No matter how much research you do beforehand, there will always be a few surprises once you board a cruise ship, and this was certainly the case on my recent Icon of the Seas cruise.

Royal Caribbean’s newest and largest cruise ship was at the forefront of the cruise line’s marketing ever since its official announcement in fall 2022. After over a year of writing about the new vessel, I assumed I would not have any surprises once onboard. After all, what could surprise me when I, presumably, already knew everything about the ship?

Needless to say, despite my thorough research, I still found myself encountering surprises once onboard Icon of the Seas. Most of these surprises were positive, like the variety of global cuisine available to try throughout the ship, but others were negative, such as the curious choice of color scheme in my cabin.

Here are the 5 things that surprised me on Icon of the Seas.

I thought the ship would feel huge, so I was surprised that it felt somewhat similar to the size of an Oasis Class ship

As the new biggest cruise ship in the world, I expected Icon of the Seas to feel drastically bigger than older Royal Caribbean ships.

Most of Icon of the Seas’ marketing revolved around the ship being the world’s biggest, and offering the ultimate vacation experience for families. This marketing led myself, and many other cruise fans, to picture the ship to be significantly larger than other ships in Royal Caribbean’s fleet.

Related: See how Royal Caribbean ships stack up by size (2024)

Yet when I saw a picture of Icon of the Seas docked next to Wonder of the Seas, an Oasis Class ship, at Perfect Day at CocoCay, I realized the two ships weren’t drastically different in size. And when I got onboard myself a few days later, I felt much less overwhelmed with the ship’s size than I initially thought I would be.

Icon of the Seas does not feel small by any means, and it does feel larger than Royal Caribbean’s Oasis Class ships, but not by much. The ship never felt unmanageable, and there appeared to be more than enough distinct areas around the vessel that no particular venue ever felt too crowded.

The impressive passenger flow of the vessel from neighborhood to neighborhood and new destination elevators made getting around the ship a breeze. While I can understand some cruisers being put off by the size of Icon of the Seas, it really doesn’t feel that much different from ships like Wonder of the Seas when you’re onboard.

I was surprised by the light-colored furniture in my cabin, and I’m not sure this will hold up well over time

Although I enjoyed my comfortable balcony cabin on Icon of the Seas, I found the choice of furnishings to be… risky, to say the least.

If you’ve sailed on older cruise ships before, you’ve likely seen wear and tear on the furniture in your cruise cabin. While Royal Caribbean keeps their cabins in relatively good condition—even on the oldest ships—you may occasionally notice stains on couches, chairs, and other soft surfaces in the room.

Related: The 5 best cabin locations on a cruise ship

Stains are best concealed on dark-colored furniture, so I was surprised by the light tan couch in my Icon of the Seas cabin. All it takes is one spill or mishap to stain these furnishings, instantly lowering the cabin’s condition.

At the risk of embarrassing myself, I’ll admit I accidentally spilled a small amount of chocolate mousse I brought back from Pearl Cafe on the carpet in my cabin. I panicked when I saw the splatters of brown stain all over the floor, and it took a lot of stressful scrubbing to remove the stain.

While I (fortunately) got the stain out, I can’t imagine what this carpet and furniture will look like in a few years. I generally prefer the look of lighter-colored wood and decor, but it’s probably not the smartest option for a cruise ship cabin.

I was surprised and pleased by the new global cuisine options onboard, a huge improvement from older ships

Royal Caribbean has upped its game with international cuisine options on Icon of the Seas, and I was happy to see it.

Whenever I read my coworkers’ articles about Virgin Voyages’ Korean BBQ restaurant or Norwegian Cruise Line's food hall on our sister site Cruise.Blog, I felt a sting of jealousy about these diverse dining options.

Because I usually sail on Royal Caribbean, I find myself dining at the same types of restaurants over and over again, whether Italian, Japanese, or a standard American steakhouse.

Therefore, I was surprised to see the variety of dining venues that launched on Icon of the Seas. Most notably, the new AquaDome Market is home to five varied food stalls, which offer everything from Mediterranean wraps to Chinese noodle bowls and Nutella crepes.

Related: I ate at every new restaurant on Icon of the Seas and here's how I would rank them

Outside of the AquaDome market were Baja fish tacos at Pier 7, curry chicken sandwiches at Pearl Cafe, and expanded to-go items at Izumi in the Park. Old favorites are found onboard, too, from the all-you-can-eat Mexican food at El Loco Fresh to hand-tossed pizzas at Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen.

Whether a complimentary falafel and hummus pita for lunch or extra-cost Korean bibimbap bowl for dinner, I appreciated just how many options were available on Icon of the Seas. I’m still holding out for a Thai restaurant on Royal Caribbean (I can dream, right?), but the new options available easily satisfied my culinary cravings.

I was surprised Royal Caribbean didn't put The Mason Jar on Icon of the Seas

Icon of the Seas has a whopping 20+ dining venues onboard, but one restaurant I’m surprised didn’t make the cut is The Mason Jar.

The Mason Jar is one of Royal Caribbean’s newer specialty dining venues that first launched in 2022 on Wonder of the Seas. The restaurant serves dishes from around the American South, with brunch and dinner options including crab beignets, chicken and waffles, and the classic po’boy.

Related: The Mason Jar Southern food restaurant review on Wonder of the Seas

Adjacent to the restaurant is The Mason Jar Bar, which offers southern-inspired cocktails and a live band.

Currently, Wonder of the Seas is the only ship in the fleet to feature the venue. Given its popularity on that ship, I initially assumed Royal Caribbean would add it to Icon of the Seas as well.

I could easily see The Mason Jar replacing a venue like Hooked Seafood, which is found in the ship’s AquaDome neighborhood. At the same time, though, perhaps adding more live music to the ship was not necessary, given the amount of new venues like Lou’s Jazz n’ Blues and Dueling Pianos.

Nonetheless, I’m still thinking about the restaurant’s decadent red velvet pancakes I ate two years ago, and I wish this venue could have been onboard Icon of the Seas.

I was surprised by the amount of new bars and cocktails available, and the live music was spectacular

Because Icon of the Seas is the first ship in the Icon Class, I expected there to be a few new bars and lounges onboard, but I was surprised by the amount of new venues that launched on the vessel.

1400 Lobby Bar was one of my favorites on the ship, with its floor-to-ceiling windows, elegant decor, and outdoor seating. The bar’s central location in the Royal Promenade makes it a convenient hangout space, and the lack of live music at the bar means you can better hold a conversation with your travel party.

One of the bar’s signature cocktails, The Fourteen Hundred, combines Casamigos Blanco tequila, Italicus liqueur, pearl shimmer syrup, and lemon sour, and it’s topped with a citrus bubble that pops when you take your first sip.

Related: I tried the new cocktails on Icon of the Seas

Additionally, two intriguing music venues launched on the vessel: Dueling Pianos in the Royal Promenade and Lou’s Jazz n’ Blues in Central Park. Not only do these venues provide stellar musical performances, but they also come with a host of new cocktails.

Guests can listen to live jazz music while sipping on a B-Flat Negroni, which combines Hendrick’s gin, Suze liqueur, and dry vermouth. Or, for those cheering on the pianists at Dueling Pianos, they can try the signature cocktail, Snap, Crackle, Pop! This sweet beverage combines gin with lime juice, simple syrup, grenadine, and pineapple juice with a bag of Pop Rocks, making the drink literally “pop” in your mouth!

I found the new bar concepts to be a nice change of pace for Royal Caribbean, and I especially appreciated having more innovative bar concepts on the Royal Promenade. On Oasis Class ships, for instance, the robotic Bionic Bar takes up a large space in the Promenade.

While watching robotic bartenders craft a drink is interesting the first time you try it, I have never found this venue appealing for a regular hangout space. Somewhere like Dueling Pianos or the 1400 Lobby Bar, on the other hand, makes for a much more aesthetic and entertaining space.

Have you sailed on Icon of the Seas? If so, what surprised you about your time onboard? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

One of Royal Caribbean’s most popular cruise embarkation ports in Europe is Ravenna, Italy, and if you’re cruising from the port this summer, here’s how to get there.

In 2021, the city of Venice, Italy banned large cruise ships from entering the Venetian lagoon. This ban came with major implications for the cruise industry, which frequently offered cruises departing from the city to visit ports in the Adriatic Sea and Greek Isles.

Instead of stopping cruises in this region altogether, Royal Caribbean began offering itineraries departing from Ravenna, Italy instead of Venice. Yet while itineraries may still call Ravenna the “Venice” cruise port, the reality is that Venice is located roughly 90 miles away from Ravenna.

The majority of passengers cruising from Ravenna fly into either Venice or Bologna, Italy, and it can be challenging to figure out how to get to the cruise port from these cities.

Related: 30 best European cruise tips

In this guide, we’ve compiled the most up-to-date information on how to get to and from the Ravenna cruise port so you can start your European cruise vacation without any stressful setbacks.

Option #1: Royal Caribbean shuttles from Venice to Ravenna cruise port (and vice versa)

From Venice to Ravenna cruise port (embarkation day)

The easiest way to reach Ravenna’s cruise port from Venice is by booking a Royal Caribbean shuttle.

Royal Caribbean offers a shuttle service from two locations in Venice. The first is from Marco Polo Airport, and this is the best option for those flying to Venice on the day their cruise begins. As of 2023, the shuttle cost $45 per person.

Note that it takes around 2.5 to 3 hours to reach Ravenna from Venice, so if you are flying to Venice on the same day as your cruise, it’s crucial that your flight arrives before 11 AM. To avoid the risk of missing your ship, it’s recommended that you arrive as early as possible on embarkation morning.

Alternatively, the safer option is to arrive at least a day before your cruise begins.

The second location to catch a shuttle from Venice to Ravenna is from Tronchetto, a parking and bus station in the historical city center of Venice. This option is ideal for those who are spending time in Venice prior to their cruise. As of 2023, this shuttle cost $58 per person.

The shuttle location in Tronchetto is a twenty minute walk from Piazzale Roma in Venice, or you can take a people mover for €1.50 per person.

Shuttles must be booked by calling Royal Caribbean or your travel agent, upon which you can find the most up-to-date schedules for the shuttle buses.

From Ravenna cruise port to Venice (disembarkation day)

Royal Caribbean offers a shuttle service from the pier in Ravenna to Venice's Marco Polo Airport on disembarkation morning, but only for flights departing after 11:45 AM.

As of 2023, this shuttle was priced at $45 per person, and it takes roughly 2.5 to 3 hours to reach Venice’s Marco Polo Airport on the shuttle.

If you are not headed directly to the Venice airport from Ravenna, there is also the option to be dropped off in Tronchetto instead. As of 2023, this shuttle service cost $58 per person, and is a convenient option for those spending time in Venice after their cruise.

Option #2: Take the train from Venice to Ravenna (and vice versa)

From Venice to Ravenna cruise port (embarkation day)

In addition to a shuttle bus, another way to get from Venice to the Ravenna cruise port is by train. Taking the train from Venice’s Santa Lucia station to Ravenna’s train station takes a little over three hours and comes with an overall cost of around $40.

The train from Venice to Ravenna is not direct, and it requires a change in either Bologna or Ferrara, Italy. Although having to change trains might seem stressful, you will find train stations easy to navigate and with plenty of signage.

Because the train is not direct, you will not find “Ravenna” listed on the train platform in the Venice train station. Instead, look at your ticket for the correct train number. If you have to make a change in Bologna, you will first board a train to Bologna, not to Ravenna.

Train tickets can be purchased online through Trainline or on the Trainline app. Alternatively, you can book tickets upon arrival to the station, but it’s recommended to book in advance.

Once you arrive at Ravenna’s train station, you can reach the port either by booking a Royal Caribbean shuttle bus or by taxi. The taxi ride should cost around €25 from the train station to the port.

If you would prefer to book a Royal Caribbean shuttle bus from Ravenna’s train station to the cruise port, contact Royal Caribbean or your travel agent for more information.

From Ravenna cruise port to Venice (disembarkation day)

Royal Caribbean offers shuttle buses from the Ravenna cruise port to Ravenna’s train station on disembarkation morning. It takes twenty minutes to reach the train station, from where you can hop on a train to anywhere in Italy.

These shuttle buses cost $10 per passenger and can be booked at Guest Services once onboard your ship.

Like en route to Ravenna, you will need to make a change in Bologna or Ferrara, Italy to get to Venice. Most transfer times in this direction are around a half hour, which gives plenty of time to make the connection.

Taking the train to Santa Lucia station in Venice drops you off directly in the historic center of the city. Therefore, this option is convenient if you plan on spending time in Venice after the cruise. If you’re simply heading to the airport, one of Royal Caribbean’s shuttles is a better option.

Staying in Ravenna before or after the cruise

One benefit of taking the train as opposed to a shuttle bus is that you have the schedule flexibility to spend time sightseeing in Ravenna. As a small Italian city, Ravenna offers a quaint, walkable city center and is famous for its elaborate mosaics and Byzantine architecture along with its fresh cuisine from Italy’s Emilia Romagna region.

For those interested in exploring a more local side of Italy before or after their cruise, Ravenna is worth a short stay.

Option #3: fly into Bologna instead of Venice

Even though Royal Caribbean refers to Ravenna as the Venice cruise port, there are other major Italian cities within a similar distance to Ravenna, such as Bologna and Florence.

Arguably, in fact, it’s more convenient to fly into and out of Bologna when cruising from Ravenna as opposed to Venice. The city is located just an hour's drive or direct train journey from Ravenna, making it much easier to reach the cruise port compared to flying into Venice.

The downside with flying into and out of Bologna is that there are no direct flights from the city to the United States, so a connection will be necessary. Venice, on the other hand, offers direct flights to several cities on the east coast along with Chicago.

To get between Bologna and Ravenna’s cruise port, you can book a shuttle through Royal Caribbean or take the train. As of 2023, Royal Caribbean’s shuttle to Bologna’s airport cost $40 per person, and was only available for flights departing after 10:50 AM.

A shuttle was also offered from the cruise port to Bologna’s train station for $30 per person, which is helpful for those taking a train from Bologna to elsewhere in Italy.

Finally, another way to get to Bologna is by taking the $10 shuttle bus from the cruise port to Ravenna’s train station followed by an hour train from Ravenna to Bologna, which costs around $10.

Australia cruises can take you to the most beautiful, exotic, and alluring places in the world. From the world famous beaches of Sydney to the turquoise waters of Bora Bora, each itinerary has hidden gems and beautiful places to visit.

Perhaps no itineraries are as diverse as those departing from Australia, where you can choose between a selection of diverse itineraries departing from Brisbane and Sydney.

There are three main itineraries offered in the Australian cruise market: Australia cruises, South Pacific cruises, and New Zealand cruises.

Whether you want to sail through Milford Sound, island hop through New Caledonia, or explore the rugged landscapes of Tasmania, you’re sure to find an itinerary to match your travel style.

Royal Caribbean sails from Australia during the southern hemisphere’s summer season, and cruises are offered from November to early April each year. During the off-season, Royal Caribbean does not sail in this region.

Interested in taking a Royal Caribbean cruise from Australia? We’re sharing our ultimate guide for planning cruises to Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific.

Which Royal Caribbean cruise ships sail from Australia, and from where do they sail?

Depending on the season, ship deployments to Australia can vary, but Royal Caribbean always sends at least two ships to Australia.

The most common ships sailing cruises in the Australia market are Quantum of the Seas and Ovation of the Seas, who call Australia home for several months each year. These ships are both in Royal Caribbean’s Quantum Class, one of the cruise line’s most modern and innovative classes of ships.

Related: All about Quantum Class ships

The two vessels were launched in 2014 and 2016, respectively, making them relatively new amongst others in Royal Caribbean’s fleet. Due to this, passengers can expect updated accommodations, entertainment venues, and restaurants onboard.

Both ships feature Two70, an indoor entertainment venue with 270 degree views of the ship’s wake. By night, this venue transforms into a technology-focused production venue with robotic dancing television screens, floor-to-ceiling wall projections, and innovative song and dance performances.

Thrilling activities are another highlight of the Quantum Class, and each ship offers activities including bumper cars, an indoor skydiving simulator, and the North Star, a 360 degree observation pod rising 300 feet above sea level from the ship’s pool deck.

Currently, Quantum of the Seas sails from Brisbane, Australia whereas Ovation of the Seas sails from Sydney.

Other Royal Caribbean ships may occasionally be deployed to Australia, such as smaller Radiance Class ships, but passengers can always expect Quantum Class ships to offer cruises in the region.

Australia cruise itineraries

Cruising from an Australia cruise port does not mean you have to leave Australia and visit another country. Domestic cruise itineraries are offered from both Sydney and Brisbane, which visit ports only in Australia.

Most cruises within Australia take one of three routes. Cruises heading north visit Australia’s state of Queensland, a region known for the Great Barrier Reef, ancient rainforests, and diverse wildlife.

Cruising to Queensland means guests have the chance to snorkel amongst the world’s largest reef system, discover the magical Whitsunday Islands, and walk along the streets of Cairns and Airlie Beach.

Related: I tried my first Australia cruise: here are 7 things that surprised me

Another cruise itinerary offered within Australia is to Tasmania. Australia’s southernmost state, the island of Tasmania, is far different from the tropical beaches up north. The state features spectacular mountain scenery, such as the snow capped Mount Wellington, and British-inspired architecture and cuisine in the state’s capital of Hobart.

Lastly, Australia cruises are offered to South Australia, which visit cities such as Adelaide and Melbourne. Highlights of visiting South Australia include driving along the Great Ocean Road and exploring one of the country’s most famous wine regions.

Royal Caribbean may sometimes offer cruises to other destinations in Australia, such as itineraries circumnavigating the continent, but these are not offered every season.

Most domestic cruise itineraries in Australia are between six and eight nights. Overnight port stops are common in some cities, including Hobart and Cairns.

South Pacific cruise itineraries

The Pacific Ocean is home to approximately 30,000 islands, and you can visit a select few of these islands on cruise itineraries to the South Pacific.

Cruises from Australia to the South Pacific visit the islands closest to Australia. Most commonly, these itineraries visit islands in the French territory of New Caledonia and the Pacific nation of Vanuatu.

New Caledonia offers breathtaking beaches along with linguistic, cultural, and culinary influences from France. Most itineraries visit Noumea, the capital and largest city of the region, whereas others may include visits to the smaller, lesser known Loyalty Islands.

Related: 15 countries you didn't know you could cruise to on Royal Caribbean

Vanuatu, on the other hand, is quite different from French New Caledonia. The island chain is an independent country and is part of Melanesia, a subregion of Oceania that has been inhabited by the indigenous Melanesian people for over 3,000 years. Today, most inhabitants speak both English and the local language of Bislama.

Most South Pacific itineraries stop in Port Vila, the nation’s capital, and others include a stop at Mystery Island, a tiny, uninhabited island that offers a picture-perfect day in paradise.

Notably, Royal Caribbean is set to launch Perfect Day at Lelepa in the coming years, a private destination in Vanuatu on Lelepa Island, just a few miles off the coast from Port Vila.

Regardless of the itinerary, all South Pacific cruises offer a tropical getaway for passengers, transporting them from the hustle and bustle of Australia’s cities to the region’s tranquil, white sand beaches.

While visiting the South Pacific, many passengers enjoy activities such as snorkeling, cultural island tours, and kayaking. Itineraries range from seven night cruises visiting two islands to longer, more port-intensive ten night itineraries.

New Zealand cruise itineraries

New Zealand is a dream cruise destination for passengers who love exploring the outdoors. The country’s volcanic landscapes, dramatic fjords, and quaint towns provide endless opportunities for adventures on each port day.

Royal Caribbean does not offer cruises departing from New Zealand; rather, cruises to the country depart from Australia. Traveling to New Zealand requires two sea days in each direction from Sydney and three from Brisbane, but it’s well worth the travel time.

Depending on the itinerary, a New Zealand cruise will visit a variety of ports in both the North and South Island. While visiting the country, passengers can discover Hobbiton in Matamata, skydive in Queenstown, see penguins near Dunedin, and enjoy a scenic cruising day along Milford Sound.

Most New Zealand cruise itineraries are between ten and fourteen nights. Itineraries include a mix of port days where passengers disembark the ship, but they also include sailing days where passengers can marvel at New Zealand’s natural wonders while staying onboard.

Transpacific cruise itineraries

The last type of cruise itinerary offered from Australia are transpacific cruises.

Each October, Royal Caribbean repositions at least two ships from North America to Australia. In April, the cruise line returns the ships to North America after the Australia cruise season has ended.

Instead of sailing an empty ship from one continent to another, passengers can book these transpacific cruise itineraries, which are broken into two legs.

On route to Australia, the first leg is a cruise from Vancouver, Canada to Hawaii. The second departs from Honolulu and ends in Sydney or Brisbane, Australia, calling upon ports in the South Pacific and/or New Zealand along the way.

Related: Ultimate Hawaii cruise guide

In April, these itineraries are offered in reverse.

Transpacific cruises have many sea days, with the first leg around ten nights and the second up to eighteen or nineteen nights. They provide the chance to visit more remote destinations, such as French Polynesia, which you cannot visit any other way on a Royal Caribbean cruise.

Land versus cruise vacation from Australia

Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific are, arguably, best visited by cruise ship instead of a land vacation.

Most major attractions in this region of the world are conveniently located along the coast, whether the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, Dusky Sound in New Zealand, or island of Lifou in New Caledonia.

Despite that, destinations in these regions can be very far away from each other. Rather than booking expensive flights from island to island in the South Pacific, for example, you can visit multiple islands in one week on a cruise.

Because transportation logistics are handled by the cruise line and not yourself, you can enjoy leisurely evenings onboard as your ship travels from place to place. And, once you arrive in port, you will not incur lengthy travel times from the port to the city like you would in a destination such as Rome or Paris.

When is the best time to cruise to Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific?

As mentioned, Royal Caribbean only sails from Australia from early November to April each year, coinciding with the warmest weather in the region. Because cruises are offered to such a wide range of destinations, though, the “best” time to cruise in one region could differ from another.

If you’re planning a cruise to New Zealand, for example, you won’t find many cruise itineraries in the early part of November. Because November is still springtime in New Zealand, most cruises to the country are not offered until later in the month.

Related: When is the best time to go on a cruise?

Instead, most itineraries in November visit ports in the South Pacific and within Australia. During this month, temperatures are more comfortable than in the peak of summer. Additionally, ports may not be as busy as the school year is still in session.

Throughout December, January, and February, you can expect higher temperatures and humidity, along with higher crowds during the summer school holidays. These months offer the best weather for cruises to New Zealand, but you should prepare for hot, rainy port days in tropical destinations.

The late season, from March to April, brings lower prices and more comfortable temperatures.

What to bring on a cruise to Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific

Packing for a cruise vacation can be stressful, especially if you’re cruising to a destination you have not visited before. For cruises from Australia, packing needs will vary greatly depending on your itinerary.

If you're traveling to the South Pacific and Queensland, packing beach attire is essential. Be sure to bring several swimsuits along with a beach bag, comfortable sandals, and a sun hat. Some beaches may have rocky shores, so wearing sturdy sandals or sneakers is preferred over flip flops.

Although you can often rent snorkeling gear in these regions, packing your own snorkel mask and fins will be more cost-effective and convenient, especially if your itinerary includes several beach days.

Related: 40 essential things to bring on a cruise

If your cruise visits South Australia and Tasmania, be sure to pack comfortable walking shoes for city tours. You’ll also want to bring a jacket, especially for Tasmania cruises, as weather can be quite unpredictable in this part of the country.

For cruises to New Zealand, it’s just as important to be prepared for unexpected weather. Packing layers is crucial, as the country is known for experiencing all four seasons in a single day! If you have cruised to Alaska before, you’ll find packing tips similar, with rain-resistant gear and warm layers required.

What currency do I use on a cruise from Australia?

Because cruises from Australia can visit ports not only within Australia but also in New Zealand and the South Pacific, it can be confusing to know which currency to use in each port.

In most case scenarios, the best situation when making purchases in several different countries is to use a credit card. Making card payments means you will not have to worry about converting currencies or taking out several types of currency at ATMs.

Yet while card payments will be widely accepted in Australia, New Zealand, and the bigger cities in the South Pacific like Noumea and Port Vila, you may need cash when visiting smaller islands.

Related: How much cash should you bring on a cruise?

Many ports in Vanuatu will accept Australian dollars, and the immediate port areas in New Caledonia will do so as well. However, you shouldn’t try to use U.S. dollars, euros, or other currencies in any port destination on a cruise from Australia, unless your tour operator specifies the currency will be accepted.

If you’re cruising to the South Pacific, it’s recommended to bring Australian dollars to cover expenses such as souvenirs, food in port, and excursions not booked through the cruise line.

Be sure to take out Australian dollars at an ATM prior to embarking a Royal Caribbean cruise. ATMs onboard your ship will dispense U.S. dollars instead of Australian dollars, and the exchange rate offered at Guest Services is abysmal.

Check out our other guides to Royal Caribbean cruise destinations:

• Ultimate Greek Isles cruise guide
• Western Mediterranean cruise guide
• Bahamas Cruise Guide
• Alaska cruise guide
• Ultimate Mexico cruise guide
• Mexican Riviera cruise guide

From the moment I stepped onboard Icon of the Seas, I was wowed.

I’ve cruised on 18 of Royal Caribbean’s 27 cruise ships, and as someone who typically prefers smaller ships, I was taken aback by just how much I loved the cruise line’s newest ship.

While Icon of the Seas may be the biggest cruise ship in the world, her impressive characteristics go beyond just her size.

Beyond the obvious—stellar entertainment, modern cabins, and a plethora of onboard activities—it was the smaller touches on Icon of the Seas that blew me away. I was impressed by the amount of ocean views, variety of new dining options, and thoughtful design of the ship’s eight neighborhoods.

I had only three days onboard during a media preview cruise, and this was not nearly enough time to experience all the ship had to offer. That being said, my short time onboard easily had me come to the conclusion that Icon of the Seas is my favorite ship in Royal Caribbean’s fleet.

Related: Our complete guide to Icon of the Seas

From the trendy new food hall to the gorgeous Royal Promenade, here are 5 reasons why the newest Royal Caribbean ship is my favorite—and why I can’t wait to get back onboard.

I loved the The Overlook, which offers unmatched views and ambiance

Of all the brand new areas to explore on Icon of the Seas, I was perhaps most excited to check out The Overlook, a hangout space in the front of the AquaDome.

The AquaDome—an 82-foot-tall glass dome at the forward top of Icon of the Seas—is an impressive feat of engineering within itself. And while the AquaDome is most known for its indoor AquaTheater entertainment venue, my favorite aspect of this area is The Overlook.

If you have sailed on Royal Caribbean’s Quantum or Oasis Class ships, you should be familiar with the ships’ indoor Solariums, which are located in the same area as The Overlook. Yet instead of making this another pool space on Icon of the Seas, the cruise line did something more innovative: they created The Overlook.

The Overlook is an indoor lounge with some of the most breathtaking views you’ll find anywhere on the ship. I found myself drawn to The Overlook during my time onboard. With its comfortable seating, floor-to-ceiling windows, and close proximity to two bars, I could easily spend an entire day in the area with no regrets.

Related: Icon of the Seas AquaDome: What to expect

If you can snag one of the coveted Overlook Pods, you’re in for a treat. Inside The Overlook are four seating areas—called pods—some of which are elevated off the ground. Not only are these pods an excellent place for that perfect Instagram shot, but they are, without a doubt, a chic hangout space.

Whether you’re imbibing with your travel party or challenging new friends to a game of cards, the pods provide a scenic, semi-private area to relax in the AquaDome neighborhood. As a plus, the pods have several outlets under the seats, which makes them a perfect place to plug in a device if you need to get any work done while onboard.

Family-focused areas are condensed into one place, making the experience wonderful for both kids and adults

Icon of the Seas was designed to be the ultimate family vacation, and it seems she has lived up to the hype. Not only does the ship have its own waterpark, but Icon features kid-friendly favorites like a carousel, rock climbing wall, baby splash pad, mini golf course, and playground, among other activities.

As a 20-something without kids, I was nervous about just how family-focused Icon of the Seas would be. Although I have loved my cruises on Royal Caribbean’s Oasis Class ships, the vessels do not necessarily have a central “hub” for families. I always found them to be slightly overpacked with kids.

Icon of the Seas, on the other hand, has specific neighborhoods designed with families in mind. Surfside, for instance, is designed almost exclusively for young children, with kid-friendly restaurants, an arcade, Splashaway Bay aqua park, and a bar featuring “mommy and me” cocktails and mocktails. Additionally, Thrill Island, home to the Category 6 Waterpark, is another popular area designed for families.

Related: Icon of the Seas Surfside neighborhood: What to expect

During my cruise, it appeared that Royal Caribbean’s thorough design of these neighborhoods was successful—they were packed with families and young children.

Some prospective cruisers sailing without kids have been put off by Icon of the Seas’ overt marketing toward families. For my adults-only getaway, though, I found these family-focused neighborhoods to be a plus. Because families were drawn to specific zones of the ship, the rest of the vessel felt much more adult-focused.

The AquaDome Market offers an excellent addition to Royal Caribbean’s dining options

The industry’s trendiest dining concept in recent ship builds has been the food hall, and Royal Caribbean has caught on to that trend with the launch of the AquaDome Market.

Either in lieu of or in addition to a buffet, cruise lines like Virgin Voyages and Norwegian have debuted a food marketplace on new ships, which offers a selection of made-to-order dishes from individual stands, each offering a different cuisine.

I have to admit I was jealous when I read my coworkers’ reviews of these food halls on our sister site Cruise.Blog. Not only did these food halls look unquestionably cool, but they offered cuisine you’d be hard pressed to find in a traditional buffet, including Spanish tapas and Japanese ramen.

So when I boarded Icon of the Seas, my first stop was the AquaDome Market for lunch. The marketplace, located inside the ship’s AquaDome neighborhood, offers five food stands offering everything from chicken pita wraps to bacon mac n’ cheese and a variety of paninis. This venue is complimentary for guests.

Related: Icon of the Seas restaurant and dining guide

My favorite station at the AquaDome Market is GNGR, which offers Asian-inspired rice and noodle bowls. Protein options include sweet and sour shrimp, ginger beef, and chicken teriyaki, and bowls are topped with fried vegetable spring rolls. While portions are on the smaller side, this allowed me to try other options in the market as well.

In addition to GNGR, I loved my falafel and hummus bowl at FETA Mediterranean, while fellow Royal Caribbean Blog writer Angie raved about the cheesy selections at MAC’s Mac & Cheese and the Monte Cristo sandwich at Toast & Garden.

Of course, you can’t eat at AquaDome market without trying a crepe at Crème de la Crêpe. Whether a classic crepe with lemon zest and dusted sugar or the decadent Nutella banana option, you can’t go wrong with any crepe at the AquaDome market—I tried them all!

Although the expansive Windjammer buffet still offers a far greater number of choices compared to the AquaDome Market, I found myself dining at the AquaDome Market far more frequently than the latter. The selection of cuisines, made-to-order dishes, and overall stylish vibe of the venue is sure to make this spot a hit for the new vessel.

The Hideaway is everything I’ve ever wanted in an adults-only hangout space, even if I might miss the indoor Solarium

Icon of the Seas is the only Royal Caribbean ship without an adults-only Solarium, but there is a neighborhood in its place instead: The Hideaway.

Located in the ship’s aft, The Hideaway is the only designated adults-only area on Icon of the Seas. The space was designed with “Las Vegas pool party” in mind, and it’s a sophisticated, trendy pool space for adults 18 years and older.

Because the Solarium is one of my favorite areas on other Royal Caribbean ships, I was initially disappointed to hear the venue would be replaced with The Hideaway. After all, many Solariums are fully indoors, providing a climate-controlled, shaded area for adults to unwind.

The Hideaway, on the contrary, does not have much shade and is open to the elements, yet these downsides are overpowered by the sheer coolness of the area. With a suspended infinity pool, comfortable daybeds, two jacuzzis, and The Hideaway Bar, The Hideaway is easily my first choice for a pool day on Icon of the Seas.

Time will tell, however, whether an indoor Solarium is missed by passengers on Icon of the Seas. More often than not, I found myself lounging in the Solarium on other ships without entering a pool or hot tub anyway, so if I’m looking for a quiet, indoor area to relax, I could do that in The Overlook in the AquaDome instead.

Views of the ocean are abundant in the traditionally inward-facing Royal Promenade, and I loved spending time there

One of my main complaints about Royal Caribbean’s newest ships has always been the lack of ocean views. Ships like Wonder of the Seas and Odyssey of the Seas are so big that it’s easy to forget you’re on a cruise ship altogether… but truthfully, I don’t want to forget that I’m on a cruise ship.

In particular, the Royal Promenade and Royal Esplanade on Royal Caribbean’s ships have traditionally faced inward, with little to no ocean views. Sure, the Royal Promenade offers ample choice for entertainment, dining, shopping, and activities, but sometimes all I wanted was to sit and relax with a beautiful view.

While designing Icon of the Seas, Royal Caribbean saw this shortcoming and decided to completely rethink the Royal Promenade. Instead of designing venues to face inward, the cruise line went above and beyond with ocean views.

Related: Icon of the Seas Royal Promenade: What to expect

From Pearl Café’s expansive, five-deck high window to the indoor (and outdoor!) views from the newly debuted 1400 Lobby Bar, natural light and ocean views are abundant on Icon’s Royal Promenade.

Whereas the Royal Promenade would usually be a place I would avoid during the day in lieu of brighter, ocean-facing venues onboard, I couldn’t get enough of the space during my cruise. In fact, I probably spent more time in the Royal Promenade on Icon of the Seas than during all my cruises on Oasis Class ships combined.

On most other Royal Caribbean ships, the Royal Promenade is simply a place to quickly pass through during the day. On Icon of the Seas, it’s a destination.

While Icon of the Seas is not perfect, it’s pretty darn close

It’s impossible to build a “perfect” cruise ship, but Icon of the Seas comes close. The thoughtful design touches, number of new dining and bar concepts, diversity of stateroom options, and countless onboard activities are just a few of the reasons why Icon of the Seas is a game changer for the cruising industry.

Even so, not everything is perfect with Icon of the Seas. It’s hard to overlook the price tag of sailing on the ship, even when comparing it to the second newest ship in Royal Caribbean's fleet, Wonder of the Seas.

You can expect to pay at least $2,000 per person for an interior room on a 7-night Icon of the Seas cruise. Wonder of the Seas is, on average, around half the cost for the same type of cabin.

Related: How much does a cruise cost? (2024)

Despite the fact that new ships have always come with a high sticker cost, Icon of the Seas has taken Royal Caribbean’s new cruise ship pricing to a new level.

Additionally, the itineraries on Icon of the Seas are extremely limited. As a destination-focused cruiser, I almost exclusively book cruises based on the destination rather than the ship itself. Because Icon of the Seas only offers the same few Caribbean itineraries week after week, the itineraries are not very enticing.

Nonetheless, Icon of the Seas is the first ship I sailed on where I could see myself skipping a port day in order to spend more time onboard. Previously, I used to scoff at the idea of staying onboard instead of exploring a new port, but there is so much to see and experience on Icon of the Seas to justify skipping a port day. I truly never thought I would say that!

Even when keeping these downsides in mind, there’s no denying that Icon of the Seas provides an exceptional vacation experience. I definitely won’t be booking the ship for every cruise vacation I take—my budget would not allow that—but cruising on a ship this magnificent is something every cruiser “Loyal to Royal” should experience at least once.

Interested in cruising on Icon of the Seas? Check out our full ship tour on YouTube here.

There are a few proven strategies I always use to save money on a cruise vacation, and my recent cruise was no exception.

After cruising over twenty times on a budget, I’ve learned how to stretch my vacation budget during every aspect of the process, from booking my cruise fare to planning shore excursions.

On my most recent cruise on Brilliance of the Seas—a 10-night sailing to the South Pacific from Sydney, Australia—I saved thousands of dollars by using a few of these travel “hacks”.

Not only was this itinerary the longest cruise I had ever booked, but it was the furthest from home I had ever traveled for a cruise. Wanting to make the most of my trip to Australia, I tried to stretch my budget as far as possible.

Here are the eight ways I saved thousands of dollars on my recent cruise vacation.

*All prices are in US Dollar (USD) unless otherwise noted

I booked an interior cabin

For my ten nights on Brilliance of the Seas, I stayed in an interior cabin. While staying in a windowless, closet-sized cabin is nothing luxurious, it’s definitely a money saver.

While booking my cruise, I compared the price of an interior cabin to the more spacious ocean view and balcony cabins, but higher cruise fares kept me from booking these rooms.

I paid $2,018 total for the cabin, or $1,009 per guest. If I had booked an oceanview or balcony cabin instead, my cruise fare would have increased by hundreds of dollars.

Related: Why you should book a cruise ship inside room

In most cases, I prefer to stretch my vacation budget as far as possible. Saving a few hundred dollars on my cruise fare gave me a bigger budget for other aspects of my vacation, whether the scuba diving trip I booked prior to the cruise or shore excursions in the South Pacific.

Additionally, there is not much scenery (aside from the ocean) when sailing to and from ports in the South Pacific. If I had booked a cruise to New Zealand, on the other hand, I might have decided to splurge on a balcony.

I booked my cruise a year in advance

When it comes to finding the cheapest cruise deals, it’s almost always better to book far in advance rather than at the last minute. Booking your cruise one or two years in the future can save hundreds (or possibly even thousands) of dollars compared to waiting until just a few months before the departure date.

Of course, it’s not always possible to book cruises so far in advance. It might be difficult to plan vacation days, school schedules, and other responsibilities years in the future. Fortunately for me, my biggest responsibility is my dog, so I was able to book my cruise a year in advance without worry.

Related: The best time to book cruises by day, month, and last-minute

Booking my cruise a year before the departure date not only offered a lower price compared to booking months later, but more options for cabins, too. For those looking to book a particular suite, it’s recommended to book your cruise early so the cabin doesn’t sell out.

When I repriced the cruise months after booking, I saw the price of my cabin had increased by around $1,000. I was glad to have booked the cruise as early as I did.

I split private shore excursions with other guests

I rarely book shore excursions when I cruise, typically preferring to explore on my own. Yet when researching the South Pacific islands on my itinerary, I realized a shore excursion might be the best way to explore several of the islands.

Looking to get the most bang for my buck, I decided against booking shore excursions directly through Royal Caribbean. While convenient, these excursions are almost always priced higher than tours booked through independent tour operators.

Instead, I booked shore excursions with other guests on my cruise. A few months prior to my sailing, I joined a Facebook group for my cruise date. Not only was the group a helpful resource when planning my first cruise from Australia, but I found several posts advertising open spots on excursions booked through independent tour companies.

In Noumea, New Caledonia, I snagged a spot on a private catamaran tour to nearby islands, and I joined a group of friends on an excursion in Luganville, Vanuatu.

Booking these tours on my own would have been much more costly—the catamaran would have set me back over $2,000 alone!

I used my Crown & Anchor Society discounts whenever possible

Royal Caribbean’s Crown & Anchor Society program is among the most generous cruise line loyalty programs in the industry. You only need to cruise once to start reaping the most basic benefits of the program, such as discounts on internet packages and select beverages.

As a Diamond Plus member of the Crown & Anchor Society, the second highest tier, I receive a range of money-saving benefits, from a free bag of laundry to five complimentary drinks per day.

Related: 11 of our favorite under-the-radar Crown & Anchor perks

Taking advantage of these discounts during my 10-night cruise allowed me to save several hundred dollars, especially considering each cocktail costs around $15.

In total, I saved $25 by using a BOGO deal at a specialty restaurant, $35.99 on a bag of laundry, and over $750 on alcoholic beverages.

I took the train from the airport instead of an Uber

I may have saved hundreds of dollars by booking an interior room over a balcony, but even the smallest purchases can add up to great savings over time.

When I arrived at the airport in Sydney, I decided against taking a taxi or Uber into the city. Instead, I rode the train that goes directly from the airport to downtown for around $12.

Given that an Uber would have cost roughly $25-30, I found the train to be the better choice. As another plus, riding the train meant I didn’t have to wait in traffic while traveling downtown, and my hotel was within a short walk from the station.

I monitored flights to find the best deal

When I initially estimated the cost of my flight to Australia, I gave myself a budget of around $1,600. Given the distance between the United States and Australia, I assumed flights would be fairly expensive, especially since my home airport is quite small.

Because I booked my cruise so far in advance, I had a lot of time to monitor flights and try to find the best price. When I first looked, I saw prices around $1,500 to $1,600. While technically within my budget, I decided to risk it and wait for a better deal.

I checked and monitored flight prices on Google Flights every few weeks hoping for a price drop. A few months before my cruise began, I decided I should book my flight sooner rather than later; when I checked again, I saw that the price had dropped to just $1,273.

While $1,273 is still a hefty amount of money to spend on a flight, I found it extremely reasonable for a flight to Australia. Considering that it often costs me $600+ to fly to Florida from the west coast (yikes!), an extra $600 to fly to Australia felt like a bargain.

I utilized Priceline’s Express Deals for a cheaper hotel stay

One of the travel “hacks” I’ve utilized throughout the past year is to book my pre-cruise hotel stay through Priceline Express Deals.

Priceline Express Deals is a “blind booking” option on Priceline that can lead to significant savings on hotel stays. When searching for hotels with this feature, you cannot see the exact name and location in the search results. You can filter the results somewhat, such as selecting your preferred neighborhood in the city, but brands, hotel names, and locations remain hidden.

While this might seem risky, I found a hack for the program. Using Google Images’ reverse image search, you can take the image from Priceline and upload it to Google’s search engine. In most cases, the image will match an image online from the hotel, allowing you to see the exact hotel name and location.

I “blind” booked the Holiday Inn Express Darling Harbour through Priceline, and this saved me around $50 compared to booking the hotel directly on Holiday Inn’s website.

I avoided expensive add-ons on the ship

Finally, the last way I saved money during my recent cruise was by avoiding expensive purchases once onboard Brilliance of the Seas.

Everything you need is included on a Royal Caribbean cruise, from multiple dining venues to entertainment shows and comfortable cabins. Yet most passengers will spend extra on add-ons during their cruise, whether cocktails, spa treatments, or souvenirs.

During my cruise I tried to avoid spending money on extra add-ons whenever possible. While I would have loved to book a spa appointment, I couldn’t justify spending over $200 for a massage. Instead, I took advantage of a complimentary massage included with a cabana rental I reserved in port.

Related: How to have the best experience for cheap on Royal Caribbean

Likewise, I decided against booking specialty dining packages for the sailing. Because I was sailing on an older ship, specialty restaurant options were limited. None of the restaurants particularly appealed to me, so I dined primarily at complimentary restaurants instead.

Sticking mostly to complimentary venues and avoiding activities like gambling helped me save money while on the ship, and I never felt limited with so many free things to do onboard.

Deciding which cabin to book for a Royal Caribbean cruise can seem daunting. With so many cabin categories available, from small interior cabins to multi-story suites, it’s helpful to get an idea of what each type of cabin offers.

On my most recent Royal Caribbean cruise, I booked a 170 square foot interior cabin on Brilliance of the Seas, a Radiance Class cruise ship that launched in 2001.

The total cost of my interior cabin for a South Pacific itinerary on Brilliance of the Seas was $2,018. This included taxes, fees, and gratuities for two people in the cabin, which brought the cost to $1,009 per person. Because the cruise was ten nights long, the price per night was around $202, or $101 per person, per night.

Initially I was a bit skeptical to spend ten nights in a tiny interior cabin, as I had never taken a cruise over seven nights long before. In fact, I even considered upgrading to an oceanview or balcony room, but ultimately decided against it. Saving money on my cruise fare enabled me to spend more on extras like shore excursions and even an additional post-cruise night in my disembarkation port of Sydney, Australia.

Related: I spent $3,214 on a 10-night Royal Caribbean cruise. Here’s what everything cost, from my $1,273 flight to $230 catamaran tour

While my windowless cabin was certainly nothing luxurious, it quickly became a cozy place to call home on Brilliance of the Seas. Let’s take a look inside.

My interior cabin had a king-sized bed, which was two twin-sized beds pushed together. The bed took up the majority of this area of the cabin, with just a small amount of space on each side of the bed.

A nightstand with a drawer and a nightlight were placed on each side of the bed, too. The master lights could be controlled via a switch on just the left bedside, with the stateroom’s telephone on the right.

My friend and I later had the bed separated into twin beds. Each bed was pushed to the wall and our nightstands were placed in the middle. By doing so, our cabin seemed to have more walking space, as the space on each side of the king bed was combined together in the middle between the two twin beds.

While my cabin was quite small, I appreciated the fact that we had a couch. Some interior cabins on Royal Caribbean ships only feature a small chair, and this is never ideal when both guests want to relax in the cabin without sitting on the bed.

Like all Royal Caribbean cabins, my Brilliance of the Seas cabin also featured a desk and vanity space. In this space was a desk with seven drawers along with a television, cooler, and additional shelving. I found the desk chair comfortable when getting ready for dinner in front of the mirror or working at my computer.

There were two North American-style outlets and two European-style outlets at my cabin’s desk. Because Brilliance of the Seas is an older Royal Caribbean ship, you will not find outlets by the bedside or elsewhere in the cabin.

While I do prefer charging my phone by my bed, I still found the amount of outlets adequate in the cabin. Bringing a European plug adapter ensured I could take advantage of all four outlets, too, and this was an essential item to pack for my sailing.

Related: 40 essential things to bring on a cruise

Depending on your cruise market, a kettle may be available in the cabin. Cruises from Australia and the United Kingdom, for instance, typically place a kettle on your ship’s vanity or dresser.

Above the television was a safe along with two additional shelves. Because of the amount of storage elsewhere in the cabin, though, I did not have a need for these extra shelves. Instead, I stored the cabin’s kettle in this area so it was out of the way for the sailing.

Below the television was a mini cooler, which came empty. Using the cooler was helpful during our cruise, whether to store beverages like Powerade and water bottles before a port day or to store fruit and desserts I brought back to my cabin.

Next to the vanity, closest to the cabin’s door, was a closet.

Inside the closet were six shelves along with ample space for hanging clothes. If you would prefer to use your cabin’s vanity drawers for storing belongings like snorkel gear and electronics, you should find more than enough space in the closet to unpack your clothing.

Being an older ship, I expected storage space in the cabin to be lacking, but I did not find this to be the case whatsoever, and there were more than enough shelves and drawers to fit my belongings, both in the vanity and closet.

It’s not a cruise from Australia if you don’t bring a pack of Tim Tams with you to the cabin, and these delightful cookies had a permanent spot in my cabin’s cabinet (until they were gone, of course).

Related: What surprised me on my first Australia cruise

My cabin had a private bathroom, and while not very spacious, it was well maintained given the ship’s age.

Like the rest of the cabin, the bathroom also had storage space, with shelving behind the mirrors for toiletries, hair styling tools, and makeup.

The shower had a cloth curtain, and while a combination body wash and shampoo was provided, I recommend bringing your own body wash, shampoo, and conditioner. Additionally, there were two small shelves in the shower.

Overall, I found my Brilliance of the Seas cabin to be comfortable during my ten night stay onboard. I found the cabin better maintained than the cabin I stayed in last year on sister ship Radiance of the Seas. There did not appear to be much wear and tear in my Brilliance of the Seas cabin compared to her sister ship.

Ultimately, there is no right or wrong cabin to book on a Royal Caribbean cruise. Booking an interior cabin could be the perfect choice for those on a budget, but a nightmare cabin for passengers in search of something more opulent.

Having such a tiny cabin encouraged me to spend time elsewhere onboard, allowing me to experience more activities and make friends with fellow passengers during the sailing.

I found my small, windowless cabin to be the perfect place to call home during my cruise.

Last month I flew across the world to take a cruise from Australia for the first time. My 10-night cruise embarked in Sydney and called upon five ports in the South Pacific. During my time onboard, there were a few aspects of the Australian cruise experience that surprised me.

Each cruise market is unique. Whether you’re planning a cruise from Shanghai or Miami, you can expect subtle differences in menus, restaurant choices, entertainment, and the onboard culture.

After taking my first cruise from the United Kingdom last year, I noticed several differences between cruising from the United States versus England, such as menu differences in the dining room to the passenger demographic.

Related: I tried my first cruise from the UK: here’s what you should know

For that reason, when I booked my first cruise from Australia—a country I had never visited before—I knew I might encounter differences in the Royal Caribbean experience compared to cruises in the North American market.

As I embarked my cruise on Brilliance of the Seas, though, I did not encounter as many differences as I predicted. For the most part, my experience onboard felt identical to cruising from the United States (albeit with a few more Australian accents).

However, there were a few surprises I encountered on my first cruise from Australia. From the exchange rate to the quiet ports, here are 7 things that surprised me during my time down under.

Flying to Australia was not as hard as I thought it would be

It’s no secret that Australia is isolated from much of the world. Therefore, when I was planning a cruise from Australia, the flight was the aspect of the vacation I was looking forward to the least.

Although you can fly from the eastern United States to some European cruise ports, such as Rome and Barcelona, within seven or eight hours, the same cannot be said about Australia. The shortest direct flight to Sydney from the continental United States is from Los Angeles, and even then it takes fifteen hours!

Fortunately I am based on the west coast, so I was able to book this “short” flight to Australia. Surprisingly, while spending fifteen hours in an airplane is not necessarily enjoyable, it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be.

Considering it usually takes eleven or twelve hours to fly directly from California to Europe, the extra few hours were not a big deal. And even though I connected in Los Angeles from a smaller airport, my overall travel day was not as miserable as I initially predicted.

For those American cruisers based on the west coast, getting to Australia is not much more difficult than traveling to Europe.

Doing back-to-back cruises is worth it when traveling all the way to Australia

If you’re traveling all the way to Australia for a cruise, why not book two cruises? One thing that surprised me when planning a cruise from Australia was the variety of itinerary options.

Whereas a ship could visit the fjords of New Zealand one week, it might sail to picture-perfect Pacific islands the next. If you plan your travels correctly, you can book back-to-back cruises visiting vastly different landscapes and cultures.

Flights to Australia aren’t cheap, and booking back-to-back cruises helps spread out the cost of your flight over a longer period of time. If you have the vacation time, it’s worth booking two itineraries instead of one.

Related: Back-to-back cruises tips and advice

If you opt not to do a back-to-back cruise, be sure to include at least a few days before or after the cruise to sightsee within Australia. Although I did not book back-to-back cruises for my trip, I arrived in the country over a week before my cruise was set to begin.

This gave me time to explore some of the country’s highlights, such as the Great Barrier Reef and Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park, before returning to Sydney to board my cruise.

Domestic itineraries are offered in Australia, which isn’t allowed in the United States

One major difference between cruises departing from Australia versus the United States is that Australia offers domestic itineraries.

Due to the Passenger Vessel Services Act in the United States, all foreign-flagged cruise ships departing from an American port are required to stop in at least one foreign port prior to returning to the United States.

This is why you will never see cruise itineraries visiting only ports in the United States. While a cruise from New York, as an example, may include port stops in Florida, they will always visit a foreign port, too, whether in The Bahamas or elsewhere in the Caribbean.

In Australia, though, this type of law does not apply. You can cruise from Sydney to ports along the coast of Queensland without the requirement to stop in another country.

You can visit the wineries of South Australia, marvel at panoramic views of Tasmania from Mount Wellington, scuba dive on the Great Barrier Reef, and sail along the Whitsundays in Airlie Beach all without leaving Australia.

Plus, because most Australian cities are directly on the coast, cruising is a convenient way to experience these destinations.

Embarkation in Sydney is extremely convenient

Sydney’s cruise port is in Sydney Harbour, and it is perhaps the most conveniently located cruise port in the world. The port, otherwise known as the Overseas Passenger Terminal, is located in Circular Quay, which is directly in the city center.

Reaching the port on embarkation day is easy and stress-free. Passengers traveling from the airport can hop on a 20-minute train traveling from the airport to Sydney Harbour. Those staying in downtown hotels can walk to the port within a few minutes.

Related: 15 Royal Caribbean boarding process tips for a fast embarkation

Even if you’re not staying near Circular Quay, a short Uber ride can bring you to the port quickly.

Once at the terminal, I found the embarkation process to be straightforward. I was onboard Brilliance of the Seas within fifteen minutes of my arrival at the port.

As another plus, as your ship leaves Circular Quay, you will sail past famous landmarks such as the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge, leading to absolutely spectacular views during sailaway.

The current exchange rate makes visiting Australia beneficial for American tourists

If you’re an American planning a cruise from Australia, you’ll find the current exchange rate between the US dollar and Australian dollar to work in your favor. Currently, $1 AUD is equal to $0.67 USD.

Although Australia can be an expensive country to visit, the exchange rate means Americans' dollars will go further in the country. That $100 AUD shore excursion is more like $70 USD, and a $20 AUD meal will only set you back around $14.

I found it easier to stick to my vacation budget with the exchange rate working in my favor, and it allowed me to “splurge” more on add-ons like shore excursions, drinks, and souvenirs.

Those visiting from the United Kingdom or elsewhere in Europe will also find the exchange rate beneficial. $1 AUD is equal to only $0.53 GBP and $0.61 Euro.

The South Pacific islands are not as commercialized as those in the Caribbean

Another aspect of cruising from Australia that surprised me was the lack of commercialization at island ports.

I love visiting the Caribbean, but I often find the commercialization of cruise ports to be overwhelming. It’s hard to escape the massive amounts of crowds and find authentic experiences in the busiest cruise ports.

Related: 10 Royal Caribbean cruise destinations not to be missed

During my South Pacific cruise itinerary, I visited five islands in the French territory of New Caledonia and the Pacific nation of Vanuatu. Although these islands do receive tourists, I found them to have a more tranquil vibe compared to busy ports like Nassau and Cozumel.

Beaches were less crowded and fewer restaurants, bars, and souvenir shops were available—there was a noticeable lack of Señor Frogs and jewelry stores. I preferred the calmer atmosphere of these beautiful destinations, and I never felt taken advantage of as a cruise tourist when visiting islands in the South Pacific.

The last thing that surprised me about cruising from Australia is how eager I would be to go back

When I first planned my cruise from Australia, I assumed it would be a “one and done” place for me. I tried to fit as much as I could into my three-week trip, both in Australia and around the South Pacific islands, just in case I never made it back to the region.

I knew I would enjoy visiting Australia and the South Pacific, but I didn’t expect to love the country so much. Whether exploring Sydney’s buzzing streets, walking the esplanade in Cairns, or lounging on the beach in Mystery Island, every aspect of my trip exceeded my expectations.

Leaving Australia, I already couldn’t wait to plan a trip back. Whether that means booking a domestic cruise to South Australia or a 12-night sailing to New Zealand, I am already hoping to return to Australia soon.

Cruises are known for offering an impressive value in a vacation. Food, accommodation, onboard activities, and transportation to various ports is included in guests’ cruise fares, and this is what draws millions of people, including myself, to book cruises every year.

Last month I cruised to the South Pacific from Sydney, Australia, and I spent ten days aboard Royal Caribbean’s Brilliance of the Seas.

Because it was my first time cruising from Australia, I wasn’t sure what to expect in terms of my cruise budget, but I hoped I could keep costs relatively low while still maximizing my vacation experience.

In total, I spent $3,214 for my cruise vacation. Here’s what everything cost, from my $1,273 flight to $230 catamaran tour.

*All prices are in US Dollar (USD) unless otherwise noted

I paid $1,009 for my cruise fare, which included all taxes, fees, and gratuities

I booked my South Pacific cruise nearly a year in advance. This meant prices were significantly cheaper than if I had booked just a few weeks or months before the departure date.

For a 10-night cruise, my interior cabin came out to just $2,018, which included all taxes, fees, and gratuities for two guests. As one of my friends joined me on the sailing, we paid just $1,009 each. This was a steal for a 10-night itinerary, bringing the nightly cost to just around $100 per person.

Flying to Australia is not necessarily cheap, but I found prices relatively reasonable. For a round trip flight on Delta from Los Angeles to Sydney, I paid $1,273. I booked the flight around three months before my cruise.

In addition to my flight, I spent around $45 on roundtrip transportation from Sydney’s airport to the city center. While I took the train into the city upon arrival, I decided on an Uber on the way back as it was more convenient with luggage, albeit more expensive.

I spent the night in Sydney before my cruise, and I spent $200 total for a hotel room

It’s always recommended to arrive in your cruise departure city the day before your cruise begins. This allows you to have extra wiggle room in case your flight gets delayed or canceled.

Most flights from the United States to Australia depart at night and arrive in Sydney in the morning. However, because of the time difference between the two countries, you will usually arrive two calendar days after your flight departs.

Related: The costly cruising mistake newbies make planning their first cruise

If your flight leaves Los Angeles at 10:30 PM on November 20, for example, you will not arrive in Sydney until the morning of November 22. Be sure to account for this when planning flights to Australia.

Regardless of when you arrive, you will need to book a pre-cruise hotel for the night before your cruise. I spent $200 to stay at the Holiday Inn Darling Harbour, which was located near the city’s Chinatown neighborhood. While the hotel was not the most luxurious in Sydney—consider the Hilton, Four Seasons, or Shangri-La for a more upscale experience—it provided a comfortable stay before heading to the cruise port the following morning.

I only spent $75 while onboard, but I had $50 onboard credit

One of the aspects I enjoy most about cruising is the fact that you can board a ship and, if you wish, spend absolutely nothing extra while onboard.

When I cruise, I try to stay relatively frugal on the ship. Because I receive five free drinks a day through Royal Caribbean's Crown & Anchor Society, I rarely spend extra on beverages. And, if I choose to dine at specialty restaurants, I tend to do so for lunch instead of dinner for the lower cover charges.

On my Brilliance of the Seas cruise, I only spent $75 total on top of my cruise fare during my ten days onboard.

On the first evening of the sailing I dined at Chops Grille, Royal Caribbean’s steakhouse, and the cover charge was $50. However, because I had a buy one, get one free deal through my Diamond Plus status, I split the cost with my friend, bringing our meal to just $25 each.

Related: 45 easy ways to save money on a Royal Caribbean cruise

Additionally, I spent $50 at the casino throughout my cruise, but I spent it far too quickly than I would have liked. After realizing luck was not in my favor, I chose to avoid the casino for the rest of the trip.

By the end of the cruise I had only spent around $75. I dined primarily at the ship’s complimentary venues and attended free activities, which made it easy to keep my expenditure so low.

Additionally, I received $50 onboard credit by booking my sailing through MEI Travel, effectively bringing my overall cost onboard to just $25!

In total, I spent $522 on shore excursions, something out of the ordinary for my cruising style

I rarely book shore excursions in cruise ports. After too many crowded, overly touristy shore excursions, I almost always prefer to explore ports on my own or hire a private guide instead.

Yet when planning my South Pacific cruise, I realized I had no idea how to spend my days in port. I had never been to that region of the world before, and some of the ports, such as Luganville, Vanuatu, are so infrequently visited by cruise ships that I could not find updated information online about the ports.

On our first stop in Lifou, I rented a bicycle for $30 and spent another $7 on an entry ticket to Kiki Beach, one of the most extraordinary beaches I’ve ever seen.

For the following two days in Luganville and Port Vila, Vanuatu, I booked a spot on a private tour of the islands, spending $65 and $105, respectively.

Related: Top 10 cruise ship shore excursion mistakes to avoid

Then, in Mystery Island, I split a private cabana rental for $55 per person and took an hour-long day tour of a nearby island for $30.

Finally, my day in Noumea was the most expensive yet, as I signed up for a spot on a private catamaran charter. For $230 per person, myself and seven other passengers spent a day sailing around New Caledonia’s stunning coastline and small islands.

Normally, I would never consider spending $230 for an eight hour excursion in port, but living in luxury for a few hours on a private catamaran—with food and rosé included—was entirely worth the cost.

While in port, I also spent $40 on food and drinks

Even though there is endless food included in your cruise fare onboard a Royal Caribbean ship, I always like to try at least a taste of local cuisine in each port. During my five port days, I spent $40 extra on food and drinks not included in my shore excursions.

In Lifou, I spent $10 on kava, a plant native to the region that is made into a beverage. The drink is a natural drug that can elevate your mood and increase relaxation. Although I’m certainly not advocating trying new drugs when you cruise, tasting kava is a right of passage when cruising to the South Pacific!

Unfortunately, the drink tastes like mud, and I could hardly drink it. I even tried a second cup a few days later on Mystery Island ($10), and it was just as rancid.

Nonetheless, it was an interesting cultural experience.

Aside from kava, I spent another $20 on miscellaneous food and drinks, including a delightful omelet and rice dish on Santo Island and passion fruit cocktails on Mystery Island.

After the cruise I stayed in Sydney one more night, which cost me $100 after discounts

I cruised to Australia with a friend who lives in the United Kingdom. Because we don’t see each other often, we decided to spend another night together in Sydney before returning home.

I decided to “splurge” on a hotel stay at the 5-star Shangri-La Sydney, and I booked a room for $300. However, I was able to use a hotel credit through my American Express card, giving me $200 off the room.

Related: I'm a budget cruiser. Here are 8 easy strategies I used on my recent Royal Caribbean cruise to save money

In addition to the $200 discount, I received a $150 AUD credit to use at the hotel, so my friend and I enjoyed cocktails at the hotel’s bar, which featured a stunning view of Sydney Harbour.

In total, I spent $3,214 for my cruise vacation, which included my cruise fare, airfare, hotels, and all shore excursions

Vacation budgets can vary greatly from person to person, but I found my 10-night cruise on Brilliance of the Seas to be surprisingly affordable.

When I first started planning a cruise from Australia, I expected to spend far more than $3,000 for the vacation. I assumed airfare alone would cost me $2,000, and the cruise fare might cost another $2,000 per person on top of that.

Yet I managed to stay within—even below—my initial budget, and I never felt limited during the cruise. I was able to book several shore excursions, try local food in port, and enjoy food and drinks on the ship without blowing my budget.

If I tried to visit the exotic islands of New Caledonia and Vanuatu on my own, I surely would have spent far more on flights and hotels in each destination. If anything, my cruise to Australia and the South Pacific was just another example of the incredible value a cruise vacation can offer.

Today’s mega cruise ships are packed with the latest thrills, from zip lines to indoor skydiving, but what is it like sailing on one of Royal Caribbean’s older cruise ships?

I recently cruised on Royal Caribbean’s Brilliance of the Seas, a Radiance Class cruise ship built in 2002. During my exotic ten day sailing to the South Pacific—my longest cruise thus far—I relished the opportunity to enjoy a more traditional cruising experience.

Although I love cruising on massive vessels with nearly endless activities to enjoy, there’s something special about the relaxed, quieter ambiance of cruising on a smaller, older ship. For the most part, I loved everything about my time onboard, from the attentive service to the itinerary and friendly faces around the ship.

Nonetheless, there were, like any cruise, a few things I did not enjoy. Whether the lack of specialty dining restaurants or the thin walls in my cabin, my vacation was not entirely perfect.

Here are six things I loved and three I hated about my Brilliance of the Seas cruise.

I loved the ship’s unique itinerary, which isn’t offered on newer and bigger ships

My cruising mantra is to always select itineraries that visit at least one destination I haven’t been to before. Whether a new island in the Caribbean or a new port in Alaska, exploring breathtaking destinations is a major reason why I book cruises.

When the opportunity arose to book a cruise from Australia, I began searching for Royal Caribbean’s most unique itinerary in the region during the month of November. I decided upon a 10-night South Pacific cruise that visited five islands in the French territory of New Caledonia and the Pacific nation of Vanuatu.

Related: 15 countries you didn’t know you could cruise to on Royal Caribbean

You can find South Pacific itineraries on new ships like Quantum of the Seas and Ovation of the Seas, which also sail from Australia, but they typically only visit two or three islands on each itinerary. 

Sailing on an older ship like Brilliance of the Seas gave me the chance to make the most of my long journey across the world to Australia. I absolutely loved visiting five diverse, breathtaking islands during my cruise, and I was happy I chose the most unique itinerary available.

I hated the limited specialty dining options

I’ve recently reached the Diamond Plus tier in Royal Caribbean’s Crown & Anchor Society, and one of the new perks I receive with this status is a buy one, get one free dinner at a specialty restaurant.

I thoroughly enjoy eating at Royal Caribbean’s specialty restaurants, as I love the calmer atmosphere and wider variety of cuisines. Because of this, the BOGO deal was the perk I was most looking forward to trying on Brilliance of the Seas.

Unfortunately, though, older Royal Caribbean cruise ships often have limited specialty restaurant options, and Brilliance of the Seas was no exception. The ship only features four specialty restaurants: Chops Grille, Giovanni’s Table, Izumi Sushi, and Chef’s Table.

Only two of these restaurants, Chops Grille and Giovanni’s Table, allow guests to use the BOGO discount. I would have loved to dine at Izumi—my favorite of Royal Caribbean’s restaurants—but I was told this was not, unfortunately, covered with the discount.

Even though the food offered at Chops Grille and Giovanni’s Table is of great quality, I’ve been to these restaurants many times before on other ships, and eating the same meal over and over can get a bit boring.

Having limited specialty restaurant options was one of the few times I wished I were sailing on a bigger cruise ship.

I loved my Main Dining Room experience, from the delightful cuisine to attentive service

Despite the lack of specialty dining options, I found myself pleased with my experience in the Main Dining Room on Brilliance of the Seas.

With fewer options onboard for meals, you’re likely to find yourself eating in the Main Dining Room more often on smaller ships compared to on Royal Caribbean’s largest vessels. On my Brilliance of the Seas cruise, I ate in the Main Dining Room nearly every evening along with lunch on sea days and several breakfasts.

Related: 21 Tips for the Best Cruise Ship Main Dining Room Experience

Although I frequently eat in the Main Dining Room on other Royal Caribbean cruises, the over-the-top service I experienced on Brilliance of the Seas was on a different level. My waiters, Stefan and Stephen, were beyond attentive, regularly bringing me surprise menu items to try and delivering food in record speed.

I felt so attached to them by the end of the cruise that I couldn’t even fathom eating dinner anywhere else! As a plus, the food quality and flavors were excellent as well.

I loved the ship’s tango show, and I wish I attended more productions while onboard

Whenever I sail on new ships like Wonder of the Seas, I prioritize attending entertainment shows. I just can’t pass up the entertainment offered onboard, from AquaTheater shows to ice skating shows and Broadway productions.

On smaller ships I tend to avoid theater shows. Although I can appreciate the talent of the cast on any ship, I’m never as thrilled with entertainment on old cruise ships. Whether the smaller budget or lack of a storyline, I would usually much rather spend my evening doing something else instead.

Regardless, during my time on Brilliance of the Seas, I figured I should at least try to attend one production show, so I attended a performance of Tango: Buenos Aires.

I grabbed a front row seat by showing up a half hour early, and I was quickly left impressed by the professional tango dancers and live music of the production. It was one of the more unique production shows I’ve seen on an older Royal Caribbean ship.

Following the performance, I wished I had attended more production shows during my time onboard, but I’ll definitely try to attend more shows next time I sail on an older ship.

I hated the Royal Mystery puzzle game, as it was way too difficult

I cruise with Royal Caribbean relatively often, and I find myself getting into a certain routine while onboard. While I’ll attend a trivia session or two during the day and listen to live music in the evening, I have realized I don’t try enough new activities to keep things interesting.

Determined to change this and try something new, I participated in the Royal Mystery puzzle game while onboard. The purpose of this complimentary activity is to "solve" the mystery of a museum heist during which important artwork was stolen.

Through a series of clues found throughout the room and in a folder of papers given to participants, each team is supposed to determine which character committed the crime.

While the concept of the game was intriguing, I found it to be exceptionally difficult. Of the hundred or so people playing the game, almost everyone appeared confused. Not only were the clues unclear, but there were so many steps to the game that only one team even got close to solving the mystery.

I’m glad I went out of my comfort zone to try a new activity, but I wish it would have been a little easier. Most passengers are not professional detectives, after all!

I loved the small ship experience and seeing familiar faces around the ship

Prior to my Brilliance of the Seas cruise, which was ten nights, I had never booked a cruise over seven nights in length. The main difference I found when cruising on a longer itinerary, particularly on a smaller ship, was the community that formed while onboard.

Being on a smaller cruise ship for ten days meant I saw the same guests again and again during my sailing. By the end of the cruise I had formed friendships with several passengers, and we spent our days attending activities together, playing cards at Schooner Bar, and sharing meals in the dining room.

Sure, it’s possible to form friendships on bigger cruise ships, but it’s a lot easier on the smallest Royal Caribbean cruise ships as you’re more likely to see the same passengers around throughout the sailing.

I loved the internet speed—it was the quickest I’ve ever experienced on a cruise ship

The internet speed on Royal Caribbean cruise ships has significantly improved since the launch of Starlink internet in 2022, but nothing could have prepared me for the insanely quick speeds on Brilliance of the Seas.

As someone who frequently works remotely from cruise ships, I rely on Royal Caribbean’s internet to complete tasks like uploading videos to the Royal Caribbean Blog YouTube channel. In the past, uploading content could take hours, which was certainly not ideal for productivity.

Related: Can you work remotely from a cruise ship? I put it to the test

While on Brilliance of the Seas, I encountered the most responsive internet connection I’ve ever experienced on a cruise ship. I was streaming Netflix with no issues, uploading large video files in under twenty minutes, and video chatting with friends and family back home without any connection delay.

Due to my ship’s remote itinerary in the South Pacific and the fact I was sailing on one of Royal Caribbean’s older vessels, I expected slow, frustrating internet speeds, but this was (thankfully!) not the case whatsoever.

I hated how thin the walls were in my cabin—I could hear everything from next door

One downside I’ve noticed when cruising on older ships are the thin walls in the cabins. Whether on Rhapsody of the Seas, Radiance of the Seas, or Brilliance of the Seas, I’ve always been able to hear sounds from guests in the rooms adjacent to my own.

From alarm clocks to conversations and televisions, it’s not ideal being able to hear what is going on outside of your cabin. Although these sounds are somewhat muffled, I missed the thicker walls of cabins on newer cruise ships during my recent cruise.

I loved the new drink menu at Schooner Bar

When it’s time to grab a drink on a Royal Caribbean cruise, one of my preferred bars is Schooner Bar. Royal Caribbean’s nautical themed bar is found on every ship in the fleet, and it’s a popular spot for activities like trivia and live piano music.

In September 2023, Royal Caribbean revamped its drink menu at Schooner Bar, crafting cocktails such as the Peanut Butter Tropic, Parrot Punch, and Southern Belle.

Related: Royal Caribbean revamps its nautical themed bar with new menu

Because I cruise with Royal Caribbean often, I can’t pass up the opportunity to try a new drink menu. During my cruise I tried several new drinks at Schooner Bar, my favorite of which was the Desert Pear Margarita, which combines tequila, desert pear syrup, and lime juice for a distinct fruity flavor.

If anything, the new drink menu at Schooner Bar made me even more excited to try cocktails at one of the new bars on my Icon of the Seas cruise this January!

Following the massive success of Royal Caribbean's first private destination, Perfect Day at CocoCay, the cruise line is planning to launch a second Perfect Day location in the South Pacific.

Perfect Day at Lelepa is set to launch in the coming years, although no official opening date has been set.  The private destination will be constructed on Lelepa Island in the South Pacific nation of Vanuatu.

During my recent South Pacific cruise itinerary, I jumped on the opportunity to visit Lelepa Island when my ship docked in nearby Port Vila. Although Perfect Day at Lelepa is not yet open—it hasn’t even begun construction—visiting the island gave me a first hand look at what this unique destination may offer cruisers.

From out-of-this-world snorkeling to gorgeous beaches and friendly locals, here are the main insights I gained from my day ashore that you should look forward to.

Like Perfect Day at CocoCay, Perfect Day at Lelepa will be a private destination exclusively for Royal Caribbean cruise passengers

Perfect Day at CocoCay is one of Royal Caribbean’s most popular cruise ports. The private island, located just 140 miles from Miami, features a waterpark, freshwater pool, exclusive beach club, and multiple beaches. Over two million cruise passengers visit the destination each year.

Related: 41 Perfect Day at CocoCay tips, tricks, and secrets

Given the popularity of the first Perfect Day destination, Royal Caribbean announced a second Perfect Day destination, Perfect Day at Lelepa, in 2019. Unlike Perfect Day at CocoCay, which offers thrilling activities like water slides and jet skis, Perfect Day at Lelepa will place more of a focus on the ecological beauty and diverse culture of Vanuatu.

The island will also be the first private cruise destination in the world to achieve carbon neutrality.

According to locals, construction has not yet started for Perfect Day at Lelepa

Following the 2019 announcement of Perfect Day at Lelepa, the cruise line planned to open the destination sometime in 2022. These plans, however, were quickly derailed by the coronavirus pandemic.

Royal Caribbean has not released any new updates about Perfect Day at Lelepa since March 2022, when a few artist renderings were released about what the destination could look like. 

The company’s silence has many loyal cruisers wondering what the current status is with the destination. This is what I was most curious to find out as well.

As soon as my ship docked in Port Vila, I hopped in a taxi for a 30 minute ride to the western side of Efate Island, from where I would board a small boat to Lelepa Island and start my day tour with Lelepa Island Day Tours.

During our short five minute boat ride from Efate to Lelepa Island, I asked the boat’s captain about the private destination, and whether or not construction had begun.

He pointed to the far north side of the island to indicate where the destination would be located, and told me that construction had not yet begun. 

It’s unclear whether the infrastructure and buildings for the Perfect Day at Lelepa are being constructed elsewhere and will be transported to the island at a later date. That being said, if there’s one thing I learned during my time on the island, it’s that the opening date still appears to be very far away.

Lelepa Island’s coastline is dotted with beaches

Unfortunately my day tour to Lelepa Island was unable to visit the part of the island that will become Perfect Day at Lelepa. My tour guide explained that they used to bring visitors to that area of the island, but cannot do so anymore due to the agreement with Royal Caribbean.

Even so, I was able to catch a glimpse of what will become one of the island’s main beaches. While I only saw the beach from a distance, it appeared to be longer than other beaches around the island.

Of the beaches I visited during my day ashore, though, most of the beaches weren’t made of fine sand. Rather, they were composed of small pieces of coral.

While not as comfortable as the soft sand somewhere like Perfect Day at CocoCay, the crystal clear, refreshing water will certainly make visiting Lelepa a perfect beach day for visitors.

Snorkeling opportunities at Perfect Day at Lelepa will be far better than those at Perfect Day at CocoCay

Perfect Day at CocoCay is a popular snorkeling spot on any Caribbean cruise, but Perfect Day at Lelepa easily blows the Bahamian island away.

During my visit to Lelepa, I had the opportunity to snorkel amongst some of the most colorful and abundant coral I’ve ever seen. From the moment I put my head under the water, I was left speechless with the variety of marine life in front of me.

As our tour guide put it, “People say the snorkeling here is even better than the Great Barrier Reef.” I have to agree.

If there’s one thing to be excited about with the launch of Perfect Day at Lelepa, it’s the snorkeling opportunities. Bringing your own snorkeling gear ashore is a must. Like at Perfect Day at CocoCay, it’s possible that snorkeling and scuba diving tours may be offered at an additional cost.

The island also offers the ability to visit a large cave as well as a local village

Outside of the beaches, Lelepa Island offers a few more activities for visitors. Of course, it’s unclear whether these options will be offered to guests at Perfect Day at Lelepa, but it’s possible they could become shore excursions.

The first is a visit to Fele’s Cave, an 114 foot high cave with rock drawings up to 3000 years old. These cave paintings show animals, geographic shapes, and a human representation of Chief Roi Mata, a powerful chief of Vanuatu who was believed to have ruled in the 16th century.

I wasn’t sure what to expect when we approached Fele’s Cave during my visit to Lelepa Island, but I was stunned by the cave’s size and the spiritual history it represented for thousands of years.

We also made a visit to Natapao, the main village on Lelepa Island.

One of the most unique aspects of visiting a destination like Vanuatu is experiencing the unique cultures of Melanesia. Visiting the local village was a way to learn more about the local way of life on the island and purchase souvenirs that support the town's economy.

For those looking to experience the island outside of just the beach, these two options make an excellent choice.

Like any new project, locals have mixed feelings about the private destination, but overall thoughts remain positive

Although Royal Caribbean’s marketing puts forth the image that Perfect Day at Lelepa is a remote island, the reality is that Lelepa Island is located just across from Port Vila, the most populous city in Vanuatu.

Despite the island’s proximity to the main economic hub in Vanuatu, though, life remains relatively traditional for the 600 residents calling Lelepa home. With no access to freshwater, locals must visit Efate Island—where Port Vila is located—daily to collect water, and all electricity is provided via generators and solar power.

It goes without saying that a project as monumental as Perfect Day at Lelepa will likely change the lives of many on Lelepa Island. Most locals I spoke with seemed to be in favor of the private destination, as it will provide a significant source of economic generation for the island. Some, however, are of course worried about how it may affect the current way of life.

The island is sure to be successful with the Australian cruise market, but those in North America should also consider a visit

It's likely Perfect Day at Lelepa will quickly become a major selling point for cruisers based in Australia. South Pacific itineraries remain extremely popular in the region, offering a tropical getaway to islands primarily in New Caledonia and Vanuatu. Itineraries depart from both Sydney and Brisbane, Australia.

The benefit of visiting one of Royal Caribbean’s Perfect Day locations over a traditional cruise port is the private atmosphere. Only Royal Caribbean cruise passengers will be permitted at Perfect Day at Lelepa.

Plus, even though some excursions may be offered at an extra cost, there will be no charge to visit Perfect Day at Lelepa, as it will be included in guests’ cruise fares.

Despite the fact that I could not visit the future destination’s exact location up close, traveling to Lelepa Island gave me an idea of what to expect once Perfect Day at Lelepa launches.

The most spectacular part of my day was the snorkeling—it was the most magnificent coral I’ve ever seen. Aside from exploring underwater, the beaches and pristine nature of Lelepa Island are sure to impress the estimated 800,000 passengers to visit the destination each year.

For more updates on Perfect Day at Lelepa, be sure to subscribe to the Royal Caribbean Blog newsletter and follow our Facebook page so you can be notified as soon as Royal Caribbean releases new information about this exciting new destination.