Icon of the Seas introduced many exciting new restaurants and bars to the Royal Caribbean fleet, including the highly-anticipated Empire Supper Club.

The Empire Supper Club is an eight-course meal described as “an evening of glitz and glamour, where cuisine is an occasion, cocktails are celebrations, and sultry live jazz is your host.” When you step foot in the venue, you will be transported to New York City in the 1930s.

During the inaugural sailing, I had the chance to try all the unique food and cocktail pairings to see whether it was worth the $200 price tag.

Of course, this review is highly subjective and based on my personal preferences. Another thing to note before I start the review: I told the restaurant ahead of time that I do not eat seafood. Because of this, I indulged in a few meals that were not listed on the menu.

If you have any food allergies or dietary restrictions, it's extremely important to inform them beforehand so they can prepare different meals for you. Gluten-free, lactose-free, and vegetarian options are available. 

The restaurant was very accommodating and the substitutions, in my opinion, were equally as enticing as the original menu.

What to know before dining at the Empire Supper Club

There are a few important things to know before you book a dinner at the Empire Supper Club.

First, guests with the Unlimited Dining Package can dine here for an additional $130. All other guests will have to pay the $200 cover price. There are no discounts for guests with the Deluxe Beverage Package or Crown and Anchor status. 

The experience includes a specialty cocktail with each course. The price is the same if you opt to have non-alcoholic drinks during the dinner.

Second, tables are for parties of two to four people. If you are eating with more than four people, you will have to sit at separate tables. There are no age restrictions, as guests under 12 years old are welcome to dine at the Empire Supper Club. A maximum of 38 people can dine here, so it's a small venue. 

Third, the dress code is formal. Many of us who dined at the Empire Supper Club wore black attire, whether it was a dress or jumpsuit. For men, it's required to wear a suit jacket. If you do not have one, Royal Caribbean will apparently lend you one.

Lastly, the dinner will take three hours. For us, it was from 6 to 9 p.m. Punctuality is required, and doors open 10 minutes before your dining time.

Empire Supper Club review

The Empire Supper Club is located right outside Central Park on deck eight. It makes sense that the venue was placed near the New York-inspired Central Park!

The menu consisted of American cuisine inspired by the 1930s era of New York City. 

As mentioned above, each dish was paired with a special cocktail that you can't find anywhere else on Icon. You can select your main course and dessert, but the appetizers have a set menu.

Throughout the evening, the American Standards Trio, which consisted of a singer, piano player, and double bass player, performed “sophisticated jazz selections specially curated for the night.”

The music was lovely to hear when we were eating. The music didn’t distract from our table conversation for the most part, but rather, it created a classy atmosphere. My personal favorite music selections included Rhapsody in Blue, Beyond the Sea, and New York, New York.

Here’s everything I ate and drank during my evening, along with my thoughts on everything I tasted. Royal Caribbean Blog founder himself, Matt Hochberg, accompanied me during this culinary journey.

Starter #1: Amuse-bouche

This hors d'œuvre resembled a small bagel with cream cheese - it was the perfect way to start the meal. It's meant to be a palate cleanser, and I found it to be very tasty. I requested to not have caviar on top, so mine had onions that looked like caviar. I wish I could’ve had another one!

Starter #2: Spicy pecan bread with honey

I was very excited to have some bread, but I was slightly worried when I heard it was spicy. I do not like super spicy foods, but I wanted to try it anyway. I am so glad I did because it was warm, pillow-soft, and not too spicy at all - there was just a little zing. The butter was also divine.

Drink #1: Moet & Chandon Imperial Brut

To celebrate the beginning of a wonderful meal, we all toasted with a glass of champagne. I am not much of a champagne drinker, but I liked this particular champagne!

Appetizer #1: Oysters

The oysters are described as: "Crispy oysters Rockefeller, chorizo Bearnaise, sundried Romas, micro basil."

Substitute: Quinoa salad

The quinoa salad included avocado and beets, as well as edible flowers. This is something I never would've ordered for myself, but I am glad I tried it. I had no complaints about it, but it wasn’t my favorite thing to eat.

Drink #2: Staten Island Spritz

This drink had Tito’s vodka, Campari liqueur, limoncello, orange juice, and champagne. It was a pretty-looking drink, but it wasn’t as sweet as I would’ve liked it. Matt agreed with me that it needed more flavor.

Appetizer #2: Raviolo

I liked the raviolo (which had a soft yolk, spinach, crisp guanciale, shaved bottarga, and Parmigiano) much better than the quinoa salad. I wasn’t a fan of the egg yolk when it oozed out from the middle, but I ate around it and it was still tasty.

Drink #3: Blood & Sand

This drink had Dewar’s scotch, cherry Heering, sweet vermouth, and orange juice. I enjoyed this drink, and it was my favorite up until this point. Matt commented how he really liked this drink too!

Appetizer #3: Langoustine

The lobster is described as: "Butter poached, Champagne, Osetra caviar, basil emulsion."

Substitute: Saffron risotto

The risotto was my favorite appetizer of all of the ones I tried. It was creamy with tomatoes on top. I would’ve liked more of this because I ate it all in less than 10 bites!

Drink #4: East of Houston

This drink had Botanist gin, lemon juice, honey syrup, orange bitters, and champagne. I liked how refreshing it was. It didn’t have a strong alcohol taste, which I appreciated.

Appetizer #4: Empire Caesar salad

The Caesar salad is described as, "Parmesan tuile, purple orchid, pink peppercorn."

While I didn’t eat the Caesar salad, I do have to say it looked very pretty. Look at that crouton arch!

Substitute: Mushroom soup

The soup was great! The bowl was so tiny that I ate it pretty quickly. I thought the soup tasted like the one at Chops Grille, so I asked the waitress and she confirmed it was from Chops Grille.

Palate cleanser: Sorbet

I found this sorbet to be quite yummy. Although I didn’t know the flavor of it, I guessed it was either strawberry or raspberry. The sorbet also had some boba in it, which I didn’t eat because I am not a boba fan.

Drink #5: New York Sour

This drink had Bulleit Bourbon, lemon juice, simple syrup, egg whites, and claret wine. I thought the “E” ice cube was a cute touch. The drink itself was pretty good, but not my favorite compared to drinks #3 and #4.

Main course: Steak

The Wagyu ribeye was excellent! I got the peppercorn sauce on the side and I think that made the steak even better. The pieces were small, but I savored every bite. I only wish I could’ve had more! 

It was served with fondant potatoes and sauteed morels.

Matt ordered the rabbit (leg and loin duo, mustard cream, baby carrots, pistachio dust), and I was curious to try it. I thought it tasted similar to chicken but much more chewy. Let's just say I am glad I got the steak!

Matt was also able to try the seabass (mousseline of parsnip, red beets, candy citrus), which he liked way more than the rabbit.

Drink #6: Toasted Almond

This drink had Tito’s vodka, Kahlua, amaretto, heavy cream, and grated nutmeg. I loved having this drink during dessert. After trying all the drinks, this one was my favorite! I am a big fan of cocktails with Kalua and heavy cream so it makes sense that this was my top pick. This drink paired well with the chocolate desserts.

Dessert #1: Cheesecake

Our waitress said since there were two of us, she typically likes to bring out the cheesecake and beehive so we can try both of them.

I liked the crust of the cheesecake, which was made of white chocolate. Matt commented that he loved the dulce de leche gelato it came with. I agreed, and I would say this cheesecake is even better than the cheesecake at Chops Grille.

Dessert #2: Chocolate Beehive

This dessert was my absolute favorite. All the ganache layers blended together to create a delicious chocolate delicacy! The mango sauce, salted caramel toffee, and honey tuile made this dessert out of this world. If only I could order just this beehive whenever I wanted!

Dessert #3: Chocolate Tree

This last dessert was not listed on the menu and was a complete surprise. All the chefs came out carrying these tall plates of cotton candy. When it was set on the table, I noticed it was a chocolate tree with cotton candy as the leaves! I was already so full by this point that I didn’t try all of the chocolates, but what I did have was very good.

More thoughts on the experience

The meal itself was very enjoyable and I loved the jazz music in the background. Sometimes the music was loud and other times it was quiet - I found that it corresponded with when we were eating versus the downtime between each course/drink. The band did take a break before the main course.

The way I would describe the lighting is moody. Each table had a little light that could be adjusted to a different brightness. We had ours on the lowest setting so it gave just a little bit of light when we wanted to look at the menu. 

The lights would turn on during some of the courses and I thought this was on purpose. We asked and it appeared that this wasn’t on purpose - I think they were experimenting with the lighting to see how we would react.

If you try to go to the bathroom anytime during the meal, someone will escort you to the bathroom. When Matt left for the bathroom, a waiter came over and replaced the towel that was in his lap with a new one. How fancy!

Another small thing I liked was how I could hang up my bag with the hook they placed on the table instead of putting my bag on the floor or on my chair.

Is the Empire Supper Club worth the extra cost?

After leaving the Empire Supper Club, I concluded right away that it was worth $200 per person.

When you account for each drink (assuming they’re $14 each, which is what Royal Caribbean charges for cocktails), that totals $84. The other $116 accounts for all the appetizers, desserts, main course, and entertainment. I would say that is a fair price!

I heard a lot of people compare this experience to Chef’s Table, a specialty dining option offered on most Royal Caribbean sailings. At Chef’s Table, you sit at a large table with other people and enjoy a five-course meal with wine pairings. There is no entertainment included. I have personally never done Chef’s Table, but I would assume Empire Supper Club is similar in some ways.

With Empire Supper Club, you sit at your own table and listen to jazz music while you eat. It was an intimate experience and it didn't feel like we were on a cruise ship! I've never had an experience like this on land or at sea. 

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed my Empire Supper Club dinner and would recommend it to others. It's the perfect option for those who want to splurge on a special night out with family and friends.

One of Icon of the Seas’ new neighborhoods is The Hideaway on deck 15. Located in the very back of the ship, The Hideaway is the adults-only area onboard, much like the Solarium on other Royal Caribbean ships.

Access to this area is complimentary, but guests have the opportunity to rent one of the three daybeds in the Hideaway Pool.

Royal Caribbean describes the daybed as follows: “Premium, full-sized daybeds channel beach club party vibes at the first suspended infinity pool at sea. Settle into plush comfort with energizing beats from the nearby DJ booth as your soundtrack. Whether you're lounging with friends or jamming to the beat, these in-pool daybeds are your haven of comfort onboard. Your exclusive retreat awaits.”

I was curious to see what renting one of these daybeds would be like, so back in September 2023, I spent $350 to have all-day access to this daybed during the Icon of the Seas inaugural sailing.

What to know before reserving a daybed

The first thing you need to know before renting a daybed at The Hideaway is that it’s cheaper to reserve it before you step foot on Icon of the Seas. As I just mentioned, it was $350 when I purchased it pre-cruise. On the ship, it costs $400. This price is per daybed for one full day.

The price also varies whether you select a port day or a sea day. Picking the day bed on a sea day (like I did) is more expensive than a port day. Onboard, the difference is $100.

The daybed can hold a maximum of four guests. You can have less than that, but it makes sense to have the most people you can to save money per person.

The included amenities are meant for four people. Each daybed comes with:

• A chilled bottle of champagne to share
• Four towels
• Four water bottles

The Hideaway only allows guests that are 18 and older. If you have someone between the ages of 18 and 20 on the daybed, they will receive four complimentary mocktails to substitute the champagne the daybed comes with.

My morning experience

According to the app, I was to arrive at the Hideaway Bar at 9 a.m. I got there at about 9:10 a.m., and I was the first daybed to check in for the day. Since I was first, I was able to pick which of the three beds I wanted for the day. I selected the middle one so I could get the best views of the ocean.

The other daybeds also offered great views, and really any of them would be a solid option.

After checking in, the attendant said I needed to wait until 10 a.m. to get the daybeds set up. I am not sure why the app said I had to get there at 9 a.m. when it appeared that I could’ve come at 10 a.m. I was told I had the daybed from that point until the pool closed, which was 9 p.m.

At 10 a.m., I was able to sit down on the daybed. On each daybed was a basket with four towels, four water bottles, a Hideaway Bar drink menu, and a bottle of champagne with two cups.

At this time, there weren’t many people in the pool. The music wasn’t too loud either, so it was a more relaxing experience. All of the music tended to be remixes of pop songs, which I really liked because it created a lively atmosphere. There wasn’t a DJ until later in the day.

It was about 11 a.m. when the other two daybed groups showed up. Also, between 11 a.m. and noon, it got much busier. As more and more people crammed into the pool, I thought to myself how lucky I was to have my own large daybed with quick access to the pool. In some ways, I felt like a queen on a throne!

Many people hovered around the daybeds and put their things on the ledge because there weren't many places to put down their drinks, SeaPass cards, etc.

Sometime around noon, I was hungry for a snack. I went to the closest restaurant, Basecamp, and got a hotdog and tater tots. I assumed I could eat this while sitting on the daybed, but about one minute after I brought the food to the daybed, a lifeguard told me no food was allowed in the pool. I was disappointed by this, but I left and ate my food while standing near the pool.

Matt from Royal Caribbean Blog joined me for about an hour on the daybed. He commented that it felt like “a million degrees” while sitting on the daybed with no shade. I did agree with his comment because I was also getting quite hot by this point.

When Matt joined me, I confirmed that there was more than enough space for two people on the daybed. With four people, I think it would be just about perfect for everyone to sit comfortably.

In an attempt to cool down, I ordered one of the Hideaway Bar drinks, the Castaway Spritz. This drink had Aperol, coconut milk, pineapple juice, mango, vanilla syrup, and prosecco. I definitely enjoyed it and it did quench my thirst.

I thought the pool water was warm and felt very nice. Taking a dip in the pool did help cool me down, but I longed for some shade.

At about 2 p.m., I was so hot that I wanted to go back to my cabin to relax in the air conditioning. I knew I wanted to come back to enjoy the daybed later in the day, so I kept the towels and water bottles on the daybed.

My night experience

After having some time out of the sun, I decided to come back to the daybed and watch the sunset from the back of the ship. This was a great time to come to the pool, and the sunset was so beautiful!

I noticed the music from the DJ was much more upbeat at this time of night. It was also louder and resembled the vibe of Oasis Lagoon at Perfect Day at CocoCay. I enjoy this kind of music, so I thought it was fun.

I assumed it wouldn’t be that busy around 5 p.m. because I thought people would be at dinner, but there were still a lot of people swimming and sunbathing!

When I came back to my daybed, I noticed a lot of people put their belongings on the daybed. As soon as I came back and sat down, pretty much everyone moved their things. I did notice this trend throughout the day. When I was there, no one put their things on the daybed, except maybe the ledge. When I wasn’t there, lots of people would put their stuff on the daybed, which is to be expected.

It was about this time that one of the groups on the other daybed left for the day. The other daybed was still being utilized.

Overall thoughts

To truly get your money’s worth, you could theoretically stay on the daybed from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. I utilized the daybed for about six hours, so I didn’t fully maximize my time at The Hideaway, but I felt like I had plenty of time to experience what it was like.

I think renting one of these daybeds would be perfect for a group of family or friends. Since I was alone for the majority of the day, it was a different experience. I still enjoyed myself, but I think I would’ve had more fun if I had other people there with me. (When I booked the daybed in September, I knew I had someone who was going to join me, but they weren't able to sail on Icon due to unforeseen circumstances.)

The Hideaway is the adults-only neighborhood onboard, replacing the Solarium. I like the Solarium because it's usually shaded. With The Hideaway, there are not many places to sit in the shade, especially on the daybeds. I probably would’ve stayed longer on the daybed if I had some shade. The sun would come and go behind the clouds, and I was very happy when it would be under some clouds!

The Hideaway is also a different vibe from the Solarium. Usually, the Solarium is tranquil and calm. This is not the case at The Hideaway where music is bumping all day long. If you want to feel like you’re at a beach party, then you should definitely visit The Hideaway. To take your experience to the next level, renting a daybed could be something you consider. If you want peace and quiet, The Hideaway is not the place for you.

Was the daybed worth $350? That would depend on your personal preferences. For me, I am not sure if it was worth it. I think if food and drinks (other than the included champagne) were also a part of that price, it would be more worthwhile.

I would recommend getting a group of four people to go in on the daybed to make it the most cost-effective!

It could also be worth it for you and your party if you want to solidify a spot all day at The Hideaway. Many of the chairs at The Hideaway were taken by others and they would stay there for a long time.

It's more of a challenge to find an empty place to sit in The Hideaway, so if you want to have the best seat in the house, you should rent one of the daybeds.

My sailing on Odyssey of the Seas did not disappoint! For this eight-night voyage, my mom and I visited Perfect Day at CocoCay, Aruba, and Curaçao.

I have never been to Aruba and Curaçao, so I was eager to explore both of these new-to-me ports of call. I was also excited to be sailing on Odyssey of the Seas, one of Royal Caribbean’s newest ships.

If you’re planning a cruise on Odyssey of the Seas soon, my experience may be helpful for you as you prepare for your cruise on this beautiful ship. Let’s get into it!

Overview of Odyssey of the Seas

With so much hype about Royal Caribbean’s newest ships, like Icon of the Seas, Utopia of the Seas, and even Wonder of the Seas, many people forget that Odyssey of the Seas is a new ship as well.

In fact, Odyssey of the Seas’ inaugural sailing was in July of 2021. She was supposed to launch earlier in 2020, but the pandemic postponed these plans.

Odyssey of the Seas is part of the Quantum Ultra Class. Spectrum of the Seas is also a part of this class, launching in 2019. Both of these Quantum Ultra ships are slightly bigger than the ships in the Quantum Class. Odyssey of the Seas’ guest capacity is 5,498 guests. The guest capacity on Quantum Class ships is around 4,900.

Read more: Top 10 Odyssey of the Seas hidden secrets

Embarkation and disembarkation

For this sailing, Odyssey of the Seas sailed roundtrip from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

As a cruising rule of thumb, you should always fly to the port the day before your cruise to allocate time in case of travel cancelations or delays. My mom and I were able to take a direct flight to Fort Lauderdale from our hometown in the Midwest, so that was very slick!

We stayed at the Marriott Fort Lauderdale Airport Hotel in Dania Beach. I have stayed at this hotel many times (as well as the connecting hotel, AC Hotel Fort Lauderdale Airport), and I couldn't recommend it enough. The location is perfect because you are near the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) and Port Everglades. The hotel is also near the Dania Pointe shopping center and is a great place to grab dinner the night before your cruise.

The next day, we took a Lyft from our hotel to Port Everglades. The ride was 15 minutes and cost $21, including a tip.

Our check-in time was at 2 p.m. It appeared that it was going to storm around that time, so we decided to get to the port earlier (around 1:30 p.m.) to see if they would let us check in early. Luckily, there were no problems with us showing up early and we were onboard Odyssey of the Seas by 1:45 p.m.

Many cruisers want to get on the cruise as early as possible, but a benefit of getting on the ship a little later was that we could go to our cabin right away to drop off our luggage. Oftentimes, your cabin isn’t ready until a few hours after you get onboard and you have to lug around your luggage, but this isn’t the case when you check in late.

At the end of our cruise, we were in no rush to get off because our flight home wasn’t until the next day. Mom and I had a leisurely breakfast in the Windjammer at 8 a.m. and it was very busy. Since it was so crowded, I decided to swing by Café@Two70 afterward to grab an egg burrito and coffee before disembarking. Café@Two70 wasn’t nearly as busy, so I would recommend eating here on embarkation and disembarkation day.

The disembarkation process was quick since we were one of the last people to get off the ship. Finding our big luggage was also easy because everyone else had already claimed their luggage!

Read more: Guide to cruises from Fort Lauderdale

Interior guarantee cabin

I usually cruise in interior cabins, and Odyssey of the Seas was no different.

Booking an inside guarantee was the cheapest cabin option for this cruise, so that is what we went with for our Southern Caribbean sailing.

Not too long after booking the cabin, we were assigned cabin 9225 on deck nine. Luckily, the cabin was located approximately midship, slightly aft. Upon walking into the cabin, we also discovered our cabin had a connecting door to our neighbor, cabin 9227. This was not an issue because our neighbors were quiet and the cabins had good soundproofing.

Our interior cabin was 166 square feet and offered so much storage. From the two large closets and dresser to the cabinets above our beds, we had more than enough places to store all of our clothes and belongings. And since this cruise was eight days, we had a lot of stuff!

We split the king bed into two twin beds so each of us could have our own bed. The beds were comfortable, though I did have to request a new pillow because the ones already there were lumpy (in my opinion). Our stateroom attendant was great about bringing us extra pillows, along with other things we needed.

Since our cabin did not have a window, there were lots of ways we could bring light into the space. There was a lamp on the dresser, a ring light around the vanity, two lights by our beds, and the main lights for the entire cabin. There was even a built-in night light in the bathroom in case we had to use the bathroom in the middle of the night.

Overall, cabin 9225 was an excellent choice for our cruise. The location was convenient because we were in the middle of the ship, meaning we were close to the upper-deck venues as well as the lower ones.

Read more: I stayed in a windowless cabin onboard Odyssey of the Seas that cost $2,300: Here's what my inside stateroom looked like

Dining onboard Odyssey of the Seas

There are many places to eat on Odyssey of the Seas, including classics such as the Windjammer Marketplace, Main Dining Room, and Café Promenade, and specialty restaurants like Chops Grille, Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen, Teppanyaki, and Wonderland.

What’s great about Odyssey of the Seas is the number of included dining venues. I liked being able to go to El Loco Fresh or Solarium Bistro for a snack and Café@Two70 for breakfast or lunch. On older Royal Caribbean ships, you won’t find these options.

For breakfast, we ate at the Windjammer, Main Dining Room, Café@Two70, or the Solarium Bistro.

The Main Dining Room offered brunch on sea days from 8:30 a.m. until noon. I really liked this option because I could sleep in and not feel like I had to get up early to enjoy some breakfast food. The first time we ate here, it took a while to get our food because it was busy, but the second time we visited it was much faster.

The Solarium Bistro is also a great spot to have breakfast. I was able to order a custom omelet, something I didn’t know they offered, so I was happy! This venue was open for breakfast and dinner every day of our cruise and for lunch on sea days.

Every night for dinner, my mom and I ate in the Main Dining Room. We considered splurging on a lunch or dinner in one of the specialty restaurants, but we decided to stick with the included food because we are always satisfied in the Main Dining Room.

Royal Caribbean rotates its dinner menus in the Main Dining Room on every ship. Onboard Odyssey of the Seas, we had these menus:

• Welcome Aboard
• A Taste of Mexico
• A Taste of France
• A Taste of the USA
• A Taste of the Caribbean
• A Taste of Italy
• The Royal Night
• Bon Voyage

My favorite dishes were the chicken cordon bleu and chicken marsala, as well as the warm chocolate cake with ice cream. My mom loved the beef tenderloin, lobster, coconut shrimp, and lemon meringue tart.

We wished our table was located in the main area of the dining room, but instead, our table was assigned to a back room on deck three. Whenever there was a performance or announcement in the dining room, we couldn’t see it because we were so far away.

While our table location wasn’t the best, our waiter Ikomang and assistant waiter Putu were absolutely fabulous! They went above and beyond to give us excellent service!

Read more: Odyssey of the Seas restaurants

Entertainment and activities

With 15 decks to explore, Odyssey of the Seas has so much to do, from skydiving and surfing to bumper cars and rock climbing.

If you are going to sail on Odyssey of the Seas, I would recommend reserving a time to do the North Star and RipCord by iFly on port days when it is free. If you want to do either of these activities during a sea day, it will cost extra (around $50 per person).

When we were docked in Curaçao, I did both of these activities. My mom and I chose to do the North Star in the morning before getting off the ship to explore the city, and then I did the iFly when we were leaving Curaçao - it was beautiful to do during the sunset!

There were many production shows offered throughout the sailing. These included:

• The Book: Seven Chapters, One Adventure: “Powered by our collective imaginations and told in seven extraordinary chapters, this breathtaking journey reminds us that in between the front and back covers of a great book, absolutely anything can happen!”
• Showgirl! Past, Present, Future: “Paying tribute to the past, the present, and the future of this enigmatic and famous performer, this new dance spectacular takes us on a stunning journey that features one of the most iconic of all entertainers, the beautiful Showgirl.”
• The Effectors: “Join Pixel, Reverb, Lume, and Captain Viz as they individually demonstrate their awesome powers and then come together to battle their arch nemesis, Crash, as he tries once again to stop the show and destroy the city of Showville.”

I thoroughly enjoyed all three of these shows! The costumes, choreography, singing, and dancing were all top-notch. I wish they had The Effectors more than one night because I would’ve liked to have seen it again. The Book was offered almost every night of the cruise.

We also saw a late-night comedy show, the band Rookie, a singer, and a magician/illusionist. At night, we would often swing by and listen to Bryan James perform in the Crown & Compass Pub. He was a great performer and truly engaged with the audience!

Something to note is that the VR experience, Zone Zero, was closed the entire cruise. We learned that in the near future, Royal Caribbean will be removing this venue as well as the Skypad, which is currently being used for bean bag toss and stretching classes.

Read more: 20 free things to do Odyssey of the Seas

Ports of call

During our eight-day cruise, we had three ports of call and five sea days. They were nicely spaced out, with Perfect Day at CocoCay being on our second day, then two sea days, our two stops in the Southern Caribbean, and then two sea days back to Fort Lauderdale.

Our first stop was Perfect Day at CocoCay. The weather was cloudy and a little foggy when we arrived, and as the day went on, we had some wind and rain. Despite the weather, we still enjoyed walking around and having lunch on the island at Snack Shack.

We were warned about the high winds we were going to have en route to Aruba, and they were right. Mom heard that there were 15-foot swells! I felt the ship sway more than I have on other ships, but it was never bad enough that I needed to take motion sickness medication. I think having our cabin in the middle of the ship helped with less motion too.

On day five, we arrived in Oranjestad, Aruba. Here, we did the “Aloe Factory, Casibari Rock, Natural Bridge Scenic Drive” excursion. This excursion was about 3.5 hours - the perfect amount of time to get a glimpse of what the island has to offer. My mom and I liked this excursion because we were able to visit the highlights of the island and also drive around to see the beautiful beaches and resorts. I would love to come back someday and visit one of these resorts, like RIU Palace!

The next day, we were docked in Willemstad, Curaçao. My mom had been here before, so she recommended we walk around the city because there is lots of shopping nearby. Within a few minutes, we crossed the bridge and were in the heart of the city. Willemstad is so pretty with all of the colorful buildings, so I enjoyed walking and admiring the views!

Read more: What I liked (and disliked) about my Odyssey of the Seas cruise

Overall thoughts

Everything onboard Odyssey of the Seas felt modern and new, and she is in excellent condition.

I have no complaints about this ship. The only slightly annoying thing was the elevator buttons. I like how they are touchless, but I found that people did not understand how to use them. There were so many times when I would see people lean against the buttons and accidentally push every floor, causing the elevator to stop multiple times.

Our sailing was nearly at full capacity but did not feel crowded. There was a time or two on the pool deck or in the Windjammer when it was super busy, but I was always able to find a place to go for some quiet time, like the Solarium or Crown Lounge.

Odyssey of the Seas is a great ship to consider for your next vacation!

Icon of the Seas is the first Royal Caribbean ship to feature infinite balconies, so I decided to book this type of cabin to see what it was like.

Specifically, I booked an infinite cabin that offered views of Central Park, the open-air neighborhood with bars, shops, restaurants, and thousands of real plants. 

Icon of the Seas has 196 of these Central Park infinite balconies.

Let’s take a look at what a Spacious Infinite Central Park View Balcony cabin looks like on the new Icon of the Seas.

Read more: Guide to Icon of the Seas cabins and suites

Cabin 10225 is located on deck 10, midship. The living area/bathroom is 200 square feet and the balcony is 50 square feet. These cabins can sleep three to four people.

The total for two people to sail in this cabin was around $5,180. Keep in mind this was during the inaugural sailing, a seven-day Eastern Caribbean and Perfect Day cruise.

The first thing I noticed when walking into my cabin was all the colors. There are lots of accents of yellow and blue, and the colors are not too obnoxious. I liked the subtle pops of yellow throughout the cabin.

The king bed can be split into two twin beds if two people are sailing in this cabin. On each side of the bed is a light and USB plugin.

On one side of the bed is the telephone and a side table with two shelves. The other side of the bed has a light switch that turns on and off all the lights in the room. There is also a regular U.S. plugin if you need to have a device charging next to you when you sleep. There’s only one shelf on this side of the bed.

The smart TV is across from the bed and can be seen from the couch, bed, or infinite balcony.

The couch is quite long and has cute decorative pillows. Some cabins have a trundle bed to sleep another person, but my cabin didn’t have this, hence it was a regular couch. I found the couch to be comfortable, but I did not have a ton of space to spread out when I would lie down on it.

The vanity is also long - pretty much the same length as the couch. There are numerous outlets, which I love because of my many electronic devices that need to be charged on a daily basis. The vanity has two USB-C outlets, a European outlet, two USB outlets, and one 120-volt outlet.

In the vanity, you can also see that there are five shelves to store your belongings. Three of the shelves are not as deep as the other two, but I could still fit plenty of things inside. The mini cooler was perfect for me so I could store my water bottles in there.

There’s a good amount of storage in the cabin, including shelves by the TV, a hidden closet/mirror by the bathroom, and a closet.

The closet is unique in that it has one full-length section and then a closet that takes up ¾ of the space with baskets below, taking up the other ¼ of the space. There are 24 hangers and four baskets.

The full-length closet is skinny and can fit a few full-length outfits. I used this closet to store my carry-on luggage and backpack. The other closet is where I hung up all of my dresses, tops, and jumpsuits.

Having baskets is an interesting concept. I like the idea of them, but I wish they were basket drawers instead of actual baskets. With these baskets, you pretty much have to pick them up and take them out. You can pull them towards you, but I think this will leave marks on the cabinet over time. I feel drawers would be much easier because they would just slide open and shut, preventing any skid marks and scuffs.

I just stayed in an inside cabin on Odyssey of the Seas, and I loved the closet situation on that ship - the closet was way bigger and could fit so much! On this Icon of the Seas cabin, I felt there was less closet space in comparison.

The infinite balcony includes two chairs, an ottoman, and a small table. There is a large green shutter that covers part of the balcony view. 

Of course, I also noticed the giant brown area right below my cabin. At first, I didn’t know what this was - I thought it was one of the restaurants or bars. Come to find out, it’s actually an entrance to the Royal Promenade where the Pearl is!

I would’ve much preferred a cabin without this large obstruction. There was no indication of this cabin being obstructed when I booked it, but I think it should specify that when selecting this cabin. With the Pearl right below me, I feel like I didn’t get to see as much of Central Park as I would’ve liked.

Read more: Photo tour of a balcony cabin on Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas. It has more power outlets than I've seen on any ship

You can control the infinite balcony blinds from the control panel by the window or on the thermostat by the bathroom. To open and close the infinite balcony window, you need to use the control panel that’s located next to the window. The blinds do a great job of keeping the cabin dark at night while sleeping.

If you select the movie or sleep setting on the thermostat, the blinds will close at the same time the lights turn off. For the evening setting, the blinds will stay open. There’s also a curtain that can be utilized to create division between the balcony and living space.

As for noise, I didn’t hear anything at night when I was trying to sleep. However during the daytime when I was relaxing in my room, I could hear music from the pool deck. It wasn’t super loud, but it was a muffled noise. This could be a problem for those who like to nap during the day.

I did like the bathroom, as it was spacious and modern. The shower was nice and big, and even had a seat which is something I have not seen on a cruise ship!

Another thing I have not seen on a cruise ship was the towel rack inside the shower. This proved to be great because instead of taking a shower and stepping out into the cold to grab your towel, you can just stay in the shower and dry off with your towel right there.

The bathroom has three shelves next to the sink, three shelves below the sink, and three shelves by the toilet. There’s also a deep drawer that can store tall items, like shampoo and conditioner bottles.

Overall, I enjoyed my stay in this ultra-modern stateroom. Being on the 10th deck in the middle of the ship meant I was close to locations in the front and back of the ship.

There are a few things that I wish were different about the cabin (like the closet baskets and the view from my balcony), but they were small things that did not negatively impact my experience.

Would you stay in this cabin? Let us know in the comments!

I just returned from an eight-night Southern Caribbean and Perfect Day cruise onboard Odyssey of the Seas, one of Royal Caribbean’s newest ships.

Back in August 2023, I booked an interior guarantee cabin because it was the cheapest option for our particular sailing. The total for the two of us (myself and my mom) in this type of cabin was $2,321.

I have sailed on Odyssey of the Seas before. In October 2022, my family cruised for 12 nights to the Holy Land and Greece - it was one of the most memorable cruises I’ve ever taken. During that sailing, my sister and I RoyalUp’d to a Junior Suite.

The suite was absolutely gorgeous! The private balcony, two bathrooms, and added suite benefits made it a luxurious experience, for sure.

Read more: I paid $300 to upgrade my inside cabin to a suite. Take a look at our entry-level suite

Shortly after booking my second cruise on Odyssey of the Seas, I was assigned an interior cabin on deck nine (9225). Upon looking at the deck plans, I was pleasantly surprised to find that our cabin was located midship, slightly aft.

I was so happy to not be assigned a cabin in the very front or very back of the ship because we wouldn't have to worry about motion. We did have a few days of rougher seas and heard other passengers complain about it, but we hardly noticed it in our centrally-located cabin.

I have stayed in many interior guarantee cabins on Royal Caribbean ships, but I had a feeling this cabin on Odyssey of the Seas would be extra modern and up-to-date in regards to having more outlets, a smart TV, and more.

When I arrived at our cabin and opened the door for the first time, I immediately thought, “Wow, look at all of this space!” This was a welcome surprise since my mom always packs way too much stuff! The cabin was 166 square feet.

Another thing I noticed right away was that our cabin had a connecting door to the cabin next to us. My mom was worried when she saw this because she thought we would hear noise from our neighbors. Luckily, that was not the case at all. In fact, we were pleased that we heard very little noise from the hallway and our neighbors. This is a benefit of a newer ship because there is better soundproofing.

Our cabin included two twin beds - I requested to have the bed split up before embarkation day via the form that was sent to my email.

Above our beds were deep cabinets to store some of our belongings. This storage option is great instead of having wasted space above our heads. These drawers measured approximately 14” tall by 42” wide and 18” deep, and you could fit a lot of items up there!

Next to each of the beds was a small nightstand. One of the nightstands had a phone that took up a lot of space, so I moved it to one of the lower shelves. That way, I could actually use the top of the nightstand for things I wanted near me at night.

We each had a light by our heads. On my side of the bed, there was a light switch that could turn on and off all the lights in the stateroom. There was also an outlet if I wanted to charge something, but I did not utilize it because it was too close to my head.

The 43-inch (we guestimated) smart TV was perfectly placed in front of the beds. I really like these smart TVs because you have the option to stream your favorite shows or browse YouTube videos using your personal account. Older Royal Caribbean ships have a flat-screen TV in the cabins, but they usually don't offer this streaming capability. My mom was also pleased they offered 3-4 ESPN channels during popular football games.

Below the TV was another storage area that we did not use. This would be a good place to put skinny items, like books or magazines.

Read more: The forgotten new Royal Caribbean cruise ship: Why Odyssey of the Seas is worth your attention

I loved having two closets on each side of the full-sized coach. The smaller of the two closets was next to my mom’s bed. This closet was shorter than the other closet because there were two shelves below it. There was also a safe in here. I claimed this closet during our trip, and I found there to be plenty of shelves for my clothes.

On the other side of the couch was the second larger closet. This was what we used to put all of our dresses, tops, and sweaters. There were 26 total hangers, and we thought that was an ample amount.

The couch was a lovely feature of the cabin. It was large enough for the two of us to sit on it, though we usually used it as another place to put our stuff. I have stayed in interior cabins where the couch is small and can only fit one person, so I liked having a larger seating area. If you were wondering, our couch could not convert into a bed.

Across from the couch was the vanity and dresser. The dresser had three deep drawers that were 8.5” high. The two smaller drawers (about 6” high) could be used, although there were items already there like the blowdryer and room service menu. There was a lamp on the dresser that couldn't be moved, but it provided nice mood lighting in the evenings. Lastly, we used the mini cooler to store our water and soda.

The vanity had two U.S. outlets, one European outlet, and two USB outlets. I brought my European adapter, but I didn't need to use it because we had enough chargers for all our electronics.

The vanity has a neat ring light that could be used when doing makeup or just bringing more light into the cabin. We liked to use this light at night to give the room a little glow.

Being in an inside cabin that is pitch dark at all times of the way, it was great there were many lighting options. We could choose the ring light above the vanity, the lamp on the dresser, the lights by our beds, or of course, the lights for the entire cabin.

The bathroom in our inside cabin was as modern as the living area. There were a lot of storage areas next to and below the sink. And there were a few hooks to hang up our cosmetic bags and Crown and Anchor robes.

My favorite part of the bathroom was the large shower. I had more than enough space to move around while showering, which I greatly appreciated. The shower included the 2-1 body wash and shampoo, but I always bring my own shampoo and conditioner.

I have stayed in cabins where the bathroom is so tiny that I can barely move. This is not the case on Odyssey of the Seas where the bathrooms are spacious and efficient!

If you are someone who has to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night, you will like the night light above the sink. I think this feature is so handy! You will not have to worry about packing a night light when staying in an inside cabin on Odyssey of the Seas.

Read more: Odyssey of the Seas Guide & Review

Overall, I would definitely recommend an interior cabin if you’re looking to cruise on Odyssey of the Seas! In particular, I would recommend cabin 9225 because of its convenient location. 

You were never too far away from all the action around the ship. Being slightly aft, it was an easy five flights of stairs up to the Windjammer and pool deck or the same amount down to the Royal Esplanade.

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

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

Let’s recap the other big moments from 2023.

1. Symphony of the Seas record

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

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

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

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

2. Icon of the Seas sea trials

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

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

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

3. President's Cruise on Allure of the Seas

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

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

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

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

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

4. Hideaway Beach announcement

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

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

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

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

5. Utopia of the Seas float out

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

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

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

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

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

6. Star of the Seas announcement

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

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

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

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

7. Icon of the Seas completed and delivered

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

9. Start of the Ultimate World Cruise

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

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

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

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

10. Lionel Messi named an "Icon"

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

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

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

What was your favorite Royal Caribbean moment of 2023?

We want to hear from you!

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

Stay tuned for results on our Instagram page!

This past fall I decided to sail on Grandeur of the Seas, Royal Caribbean's oldest cruise ship. While our sailing was quick, it was the perfect amount of time to explore this “well-seasoned” cruise ship. 

Before boarding Grandeur of the Seas, I anticipated the ship was going to be in rough shape. I was imagining rust in every corner, worn-out furniture, and retro decor. After all, Grandeur was rated the worst Royal Caribbean ship in the fleet, according to U.S. News and World Report.

However, once I stepped foot on the ship, I was pleasantly surprised at how well-maintained Grandeur was!

Overview of Grandeur of the Seas

Lady G, as many cruisers call Grandeur of the Seas, debuted in December 1996. In fact, she is older than me!

With a length of 916 feet, guest capacity of 2,440, and gross tonnage of 73,817, Grandeur of the Seas is the smallest ship in Royal Caribbean’s fleet. Originally, she was not the first Vision Class ship (Splendor of the Seas and Legend of the Seas were built first and then sold to Marella Cruises), but now she is considered the oldest Vision Class ship.

In 2012, Grandeur of the Seas underwent a $48 million revitalization where many new venues were added, such as Giovanni’s, Chops, Izumi, and loyalty lounges, as well as new furniture/carpet and technology upgrades like ship-wide Wi-Fi.

In October 2019, it was announced that Grandeur of the Seas was going to be leaving Royal Caribbean. However, the pandemic and financial struggles of Pullmantur Cruises stopped these plans in August 2020. Since then, Grandeur has continued offering sailings primarily around the Caribbean.

Embarkation and disembarkation in Tampa

For this sailing, my sister Allie and I cruised in and out of Tampa, Florida. The day before our cruise, we flew into town and stayed at the hotel that connects to the airport: Tampa Airport Marriott. It was convenient to stay here because we arrived late in the evening and didn't have to travel far to our hotel from the airport.

On the day of the cruise, I ordered an Uber ride for us to the port. The 10-mile ride to Port Tampa Bay only took 20 minutes, and we were dropped off right by the port entrance. 

I hadn't cruised out of Port Tampa Bay since January 2020, so I forgot what the embarkation process was like. Also at that time, my parents and I drove to the port, so that was a whole different embarkation experience.

Allie and I arrived at the port at noon for our check-in time. Since we only packed carry-on suitcases, we did not have to worry about dropping off our luggage with the porters. 

Port Tampa Bay is a small port compared to others I have been to (like Port Everglades and Port Miami), though I felt like the check-in process was the same amount of time as a larger port. However, it was nice that it wasn't super busy or crowded. 

Something abnormal happened when we tried to scan our SetSail passes: My sister was dinged for not checking in ahead of time. When this happened, we had to go to one of the counters and get a credit card added to her account before we could get on the ship. This set us back about 15 minutes. This is a good reminder for everyone - do not forget to complete the check-in process ahead of arriving at the terminal!

Read more: Guide to cruises from Tampa

Interior guarantee cabin

Once we were onboard Grandeur of the Seas, we made our way to our cabin to drop off our belongings. 

During our four-night sailing, we stayed in an interior guarantee cabin. Because it’s a guarantee cabin, we were not able to select the location of the cabin. We were assigned a cabin on deck three at the very front of the ship.

I am not a fan of staying in cabins that are in the very front of the ship because they tend to have more movement than cabins in the middle of the ship. Luckily, we had smooth sailings and I rarely felt movement while in the cabin!

Cabin 3505, which was 142 square feet, was much bigger than I was expecting. Everything appeared to be in good condition, including the couch, vanity, and carpet. I was afraid the bed wouldn't be comfortable because of its age, but I actually slept well every night, especially when we separated the beds.

There was more than enough storage in the cabin. I really liked the large drawers under the TV - I find that drawers on other Royal Caribbean ships are half the size. Another thing to note was that our cabin did not have a mini cooler for drinks or snacks.

My least favorite part of this cabin was the shower. While the rest of the bathroom was fine, the small shower was uncomfortable. I could hardly move because of the odd shape of the shower, and the clingy curtain didn't help! This was a first for me on a Royal Caribbean cruise because normally there are sliding doors rather than curtains.

Other than that, the cabin was perfectly fine for our quick cruise. We didn't spend much time in the cabin anyway.

Read more: I booked the smallest and cheapest room on Royal Caribbean’s Grandeur of the Seas. It was only 142 square feet, but I’d stay in it again

Dining options

Grandeur of the Seas has a few options to grab something to eat or enjoy a meal with friends and family, including:

• The Great Gatsby Main Dining Room
• Cafe Latte-tudes
• Windjammer Marketplace
• Park Cafe
• Specialty restaurants Chops Grille, Giovanni’s Table, Izumi, and Chef’s Table

On the first night of our cruise, my sister and I splurged on dinner at Giovanni’s Table, the specialty Italian restaurant onboard. We love Italian food, and we wanted to take advantage of our BOGO Diamond Plus offer. Our meal was excellent! I loved the tagliatelle carbonara, chicken piccata, and tiramisu.  

On the remaining nights, we dined in the Main Dining Room. Honestly, I enjoyed the food each night in the dining room. The themed meals we had were for A Taste of the Caribbean, A Taste of Italy, and A Taste of Mexico. The service was quick and our waiters were on top of it!

One morning, we had breakfast in the Main Dining Room. We wanted to sit at a table for two, but instead, we were sat at a large table with other people since tables of two were full. This was fine of course, but I found that the food took longer because we had to wait for everyone’s food to come at the same time.

I was shocked when I stumbled upon Park Cafe in the Solarium; I didn’t expect to see it on this ship! I was happy to see there was another quick-casual, complimentary place to eat. I got pizza here some days and I thought it was quite tasty! Also, I went to Cafe Latte-tudes every day to get Starbucks drinks. This venue had free snack options throughout the day, too.

Read more: I’ve sailed on all of Royal Caribbean’s oldest ships. Here’s why I don't mind sailing on these small ships

Entertainment and activities

Grandeur of the Seas does not have all the attractions of other Royal Caribbean ships, like a Flowrider, waterslides, ice skating, and bumper cars. Rather, she offers theatre productions, trivia, and other activities. The most thrilling feature of Grandeur of the Seas is the rock climbing wall at the back of the ship. There's also a main pool and hot tubs.

During our sailing, we saw three shows in the Palladium Theatre, including a comedian, an impressionist, and a production show, Broadway Rhythm and Rhyme. This production show was also on Voyager of the Seas when I sailed in September. I thought every ship had a unique show but I guess that is not the case! 

All of these shows were very entertaining and fun to watch. I always like to see the entertainment on cruises, no matter what the act is. We never had trouble finding seats in the theatre. 

There were many classic Royal Caribbean activities offered during the cruise, like the sexiest man competition, Love and Marriage, belly flop contest, karaoke, headphone disco, and several game shows. 

Something that I noticed about many of these activities, even the more adult-themed events, was that young children would participate in them sometimes. I believe this was the case because of the lack of onboard thrills offered on this ship for younger passengers.

On the sea days (and even while we were docked in Cozumel), we chose to relax in the Solarium, Centrum, or loyalty lounge. As you can see, the general theme of this cruise was about relaxing! It was a nice change of pace to not feel pressured to go to every single event offered onboard. It was lovely to relax and enjoy a drink among our fellow cruisers.

My overall thoughts on Grandeur of the Seas

While Grandeur of Seas lacks some modern amenities, she makes up for it with the more intimate atmosphere she offers guests. 

The staff onboard Grandeur of the Seas are wonderful. Even with My Time Dining in the Main Dining Room, we were able to, by request, sit in the same section every night to have the same waitstaff. We really enjoyed their service! A larger ship would probably not be as willing to accommodate us. 

Even though Grandeur is almost 30 years old, I think she is in great condition - truly much better than I expected. 

I believe a cruise on Grandeur of the Seas would be fun during a port-intensive itinerary that visits unique destinations. This is definitely a benefit of sailing on a small ship: You will be able to visit more exotic places.

My advice is to not avoid this ship solely because of some negative reviews online. Go and experience the cruise ship for yourself before you make a judgment. 

Before booking a cruise on Grandeur of the Seas (or any Vision Class ship for that matter), it’s important to understand that while there are fewer thrills, there are still plenty of ways to enjoy your vacation. You will also not have to worry about dealing with large crowds or getting lost trying to maneuver the ship.

Adventure of the Seas and Voyager of the Seas are both a part of Royal Caribbean’s Voyager Class of ships, which debuted in 1999.

Voyager of the Seas is the first ship in the Voyager Class. This ship was the first of its kind in the cruise industry because she included many never-before-seen features, like the Royal Promenade, ice skating rink, and rock climbing wall.

There are five ships in the Voyager Class. Adventure of the Seas is the third ship, after Explorer of the Seas. The other two ships are Navigator of the Seas and Mariner of the Seas.

Both Adventure of the Seas and Voyager of the Seas are considered older vessels compared to the entire Royal Caribbean fleet (Voyager of the Seas is the fifth ship built and Adventure of the Seas is the eighth ship built out of 28 total ships). However, these ships offer an incredible value because they are not too big in size, yet they still offer an impressive array of venues and activities for cruisers to enjoy. There really is something for everyone!

Overview of Voyager of the Seas and Adventure of the Seas

Voyager of the Seas’ maiden voyage was November 21, 1999. In 2019, Voyager of the Seas completed its $97 million Royal Amplification, which included the addition of waterslides, an updated Vitality Spa and Fitness Center, new staterooms, and redesigned kids/teens areas.

Read more: Voyager of the Seas review: What it’s like to cruise on Royal Caribbean’s oldest Voyager Class ship

Here are some other fast facts about Voyager of the Seas:

• Guest capacity: 4,269
• Gross tonnage: 137,276
• 1,020 feet long
• 15 total decks

On the other hand, Adventure of the Seas’ maiden voyage was November 18, 2001. While Adventure of the Seas has not yet been Royal Amplified (it was postponed due to the pandemic), she did undergo two revitalizations in 2016 and 2018, which cost $61 million. During this time, waterslides, the Flowrider, Splashaway Bay, Izumi, new staterooms, and more were added.

Read more: Royal Caribbean’s Adventure of the Seas review: What it’s like to cruise on this ship today

More fast facts about Adventure of the Seas:

• Guest capacity: 3,807
• Gross tonnage: 138,193
• 1,020 feet long
• 15 total decks

While these two ships are similar in length and volume, Voyager of the Seas can carry more passengers. Perhaps the biggest difference between these two cruise ships is the fact that Voyager of the Seas has received a Royal Amplification while Adventure of the Seas has not yet.

Dining and Bars

Voyager of the Seas and Adventure of the Seas offer many of the same places to eat. 

Both ships have three complimentary venues: the Main Dining Room (called The Sapphire Dining Room on Adventure of the Seas), Windjammer Marketplace (buffet open for all three meals of the day), and Cafe Promenade, which includes free pizza, coffee from Starbucks, and Ben & Jerry’s (the two latter are not included in your cruise fare). Both ships also have an area for soft-serve ice cream.

All of these venues are located in the same place on both ships: the Main Dining Room is on decks three, four, and five in the back of the ship, the Windjammer is on deck 11 in the back of the ship, and Cafe Promenade is located on deck five in the Royal Promenade. 

As far as specialty dining, both of these ships have:

• Chops Grille (American steakhouse)
• Giovanni’s Table (Italian)
• Izumi (Japanese)
• Chef’s Table (gourmet food and wine experience)

On Voyager of the Seas, Giovanni’s is located on the fourth deck by the Schooner Bar while Chops is located next to the Windjammer. On Adventure of the Seas, these locations are swapped where Chops is on the fourth deck and Giovanni’s is next to the Windjammer.

Adventure of the Seas is the only ship with Izumi located in the Royal Promenade. On Voyager of the Seas, Izumi is on the 14th deck near the Viking Crown Lounge.

There is one venue that is unique to both ships. Voyager of the Seas has a Cupcake Cupboard on deck 11 near the Windjammer; not many ships still offer this cupcake shop onboard. Something Adventure of the Seas has that Voyager of the Seas does not is Johnny Rockets. This is located on deck 12 in the back of the ship. Voyager of the Seas used to have a Johnny Rockets, but it was removed during the Royal Amplification.

Read more: I went on Royal Caribbean’s upgraded and regular Voyager Class cruise ships. Here’s what I liked about each.

Many bars found on Adventure of the Seas are also on Voyager of the Seas. Some of these bars are essentially the same but have different names. These include:

• Schooner Bar
• Casino Bar
• The Tavern on Voyager or Boleros on Adventure
• Star Lounge bar on Voyager or Imperial Lounge bar on Adventure 
• R Bar on Voyager or Champagne Bar on Adventure 
• Pig & Whistle on Voyager or Duck & Dog on Adventure 
• Solarium Bar
• Pool Bar
• Plaza Bar on Voyager or Windjammer Bar on Adventure
• Sky Bar/Lounge
• High Notes on Voyager or Blue Moon on Adventure

Entertainment and Activities

Voyager-Class ships offer lots of onboard thrills and activities for cruisers of all ages. Both Adventure of the Seas and Voyager of the Seas have:

• Ice skating in Studio B
• Flowrider surf simulator
• The Perfect Storm waterslides
• Rock climbing wall
• Sports court for basketball, pickleball, soccer, and other outdoor sports
• Mini golf (Voyager Dunes is on deck 13 while Adventure Dunes is split between decks 12 and 13)
• Pool deck with two large pools and four hot tubs
• Adults-only solarium (not enclosed) with a pool and two hot tubs
• Adventure Ocean for kids and teens, along with an arcade

There are a few differences between these two ships when it comes to activities. Voyager of the Seas offers laser tag in Studio B, called Battle for Planet Z. On the other hand, Adventure of the Seas has a Splashaway Bay on the pool deck. This area includes a Baby Splash Zone for kids who are not potty-trained so they can enjoy the pool as well.

Each ship has its own unique lineup of entertainment. In addition to the various headliners, there are two production shows in the Royal Theatre (dubbed the Lyric Theatre on Adventure of the Seas). Adventure of the Seas has shows Invitation to Dance and Can’t Stop The Rock while Voyager of the Seas has Broadway Rhythm & Rhyme and Music in Pictures. There is an ice skating show on each ship as well, called Cool Art, Hot Ice on Adventure of the Seas and Ice Odyseey on Voyager of the Seas.

Lounges and Public Spaces

Similar to the dining and entertainment venues onboard, Voyager of the Seas and Adventure of the Seas offer many of the same public spaces. These include:

• Suite Lounge
• Diamond Lounge (soon to be named the Crown Lounge) on deck five for Voyager and deck 14 for Adventure
• Conference center and loyalty desk
• Photo and art gallery 
• Casino Royale
• Various stores for shopping in the Royal Promenade
• Vitality Spa and Fitness Center
• Library and RC Online
• Next Cruise 
• Skylight chapel

The location of some of these venues is different on both ships. For example, the Vitality Spa and Fitness Center is at the front of the ship on Adventure of the Seas, but it is in the back on Voyager of the Seas. This is because during the Royal Amplification on Voyager, new staterooms were added where the spa and fitness center used to be.

Another interesting thing to point out is how on Adventure of the Seas, guests can visit the peek-a-boo bridge. Accessible from the Solarium, guests can venture to the front of the ship to take a peek inside the bridge of the ship and see the crew in action. Unfortunately, this is not available on Voyager of the Seas.

Lastly, Adventure of the Seas and Voyager of the Seas both have numerous stateroom options, including interiors, ocean view, balconies, and suites.

Itineraries

Adventure of the Seas and Voyager of the Seas offer a variety of short and long itineraries, typically in the Caribbean. What’s nice about these Voyager-Class ships is that they are small enough to visit ports that larger ships, like Oasis of the Seas or Wonder of the Seas, cannot.

In 2024, Adventure of the Seas will sail the Eastern and Southern Caribbean out of Port Canaveral. Most sailings are six or eight nights, and some go to Bermuda or Perfect Day at CocoCay. It appears she will have maintenance done in early November 2024.

As for Voyager of the Seas in 2024, she will continue with four and five-night Western Caribbean sailings out of Galveston until May. Then she will cruise around Europe, departing from Rome, Barcelona, Athens, and Venice. These itineraries visit the Greek Isles and the Mediterranean. For the rest of the year starting in November 2024, Voyager will be in Port Canaveral sailing the Caribbean.

Which ship should I choose?

I believe because Voyager of the Seas and Adventure of the Seas are so similar, the decision of which ship to cruise on would ultimately come down to the itinerary and price.

Adventure of the Seas may be a much better choice for those with small children who are not yet potty trained because it has a Splashaway Bay. During hot weather vacations, this would be a huge benefit and a factor to consider in your ship selection.

Royal Caribbean’s Voyager-Class ships are big enough to offer amazing entertainment options, like the spectacular ice shows and Flowrider, but also small enough to provide an intimate atmosphere. Cruisers will not feel overwhelmed navigating the ship. Whichever ship you choose for your voyage, you’re in for an unforgettable adventure!

Voyager of the Seas was the first ship built in the Voyager Class by Royal Caribbean. Although Voyager of the Seas is one of Royal Caribbean’s oldest ships, you shouldn't dismiss her as an option for your next cruise vacation!

When Voyager of the Seas debuted in 1999, she turned the cruising world upside down. This was the ship that introduced the idea of having an ice-skating rink at sea, rock climbing wall at sea, and indoor promenade.

Voyager was instantly the largest cruise ship in the world when she debuted (only until Explorer of the Seas entered service the following year).

Last month, my dad and I went on a five-night Western Caribbean sailing that visited Cozumel and Costa Maya, Mexico from Galveston, Texas. We had never cruised out of Galveston, so we were excited to see what it was like versus cruising out of Florida. This was also our first cruise on Voyager of the Seas! 

Here’s what you can expect when sailing on Voyager of the Seas.

Royal Amplification

Built in 1999, Voyager of the Seas was a trailblazer in the cruise industry.

20 years later, Voyager of the Seas went through a $97 million Royal Amplification in October of 2019. During this refurbishment, the following venues and features were added:

• The Perfect Storm waterslides
• Battle for Planet Z laser tag
• Updated Vitality Spa and Fitness Center
• Redesigned kid and teen spaces
• 72 new inside and balcony staterooms

Read more: I went on Royal Caribbean’s upgraded and regular Voyager Class ships. Here’s what I liked about each.

Embarkation process

Because this was my first time cruising out of Galveston, I was unsure what the embarkation process was going to be like, but I was eager to see the new Royal Caribbean terminal.

After flying into Houston, my dad and I decided to get a hotel in the area and then the next day, we would get an Uber or Lyft to Galveston. We got a hotel in Houston because it was approximately $50 cheaper than staying in Galveston.

On embarkation day, we requested a Lyft and made our way to Galveston. During the drive, we were able to complete the mandatory safety briefing, so this was a great way to make the hour-long drive go by faster.

Upon arrival at the terminal, we saw a huge line of people waiting to get inside. This was due to the fact that there was a Coast Guard inspection that day, so the entire embarkation process took longer than it normally would. This long line made sense because passengers were not able to board until after the inspection was complete. Royal Caribbean emailed me multiple times about this inspection, so I knew it was going to happen.

Our check-in time was at noon so we arrived at 11:30 a.m., but we could’ve come even earlier because of the long line.

After waiting outside for about 30 minutes or so, suddenly the line started to move much faster as we entered the terminal. It was a beautiful terminal, but I didn't have much time to admire it because the line was moving so fast when we went inside.

Once inside, the check-in process was a breeze and probably only took about 15 minutes. We were impressed!

Read more: I cruised Royal Caribbean from Galveston for the first time. Here’s what a cruise from Texas is like.

Spacious ocean view cabin

When I originally booked this cruise, I selected an interior guarantee cabin for me and my dad. This type of cabin is usually what I select for my cruises because it is the cheapest option. I’d rather spend my money on other things, like specialty dining or activities, than pay for a larger or balcony cabin.

Well, I kept receiving emails from Royal Caribbean about participating in their RoyalUp program. For those not familiar, RoyalUp is an opportunity for cruisers to bid on a nicer and bigger cabin. I usually ignore these emails, but since my dad was coming with me on this cruise, he said, “Why don’t we try it?” He is more particular than I am, so I think he wanted a different cabin!

Four days before embarkation, my dad and I placed bids on four stateroom categories. The next day, our bid was accepted! For an additional $130 per person, we upgraded to a spacious ocean view cabin.

Read more: I paid $130 extra to upgrade my interior cabin to a spacious ocean view on Voyager of the Seas. Here’s a tour of my cabin.

Our cabin was in the very front of the ship, overlooking the helipad. We were on the ninth deck, which was ideal because we weren't far from public venues. I was worried about being in the front of the ship motion-wise, but we had such smooth sailings that I rarely felt the ship move when I was in the cabin.

As implied by its name, our upgraded cabin did indeed feel quite spacious at 211 square feet. Comparatively, our interior cabin would've been 160 square feet. The additional space was noticeable by the window and bed area.

The cabin had everything we needed and more! We had more space than we knew what to do with. One of the benefits of upgrading to this cabin was the extra large couch. It was so big that I thought it was a sofa bed (it wasn’t). Nonetheless, it was nice to have another place to sit other than our beds.

Another advantage to being in the front of the ship was that it was quiet due to low foot traffic. We did, however, feel and hear the bow thrusters in the mornings when we were docking.

The bathroom felt a little more retro than the rest of the cabin because of the color scheme, but it was just fine for our five-night cruise.

Dining onboard

Voyager of the Seas has three complimentary dining venues onboard, the Main Dining Room, Windjammer, and Cafe Promenade, and three specialty dining restaurants, including Chops Grille, Giovanni’s Table, and Izumi Japanese Cuisine. Chef’s Table was also available.

My dad and I splurged and enjoyed dinner at Giovanni’s Table and Chops Grille (my dad’s favorite Royal Caribbean restaurant). The other three nights, we ate in the Main Dining Room for dinner.

On the first day of our cruise, we were so excited to see that we were assigned a table right by a window in the Main Dining Room! This view was wonderful to admire every night when we had dinner. 

We were able to enjoy these three themed meals:

• A Taste of France
• A Taste of Mexico
• A Taste of Italy

My personal favorite was A Taste of Italy because I love Italian food, including arancini, lasagna, and tiramisu.

The Main Dining Room had really fast service. Most meals were only an hour and a half long, sometimes shorter. All of the food was hot which I greatly appreciated. When I cruised on Adventure of the Seas, my food was either a hit or miss in regards to the temperature. My dad and I truly had no complaints about the Main Dining Room.

Read more: Royal Caribbean’s Adventure of the Seas review: What it’s like to cruise on this ship today

We noticed that more people participated in the formal night onboard (around 70%), but there were no tuxedos or prom dresses. It is much more casual. 

Another thing we noticed was how The Windjammer always seemed to be packed, especially for breakfast. I think this is because there are only three complimentary places to eat on the ship. We were able to find clean tables every morning (around 10 a.m.), but we had to hunt for them.

Giovanni's Table was excellent! This was the first time I went to Giovanni's Table where they didn't bring the desserts out on a cart. Instead, they brought it out plated like the rest of the meal. This was changed due to the pandemic.

“Chops Grill is hard to beat,” my dad said as he happily ate his food. He enjoyed the filet with peppercorn sauce. I agreed - our meal was super delicious. I was so full by the end of the meal that I could barely stand up!

Chops Grille was actually quite busy the night that we went. There were about 40 people there. This was vastly different than Giovanni’s when there were only about 15 of us dining.

Activities and entertainment

I’ve seen a few comments online from people saying that they thought Voyager of the Seas was boring, but I have to disagree. I thought there were some great entertainment options!

I went to every production show in the Royal Theatre, and I enjoyed the variety of acts. My favorites were the ice skating show, “Ice Odyssey,” and the comedy showcase featuring Derrick Cameron. I also liked going to the game shows in the Star Lounge. Almost every activity here was very busy, especially the Disney trivia, “Battle of the Sexes,” “Majority Rules,” and “Finish That Lyric.”

The music productions were also fun. We saw three shows, “Broadway Rhythm & Rhyme,” “El Gaucho (described as a “must-see show packed with laughter from the very start and featuring fiery music and unusual skills”), and “Music in Pictures.” 

The Adult SHUSH! Silent Party is one of my dad’s favorite activities on a Royal Caribbean cruise. I also really enjoy this event because usually between the two channels, I can find music I like (modern pop) and dad can find music he likes (70s and 80s hits). 

I will have to say I was disappointed about one thing. While cruising on Voyager of the Seas, I noticed at the trivia games, there were no prizes for the winners. My dad and I played on a team during the Rock Hits trivia and we ended up winning, but we didn't receive a prize. All we got was a “Great job!” from the host and claps from the other participants. I personally don't like this change because I feel that there should be some kind of award for winning trivia, even if it is just a key chain or highlighter.

I am not sure if this is considered an activity, but my dad likes to work out while on vacation, so we frequently visited the Fitness Center while on Voyager of the Seas. We both found it funny how the TV was behind all of the equipment. My dad wanted to watch what was on while he was exercising, but the TV location didn't allow for that. I wonder who decided this was the best place to put the TV?

Ports of Call

Like most cruises that leave from Galveston, we visited the Western Caribbean. This included stops in Cozumel and Costa Maya. Other cruises from Galveston also visit destinations like Roatan, Honduras; Nassau, Bahamas; Belize City, Belize; and even Royal Caribbean’s private island Perfect Day at CocoCay.

Costa Maya, Mexico

What was interesting about our itinerary was that we didn't dock in Costa Maya until 12:30 p.m. I liked this because that meant we could have a quiet night’s sleep and not have to hear the ship docking in the early morning. 

As soon as we could disembark, my dad and I decided to walk around and do a little shopping. There is a convenient shopping area right off the dock. My dad was on the hunt for some Mexican vanilla and cigars, while I was fine tagging along.

Cozumel, Mexico

My dad and I have been to Cozumel more times than we care to admit, so all we did was get off the ship, take a few pictures, and then get back onboard to enjoy one of our Diamond Plus drink vouchers.

It appeared that many people had the same idea as us and decided to stay on board. It was a hot day, so a lot of people were using the pool. This was smart because the public venues aren’t nearly as busy while docked in port!

Disembarkation day

Like the embarkation process, disembarking Voyager of the Seas was straightforward. We easily found our luggage and then we did the facial recognition scan.

We took a Lyft to Galveston, so I was planning on doing the same to take us to the Houston airport.

On the last day of the cruise, we received a “Tips for an Easy Departure” document from Royal Caribbean that stated, “Taxis are usually readily available outside the terminal. Lyft is the only rideshare available in Port of Galveston.” I thought it was odd how Uber was not included. 

On disembarkation day, I tried to request a Lyft to the airport. After at least 15-20 minutes of waiting around, I tried to request an Uber instead. Within just a few minutes, an Uber picked my request and picked us up.

So for those wondering, you can request a Lyft or an Uber at the Galveston terminal. The ride was an hour to the William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) airport.

A few final thoughts

Overall, Voyager of the Seas was in great condition. There were a few dents and scratches, but that is to be expected on a ship that is over 20 years old.

I had no problems with the Wi-Fi, however, my dad had some issues getting connected. We believe this had something to do with his phone trying to connect to the VPN network. He brought his phone and iPad to the Wi-Fi help desk and they were able to assist him.

I noticed a lot more people wearing masks around the ship. There were also a lot of bridal parties and recently married couples celebrating. 

It seemed there were football games playing everywhere, especially in the Tavern Bar on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. The crowd was especially rowdy during the Texas and Alabama game on Saturday because there were lots of Texans on the Voyager! 

Many people looking to cruise automatically think of embarking and disembarking from Florida, whether it’s Miami, Orlando, or Tampa, to name a few. But did you know you can cruise out of Galveston, Texas?

Located southeast of Houston, Galveston offers Royal Caribbean cruises year-round. Royal Caribbean recently built a new port here in November of 2022, which cost $125 million. This new port allows larger Oasis Class ships to sail out of Galveston. Galveston is a popular cruise port for those living in Texas, as well as nearby states like Oklahoma and Louisiana.

Read more: What you should know about cruising from Galveston instead of Florida

For the rest of 2023, Voyager of the Seas and Harmony of the Seas will sail out of Galveston. There will be a few ships cruising out of Galveston in 2024, including Jewel of the Seas, Mariner of the Seas, Voyager of the Seas, and Harmony of the Seas.

I had never cruised out of Galveston, but when I found a cheap, five-night Western Caribbean sailing on Voyager of the Seas, I decided to give it a try. My dad joined me on this cruise - he was also curious to see what it was like to sail from Galveston since he had never been either.

If you are cruising out of Galveston for the first time, my experience may be helpful for you as you plan your upcoming cruise!

First, we had to plan how we would get to Galveston

I quickly found out after embarking on Voyager of the Seas that many cruisers were from Texas. This makes sense, as Galveston is in close driving distance. Since my dad and I live in South Dakota, we had to fly to the closest airport to Galveston, which is Houston. (Though I did meet a family onboard that drove from Iowa!) 

There are two airports in Houston: George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) and William P. Hobby Airport (HOU). When looking at airfare on Delta for both airports, they were similar in price.

HOU is located in south Houston whereas IAH is in the north. Because Galveston is south of Houston, it made more sense to fly into HOU, and that is what my dad and I ended up doing.

If you have the choice between these two airports, try to fly into William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) because it will be quicker and cheaper to get to the Galveston port. This is unless you are able to find a flight from George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) that is significantly cheaper.

The day before our cruise, we flew to Houston and got a hotel near the airport

My original plan was to fly to Houston and get a Lyft or Uber to Galveston so we could be near the port for embarkation day. When I was looking at hotel prices, it was a lot more expensive to stay in Galveston, so we decided to stay in Houston where the prices were much cheaper. It seemed as though most hotels were at least $50 or more a night in Galveston versus Houston.

We ended up booking a hotel near the Houston airport so we didn’t have to drive far. It was easy to get a shuttle to the hotel via the free airport shuttle they offered.

I planned on ordering a Lyft or Uber the next day to take us from Houston to Galveston, but my dad wanted to look into booking an independent company shuttle

When we arrived at our hotel, we told them we were there for a cruise. They gave us a card that said, “Cruise ship shuttle: $20 per person each way (no port fees).” This intrigued my dad, so he decided to give them a call to get it scheduled. 

Lo and behold, the price was not $20 per person. It was actually going to be $60 per person! I was confident that a rideshare would not be more than $120 one way, so this shuttle option was a no-go for us. 

However, an independent shuttle is an option for those traveling with a larger group because the fare is usually cheaper with more people traveling. It just wasn’t ideal for the two of us.

Royal Caribbean does offer a shuttle from the HOU airport to Galveston, but this didn't make sense for us since we were not going to the port directly after arriving at the airport. We also didn’t want to wait around for others; we wanted to leave on our own schedule.

We decided to stick with my original plan of ordering a Lyft or Uber the next day.

On embarkation day, it was easy to get a rideshare to Galveston

As I suspected, it wasn’t a problem at all to get a rideshare from our Houston hotel to Galveston. At 10 a.m., I requested a Lyft and we were picked up within 15 minutes. The total cost of this Lyft was $61.25 including a tip.

Since it was Saturday morning, I wasn’t sure how long it was going to take to get to the port. The ride was 50 minutes in total. Traffic was not bad at this time of the day, but it did get busier as we got closer to Galveston. 

Not long after getting in the Lyft, both my dad and I got a notification on our phones that we could start the mandatory safety briefing. This was the perfect way to kill some time on the way to the port. I highly recommend you watch the safety briefing video as soon as it is available to you so you don’t have to do it once onboard.

After crossing the bridge into Galveston, traffic started to pick up. This was around 11 a.m. There was stop-and-go traffic for about a half mile before we arrived at Terminal 10, Royal Caribbean’s new terminal.

Something to note about Galveston - it appeared that there weren't many hotels close to the port. I mainly saw beach homes. I would assume it would be easier to find an Airbnb or Vrbo than a hotel if you were looking to stay in the area.

If you are driving to the Galveston port, there are parking options close by. At Terminal 10, there are three lots where you can park. You can expect to pay around $20 to $25 per day. According to the Port of Galveston website, “Rates are based on availability.” We also drove by and saw a sign for $70 for private parking near the ship, but it didn’t specify the number of days for that amount, so who knows if that was a better price.

When we arrived at the Royal Caribbean terminal, it was unclear where to go next

Our Lyft dropped us off right at the front entrance of the terminal. Our luggage was swiftly picked up by one of the many porters anxiously ready to help us. All of the porters were easily identified because they were wearing tropical shirts. 

After the porters took our big luggage, we were unsure of where to check-in. There was a sign for The Key and Suites/Pinnacle guests, but not one for everybody else. We asked one of the employees about where to go and they pointed us in the right direction. 

I was not expecting such a long line to get inside the terminal, but this was due to a United States Coast Guard inspection.

We were shocked to see the long line winding around outside. One of the employees was explaining to everyone that there was a Coast Guard inspection going on and that was the reason why the line was so long.

I had received at least three emails from Royal Caribbean about this Coast Guard inspection before embarkation day. One of the emails said, “To ensure we have a smooth boarding process, we kindly ask that you please arrive during your selected arrival window.” We definitely could have come even earlier if we wanted to because of the long line. 

For the next 30 minutes or so, we stood in the heat with hundreds of other cruisers. The line moved slowly but we were thankful that there were fans outside that sprayed us with water. 

As we got close to the inside of the terminal, the line started to move much faster. Once inside, there were escalators and elevators to take us up to the security area.

When we entered the terminal, the intercom announcement was going, but it was confusing because it was listing Crown and Anchor categories that could go off into specific directions. We couldn't understand what it was saying, so we stayed in line with everybody else. The line was moving very fast at this point and we didn’t hear the announcement again to try to understand what they were saying.

Once inside the terminal, the check-in process was a breeze

After we went up the escalator, we checked in and then went through security. This was very quick and efficient.

The first thing we did after stepping foot on Voyager of the Seas was find our muster station. We had to go to the Star Lounge, located at the front of the ship. A scan of our boarding pass and a little presentation later, we were ready to start our vacation!

Looking back, if the Coast Guard had not been doing their inspection that day, the embarkation process would have been around 15 minutes instead of 45 minutes like it was for us. Our check-in time was at noon. We arrived at the terminal around 11:30 a.m. and we didn't get on board the ship until about 12:15 p.m. I was very impressed with the embarkation process even with the delay.

When disembarking, know that you can request a Lyft or an Uber at the Galveston terminal

I once again was prepared to request a rideshare when our cruise was done to take my dad and I to the Houston airport.

On the last day of the cruise, you will receive a “Tips for an Easy Departure” document along with other information to prepare you for getting off the ship. On this document, it stated that, “Taxis are usually readily available outside the terminal. Lyft is the only rideshare available in Port of Galveston.”

The next day, I kept this in mind when we disembarked Voyager of the Seas. I requested a Lyft since this was supposedly my only rideshare option. After waiting for about 15 minutes, no one picked up my request for a ride to the airport. I decided to try Uber and see what would happen. 

After requesting an Uber, I was selected pretty quickly and our driver picked us up within a few minutes. I thought it was strange how Royal Caribbean said only Lyft was an option when I was easily able to request an Uber instead.

If you were wondering, the Uber ride was an hour long to the HOU airport and cost $65.77, including a tip.

In the future, I would definitely consider another cruise that leaves from Galveston

Galveston is the perfect cruise port for those who live in the South. Though I live in the Midwest, I would select Galveston again as a port to cruise in and out of. I wouldn't necessarily go out of my way to cruise out of Galveston, but my decision would primarily be based on the cruise itinerary, ship, and price.

Royal Caribbean’s new terminal is beautiful and the check-in process was fast and efficient.

If you happen to have a Coast Guard Inspection before your cruise like we did, be sure to pack a little extra patience!