Utopia of the Seas is dubbed as a "non-stop party," so I wanted to see what it was like to try to keep the fun going all day and night.

When Royal Caribbean launched its first Oasis-Class ship with weekend cruises in mind, it wanted the vessel to offer something new and different.

Marketed as a "party ship," Utopia of the Seas offers non-stop activities throughout its short sailings.

It's the perfect combination for cruisers to make the most of their days onboard.

I spent four nights onboard Utopia this month, and I knew I wanted to maximize my short sailing.

For our only sea day onboard, I challenged myself to participate in a cruise ship activity all day long—more than 12 hours straight!

What does a busy day actually look like on Utopia of the Seas? There are so many activities to choose from—but it's more chill than you might expect.

The constant "party" atmosphere on the vessel actually translated into a calmer, chill vibe. No one was required to bring the energy, as staff and party squads made sure that guests were enjoying themselves.

In the end, I had so much fun and ended up being less exhausted than I thought I'd be.

Read more: 5 things to know before sailing on Royal Caribbean's Utopia of the Seas

9:00 A.M.: Breakfast

I started out with breakfast in the Park Cafe—an elegant, well-lit free cafe in Central Park. 

Breakfast in the Café usually includes fresh fruit, oatmeal, pastries, and more.

I dined on oatmeal with raisins and brown sugar, with a side of fresh grapes and hot coffee.

After breakfast, I hit the cruise ship gym, which was surprisingly busy for a relaxing sailing trip! 

Other cruisers, like me, wanted to take advantage of the quality gym and stay active despite all the tempting food.

However, the gym was gigantic, so I didn't have to worry about overcrowding.

10:30 A.M.: Ice skating

After the gym, I headed straight down to Studio B for a short ice-skating activity.

I reserved a slot ahead of time on the Royal Caribbean app, so the staff gave me a wristband right away. When my wristband color was called, I went down to suit up with a helmet (required for safety) and ice skates.

The rink was a medium-sized, icy square. Skating around on it was fun, but it seemed more directed toward kids.

Struggling children kept falling and skating in front of me, which could make the experience more stressful for beginners.

Nevertheless, I enjoyed the experience. How many people can say they've ice skated on a cruise ship? 

11:20 A.M.: Lunch

After I finished ice skating, I'd worked up an appetite. I took the elevator up to the Windjammer, the ship's complimentary buffet.

I always enjoy eating at the Windjammer because of its variety of options. 

For lunch I directed myself towards the available brunch food, choosing hash browns, waffles, and biscuits.

1:00 P.M.: World's Sexiest Man Competition

After showering and meeting with my travel buddy, Val, we returned to the pool deck to watch the World's Sexiest Man Competition. 

Found on most Royal Caribbean ships, this competition is a hilarious, dramatic pageant show featuring several brave cruisers.

After each man flexes, dances, and poses in front of judges, one man in particular is awarded the title of the most attractive of the cruise.

2:00 P.M.: Plunge Party

As the World's Sexiest Man Competition ended, staff transitioned into the Plunge Party, a pool deck dance and music party.

The ship's "party squad"—a group of four dancers who showed up to each event in fun costumes—took the stage and encouraged guests to bop along to the music.

As that went on, Val and I headed to the Solarium to soak up the sun for a while.

5:00 P.M.: Main Dining Room dinner

Before the cruise, I selected a traditional, assigned dining time and received the early slot: 5:00 P.M. dinner.

We went to our assigned table at 5 sharp and were greeted by our friendly waiters.

Dinner started with bread, and then we placed our orders. For my appetizer, I ordered a tasty, hot tomato soup. 

My entree was a delicious crumbed slice of salmon, served with potatoes and asparagus. My waiter recommended the dish to me, and I was glad I ordered it!

Read more: I spent over a week on Royal Caribbean's new Utopia of the Seas. I was impressed by how much was changed for the world's newest cruise ship.

Dessert was a warm, caramel-covered brownie with a side of vanilla ice cream.

6:30 P.M.: Family Karaoke

After dinner, we went to join karaoke in the Spotlight Karaoke venue. For family karaoke, anyone of any age could sign up to choose a song and sing it on stage.

While I didn't join in performing, I always enjoy watching, cheering, and singing along.

On the way out of Karaoke, Val and I stopped to pick up togas (really just extra sheets) for the evening's Silent Toga party.

7:00 P.M.: SENSES Sunset Party

One of the new parties I was most excited to experience on Utopia of the Seas was the SENSES Sunset Party. 

The event is one of the more "Chill-topia" experiences onboard, perfect for sitting down with a drink to enjoy the views.

Just around sunset, the DJ begins to play house music as different views of sunsets from around the world (and around the fleet!) are projected on the screen.

8:00 P.M.: Name That Tune!

Name That Tune was titled a "live game show" in the Cruise Compass, and I noticed it was taking place in the Royal Theater.

The game show was a high-quality, hilarious production hosted by the Cruise Director, Ricky.

In between rounds of the game, Royal Caribbean performers would join a live band to perform popular songs.

Name That Tune far exceeded my expectations—it was like watching Family Feud or Wheel of Fortune live!

9:00 P.M.: Royal Kappa Chi

The Utopia Chapter of Royal Kappa Chi is a throwback to the collegiate days of frat parties, complete with flip cup and beer pong.

The event was held in Studio B, which had too much seating and stage space to accommodate all the ping-pong tables that were set up.

It was hard for all the attendees to find space to join in playing games or dancing, so many just ended up sitting down in chairs and watching the games.

10:45 P.M.: Silent Toga party

Our last event of the night was the Silent Toga Party, held in the Solarium.

I always love joining silent parties, in which every guest is given a headset with multiple music channels.

Royal Caribbean added a new and fun twist to the Silent Party on Utopia by making it a toga party—each guest was welcomed with a sheet and taught how to tie it on.

A common uniform always makes groups feel closer, so I thought this was a fun way to tie together the independent style of a silent party.

After the party, we headed back to the stateroom—tired but satisfied with our busy day. 

Happy Sunday! We are so happy that you stopped by and hope you are having a wonderful weekend. Grab a mug of your favorite hot beverage, sit back, and check out the latest in Royal Caribbean news.

Royal Caribbean has finally implemented the dining package change we've been waiting for!

Almost a year after the cruise line first announced its plans to do so, Royal Caribbean has added a way for guests who have pre-purchased specialty dining packages to reserve spots ahead of time.

Now, passengers with the Unlimited Dining Package can choose a particular date and time at the venues of their choice—before even getting onboard. 

Royal Caribbean News:

• Royal Caribbean is building another cruise port in Alaska to ease crowds and traffic
• Find out which 3 Royal Caribbean cruise ships were the cleanest this year, according to the CDC
• Royal Caribbean passenger files lawsuit over hidden camera
• Royal Caribbean's new cruise offer is the best last-minute cruise deal we've seen in a long time
• How to get the earliest check-in time before anyone else for your cruise
• Royal Caribbean makes a change to how you get to CocoCay from your cruise ship
• Ice skater shows crew-only areas on Royal Caribbean's Utopia of the Seas
• How to get the most out of a short sailing on Utopia of the Seas
• A 74-year-old who cruises twice a year shares his 3 best cruise secrets, including splurging
• 5 Dollar Tree items cruisers should stock up on before their sailing
• Royal Caribbean is discounting airfare by hundreds of dollars for a 2025 cruise

New Video: 10 Annoying Habits That Will Make You the Least Popular Person on a Cruise

Have you subscribed to the Royal Caribbean Blog YouTube Channel? We share some great videos there regularly, all about taking a Royal Caribbean cruise! This week, we are sharing our latest video — 10 Annoying Habits That Will Make You the Least Popular Person on a Cruise — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 547th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available at all our links.

In this episode, Matt answers as many listener emails as he can!

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

How (and when) to upgrade your Royal Caribbean cruise ship room

Whether you have some extra cash to splurge or are rethinking your booked cabin category, sometimes there's a time and place to upgrade your cruise ship stateroom.

Getting a better cabin can be an exciting way to upgrade your cruise experience. 

There are multiple ways to do it, so here's everything you need to know.

Cruisers swear by these off-the-beaten-path Caribbean ports—Here’s why

Are you tired of visiting Nassau and Cozumel on your Caribbean cruises? 

Since Royal Caribbean says to its namesake region so often, frequent cruisers have to challenge themselves to keep things different.

Veterans cruisers swear by a few lesser-known Caribbean ports.

Dealing with noise in your cruise cabin

Because your cruise cabin becomes your home at sea, you want it to be a pleasant space.

Loud noises, whatever their origin, threaten a peaceful voyage and enjoyable cruise vacation. 

After you identify the source of the news, you can begin several courses of action to try and solve it. Here's what to do.

A Royal Caribbean guest is suing the cruise line and its former crew member, alleging she was filmed by a hidden camera in her stateroom bathroom. 

The class action lawsuit was filmed on behalf of the guest in the Southern District of Florida this Tuesday, as first reported by the Miami Herald.

The guest was only identified as Jane Doe, but the lawsuit was also filed on behalf of "all other similarly situated passengers."

In August, former crew member Arvin Joseph Mirasol was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison. 

He was found guilty of filming guests, including children, with hidden cameras while they were naked, in addition to hiding under cabin beds on Symphony of the Seas.

Read more: "I will be checking under the bed now": Royal Caribbean crew member accused of hiding cameras to spy on guests

Federal authorities found images of women and children undressing on his electronic devices, "numerous videos of naked females," as well as child sexual abuse material.

During a post-Miranda interview, Mirasol admitted to pleasuring himself while watching the videos. He told authorities he "wants to control it...but can't." 

Mirasol was also charged with six pending counts of video voyeurism in Florida state court after the Broward Sheriff’s Office interviewed him.

According to the lawsuit, Mirasol captured images of Doe "while undressed and engaging in private activities" during a February cruise.

The guest, Jane Doe, also alleges that Mirasol uploaded images of her to the Internet, including the dark web.

“Upon information and belief, Mirasol transmitted and/or uploaded images of the Plaintiff while undressed and engaging in private activities, to third parties and/or to the world wide web, including, but not limited to, the dark web, without Plaintiff’s prior knowledge or consent,” the complaint states. 

As a result, she has suffered extreme emotional distress, including physical symptoms like insomnia and dizziness.

The lawsuit places the blame on Royal Caribbean for failing to provide sufficient security, training, or supervision to prevent sexual assaults.

The cruise line did not warn guests about such crimes and allegedly did not notify passengers who stayed in cabins served by Mirasol.

According to the lawsuit, there may be up to 960 impacted passengers, who stayed on Symphony of the Seas between December 1st, 2023, and February 26th, 2024.

Royal Caribbean “knew or should have known sexual assaults were reasonably foreseeable considering the prevalence of sexual assaults aboard RCCL’s cruise ships," the lawsuit states.

The lawsuit referenced a 2023 incident on Royal Caribbean's Harmony of the Seas in which passenger Jeremy Froias installed a hidden camera on a 7-night sailing from Miami, Florida.

Froias was arrested after placing a hidden WiFi camera in the public bathroom between the FlowRider and a bar.

His camera, which was up for 24 hours before security removed it, allegedly depicted more than 150 individuals in various states of undress, including minors as young as four and five years old.

The number of sexual assaults onboard cruise ships rose in 2023, according to the US Department of Transportation. 

Onboard cruise ships embarking and disembarking in the United States, 131 sex crimes were reported to the FBI in 2023.

This is a significant increase from 2022, which saw 87 alleged sexual assaults.

However, the actual numbers could be even higher. 

According to the Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network, more than two out of three of all sexual assaults are never reported.

Of these alleged sex crimes in 2023, 75% were committed by cruise ship passengers (98 in total), and only 27 crimes were committed by crew members. Six of the incidents had an "unknown" perpetrator.

Jason Margulies, an attorney with Lipcon, Margulies & Winkleman, P.A., in Miami Florida, is representing the plaintiff in this case.

Margulies addressed the allegations that Royal Caribbean hasn't been informing affected guests who sailed on Symphony of the Seas.

“If you're a company that's looking out for the best interest of your passengers, and aren't acting in your own financial interests, then you would certainly be telling all these people that they could be potential victims, right?"

"I mean, that's the humane thing to do.”

The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages, including punitive damages, and a jury trial.

Royal Caribbean emailed a statement to USA TODAY: “The safety and privacy of our guests is our highest priority, and we have zero tolerance for this behavior."

“We immediately reported this case to law enforcement and terminated the crew member. As this is pending litigation, we are unable to comment further at this time.”

Utopia of the Seas offers short cruises on a ship with lots to do. How can you make the most of it?

I recently sailed on Utopia of the Seas for a 4-night Bahamas and Perfect Day at CocoCay cruise.

Leaving round-trip from Port Canaveral, Florida, I knew I only had a short amount of time to experience everything Utopia has to offer.

The cruise line found that first-time cruisers like to start with 3 and 4-night sailings, and Utopia is the perfect ship to draw them in.

With everything from a train car-themed dining experience to waterslides and escape rooms, there are countless activities to try on Utopia of the Seas.

But how can you fit them all into just a few days?

Start by exploring the ship on the first day

I always explore the cruise ship as soon as I get onboard, but this is especially important to do on a short cruise on Utopia. 

On such a huge vessel, with so little time, cruisers have to know their way around.

You'll want to get your bearings as soon as you board, in order to find events quickly and ensure you don't miss anything.

It's hard to keep everything in your head, so start out by getting a visual sense of what the ship's neighborhoods and venues look like.

I recommend wandering the whole ship at least once—you don't want to miss anything on the map. 

Sometimes it takes walking around yourself to find hidden locations or decide if a particular venue piques your interest. Don't take the app's word for it—go see each spot with your own eyes.

Make reservations for dining before you board

A specialty meal is worth the extra cost on Utopia. The 5,668-passenger vessel offers quality venues found on few other ships, such as the Mason Jar, Izumi Omakase, Izumi in the Park, and the Royal Railway.

Other specialty venues onboard include Chops Grille, Sugar Beach, Johnny Rockets, 150 Central, Chef's Table, Playmakers, Giovanni's Italian Kitchen, Starbucks, Izumi Hibachi and Sushi, and Hooked Seafood.

Dining at an extra-cost restaurant gets you higher-quality food in a themed venue and allows you to see more of the ship during a short sailing.

To ensure that you're able to dine at your favorite locations, be sure to make reservations ahead of time. Specialty restaurants on mega ships can sell out quickly, and you never want to be turned away from a dinner you were looking forward to.

You're able to reserve individual restaurants or bookings as part of a dining package on the Cruise Planner website before the cruise.

If you don't make reservations online, you can also go to any dining venue on the first day of the cruise and make your bookings then. My advice is to pre-book to save time and money.

The first day is the best time for signature activities

The best time to go to the pool, water slides or hot tubs is as soon as you board the ship.

The pool deck is open on embarkation day, including the water slides.  Not only is it available, but it's the best time to experience them because there are least amount of crowds.

Most other passengers haven't boarded yet, are busy exploring the ship, or simply don't have their bathing suits with them.

This is the perfect opportunity to enjoy smaller crowds and shorter lines.  Pack a bathing suit in your carry-on, or just wear it onboard.

Download the Royal Caribbean app

To fit in Utopia's non-stop events, you'll need to have a detailed itinerary.

The Royal Caribbean app will become your source of all cruise information and it works with or without the WiFi package.

Events will be listed in great detail each day of the sailing, including the time, venue, and any associated costs.

I recommend consulting the app frequently to keep track of onboard events.

Read more: 5 things to know before sailing on Royal Caribbean's Utopia of the Seas

The Royal Caribbean app allows you to add events to your own calendar, and it will even send you a notification 30 minutes before the event begins.

I also saw events get canceled or change times while on my Utopia sailing, so checking the app frequently allowed me to stay updated.

Your carry-on bag is really important

Maximizing a short cruise on Utopia means using every moment you get onboard—including on embarkation day.

This hack takes a little extra planning but can give you hours of additional fun.

By packing your carry-on efficiently, you'll be able to begin activities before your stateroom is ready or your luggage is delivered.

Read more: 6 mistakes to avoid while planning a cruise and sharing a cabin with a friend

Since luggage doesn't get delivered until late afternoon, packing logically will allow you to start enjoying activities as soon as you get onboard.

Pack lightly, but bring medication, water bottles, sunglasses, sunscreen, a swimsuit, and a change of clothes in your carry-on bag.

You'll be able to enjoy lunch, time at the pool, or other activities while other cruisers are still boarding and waiting for their cabins.

Check out all the activities on your TV

Each Royal Caribbean stateroom has at least one TV, where guests can view 10-20 free channels, purchase movies, or cast from their devices (depending on the ship).

On Utopia of the Seas, you'll find that multiple channels stream or show recaps of events happening onboard.

While I don't prefer to view events on TV instead of experiencing them, you can use this feature to take advantage of shorter sailings.

If you find yourself double-booked, a quick replay of the previous events can catch you up.

When you return to your stateroom after dinner or late at night, you'll be able to turn on the television and see the highlights of events you missed.

Read more: I spent over a week on Royal Caribbean's new Utopia of the Seas. I was impressed by how much was changed for the world's newest cruise ship.

For example, my travel buddy and I stopped in to watch the World's Sexiest Man competition on the pool deck but had to leave to grab lunch before the Windjammer closed.

After that, we went on to the next event, but we didn't get to see who had won the competition!

When we returned to our cabin later that night, the TV's re-run showed us which cruiser was awarded the Sexiest Man.

Take advantage of your time in CocoCay

The highlight of any Utopia of the Seas cruise will be a visit to Royal Caribbean's private island, so get more out of it by disembarking early.

You can walk off the ship to Perfect Day at CoocCay as early as 8am, and if you can get going that early, you'll enjoy the best spots on the island.

Not only will there be less people in the pool or ocean, but you can cherry pick the best chairs or day beds. 

Moreover, if you start your day earlier, you can enjoy more time before the crowds arrive later in the morning. If you're feeling like heading back to the ship, you'll have already taken advantage of the least crowded time on the island.

Royal Caribbean's first world cruise sounded like the adventure of a lifetime, compelling hundreds of people to sign on the for the voyage.

The cruise took 274-nights and visited over 60 countries across seven continents, including Antarctica.

Tonya Lathom lived in the Mid-Atlantic region and made some life-changing choices in order to go on this cruise. She retired from her school system after 32 years as a teacher and school counselor.

She and her husband, Andy, sold their home in Falls Church, Virginia in order to move to their other home in South Carolina, outside of Myrtle Beach.

Tonya shared with Royal Caribbean Blog about her experience on the one-of-a-kind Royal Caribbean ultimate world cruise.

I was surprised how much I enjoyed the cruise

My husband booked the Ultimate World Cruise as a way for us to see the world in retirement since we had never really traveled much before. Talk about diving headfirst into the deep end of the pool!  

Prior to the Ultimate World Cruise, the longest cruise I had ever been on was 12 days.

However, we had not been on a cruise since before 2020, so this was definitely a crazy experience to have. A typical 7-day cruise vacation once a year did not prepare me for this trip.

In the end, I was most surprised by how much I actually enjoyed the cruise.

Nine months seemed daunting and wasn’t something that I would have chosen on my own.  

It was something that I wasn’t completely on board, to begin with, but it grew on me.

I think that the key is building a community and being active. As I developed my own daily routine and made new friends, my days flew by!

I love trivia, brainteasers, and Tri-bond, so there was a lot of that, but it was also a social time with my new friends.  Plus, my time was used to research ports and plan excursions, and do laundry.

And I documented every day (“sea” day or not) for my family and friends.

Best yet, I got to see more of the world than I ever thought possible! 

As time passed, cruise ship literally became my home.

I loved the daily routine that I set up for myself, and relished having a new adventure on land every day.

Even when we returned to the ship, security would scan our cards and say, “Welcome home!”

The crew was like part of our family and really looked out for me – and I looked out for them in return.  

I was also surprised by just how breathtaking sailing into a port can be! It’s an absolutely beautiful way to arrive at any destination and completely sold me on not flying anymore!

Plus, there is no jet lag, as cruise ship time changes are typically an hour ahead/back over a period of days if necessary.  

As the months passed, my experience only got richer.

I made new friends, became friends with the crew, and learned how to be a savvy traveler.

By the end, time flew by, and I wasn’t ready to go—it was hard to say goodbye to everyone. I cried when crew left, too!

You really grow close to people in a short time span. I even made friends with people who were on the ship for larger portions and that was nice.

There was one couple that I was friends with during segment two and returned for segment four, so seeing them return was something that I really looked forward to – just like when crew members returned from their time off!  

While on the Ultimate World Cruise, I definitely made new friends that I hope to see again and again on cruises!  

One of my concerns even before taking this trip was that I typically was tired of “ship” food by day 3 of a cruise, and I definitely got sick of the food after 9 months.

And although ship food did become underwhelming, the crew did a great job of trying to mix it up and add new things.

They added peanut butter and jelly and offered different daily specialty “bars” in the Windjammer, like “Make Your Own Pizza”, a Pasta/Noodle bar, a “Tutti”/chopped salad bar, etc.

They also permitted guest recipe submissions and then picked one or more a month.

Plus, it really made a difference that as a Suite guest I had access to Chops for breakfast.

Every single member of the crew there was so kind and helpful that quite often breakfast ended up being my most enjoyable meal of the day—they named my daily fruit plate after me!

I would absolutely book another world cruise. But, sadly, even though my husband booked this cruise for us without any prior conversation, I know that he would not.

Other than not packing so many clothes and driving (not flying) to the cruise port, I’m not sure that I would do much differently because I really evolved as a traveler and cruiser over this trip. 

During the cruise, I developed a whole new skill set of researching ports/locations and planning my own excursions.

I learned so much and I feel that any travels I take from now on will only be richer and more enjoyable because of this experience.

I just wish my learning curve hadn’t been so steep to begin with! 

We went from staying in a unique one-of-a-kind cabin to a Grand Suite. 

Our original stateroom had a few issues and had it not been for a very proactive concierge, I am not sure what would have happened.  

The first big issue was the noise level in our stateroom from the Centrum as it was not created as a stateroom originally but converted to one after being a Suite Lounge. 

Other than developing a system for organizing things, I didn’t do much to make the cabin more comfortable.

We had shelves to store snacks and water—and I brought bins to keep medicine in and other items. I also converted a folding clothes rack into a shelf for clothes by using the plastic bin lids.

We even brought throw blankets from home, but quickly discovered that we didn’t stay in our cabin much to use them.

After six months on pause, Royal Caribbean is now cruising to Labadee, Haiti again.

In March 2024, the cruise line cut visits to its private beach due to internal strife within Haiti.

Labadee, Royal Caribbean's private beach area, is a walled-off, exclusive beach on a peninsula in northern Haiti. 

Located 130 miles north of the capital, Port-au-Prince, Labadee has been closed out of "an abundance of caution," according to the cruise line.

Photo by Andrew Lyon

Royal Caribbean announced that the decision was intended to prioritize the safety of its guests and crew members.

"Please know that the safety and comfort of our guests are always our highest priority," it announced. "Our Global Security and Intel Team is closely monitoring the evolving situation in Haiti."

The cruise line has teams that carefully observe the geopolitical situations in all its destinations to ensure guest and employee safety.

After closely monitoring the situation in Haiti, Royal Caribbean has prepared for a return to Labadee this fall.

Cruise ships will begin sailing to the region on October 8th.

"We have no further changes to our sailings at this time," the cruise line confirmed.

Adventure of the Seas visited first

Adventure of the Seas departed from Port Canaveral, Florida on October 5th on a a 6-day, round-trip, Eastern Caribbean and Perfect Day at CocoCay cruise.

She visited Labadee, Haiti today, October 8th.

Adventure of the Seas is the first Royal Caribbean ship to visit Haiti since March 2024.

Guests on the sailing reported things looked great, and no concerns.

Photo by Andrew Lyon

"Labadee was beautiful. The staff was great and super appreciative to see us," Tom Knotek wrote on Facebook.

Koritney Ashmore wrote, "We went and ventured around. Feels safe to me! Nothing alarming at all!"

Lisa Hively-Knotek added, "Felt safe and it's beautiful."

Other Royal Caribbean ships scheduled to visit the port soon include Freedom of the Seas and Independence of the Seas.

Freedom of the Seas is currently on a 7-night Western Caribbean sailing, scheduled to call upon Labadee on October 9th and to return to Fort Lauderdale on October 13th.

Independence of the Seas will visit Labadee on October 12th as part of a 4-night short Caribbean cruise out of Miami, Florida.

Royal Caribbean currently has no plans to cancel cruises to Haiti.

Haiti is still under a Do Not Travel advisory

Haiti has been under the U.S.'s highest travel advisory possible since March when unrest in the form of crime, kidnappings, and killings began. The U.S. State Department renewed its Level 4 Travel Advisory this September, still telling citizens the country can not help if they fall victim to a crime.

According to the State Department, protests, demonstrations, and road blocks are common.

"Do not travel to Haiti due to kidnapping, crime, civil unrest, and limited health care," the website states.

"The U.S. government is very limited in its ability to help U.S. citizens in Haiti. Local police and other first responders often lack the resources to respond to emergencies or serious crime."

Earlier this year, armed gangs protesting the political unrest coordinated attacks on police stations, prisons, and the international airport in Port-au-Prince.

Violence has besieged the area since, causing over 53,000 people to flee the capital city.

Haiti declared a state of emergency on March 3rd, and the country's Prime Minister resigned on March 12th.

Since then, food shortages and violent crimes are still taking place across the island.

Is it safe to cruise to Labadee?

These warnings and news reports mostly center around the capital of Port-au-Prince, which is more than a six-hour drive away from Labadee.

Labadee is a private beach located in a remote area on the northern coast of Haiti.

Most of the unrest is occurring further south, near the capital and other populated cities.

Read more: The crew member only beach at Labadee and it's where no passengers can go

Royal Caribbean also employs a private security force on its private beach area and promises guests that safety is a priority.

Guests aren't permitted to leave the area, and won't be able to book third-party excursions.

Guests visiting ports such as Nassau, Bahamas, or Cozumel, Mexico can book outside shore excursions or even explore on their own. However, Labadee is more similar to Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean's private island in the Bahamas.

All excursions in Labadee must be reserved directly through Royal Caribbean, but that doesn't mean options are limited. Passengers can experience waterslides, roller coasters, beach cabanas, kayak adventures, and speedboat tours on the 260-acre site.

The cruise line also brings all its food and supplies onshore from the ship, rather than importing them from elsewhere on the island.

I recently spent 4 nights in an inside cabin while aboard Royal Caribbean's newest cruise ship, the Utopia of the Seas.

Just launched this summer, Utopia of the Seas is the latest iteration in the record-breaking Oasis Class ship.

The seventh Oasis Class vessel is breaking new records of her own: Utopia is the first Royal Caribbean mega-ship to debut offering only 3 and 4-night cruises. 

A sailing on Utopia promises 'The World's Biggest Weekend' on one of the largest cruise ships in the world.

My cabin for the voyage was a small, windowless interior cabin that was assigned to me because I opted for a guarantee cabin instead of picking my own room.  This saved me some money, while giving up the specific choice in cabin location,

The total cost was $1342 with gratuities included, which breaks down to $167 per person, per night.

A few weeks before the sailing, I was assigned cabin 11415, an interior connecting stateroom that spans about 150 square feet.

Typically, I avoid booking connecting rooms because you're liable to get noise leakage from the strangers next door.

This cabin was assigned to us as one of the unsold staterooms, proving that connecting cabins are less desirable if you're not booking with another group.

I was concerned about hearing noises or sounds coming through the connecting door, but, by the end of the sailing, my fears were assuaged.

We didn't hear many loud noises from the next door—the only noise bleed occurred when people were walking in the hall and we could hear them from the stateroom.

The cabin itself provided a comfortable, dark spot to sleep in. Here's a look inside.

Although the room looked the same size as many other interior cabins I've stayed in, I noticed this can had newer amenities.

All of the lights were bright, the air conditioning and television had modern touches, and the entire cabin felt clean and new.

I appreciated the layout, which made it easier to share a small stateroom between two people.

When I first opened the door, I was greeted with the bathroom door to my right and the closet on the left. 

The bathroom was a small space decorated with light blue flowers and purple tiles. It held a long sink, a toilet, and a tall shower with a glass door.

The bathroom was super small, and only accommodated one person at a time—you and your travel buddy won't be brushing teeth side by side.

However, it had plenty of storage space, from shelves to hooks, that made it easier to spread out and not feel cramped.

While I liked the length the sink offered for me to spread out my belongings, the curved, smooth surface made it easy for water to spill. The counter area seemed to be wet for the majority of the cruise.

The four large shelves to the left of the sink, and a long shelf underneath it, ensured that I had plenty of other locations to place toiletries.

I'm always impressed by the water pressure and temperature on Royal Caribbean ships, but Utopia of the Seas had a particularly fancy shower attachment.

These modern amenities made showers an enjoyable experience, even within a tiny bathroom space.

Read more: 5 things to know before sailing on Royal Caribbean's Utopia of the Seas

Opposite the bathroom, I slid the doors open to the closet.

The closet featured two sliding doors with separate sides.

Read more: I spent $2,223 for 3 nights in a 191-square-foot room on one of the world's largest cruise ships. Take a look inside my cabin

The left half held a hanging space with hangers and an extra rod at the bottom. The right half had a series of six shelves and the stateroom's securely locking safe.

Beside the closet was the television, installed above a set of drawers and table. 

The TV had around 20 free channels, as well as movies available at an extra cost.

I appreciated that multiple channels would stream or show re-caps of events happening onboard, which was a great way to take advantage of a short sailing.

When I got back to the stateroom after dinner or late at night, I could turn on the television and see the highlights of events I missed or had to leave early.

Each of these five drawers was deep and wide, leaving me plenty of space to store all my clothes and books.

The largest bottom compartment held the stateroom's mini-fridge/cooler, which doesn't have a cooling component but can keep food and drinks fresh.

Usually, Royal Caribbean's stateroom coolers are too thin to hold a wide plate or glass fully. Utopia of the Seas appears to have solved that problem: I found that this cooler was the perfect shape to store all my drinks and wider dishes.

Next, the end of the stateroom held the two twin-sized beds. If we wanted to, we could have requested these to be pushed together into a King size bed, but my sibling and I preferred separate beds.

These beds were small, but super comfortable, with plush pillows and cooling sheets.

The stateroom also had... wait for it... charging ports next to the beds!

Older Royal Caribbean staterooms tend to lack charging space, especially right next to the beds. Usually, I'll have to charge my phone and other devices across the room. 

On Utopia, each bed featured its own three-shelf bedside table, complete with a lamp, two USB ports, and one two-prong charging port.

I also chose the bed that featured the stateroom's phone, which guests can use for free to contact crew members and venues, or at an extra cost to make international calls.

Facing the beds—in a corner of its own—was the stateroom vanity. The mirror featured a bright ring light above a desk space, charging ports, a comfortable chair, and a trash can under the table.

The vanity held even more charging ports, offering a range of options to plug in at least five devices.

These stateroom changes made me think of Royal Caribbean's recent ban on multi-outlet plugs. On ships like Utopia of the Seas, guests might not have a problem charging devices on single plugs. 

While the cheaper price is a good reason for booking interior cabins, I also genuinely enjoy sleeping in them. The simple, windowless spaces make for the perfect quiet space to crash after a long day of cruise ship activities.

I could sleep through the morning in the dark stateroom.

Happy Sunday, and welcome back to our round-up of all the latest Royal Caribbean news. It's been a busy week for the cruise line, so sit back, relax, and enjoy.

Royal Caribbean's next new cruise ship is closer to completion.

Star of the Seas just reached an important milestone in her construction: sitting in water.

Amid a huge celebration, Star of the Seas was floated out on the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland this week.

The second Icon Class ship will officially launch in August of 2025, offering 7-night Western and Eastern Caribbean cruises out of Port Canaveral.

Royal Caribbean News

• Royal Caribbean gives critical update on repair progress to world's biggest cruise ship
• Why you should always check these cruise ship policies before you sail
• Royal Caribbean cancels sailings and redeploys cruise ship away from Middle East
• Best Cabins for First-Time Royal Caribbean Cruisers
• A Royal Caribbean cruise ship in Alaska is having the worst luck and had to skip almost all of its port stops
• What experienced cruisers do differently during hurricane season
• Two Royal Caribbean megaships in drydock at the same time
• Royal Caribbean updates: 167 sick from gastrointestinal illness, strike won't affect cruise ships, and more
• The worst time to cruise to Bermuda
• 10 annoying habits that will make you the least popular person on a cruise
• Cruise ships change itineraries to avoid Hurricane Milton
• Royal Caribbean’s new Bahamas Beach Club looks ready to start building

New RCB Video: Royal Caribbean banned an important cruise item (DON'T bring it onboard!)

Have you subscribed to the Royal Caribbean Blog YouTube Channel? We share some great videos there regularly, all about taking a Royal Caribbean cruise

This week, we are sharing our latest video: Royal Caribbean banned an important cruise item (DON'T bring it onboard!).

Don't forget to like and subscribe!

Rude things people do during a show on a cruise ship

Among the unwritten rules of going on a cruise are things you shouldn't do during a show.

Royal Caribbean has made a name for itself by offering the best entertainment at sea, and these shows are just as intricate and formal as Broadway or West End production.

Being on vacation isn't carte blanche to do whatever you want.

Loyalty Perks Beyond the Cruise: Using Crown & Anchor Society Rewards on Land

Smart cruisers can use their Royal Caribbean loyalty program rewards on more than just Royal Caribbean cruises.

Crown and Anchor Society members receive special benefits on land as well.

From Las Vegas casinos to Hertz car rentals, here's how to take advantage of these perks.

I tried a Celebrity cruise again and the loyalty benefits blew me away

Matt recently tried sailing Celebrity Cruises, taking a 3-night cruise on Celebrity Reflection. 

While there were aspects he didn't like, the loyalty benefits amazed him. 

Since Royal Caribbean now matches loyalty programs across all brands, Matt could enjoy the highest level of rewards on just his third Celebrity cruise.

How to choose the perfect cabin on Royal Caribbean's newest ships

Want to sail on Royal Caribbean's newest and biggest ships?

The latest iterations for the cruise line—whether that's Wonder of the Seas, Icon of the Seas, or Utopia of the Seas—feature some innovative, luxurious cabins. Cruisers can choose between dozens of cabin categories to find the stateroom that best fits their preferences.

Here's how to choose the perfect cabin for your needs.

Royal Caribbean is ready to restart cruises on the world's biggest cruise ship.

In a rare move, the cruise line previously canceled Icon's 7-night sailing that was set to leave on September 28th.

Now, Icon of the Seas is set to return to her scheduled sailings on October 5th, 2024. 

The cruise line informed passengers and travel agents booked on the next sailing they've completed the necessary repairs.

"As you are aware, we were conducting unplanned maintenance onboard Icon of the Seas, and we're happy to share that it's complete!"

On September 23rd, guests and travel agents received word by email that the entire sailing was being canceled due to "unplanned maintenance."

The email did not specify what unplanned issue ended up affecting the ship, or what kind of maintenance was being done.

Icon of the Seas made major headlines as the world's largest cruise ship when she launched this year.

Surpassing Wonder of the Seas in size, length, and gross tonnage, Icon introduced a new class of Royal Caribbean vessels. At maximum occupancy, Icon carries 7,600 guests and 2,350—almost 10,000 people altogether.

The 248,663 gross ton vessel sails 7-night itineraries from Port Miami to the Eastern and Western Caribbean.

However, the cruise line informed guests that the ship would need to remain docked for several days for the necessary work to be completed.

"While our crew is working hard to address this as quickly as possible, there is still some work that needs to be done over a few days while the ship is docked," the email read.

Icon resumes sailings on October 5th

Just a week after Icon's unplanned maintenance, Royal Caribbean is confident that the ship is ready to return to the sea.

Guests scheduled on the October 5th sailing received notification that their sailing will proceed as scheduled, leaving from the Port of Miami on a 7-night Eastern Caribbean and Perfect Day at CocoCay cruise.

"The ship is ready, our crew have missed our guests, and we are looking forward to resuming our normal itineraries as of our October 5, 2024, sailing," the email read."

Read more: Two Royal Caribbean megaships in drydock at the same time

At this time, sailings are continuing as previously planned.

The planned cruise sails out of Miami and visits St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Thomas, and Perfect Day at CocoCay.

The cruise line went on to thank guests for being patient: "Thank you for your understanding. We look forward to seeing you soon."

Any further updates about sailings on Icon of the Seas will be sent to passengers.

Refunds for the canceled cruise

Royal Caribbean extended its apologies to guests on the September 28th sailing. 

"We understand the disappointment this news may bring and we're truly sorry for the impact to your vacation plans."

Passengers scheduled on the cruise received a 100% refund, including all additional expenses, such as taxes, fees, gratuities, amenities, pre-paid packages, and shore excursions.

In addition to a full refund, Royal Caribbean also provided guests with a Future Cruise Credit worth 100% of the cruise fare.

Guests can use this Future Cruise Credit within the next 14 business days to purchase another sailing.

Essentially, passengers on the canceled cruise received all their money back, plus the equivalence of the fare to use toward another sailing.

As for passengers who pre-booked their travels, such as airplane flights, passengers who booked directly through Royal Caribbean had their flights automatically refunded.

Passengers who purchased plane flights and transfers separately were reimbursed by Royal Caribbean, up to $200 per guest for domestic travel and $400 USD per guest for international travel.

What was wrong with Icon?

With 18 guest decks and 2,805 staterooms, Icon is built with guest comfort in mind. She features multiple engines, some of which don't all run at once.

This allows to cruise line to rely on multiple venues if one system fails.

Nevertheless, the ship did have to be sent in for repairs, docking at the Grand Bahama shipyard to complete her maintenance.

Royal Caribbean never clarified what the unplanned issue is, but many cruisers speculate that it was some kind of propulsion issue.

Guests onboard the September 21st sailing of Icon reported that the ship began to slow does when repairs were announced.

She also skipped a visit to St. Thomas in order to get back to Miami in time.

Reddit user ArrogantAlmond posted from the ship: "I'm on Icon now, and we just got word that we're skipping St Thomas (which was Wednesday) because the ship has maintenance issues. We have to sail slower, so we need the extra day to get back."

Because propellers control a ship's speed, slower movement could indicate a problem with the vessel's Azipods, or propeller systems.

Propulsion issues aren't unheard for cruise ships.

Earlier this year, a cruise on Radiance of the Seas was canceled due to propulsion problems slowing the ship.

Bermuda is a beautiful cruise destination, but not every month is a good time to sail the region.

Bermuda is a popular cruise destination thanks to its beautiful beaches, delicious food, friendly culture, and English-speaking background.

Although many travel materials imply that Bermuda is part of the Caribbean, Bermuda is actually located solo in the Atlantic Ocean (around 650 miles east of North Carolina).

This also means that the weather is different than in the Caribbean.

Royal Caribbean's cruises from the Northeast to Bermuda offer North American guests a convenient escape from wintery North American weather.

The region is well-known and loved for its warm ocean waters and pink sand beaches.

Cruisers love this destination because it's easy to explore, mixing English tradition with a unique local culture.

Because of its distance, itineraries to the archipelago often include an overnight stay.

Royal Caribbean usually sails to the archipelago between April and October, but—as with any destination—certain months are better to sail than others.

The summer months are the busiest time to visit

The high season in Bermuda falls between May and October, when the weather remains warm and breezy, with sunny days to lounge on the beach.

Cruisers love visiting Bermuda when the ocean water is warm. It's the perfect time to enjoy snorkeling, boat tours, jet skiing, kayaking, and beachgoing.

The capital city, Hamilton, throws a huge Bermuda Day party during the Friday before the last Monday in May.

Read more: Why you should take a cruise to Bermuda

Plus, Bermuda's Carnival—a four-day festival of live music, feathered costumes, and dancing—usually falls in June.

Because of these popular time frames, the region is most crowded during the summer months. Not only does this increase the risk of large crowds, but it will also raise cruise and hotel prices between June and September.

The fall can bring hurricanes and bad weather

The hurricane season in Bermuda falls during the summer and fall—from May to November.

Hurricanes are most common during September and October.

Although direct hits to the archipelago are rare, hurricanes threaten to change or even cancel cruise ship itineraries.

For example, Royal Caribbean had to re-route Vision of the Seas due to Tropical Storm Erin.

A cruise ship is one of the safest places you can be during a hurricane, but not every traveler appreciates their plans changing.

Spending your money on a sailing that might change due to a hurricane is only a good idea if you're able to remain flexible.

Plus, even smaller tropical storms come with their own set of bad weather, like torrential rains and strong winds.

Despite the risk of hurricanes, summertime is the most popular season to cruise to Bermuda.

The winter has colder weather but lower prices

Depending on your preferences, the winter could be a better time to cruise to Bermuda.

December through February are the slowest months in terms of visitors.

These months are great times for an inexpensive, peaceful cruise to the region. Tourism slows during the winter, leading to cheaper prices and fewer crowds.

You'll find cheaper deals on cruises, hotels, airfare, and tours alike.

However, unlike the Caribbean, Bermuda's weather does cool down during the winter months, and Royal Caribbean usually sail to the region from November to April.

You could expect temperatures between the middle 60s and the low 70s, with chilly ocean water. Nevertheless, cruisers will experience less humidity, especially as the months turn to spring.

Read more: Unexpected perks of cruising during the off-season

April and November for example—the shoulder season of the region—offer warmer temperatures at lower dew points.

The shoulder season is in April and November

In general, one of the best times to cruise to any destination is during the region's shoulder season.

The shoulder season happens in the sweet spot of lower cruise fares, fewer cruises, but relatively nice temperatures.

For Bermuda, the shoulder season falls between mid-October and November, and then between late March and April.

April and May are considered Bermuda's early season, and these months see the lowest cruise prices and comfortable, breezy weather. 

Temperatures usually sit in the 70s, with cooler ocean water. If you're sensitive to cold water, an early cruise might not be the best time for beach activities, but there's plenty more to enjoy in Bermuda.

Cruisers can enjoy local celebrations, horseback riding, world-class golf, and famous rum.

These months come with lovely weather—warmer temperatures, balmy ocean breezes, and low humidity.

As a bonus, nature and wildlife lovers should consider sailing to Bermuda during March and April.

Thousands of humpback whales migrate towards Canada during these months, passing by Bermuda. Whale-watchers can find incredible tours—or simply stay on the cruise ship for a great view!

Plus, crowds tend to die down when school is in session, usually between August and May.

Fewer crowds mean lower prices for both cruise sailing and shore excursions, as well as other onboard add-ons.

However, Royal Caribbean doesn't always offer cruises during the entire shoulder season, sometimes beginning its Bermuda season in June and ending it in October. 

How much is a cruise to Bermuda?

Cruise prices also range depending on the season, which requires you to balance your weather preferences with your budget.

Sailings around the shoulder season (October or May) come at cheaper prices than sailings in the peak of summer (July and August).

A 5-night Vision of the Seas sailing departing Baltimore, Maryland will have vastly different prices depending on the month.

A May 9th sailing in 2026 starts at $672 per person, but the July 18 sailing goes up to $968 per person for the same room.

The beginning of the cruise season to Bermuda is one of the cheapest times to buy a cruise.

In contrast, prices rise over the summer as more travelers start flocking to the region.

Nearing the end of the season, a Liberty of the Seas cruise from October 17th starts at about $855 per person.