Jenna DeLaurentis

Alaska cruises. Your questions answered

In:

26 Jun 2023

Many people share the same questions about cruising to Alaska, and today we’re answering the most pressing questions about cruises to the Last Frontier.

Planning a cruise to Alaska can lead to plenty of questions. Whether you’re wondering about the best Alaska cruise itinerary, trying to pick a ship, or aren’t sure which cabin to book for the sailing, it’s natural to have questions during the planning process.

Recently, our readers submitted their top Alaska cruise questions to our Facebook page. They wanted to know the top tips and tricks about Alaska cruises from Royal Caribbean Blog’s staff members, some of whom travel to the state each year.

We love sharing our favorite cruising tips with you, and these are our answers to your biggest Alaska cruise questions.

When is the best time to find deals on Alaska cruises?

More often than not, the best Alaska cruise deals are found when booking far in advance.

Royal Caribbean typically releases new itineraries around 18-24 months before the sail date. Booking a cruise as soon as the itinerary is released will often bring the lowest prices as well as the most selection of available cabins.

Despite this, you can sometimes find unbeatable Alaska cruise deals at the last minute, but you might have to be flexible.

For the past few years, we’ve noticed a trend on last-minute Alaska cruise pricing. One-way itineraries on Radiance of the Seas, for instance, have offered cheap cruise deals a few months before the sailing.

How many days is an Alaska cruise, and how many ports of call are there?

The vast majority of Royal Caribbean Alaska cruises are 7 nights, although you may occasionally find a 6 or 8-night itinerary.

7-night Alaska cruises usually visit three or four ports of call from the following list:

Juneau
Skagway
Sitka
Ketchikan
Haines
Icy Strait Point
Victoria
Prince Rupert

All roundtrip sailings from Seattle must include a port stop in either Victoria or Prince Rupert, British Columbia, thus visiting three ports in Alaska. One-way cruises, on the other hand, are not required to stop in Canada and have four port stops in Alaska.

Related: Alaska cruise ports guide

In addition to port stops—where guests disembark the ship—most itineraries include a scenic viewing day of a glacier. During these visits, your cruise ship will sail into a fjord and stop within sight of one of Alaska’s magnificent glaciers, such as Hubbard Glacier or Dawes Glacier.

How do I choose which itinerary is best for me?

There’s no right or wrong itinerary to book for Alaska, but it’s important to know what to expect in each port before booking one cruise over the other.

Almost all itineraries stop in Juneau, Alaska, but other ports vary from itinerary to itinerary. Some cruises may visit Juneau, Skagway, and Ketchikan whereas others may call upon Juneau, Icy Strait Point, and Sitka.

Before booking an Alaska cruise, take time to research the activities and shore excursions offered in each port. Some cruisers may prefer booking a train ride in Skagway whereas others will love the opportunity to learn more about Alaska’s Russian influence in Sitka.

Truthfully, your experience in Alaska will not vary drastically from itinerary to itinerary. All itineraries give passengers the chance to explore the state’s wildlife, history, and cuisine regardless of the town.

Where is the best embarkation location for an Alaska cruise?

There are three ports you can embark from on an Alaska cruise: Seattle, Vancouver, and Seward.

In most cases, Seattle is the best embarkation port for American passengers, as it’s usually easier to travel to Seattle compared to Vancouver or Seward. There are ample direct flights to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, making traveling to the city easier and more affordable.

Vancouver, though, is an excellent embarkation port for the itinerary options. All Alaska cruises departing Seattle must include a port stop in Victoria, British Columbia to meet the requirements of the Passenger Vessel Services Act (PVSA).

Radiance of the Seas docked in Vancouver

Cruises leaving Vancouver do not need to stop in Victoria, meaning your cruise itinerary will visit more ports in Alaska compared to those leaving Seattle.

The third option for embarkation is in Seward, Alaska, a small town located a few hours' drive from Anchorage. This option is not as convenient as Seattle or Vancouver, but is a good choice for those hoping to spend time in Alaska’s interior before starting the cruise.

Simply put, there’s not one “best” embarkation port for an Alaska cruise—each has its own pros and cons.

What are typical ship amenities on an Alaska cruise?

Currently there are two classes of Royal Caribbean ships sailing to Alaska: Radiance Class and Quantum Class. Both classes of ships have several indoor features perfect for cold weather cruising.

Radiance Class ships have an indoor Solarium for adults, an indoor movie theater, and lounges with floor-to-ceiling windows looking toward the ocean. Quantum Class ships also have plenty of indoor areas, including an indoor pool for all ages, adults-only indoor Solarium, and indoor sports court.

Both classes of ships also have a thermal suite available at an extra cost, which includes hot stone loungers, saunas, and steam rooms—all of which are perfect for Alaska’s chilly weather.

The plethora of indoor spaces and amenities on Radiance and Quantum Class ships means guests can enjoy Alaska’s scenery regardless of the weather conditions outside.

What do we pack?

Packing for an Alaska cruise is not as difficult as it might seem. The key to packing for Alaska is to pack layers, as you never know what type of weather conditions you will encounter on your cruise.

We recommend packing:

Base layers: t-shirts, long-sleeve shirts, etc.
Warm layers: pullovers, crew necks, sweatshirts, fleece jackets, etc.
Waterproof layer: rainjacket and water-resistant daypack
Bottoms: jeans and leggings
Dinner outfits: dresses, slacks, blouses, collared shirts, etc.

For more information on what to pack for an Alaska cruise, check out these helpful guides:

What are good excursions to do that are not booked with the cruise line?

There’s no need to book a shore excursion on an Alaska cruise in order to have a good time. A little research goes a long way, and here are our best tips for ways to enjoy Alaska’s ports without a cruise ship shore excursion:

Look for local tour operators

Instead of booking directly through Royal Caribbean, search shore excursions on websites like Tripadvisor, Viator, and Shore Excursions Group. By going through these websites, you can find tours that may be priced lower compared to those offered by the cruise line.

Reserve tours once you disembark in port

In most Alaska cruise ports, you will find stands selling tours as soon as you disembark the cruise ship. These tours can be booked day-of and may be priced significantly lower than those booked onboard.

It’s easy to find shore excursions upon arriving in most ports. If you’re visiting smaller ports like Icy Strait Point and Haines, however, we advise researching and booking tours ahead of time.

Explore port on your own

Instead of booking a tour, there’s always the option of exploring a cruise port without a tour. To find the best things to do in each port, we recommend reading the following:

If you could, would you do a one-way sailing over a roundtrip cruise? It seems to give much more time exploring Alaska.

When planning an Alaska cruise, you will have to choose between either a roundtrip or one-way itinerary. Each of these itineraries comes with advantages and disadvantages, so you should weigh the pros and cons of each before booking an itinerary.

Northbound one-way cruises start in Vancouver, British Columbia and end in Seward, Alaska whereas southbound sailings travel in the opposite direction.

Advantages of a one-way Alaska cruise

There are two main advantages of a one-way itinerary. First is that these itineraries allow you to start or end your trip in Alaska’s interior, meaning you can visit sites like Denali National Park and Preserve and Kenai Fjords National Park, both of which are inaccessible on a roundtrip voyage.

Additionally, the 7-night cruise includes more port stops compared to a roundtrip itinerary. Because the cruise starts or ends in Canada, it is not required to call upon Victoria, British Columbia as a port of call.

Disadvantages of a one-way Alaska cruise

Of course, there are disadvantages, too. Roundtrip sailings depart and return to Seattle, Washington, and this is often more affordable and logistically easier than starting and ending in different ports.

In addition to convenience, roundtrip sailings also provide an excellent Alaska cruise experience. On a roundtrip cruise, you’ll still visit Alaska’s most popular ports, such as Juneau and Skagway, and most itineraries include a scenic glacier viewing as well.

Plus, Royal Caribbean’s roundtrip Alaska cruises are offered on Quantum Class ships, which are significantly larger and more modern than the Radiance Class ships sailing one-way voyages.

If there is no pool/tan time, what is there to do all day when at sea?

Most Alaska cruises have two sea days—one on the way to Alaska and the other when returning. Despite traveling through a cold climate, there’s no lack of pool time on an Alaska cruise.

All Royal Caribbean ships sailing to Alaska have an indoor pool for guests to enjoy. Quantum Class ships have two indoor pool areas—one for all ages and the other for guests 16 and older. Each area has a pool and several hot tubs, meaning you can enjoy a pool day in Alaska just as easily as in the Caribbean!

Outside of hanging out by the pool, guests can enjoy a variety of other activities on a sea day, including sports activities, surfing simulators, rock climbing, trivia, live music, and entertainment shows.

In short, a sea day on an Alaska cruise isn’t drastically different from a sea day in the Caribbean.

How do I get my beach and warm weather wife to want to go to Alaska?

It can be challenging to convince someone to go on an Alaska cruise if their idea of vacation includes suntanning by the pool under a palm tree.

While we can’t say for sure whether or not you’ll be able to convince someone to go on an Alaska cruise, it might not be as challenging as you think. During the peak summer months, Alaska is not nearly as cold as most people think, and you might even find yourself warm when walking around ports on sunny days.

Show your spouse, friend, or another family member who needs convincing a few images and videos of Alaska’s scenery. Maybe find a vlog on YouTube from an Alaska cruise, as seeing a first-hand experience could get someone more excited about the possibility of cruising to Alaska themselves.

If you really can’t convince your wife to cruise to Alaska, you can always book a solo cruise (although she may not be too happy about that!).

Are the seas calm in the Pacific?

While it’s impossible to predict the exact weather conditions you may encounter on an Alaska cruise, it’s possible your ship will sail through choppy waters.

While on an Alaska cruise, your ship will sail through both the open ocean and the calm waters of the Inside Passage. When in the open ocean, you may encounter rough seas and high winds, leading to more movement onboard than you may be used to while visiting other destinations.

Luckily, the Inside Passage tends to be extremely calm, as these waters are protected and sheltered from the higher waves in the open Pacific waters.

If on a one-way itinerary, you may also encounter rougher seas while crossing the Gulf of Alaska to and from Seward.

Most passengers will not feel seasick on an Alaska cruise, but packing seasickness remedies is still recommended.

What is the best time to cruise to Alaska?

There’s no “best” time to cruise to Alaska, as each month offers pros and cons.

Here is an overview of each month of the season and what you should expect. Knowing the advantages and disadvantages of each month may help you find the best month for your travel style and needs.

Late April/May: less chance of rain, fewer crowds, colder temperatures, lower prices
June and July: highest crowds, long hours of daylight, higher prices, warmest weather
August: higher crowds in the first half of the month, more chance of rain, lower prices around the end of the month
September: lower crowds, high chance of rain, lower temperatures, less daylight, lower prices

What’s it like sailing to Alaska in the early season?

The end of April and early May mark the beginning of Alaska’s summer cruise season. Visiting Alaska in the early season will come with several differences compared to visiting in the peak season.

In April and early May, you can expect lower chances of rain and temperatures with lows in the 40s and highs in the mid-50s There are around 15 hours of daylight in southeast Alaska during this time of year.

As far as wildlife, you’re less likely to see bears and salmon in the early season compared to later months, but you may see humpback whales, orcas, and sea lions, although wildlife sightings are never guaranteed

What’s it like sailing to Alaska in the late season?

Royal Caribbean’s Alaska cruise season ends in late September each year. This shoulder season will see some of the lowest prices offered all year, and you can occasionally snag a great last-minute cruise deal as fall approaches.

In September, you can expect to see more rainfall compared to other months and temperatures will be chillier compared to peak summer. Nonetheless, the fewer crowds and lower prices make visiting at this time of year appealing for many guests.

As far as wildlife, you may catch a glimpse of Alaska’s annual salmon run as well as bears, and it’s possible to see whales in Alaska’s waters, too.

What type of cabin should you book for an Alaska cruise and why?

There’s no right or wrong cabin to book for an Alaska cruise, and the type of room you book ultimately comes down to your budget and cabin availability.

A balcony is the most wished-for choice on an Alaska cruise, as it allows you to enjoy the state’s scenery from the comfort and privacy of your own cabin. Even if it’s too cold to stay on the balcony all day, you can still enjoy views of the outside from the warmth of your couch or bed in the stateroom.

Those on a budget, however, should opt for an interior or oceanview room. While nothing fancy, these small, budget-friendly cabins allow you to allocate your vacation funds elsewhere. Instead of spending $1000 extra for a balcony, why not book a once-in-a-lifetime shore excursion?

If you’re on the opposite end of the budget spectrum, there’s nothing wrong with booking a suite. Staying in a suite on a Royal Caribbean cruise can make your Alaska experience even more enjoyable by providing extra space and amenities like private restaurants and priority embarkation.

What is the minimum number of days for an Alaska cruise and land trip?

If you’re hoping to combine a one-way Alaska cruise with a land trip in Alaska’s interior, you should allocate at least 9 days for the trip.

The shortest cruise and land tour combinations offered by Royal Caribbean are 9 nights, and they include a 7-night cruise and 2 nights in Alaska’s interior, during which you will visit Denali.

If traveling all the way to Alaska, though, we advise planning more days for a cruise and land trip. Many guests prefer spending an additional week in Alaska’s interior, giving them extra time to visit other areas like Anchorage and Fairbanks.

Whether you book a tour through Royal Caribbean or rent a car and explore Alaska on your own, having extra time gives you more opportunities for adventure.

Best places to eat in port?

Alaska has delightful cuisine, from freshly caught fish to reindeer meat. While traveling to any destination, one of the best ways to learn more about a region’s culture is to taste local cuisine, and that is true in Alaska as well.

Our local Alaska expert Mollie wrote a great piece about where to eat like a local on your Alaska cruise. From local breweries to diners and food trucks, we recommend reading through her guide before your Alaska cruise to ensure you don’t miss out on the state’s best eats.

Inside or outside passage and why?

All Alaska cruises sail through the Inside Passage, but there is one difference between cruising from Seattle versus Vancouver.

Cruises from Vancouver sail through Canada’s Inside Passage en route to Alaska. This narrow passage is between Vancouver Island and British Columbia and offers scenic mountain views.

Ships departing Seattle first travel along the west coast of Vancouver Island in the open ocean instead of through the Inside Passage. Upon reaching Alaska, the ships then enter the Inside Passage.

There is little difference between the two routes, and it isn’t worth booking one itinerary over another just for a few extra views on the way to and from Alaska. Instead, book the itinerary that works best with your interests and schedule, whether that means sailing from Seattle or from Vancouver.

Can you see the northern lights on an Alaska cruise?

Many cruisers to Alaska dream of seeing the northern lights while visiting the state, but the northern lights viewing season does not coordinate well with the summer cruise season.

The most common time to see the northern lights is during the winter and early spring. Because of the long hours of daylight in the summer, it’s not common to see northern lights on an Alaska cruise.

That being said, they do appear from time to time in the later part of the cruise season, usually around September. Because of their unpredictability, we wouldn’t recommend getting your hopes up about seeing the northern lights.

Even so, if they do make an appearance, it will surely be spectacular.

What is the best way to see the ports on a budget?

The best way to see Alaska’s cruise ports on a budget is to explore on your own instead of booking a tour.

Fortunately, Alaska’s cruise ports are all small and walkable, meaning you can see many attractions without booking expensive excursions. A variety of museums, restaurants, and bars are located just a few minutes away from where cruise ships dock in each port.

Day hikes are free and accessible from cruise ports as well. If visiting Skagway, take a short, 30-minute walk to Yakutania Point, which provides a stunning view of the Taiya Inlet. Or, if in Ketchikan, put on your hiking points and summit Deer Mountain for unbeatable views of the nearby islands.

If you would prefer a tour, book through an outside tour company instead of a Royal Caribbean shore excursion. Many guests enjoy visiting Mendenhall Glacier in Juneau, but instead of booking a $150 excursion, you can book a $45 roundtrip ticket on a shuttle bus to and from the glacier!

For more ideas of what to do in Alaska cruise ports, check out these guides:

Are Alaska cruises kid-friendly?

Bumper cars in SeaPlex on Anthem of the Seas

Alaska cruises often have a reputation of being for adults, but they can be a wonderful vacation for families with kids, too.

While on shore in Alaska’s cruise ports, kids will love the outdoor adventures offered in the state, from looking for wildlife to running around Alaska’s hiking trails.

And, while onboard, kids will enjoy the activities and programming offered by Royal Caribbean. Whether in the Caribbean or Alaska, Royal Caribbean offers the same family-friendly activities and programs for its guests.

Related: 50 tips for cruising with kids

If cruising with kids, we recommend booking an Alaska cruise on a Quantum Class ship over a Radiance Class ship. Quantum of the Seas and Ovation of the Seas both sail roundtrip cruises from Seattle, and they offer family-friendly activities for guests of all ages.

These ships feature amenities like an indoor sports arena, rock climbing wall, indoor skydiving simulator, and FlowRider surf simulator. In addition, they have a larger Adventure Ocean kids programming space and an indoor pool for all ages.

Kids will still enjoy an Alaska cruise on a Radiance Class ship, but there is a far greater amount of kid-friendly activities on Quantum Class vessels.

Do I really need gloves and a hat?

Predicting the weather in Alaska is nearly impossible, and you may encounter all four seasons in just one day while visiting the state.

If you’re wondering whether you really need to pack accessories like gloves and a hat, we’d recommend putting them into your suitcase. These items are small and you may be thankful to have them in your cabin during the sailing.

Even if a port day reaches 70 degrees, the next day could see lows in the 40s. If you plan to spend a lot of time outdoors viewing scenery, it’s always better to be prepared with more layers and accessories than you think you’ll need.

Is the casino open on an Alaska cruise?

The casino is open on an Alaska cruise when your cruise ship is sailing through international waters. This means that when your ship is docked in port, the casino will be closed.

As soon as your ship leaves port and enters international waters, the casino will open.

Which port has the train excursion? Is it handicap accessible?

The popular “train excursion” on an Alaska cruise is the White Pass & Yukon Route Railway, and it’s located in Skagway, Alaska.

The White Pass & Yukon Route Railway is a historic railroad built in 1898 that links Skagway to Whitehourse, Yukon Territory. Cruise line excursions take guests to the summit of the White Pass and back to Skagway, and the trip takes around three hours.

The excursion is handicap accessible, although guests traveling with a wheelchair should notify the excursion team or tour operator while booking.

What are land tours, and does Royal Caribbean offer them?

Land tours are offered on one-way Alaska cruise itineraries, and these are multi-day tours you can add before or after an Alaska cruise.

Land tours range from 2 to 6 extra nights before or after a 7-night sailing. The tours are guided and include accommodation at charming lodges and hotels, a scenic train ride, and visits to destinations including Denali and Fairbanks.

Royal Caribbean offers these tours during the summer cruise season, and they can be booked directly through the cruise line as part of your overall cruise fare.

Should you do the land portion at the beginning or end of your cruise?

If you’re booking a one-way Alaska itinerary, you have two options: northbound or southbound.

Northbound itineraries travel from Vancouver to Seward, which means guests enjoy a 7-night cruise before starting the land portion of their trip.

Southbound itineraries travel from Seward to Vancouver, meaning you can spend time in Alaska’s interior before the cruise begins.

While there’s no right or wrong direction to book for a one-way cruise, a southbound itinerary may be more relaxing.

You can spend several busy days sightseeing in Alaska’s interior before the cruise begins, which will likely leave you tired and in need of relaxation. Once you board your cruise, you’ll have 7 days to relax and unwind while traveling to Vancouver.

What are the must sees and dos on an Alaska cruise?

Here are some of our favorite activities of must sees and dos in Alaska’s main cruise ports:

Juneau: Mendenhall Glacier and Nugget Falls waterfall
Skagway: White Pass & Yukon Railroad
Sitka: Fortress of the Bear, the Raptor Center, and Sitka National Historical Park
Ketchikan: Creek Street (in town) or Misty Fjords National Park (excursion necessary)

Is the Hubbard Glacier excursion worth $450?

During scenic glacier viewing days, Royal Caribbean offers excursions that allow guests to disembark their large cruise ship and board a small expedition vessel.

These small vessels allow passengers to get up close and personal with Alaska’s wildlife and scenery in a way that is impossible to experience on a large ship.

Unsurprisingly, these excursions are not cheap, and it’s not uncommon to pay hundreds of dollars for a spot on a smaller boat. But because what is “worth it” for one guest may seem like a waste of money to another, we cannot say for sure whether or not a glacier excursion will be worth the cost.

If you value being able to see scenery more up close and have the budget to spend on an extra excursion, there’s no harm in booking the tour. If you are choosing between a glacier excursion and an excursion in another cruise port, though, we advise booking an excursion in a different port instead.

You can still enjoy glacier views from the ship without a $450 tour, as there are many places onboard to catch views of Hubbard Glacier, Dawes Glacier, the Sawyer Glaciers, and any other views as your ship sails through Alaska.

Are we missing out by not doing Glacier Bay?

Glacier Bay National Park and Reserve is one of Alaska’s cherished national parks, but you cannot visit the park on a Royal Caribbean cruise.

Only select cruise lines, including Princess Cruises and Holland America, can visit Glacier Bay. The national park issues permits to cruise lines, and Royal Caribbean does not currently have a permit.

“Missing out” is subjective, but Glacier Bay is, of course, a spectacular destination to visit. Even though you cannot visit the park on Royal Caribbean, you still have the chance to visit other magnificent glaciers on a Royal Caribbean cruise, including Mendenhall Glacier, Taku Glacier, the twin Sawyer Glaciers, and Hubbard Glacier.

Despite not visiting Glacier Bay, Royal Caribbean puts an incredible product out with their Alaska cruises. If you enjoy Royal Caribbean, it’s not necessary to book another cruise line simply to visit Glacier Bay, as you may prefer the overall experience with Royal Caribbean more than with another company.

What is a moderate price hotel to stay in Seattle?

If you’re planning to stay in downtown Seattle before your cruise, you may find it difficult to find a hotel under $200. Most nice hotels in the downtown area are over $250-300 per night, especially if you’re cruising in the peak summer season.

Nonetheless, you can occasionally come across a good deal by booking in advance or finding a last-minute deal offered by a hotel. If you really need a budget hotel, your best bet is to stay further from downtown or near the airport.

Here are a few hotels for a pre-cruise stay in Seattle that our team members have enjoyed:

Holiday Inn Seattle Downtown-Lake Union
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Seattle-City Center
Grand Hyatt Seattle
Sheraton Grand Seattle

Use Priceline Express Deals

Our favorite tip for finding a cheap deal on a hotel is to use Priceline Express Deals. Priceline offers a “blind booking” feature where you can input the destination and dates, and a list of hotels will populate offering deals.

The caveat is that you cannot see the hotel name and are only given the number of stars and approximate location of the hotel, thus leading to a “blind” booking.

There is a workaround, however, and using a few tech-savvy skills can lead to great savings. Each Express Deal hotel shows a photo of the hotel. By screenshotting or saving the photo and uploading it to Google Images under the “Search by Image” feature, you can find the exact name of the hotel, negating the need for a “blind” booking!

Our team frequently uses Priceline Express Deals to book nicer hotels at a lower price.

How does a person with a past DUI sail to Alaska?

Those with criminal records may be unable to board an Alaska cruise. Canada does not permit entry to any visitors with criminal records, regardless of how long ago the crime occurred. Crimes include DUI, misdemeanor drug possession, shoplifting, theft, etc. You can read more about the requirements and exceptions here.

Many cruisers have been able to board Alaska cruises despite having a DUI, however, provided they sail from Seattle and not Vancouver. Because the process can vary from person to person, we advise doing extra research on whether or not you will be able to board an Alaska cruise.

Do I have to go home?

All cruises come to an end, and unfortunately this means you will have to return home after your Alaska cruise.

Of course, nothing is stopping you from booking another Alaska cruise, so why not head to Next Cruise before disembarkation day?

I packed for my Alaska cruise in a carry-on suitcase. Here's what I packed and how you can do it too.

In:

Alaska

22 Jun 2023

There’s nothing I hate more than checking a bag when I travel. From paying baggage fees to risking lost luggage, I find checking a bag to be more stress than it’s worth.

On my recent Alaska cruise, I packed everything I needed in a small carry-on suitcase and backpack, and I have no regrets about packing lightly for my vacation.

When I cruised to Alaska for the first time two years ago, I was overwhelmed with what to pack and ended up (gasp) checking a bag. Inside the bag I placed nearly every cold-weather outfit I could find in my closet and, unfortunately, I way overpacked.

After the hassle of lugging my suitcase around the airport, throughout Seattle, and to the cruise port, I swore I’d never check a bag for a cruise again. So when I cruised to Alaska just last week, I was determined to fit everything into a carry-on, and I’m so glad I did.

Here’s why you should use a carry-on bag to travel to Alaska, including a step-by-step method of what I packed in my bag for the cruise.

My carry-on suitcase and backpack provided more than enough space

Most airlines allow guests to bring both a carry-on suitcase and personal item on a flight. The combination of space in a suitcase and personal item-sized backpack allows me to fit everything I need for a weeklong cruise.

For my Alaska cruise, I used a standard-sized carry-on suitcase with four wheels. I always use hard-shelled suitcases as I find them sturdier and less prone to unexpected water damage while traveling. In addition, having four wheels as opposed to just two allows for easier handling while wheeling the suitcase around the airport.

For my personal item, I used this anti-theft backpack from Amazon. The backpack is made from water-resistant material and opens from a pocket against my back, lessening the risk of pickpockets while traveling through busy areas.

Not only does this backpack work perfectly as a personal item while flying, but it is the optimal bag for port days during a cruise. Its relatively small size and anti-theft features make it comfortable to wear in any cruise port.

Using packing cubes is the trick to packing for an Alaska cruise in a carry-on

Packing cubes are, by far, the best investment I’ve made for travel. My handy packing cubes have traveled the world with me throughout the past six years (as shown by their wear and tear) and I never travel without them.

Using packing cubes allows you to pack more into a small suitcase, as they condense the space your clothes take up in the bag. Saving space is critical when traveling with a carry-on, and I can easily stuff two times as many clothes in my bag while using packing cubes.

I packed three packing cubes in my carry-on suitcase—one for pants and dresses, one for shirts, and the other for undergarments and socks.

Here’s what I placed into each packing cube.

Packing Cube #1

In my first packing cube, I packed my formal outfits and pants. In total, I put nine items into the packing cube:

1 pair of blue jeans
1 pair of black jeans
2 pairs of yoga pants
1 pair of flowy patterned pants
2 dresses
1 jumpsuit
1 pajama shirt

I found the amount of pants and formal outfits I packed to be totally adequate for my weeklong cruise. In fact, I regretted bringing three formal outfits because I ended up dining at the buffet more than I thought I would—I only wore one of the outfits!

During port days, I mostly stuck to jeans as I didn’t have many active excursions planned, and I wore each pair two or three days during the cruise. While visiting Juneau, however, I wore yoga pants as I rented a bicycle.

On sea days I stuck to my flowy patterned pants or yoga pants as they were much comfier to wear when lounging in the Solarium and attending activities.

Although it rains frequently in Alaska, I think packing waterproof pants is overkill. Jeans and athletic pants should work perfectly fine in most circumstances. If you’re traveling in the middle of summer, it may even be warm enough to pack a pair of shorts!

Packing Cube #2

My second packing cube is where I placed shirts and warm layers. In total, 11 items were packed into this packing cube:

2 workout shirts
3 pullovers
1 sweater
1 black t-shirt
3 miscellaneous shirts
1 pair of pajama shorts

Packing layers is essential on an Alaska cruise, and many first-time visitors to Alaska are concerned with which types of shirts to pack. After three Alaska cruises, I find I have a pretty good idea of what you should pack to be comfortable in all weather conditions.

The two workout shirts, my base layers, were useful to wear around the ship and when it was sunny outside in port. In the morning, I could put one of these shirts under a pullover, and when it got too hot, I was comfortable wearing just my short sleeve shirt and rain jacket.

I brought three pullovers to act as my warm layer. Most days I skipped the base layer and just wore a pullover with my rain jacket.

Aside from the workout shirts and pullovers, the more fashionable shirts I packed were useful to wear around the ship and to dinner. With four of these shirts and a sweater, I had just enough to wear every day around the ship.

Packing Cube #3

My third packing cube is where I placed undergarments, socks, and my bathing suit. This packing cube is smaller than the other two, so it’s the perfect size for packing these smaller items.

Whereas on a Caribbean cruise I would pack at least two bathing suits, I only packed one on my Alaska cruise. Alaska is not, after all, a tropical beach destination, so I assumed I would spend far less time in a bathing suit compared to on a cruise to the Bahamas.

For any cruise, I recommend packing more underwear and socks than you think you’ll need. These items do not take up much space and it’s always better to have more than you need instead of not enough!

If you’re walking around a port and suddenly step in a large puddle, you’ll want to have an extra pair of socks handy to help keep your feet warm.

Water-resistant jacket

One of the most important items to pack for an Alaska cruise is a water-resistant jacket. Alaska’s weather is unpredictable, and it might rain every day of your cruise. Some days have just a light sprinkle whereas other days encounter heavy rainfall.

Wearing a rain jacket helps keep you dry while walking around the outer decks of your cruise ship and exploring port.

I usually travel to rainy destinations with my trusty REI rain jacket, so I panicked when I could not find the jacket while packing for my cruise. Fortunately, I had another water-resistant jacket to bring which, albeit useful, still did not hold up to the quality of my REI jacket. Nonetheless, any rain jacket is better than none!

To save on space, I did not pack my jacket in my carry-on. Instead, I wore it while traveling to Seattle and to the cruise port. Luckily, it was able to fit inside my backpack if I got too warm.

I ended up wearing this jacket every day during the cruise. Having a water-resistant jacket is essential and is much more comfortable than wearing plastic ponchos or holding umbrellas while walking around ports of call.

Pro tip: If your cruise stops in Ketchikan, take a look around the town’s souvenir shops for affordable rain jackets. You’ll find a huge variety of both lightweight and thermal rain jackets that will be perfect for the rest of your time in Alaska.

Toiletries

Inside my personal item backpack, I packed my toiletries—hair products, makeup, and other essentials. I put my liquid products into a plastic bag to avoid spillage and for easy handling at airport security.

In total, I packed:

1 shampoo bottle
2 conditioner bottles
1 toothpaste
1 antibacterial cream
1 sunscreen
Razors
Makeup
Travel-size contact solution
Contacts case and extra contacts
Toothbrush
Hairbrush

Because I was traveling with just a carry-on, I brought travel-size containers of liquid products like shampoo and contact solution. I find the amount of travel-size product to be perfect for a weeklong cruise, although I packed two conditioner bottles because I often run out when traveling with just one.

Additionally, packing sunscreen is recommended in Alaska even if the forecast shows clouds and rain every day. Bringing a small tube of antibacterial cream is helpful as well, as you never know when you might accidentally cut or injure yourself—avoiding infections is crucial!

I’ll admit I pack relatively light when it comes to makeup and other toiletries. Some cruisers may require far more hair products, bath products, and other items.

Electronics

Because I travel for work, I end up traveling with more electronics than most other passengers. Inside my backpack, I packed:

1 mirrorless camera and charger
1 DJI Pocket 2 video camera
AirPods
Laptop and charger
2 hard drives
1 European outlet adapter
1 USB hub with 4 slots
1 MicroSD card reader
1 camera lens cleaning cloth

If you’re not traveling with a camera, you probably only need to pack a few chargers for items like a phone or Kindle.

That being said, I recommend packing a USB hub as well. My USB hub has four USB cord spots, meaning I can charge four devices at once while using only one plug socket in the cabin. Some cruise cabins may have few outlets in the room, especially on older ships, so being able to charge more than one device at a time is helpful.

Passport and credit cards

Perhaps the most important thing to pack on any cruise is the necessary documentation to board the ship.

In my personal item backpack, I packed my passport and several credit cards into a protective case. I then put the passport into a sealed Ziploc bag and placed it into the front pocket of my backpack.

I’m always nervous about my passport accidentally getting wet, whether from the rain or something spilling on my bag. To avoid any mishaps, I always place it into a plastic bag so there is less chance of water damage.

Shoes

I brought five pairs of shoes on my Alaska cruise:

1 pair of black flip flops
1 pair of black flats
1 pair of white flats
1 pair of black Nike shoes
1 pair of white Puma shoes

As the photo implies, I stick to neutral shoe colors as they are much more versatile than colorful statement shoes. White or black shoes go with virtually any outfit, and part of packing with only a carry-on is knowing how to best mix and match pieces together. Neutral shoe colors make this a whole lot easier!

I wore my white tennis shoes on the plane, which meant I only had to fit four pairs of shoes in my suitcase. The other shoes were relatively small—bringing ballet flats saved space compared to other types of dress shoes—I was able to fit them in the suitcase without any issues.

While I didn’t wear the flip flops in port in Alaska, I was glad to have them for use onboard. Sometimes it’s just easier to quickly put on flip flops before heading to the buffet or the pool instead of tennis shoes. Having them handy is convenient, even when cruising to a cold-weather destination.

As far as tennis shoes, I recommend bringing water-resistant shoes. My mom, who traveled with me on this cruise, packed a mesh/cloth-style shoe and regretted it almost immediately. These types of tennis shoes get wet very easily in the rain or when walking on a wet surface. Bringing water-resistant shoes—those with a harder shell—will be more comfortable on rainy days.

Why you should cruise to Alaska with just a carry-on bag

Packing for a cruise with a small carry-on suitcase might seem ridiculous, but it’s a better idea than you think.

If you’re flying to a cruise port, checking a bag is a huge hassle. Even if you get a free checked bag with a particular airline, it still adds unnecessary stress to the mix. If your bag does not make it on your plane, which may happen with short layovers, you might have to board the ship without your luggage.

Plus, traveling with a large suitcase makes it more difficult to transit from the airport to the cruise port. You may have to call an Uber XL instead of a normal car, and it makes navigating transit like buses and trains much more difficult.

Truthfully, you don’t need as many clothes as you think on an Alaska cruise. Unlike in the Caribbean, you won’t (hopefully) be sweating nearly as much, which means your clothes will stay cleaner longer.

Because of this, you can easily wear the same outfit twice during the week, although I find I always have enough space in a carry-on to pack a new outfit for every day.

Plus, if worse comes to worst, you can always pay for laundry services on the cruise ship, and a bag of laundry will still be cheaper than roundtrip baggage fees.

The bottom line

Overall, I have no regrets about packing for my Alaska cruise using only a carry-on suitcase. Doing so gave me more flexibility at the airport and when traveling to port, as I could easily fit on public transport and did not have to wait at baggage claim.

I never felt like I was running out of clothes, as I had more than enough shirts and pants to wear both in port and onboard. There were a few items I did not end up wearing during the cruise even with such light packing!

I’m not sure I’ll ever check a bag when I cruise, as I can’t imagine needing more than what I can fit in my carry-on and backpack. Whether in Alaska, the Caribbean, or Europe, I’ll always prefer the convenience of a carry-on.

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I packed for my Alaska cruise in a carry-on suitcase. Here's what I packed and how you can do it too

Utopia of the Seas: Itinerary, features, and more

In:

Utopia of the Seas

20 Jun 2023

Utopia of the Seas is the sixth ship in Royal Caribbean’s Oasis Class, making her one of the biggest cruise ships in the world.

As an Oasis Class ship, she is smaller than Icon of the Seas; however, that doesn't mean Utopia of the Seas isn't packed to the brim with ways for passengers to relax, dine, and more.

Here is a look at everything we know about the sixth Oasis Class vessel.

How big is Utopia of the Seas?

Utopia of the Seas measures 236,860 gross registered tons and 1,188 feet in length, meaning that she is similar in size to Wonder of the Seas versus older Oasis Class vessels.

Moreover, she has a capacity of 5,668 passengers at double occupancy split between 2,834 staterooms.

Where does Utopia of the Seas sail from?

Being that Utopia of the Seas is the first Oasis Class cruise ship to be powered by Liquified Natural Gas, or LNG, it makes sense that her homeport is Port Canaveral, Florida.

LNG is the cleanest fossil fuel that can power ships today. It has the potential to reduce carbon emissions by around 30%, sulfur emissions by nearly 100%, and nitrogen oxide emissions by around 85%.

Where does Utopia of the Seas sail to?

In a first for Royal Caribbean, Utopia of the Seas entered service offering just short cruises. Typically, new cruise ships start off with 7-night sailings, but Royal Caribbean wants to market Utopia to attract the new-to-cruises passengers.

Utopia of the Seas offers 3- and 4-night cruises to Nassau and their private island: Perfect Day at CocoCay.

The strategy is to attract people who have never taken a cruise before, and are tepid to try a week-long sailing. By offering short cruises on a brand new ship, Royal Caribbean is betting these folks will see Utopia as a heads-and-shoulders superior choice to try a cruise.

The inaugural voyage was July 19, 2024, and was a 3-night cruise to Nassau and Perfect Day at CocoCay. The second sailing departed on July 22, 2024, as a 4-night cruise to The Bahamas.

Utopia of the Seas neighborhoods and layout

Utopia of the Seas isn't the last ship in the record-breaking Oasis Class, as Royal Caribbean ordered a seventh ship that's scheduled to be delivered in 2028. The order is contingent upon financing, but it's expected to be completed later in 2024.

Royal Caribbean Group President and CEO Jason Liberty said, "While we eagerly anticipate the debut of Royal Caribbean’s Utopia of the Seas this summer, we’re already dreaming up her sister ship and the next installation in the brand’s extremely popular Oasis Class."

Of course, Royal Caribbean would not debut the biggest and boldest Oasis Class ship without making some modifications, meaning there are some venues, staterooms, and other features not found on any other Oasis vessel in the fleet.

Like other Oasis Class ships, Utopia of the Seas has the following neighborhoods:

The Boardwalk, where guests will find the fan-favorite Playmakers, carousel, and, of course, AquaTheater.
Pool & Sports Zone, which features a Caribbean-style pool deck and a three-story Lime and Coconut Bar.
Central Park, where guests will find the only Izumi in the Park on any Oasis Class ship. This is a concept taken from Icon of the Seas.
The Royal Promenade, the main thoroughfare on Utopia of the Seas.
Entertainment Place, the entertainment hub of all Oasis Class vessels. Here, you can find the comedy club, casino, theatre, etc.
Youth Zone, which is home to Adventure Ocean programming, an arcade, and teen club.
Vitality Spa & Fitness, Royal Caribbean's signature spa that offers treatments and services ranging from pedicures to bamboo massages. The fitness center is available at no extra cost.
Suite Neighborhood, which is a carry-over from Wonder of the Seas. This is an exclusive enclave for suite guests who are hoping to enhance their cruising experience.

Utopia of the Seas dining

In total, there are over 40 ways to drink and dine when onboard the ship, ranging from the complimentary Windjammer to brand-new concepts, such as Royal Railway - Utopia Station and Pesky Parrot bar. Plus, you are able to enjoy 16 cuisines from around the world.

With 10 complimentary dining options, it is possible to not spend a penny extra on dining outside of what is included in your base fare. Start your mornings at the Windjammer and grab a snack at the full-size food truck before indulging in a three-course meal at the Main Dining Room.

With 11 specialty venues, however, you may want to splurge on sushi in Central Park (a first on any Oasis Class ship), bar food at Playmakers, southern comfort dishes at The Mason Jar, and more.

Utopia of the Seas complimentary dining options:

Main Dining Room
Windjammer Cafe
Solarium Bistro
The Spare Tire, a new poolside food truck
Park Café
Cafe Promenadé
Sorrento’s Pizza
Boardwalk Dog House
El Loco Fresh
Sprinkles for ice cream
Coastal Kitchen (suites only)
Room service (continental breakfast only)
Johnny Rockets (breakfast only)

Utopia of the Seas specialty dining options:

Chops Grille, which is connected to the Trellis Bar
Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen and Wine Bar with outdoor Gio’s Terrazza overlooking the Boardwalk
Royal Railway - Utopia Station, a new immersive train car experience
Izumi Hibachi & Sushi
Izumi in the Park
Izumi Omakase
Hooked Seafood
150 Central Park
Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade
Starbucks
Johnny Rockets (lunch and dinner)
The Mason Jar
Chef’s Table
Wipe Out Bar snowcones

Utopia of the Seas bars and lounges

Utopia of the Seas has no shortage of bars and lounges for guests to explore. Some fan favorites returned to Utopia, like Playmakers, Boleros, and the Schooner Bar.

Replacing the Bionic Bar, however, is the Pesky Parrot, a new-to-brand Caribbean tiki bar that serves tropical beverages, both frozen and on the rocks.

Bars and lounges on Utopia of the Seas include:

Schooner Bar
Trellis Bar
Boleros
Rising Tide Bar
Solarium Bar
Bell and Barely Pub
Wipe Out Bar
The Attic
Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade
The Lime and Coconut
Pesky Parrot
Music Hall
Spotlight Karaoke
Cantina Fresca
The Vue

Activities onboard Utopia of the Seas

Like Wonder of the Seas, there's one Flowrider on Utopia. In place of the other one is a redesigned playscape. This themed playground features climbing walls, nets, games, puzzles, and slides for younger guests.

Likewise, there's mini-golf, two rock walls, a zip line, and the longest Ultimate Abyss yet, which is 43 feet longer than previous incarnations. This makes Utopia's Ultimate Abyss the longest dry slide at sea. Plus, it has been reworked to be even faster than previous ones!

The Ultimate Abyss has 300 LED lights, transparent windows, and zoom booster rollers, which gives riders a thrilling exit onto the Boardwalk.

In terms of the casino, Utopia has two that have a combined 371 slot machines! The standard casino, which permits smoking, has roughly 539 seats, while the non-smoking casino has about 64.

Other activities onboard Utopia of the Seas:

Adults-only Solarium
Adventure Ocean programming
Suites-only sun deck with a private pool that overlooks the ocean
Music Hall
Adults-only comedy venue, The Attic
Perfect Storm water slides
Three pools on the top deck, two of which are resort-style, while the third has a sloping entry
Studio B ice skating rink
Royal Theater for unique and Broadway-style productions
Splashaway Bay
Escape room
Laser tag: Battle for Planet Z

Entertainment on Utopia of the Seas

There are three news shows that guests can expect to see on Utopia of the Seas. These include:

Aqua80Too in the AquaTheater: "Following on from the famous Aqua80 show on Oasis of the Seas, no other show on earth will make you feel like this one will. The tempos, the energy, the drama, the action, and the fun, all rolled into one."

Youtopia in Studio B: "It's an ice skating odyssey through ideal perfection, fantastical times and places, and unbelievable artistry while champion performers leave you in awe with countless spins, jumps, and stunts along the way. Find out what utopia means to you during Youtopia!"

All In! in the Royal Theater: "All the technology, all the creativity, all the talent, all the design, all the sound, all the costumes, all the video, all the lighting, all the choreography, all the energy, and all the fun... ALL IN!"

There is not a Broadway musical on Utopia of the Seas.

Utopia of the Seas also offers new themed parties, like:

Rezolution: "This is not your ordinary night out. Rezolution is an immersive late-night white party experience that puts the focus on you. Dance nonstop to DJ-spun beats while projected images - from fireworks to colorful koi fish - transform you into living art."

Royal Kappa Chi: "School is in session. Gather up your crew for the ultimate collegiate party with Royal Kappa Chi. We're talking pong battles, flip cup championships, and the chance to reclaim the title of Quarters King or Queen. It's just like the good old days, only better —with DJ mashups and party vibes."

Silent Toga!: "Hosted in the Solarium, we feature a classic 'Toga' party, with a twist. This 'Toga' party is silent. Using 600 silent party headphones, 3 DJs will play 3 different styles of music each on a different channel, guaranteeing our guests to dance to their favorites."

Hey Utopia!: "The party that kicks off all parties. Hosted poolside, this party gets the guests energized as they board. Starting with our resident DJ and Royal Party Squad as they get the crowd on their feet and moving to some of the hottest hits from today. With special activations including a first appearance of the roaming Champagnators destined to quench the guest's thirst. This party is guaranteed to put the guests in a great party atmosphere before we even set sail."

Senses Sunset Pool Party: "This is a chill, early evening poolside vibes. Hosted by the Party DJ, we time this party to align with the sunset. House Music plays throughout the pool deck, allowing for the great vibes to continue. The big screen will also be playing sunsets from famous places around the world."

Plunge Day Pool Party: "Party. Chill. Repeat. Our resident DJ brings awesome vibes to the pool deck as guests either party or chill as Utopia of the Seas navigates the warm waters of the Bahamas. This party, offered in the afternoon in Nassau or on the Sea Day mimics a Vegas-style pool party. The Activities Team 'makes it rain' with water blasters to spray guests who are chilling in the pool and around the deck. This will feature another appearance of the Champagnators."

Royal Caribbean's newest ship features well-loved game shows and parties from other Royal Caribbean ships, such as:

Crazy Quest
Majority Rules
Battle of the Sexes
Friendly Feud
18+ late-night club, Red
Shush! Silent Party
Spotlight Karaoke

Utopia of the Seas cabin tours

Utopia of the Seas construction

Utopia of the Seas was under construction at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France. The ship began construction in April 2022.

Utopia of the Seas was delivered to Royal Caribbean on June 13, 2024.

Cruise ship delivery is the transfer of ownership of the ship from the shipyard to the buyer, in this case, Royal Caribbean. This marks an important milestone in the construction process.

Delivery, however, does not mean the ship begins sailing with passengers. Wonder of the Seas, for example, was delivered to Royal Caribbean in January 2022, but her inaugural sailing was not until March 4, 2022.

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Everything you need to know about Utopia of the Seas

I’m a budget traveler, and here are 10 ways I saved money on my Alaska cruise

In:

Alaska

14 Jun 2023

As a budget traveler who loves cruising to Alaska, I’m always looking for ways to save money while visiting the 49th state.

It’s easy to break the budget on an Alaska cruise, as shore excursions tend to be priced significantly higher than those in the Caribbean. Hoping to take a helicopter ride to a glacier? Get ready to shell out $1000. Interested in a kayaking tour? You may spend over $200!

Not wanting to spend thousands on excursions and other cruise add-ons, I took advantage of several money-saving tips on my recent Alaska cruise.

From exploring ports without shore excursions to taking advantage of onboard discounts, it was easy to save money on my Alaska cruise without feeling like I was missing out.

Here are 10 ways I saved money on my Alaska cruise.

I rented a bike in Juneau for $40 instead of paying $200 for a cycling tour

While in Juneau, I wanted to visit Mendenhall Glacier, one of the port’s top attractions. As I was browsing shore excursions in the port, I found a cycling tour to the glacier and was immediately intrigued.

The “Bike & Brew Glacier View” tour in Juneau was priced at $149 and consisted of an 8.5 mile bike ride to the glacier followed by a visit to a local brewery. While it sounded fun, I thought spending $150 to ride a bike was steep.

Instead, I visited Cycle Alaska in downtown Juneau after disembarking the ship, which was only a two minute walk from the dock. There I was able to rent a bicycle for four hours for only $40. My mom decided to rent an e-bike for just $30 more.

From the bike shop, we took off on a 13 mile ride to Mendenhall Glacier. The majority of the ride was on separated bike paths and it was extremely fun to explore on our own without a tour.

Upon arrival at the glacier, we locked our bikes on a rack and walked around the park area, making a stop at the scenic Nugget Falls. From there, we hopped back on our bikes for the 13 mile return trip.

Not only did I save $110 by renting a bike instead of booking a tour, but I had a lot more flexibility in what I could do with my time. Plus, I’m not a fan of organized shore excursions, so I much preferred the self-exploration possible with a bike rental.

I bought souvenirs in port instead of on the ship

I don’t always buy souvenirs when I cruise, but I decided to purchase a few on my recent Alaska cruise. To save money, I bought souvenirs while I was in port instead of in the souvenir shops on my cruise ship.

The first day of my cruise, I boarded the ship’s souvenir shops and found plenty of cute, fashionable Alaska-themed souvenirs. From sweatshirts to mugs, hats, and stuffed animals, there were hundreds of souvenirs to browse onboard the ship.

I decided to hold off on purchasing souvenirs on the ship and instead wait to shop for souvenirs in port.

During our first port day in Ketchikan, I was happy with my decision to avoid purchasing souvenirs on the ship. Ketchikan has dozens of souvenir shops with discounted prices on not just Alaska trinkets, but warm-weather clothing and raincoats.

Unsurprisingly, the prices of souvenirs onboard were inflated compared to what we found in each Alaska cruise port. Buying the souvenirs in port (specifically in Ketchikan, which had the best shops) was a budget-friendly decision I’m glad I made.

Took light rail from Seattle airport to downtown

I flew to Seattle the day before my cruise, and I saved money by taking the light rail downtown instead of calling an Uber or Lyft.

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA-TAC) is around a 30 minute drive from downtown Seattle, although it can take longer with heavy traffic. Ubers or Lyfts to the city center from the airport usually cost over $50.

I booked a hotel in downtown Seattle the night before the cruise, so I had to travel from the airport to downtown upon arrival. Instead of calling a rideshare service, I decided to take the light rail.

Seattle’s light rail travels from SEA-TAC airport to downtown in just 38 minutes and costs only $3 per person. Our hotel was only a four minute walk from the Westlake station downtown, so taking the light rail was convenient, efficient, and cost-effective.

I did the free version of the North Star observation pod instead of paying

One of the most popular signature activities on Quantum Class cruise ships is the North Star, an observational pod that rises from the pool deck to three hundred feet above sea level.

The views from the North Star are beautiful, especially in a destination like Alaska, so I didn’t want to miss out on this activity while onboard.

Unlike most activities on a Royal Caribbean cruise, the North Star offers both complimentary and extra-cost rides. Complimentary rides are offered when your cruise ship is docked in port, and extra-cost rides are available on sea days.

Not wanting to pay $30 to ride the North Star on a sea day, I made it a point to reserve a complementary slot. To do so, you must open the Royal Caribbean app once onboard and reserve a time slot.

Once I got onboard, though, I was shocked to see that all complimentary rides were already sold out! Still determined to ride the North Star, I periodically checked the app throughout the week, and I realized Royal Caribbean was releasing new time slots every day.

Once I saw a slot open, I quickly reserved it and was able to ride the North Star without shelling out $30.

I avoided expensive sit-down restaurants in port

To save money on my Alaska cruise, I ate most of my meals on the ship instead of in port. When I did grab a bite to eat in port, I dined at quick-service casual restaurants instead of sit-down venues.

Alaska has some of the best seafood in the United States, and I usually make it a point to dine at restaurants while visiting each port. On my recent cruise, however, I decided against long meals in port in favor of spending more time exploring town.

While docked in Ketchikan, we grabbed a quick latte and pastry at a local coffee shop instead of spending an hour or two at a restaurant. In Juneau, I bought fish tacos from a food truck instead of a sit-down meal.

It’s not uncommon to spend over $30 per person, per meal at a sit-down restaurant in Alaska cruise ports. Eating smaller snacks and quick meals in port allowed me to save money—I only spent around $10 each day for food in port.

I took advantage of Crown & Anchor Society benefits

Royal Caribbean’s Crown & Anchor Society offers some impressive benefits, including free drinks, discounts on onboard purchases, and exclusive events.

During my 7-night cruise, I took advantage of four benefits:

4 free drinks every day
Diamond Lounge access
Free play money in the casino
Extra bingo cards

I visited the Diamond Lounge during my cruise to use the specialty coffee machine, where I was able to make lattes, cappuccinos, and other specialty drinks for free.

Of course, the free drinks as a Diamond member easily saved me significant money throughout the cruise. It was a huge benefit to be able to order a cocktail, mocktail, or soda four times a day without worrying about racking up a large bill at the end of the cruise.

kentucky-summer-trellis-bar-drink-package-2

Even if you’re not yet a Diamond member, you will still receive coupons for 50% off drinks like wine, beer, soda, and milkshakes. Taking advantage of these coupons will help you save money on your Alaska cruise.

And although spending money on gambling is not, by any means, a money saving tip, I took advantage of the $8 free play I received on a slot machine. I also partook in bingo for the first time on a cruise, where I received 6 extra jackpot cards during the game because of my loyalty status.

While I lost in both the casino and bingo, it was fun to get extra perks through the Crown & Anchor Society to either save money or increase my chances of winning a game.

I booked an interior cabin

Like most of my cruises, I booked an interior cabin on my recent Alaska itinerary. The total cost of my interior cabin was $1856, or $923 per guest.

While nothing luxurious, booking an interior cabin allowed me to save money on my cruise fare. I booked my cruise just two months before the sail date, so prices were not as low as I would have preferred. To avoid spending several hundred to several thousand dollars more on a balcony or suite, I snagged one of the last interior rooms available.

Booking an interior cabin allowed me to allocate my vacation budget elsewhere.

I packed in a carry-on suitcase to avoid $60 in baggage fees

While packing for an Alaska cruise in a carry-on might seem outrageous, I fit more than I needed in my trusty little suitcase.

I absolutely hate checking a bag when I travel, so I’ve mastered the art of packing for a 7-night cruise in a carry-on. To avoid paying $60 in bag fees, I packed everything I needed in a carry-on for my recent cruise.

To fit so much in a small suitcase, I utilized packing cubes which greatly reduced the surface area of my clothing.

In addition, I traveled with a backpack as my personal item on the airplane. Inside I was able to fit my laptop, camera gear, toiletries, chargers, and other miscellaneous items. I even had enough space to fit my souvenirs in the bag after the cruise was over!

Packing in a carry-on allows me to travel more efficiently, save money, and ensure my belongings get to the port with me.

I cruise to Alaska every year. Here are 8 reasons I prefer Alaska cruises over the Caribbean

In:

Alaska

05 Jun 2023

I cruise to Alaska nearly every summer, and I prefer Alaska cruises over Caribbean cruises. The incredible nature and charming ports make Alaska one of my favorite cruise destinations, and I try to book a cruise to the region every year.

side by side image of cruise ship and jenna smiling at glacier

Despite the Caribbean’s popularity among cruisers, I don’t always love the humidity and scorching temperatures. And although I’ll never complain about spending a day at the beach, given the chance, I’ll always pick a day in the mountains instead.

Some cruisers may scoff at the idea of a cold-weather cruise. After all, why spend a vacation shivering when you could be suntanning in the tropics?

Yet for me, Alaska’s dreamy landscapes and active shore excursion opportunities keep me booking cruises to the Last Frontier again and again.

These are the 8 reasons why I prefer cruising to Alaska over the Caribbean.

What I love most about Alaska cruises is watching the scenery when sailing from port to port.

As much as I love visiting Alaska’s cruise ports, I enjoy watching the scenery from onboard even more.

In the Caribbean, your cruise ship spends most time at sea sailing through the open ocean. The majority of the time, once your ship sails away from port, you won’t see land until you arrive at your next port of call.

Alaska cruises offer stunning scenery while your ship sails from port to port. Once you enter the state’s Inside Passage, your ship will be surrounded by land on both sides. You’ll see small islands, jagged cliffs, waterfalls, and glaciers from the comfort and warmth of your cruise ship.

When I cruise to Alaska, I spend hours admiring the scenery from the Solarium, the pool deck, or a quiet lounge. It’s hard to beat sipping a hot chocolate while watching mountains, glaciers, and volcanoes out the window!

I love the tropical views on a Caribbean cruise, but for me, it doesn’t compare to what you’ll see in Alaska.

As an active traveler, I love the outdoor adventure opportunities offered in Alaska.

I’m always looking for outdoor activities when I cruise, and there’s perhaps no better place to explore the outdoors than Alaska.

Alaska’s nature is vast, rugged, and remote, but there are outdoor activities accessible to all guests. Whether you’re a seasoned hiker or a novice outdoorsman, you can easily find ways to explore the state’s nature during an Alaska cruise.

Many shore excursions in Alaska have an outdoor focus. You’ll find plenty of hiking, biking, kayaking, and even rock climbing excursions in Alaska cruise ports.

If you don’t want to shell out hundreds of dollars on an excursion, it’s easy enough to explore nature without an organized tour. I prefer exploring ports on my own and have found outdoor activities in every cruise port, from day hikes in Sitka to bike rides in Juneau.

You can certainly still enjoy the outdoors in the Caribbean, but it’s hard to beat the outdoor activity offerings in a place like Alaska.

The wildlife viewing opportunities in Alaska are unmatched compared to other cruise destinations.

Alaska is home to majestic wildlife. There are an estimated 30,000 bears in the state along with an equal number of eagles. Additionally, eight species of whales frequent Alaska’s chilly waters during the summer months, including humpback, gray, orca, and minke whales.

Spotting wildlife is a major attraction for those booking a cruise to Alaska, and you’re almost guaranteed to see these animals during your week in the state.

I'm currently onboard an Alaska cruise, and just yesterday I spotted a mama black bear and two cubs through my binoculars from the ship. Later in the evening, a humpback whale made an appearance on the ship’s starboard side as we relaxed in the Solarium.

In fact, I’ve spotted two whales since I began writing this blog post!

Beyond viewing wildlife from the ship, you can book a variety of wildlife-focused shore excursions. From whale watching tours to sea otter quests and visiting a bear rehabilitation facility, there are plenty of ways to get up close (but not too close!) with wildlife on an Alaska cruise.

You can book a one-way Alaska itinerary to explore the state more in-depth, and I love having this option.

When it comes to booking an Alaska cruise, you have two options: a roundtrip sailing or one-way itinerary.

Roundtrip cruises depart Seattle and return one week later. Throughout the week, they visit three Alaska cruise ports and also stop in Victoria, British Columbia.

Roundtrip sailings are convenient, as passengers can book a roundtrip flight, and if they drove to the cruise port, they can park their car in Seattle for the week.

One-way sailings, on the flip side, travel in one direction, starting in one port and ending in another. Northbound itineraries start in Vancouver, Canada and end in Seward, Alaska. Southbound cruises go in the opposite direction.

Related: 50 best Alaska cruise tips

One-way itineraries allow passengers to travel Alaska more in-depth—they stop at four Alaska cruise ports instead of just three.

Furthermore, starting or ending the cruise in Seward, Alaska allows guests to explore interior Alaska before or after the cruise. Visiting sites like Denali National Park and Preserve and Kenai Fjords National Park is just a few hours’ drive away from the cruise port in Seward.

Having one-way itinerary options is another reason I prefer Alaska cruises over Caribbean itineraries. One-way itineraries are not common in the Caribbean, and are usually only found on lengthy repositioning cruises.

While I cruise often, I enjoy land-based vacations for the ability to explore a destination at a slower pace. Booking a one-way itinerary allows you to experience the best of both worlds in Alaska.

Glacier viewing days are another reason I prefer Alaska cruises over Caribbean itineraries.

Most Alaska cruises include a scenic viewing day of a glacier, and these spectacular days are another reason I prefer Alaska cruises over Caribbean cruises.

Most round trip itineraries make a visit to Endicott Arm & Dawes Glacier, a 600 foot tall, 30 mile long glacier at the end of the Endicott Arm Fjord. Some itineraries also visit Tracy Arm Fjord and the twin Sawyer glaciers.

One-way itineraries often visit Hubbard Glacier, a 75 mile glacier that flows to Disenchantment Bay in southeast Alaska. At 400 feet tall and 6 miles wide, seeing this glacier makes for an unforgettable cruising day, and it’s something you’ll never see on a Caribbean cruise.

On glacier viewing days, your cruise ship sails through a narrow fjord amongst colossal cliffs and tall, narrow waterfalls. As your ship approaches a glacier, you’ll see icebergs and maybe even wildlife like seals, eagles, and whales.

Once at the glacier, the ship will turn 360 degrees, allowing guests to see the glacier from anywhere onboard.

Pictures don’t do Alaska’s glaciers justice—the scale and majesty of these massive ice sheets must be seen in person to truly appreciate their grandeur.

I’m a destination-focused traveler, and Alaska cruises focus more on the destination instead of the cruise ship itself.

In the age of mega cruise ships, it’s easy to place more of a focus on the ship itself instead of the destination. After all, today’s biggest cruise ships are destinations within themselves, with distinct neighborhoods, dozens of dining choices, and an endless array of activities and entertainment.

When cruising in the Caribbean, most passengers choose a cruise based on ship rather than itinerary. The ports seem almost secondary to the features of the cruise ship itself. In fact, some passengers do not even disembark the ship in ports of call, instead preferring to spend their time enjoying the ship’s amenities.

In Alaska, on the contrary, the focus of the vacation is on the destination instead of the ship. For most guests, visiting Alaska is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and they are excited to relish every moment as much as possible.

You’ll catch more passengers researching ports of call, watching sailaway from outer decks, and visiting monuments and museums about the state’s culture. There’s a sense of excitement in the air when cruising Alaska that I haven’t yet seen on a Caribbean cruise.

As someone who lives on the west coast, it’s hard to beat the convenience of cruising to Alaska.

I live in the western United States, and it’s significantly easier for me to get to Seattle compared to east coast ports like Miami, New York, and Port Canaveral.

Because of this, I’ll always prefer booking a cruise from a port on the west coast, such as Seattle, Los Angeles, or San Francisco. Doing so means I can hop on a short two hour flight instead of a twelve hour travel day with lengthy layovers.

This also means flight prices are significantly cheaper than those to Florida. I recently booked a flight to Seattle for $150 roundtrip; flights to Miami, on the other hand, can be over $600. At that price, I might as well fly to Europe instead of Florida!

Additionally, the lack of a time difference when cruising from the west coast leaves me far less tired for the first few days of the cruise. Instead of recouping from jet lag and red-eye flights, I can kick off my vacation feeling more energized.

I enjoy the break from the summer heat when cruising to Alaska, even if it is a bit cold.

If you live in a warm climate like Arizona, visiting Alaska in July is akin to someone from Minnesota booking a Caribbean cruise in January.

Instead of traveling for sunny days to get you through winter, you’re cruising for chilly, cloudy days to help you survive the summer!

The temperatures in southeast Alaska typically range from 55-70° F during the summer months, with most days averaging around 65 degrees. While warm by Alaska standards, temperatures will feel cool for most passengers from the lower 48.

Booking a Caribbean cruise during the summer brings drastically different weather. It’s not uncommon to see highs above 90 degrees in Cozumel in July, and that’s not even mentioning the 80% humidity.

Personally, I prefer cruising somewhere colder in the summer months as opposed to traveling to a warmer climate. Although you won’t find me traveling to Alaska in January, I’m always eager to escape the heat of summer with a cold weather cruise.

Planning an Alaska cruise? Check out more of our helpful tips:

I paid $928 for a windowless cabin on my Alaska cruise. Take a look inside my interior cabin on Quantum of the Seas

In:

Quantum Class

02 Jun 2023

To kick off the summer, I boarded a 7-night Alaska cruise on Quantum of the Seas. In true budget-traveler fashion, I booked an interior cabin for this sailing, for which I paid $1,856.

I’m cruising to Alaska with my mom, bringing the total price per person to $929, or $132 per night. I booked this cruise just two months before the sail date, so prices were steeper than I expected for an interior cabin. Nonetheless, I found the price reasonable for a cruise at the start of Alaska’s peak summer season.

Royal Caribbean’s Quantum Class ships are my favorite vessels in the cruise line’s fleet, so I was excited to sail on Quantum of the Seas from Seattle this week. The elegance, size, and wide range of itineraries on the Quantum Class ships makes them a perfect choice for an Alaska cruise vacation.

Not only are the ship’s public areas top-notch, but the cabins are as well. Cabins on older Royal Caribbean ships often lack storage space, outlets, and stylish room decor. Those on newer ships—like Quantum of the Seas—are a major improvement with modern decor and design features.

Take a tour of my tiny, windowless cabin on Quantum of the Seas for my Alaska cruise. While not as luxurious as a balcony room or suite, staying in a cabin like mine is the best way to explore Alaska on a budget.

My cabin is located on deck eight just a short walk from the elevators, and conveniently located between the daytime fun on the pool deck and evening activities in the Royal Esplanade.

Being on deck eight means I have been taking the elevators more than usual, however, as the cabin is relatively far from the pool deck on deck fourteen. I don’t always feel like climbing six flights of stairs to get to the buffet or pool, but waiting for the elevators isn’t ideal either.

Regardless, I appreciate not being below a loud deck—the decks above and below my cabin are also staterooms. On a prior Alaska cruise, my cabin was located directly below Adventure Ocean, Royal Caribbean's child programming, and was subject to loud sounds coming from the program’s (frequent) dodgeball competitions.

One of the first things you’ll notice when walking into the cabin is the virtual balcony, and no, it’s not a real balcony!

Interior cabins on Quantum of the Seas have a virtual balcony, a floor-to-ceiling television screen depicting a live video feed from outside the ship. While not technically a balcony, this added perk means you can see what’s happening outside the ship.

So far during our sailing, the virtual balcony has proved useful when we’re deciding what to wear into port. If it looks foggy and rainy, we make sure to pack our warmest jackets and umbrellas.

It also helps us see whether it’s day or night outside. Without checking your phone, it can be confusing to know what time it is when staying in a windowless cabin, especially if you wake up in the middle of the night.

Our cabin has a king-sized bed, although we called our cabin attendant shortly after embarking in order to have the beds separated into two twin-sized beds. As I’m traveling with my mom, I prefer having the beds separated so we each get our own space.

The cabins on Quantum of the Seas certainly have more outlets than Royal Caribbean’s oldest ships, but unfortunately there’s only an outlet on one side of the bed. I always prefer having outlets on both sides of the bed for convenience when charging electronics during the night.

Across from the bed is a television, where you can watch live TV, on-demand movies, check your account balance, order room service, and watch a map of the ship’s current position.

Also by the bed is a full-length mirror.

In the back of the cabin is the living room, so to speak, which includes a sofa, desk, and dresser.

The desk is an excellent place to catch up on work for Royal Caribbean Blog! It also functions as a vanity and has a large mirror.

At the desk are two North American style outlets, two USB ports, and one European style outlet. I packed a European outlet adapter so that I could make use of all outlets in the cabin.

Having a couch is nice when cruising with two people in the cabin. Some interior rooms only have a small chair, which makes relaxing anywhere except the bed difficult.

The dresser has five drawers and is the most convenient place to unpack belongings during the sailing.

There is also a mini cooler in the dresser where you can place drinks and snacks.

I love the layout of our interior cabin and it feels spacious, even for being such a small room. Having a couch instead of a chair adds more living space, and it feels more like a balcony-sized room compared to many interior rooms I’ve stayed in previously.

If I had to change one thing, I would move the bed to the back of the cabin so we didn’t have to constantly walk around a small passageway by the bed to get to the rest of the room.

The amount of storage space in the cabin is impressive. There’s more than enough room to store belongings throughout the sailing. Each side of the bed has a closet, one of which has shelves, drawers, and the cabin’s safe.

On the other side of the bed is a wardrobe-style closet meant for hanging clothes. The closet door has two small shelves attached to it, which has been useful for keeping miscellaneous belongings organized during the cruise.

Additionally, there are two storage drawers above the sofa, two more above the bed, and shelves on each night stand. We have not found all this extra storage necessary, although it would be useful if sharing the cabin with three or more guests.

My tiny interior cabin comes with an equally tiny bathroom. Inside the bathroom is a toilet, shower, and sink as well as shelves and hooks for storage.

The shower has a detachable shower head. All showers come with a 2-in-1 body wash and shampoo combo, and the shower has two shelves for storing additional bath products.

While not quite as opulent as a suite, balcony, or even oceanview cabin, I find my interior room to provide everything I need for an enjoyable week onboard. While we’re only three days into the sailing, our cabin has already become a home away from home, and I have no regrets about booking the cheapest cabin available.

When choosing which type of cabin to book for an Alaska cruise, the correct answer will ultimately depend on your budget. Although booking a balcony cabin is not necessary, many passengers appreciate having a private outdoor area to enjoy the views.

Similarly, booking a suite is a wonderful way to splurge and celebrate such a remarkable, beautiful cruise itinerary.

Ultimately, there’s no right or wrong cabin to book for an Alaska cruise. While I might consider splurging on a more expensive stateroom in the future, for now, my cozy interior cabin is all I need.

7 reasons to eat at specialty restaurants instead of the Main Dining Room on your cruise

In:

Main Dining Room

31 May 2023

Specialty restaurants on Royal Caribbean are not included in your cruise fare, but we think they’re worth the splurge.

With so much food included in your cruise fare, some passengers scoff at the idea of spending extra on specialty restaurants. After all, most specialty restaurant dinners cost around $50, and spending extra may seem silly when you can eat elsewhere for free.

Others, however, prefer the ambiance, food quality, and cuisine options at specialty restaurants, even if they come with an added charge.

Many first time cruisers are torn between whether they should dine at specialty restaurants or stick to complimentary venues like the Main Dining Room and Windjammer buffet. It’s hard to pass up the exciting specialty dining options, whether teppanyaki or New England-style seafood, but is it worth it?

Here are 7 reasons to eat at specialty restaurants instead of the Main Dining Room on your cruise.

More intimate atmosphere

One of the main reasons passengers choose to dine at specialty restaurants as opposed to the Main Dining Room is for the more intimate atmosphere. Generally speaking, dining at a specialty restaurant feels more like a refined restaurant on land whereas the Main Dining Room feels more like a banquet dinner.

Specialty restaurants are smaller in size compared to the Main Dining Room and have more curated theming and decor. Tables are typically further apart than in the dining room as well, allowing guests to have more privacy while dining.

Some specialty restaurants have outdoor seating as well. Jamie’s Italian on select Quantum Class ships has outdoor seating on the promenade deck whereas Chops Grille and the Italian restaurant on Oasis Class ships feature outdoor seating in Central Park.

There are few date nights more romantic than dining outdoors at Central Park while a guitarist plays classical music in the background. If you’re celebrating a special occasion or just want a romantic night out, dining outdoors can be an excellent option.

Wider range of cuisines

Royal Caribbean’s specialty restaurants offer a wide range of cuisines, from Brazilian to Japanese and barbecue.

In the mood for sushi? The only place to eat sushi, sashimi, ramen, and other Japanese favorites is at Izumi, which comes at an extra cost.

Likewise, if you’re craving southern American cuisine such as a classic po’boy or shrimp and grits, look no further than The Mason Jar on Wonder of the Seas.

Even though the Main Dining Room offers a themed menu each evening for dinner, they rarely offer the same cuisine found in specialty restaurants. The only nights that may feature cuisine similar to specialty restaurants is on Mexican night and Italian night, although there will be far fewer options compared to a specialty restaurant like Sabor or Giovanni’s Table.

Unique dining concepts

Many Royal Caribbean fans are familiar with Wonderland, the cruise line’s eclectic, whimsical dining experience inspired by the tales of Alice and Wonderland. Dining at Wonderland is worlds away from the Main Dining Room, and currently offers the most unique dining experience found at any Royal Caribbean restaurant.

A restaurant like Samba Grill also offers a unique dining experience. This Brazilian churrasco restaurant offers all-you-can-eat meat in addition to a variety of appetizers, sides, and desserts.

When Utopia of the Seas launches in 2024, she will feature a restaurant designed like a “moving” train car, with screens transporting guests to far-flung destinations out the window. This type of dining experience is something that cannot be replicated in a complimentary venue on Royal Caribbean.

The cost is not exorbitant

In the grand scheme of a cruise vacation, spending extra for specialty dining will not add that much more to your overall vacation cost.

On my upcoming 9-night cruise, the Unlimited Dining Package, with gratuity added, is $334. Considering that dining is such an important part of the overall cruise experience, adding a little over $300 to the overall vacation cost for unlimited meals at specialty restaurants may be worth it for many cruisers.

Even if you don’t want the Unlimited Dining Package, you can usually find the 3-night dining package for around $120 with gratuity added. Considering that $120 is the cost of one shore excursion, eight cocktails, or half a spa treatment, it’s probably not a budget-breaker for most passengers.

You can also choose to book restaurant reservations individually. If you book specialty restaurants for lunch, you can find great deals. Many specialty restaurants are often half price at lunchtime and offer similar menus, meaning you can try a specialty restaurant for around $25.

There’s also the opportunity to dine at à la carte specialty restaurants. As opposed to a cover charge, these restaurants charge per-item, giving you more flexibility in how much you spend.

You can visit Playmakers and order $6 nachos for a snack or spend $19 on udon noodles at Izumi. There’s no rule saying you have to spend $50 every time you visit a specialty restaurant; à la carte restaurants can be an easy way to try different venues without breaking the bank.

You can use onboard credit

Speaking of not blowing your budget, did you know you can use onboard credit for specialty restaurants?

If you received onboard credit while booking your cruise, whether from a travel agent or booking promotion, you can put that credit toward specialty restaurants and dining packages.

Think of onboard credit as free money. You can use onboard credit to pay for drinks and souvenirs while onboard, or you can reserve items ahead of time on Royal Caribbean’s Cruise Planner website.

Booking specialty restaurants with onboard credit is a nice way to feel like your specialty restaurant meal is free, as you won’t pay anything extra for the dining experience. If you don’t have enough onboard credit to cover the entire reservation, you can pay the remaining balance with a credit card.

Better quality food

While food is subjective, many passengers find the food at specialty restaurants to be of higher quality than dishes in complimentary venues like the Windjammer and Main Dining Room.

Simply put, cooking for 5000 passengers is vastly different from cooking for a few hundred. Dishes in specialty restaurants are not cooked in mass quantities, allowing chefs to give extra attention to the dish before it’s served.

A great comparison between complimentary and specialty dining is with Italian food. You can find Italian food almost every day in the Windjammer and Main Dining Room, from chicken parmesan to pasta and pizza, but it won’t be nearly the same quality as Italian food at specialty restaurants.

And while ordering a strip steak in the Main Dining Room will be satisfying, it won’t usually be on par with the filet you can order from Chops Grille or Giovanni’s Table.

This isn’t to say the food in the Main Dining Room isn’t good, but specialty restaurants take cruise ship dining quality to the next level.

It makes your cruise more fun

Dining at the same venue for dinner each evening can get monotonous, even if you plan to switch between the Main Dining Room and Windjammer.

Booking specialty restaurants can help break up the day to day routine on a cruise and give you something extra to look forward to. Instead of eating in the Main Dining Room every evening, why not book a few lunches or dinners at specialty restaurants?

Even if you enjoy the food in the dining room, there’s nothing wrong with splurging in order to have more fun on a cruise vacation. When you look back on your cruise months later, you may not remember your fourth night in the dining room, but you will remember the fun you had dining at teppanyaki or Wonderland.

Like any cruise add-on, specialty restaurants are completely optional, but they can enhance your overall vacation experience.

Check out more cruise ship dining tips:

10 things to know before you book an Alaska cruise

In:

Alaska

30 May 2023

If you’re planning a cruise to Alaska, there are 10 things you definitely want to know before you book.

side by side image of two cruise ships in Alaska

Cruising to Alaska is extremely popular, but not all cruise passengers know what to expect. An Alaska cruise can vary depending on the month you sail, itinerary you book, and ship you select for your vacation, among other factors.

Before booking, it’s helpful to be prepared for any potential surprises. The weather might not be as cold as you imagined, or your dream shore excursion could be more costly than you expected.

These are the top 10 things to know before you book an Alaska cruise so that you’re prepared for the trip of a lifetime.

The time of year you sail can impact your cruise experience

The Alaska cruise season runs from May to September each year, and your experience in the state can vary from month to month.

Weather, daylight hours, wildlife viewing opportunities, and crowds change frequently throughout the Alaska cruise season. During the summer, you’ll find the warmest temperatures and most daylight, but, by far, the most crowds.

Likewise, fall brings lower prices and crowds, but also less daylight and fewer wildlife viewing opportunities.

While there’s no “right” month to cruise Alaska, you should research what to expect in each month. No time of the year will be perfect in all criteria, but certain months may work better with your travel preferences than others.

It won’t always be cold (the weather is unpredictable)

When most people think of an Alaska cruise, they imagine chilly temperatures, snow, and glaciers. Because of this, many passengers are surprised when they feel warm (or even sweat) on an Alaska cruise.

You might be surprised with how warm you feel in Alaska, especially if you’re traveling between June and August. On warm summer days, it’s possible to see temperatures in the mid 60s which, under the sun, feels fairly hot.

While packing t-shirts, shorts, and sandals for an Alaska cruise might seem odd, you might wear these items more frequently than you think. Even though the mornings can be chilly, temperatures may rise quickly throughout the day, leaving you uncomfortable in a sweater and rain jacket.

If you booked an active shore excursion, such as a cycling or hiking tour, you may feel uncomfortably warm in heavy layers. In this case, having thin layers like short sleeve shirts and lightweight shorts or pants is helpful.

Of course, you could prepare for warm weather and encounter nothing but rain and freezing temperatures during your cruise. In a state like Alaska, it’s possible to see several seasons in one day, and weather is relatively unpredictable.

Packing layers ensures you’re prepared for whichever weather conditions you encounter.

Book a one-way itinerary if you want to extend your trip

Most Royal Caribbean itineraries are round trip sailings, meaning they start and end at the same cruise port. With certain Alaska itineraries, however, you can book a one-way cruise.

One-way Alaska cruises start in Vancouver, British Columbia and travel north to Seward, Alaska (and vice versa). Like other Alaska cruises, these itineraries are 7-nights, but traveling in one direction allows guests to visit four Alaska cruise ports instead of just three.

Roundtrip Alaska cruises leaving from Seattle must make a port stop in Victoria or Prince Rupert, British Columbia. As part of the Passenger Vessel Services Act (PVSA), all foreign-flagged ships carrying passengers from one US port to another must make a stop in a foreign port prior to returning to the United States. Victoria and Prince Rupert are the most convenient ports available, as they are situated on the way to and from Alaska.

One-way itineraries do not need to stop in either of the ports since they begin or end in Vancouver, Canada. Because of this, these 7-night cruises include four port stops in Alaska instead of three, in addition to a glacier viewing day.

Because one-way itineraries start or end in Seward, you also have the opportunity to spend time in interior Alaska before or after the cruise. Extending your 7-night cruise with a few days visiting destinations like Denali National Park and Preserve and Talkeetna can make your vacation even more memorable.

Shore excursions are expensive

Many first-time cruisers are surprised to see how expensive shore excursions can be on an Alaska cruise. Shore excursions on Alaska cruises tend to be significantly more costly than shore excursions in the Caribbean. While you can certainly find budget-friendly tours, they are few and far between.

Expect to pay a minimum of $100 per person on Alaska shore excursions, and significantly more if you book a helicopter ride or plane to a glacier. Most whale watching tours will be at least $150-$300, and helicopter rides landing atop Mendenhall Glacier can cost well over $500 per person!

Despite the cost, shore excursions in Alaska offer truly unique experiences that you can’t find elsewhere in the lower 48. Whether dog sledding on a glacier or kayaking through fjords, splurging on an excursion is almost always worth it.

Nonetheless, if you don’t want to break the bank with excursions, it’s easy to have a great time in port without a shore excursion. Most Alaska cruise ports are completely walkable and offer plenty of shopping, restaurants, museums, and nature to explore without booking a tour.

To better plan your day in port, whether you book an excursion or explore on your own, check out our helpful guides:

Last-minute deals are common in the shoulder season

More often than not, the best time to book a cruise is one to two years in advance. Booking early is generally when you’ll see the cheapest cruise fares and most stateroom options, and prices tend to only get higher closer to a cruise’s sail date.

That being said, we’ve noticed a trend with Alaska cruises in the past few years. A few months before the sailing, prices drop significantly for one-way cruise itineraries.

If your schedule is flexible, keep an eye out for last-minute Alaska cruises. Starting in March or April each year, search Royal Caribbean’s website for Alaska cruises and filter the search results by price. If demand is low for a particular sailing, Royal Caribbean may drop the price.

These low fares are almost always on Radiance Class ships sailing one-way itineraries from Vancouver.

These cruises see less demand due to the fact that they sail from Vancouver and that they sail one-way, as this makes travel logistics more challenging for cruisers. Plus, Radiance Class ships are significantly smaller and older than Quantum Class ships sailing to Alaska.

These “downsides” shouldn’t deter you from booking a cheap cruise to Alaska. In fact, they aren’t necessarily downsides at all! One-way cruises allow you to dig deeper into Alaska’s culture, Vancouver is a world-class city to explore before a cruise, and small ships can offer a more intimate experience than Royal Caribbean’s larger vessels.

Be prepared for itinerary changes

All Royal Caribbean cruises can be subject to itinerary changes, but you may find changes more common when sailing to Alaska.

As previously stated, Alaska’s weather can be highly unpredictable, and this may lead to itinerary changes and even port cancellations. It’s not uncommon for a port day to be canceled or moved to a different day because of inclement weather.

Royal Caribbean will do everything possible to notify guests of itinerary changes before the cruise, but sometimes you will not find out of any itinerary changes until you get onboard. Unfortunately, this may mean scrambling to figure out new shore excursions and ideas for what to do in port.

Itinerary changes also happen on glacier viewing days. If the captain deems the approach to a glacier too dangerous, whether due to icebergs or low visibility, your highly-awaited glacier viewing may be canceled.

Although most Alaska cruises go ahead as scheduled, it’s always important to remain flexible on the chance your itinerary is shifted.

Purchasing internet may not be necessary

Internet on a Royal Caribbean cruise is expensive, often costing $20 or more per day for one device. If you’re from the United States (or another country with access to US phone service), you may not need an internet package.

Depending on your itinerary, you will visit three or four ports in Alaska on your cruise. In these ports, your phone service should work as normal because you’re still in the United States. This means that during the entire port day, whether you stay onboard or get off in port, you can use your phone’s data.

If you decide against purchasing an internet package, use your time in port to catch up with friends and family, check your emails, and complete any other tasks that require an internet connection.

When you leave port and your ship begins sailing to its next destination, be sure to turn off your data and turn on airplane mode. Even though you’re sailing through Alaska’s Inside Passage, your phone data may not cover the remote areas when sailing, and you want to avoid incurring hefty data charges.

Alaska cruises have a more relaxed vibe compared to Caribbean cruises

If you’re used to weekend party cruises to the Bahamas, you might be shocked by the relaxed atmosphere on an Alaska cruise. In general, cruises to cold weather destinations tend to attract a different demographic compared to Caribbean cruises.

Whereas you might find large groups of friends onboard a 3-night Freedom of the Seas cruise for a bachelorette party, you’re more likely to see families on an Alaska cruise.

Not only that, but Alaska cruises have less of a party atmosphere compared to cruises in tropical destinations. Cruising the Caribbean is an excuse to party, whether dancing to reggae bands on the pool deck or sunbathing at all-inclusive resorts in port.

Alaska, on the other hand, is more about enjoying the state’s landscapes. You won’t find many passengers spending their day partying while in port. Instead, you’ll find them hiking, whale watching, and quietly admiring the state's gorgeous vistas.

You might feel motion sick

Many first-time cruisers are concerned about feeling seasick on a cruise, and while it’s unlikely to happen, there’s always a chance.

For the majority of an Alaska cruise, your cruise ship will sail through the calm waters of the state’s Inside Passage. As land surrounds the passage on both sides, you usually won’t encounter much movement onboard.

When your ship is not within the Inside Passage, it’s possible to encounter strong winds and high seas.

As your ship departs Seattle or Vancouver, it must sail through a brief section of the open Pacific before reaching Alaska (usually on day two of the sailing). You’ll also pass through this section on the way back to Seattle or Vancouver from Alaska (day six or seven).

Depending on the weather conditions, this portion of the sailing may encounter rough seas. Packing dramamine or other motion-sickness remedies is recommended just in case your ship sails through choppy waters.

If you’re on a one-way itinerary, it’s possible to encounter inclement weather while sailing through the Gulf of Alaska to (or from) Seward. Again, packing motion-sickness remedies is recommended, although you can always find some onboard if you forget.

A balcony is nice, but not necessary

When researching cruises to Alaska, one piece of advice you’ll almost always see is to book a balcony cabin. Balcony cabins are cruise staterooms with their own private outdoor balcony, and they are the most popular cabins to book on any sailing.

These rooms come at a higher cost than interior and oceanview staterooms. While the price can vary depending on the itinerary, it’s possible for balcony rooms to cost between $500 and $1000 more than the smallest interior cabins.

If a balcony won’t hurt your budget, by all means, book one for your Alaska cruise—there’s no doubt that having a balcony cabin is nice when sailing through Alaska. If booking a balcony cabin means sacrificing on other add-ons like shore excursions and drink packages, though, we recommend staying in a cheaper cabin instead.

Fortunately, Royal Caribbean designs their cruise ships with an abundance of places to enjoy ocean views without a balcony. From the pool deck to the Solarium, lounges, restaurants, and entertainment venues, you don’t have to look hard to find a scenic view while onboard.

What is a cabin attendant on a cruise ship?

In:

Staterooms

27 May 2023

When you on a Royal Caribbean cruise, you'll be assigned a cabin attendant for the duration of the sailing, but what do they do?

You cabin attendant, also called a stateroom attendant, is a crew member who services your cabin during a Royal Caribbean cruise. They are responsible for cleaning your room throughout the sailing, from restocking towels to making your bed.

Your cabin becomes your home away from home while onboard, and cabin attendants visit your room every day in order to make your cabin as comfortable as possible.

It’s helpful to have an understanding of what services your cabin attendant provides before embarking a Royal Caribbean cruise. From knowing your cabin attendant’s responsibilities to tipping guidelines, here’s everything you should know about cabin attendants on a cruise ship.

What are the responsibilities of my cabin attendant?

Cabin attendants are responsible for serving you cabin, which entails the following responsibilities:

Restocking toiletries and towels in the bathroom
Tidying up belongings
Getting pullman and sofa beds ready for bed
Cleaning the room (cleaning bathroom, vacuuming floor, etc.)
Making your cabin’s bed
Emptying the trash
Delivering documents and informational sheets about your cruise

Exact service can vary from cabin attendant to cabin attendant. Some cabin attendants may fold clothes laying on your couch or bed and organize belongings on top of your desk. Others, on the other hand, take a more hands-off approach to tidying up personal belongings albeit still cleaning your cabin.

Of course, cabin attendants are known for delivering cute “animals” made out of towels to your cabin. From elephants to monkeys and snakes, finding a towel animal in your room each evening adds extra fun to the cruise experience.

Cabin attendants are not responsible for answering questions about your onboard account, providing mechanical maintenance to your cabin, childcare services, laundry, delivering room service, and helping you unpack.

How do I meet my cabin attendant?

The best time to meet your cabin attendant is on embarkation day. On the first day of your cruise, your cabin attendant will knock on your door to introduce themselves. During the introduction, we recommend letting your cabin attendant know any preferences and requests for your cabin service.

Requests may include separating your cabin’s beds, asking for extra towels, and letting them know the time of day you’d prefer your cabin to be serviced. Letting your cabin attendant know any requests in advance helps ensure service goes smoothly throughout the sailing.

If you’re not in the room when your cabin attendant knocks on your door, you’ll likely meet your attendant on the evening of embarkation day. Whenever you see housekeeping carts in the hallway, it means cabin attendants are servicing rooms, and they will make it a point to introduce themselves whenever you pass through the hallway.

How many times (and when) does my cabin attendant clean my room?

Oceanview balcony cabin on Anthem of the Seas

In non-suite cabins, your cabin attendant will clean your room once per day. They will service your room in either the morning or evening, and guests can give preference as to which time of the day they would prefer service.

If you’re cruising with more than two guests in the cabin, your cabin attendant will visit your room twice per day in order to prepare your sofa/pullman beds for the day and night.

Guests in Junior Suites and above will receive standard service twice per day—once in the morning and once for turndown service in the evening.

During turndown service, stateroom attendants prepare your room for bed by turning on your cabin’s nightlights and placing informational sheets, such as a Cruise Compass and disembarkation documents, on your bed.

Each stateroom comes with a double sided magnet that lets your cabin attendant know if they can clean the room. If you plan to sleep in, put the do not disturb side of the magnet on your cabin door. If your cabin is ready to be serviced, on the other hand, switch the magnet to the side indicating that your cabin attendant can enter the room.

How do I contact my cabin attendant if there is a problem with my cabin?

We always recommend checking your cabin on embarkation day to ensure there are no problems with the room. If you notice anything wrong, such as a broken closet door or missing TV remote, you should contact housekeeping via your stateroom’s telephone.

Every Royal Caribbean cruise cabin has a phone you can use to contact various departments on the ship at no extra charge. To call housekeeping, simply press the button for housekeeping on the phone. Your cabin attendant or another crew member will answer the phone and respond to your request; service is usually provided quickly and efficiently.

If your cabin has a mechanical issue—a leaky toilet or stuck balcony door—you can call maintenance as opposed to housekeeping. Maintenance will send a crew member to resolve any problems in your cabin as soon as possible.

Should I tip my cabin attendant?

All passengers on a Royal Caribbean cruise are charged a daily gratuity fee—this covers the cost of tipping your cabin attendant.

Guests in standard cabins (interior, oceanview, balcony, and Junior Suites) are charged a daily fee of $16 USD per person, per day. Those staying in Grand Suites and above incur an $18.50 USD per person, per day fee.

Despite the daily gratuity, some passengers choose to tip their cabin attendants extra for their service at the beginning or end of the cruise. Tipping extra is completely optional, but it’s an extra way to reward hard working cabin attendants. There is no recommended amount to tip a cabin attendant, but many passengers will tip around $25 to $50 USD extra.

What is a Royal Genie, and how is it different from a cabin attendant?

If you’re staying in a suite on a Quantum, Oasis, or Icon Class cruise ship, you may have access to the services of a Royal Genie in addition to your cabin attendant.

Guests in Star Class, the top tier of Royal Caribbean’s Royal Suite Class, have access to their own "magic maker" throughout the sailing. This special service is reserved only for top-tier suites such as AquaTheater suites, Owner’s Loft Suites, and Royal Loft Suites.

Related: What is Star Class?

As part of Star Class, each guest can use the service of a Royal Genie. A Royal Genie is a crew member that can enhance your cruise experience through added services and requests. While Royal Genies do not clean your cabin, they can provide services such as:

Organizing in-cabin parties
Delivering specialty restaurant meals to your room
Accompanying you to onboard activities where you can skip the line
Reserving seats at shows before you arrive
Bringing Starbucks drinks to your room each day

Depending on your preference and travel style, your Royal Genie’s services can vary greatly. Within reason, most requests can be accommodated, whether you want sushi delivered to the cabin or snacks waiting for you in the room upon return from a shore excursion.

If you’re staying in a Star Class room, it’s important to know the difference between your Royal Genie’s services and those provided by your cabin attendant. While you can certainly let your Royal Genie know of any cleaning preferences, your cabin attendant will be the one cleaning your cabin throughout the sailing.

Your really dumb cruise ship shore excursion questions answered

In:

Excursions

24 May 2023

Are shore excursions required? Do I need to bring my passport into port? What should I wear on an excursion? We’re answering 15 of your dumb cruise ship shore excursion questions today.

In addition to enjoying time onboard your cruise ship, you’ll have the opportunity to visit ports around the world, such as in the Bahamas, Alaska, Europe, and beyond. Every cruise port has something exciting to offer, whether snorkeling, city sightseeing, wildlife viewing, or visiting a waterpark.

Many cruisers book shore excursions in each cruise port to help provide the best experience in just a few hours, but learning the ins and outs of shore excursions can seem overwhelming. From choosing between excursions to preparing for your day ashore, there’s a lot to remember when planning a fun cruise ship port day.

Just like when we answered your “dumb” cruise questions about dining and cabins, we want to point out that these questions, of course, are not inherently dumb. Rather, they are questions we hear over and over again at Royal Caribbean Blog, and we want to answer them all in one place.

Here are your really dumb cruise ship shore excursion questions answered.

Do I need to book a shore excursion?

You are under no obligation to book a shore excursion while on a Royal Caribbean cruise. Booking shore excursions is completely optional, although it’s a popular choice for many cruisers.

Shore excursions allow you to discover a destination through a guided experience, whether you want to see a port’s top attractions, participate in a thrilling experience like kayaking or zip lining, or spend the day at the beach.

The advantage of a shore excursion is that there is little planning involved on your end. You won’t need to worry about handling transportation logistics or researching what to do. Instead, you just show up at the tour’s designated meeting point and local guides will handle the rest.

Not booking a shore excursion does not exclude you from getting off your cruise ship in port, however, and many passengers prefer the flexibility of exploring on their own. Without a shore excursion, you can still visit a port’s top sights, but there’s just a little more planning involved.

Do I need to bring my passport on a shore excursion?

A great debate among cruisers is whether or not you should bring your passport on a shore excursion. Some cruisers swear by bringing their passports into port. Others leave it in their cabin’s safe, knowing that if they were, for some reason, to miss the ship, crew members could retrieve their passport from their cabin.

To be on the safe side, we recommend bringing your passport on a shore excursion. Although the chances of missing your cruise ship are slim, it’s always better to be prepared for an unexpected scenario. You never know if an emergency will happen that might require you to spend extra time in port, thus missing your ship’s departure.

We recommend keeping your passport protected while on a shore excursion. Placing it into a waterproof bag, as an example, helps keep it dry and protected when at the beach or on a rainy day.

Do I get a refund if I miss my shore excursion?

Whether or not you get a refund for missing your shore excursion depends on a few factors.

If you booked a shore excursion through Royal Caribbean and your excursion gets canceled due to a schedule change, weather, or if your ship cannot dock in port, you will receive a refund.

If you booked an excursion through an outside provider and you miss the excursion, refunds are at the discretion of the tour provider. Most reputable tour companies will offer a similar refund policy as the cruise line in the case of an unexpected cancellation, but it’s best to check each tour’s policies before booking.

If you miss a shore excursion due to sleeping in or missing the meeting time, it’s unlikely you will be refunded for the excursion.

Can I cancel a shore excursion?

For most shore excursions booked through Royal Caribbean, guests can modify or cancel an excursion up to 48 hours prior to port arrival with no penalty. This allows guests ample flexibility in booking shore excursions; if they change their mind about a particular excursion once onboard, they can cancel it without incurring any extra charge.

Certain tours, though, must be canceled 30 days prior to sailing. Tours that involve flights, trains, overnight stays, hotels, special events, and Royal Caribbean Private Journeys should be canceled a month or more in advance of the sailing.

If booking through an independent tour operator instead of Royal Caribbean, you should review the tour’s cancellation policies before booking as they can vary from provider to provider.

The price of my shore excursion went down! Can I get a refund?

Royal Caribbean shore excursions, like all other add-ons in the Cruise Planner website, can vary in price from day to day. An excursion may be offered for $100 on one day and spike to over $150 the next. On some occasions, the price may decrease (sometimes significantly).

If booking a Royal Caribbean excursion, we recommend checking the Cruise Planner website frequently to monitor any price drops. If the price of an excursion you booked dropped, you can cancel and rebook the excursion with no penalty via the website.

If you notice the price of a tour drop through an independent tour operator, it’s at the discretion of the tour company whether or not you can rebook the tour at the lower cost.

Should I bring my wallet on a shore excursion?

Even though you don’t need your wallet while onboard a Royal Caribbean cruise, you should bring it on a shore excursion.

Your SeaPass card works on your cruise ship to make purchases, but it will not work in port. Therefore, remember to pack your wallet in your day bag. Bring a credit card, an ID, and some cash to ensure you’re prepared for the day.

Of course, you should bring your SeaPass card, too, as you’ll need to scan it to get on and off the ship on a port day.

Which currency should I bring on a shore excursion?

In addition to bringing your credit card on a shore excursion, you should also bring some cash. Cash can be used to purchase souvenirs or eat at restaurants that do not accept card payments, as well as tipping your shore excursion driver and guides after the tour.

The type of currency to bring depends on your port of call. Most Caribbean cruise ports will accept USD in tourist areas, although you can use local currency if you have any on hand.

Most countries (but not all) on a European cruise use the Euro. If you’re traveling to several countries that use the Euro, it’s a good idea to withdraw a small amount of currency from an ATM before the cruise.

When planning for which currency to bring into port, check the guidelines for each specific country. Some countries may accept card payments virtually everywhere, such as the United Kingdom, whereas others are best traveled with cash.

We do not recommend exchanging currency before a cruise. It’s easy to withdraw money from an ATM once in your embarkation city or cruise port, avoiding the hassle of exchanging currency ahead of time.

What should I bring on a shore excursion?

We advise wearing a daypack on a shore excursion to carry any belongings and essentials you’ll need throughout the tour.

What to bring depends on your ship’s destination along with tour type. Regardless of the tour and destination, you should pack your shore excursion ticket, a wallet, passport (or other ID), phone, camera, and your SeaPass card.

If your port is in a warm climate, remember to pack sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat, bathing suit (if visiting the beach), flip flops or sandals, beach towels, and a beach bag. We recommend a water-resistant or waterproof bag in case of rain.

If traveling to a colder climate, such as Alaska, you’ll want to pack layers along with rain gear. Bringing a fleece and rain jacket ensures you stay warm and dry, and you’ll also want to ensure your shoes are water resistant.

As far as accessories, bring a pair of binoculars to better view Alaska’s scenery along with a camera and beanie. You might even want to bring a pair of sunglasses—even though you're in Alaska, a sunny day can still lead to sunburn.

What should I wear on a shore excursion?

Shore excursions vary widely, from beach days to mountain hikes, and it’s important to dress appropriately for an excursion to ensure you’re comfortable during the day.

You can wear a bathing suit on a shore excursion, but remember to also wear something over the bathing suit, such as a cover up or shorts and a t-shirt. As far as footwear, wearing flip flops or sandals is usually your best bet. If the excursion combines a beach day with a more active activity, however, you should pack a pair of sneakers in your bag as well.

For a cold weather excursion, check the weather forecast before disembarking the ship. Weather can change drastically throughout the day in destinations like Norway and Alaska, so it’s important to be prepared for any and all weather scenarios.

We advise wearing a base layer, such as a t-shirt or long sleeve shirt, followed by a warm layer like a sweatshirt or sweater. On top of these two layers, wear a waterproof jacket if rain is on the forecast.

Some tours may require you to wear a certain type of outfit or footwear. Hiking tours, for example, will usually require closed toed shoes whereas excursions visiting cathedrals may require you to dress more conservatively. Read through the details of your shore excursion before leaving the ship for more information on what to wear.

Where do I meet for a shore excursion?

Each port operates excursions slightly differently with regards to where you will meet your tour group.

Many excursions will meet on the pier as soon as you disembark your ship. For these tours, a crew member or tour guide will hold up a sign with your excursion’s name and number. Look for the correct sign upon disembarking and wait with the tour group until every passenger has arrived for the excursion.

Some ports, such as Costa Maya, have a designated shore excursion meeting area once you enter the port from the pier. These meeting areas are typically shaded, providing more comfort as you wait for other passengers to arrive.

Other Royal Caribbean excursions will require you to meet inside the ship before disembarking, most commonly in the theater. This is common for excursions that require more travel time, such as those visiting mainland Mexico from Cozumel.

Information on where to meet will be found on your shore excursion ticket, which is delivered to your cabin on embarkation day if you booked the tour before your cruise. If you book an excursion while onboard, your shore excursion ticket will be delivered to your cabin during the sailing.

What happens if I lose my SeaPass card on a shore excursion?

Lost your SeaPass card on a shore excursion? If so, there’s no need to worry—you’ll still be allowed back on the ship.

When disembarking the ship in a port of call, you’ll scan your SeaPass card. This allows Royal Caribbean to keep track of which guests are on and off the ship. When coming back to the ship after an excursion, you must scan your SeaPass card.

If you lose your SeaPass card while in port, let the port authorities know once entering the port area. Ship security will verify your identity and let you back onboard, where you can make a visit to Guest Services for a replacement SeaPass card.

Obviously, it’s best not to lose your SeaPass card while in port. Keeping it safe in a daypack is advised. If you put it in a pocket, remember to take it out before swimming in the ocean or participating in active activities.

How do I book a Royal Caribbean shore excursion, and how much do they cost?

To book a shore excursion through Royal Caribbean, log on to your Royal Caribbean account on the cruise line’s website. If it’s your first time logging in, create an account and link your cruise reservation number to the account.

Once logged in, click on the “Plan My Cruise” button under the listed sailing. This button brings you to the Cruise Planner website, which is where you can book cruise add-ons like drink packages, specialty dining, spa treatments, and shore excursions.

Click on the shore excursions tab to see the listed excursions for your cruise itinerary. You can organize excursions by port, activity level, interest, and duration. If you find an excursion that looks interesting, add it to your cart.

Once in the cart, you can purchase the excursion with a credit card or, if you have any, with onboard credit.

The cost of a shore excursion can vary greatly, with some excursions priced at only $25 and others over $1000! There is no set price for a shore excursion—the price ultimately depends on the type of tour, destination, and tour length.

Most basic tours, such as a beach resort day or city tour, cost around $100, with some priced significantly more and less. Excursions in Alaska tend to be higher than those in the Caribbean, especially if they involve helicopter rides and glacier landings. Those in Europe tend to be higher as well, as many excursions in the Mediterranean are full day tours of cities like Rome and Paris.

Can I book a shore excursion for other people?

You can book shore excursions for any passengers in your cabin along with any other passengers with whom you have a linked reservation.

Once you are on the booking page for an excursion in the Cruise Planner, it will prompt you to select the number of guests for the booking. The names of those in your cabin will appear on the list, so you can add all passengers in the cabin to the reservation.

If you want to add a guest who is not staying in your cabin to the excursion reservation, click “Add Guest” on the booking page. This will redirect you to a page where you can link your reservation with another guest.

To do so, you’ll type the guests’ surname(s) along with their date of birth and reservation number. Once your reservations are linked, you can book any pre-cruise add-ons for that guest.

What happens if I miss my cruise ship?

One of the worst things that can happen on a shore excursion is missing your cruise ship. No one wants to be those passengers sprinting back to their ship as the gangway goes up, causing them to miss the ship’s departure and become stranded in a foreign port!

If you miss your cruise ship while on a Royal Caribbean shore excursion, Royal Caribbean will cover the cost and handle the logistics of getting your group back to the next port. Missing your ship is not very common when traveling on a Royal Caribbean excursion, as the ship will wait for you as long as possible.

If you miss your ship while on an independent tour or when traveling with no tour, you must cover the cost of getting to the next port. In these cases, crew members will enter your cabin to try to locate your passport, which they will hand to the port authorities.

Once you reach the port, the port authorities will hand you your passport and can assist you with figuring out the next steps. If you do not have a passport and are in a foreign country, you will need to visit the nearest embassy or consulate in order to receive a new passport.

Is it better to book an excursion through the ship or independently?

If you want to book a tour instead of exploring on your own in port, you have two options: booking through the ship or through an outside tour provider.

Booking through Royal Caribbean is not necessary, although it comes with several advantages. When booking through Royal Caribbean, you can feel confident that the tours are properly vetted and that you won’t be left behind in case your tour runs late.

Plus, booking excursions through Royal Caribbean is more convenient. Finding tours and things to do on your own requires more time and research, whereas Royal Caribbean lists all their excursions on the website. You also have the opportunity to speak with the shore excursions staff once onboard, and they can be a valuable resource when choosing between and planning for excursions.

Nonetheless, booking independently gives more options along with (usually) lower prices. You can also book small group tours as opposed to the larger groups you may find on a Royal Caribbean excursion.

You can find reviews for most tours and tour companies online as well, leaving you confident that any tour provider you book is properly vetted. Websites such as Resortforaday, Viator, Shore Excursions Group, and Tripadvisor are all recommended options to find a tour on your own.

Your really dumb cruise ship shore excursion questions answered

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