After 15 Royal Caribbean cruises, I finally sailed on another cruise line—one of the most controversial in the cruise industry.

Earlier this month, I booked a 7-night Mediterranean cruise on the MSC World Europa, the cruise line’s newest and biggest ship that has many “copycat” features from Royal Caribbean’s Oasis Class ships.

MSC Cruises, an Italian cruise line, has recently gained popularity in North America, but has been subject to many complaints about the food, service, and programming from North American cruisers. This makes the cruise line a “controversial” choice for a vacation despite its low prices.

The MSC World Europa is currently the biggest cruise ship in the world after Royal Caribbean’s five Oasis Class ships. While she currently sails exclusively in Europe, her sister ship, the MSC World America, will launch in 2025 from Miami, which could increase competition for Royal Caribbean.

I went onboard to see what MSC has to offer and how it compares to Royal Caribbean. Here’s what I liked, disliked, and what surprised me about my sailing.

I liked the lower prices on cocktails and specialty restaurants, although I find the quality of specialty restaurants better on Royal Caribbean.

It’s no secret that drinks on a Royal Caribbean cruise are expensive. Most cocktails are priced around $14 which, after gratuity, is over $15.

On MSC, however, I was pleased to find drinks priced much more affordably—most basic cocktails were around $10 with more “specialty” drinks around $12. Lower drink prices meant I could stretch my budget further and try a wider variety of drinks around the ship, which enhanced my overall experience.

That being said, even though drink prices are cheaper on MSC, it's hard to beat the benefits I receive as a Diamond member in Royal Caribbean's Crown & Anchor Society loyalty program. I receive four free drinks every day of my cruise, so I almost never spend any extra money on drinks while sailing on Royal Caribbean.

Related: Crown & Anchor Society loyalty program info, tips & secrets

Specialty restaurants were priced lower on my MSC cruise as well.

I paid $30 to dine at the ship's teppanyaki restaurant, but while I enjoyed my meal, I would say it’s a few notches down in quality when compared to Izumi Teppanyaki on Royal Caribbean. It was still tasty, but I found myself missing the signature flavor and courses at Royal Caribbean’s teppanyaki restaurant.

That being said, I’m not always willing to shell out $60 for teppanyaki on Royal Caribbean. Spending $30 is a lot more reasonable, and even if it’s not as good, I wouldn’t hesitate to eat there again.

I also paid roughly $20 USD for all-you-can-eat Mexican food at the ship’s Mexican restaurant, HOLA! Tacos & Cantina. While a great deal on a specialty restaurant, I found the quality somewhat similar (albeit a bit better) to El Loco Fresh on Royal Caribbean, which is a complimentary venue.

Nonetheless, I preferred the lower prices on specialty dining as it didn’t feel like as much of a splurge compared to the complimentary venues onboard.

My cabin on MSC was modern and spacious, much like on Royal Caribbean’s new ships, but there was far less storage space.

As a virtually brand new ship, my interior cabin on the MSC World Europa was spacious and modern, and quickly became my home away from home while onboard.

The room had a large TV, plenty of outlets (including by the bed), and was impeccably clean.

The only complaint I had about my cabin was that there wasn’t nearly as much storage space as I would expect on a brand new ship. Basically the only storage was in the wardrobe, which had a few shelves and drawers.

While there were a few other shelves here and there, the overall storage was lacking compared to cabins on new Royal Caribbean ships like Odyssey of the Seas and Wonder of the Seas. Although it wasn’t a dealbreaker, I would have appreciated more storage space to better fit my belongings.

I disliked the lack of free water onboard, and it was the biggest pet peeve during my sailing.

What I disliked the most on my MSC cruise—by far—was the lack of free water onboard if you don't have a drink package.

There is a stark cultural difference in providing free water in North America versus southern Europe, and this shows on MSC ships. In North America, it’s expected to receive free tap water virtually anywhere, from restaurants to cafes and bars. In many parts of Europe, though, you’re expected to pay for bottles of water at these locations.

I was shocked at how difficult it was to find free water on the MSC World Europa. Virtually the only place with free water were the few water machines in the buffet. In my experience, most bars, lounges, and restaurants would not give any free water, meaning you would have to either pay for a bottle or bring water from the buffet elsewhere on the ship.

Not only did this seem like a complete waste of plastic (the amount of water bottles used onboard was staggering), but it was cumbersome and annoying. On my next Royal Caribbean cruise, I won’t take for granted the ability to get a free glass of ice water anywhere onboard!

I was impressed by the amount of activities on the MSC World Europa, although there isn’t as much programming scheduled throughout the day.

Royal Caribbean ships are known for being family-friendly and offering endless activity options, from rock climbing to trivia, bumper cars, and game shows.

MSC also offers a wide selection of activities for both kids and adults. I was surprised to see bumper cars and rollerskating available on the MSC World Europa, both of which were located in the Sportsplex, a copycat of Royal Caribbean’s SeaPlex. Additionally, the ship had waterslides and a kids splash pool similar to Royal Caribbean’s Splashaway Bay.

Adults could enjoy live music, karaoke, and production shows, but it seemed like there were fewer activities to choose from on MSC. Royal Caribbean’s daily list of activities is extensive, with activities happening in virtually every corner of the ship all day long.

I didn’t find the fewer amount of activities an issue because truthfully, there was still more than enough to do. I enjoyed spending the evening at a theater show—which were all quite impressive—in addition to watching live music in the pub, attending a crew talent show, and hanging out at the karaoke bar.

I visited the invite-only speakeasy on the MSC World Europa, and it was much cooler than any bar I’ve experienced on Royal Caribbean.

Even the newest bars on Royal Caribbean can’t compete with the MSC World Europa’s invite-only Speakeasy Bar, and it was the most fun experience I had on my entire cruise.

Located on the World Galleria of the MSC World Europa is a telephone booth that looks unassuming at first glance, but is actually the entrance to a secret, invite-only bar.

On the third day of our sailing, my friend and I unexpectedly received an invitation to the bar from a bartender, and we scanned the ticket’s QR code to make reservations for the speakeasy. The next evening, we met at the telephone booth at our designated reservation time.

The door inside the telephone booth opened and we followed the host down a series of crew-only hallways and staircases to the speakeasy, which was decorated with 1920s decor and furnishings.

The next four hours were nothing short of memorable. While drinking inventive cocktails, we watched not just one, but two bands perform, one of which danced around the bar with their instruments, turning the entire venue into a dance party. We were having so much fun we didn’t want to leave!

Although I enjoy the bars on Royal Caribbean ships, I find them a bit repetitive from ship to ship, and I loved the “secret” bar on the MSC World Europa. If anything, visiting the speakeasy made me excited for my upcoming sailing on Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas, as the cruise line added a variety of new bar concepts including a dueling pianos bar and outdoor/indoor jazz and blues club.

Despite hearing complaints about the complimentary food on MSC, I found it to be totally fine, although Royal Caribbean’s buffet is better.

Perhaps the most common complaint about MSC Cruises is with the food, but I thought it was completely fine.

Food is extremely subjective, and one person’s favorite meal could be another person’s most hated dish. Because of this, I never take food reviews too seriously for cruise lines; instead, I board the ship with an open mind.

During my sailing, I enjoyed meals in the buffet, main dining room, and at Pizza & Burger, a casual grab and go venue.

Before my cruise, I heard there would be extremely limited choices in the buffet that do not change from day to day. Instead, I found there to be a wide variety for each meal with dishes from around the world, from Indian curry to Italian food. There was also a second buffet, Pizza & Burger, which served pizza on one side and American classics, like burgers and chicken nuggets, on the other.

Despite the variety in the MSC buffet, I still prefer Royal Caribbean’s Windjammer Cafe. I feel the Windjammer offers even more variety than MSC’s buffet, and I appreciate the buffet’s theme nights for dinner so that you always know what to expect. I also found the buffet on MSC much more crowded than on most Royal Caribbean ships.

I have no complaints about MSC’s main dining room, but I noted that the menu was geared more toward European tastes. While I’m not an overly picky eater, there were a few nights where I ordered from the permanent classics menu instead of the rotating daily menu as nothing seemed appealing.

The Italian food on MSC was, unsurprisingly, several steps above that on Royal Caribbean. Several of the complimentary pasta and pizza dishes I enjoyed on MSC were on par with food at Italian specialty restaurants on Royal Caribbean.

Overall, because food is so subjective, it’s difficult to make a true comparison between MSC and Royal Caribbean. Royal Caribbean definitely gets points in having more food venues throughout the ship, so that’s a major plus. Most MSC ships only offer complimentary food in the dining room and buffet, whereas Royal Caribbean ships may have six or seven free options.

I heard so many complaints about the service on MSC, but I found every single crew member friendly and approachable.

Just like food reviews, I don’t put too much trust into reviews about service on a cruise ship. While I had heard several negative reviews about the service on MSC, I found the service to be similar to what I’ve experienced on Royal Caribbean.

MSC may be a European cruise line, but I found crew members just as friendly as on an American cruise line. My first few days onboard, I realized crew members weren’t as likely to smile at you as you passed or ask you in-depth questions about your life.

This type of over-the-top friendly service is what most Americans are accustomed to, but European passengers could be taken aback by the excessive smiling and icebreaker questions.

Regardless, I found that once I smiled at a crew member and asked them a question about their day or home country, a barrier broke down and they were immediately willing to engage in conversation.

After all, most crew members on MSC are from the same friendly, hospitable countries as crew members on Royal Caribbean. By the end of the sailing, I had to make rounds around the ship to say goodbye to all of the new crew member friends I had met onboard!

Another aspect of service that surprised me was that my cabin was serviced twice per day on the MSC World Europa. Many American cruise lines, including Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, and Carnival, only service non-suite cabins once per day.

MSC still services cabins twice per day—once in the morning and once for turndown service in the evening. Although I don’t always need my cabin serviced twice per day, I was surprised to see that this was still the case, especially on a cruise line known for its cheap prices.

I thought there would be a ton of smoking around the ship, but it wasn’t as bad as I thought.

Europeans, on average, tend to smoke cigarettes more frequently than North Americans, and one major complaint many cruisers have about MSC is that there is too much smoking around the ship.

Having more smoking sections onboard was honestly something I was dreading about cruising with MSC. I do not remotely enjoy sitting near smoking areas or breathing in cigarette smoke, and I was worried everywhere would smell like smoke.

Related: Here is where you can smoke on a Royal Caribbean cruise

I was pleasantly surprised to find out there wasn’t as much smoking as I initially thought there would be. While there were technically more smoking areas on MSC compared to Royal Caribbean, it did not inconvenience me at any time as there were more than enough non-smoking areas to enjoy.

Royal Caribbean enforces hand washing much better than MSC, and this makes me feel much safer onboard.

“WASHY WASHY!”

Royal Caribbean’s signature hand washing cheer is something I missed on MSC, as there was a complete lack of hand washing enforcement around the ship.

Before entering the buffet on a Royal Caribbean cruise, you are instructed to either wash your hands or, if there are no sinks available, use hand sanitizer. This helps cut down on the spread of germs, thus lessening the risk for contagious viruses like norovirus to spread.

Related: 22 unpleasant cruise ship problems you aren't prepared for

Although the MSC World Europa had hand washing stations and sanitizer available, washing your hands before eating at the buffet was not enforced. I combatted this by washing my hands before and after using the buffet tongs, but this wasn’t commonly the case for my fellow passengers.

In addition to a lack of hand washing enforcement, I noticed many doors on my MSC ship had a touch handle. Royal Caribbean has largely gotten rid of touch handles on their ships, instead opting for automatic doors or an open layout with no doors.

Using touch handles seems like another easy way to spread germs, and I was surprised that the ship did not utilize as many automatic doors as Royal Caribbean.

I enjoyed my MSC cruise a lot more than I thought I would, but Royal Caribbean’s loyalty benefits will definitely keep me coming back.

There’s no doubt that MSC created an incredible product with the MSC World Europa, but that doesn’t mean I’ll stop cruising with Royal Caribbean.

Royal Caribbean’s Crown & Anchor Society is one of the most generous loyalty programs in the cruise industry. It provides free drinks, discounts, free laundry, a private lounge, and even free cruises to its most loyal cruisers.

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

As I am about to reach Diamond Plus status with Royal Caribbean, there’s less impetus to book cruises on other cruise lines. While on MSC, I missed having access to a Diamond Lounge and the four free drinks I receive every day on Royal Caribbean.

Although I’m not opposed to booking another cruise with MSC due to their interesting itineraries and (usually) lower prices, Royal Caribbean’s loyalty program is enough to keep me loyal to the cruise line.

I've been on a lot of Royal Caribbean ships, and it's clear a handful of them are the perfect choices for adults.

While Royal Caribbean is a family-friendly cruise line, it has more adult-focused experiences than you might think. The company understands parents want time for adult activities as much as time with their children.  Plus, more and more friends without kids are cruising.

Whether you’re bringing the kids along or are planning an adults-only getaway, it’s helpful to know which Royal Caribbean ships are best for adults. After sailing on fifteen Royal Caribbean cruise ships, here are the seven ships I would recommend most to adults.

Icon of the Seas

Icon of the Seas is the biggest cruise ship in the world, and while it got a lot of attention for family activities, it's easily one of the best choices for adults too.

In lieu of a traditional Solarium, Icon of the Seas has an adults-only pool that overlooks the back of the ship at the Hideaway.

This is Royal Caribbean’s version of a Las Vegas beach club. At The Hideaway you’ll find a suspended infinity pool, multilevel terrace, hot tubs, and a bar.

Even the design of family-focused neighborhoods, like the Surfside Neighborhood, have adults in mind. Surfside will be home to a brand new bar concept, The Lemon Post, which features both an adult and kids cocktail and mocktail menu.

From the bar, parents can supervise their kids at the nearby Splashaway Bay pool area, meaning you won’t need to sacrifice your own fun while keeping an eye on your kids.

It also has a swim-up pool bar at the Swim & Tonic. While not for adults-only, it tends to lean towards being a hang out area for the over 21 crowd.

In terms of entertainment, you'll also find a brand new dueling piano bar where singing, music, and of course drinking, are all center stage. That's in addition to traditional Royal Caribbean favorites, such as the Schooner Bar and English Pub.

With the cruise line’s most innovative entertainment, dining venues, and lounges yet, Icon of the Seas makes for the ultimate cruise vacation for adults.

Icon of the Seas itineraries

Icon of the Seas sails 7-night Eastern and Western Caribbean cruise itineraries. Every itinerary includes a stop at Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean’s private island in the Bahamas.

In conjunction with the ship’s offerings there is the opportunity to visit Hideaway Beach, a new adults-only beach at Perfect Day at CocoCay. Having access to this new venue will make your adult-focused getaway even more enjoyable.

Navigator of the Seas

Navigator of the Seas is the only Royal Caribbean ship based on the west coast year round, and she offers one of the best values in a cruise vacation. Sailing from Los Angeles, California, she visits ports along the Mexican Riviera.

Although Navigator of the Seas is over twenty years old, she underwent a $115 million amplification in 2019 that significantly revitalized the cruise ship. One of the most significant changes was a revamp of the pool deck, which added Caribbean-style decor and venues. One addition was the Lime & Coconut Bar, which features its own menu of tropical cocktails and stylish hangout space.

In addition to The Lime & Coconut, another of the most chic bars for adults on Navigator of the Seas is The Bamboo Room. This Polynesian-inspired bar crafts some of the most fun, fruity cocktails on Royal Caribbean.

Be sure to try the On The Run cocktail, made with Bacardi Superior Rum, watermelon juice, lime juice, guava syrup, St. Elizabeth Allspice Dram, and mint. Think of this cocktail as an adult version of a Capri Sun—you can order it to go and sip the drink as you explore the ship.

Outside of bars, new dining venues were also added to Navigator of the Seas including Hooked Seafood and Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade. These venues are excellent choices for a fun date night and tend to have a more adult-focused atmosphere.

Just because you’re an adult doesn’t mean you can’t participate in fun activities, and a few adrenaline-filled features were added to the ship in 2019 as well. Navigator of the Seas features two waterslides, one of which has over 800 feet of dips, drops, and straightaways extending over the side of the ship!

Laser tag, a surfing simulator, and an escape room can also be found onboard.

Navigator of the Seas itineraries

There are far fewer port options available on the west coast of North America compared to in the Caribbean. This means Navigator of the Seas typically sails the same few itineraries year round, but that doesn’t mean the itineraries aren’t enticing.

Related: Mexican Riviera cruise guide

Here are the three main itineraries offered on Navigator of the Seas:

• 3-night Ensenada cruise visiting Ensenada, Mexico with one day at sea
• 4-night Catalina & Ensenada cruise visiting Ensenada, Mexico and Catalina Island with one day at sea
• 7-night Mexican Riviera cruise visiting Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallarta, and Mazatlán with three days at sea

Mariner of the Seas

Like Navigator of the Seas, Mariner of the Seas is a Voyager Class cruise ship that underwent a significant amplification to add new features and venues to the ship. If we had to pick the best Royal Caribbean cruise ship for vacation value, we’d pick Mariner of the Seas.

Related: After 12 sailings on Mariner of the Seas, I’m convinced this ship offers the best value

During her amplification, Mariner of the Seas received $120 million in upgrades, which included an escape room, laser tag, waterslides, Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade, Izumi Hibachi, and Jamie’s Italian.

Like Navigator of the Seas, The Bamboo Room bar is located on the ship’s Royal Promenade, and is a fantastic getaway for adults onboard. In addition, the updated specialty restaurants make planning a date night easy, whether you’re in the mood for hibachi or homemade pasta.

Outside of dining and drinks, Mariner of the Seas has just the right amount of entertainment. The ice skating rink, Studio B, hosts a production show that features twists, turns, and flips on the ice, whereas the theater hosts game shows, comedians, and dancing productions.

In combination with the wide variety of live music onboard, from Latin tunes at Boleros to piano melodies at the Schooner Bar, Mariner of the Seas offers nearly as much programming as you'll find on Royal Caribbean’s newest ships.

Allure of the Seas

Royal Caribbean’s massive Oasis Class cruise ships are arguably the most family-focused ships in the fleet. Each of these vessels boasts an unparalleled amount of activities for kids, including splash pads, ice skating rinks, rock climbing walls, and the most space dedicated to Adventure Ocean kids programming.

With so many activities, it’s unsurprising that Oasis Class ships attract a large number of families, but fear not: you can still have an incredible, adult-focused cruise experience on these vessels.

If we had to pick the Oasis Class ship best for adults, we’d choose Allure of the Seas. Allure of Seas was set to undergo an amplification in 2020 to add features like waterslides, updated kids programming, and new dining venues to the ship, but this has been indefinitely postponed.

Related: The Oasis Class features that are only left on Allure of the Seas

Because of this, the ship isn’t as kid-focused as other Oasis Class ships. This makes for a quieter, more tranquil atmosphere onboard while still offering world-class entertainment and a wide selection of dining and bars.

While onboard, you can enjoy romantic date nights at one of the many restaurants in Central Park, the ship’s outdoor park with over 20,000 plants. After dinner, catch the Broadway production of Mamma Mia, listen to a live rock band at Dazzles, or see a comedian at the ship’s standalone comedy club.

Since Allure of the Seas has not been amplified, cruise fares tend to be lower. Lower fares can make upgrading to a balcony cabin or suite more attainable for some guests, making for the perfect adult getaway.

Anthem of the Seas

Royal Caribbean’s Quantum Class ships are among the best ships for adults. Their sophisticated design, quiet indoor spaces, and spectacular itineraries make them a perfect choice for adults.

That isn’t to say Quantum Class ships aren’t great for families, however, and we often recommend this class of ships to first time cruisers. With bumper cars, indoor skydiving, and surf simulators, Quantum Class ships can be fun for guests of all ages.

Related: All about Quantum Class ships

The reason these ships are so great for adults, though, is due to the their design. Most kid-focused attractions on the ships are found only in designated areas. The majority of family-friendly activities occur in the indoor SeaPlex court and in the ship’s aft, leaving the rest of the ship more geared toward adults.

Plus, the lack of waterslides on these vessels makes the pool deck experience calmer for adults, and the adults-only Solarium on Quantum Class ships is perhaps the best in the fleet.

While you can’t go wrong with any Quantum Class ship, our top recommendation for adults is Anthem of the Seas. As the second ship in the Quantum Class, Anthem of the Seas shines in her diverse itinerary options and high quality entertainment.

Related: Anthem of the Seas Guide & Review

Anthem of the Seas is one of the only non-Oasis Class ships to feature a Broadway show, We Will Rock You. The ship’s high-energy performance tells the story of a group of rock rebels fighting for musical freedom in a dystopian futuristic society.

Outside of the Broadway production are even more exciting entertainment choices, including a cabaret show in the expansive Two70 venue and live rock bands in the Music Hall.

Radiance of the Seas

Planning an adults-only getaway to Alaska? If so, Radiance of the Seas makes a great choice. Like all Royal Caribbean ships, Radiance of the Seas is designed for guests of all ages, but the ship has a more chill vibe onboard compared to newer ships sailing to Alaska.

As a Radiance Class ship, Radiance of the Seas was built with ocean views in mind. Adults will appreciate the impressive amount of windows around the ship, allowing you to see breathtaking views in nearly every direction. Whether at the ship’s champagne bar or in the Viking Crown Lounge, you can always find a quiet spot to relax with a view.

Related: All about Radiance Class cruise ships

Many cruisers also appreciate that Radiance of the Seas gives guests access to the helicopter pad. When sailing through scenic destinations, the helicopter pad is among the best viewing spots on the ship, allowing you to connect more closely with the destinations on your itinerary.

While the ship lacks features like an escape room and ice skating, she still offers other fun activities for adults to enjoy including mini golf, rock climbing, and a sports court. Radiance of the Seas also features an indoor movie theater, which is perfect for chilly sea days or a date night after dinner.

Rhapsody of the Seas

If you’re in search of a low-key getaway on a small cruise ship, it doesn’t get much better than Rhapsody of the Seas.

Rhapsody of the Seas is the second oldest ship in Royal Caribbean’s fleet, and it’s a far cry from the cruise line’s newest and biggest vessels. With a total capacity of just 2,416 guests, the ship holds around a third of the passengers compared to new ships like Wonder of the Seas and Icon of the Seas.

Related: All about Vision Class ships

The ship’s small size and age mean there are fewer activities for families. You certainly won’t find features like waterslides, laser tag, and skydiving onboard, although there is a rock climbing wall and Adventure Ocean kids programming.

The smaller amount of kid-friendly activities means far fewer families book cruises on Rhapsody of the Seas compared to the fleet’s newer ships. This leads to a more adult-focused atmosphere onboard, which can make a cruise more relaxing for those traveling without kids.

Plus, cruise fares on Rhapsody of the Seas tend to be much lower than newer ships. Money saved on cruise fare can be put toward extra add-ons like drink packages, specialty dining, spa treatments, and shore excursions, leading to a more enhanced cruise experience.

Despite being a small ship, Rhapsody of the Seas still features nine dining venues. Guests can enjoy complimentary meals at the Main Dining Room, Windjammer, and Park Cafe or specialty dining at Chops Grille, Giovanni’s Table, and Izumi.

Related: I sailed on Royal Caribbean’s newest and oldest cruise ships: here’s what it’s like to cruise on each

Outside of dining venues, Rhapsody of the Seas also features a spacious adults-only Solarium, large spa and salon, Schooner Bar, and a variety of entertainment lounges and venues.

If you’re cruising to Europe, there are a few rookie mistakes you should avoid making. From choosing the wrong itinerary to packing uncomfortable shoes, even a small mistake can negatively impact your cruise vacation.

I recently returned from my third European cruise, and on each sailing there were a few mistakes I kept seeing passengers make over and over again. I saw some passengers planning far too much into one port day, while others missed out on hours of sightseeing by disembarking the ship too late.

As a seasoned cruiser, I’m familiar with the do’s and don’ts of visiting the region. First-timers, however, may find navigating the ins and outs of cruising to Europe more challenging.

To better prepare for a European cruise, these are the 12 mistakes you should definitely avoid making.

Booking shore excursions in every port

Many cruisers, especially those visiting Europe for the first time, think they need to book an excursion in every port. For most case scenarios, I advise against doing this. Instead, plan a mix of excursions and self-exploration.

Shore excursions are convenient when on a European cruise, as they allow you to experience each port’s top destinations, whether the Colosseum in Rome or Sagrada Familia in Barcelona. As a matter of fact, I’d argue that shore excursions are necessary in ports where the city center is far from the port. If your itinerary visits Florence, as an example, it will take around 90 minutes to reach the city center from where your ship docks in Livorno.

Although you could try to visit Florence on your own, traveling so far without an organized excursion may increase your risk of missing the ship.

Related: What happens if you miss your cruise ship?

So while excursions are almost required in some ports, they aren’t necessary in others. Some cities, such as Valletta in Malta, are located just a few minutes’ walk or a short shuttle bus ride from the port.

In these ports, I find it more enjoyable to walk around on my own without worrying about a tour group. With a little research ahead of time, you can experience the destination’s attractions on your own, which can save you time, money, and increase flexibility while visiting.

Cramming too much in one day

Shore excursion or not, try not to cram too much into a single port day on a Royal Caribbean cruise.

It’s tempting to try and experience as much as possible during each port day. With only a few hours in each port, I always see cruisers rushing around trying to tick items off a list. More often than not, they don’t look like they’re having fun.

Sometimes less is more, especially when planning a cruise ship port day. Try not to rush from museum to cathedral to restaurant to souvenir shop to museum to cathedral. Instead, pick one or two things you’d like to see and spend ample time at each destination.

Related: 7 ways to have a great time in port without a cruise ship shore excursion

I find that when I try to cram too much into one day, I see “everything” but at the same time experience nothing. Picking one or two attractions allows me to fully immerse myself in the destination without feeling too overwhelmed and exhausted.

In fact, my favorite moments when cruising Europe haven’t necessarily been the port’s “highlights” but the small moments, such as people watching in a park or strolling through picturesque, cobblestone streets without a destination in mind.

Not accounting for hot temperatures

Royal Caribbean’s cruise season runs from late April to October each year, and temperatures can get uncomfortably warm during the peak summer months.

On a Caribbean cruise you can counteract a hot, humid day by swimming in the beach or pool. On a European cruise, though, you’re more likely to spend your days walking around cities and sightseeing rather than taking a dip in the ocean.

In the middle of summer, walking around cruise ports in Europe can get extremely warm. It’s possible to see temperatures in the 90s which, under a beating sun, can quickly make you feel miserable.

Related: What is the best time to cruise the Mediterranean?

Keeping temperatures in mind when planning your cruise is recommended. If your schedule is flexible, consider cruising in the early or late season when temperatures are more mild. If you are cruising during the summer, be sure to stay hydrated and plan the majority of sightseeing in the morning before it gets too warm.

Taking an afternoon break in the shade, such as when dining in a restaurant or grabbing a drink, can also help make warm summer days more tolerable.

Flying in the day before a European cruise

Most flights to Europe are red-eye flights, meaning they depart North America in the evening and arrive in Europe the following morning. Although we always suggest heading to your cruise port the day before your cruise begins, it’s advised to fly to Europe two days before embarkation day.

If your cruise starts on Wednesday and you fly to Europe Tuesday night, you will arrive in Europe just a few hours before your cruise begins. This does not leave much, if any, wiggle room for airline delays and cancellations.

Related: 7 tips for a great Mediterranean cruise

Plus, extensive travel time from airport to port may be required in select European cruise ports. If your cruise embarks in Ravenna, Italy and you fly into Venice, you’ll need to take a multi-hour train or shuttle bus journey from the airport to the Ravenna cruise port.

Related: How to get from Venice to Ravenna cruise port with the shuttle (and vice versa)

Therefore, flying two days before your cruise begins gives you an entire ~24 hours to spend in your embarkation city before your cruise begins. You can use this time to sightsee, recoup from jet lag, and kick off your vacation early.

Only booking Western Mediterranean itineraries

Western Mediterranean itineraries are the most popular cruise itineraries in Europe. They visit some of the continent’s most famous cities—Rome, Florence, and Barcelona, among others—and offer a nice starting point to exploring Europe.

Regardless of their popularity, I’ve found that I’ve enjoyed cruising on other itineraries in Europe far more than the Western Mediterranean. I found ports in the Western Mediterranean to be much more crowded than other destinations and many required lengthy distances to reach the city center from the port.

Related: Western Mediterranean cruise guide

Most of these destinations really require several days to experience the city’s highlights—I personally find (most of) them more suitable for a land-based vacation.

When visiting Naples, for example, it’s practically impossible to visit the city, Pompeii, and Amalfi coast in just one day. The same goes for a city like Rome, where you’ll be so rushed on a one day tour that it could be more stressful than relaxing.

There’s nothing wrong with booking a Western Mediterranean itinerary, and I definitely enjoyed my recent cruise in the region, but don’t overlook cruises to other European destinations like the Adriatic, Greece, Norway, and northern Spain and France.

If you are planning a Western Mediterranean cruise, I highly recommend spending a few days in your embarkation/disembarkation cities before and/or after the cruise. This will give you extra time to see and experience things you simply cannot fit into a short port day.

Not grabbing lunch in port

I always have lunch or snacks in port while cruising in Europe even though there’s included food onboard my cruise ship.

As delicious as the food on a Royal Caribbean cruise can be, I still make it a point to try local cuisine while in port. After all, how could you cruise to Italy and not try fresh pasta or visit France without eating a crêpe?

Related: Must-eat foods on a cruise to Italy

One of the most common mistakes I see cruisers make, whether they realize it or not, is avoiding spending money on food in port. Instead of heading back to the ship for lunch, why not enjoy a meal at an outdoor restaurant? Not only will you get to taste local cuisine, but it will provide ample people watching opportunities and allow you to take a breather on an otherwise busy port day.

Even if you don’t have time for a full sit-down meal, hop in a local bakery or ice cream shop for a snack. Trying local food can offer just as much insight into a port’s culture as visiting monuments or museums, and it’s a whole lot tastier!

Wearing brand new shoes

I should really follow my own advice.

Here at Royal Caribbean Blog, I constantly advise readers to never wear new shoes in port, especially if your port days will require heavy walking.

Just last month, as I prepared for my Western Mediterranean cruise, I bought a new pair of white sneakers. Not wanting to get them dirty, I decided to wait until I got to Europe to break them in. Let’s just say this was a huge mistake, and I spent the next five days with a massive blister that negatively affected my time in port.

Related: 22 unpleasant cruise ship problems you aren’t prepared for

If you’re planning a European cruise, be sure to break in any new shoes before the trip. Wear them to run errands, take your dog for a walk, and even to work. While blisters are not enjoyable regardless of when you get one, it’s a lot better to recover from a blister at home rather than on a cruise.

Getting tender tickets too late

Depending on your cruise itinerary, you may have to use a tender port to travel from ship to shore on a port day. One of the most common mistakes I see cruisers making when visiting Europe is waiting too long to get tender tickets.

Certain ports in Europe, including Mykonos, Santorini, and Kotor, are tender ports, meaning you cannot walk directly off the ship onto a pier. For these ports, you must collect a tender ticket which you will use to board a smaller boat to bring you ashore.

Related: What does tender mean on a cruise ship?

Royal Caribbean will provide information on where and when you can collect tender tickets. I strongly advise getting a tender ticket as soon as you can, even if it means waiting in line for a few minutes before tickets begin being distributed.

The earlier you get a tender ticket, the earlier your ticket’s number will be called, which signals when you are allowed to disembark the ship. If you wait too long to collect a ticket, you might find yourself waiting onboard for a few hours before you can disembark.

Being careless with belongings while in port

One of the worst situations that can happen on a cruise is losing your personal belongings, whether a phone, camera, wallet, or passport.

It’s easy to be distracted on a port day. You’re in a completely new environment where your senses are engaged with the sights, smells, and sounds of the destination. Nevertheless, it’s critical to remain aware of your surroundings at all times, including where you put valuables while sightseeing, or you may lose your belongings.

Related: Where to keep SeaPass card, phone, and cash when on a shore excursion?

I’m not innocent of making this mistake. When on a cruise to Kotor, I accidentally left a personal belonging on our table at lunch. Luckily I realized my mistake before getting back onboard and the waiter recognized me and immediately handed me the belonging.

Fortunately the situation resolved itself without any issues, but it easily could have gone worse if I didn’t realize I had left something or if someone else had taken the item before the waiter cleaned our table.

You should never keep valuables in your back pocket while sightseeing, especially in busy areas. Likewise, I recommend putting your backpack or purse at your feet or on your lap while dining outdoors—hanging it from the back of your chair makes it easier for pickpockets to snatch.

My favorite travel essential is an anti-theft backpack that only opens from a zipper against my back. I never have to worry about someone opening the bag without me knowing, making me feel secure when on busy public transportation or in tourist areas.

Related: 40 essential things to bring on a cruise

Not walking leading up to the trip

Most cruisers will experience a lot more walking on a European cruise compared to their day to day life at home. One of the most common mistakes on a European cruise is not realizing the amount of walking that may be required in your cruise ports.

Most places in North America are not nearly as walkable as European cities. This means that many Americans and Canadians, especially those living in the suburbs and rural areas, are not accustomed to walking long distances every day.

Because of this, many visitors to Europe find themselves (and their feet) exhausted from walking. To avoid feeling exhausted, one of the best ways to prepare for a European cruise is to increase your walking time while at home.

If you don’t already, start incorporating daily walks into your routine. If possible, walk a few miles each day in the shoes you plan to wear on your European cruise. Although you might feel sore initially, it will make your time sightseeing in Europe more enjoyable.

Taking out currency ahead of time

First time cruisers to Europe may assume they should take out European currency in the United States before flying to Europe, but this isn’t necessary. In fact, it’s almost an antiquated practice.

Avoid the hassle of figuring out where to order euros from the United States and visit an ATM once in Europe instead. ATMs are widely available in all European ports, and it’s much easier to take out cash once you arrive.

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

Plus, you probably don’t need much cash, either. Most places in port will take credit card payments, even family-owned businesses. In fact, some destinations, such as the United Kingdom, may have businesses that are completely cashless.

If you’re cruising to countries using the euro, I still recommend taking out around 100 euros. It’s possible you may come across small restaurants and souvenir stands that do not accept cards, so having cash on hand may be useful.

Disembarking the ship too late

I’ve been to over a dozen diverse European cruise ports, but one thing remains the same in all of them: the earlier you get off the ship, the fewer crowds you’ll experience.

One of the worst mistakes I see people making over and over when cruising Europe is disembarking the ship too late. Your experience in port can vary widely if you disembark at 8AM versus 11AM, so waking up early is completely worth it.

I always make sure to disembark the ship in port as soon as the gangway opens. During the morning hours, temperatures are more pleasant and crowds are far fewer. Even in a busy cruise port like Mykonos, which is known for huge crowds, I’ve had areas of the town completely to myself.

Around 11AM you will begin to notice huge crowds in many ports. Streets become crowded and hard to walk through, beaches fill up, and transportation from the port to the city center may require waiting in line.

If you wake up early and do your sightseeing in the morning, you can take the afternoon to relax, whether enjoying a glass of wine at a waterfront bar or swimming in the Mediterranean. Navigating crowds isn’t fun for anyone, and getting off the ship early helps make your experience much nicer.

All passengers on a Royal Caribbean cruise are charged a daily gratuity rate during their time onboard, but can gratuities be removed?

Some passengers new to cruising may be confused with how gratuities work on a Royal Caribbean cruise: how much they cost, when you pay gratuities, and whether or not they’re mandatory.

Because gratuities are added as an extra cost on top of a Royal Caribbean cruise fare, we’re often asked whether or not you can remove these service charges. Perhaps the better question, however, is not whether or not you can remove gratuities, but whether or not you should.

Let’s take a look at the basics of Royal Caribbean’s gratuities, including how much they cost and when you’ll pay them, before discussing whether or not you can (or should) remove these service charges.

What are gratuities, and how much do they cost?

Gratuities are service charges that go towards various crew members on your cruise ship, including the dining room staff and stateroom attendants. They are a way to reward crew members for excellent service and hard work throughout the cruise.

Gratuities are not included in the base cruise fare on most sailings; instead, they come at an additional charge. The only exception to this rule is for cruises from Australia—gratuities are included in the fare structure when booking from Royal Caribbean’s Australia website.

For all other passengers, gratuities on a Royal Caribbean cruise are charged on a daily basis. The daily gratuity rate depends on the type of cabin you book for the cruise.

Guests in standard stateroom categories (interior, oceanview, balcony, and Junior Suite cabins) pay $16 USD per person, per day in gratuities. Those guests in Grand Suites and above pay $18.50 USD per person, per day.

When and how do I pay gratuities?

There are two options for paying gratuities on a Royal Caribbean cruise: prepaying before the cruise or incurring the daily charge once onboard.

If you choose to prepay gratuities, the total amount of gratuities for your sailing will be added to your cruise fare upon booking. Therefore, if you’re booking a 7-night cruise in a balcony room, $116 will be added to the total price of your sailing.

Related: Should you prepay gratuities for your Royal Caribbean cruise?

The second option is to incur a daily charge once onboard. If you opt not to prepay gratuities, your SeaPass account will be charged $16 or $18.50 each day of your cruise. You can see the daily amount added to your cruise charges in the Royal Caribbean app.

Once the cruise is over, the gratuity charges, in addition to any other purchases made onboard, will charge to your credit card.

While both options are allowed, we recommend prepaying gratuities for several reasons.

First, paying gratuities in advance allows you to pay off the entire balance of your cruise before the sailing begins. Most passengers find that seeing a $16 daily charge while you’re onboard is more noticeable than having that fee added to your overall cruise fare upon booking.

Plus, it allows guests to pay off as much as possible before their vacation begins, which can make budgeting much easier, especially when traveling with a large family.

The other benefit of prepaying gratuities is that you’ll lock in the current gratuity rate. Royal Caribbean occasionally increases gratuities by a few dollars; if you prepaid gratuities and the rate increases before your cruise begins, you won’t be charged the difference in price. If you wait to pay onboard, however, you’ll be charged the new daily rate.

Can I remove cruise ship gratuities?

Technically speaking, you can remove gratuities on a Royal Caribbean cruise, but you absolutely shouldn’t do this.

Although Royal Caribbean gives you two options for paying gratuities (prepaying or being charged daily once onboard), some passengers try to opt out of paying any gratuities whatsoever.

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

If you do not prepay gratuities and are instead being charged a daily amount onboard, you can go to Guest Services and request to remove or modify this daily charge. Passengers can change the daily amount or opt out of gratuities altogether until the morning of departure.

Some passengers interested in removing gratuities want to do so in order to reward crew members individually with cash tips. Others, unfortunately, want to avoid paying an extra charge.

Regardless of why you would want to remove gratuities, you should think twice before doing so.

Crew members work extremely hard during their cruise contracts, and while they receive paychecks each month, gratuities are an additional part of compensation they come to expect. Removing gratuities takes away well earned compensation from these crew members.

And although you may not agree with how cruise lines handle gratuities, removing gratuities will not hurt anyone who can change the way crew members are paid. Ultimately, removing gratuities only hurts the crew members who rely on these service charges as part of their salary.

Therefore, if you want to tip crew members in person, you should do so in addition to prepaid gratuities as opposed to removing them altogether.

Even if you prefer tipping crew members individually after receiving excellent service, you won’t come into contact with the majority of crew members onboard during your sailing. Unfortunately, this means that, if you remove gratuities, you’re taking away gratuity from those crew members working behind the scenes who may have otherwise received part of the daily gratuity rate.

To put it bluntly, if you can afford a Royal Caribbean cruise, you can afford to pay gratuities and you should not remove them. Opting out of gratuities is not a way to boycott service charges and save money on your cruise. While many passengers would prefer gratuities be included in the cruise fare, that’s not the way it works for most cruise lines, including Royal Caribbean.

Is additional tipping expected after paying gratuities?

No additional tipping is required on a Royal Caribbean cruise after paying gratuities, although certain purchases will come with a service charge.

Drinks, specialty dining, mini bar items, and spa and salon purchases come with an 18% gratuity added on top of the listed price. This gratuity rate is charged automatically, and it’s also added to beverage packages and specialty dining packages.

Additionally, many passengers enjoy tipping crew members extra for service throughout their cruise. It’s customary to tip your dining room waiters, stateroom attendant, bartenders, and shore excursion guides.

Tipping is also common when ordering room service, when handing luggage to porters at the cruise terminal, and to reward the service of a suite concierge or Royal Genie.

Planning your first cruise? If so, you probably have a long list of questions about dining on a cruise ship. What food is included? Can you eat as much as you want? How many restaurants are on a cruise ship?

What seems like basic knowledge to frequent cruisers can cause confusion for first-time cruisers. So much confusion, unsurprisingly, leads to a lot of questions about dining on a cruise ship.

Here at Royal Caribbean Blog, we hear the same questions about cruise ship dining over and over again. They’re not inherently “dumb” questions, but some first-time cruisers may feel embarrassed to ask so many questions about dining onboard.

To make your first cruise experience stress-free, we’re answering 17 of your really dumb cruise ship dining questions.

What is the Main Dining Room on Royal Caribbean?

The Main Dining Room is the name of Royal Caribbean’s traditional sit-down restaurant. This is the largest dining venue on any Royal Caribbean ship—it spans multiple decks and serves thousands of passengers each day.

While dining in the Main Dining Room you’re presented with a menu with appetizers, main courses, and desserts. You can order as many items as you please, whether you want multiple appetizers or three slices of pie!

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

Everything in the Main Dining Room is complimentary aside from a few extra cost items, which are listed at the bottom of the menu. These include lobster and steak from Chops Grille, Royal Caribbean's signature steakhouse.

The Main Dining Room is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Breakfast and dinner are served every day whereas lunch is available on sea days only. The breakfast and lunch menu may be combined into a brunch menu on sea days.

What is the Windjammer on a Royal Caribbean cruise?

The Windjammer is the name of the main buffet on a Royal Caribbean cruise. This venue is where you’ll find the widest selection of food onboard, and it’s open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day. The Windjammer is included in your cruise fare.

All meals at the Windjammer should offer enough variety to satisfy all passengers. Breakfast offers both traditional American fare—pancakes, bagels, eggs, and hash browns—along with a selection of international cuisine like fried rice and Indian curry.

Related: Guide to Royal Caribbean’s Windjammer Cafe buffet

Dinner in the Windjammer has a theme each evening, although you’ll still find classic options like hamburgers, pizza, and pasta. One night may offer Caribbean cuisine like jerk chicken and plantains whereas another evening may feature Italian, Mexican, or Chinese dishes.

Are there limits to how much you can eat at the buffet?

There are no limits to how much you can eat at the buffet on a Royal Caribbean cruise. Feel free to indulge in eight slices of pizza, five desserts, and a plate of french fries… there’s no one stopping you!

You should, however, grab a new plate each time you visit the buffet station, as using the same plate multiple times is a health hazard.

What are specialty restaurants and how much do they cost?

Specialty restaurants are restaurants that are not included in your cruise fare. Unlike the Main Dining Room or Windjammer, dining at these restaurants incurs an additional fee.

Dining at specialty restaurants is completely optional, but many passengers enjoy the cooking styles and selection of cuisine at these venues. Specialty restaurants offer everything from sushi and hibachi at Izumi to Italian pasta and pizza at Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen.

Related: What is the best Royal Caribbean specialty restaurant?

Compared to the complimentary venues onboard, specialty restaurants may offer a more intimate atmosphere as well, making them perfect for celebrating special occasions or a date night.

The cost of Royal Caribbean’s specialty restaurants varies from venue to venue, but you can expect to pay around $25 for lunch and $50-60 for dinner. More casual restaurants, such as Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade, offer lower prices and are priced à la carte.

What food is free on Royal Caribbean?

The majority of food on a Royal Caribbean cruise is free—it’s easy to go an entire cruise without spending anything extra on food. With the exception of the Main Dining Room, the majority of complimentary food venues are quick grab and go spots.

Here is a complete list of complimentary food venues on Royal Caribbean:

• Windjammer: Royal Caribbean’s main buffet
• Mini Bites: grab and go casual fare (only on Harmony of the Seas)
• El Loco Fresh: Mexican fare served buffet style
• Dog House: hotdog stand
• Splashaway Cafe: casual pool deck fare (only on Spectrum of the Seas)
• Solarium Bistro: a more relaxed buffet compared to the Windjammer with Mediterranean cuisine served for dinner
• Cafe Promenade: grab and go snacks served all day, such as muffins, sandwiches, and cookies
• Sorrento’s Pizza: pizza slices served (almost) all day
• Coastal Kitchen: complimentary restaurant only for suite guests on Quantum, Oasis, and Icon Class ships
• The Cafe at Two70: grab and go soups, salads, sandwiches, pastries, and snacks on Quantum Class ships
• Park Cafe: grab and go soups, salads, sandwiches, pastries, and snacks on Vision, Radiance, and Oasis Class ships
• Vitality Cafe: health-focused snacks (protein shakes and smoothies cost extra)
• Main Dining Room: Royal Caribbean’s traditional sit-down dining restaurant
• Surfside Eatery: kid-friendly dining on Icon of the Seas
• Fish & Ships: only select items are complimentary on Ovation of the Seas
• Johnny Rockets: complimentary for breakfast only on Oasis Class ships

How do I know which restaurants are on my ship?

Every Royal Caribbean ship offers different food venues, with some restaurants overlapping on all ships and others only available on one or two ships in the fleet.

The easiest way to find out which food venues are on your Royal Caribbean cruise ship is to check the Royal Caribbean app. By downloading the Royal Caribbean app and linking your cruise reservation to your account, you can view the dining venues on your ship.

Related: Royal Caribbean app walkthrough and tips

To do so, click on the dining tab in the lower left corner of the app. From there, you can view every venue on your ship and whether or not they are included in your cruise fare.

You can also view the menu for most restaurants as well as operating hours.

Can I bring food on a cruise?

All guests are permitted to bring non-perishable food on a Royal Caribbean cruise. This includes packaged goods like cookies, chips, crackers, granola bars, trail mix, and candy, as well as pre-packed baby food.

You are not allowed to bring perishable food like fruits, vegetables, meat products, and homemade goods.

Related: What food or drinks you're allowed to bring on a Royal Caribbean cruise

There is more than enough food to keep you satisfied on a Royal Caribbean cruise, so we don’t usually recommend packing anything extra. That being said, parents with young kids may want to bring their child’s favorite snacks to have on hand in the room or on a shore excursion.

Can I look at the dining room menus in advance?

You can look at Royal Caribbean’s Main Dining Room menus in advance on the dining tab in the Royal Caribbean app.

As the dinner menu changes each evening, knowing what’s offered on a particular day can help you plan your vacation. If you’re planning to book a specialty restaurant, for example, you may want to book the restaurant on a day when the Main Dining Room menu isn’t as appealing to your tastes.

Related: I tried the new Royal Caribbean menus, and here's how I'd rank everything I ate

Traditional Dining vs My Time Dining: what’s the difference?

Dinner in the Main Dining Room comes with two options: traditional dining or My Time Dining.

Traditional dining is when you eat at the same time each evening at the same table and with the same waiters. This option is best for those who prefer a set dinner schedule and who don’t need flexibility with their dining time.

My Time Dining, on the other hand, allows you to dine at a time most convenient for your schedule. You can show up to the dining room and wait for an available table or make a reservation for the evening in advance. With My Time Dining, there’s no need to eat at a set time each night, although you will not have the same tables nor the same waiters throughout the cruise.

You will select your preferred dining style (traditional dining or My Time Dining) when you book your cruise.

Related: Royal Caribbean My Time Dining versus Traditional Dining

How do I make dining reservations?

Dining reservations are required for select venues on Royal Caribbean, including My Time Dining in the dining room and at specialty restaurants.

To make My Time Dining reservations, visit Royal Caribbean’s Cruise Planner to select a time for each evening. If you do not make reservations, you can always show up to the dining room at any time during dinner service, but you may have to wait in a line.

Specialty dining reservations can be reserved in the Cruise Planner as well.

Related: The Ultimate Guide to the Royal Caribbean Cruise Planner site

What time is dinner on Royal Caribbean?

Dinner times may vary slightly depending on your cruise itinerary, but it's typically held from around 5:30PM to 9PM on a Royal Caribbean cruise.

There are two traditional dining times, which are usually around 5:30PM and 8:30PM. Passengers can choose the time that works best for their dining preference (early or late seating).

My Time Dining opens later than traditional dining; it is open from around 6:45PM to 9PM each day.

How long does dinner last on Royal Caribbean?

You should expect dinner in the Main Dining Room to last between 75 minutes and 90 minutes, although it may be shorter or longer depending on your group size, number of dishes ordered, and speed of service.

Dinner at specialty restaurants lasts roughly the same amount of time as dinner in the Main Dining Room. Casual venues like the Windjammer offer much quicker service—it’s possible to be in and out in 15 minutes!

Do I have to sit with strangers at dinner on a cruise?

In the past, it was common to be seated with other passengers in the Main Dining Room. Due to space constraints, you could be assigned to a table with several other travel parties.

While this still happens today, you have much more flexibility when it comes to having your own table. Most of the time, you’ll be seated at your own private table. If you are assigned to a table with other passengers, simply request your own table and Royal Caribbean will accommodate you.

Some passengers still enjoy sitting with other travel parties in the Main Dining Room, though, as it allows them to connect with other guests during their sailing.

Is room service free on Royal Caribbean?

Room service is not free on a Royal Caribbean cruise, albeit with one exception.

Royal Caribbean’s room service menu incurs a $7.95 per order fee plus 18% gratuity. This means that, regardless of how much you order, you will be charged one set amount.

Related: Royal Caribbean room service guide & tips

Free room service is only offered on the continental breakfast menu, which serves cold items like yogurt, bagels, and muffins, but not pancakes, eggs, and bacon. You will not incur a fee for ordering continental breakfast, although tipping the crew member who delivers the food is recommended.

What is the dress code on Royal Caribbean?

Royal Caribbean’s dress code is relatively casual, with formal wear only suggested on formal nights, which occur one to three times during your sailing depending on the cruise’s length.

You can dine at casual venues like the Windjammer and El Loco Fresh in swimsuit cover-ups, shorts, tank tops, and flip-flops. Generally speaking, as long as you’re not wearing only a bathing suit, you’re in the clear.

For dinner in the dining room and at specialty restaurants, dressing smart casual is recommended. Think of smart casual as a nice pair of slacks, blouses, collared shirts, and dresses.

Royal Caribbean suggests wearing formal wear on formal night, including suits and ties, cocktail dresses, and evening gowns, but it’s not required. This suggestion is only for dinner in the Main Dining Room, meaning you can dress casual and dine in other venues that evening instead.

Related: What to wear on a cruise formal night

Plus, the dress code is not strictly enforced on formal night, so there’s no need to dress in a black-tie look. While we advise dressing nicely for formal night, you can wear the same semi-formal outfits on formal night as you would wear any other night in the dining room.

Can kids order from the adults menu? And can adults order from the kids menu?

The Main Dining Room has both a standard menu and a kids menu, but passengers can order from whichever menu they prefer.

The kids menu is limited but offers a selection of kid-friendly favorites such as mac and cheese, pizza, and burgers. It stays the same throughout the entire cruise. The regular dinner menu, of course, has more diverse options and changes each day of the sailing.

Kids can order from the standard menu if they would like to try a wider range of food. Adults, on the contrary, are free to order from the kids menu if they don’t see anything they want on the regular menu.

How does Royal Caribbean handle dietary restrictions?

Royal Caribbean can accommodate most dietary restrictions onboard. 

The Main Dining Room menu specifies if a dish is vegan or has no sugar added. A vegan appetizer, main course, and dessert is offered each evening in the dining room along with several more vegetarian options. Vegans and vegetarians do not have to notify Royal Caribbean of their dietary needs in advance.

Those with other dietary restrictions, such as severe allergies, gluten-free, and Kosher, should send Royal Caribbean an email more than 45 days prior to their cruise. Notifying Royal Caribbean of your allergies will help ensure that your dietary needs are met.

You can email Royal Caribbean at [email protected]. In the email, include the guests’ names, booking number, ship name, and sail date.

Royal Caribbean’s cruise port in Cape Liberty, New Jersey offers cruises year round, sailing to destinations in the Caribbean, Canada, and Bermuda. If you’re flying to New York City before a cruise from Cape Liberty, you’ll want to arrive the night before your cruise begins and book a pre-cruise hotel.

Unsurprisingly, the biggest city in the United States has an overwhelming amount of hotel options. Some cruisers prefer to stay near the cruise port in New Jersey whereas others enjoy spending the night across the river in Manhattan.

To make your cruise planning process easier, we’re sharing our list of some of the most recommended hotels to book before your cruise.

Where to stay in New York/New Jersey before your cruise

Near Newark Liberty International Airport

If you are flying into Newark and do not have plans to sightsee in New York, your best bet is to spend the night near the airport. As a major airport, there are countless hotels located just a few minutes drive away from the arrivals area.

We especially recommend staying near the airport if your flight arrives in the afternoon or evening. It can be tempting to book a luxury hotel in Manhattan the night before your cruise, but after a long day of flying, your future self will be grateful your hotel is just a 5 minute drive away from the airport!

Related: Guide to cruises from New York

Staying near the airport does not typically lead to the most exciting evening before your cruise begins. Most of these hotels are not located near the most exciting restaurants and attractions, although the convenience makes staying near the airport a great choice for many cruisers.

Manhattan

New York City is one of the most fascinating, bustling cities in the world. It’s understandable that many cruise passengers enjoy sightseeing in the city before their cruise begins. If you plan to explore New York before your cruise, we recommend staying in Manhattan.

Spending the night in Manhattan means you can easily enjoy the city’s atmosphere, whether attending a Broadway show, visiting museums, or strolling through Central Park. Plus, you will be within walking distance to a wide variety of restaurants, bars, and shopping while in the city.

Of course, staying in Manhattan makes it more difficult to reach the Cape Liberty cruise terminal on embarkation day. Therefore, we only recommend staying in Manhattan if you arrive early the day before your cruise or spend a few days in the city before the start of the sailing.

If your flight doesn’t get into Newark until 10PM the night before your cruise, for example, you won’t reap any of the benefits of staying in Manhattan. In this case, it’s more convenient (and more cost effective) to stay near the airport instead.

Downtown Jersey City

If you’re looking for a more interesting place to stay near Cape Liberty but would rather not travel into New York City, consider spending the night in Jersey City. Not only is Jersey City closer to the cruise port than Manhattan, but it still offers a wide array of restaurants and things to do the night before your cruise.

If you’re traveling to Cape Liberty from the west—whether Pennsylvania, Maryland, or Upstate New York—Jersey City is a convenient place to stay en route to the cruise terminal.

Near LGA/JFK

Although New York City has three major airports, we always recommend flying into Newark before a Royal Caribbean cruise from Cape Liberty. Newark Liberty International Airport is located just a 15-20 minute drive from Cape Liberty.

John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and LaGuardia Airport (LGA), on the contrary, are around an hour’s drive away and require crossing bridges into and out of Manhattan. Nonetheless, many cruisers fly into JFK and LGA before a cruise from Cape Liberty, whether due to flight prices or having more direct route options.

If you fly into LGA or JFK, you have a wide selection of hotels to book for the night before your cruise. If you arrive late, you might prefer staying near the airport and making the trek to New Jersey on embarkation morning.

If you arrive early, however, you could stay in Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Queens, or travel closer to Cape Liberty to avoid the hour’s drive on embarkation day.

Here are our top ten recommended hotels:

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel & Suites Jersey City

• Average nightly price: $200 to $475
• Address: 455 Washington Blvd, Jersey City, NJ 07310
• Location: Jersey City, New Jersey

The DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel & Suites Jersey City is located in downtown New Jersey and has a beautiful view of the New York City skyline. It’s only a 20 minute drive from Cape Liberty, making transportation to the cruise terminal convenient on embarkation day.

Hotel amenities include an on-site restaurant and fitness center. The hotel has both junior and standard suite rooms available with one or two beds—some rooms have a sofa bed as well.

For those interested in visiting Manhattan, the DoubleTree is located a five minute walk from the Newport Station in Jersey City, from where you can take the PATH train to Manhattan.

Hyatt House Jersey City

• Average nightly price: $260 to $425
• Address: 1 Exchange Pl, Jersey City, NJ 07302
• Location: Jersey City, New Jersey

Another hotel option in Jersey City is the Hyatt House Jersey City. Staying across the Hudson River from Manhattan offers a great value in a pre-cruise stay, and the hotel is located a one minute walk away from the Exchange Place station, which takes you to Manhattan on the PATH train in under ten minutes.

In addition, staying at the Hyatt House makes transportation to the cruise port easier on embarkation day—it takes just 25 minutes and doesn’t require crossing any of the city’s bridges.

Amenities at the Hyatt House Jersey City include free breakfast, free wifi, digital check-in, an on-site restaurant, and a fitness center. RoofTop at Exchange Place, the hotel’s on-site restaurant, offers stunning news of New York City’s skyline from across the Hudson River.

Both standard rooms and suites are available to book. Studio and one bedroom suites include a sofa bed, separate living and sleeping area, and a kitchen.

Sonesta Simply Suites Jersey City

• Average nightly price: $230 to $420
• Address: 21 2nd St, Jersey City, NJ 07302
• Location: Jersey City, New Jersey

The Sonesta Simply Suites Jersey City is located along the Hudson River Waterfront

Hotel amenities include a 24 hour complimentary coffee station, fitness center, and free wifi. 

The Sonesta Simply Suites Jersey City offers both studio and one Bedroom Suites, some of which have a view of New York City’s skyline. Studio suites fit up to two guests whereas one bedroom suites can fit up to four guests. All rooms feature a full kitchen, television, desk, and premium movie channels.

Home2Suites by Hilton Newark Airport

• Average nightly price: $150 to $230
• Address: 620 Rte 1 and 9 S, Newark, NJ 07114
• Location: Near Newark Liberty International Airport

If you want to stay near the Newark airport, the Home2Suites by Hilton Newark Airport hotel is a great option. Located just five minutes from the airport, it offers a convenient place to spend the night after a long day traveling.

Amenities at the Home2Suites include free breakfast, free wifi, a fitness center, and airport shuttle. Both king and queen bed suites are available along with connecting rooms for use when traveling with a larger group.

Having complimentary breakfast available at the hotel is a plus for many cruisers, as they can enjoy breakfast before heading to the cruise port. The Cape Liberty port is located just eight miles from the hotel.

Embassy Suites by Hilton Newark Airport

• Average nightly price: $220 to $300
• Address: 95 International Blvd, Elizabeth, NJ 07201
• Location: Near Newark Liberty International Airport

The Embassy Suites, like the Home2Suites, is located just a few minutes away from Newark Liberty International Airport. This hotel is an excellent choice for those arriving in New Jersey earlier in the afternoon. In addition to a place to rest after a flight, the Embassy Suites offers several additional amenities for a more enjoyable stay.

Amenities at the Embassy Suites include free made-to-order breakfast, free wifi, an airport shuttle, indoor pool, fitness center, complimentary evening reception, and an on-site restaurant. The restaurant, The Local Kitchen, serves American fare and is perfect for guests in search of a nice sit-down dinner without needing to leave their hotel.

Rooms at the Embassy Suites have a separate living room area along with a sofa bed, microwave, refrigerator, and work space.

Residence Inn by Marriott Newark Elizabeth/Liberty International Airport

• Average nightly price: $200 to $325
• Address: 83 International Blvd, Elizabeth, NJ 07201
• Location: Near Newark Liberty International Airport

If you’d prefer to stay at a Marriott property near the Newark airport, look no further than the Residence Inn by Marriott Newark Elizabeth/Liberty International Airport. The property is located just ten minutes from the airport and twenty minutes from the cruise port.

Hotel amenities include a free airport shuttle, complimentary American and hot breakfast, fitness center, convenience store, and free wifi.

All rooms at the Residence Inn are suites; studio, one bedroom, and two bedroom suites are available with queen bed(s) and a sofa bed. Rooms feature a dining table, couch, desk, full kitchen, and television.

InterContinental New York Times Square

• Average nightly price: $430 to $570
• Address: 300 W 44th St, New York, NY 10036
• Location: Times Square, Manhattan, New York

Arriving in New York with plenty of time to spare before your cruise begins? If so, consider staying near Times Square for easy access to the city’s top attractions during your stay.

The InterContinental New York Times Square may not be the most budget-friendly hotel on this list, but it’s hard to beat the location for a pre or post-cruise stay in Manhattan. It’s located just a four minute walk away from Times Square, and a forty minute drive from the Cape Liberty cruise port.

A wide selection of rooms are available, which feature views of midtown Manhattan. Most rooms accommodate two guests, although junior suites are also available which can accommodate four guests.

The hotel features a fitness center and on-site restaurant, although most guests staying at the hotel will spend the majority of their time exploring the city.

Homewood Suites by Hilton New York/Midtown Manhattan Times Square

• Average nightly price: $300 to $500
• Address: 312 W 37th St, New York, NY 10018
• Location: Midtown Manhattan

Another excellent hotel option in Times Square is the Homewood Suites by Hilton New York/Midtown Manhattan Times Square. Like the InterContinental, this hotel is in the hustle and bustle of New York City’s Theater District, and is a forty minute drive from the Cape Liberty Cruise Port.

Hotel amenities include free breakfast, free wifi, a fitness center, and connecting rooms. While the hotel does not have an on-site restaurant, it’s within walking distance to hundreds of restaurants in the city.

Conrad New York Downtown

• Average nightly price: $400 to $570
• Address: 102 North End Ave, New York, NY 10282
• Location: Battery Park, Manhattan, New York

If you want to stay in Manhattan but would prefer to avoid the chaos in Times Square, consider a stay at the Conrad New York Downtown in Lower Manhattan.

The Conrad is within walking distance to attractions like Battery Park, the 9/11 Memorial & Museum, and Rockefeller Park. It’s located a thirty minute drive away from the cruise port, which can, of course, vary based on city traffic.

Amenities at the Conrad New York Downtown include free wifi, an on-site restaurant, fitness center, and room service.

Hyatt House New York/Chelsea

• Average nightly price: $300 to $500
• Address: 815 6th Ave, New York, NY 10001
• Location: Chelsea, Manhattan, New York

The Hyatt House New York/Chelsea is located in the heart of Manhattan, just a short walk from tourist destinations like the Empire State Building and Madison Square Park. Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood is famous for its art galleries, but it’s also where you’ll find popular attractions such as The High Line park and Chelsea Market.

Because of this, staying at the Hyatt House makes for an exciting pre-cruise stay, whether you arrive the day before your cruise or spend several days in the city before setting sail.

The hotel’s amenities include free breakfast, an on-site restaurant, fitness center, free wifi, rooftop terrace, and digital check-in. Both suites and standard guest rooms are available, all of which offer floor-to-ceiling windows looking out towards the city.

Royal Caribbean charges a daily cost to get internet access on its cruise ships, but there are a few ways to get free wifi onboard.

It’s no secret that wifi on a cruise is expensive. You should expect to pay around $20 per day for Royal Caribbean’s wifi package, and that's only for use on one device at a time. For a 7-night cruise, this means spending a whopping $140 per person to access the internet.

Because you cannot use cellular data on a cruise ship without racking up a costly bill, many passengers purchase wifi for their cruise to stay connected. For most guests, buying an internet package is just another mandatory cost on a cruise vacation, but what if I told you there's a way to get free wifi on Royal Caribbean?

There are a few ways to get free wifi on Royal Caribbean, but whether or not you can access free internet depends on several factors. From leveraging your loyalty perks to booking a suite, here are five ways to get free wifi on your cruise.

Diamond, Diamond Plus, and Pinnacle status

Royal Caribbean’s Crown & Anchor Society loyalty program offers some impressive benefits, including free drinks, a private lounge, and access to exclusive events, but it also offers free internet.

Free internet access is a benefit for top-tier members in the Crown & Anchor Society, and is reserved for Diamond, Diamond Plus, and Pinnacle Club members.

Diamond guests, those with 80-174 cruise points, receive one free day of internet per cruise. Diamond Plus guests, with 175-699 cruise points, receive two free days of internet per cruise.

The free internet can be accessed for 24 and 48 hours respectively, meaning if you log in to the wifi at 4PM on day two, you can use the wifi until 3:59PM on day three or four.

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

Passengers who are Pinnacle Club members, with over 700 loyalty points, receive a free Surf & Stream internet package for one device. Offering free wifi to Pinnacle Club members is another way Royal Caribbean rewards its top-tier members, and this perk can easily save cruisers thousands of dollars over time.

Even if you’re not a Diamond, Diamond Plus, or Pinnacle Club member, you can still save money on Royal Caribbean’s wifi packages through the Crown & Anchor Society. Passengers in lower tiers—Gold, Platinum, and Emerald—receive discounts on internet packages at 10% for Gold and 15% for Platinum and Emerald.

Use onboard credit to pay for a wifi package

If you have onboard credit for your upcoming cruise, why not purchase a wifi package?

Onboard credit is free “cash” used to make purchases on a Royal Caribbean cruise. You can receive onboard credit several ways, but most commonly when booking a cruise during a Royal Caribbean promotion and/or booking through a travel agent.

Related: Royal Caribbean onboard credit

You can spend onboard credit before your cruise begins on Royal Caribbean’s Cruise Planner website on add-ons like drink packages, specialty dining, and spa services. If you don’t spend onboard credit before the cruise begins, it will be loaded to your SeaPass account upon boarding your cruise ship.

If you’re hoping to purchase a wifi package without spending your own money, use onboard credit to reserve the package in advance. To do so, visit Royal Caribbean’s Cruise Planner website and add an internet package to your cart.

Once at checkout, you can redeem onboard credit to pay for the internet package. If your onboard credit is not enough to cover the entire wifi package, you will pay the difference with a credit card.

Gamble enough in the casino

Do you visit the casino every day on a Royal Caribbean cruise? If so, there’s a chance you could qualify for free wifi.

Club Royale is Royal Caribbean’s casino rewards program, in which guests earn points—called Tier Credits— in the program by gambling at the casino. The program is free to join, and as a guest moves up the program, they will qualify for free wifi.

The program has four tiers:

• Choice: 1 - 2,499 Tier Credits
• Prime: 2,500 - 24,999 Tier Credits
• Signature: 25,000 - 99,999 Tier Credits
• Masters: 100,000+ Tier Credits

Members in the Prime tier qualify for a discount on a VOOM Surf & Stream internet package. Those in the Signature tier receive complimentary wifi on one device, whereas Masters members receive free internet on two devices.

Club Royale reward points are earned by spending money at the casino. Guests earn 1 Tier Credit for every $5 coin in at slot machines and 1 Tier Credit for every $10 coin in on video poker machines. Tier Credits earned on table games vary based on the game, average bet, and length of play.

It’s not cost effective to gamble solely as a way to get free wifi on Royal Caribbean, but for those who gamble frequently while onboard, receiving free wifi is a nice benefit.

Stay in a high category suite

If you booked a suite for your upcoming cruise, you may receive free wifi as a suite perk.

Guests staying in Grand Suites and above on Quantum, Oasis, and Icon Class ships receive a complimentary VOOM Surf & Stream wifi package. Each guest in the cabin receives an internet package for one device.

Related: Royal Caribbean suites guide & review

Suites on these ships are part of the Royal Suite Class, Royal Caribbean’s most exclusive suite program. Unfortunately, free internet is not offered to guests in Junior Suites or those in Grand Suites and above on Vision, Radiance, Voyager, and Freedom Class ships.

Guests staying in suites on older Royal Caribbean cruise ships must pay for wifi themselves or use one of these tips to obtain free wifi another way.

Free wifi in port instead

If all else fails and you don’t want to spend money on wifi for your cruise, you can always find free wifi in port. Regardless of the port, it’s usually relatively easy to find places with free wifi.

One of the easiest ways to find free wifi in port is by visiting a coffee shop, restaurant, or bar in the immediate port area. These establishments cater to tourists, meaning they often provide free wifi if you purchase a drink or meal. Many businesses will have a sign on the shop or restaurant’s exterior indicating that they offer free wifi to customers.

Depending on the destination, you may also be able to use your cellular coverage as normal while in port. If you’re cruising to Alaska, for example, your regular US phone coverage will work while visiting Alaska cruise ports.

Additionally, if your phone service includes international coverage, you can turn off airplane mode in port and use data roaming at no extra cost.

Because your cruise ship is usually docked between 8-10 hours at a time, this should provide enough time to find and use free wifi or cell phone data before getting back onboard.

BONUS: Use Royal Caribbean’s free chat feature in the app

If the primary reason you’re considering purchasing internet for your cruise is to keep in touch with your travel party onboard, use the Royal Caribbean app instead.

Royal Caribbean’s app has a chat feature that is completely free to use, and it allows you to message other passengers on your sailing. Whether coordinating dinner plans with your travel party or letting your spouse know you’re heading back to the cabin, the app is a useful tool for communication.

Related: Here’s how Royal Caribbean’s onboard messaging system works

In order to use the app, be sure to download the Royal Caribbean app prior to your sailing. Once onboard, connect to Royal Caribbean’s wifi—and no, you don’t need a wifi package in order to access the app.

Once you open the app, click on the chat icon in the top right corner. From there, you can begin messaging others onboard. To message another guest, you must add the guest’s stateroom number (or reservation number) and their birthday. Doing so connects your accounts together, permitting you to message each other.

Using the chat feature on the Royal Caribbean app is a free workaround to staying connected without purchasing a wifi package.

Cruise ship formal nights are often a cause for concern for many first time cruisers. Worries over what to pack and what clothing is and is not allowed can be stressful.

And while formal night may stir up images of guests dressed to the nines, this is rarely the case once you get onboard. In reality, there is a lot of flexibility when it comes to what to wear for formal night on a Royal Caribbean cruise.

What is formal night?

Formal night only applies only to the Main Dining Room on a Royal Caribbean cruise. Specialty dining and other venues have their own separate dress codes, although they are usually pretty similar to a formal night dress code.

Royal Caribbean states the following about the formal night dress code:

"Think of our formal dress code as a night out in your best black-tie look — suits and ties, tuxedos, cocktail dresses or evening gowns are all acceptable options. There can be 1-3 formal nights during a sailing and is at the ship’s discretion. Our Chef’s Table dining experience also enforces a formal dress code policy."

From reading this, it may seem like a tuxedo and evening gown are the standard outfits that most passengers will be wearing on formal night. In reality, though, this is rarely the case.

While you will likely spot a few guests in tuxedos and ball gowns, most guests will be in a formal outfit that is a lot more casual. Women may be dressed in a cocktail or sundress and men in a button-up shirt and dress pants.

Formal night dress code for men

Collared shirts, slacks, and dress shirts are typical options for men on formal night. The most “casual” yet acceptable outfit for men on formal night is a polo shirt and slacks.

A dress shirt and slacks is the most common option. Suit jackets and ties are not required, although many guests will choose to wear them. Guests looking to dress up even more can wear a tuxedo, but again, this is relatively uncommon.

Formal night dress code for women

Women have quite a few more options than men when it comes to outfits for formal night. Acceptable attire for women includes cocktail dresses, sundresses, skirts, blouses, dress pants, dressy rompers, and more elegant attire like evening gowns.

Women should pack dress shoes like flats, heels, wedges, or dressy sandals to wear on formal night.

Can I wear jeans on formal night?

You can get away with wearing jeans to the Main Dining Room on formal night. However, it’s a good idea to make sure the jeans are fairly nice and do not have any holes or rips in them. A dark-washed jean will look more formal, although you will likely not be turned away with any type of jean.

Clothes you should not wear on formal night

Passengers should not wear casual clothing such as shorts, casual t-shirts, flip-flops, swimsuits, and tank tops. 

As a general rule of thumb, you don’t want to wear the clothes you would wear to the pool deck or walking around port on a cruise ship formal night.

Do I have to get dressed up on formal night?

The truth is you do not need to get dressed up for formal night.  

Technically, the formal night dress code only applies to the Main Dining Room. And even within the Main Dining Room, Royal Caribbean crew members do not enforce the dress code at all.  In practice, it's become more of a suggestion.

You also don't need to get fancy either. It’s easy to participate even by wearing an outfit as casual as khakis and a polo shirt.

Most specialty restaurants also require a semi-formal dress code, and their dress code supersedes the Main Dining Room. 

If you truly have no desire to get dressed up for dinner at all and prefer to be as casual as possible, The Windjammer is a good alternative on formal night.  Every night in the Windjammer allows casual clothing.

Other ways to get ready for formal night

Royal Caribbean cruise ships do not have irons in each stateroom because of the fire hazard they create. However, guests are able to have clothing pressed or dry cleaned prior to formal night. When you arrive in your stateroom on the first day of the cruise there should be a paper there with information about laundry, dry cleaning, and pressing services. 

Guests may also choose to get their hair styled or get a manicure prior to formal night. The salon onboard in the Vitality Spa has services including updos, blowouts, shampoo and style dry, manicures, and pedicures.

How many formal nights will there be on my cruise?

The number of formal nights on a cruise varies by ship length. Shorter sailings will usually have only one formal night whereas longer sailings will have 2, 3, or 4 formal nights. Royal Caribbean lists the amount of formal nights per cruise on their website, although the amount of formal nights is ultimately at the ship’s discretion:

• 3/4/5 night cruises - 1 formal night
• 6 and 7 night cruises - 2 formal nights
• 8 to 10 night cruises - 2 formal nights
• 11 to 14 night cruises - 3 formal nights
• 15 + night cruises - 3 or 4 formal nights

Planning a cruise? Check out these articles:

• What are the different types of cabins on a cruise ship?
• What to expect on your first cruise
• The unwritten rules of going on a cruise
• Is it worth it to book a short 3-night cruise?
• Which is the best Royal Caribbean cruise ship?
• Why you shouldn't book the cheapest cruise you can find
• How do I pick the perfect first cruise?

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A cruise vacation may involve cocktails on the pool deck, white sand beaches, and impressive entertainment, but it’s not all sunshine and rainbows.

While cruising is an excellent way to vacation, it can come with a number of unexpected problems. If you’re new to cruising, you may daydream about a perfect, stress-free vacation, but there are a few painful, unexpected, and downright gross problems you might encounter.

From diarrhea to sunburn and copious amounts of sweating, here are the top 22 unpleasant cruise ship problems you aren’t prepared for.

Heartburn and acid reflux

Whenever I’m on a Royal Caribbean cruise, I find myself dealing with heartburn more often than usual. While you can certainly find healthy foods onboard, most passengers indulge on more fatty and fried foods than they normally would.

This can quickly lead to uncomfortable heartburn that leaves you feeling miserable.

To counteract this problem, I recommend packing TUMS or other antacid products. You could also lay off the 2AM slices of pizza at Sorrento’s and third helping of fried shrimp at dinner, although this will take significantly more willpower!

Diarrhea

Another unfortunate problem many cruisers face while onboard is diarrhea. The sudden change of diet combined with new types of food and long hours traveling can wreak havoc on your digestive system.

This problem can get even worse if you eat questionable street food or drink contaminated water in a foreign country.

My best tip is to pack anti-diarrhea medication for your cruise, as you never know when or if you will experience diarrhea. If your stomach is making… suspicious noises when getting ready for a port day, bring a roll of toilet paper in your bag just in case!

Constipation

On the other end of the spectrum is constipation, which is another problem many cruisers face while onboard. Again, the sudden change in lifestyle in diet on a cruise can confuse your digestive system, leaving you feeling miserable and constipated.

It’s advised to eat fiber-rich foods while on a cruise to prevent constipation, including whole grains, beans, and fruits. And, before loading your plate with quesadillas and steak, add a few vegetables, too, and be sure to stay hydrated.

Sunburn

By day two of a cruise, it’s almost guaranteed to see a large number of bright red, sunburned passengers on your ship. No one wants to get sunburned on a cruise, and while some passengers are more prone to sunburns than others, it’s extremely important to prevent burning as much as possible.

Depending on your cruise destination, the sun could be a lot stronger than what you’re used to at home, especially if you’re traveling from a cold climate to a tropical climate. Always remember to apply (and reapply) sunscreen generously both onboard and in port to prevent sunburn.

Related: 10 worst cruise fails by our readers

Personally, I’ve had terrible experiences with spray sunscreen which have resulted in extremely painful sunburns. Because of this, I always advise packing sunscreen lotion over the spray variety.

It’s also recommended to pack aloe vera for a cruise. Sunscreen or not, sunburns can still happen, and aloe vera is much more affordable at your local drugstore compared to the price on your cruise ship.

Sweating

There’s nothing pleasant about sweating, but unfortunately, it’s a common occurrence on a cruise vacation. While you might not sweat much while cruising to the Arctic or Alaska, it’s likely you’ll be very sweaty on a warm weather cruise.

Whether cruising to the Caribbean, Europe, South Pacific, or Southeast Asia, you can encounter uncomfortably warm temperatures onboard and in port. If you’re not used to these temperatures, your body will overcompensate for the temperature, leading to intense sweating.

While it’s a bit embarrassing to walk around with sweat stains on your armpits and back, it’s an unfortunate reality of being on a cruise!

Bloating

Food is an enjoyable and important aspect of any cruise vacation, from sushi rolls at Izumi to molten chocolate cake in the Main Dining Room. Sadly, indulging in delicious cuisine while onboard can lead to bloating, a problem no passenger wants to deal with.

Combat bloating by eating more slowly, chewing food properly before swallowing, and increasing physical activity while onboard. It’s also a good idea to drink water and avoid foods that typically cause you to bloat, such as dairy products or bread.

Not only is bloating uncomfortable, but it can destroy your plans of wearing that cute, tight dress on formal night!

Blisters

Most passengers find themselves walking more on a cruise compared to their day-to-day life at home. Cruise ships are big, and walking up, down, and around the ship results in thousands of steps!

Not only that, but many ports and shore excursions require more walking than you’re used to. If you’re cruising to Europe, for example, you may walk several miles each day, whether sightseeing in Rome or strolling through Santorini.

Although walking is, of course, beneficial for your health, it can result in painful blisters, particularly when wearing new shoes.

Due to this, we recommend wearing comfortable walking shoes that you have worn many times before. Even though wearing a brand-new pair of shoes may sound like a nice idea, breaking in the shoes can lead to uncomfortable blisters.

Chafing

You may also experience chafing with the increased amount of walking on a cruise.

Chafing is an irritation of your skin that occurs when skin rubs against skin or clothing. This most commonly happens when walking in shorts, skirts, or dresses, as your thighs might continuously rub against each other.

Many cruisers enjoy traveling with anti-chafing shorts, which are breathable, lightweight slip shorts to wear under clothing. You can also apply a skin lubricant to your thighs in order to decrease friction when walking.

Limited time in port

If you’ve never cruised before, it can be an adjustment to plan your day based on your cruise ship’s schedule. Whereas on a land-based vacation you are in control of your schedule, on a cruise you must adhere to the hours your ship is in each port.

Most cruise ships stay in port between 8-10 hours, which gives ample time to experience a destination’s highlights. Nonetheless, it does not provide as much time as you would have when traveling independently, and often results in checking the time over and over again to ensure you make it back to the ship before it departs.

Nevertheless, a major advantage of a cruise is being able to experience multiple diverse places in one vacation. For many cruisers, this is a good enough trade off for the limited time in each port.

Busy ports

While your cruise ship’s brochure may showcase images of empty beaches and quiet ports, the reality is that the ports you visit on a cruise can be extremely busy. Some cruise ports, such as Nassau and Cozumel, can easily have over four or five ships in port on any given day.

Given that each ship houses several thousand passengers, there could be upwards of 20,000 passengers in port during the day! This leads to crowds when exiting the ship and walking on the pier, as well as crowds in restaurants, shopping districts, and beaches nearest to the port.

Related: 7 ways to have a great time in port without a cruise ship shore excursion

The good news, however, is that you can almost always find hidden gems in any cruise port. Generally, the majority of cruise passengers stay within a close distance to the port or take part in organized shore excursions.

Doing research ahead of time on less crowded areas in your ports of call can lead to unspoiled beaches and authentic restaurants that won’t have you competing with heaps of other passengers for space.

Chair hogs

If there’s one complaint we hear time and time again about going on a cruise, it’s chair hogs.

Chair hogs are passengers who reserve a pool chair early in the morning by placing a towel, shoe, or other item on the chair. Instead of staying by the pool, though, they do not return for a long period of time. This results in the chair being unavailable to other passengers who want to enjoy the pool deck.

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

Although cruise lines are starting to reinforce their policies against chair hogs, it’s still a common issue to encounter while onboard, especially on sea days.

Hangovers

While another round of shots may sound like a good idea at 1AM, you might find yourself regretting the decision the following morning.

It’s common to enjoy alcoholic beverages on a Royal Caribbean cruise. With so many unique bars and cocktails to choose from, most passengers drink significantly more alcohol on a cruise compared to at home.

Unfortunately, the increase in alcohol consumption also leads to a higher chance of hangovers. A bad hangover can ruin any plans for the day, whether you intended to go snorkeling, hiking, or sunbathing.

Although you’re free to enjoy drinks throughout your cruise vacation, remember to pace yourself (and drink water!) to avoid feeling terrible later on. 

Norovirus

Just like in any other public space, there’s always a possibility of norovirus spreading on a cruise ship. This contagious virus leads to vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, and stomach pain, and can quickly ruin any cruise vacation.

Norovirus is found in the stool or vomit of those infected with the virus. When infected people do not adequately wash their hands after coming in contact with the virus, it can rapidly spread through contaminated food, liquids, and objects.

I always recommend carrying around a small bottle of hand sanitizer onboard to use after touching heavily used items, such as the tongs at the buffet or staircase railings.

Luckily, norovirus is far less common on cruise ships than you might think. In most cases, you have nothing to worry about, although taking precautions by frequently washing your hands is helpful.

Other germs

Outside of norovirus, cruise ships can harbor a plethora of other germs. With thousands of passengers on a cruise ship at the same time, illnesses like the flu and common cold can spread from one passenger to another.

Just like with norovirus, taking precautions to wash your hands frequently can help prevent coming into contact with illnesses. Additionally, coughing and sneezing into your elbow instead of your hand prevents spreading germs to other passengers.

We never advise boarding a cruise ship if you’re feeling ill, and it’s always a good idea to purchase travel insurance for a cruise so you’re protected in the case of unexpected illness.

Crowded pools

Speaking of chair hogs, a crowded pool deck is another unpleasant cruise ship problem you aren’t prepared for.

On any given day, your cruise ship pool deck could be packed with other passengers, although this is most common on sea days. Around 10 or 11AM, passengers finish breakfast and start heading to the pool deck. By noon, it’s common to find the pool deck exceptionally crowded.

If your idea of a relaxing day by the pool involves a quiet, serene experience, you’ll likely be disappointed. Even though all Royal Caribbean cruise ships have multiple pools and hot tubs, you’re unlikely to find any of them empty in the middle of the day.

My best advice for those in search of fewer crowds is to head to the pool deck in the early morning or late evening each day. At these times, there are very few other passengers enjoying these amenities.

Cheap toilet paper

If you’re used to soft toilet paper at home, you’re in for a rude awakening on a Royal Caribbean cruise.

The toilet paper on a cruise ship is far from luxurious—the paper is so thin that you can almost see through it! To help avoid disasters in the cruise ship plumbing system, cruise lines stock bathrooms with thin, easily flushable toilet paper.

Those accustomed to thicker toilet paper may experience an unpleasant experience in their cruise cabin’s bathroom, especially if experiencing other problems like diarrhea or norovirus! Yikes!

Lines

Waiting in line is an unpleasant experience on a cruise, but it’s something you will encounter every day while onboard.

Lines are common at popular dining venues, such as El Loco Fresh, and for activities like the FlowRider, laser tag, and waterslides. Lines typically move relatively quickly, but it's always annoying to wait in long lines on your vacation!

Our best advice to minimize time waiting in lines is to visit venues when they are less busy. If you’re hoping to climb the rock climbing wall, head there at the beginning of the morning session or for the afternoon session on a port day.

Likewise, if you don’t want to wait in line for dinner in the Main Dining Room, be sure to make My Time Dining reservations in advance or select traditional dining.

Related: 21 tips for the best cruise ship Main Dining Room experience

Any time wasted in line is, after all, precious vacation time wasted!

Seasickness

Feeling seasick on a cruise is not as common as you might think, but it still happens.

As your cruise ship moves from port to port, it can occasionally experience rough seas. While some bodies of water and climates are more prone to high seas than others, you might experience seasickness on any cruise vacation.

Related: How to avoid getting seasick on a cruise

Fortunately, it’s easy to combat feelings of seasickness on a cruise. Packing motion sickness medication like Dramamine offers an easy fix, although you can also rely on natural remedies like eating green apples and ginger.

In addition, you may want to select a cruise cabin less prone to motion. Cabins located mid-ship and those on lower decks usually feel less motion than those in the very forward or aft of the ship.

Expensive prices on essentials

Forgot your sunscreen or phone charger at home? These items are sold on your cruise ship, but they aren’t budget friendly.

Royal Caribbean cruise ships sell toiletries and electronic items onboard, but the prices are much higher than what you’ll find in a store on land. A single toothbrush that costs $1 at home can cost over $5 onboard, as an example, and there will be far fewer options available.

In addition to the higher prices are the limited operating hours for stores onboard. Due to regulations, cruise ship stores can only open when the ship is in international waters. Stores selling necessities are closed on embarkation day and port days.

If you find yourself in need of an item like Ibuprofen or aloe vera while your ship is docked, you’re out of luck.

Itinerary changes

Everyone wishes for a perfect vacation, but traveling is unpredictable.

Royal Caribbean has the power to change your cruise itinerary (and ship) at any moment. If you booked a cruise to the Eastern Caribbean, an approaching hurricane can cause the itinerary to shift to a Western Caribbean cruise.

Weather conditions can also affect whether or not your cruise ship can dock in a particular port. If winds are too strong, the weather could prevent your ship from docking in port, resulting in an extra day at sea.

It’s always important to stay flexible on a Royal Caribbean cruise. Ultimately, Royal Caribbean cannot control the weather, and it’s better to remain flexible rather than declare your vacation ruined!

Missing the ship

One of the absolute worst problems that happens on a cruise is missing your cruise ship while in port!

No matter the cruise, you might see passengers sprinting on the pier to reach their cruise ship before it sails away. Occasionally, passengers will not make it back in time, leaving them stranded in port while all their belongings remain on the ship!

Related: What happens if you miss your cruise ship?

Being responsible ensures you will make it back to the ship with plenty of time to spare. You should always take note of any time zone changes and avoid traveling too far from the cruise port. We recommend getting back onboard around an hour before all aboard time just in case of any unexpected delays when traveling back to your ship.

Weight gain

Unlimited soft serve ice cream? Five appetizers at dinner? Thirteen piña coladas on the pool deck? Yes, please!

There’s no harm in indulging on a cruise, but you should prepare yourself for the potential weight gain. Many cruisers gain a couple pounds on a cruise, although there are a few ways to combat this unpleasant problem.

First, take the stairs instead of the elevator. Taking the stairs not only helps you burn extra calories, but you won’t have to waste time waiting for the elevator to arrive.

You may also want to make healthy choices for at least one meal a day. Instead of a greasy cheeseburger for lunch, why not hit up the soup and salad bar? Or, if another three-course meal in the dining room seems overwhelming, opt for a smaller meal at the Windjammer instead.

Related: How I kept from gaining weight on my cruise

Lastly, look for active activities and shore excursions. Instead of trivia, participate in a sports competition on the sports court, try out the surfing simulator, or make a few laps on the running track.

Staying active and making healthy choices not only prevents you from gaining extra weight, but it also helps avoid several of the other unpleasant problems on this list, such as constipation and diarrhea.

Finding a cheap flight deal is almost as exciting as finding a cheap cruise deal, especially when the flight brings you to your cruise embarkation port. It’s cheaper to fly to certain cities than others, though, and we’re sharing the cheapest US destinations to fly to before a cruise.

Flight deal company Going (formerly Scott’s Cheap Flights) recently published a report of the US destinations with the most flight deals. They compiled data from cities with over 300,000 people and ranked airports by the amount of flight deals they had sent to Going members within the past six months.

5 of the 10 destinations on their list just so happened to be popular cruise ports, including New York, Fort Lauderdale, and Los Angeles.

For the millions of passengers who fly to their cruise port each year, finding affordable flights is high priority, and here are the cheapest places in the US to fly to for a cruise.

Tampa, Florida

Tampa may be a smaller cruise port, but the city’s airport has direct flights to over 75 cities in the United States. This makes the port easily accessible from most major cities, with 13 airlines flying to and from the airport.

As another plus, Tampa International Airport (TPA) is a hub for Silver Airways, a low-cost airline with direct flights from several cities in the southeast including Charleston, Savannah, and New Orleans. Additionally, Frontier, Spirit, and Breeze Airways—three low-cost carriers—serve a number of flights from Tampa.

Even if you don’t book a flight on a budget airline, you can come across some impressive flight deals to Tampa. A few of Going’s recent flight deals to Tampa have included an $88 roundtrip flight from Richmond to Tampa and a $158 roundtrip flight from Detroit to Tampa.

Where can you cruise to from Tampa?

Everything from short 4-night cruises to 2 week itineraries are offered from Tampa. 

Most 4-night cruises visit either Cozumel, Mexico or both Key West, Florida and Nassau, Bahamas, although some may visit Perfect Day at CocoCay and Progreso, Mexico.

5-night itineraries visit two ports with two days at sea. Ports include Key West, Nassau, Costa Maya, Cozumel, Grand Cayman, and Progreso.

Weeklong cruises can travel further from Tampa to visit between 3 and 4 ports in the Western Caribbean, Eastern Caribbean, and Southern Caribbean, with some traveling as far south as Costa Rica!

The longest itineraries, over 12 nights, are repositioning cruises, during which a ship transfers homeports from one city to another. It’s common to see ships repositioning from Tampa to Los Angeles or Boston prior to the summer cruise season, and they typically offer a fantastic value.

Which Royal Caribbean ships sail from Tampa?

Cruise ships arriving and departing Tampa must pass under the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, and this limits the size of cruise ships that can sail from Tampa.

Royal Caribbean can only offer cruises from Tampa on Vision and Radiance Class cruise ships, as their smaller size allows the ships to safely pass under the bridge.

Related: 12 differences between the big and small Royal Caribbean cruise ships

You shouldn't let an older, smaller cruise ship deter you from cruising from Tampa. Many passengers love sailing on an older ship due to the more relaxed atmosphere onboard, more affordable prices, and ability to fit into unique ports.

Currently, cruises from Tampa are offered on Enchantment of the Seas, Grandeur of the Seas, Radiance of the Seas, and Serenade of the Seas.

Boston, Massachusetts

Boston, Massachusetts is a seasonal cruise port, with Royal Caribbean cruises only offered in the fall, usually from September through early November.

However, the itinerary options and cheap flights to Boston make it an enticing option for a cruise embarkation port. Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) offers direct flights to and from 87 cities in the United States.

13 domestic airlines serve the airport—it’s a hub airport for Delta Air Lines and Cape Air—and a focus city for JetBlue. This means deals to the city are common, especially during the fall months which are outside the peak summer season.

Some of the deals Going has found to Boston include a $147 roundtrip flight from Savannah to Boston and an $87 roundtrip flight from Washington, DC to Boston.

Where can you cruise to from Boston?

Boston’s location in the northeast makes the Caribbean a far reach—it would require several days at sea each way. Instead, cruises from Boston primarily serve the northeast and Canada cruise market.

While an occasional 4 or 5-night cruise may depart from Boston, the majority of cruises from the city are 7-night Canada cruises. These sailings visit three or four ports in the northeast of the United States and Canada, which vary between:

• Portland, Maine
• Saint John, New Brunswick
• Halifax, Nova Scotia
• Bar Harbor, Maine
• Sydney, Nova Scotia

Related: Why fall is a great time to cruise to Halifax, Nova Scotia

A major appeal of a Canada and New England cruise is the opportunity to see the gorgeous fall foliage of the region. Beyond just the picturesque scenery, however, are quaint towns with delightful cuisine and intriguing history.

Whether kayaking in the Bay of Fundy, tasting lobster rolls in Portland, or visiting breweries in Halifax, you’re sure to find something interesting to experience on a cruise to Canada and New England.

Or try something even more unique: a cruise to Greenland

In search of one of Royal Caribbean’s most unique cruise itineraries? Wave goodbye to busy Boston and set sail for the Arctic.

While uncommon, Royal Caribbean occasionally offers cruise itineraries to Greenland from Boston. Currently available to book is a 15-night Greenland cruise, which visits some seriously unique ports.

En route to Greenland, Grandeur of the Seas will make port stops in Sydney and Halifax, Nova Scotia. Once in the Arctic, she calls upon Nanortalik, Qaqortoq, and Nuuk, and the final port stop is a day in St. John’s, Newfoundland before returning to Boston.

Which Royal Caribbean ships sail from Boston?

Royal Caribbean homeports one ship in Boston each fall season. For the fall of 2023, Serenade of the Seas will be based in Boston whereas 2024 will bring Grandeur of the Seas to the city.

As a Radiance Class and Vision Class ship respectively, the two ships offer a traditional cruising experience perfect for the quiet, unique ports visited on itineraries from Boston.

While they may lack the bells and whistles like waterslides, surfing simulators, and Broadway shows, they still offer everything you need in a cruise vacation, including comfortable cabins, an adults-only Solarium, and a selection of complimentary and specialty dining venues.

Miami/Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Two of the busiest cruise ports in the country are easily accessible with a wide selection of affordable direct flights. Due to the close proximity of Miami International Airport (MIA) and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL), the two airports compete with each other for passenger traffic, which helps bring amazing flight deals to the region.

Fort Lauderdale’s airport has direct flights to over 88 destinations in the US and is served by over 15 domestic airlines. As a focus city for Spirit Airlines, JetBlue, and Allegiant, as well as a hub airport for Silver Airways, it’s common to find cheap flights to the airport on both budget and full service airlines.

Related: Guide to cruises from Fort Lauderdale

If you’re flying American Airlines, you’ll find a range of deals to the airline’s hub at Miami International Airport. Outside of American Airlines, 8 other domestic airlines serve 78 nonstop routes to and from US destinations, and it’s a focus city for budget airlines Frontier and Spirit.

On average, Going has sent subscribers 9 deals per month to South Florida, which have included a $178 roundtrip flight from San Diego to Fort Lauderdale and a $98 roundtrip flight from New York to Fort Lauderdale.

Related: Guide to cruises from Miami

Where can you cruise to from Miami and Fort Lauderdale?

South Florida is the hub of the cruising industry—its proximity to the Caribbean makes it a short sail away from the nearby Bahamas or more distant Aruba.

A quick search for cruise itineraries from Miami and Fort Lauderdale brings up nearly endless itinerary options, including:

• 3-night Bahamas & Perfect Day cruise visiting Perfect Day at CocoCay and Nassau, Bahamas
• 7-night Eastern Caribbean cruise visiting Perfect Day at CocoCay, San Juan, and St. Thomas
• 8-night Southern Caribbean cruise visiting Curacao, Aruba, and Perfect Day at CocoCay
• 15-night Transatlantic cruise visiting Perfect Day at CocoCay, Tenerife, Seville, Lisbon, and Vigo
• 14-night Panama Canal cruise visiting Cozumel, the Cayman Islands, Cartagena, Panama Canal, Puntarenas, and Huatulco

Whether you’re searching for a weekend getaway or longer, more in-depth itinerary, you’re sure to find a cruise that fits your needs sailing from Fort Lauderdale or Miami.

Which Royal Caribbean ships sail from Miami/Fort Lauderdale?

Miami and Fort Lauderdale offer cruises year round, with the widest selection of ships available to book during the winter months. Throughout the year, you can find cruises on every class of Royal Caribbean cruise ships, from the fleet’s smallest ships to its newest and biggest cruise ships.

In fact, Royal Caribbean’s newest ship, Icon of the Seas, will set sail from Miami starting in January 2024. With a waterpark, indoor AquaTheater, exclusive suites-only neighborhood, and upgraded, family-focused amenities, Icon of the Seas will be a gamechanger for the cruising industry not just in South Florida, but in the world.

You can currently book cruise itineraries from South Florida on over 15 Royal Caribbean cruise ships. Because there are so many options available, remember to do thorough research into which cruise ship will fit your needs best. Consider the ship’s size, amenities, dining options, cabin categories, and entertainment before booking to ensure you don’t end up disappointed with the ship once onboard. 

Related: 8 questions to ask yourself before picking a cruise ship

Los Angeles, California

Getting to cruise ports on the east coast is a trek for west coast cruisers. Luckily, Royal Caribbean restarted cruises from Los Angeles in 2021, and flight deals to the Los Angeles metropolitan area are frequent and cheap.

Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is the second busiest airport in the United States, with direct flights to a whopping 113 domestic destinations. 14 domestic airlines serve the airport and it's a hub for four airlines: United, American, Delta, and Alaska Airlines.

In addition to LAX, however, are several other airports in the Los Angeles area, including Long Beach Airport (LGB) and Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR). This provides extra competition in the region, which results in lower prices across the board.

Going has sent subscribers an average of 12 flight deals per month to Los Angeles. Flight deals included a $78 roundtrip flight from Las Vegas to Long Beach and a $138 roundtrip flight from Chicago to Los Angeles.

Where can you cruise to from Los Angeles?

Royal Caribbean’s itineraries from Los Angeles are more limited than those in the Caribbean due to the fewer number of cruise ports available. Whereas the Caribbean has dozens of cruise ports, the west coast only has a handful, most of which are in Mexico.

There are three main cruise itineraries from Los Angeles:

• 3-night weekend cruise visiting Ensenada, Mexico with one sea day
• 4-night cruise visiting Ensenada, Mexico and Catalina island with one sea day
• 7-night Mexican Riviera cruise visiting Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlán, and Puerto Vallarta

Related: Mexican Riviera cruise guide

Occasionally you can also find repositioning cruises to and from Los Angeles. While en route to Alaska for the summer season, some ships may offer a 5 or 6-night Pacific Coastal cruise visiting ports such as Santa Barbara, California and Astoria, Oregon.

Longer repositioning itineraries include Panama Canal cruises, which depart Los Angeles on the way to Florida. These itineraries visit ports in the Caribbean and Central America, including Cabo San Lucas, San Juan del Sur, and Cartagena.

Which Royal Caribbean ships sail from Los Angeles?

Navigator of the Seas is the only Royal Caribbean ship based in Los Angeles. Although the ship launched in 2002, she was recently refurbished in 2019 to include many of the cruise line’s top features and amenities, including a Caribbean resort-style pool deck, waterslides, and updated dining venues.

As a Voyager Class cruise ship, Navigator of the Seas can hold 4,000 passengers, making her neither the biggest nor smallest of Royal Caribbean’s cruise ships. Many cruisers enjoy the size of a Voyager Class vessel as it offers a nice blend between a traditional and modern cruising experience.

Related: Navigator of the Seas Guide & Review

Occasional itineraries along the Pacific Coast and Panama Canal are offered on Radiance Class cruise ships. You can currently book these itineraries on Brilliance of the Seas, Radiance of the Seas, and Serenade of the Seas.

New York City, New York

It’s easy to find cheap flight deals to New York City’s three major airports. JFK offers direct flights to 70 domestic destinations whereas LaGuardia (LGA) flies to 81 and Newark (EWR) to 93 US cities. Many major US airlines have a hub in New York City as well, including United at EWR, American at LGA, and Delta at JFK.

The sheer number of flight options available to and from New York City make flight deals frequent. Going consistently sends cheap deals to the Big Apple, and you can almost certainly find a cheap deal from most major domestic airports in the United States.

If you’re cruising from New York City, the most convenient airport option is Newark Liberty International Airport, as it is the closest to Royal Caribbean’s terminal in Cape Liberty, New Jersey.

Where can you cruise to from New York?

Cruises from New York sail year round. Depending on the season, you can cruise to the Caribbean, Bermuda, or the northeast and Canada. Transatlantic cruises are also offered in late spring in preparation for the European cruise season.

Related: Guide to cruises from New York

During the winter months, cruises depart Cape Liberty en route to sunshine and warmer temperatures in the Bahamas and Caribbean. Most itineraries are 7-night cruises visiting Cape Canaveral, Perfect Day at CocoCay, and Nassau, although longer itineraries may visit ports in the Eastern and Southern Caribbean.

Bermuda cruises are offered from May to October. These 5-night itineraries include two days at sea and two days in Bermuda with an overnight visit.

If you’re cruising from New York in the fall, you can also cruise to the northeast and Canada. 9-night itineraries from Cape Liberty to the northeast include port stops in Boston, Portland, Bar Harbor, Halifax, and Saint John.

Occasionally, one-way fall foliage itineraries may be offered as well. These 10-night cruises travel one-way from Cape Liberty to Quebec City (and vice versa) during the peak fall foliage season. Ports on these itineraries include Boston, Saint John, Charlottetown, and Saguenay.

Which Royal Caribbean ships sail from New York?

You can currently book cruises from New York on 7 Royal Caribbean cruise ships: Anthem of the Seas, Enchantment of the Seas, Jewel of the Seas, Liberty of the Seas, Oasis of the Seas, Odyssey of the Seas, and Symphony of the Seas.

Exact ships can vary by season and year, but you will find a wide variety of Royal Caribbean vessels sailing from New York, including some of the fleet’s newest, most modern ships.

How to find cheap flights for other cruise ports

If you would prefer to cruise from a cruise port not mentioned on this list, there are still ways to find cheap flight deals. Whether you’re flying to Houston, London, or Singapore, here are our top tips for finding a cheap flight for your cruise vacation:

Track flight prices on Google Flights

Google Flights has a tracking tool in which you can be notified when a flight price drops or increases to a city on a particular date. If you’re eyeing flight prices to Barcelona, for instance, consider tracking the flight so you can be notified whenever the price changes.

Subscribe to a flight deal newsletter

If you’d prefer to be notified about flight deals rather than search for them yourself, consider subscribing to a flight deal newsletter. Going, for example, finds deals from your chosen US airport and sends an alert when cheap deals arise.

The company has three subscription models: Limited, Premium, and Elite. Each model comes with its own deal notifications, from low frequency economy class deals to high frequency business and first class deals.

Check nearby airports

Another way to find cheap flight deals is by checking prices at all airports in your destination. If you’re cruising from Los Angeles, search for flights not only to LAX, but also to Burbank, Long Beach, and Orange County. You may find cheaper flights and better itineraries when expanding your search coverage.