Before you go on your first cruise, you should know the important forms of cruise etiquette that are expected.

While cruising isn't as formal or rooted in traditional protocols as they once were, it doesn't mean you can act however you want to. 

It is, for instance, important to be polite to fellow passengers and crew members. While that may seem like common knowledge, you would be surprised how many cruisers are rude to those around them. 

Knowing proper ship etiquette will help ensure that you do not feel disrespectful or underdressed, as well as make sure that you are able to contribute to a positive atmosphere. 

Be polite to crew members

Crew members work hard to ensure that you have a great vacation experience. If you pass your stateroom attendant in the hallway, time a moment to strike up a brief conversation by asking them about their day; they will appreciate it. 

If an issue arises that requires a visit to Guest Services, stay calm and level headed. The Guest Services representative will want to help you as best they can, and getting angry will not help the situation. 

Get a new plate when returning to the buffet

While you might think that you are helping the crew members out by reusing your plate at the buffet, it actually is frowned upon. Serving yourself on a used plate could lead to the spread of germs. 

If you want another serving of food, simply leave your dirty dishes at the table. The Windjammer has staff walking around to clear the table in between servings and at the end of the meal. 

Do not be a chair hog

Please do not be one of those people who try and reserve pool chairs for the entire sea day. If you do not plan on using a chair for hours after claiming it, you should not leave your belongings there and prevent people who want to enjoy the pool deck in that moment from doing so. 

Cruisers on select Royal Caribbean vessels have reported that staff members have begun taking measures to prevent guests from saving chairs on the pool deck for a prolonged period of time. After a certain amount of time, they will remove your belongings and leave a note telling you where you can collect them. 

Related: How to beat the chair hogs on your cruise ship

Be patient

With thousands of people onboard a cruise ship, you may find yourself having to wait in lines more than you thought, whether it is at Windjammer for breakfast, during the day at the waterslides or FlowRider, or when disembarking the ship.

Do not push and shove others trying to get to the front of the line. Be patient, as everyone is trying to enjoy their vacation, too. 

Wait for people to get off of the elevators before getting on

Regardless of the time of day, cruise ship elevators are usually packed. Before you try and squeeze on, see if anyone is getting off. 

As an alternative, you can take the stairs and bypass the elevators. Not only is this often a quicker way to move about the ship, but it also leaves space on the elevators for those who rely on it. 

Related: Why you should skip the elevator on your cruise

Be mindful when navigating throughout the cabin hallways

If you were trying to sleep, you would not want to hear a loud group of people outside of your stateroom. Even if it is 2:00pm in the afternoon, you do not know who has returned to their cabin for an afternoon nap. Likewise, your neighbor might be someone who enjoys sleeping in or retiring early. 

Avoid blasting music from your stateroom or mingling for too long in the hallways, especially late at night or early in the morning. This can be disruptive to other guests. 

Quiet down when the captain or other personnel are making announcements

Whenever an announcement comes on, it would behoove you to listen to what they have to say. Often, they will be  regarding disembarking in ports of call, weather, onboard activities, etc.

Rather than chatting amongst yourselves, take a moment to pause and listen to what they are saying, as their announcements pertain to making your cruise vacation better!

Maybe it is about show getting cancelled due to weather conditions or the ship being cleared faster than anticipated. 

Do not share your drink package with others

Due to how expensive a drink package can be, it is tempting to want to share your drink package benefits with others. Sharing, however, is strictly prohibited. If you are caught, you risk getting your package revoked without a refund. 

If one person in your stateroom who is of legal drinking age purchases a package, you must get it for every other guest the same age. In other words, drink packages are bought per person, not per room. Sharing is less likely to occur if everyone 21-years-old and older (or 18 depending on the market) has their own drink package. 

Additionally, you should not give drinks to minors. While you will not be kicked off the first time you are caught, you face expulsion from the ship if you continuously disregard their warnings. 

Make sure that you are on time to any reservations that you make, including shore excursions

Out of respect for everyone else, you should always arrive on time to your reservations. 

If you are late to a shore excursion, you will likely be left behind. Even if they do happen to wait, you do not want to be the reason that you kept everyone else waiting. 

Likewise, arriving to onboard reservations is polite to those who might have reservations after yours. Perhaps the specialty restaurant you are dining at is fully booked for the evening, and there is another party dining right after you. And if there is a show that you want to see, you may find that you cannot be seated if you show up late. 

Know your alcohol limits

Purchasing a Royal Caribbean drink package does not give you the excuse to drink until you are belligerent.  

Drinking is often the root of the cause when it comes to issues between passengers. Someone may have had one too many drinks and decide that they want to try and instigate something. The best way to minimize this type of behavior is to limit your alcohol intake. 

Plus, you do not want to be stumbling around the ship and feeling ill while in port the next day. Staying hydrated throughout your cruise is key, especially if you are consuming alcohol. 

Respect the dress code

While you will not be denied service for dressy casually on formal night, you may feel out of place. Don't worry, though. You do not have to pull out a ballgown or tuxedo, but you will want to wear a nice pair of pants and shirt or dress.

This also means that you should dress for the occasion and not wear anything too revealing or that might otherwise be deemed inappropriate around families with children.

You do not have to dress for the themed nights, but it sure does make the cruise more fun!

Related: What to wear on a cruise that works for all dress codes

Do not throw anything overboard

Cruise lines are actively working to decrease their environmental impact. By throwing things into the ocean, you are choosing to disturb a delicate ecosystem. 

If you are caught, you could face a fine or removal from the ship at the next port of call. If you have trash, dispose of it properly in one of the trash bins.

Take responsibility for your children

Royal Caribbean has various rules in place for minors. Those under 18, for instance, have curfews that they should abide by. 

Likewise, children should not be left unattended on the pool deck. Parents, please make sure that you have an eye on your kids at all time! Should they need to use the restroom or get hurt, you should be able to immediately assist them. 

When it comes to the youth clubs, children should be picked up by the designated closing time in the evenings. It is likely that the staff has other duties elsewhere on the ship, or it may one of their only times off. 

Do not remove your daily gratuities to save money

Crew gratuities are an additional fee that you pay on top of your base fare. As of April 2023, guests in standard staterooms (including Junior Suites) pay $16 per person, per day, while those in Grand Suites or above pay $18.50 per person, per day.

They can either be prepaid or added to your onboard account to be settled at the end of the cruise. And while you can go speak to Guest Services to have the amount adjusted or completely removed, you should first speak to them and let them try to resolve the issue. 

Some guests opt to remove them in order to give cash tips to the crew members they interact with; however, this impacts those who work behind-the-scenes and receive a percentage of your daily gratuities. 

Related: Tipping on a cruise ship: what you should and shouldn't do

Be polite to fellow passengers

A little kindness can go a long way! If you find yourself in a situation where tensions are raised, do not try and resolve it yourself; find a crew member and alert of them of what is going on, whether it is a chair hog or someone picking a fight or another reason. 

The last thing you want is to spend any part of your cruise speaking with security!

Everyone is onboard to have a great time. Working together to treat each other with respect will create a better environment for all. 

Wash your hands 

Even though many covid protocols have been relaxed, you should still frequently wash your hands with soap and warm water, especially before entering the buffet. At minimum, you should be using the hand sanitizer that is located throughout the ship. 

There are other precautions that you should take, such as coughing and sneezing into your elbow. With thousands of passengers onboard a single vessel, it is easy for illnesses to spread! 

Make sure that you complete the muster drill as soon as possible

Royal Caribbean's muster drill is done primarily through their app, meaning that you will not have to worry about gathering with everyone else onboard the ship at a dedicated time. 

This means that completing the drill is easier than ever. In fact, you can watch the mandatory safety video prior to even boarding the ship!

The only thing you will have to wait to do is visiting your assigned muster station. When you get there, a crew member will scan your Set Sail pass or SeaPass to mark that you have attended. 

The ship cannot set sail until everyone onboard has completed all parts of the drill, so make sure you get yours done as soon as possible!

If you want to smoke, do only in a designated smoking area

In order to facilitate a pleasurable experience for all guests, cruise ships have designated smoking areas onboard. This means that you cannot start smoking a cigarette whenever you want to. 

Smoking on your stateroom balcony, despite being outdoors, is strictly prohibited. If caught, a cleaning fee will be added to your onboard account.  

Common smoking areas include one side of the pool deck, as well as a section of the casino. Note that e-cigarettes can only be used in smoking areas, too. 

Do not try and bring any prohibited items onboard 

There are some prohibited items that are obvious, such as illegal drugs, candles, and fireworks. Others, however, are common household items like clothes steamers and electrical extension cords. 

While showing up with a steamer will not get you kicked off the ship, when your luggage is delivered to your stateroom, you will find a note that says the item was confiscated and can be picked up at disembarkation. 

To avoid this hassle, make sure that you have not packed any items that Royal Caribbean does not allow onboard their ships. 

Moreover, if you show up with anything dangerous or illegal, you may be denied boarding!

Do not leave a big mess for your cabin steward

Your cabin attendant is responsible for making sure that you cabin is clean and tidy throughout the cruise. They will refresh your towels daily, make your bed, empty the trash, deliver important documents, and leave fun towel animals!

It, however, is disrespectful to clutter around your room that interferes with their ability to do their job. 

In fact, if you leave a big mess, they will often clean around it! This is to mainly protect themselves in the event of being accused of taking something from a passenger's cabin. While having things lying about in your cabin is inevitable, try to consolidate the mess. You will also appreciate coming back to a tidier space! 

The Royal Caribbean brand has evolved to become more focused on multigenerational families in order to provide the ultimate family vacation. 

Onboard Icon of the Seas, there are more stateroom options than ever for larger families. In fact, when compared to Oasis Class ships, Icon will have about 55% more rooms able to accommodate three or more people. In other words, 80% of Icon of the Seas' cabins have been designed for larger families. 

Icon's 2,805 staterooms will be comprised of 28 different types of staterooms, including 14 brand-new categories.

"When I think about our accommodations, I think about how we approached the design of all of our new classes of ships," said Michael Bayley, Royal Caribbean International President and CEO.

"We think about it in three different ways: One, traditional. Two, evolutionary. Three, revolutionary. Every single stateroom goes through a refresh of design: furnishings, technology, and really they're all new."

Related: Guide to Icon of the Seas cabins and suites

Researching, designing, and creating accommodations for everyone

It has taken Royal Caribbean over five years to design and build the staterooms onboard Icon of the Seas, and it all began with research. 

"We did a lot of guest research on the evolution of staterooms, as well as a lot of crew research," said Jennifer Goswami, Director, Product Development, Royal Caribbean International.

"The crews are absolutely the most valuable asset that Royal Caribbean has. They have told us that guests are bringing different types of things to maximize the usage of this space, so we've designed Icon's staterooms to maximize storage, really making sure that seven days feels comfortable"

According to Goswami, "Every detail of the room was carefully scrutinized. We went through how far the charger is, how close the soap is...every part of every stateroom on Icon really was intentionally built."

Plus, guests will be able to control more aspects of their stateroom to make the space work best for them, from the blinds to raising and lowering the infinite balcony, from a touchscreen pad. 

The mockup process for Icon's staterooms was actually started in their home office; they are not built at the shipyard. About 25 cabins are built per day at a factory in Finland that is located about thirty minutes from the shipyard. Essentially, it is a high production factory line of staterooms!

New stateroom categories

In order to satisfy their guests' wants and needs, Royal Caribbean knew that Icon needed a combination of rooms that offered more space, choices, and views. Even if you are staying in an interior or ocean view cabin, you can expect a total refresh of the design; they are more modern and stylish than ever before. 

Not only do the layouts give guests more space, but most of them connect the room experience to the outdoors, whether that is the ocean, Surfside, or Central Park. 

Infinite balconies

Icon of the Seas will be the first Royal Caribbean ship to feature infinite balcony cabins, which will offer a flexible 50 square feet or convertible indoor and outdoor space.

This means that the stateroom will be longer than other balcony cabins and offer guests more usable space, as it will lack the steel barrier that traditional balcony cabins require in order to separate the outdoor from the indoor space. 

"The fact that then you have the ability to sort of lower that infinite balcony and you feel that connection to the outside [is something] that we know our guests know and love form the balcony, but you're able to have that versatility of then making that an interior space," said Claudia Diaz-Gonzales, Associate Vice President, Product Development of Royal Caribbean International. 

In addition to infinite balconies, larger families may choose the family infinite balcony. This will include in-room games, a split bathroom, and even a bunk area for children that can be closed off with a curtain for privacy. Plus, each bunk has their own television!

Suites

The Surfside Suite also focuses on the connecting the family in a way that prioritizes privacy. The stateroom will have a separate nook for children that can be closed off at any point. Plus, it is easy for children to look below them and see the neighborhood that was specifically designed for them! 

Families who would like to splurge a little bit more but still have a view of Surfside might want to consider one of the brand-new Sunset Suites. 

"When it comes to our differentiators on suites on Icon, we have our Sunset Suites...in the aft, and those [have] wraparound balconies. They have the connection to the ocean, [and] you have your sneak peak into Surfside. That is really all about the view," said Krissia Larios, Senior Design Associate, Architectural Design, Newbuilding Royal Caribbean Group.

Another new category of stateroom is directly related to a new feature onboard Icon: the AquaDome. 

The AquaDome Suites were created because of the dome's placement. Guests in these staterooms will enjoy panoramic views from a window that is clocked by the AquaDome itself. 

And, of course, there is the Ultimate Family Townhouse. This three-story suite is the definition of the ultimate family experience onboard any Royal Caribbean ship. It will include an in-suite slide, movie theatre, and patio that allows for direct access to the Surfside Neighborhood. 

More than just new staterooms to look forward to

The upgraded and new staterooms onboard Icon of the Seas will let guests relax, rest, and recharge for all the fun elsewhere on the ship. 

With so much to do, including Thrill Island's record breaking Category 6 Waterpark, the family-focused Surfside Neighborhood, and brand-new bars and nightlife spots, you may rarely find yourself in your cabin! 

While Icon of the Seas is not scheduled to hit the seas until 2024, there is so much to look forward to on what will be the world's largest cruise ship. 

Her maiden voyage will commence on January 27, 2024 and depart from Miami, Florida, and guests will visit Basseterre, St. Kitts & Nevis; Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas; and Perfect Day at CocoCay, Bahamas. 

Royal Caribbean is making significant process with Icon of the Seas' construction. 

In fact, on March 15, the Meyer Turku shipyard confirmed that the first multi-fuel engine was turned on for the first time!

Building a ship this large and technically advanced, however, is sure to come with some challenges, such as designing the water slides for the Category 6 Water Park. 

"We knew we wanted water water everywhere, so we started there," said Jennifer Goswami, Director, Product Development for Royal Caribbean International, "And then we built the rest of the ship around that."

What is Category 6?

Thrill Island will be a brand-new neighborhood dedicated to the most adventurous cruisers and home to the largest water park at sea: Category 6. 

This is not the first new neighborhood on the ship, as families can look forward to Surfside, which will make Icon of the Seas the first cruise ship in the fleet to have an area dedicated to young families.

When done, Category 6 water park will be 17,010 square feet and have six different record breaking slides, including the first family raft slides at sea: Storm Surge and Hurricane Hunter. 

Guests will also find the Pressure Drop, the first open free fall slide at sea. While overlooking a 45 degree angle drop, you will have to gain the courage to push yourself over the edge!

And, of course, the Frightening Bolt, the tallest water slide at sea that will have a 46 foot drop and 360 degree loop. Your ride will begin with you inside of a capsule waiting for the trap door to release. 

Did you know, however, that when Royal Caribbean first starting discussing Icon of the Seas, there were only going to be five slides onboard?  

"One of the interesting stories about the design of Icon of the Seas," said Kelly Gonzalez, Senior Vice President, Architectural Design, Newbuilding for Royal Caribbean Group, "is that we actually this idea of doing quite a number of water slides from the very beginning"

"We actually started with five...[and the name] Category 6 came about also with the decision of adding a sixth water slide."

Importance of collaboration

In total, there is 62% more water surface area on Icon of the Seas than any other Royal Caribbean ship. 

Nobody wanted to compromise on the speed or height of the water slides, so the company had to bring in a lot of experts to help design the water park in a way that it would be technically sound. This meant working with designers, architects, and naval architects. 

"Normally, a ship has maybe a couple of hundred tons or so of water in the pools," said Harri Kulovaara, Executive Vice President, Maritime & Newbuilding for Royal Caribbean Group. They are expecting Icon of the Seas to have closer to one thousand tons of water alone!

From the beginning, they knew that they had to be conscious about how much weight the water would add to the ship, as well as the funnel area in respect to wind and wind turbulence, without compromising the delivery date. 

"We had a weight reservation; we had a water reservation. We always have to work within certain boundaries. We make tradeoffs. We study what we think guests are going to love...," said Jay Schneider, Chief Product Innovation Officer for Royal Caribbean International.

"And really it was working closely with all of the partners throughout the company, including our site office, to make sure that we could push the boundary as really far as we could."

Building the water park

It was important that the slides be handled in a way that they could work with the main structural elements and components that were already built into the skeleton of the ship. 

Since the Category 6 water slides will be so complex and large, they are being built separately from the actual ship. Later, the slides will be barged next to the ship and transferred over to the top deck.  

Of course, Royal Caribbean knew that they were taking risks making this as complicated as they did. 

"I think that there will be so many intricacies, so many complex ways of getting everything that we want on the ship, but that is kind of the Royal Caribbean way as well, right?" said Goswami. 

When it is completed, there will be two towers in the open deck area that the slides will commence from, rather than just one. This design aspect allowed the team to create longer and faster slides for guests to enjoy. And more slides means more water!

There is more to the top decks than just the water park, too. It will be a three-deck high play land with different experiences to appeal to different interests. 

Launching in 2024

When Icon of the Seas launches in early 2024, she will become the world's largest cruise ship, surpassing Wonder of the Seas, as well as the cruise line's first new class of ship since 2014. 

Related: 10 things Royal Caribbean got right with Wonder of the Seas

Icon of the Seas will be more than 6% bigger than Wonder of the Seas with the ability to hold up to 7,600 passengers! She will also be stand 20 decks high, measure 1,198 feet long, and weigh 250,800 gross registered tons.

Icon of the Seas' maiden voyage is not scheduled to depart until January 27, 2024 from Miami, Florida. During her first-ever trip, she will sail to Basseterre, St. Kitts & Nevis; Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas; and Perfect Day at CocoCay, Bahamas. 

Throughout 2024 and early 2025, Icon will be sailing round trip from Miami, Florida to the Eastern and Western Caribbean. 

As of March 21, 2023, the two cheapest sail dates are October 26, 2024 and November 16, 2024. Pricing for both begins at $1,271 per person based on double occupancy in an interior stateroom. Some sailings see an interior cabin start at $2,000 per person!

She will be joined by a second unnamed Icon Class ship in late 2025, as well as a third ship in 2026. Construction on the second ship began in February. 

It is official-- Royal Caribbean now holds the world record for the most passengers and crew onboard a transatlantic cruise ship crossing. 

A total of 7,604 people were onboard Symphony of the Seas, including 5,350 guests and 2,224 crew members, as she made her way from Miami, Florida to Barcelona, Spain to begin her seasonal Mediterranean cruises. The cruise lasted a total of 12-nights, departing on March 9 and arriving in Barcelona on March 21.

Before beginning her summer cruises, Symphony of the Seas will undergo basic maintenance at the Navantia shipyard in Cádiz, Spain. The next scheduled cruise will depart on April 16, 2023 from Barcelona and visit Palma De Mallorca, Spain; Provence (Marseille), France; Florence/Pisa (La Spezia), Italy; Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy; and Naples / Capri, Italy before returning to Barcelona.

Symphony of the Seas will wrap up her European season on October 29 when she departs Barcelona on a 14-night transatlantic voyage back to Fort Lauderdale, Florida. En route, she will dock at Valencia, Spain; Seville (Cádiz), Spain; and Nassau, Bahamas.

That is not the only piece of headline worthy news from Royal Caribbean, either!

Keep reading to learn more about the first engine that was started on Icon of the Seas', a new Royal Caribbean Group board member, as well as a credit card policy changes.

First engine started on the highly anticipated Icon of the Seas

Even though Icon of the Seas is still months away from entering service as the cruise line's first Icon Class ship, getting excited over milestones is one way to make the time pass quicker. On March 15, the Meyer Turku shipyard confirmed that the first multi-fuel engine was turned on for the first time!

Per a social media post that was published directly by the shipyard, "Chef engineer Tuomas Auvien says: 'Icon of the Seas has six Wärtsilä main engines. The first of them (number 2) was started today, Wednesday 3/15 at 11:00 a.m."

"Both diesel and natural gas can be used as fuel in the main engines, Wednesday's start was made with diesel. The first main engine start on a ship largely tells a lot about the ship's readiness. It is a sign that the various departments throughout the yard have achieved something significant. To achieve this milestone, all professional groups are needed, and for that, big thanks to everyone!"

When she makes her grand debut, Icon of the Seas will be the largest cruise ship in the world, surpassing Wonder of the Seas, measuring 250,800 gross tons with the ability to carry nearly 10,000 passengers and crew combined. She will also be the first ship in the fleet to run on LNG-power.

This type of fuel is one of the cleanest-burning marine fuels. When engines are built to use LNG fuel, this helps to reduce a cruise ship’s carbon emissions by approximately 30%.

The maiden voyage is currently scheduled for January 27, 2024 out of Miami, Florida. 

This news comes roughly one month after Royal Caribbean began construction on the second unnamed Icon Class cruise ship at the same shipyard.

Rebecca Yeung joins Royal Caribbean Group's Board of Directors effective March 15

Yeung has about 30 years of global experience in strategy and operations technology, and she is currently the corporate vice president, operations science and advanced technology at FedEx Corporation.

She has been at FedEx Corporation since 1998 and has served in different roles, including marketing, innovation, and technology. Her previous role at the company was the vice president, advanced technology & innovation.

Her current role makes Yeung responsible for advancing FedEx’s innovation and transformation strategy, including scaling robotics and automation technology, autonomous vehicles, decision science, and electromobility.

She brings experience and expertise of working on a board of directors, too, as she also serves on the Board of Directors of Columbus McKinnon.

Richard D. Fain, Chairman of the Board, Royal Caribbean Group, said, “Ms. Yeung brings a valuable combination of skills to our board, as she is well-versed in technology, digitization and business strategy."

Additionally, Jason Liberty, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean Group, said, “We’re excited to welcome Rebecca Yeung to the Board of Directors as we continue to deliver the world’s best vacations, responsibly."

“We believe her experience in technology, automation and innovation will be a valuable addition to the board as we usher in the next phases of our growth.”

Royal Caribbean changes credit card policy

An email sent out on March 20 indicates that Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises' payment processes will soon be heightened with additional security checks to authenticate credit card submissions.  
 
Effective April 1, 2023, CVV (Credit Verification Value) authentication will be required for all payments related to cruise fare, air travel, and pre-cruise purchases to help assist in fraud prevention mitigate overall risk. 

The payment process will remain unchanged, other than the new requirement to enter CVV at time of payment. Note that personal PIN numbers and CVV are different, as the latter is a unique code that verifies the physical presence of the form of payment at the time of transaction. 

On Visa, MasterCard, and Discover branded cards, the CVV is a 3 digit number located on the back of the card. On American Express cards, the CVV is a 4 digit number that can be found on the front of the card.

A Celebrity Cruises beverage package offers the choice to enjoy an unlimited amount of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks for a fixed daily price for the duration of your cruise vacation.

Your base cruise fare includes entertainment, accommodations, transportation between ports of call, and select food and beverages. Unless you book Celebrity's "All Included" fare (more on that later), you will find that there are some things you have to purchase separately, including alcohol. 

What is a Celebrity Cruises drink package?

Many cruise lines offer beverage plans that allow you to pay a specific amount upfront to receive either a fixed or unlimited number of beverages each day of your cruise.

When sailing on any Celebrity ship, you can purchase a drink package at a fixed daily cost, so you can budget your beverage costs in advance. Saving money, however, is not always guaranteed.

Once a package is purchased, the benefits become available on your SeaPass card. From there, any waiter or bartender can easily verify that you have one. 

The drink packages allow guests to get unlimited drinks at nearly every restaurant or bar on a Celebrity cruise ship or private destination (i.e., Perfect Day at CocoCay and Labadee, Haiti).

Those who have booked a Celebrity cruise and want to purchase a drink package can do so either prior to their cruise through the Cruise Planner or once onboard their ship.

When you are purchasing it in advance, you must pay for the package for the duration of your cruise, whether that is 5-, 7-, or 14-nights. Per Celebrity's website, all packages are sold on a per-cruise basis and do not include beverages sold in gift shops, mini-bars, or room service. 

Will I save money if I purchase a drink package?

When buying a package, the most important thing you want to consider is whether it will save you money or not. Depending on your drinking habits, you might not break even with an unlimited package!

Start by roughly determining how many drinks per day that you can and will drink over the duration of your cruise. If you are only planning on 3 or 4 per day, you might be better off skipping the package, while those who think that they can reasonably average 8 to 9 beverages per day will at least break even. 

If you drink enough, a Celebrity drink package can save you money. On the other hand, some people do not care about breaking even or getting their money's worth so much as paying one price upfront for all their glasses of wine, beer, cocktails, and other included drinks. 

Read more: I tried Royal Caribbean's new loyalty match program. I missed having drink vouchers, but it saved me hundreds of dollars

Celebrity Cruises drink package overview

Celebrity Cruises offers a few drink packages for guests to choose from, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic, that provide guests with an unlimited number of the specific beverages their package includes. Drink packages range from $30 to $109 per person, per day prior to the 20% added gratuity. 

Classic Drink Package

Celebrity's Classic Package is their lowest-tiered alcoholic package. Starting at $89.00 per person, per day, you can choose from select beers, spirits, cocktails, liqueurs, frozen drinks, and wines by the glass up to $10 per serving. You will also get 15% off all wines by the bottle. 

If you order a beverage that is over $10, you will be charged the difference. If, for instance, you were to order a $17 martini, you would see a $7 + 20% gratuity charge reflected on your onboard account. 

To at least "break even," you would need to drink about nine $10 beverages per day. Note that this package does include the same non-alcoholic beverage options as the Non-Alcoholic Package. 

Premium Drink Package

The Premium Package is more inclusive than the Classic Package. With that, however, comes a higher price. You can expect the Premium Package to start at $109 per person, per day. Each guest that purchases this package will get specialty coffees and teas, craft and artisanal beers, spirits, cocktails, frozen drinks, Coca-Cola products, premium bottled water, and wines by the glass up to $17 per serving. 

Instead of a 15% discount off all wines by the bottle, the package includes a higher 20% discount. 

Just like the Classic Package, if you would like to order a drink that is more than $17, you will be charged the difference plus gratuity. 

Since the included threshold is higher, you would have to consume seven $17 drinks per day to break even, rather than the Classic Package's nine $10 drinks. 

Non-Alcoholic Drink Package

Celebrity only offers one non-alcoholic package, the Zero Proof Drink Package, which costs $30 per person, per day and includes premium bottled water, specialty coffees and organic teas, Vitamin Water, Red Bull, bottled ice teas, frozen smoothies, zero-proof cocktails, and Coca-Cola products, as well as offerings from The Spa Cafe.

There are no age restrictions on this package. 

Pros and cons of getting the drink package on a Celebrity Cruise

All drink packages have their fans and critics. Some do not see why anybody should be drinking that much, while others prefer to let loose while on vacation. That being said, buying a drink package has pros and cons, and all sides should be considered before getting one!

1. Value

If you are looking to splurge while on your vacation, you might get an exceptional value by purchasing a drink package, rather than paying for each drink à la carte. The catch is that you really have to be someone who enjoys having a lot of drinks (i.e., at least a half-dozen) each day. 

If you are thinking that you will only indulge in that many drinks one or two days out of the cruise, you might save money by buying each drink individually. There is no point in buying a drink package if you know that you will not be drinking enough to break even. 

As of March 2023, cocktail prices range from $9 to $17 each. Below is a list of a few cocktails, wines, and beers onboard Celebrity ships and how much they cost:

• Bud Light ($7)
• Corona Extra ($7.50)
• Pomegranate Mojito ($9)
• Prosecco, Zonin ($9)
• Pinot Grigio Corte Giara ($10)
• Rum Mule ($10)
• Elderflower Blush ($11)
• Celebrity Bloody Mary ($11)
• Stella Artois ($11)
• Caribbean Cobbler ($13)
• Mixi-Cali Martini ($17)

Depending on your preferred drinks, you might get more value out of the Premium Package than the Classic. It is not worth it to pay for the cheaper package if you will not be able to get your favorite drinks or be constantly charged. 

2. Convenience

One of the biggest pros of a drink package is the convenience. You don't have to worry about racking up any large sums on your onboard account or think about if you actually want to spend the money on a drink at that specific moment. 

You also have the freedom to order a drink even if you are unsure if you will like it or not. If it ends up not being for you, you can simply order something else without feeling as though you wasted $10+. And if you do end up liking it, you were able to be more adventurous with the package, rather than sticking to your tried-and-true favorites. 

3. Drink fatigue

"Drink fatigue" is what happens when guests drink more than they normally do just for the sake of utilizing the drink package. If you have a package, it is important to ask yourself if you really want a drink, or if you are getting one just because of the package. 

If you are on a shorter cruise, getting a drink package might make more sense than on a longer cruise. Ordering 6+ drinks per day for 3 or 4 days is much easier than for 7 days. 

4. Vacation budget

By pre-purchasing a drink package via the Cruise Planner or once you get onboard, you know exactly how much you will be spending on alcoholic (or non-alcoholic) beverages. You won't have to count every drink that you have. In other words, you can more appropriately budget for your vacation, especially if you are really unsure about how much you are going to drink. 

Of course, there are tons of other things that you can choose to spend your money on instead of a drink package, such as shore excursions or spa treatments. If you would rather allocate your vacation money towards other incidentals, that is fine, too. 

Celebrity "All Included"

When you are booking your Celebrity cruise vacation, you have two options for fares. The first is a standard fare that includes accommodation, transportation between ports, entertainment, and select food and beverages. The second is known as "All Included," which adds the Classic Beverage Package and Basic Wi-Fi to your rate. 

The price difference depends on how long your sailing is. On a 3-night cruise from Fort Lauderdale to the Bahamas, for instance, the cheapest fare starts at $162 per person based on double occupancy for an interior cabin. The "All Included" rate for the same sailing and cabin is $457 per person.

There is more of a gap between the pricing on longer cruises. The cheapest rate on a 7-night Pacific Coastal cruise is $409 per person. The "All Included" rate jumps up to $966. 

If you want to upgrade from the Classic Beverage Package to the Premium, you can do so for $24 per day. You can save 5% if you book pre-cruise. 

Note that while this package used to include tips, Celebrity Cruises announced that effective October 4, 2023, they will eliminate prepaid gratuities from its All Included pricing packages, meaning that you'll have to pay them in addition to the higher rate. 

Below are the current gratuity rates as of August 2023: 

• $18.00 USD per person, per day for Inside, Ocean View, and Veranda staterooms 
• $18.50 USD per person, per day for Concierge Class and AquaClass staterooms  
• $23.00 USD per person, per day for guests of The Retreat.

Purchasing a drink package through the Cruise Planner

If you do not book the "All Included" rate, you can always buy a drink package later through the Cruise Planner. This is where you will also find links to shore excursions, specialty dining venues, and other cruise add-ons that you may want to purchase to enhance your vacation. 

You can purchase any add-ons up to 48 hours before your sailing. You may also call Celebrity Cruises directly if you would prefer to speak to a representative. 

Read more: 50 Best Celebrity Cruises Tips & Tricks

Frequently asked questions

Does every person in the stateroom have to purchase a package?

Purchasing a drink package is completely optional. You are not required to have one to sail. That being said, if one person opts to get a package, all other guests of legal drinking age in the same stateroom are required to do so as well. 

If you purchase an alcoholic package and are sailing with guests between the ages of 13 and 20, they must get the Zero Proof Drink Package. Guests 12 and under do not have to get any package. 

Additionally, if you are sailing with a pregnant guest, a recovering alcoholic, or someone with another medical issue that does now allow for alcohol consumption, they may get the Zero Proof Drink Package, rather than an alcoholic one.

Do Celebrity drink packages come with a daily beverage limit?

No! There's no limit on Celebrity drink packages in terms of how many drinks a guest may consume in a single day or throughout the duration of the cruise. 

When placing an order, however, you cannot get two drinks at a time, as you are only allowed one. If multiple people are wanting to order a drink, each will need to present their SeaPass card to the bartender or waiter. 

Do Celebrity drink packages include gratuity?

Yes. All gratuities are included in the final purchase price, meaning that you do not have to tip onboard unless you choose to do so. 

How to cancel a Celebrity drink package?

If you purchased your package in advance via the Cruise Planner, all you have to do is log back into your account and search through your order history. From there, you can easily cancel your package for a refund to your original payment method. 

If you wait to cancel until you are on the ship, your refund will be credited to your onboard account. 

Are drink packages available fleet wide?

If you are sailing on an Expedition vessel to the Galapagos, you will not be able to purchase a drink package, as they are not offered. 

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Royal Caribbean is updating the loyalty benefits for Crown and Anchor Society members beginning on March 10, 2023, with one of the most notable changes being the new design for the crystal blocks. 

Royal Caribbean announced the new crystal block designs  via the Crown and Anchor Society's Facebook page on February 28, 2023 in a post that read: "Being a Crown & Anchor Society member has its perks. And the perks don’t just happen at sea — get ready for a new burst of color! "

"We're excited to announce that our new crystal blocks are debuting this spring, and they're ready to take your collection to the next level."

All changes and updates to the Crown and Anchor loyalty program were soft launched on their website before being sent out via email in the February Crown & Anchor newsletter.

What are the loyalty program updates?

Changes to welcome snacks and beverages

For Emerald members (55+ points) and above, you will no longer have option to pre-select your welcome beverages, as all guests will now receive complimentary water in their stateroom when they arrive. If you are Emerald or Diamond, you'll get two bottles per person, and if you are Diamond Plus or Pinnacle, you will get three per person. 

Additionally, the cruise line removed the welcome snack as a loyalty benefit. Unfortunately, there will not be any cookies waiting in your stateroom anymore!

Daily drinks and wine discounts

All Diamond members (80+ points) and above will continue to receive daily drink vouchers for any beverage up to $14.

The number you get per day depends on your status: 4 for Diamond, 5 for Diamond Plus, and 6 for Pinnacle. Additionally, you will be able to receive 20% off bottles of wine over $100 and 40% bottles under $100. 

Diamond Plus and Pinnacle Club wash & fold laundry benefit

While Diamond Plus and Pinnacle Club members will still be able to receive one free $34.99 bag of laundry on sailings that are 5+ nights, they can only do so on the day of the ship's Wash & Fold laundry promotion. It's not valid for any pressing or dry-cleaning services. 

New amenities list

Diamond Plus (175+ points) and Pinnacle (700+ points) members have a new amenities list to choose from.

The number of points you have, as well as the length of your sailing, determines not only how many items you may choose from, but also what the items are.

For example, guests with 175-339 points only have fifteen options to choose from, while guests with 525+ points have over forty! 

No matter your points, you are eligible to select the new toiletry bag. Only guests with 340+ points, however, can choose the upgraded Crown & Anchor Society tote bag. 

New crystal blocks

The current crystal block design features Royal Caribbean International branding above the image and name of the cruise ship you are on when you cross the point threshold.

All elements are etched into the crystal, giving them an elegant and timeless look.

The update design will feature a colorful image of the ship with the Crown & Anchor logo in the top left corner and the ship's name in the lower right corner. 

Only five blocks have been released thus far, and they are all for Oasis Class ships. Every block, except for Symphony of the Seas, features a shot of the ship sailing during sunset.

As of February 28, 2023, the design for all other blocks is unknown. 

The updated look is facing mixed criticism from guests. 

Some are a fan of the new look, like HeWhoWaits who said, "With the change, maybe it's a good thing that my wife's block from last summer wasn't available."

"Hopefully this means she'll get the new version when follow ups are successful."

Others prefer the old design, including steverk: "My initial thought is we're going from something that was classy to something that looks like a cheap souvenir."

"I'll withhold final judgment until I actually see it, but that's my first impression."

Who is eligible for a crystal block?

Unfortunately, earning Diamond status (80 points) with Royal Caribbean is not enough to get you a crystal block. You will have to earn 140 points to be eligible to receive your first block. It is almost like a halfway marker between Diamond and Diamond Plus. 

You will also be able to get another crystal block every time you earn another 70 points on top of the 140, so you will get a block at 210, 280, 350, 420, and so on points.

There is no limit as to how many blocks you are able to collect. The more you cruise, the more blocks you will have!

After Royal Caribbean reversed the decision to stop giving out blocks in 2021, eligible guests choose to either have the blocks delivered to their stateroom or home, or if you do not want a block, you can decline delivery. 

I have over 140 points and I never got a crystal block. Who do I contact?

If you have yet to receive a crystal block despite having over 140 cruise points, you can go speak with the Loyalty Ambassador if you are onboard a cruise ship. They will be happy to assist you in making sure that you get your crystal block! 

If you are at home, you can call Royal Caribbean's Crown and Anchor hotline at (800) 526-9723 or send an email to [email protected].

The representative will be able pull all of your sailing information via your Crown and Anchor loyalty number, so be sure to have it handy.

If you are emailing, you will want to include it in your initial message. 

Related: The Crown and Anchor perks you should use on every Royal Caribbean cruise

Once you have decided on the perfect ship and itinerary, you are ready to move forward with the cruise booking process. Prior to checking out, you will have to make a decision on dining style. 

When booking a Royal Caribbean cruise, you have two options for dining: My Time Dining and Traditional Dining. 

With Traditional Dining, you will have the same reserved seating each night of your cruise, and there are two seatings to choose from: first (early) and second (late). The early seating is usually around 5:30pm, while the late seating is around 8:00pm. The exact times, however, will vary according to your cruise itinerary. 

Some guests do not plan on eating in the Main Dining Room each day or would rather do so at the time of their choosing. With My Time Dining, you can simply walk up to the host stand to be seated or make reservations in advance for your preferred time. 

If you have selected My Time Dining for your next Royal Caribbean Cruise vacation, here's everything you need to know about how to book My Time Dining and secure your nightly dining reservations. 

What is My Time Dining?

My Time Dining is great for guests who wish to experience a flexible dining schedule onboard their cruise. If, for instance, you plan on staying late in port one day but still wish to eat in the Main Dining Room, you could make a reservation for later in the evening, rather than miss out on the experience because you have early dining. 

My Time Dining usually begins around 6:00pm and lasts until 9:30pm, giving you a wide range of times to choose from. The actual times, however, will vary by sailing. You will be able to see the exact times that My Time Dining is offered each evening once you book your cruise. 

Unlike Traditional Dining, you will not be seated at the same table with the same wait staff if your choose My Time.

Rather, you will be seated wherever there is availability. You can, of course, request a specific table and waiter, but they may not be able to honor this. 

Note that this only applies to dinner in the Main Dining Room. If you are purchasing a dining package or plan on eating dinner in one of the other complimentary venues, you may not find yourself putting too much thought into what dining style you'd prefer. 

Breakfast in the Main Dining Room is first come, first serve, regardless on whether or not you selected My Time or Traditional Dining. 

How to book My Time Dining?

When booking your cruise vacation

When you are reserving your cruise, you will be given the option to select "Traditional Dining" or "My Time Dining."

You will not be able to make your choice until the last step in the booking process; all passenger names will have to be entered first! At the same time, you will be able to add prepaid gratuities and vacation protection, if you choose to do so.

Even if you initially booked Traditional Dining, you can call your travel agent or Royal Caribbean directly to change to My Time.

You can even switch from My Time Dining to Traditional if you booked before understanding the differences, but you might end up with late dining depending on when you make the change, as early tends to book up quickly.

If you want, you can even try to switch onboard. Note, however, that this means you may not be able to have as flexible of a dining experience as you might be hoping for, especially if prime reservations have been secured in advance by other guests.

You also will not be able to switch after the second day, so you'll want to visit Guest Services and/or the Main Dining Room when you embark-- Guests can only participate in one dining style per sailing. 

Making reservations via the Cruise Planner

As soon as you place the deposit for your cruise, you will gain access to the Cruise Planner. This is where you'll not only be able to make your My Time Dining reservations, but also where you can reserve shore excursions, drink packages, and more. 

When you log into the Cruise Planner, all you have to do is navigate to the "Dining" tab and scroll down until you see "My Time Dining."

It is usually at the very bottom below the dining packages, specialty restaurants, and other exclusive dining experiences. 

From there, you can go ahead and make a reservation for each night of your cruise. You will have to make each reservation individually and add them to your cart one-by-one.

Upon checkout, you will be charged $0.00, unless you are also purchasing other add-ons. 

If you need to change or cancel a reservation for any reason, you will have to go into the specific order and cancel each reservation separately before you are able to rebook. 

If you have multiple people in your stateroom or travel party, you can make multiple reservations each evening to accommodate everyone's preferences.

If, for example, two people would like to eat earlier around 6:30pm, you would make them their own reservation. The others could make a separate My Time Dining reservation for 8:15pm. 

Reservations are highly recommended, as the wait time can be long if you choose to eat during the prime dinner hours of 6:30-8:00pm.

If you arrive as soon as the Main Dining Rooms open, you will be able to be seated shortly. The longer you wait to arrive, however, the longer you will have to wait for an available table. 

Having to arrive early, though, defeats the purpose of being able to dine whenever you'd like. The best way to fully take advantage of the My Time Dining program is to make your reservations before you board the ship!

Once you have made your My Time Dining reservations, they will appear in your cruise calendar, both on Cruise Planner tab and Royal Caribbean's app.

Unlike Traditional Dining, My Time Dining is only marked as lasting for fifteen minutes. When planning your other evening activities, make sure that you allot yourself at least 75 minutes for your Main Dining Room experience. 

If your My Time Dining reservation is at 7:15pm, do not make any other reservations until 8:30pm or later. You can, however, always tell your waitstaff that you have other plans, and they will do their best to serve you as quickly as possible. 

When onboard

You can wait to make your My Time Dining reservations until you board your cruise ship. Just head over to the Main Dining Room to speak with a head waiter, and they will assist you! Due to availability, however, you may not have as many times to choose from. 

Another method is to just simply show up at the Main Dining Room each night when you are ready to eat. Depending on when you go, you may have to wait until there is an available table. During peak dinner times, you may have to wait as long as 45 minutes for a table. 

If you have a smaller party, you might find that you do not have to wait as long as larger parties. It truly depends, though. 

This is why we recommend making reservations for My Time Dining, whether that be in advance via the Cruise Planner or onboard by speaking with a head waiter.

Throughout the cruise, you may be able to change your My Time Dining reservations on the app or by calling the dining hotline from your stateroom's telephone, but it is dependent on availability. 

Should you book My Time Dining for your next cruise?

The flexibility of My Time Dining comes with responsibility. If you are choosing My Time Dining because you are not a fan of either set dining times, you will need to ensure that you make nightly reservations as soon as possible via the Cruise Planner. If not, you might be stuck eating even later than the second seating!

It is possible to snag dining times around 7:00pm every night, but this is a highly desirable dinner time. The closer you get to your cruise vacation, the fewer reservations you may find. 

Additionally, if you are traveling with a large party, you might find Traditional Dining to be easier. It is more difficult for the Main Dining Room to accommodate larger groups with My Time Dining, as there are fewer tables set for bigger parties.

Online, you can only book My Time Dining for up to eight guests. If you are traveling with more than eight people, My Time Dining might become a hassle. You may find that you are split up at different tables that are not located near each other. 

Finally, the evening shows are often scheduled around Traditional Dining times with early and late showings. If you are unable to book show times in advance via the Cruise Planner when you are making your My Time Dining reservations, you may end up booking a dinner time that clashes with one of the shows. 

Royal Caribbean wants to draw in adrenaline junkies with Thrill Island onboard their newest class of ships. 

When Icon of the Seas debuts in early 2024, she will be the largest cruise ship in the world, weighing an astonishing 250,800 gross tons with the capacity to carry nearly 10,000 passengers and crew members. She will be unlike anything anyone has ever seen before!

Onboard this new cruise ship, you will find a brand-new neighborhood dedicated to the most adventurous cruisers: Thrill Island. 

According to Michael Bayley, President and CEO of Royal Caribbean, "It is a thrill at every single turn. No matter what your age, you can have a great time on Thrill Island."

Designing Thrill Island

Emily Rodriguez, Senior Product Owner and Product Development, said that they really took into consideration the excitement that they were seeing guests display for their thrilling experiences. They knew that those were the kinds of things that they were looking for. 

The first step to building this brand-new neighborhood was to conduct research on the adventures themselves. "...We spoke to a lot of people about what they wanted to have [and] what they expected to experience," said Bayley.

It is not just about the attractions, either. Thrill Island is an immersive experience that's themed after a lost island. Details include distressed wood, a sunken boat, and even small artifacts left from prior explorers. 

Recording breaking water park

At 17,010 square feet, Icon of the Seas will be home to the largest water park at sea, Category 6, where you will find six recording breaking slides, including the first family raft slides at sea: Storm Surge and Hurricane Hunter. 

Groups of four can ride together and boomerang off of a lotus leaf while soaking up some incredible ocean views.

There will also be Pressure Drop, the first open free fall slide at sea. While overlooking a 45 degree angle drop, you will have to gain the courage to push yourself over the edge!

The boldest, however, may be the Frightening Bold. With a 46 foot drop and 360 degree loop, it will be the tallest waterslide at sea that will begin with you inside of a capsule waiting for the trap door to release. 

And for those who love a little friendly competition, there are the Storm Chasers, the first duo mat-racing slides at sea. You'll be twisting and turning until the end of the 431 foot slides!

Taking on a task of this size, however, requires thoughtful planning. Kelly Gonzalez, the Senior Vice President of Architectural Design and Newbuilding said, "We wanted a lot of water; we wanted a lot of speed; we wanted a lot of height; and we really did not want to compromise of any one of those things, so we had to bring a lot of experts in to work with us in order to make sure that we could design this in a way that it was going to be technically sound."

Crown's Edge

Crown's Edge is a fear-inducing adventure course that's about 49 feet tall and 44 feet wide. It is meant to test the bravest of the brave. It combines a ropes course, skywalk, and thrill ride into one jaw-dropping experience. 

You will step out onto a ledge that hangs 154 feet above the ocean right by the infamous Royal Caribbean crown and anchor. The walkway will stop, and you will be left admiring the ocean views until the trap door releases, sending you on a short glide right back where you began. 

Enhancing the family vacation experience 

Thrill Island was designed to ensure that the multigenerational family is able to have a great vacation together. Throughout the neighborhood, you will find plenty of seating to cheer on family and friends who are stepping up to the challenge. 

"Grandma and grandpa do not want to go down the world's tallest waterslide, but they do want to see their kids go down the world's tallest waterslide. And they want them to experience the emotion and happiness and the joy that those kids get from those experiences," said Bayley.

It is not just about the thrills themselves; it is about how the neighborhood can create memories for everyone onboard. 

Eating and drinking around Thrill Island

Base Camp is the dining venue in Thrill Island that will offer complimentary options, as well as some available for an additional charge. 

"After you've experienced the most amazing water park at sea, you can head over to Base Camp and enjoy some great burgers, over-the-top sides, amazing handheld sandwiches, and kind of talk with your friends and family about what you just experiences," said Adam Bourcier, Director of Production Innovation.

There will also be Desserted, a milkshake bar offering both virgin and boozy options.  

Return of fan-favorites

While Thrill Island is chalked full of brand-new experiences, the cruise line is also bringing back some fan-favorites, including the FlowRider surf simulator and rock wall. 

The rock wall onboard Icon of the Seas is named Adrenaline Peak, and it will be themed to fit into the island experience with props like twigs and tree vines. There will be five different lanes, each with a buzzer at the top!

Sports fans will be relieved to know that there will still be a sports court; however, guests should expect it to be vibrant and multicolored! 

And, of course, there will be a mini-golf course in Thrill Island: Lost Dunes. Royal Caribbean reimagined the course to fit into the theming of the neighborhood. While you play against family and friends, you'll feel like you are in a lost jungle. With each hole, you are one step closer to making your way out!

One of eight neighborhoods

Thrill Island is one of eight neighborhood that will be found onboard Icon of the Seas. It is not the only new concept, either, as families with young children will love the brand-new Surfside Neighborhood. 

In fact, only three neighborhoods can be found on Oasis Class ships: Royal Promenade, Central Park, and the Suite Neighborhood (on Wonder of the Seas only). 

"[Thrill Island] is the first time Royal Caribbean International has really themed a full neighborhood around this idea of thrill, and what we're giving you with Crown's Edge and Adrenaline Peak...with Category 6 Waterpark, a FlowRider, and reimagined mini-golf course, that's just going to be incredible," said Claudia Diaz-Gonzalez, Associate Vice President of Product Development.

More about Thrill Island

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For many cruisers, enjoying cocktails and beer while on their trip is as important as the ports their ship will visit.

Whatever the reasoning, the most important question to consider is whether or not a Royal Caribbean drink package is worth the cost. The Deluxe Beverage Package is usually around $70-$85 per day when pre purchased through the Cruise Planner. It is possible to snag it for even lower, though-- it just depends on the ongoing sale!

For this fixed price, cruisers are able to enjoy unlimited drinks each day of their cruise, including at Royal Caribbean's Perfect Day at CocoCay and Labadee! For those who plan on drinking a lot during their vacation, a beverage package makes a lot of sense, especially when you consider that most cocktails are around $14.

With that, though, you have to add the automatic 18% gratuity, making each cocktail about $16.50. 

If you have multiple guests 21 and older staying in the same stateroom, everyone will be required to purchase their own package. This is done to help reduce the sharing of benefits. 

On my recent Symphony of the Seas cruise, I decided to purchase a beverage package to see if it was worth the cost for me. 

How much was the beverage package for my cruise?

I bought the Deluxe Beverage Package about 2.5 weeks before my sailing and paid $600 for a 7-night cruise. This breaks down to $72.99 per day, plus the 18% daily gratuity. It's important to note, though, that I was sailing solo and did not have anyone else booked in my room. If I did, the total price would have doubled!

Package prices vary greatly, which is why it is important that you go ahead and purchase it when you see a price that you like; there's no guarantee that it will stay the same. If it decreases, you can cancel your current package and repurchase it at the lower price. 

You can sometimes even bundle a beverage package with wi-fi for additional savings. 

What does the Deluxe Beverage Package include?

The real question is what doesn't the package include! You can order anything from a fruity cocktail to craft beer, wine, premium coffees, sodas, smoothies, bottled water and sports drinks, milkshakes, and fresh squeezed juices. You can even choose from top shelf liquor, like Grey Goose, Captain Morgan, and Patron!

I found myself starting my day each morning at Cafe Promenade ordering a cold brew coffee. To me, this is a huge benefit. 

While there is nothing wrong with the complimentary coffee, the premium drinks at Cafe Promenade are much better, especially since I prefer iced coffee over hot! You can order anything from an americano to flavored lattes, cappuccinos, espresso shots, and frappuccinos. 

Even though Cafe Promenade now serves Starbucks coffee, they do not offer a full Starbucks menu. I wasn't able to use my package for specialty drinks (like my favorite Iced Brown Sugar Oat Milk Shaken Espresso) or refreshers.

The package also does not include full bottles of wine or drinks served in souvenir cups. However, bottles of wine can be purchased at a discount of 40% off bottles of wine under $100 and 20% off bottles above $100. 

Was the beverage package worth it?

To break even, I knew I needed to drink at least five cocktails per day. With four days in port, albeit one at their private island, I honestly wasn't sure I would be able to accomplish this. That being said, I think the drink package was worth it. I had a total of 36 cocktails over the course of the week, and that doesn't even include the premium coffee, Powerade, or bottled water! I do not drink much at home, so I see any kind of vacation as my time to splurge! 

When I was onboard Symphony of the Seas last month, I found myself returning to the same bartender since I liked how he made my beverages, so I felt like I was getting my money's worth. This time, however, I was more adventurous and even tried making my own drinks at the Bionic Bar. It's safe the say that bartending is not my calling, but it was a neat experience! 

When I boarded the ship, the first thing I did was go straight to the On Air and order a Strawberry Blonde, aka my favorite drink. Over the course of the week, I had five of these. Without the drink package, this would have been my go-to since I know I enjoy it! 

For my embarkation lunch, I ate at Jaime's Italian and ordered grappa stagionata, a kind of Italian liqueur.  Without the package, I know I would not have tried this. It was what you'd expect for straight liqueur and, unsurprisingly, one of my least favorite drinks of the cruise. 

If I was paying for my drinks a la carte, I probably would not have had my first drink of the day until sail away! I definitely felt the freedom to indulge on a drink whenever I wanted, which is something I usually do not do--I don't even keep alcohol at home! 

During sail away, I enjoyed a vodka soda that I got at the Wipe Out Bar while watching Miami disappear into the horizon. 

By the end of the first day, I had (to my disbelief) ten drinks, including Schooner Bar's infamous Lavender Daiquiri, a Sexy Ocean while watching HiRO, and a custom Bionic Bar drink. 

I realized, though, this was a trend I couldn't keep up throughout the week. Would I have had ten drinks if I was paying for each individually? Absolutely not! I also noticed that many of the fruity drinks were more sugar than anything, including my own Bionic Bar concoction. Regardless, it's easy to get carried away when you have a drink package. 

Day 2 was one of two sea days, and I I started it with, of course, a cold brew coffee. Later on, I enjoyed an ice cold Diet Coke during lunch. 

Having the luxury to choose exactly what you want to drink and when is one of the biggest advantages of a drink package. It turns cruising into a more all-inclusive experience. There's nothing wrong with sticking to the complimentary drinks -- like water, juice, and tea -- during the day and paying for a few drinks when you want them, but I like having the choice of being able to get whatever I want!

I had eight alcoholic drinks on the second day, but I knew that the next three days were going to be spent in port. I enjoy drinking most on sea days, so I figured those would be the days that made the package worth the money.

I hate feeling groggy while exploring ports, so I prefer to drink during the day and wind down in the evenings. 

I was right, too. My drinking slowed down after the first two days. I only had three alcoholic drinks after I got back onboard after spending the day in Roatán: an Espresso Martini from Dazzles and two drinks at Wonderland. 

I spent day 4 at the beach in Costa Maya where I had two cocktails. By the time I returned, I was tired and sunburnt. I made it a point to try something new, so I got a Kentucky Summer at Trellis Bar in Central Park for a pre-dinner drink. I also had a Truly and Strawberry Blonde before retiring for the night. 

One way I like to justify drink packages is by trying new drinks! If I have the package and order something I don't like, I'm not obligated to finish it. I can simply go elsewhere and get something else. When I don't have a package, I definitely stick to my tried-and-true favorites. 

I did not have my first drink on day 5 until I went up the rising tide bar and got a Tropical Sangria around 3:30pm. Since I had a more relaxed morning onboard and only got off the ship to grab a quick bite to eat, I felt ready for the night ahead!

I ordered got a Lavender Daiquiri to drink while watching the ship depart from Cozumel, two Aperol Spritzs in Jazz on 4, a Tom Collins in the Schooner Bar, and a Rum Old Fashioned to take with me to the Love and Marriage show in the Royal Theatre, bringing my total for the day to six alcoholic beverages. 

Day 6 was our second and final sea day. I had a light breakfast to prepare for my lunch at Izumi and opted not to order an alcoholic drink. Instead, I brought along my Coca Cola Freestyle cup and got a zero sugar Powerade from the machine in the Sorrento's before going. 

At this point, I was trying fewer new drinks. I visited Dazzles again that evening for another Espresso Martini (or two...), Schooner Bar for a Rum Old Fashioned, and even a simple vodka soda during the Crazy Quest. After that, it was time for some pizza and bed! 

If you go to CocoCay and don't get a Coco Loco, you're doing it wrong! It's the perfect frozen drink to sip on while enjoying your perfect day. By this point of my cruise, however, I was exhausted. I didn't want exacerbate this by drinking in the heat. I opted to order one right before I headed back to the ship around 3:45pm. Plus, the heat wasn't as bad then. There's no way that I could have spent all day drinking on the island. 

When I got back onboard, my plan was to have one more drink at Schooner Bar and call it a night, then I realized that I had some free play at the casino. Well, one thing led to another, and I was down $130 and three vodka sodas in. Not my smartest move considering I had to wake up early for disembarkation, but I had a lot of fun. I was still packed and in bed by 10:30pm, so there wasn't any major damage done. 

I had five drinks on the last day of my cruise, bringing my total for the week to 36! 

Do I need a drink package to have a great cruise?

Prior to this week's trip, I thought that I needed a drink package. Growing up, I always had the Refreshment Package, and once I turned 21, I began to get the Deluxe Beverage Package. In fact, I've only ever been on two cruises without a drink package. 

By the end of the cruise, I was honestly tired of drinking, both mentally and physically. I know that I'll always get my money's worth when I purchase a package, but sometimes, I do not actually need one.

I found myself ordering drinks just because I had the package, not because I necessarily wanted them. I could have easily gotten away with purchasing the drinks I wanted when I wanted them and saving a lot of money. 

That being said, alcohol is not the only thing that's included with the package. I love the premium coffee options, as well as the sports drinks. They're great when getting back onboard after a long day spent in port! I know that without a package, I would save my money for alcoholic drinks instead. 

Plus, I do enjoy the "I can do whatever I want" mentality when vacation, rather than worrying about how much is being charged to my SeaPass card. 

Deciding whether or not a drink package is worth it sometimes is more complex than the monetary aspect. For me, I know I'll get my money's worth, but is it something that I truly need to enhance my vacation? Would I rather spend the money on other experiences like shore excursions or a better stateroom? Or do I truly value the convenience of a package and that all-inclusive feel?

On my upcoming Europe cruise, for instance, I am saving the money for once-in-a-lifetime shore excursions that I wouldn't be able to get if I splurged on the drink package. With only two sea days and long days in port, the alcoholic drink package would feel more like a chore than anything. 

Everyone's preferences are different. Some may always want a drink package, even during port-intensive cruises. Others may never get one, either because of loyalty status or because of personal drinking habits. 

This time, I'd say the money was well spent, though. 

It's no surprise that new cruise ships are exciting and in high demand, but why does Royal Caribbean keep older ships in service? 

Royal Caribbean seems to redefine "bigger and better" with the launch of each of their new cruise ships, as they constantly break their own record for the largest cruise ship in the world. The demand for these ships is larger than ever before, too. 

All standard cabins for Icon of the Seas' maiden voyage sold out in less than 24 hours! They're also adding another Icon Class ship to their fleet in 2025 with Star of the Seas' launch scheduled for August. 

What about older ships, though? It is evident that Royal Caribbean wants to keep them around as long as possible. If they didn't, they would not have spent hundreds of millions of dollars upgrading ships through their Royal Amplified fleet modernization. 

Don Goldstein, a retired Commander of the U.S. Coast Guard, worked for the Coast Guard for about 30 years and was involved with the regulation and inspection of commercial vessels, including passenger and task vessels, and the ports that serve them.

He was also involved in cleaning oil spills in the marine environment, having completed over 20 discharges of 1 million gallons or more!

During Commander Goldstein's career, he was stationed on all 3 coasts of the United States: Atlantic, Pacific, and Gulf. Additionally, he has represented the Coast Guard's business in North and South America, Europe, Africa, South East Asia, and the Far East.

In our conversation with Commander Goldstein, which has been edited for length and clarity, we talked about what a cruise ship's dry dock entails, today's environmental concerns, the life expectancy of modern-day cruise ships, and what it takes to keep the older ships in service!

Today, there are cruise ships operating that are as much as 26 years old. How do cruise lines like Royal Caribbean ensure that they stay well-maintained?  

Commander Goldstein: Routine maintenance is an ongoing process, well-planned and supported. It is much more than periodic dry docks. Maintenance is done continually during the life of the ship. For instance, they can (and do) change out an entire piston on an engine while underway.

The maintenance is accomplished on a planned cycle for each system and happens every day in accordance with the plan. This includes changing filters, cleaning valves, and piping, changing hydraulic fluids, testing emergency systems like emergency generators, testing backup steering systems, etc.

Dry docks are planned years in advance due to ordering necessary parts, having the right contractors present, etc. All hull openings are checked and the valves are cleaned or replaced. All primary systems, including firefighting, navigation, and lifesaving are inspected or replaced.

Anchor chains and lifeboat cables may be “end-for-ended," and all lifeboat food and water are inspected and/or replaced. Other issues or concerns that have occurred may be dealt with, such as when Allure’s azipod needs work.

How long is the life expectancy of new cruise ships? Take Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas, for instance, which debuted in mid-2022. What do you think her life expectancy is with today's technological advancements?

Commander Goldstein: The life expectancy has increased over the years due to better materials, better design, and better maintenance. I would think Royal Caribbean expects to get at least 30 years of service out of any ship built in the last 15 years or so, including Wonder.

How does the life expectancy of today's ships compare to those from the early 2000s?  

Commander Goldstein: Every new ship probably has a longer life expectancy than the last one, but it is incremental. For ships built in the 1990s, I expect they wanted to get at least 25 years of service.

 
How do these older ships remain in service, and do they have to be serviced more frequently than newer ships? What goes into keeping older cruise ships alive and well?  

Commander Goldstein: All ships, old and new, go into dry dock twice in any five-year period, with no span longer than 36 months between dry docks. This is when they do major work on the engines, piping, life-saving equipment, structure, etc.  Typically, the hull is at least inspected and cleaned, if not painted. Older ships may require more extensive work in the dry dock due to changes in technology, as well as normal wear and tear due to the ravages of the saltwater environment.

Saltwater and most metals don’t get along well. Just about everything on a ship will deteriorate over time, and require replacement or reconditioning. Newer coatings (i.e. pain) do a better job of protecting metal, but it’s still not perfect. Older ships have been exposed to this environment for a longer period of time and need more TLC. Since they do many things at one time while in dry dock, this does mean that older ships necessarily take longer.
 
What is the functional part of a ship that tends to wear out first?

Goldstein: That’s really hard to say due to the ongoing maintenance done throughout the life cycle of the ship.
 
Around what age does the ship's safety really come into question, or is it more about the cost of keeping it up-to-date?  

Goldstein: Again, due to the ongoing maintenance and inspection by both the Flag State and Port States, it is more a question of the cost of maintenance and if are they going to do keep paying for it.

What is the key indicator that a ship is ready to be retired and/or scrapped? 

Commander Goldstein: That is an easy answer: money and the cost of maintenance versus. the cost of the cabins and passenger loads. If one is willing to spend unlimited money, you can keep a ship running almost forever.

As was pointed out earlier by, I think, Michael Bayley, the older ships break-even point is 50% of capacity, while for the newer ships it is closer to 35%. He didn’t say word-for-word, but I suspect the introduction of azipod technology has a lot to do with this. Routine maintenance isn’t cheap, and there is a point where it is not economically feasible to maintain the ship.

At that point, they will typically sell the ship to a lower-end cruise line, such as Sovereign of the Seas being transferred to Pullmantur in 2008 at the age of 20 years and renamed Sovereign. She was scrapped in 2020 after 32 years of service. Grandeur currently is Royal Caribbean's oldest ship at 27 years of service.

Engine issues seem to be common for older ships. I know Norwegian Star got theirs replaced in 2021, and Grandeur of the Seas' maximum cruising speed was slowed down in January 2023 due to engine troubles. In theory, could they go their whole lives and never have the engine replaced?

Commander Goldstein: Due to the ongoing maintenance, major engine problems are relatively rare on cruise ships. The decision to change engines is not taken lightly.  These engines are HUGE, and they have to remove a section of the hull to remove and replace the major engines. In the case of the Norwegian Star, I’m sure a good part of the decision to replace the engines was based on efficiency. Grandeur's reduced speed may have been at least partially the same thing.
 
With more and more ships turning to LNG, do you think this will impact the lives of older ships? In other words, do you think they will be retired and/or scrapped earlier due to environmental concerns?

Commander Goldstein: LNG ships are more efficient than oil-powered ships, but I think the bigger concern is the increased environmental awareness on the part of many littoral states and countries.  For instance, new international regulations are reducing ships’ speed as they approach many ports in an effort to reduce emissions from the ships.

I also think that the growing environmental regulations will cause older ships to be retired, or transferred to smaller cruise lines that go to more isolated ports. I live very close to Tampa, and I hope Royal Caribbean Group builds some newer and more efficient small ships that will fit under the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, so they can continue to use Tampa as a home port (and places like Baltimore, too).

What is different about the process of how cruise ships are designed today compared to 30 years ago? I am sure that there's a lot more that must be taken into consideration!

Commander Goldstein: The International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) set international standards for building and maintaining seagoing vessels. These standards are continually updated and modified to take into account new materials, technologies, and safety.  

Every casualty will produce new requirements. For instance, the Costa Concordia disaster in 2012, although due to human error, produced many new requirements, including the requirement to do the passenger safety briefing (muster drill) prior to the ship's departure.

Royal Caribbean ships by age

Grandeur of the Seas (1996)

Rhapsody of the Seas (1997)

Enchantment of the Seas (1997)

Vision of the Seas (1998)

Voyager of the Seas (1999)

Explorer of the Seas (2000)

Radiance of the Seas (2001)

Adventure of the Seas (2001)

Brilliance of the Seas (2002)

Navigator of the Seas (2002)

Serenade of the Seas (2003)

Mariner of the Seas (2003)

Jewel of the Seas (2004)

Freedom of the Seas (2006)

Liberty of the Seas (2007)

Independence of the Seas (2008)

Oasis of the Seas (2009)

Allure of the Seas (2010)

Harmony of the Seas (2016)

Symphony of the Seas (2018)

Wonder of the Seas (2022)

Icon of the Seas (2024)

Utopia of the Seas (2024)

Star of the Seas (2025)**