruise until we went there. Step a foot outside the port and it’s scary. Aggressiveness was off the charts.”

One cruiser replied, “We’ve had vendors walk behind us all the way to the bus trying to get us to buy whatever we said no to! Crazy!”

“One port we didn't enjoy at all was an excursion in Cartagena, Colombia. If you ever go there, do tours that take you away from the walled part of the city. We did a tour there and the venders swarmed us the whole time. Our guide did nothing to help so the only time we were away from them was when we were able to go inside somewhere,” described another cruiser.

“Cartagena Colombia. Street vendors are just way too over the top aggressive,” shared one responder.

Santorini, Greece

As one of the most picturesque ports in the Mediterranean, Santorini is an island in Greece. Known for its iconic blue-domed churches, stunning cliffside views, and quaint village of Oia, Santorini is often considered a bucket-list destination for many.

Because of its popularity, many itineraries around the Greek Isles include a port stop in Santorini. However, some cruisers found the small island to be overcrowded and difficult to navigate. Given the island’s rocky landscape, cruisers typically need to take a cable car ride, walk the steep steps, or ride a donkey while visiting the tender port.

“Probably an unpopular opinion - I’d say Santorini - too sad to see the donkeys taking passengers up and down the cliffs, and the queue to the cable car is too long. Ok views at the top but quite dirty in general,” replied one traveler.

In addition, one cruiser shared, "I agree with you… Santorini is our least favorite port… crowded! And the wait to go down to the dock on the cable car was long (40 minutes) and we were the only ship in port that day. People should definitely watch YouTube videos to acquaint themselves with this port.”

“Surprised most of these are Caribbean, would assume big time cruisers would have gotten bored with that. I'll throw out Santorini, beautiful (especially Oia) but way too many people and way too commercial,” stated another cruiser.

One cruiser shared, “It was my first cruise and we did the excursion with RCI, we got tender to the old port I believe then bus the whole way up till we got to Oia, on our way to Fira we did a wine tasting. I think we waited an hour to an hour and an half to get down with the cable car.”

As a frequent traveler, I often pride myself on packing strategically and efficiently. However, I made a few notable packing mistakes on my recent Mexican Riviera cruise that I definitely won’t make again for future travels.

Whenever possible, I try to cruise with just a carry-on suitcase to keep my luggage to a minimum. This also makes it easier navigating the airports and cruise terminals with fewer suitcases to haul around. I especially try to pack lightly when I’m flying to my embarkation port, as checking a bag with the airline can slow me down at the airport.

Of course, packing with just a carry-on is typically easier on shorter cruises to warmer destinations. With these itineraries, you don’t need to pack as much, and summer clothes usually take up less space in your suitcase. Longer itineraries with varied climate and unpredictable weather forecasts can make this much more difficult.

For instance, when I sailed to Norway last summer and to Iceland the year before, I ended up checking two suitcases with bulky winter clothes for my cruise! On the flip side, I never struggle to pack just a carry-on for cruises to the warm and sunny Caribbean, even for weeklong itineraries.

Read more: 40 essential things to bring on a cruise

And although I’ve cruised on many itineraries across North America, I had never visited Cabo San Lucas on a Baja Mexico cruise. With the highly-anticipated arrival of Ovation of the Seas in Los Angeles earlier this summer, my mom and I decided to fly across the country for an inaugural sailing. 

Ovation of the Seas is a Quantum class ship, and the biggest ship to ever sail from Los Angeles, California. As such, we were excited to be on the first sailing to Cabo San Lucas in Mexico aboard Ovation of the Seas! My mom and I had never visited this popular port of call in Baja, Mexico, and the cruise was surprisingly affordable at $700 each for the 5-night cruise.

This particular itinerary featured an overnight stay in Cabo San Lucas with two days at sea in between. Having an overnight port is one of my favorite features of an itinerary, as it allows more time to explore the destination without rushing to return to the ship.

We arrived in Los Angeles the night before embarkation and drove across town to the cruise terminal the next morning. For this sailing, I packed for the weeklong adventure with just a carry-on and personal item. I encouraged my mom to do the same, given some logistics of our travel days, so we were both prioritizing packing light for this cruise.

Throughout the cruise, I was disappointed in myself for making a few rookie packing mistakes. In fact, some of these forgotten items are ones that I never leave behind! Here are some of the amateur mistakes I made when packing for this Mexican Riviera cruise, including a few items I won’t forget again.

1. Forgetting a pair of long pants

When I picture cruising to Mexico in the summer, I think of the scorching heat and stifling humidity. However, most of my summer itineraries to Mexico have departed from Florida and visited ports of call like Cozumel and Costa Maya. Moreover, as a Florida resident, I typically cruise from the ports near me, and I haven’t spent much time on the West Coast while traveling.

Although I had looked at the weather before packing, I focused on packing summer clothes for the warm and sunny days in Cabo San Lucas. Unfortunately, I somehow forgot to pack a pair of pants for this cruise to Mexico. Instead, I prioritized shorts, dresses, and skirts for our time both onboard and ashore in Mexico. I completely disregarded the possibility that our embarkation port and sea days might be chilly.

To my surprise, Los Angeles was quite cool with cloudy weather and low humidity on the first morning. This is when I learned about California’s “June Gloom," which is a Southern California term I had never heard before.

June Gloom describes the weather patterns in the early summer with cloudy, overcast skies. This usually brings cooler temperatures, often accompanied by a foggy marine layer. Supposedly, May is called “May Gray” and July has been dubbed “No Sky July” because of this weather phenomenon. Naively, I had assumed June in California would be sunny and warm!

Because most cruisers onboard were local, the majority of people on our cruise were wearing pants for the first two days with the cloudy weather. While I was comfortable inside the ship, I definitely felt chilly when my mom and I walked around the top deck during the day or strolled along the promenade after dinner.

The chilly breeze was a big surprise for us, and not packing pants was a complete oversight on my part. In the future, I’ll definitely plan to pack at least one pair of leggings or pants for my cruises. 

Read more: My 64-year-old parents love to cruise. Here are 10 essentials they always pack

2. Choosing not to pack personal shower products

Although cruise cabins are well appointed, Royal Caribbean’s bathrooms only include one basic product for shampoo and body wash. The 2-in-1 combination product works fine as a body wash for me, but I prefer to pack my own shampoo and conditioner usually.

Because my suitcase was packed to the brim, I decided to minimize the amount of cosmetics packed to save space. In addition, I didn’t want to have too many travel-sized products and get flagged by TSA for airport security (which has happened before). I was also relying on the upgraded bathroom products provided by Royal Caribbean to Diamond Plus loyalty members.

Because of this, I chose to pack a small bottle of conditioner and planned to use the shampoo and body wash provided by Royal Caribbean. We requested the upgraded shower products from our cabin steward on embarkation day and received them on the first night. While we were given shampoo, body wash, and lotion, there was no conditioner included for some reason.

Read more: 5 Dollar Tree Items Cruisers Should Stock Up on Before Their Sailing

Sadly, forgetting to pack conditioner was a big mistake. At some point, I apparently decided to use my travel conditioner bottle for lotion instead. I wasn't able to tell the difference when packing, given the similar texture of lotion and conditioner.

Halfway through the cruise, I realized I was conditioning my hair with cocoa butter instead of actual conditioner. That certainly explained why my hair was so greasy! By the end of the trip, my hair was looking less than impressive. Thankfully, my mom had packed a small bottle of conditioner that I borrowed on the last night. But, the half-filled bottle was not enough for us to share for the entirety of the cruise.

I was relying on the cruise line to provide conditioner for this cruise, but that ended up being a mistake. Even if I’m tight on space in the future, I’ll prioritize packing my own shower products.

3. Not bringing enough casual outfits for the ship

Our 5-night itinerary on Ovation of the Seas included two sea days and two days in Cabo San Lucas. While packing for this cruise, I planned to bring three nicer outfits for our time in port, three evening dresses for dinner, and exactly three casual outfits for our time onboard.

For this vacation, my mom and I booked an excursion on the first day in Cabo San Lucas to make the most of our time in port. On the second day, we had planned to venture ashore for a little exploring before the ship's all aboard time. 

However, after a full-day excursion in Mexico, we were completely worn out by that evening. On top of that, Cabo San Lucas is a tender port, which requires extra planning and dealing with the tender boats to get ashore. Our tender boat on the first day was quite small while navigating the choppy waters, leaving me a little woozy before the excursion even started.

On the second day, all aboard was scheduled for early afternoon, so we decided to stay on the ship instead of going ashore in Cabo San Lucas as we originally planned. We didn’t want to deal with the tendering process again, especially since we had already seen and done so much during our excursion the day before.

Because I had packed only three casual outfits to wear on the ship, I ran out of casual clothes by the last day. While I wasn’t left without something to wear, I wished I had packed more comfortable lounging outfits for onboard the ship and worried less about packing specific outfits for Mexico.

Not to mention, this meant I was rewearing the same stinky, stale airport outfit from my first travel day to California. This was a good reminder to always pack a couple of extra versatile pieces that you can wear, no matter how your plans change.

Read more: Caribbean and Mexico cruise outfits for women

4. Leaving behind an evening purse for dinner

Whenever I cruise, I typically pack a different purse to use onboard the ship for the evenings. However, I had already packed my daily crossbody pouch and a small backpack to use ashore in Cabo San Lucas that could hold my larger camera. 

While trying to keep my suitcase from overflowing, I opted to ditch the evening purse, but I did end up regretting this. Instead, I was using my casual crossbody pouch for evenings onboard, and I felt underdressed and mismatched.

For instance, on formal night, I thought my crossbody pouch looked pretty tacky with my nicer black dress for the occasion. Although no one else probably noticed or cared, I would have preferred having a nicer accessory for our evenings onboard.

Next time, I’ll plan to pack a more versatile option for both daily use and evenings onboard the ship, like my leather crossbody purse from a Mediterranean cruise. When it comes to packing minimally, having clothes and accessories that can serve multiple purposes is key, and my bag choice on this trip was definitely a packing mistake.

On the other hand, my mom went the opposite route and ended up packing too many bags for this cruise! She is notorious for bringing multiple bags while traveling, even if they’re not practical. Like usual, she didn’t end up using every bag she packed. While they didn’t take up much space in her suitcase, she definitely could have narrowed down her selection and saved herself the extra clutter.

5. Forgetting to pack a few magnetic hooks

While magnetic hooks are a popular cruise staple for many, we opted to forgo packing these because of our shorter cruise itinerary. I always pack these for longer sailings to make the cabin more functional and organized. However, I convinced my mom that we didn’t need to bring any magnetic hooks this time because a full set can be heavy and take up unnecessary room in our suitcases.

In hindsight, magnetic hooks are useful no matter how lightly you decide to pack. While our cabin had plenty of storage for us, having a few magnetic hooks on the walls would have made it so much easier to grab things quickly, like a light sweater or our cabin lanyards. This also helps reduce clutter in your cruise cabin, especially when you have minimal counter space on the vanity or dresser.

Next time, I’ll plan to pack at least one or two magnetic hooks for my cruise, even if I’m convinced they won’t be necessary. A full set might be too bulky for a short cruise, but bringing just a couple can make the cabin feel more organized without adding much weight to my luggage.

Read more: 21 Cruise Cabin Essentials Everyone Should Pack

6. I should have left more room for souvenirs

I love shopping while cruising, but traveling with only a carry-on can make it challenging to leave extra space for souvenirs. In fact, sometimes I intentionally don’t leave room in my suitcase just to keep myself from shopping too much. If there’s no room for souvenirs, I shouldn’t be tempted to browse the local markets for trinkets and treasures.

Even still, I was excited when I found a small set of hot sauces for my husband during our excursion in Mexico. It was also Father’s Day weekend, so I purchased a T-shirt and baseball hat to send back with my mom for my dad's present. We did resist the temptation to purchase tequila during our tasting event, as there were only a few travel-sized bottles that would fit in our suitcase.

We also enjoyed some of the onboard shops, as we are both suckers for a good cruise T-shirt! I try to avoid looking in the shops because I usually find something I like, and I know they’re overpriced.

At the end of the trip, even a few souvenirs were difficult to pack in our already-full suitcases. My mom and I both struggled to find room for the small treasures, even though we made a conscious effort to minimize our shopping.

It’s always best to leave a little bit of wiggle room while traveling, as you never know what you’ll find! This also alleviates some stress when packing your suitcase at the end of the cruise, as my mom and I needed to spend a few hours strategically packing. Luckily, we were able to squeeze everything in and bring home our finds without too much trouble.

One of the best travel credit cards is getting overhauled, and it’s no longer the best option for cruisers.

As a credit card enthusiast, I always strategize to find the best cards to align with my spending. Each purchase is meticulously charged to the best credit card, which we pay off in full each month to avoid interest charges and fees. It’s essentially a part-time job, but the rewards are substantial.

Last year, my husband and I saved over $23,000 thanks to our portfolio of credit cards. The bulk of this savings comes from redeeming our points for travel with airlines, hotels, and rental cars. And yes, I track our credit card savings each month - I am a data analyst, after all!

For many years, the Chase Sapphire Reserve used to be one of the best credit cards for earning points on cruise purchases. This was my top recommendation for cruisers for many reasons, including the card’s generous 3x point multiplier on travel. With this, you could easily rack up thousands of points with your cruise purchases.

Because of this, the broad “travel” category earned 3x points on all cruise purchases. This included everything from your cruise fares to shore excursions, internet packages, specialty dining packages, spa treatments, and drink packages.

Unfortunately, the Chase Sapphire Reserve is receiving a drastic makeover, although most cardholders consider it a huge downgrade. Among many changes and restrictive redemptions, the broad 3x travel category is being eliminated.

If you’re wondering which credit card is now the best for cruise purchases, you’re not alone. I'm also personally impacted by these changes, and I am definitely not thrilled about it. Here are the travel credit cards I plan to use for cruising, including a few other options worth considering.

Here’s exactly what is changing with the Chase Sapphire Reserve

Chase recently announced a complete overhaul of the point-earning structure and provided benefits. Not only is the annual fee getting hiked from $550 to $795, but the 3x point earning on travel is being replaced with 4x points on airfare and hotels, but only when booked directly with the airline or hotel.

Removing the generic 3x points on all travel is a frustrating change for a top-tier travel card. For cruisers in particular, the removal of the 3x point benefit is a huge loss. Travel is easily my top spending category, so this downgrade was an unwelcome change for many. 

Additionally, the travel category also included all transport, including taxis, ride shares, tolls, parking fees, and public transportation. Even better, the Chase Sapphire Reserve is a Visa with no foreign transaction fee. While traveling abroad and taking public transport, the Chase Sapphire Reserve was my most-used credit card to maximize the earning potential.

Instead, Chase is adding a bunch of lifestyle coupons, such as credits for DoorDash, Peloton, AppleTV, and StubHub. These credits are divided into monthly, quarterly, or bi-annual usage, making them more difficult to actually use.

How the change would directly impact your point-earning potential

For this example, let’s say you spent $2,000 on your cruise fare, along with $2,000 for shore excursions, internet access, and a drink package. With the old structure, you’d earn 3x points on $4,000 worth of cruise purchases.

With the 3x points offer, this would equate to 12,000 points of Ultimate Reward points with Chase. You could then redeem those points through the Chase Travel Portal for 1.5 cents per point.

For 12,000 points, this would be worth approximately $180 towards travel redeemed through the Chase Travel Portal. Additionally, you could transfer the points to various travel partners, such as many hotel chains and airlines. For me, 12,000 points could be redeemed with Delta Air Lines for a flight worth about $200.

Now, you’ll only receive 1x points on that purchase, which would equate to only 4,000 points on that same vacation. Redemptions are changing too, so you could only redeem those 4,000 points for $40 worth for most travel purchases.

There is an opportunity for “Points Boost” offers worth up to 2x points with “top picked hotels and flights with select airlines through Chase Travel,” and all other redemptions will be reduced to a 1:1 rate.

Rather than having the option to redeem your points on any travel, you are now limited to the select offers provided by Chase for hotels and airlines. This limits how your points can be redeemed, although most strategic cardholders will likely transfer points to travel partners.

What are the best credit cards now for cruisers?

With all the overhaul, you might not be wanting to pay $795 for the Chase Sapphire Reserve anymore; and honestly, I wouldn’t blame you. There are many travel credit cards on the market, and there might be one that fits your travel spending better.

Following the disappointing change to the Chase Sapphire Reserve, I’ve been researching the best credit cards for cruising purchases. I’ll also be adjusting my spending strategy, as I always charged my cruises to my Chase Sapphire Reserve.

Of course, one of the top competitors to the Chase Sapphire Reserve is the American Express Platinum Card. Unfortunately, American Express isn’t as widely accepted as Visa credit cards when traveling internationally. This is one of the reasons the Chase Sapphire Reserve was always my go-to card when traveling.

However, there are other options from both American Express and other credit card companies. Here are my top recommendations for cruising purchases moving forward, along with a few caveats to know.

American Express Green Card

If you still want to earn 3x points on cruise purchases, you should consider signing up for the American Express Green Card. This is considered one of the best replacements for the Chase Sapphire Reserve because of its 3x points on all travel and transit purchases. 

Currently, the Amex Green has an annual fee of $150, making it more affordable than the Chase Sapphire Reserve. However, you will receive fewer luxury perks, such as the Priority Pass lounge access or the same level of travel insurance. 

Another perk of the American Express Green Card is how well it pairs with other American Express credit cards. If you already have another Amex, all of your Membership Reward Points will be automatically pooled together.

For instance, I have the Amex Gold (for 4x points on groceries and dining), the Amex Green (for 3x points on travel and transit), and the Amex Platinum (for 5x points on airfare). All of these points are combined in my Amex account, which I can easily transfer to a partner airline for redemption. 

The top spending categories for the Amex Green Card include:

• 3x points on travel: Cruises, airfare, hotel, campgrounds, car rentals, and vacation rentals
• 3x points on transit: Trains, taxicabs, rideshare services, ferries, tolls, parking, buses, and subways
• 3x points on dining: Worldwide dining, takeout, and delivery

Other benefits include the following:

• $199 CLEAR Plus credit
• Travel Delay Insurance
• Baggage Insurance
• Rental Car Loss Insurance
• No foreign transaction fees

For cruisers, the Amex Green is one of the best choices on the market now. You’ll still earn 3x points on all travel and transit charges, which rivals what you would have been receiving with the Chase Sapphire Reserve.

Wells Fargo Autograph and Autograph Journey

If you’re looking for another credit card with 3x points on all travel, Wells Fargo has two solid options to consider: the Autograph and Autograph Journey credit cards. Just like the Chase Sapphire Reserve, you can still earn 3x points on all travel and transit purchases, in addition to other categories like restaurants and gas.

The Wells Fargo Autograph credit card has no annual fee, while the Autograph Journey carries a $95 annual fee. With the Autograph Journey card, you’ll earn even more points on hotel and airline purchases. These accrued points can be redeemed for travel, gift cards, and statement credits.

This makes both credit cards excellent options to rack up points with cruise purchases, along with other cruise-related and travel expenses. The low annual fee means you have high earning potential with your travel purchases, and you aren’t tied to a travel portal for redeeming your points.

Additionally, you’ll receive some included travel protection with the Autograph Journey card for your cruising. This includes travel accident insurance, lost bag reimbursement, trip cancellation and interruption protection, and an auto rental collision damage waiver.

The Wells Fargo Autograph credit card includes 3x points on the following categories:

• Restaurants: Including dining in, takeout, catering, and delivery
• Travel: Airfare, hotels, car rentals, cruise lines
• Transit: Subways, ride shares, parking, tolls
• Gas: Gas stations and electric charging stations
• Streaming services and phone plans

The Wells Fargo Autograph Journey credit card includes the top spending categories and benefits:

• 5x points on hotels
• 4x points with airlines
• 3x points on travel and restaurants
• $50 annual statement credit: with a $50 minimum airline purchase

U.S. Bank Altitude Connect

Another travel credit to consider is the U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature credit card. The credit card has no annual fee and includes a generous 4x points on all travel, although point redemption options are more limited. For casual cruisers not wanting to pay an annual fee for a credit card, this could be one of the best options.

You won’t be able to transfer your points to travel partners, but you can earn an eligible deposit into a U.S Bank account, along with some merchandise, travel, charity, and gift card options. Instead, you’ll want to think of this card as earning cash back for your travel purchases (around 2% to 4% essentially), which is a better option for casual cruisers who travel once or twice each year.

The top spending categories for the U.S Bank Altitude Connect include:

• 4x points on travel
• 5x points on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked with the Altitude Reward Center
• 4x points on gas stations and EV charging stations, up to $1,000 each quarter
• 2x points on dining, groceries, and streaming services

Other benefits include:

• 4 Priority Pass lounge visits each year
• $100 statement credit for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry every 4 years
• Basic travel interruption, delay, and cancellation insurance

Capital One Venture X

Another popular choice among travelers is the Capital One Venture X credit card, known for its premium travel benefits and strong earning potential. With an annual fee of $395, the Venture X is considered a more accessible option compared to other high-end travel credit cards.

Although the Venture X credit card doesn’t offer cruise-specific perks or bonus categories for cruises, this premium credit card shines when it comes to covering general travel expenses.

The Venture X credit card earns the most miles when booking travel directly through the Capital One Travel portal, including hotels, airfare, rental cars, and vacation rentals. But, you’ll still earn 2x miles on everyday spending, including cruising. However, if you prefer booking with airlines and hotels directly, you might not maximize your point-earning potential with this card.

Other noteworthy travel benefits include a $300 annual travel credit when booking through Capital One Travel, along with lounge access and a statement credit for either TSA PreCheck or Global Entry.

More importantly, your Capital One Venture X credit card offers strong travel protection that can provide peace of mind for your cruises. This includes trip cancellation, delay, and interruption coverage for unexpected circumstances. In addition, the Venture X has common carrier travel accident coverage, baggage insurance, and rental car collision coverage.

The top spending categories for the Venture X credit card include:

• 10x miles: When booking hotels and rental cars booked through the Capital One Travel portal
• 5x miles: When booking flights and vacation rentals booked through the Capital One Travel portal
• 2x miles: All other purchases

Some of the travel-related benefits and perks include:

• $300 annual credit towards Capital One Travel portal
• 10,000 annual bonus miles each anniversary
• $120 credit for PreCheck or Global Entry
• Priority Pass Lounge access
• Capital One Lounge and Landing Access

Bank of America Premium Rewards Credit Card

If you don’t want to spend hundreds of dollars on annual credit card fees, the Bank of America Premium Rewards Credit Card could be a great choice. With an annual fee of only $95, you’ll still receive some excellent travel perks and earn extra points on all travel purchases.

With the Bank of America Premium Rewards Credit Card, all travel and dining purchases earn 2x points while all other expenses earn 1.5x points. This means all cruise purchases would qualify for 2x points for all of your purchases. If you’re a member of the Bank of America Preferred Rewards loyalty program, you can earn even more points on travel purchases. This includes 25% to 75% boost in points, making the 2x points on travel increase to 2.5x to 3.5x points on travel.

Even better, the Bank of America Premium Rewards Card is a Visa credit card with no foreign transaction fees. That makes this credit card better suited for international travel, as Visa is widely accepted everywhere.

You will also receive flexibility for how you want to redeem your points. For instance, points can be redeemed for cash back in your Bank of America account or an eligible Merrill account (including 529 accounts). In addition, you could redeem points for a statement credit or gift cards through the Bank of America Travel Center.

Finally, you’ll receive travel insurance protections for delays, cancellations, interruptions, misplaced luggage, auto rental collision coverage, and baggage delays. The credit card also includes coverage for emergency evacuation and transportation for qualified events. 

Other benefits for the Bank of America Premium Credit Card include:

• $100 statement credit for airline incidentals
• $100 statement credit for TSA PreCheck
• 10,000 annual bonus miles each anniversary

American Express Platinum Card

If you’re wanting to swap your Chase Sapphire Reserve for another top-tier, luxury travel credit card, then you might want to consider the American Express Platinum Card.

Regarded by many as the best travel credit card, the Amex Platinum is heavy on the benefits, but not necessarily as strong with earning potential. Currently, the Amex Platinum has an annual fee of $695, but many speculate this will be increased to align with the Chase Sapphire Reserve.

The top spending categories on the Amex Platinum include 5x points on all airfare purchases and prepaid hotels, but only 1x points for all other travel. While that’s not necessarily impressive, there are other lucrative cruise and travel perks that could be worthwhile, including access to many different airport lounges.

With the Amex Platinum, you are eligible to receive perks through the Cruise Privileges Program (CPP). When you book a cruise five nights or longer through the Platinum Travel Service, you can receive onboard credit between $100 to $300 per stateroom. The Cruise Privileges Program also provides unique amenities for each cruise line, along with 2x points on each dollar you spend per booking with American Express Travel.

Another enticing perk with the Amex Platinum is the comprehensive travel insurance for trip delay, cancellation, and interruption. Some of the most important coverage with the American Express Platinum Card includes medical assistance, which provides emergency medical coverage up to $250,000, evacuation up to $100,000, and accident insurance up to $500,000 in the event of injury. Luggage protection is also provided, and cruise ships are specifically mentioned in the coverage.

Additionally, you’ll receive many travel-related benefits with the Amex Platinum as well, including:

• $200 Airline Fee Credit: Baggage fees and other incidental credits
• $200 Hotel Credit: Select hotels prepaid through the Amex Travel portal, includes Fine Hotels & Resorts and Hotel Collection
• $200 Uber Credit: Available monthly in your Uber account
• Global Lounge Access: Access to the Delta SkyClub, Amex Centurion Lounges, and Priority Pass lounges
• TSA Precheck, Global Entry, and CLEAR Plus Membership

It’s the most wonderful time of the year for online shoppers, as Amazon Prime Day is finally here! Each year, Amazon features a multi-day sale with steep discounts on some of the most popular items online.

This year, Amazon Prime Day will take place between July 8 at 12:00am (Pacific Time) and end on July 11 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time). The sale features exclusive deals for Amazon Prime members, although anyone can participate in Prime Day through a free trial membership. Only Amazon Prime members will have access to the Prime Day 2025 deals.

Each summer, Amazon Prime Day is a huge event for the online retailer with record-breaking sales. Because of its massive success, Amazon has expanded the sale from 48 hours to 96 hours, meaning shoppers have four days to take advantage of this year's Prime Day deals. Reuters states that sales are projected to rise nearly 30% during the four-day sale with Amazon recording $14.2 billion in sales from last year’s Amazon Prime Day.

Amazon has also introduced “Today’s Big Deals,” featuring themed daily discounts with some of the best deals of the event that are exclusive to Prime members. This includes big-name brands like Samsung, which is a great choice if you need new luggage for your upcoming cruise! Some deals are only available for a short amount of time, such as Lightning Deals, which are limited-time promotions with pop-up sales on products across Amazon.

As someone who loves to online shop, I look forward to Amazon Prime Day each year. I’ve been able to snag some great deals on travel and cruise gear for my upcoming adventures. A few of my absolute favorite products are steeply discounted this year, including Away Luggage, a portable sound machine, and Apple AirPods.  If you’ve been waiting to buy travel gear for your next cruise, now is the perfect time to shop.

With thousands of products on sale this year, it can feel overwhelming to find the best deals on cruise essentials and travel necessities. Luckily, we’ve done the hard work for you by combing through the top deals on travel and cruise must-haves! Here’s our list of everything you’ll want to pack for your upcoming cruise vacation.

Please note that we do receive a small commission if you purchase any of the products from our affiliate links below. You can also check out our Amazon Storefront for other essential cruise items that we recommend. Purchasing from the links below costs you nothing extra, but the small commission will help support Royal Caribbean Blog. 

All prices below were at the time of publication. Prices may change during the sale based on availability.

Cruise and Cabin Necessities

This year, many of the most popular cruise and cabin accessories are heavily discounted for Amazon Prime Day. I’ve also included some of our readers’ favorite cruise essentials and must-have items. From magnetic hooks for your cabin walls to handheld fans and clear luggage tags, you’ll find all the best picks in our list.

1. Magnetic Hooks

Cruise cabins are notoriously small, and magnetic hooks give you extra hanging space for hats, lanyards, jackets, and bags by attaching securely to the cabin’s metal walls. Many cruisers claim these are essential for their cabins!

Product Link: Neosmuk Magnetic Hooks,30lb+ Heavy Duty Earth Magnets with Hook for Refrigerator, Extra Strong Cruise Hook for Hanging, Magnetic Hanger for Cabins, Grill (Silver White, Pack of 10)

Price: $5.59 (44% off)

2. Cruise Luggage Tag Holder

You’ll need to attach a luggage tag to your suitcase before arriving at the cruise terminal, and these clear tag holders keep your printed tags protected and securely fastened to your bag. Last year, our embarkation day in Sydney, Australia was very rainy, and I was thankful to have these tags to keep my luggage tag dry and safely secured.

Product Link: Highwind 4 Pack Cruise Luggage Tag Holder for Suitcases - Compatible with Celebrity 2025 Royal Caribbean Luggage Tag Holders Travel Essentials Cruise Lanyard

Price: $4.99 (9% off)

3. Portable Fans

If you’re heading somewhere hot and humid, having a portable fan for your days ashore or in your cruise cabin can keep you cool and comfortable. Some cruise ships tend to be warmer than others, so having a small fan is an essential for many cruisers. 

Product Link: TOPK 2 Pack 5000mAh Portable Desk Fan, Ultra-thin Strong Wind Digital Display 4 Speeds Adjustable Small Quiet Battery Powered Personal Travel Fan for Bedroom, Office, Cruise, Library, Outdoor

Price: $25.47 (27% off)

Product Link: Gaiatop Mini Portable Fan, Small and Powerful, Cute Design 3 Speed Personal Handheld fan and Desktop with Base, Lightweight USB Rechargeable for Travel Lash Makeup Girl Women Summer Gift Black

Price: $8.99 (10% off)

4. First Aid Kit

If you end up needing medication or first-aid supplies on board, you’ll likely pay inflated prices. It’s best to bring your own travel-sized first aid kit so you’re prepared for anything unexpected. A small first aid kit can provide peace of mind during your vacation.

Product Link: General Medi Mini First Aid Kit, 110 Piece Small First Aid Kit - Includes Emergency Foil Blanket, Scissors for Travel, Home, Office, Vehicle, Camping, Workplace & Outdoor (Red)

Price: $9.49 (32%)

5. Magnetic Door Decorations

Decorating your cruise cabin door has become increasingly popular in recent years. If you want to jazz up your stateroom door without taking up much space in your luggage, consider bringing a set of decorative magnets. You'll be among many with decorations! 

Product Link: Large Cruise Door Decorations Magnetic - Wxiben 4PCS Retro Family Cruise Ship Door Decorations Sea Navigation Tropical Drink Cruise Door Magnets for Carnival Cabin Refrigerator Party Ship Decor

Price: $7.99 (20% off)

Product Link: Family Cruise Door Decorations Magnetic - Wxiben 6PCS Vintage Hawaii Cruise Door Ship Decorations Magnets Glasses Palm Tree Sunset Drink Cruise Door Magnets for Family Vacation Carnival Cabin Decor

Price: $10.39 (20% off)

6. Travel Bottles for Toiletries

When packing for your cruise, make sure to bring some of your must-have toiletries from home. I always pack my own shampoo and conditioner for cruising, as the bathrooms are typically limited with products. These small bottles are also TSA approved for carry-on travel and color coordinated for easy organization.

Product Link: 16pack Travel Bottles for Toiletries, TSA Approved LeakProof Squeezable Silicone Toiletry Containers for Shampoo, Conditioner, 3oz Portable Refillable Traveling Size Liquid Containers (16Pcs/Colorful)

Price: $6.64 (5% off)

Suitcases and Luggage Sets

Whether you’re driving to your cruise port or heading to the airport for your next vacation, having reliable and high-quality luggage makes all the difference when traveling. I finally invested in more expensive suitcases a few years ago, and now I will never go back!

This year, some of the top brands are offering great deals for Amazon Prime Day. For example, my all-time favorite luggage brand, Away, has incredible discounts of up to 25% off their most popular suitcases. If you’re looking to invest in new luggage for your cruises, take a look at some of the discounted suitcases below.

7. Away Luggage

I have a full set of Away luggage (the Bigger Carry-On, Medium, Large Flex, and Trunk), and I’ve convinced my sister, husband, and parents to purchase their own set. It’s a pricey investment, but you’ll receive a lifetime warranty, sturdy luggage, buttery-smooth wheels and excellent customer service. By far, it's the best suitcase I've ever owned.

Product Link: Away Bigger Carry-On Luggage, Lightweight Hardside Large Suitcase with Spinner Wheels, TSA Lock, Airline Approved, Sorbet Orange

Price: $236 (20% off)

Product Link: Away Medium Checked Luggage, Lightweight Hard Shell Suitcase with Spinner Wheels, Durable Rolling Luggage, TSA Lock, 26 Inch, Cloud Gray

Price: $276 (20% off)

(My mom and I both used our Bigger Carry-On Flex suitcases on our recent Royal Caribbean cruise)

Product Link: Away Large Checked Luggage, 29 Inch Hardside Suitcase with Spinner Wheels, Lightweight & Durable, TSA Lock, Cloud Gray

Price: $300 (20% off)

Product Link: Away Large Trunk Luggage, 31 Inch Hardside Suitcase with Spinner Wheels, Lightweight & Durable, TSA Lock, Ideal for Long Trips, Cloud Gray

Price: $326 (25% off)

8. Samsonite Luggage

If you’re not wanting to splurge on high-end luggage, Samsonite is another popular brand for travelers. This year, Samsonite is having major discounts for their best-selling suitcases. Whether you’re needing a carry-on or checked bag for your cruise, these options are excellent choices for mid-tier suitcases.

Product Link: Samsonite Omni 2 Pro Hardside Expandable Luggage with Spinner Wheels, Pro Carry-on, MIDNIGHT BLACK

Price: $110 (50% off)

Product Link: Samsonite Freeform Hardside Expandable with Double Spinner Wheels, Black, 2-Piece Set (21/28)

Price: $240 (20% off)

Product Link: Samsonite Centric 2 Hardside Expandable Luggage with Spinner Wheels, Caribbean Blue, 3-Piece Set (20/24/28)

Price: $279 (60% off)

Product Link: Samsonite Omni 2-2 Piece 19/28 Hardside Luggage with 360° Spinner Wheels - Scratch Resistant Hardshell - TSA, Airline-Approved - Expandable Polycarbonate Lightweight - Midnight Black

Price: $195 (50% off)

Luggage Accessories and Gear

In addition to suitcases, Amazon Prime Day features thousands of deals on luggage accessories to enhance your packing and organization. For example, packing cubes have become very hyped among travelers and cruisers. Other accessories our readers love include tech organizers, hanging toiletry bags and travel pill organizers.

Here are some of the best Amazon Prime Day deals for luggage accessories and gear that you should bring on your next cruise.

9. Packing Cubes

As a frequent traveler, I’d consider packing cubes to be an essential item that I never travel without, especially compression ones. Packing cubes help keep everything neatly organized in my suitcase and make unpacking super easy in my cruise cabin. My favorite set of compression packing cubes from Bagsmart is 30% off this year for Amazon Prime Day!

Product Link: BAGSMART 6 Set Compression Packing Cubes - Lightweight Travel Essentials, Durable Luggage Organizer

Price: $29.99 (30% off)

Product Link: Veken 8 Set Packing Cubes for Travel, Beach Vacation Essentials Accessories for Cruise Ship, Suitcase Organizer Bags for Luggage with Hanging Toiletry & Shoe Bag, Birthday Gifts for Women Mom Her

Price: $17.99 (40% off)

Product Link: BAGAIL 8 Set Packing Cubes Luggage Organizer Bags for Travel Accessories-Cream

Price: $14.44 (42% off)

10. Electronics Organizer

If you pack multiple cords and chargers for your devices while cruising, an electronics organizer is a great way to keep both your suitcase and cabin clutter-free. You won’t have to worry about cords tangling in your luggage, either! Even once I'm onboard, I continue using my electronics organizer to keep the cabin vanity organized. 

Product Link: FYY Travel Cable Organizer Pouch Electronic Accessories Carry Case Portable Waterproof Double Layers All-in-One Storage Bag for Cord, Charger, Phone, Earphone Black

Price: $7.95 (39% off)

Product Link: BAGSMART Electronics Travel Organizer Case, Tech Accessories Cord Storage Bag for Phone, Power Bank, SD Card, Cables, Black

Price: $11.89 (15% off)

11. Insulated Coffee Mug with Lid

Cruisers love bringing their own insulated coffee mug onboard, as the mugs provided by the cruise line are often very small. The insulation keeps coffee warm while the lid prevents spilling - perfect for watching glaciers in Alaska from the top deck or sailing through the Norwegian fjords!

Product Link: ALOUFEA 12oz Stainless Steel Insulated Coffee Mug with Handle, Double Wall Vacuum Travel Mug, Tumbler Cup with Sliding Lid, Navy

Price: $10.75 (27% off)

12. Pill Organizer

If you’re someone who takes daily medication, a travel pill organizer is a necessity for your cruise to save space. It can also be handy for packing over-the-counter meds since onboard options are limited and expensive. 

Product Link: Holii Travel Pill Organizer, 8 Compartments Portable Pill Case, Daily Pill Box to Hold Vitamins, Small Pill Container for Pocket Purse Medicine Organizer（Khaki）

Price: $5.06 (15% off)

Product Link: Cute Pill Dispenser with 7 Large Compartments, Portable Pill Bottle Organizer with Wide Opening for Easy Use, Anti-Mix Pill Organizer for Travel, BPA-Free Pill Container, Pink

Price: $8.78 (37% off)

13. Hanging Toiletry Bag

Cruise cabins are tiny, but the bathrooms are even smaller. With limited counter space, having a hanging toiletry bag that hangs on the back of the door will save space and reduce clutter by keeping everything neatly organized. I've cruised with one for over 15 years, and it's one of the best investments I've made for traveling.

Product Link: BAGSMART Toiletry Bag Hanging Travel Makeup Organizer with TSA Approved Transparent Cosmetic Bag Makeup Bag for Full Sized Toiletries, Medium-Black

Price: $15.99 (43% off)

Product Link: Elviros Hanging Toiletry Bag for Men Travel Essentials 3-in-1 Large Waterproof Dopp Kit PU Leather Shaving Bag with Separate Compartments for Grooming and Toiletries Mens Gift

Price: $20.78 (23% off)

14. Jewelry Organizer

A travel jewelry case is perfect for keeping your jewelry organized and secure during your cruise, so you don’t have to worry about tangled necklaces or missing jewelry on vacation.

Product Link: BAGSMART Travel Jewelry Organizer Case Foldable Jewelry Roll for Journey Rings, Necklaces, Earrings, Bracelets, Mini, Black

Price: $13.59 (15% off)

Cruise Tech and Electronics

Amazon Prime Day is known for having some of the best deals on technology and electronics. Whether you’re looking for headphones, a portable charger, or other cruise essentials, it’s the perfect time to stock up before your next sailing. Some of my favorite cruise products are included here, such as my extra-long phone cord and portable sound machine.

15. Charging Stations

If you’re sailing with multiple people in your cruise cabin, you might find yourself fighting over the outlets to charge everyone's devices. The same is true if you’re sailing on an older ship, which often have only one or two outlets available. To expand your charging capabilities, bring a charging station to use in your cabin with additional USB ports.

Product Link: Anker Charger, 60W 6 Port USB Charging Station, PowerPort 6 Multi USB Charger for iPhone 14/13 Series, iPad Pro/Air/Mini, Galaxy S23/S22/S21, Note 20 Ultra, LG, HTC, and

Price: $19.99 (33% off)

Product Link: Anker Charger, 65W 4 Port Charging Station, PIQ 3.0 & GaN Fast USB Charger Adapter, PowerPort Atom III Slim Wall Charger - 45W USB C Port, Ideal for MacBook, Laptops, iPad Pro, iPhone, Galaxy, Pixel

Price: $23.99 (31% off)

16. Wireless Headphones

Anytime you’re traveling, it’s crucial to pack a pair of wireless headphones to use during your trip. This Amazon Prime Day, top brands like Apple AirPods and Beats are on sale, which makes this a great time to upgrade! I recently upgraded to AirPods after years of wired headphones, and I love the ease of connecting them to all of my Apple devices.

Product Link: Apple AirPods Pro 2 Wireless Earbuds, Active Noise Cancellation, Hearing Aid Feature, Bluetooth Headphones, Transparency, Personalized Spatial Audio, High-Fidelity Sound, H2 Chip, USB-C Charging

Price: $149 (40% off)

Product Link: Beats Solo 4 - Wireless Bluetooth On-Ear Headphones, Apple & Android Compatible, Up to 50 Hours of Battery Life - Matte Black

Price: $97.99 (51% off)

17. Kindle Paperwhite

If you’re someone who likes to read on vacation, but you want to save space in your luggage, an e-reader can be a great solution. This year, Amazon has their latest model discounted 22% for Prime Day!

Product Link: Amazon Kindle Paperwhite 16GB (newest model) – Our fastest Kindle ever, with new 7" glare-free display and weeks of battery life – Black

Price: $124.99 (22% off)

18. Portable Charger

You should always travel with a portable charger, as this can provide extra charging capabilities whether you’re onboard or exploring ashore. Cruise lines are also relying heavily on passengers using their apps, which can drain your battery quicker than usual. Consider purchasing a portable charger with built-in fan for added convenience!

Product Link: Portable Charger with Built in Cables, Portable Charger with Cords Wires Slim 10000mAh Travel Essentials Battery Pack 6 Outputs 3A High Speed Power Bank for iPhone Samsung Pixel LG Moto iPad

Price: $18.99 (37% off)

Product Link: JISULIFE Handheld Mini Fan, 3 IN 1 USB Rechargeable Portable Fan [12-19 Working Hours] with Power Bank, Flashlight, Pocket Design for Travel/Summer/Concerts/Lash, Gifts for Women (Pink)

Price: $12.74 (15% off)

19. Portable Sound Machine

Cruise ships can be very loud with clanking and clinging constantly. Not to mention, your cabin could be in a noisy location, like under the kids' club or near the pool deck. A portable sound machine drowns out the noise so you can sleep well at night. I absolutely never cruise without this sound machine - it's compact and easy to pack.

Product Link: Babelio White Noise Sound Machine for Adults Kids Baby, Travel Sound Machine for Sleep, Mini and Portable, 15 Non-looping Sounds, Timer, Memory Function, Easy to Pocket and Travel White

Price: $15.19 (31%)

20. Extra-Long Phone Charging Cord

You never know how far the outlet in your cabin will be from the bed or the sofa. If you’re someone who likes to scroll on your phone before going to sleep, make sure to bring an extra-long charging cord. I use mine all the time while cruising.

Product Link: White USB C Cable 10 ft, Long USB A to USB C Cable Fast Charging, USBC Charger Cord Braided Compatible with iPhone 16 15 Pro Max Plus, for Samsung Galaxy S21 Note 10, Pixel

Price: $5.98 (25% off)

Cruising is one of the best ways to travel with a multigenerational group. Growing up, I cruised frequently with my parents, grandparents, and extended family, creating many cherished family memories. 

Now, as an adult, I continue to cruise with my parents as a way to spend quality time together. Living across the country with my husband means we don’t get to see each other often - and cruising together allows us to travel, relax, and reconnect with one another.

In October, I traveled to Australia for a 15-night cruise with my sister and parents onboard Celebrity Solstice. The repositioning itinerary sailed from Sydney to Singapore with stops along the Australian coast. We also spent two unforgettable days in Bali, Indonesia during the sailing. After a canceled trip to Australia in March 2020, we were eager to plan a trip to the Land Down Under again.

As you might imagine, traveling in your 20s is a completely different experience than cruising as a baby boomer. My parents are in their early 60s, so their style of travel is a little different than mine. Their boomer travel priorities, vacation budget, and cruising habits sometimes clashed with my budget-friendly, millennial approach to travel.

Although cruising simplifies many aspects of the logistics, we still encountered some bumps in the road. Here are 7 ways we traveled differently on our Celebrity cruise to Australia.

1. Paying extra for a balcony cabin instead of saving money with a cheap interior stateroom

One of the biggest cruising differences between my boomer parents was our cabin preference. My parents opted to spend an extra $1,000 on their cruise fare for a balcony stateroom on Celebrity Solstice. This is always a top priority for them, as my dad prefers to have a balcony, especially on longer itineraries. Their balcony was technically an obstructed balcony; however, the obstruction was minimal.

On the other hand, my sister and I don’t mind booking an inside cabin when it saves us money. We were happy to save $1,000 between the two of us to have an interior stateroom. Our cabin was located at the very aft of the ship, surrounded by a linen closet and ice machine for the room service staff.

Luckily, our cabin location was mostly quiet and the configuration was quite spacious. Because our stateroom was nestled among storage closets, the cabin felt larger than other interior staterooms I’ve stayed in. 

In addition, we found our stateroom had better climate control as we sailed to warmer climates. My parents’ balcony cabin struggled to keep the cabin cool with the heavy humidity in Singapore and Indonesia; however, our inside cabin was an ice box! Although we initially regretted not booking a balcony stateroom, we were pleased with our selection given the large space and temperature control.

2. Booking excursions through the cruise line rather than independent exploration

Whenever I cruise with my parents, we typically book excursions through the cruise line rather than independent tours. These excursions offer added peace of mind, ensuring you’ll return to the ship on time without the risk of being left behind.

For example, we snorkeled in the Great Barrier Reef, which required sailing more than one hour away from the anchored ship. To reach the reef, we would be venturing far from the ship. We opted to book the $300 per person excursion through Celebrity Cruises because this was the most convenient option, even if it was more expensive.

The only port where we didn’t book an excursion was in Bali, Indonesia. The Celebrity Cruise excursions were expensive and limited, so we decided not to book any of these. Instead, we booked through Shore Excursions Group, per the recommendation of our travel agent, and saved hundreds of dollars.

Because we had an overnight stay, we didn’t worry about returning to the ship on time the first day and felt comfortable exploring all over the island. On the other hand, my sister and I rarely book excursions through the cruise line. Instead, we opt to explore independently when visiting ports of call because excursions are expensive. We enjoy wandering around the ports of call on our own, opting to walk whenever possible.

3. Splurging on specialty dining multiple times in leu of the main dining room

When my sister and I cruise together, we might book specialty dining for one evening. In general, we stick to complimentary restaurants, like the main dining room, unless we can get a really good deal on a specialty dining restaurant. Most of the time, we find the main dining room has plenty of options and delicious cuisine already included in our cruise fare.

During our cruise with our parents, we ended up spending three nights at the specialty restaurants on Celebrity Solstice. My dad really enjoyed the experience at Tuscan Grille, prompting a second return to the restaurant later in the sailing.

While my sister and I might not have splurged on the dining fee for these restaurants, we were happy to accompany our parents. Perhaps this is a difference in budget, but I prefer spending my travel budget in other ways, such as shopping in port or trying local cuisine.

4. Reserving transportation beforehand instead of ride-sharing

When it comes to transportation while traveling, my boomer parents prefer to prebook arrangements. Navigating the rideshare apps can be confusing and nerve-wracking for my parents, as they are usually unsure about Uber and Lyft.

During the travel planning process, my parents arrange for transportation from the airport to their hotel. These transfers are usually booked through Viator and reasonably priced, especially when our family travels with a lot of luggage.

In addition, they schedule a private transfer from the hotel to the cruise port for embarkation day. Similarly, my parents want to relax on the morning of their cruise instead of navigating public transport, squeezing into a taxi, or fumbling on their phones for an Uber.

Comparatively, I would rely solely on local transport and ride-sharing for logistics when cruising. As a millennial, I am very comfortable using Lyft or Uber in foreign countries. I also wouldn’t have an issue asking the hotel front desk to schedule a taxi or transfer, if needed. By not prepaying for transport, this allows for more flexibility with my schedule depending on my agenda for that day.

In fact, we were grateful for Uber when our prearranged transport failed to show up at the Sydney Airport after our arrival. The Uber XL showed up immediately and we ended up saving $100 total in the end. I'm not confident my parents would have known how to arrange an Uber on the spot like this, so I was thankful my sister and I were there to help. 

5. Wanting to get on the ship right away rather than exploring the city

When embarkation day arrived, I quickly realized that my parents had different priorities for boarding the cruise ship. My parents prioritize boarding as early as possible to maximize their day, while I prefer a more flexible approach. For me, embarkation day is usually an opportunity to explore the city before heading to the ship.

With our cruise departing from Sydney, we were very excited to explore all the city had to offer. We flew in two days before our sailing departed, giving us one full day to tour and two half-days to explore.

After two days of sightseeing in Sydney, I still had a few more places I wanted to check out before embarking on our cruise. Because our sailing was a repositioning cruise, we wouldn’t be returning to Sydney at the end of the voyage.

Read more: Australia & South Pacific cruise guide: Best itineraries, planning tips and things to do

Unfortunately, my parents and I clashed on when we wanted to arrive at the cruise terminal for embarkation day. All-aboard time was 3:00pm, but my parents scheduled our transfer at 11:00am. With so much to see in Sydney still, my sister and I would have preferred arriving to the port later in the day.

However, arranging separate transportation didn’t seem practical, either. We considered the possibility of checking in, dropping off our luggage, and getting back off the ship to explore more. Due to customs and immigration with our repositioning sailing, this would not be allowed for security purposes.

Ultimately, we found a compromise. My dad waited at the cruise terminal cafe with our luggage while my mom, sister, and I walked to the nearby street market to shop for trinkets. We walked around and shopped for about 90 minutes before it started to rain, which was the perfect time to board our ship.

6. Moving at different paces with varying priorities

It’s no surprise that my parents and I travel at different paces. While my parents are healthy and in great shape for their age, I was surprised by the difference in our travel preferences.   

Each evening, my parents would be waiting in line outside of the main dining room for our early dinner slot. Meanwhile, my sister and I would often arrive a little later, instead stopping to watch the sunset on the promenade deck or grabbing a drink at happy hour.

Similarly, my parents were always early to the excursion meeting spot, often fretting about whether my sister and I would arrive on time (for the record, we were never late). While I would be eager to get the best spot on the bus or tender boat, my parents were very nonchalant about it.

This difference was especially noticeable during our excursion to the Great Barrier Reef. I couldn’t wait to get my wetsuit on and start snorkeling in the reef. To my slight frustration, my parents were in no rush to disembark from the catamaran. This felt like wasting time in my opinion, although they were content to take their time.

In the end, we found a balance between our varying travel styles. In some ways, I appreciated my parents getting to certain places early, such as busy theatre shows. Similarly, I tried to maximize our port time by keeping the family on a steady travel pace.

7. Flying in premium economy seats over cheaper options

Traveling from the United States to Australia and back from Singapore involves very long travel itineraries. We spent upwards of 30 hours flying to and from our cruise with multiple layovers involved.

With such long travel days, my parents splurged on Delta’s premium economy seats for the long-haul legs of our trip. Considering the flight from Los Angeles to Sydney is 15 hours, they wanted to have more comfortable seats. This upgrade ended up costing about $1,500 more per person.

In contrast, my sister and I booked main economy of our travels. While we dreaded the flight to Australia in economy, I kept reminding her that we saved thousands of dollars! This price difference literally almost paid for our cruise between the two of us.

Although the flight was uncomfortable with a stranger sitting in our middle seat, my sister and I survived to tell the tale! After taking some sleeping medication and getting comfortable in my window seat, the flight passed quickly and we landed in Sydney before I knew it.

In the end, my parents said the premium economy seats were worth every penny for the international flights. They had bigger seats, more legroom, higher quality food, and more amenities. At their age, they said they probably will never take an international flight in main cabin again. They’ve already booked these same seats again on an upcoming long-haul flight.

I grew up cruising with my parents, and I still love to travel with them today. Even as an adult, I make it a priority to share meaningful experiences with them doing something we all enjoy. For our family, cruising continues to be the perfect way for all of us to travel together, especially as my parents get older.

A few weeks ago, my mom and I flew to Los Angeles to board Royal Caribbean’s Ovation of the Seas for one of the ship’s first cruises out of California. We spent two days at sea and two days exploring Cabo San Lucas in Mexico. Our itinerary even featured an overnight port stay in Cabo San Lucas, which we were very excited about!

My mom would consider herself “not old” at only 64 years old, but I still adjust how I travel when we cruise together. She is healthy and fairly active for her age, so I don’t need to worry about mobility concerns.

Surprisingly, this was the first time just the two of us had cruised together. We typically cruise as a family, but my sister was unavailable to join because she just started a new job. Regardless, we had a wonderful cruise together! But after our 5-night cruise to Baja, Mexico, I learned some important lessons about cruising with your parents.

1. Splurge on high-quality luggage

Last fall, my sister and I cruised with our parents across Australia and Bali. I couldn’t believe the rickety and janky suitcases that my parents packed! They could barely roll their luggage through the airport or cruise terminal without the suitcase flopping over! When they brought the same worn-down suitcases again this spring on our family cruise across Asia, I said, “I never want to see that janky luggage again!”

So, my sister and I decided to buy our mom a brand-new set of Away Luggage for Mother’s Day. It was pricey, but we split the cost and used a credit card offer to save a couple hundred dollars. 

My mom brought her new carry-on for the first time on our Ovation of the Seas cruise, and she was amazed at how much easier it made traveling. She had no trouble getting through the airport and cruise terminal on her own. Investing in quality luggage made it much simpler for her to manage her bags, and the upgrade was well worth the price for a smoother travel experience.

2. Be proactive and ask for help

During our vacation, there were a few instances where I realized how important it was for me to be proactive and ask for help when my mom needed it. 

First, we had a less-than-positive taxi experience leaving the airport, which made her uneasy. The next morning, we met a really lovely driver who took us to the cruise port. During the ride, we asked if we could prearrange our return trip from the port to the airport after the cruise was done. 

This gave my mom peace of mind that we already had transportation lined up with a reliable, safe, and friendly driver. He even gave us his phone number to text with updates or questions, which was handy when we had questions about navigating the city during recent events.

Additionally, I encouraged my mom to ask for help at the airport when she needed. Although she is able-bodied, she was worried about lifting her suitcase into the overhead bin on her own. 

Because we were flying separately, I suggested she ask the flight attendant or someone on the flight to help with her suitcase. It’s better to ask for help than have her potentially hurt herself. Luckily, she didn’t have any issue finding someone to help on her flights, which was a relief for me.

3. Book a shore excursion for everyone to relax

Although I might have explored Cabo San Lucas on my own, I know my mom wouldn’t have been comfortable with this. Because we had never visited before, we both agreed that booking a shore excursion with Royal Caribbean was the best option.

We only spent about $70 each for a full-day tour, and it was totally worth it. To start, Cabo San Lucas is a tender port. This means you either have priority tendering with an excursion, or you have to obtain a tender ticket to disembark independently. Having an excursion gave my mom a sense of relief knowing we didn’t have to worry about the tender ticket situation.

Additionally, neither of us had to stress about logistics for planning the day. Everything was taken care of, so we could just enjoy the excursion while experiencing Cabo for the first time. I’d absolutely book another excursion with my mom again, and I think it’s one of the best options when traveling with multiple generations.

You'll just want to make sure you check your excursion’s guidelines and requirements. Some tours are not wheelchair-friendly and require more strenuous activity. Although this wasn’t a problem for my mom, we did see other older travelers struggling to board the tender. Some almost fell into the speedboat while boarding to visit the famous Cabo Arch formation! Ensure you book an excursion that everyone can comfortably and safely enjoy. 

4. Prepare to become the chief IT officer

While cruising with my mom, I think I earned the distinguished honor of being her personal IT officer. As her daughter, I’m happy to help her with any phone, internet, or technology issues. 

For those who aren’t as tech-savvy, the use of technology can be overwhelming, and even frustrating, while traveling. This is especially true on cruises where cruise lines are increasingly relying on digital tools like virtual muster drills and mobile apps to manage the onboard experience.

For example, while I breezed through setting up my Internet access, my mom struggled to figure out the correct steps. I ended up taking the lead and signing her up for the Internet package because she was having a hard time getting this purchased.

At one point, she also managed to lock herself out of the safe in our cabin. We had to request assistance for the safe to stop its non-stop beeping and reset the passcode. We couldn't help but laugh at the classic "senior moment"!

Finally, at the end of the cruise, I helped her check in for her flight and save the boarding passes to her Apple Wallet. I wanted to make sure she had everything she needed before heading to the airport, as we were on separate return flights. Additionally, I coordinated with the gate agent to get her on standby for an earlier flight. This worked out for her, as she landed hours ahead of her originally scheduled midnight arrival.

5. Taking charge to ease stress

My mom is very well traveled, but she usually has my dad as their planner to take care of everything. We always joke that “Mom is just along for the ride and happy to be cruising!”

I found myself taking charge throughout the cruise to alleviate some of my mom’s stress. When she landed a few hours before me at LAX, we planned for her to relax in the airport lounge while waiting for me. I didn’t want her to figure out the hotel taxi or ride-share without me. I knew the massive size of LAX would be stressful for her. 

Finally, I was happy to order the Uber rides and handle our logistics. I checked us both in for the cruise and downloaded both boarding passes before heading to the terminal. To make sure my mom is relaxed and at ease, taking charge is something I will naturally do. 

Florida is widely regarded as the cruise capital of the world, with some of the busiest cruise ports anywhere. Between Port Miami, Port Everglades, and Port Canaveral, I rarely need to travel far to cruise as a Florida resident.

In this way, cruising from Florida is extremely convenient and budget-friendly for me. Like any Florida resident, I am fortunate to have easy access to some of the world’s newest, biggest, and most advanced cruise ships. That said, I never limit myself to just sailing from Florida. 

I am always eager to explore new destinations, even if it means flying across the world for a bucket-list sailing. For example, I recently flew all the way to Singapore for a 12-night cruise through Asia, and last fall, I traveled to the Land Down Under for an Australian cruise from Sydney. I've even traveled all the way to Mauritius for a once-in-a-lifetime safari cruise across South Africa.

While Royal Caribbean has a heavy presence in Florida, the cruise line operates globally with sailings all over the world. That's why I was especially excited when Royal Caribbean announced Ovation of the Seas would be sailing from Los Angeles, California as the biggest ship to ever sail from the port.

After sailing on every ship in Royal Caribbean’s fleet, I’ve found the Quantum class to be one of my favorites. These cruise ships feature a sleek, modern design, plenty of amenities, and often sail to more exciting destinations. I’ve sailed on nearly every Quantum class ship in Royal Caribbean’s fleet, so I was especially excited to finally check Ovation of the Seas off my list.

Additionally, I hadn’t cruised from the West Coast in more than 15 years. In fact, my last West Coast cruise was in 2008 on the now-retired Monarch of the Seas from San Diego. Needless to say, I was overdue for a West Coast cruise! And I couldn’t resist a great deal on a 5-night cruise to Cabo San Lucas for one of Ovation of the Seas' inaugural sailings from Los Angeles.

Even better, this itinerary featured an overnight port stay in Cabo San Lucas, which is one of my favorite itinerary features! Having an overnight allows you more time to experience the destination, and you typically aren't as rushed during your time ashore. I was thrilled that my mom wanted to join this cruise for our first mother-daughter cruise together!

Although we had a great time during our cruise from California and loved visiting Cabo San Lucas for the first time, I probably won’t be sailing again from the West Coast anytime soon. 

First, it wasn’t easy getting to the West Coast for this cruise.

I live in the Florida Panhandle, so I usually prefer cruising from Port Canaveral in Central Florida. It’s just a 6-hour drive, so this port is the most convenient with many different itineraries and cruise lines to choose from. I also have family in Orlando, so I never need to spend extra money on a hotel room the night before a cruise. 

However, there are only so many destinations you can visit when you cruise from the same disembarkation port. You tend to repeat a lot of the same itineraries aboard the same cruise ships. Don’t ask how many times I’ve been to Cozumel, because I’ve lost count!

For this itinerary, I planned to fly into LAX the night before the start of our cruise (as you always should). My local airport is on the smaller side, so I usually have to connect through Atlanta, Georgia. Between my four hour layover and two different flights, my total travel time was over ten hours from Florida!

Since I don’t fly to the West Coast very often, I honestly just forgot how long it takes to get from Florida to Los Angeles! I was naive to think my travel day wouldn’t be that long.

In hindsight, I probably should’ve done a little more planning. I did end up needing to take an extra day of PTO just to account for the long travel day. By the time I landed in LAX, I realized the travel time was almost as long as flying to Europe!

To top it off, this flight wasn’t cheap either. It ended up costing close to $500 for the round-trip airfare. That’s nearly what I paid for my upcoming trip to Denmark later this summer. 

At the end of the day, I just want to make the most of my time and money when I travel. For me, that often means discovering new places to explore if I am going to spend more than ten hours at the airport!

Navigating the massive LAX airport was also more stressful than I anticipated.

I’m no stranger to navigating big airports, but I definitely appreciate the ease and convenience of smaller airports. For example, when I cruise from Miami, I actually prefer flying into Fort Lauderdale’s Hollywood International airport instead. It’s close to PortMiami and far easier to navigate than the busier Miami airport.

For this cruise, my mom and I flew separately into LAX, as she was traveling from South Dakota and I was coming from Florida. Knowing how hectic large airports can be, especially when navigating them alone, my mom decided to wait in the Delta SkyClub lounge until I landed a few hours later.

I was thankful she had a comfortable and safe place to relax until I arrived. I’m also glad my mom didn’t try to navigate the airport on her own, as it was more stressful and complex than either of us anticipated. After I landed in the late evening, we made our way to the hotel before boarding Ovation of the Seas the following day.

We eventually found the free airport shuttle to the designated ride-share and taxi area, but the signage was a little confusing, especially considering it was late at night. It didn’t help that other travelers on the shuttle didn’t seem too eager to offer directions. To make matters worse, my mom and I were both exhausted from a long day of flying across the country.

The ride-share area at LAX was unlike anything I’ve seen before, featuring a slew of temporary-looking white tents scattered across the parking lot. Ride-share prices were also unusually high for such a short distance. I was being quoted over $40 for a quick 5-minute ride, which is outrageous!

We ended up taking a taxi instead for $20 to the hotel, although the experience wasn’t exactly warm and welcoming from our taxi driver. All that to say, we couldn’t wait to go to sleep and board Ovation of the Seas the next morning for our cruise!

Since LAX offers the most flight options and is the closest airport to Royal Caribbean’s World Cruise Terminal, it’s definitely the most practical choice. However, I think most can agree the size and chaos of the airport can be overwhelming. Next time, I’d plan to arrive earlier in the day and prearrange a transfer to make the experience smoother.

Cruise options are still pretty limited from the West Coast.

Royal Caribbean is planning to expand its West Coast presence in the coming years, and operations are already ramping up! Before Ovation of the Seas arrived, Royal Caribbean had previously deployed Navigator of the Seas — an older Voyager class ship — as the largest ship to depart from Los Angeles in 2021. Prior to that, Royal Caribbean hadn’t operated in California for over a decade.

Navigator of the Seas started offering shorter itineraries to Mexico, and there’s clearly a strong demand for it. Now, the addition of new ships will provide even more opportunities for West Coast locals to cruise with Royal Caribbean.

In 2026, Serenade of the Seas will be sailing from San Diego as the third ship for Royal Caribbean to operate in California. In addition, Quantum of the Seas and Voyager of the Seas will also have a stint calling California home this fall when both ships arrive in October 2025.

Although Royal Caribbean is expanding its presence, itineraries are still limited largely to Mexico. These sailings feature ports of call to Ensenada, Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallarta, and Mazatlan, along with one unique repositioning cruise back to Asia. 

With just a handful of cruise ships offering mostly short getaway itineraries to Mexico, these sailings tend to be better suited for local California residents. Comparatively, I’m lucky to have a variety of itineraries from Florida throughout the Caribbean, Mexico, Central America, Bahamas, and South America. You can even cruise all the way to Europe on transatlantic cruises from Florida! 

There are still some destinations that I haven't visited throughout the Caribbean, such as the ABC Islands of Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao. Rather than flying to the West Coast, I’d prefer to focus on visiting new ports of call that are more easily accessible from Florida.

However, Royal Caribbean has the largest West Coast presence.

Compared to other cruise lines, Royal Caribbean’s commitment to the West Coast is unmatched. Loyal Royal Caribbean cruisers now have more chances than ever to set sail on some of the cruise line’s best ships.

For example, sister-brand Celebrity Cruises only offers limited sailings from Los Angeles, primarily consisting of one-time Panama Canal repositioning cruises. Additionally, Carnival Cruise Line and Norwegian Cruise Line operate sailings from California, but typically with just one or two ships throughout the year.

With Royal Caribbean expanding its West Coast presence, cruisers can now explore Baja Mexico on a wider variety of itineraries. For the summer, Ovation of the Seas will rotate between 3-night, 5-night, and 6-night cruises until she repositions to Southeast Asia in the fall. Until then, guests can experience some of the most popular ports of call throughout Mexico.

During my recent 5-night cruise to Cabo San Lucas, my mom and I were blown away by how beautiful the city was. We were pleasantly surprised by the port, including how clean, safe, and well-maintained it was. The scenery was also absolutely breathtaking, making Cabo San Lucas one of the nicest places I’ve visited in the country. 

In hindsight, I wish I had booked a longer itinerary to experience more of the region during my trip to the West Coast, as I haven’t visited ports like Puerto Vallarta or Mazatlan.

Even still, I’m not sure if I’ll cruise again from California anytime soon.

Royal Caribbean is deploying more mega ships to cruise from California, which is great news for those living on the West Coast. With an increasing number of amenity-packed ships sailing from the region, the cruise line is clearly making a long-term investment in the West Coast market.

However, I’ll probably stick to cruises from Florida. For me, this is mostly due to the distance and cost to travel to California. 

During our sailing, nearly everyone we met was from the local area, which likely reflects Royal Caribbean’s target audience for these itineraries. Most people hadn't traveled as far as we had for the 5-night sailing to Cabo. That said, I had a fantastic time on the cruise itself, and I loved experiencing Ovation of the Seas for the first time. The entertainment, dining options, and onboard amenities are some of Royal Caribbean's best. My mom and I had a wonderful mother-daughter vacation together and cherished our time onboard.

As a frequent cruiser, I’ve found that some itineraries are best enjoyed once, and that’s perfectly okay. For me, it just makes more sense to stick with cruises from Florida for convenience. If I want a quick weekend getaway cruise to Mexico, I can do that without flying across the country. 

However, for those living on the West Coast, Royal Caribbean’s California sailings are a convenient and appealing option. Just like I wouldn’t want to fly across the country for a short cruise, I imagine many Californians feel the same about flying to Florida. I’m genuinely excited that West Coasters get to experience, in my opinion, one of Royal Caribbean’s best ships with Ovation of the Seas. 

A virtual balcony is a different kind of inside cabin, because Royal Caribbean wanted to fix the biggest problem cruisers have with it.

After two decades of Royal Caribbean cruising, I’ve sailed in many different cabins. This includes everything from cheap interior staterooms on the oldest ships to a Junior Suite on the newest cruise ships.

When booking my recent cruise aboard Royal Caribbean’s Ovation of the Seas, I was intrigued by the option to book a Virtual Balcony stateroom. Of all the cabins I’ve sailed in, I’ve never booked the unique stateroom.

When Quantum of the Seas debuted as the flagship vessel in Royal Caribbean’s new Quantum class, every interior stateroom featured a virtual balcony. As the Quantum class expanded with new cruise ships, Royal Caribbean continued incorporating the technology. Now, you can find virtual balconies on a select number of cruise ships in Royal Caribbean’s fleet.

As such, I was surprised to find a decent price for one of the inaugural voyages on Ovation of the Seas from Los Angeles. For $1,411, I was able to book a 5-night cruise in an interior cabin with a virtual balcony. This would also be my mom’s first time sailing with a virtual balcony.

We were curious if the virtual balcony would feel gimmicky, or if the technology would actually enhance our stateroom experience. After five nights onboard Ovation of the Seas, I’m not convinced the technology is worth the hype. However, I would probably book one again if the price was right.

Royal Caribbean invested heavily in the virtual balcony technology.

Although technically still considered an interior cabin, Royal Caribbean first introduced virtual balconies on Navigator of the Seas before expanding to other vessels. Surprisingly, the cruise line said at the time that focus groups found the technology to enhance their stateroom experience, with many preferring the virtual balcony over an oceanview cabin.

The virtual balcony technology was considered groundbreaking when it first debuted over 10 years ago. The floor-to-ceiling HD screens stream real-time views from outside the ship. Interior cabins have no window, so you typically can’t see outside views until you physically make your way to an outer deck.

The screens are 80 inches and are designed to have the illusion of a true balcony experience by making the cabin feel less cramped. Royal Caribbean invested heavily in the technology with a continuous feed from RED Epic cameras that are mounted around the ship.

The complex technological process involves cameras capturing real-time footage, which is transferred to a server room and then onto each individual cabin screen. With this, your virtual balcony screen matches the ship’s actual movement.

Royal Caribbean collaborated with experts from MIT and Harvard to design the technology. The cruise line claims it can even reduce motion sickness. Royal Caribbean describes the virtual balcony as “having crystal clear imagery on the screen” to depict a lifelike view.

Truthfully, I had no idea Royal Caribbean invested significant resources into the virtual balcony technology. Because of this, I had some higher standards for my stateroom experience on Ovation of the Seas.

I wasn’t immediately blown away by the virtual balcony.

After boarding Ovation of the Seas in Los Angeles, we were excited to see what the virtual balcony experience would entail. When we first entered the stateroom, we could see the live footage of the ship docked at the Los Angeles World Cruise Center with a direct view of the Battleship USS Iowa Museum.

The video feed accurately portrayed the grey sky outside, which we learned is called “June Gloom” in California. There was a fake balcony superimposed onto the live footage, which added to the balcony illusion. But, you really couldn’t mistake the virtual balcony for an actual one. It’s pretty obvious that you’re looking at a TV screen, essentially.

After reading about Royal Caribbean’s investment in this technology, I did expect the video quality to be more impressive. Ovation of the Seas was built in March 2015, so the technology is more than 10 years old at this point. This could be contributing to some of the graininess on the screen. Either way, I did expect the feed to feel more realistic.

We couldn’t figure out how to turn the screen off before going to bed.

By the time we returned from dinner, the virtual balcony was showing the darkness outside of the ship. According to Royal Caribbean’s website, guests have the option to turn off the virtual balcony. We looked for an easy mechanism to turn the screen off during the first night, but we didn’t have any success.

Instead of turning off the screen at night, you can pull curtains in front of the screen, just like you would with a real balcony. We did find this to be a little comical that we had to draw the curtains each night. It almost felt like putting my fake baby dolls to bed when I was a kid!

There was still a small glow coming from the screen, so we used a fridge clip that my mom had packed to keep the curtains closed. We were thankful she packed the clip, as we prefer the room to be pitch black. After all, this is one of the biggest perks of booking an interior cabin!

We decided to clip the curtains together each night to ensure our room would stay dark. The small glow could be a nice illumination for those who need to navigate the cabin throughout the night, though.

The virtual balcony was more impressive once we arrived in Cabo San Lucas.

During our day at sea, the virtual balcony feed was unsurprisingly boring with the grey sky. We noticed the screen would glitch occasionally and even show a black screen a few times. However, once we arrived in Cabo San Lucas, the screen was more exciting with actual footage of our port.

Our virtual balcony showed a stunning view of the rugged mountains near the beach. Because we had an overnight in Cabo San Lucas, we were able to enjoy the beautiful view of the beach on our virtual balcony for two days!

It was easy to see the weather was beautiful and sunny with our virtual balcony - one of the biggest perks of having this technological feature in your stateroom. Although we had sunny weather for both days of our cruise, this could be particularly useful when cruising in more rainy climates, such as Alaska.

Instead of navigating to one of the outer decks to check the weather, you can simply check your virtual balcony. Of course, you won’t be able to actually feel the temperature, and it’s no substitute for a real balcony’s fresh air.

Other than our virtual balcony, the stateroom was a standard interior cabin.

I’ve cruised in many different interior cabins, and Royal Caribbean has some of the best in the cruise industry. Ovation of the Seas is one of Royal Caribbean’s newer ships, relatively speaking.

As such, the cabin reflected the ship’s modern design, with a clean, functional layout and smart use of space. The color palette was modern with blue hues, soft neutrals, and light wood finishes. This made the cabin feel clean and fresh while still being warm and welcoming.

Our interior cabin on Ovation of the Seas was surprisingly comfortable and spacious. The layout featured two twin beds, which were already separated upon our arrival. We each had our own small nightstand with a few small shelves to use, which we appreciated. By pushing the nightstands together, we felt like we had more space for storing our bedside belongings.

Connectivity was another design element that we appreciated in the cabin.

On the vanity, there was a charging strip with multiple plugs and outlets. As newer cruise ships continue to include more USB options, just be sure to pack any necessary cords or adapters, like USB-C converters, so you’re covered. We still packed our European outlet extender for more plugs, as most of our cords are now USB-C instead of traditional USB.

There was also an outlet located next to the bed, but only on one side. If you choose to separate the beds, this setup isn’t the most convenient, especially if you’re the one without access to the outlet. 

Because of this, I usually charged my phone in the evening while winding down, then unplugged it before falling asleep. Because the location made it a bit awkward to keep plugged in overnight, this could be inconvenient for some.

There was also plenty of storage.

One of my favorite features of Royal Caribbean’s newer cabins is the storage above the bed. The overhead storage is particularly useful, although storage is plentiful throughout the cabin. Under the flat-screen TV was a dresser with multiple drawers, which my mom used for unpacking.

I ended up using the majority of the closet, which included more shelving and hanging space. This is also where the cabin safe was located. I was able to unpack my carry-on suitcase comfortably and used the bottom of the closet for dirty clothes.

There was also a small cooling fridge, and we used this mainly for keeping our bottled water chilled. I always appreciate Royal Caribbean providing bottled water in the stateroom for loyalty members. We were surprised to find an electric kettle with a selection of tea and coffee on the counter, as I’ve typically only seen this on European sailings.

While the stateroom wasn’t huge by any means, the cabin felt thoughtfully arranged. We had room to unpack and move around without constantly bumping into each other. 

The addition of the chair for sitting was a nice touch, although it quickly turned into a place for us to throw our clothes and bags. Overall, our stateroom was a well-designed space that made the most of its square footage.

The bathroom in our cabin was compact but efficient.

Our virtual balcony cabin included a standard in-suite bathroom for an interior cabin. Just like the rest of the stateroom, the design felt clean and modern. The bathroom featured a warm-toned tile floor, a glass-enclosed shower, and a long, narrow sink counter that made smart use of the limited space. 

Storage was better than expected thanks to open shelving beneath the sink and a couple of shelves beside the mirror. We had plenty of room for toiletries, although we both utilized our hanging cosmetic bags on the doors.

The shower had decent water pressure and came with a handheld wand, which was great for rinsing off after a long port day. We noticed the shower drained slowly on the first night, so we requested our cabin steward to have this looked at. By the next evening, the shower was draining like normal.

Most importantly, the bathroom was well-maintained. For an interior stateroom, it definitely checked all the boxes, and the larger shower was appreciated. It’s still a cruise ship bathroom, so you won’t be stretching out, but it didn’t feel cramped.

Our cabin location under the kids’ club was the worst part of the experience.

For this cruise, our cabin was 10521, which was located on Deck 10 towards the front of the ship. I don’t mind being located further towards the front or the back. However, our stateroom was located directly under Adventure Ocean: Royal Caribbean’s childcare and youth programming club.

Thankfully, I packed my travel-sized sound machine to play (or blast) white noise each night. I also packed earplugs to drown out the noise further. The noise was minimal in the night, but we could start to hear ruckus around 8 a.m. each morning. Thankfully, it wasn’t too disruptive, and we were glad we came prepared to make sure we got a good night’s sleep.

Our neighbors weren’t as lucky, though! We met a nice family from Australia staying in our hallway. By the second morning, she told us they could hardly sleep from all of the noise in Adventure Ocean above them.

In the future, I definitely wouldn’t choose to book another room under Adventure Ocean. I prefer booking cabins that are surrounded by other staterooms to eliminate noise and disruption. I want to sleep on vacation, and not return from my cruise feeling drained and sleep deprived.

It's a nice change from a standard inside room

Overall, we enjoyed our stay in the Virtual Balcony interior cabin. It was our first time trying this type of cabin, and the live footage from outside the ship definitely made the space feel less closed in. The screen was a unique touch that added some pizazz to a standard interior cabin.

Additionally, being able to see the live footage from outside the ship enhanced our experience. We enjoyed watching the ocean, but it was especially fun when we arrived at our port of call in Cabo San Lucas in Mexico.

The virtual balcony also served a practical purpose. We found ourselves checking the virtual balcony in the mornings to get a sense of the weather before heading out for the day. It was also a quick way to tell if the ship had arrived in port yet.

However, we couldn’t figure out how to turn the screen off. It would be nice to have a switch where you can easily turn it off before going to bed. Instead, we relied on the curtains and our chip clip to keep the glow from being too distracting. Pulling the curtains in front of the screen each night made the experience feel a little gimmicky, and I would have preferred just turning it off at night.

Because of Royal Caribbean’s investment in this technology, I did expect the footage to be crisper. The video looked grainy at times, which could be related to the ship’s age. Technology can age quickly, so this could be contributing to the lower quality footage.

Ultimately, I wouldn’t spend extra to have a virtual balcony in the future. If the price were the same, or even cheaper, I would definitely book this type of interior cabin again. It certainly doesn’t replace a traditional cabin balcony with fresh air, but it does jazz up a standard interior stateroom.

Not every cruise can go exactly as planned. I’ve learned that while it’s important to plan ahead, it’s just as important to stay flexible when the unexpected happens. As a matter of fact, traveling has made me more adaptable when plans go awry.

Being able to pivot during my recent cruise proved helpful when things didn’t go as planned. This spring, I embarked on a bucket-list sailing aboard Anthem of the Seas from Singapore to Tokyo, Japan. Traveling with my parents and sister, we couldn’t wait to explore new destinations like Vietnam, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea, and Japan.

As one of Royal Caribbean’s most unique itineraries, I had a hard time finding other reviews while preparing for this trip. While you can find plenty of resources about cruising to the Caribbean, Alaska, and even Europe, this itinerary is far less popular.

Actually, the cruise line only operates this itinerary once or twice each year, particularly when ships are repositioning between Alaska and Australia. Anthem of the Seas was repositioning for her season in Alaska after cruising from Singapore.

I tried my best to plan accordingly for this port-intensive sailing across multiple countries in Asia. Even so, I made a few big mistakes during my recent cruise on Anthem of the Seas, and I learned valuable lessons along the way.

Mistake: I should have planned tours further in advance.

One of the biggest mistakes I made when planning this trip was not arranging all of our planned tours in advance. And when I say in advance, I mean several months before embarkation.

Although we had the majority of our excursions planned, there were a few days during our cruise that we left without plans. Sometimes, it can be nice to have flexibility in your schedule. However, we unfortunately waited too long to plan a tour for our disembarkation day in Tokyo, Japan.

I typically like to take advantage of disembarkation tours offered by the cruise line, especially when I have an evening flight. They’re a great way to spend the morning and early afternoon exploring before heading to the airport. These tours offer several benefits, including priority disembarkation, luggage storage, and convenient airport drop-off.

We kept waiting to see if Royal Caribbean would offer a disembarkation tour in Tokyo, but this was never offered. When we finally started to look for alternative options a few weeks before the cruise, we realized quickly that we should have planned months in advance. Little did we know our cruise would arrive in Japan during Golden Week, one of the country’s busiest tourist periods.

Instead of arranging tours with experienced guides for our time in Tokyo, we struggled to navigate the train stations on our own. When it came time to disembark, we couldn’t find a local company to provide the tour we were hoping for. Instead, we settled for Royal Caribbean’s transfer and spent most of our day waiting at the airport.

Read more: 5 things I wish I knew before trying a Royal Caribbean cruise in Asia

Lesson: I learned the importance of booking cruise-sponsored excursions.

Booking excursions through the cruise line can be expensive, and multiple tours on a longer itinerary can add up fast. Because we hadn’t visited many of these ports before, we opted to book Royal Caribbean excursions exclusively. In particular, some of the ports were located almost two hours from the actual city, such as Vietnam.

I was thankful we booked excursions with Royal Caribbean for these ports. First, we were able to enjoy our tours without stressing about returning for all aboard time. Some of the tours were hours late because of congested traffic in Vietnam, and I would have been stressed navigating heavy traffic on an independent excursion.

In addition, Royal Caribbean provided a refund on our excursion in Jeju Island, South Korea, when we arrived at the port an hour later than planned. When it was pouring rain, we even had the option to get a full refund due to the weather.

Mistake: I struggled to apply for the correct visa.

For this itinerary, Royal Caribbean provided guidance for visa applications. Like always, guests need to meet all entry requirements for countries on their cruise. As a United States citizen, we were told all Americans needed a Vietnam visa for this cruise. We were told to apply online for an electronic visa and to bring a printed copy for boarding in Singapore.

I followed the instructions for the visa, but my payment kept failing on the Vietnam government website. I panicked that my visa wouldn’t be approved in time. After charging a different credit card, I realized that my previous application had actually been approved when my credit card was charged twice. I ended up with two separate visas for Vietnam and paid more than necessary.

After warning my parents of the tedious and slightly confusing application process, they decided to use a consulate visa service. This was pricey at $200 each, but they received their visas without issue. Comparatively, my sister applied without issue and received her visa quickly.

Nonetheless, I wish I had applied earlier for the visa to allow more time for issues. I probably wouldn't have been in such a rush to submit a second application and avoided being double-charged.

Lesson: Make sure you always triple-check boarding requirements.

I’m a frequent cruiser, but I almost forgot to confirm all of my boarding requirements before heading to the airport. In an email, Royal Caribbean specifically provided guidance to bring multiple copies of your passport to board in Singapore. For some reason, I missed this email entirely.

Luckily, my dad sent a reminder in our family group chat for everyone to make copies of their passport before heading to Singapore. I was thankful for this reminder, as I would have completely missed this boarding requirement. During embarkation, it appeared Royal Caribbean would assist passengers who didn’t have the correct documentation. This would have slowed down the boarding process significantly, and it was a good reminder to always confirm the necessary documentation for a cruise.

Read more: I spent $6,773 to cruise on Anthem of the Seas. Here's what everything cost

Mistake: I should have pre-arranged transportation in Singapore.

My family isn’t exactly known for packing light, and with a two-week trip ahead of us, we ended up with even more luggage than you might expect! Because of this, we normally pre-arrange transportation from the airport and to the cruise port through a tour company, like Viator.

Although we had arranged transportation to the hotel, we hadn’t made plans for embarkation day transport. I tried to book numerous shuttles online, but every company was either booked or couldn’t transport all of our luggage.

It turned out to be more stressful than we expected, and we ultimately had to arrange two separate vehicles — one for us and another just for our luggage! It would have been better to prearrange our transportation to the cruise port so we didn’t need to worry about logistics on the morning of embarkation day.

Lesson: Get an early immigration ticket or waste your day waiting around.

For most cruises, you won’t need to worry about immigration requirements. However, some countries do require face-to-face immigration to disembark the ship, such as Japan. Royal Caribbean announced that immigration tickets would be handed out early in the morning before our arrival in the afternoon.

Luckily, my sister was ambitious and woke up early to wait in line for the immigration ticket. The line weaved across the entire Royal Esplanade! She was able to get us tickets for Immigration Group #3, allowing us to disembark quickly after our ship had arrived.

This proved to be crucial, as others in the later boarding group waited for hours for their immigration number to be called! We were able to visit Tokyo from Yokohama for a few hours and return to the ship before some passengers were able to immigrate. If you don’t want to waste time ashore, you should plan to wait in line for an early immigration ticket.

Mistake: I wasn’t prepared for the bad air quality.

Although I’ve visited countries across Asia before, I had never visited places like Vietnam or Hong Kong. As an asthmatic, I always travel with multiple inhalers, although my asthma rarely flares up.

I was surprised by the air quality’s impact on my asthma during this trip, especially in Vietnam and Hong Kong. Even sailing between these countries seemed to irritate my breathing. I used my inhaler more during this cruise than I have all year! My chest was tight, and I found myself wheezing in the mornings.

I should have prepared better for the air quality, and even considered bringing my additional inhaler for daily use. While I might not need to use this at home, I don’t want to find myself abroad without this. I should have planned better for this, but it wasn’t something that crossed my mind.

Lesson: Having travel insurance is crucial.

I learned just how valuable travel insurance can be during this cruise! I have an annual policy with Allianz, which provides coverage for all of my trips throughout the year. My return flight from Tokyo to Atlanta was delayed for 24 hours, leaving me and my sister stranded for the night.

Because of the busy tourist week in Japan, hotel rooms for the night were more than $400. To my surprise, Delta Air Lines only covered up to $250 for accommodations. Luckily, my travel insurance policy covered everything that the airline didn’t pay for. I was grateful knowing I was covered in these unexpected situations.

Moreover, my dad ended up visiting the medical facility onboard. Because he also has the same annual insurance policy, he didn’t hesitate to visit the shipboard doctor for a round of antibiotics when he needed.

If you travel more than once or twice each year, I highly recommend investing in an annual travel insurance policy so you are always covered while away from home.

Mistake: Booking a cruise right after dry dock.

Anthem of the Seas was scheduled to receive routine maintenance in Singapore during her spring dry dock. When we booked this cruise, we didn’t realize our sailing would be the first itinerary immediately after her dry dock.

I wasn’t worried about this until fellow Royal Caribbean Blog writer, Jenna, mentioned her Allure of the Seas sailing was delayed. She was also cruising on the first itinerary after Allure of the Seas’ major refurbishment dry dock. For this reason, Jenna said she typically avoids cruises right after dry dock because delays with maintenance can happen.

Thankfully, our itinerary wasn’t delayed. However, our ship did need to operate at a slower speed, which caused us to lose time in Jeju Island and Japan. We heard this was because of maintenance from the ship’s dry dock, although this wasn’t confirmed.

Even still, I hadn’t considered the risks of booking a cruise immediately after dry dock. Now, I will definitely keep this in mind when booking future itineraries.

Lesson: Having connecting rooms made all the difference on our cruise.

For this cruise, my sister and I chose to book a connecting balcony cabin with our parents. We had never purposely booked a connecting cabin before, so we were eager to see if we would like this stateroom arrangement.

To our surprise, this was one of the best decisions we made! When my dad was run down with a cold and coughing throughout the night, my mom ended up sleeping on our couch. Having the connecting stateroom allowed her to easily move from one room to the next. She ended up spending a few nights on our couch!

Overall, it was incredibly convenient to be able to pop in and out of each other’s cabins. We were even able to share our balconies together, which made the stateroom experience even better. We are already planning to book connecting balconies again in the future. 

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

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

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

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

1. Photo Package (10 pictures)

2. Deluxe Drink Package for two

3. Classic Soda Package for two

4. CocoCay Waterpark admission for four

5. Internet package for two

6. Spa treatment for one

7. RoyalUp stateroom upgrade

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

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

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

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

Skip it: Photo Package

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

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

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

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

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

Worth the splurge: Deluxe Drink Package

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

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

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

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

Worth the splurge: Classic Soda Package

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

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

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

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

Skip it: CocoCay Waterpark Admission

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

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

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

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

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

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

Worth the splurge: VOOM Internet Package

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

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

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

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

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

Skip it: Spa Treatment

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

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

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

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

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

Worth the splurge: Royal Up

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

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

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

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