It has been just over nine months since Royal Caribbean restarted cruises from North America, and on April 24th, 2022 I boarded Harmony of the Seas for my 13th cruise since the "Royal Comeback."

While I have been on many different ships, this is the first time I’ve been on Harmony since December 2019.

I was curious to see not only what’s different since then, but how cruising has progressed since my last sailing just two months ago. For reference sake, I’m writing this blog on day three of a seven night sailing.

Masks optional in cruise terminal

I received my e-mail from Royal Caribbean with their updated “Healthy Sailing” instructions two days before the cruise.

The updated mask policy read that masks are optional for vaccinated guests onboard and also in the terminal, unless required by local regulation.

It felt odd to enter Port Canaveral’s terminal without a mask. That’s something I haven’t done in over two years.

Entertainment: Main Theater

After doing the e-muster drill (which I hope Royal Caribbean never gets rid of), we went to our room.

We had a copy of the show schedule for the week tucked into the daily planner.

The main theater has their Broadway Musical “Grease” performing on three different days. The Headliner performers were a comedian, a musician and a magician. There was a movie showing the first night, “Reminiscence”. The Love and Marriage Game Show will be held later in the week. There are many days of Bingo scheduled.

What continues to be notably absent is the “Columbus! The Musical” stage show. There has been no word on when or if it’s returning.

Entertainment: Studio B

Studio B is where you will find the ice shows. Harmony has a brand new ice cast that signed on this week. In fact, the show we saw was their "opening night". The cast performs two different shows. “1887: A Journey in Time” is their main show.

I’ll be honest, it’s not one of my favorites in the fleet. The story is hard to follow and the music is not exactly engaging. However, I can appreciate the artistry and athletic abilities of the cast so it’s still enjoyable.

Their other show is “iSkate Showcase.” It’s a chance for the cast to show off their talent with songs that they have chosen. It is high energy, fun, and they are very engaging with the audience. We really enjoyed that show.

Entertainment: The AquaTheater

“The Fine Line” was Harmony’s main show in the aqua theater for years. I’m not sure if it’s been available on other sailings since the restart, but on this one it has been replaced by a “showcase,” which I assume is similar to the free skate show that we saw last night from the ice cast.

Movies are also being shown. Some examples are “Cruella,” “No Time to Die,” “Jungle Cruise” and “Fast and Furious 9: The Fast Saga.”

Later in the week, the aqua theater will host the 70’s Disco Inferno dance party.

Entertainment: Around the Ship

The pool has been a bustle of activities with the return of the belly flop and world’s sexiest man competitions as well as plenty of live music.

The On-Air Club and Schooner Bar are home to trivia. I counted 25 different trivia options in my Royal Caribbean app. Everything from music, movies, general knowledge and eras. They also offer a scavenger hunt throughout the ship.

The Boardwalk is the place for Hula Hoop Competitions and Beer Pong (with water instead of beer).

“The Quest” continues to be unavailable. In fact, I haven’t seen it come back on any ship since the restart.

Read more: Trying out the free activities on Harmony of the Seas

Dining

We purchased the Unlimited Dining Package for this sailing.

Yes, I know, there are so many free food options that you don’t need a dining package. We decided we wanted to be able to go to all of the specialty restaurants for lunches (embarkation and sea days only) and dinner.

We like the variety and a more intimate, personalized dining experience. The main dining room and Windjammer feel crowded and loud to me.

So far we have had lunch at Jamie’s Italian, Chops and Sabor (which is being replaced by Playmakers on most ships. It’s currently only available on Harmony and Allure.) Dinners have been at Coastal Kitchen and 150 Central Park. Everything from the service to the meals themselves have been outstanding.

It should be noted that the unlimited dining package isn’t exactly “unlimited”. It does not include Chef’s Table, room service, the tapas menu at Vintages or “Captain Jack’s” shack on CocoCay.

You may have heard that the Windjammer buffet has gone back to self service. We stopped in there to check out the situation for ourselves. There was a crew member at the entrance making sure everyone was washing their hands. We also witnessed the crew sanitizing each table between guests.

Crown and Anchor Society

This is the first cruise since we turned Pinnacle nine months ago that we are allowed back into the suite lounge and have access to Coastal Kitchen for lunch and dinner. Even though the two venues are connected, our sea pass cards only unlock the door to the suite lounge and not Coastal Kitchen.

On Harmony, Pinnacles are still not permitted in Coastal Kitchen for breakfast. There is a pinnacle breakfast available daily at Chops. We went yesterday as soon as they opened. We waited 45 minutes for our food to come out, only for it to be cold. It was very disappointing.

The top tier event was held in the main theater. That was a first for me. I’m used to it being in the aqua theater on the larger ships or the Star Lounge or Viking Crown lounge on smaller ships. Platinum members and above were invited to the event. It was a full house. Captain Johnny and Paul, the Loyalty Ambassador welcomed two new couples to the Pinnacle Club, recognized folks that were reaching 1050 and 1400 point milestones and introduced the top three cruisers. The passengers per tier were as follows:

• 1,276 Gold Members
• 491 Platinum Members
• 234 Emerald Members
• 464 Diamond Members
• 295 Diamond Plus Members
• 85 Pinnacle Members

Paul also mentioned that there are a total of 1175 Pinnacle members in the Crown and Anchor Society.

On the first day we had invitations in our room for the “virtual backstage tour.” I’m not sure what that entails, as it is on day 6 of our cruise, all I do know is that the bridge tours and the behind the scenes tours remain unavailable.

Day 6 will also be our “Cheers with an Officer” lunch in the main dining room. It’s available to Crown and Anchor members with 340 points or more and is typically offered on sailings of seven nights or longer. Pre-pandemic, it was “lunch with an officer”, where an officer would be seated at each table and you could chat with them and get to know their role on the ship.

Usually the Captain, Hotel Director and the cruise director toast to the room and say a few words before leaving you to your meal with your fellow passengers.

Capacity

Probably one of the most asked questions in recent times is “how crowded is the ship?” This sailing has 4992 passengers. It can reach max capacity of 6,780, which is not typical. The double occupancy total is 5,479. There are 1,964 crew members onboard.

It’s not as crowded as it was pre-pandemic but it is definitely getting there. If you’re concerned at all about social distancing, stay out of the elevators. The signs are gone that limited the number of people in the elevator and guests are using every inch of available space.

Final thoughts

Even though it’s only been three days, the cruise has been fantastic. Besides the Chops breakfast that wasn’t up to par, everything else has been outstanding. (In Chops defense, we had lunch there today and the food and service was great). We have been lucky enough to find two of our favorite bar staff from previous ships. It’s nice to see our crew friends again.

While masks are optional for passengers onboard, the crew is still required to wear them, even the lifeguards at the pool. Hopefully that can change soon. Slowly but surely things are returning to “normal,” which is wonderful to see.

A cruise vacation can be a very social experience, with some people making friends or just good conversation along the way.

Cruises are the vacation that has something for everybody. You’ll find everything from large family reunions to solo cruisers and everyone in between.

There are times I have been on the same ship with people I know and have not run into them once. I then see the photos they publish on social media and it was like we took a completely different vacation.

So, what do you do when you’re a solo cruiser or just want to meet people onboard? Where do you go? How do you strike up a conversation? Well, it’s easier than you think. Hopefully these tips will make it seem less overwhelming.

Before your cruise

You can get a head start on making connections before you even sail. Facebook groups that are created for your specific ship and sail date are extremely popular.

The groups are a great source of information for the ship and destinations but they also organize activities.

There’s usually a meet up on the first day for sail away. I have also been in groups that organize slot pulls in the casino and cabin crawls that allow members to see different room categories.

Bear in mind, some moderators keep their group more active than others but members always welcome to post questions or comments.

Ask for a large table at dinner

On embarkation day you will find a crew member outside of the main dining room handling special requests, including seating. Feel free to ask to be included at a large table. You’ll get to know your table mates and will be able to share your experiences together each night at dinner.

This option may not be available at the moment due to the Covid restrictions. It will definitely return and remains one of the best way to meet people onboard.

Communal seating at specialty restaurants

Two specialty restaurants on Royal Caribbean have seating for people at the same table that may not be part of your family.

Izumi hibachi and Chef's Table are both group experiences, where you will be seated at a large table. Assuming your group is not large enough to take up all the seats, the restaurant will usually fill in the other spots with other guests.

Since you're all seated together for a little while, a conversation might spark a friendship.

Adventure Ocean

It's not just adults that can make friends on a cruise ship. Just like at school, kids will be together with other children when at the Adventure Ocean program and friendships are commonly made.

The key for facilitating friendships is for kids to go to Adventure Ocean on the first night of the cruise.  Just like the first day of school, if everyone is new, it's easier to say hello and break the ice.

The same strategy is true of the teen club, where going the first day makes a difference in getting to know everyone.

Excursions

Many people make connections with their fellow cruisers on excursions. Your group will be together for several hours so it’s only natural to strike up a conversation with the person next to you on the bus in between stops.

Some city tours also offer a lunch. That’s a great time to get to know others.

Trivia

Trivia is offered on every ship several times throughout your cruise. Categories can include general knowledge, music, movies, geography and logos, just to name a few. Some ships feature a progressive trivia that has events throughout the cruise and the winner is determined on the last day.

I have met several people at trivia. Teams are usually up to 6 people. If you see a couple or group of four, feel free to introduce yourself and ask to join the team. Even if you’re not comfortable with the category, it will at least break the ice and get you talking.

The Quest

The very popular adult scavenger hunt is a great place to meet people. It’s a team environment that requires audience participation. Everyone is there to laugh, make fools out of themselves and have fun. Just the nature of the competition is enough to have you bonding with your fellow teammates.

After the game, learn more about your new friends by celebrating your team’s victory at your favorite bar.

Bars

Whether it’s karaoke or listening to live music in the pub or Schooner, bars are by far the easiest places to meet people on a ship, just as they are on land.

The conversation can start by seeing someone with an interesting looking drink and asking what it is. Before you know it, you’ll be performing a duet in Studio B or the Star Lounge.

Diamond or Suite lounge

This is my personal favorite and definitely where I have met the most people. Tables in the lounges are typically designed for four or more people. My husband and I have frequently had others ask to sit at our table when it’s just the two of us travelling.

Conversation flows easily in the Diamond Lounge since everyone has the same interest, cruising. A lot! We’ll talk about trips we’ve been on, favorite ships and ports, and places on our bucket list we haven’t been to yet.

You’ll typically see the same people in the lounges night after night, before or after dinner times.

It’s not just the evening happy hour either! The lounges are always open. Some mornings we’ll go for a coffee or a bagel when we’re not in the mood for a huge breakfast.

We’ll also frequent the lounge during the day for some quiet time. There’s always people in there reading, chatting or planning their next cruise. It’s a very social venue.

Final thoughts

The most important thing to keep in mind when looking to meet people is to be friendly and approachable. Be aware of the conversations going on around you. Feel free to add your thoughts. You’ll find most of your fellow cruisers are very friendly and will welcome your company.

If possible, try to be helpful. For example, just last weekend there was a new cruiser in the elevator that had no idea where to go for free coffee. She had already missed the floor for the Windjammer so I suggested she go to Café Promenade. She was under the impression they only sold specialty coffees. Since that’s where we were headed anyway, I walked with her there and pointed out where the crew member was serving the complimentary coffee. Little things like that are easy ice breakers and will get you remembered.

Whether you make friends for a lifetime or just the duration of your cruise, there are plenty of places to meet and get to know others. Then there’s always social media to help you stay in touch.

Royal Caribbean restarted cruises about eight months ago, and yet there are still some activities and entertainment onboard that have not returned.

The reason most of these activities have not resumed is due to social/physical distancing requirements. While we understand the rationale behind the decision, it doesn't mean we don't miss these fun things to do on a ship.

Here are just a few favorites that I hope can be brought back this year.

Pool Games

A staple on almost every cruise line is the belly flop competition.

Who doesn’t enjoy watching your passengers throw themselves into the main pool to see who will make the biggest splash?

And it’s not just the belly flop. Also missing are the hairy chest and the world’s sexiest man competition.

Quest

If you’ve never seen the Quest game show, you have missed out. It’s an adult themed scavenger hunt that not only has the teams participating but the audience too!

The cruise director will ask the teams to produce items (think “Let’s Make a Deal”) and if they don’t have it, they will look to the spectators to help them out.

Things can get a little racy, so if you’re easily offended, it may not be for you. It is such a hysterical show, even my 80-something year old grandmother was laughing harder than I’d ever seen.

Adventure Ocean

The kids club is open currently, but what is still missing is full capacity.

Pre-covid, you could drop your children off at Adventure Ocean and you may not see them again for the rest of the cruise due to all the fun they’re having.

These days though, you are required to make a reservation for a certain block of time to allow other guests access. It’s no surprise that the evening hours book up fast.

Main dining room seating

For now, the main dining room is only seating you with your immediate travel party, but I miss being able to sit with new friends for a meal.

Cruising can be a very social vacation, and to that point, there are many people who sail solo and like to meet new people. After meeting new friends at the pool or on an excursion, you may want to get together for dinner that evening.

As of right now, you are limited to sitting with people in your own stateroom, or those that have multiple rooms that were linked before the cruise.

Bar seating

Even though the “meet and mingle” gatherings aren’t available, you can still sit with new friends in the lounges. What you can’t do is sit at the bar itself.

Watching the bar staff make your martini can be part of the entertainment but to keep the distance between the bartender and the guests, the stools have “unavailable” signs placed on them.

Production shows

While you can still find Cats, Mama Mia and Grease on the Oasis class ships, what is noticeably absent are their other main theater shows.

Come Fly With Me, Blue Planet and Columbus! The Musical still remain dark. In fact, the main shows on most of the fleet have not returned. They are offering special guest entertainers in their places. I think this is due to a staffing issue.

This is probably what I hope comes back first. I enjoy having dinner and then going to the production shows with the Royal Caribbean singers and dancers. Even with the condensed 90 minute version of the Broadway shows, it’s still a bit too long for me. The 45 minute production shows are perfect.

Cooking classes

Prior to your sailing, you would find cooking classes in your cruise planner available for booking.

Two that spring to mind are the cupcake decorating class, which we did on one of our anniversary cruises and the sushi making in Izumi. These were very popular, unique activities that are definitely missed.

Ship tours

The behind the scenes tour was offered pre-cruise and could also be booked onboard. We did the tour on the Freedom of the Seas. It was held on the last sea day. The tour took you to the laundry rooms, the crew areas (we saw their “grocery store” named “Freedom Mart”), the backstage of the production and ice shows, the engine rooms and the bridge. After a nice lunch in the main dining room, we went to the galley to see the chefs in action. The tour ended with a toast in the champagne bar.

Abbreviated ship tours have also been a long-standing perk for higher tier Crown and Anchor members but they have also been suspended. One captain I spoke to recently said he hopes they never return but this is something I definitely miss. I never passed up an opportunity to visit the bridge.

As time goes on and we get the pandemic more under control, it is expected that these beloved activities will make their way back to the ships. In my opinion, it can’t come soon enough.

The weekend is the perfect time to take a short break, so why not go on a cruise too?

When people think of cruises, they tend to imagine a sailing that’s seven days or longer. After all, if you’re going to fly to a port for a vacation, you want to maximize your experience.

However, you can find plenty of weekend cruises available, and  the majority of which sail from Florida ports. What makes them so appealing?

Itinerary

Weekend cruises out of Florida are Bahamian itineraries. You will find either Nassau or Grand Bahama island as a port stop.

Nearly every cruise will include a visit to Perfect Day at CocoCay. What you most likely won’t find on a three day cruise is a day at sea.

The ships are more intimate

One thing to be aware of is that weekend cruises tend to be on smaller ships. While it’s not unheard of for an Oasis class ship to have a shorter, specialty sailing, it’s much more common to find Vision, Radiance, Voyager and Freedom classes doing the weekend sailings. That’s actually a good thing.

You could spend seven days on an Oasis or Quantum class ship and still never see and do everything. Think of how hard that would be with only three days!

There is still plenty to see and do onboard. Most activities that you will find on the seven day sailings are also available on the weekend cruises. From trivia and scavenger hunts to rock climbing and miniature golf.

Some ships even have a Flowrider, water slides and a sky pad. Nightly entertainment includes headliner acts such as singers or comedians, dancing in the lounges and singers in the pub and the Schooner Bar.

If your ship happens to have an ice rink, you will be treated to an amazing ice show. You can also try skating yourself during select hours in the afternoon.

If you’d rather stay indoors, you can always go to the casino. While it will be closed during the day when docked in Nassau or Grand Bahama island, it is open all day when you’re docked in CocoCay. Typical opening hours that day are 8:00 a.m. for slots and noon for table games.

Dining

While these “smaller” ships won’t have every specialty dining restaurant of their larger cousins, you will still have more choices than you could eat in three days.

Of course there is the complimentary options such as the Windjammer buffet, main dining room, pizza and ice cream at the pool. However, you can enjoy specialty dining too. Just about every ship has a Chops Grille and an Italian option, either Giovanni’s or Jaime’s.

Other ships also offer Izumi (some with Hibachi) along with a Playmakers and/or Johnny Rockets. You will still have a “dress your best” night on a weekend sailing so it’s nice to have specialty dining options.

A perfect trip for locals

Those who live in Florida have the luxury of being able to drive to your nearest port. Taking a weekend cruise means being able to go for a quick getaway without having to burn a lot of vacation time, if any.

Weekend cruises are perfect for that special celebration. You’ll always see a birthday or anniversary being acknowledged in the restaurants. These sailings have also become very popular with bachelor/bachelorette parties.

It’s a great way to have a mini vacation to celebrate with your friends.

You can add it on to longer vacation

Quick getaways and minimal time off of work is great for the locals, but why would someone want to travel a great distance for just a weekend cruise?

You could add it on to a land trip you may already have planned. Let’s say, for example, you’re coming to Orlando to visit the theme parks. You can easily add on a short sailing before or after your trip to relax or recharge after all that running around and waiting in lines.

It’s a better value than staying at a hotel on the beach

You really can’t beat the prices. Three day sailings on the Freedom of the Seas out of Miami are currently starting at $151 per person. Even if you could find a resort on the beach for that price, there is no way it’s going to include food, entertainment and transportation.

We do weekend cruises quite often, even referring to the ship as our “weekend condo.” We tend to see the same people regularly, not just the crew but fellow passengers as well! It’s like one big extended family of cruisers.

Seven day or more cruises are the perfect vacation but don’t overlook the weekend sailings when you want a quick get away to the beaches of CocoCay and to enjoy those amazing sunsets at sea.

A mere half mile from where the cruise ships dock in Nassau, Bahamas, Margaritaville opened its newest resort in July 2021. 

The resort offers day passes that cruise passengers can purchase to experience some of the resorts amenities. 

What does a Margaritaville Beach Resort day pass include, and how is the experience? Marcy visited the resort on a December 2021 cruise to check it out.

What’s included?

The day pass includes:

• The “Fins Up” Water Park admission
• $25 food and beverage credit
• Private beach access (chairs first come, first serve)
• Complimentary Wi-Fi.

Cost and Cancellation policy

The current price for the day pass is $115 per adult, $45 for children 3-12 and under 3 years old is free.

You can cancel your pass up until 11:59 p.m. the day before your arrival on their website, however, you can cancel by email up until 10 a.m. the day of your arrival. 

That’s great flexibility if the weather happens to be bad.

My experience

I booked the day pass online via the third-party website resortpass.com. 

While Margaritaville doesn’t give an exact number, it is stated on their website that they will limit the number of passes sold per day.  I received my confirmation email that stated I had to check in at the front desk with a valid photo ID.

We went to the resort on Sunday, December 19th while our Royal Caribbean cruise ship was docked in port for the day.

We decided to do the half mile walk from the ship to the resort, which took fifteen minutes (six of which was just getting out of the port). The walk between the ship and Margaritaville is relatively flat.

We arrived at the resort and headed inside to check in.  We were stopped and told the policy had changed and were directed around the corner to the water parks ticket booth.  We provided our names and were given a wristband and our $25 per person food and/or drink coupons.

The Fins Up Water Park

The water park opened at 10 am, and we were there right at opening.

The first thing I noticed was how clean it was. The park features one pool, a lazy river, a kids slide, three larger slides for all ages, one hot tub and a flow rider type ride that is a scaled down version of the ones on Royal Caribbean’s ships. 

There is also a ledge 10 feet up that you can jump off of into the 11 ft. deep pool.  That was something I had never seen before at a water park.

The pools are not heated, so being December, it was a bit chilly. However, it was a sunny day so the water felt nice. 

There’s a rock climbing wall however, it was not staffed nor did we see anyone climbing it.

Lounge chairs and beach towels are complimentary. There were also lockers located near the restroom & changing rooms. I wanted to get one so my husband and I could store our valuables and enjoy the lazy river together but we were told they were just installed and were not in use as of yet.

The complimentary WIFI was easy to access.  After signing in, a pop up message said the WIFI would only be active for a one hour window.  Ours ended up working the entire four hours we were there so I’m not really sure what the actual rule is.

The overall atmosphere was enjoyable.  There were jumbo screens on the hotel itself that played every genre of music you can think of. 

We heard everything from Bruno Mars to U2, country music, 1960’s blues, 1980’s classic rock, Christmas music from the Monkees to Mariah Carey and of course plenty of Jimmy Buffet.  The volume of the music was perfect.  It was raised but not loud to the point where you couldn’t hold a conversation.

Food and drinks

This is the area that needs the most help, especially if you want to enjoy some cocktails, or any beverage at all. 

There are two areas to get drinks while visiting. The one by the food window was closed, so there was only the main bar that had one bartender the whole time we were there.

It’s obvious they have a bit of a staffing issue.  In fact, on their website, they mention that they offer poolside food and beverage service which we did not experience.  

Make sure to bring your wallet because the food is expensive, and this is coming from someone that frequents Walt Disney World ,so I’m used to overpriced food.

We ordered a chicken wrap and a burger (both included fries) and two beverages with alcohol that totaled $85.  Remember we did have two $25 food credits so that brought it down to $35 but that just seemed very overpriced to me. 

Gratuity and VAT taxes were automatically added.  They only accepted credit cards, no cash. 

I really did enjoy my chicken wrap.  It was made to order so even though it took about 15 minutes to get the food, it was fresh and delicious.  My husband wasn’t impressed with his burger though.  It was overcooked and bland.  The drinks were very good. 

Final thoughts

Overall, I really enjoyed the day. It wasn’t crowded, I assume because not many people are aware of the day pass offer.

I love a lazy river so I could have just floated around in there all day.  My husband’s favorite activity was the ten foot jump, he said it was the best thing there.   

Would I do it again?  Maybe. It was a great day but the way I look at it, I could get a full day at CocoCay’s water park, which offers more activities for a cheaper price that also includes food.

However, if you’re looking for something new to do in Nassau, or you’re a fan of Jimmy Buffet and the Margaritaville brand, then the day pass is definitely for you. 

For those who want the ultimate in luxury, Royal Caribbean offers Star Class. 

When booking a cruise, one of the first decisions to make is what kind of room to sail in. There are so many options within Star Class you may not know where to begin.

Hopefully, these tips will help you make the planning go more smoothly.  

What is Star Class?

Star Class is available on Oasis and Quantum Class ships, as well as the new Icon of the Seas.

• Allure of the Seas
• Anthem of the Seas
• Harmony of the Seas
• Oasis of the Seas
• Odyssey of the Seas
• Ovation of the Seas
• Quantum of the Seas
• Spectrum of the Seas
• Symphony of the Seas
• Wonder of the Seas
• Utopia of the Seas

Star Class suites are the largest of the suites. Some of the perks of staying in a Star Class cabin include:

• Priority boarding
• Complimentary VOOM wifi
• Complimentary specialty restaurants
• Complimentary Deluxe Beverage Package
• Access to the Suite Lounge and Coastal Kitchen for all meals
• Complimentary laundry services
• Standard gratuities (additional gratuities, for the Genie for example, are at your discretion)

The full list of benefits can be found here.

And the best part: You get the services of the Royal Genie!

Choosing your room

My husband and I are frequent cruisers but had never stayed in Star Class. We decided it would be perfect for us to try out for our 15th anniversary. 

Choosing a room was probably the hardest part for us. Upon starting our research, we quickly realized most of the suites were designed for larger parties. For example, the two-bedroom Aqua Theater Suite is a Star Class option, as well as the Ultimate Family Suites. 

We ended up picking the Owner's Panoramic Suite that is only available on Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas. It has one bedroom which was perfect for two people. 

As a bonus, it also had a hot tub on the balcony, which is something I’ve always wanted to try.

Pre-cruise communication

Approximately six weeks prior to sailing, you will receive your Star Class pre-cruise questionnaire. The questions are a way to help your Royal Genie get to know you better. 

It asks a lot about your cruising preferences and also has some fun questions. 

One that stuck out to me was, “If you could have dinner with any person living, or in history, which three would you choose?”  Our answers were Princess Diana, Walt Disney, and Agatha Christie.  

Again, it’s a way for them to gauge your personality and personal interests. 

A month before sailing, we received our first e-mail from our Royal Genie. He introduced himself to us and asked more specific questions regarding our cruise, such as whether we were traveling with anyone in a different cabin, what our preferred restaurants and dining times were, and what shows we were interested in. 

As we sent messages back and forth, we were able to come up with a tentative schedule for our sailing.

Embarkation day

When you arrive at the terminal, you will see an area specifically for Star Class check in. Make sure you keep all of your luggage with you, and not drop it off with the porters as you normally would. 

Once the agent checks you in, you will receive a ship porter that will whisk away your luggage and deliver it to your room shortly after you board.

After checking in at the terminal, your Royal Genie will meet you to escort you onto the ship. They will take you straight to your suite and give you a printout of the plan you made together. Remember, it’s not written in stone so you can change your mind at any time.

We had pre-arranged for lunch from Sabor to be set up in our suite. Beef empanadas, chicken and steak quesadillas, chips with guacamole, and even our favorite specialty margaritas were waiting for us.

We also met up with our loft attendant, which is a fancy name for cabin steward, who showed us how to use all of the controls in the room and asked if we had any special requests. 

One special request we had was to have the hot tub set up every evening after dinner. We also advised her of our normal routine so she would know when the best time was to service the room.

The Royal Genie

During our research, the biggest mystery for us was the Royal Genie. We did many searches online asking “What do they do?” 

We never truly felt we received a good answer to that and now I know why. The Genie’s services are specific to you and your wishes. 

Of course, you can expect them to make all of your dining reservations and get you the best seats in the house to every show, but they also surprise you in ways that make you feel special.

I’m not sure how every Genie does it, but for us, we were kept in constant communication with ours via WhatsApp. 

We downloaded it on our phone and could message him at any time. We hardly needed it though, he always seemed to know where we were and would check in with us at breakfast, dinner and even hanging out in the suite lounge, just to see if we were ok and needed anything.

We loved coming into our room on our anniversary and finding it decorated with cards, balloons, banners, fresh flowers, a cake with our names on it, and a beautiful Willow Tree figurine. 

A few days later, Halloween decorations were added to the room. I have no idea how he knew that was my favorite holiday, I guess it’s just part of the Genie magic.

On debarkation day, you will arrange a time to be escorted, with all of your luggage, off of the ship. 

Is Star Class worth it?

As with everything, that is based on each individual. 

We were lucky enough to get an amazing deal on our room since we booked it during the pandemic. In fact, looking at pricing for next year, our room is selling for three times what we paid. 

For a lot of people who cruise in Star Class regularly, it’s more about the personal experience than the cost, especially if you’re sailing in a group. It’s nice to have someone there to make all of your arrangements. 

We loved the experience and hope to do it again in the future.

A wedding onboard a cruise ship or in an exotic port of call is the epitome of romance. If you are considering tying the knot or a vow renewal, you may not have any idea where to start.

Here are some helpful tips for getting married on a Royal Caribbean cruise.

Where to begin

You will first need to contact the Royal Weddings department.

The weddings department requires a minimum of 90 days prior to your sail date but advise that you contact them even earlier than that, if possible.

You will choose your package and any add-ons that you desire. Then you’ll be assigned a shoreside coordinator who will work with you to customize your ceremony and reception to your specific needs.

They can also assist you with getting your marriage license. This may take 10-14 weeks after your cruise ends since the Bahamian maritime marriage license process requires at least 90 days for processing.

On embarkation day, you’ll meet with your onboard coordinator who makes it all happen! 

Who can Royal Caribbean marry?

Pretty much anybody, as long as you’re familiar with the rules.

If you get married onboard the ship, your marriage will be legal in the Bahamas as that is where the ship is registered. The same goes for any port of call you choose to have your ceremony in.

Same-sex marriages can be performed ashore in the United States or any other port abroad that legally recognizes them.

Since the Bahamas does not allow same-sex marriages, those cannot be done legally on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship. However, the couple can have a symbolic ceremony at sea or at a select port of call if they wish.

Note that religious ceremonies are not available.

Read more: 10 tips for an amazing Royal Caribbean wedding

What does a cruise wedding package include?

Royal Caribbean offers four wedding packages to choose from. Details of each package can be found on Royal Caribbean’s website.

Intimately Yours Package

• Non-denominational wedding officiant
• Pre-cruise wedding planner
• Onboard wedding coordinator
• Bottle of Moët & Chandon champagne
• Pre-recorded musical accompaniment
• 2-tier wedding cake
• Dinner at a specialty restaurant
• Chocolate-covered strawberries
• Mimosa breakfast-in-bed
• Stateroom decor
• Keepsake wedding certificate
• Private wedding venue

Pricing for up to 10 guests: $1,950

Vows at Sea Package

• Non-denominational wedding officiant
• Pre-cruise wedding planner
• Onboard wedding coordinator
• Bottle of Moët & Chandon champagne
• Pre-recorded musical accompaniment
• 3-tier wedding cake (up to 50 guests)
• Dinner at a specialty restaurant
• Chocolate-covered strawberries
• Mimosa breakfast-in-bed
• Stateroom decor
• Keepsake wedding certificate
• Private wedding venue

Pricing for up to 50 guests: $3,850

Destinations I Do Package

• Non-denominational wedding officiant
• Pre-cruise wedding planner
• Onboard wedding coordinator
• Onsite wedding coordinator
• Bridal bouquet and matching boutonniere
• Couples wedding cake
• Bottle of sparkling wine
• Keepsake wedding certificate
• Transportation for the couple

Pricing for up to 50 guests: $4,650

Embark on Romance Package

• Non-denominational wedding officiant
• Pre-cruise wedding planner
• Onboard wedding coordinator
• Bottle of Moët & Chandon champagne
• Pre-recorded musical accompaniment
• 3-tier wedding cake (up to 50 guests)
• Dinner at a specialty restaurant
• Chocolate-covered strawberries
• Mimosa breakfast-in-bed
• Stateroom decor
• Keepsake wedding certificate
• Private wedding venue
• Priority check-in
• Allows for non-sailing guests (up to 75)
• Pier-to-ship escort for the couple and guests

Pricing for up to 50 guests: $5,600

Cruise wedding add-ons

If you really want to go all out you can add on, for an additional fee, salon services including hair styling and nails for the ladies or hair cuts, shaves, and beard trimming for the gentlemen.

You can add more hours with the photographer that includes all of your photos digitally. There are three photography packages you can select from, or there are various photography add-on options.

You can also arrange for a live band or a DJ at your reception. All entertainment is based on availability by each ship.

Speaking of receptions, you can book a venue and add bar services, hors d’oeuvres, or food stations. 

You can make it as simple or as elaborate as you wish!

Vow renewals

You don’t have to be getting married to have a ceremony! Why not renew your vows in a picturesque setting? That’s exactly what we did. We got married on land and had our honeymoon on Freedom of the Seas. Since we love cruising so much, we decided to celebrate our 10-year anniversary with a vow renewal on the ship we took our honeymoon on.

We wanted it to be just the two of us. Our onboard coordinator took care of everything! We chose our vow renewal to be held the day we were docked in Labadee. We added extra time with the photographer so we had photos done on the island before the ceremony. We had the ceremony itself in the Cloud 9 card room on Deck 14 (which is now the suite lounge).

We provided our own music so we had a sound technician present that played the songs through a speaker system. Our onboard coordinator also performed our ceremony. Afterward, we had a champagne toast. We requested to have the chocolate-covered strawberries and the cake delivered to our room. Next, we took photos around the ship. Even though it was October 28th, the ship was already decorated for Halloween. 

Read more: 20 tips for a Royal Caribbean honeymoon cruise

Our amazing wedding coordinator followed us around, deflating the decorations so we didn’t have ghosts and vampires in our photos then set them all back up again.

The photographer was happy to take photos in all of our favorite venues: Vintages, Giovanni’s Table, The Diamond and Viking Crown Lounges, and even the Next Cruise desk!

The one place I suggested that surprised our photographer the most was the main dining room. I love its three-story staircase and the giant chandelier. It turned out to be some of my favorite photos of the day.

Later in the cruise, we had our certificate delivered with our names, the date, the name of the ship, and it was signed by the Captain. 

The whole experience was even more perfect than we planned.

But what does it cost?

That’s hard to answer because there are so many variables that affect the price.

Packages that include the couple and 10 guests start at $1,950. Packages that include up to 50 guests start at $3,850. Up to 75 guests start at $5,600.

Whichever package you select, the entire cost of the package is due upon booking. 

Also, according to Royal Caribbean, "final payment for enhancements is due 45 days prior to sailing. We cannot apply GAP (Group Amenities Plus) points of Group/Cruise credits to your wedding package or enhancements."

For us, the experience and memories were worth every penny.

This summer, Royal Caribbean's Crown and Anchor Society updated their happy hour drink benefit policy, which prompted many to wonder if the new offering is now a good alternative to a drink package. 

In the past, guests who were Diamond, Diamond Plus, or Pinnacle Club in the cruise line's customer loyalty program were allowed unlimited drinks from a specific menu in the Diamond Lounge for a three and half hour window nightly. 

The new benefit has drinks added to your SeaPass card daily that can be used for any drink (up to $13) at any bar (with the exception of Starbucks, The Bionic Bar and the Rising Tide Bar) at any time. You can also use your vouchers for bottled water and sodas. 

The vouchers (which is what I will refer to them as for the purpose of this article) must be used each day, they do not carry over.

• Diamond members receive four drinks per day.
• Diamond Plus members receive five drinks per day.
• Pinnacle Club members receive six drinks per day.

Read more: How Royal Caribbean's free drink vouchers for Diamond and higher members works

Trying it out for the first time

We were on Allure of the Seas three weeks ago and decided to forego buying the deluxe drink package and just use our daily vouchers. We did, however, buy a coffee card for our morning vanilla lattes from the Café Promenade so we could use the vouchers strictly on alcoholic beverages.

As soon as we boarded, we got appletinis in the Champagne bar.  We get ours made with vanilla vodka, which was a suggestion from a bar staff friend of ours from many years ago.  It makes the vodka sting less potent. 

We still went to the Diamond Lounge for cosmos during their happy hour time.  They still have staff serving drinks and appetizers, however any drink you order does come off of your daily allowance. 

That night we had dinner at Sabor.  We ordered the Simply Perfect and Jalapeno Cucumber Margaritas that were on the drink menu  We ended up using five of our six vouchers that day.

The second day, we started with BBC’s (Bailey’s, banana colada) at the Solarium pool bar.  Before dinner we went to the Champagne bar for two martinis. 

My husband likes the red velvet cake martini. It used to be a standard at the Champagne Bar but has since been removed from the menu. Our bartender said they had the ingredients and she knew how to make it. I ordered my standard favorite, the pomegranate martini.

After dinner we ordered chocolate martinis in the main theater before the headliner show.  We only ended up using four vouchers that day.

It was day three and I couldn’t believe I hadn’t made it to the Schooner Bar yet for one of my favorite cocktails, the lavender daiquiri, only found at that location. 

I didn’t want to leave the Champagne Bar because of the excellent bar staff there. Not only did they remember the special way I like my appletinis, they also knew my father would ONLY drink Jack and coke.  So much so that one night halfway through the sailing, they had written his name on a piece of paper and taped it to the bottle of Jack Daniels so everyone knew it was his.  

Once again our bartender told us she could make the lavender daiquiri there. She also made us a martini version of it with vodka instead of rum. 

Other places to use your free drinks

On the second formal night we dined at Izumi. 

We used our vouchers on their signature sake infused cocktails, “She’s a Geisha” and “Japanese Strawberry.” Along with our nightly martinis in the Diamond Lounge and the Champagne bar, we ended our night with the drink of the day the “Portside Punch” at the Trellis Bar.  It was a beautiful evening to enjoy a drink in Central Park with the guitarist playing soft music.

For lunch on day six, we enjoyed pizza from Sorrento’s on the promenade with a Michelob Ultra.  At the Champagne Bar that evening, I discovered a new favorite, the watermelon martini.  Can you tell I like fruity vodka martinis?

Coco Cay is included!

You can even use your vouchers at Royal Caribbean’s private island of Perfect Day at CocoCay. There is nothing like a mai tai in paradise. 

It’s even better when it’s included in your daily free drinks.   We also cooled off with strawberry daiquiris and a frozen mudslide.

Conclusion

We never got to the point where we used all of our allotted vouchers for the day.  The most we used was five on any given day. 

I know everyone is different, but for us, the free drinks benefit is perfect and we wouldn’t consider buying the deluxe drink package on future sailings.  I feel that this was a welcomed change to the daily happy hour.

It is so nice to be able to have the flexibility of time and the venue of your choice to enjoy your favorite drink or discover a new one. 

While the drinks are free as part of your Crown and Anchor benefits, it is still a good idea to tip your bar staff.  They took such excellent care of us, we were happy to return the favor.

While cruising is a wonderful vacation all on its own, who wouldn’t like some extra perks to enjoy? 

As you cruise more frequently, you’ll earn discounts and gifts along the way through the loyalty program.  Today I’m going to focus on the top tiers of the Crown and Anchor Society and which ones I love the most.

These are just a few of the many perks offered to Crown and Anchor members. While they have changed over the years, it’s still a great program!

Diamond (80 points to 174 points)

Suite and Balcony Discounts

I like to have a balcony to enjoy watching the sunrise, so saving money on a balcony is always nice. 

Once you become Diamond, you can get those rooms for less, thanks to a balcony discount. 

For example, on a seven day sailing, Diamond members receive $225 off of their cruise fare.  The discount applies one per cabin, not per person but every little bit helps!

One free photo

I have gotten some amazing photos over the years from the ships photographers, but paying $20 or more for those 8x10’s gets pretty pricey. 

We use this discount on every one of our cruises. Since it’s per person, my husband and I can both get a free photo.

One free day of Voom internet

Many people like to unplug on their cruises, but we need to stay connected so having a free day of internet is convenient. 

Diamond members get one free day of internet access, which doubles when you reach Diamond Plus.

If one day just won’t be enough, you could instead get a discount off of a package that is equal to the cost of one day of internet.  That way you can keep in touch with home and upload those cruise pictures to social media!

Crystal blocks

Once you reach 140 points, you will receive a beautiful crystal block that is etched with the name and outline of your ship.  You will then receive one every 70 points thereafter. 

I have mine in a display case that has current and former ships represented. 

Access to the Diamond Lounge

This was, and still is, one of my favorites perks. 

I am always looking for a quiet place onboard during the day and that can be found in the lounge.  They offer continental breakfast in the morning as well as specialty coffee throughout the day.  There is a light lunch option with small sandwiches, fruit and desserts. 

The evening happy hour features appetizers and bar service. Royal Caribbean changed the drink benefit, where you get four free drinks per person per day that can be used at any bar at any time.

Diamond Plus (175-699)

You receive all the same discounts as you did when you were Diamond, except now your balcony/suite discount is $250, the internet is for 2 days, and you get five drinks per day added to your SeaPass card. 

Buy one get one free specialty restaurants

A BOGO offer for specialty restaurant means you can dine at any specialty restaurant and pay the cover charge for one person, but get the second person's cover charge for free.

It cannot be used for Izumi Hibachi or Chef’s Table. 

Since each Diamond Plus person gets one, I can use a BOGO for the first night and my husband can use it the second night.  It’s a great deal!

Backstage tours

This is a pre-pandemic perk that I hope comes back soon. 

On cruises at least seven nights, you will receive a card in your cabin on embarkation day that lists complimentary tours you could take. 

Some common options were behind the scenes of the ice show, the main theater and the bridge.  You could choose one or all of them, you just need to drop the card off at the Loyalty Ambassador’s desk and take the tours usually the last sea day of your sailing.

While Diamond members also had access to the theater tours, the bridge was exclusive to Diamond Plus and Pinnacle.

Lunch with an officer

Lunch with an officer is available once you reach 340 points for sailings seven days and longer. 

Lunch is offered in the main dining room on a different floor than the regular sea day lunch, with a special menu that includes wine.

Pre-pandemic an officer would sit at your table, and it was nice to get to know their jobs and ask questions about cruising in general.

It is now being offered as a “toast with an officer.”  You still get lunch but now the officers come around the tables and chat for a minute or two and do a champagne toast.  It usually takes place on the last sea day. 

Extra amenities

At 340 and 525 points, you receive extra bonus gifts.  There is a list to choose from that includes towels and tote bags, but we choose the wine. 

On a seven day sailing we received three bottles, which we bring to the restaurants for dinner.

The Top Tier Event

When I started cruising, this would have been known as the repeaters party.  Now though, only Diamond Plus and Pinnacle are invited to the event. 

I’ve always liked them because they recognize the top cruisers and tell you a little bit about the new ships being built. 

Pinnacle Club (700 points and beyond)

Your balcony discount increases to $275, there are 6 free drinks added to your SeaPass card and you now get free internet!

The Pinnacle Kit

Once you reach Pinnacle Club status, Royal Caribbean shops you a kit after your 700 point sailing.

It includes your stratum (a tall “crystal block” that has your name, the ship and date of your Pinnacle cruise engraved on it), luggage tags, passport cover and your lapel pins. 

Free cruise certificate

At 700 and 1050 points, you get a certificate for a free 7 night Caribbean cruise in a balcony stateroom. 

At 1400 points and every 350 thereafter you qualify for a complimentary Junior Suite!

Daily breakfast

Chops is usually the location of your Pinnacle breakfast.  Its hours vary but will match the main dining room.

The Pinnacle Club

Pre-pandemic, Pinnacle members had access to the suite lounges.  To promote social distancing, there is now a separate lounge for Pinnacle members.

Just like the Diamond Lounge, there are appetizers and bar service during happy hour.

Access to Coastal Kitchen

Since the restart, this benefit depends on the ship.  Some allow access for all meals while others only allow you to make dinner reservations. 

You’ve heard of frequent flyer miles, but did you know that cruise lines also have loyalty programs?

Royal Caribbean’s customer loyalty program is called the Crown and Anchor Society. You earn points based on how many nights your cruise is, as well as your cabin type or if you are going solo.

There are six tiers in the program:

• Gold: 3 points
• Platinum: 30 points
• Emerald: 55 points
• Diamond: 80 points
• Diamond Plus: 175 points
• Pinnacle Club: 700 points

As you progress through the tiers, you earn rewards such as discounts on internet, onboard merchandise, beverage packages and certain fares, just to name a few.

It may seem like getting to 700 cruise points is impossible, but it can be done. There are many different ways to achieve it, and I wanted to share how we did it.

Starting out

My husband and I took our first Royal Caribbean cruise on the Freedom of the seas in 2006 for our honeymoon. After that, we cruised once a year, always in October for our anniversary.

In 2010, we started doing weekend cruises on Monarch of the Seas. One morning, we went to the next cruise desk to book our annual anniversary sailing. The crew member there told us we really should be striving to become Diamond. He then told us how to earn extra points to help us ascend the tiers faster. His advice was to start booking junior suites. By doing that, we would earn two points per night. So for many years, that’s what we did.

By February 2011, we were Diamond. Then it became a goal to get to Diamond Plus. We continued to book junior suites exclusively and reached Diamond Plus in October 2015.

At this point, we were content (at least I was). Diamond Plus is a great tier to be at. It’s a large tier (175-699 points) and as you progress through it, you get more benefits.

At 340 points you receive what is called a “single supplement discount”, which is great for solo cruisers. Typically, if you cruise by yourself, you are paying double occupancy (unless you find the rare single cabins which are only available on select ships).

With the single supplement discount, instead of paying 200% fare, you’re only charged 150%. Sailing solo also earns you an extra cruise point per night.

This became important to us as now achieving Pinnacle status before turning 50 years old became my husbands goal.

Full speed ahead

In 2016, we started what I call “points chasing;” booking like crazy to get to Pinnacle as fast as we could. We are lucky that we live in Central Florida, because we have access to four cruise ports ranging in drive time from 45 minutes to 4 hours. We also have no children, so we weren’t tied to school schedules. We were able to cruise any time of the year.

Our game plan was to fit in as many weekend sailings as possible to maximize our points. We ended up doing nine cruises that year.

To keep all of these cruises straight, we made up an Excel spreadsheet with not only our budget for each cruise, but also how many points we would accumulate per sailing. We literally titled it our “Pathway to Pinnacle” spreadsheet.

In 2017, we crossed the 340 point mark and I started doing solo cruises. Not only did I sail alone, I was also in a junior suite. That earned me three points per night! Since we’re married, my husband was able to share my points, even without having to sail. That year ended with 14 more cruises sailed, three of which I did as a solo traveler.

In 2018, we were assigned a new Royal Caribbean vacation planner who told us what a lot of her clients were doing to make it to Pinnacle faster. On the cruises where my husband and I were together, she suggested I book the junior suite we always sail in by myself and have my husband book an interior room. That way we’d always be getting the maximum points on every sailing.

I thought that would be way out of our price range, but in reality it only ended up being a couple hundred dollars more because of the single supplement discount. We dubbed that our “triple points scam.” We were now earning three points per night on every sailing.

That moved us up fast. From January 2018 until the end of 2019, we earned 246 points. By this point, we reached 661 points.

Road block

In 2020 we did two weekend sailings in January and February for a total of 697 points. We now just had to wait until our April cruise on Harmony of the Seas to turn Pinnacle. And then, two weeks after our last sailing, the pandemic struck and the entire cruise industry was shut down for the next 15 months!

We were literally going crazy. Just three points away!

We booked and rebooked every month. Our disappointment grew with each subsequent cancellation until finally in June 2021, we were able to book the first sailing in North America. We flew to Nassau to board Adventure of the Seas and finally earn that coveted 700th cruise point.

In all, it took us thirteen and a half years to get to Pinnacle, not counting the year and a half the cruise industry was shut down.

Oh, and in case you were wondering, we did make it before my husband turned 50, with one month to spare!